António Emanuel Ramos Abreu

Dr. António Emanuel Ramos Abreu

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

3Years (2024-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

View All Publications
15 October 2025 in Neuroscience Bulletin
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
PDF file
AAAntónio Emanuel Ramos Abreu
António Emanuel Ramos Abreu
Nuno EmpadinhasNuno Empadinhas
Nuno Empadinhas
SCSandra Morais Cardoso
Sandra Morais Cardoso

Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
JMJoão Duarte Magalhães
João Duarte Magalhães
ECEmanuel Candeias
Emanuel Candeias
IMInês Melo-Marques
Inês Melo-Marques
AAAntónio Emanuel Ramos Abreu
António Emanuel Ramos Abreu
ASAna Raquel Santos
Ana Raquel Santos
Nuno EmpadinhasNuno Empadinhas
Nuno Empadinhas
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder with an unknown cause. Recent research has highlighted the importance of the gut in neuronal and immune maturation through the exchange of nutrients and cellular signals. This has led to the “gut-first PD” hypothesis, which aims to explain many of the sporadic cases and their prodromal intestinal symptoms, such as constipation and intestinal α-synuclein (aSyn) aggregation. The link between mitochondrial dysfunction and aSyn deposition is central to PD pathophysiology, since they can also trigger pro-inflammatory signals associated with aSyn deposition, potentially contributing to the onset of PD. As mitochondria are derived from ancestral alpha-proteobacteria, other bacteria may specifically target this organelle. We sought to use Nocardia cyriacigeorgica, a bacterium previously associated with parkinsonism, and dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) as pro-inflammatory modulators to gain further insight into the onset of PD. This study indicates that aSyn aggregation plus mitochondrial dysfunction without intestinal barrier leakage are not sufficient to trigger gut-first PD.