Publications
Low structural variation in the Host-Defense Peptide Repertoire of the Dwarf Clawed Frog Hymenochirus boettgeri (Pipidae) Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Tourism may threaten wildlife disease refugia Ghent University
An orthologue of the host-defense protein psoriasin (S100A7) is expressed in frog skin Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Host-defense peptides and proteins are vital for first line protection against bacteria. Most host-defense peptides and proteins common in vertebrates have been studied primarily in mammals, while their orthologues in non-mammalian vertebrates received less attention. We found that the European Common Frog Rana temporaria expresses a protein in its skin that is evolutionarily related to the host-defense protein S100A7. This prompted us to ...
Cryptic diversity in Amazonian frogs: Integrative taxonomy of the genus Anomaloglossus (Amphibia: Anura: Aromobatidae) reveals a unique case of diversification within the Guiana Shield Vrije Universiteit Brussel University of Antwerp
Sex-related differences in aging rate are associated with sex chromosome system in amphibians Research Institute for Nature and Forest
Effects of the Argentine ant venom on terrestrial amphibians KU Leuven
Historical biogeography of the palaeoendemic toad genus Oreophrynella (Amphibia: Bufonidae) sheds a new light on the origin of the Pantepui endemic terrestrial biota Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Antimicrobial peptides in frog poisons constitute a molecular toxin delivery system against predators. IF 12.353 Vrije Universiteit Brussel Ghent University
Animals using toxic peptides and proteins for predation or defense typically depend on specialized morphological structures, like fangs, spines, or a stinger, for effective intoxication. Here we show that amphibian poisons instead incorporate their own molecular system for toxin delivery to attacking predators. Skin-secreted peptides, generally considered part of the amphibian immune system, permeabilize oral epithelial tissue and enable fast ...