Projects
The consequences of high free fatty acid concentrations in the follicular microenvironment on folliculogenesis and on metabolic, genetic and epigenetic quality parameters of the oocyte and pre-implantation embryo. University of Antwerp
A disturbed maternal metabolism may induce disappointing fertility and may jeopardize the offspring's health. Only recently, the importance of the early developmental stages in life has gained scientific attention in subfertility research. This project focuses on the metabolic and (epi)genetic consequences of long-term elevated non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) serum concentrations in the dam on ovarian physiology, oocyte and embryo quality. ...
Learning and brain plasticity: a three levels approach. University of Antwerp
In some species of songbirds, the brain displays a pronounced seasonal rewiring which is associated with seasonal behavioural changes in vocal communication (singing only in spring). Both humans and songbirds learn their vocal communication and depend on speech- or song input during critical/sensitive periods in life in order to do so. For some bird species, like the zebra finch, this sensitive period is limited to a certain period after ...
Multiple Sip1/Zfhx1b knockout mouse models explaining clinical signs of Mowat-Wilson Syndrome. KU Leuven
Mutations in ZFHX1B (SIP1, ZEB2) cause Mowat-Wilson syndrome (MWS) in humans, characterized by various malformations in the central nervous system (CNS) [mental retardation, epilepsy] and developmental defects in the neural crest cell lineage [cranio-facial abnormalities, Hirschsprung disease]. This new project will investigate a large panel of different Sip1 knockout mouse models in the CNS and peripheral nervous system and should enable us to ...
Deciphering gene regulatory networks and cis-regulatory codes in Drosophila through a combination of genetic perturbations, digital gene expression, and bioinformatics. KU Leuven
Gene regulation is fundamental to the execution of developmental programs, the generation of cellular and evolutionary diversity, and the aetiology of disease. Recent advances in regulatory genomics have provided insight into some aspects of transcriptional regulation, but the overall knowledge of the genomic cis-regulatory code and the emerging transcriptional networks, remains sparse. The aims of this research project are to unravel ...
Role of oxygen sensors during cortical development. KU Leuven
Although the nervous system and the vasculature are functionally different, they show a high degree of similarities, common mechanisms and cross-talk that is know as the neurovascular link. Low oxygen levels (hypoxia) induce a cellular response that includes the activation of genes involved in energy metabolism, survival and the induction of new blood vessel formation to restore tissue oxygenation. The hypoxia response mainly depends on the ...
Integrated performance trade off in cichlid heads: feeding versus mouth brooding. University of Antwerp
This project tries to unravel some of the involved trade-offs, and will analyse the structural, functional and physiological trade-offs that exist in the buccal system of two closely related haplochromine species of Lake Victoria, both maternal mouthbrooders but representing two distinct trophic niches: a biter morph and a suction feeding morph. Trade-offs related to both sexual and trophic dimorphism will be studied in relation to ...
Promoting central nervous system regeneration. Genes that make a difference. KU Leuven
Injured axons in the Central Nervous System have a very limited capacity for self-repair, in contrast to axons in the Peripheral Nervous System. For this reason, traumatic brain injury often results in devastating and irreversible disabilities. Identifying and understanding the factors which influence whether an axon either fails to regenerate, or regrows and reinnervates its postsynaptic targets, remains a major challenge. To address this ...
The genetic and developmental basis of developmental buffering. University of Antwerp
Buffering is the process that minimizes phenotypic variation arising from genetic and environmental perturbations during development. It is considered an important process in evolutionary biology due to its ability to conceal genetic variation from selection, but nevertheless little is known about its genetic and developmental basis. This projects aims to fill this gap in our knowledge by examining the underlying processes of developmental ...
A functional genomics study in zebrafish to elucidate the role of thyroid hormones and deiodinases in early embryonic development. KU Leuven
Thyroid hormones (THs) play an essential role in vertebrate development. Research on the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in TH dependent development has focussed mainly on later developmental stages. The aim of this project is to elucidate the role of maternal THs in early development, prior to the start of embryonic thyroid gland activity. Inhibition of intracellular TH activation by injecting morpholino antisense oligomers against ...