Ana Sofia Pereira Moreira

Dr. Ana Sofia Pereira Moreira

Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

16Years (2011-Present)

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

Representative Publications

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13 April 2012 in Food & Function
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Ana Sofia Pereira MoreiraAna Sofia Pereira Moreira
Ana Sofia Pereira Moreira
Fernando M. NunesFernando M. Nunes
Fernando M. Nunes
MDM Rosario Domingues
M Rosario Domingues
Manuel A. CoimbraManuel A. Coimbra
Manuel A. Coimbra
During the roasting process, coffee bean components undergo structural changes leading to the formation of melanoidins, which are defined as high molecular weight nitrogenous and brown-colored compounds. As coffee brew is one of the main sources of melanoidins in the human diet, their health implications are of great interest. In fact, several biological activities, such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticariogenic, anti-inflammatory, antihypertensive, and antiglycative activities, have been attributed to coffee melanoidins. To understand the potential of coffee melanoidin health benefits, it is essential to know their chemical structures. The studies undertaken to date dealing with the structural characterization of coffee melanoidins have shown that polysaccharides, proteins, and chlorogenic acids are involved in coffee melanoidin formation. However, exact structures of coffee melanoidins and mechanisms involved in their formation are far to be elucidated. This paper systematizes the available information and provides a critical overview of the knowledge obtained so far about the structure of coffee melanoidins, mechanisms of their formation, and their potential health implications.

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Inês Maria dos Santos GuerraInês Maria dos Santos Guerra
Inês Maria dos Santos Guerra
Helena FerreiraHelena Ferreira
Helena Ferreira
TMTânia Melo
Tânia Melo
HRHugo Rocha
Hugo Rocha
SMSónia Moreira
Sónia Moreira
Ana Sofia Pereira MoreiraAna Sofia Pereira Moreira
Ana Sofia Pereira Moreira
Fatty acid oxidation disorders (FAODs) are inborn errors of metabolism (IEMs) caused by defects in the fatty acid (FA) mitochondrial β-oxidation. The most common FAODs are characterized by the accumulation of medium-chain FAs and long-chain (3-hydroxy) FAs (and their carnitine derivatives), respectively. These deregulations are associated with lipotoxicity which affects several organs and potentially leads to life-threatening complications and comorbidities. Changes in the lipidome have been associated with several diseases, including some IEMs. In FAODs, the alteration of acylcarnitines (CARs) and FA profiles have been reported in patients and animal models, but changes in polar and neutral lipid profile are still scarcely studied. In this review, we present the main findings on FA and CAR profile changes associated with FAOD pathogenesis, their correlation with oxidative damage, and the consequent disturbance of mitochondrial homeostasis. Moreover, alterations in polar and neutral lipid classes and lipid species identified so far and their possible role in FAODs are discussed. We highlight the need of mass-spectrometry-based lipidomic studies to understand (epi)lipidome remodelling in FAODs, thus allowing to elucidate the pathophysiology and the identification of possible biomarkers for disease prognosis and an evaluation of therapeutic efficacy.

1 December 2018 in Poultry Science
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TRT. Ribeiro
T. Ribeiro
VCVânia Silva Cardoso
Vânia Silva Cardoso
LFL.M.A. Ferreira
L.M.A. Ferreira
MLMadalena Lordelo
Madalena Lordelo
Elisabete CoelhoElisabete Coelho
Elisabete Coelho
CFCarlos M. G. A. Fontes
Carlos M. G. A. Fontes
It is now well established that exogenous β-1,4-xylanases improve the nutritive value of wheat-based diets for poultry. Among other factors, the mech

2 March 2017 in Marine Drugs
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ECElisabete Costa
Elisabete Costa
TMTânia Melo
Tânia Melo
Ana Sofia Pereira MoreiraAna Sofia Pereira Moreira
Ana Sofia Pereira Moreira
CBCarina Bernardo
Carina Bernardo
Luisa A. HelgueroLuisa A. Helguero
Luisa A. Helguero
MDM Rosario Domingues
M Rosario Domingues
The lipidome of the red seaweed Gracilaria sp., cultivated on land-based integrated multitrophic aquaculture (IMTA) system, was assessed for the first time using hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and tandem mass spectrometry (HILIC–MS and MS/MS). One hundred and forty-seven molecular species were identified in the lipidome of the Gracilaria genus and distributed between the glycolipids classes monogalactosyl diacylglyceride (MGDG), digalactosyl diacylglyceride (DGDG), sulfoquinovosyl monoacylglyceride (SQMG), sulfoquinovosyl diacylglyceride (SQDG), the phospholipids phosphatidylcholine (PC), lyso-PC, phosphatidylglycerol (PG), lyso-PG, phosphatidylinositol (PI), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatic acid (PA), inositolphosphoceramide (IPC), and betaine lipids monoacylglyceryl- and diacylglyceryl-N,N,N-trimethyl homoserine (MGTS and DGTS). Antiproliferative and anti-inflammatory effects promoted by lipid extract of Gracilaria sp. were evaluated by monitoring cell viability in human cancer lines and by using murine macrophages, respectively. The lipid extract decreased cell viability of human T-47D breast cancer cells and of 5637 human bladder cancer cells (estimated half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 12.2 μg/mL and 12.9 μg/mL, respectively) and inhibited the production of nitric oxide (NO) evoked by the Toll-like receptor 4 agonist lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on the macrophage cell line RAW 264.7 (35% inhibition at a concentration of 100 μg/mL). These findings contribute to increase the ranking in the value-chain of Gracilaria sp. biomass cultivated under controlled conditions on IMTA systems.

1 March 2016 in Carbohydrate Polymers
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Journal Article
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Elisabete CoelhoElisabete Coelho
Elisabete Coelho
MRM. Angélica M. Rocha
M. Angélica M. Rocha
Ana Sofia Pereira MoreiraAna Sofia Pereira Moreira
Ana Sofia Pereira Moreira
MDM Rosario Domingues
M Rosario Domingues
Manuel A. CoimbraManuel A. Coimbra
Manuel A. Coimbra

1 July 2017 in Food Chemistry
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Ana Sofia Pereira MoreiraAna Sofia Pereira Moreira
Ana Sofia Pereira Moreira
Fernando M. NunesFernando M. Nunes
Fernando M. Nunes
CSCristiana Simões
Cristiana Simões
EMElisabete Maciel
Elisabete Maciel
PDPedro Domingues
Pedro Domingues
Manuel A. CoimbraManuel A. Coimbra
Manuel A. Coimbra