Projects
Identification of the Ca2+-transport systems and mechanisms contributing to the cell death of cancer B cells upon disruption of IP3R/Bcl-2 complexes KU Leuven
An important part of Bcl-2’s function in cancer cells is to prevent the occurrence of “toxic” Ca2+- release events from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), the main intracellular Ca2+ store. These Ca2+- release events are mediated by the IP3 receptor, a major class of intracellular Ca2+-release channels in close contact with the mitochondria, the main apoptosis executioner organelle. Hence, inhibiting Bcl-2’s function at the level of the ER using ...
Identification of T cell antigenic peptides in MHC complexes on Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia B cells Ghent University
Peptides will be isolated from MHC complexes present on CLL B cells. These peptides will be investigated to analyse their potential to elucidate a T cell response. The peptides able to activate specific T cells will be identified using mass spectrometric analytical techniques.
Uncovering a role for B cells in allergy risk and protection in early life. Ghent University
The incidence of allergic disease has steadily increased over the past decades, affecting one in ten children in Europe today. It is now understood that a lack of neonatal exposure to antigen of harmless microorganisms, which educate the immune system to discriminate between dangerous and harmless insults, is in part responsible for this phenomenon. In the immune system, certain cell subsets are preferentially generated during early life. ...
Research into the role of mite-specific B cells in allergic respiratory infections Ghent University
Allergic asthma is characterized by a Th2-dominated immune response associated with elevated
serum IgE levels in response to inhaled allergens, amongst which house dust mite (HDM) is the
most common. In this project, we want to characterize HDM-specific B cells in order to reveal
possible qualitative and quantitative differences between healthy and HDM-allergic individuals. To
study this, we will make use of a mouse ...
Impact of early-life multi-mycotoxin exposure on B cells epigenetic profile and infection by oncogenic viruses: unravelling interaction with immune-regulatory cytokines profiles & co-infections in young children Ghent University
Oncogenic viruses play an essential role in carcinogenesis. Chronic dietary intakes of multiple mycotoxins are hypothesized to be associated and interact with these viruses to enhance the risk of developing juvenile carcinomas. In this proposal we focus on infection by the Eppstein-Barr virus (EBV), which is linked to childhood Burkitt’s lymphoma, and endemic in parts of sub-Saharan Africa, where EBV and chronic mycotoxin exposure co-exist. ...
Hepatitis B-specific B cells: Rehabilitating the B in HBV. University of Antwerp
Unraveling the structural and functional roles of THEMIS proteins in T cell and B cell development and inflammation Ghent University
The human immune system is a sophisticated defense mechanism which identifies invading pathogens and molecular challenges to coordinate their neutralization and removal Specialized cells known as T and B lymphocytes are key effectors of the adaptive immune response Lymphocyte development is tightly controlled to prevent the expansion of destructive, self-reactive T and B cells and the development of autoimmune diseases Themis1 and Themis2, ...
Validation of a new mouse model of systemic sclerosis and study of the B cell as effector cell in the disease Ghent University
The purpose of this project is to examine the role of the TNF cytokine, lymphotoxin, in the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis, especially its role on B cells.
Endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria: common drivers of human β cell and neuronal fate KU Leuven
Diabetes and brain disorders appear at first glance to be completely different diseases. However, human
genetics has unveiled some severe forms of diabetes in babies that are associated with abnormal brain
development, including small brain size and epilepsy. Intriguingly, the mutations causing these diseases hit
genes with a role in two critical organelles: the endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria, which together control ...