Publications

2026

Dietary curcumin supplementation impacts on growth performance, antioxidant status, and immune response of seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) larvae

Hien-La Nguyen The, Wilson Pinto, Ana Teresa Gonçalves, Gabriella do Vale Pereira, Inês Freitas, Sara Castanho, Cátia Lourenço-Marques, Florbela Soares, Bruno Reis, Benjamin Costas, Pedro Pousão-Ferreira & Luís E. C. Conceição
Fish Physiology and Biochemistry

Dietary 1.3-1.6 yeast β-glucans enhance immune response and disease resilience in European seabass challenged with Tenacibaculum maritimum

Miguel Cabano, Nadège Richard, Julie Schulthess, Lourenço Ramos-Pinto, Francisco Pinto-Cunha, Maria João Peixoto, Cláudia Aragão & Benjamin Costas
Frontiers in Immunology

Effects of dietary fermented sugar kelp (Saccharina latissima) on intestinal histology, antioxidant capacity, and immune-related biomarkers of post-smolt Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)

Sahar Sartipiyarahmadi, Ingvild Lunderød Øverbø, Benjamin Costas, Lourenço Ramos-Pinto, Nina S. Liland, Harald Sveier, Silje Steinsund, Tom Johnny Hansen, Øivind Strand, Jan Vidar Jakobsen, Antony J. Prabhu Philip & Sofie C. Remø
Fish & Shellfish Immunology

Biological Validation of Cortisol in Zebrafish Trunk, Skin Mucus, and Water as a Biomarker of Acute or Chronic Stress

Sara Jorge, Luís Félix, Benjamín Costas, Lourenço Ramos-Pinto, Sofia R. Teixeira & Ana M. Valentim
Fishes

Dietary Methionine Supplementation Improves Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) Immune Responses Against Viral Haemorrhagic Septicaemia Virus (VHSV)

Mariana Vaz, Gonçalo Espregueira Themudo, Inês Carvalho, Felipe Bolgenhagen Schöninger, Carolina Tafalla, Patricia Díaz-Rosales, Benjamín Costas & Marina Machado
Biology

2025

Modulating Whiteleg Shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) Health from the Inside out: Effects of Xylooligosaccharides from Salicornia ramosissima on Gut Metabolites and Microbial Community

Ana Garcia, Sergio Fernández-Boo, André Barreto, Miguel Semedo, Mette Hedegaard Thomsen, Allan Stensballe, Maxwel Monção, Leonidas Matsakas, Paul Christakopoulos, Viswanath Kiron, Rui J. M. Rocha & Benjamin Costas
International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Can lysine and branched-chain amino acids improve lumpfish health and stress resilience?

Tiago da Santa Lopes, Benjamin Costas, Lourenço Ramos-Pinto, Christopher Pimentel,Francisco Pinto-Cunha, Patrick Reynolds, Albert K.D. Imsland, Cláudia Aragão & Jorge M.O. Fernandes
Aquaculture Reports

Immunomodulatory effects of dietary methionine supplementation in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) juveniles: insights following vaccination and infection response against Yersinia ruckeri

Inês Carvalho, Felipe Bolgenhagen Schoninger, André Cunha, Diogo Peixoto, Francisca Brito, Luara Simões, Mariana Vaz, Allan Stensballe, Inês Ferreira, Paulo Santos, Carolina Tafalla, Marina Machado, and Benjamín Costas
Frontiers in Immunology

Early Nutrition Impacts on Growth, Skeletal Anomalies and Organ Ontogeny in Larval Atlantic Cod (Gadus morhua)

Joana Pedro, João Henriques, Maria Bergvik, Konstantinos Tzakris, Michael Viegas, Katerina Loufi, Jorge M. O. Fernandes, Benjamín Costas, Nils Tokle, Luís E. C. Conceição
Animals

Unraveling the Systemic and Local Immune Response of Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) to the Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemic Virus

Mariana Vaz, Gonçalo Espregueira Themudo, Felipe Bolgenhagen Schöninger, Inês Carvalho, Carolina Tafalla, Patricia Díaz-Rosales, Lourenço Ramos-Pinto, Benjamín Costas, Marina Machado
Biology

Soy protein concentrate and krill meal in microfeeds bring health benefits for whiteleg shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) post-larvae

André Barreto, Diogo Peixoto, Carlos Fajardo, Silvia Pires, Wilson Pinto, Rui J.M. Rocha, Luís E.C. Conceição, Benjamin Costas
Aquaculture International

Decoding the gene expression response of Cerastoderma edule to chronic trematode infection: A comparison among host tissues.

Simão Correia, Andrés Blanco-Hortas, Daniel García Souto, Robert Poulin, Manuel Vera, Luísa Magalhães & Sergio Fernández-Boo
Journal of Invertebrate Pathology

(Editorial) Amino Acid Supplementation in Fish Nutrition and Welfare

Cláudia Aragão, Sofia Engrola & Benjamín Costas
Animals

(Literature review) Advances, challenges, and applications of laboratory culture of digenean trematode parasites

Simão Correia, Sergio Fernández-Boo, Manuel Vera, Robert Poulin & Luísa Magalhães
Advances in Parasitology

(Literature review) Genetically Modified Animal-Derived Products: From Regulations to Applications

Carlos Fajardo Quiñones, Marta Macedo, Tonka Buha, Marcos De Donato, Benjamín Costas & Juan Miguel Mancera
Animals

Signatures of Selection for Resistance/Tolerance to Perkinsus olseni in Grooved Carpet Shell Clam (Ruditapes decussatus) Using a Population Genomics Approach

Inés Sambade, João Estêvão, Marina Pampín, Andreia Cruz, Eric Guévélou, Andrés Blanco, Francisco Camara, Jessica Gomez-Garrido, Fernando Cruz, Luca Bargelloni, Stefano Carboni, Tyler Scott Alioto, Benjamín Costas, Sergio Fernández-Boo & Paulino Martinez
Evolutionary Applications

Tryptophan-induced transcriptomic changes in the European Seabass are highly dependent on neuroendocrine-immune conditions

Diogo Peixoto, Inês Carvalho, Diego Robledo, Marina Machado, Patricia Pereiro, Antonio Figueras, Rita Azeredo & Benjamín Costas
Scientific reports

Exploring the effects of dietary methionine supplementation on European seabass mucosal immune responses against Tenacibaculum maritimum

Carvalho I., Peixoto D., Ferreira I., Robledo D., Ramos-Pinto L., Silva R.M., Gonçalves J.F., Machado M., Tafalla C. & Costas B.
Frontiers in immunology

Rab Proteins as Potential Therapeutic Targets Applied to Crustacean Aquaculture: Rab7 Case Analysis

Fajardo C., De Donato M., Charoonnart P., Saksmerprome V., Jackson H.O., Mancera J.M. & Costas B.
Reviews in aquaculture

2024

Tryptophan-supplemented diet modulates the metabolic response of European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) juveniles reared under space-confined conditions and submitted to acute inflammation

Peixoto D., Martos-Sitcha J.A., Costas B., Azeredo R., Mancera J.M.
Fish Physiology and Biochemistry

(Position paper) On the discussion for welfare improvement in farmed fish. Recommendations from GRINNAQUA’s consortium

Machado M., Bean T., Díaz-Rosales P., Tafalla C., Øvergård A.C., Nilsen F., Costas B., & Fernández-Boo S.
Zenodo

Synergistic Effects of Dietary Tryptophan and Dip Vaccination in the Immune Response of European Seabass Juveniles

Peixoto D., Carvalho I., Cunha A., Santos P., Ramos-Pinto L., Machado M.,Azeredo R. & Costas B.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences

RNA Interference Applied to Crustacean Aquaculture

Fajardo C., de Donato M. Macedo M., Charoonnart P., Saksmerprome V., Yang L., Purton S.,Mancera J.M. & Costas B.
Biomolecules

Tenacibaculum maritimum can boost inflammation in Dicentrarchus labrax upon peritoneal injection but cannot trigger tenacibaculosis disease

Ferreira IA, Santos P, Moxó JS, Teixeira C, do Vale A, Costas B.
Frontiers in immunology

Lumpfish physiological response to chronic stress

Lopes T.S., Costas B., Ramos-Pinto L., Reynolds P., Imsland A.K.D., Aragão C. & Fernandes J.M.O.
Reviews in Fisheries Science & Aquaculture

Cutting-Edge Methods in Teleost and Chondrichthyan Reproductive Biology

Mechaly A.S., Awruch C,, Cabrita E., Costas B., Fernandes J.M.O., Gallego V., Hirt-Chabbert J., Konstantinidis I., Olivera C., Ramos-Júdez S., Ramos-Pinto L. & Fatsini E.
Reviews in Fisheries Science & Aquaculture

Sustainable Fish Meal-Free Diets for Gilthead Sea Bream (Sparus aurata): Integrated Biomarker Response to Assess the Effects on Growth Performance, Lipid Metabolism, Antioxidant Defense and Immunological Status

Fernandes A.M., Calduch-Giner J.A., Pereira G.V., Gonçalves A.T., Dias J., Johan Johansen J., Silva T., Naya-Català F., Piazzon C., Sitjà-Bobadilla A., Costas B., Conceição L.E.C., Fernandes J.M.O. & Pérez-Sánchez J.
Animals

(Preprint) Inclusion of Salicornia ramosissima biomass in diets for juvenile whiteleg shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) induces favourable but transient effects in the immune and oxidative status

Ramos-Pinto L., Raquel Marçal R., Barreto A., Laranjeira A., Machado M., Fernández-Boo S., Teixeira C., Oliveira J., Couto A., Dias J., Guilherme S., Veríssimo A.C.S., Pinto D.C.G.A., Pacheco M., Rocha R.J.M., Costas B.
bioRxiv

Agouti-induced anxiety-like behaviour is mediated by central serotonergic pathways in zebrafish

Godino-Gimeno A., Rocha A., Chivite M., Saera-Vila A., Rotllant J., Míguez J.M., Cerdá-Reverter J.M.
The Journal of Neuroscience

Physiological Response of European Sea Bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) Juveniles to an Acute Stress Challenge: The Impact of Partial and Total Dietary Fishmeal Replacement by an Insect Meal

Basto A., Peixoto D., Machado M., Costas B., Murta D., Valente L.M.P.
Journal of Marine Science and Engineering

Dietary Tryptophan Plays a Role as an Anti-Inflammatory Agent in European Seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) Juveniles during Chronic Inflammation

Azeredo R., Peixoto D., Santos P., Duarte I., Ricardo A., Aragão C., Machado M., Costas B.
Biology

Gut physiology of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) is influenced more by short-term fasting followed by refeeding than by feeding fishmeal-free diets

Frohn L., Peixoto D., Terrier F., Costas B., Bugeon J., Cartier C., Richard N., Pinel K., Skiba‑Cassy S.
Fish Physiology and Biochemistry

Advancing Cortisol Measurements in Zebrafish: Analytical Validation of a Commercial ELISA Kit for Skin Mucus Cortisol Analysis

Jorge S., Félix L., Costas B., Valentim AM.
Methods X

The transcriptome assembly of the European freshwater mussel Unio elongatulus C. Pfeiffer, 1825

Gomes-dos-Santos A., Fonseca E., Riccardi N., Hinzmann M., Lopes-Lima M. & Froufe E.
Scientific Data

Unravelling the main immune repertoire of Paracentrotus lividus following Vibrio anguillarum bath challenge

Fernández-Boo S., Machado A., Castro L.F.C., Azeredo R., Costas B.
Fish and Shellfish Immunology

Dietary Salicornia ramosissima improves the European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) inflammatory response against Photobacterium damselae piscicida

Machado M., Cruz F, Cunha A, Ramos-Pinto L, Laranjeira A, Pacheco M, Rocha RJM & Costas B
Frontiers in Immunology

In vitro transcription of dsRNA-LjRab7 -a tool for the development of interfering RNA as antiviral therapy in aquaculture of shrimp species

Fajardo C., Mancera J.M., Costas B., DeDonato M. & Martinez-Rodriguez G.
Scientific Reports

Dietary tryptophan intervention counteracts stress-induced transcriptional changes in a teleost fish HPI axis during inflammation

Peixoto D., Carvalho I., Machado M., Aragão C., Costas B., Azeredo R.
Scientific Reports

Salicornia ramosissima biomass as a partial replacement of wheat meal in diets for juvenile European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax)

Barreto A., Couto A., Jerónimo D., Laranjeira A., Silva B., Nunes C., Veríssimo A.C.S., Pinto D.C.G.A., Dias J., Pacheco M., Costas B. & Rocha R.J.M.
Animals

Testing the Aquatic Toxicity of 2D Few-Layer Graphene Inks Using Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss): In Vivo and In Vitro Approaches to Support an SSbD Assessment

Molés G., Connolly M., Valdehita A., Pulido-Reyes G., Fernandez-Cruz M.L., Flahaut E. & Navas J.M.
Toxics

Yeast extract improves growth in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) fed a fishmeal-free diet and modulates the hepatic and distal intestine transcriptomic profile

Frohn L. Peixoto D., Guyomar C., Teixeira C., Terrier F., Aguirre P., Haddad S.M., Bobe J., Costas B., Richard N., Pinel K., & Skiba-Cassy S.
Aquaculture

2023

Exploring the antioxidant and genoprotective potential of Salicornia ramosissima incorporation in the diet of the European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax)

Marçal R., Sousa P., Marques A., Pereira V., Guilherme S., Barreto A., Costas B., Rocha R.J.M. & Pacheco M.
Animals

Amyloodiniosis in aquaculture: A review

Moreira M., Costas B., Rodrigues P.M., Lourenço-Marques C., Sousa R., Schrama D., de Magalhães C.R., Farinha A.P. & Soares F.
Reviews in Aquaculture

Rainbow trout IgM+ B cells modulate their functionality in response to L-methionine supplementation

Martín D., Ordás M.C., Carvalho I., Díaz-Rosales P., Machado M. & Costas, B.
Developmental & Comparative Immunology

Exploring the effects of acute stress exposure on lumpfish plasma and liver biomarkers

Lopes T.S., Costas B., Ramos-Pinto L., ReynoldsP., Imsland A.K.D. & Fernandes J.M.O.
Animals

(Editorial) Methodological approaches for fish reproduction managementRainbow trout IgM+ B cells modulate their functionality in response to L-methionine supplementation

Mechaly A.S., Fernandes J., Costas B., Fatsini E.
Frontiers in Physiology

Early innate immune responses in European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.) following Tenacibaculum maritimum infection

Ferreira I.A., Peixoto D., Losada A.P., Quiroga M.I., do Vale A. & Costas B.
Frontiers in Immunology

Early molecular immune responses of turbot (Scophthalmus maximus L.) following infection with Aeromonas salmonicida subsp. salmonicida

Fajardo C., Santos P., Passos R., Vaz M., Azeredo R., Machado M., Fernández-Boo S., Baptista T. & Costas B.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Sea urchin (Paracentrotus lividus) gut biomass as a co-product with antioxidant and antibacterial potential to supplement aquafeeds

Pagels F., Garrido I., Teixeira C., Tavares T.G., Costas B., Malcata F.X., Valente L.M.P. & Guedes A.C.
Aquatic Living Resources

Agouti-Signalling Protein Overexpression Reduces Aggressiveness in Zebrafish

Rocha, A., Godino-Gimeno A., Rotlant J., Cerdá-Reverter J.M.
Biology

Dietary protein requirements of whiteleg shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) post-larvae during nursery phase in clear-water recirculating aquaculture systems

Barreto A., Silva A., Peixoto D., Fajardo C., Pinto W., Rocha R.J.M. Conceicão L.E.C. & Costas B.
Frontiers in Marine Science

Functional and molecular immune responses in Octopus vulgaris skin mucus and haemolymph under stressful conditions

Vizcaíno R., Guardiola F.A., Prado-Alvarez M., Machado M., Costas B. & Gestal C.
Aquaculture Reports

Search for new biomarkers of tolerance to Perkinsus olseni parasite infection in Ruditapes decussatus clams

Estêvão J., Osorio H., Costas B., Cruz A. & Fernández-Boo S.
Fish and Shellfish Immunology

Housing conditions affect adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) behavior but not their physiological status

Jorge S., Félix L., Costas B. & Valentim A.M.
Animals

Non-infectious disorders of warmwater fish

Soares F., Costas B., Lourenço-Marques C., Fernández I., Gavaia P.
Climate Change on Diseases and Disorders of Finfish in Cage Culture – Chapter 7

Two probiotic candidates of the genus Psychrobacter modulate the immune response and disease resistance after experimental infection in turbot (Scophthalmus maximus, Linnaeus 1758)

Wuertz S., Beça F., Kreuz E., Wanka K.M., Azeredo R., Machado M. & Costas B.
Fishes

Effect of the alveolate parasite Perkinsus olseni infection on sexual maturation and spawning efficiency of the clam Ruditapes decussatus

Fernández-Boo S., Duarte C., Guévélou E., Sousa J., Freitas R., Joaquim S., Costas C., Magalhães L., Matias D. & Cruz A.
Parasitology

Health-promoting additives supplemented in inert microdiets for whiteleg shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) post-larvae: effects on growth, survival, and health status

Barreto A., Peixoto D., Fajardo C., Pinto W., Rocha R.J.M., Conceição L.E.C & Costas B.
Animals

DL-Methionyl-DL-Methionine as an efficient methionine source for promoting zootechnical performance and methionine-related pathways in the whiteleg shrimp (Penaeus vannamei)

Machado M., Fernández-Boo S., Teixeira C., Viegas M., Serradeiro R., Dias J., Costas B. & Masagounder K.
British Journal of Nutrition

Testing the Aquatic Toxicity of 2D Few-Layer Graphene Inks Using Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss): In Vivo and In Vitro Approaches to Support an SSbD Assessment

Molés, G., Connolly M., Valdehita A., Pulido-Reyes G., Fernandez-Cruz M., Flahaut E., Navas J.M.
Toxics

2022

Innovative swine blood hydrolysates as promising ingredients for European seabass diets: Impact on growth performance and resistance to Tenacibaculum maritimum infection

Resende D., Costas B., Sá T., Golfetto U., Machado M., Pereira M., Pereira C., Marques B., Rocha C.M.R., Pintado M., & Valente L.M.P.
Aquaculture.

(Editorial) Animal welfare, Volume I: Animal welfare in aquaculture – Physiological basis and recent findings.

Herrera M., Costas B. & Gisbert E.
Frontiers in physiology

(Editorial) Feeding a sustainable blue revolution: The physiological consequences of novel ingredients on farmed fish.

Valente L.M.P., Costas B., Medale F., Pérez-Sánchez J., Glencross B.
Frontiers in physiology

(Preprint) Effects of native probiotic candidates on the immune status, inflammatory response and disease resistance of turbot (Scophthalmus maximus, Linnaeus 1758)

Wuertz S., Beça F., Kreuz E., Wanka K.M., Azeredo R., Machado M. & Costas B.
Research Square

Evaluation of the Ruditapes decussatus immune response after differential injected doses of Perkinsus olseni

Garcia A., Estêvão J., Costas B., Cruz A. & Fernández-Boo S.
Journal of invertebrate pathology

(Editorial) Feeding a sustainable blue revolution: The physiological consequences of novel ingredients on farmed fish

Valente L.M.P., Costas B., Médale F., Sánchez J.P. & Glencross B.
Frontiers

Dietary Strategies to Modulate the Health Condition and Immune Responses in Gilthead Seabream (Sparus aurata) Juveniles Following Intestinal Inflammation

Teixeira C., Peixoto D., Hinzmann M., Santos P., Ferreira I., Pereira G.V., Dias J. & Costas B.
Animals

Oral vaccination of fish against vibriosis using spore-display technology.

Gonçalves G., Santos R.A., Coutinho F., Pedrosa N., Curado M., Machado M., Costas B., Bonneville L., Serrano M., Carvalho A.P., Díaz-Rosales P., Oliva-Teles A., Couto A. & Serra C.R.
Frontiers in immunology

Tryptophan Modulatory Role in European Seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) Immune Response to Acute Inflammation under Stressful Conditions

Machado M., Peixoto D., Santos P., Ricardo A., Duarte I., Carvalho I., Aragão C., Azeredo R. &Costas B.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Shrimp immune response: A transcriptomic perspective

Fajardo C., Martinez‐Rodriguez G., Costas B., Mancera J.M., Fernandez‐Boo S., Rodulfo H. & de Donato D.
Reviews in Aquaculture

Chlorella vulgaris Extracts as Modulators of the Health Status and the Inflammatory Response of Gilthead Seabream Juveniles (Sparus aurata)

Reis B., Ramos-Pinto L., Cunha S.A., Pintado M., da Silva J.L., Dias J., Conceição L., Matos E. & Costas B.
Marine Drugs

Dietary supplementation with Gracilaria gracilis by-products modulates the immune status and oxidative stress response of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) stimulated with Photobacterium damselae subsp. piscicida.

Silva-Brito F., Cardoso A., Machado M., Ramos-Pinto L., Hinzmann M., Abreu H., Costas B. & Magnoni L.
Fish & shellfish immunology

Chronic Inflammation Modulates Opioid Receptor Gene Expression and Triggers Respiratory Burst in a Teleost Model

Peixoto D., Machado M., Azeredo R. & Costas B.
Biology

Alternative Proteins for Fish Diets: Implications beyond Growth

Aragão C., Gonçalves A.T., Costas B., Azeredo R., Xavier M.J. & Engrola S.
Animals

Comparative Analysis between Synthetic Vitamin E and Natural Antioxidant Sources from Tomato, Carrot and Coriander in Diets for Market-Sized Dicentrarchus labrax

Pereira R., Costa M., Velasco C., Cunha L.M., Lima R.C., Baião L.F., Batista S., Marques A., Sá T., Campos D., Pereira M., Jesus D., Fernández-Boo S., Costas B., Pintado M. & Valente L.M.P.
Antioxidants

Functional and Molecular Immune Response of Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) Following Challenge with Yersinia ruckeri

Fajardo C., Santos P., Passos R., Vaz M., Azeredo R., Machado M., Fernández-Boo S., Baptista T. & Costas B.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Acute Inflammation Induces Neuroendocrine and Opioid Receptor Genes Responses in the Seabass Dicentrarchus labrax Brain

Azeredo R., Machado M., Pereiro P., Barany A., Mancera J.M. & Costas B.
Biology

Short-Term Immune Responses of Gilthead Seabream (Sparus aurata) Juveniles against Photobacterium damselae subsp. piscicida.

Santos P., Peixoto D., Ferreira I., Passos R., Pires P., Simões M., Pousão-Ferreira P., Baptista T. & Costas B.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences