Title Affiliations Abstract "Functioning of the photosynthetic apparatus and metabolic and microbial defence systems in metallicolous and nonmetallicolous ecotypes of Dianthus carthusianorum L. exposed to lead, cadmium and excess zinc" "Environmental Biology, Marie Curie-Sklodowska University" "Due to microevolution and natural selection some plant species adapted to grow on metal polluted soils. They are ideal models to study mechanisms of adaptation. This project aims to reveal the basis of the enhanced metal tolerance of Dianthus carthusianorum L. ecotypes from metal polluted soils. In particular, the responses of the photosynthetic apparatus to metal stress in terms of its anatomy ((ultra-)structure) and functioning will be compared between ecotypes from non-polluted and polluted soils. Under metal stress photosynthesis may be disrupted resulting in the generation of oxidative stress causing deleterious effects not only to the photosynthetic machinery but also to the whole cell. Therefore, the level of oxidative stress as well as the capacity of the defence systems against this stress will be investigated. Moreover, stress induced alterations of cell walls will be examined. So far, the efficiency of photosynthesis under metal exposure and related other metabolic disturbances have never been studied in this species. Further, microbial communities of rhizosphere and root and shoot-endosphere will be compared between the ecotypes from non-polluted and polluted soils. In addition, isolated strains will be screened for their metal tolerance and plant-growth promoting traits. The performed multifaceted and comprehensive research will provide important information on mechanisms of D. carthusianorum tolerance under acute and chronic metal stress conditions." "Bacterial communities in the rhizospheres of Brachiaria decumbens, Panicum maximum and Noccaea caerulescens and their implication for cadmium phytoextraction from an Oxisol." "Jaco VANGRONSVELD" "Environmental Biology" "On 14/06/2018 the Research Council has approved the short stay of dr. Lucélia Borgo (University of São Paulo, Brazilië) at UHasselt, chargeable to the BOF-program 'Short Stays'. During this stay, dr. Lucélia Borgo will perform research in collaboration with prof. Jaco Vangronsveld (research group CMKMB). The stay will take place in 2018-2019." "Prenatal acrylamide exposure, its transcriptomic signature and interaction with genetic polymorphsims: associations with perinatal and postnatal development" "Tim NAWROT" "Environmental Biology" "Since 2002, we know that many heat-treated foods contain acrylamide, which means that everybody is exposed to this compound. In rodents, acrylamide causes cancer and toxic effects to the nervous, developmental and reproductive system. It is still unclear whether acrylamide at dietary doses causes adverse health effects in humans. There are concerns that it may cause adverse effects on fetal growth and neurotoxic effects in children and this needs to be investigated in epidemiological studies (i.e., studies on human populations). This epidemiological study will answer the question whether prenatal acrylamide exposure is associated with fetal growth and with cognitive function at 4 years. In addition, the study aims to see whether there are associations between acrylamide and molecular markers for these health effects in order to understand the mechanism behind them. Further, I will investigate whether some children are genetically more susceptible to acrylamide than others. The study takes place in the ENVIRONAGE birth cohort, a study in which mother-child pairs are followed-up from birth onwards. Acrylamide, markers for fetal growth and cognitive development, and genetic make-up are measured in cord blood. At 4 years, cognitive function is assessed. The results of this study lead to a better understanding of the health risks associated with dietary acrylamide and may lead to stricter measures to control levels of acrylamide in food, if necessary." "The impact of nutrient homeostasis, the oxidative balance, the cell cycle and their interplay on cadmium-induced plant growth restriction." "Ann CUYPERS" "Environmental Biology" "Cadmium (Cd) is a major soil pollutant that reduces plant growth and hence crop yield, but also poses a risk to human health, mainly via accumulation into the food chain. As a consequence, Cd polluted soils are not used in an optimal way. The goal of this project is to gain knowledge on the processes contributing to this reduced plant growth, trying to find a way to reverse or compensate this. Three processes important for optimal plant growth are investigated: nutrient homeostasis, the oxidative balance and the cell cycle. Whereas each of these processes separately is affected in plants under Cd stress, I want to investigate how they interact and reduce plant growth during Cd exposure. In order to elucidate this interaction, I will expose wild-type plants and mutants defective in the regulation of the oxidative balance and the cell cycle to Cd and analyze their growth responses and nutrient homeostasis. In addition, supplementing the growth medium of the plants with copper and/or iron, two important nutrients, will reveal whether Cdinduced responses can be (partially) reversed, thereby improving plant growth and development. The latter is important in the search for plant-based strategies to enhance the quality of Cd-polluted soils." "Assessment of the exposure and effects of parabens on epigenome-wide DNA methylation, thyroid hormone levels in newborns and neurocognitive abilities in children aged 4" "Michelle PLUSQUIN" "Environmental Biology" "Parabens have been widely used as preservatives in personal care products, pharmaceuticals and food-stuff since the mid-1920s. The combination of their antimicrobial and antifungal potency and low toxicity accounts for the fact that parabens can now be found in about 80% of all personal care products, however, since the beginning of this millennium endocrine disrupting properties of different parabens were shown in animal experiments. Recent studies also found parabens in human cord-blood and placental tissue which leads to the question if prenatal exposure to parabens can have adverse effects on the fetus. Exposure to other endocrine-disrupting chemicals in utero has been shown to disrupt normal developmental patterns and result in adverse neurocognitive outcomes later in life. To investigate possible adverse effects of parabens, this study first determines the exposure to the four most widely used parabens in 200 placentas in the framework of the ENVIRONAGE birth cohort in Limburg, Belgium. Subsequently associations with epigenome-wide methylation and thyroid hormone levels in newborn infants, and neurocognition in children aged 4 are investigated. Additionally, the role of DNA methylation in the mediation of the effects of prenatal paraben exposure on thyroid hormones and neurocognition is elucidated. The results of this research provide the necessary data for the risk assessment of parabens and therefore contribute to the protection of public health." "IOF mandate CMK Nele Weyens 2018-2024" "Jaco VANGRONSVELD" "Environmental Economics, Environmental Biology" "The new IOF-policy AUHL, approved in 2014, also implemented a new project type 'IOF-mandate project'. To execute this type of project, an IOF-manager will be hired to work at a research institute or a faculty of Hasselt University. In addition to a number of fixed targets valid for all managers (single point of contact for TTO regarding valorisation, maintain overview of the available expertise, detect valorisation opportunities, developing a network, participate in TTO-learning network) these managers will also have a number of specific objectives aligned with the strategic plan of the research institute/faculty. This IOF mandate was assigned to Nele Weyens of the research institute CMK for the period 2018-2024." "Characterization of fungal diversity associated with citrus crops in Cuba and development of accurate molecular diagnostic assays for Phyllosticta citricarpa." "Jaco VANGRONSVELD" "Environmental Biology" "On 15/06/2017 the Research Council has approved the short stay of dr. Ana Margarita Manzano Léon (Research Institute in Tropical Fruit Crops (IIFT), Cuba) at UHasselt, chargeable to the BOF-program 'Short Stays'. During his stay, dr. Ana Margarita Manzano Léon will perform research in collaboration with prof. Jaco Vangronsveld (research group DMKMB). The stay will take place in 2018." "Phytostabilization of mine soils using native aromatic plant species suitable for promoting regional micro-economies." "Jaco VANGRONSVELD" "Environmental Biology" "The exploitation of mineral resources unavoidably pollutes soils and sediments with trace elements, which accumulate in the environment and affect human health and ecosystem services. Conventional remediation methods are expensive and detrimental for soil structure and fertility. Phytoremediation therefore comes into focus as a ""green"" alternative to stabilize, detoxify or remove pollutants from soil through a low cost and environmentally compatible biological process. As a novel approach, aromatic plant species are proposed for phytostabilization of metal polluted mining sites. In this way, aromatic plants could be used for both phytostabilization and essential oil production without the risk of metal contamination in the end-product. Profits from the commercialization of essential oils and their bio-derivatives could tackle both, the socioeconomic impacts of the cessation of the mining activities and the implementation costs of environmental restoration. The aim of this project is to generate the necessary knowledge to develop a phytostabilization strategy for mine site degraded soils, based on the synergistic use of aromatic plant species and rhizobacteria that promote plant growth and in this way contribute to local micro-economies. Preliminary data showed that Helianthus petiolaris grows very well in the arid environments of mining sites in South America. In addition, this species has a direct biotechnological potential since its essential oils can be used for pest control during storage of grains. In addition, rhizospheric microorganisms are crucial for enhancing the plant biomass production and tolerance to trace metals in such environments by either synthesizing physiologically active compounds, facilitating the uptake of nutrients or protecting them from pathogens. Up to now, 7 trace metal tolerant strains with promising plant growth-promoting capabilities were isolated from H. petiolaris roots. These strains will be studied more in depth using cutting-edge genomics tools and phenotypical characterization. Our results will undoubtedly contribute to a more profound understanding of interactions between aromatic plant and microorganisms to guide targeted manipulations of phytostabilisation to enhance its efficiency and productivity." "Bonus external PhD Vincent Stevens" "Jaco VANGRONSVELD" "Environmental Biology" "When a Hasselt University doctoral student with funds from the BOF doctoral fund or from the BOF New Programmes doctoral fund acquires additional funding within the first twelve months of the fellowship, the freed up funds flow back into the Doctoral Fund or the New Programmes doctoral fund. These funds can then be used for extra fellowships. The research group within which the scholarship student is active will receive a one-off sum of 10,000 euros." "Characterisation of rhizospheric and endophytic microbial communities of the Zn-hyperaccumulator Cardaminopsis halleri, the excluder C. arenosa, and the legume species Trifolium repens from old zinc and lead waste heaps in Poland" "Jaco VANGRONSVELD" "Environmental Biology" "n 16/02/20176 the Research Council has approved the short stay of dr. Ewa Olenska (University of Bialystok, Polen) at UHasselt, chargeable to the BOF-program 'Short Stays'. During his stay, dr. Ewa Olenska will perform research in collaboration with prof.Jaco Vangronsveld (research group CMKMB). The stay will take place in September-Oktober-November 2017."