Researcher

Annemieke Smet

Research Expertise:Unravel the mucin mRNA isoform landscape and its alternative splicing machinery in barrier-related diseases. Study the role of mucin mRNA isoform signalling in inflammation-induced mucosal barrier dysfunction, with a focus on gastrointestinal pathologies (inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), gastric and colorectal cancers) and respiratory tract diseases (RSV, COVID-19 and COPD). The role of the mucosa-associated microbiota in relation to changes in mucin isoform signalling and subsequent barrier function upon disease is also taken into account. We implement an unconventional approach encompassing a broadly applicable framework with next-generation long-read and short-read sequencing tools, human sample collections and translational models (organoids, animal models). This work could lead to a new paradigm shift greatly advancing novel applications for disease follow-up and pathology-specific targeting.

Disciplines:Gastro-enterology and hepatology, Gastro-enterology, Inflammation, Laboratory medicine, Bacteriology, Infectious diseases, Microbiome, Cell signalling, Membrane structure and transport, Cancer biology, Pathophysiology, Cancer diagnosis, Cancer therapy

Research techniques:- in vitro cell models: * gastric and colorectal adenocarcinoma cell lines * primary cell cultures * organoid cultures - in vivo mice models to mimick gastrointestinal diseases: * Helicobacter pylori-related gastric cancer model (C57BL/6 strain) * Dextran sodium sulphate (DSS) colitis model (C57BL/6 strain) * T cell transfer colitis model (SCID strain) * Helicobacter hepaticus colitis model (C57BL/6 model) - transfection (siRNA) and transduction (shRNA) assays: gene silencing - permeability assays: transwell, FITC-dextran and Ussing chamber techniques - molecular biology: gene and protein expression assay (RT-qPCR, Western blotting, ELISA, immunohistochemistry) - microbiomics and transcriptomics : Illumina and PacBio sequencing platforms

Users of research expertise:researchers performing basic and translational science pharmaceutical and biotech companies