Dr Andre Pires da Silva

Contact Details

Dr Andre Pires da Silva

School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick

Scientific Background

Research Interests

We have three major lines of research:

Inheritance: some animals produce different types of offspring, depending on what they experience. For example, mothers that experience stress can produce stress-resistant offspring. Using a roundworm as model system, we are studying how specific sensorial cues experienced by the mother can result in different types of offspring.
Ageing: Recent research has shown that the ageing process can be delayed or even reversed. Using the roundworm model system C. elegans, we found conditions in which they can live 5 times the normal lifespan. We are studying which genes are required for this lifespan extension.
Asymmetric cell division: During embryonic development, cells become different from each to generate different tissues. Usually, neighbouring cells communicate with each other to produce those differences. We discovered a potentially new way for how cells divide to make two types of cells. This mechanism does not rely on communications with other cells but is intrinsic to the dividing cell. We aim to uncover which intrinsic signal mediate the process of asymmetric cell division to generate two different daughter cells.

Scientific Inspiration

Charles Darwin and Sydney Brenner, for their curiosity about the natural world.

Research Groups

Pires Lab

Cells & Development

Environment & Ecology

Supervision Style

In three words or phrases: Freedom to explore, collaborative

Provision of Training

Technical aspects of your training will be supervised predominantly by my experienced post docs/PhD students, with additional inputs from me.

Progression Monitoring and Management

I will expect you to take full ownership of your progression but come to me when you need help troubleshooting.

I like to be kept up to date, and will expect to see evidence of method development/data generation results on a weekly basis.

Communication

The team has a WhatsApp group chat with which we regularly communicate during the week and weekends. Whilst I expect you to keep up with my/ team communications I will expect you to manage your work/life balance.

I talk in person with every person of the lab at least three times a week.

PhD Students can expect scheduled meetings with me:

In a group meeting

At least once per week

In year 1 of PhD study

At least once per week

In year 2 of PhD study

At least once per week

In year 3 of PhD study

At least once per week

These meetings will be a mixture of face to face or via video chat or telephone. I am usually contactable for an instant response on every working day.

Working Patterns

The timing of work in my lab is completely flexible, and (other than attending pre-arranged meetings), I expect students to manage their own time.

Notice Period for Feedback

I need at least 2 week’s notice to provide feedback on written work of up to 5000 words.

Project Details

Dr Pires da Silva is the supervisor on the below projects:

Ageing: how to live 5x longer?

Genetics: why and how do animals edit their own genomes?

Secondary Supervisor(s): Dr Cathy Slack

University of Registration: University of Warwick

BBSRC Research Themes:

Understanding the Rules of Life (Stem Cells)
Integrated Understanding of Health (Ageing, Diet and Health)

Apply here!

Deadline: 23 May, 2024

Project Outline

Work on the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans revealed that many interventions can modulate lifespan and health span. For instance, restriction of food and manipulations of the reproductive system results in animals living up to 50% longer than normal. In our lab, we found conditions that make animals live 5 times longer than normal, by manipulation components of the diet. The goal of the project is to understand the mechanisms by which animals have such long longevity and to understand the sex differences.

References

Hsin, H., and Kenyon, C. (1999). Signals from the reproductive system regulate the lifespan of C. elegans. Nature 399, 362
Ancell, H., and Pires-daSilva, A. (2017). Sex-specific lifespan and its evolution in nematodes. Seminars in Cell & Developmental Biology 70, 122.

Techniques

gene editing tools to generated mutant nematodes (e.g., CRISPR/Cas9)
generation of transgenic nematodes (e.g., tagging of specific proteins with fluorescent markers)
microscopy (e.g., time lapse videos, confocal microscopy)
bioinformatics (e.g., writing scripts in Unix, R and Python)
mathematical modelling (R, Python)

Epigenetics: you are what your mother smelled

Secondary Supervisor(s): Dr Cathy Slack

University of Registration: University of Warwick

BBSRC Research Themes:

Understanding the Rules of Life (Stem Cells)
Integrated Understanding of Health (Diet and Health)

Apply here!

Deadline: 23 May, 2024

Project Outline

Recent evidence suggests that environmental signals received by somatic tissues can influence the phenotype of subsequent generations by reprogramming the germline. For example, trauma experienced by the parental generation causes the transmission of psychiatric diseases. The transmission of symptoms seems to be partially caused by changes in gene activity in the gametes of the parents. However, little is known about how it occurs. We will use a simple model system in which environmental signals (pheromones) sensed by sensory neurons are relayed to the germline to make different kinds of offspring. This model, a nematode named Auanema freiburgensis, provides an easy readout for environmental effects in subsequent generations. We will use state-of-the-art genome engineering techniques and bioinformatics tools to map the cells and signalling systems in somatic and germline cells mediating the transmission of neuronal signalling into the next generation. The results of this research will enhance our understanding of how an individual’s experience can impact the health of descendants.

References

Perez, M.F., and Lehner, B. (2019). Intergenerational and transgenerational epigenetic inheritance in animals. Nature Cell Biology 21, 143-151.
Robles, P., Turner, A., Zuco, G., Adams, S., Paganopolou, P., Winton, M., Hill, B., Kache, V., Bateson, C., and Pires-daSilva, A. (2021). Parental energy-sensing pathways control intergenerational offspring sex determination in the nematode Auanema freiburgensis. BMC Biology 19, 102.

Techniques

gene editing tools to generated mutant nematodes (e.g., CRISPR/Cas9)
generation of transgenic nematodes (e.g., tagging of specific proteins with fluorescent markers)
microscopy (e.g., time lapse videos, confocal microscopy)
bioinformatics (e.g., writing scripts in Unix, R and Python)
mathematical modelling (R, Python)

Genetics: why and how do animals edit their own genomes?

Secondary Supervisor(s): Dr Erik Griffin

University of Registration: University of Warwick

BBSRC Research Themes: Understanding the Rules of Life (Stem Cells)

Apply here!

Deadline: 23 May, 2024

Project Outline

In principle, all cells derived from a fertilised egg have the same genetic information. However, in some animals, specific genomic regions are removed from somatic cells during development. Why parts of the genome are removed from these cells, but not from cells forming the gametes (germline), has long remained an open question. Using a small free-living nematode, this projects aims to find the molecular components involved in removal of 60% of the genome during development.

References

Rey, C., . . . Delattre, M. (2023). Programmed DNA elimination in Mesorhabditis nematodes. Curr Biol. 10.1016/j.cub.2023.07.058.
Drotos, K.H.I., . . . Wyngaard, G.A. (2022). Throwing away DNA: programmed downsizing in somatic nuclei. Trends in Genetics 38, 483

Techniques

gene editing tools to generated mutant nematodes (e.g., CRISPR/Cas9)
generation of transgenic nematodes (e.g., tagging of specific proteins with fluorescent markers)
microscopy (e.g., time lapse videos, confocal microscopy)
bioinformatics (e.g., writing scripts in Unix, R and Python)
mathematical modelling (R, Python)

Dr Pires da Silva is also co-supervisor on a project with Dr Cathy Slack.

Previous Projects

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