Projects
Identification of novel antimicrobial plant peptides and elucidation of their mode of action. KU Leuven
Supramolecular structure-function relationships of naturally occurring antimicrobial peptides Ghent University
Very little is known about the structure-function relationship of the class of antimicrobial peptides known as CLPs, short for cyclic lipodepsipeptides. Thanks to recently developed NMR methodology within our lab, we demonstrated that self-assembly of the CLP pseudodesmin A into larger supramolecular, pore-like structures, provides the structural basis to explain its biological activity. To further explore this proposition and provide a more ...
Supramolecular structure-function relationships of antimicrobial peptides from the viscosin group: a combined approach via synthesis and advanced NMR structure analysis Ghent University
Antimicrobial peptides or AMPs are a potential source of new first line defense antibiotics, which often act through the formation of supramolecular assemblies inside the cell membrane, e.g. by pore formation.
In this mutlidisciplinary project a generic synthesis approach will be developed, allowing the production of analogues featuring a number of modifications in composition and stereochemistry. Using recently developed NMR ...
Mapping the proteostatic collapse caused by aggregation-inducing bactericidal peptides KU Leuven
I was part of the effort to develop a novel class of antibiotics based on the concept that short aggregation-prone regions within the protein sequence drive amyloid-like protein aggregation. I developed antimicrobial peptides called Pept-Ins that trigger an aggregation cascade in bacteria resulting in the formation of inclusion bodies, the collapse of the proteome, and the death of bacteria. Now, my goal is to better understand the ...
From a basic understanding of the interactions of antibacterial peptides with the outer membrane towards next generation enzybiotics. KU Leuven
Development of hybrid nanofibrous silk sericin-based wound dressings enabling sustained release of antimicrobial agents Ghent University
The prevention and treatment of bacterial infections is a large burn wound care challenge. Commonly used antimicrobial wound dressings are silver-based. These reveal certain drawbacks such as allergic reactions related to silver or local discoloration of the skin, as well as host cell cytotoxicity. Therefore, this project focusses on the development of a wound dressing material which enables the sustained release of antimicrobial peptides ...
Novel feed ingredients from sustainable sources Ghent University
This project aims to develop novel functional feed ingredients for the aquaculture industry through facilitating the recovery and utilization of valuable bioactive peptides from the Norwegian salmon industry and the Italian sea bass/sea bream industry. State of the art peptidomics and bioinformatics techniques will be used to identify peptides with predicted anti-inflammatory, immunostimulatory or anti-microbial properties in the ...
Exploiting the network architecture of bioactive thiol-ene photo-crosslinkable polymers for nasal cartilage tissue engineering. Ghent University
With over 355,000 surgeries each year, rhinoplasties are amongst the most performed facial reconstructive surgeries worldwide. Nasal cartilage defects can be caused by congenital defects, trauma or cancer. Generally, nasal cartilage reconstruction is required to avoid concomitant impairment of breathing. However, current gold standards (autografts and permanent synthetic implants) remain suboptimal. In my PhD, I will exploit tissue ...
Exploiting an unusual polyketide chain release mechanism for the production of novel antibiotic analogues KU Leuven
Over the past century, the discovery and development of antibiotic compounds have saved millions of lives. However, the extensive antibiotics use in both healthcare and agriculture has resulted in alarming levels of antimicrobial resistance. Consequently, the development of novel antibacterial compounds is urgently required. In that regard, microorganisms are a rich source of specialized metabolites, with many having potent bioactivities and ...