Victor Castro Alves
Title: Researcher School/office: School of Science and Technology
Email:
Phone: +46 19 303819
Room: B3118
About Victor Castro Alves
Victor Castro-Alves is a researcher within Örebro University’s multidisciplinary Food and Health programme. Before joining the Man-Technology-Environment Research Centre (MTM), he received a PhD in Food Science at the University of São Paulo (USP), Brazil, by exploring the chemical structure of dietary fibres and their effects on immune system cells. He also has an MSc in Food Science from USP, which he obtained by applying mass spectrometry-based approaches to investigate how the surrounding environment of crop influences fruit quality. Victor Castro-Alves also employed mass spectrometry-based approaches and chemometrics to explore fruit quality in breeding programmes at the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation.
Research
At ÖRU our primary research focus is on increasing the nutritional value and sensory quality of vegetables and herbs by developing innovative and commercially sound strategies through modulation of the light environment in greenhouses. We are applying the cutting-edge concept of sensomics, which integrates metabolomics, the comprehensive analysis of all metabolites in a studied biological system, with highly innovative testing for culinary quality and plant production parameters in collaboration with national and international research groups, as well as with commercial producers. We are also exploring how changes in the light environment during plant production impacts the synthesis of health-promoting compounds by the plant, and how these metabolites are biotransformed after consumption using in vitro fermentation studies. Our approach aims not only the production of healthier and tastier foods but also to contribute to the basic understanding of the relationship between plant metabolism and its sensorial and nutritional quality. That will lead to practical applications that will benefit primary producers, retailers, and first and foremost, consumers.
For more information about published papers please refer to my page within the ResearcherID and Google Scholar. You can also find me on ResearchGate.
Research teams
Publications
Articles in journals
- Palma, C. F. F. , Castro Alves, V. , Morales, L. O. , Rosenqvist, E. , Ottosen, C. , Hyötyläinen, T.
& Strid, Å. (2022). Metabolic changes in cucumber leaves are enhanced by blue light and differentially affected by UV interactions with light signalling pathways in the visible spectrum. Plant Science, 321.
Document in full text in Diva
- Kurtser, P. , Castro Alves, V. , Arunachalam, A. , Sjöberg, V. , Hanell, U. , Hyötyläinen, T. & Andreasson, H. (2021). Development of novel robotic platforms for mechanical stress induction, and their effects on plant morphology, elements, and metabolism. Scientific Reports, 11 (1).
- Palma, C. F. F. , Castro Alves, V. , Rosenqvist, E. , Ottosen, C. , Strid, Å.
& Morales, L. O. (2021). Effects of UV radiation on transcript and metabolite accumulation are dependent on monochromatic light background in cucumber. Physiologia Plantarum, 173 (3), 750-761.
Document in full text in Diva
- Castro Alves, V. , Kalbina, I. , Nilsen, A. , Mats, A. , Rosenqvist, E. , Jansen, M. A. K. , Qian, M. , Öström, Å.
& et al.
(2021). Integration of non-target metabolomics and sensory analysis unravels vegetable plant metabolite signatures associated with sensory quality: A case study using dill (Anethum graveolens). Food Chemistry, 344.
Document in full text in Diva
- Lanzon, B. , Martin-Taboada, M. , Castro Alves, V. , Vila-Bedmar, R. , González de Pablos, I. , Duberg, D. , Gomez, P. , Rodriguez, E. & et al. (2021). Lipidomic and Metabolomic Signature of Progression of Chronic Kidney Disease in Patients with Severe Obesity. Metabolites, 11 (12).
- Castro Alves, V. & Oliveira do Nascimento, J. R. (2021). Size matters: TLR4-mediated effects of α-(1,5)-linear arabino-oligosaccharides in macrophage-like cells depend on their degree of polymerization. Food Research International, 141.
- Palma, C. F. F. , Castro Alves, V. , Morales, L. O. , Rosenqvist, E. , Ottosen, C.
& Strid, Å. (2021). Spectral composition of light affects plant sensitivity to UV-B and photoinhibition in cucumber. Frontiers in Plant Science, 11.
Document in full text in Diva
- Castro Alves, V. , Kalbina, I. , Öström, Å. , Hyötyläinen, T.
& Strid, Å. (2020). The taste of UV light: Using sensomics to improve horticultural quality. UV4Plants Bulletin (1), 39-43.
Document in full text in Diva
- Nascimento, T. P. , Castro-Alves, V. C. , Castelan, F. P. , Calhua, M. F. N. , Saraiva, L. A. , Agopian, R. G. & Cordenunsi-Lysenko, B. R. (2019). Metabolomic profiling reveals that natural biodiversity surrounding a banana crop may positively influence the nutritional/sensorial profile of ripe fruits. Food Research International, 124, 165-174.
- Castro Alves, V. , Misuzu Shiga, T. & Oliveira do Nascimento, J. R. (2019). Polysaccharides from chayote enhance lipid efflux and regulate NLRP3 inflammasome priming in macrophage-like THP-1 cells exposed to cholesterol crystals. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 127, 502-510.
- Castelan, F. P. , Castro Alves, V. , Saraiva, L. A. , Nacsimento, T. P. , Cálhau, M. F. N. S. , Dias, C. T. S. & Cordenunsi-Lysenko, B. R. (2018). Natural Ecosystem Surrounding a Conventional Banana Crop Improves Plant Health and Fruit Quality. Frontiers in Plant Science, 9.
- Castro Alves, V. & Oliveira do Nascimento, J. R. (2018). α-and β-D-Glucans from the edible mushroom Pleurotus albidus differentially regulate lipid-induced inflammation and foam cell formation in human macrophage-like THP-1 cells. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 111, 1222-1228.
- Castro Alves, V. , Gomes, D. , Menolli Jr., N. , Sforça, M. L. & Oliveira do Nascimento, J. R. (2017). Characterization and immunomodulatory effects of glucans from Pleurotus albidus, a promising species of mushroom for farming and biomass production. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 95, 215-223.
- Ramos Do Prado, S. B. , Melfi, P. R. , Castro Alves, V. , Broetto, S. G. , Araújo, E. S. , do Nascimento, J. R. & Fabi, J. P. (2016). Physiological Degradation of Pectin in Papaya Cell Walls: Release of Long Chains Galacturonans Derived from Insoluble Fractions during Postharvest Fruit Ripening. Frontiers in Plant Science, 7.
- Castro Alves, V. & Oliveira do Nascimento, J. R. (2016). Polysaccharides from raw and cooked chayote modulate macrophage function. Food Research International, 81, 171-179.
- Castro Alves, V. C. & Oliveira do Nascimento, J. R. (2016). Speeding up the extraction of mushroom polysaccharides. Food Analytical Methods, 9 (9), 2429-2433.
- Castro Alves, V. & Cordenunsi, B. R. (2015). Total Soluble Phenolic Compounds Quantification Is Not As Simple As It Seems. Food Analytical Methods, 8 (4), 873-884.
- Todisco, K. M. , Castro Alves, V. , dos Santos Garruti, D. , Corriea da Costa, J. M. & Clemente, E. (2014). The Use of Headspace Solid-Phase Microextraction (HS-SPME) to Assess the Quality and Stability of Fruit Products: An Example Using Red Mombin Pulp (Spondias purpurea L.). Molecules, 19 (10), 16851-16860.
- dos Santos Garruti, D. , de Oliveira Frederico Pinto, N. , Castro Alves, V. , Azevedo da Penha, M. F. , de Castro Tobaruela, E. & da Silva Araújo, Í. M. (2013). Volatile profile and sensory quality of new varieties of Capsicum chinense pepper. Ciência e tecnologia de alimentos, 33, 102-108.
- Castro Alves, V. , da Silva Pereira, G. , de Oliveira Frederico Pinto, N. , Azevedo da Penha, M. F. & dos Santos Garruti, D. (2012). Sensory and Volatile Compounds Profile of Thap Maeo Banana: an Option for the Replacement of Pest-susceptible Cultivars. The Natural Products Journal, 2 (3), 205-211.
- Castro Alves, V. , Azevedo da Penha, M. F. , de Oliveira Frederico Pinto, N. & dos Santos Garruti, D. (2012). Volatile Compounds Profile of Musa FHIA 02: An Option to Counter Losses by Black Sigatoka. The Natural Products Journal, 2 (1), 55-60.
- Leite, L. M. , Carvalho, A. G. G. , Tavares Ferreira, P. L. F. , Xavier Pessoa, I. , Gonçalves, D. O. , de Araújo Lopes, A. , dos Santos Góes, J. G. , Castro Alves, V. C. & et al. (2011). Anti-inflammatory Properties of Doxycycline and Minocycline in Experimental Models: An in Vivo and in Vitro Comparative Study. InflammoPharmacology, 19 (2), 99-110.
- Lucetti, D. L. , Lucetti, E. C. , Bandeira, M. A. M. , Veras, H. N. , Silva, A. H. , Am Leal, L. K. , Lopes, A. A. , Castro Alves, V. & et al. (2010). Anti-inflammatory Effects and Possible Mechanism of Action of Lupeol Acetate Isolated From Himatanthus Drasticus (Mart.) Plumel. Journal of Inflammation, 7.
Articles, reviews/surveys
- Ramos Do Prado, S. B. , Castro Alves, V. , Ferreira, G. F. & Fabi, J. P. (2019). Ingestion of non-digestible carbohydrates from plant-source foods and decreased risk of colorectal cancer: A review on the biological effects and the mechanisms of action. Frontiers in Nutrition, 6.
- Cordenunsi-Lysenko, B. R. , Nascimento, J. R. O. , Castro-Alves, V. , Purgatto, E. , Fabi, J. P. & Peroni-Okyta, F. H. G. (2019). The Starch Is (Not) Just Another Brick in the Wall: The Primary Metabolism of Sugars During Banana Ripening. Frontiers in Plant Science, 10.
Chapters in books
- Castro Alves, V. , de Oliveira Frederico Pinto, N. , Penha, M. F. A. , Gomes, B. L. , Reifschneider, F. J. & Garruti, D. S. (2014). Aroma-Active Compounds of Capsicum Chinense Var. Biquinho. In: Vicente Ferreira; Ricardo Lopez, Flavour Science: Proceedings From XIII Weurman Flavour Research Symposium (pp. 567-571). Salt Lake City: Academic Press.
- Penha, M. F. A. , Castro Alves, V. , de Oliveira Frederico Pinto, N. , Magalhães, H. C. R. , Reifschneider, F. J. & Garrut, D. S. (2014). Varietal Differences in the Volatile Profile of Bananas with Resistance to Black Leaf Streak Disease. In: Vicente Ferreira; Ricardo Lopez, Flavour Science: Proceedings From XIII Weurman Flavour Research Symposium (pp. 597-600). Salt Lake City: Academic Press.
- Pinto, N. O. , Castro Alves, V. , Penha, M. F. A. , Gomes, B. L. , Reifschneider, F. J. & Garruti, D. S. (2014). Volatile Profile of New Improved Brazilian Capsicum chinense Peppers. In: Vicente Ferreira; Ricardo Lopez, Flavour Science: Proceedings From XIII Weurman Flavour Research Symposium (pp. 643-647). Salt Lake City: Academic Press.