Projects
Pathomechanistic study of biglycan mutations in aortopathy and skeletal dysplasia. University of Antwerp
The role of the microbiome relative to the genome for niche width and host adaptation. KU Leuven
Surviving global change is possible through genetic adaptation and phenotypic plasticity, being the main mechanisms considered to improve an organism’s fitness. However, recent studies show that microbiomes (communities of microbiota inside hosts and their genome expression) play an important role as well. As microbiota are known to influence multiple processes, such as nutrient uptake and detoxification, they might expand species niche width ...
Bacteriophage-based genome refactoring: a novel pipeline to optimize microbial fermentations KU Leuven
Bacterial viruses have evolved to modify, adapt and control their bacterial hosts through billions of years of interactions. Consistent with the aims of modern synthetic biologists aspire, bacteriophages are capable of silencing xenogeneic DNA, modulate host gene expression, and co-opt the bacterial metabolism in a variety of ways. Within this PhD, we aim to exploit the potential of bacteriophages to construct genetic circuits as synthetic ...
Function of the Hippo Pathway in Organ Growth Control and Regeneration KU Leuven
Liver cancer has one of the highest cancer mortality rates worldwide. Novel targeted therapies are not very effective because of the diversity of liver cancer cells, not only between different patients, but also within a single tumor. Liver cancer is traditionally classified based on underlying genetic mutations. Nevertheless, we observe that cancer cells with the same genetic background behave differently depending on their environment and ...
Studying the contribution of the intestinal microbiota to the development of immune pathologies using germ-free mice Ghent University
The microbiome, the complex ecosystem of micro-organisms populating our body, is strongly affected both by genetic and environmental factors (including nutrition and life-style). A loss of complexity and diversity of the microbiome, termed ‘ysbiosis’ has been associated to a plethora of immune pathologies including Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes. A critical requirement to study the relationship between ...
Unraveling the molecular and cellular basis of vascular tissue formation Ghent University
Plant cells are organised in files along the body axis and growth is maintained through divisions within these files of cells. In order to create a new three-dimensional organ however, plants trigger cells in a specific zone to undergo a different type of division, forming additional cell files. Vascular cells have the specific ability to undergo many of these formative divisions, generating the tissues that make up wood in trees and that are ...
A zebrafish platform for genetic and chemical screening to improve diagnosis, risk estimation and treatment of cardiovascular manifestations in Marfan syndrome. Ghent University
Marfan syndrome (MFS) is a rare disease caused by defects in the fibrillin-1 gene (FBN1), typically affecting many organ systems. The cardiovascular manifestations negatively impact life-expectancy, as MFS patients are particularly susceptible to progressive widening of the aorta that may lead to life-threatening tears in the vessel wall. Currently, there is no cure for MFS and clinical therapy is limited to reducing the risk of severe ...
Modulating host seeking behaviors in parasitic nematodes KU Leuven
Insect pests are major contributors to crop losses worldwide, and eliminating these subscribes the global goals to eradicate hunger. With increasing food demand and diverse issues with chemical pesticide use, interest in 'organic' alternatives for effective pest control keeps increasing.
In this context, the use of entomopathogenic nematodes - these parasitize insect hosts - has garnered attention, and several species, including ...
Striking Essential Oil: Novel tools and new insights to study the biological activities of essential oils (EOs) and their components (EOCs) KU Leuven
The increasing level of antimicrobial resistance poses the threat that no suitable antimicrobials will be available for systematic treatment of common diseases. More and more Candida infections are caused by intrinsically and multi-resistant Candida isolates. There is clearly renewed scientific interest in discovering drugs from natural sources, although natural product-based drug discovery is considered intrinsically ...