Month: October 2025

On 22 October, ICBAS welcomed Professor Ville-Petri Friman from the University of Helsinki, invited by the ICBAS One Health Office as part of the Agro@TecVerde International Seminar Series. Addressing an audience mainly composed of students, the lecture — “Using phages to promote plant growth” — explored the role of bacteriophages in promoting plant growth and controlling pathogenic bacteria. Professor Friman explained how microbial communities influence ecosystems and pathogens, highlighting practical applications in combating antibiotic resistance and improving plant health. His work exemplifies the One Health concept in practice, demonstrating how plant microbiology research connects with human, animal, and environmental health, and underlining the importance of alternative solutions to current health and ecological challenges. The seminar provided a unique opportunity for participants to engage with an emerging field of scientific research in microbiology.

Image: ICBAS

An X-ray of the waters of the River Douro

For 40 years, the assessment has been almost consistently poor: pollution is increasing, and the waters are far from suitable for bathing, an analysis with the hydrobiologist and ICBAS lecturer Adriano Bordalo e Sá.

Listen to the full interview here, between minutes 12:56 and 27:15.

Source: Portugal em Direto, Antena 1, RTP. Image: Unsplash.

Last Sunday (12 October), the morning Plenary Session, held as part of the 12th edition of the Portuguese Congress of Medical Students, was dedicated to the theme “One Health: Medicine Beyond the Human Body.” Moderated by Prof. Maria Stretch (ICBAS) and featuring contributions from Prof. Adriano A. Bordalo e Sá (Biologist, ICBAS), Prof. Raquel Duarte (Medical Doctor, ICBAS) and Dr. Lara Fontes (Veterinary Surgeon, UTAD), the event highlighted the importance of the holistic perspective on health that underpins the One Health concept. Indeed, when the environment in which living beings exist is not healthy, the health of plants and animals becomes compromised — and that of people is strongly affected. The talks were followed by a lively and fruitful discussion between the panel and an audience composed of students from all national medical schools.

Image: ICBAS