Our Work
Here you will find some of our most recent publications. Read, learn and enjoy.
The Developmental Origin of Novel Complex Morphological Traits in Lepidoptera / 2025
Monteiro, A., Murugesan, S. N., Prakash, A., & Papa, R.
We explore the developmental and genetic mechanisms underlying the origin of novel complex morphological traits in Lepidoptera, highlighting how evolutionary changes shape wing patterns and structures.
Validity evidence for the translation and cultural adaptation of the measure of acceptance of the theory of evolution in Español (MATE-E)
/ 2025
Pérez-Vega, Á. E., Papa, R., & Borrero, M.
This paper validates the Spanish adaptation of the Measure of Acceptance of the Theory of Evolution (MATE-E), ensuring its cultural relevance and reliability for assessing evolution acceptance in Spanish-speaking populations.
Defining the regulatory logic of breast cancer using single-cell epigenetic and transcriptome profiling / 2025
Regner, M. J., Garcia-Recio, S., Thennavan, A., Wisniewska, K., et al.
This study integrates single-cell chromatin accessibility (scATAC-seq) and transcriptome (scRNA-seq) profiling in human breast tumors and healthy mammary tissue to map how non-coding regulatory elements, such as enhancers and silencers, differ between malignant and normal cells. It identifies cell-of-origin signatures, shows regions switching from silencer to enhancer in cancer driving oncogene upregulation, and finds that breast cancer cell lines retain many of these regulatory programs.
Novel Inhibition of Central Carbon Metabolism Pathways by Rac and Cdc42 Inhibitor MBQ-167 and Paclitaxel / 2024
Cruz-Collazo, A. M., Katsara, O., Grafals-Ruiz, N., Colon Gonzalez, J., et al.
This study shows that combining the Rac/Cdc42 inhibitor MBQ-167 with paclitaxel suppresses central carbon metabolism and glycolysis in triple-negative breast cancer. The combination reduced tumor growth and metastasis more effectively than paclitaxel alone.
Novel hydrazone compounds with broad-spectrum antiplasmodial activity and synergistic interactions with antimalarial drugs / 2024
Baerga-Ortiz, A, Rosado-Quiñones et al.
This study tests novel hydrazone compounds that act against multiple stages of Plasmodium, including drug-resistant P. falciparum, liver forms, and transmission stages. One compound (CB-61) showed strong synergy with existing antimalarials, highlighting promise for combination therapies.
A Real-Time Edge Computing System for Monitoring Bees at Flowers / 2024
Figueroa, J., Ortíz-Alvarado, Y., Rivera, A., Marrero, J., & Mégret, R.
This study introduces a real-time edge computing system that uses AI to detect and track honey bees visiting flowers directly in the field. By running on lightweight devices, it streamlines behavioral experiments, reduces human error, and enables immediate ecological insights.
A long noncoding RNA at the cortex locus controls adaptive coloration in butterflies / 2024
Livraghi, L., Hanly, J. J., Evans, E., et al.
We identified a long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) named 'ivory' within the cortex locus that regulates adaptive coloration in butterflies by orchestrating transitions between dark and light wing patterns during development.
Many functionally connected loci foster adaptive diversification along a neotropical hybrid zone / 2024
Lewis, J. J., Van Belleghem, S. M., Papa, R., Danko, C. G., & Reed, R. D.
We examined the genetic architecture underlying adaptive diversification in Heliconius butterflies, revealing that multiple functionally connected loci, regulated by the master gene Optix, collectively maintain distinct red color pattern phenotypes in natural populations
Frizzled2 receives WntA signaling during butterfly wing pattern formation / 2023
Hanly, J. H., Loh, L. S., Mazo-Vargas, A., et al.
We identified Frizzled2 as the receptor for the WntA ligand, elucidating its role in butterfly wing pattern formation and color patterning.