PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHERS:

• Elena Quintana, PhD ACIISI (Postdoctoral Researcher, The Canary Islands Agency for Research, Innovation and Information Sciences, ACIISI, ProID2017010101, ULL)
• Carlos Cairós, PhD («Agustín de Betancourt» Researcher; Department of Basic Medical Sciences, ULL, ULL, since January 2020).

PHD STUDENTS AND TRAINEES:

• Ninovska Romero Luis (Health Sciences Doctoral Programme, contracted by Project ProID2017010101, until July 2019)

RESEARCH LINES:

Using genetic and molecular tools in Drosophila melanogaster and transgenic mouse models, we analyse the effect of increasing the number of synapses in vivo in animal models during the early onset of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), characterized by the extensive loss of Synaptic Connections. In both animal models, overexpression of the phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K) synaptogenic tool will take place early in the development to increase the number of synapses, and to restore sensory and neuronal deficits generated after genetically and pharmacologically induced neurodegeneration. Our main goal is to identify and validate pro-synaptic tools with the potential to be used as therapies in human neurodegenerative diseases.

FUNDED PROJECTS:

• A novel genetic, molecular and cellular approach to combat Alzheimer’s disease. (ProID2017010101 – “Enfermedad de Alzheimer: hacia un nuevo abordaje genético, molecular y celular”). PI: Ángel Acebes. The Canary Islands Agency of Research, Innovation and Information Sciences (2017-2020, 70,000 €).
• Laboratory intership abroad during the practical education of biological-technical Assistants (2019-1-DE02-KA102-005946). Spanish Coordinator: Ángel Acebes. Erasmus + European Union Programme (2019-2021, 212,999 €).
• Spanish Olfactory Network («Red olfativa española» – RED2018-102662-T). Aid to promote dynamization actions «Research networks» («Ayudas para las acciones de dinamización “Redes de investigación”). Co-PI: Ángel Acebes; MICINN (2020-2021, 17,000 €).
• MICROFAVAR: Development of a high-resolution, high-speed quantitative phase-contrast microscope for 3D imaging of biological samples («Desarrollo de un microscopio de contraste de fase cuantitativa de alta resolución y alta velocidad para la obtención de imágenes en 3D de muestras biológicas»). «Agustín de Betancourt» project. PI: Carlos Cairós; PI-ULL: Ángel Acebes. Regional Government of Tenerife (2020-2024, 160,000 €).

PUBLICATIONS 2019:

• Rodriguez-Rodriguez AE, Donate-Correa J, Rovira J, Cuesto G, Luis-Ravelo D, Fernandes MX, Acevedo-Arozena A, Diekmann F, Acebes A, Torres A, Porrini E. Inhibition of the mTOR pathway: A new mechanism of β cell toxicity induced by Tacrolimu Am J Transplant. 2019 Dec;19(12):3240-3249. doi: 10.1111/ajt.15483
• Lahoz F, Acebes A, González-Hernández T, de Armas-Rillo S, Soler-Carracedo K, Cuesto G, Mesa-Infante V. Random lasing in brain tissues. Organic Electronics. 2019 Dec;75, Article number 105389. doi: 1016/j.orgel.2019.105389

OTHER SELECTED PUBLICATIONS FROM THE LAST 10 YEARS:

• Jordán-Álvarez S, Santana E, Casas-Tintó S, Acebes A, Ferrús A. The equilibrium between antagonistic signaling pathways determines the number of synapses in Drosophila. PLoS One. 2017 Sep 11;12(9):e0184238. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0184238
• Triñanes J, Rodriguez-Rodriguez A, Brito-Casillas Y, Wagner A, De Vries APJ, Cuesto G, Acebes A, Salido E, Torres A, Porrini E. Deciphering tacrolimus-induced toxicity in pancreatic β-cells. Am J Transplant. 2017 Nov;17(11):2829-2840. doi:10.1111/ajt.14323
• Acebes A. Brain mapping and synapse quantification in vivo: It’s time to imaging. Front Neuroanat. 2017 Mar 7;11:17. doi: 10.3389/fnana.2017.00017
• Cuesto G, Jordán-Álvarez S, Enriquez-Barreto L, Ferrus A, Morales M, Acebes A. GSK3β inhibition promotes synaptogenesis in Drosophila and mammalian neurons. PLoS One. 2015 Mar 12;10(3):e0118475. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0118475
• Acebes A, Devaud JM, Arnes M, Ferrus A. Central adaptation to odorants depends on PI3K levels in local interneurons of the antennal lobe. J Neurosci. 2012 Jan 11;32(2):417-22. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2921-11.2012
• Cuesto G,Enriquez-Barreto L,Caramés C,Cantarero M,Gasull X,Sandi C,Ferrús A, Acebes A,Morales M. PI3K activation controls synaptogenesis and spinogenesis in hippocampal neurons. J Neurosci. 2011 Feb 23;31(8):2721-33. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4477-10.2011