Isabel Couto

Isabel Couto holds a PhD in Biology – Molecular Biology, by Universidade Nova de Lisboa.

Associate Professor of Medical Microbiology (Bacteriology) at Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa (IHMT-NOVA).

Teaches at several Curricular Units of Master and Doctorate Courses at IHMT-NOVA, some of which she also coordinates. Member of the Scientific Committees of the Master Course in Biomedical Sciences (IHMT-NOVA) and Master Course in Medical Microbiology (NOVA). Elected member of IHMT´s General Council.

Main area of scientific activity:
Molecular characterization and antimicrobial resistance of bacterial pathogens, focusing on staphylococci and mycobacteria.

Current research interests:
1. Characterization of antimicrobial resistance mechanisms in bacteria, particularly efflux-driven resistance.
2. Characterization of antibiotic and biocide resistance determinants in staphylococci.
3. Molecular tools for the rapid identification of pathogenic bacteria, in particular drug-resistant staphylococci and mycobacteria.

Coordinator of 5 funded research projects in these areas; also integrated the research teams of >25 R&D projects involving national and international groups. Supervisor of several post-doctoral, PhD and Master students.

Currently, she coordinates the project “BIOSAFE: Preventing antimicrobial resistance in the community – the safe use of biocides.” PORL/FEDER, FCT, PTDC/CAL-EST/30713/2017 (http://biosafe.ihmt.unl.pt/ ).

Co-author of over 90 research papers in international journals with peer-review and 11 book chapters.
ResearcherID: I-2640-2012; Scopus Author ID: 55916738200

Team: Sofia Santos Costa (Post-doctoral researcher); Patrícia Abrantes (Post-doctoral researcher); Catarina Morais (PhD student); Marcelino Garrine (PhD student); Carolina Ferreira (grantee); Bárbara Ramos (Msc student).

1. Costa SS, B Sobkowiak, R Parreira, J Edgeworth, M Viveiros, TG Clark, I Couto. (2019). Genetic diversity of norA, coding for a main efflux pump of Staphylococcus aureus. Front. Genet. 9, 710. https://doi.org/10.3389/fgene.2018.00710
2. Costa SS, M Viveiros, C Pomba, I Couto. (2018). Active antimicrobial efflux in Staphylococcus epidermidis: building up of resistance to fluoroquinolones and biocides in a major opportunistic pathogen. J Antimicrob Chemother. 73: 320–324.https://doi.org/10.1093/jac/dkx400
3. Costa SS, E Lopes, E Azzali, D Machado, T Coelho, P E da Silva, M Viveiros, M Pieroni, I Couto. (2016). An Experimental Model for the Rapid Screening of Compounds with Potential Use Against Mycobacteria. ASSAY and Drug Development Technologies. 14(9): 524-534.  https://doi.org/10.1089/adt.2016.752
4. Costa SS, M Viveiros, AE Rosato, J Melo-Cristino, Couto I. (2015). Impact of efflux in the development of multidrug resistance phenotypes in Staphylococcus aureus. BMC Microbiology, 15:232.  https://doi.org/10.1186/s12866-015-0572-8
5. Costa SS, M Viveiros, L Amaral, I Couto. (2013). Multidrug Efflux Pumps in Staphylococcus aureus: an Update. Open Microbiol J. 2013;7:59-71.  https://doi.org/10.2174/1874285801307010059