Romana Santos

Dec 6, 2024 | the-scientist.com | Sahana Sitaraman |Romana Santos

Ticks form a stable structure around their mouth to stick to their hosts for days. Phase transitions of proteins in the tick saliva drive this adhesion. Astealthy quest is afoot in the forests of the Netherlands. Sitting atop a blade of grass, biding time till its next blood meal, is a hard tick. It attaches to an exposed leg of an unsuspecting victim, digs into the skin, and starts feeding.

Dec 3, 2024 | nature.com | João Canning-Clode |Francesca Gizzi |Andreia Braga-Henriques |Soledad Álvarez |Marko Radeta |Romana Santos | +3 more

AbstractThe mesophotic zone represents one of our planet’s largest and least explored biomes. An increasing number of studies evidence the importance of macrofouling species in marine ecosystems, but information on these communities and the factors influencing their structures at mesophotic depths remain poor. This lack of understanding limits our ability to predict anthropogenic impacts or conduct restoration operations in the mesophotic and the lower boundary of the euphotic zones.

Feb 24, 2023 | mdpi.com | Ines Ventura |Victoria Harman |Robert J. Beynon |Romana Santos

Abstract:Biomedical adhesives, despite having been used increasingly in recent years, still face a major technological challenge: strong adhesion in wet environments. In this context, biological adhesives secreted by marine invertebrates have appealing characteristics to incorporate into new underwater biomimetic adhesives: water resistance, nontoxicity and biodegradability. Little is still known about temporary adhesion.