Throughout his doctoral thesis, Gil dedicated himself to understanding how the activation of the immune system affects the structure and function of the skeleton of fish, using zebrafish as an experimental model. The aim was twofold: to study the effects of the immune response on the skeleton and to propose a useful model for investigating diseases that involve the interaction between the immune system and the skeletal system, an area called osteoimmunology.
"There was very little known about how the immune response influences the skeleton of fish, and this could be essential for both biomedicine and aquaculture," explains Gil.
During his work, Gil demonstrated that continuous exposure to lipopolysaccharides - components of bacteria - triggers an increase in bone resorption, resulting in changes in the structure and size of fish scales. These changes have previously been documented in mammals, but were yet to be explored in aquatic models. In addition, the research included the investigation of natural compounds present in microalgae, such as glycolipids, with the potential to mitigate the effects of immune stimulation, pointing to new therapeutic avenues for osteoimmune diseases.
‘We have shown that zebrafish scales can be used as a biomedical model to study the interaction between the immune system and the skeletal system, and also as a screening tool for bioactive molecules,’ summarises the researcher.
The project was supported by CCMAR, where Gil had access to infrastructures such as the zebrafish, microscopy and cell culture units. He also collaborated with the company Necton S.A., a supplier of high-quality microalgae pulp, and with the Chemistry Department of the University of Aveiro, which was essential for isolating the glycolipid fractions present in microalgae.
Now that he has completed his thesis, Gil intends to continue investigating the role of immune stimulation in the development of skeletal anomalies in aquaculture fish - one of the sector's major challenges, with a direct impact on the health and quality of the organisms produced.
"This research can help to understand and possibly prevent some of the main limitations associated with intensive fish production," he concludes.
Although the scientific articles with the results obtained are still being evaluated, it is hoped that they will make a significant contribution to the advancement of knowledge at the interface between immunology, bone biology and marine biotechnology.
