Victor Castro Alves
Victor Castro Alves Position: Researcher School/office: School of Science and TechnologyEmail: dmljdG9yLmNhc3Ryby1hbHZlcztvcnUuc2U=
Phone: +46 19 303819
Room: B3118
- Man-Technology-Environment research centre (MTM)
-
Responsive Nutrition Research Centre
About Victor Castro Alves
Victor Castro-Alves holds a PhD in Food Science and joined Örebro University in 2019 as a postdoctoral researcher in Chemistry. Since 2021, he is a researcher in the Metabolomics & Exposomics lab at the Man-Technology-Environment Research Centre, School of Science and Technology, actively participating in Örebro University's multidisciplinary profile areas of Food & Health and Chemicals & Society.
Research interests
My research primarily centers on exploring the effects of food on human health focusing on how food components are metabolized by the human gut microbiota and the implications of this process on human health. In addition, to explore the intricate interplay between food production and composition with nutrition and human health, we have been focusing on the development of high-throughput mass spectrometry-based pipelines to explore plant metabolism, gut microbiota functioning and human health.
Below you will find more information about some of our focus areas:
1. Unpuzzling the structure and health effects of dietary fibers
Dietary fibers (DF) benefit our health by interacting with receptors in human cells, but the exact parts of their complex structures responsible for these effects are still unclear. Our research introduces a new approach to uncover how DF interact with human cell receptors, helping us design fibers with targeted health benefits.
We've also been working with smart sensors to monitor gastrointestinal dynamics and understand how these factors influence oligomer formation in humans. This knowledge will help us develop personalized dietary ingredients tailored to individual needs. Additionally, we use bioengineering techniques to break down and redesign DF structures with enzymes and microorganisms, creating novel ingredients with improved bioavailability and functionality.
2. Enhancing food quality and exploring the fate of bioactive compounds
We explore how changes in plant production impact the synthesis of health-promoting compounds and how these metabolites are biotransformed by the human gut microbiota and induce biological effects by integrating metabolomics and exposomics with in vitro colonic fermentation studies and reporter cell assay. Our approach aims not only to deliver healthier foods in a climate-smart way but also to contribute to the basic understanding of the relationship between food composition, digestion, and effects on human health, leading to practical applications that benefit primary producers, retailers, and, first and foremost, consumers.
We are exploring factors that enhance food quality in conventional food systems, and beyond! Our analytical workflows are also being applied to study plant responses to microgravity and radiation aboard the International Space Station, using high-througput metabolomics and ambient ionization techniques.
Teaching and supervision
Victor coordinates the Instrumental Analytical Methods course in the chemistry program. He is the lecturer of the module Advanced Topics in Mass Spectrometry, encompassing data processing and mass spectra interpretation, and is also involved in the Analytical Chemistry course. He is also a lecturer in the biology program, environmental science program, and has been involved in the international master's programs of Environmental Forensics (School of Science and Technology) and Translational Medicine (School of Medical Sciences). He supervises students in the chemistry program and incoming exchange students from BSc, MSc, and PhD levels. Financial support for the incoming students has been obtained mainly through Erasmus+ program, São Paulo Research Foundation and German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).
Other information
Victor is a member of the editorial board of Frontiers in Nutrition and Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, and is actively involved in Örebro University's strategic initiatives at national and international level, planning student exchange with partners within the NEOLAiA alliance, participating in research exchange within MIRAI 2.0, and being part of the EIRENE PPP work group at ORU.
Awarded with Dietary fibre research award by the International Association for Cereal Science and Technology (ICC, 2017) and Magna cum Laude (BSc Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2010). Associate member of EPNOE (European Polysaccharide Network of Excellence), Metabolomics Society (ECN), and Nordic Metabolomics Society.
For more information about published papers please refer to my ResearcherID and Google Scholar. You can also find me on ResearchGate, Twitter and LinkedIn.
Financial support
Research projects
Active projects
- Establishing a novel gut-brain axis model
- ImprUV+ - An analytical framework to explore the effects of UV during plant growth on human health
- Interaction between dietary protein and fibre fermentation - its functional consequences
- PAN Protein - plant-based proteins contributing to a healthy and sustainable diet
- POPgut - The impact of persistent organic pollutants exposure on gut health
- Exploring the probiotic and postbiotic effect of Akkermansia muciniphila on intestinal barrier function in patients with Parkinson's disease - applying Ussing chambers and electron microscopy techniques
- Unpuzzle - Unravelling molecular motifs from dietary fibers responsible for interaction with recognition receptors in human cells
- Development of toolbox for exposome and metabolomics analyses (MeET)
Completed projects
Research groups
Publications
Articles in journals
- Guerreiro, C. d. A. , Andrade, L. A. , Fernández-Lainez, C. , Fraga, L. N. , López-Velázquez, G. , Marques, T. M. , Prado, S. B. R. , Brummer, R. J. & et al. (2025). Bioactive arabinoxylan oligomers via colonic fermentation and enzymatic catalysis: Evidence of interaction with toll-like receptors from in vitro, in silico and functional analysis. Carbohydrate Polymers, 352. [BibTeX]
- Karlsson, J. , Lopez-Sanchez, P. , Marques, T. M. , Hyötyläinen, T. , Castro Alves, V. , Krona, A. & Ström, A. (2024). Effect of heating of pea fibres on their swelling, rheological properties and in vitro colon fermentation. Food Hydrocolloids, 147. [BibTeX]
- Karlsson, J. , Lopez-Sanchez, P. , Marques, T. M. , Hyötyläinen, T. , Castro Alves, V. , Krona, A. & Ström, A. (2024). Physico-chemical properties of pea fibre and pea protein blends and the implications for in vitro batch fermentation using human inoculum. Food Hydrocolloids, 150. [BibTeX]
- Seeburger, P. , Forsman, H. , Bevilacqua, G. , Marques, T. M. , Morales, L. O. , Prado, S. B. R. , Strid, Å. , Hyötyläinen, T. & et al. (2023). From farm to fork… and beyond! UV enhances Aryl hydrocarbon receptor-mediated activity of cruciferous vegetables in human intestinal cells upon colonic fermentation. Food Chemistry, 426. [BibTeX]
- Sommer, S. G. , Castro Alves, V. , Hyötyläinen, T. , Strid, Å. & Rosenqvist, E. (2023). The light spectrum differentially influences morphology, physiology and metabolism of Chrysanthemum × morifolium without affecting biomass accumulation. Physiologia Plantarum, 175 (6). [BibTeX]
- Seeburger, P. , Herdenstam, A. P. F. , Kurtser, P. , Arunachalam, A. , Castro Alves, V. , Hyötyläinen, T. & Andreasson, H. (2022). Controlled mechanical stimuli reveal novel associations between basil metabolism and sensory quality. Food Chemistry, 404 (Pt A). [BibTeX]
- 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. [BibTeX]
- 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). [BibTeX]
- 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. [BibTeX]
- 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. [BibTeX]
- 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). [BibTeX]
- 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. [BibTeX]
- 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. [BibTeX]
- 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. [BibTeX]
- 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. [BibTeX]
- 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. [BibTeX]
- 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. [BibTeX]
- 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. [BibTeX]
- 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. [BibTeX]
- 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. [BibTeX]
- Castro Alves, V. & Oliveira do Nascimento, J. R. (2016). Polysaccharides from raw and cooked chayote modulate macrophage function. Food Research International, 81, 171-179. [BibTeX]
- Castro Alves, V. C. & Oliveira do Nascimento, J. R. (2016). Speeding up the extraction of mushroom polysaccharides. Food Analytical Methods, 9 (9), 2429-2433. [BibTeX]
- 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. [BibTeX]
- 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. [BibTeX]
- 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. [BibTeX]
- 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. [BibTeX]
- 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. [BibTeX]
- 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. [BibTeX]
- 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. [BibTeX]
Articles, reviews/surveys
- Castro Alves, V. , Nguyen, A. H. , Barbosa, J. M. G. , Oresic, M. & Hyötyläinen, T. (2025). Liquid and gas-chromatography-mass spectrometry methods for exposome analysis. Journal of Chromatography A, 1744. [BibTeX]
- Castro Alves, V. , Oresic, M. & Hyötyläinen, T. (2022). Lipidomics in nutrition research. Current opinion in clinical nutrition and metabolic care, 25 (5), 311-318. [BibTeX]
- 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. [BibTeX]
- 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. [BibTeX]
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. [BibTeX]
- 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. [BibTeX]
- 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. [BibTeX]