The search for the origin of chromosomal abnormalities in human preimplantation embryos Vrije Universiteit Brussel
the first cleavages of the embryo. We want to study the ...
The choroid plexus epithelium (CPE) is a highly secretory single cell layer, responsible for the production of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and the clearance of toxic agents. Additionally, the CPE forms an anatomical barrier that prevents paracellular leakage from the blood into the CSF and is called the blood-CSF barrier (BCSFB). Healthy aging severely affects CPE morphology and we recently discovered that also barrier function is affected. ...
The pituitary is the master endocrine gland governing normal body physiology. By regulating other endocrine glands, the pituitary steers various processes such as growth, stress, metabolism and sexual maturation. Patients with hypopituitarism suffer from a multitude of life-burdening symptoms due to insufficient production of one or several pituitary hormones. Managing this disorder currently comprises lifelong hormone replacement therapy, a ...
Spider mites are tiny plant-feeding animals that cause major damage in agriculture. Unlike most other pests, spider mites can feed on an extraordinary range of different plants. This is remarkable since these plants often produce many different toxic compounds as a defense against plant feeding animals. Recently it was found that mites may use simple tricks to cope with the defenses of plants: rather than trying to detoxify all those ...
Tumour suppressor protein p53 contributes to various pathways involved in cell proliferation, cell death and normal cell homeostasis. It is not obvious which of these pathways is essential to block tumourigenesis; novel p53 targets and pathways may still contribute as key mechanisms to cancer inhibition.
We have identified previously unknown p53 targets in the class of long noncoding RNA through RNA expression profiling by qPCR as well ...
In the scope of this study we will examine interactions between human proteins of the HIV virus. We will identify new interactions between HIV restriction factors. We will study the interaction between Vif (viron infectivity factor) and Apobec3B (Apolipoprotein B mRNA-editing enzyme-catalytic polyprotein-like 3G) and examine the role of Trim5a and ISG15 (interferon-stimulated gene 15) in HIV restriction.
While survival rates in paediatric cancers have increased significantly the past decades, for certain
entities there is still a high rate of treatment failure such as for children with high risk
neuroblastomas and relapsed T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemias (T-ALL). Furthermore, treatment
for high risk paediatric cancers is harsh and associated with severe long term side effects including
...
The mitochondria are inextricably linked to the process of aging. Whether through the release of reactive oxygen species (ROS), peptidergic signals or otherwise, mitochondrial signaling can potently enhance lifespan and health in a multitude of species. Despite the mitochondria’s apparent and central role in modulating aging, many open questions remain on the subject of how this signaling exactly occurs. For example, many nodes in the ...
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a rod-shaped, Gram-negative bacterium which is able to colonize a very wide range of ecological niches, because of its large genome which contains a broad regulatory network to allow fast adaptations to changing environments. This capacity and the production of various virulence factors, allows this opportunistic pathogen to infect humans and cause severe, life-threatening diseases, especially in ...