Borbolis Karolos-Fivos

Education

• BSc in Biology: Department of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (2009)
• MSc in Molecular Medicine: Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (2012)
• PhD: Department of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (2017)
• Post-doctoral research: Laboratory of Molecular Genetics of Aging, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens (2017-2021)
• Post-doctoral research: Department of Biology, University of Padova (2022-2023)
• Post-doctoral research: Unit of Neurogenetics and Aging, Laboratory of Physiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (2025-2025)

Educational activities

Undergraduate courses:

• Molecular Biology
• Molecular Biotechnology

Research and other activities

Study of fundamental molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in aging, age‑associated diseases, and in the adaptation of cells and organisms to stress or disease.

Development and application of various Caenorhabditis elegans strains and genetic tools—including genetic and functional models of human diseases—for the investigation of conserved biological mechanisms at the organismal level.

Main research directions:

• Post‑transcriptional regulation of gene expression, with emphasis on mRNA metabolism and its role in aging and age‑related pathologies
• Mitochondrial function and dysfunction in pathological conditions, with emphasis on neurodegeneration
• Interconnection between mitochondrial biology, lipid metabolism, and mechanisms for the maintenance of genome integrity

Representative Publications

• Roussos A*, Kitopoulou K*, Borbolis F*, Ploumi C*, Gianniou DD, Li Z, He H, Tsakiri E, Borland H, Kostakis IK, Samiotaki M, Trougakos IP., Bohr VA, Palikaras K (2025). Urolithin Α modulates inter-organellar communication via calcium-dependent mitophagy to promote healthy ageing. 2025 Dec;21(12):3097-3122. *Ισότιμη συνεισφορά
• Borbolis F*, Ploumi C*, Palikaras K (2024). Calcium-mediated regulation of mitophagy: Implications in neurodegenerative diseases. NPJ Metab Health Dis, 2025;3(1):4. *Ισότιμη συνεισφορά
• Tiwari V, Buvarp E, Borbolis F, Puligilla C, Croteau DL, Palikaras K, Bohr VA (2024). Loss of DNA glycosylases improves health and cognitive function in a elegans model of human tauopathy. Nucleic Acids Res., 2024 Aug 16:gkae705.
• Borbolis F and Palikaras K (2024). Identifying therapeutic compounds for Autosomal Dominant Optic Atrophy (ADOA) through screening in the nematode elegans. Methods Cell Biol. 2024:188:89-108.
• Roussos A^*, Kitopoulou K^*, Borbolis F, Palikaras K (2023). Caenorhabditis elegans as a Model System to Study Human Neurodegenerative Disorders. Biomolecules. 2023 Mar 5;13(3):478.
• Borbolis F, Ranti D, Papadopoulou MD, Dimopoulou S, Malatras A, Michalopoulos I, Syntichaki P (2023). Selective destabilization of transcripts by mRNA decapping regulates oocyte maturation and innate immunity gene expression during ageing in elegans. Biology (Basel). 2023 Jan 21;12(2):171
• Borbolis F and Palikaras K (2022). The compartmentalized nature of neuronal mitophagy: molecular insights and implications. Expert Reviews in Molecular Medicine, 2022 Sep 29:24:e38.
• Borbolis F and Syntichaki P (2021). Biological implications of decapping: beyond bulk mRNA decay. FEBS Journal 2021.
• Borbolis F, Rallis J, Kanatouris G, Kokla N, Karamalegkos A, Vasileiou C, Vakaloglou KM, Diallinas G, Stravopodis DJ, Zervas CG, Syntichaki P (2020). mRNA decapping is an evolutionarily conserved modulator of neuroendocrine signaling that controls development and ageing. eLife 2020 Vol. 9.
• Borbolis F, Flessa C M, Roumelioti F, Diallinas G, Stravopodis D J, Syntichaki P (2017). Neuronal function of the mRNA decapping complex determines survival of Caenorhabditis elegans at high temperature through temporal regulation of heterochronic gene expression. Open Biology 2017 Vol. 7(3).
• Rousakis A, Vlanti A, Borbolis F, Roumelioti F, Kapetanou M, Syntichaki P (2014). Diverse Functions of mRNA Metabolism Factors in Stress Defense and Aging of Caenorhabditis elegans. Plos|One 2014 Vol. 9(7) p. e103365.