Projects
Tracing the Roots of Resistance: Critical Communities and the Protest against Genetically Modified Organisms in Belgium, The Netherlands and France Ghent University
The aim of this project is to uncover the historical roots of the anti-GMO movement in Belgium, The Netherlands and France. By using archival sources and oral history, this research hopes to explain how in the eighties, a “critical community” of thinkers and activists succeeded in mobilizing a vast network of NGO’s opposed to the genetic modification of crops.
Stereo-controlled synthesis of artificial genetic systems with modified sugar phosphate backbone KU Leuven
Due to their unique ability to store and transmit genetic information, deoxyribonucleic acids (DNA) and ribonucleic acids (RNA) form the molecular basis of all life. Their genetic code is formed by successive nucleobases, each of which is attached to a sugar. These sugars are linked via phosphodiester bonds. After the discovery of the structure of natural nucleic acids, a large number of modified analogues with altered sugar-phosphate ...
A generic platform for the development of fluorescent biosensors based on modified recombinant binders. KU Leuven
Genetically-encoded fluorescent biosensors are essential tools for the in situ visualization and study of chemical processes occurring inside live cells and more complex organisms. However, few well-working biosensors are currently available because they require protein domains that show large conformational changes in response to the stimulus of interest, of which comparatively few are known. We propose to develop a strategy to develop ...
Development of Artificial Genetic Systems for Therapeutic Applications KU Leuven
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA) are among the most remarkable biomolecules occurring in nature, since they store and transfer all genetic information using only four letters (G, C, A & T or U). In the last 60 years, since the discovery of the structure of nucleic acids, numerous chemically modified nucleosides and nucleotides have been produced and incorporated into oligomeric sequences either by chemical or ...
The development of a generic in vivo system for the site-specific modification of proteins with "click"- functionalized amino acids for the design of innovative bioactive materials Hasselt University
Identification and functional validation of genetic disease modifiers of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. KU Leuven
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease that affects about 1 in 400 people. Loss of motor neurons causes progressive muscle weakness resulting in death within 2 to 5 years due to respiratory failure. About 10% of ALS patients have a family history of the disease (fALS) while the other 90% are sporadic cases (sALS). Gene mutations in up to 20 ALS genes explain about 80% of the fALS cases, but also 10% of sALS ...
Application of enzyme substrate analogues: from inhibitors with anti-mycobacterial properties to synthetic genetic polymers KU Leuven
Part 1:
Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by the bacillus Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis).It is regarded as the leading cause of death from a single infectious agent, even above HIV/AIDS. Although the global tuberculosis incidence has declined marginally over the past two decades, it still affects 10 million people each year and remains out of control in several parts of Africa ...
The development of an in vivo system for the site-specific modification of proteins with 'click' functionalized amino acids for biosensor applications Hasselt University
Redesigning DNA biosynthesis: leaving group-modified nucleotides as a biosafety tool. KU Leuven
Artificial nucleic acids (XNA’s) are capable of storing and processing genetic information just like the natural nucleic acids DNA and RNA and can thus function as suitable genetic materials as well. Natural nucleic acid biosynthesis is catalyzed by polymerases and involves the sequential condensation of (deoxy)nucleoside triphosphate ((d)NTP) building blocks with concomitant release of pyrophosphate (PPi). Besides information storage and ...