Pedro Simas

Full Professor

Bio

JP Simas graduated at University of Lisbon as a Veterinary Surgeon in 1991 the same year he obtained a MSc in Biotechnology from the University of Newcastle upon-Tyne, UK.

He was awarded in 1994 a PhD in Viral Pathogenesis by University of Cambridge, UK.

His post-doc work was as a Wellcome Trust Fellow from 1994-97 and Post-doctoral Fellow from 1997-1998 at University of Cambridge.

He was Assistant Prof. at Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto from 1996-2001; Assistant Prof. at Faculty of Medicine University of Lisbon from 2001-2006; Associate Prof. Faculty of Medicine University of Lisbon from 2006-2021.

In 2021 he joined the new Católica Medical School at Universidade Católica Portuguesa in Lisboa and was appointed Director of the Católica Biomedical Research Centre.

He was a Principal Investigator at Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência from 1999-2004 and Principal Investigator at Instituto de Medicina Molecular from 2004-2021.

Since October 2021 he is a replacement City Councillor and Health Advisor to the Mayor of Lisboa. 

Viral Pathogenesis

The Simas lab studies how Kaposi´s sarcoma associated herpesvirus (KSHV) establishes life-long infection and causes Kaposi sarcoma and primary effusion lymphoma.

KSHV infection of tumor cells is primarily latent and KSHV drives cells to proliferate. KSHV persists in latently infected tumor cells as an extrachromosomal, multi-copy episome (plasmid).

The viral protein latency associated nuclear antigen (LANA) mediates episome replication and segregation during mitosis. Tumor cell viability is dependent on KSHV infection.

Therefore, targeting LANA is a major clinical goal.

Hence, we focus our research on identifying molecular functions of LANA that are essential for viral genome persistence and ultimately develop strategies to eradicate infection and cure associated cancers. 

 

Links:

ORCID

Other

Correction

Pedro Simas (with Muhammad Hasan). 2024. PLoS one
Paper

Kaposi's sarcoma herpesvirus exploits the DNA damage response to circularize its genome

Pedro Simas (with Li, Shijun). 2024. Nucleic Acids Research
Paper

Kaposi’s sarcoma herpesvirus latency-associated nuclear antigen broadly regulates viral gene expression and is essential for lytic infection

Pedro Simas (with Li, Shijun). 2024. PLOS Pathogens
Paper

Phenolic profile and antioxidant and biological activities of plant extracts rich in hydrolyzable tannins

Pedro Simas (with Adma Melo). 2024. ACS Agricultural Science and Technology
Paper

De Novo Human Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 Decoy NL-CVX1 Protects Mice From Severe Disease After Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection

Pedro Simas (with Maria Rebelo). 2023. The Journal of Infectious Diseases
Paper

Humoral and T cell responses to SARS-CoV-2 reveal insights into immunity during the early pandemic period in Pakistan

Pedro Simas (with Kiran Iqbal Masood). 2023. BMC Infectious Diseases
Other

Impact of a gammaherpesvirus on Plasmodium berghei infection in vivo

Pedro Simas (with Mósca, Andreia F). 2023. 13th EMBO Young Scientists¿ Forum
Paper

Investigating the impact of prior COVID‐19 on IgG antibody and interferon γ responses after BBIBP‐CorV vaccination in a disease endemic population: A prospective observational study

Pedro Simas (with Zahra Hasan). 2023. Health Science Reports
Paper

Macrophages drive KSHV B cell latency

Pedro Simas (with Agnieszka Szymula). 2023. Cell Reports
Paper

Proximity-Induced Nucleic Acid Degrader (PINAD) Approach to Targeted RNA Degradation Using Small Molecules

Pedro Simas (with Sigitas Mikutis). 2023. ACS Central Science
Other

Red grape pomace extract

Pedro Simas (with Adma Melo). 2023. Dare2Change , Porto, Portugal, 21/03/23
Paper

SARS-CoV-2 decreases malaria severity in co-infected rodent models

Pedro Simas (with Ana Fraga). 2023. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
Other

Chemical characterization, cytotoxic evaluation and anti-SARS-CoV2 activity of plant extracts rich in hydrolysable tannins

Pedro Simas (with Adma Nadja Ferreira de Melo). 2022. 1 st european Symposium on Phytochemicals in Medicine and Food, Belgrade, Serbia, 7/09/22
Other

Chemical characterization, cytotoxic evaluation and anti-SARS-CoV2 activity of plant extracts rich in hydrolysable tannins

Pedro Simas (with Adma N. F. Melo). 2022. Book of abstracts
Paper

IgG antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 in asymptomatic blood donors at two time points in Karachi

Pedro Simas (with Muhammad Hasan). 2022. PLoS one
Paper

A rapid real-time polymerase chain reaction-based live virus microneutralization assay for detection of neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in blood/serum

Pedro Simas (with Abidi, Syed Hani). 2021. PLOS ONE
Paper

Endemic SARS-CoV-2 will maintain post-pandemic immunity.

Pedro Simas 2021. Nature reviews. Immunology
Other

Extraction of bioactive compounds from plants as promising agentes against SARS-CoV-2

Pedro Simas (with Mariana C. Pedrosa). 2021. 4th International Congress of Biochemistry & Microbiology Applied Technologies, Hammamet, Tunisia, 5/11/21
Paper

MLL1 is regulated by KSHV LANA and is important for virus latency

Pedro Simas (with Tan, Min). 2021. Nucleic Acids Research
Other

Plant extract with bioactive potential against SARS-CoV-2

Pedro Simas (with Adma Melo). 2021. 4th Congress of Bíochemistry and Microbiology Applied Technology, Hammamet, Tunisia, 5/11/21
Other

Plant extract with bioactive potential against SARS-CoV-2

Pedro Simas (with Adma Melo). 2021. 4th International Congress of Biochemistry & Microbiology Applied Technologies, Hammamet, Tunisia, 5/11/21
Other

Plant extract with bioactive potential against SARS-CoV-2

Pedro Simas (with Adma N. F. Melo). 2021. 4th International Congress of Biochemistry & Microbiology Applied Technologies, Hammamet, Tunisia, 5/11/21
Other

The impact of SARS-CoV-2 on a subsequent infection by malaria parasites

Pedro Simas (with Ana Fraga). 2021. 5.ª Conferência Anual da redeSAÚDE - A Health Research Agenda Towards 2030
Paper

KSHV LANA acetylation-selective acidic domain reader sequence mediates virus persistence

Pedro Simas (with Juillard, Franceline). 2020. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Paper

MicroRNA-181a regulates IFN-¿ expression in effector CD8+ T cell differentiation

Pedro Simas (with Amado, Tiago). 2020.
Paper

Seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in COVID-19 patients and healthy volunteers up to 6 months post disease onset

Pedro Simas (with Figueiredo-Campos, Patrícia). 2020. European Journal of Immunology
Other

«Pensar a pandemia, a Vida e o Cuidado: Saúde», com [«Thinking about the pandemic, Life, and Care,» with] Rui Gama, Joaquim Braga, Pedro Simas e [and] Manuel Silvério Marques [https://youtu.be/cxrc-FjhDI0] 10.5281/zenodo.4295671

Pedro Simas (with Fernandes, Rui Jorge Gama). 2020.
Other

Control of mucosal defense and innate immunity by neuroregulators

Pedro Simas (with Cardoso, Vânia Rita de Faria). 2019.
Other

Evaluation of the therapeutic potential of several compounds in human herpesvirus 8 using a chimera virus mouse infection model

Pedro Simas (with Rodrigues, Tânia Alexandra da Cruz). 2019.
Other

Investigation of LANA: a human virus tumor gene

Pedro Simas (with Sousa, Anita Marisa Pinto). 2019.
Paper

Vaccine protection against murid herpesvirus-4 is maintained when the priming virus lacks known latency genes.

Pedro Simas 2019. Immunology and cell biology
Other

A mouse model of infection to investigate Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus LANA function in vivo

Pedro Simas (with Silva, Nelly Marine Carreira da Silva). 2018.
Paper

Gammaherpesvirus Colonization of the Spleen Requires Lytic Replication in B Cells.

Pedro Simas 2018. Journal of virology
Paper

In Vivo Persistence of Chimeric Virus after Substitution of the Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus LANA DNA Binding Domain with That of Murid Herpesvirus 4.

Pedro Simas 2018. Journal of virology
Other

Influenza virus susceptibility to antiviral drugs : drug susceptibility profiling, whole-genome mutational landscape and selective pressure footprints

Pedro Simas (with Correia, Vanessa Cardoso Pires Martins, 1981-). 2018.
Other

Sensing and transcriptional requirements of innate lymphoid cells

Pedro Simas (with Domingues, Rita Gomes, 1986 -). 2018.
Paper

Cross-species conservation of episome maintenance provides a basis for in vivo investigation of Kaposi's sarcoma herpesvirus LANA

Pedro Simas (with Aline C. Habison). 2017. PLOS Pathogens
Paper

Effector γδ T Cell Differentiation Relies on Master but Not Auxiliary Th Cell Transcription Factors.

Pedro Simas (with Barros-Martins J). 2016. The Journal of Immunology
Paper

GLUT1-mediated glucose uptake plays a crucial role during Plasmodium hepatic infection.

Pedro Simas (with Meireles P). 2016.
Paper

Latency-Associated Nuclear Antigen E3 Ubiquitin Ligase Activity Impacts Gammaherpesvirus-Driven Germinal Center B Cell Proliferation.

Pedro Simas (with Cerqueira SA). 2016.
Other

Murid herpesvirus-4 modulation of B-T helper cell interaction

Pedro Simas (with Fontinha, Diana). 2016.
Other

Pathogenesis of gammaherpesviruses based upon structural data

Pedro Simas (with Cerqueira, Sofia Isabel Arriaga Mimoso, 1988-). 2016.
Other

Response to commentary on “Identification of H-type BSE in Portugal”

Pedro Simas (with Leonor Orge). 2016. Prion
Paper

Type 1 interferons and NK cells restrict gamma-herpesvirus lymph node infection.

Pedro Simas (with Lawler C). 2016.
Other

Erratum

Pedro Simas (with Diana Fontinha). 2015. PLoS one
Paper

Identification of H-type BSE in Portugal.

Pedro Simas (with Orge L). 2015.
Paper

KSHV but not MHV-68 LANA induces a strong bend upon binding to terminal repeat viral DNA.

Pedro Simas (with Ponnusamy R). 2015.
Paper

Murid Gammaherpesvirus Latency-Associated Protein M2 Promotes the Formation of Conjugates between Transformed B Lymphoma Cells and T Helper Cells.

Pedro Simas (with Fontinha D). 2015.
Paper

The Kaposi's sarcoma herpesvirus latency-associated nuclear antigen DNA binding domain dorsal positive electrostatic patch facilitates DNA replication and episome persistence.

Pedro Simas (with Li S). 2015.
Paper

Defining immune engagement thresholds for in vivo control of virus-driven lymphoproliferation.

Pedro Simas (with Godinho-Silva C). 2014.
Other

Detecção do vírus do papiloma humano por PCR em tempo real : relevância para medicina legal

Pedro Simas (with Sousa, Daniela Cochicho Tavares de, 1980-). 2014.
Paper

Establishment of murine gammaherpesvirus latency in B cells is not a stochastic event.

Pedro Simas (with Decalf J). 2014.
Other

Immune engagement thresholds for CD8+ T CELL control of yherpesvirus-driven B CELL

Pedro Simas (with Silva, Cristina Sofia Godinho da, 1986-). 2014.
Paper

Maternal retinoids control type 3 innate lymphoid cells and set the offspring immunity.

Pedro Simas (with van de Pavert SA). 2014.
Other

Role of Myc and CD8 T cells in ¿-herpesvirus induced lymphoproliferation

Pedro Simas (with Basto, Inês Marques, 1988-). 2014.
Paper

Anthracyclines induce DNA damage response-mediated protection against severe sepsis

Pedro Simas (with Figueiredo, N.). 2013. Immunity
Paper

Crystal Structure of the Gamma-2 Herpesvirus LANA DNA Binding Domain Identifies Charged Surface Residues Which Impact Viral Latency

Pedro Simas (with Correia, B.). 2013. PLoS Pathogens
Paper

Role of Src homology domain binding in signaling complexes assembled by the murid γ-herpesvirus M2 protein

Pedro Simas (with Pires De Miranda, M.). 2013. Journal of Biological Chemistry
Paper

Stabilization of Myc through Heterotypic Poly-Ubiquitination by mLANA Is Critical for γ-Herpesvirus Lymphoproliferation

Pedro Simas (with Rodrigues, L.). 2013. PLoS Pathogens
Paper

CD8+ T Cells from Mice Transnuclear for a TCR that Recognizes a Single H-2Kb-Restricted MHV68 Epitope Derived from gB-ORF8 Help Control Infection

Pedro Simas (with Sehrawat, S.). 2012. Cell Reports
Other

Modulação da activação da célula T helper CD4+ na sinapse imunológica por gamaherpesvírus

Pedro Simas (with Lopes, Filipa Bravo, 1981-). 2012.
Paper

Murine gammaherpesvirus 68 LANA acts on terminal repeat DNA to mediate episome persistence

Pedro Simas (with Habison, A.C.). 2012. Journal of Virology
Paper

T cell apoptosis and induction of foxp3 + regulatory T cells underlie the therapeutic efficacy of CD4 blockade in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Pedro Simas (with Duarte, J.). 2012. Journal of Immunology
Other

Identification of NF-kB and MYC binding motifs in Herpesvirus ORF73

Pedro Simas (with Cerqueira, Sofia Isabel Arriaga Mimoso, 1988-). 2011.
Paper

Cutting edge: Adaptive versus innate receptor signals selectively control the pool sizes of murine IFN-γ-or IL-17-producing γδ T cells upon infection

Pedro Simas (with Ribot, J.C.). 2010. Journal of Immunology
Paper

Putative emergence of classical scrapie in a background of enzootic atypical scrapie

Pedro Simas (with Orge, L.). 2010. Journal of General Virology
Other

Estudo epidemiológico e molecular da infecção por Rotavírus, numa população pediátrica

Pedro Simas (with Boto, Ana Cristina Faria, 1971-). 2009.
Paper

Immune control of mammalian gamma-herpesviruses: Lessons from murid herpesvirus-4

Pedro Simas (with Stevenson, P.G.). 2009. Journal of General Virology
Paper

In vivo imaging of murid herpesvirus-4 infection

Pedro Simas (with Milho, R.). 2009. Journal of General Virology
Other

Molecular pathogenesis of murid herpesvirus-4 latent infection

Pedro Simas (with Alenquer, Marta Bebiano, 1980-). 2009.
Paper

Parainfluenza virus 5 genomes are located in viral cytoplasmic bodies whilst the virus dismantles the interferon-induced antiviral state of cells

Pedro Simas (with Carlos, T.S.). 2009. Journal of General Virology
Paper

Termination of NF-κB activity through a gammaherpesvirus protein that assembles an EC"5S ubiquitin-ligase

Pedro Simas (with Rodrigues, L.). 2009. EMBO Journal
Paper

A single CD8+ T cell epitope sets the long-term latent load of a murid herpesvirus

Pedro Simas (with Marques, S.). 2008. PLoS Pathogens
Paper

The gammaherpesvirus m2 protein manipulates the Fyn/Vav pathway through a multidocking mechanism of assembly

Pedro Simas (with de Miranda, M.P.). 2008. PLoS ONE
Other

Estudo da prevalência de doenças associadas a vectores em canídeos domésticos do distrito de Bragança

Pedro Simas (with Figueiredo, Teresa Catarina Dias, 1975-). 2007.
Other

Infecção pelo vírus da imunodeficiência humana do tipo 1 em toxicodependentes : caracterização molecular de casos de infecções VIH-1 recentes vs casos de infecções VIH-1 antigas

Pedro Simas (with Silva, Ana Filipa Correia, 1980-). 2007.
Paper

Type I interferon inhibition and dendritic cell activation during gammaherpesvirus respiratory infection

Pedro Simas (with Weslow-Schmidt, J.L.). 2007. Journal of Virology
Paper

Activation of Vav by the gammaherpesvirus M2 protein contributes to the establishment of viral latency in B lymphocytes

Pedro Simas (with Rodrigues, L.). 2006. Journal of Virology
Other

Viral immune evasion strategies : the human cytomegalovirus US2 immunoevasin and protein degradation from the endoplasmic reticulum

Pedro Simas (with Loureiro, Joana, 1978-). 2006.
Paper

Intrabodies targeting the Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus latency antigen inhibit viral persistence in lymphoma cells

Pedro Simas (with Corte-Real, S.). 2005. Blood
Paper

Murine gammaherpesvirus 68 bcl-2 homologue contributes to latency establishment in vivo

Pedro Simas (with de Lima, B.D.). 2005. Journal of General Virology
Paper

Murine γ-herpesvirus 68 latency protein M2 binds to Vav signaling proteins and inhibits B-cell receptor-induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in WEHI-231 B cells

Pedro Simas (with Madureira, P.A.). 2005. Journal of Biological Chemistry
Paper

Identification of putative atypical scrapie in sheep in Portugal

Pedro Simas (with Orge, L.). 2004. Journal of General Virology
Paper

The M2 gene product of murine gammaherpesvirus 68 is required for efficient colonization of splenic follicles but is not necessary for expansion of latently infected germinal centre B cells

Pedro Simas (with Simas, J.P.). 2004. Journal of General Virology
Other

Estudo de tRNAs virais codificados pelo genoma do vírus MHV-68

Pedro Simas (with Gomes, Paula Fernanda da Silva). 2003.
Paper

ORF73 of murine herpesvirus-68 is critical for the establishment and maintenance of latency

Pedro Simas (with Fowler, P.). 2003. Journal of General Virology
Paper

Scrapie genetic susceptibility in Portuguese sheep breeds [6]

Pedro Simas (with Orge, L.). 2003. Veterinary Record
Paper

Selective gene expression of latent murine gammaherpesvirus 68 in B lymphocytes

Pedro Simas (with Marques, S.). 2003. Journal of Virology
Paper

K3-mediated evasion of CD8+ T cells aids amplification of a latent γ-herpesvirus

Pedro Simas (with Stevenson, P.G.). 2002. Nature Immunology
Paper

A secreted chemokine binding protein encoded by murine gammaherpesvirus-68 is necessary for the establishment of a normal latent load

Pedro Simas (with Bridgeman, A.). 2001. Journal of Experimental Medicine
Paper

A broad spectrum secreted chemokine binding protein encoded by a herpesvirus

Pedro Simas (with Parry, C.M.). 2000. Journal of Experimental Medicine
Paper

Similarity of the lesion profile of BSE in Portuguese cattle to that described in British cattle

Pedro Simas (with Orge, L.). 2000. Veterinary Record
Paper

Analysis of murine gammaherpesvirus-68 transcription during lytic and latent infection

Pedro Simas (with Simas, J.P.). 1999. Journal of General Virology
Paper

BSE in Portugal: anticipating the decline of an epidemic.

Pedro Simas (with Donnelly, C.A.). 1999. Journal of epidemiology and biostatistics
Paper

Four tRNA-like sequences and a serpin homologue encoded by murine gammaherpesvirus 68 are dispensable for lytic replication in vitro and latency in vivo

Pedro Simas (with Simas, J.P.). 1998. Journal of General Virology
Paper

Murine gammaherpesvirus 68: a model for the study of gammaherpesvirus pathogenesis

Pedro Simas (with Simas, JP). 1998. Trends in Microbiology
Paper

Murine gammaherpesvirus 68 encodes tRNA-like sequences which are expressed during latency

Pedro Simas (with Bowden, R.J.). 1997. Journal of General Virology
Paper

The course of disease and persistence of virus in the central nervous system varies between individual CBA mice infected with the BeAn strain of Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus

Pedro Simas (with Simas, J.P.). 1996. Journal of General Virology
Paper

The neurovirulent GDVII strain of Theiler's virus can replicate in glial cells

Pedro Simas (with Simas, J.P.). 1995. Journal of Virology