Projects
Exploring the microbial diversity of lactic and acetic acid bacteria in exotic fruits from the Northern Region of Argentina for the production of health-promoting and/or industrially-relevant metabolites. Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Biodiversity, biogeography and impact of climate change on moss-associated diatom communities in the Arctic Ghent University
Today, there is consensus that we live in the Anthropocene, a new geological epoch in which human-induced changes have a serious impact on the environment and our climate, especially in polar regions. To evaluate how Arctic terrestrial ecosystems are affected, we need bio-indicators to monitor past, present and future responses. The current project focusses on Arctic moss-associated (MA) diatoms, excellent sentinels for climate change and ...
Forecasting fish distribution dynamics under climate change: insights from a rapidly warming arctic KU Leuven
Temperatures in the Arctic are rising three times faster than the global average, resulting in a rapid decline in sea-ice, and lengthening of the ice-free season. As sea ice retreats, fishing grounds that were previously not accessible will inevitable open up and shipping activities in the Arctic will increase together with the potential of accidental oil spills into the marine ecosystem. Environmental changes, together with increased ...
BEADS - Benthic fauna as drivers of ice-to-ocean iron transport in Arctic Fjords Ghent University
The ocean is the largest sink of CO2 and regulates the global climate. Marine primary production is a key process for CO2 removal and is limited by iron availability in large parts of the ocean. Marine iron concentrations are directly controlled by their sources to the ocean. Meltwaters from glaciers are considered as significant iron sources. To reach the ocean this glacial meltwater transits through fjords. When iron encounters oxygenated ...
The role of aortic side branches in the initiation and evolution of ascending aortic aneurysm and dissecting abdominal aortic aneurysm in ApoE -/- mice Ghent University
The goal of this project is to investigate the pathology of aortic aneurysms in the ApoE-/- mouse model. Using super-resolution synchrotron images and image-guided histology we will study the role of small side branches in the initation and evolution of dissecting abdominal aortic aneurysm. We will also visualize the initation and evolution of ascending aneurysms in the same mouse model.
Aortic side branch biomechanics in aortic dissection and rupture - an experimental and computational study in mice Ghent University
Over the past few years, we have studied the initiation and growth of aortic aneurysms. Excised aneurysms of a popular aneurysm mouse model were imaged with a novel, high-resolution technique (Paul Scherrer Institute, Switzerland), demonstrating that the disease is the immediate consequence of a tear in the aortic wall near one of the side branches of the aorta (the celiac artery) which leads to internal bleeding within the aorta wall, a ...