Projects
Interference of Candida albicans biofilm formation by induced inactivation of Als3 protein and in vivo visualization of biofilm in a mouse model system using non-invasive imaging methods. KU Leuven
Microchip based Impedance Sensors for in situ Evaluation of evaluation of Bacterial Biofilm Formation (See2B). KU Leuven
State of the art:
Biofilms are complex, highly variable, surface-associated communities of microorganisms, embedded in a self-produced matrix. Within biofilms bacteria are up to 1000 times more tolerant to antibiotics, disinfectants and other stresses.[1] Several factors contribute to this increased tolerance, such as protection by the biofilm matrix, slow growth and low metabolic activity of bacteria within biofilms, biofilm ...
The impact of biofilm architecture on the evolution of antimicrobial resistance: a single cell modelling and experimental approach KU Leuven
Salmonella biofilm formation in chronic carrier pigs: impact on gut colonization, genetic markers for functional diagnostics and potential as target for non-antibiotic therapy KU Leuven
The goal of this project is to expand the knowledge on the role of Salmonella biofilm in pig farming. In a first subgoal we aim to investigate Salmonella biofilm formation as a strong contributor to its chronic colonization in the pig gut. In a second subgoal we aim to identify genetic markers for the capacity of biofilm formation. These markers can be included in fuctional diagnostic tools that focus on a phenotypic functional feature of ...
The impact of matrix levels and bistability on biofilm properties KU Leuven
The regulation of matrix production in Salmonella still holds many fascinating, underexplored knowledge gaps. Yet, the discovered implications in this research open up new and intriguing questions for the entire biofilm research field and beg the question if they are also observed in other species.
We show that biofilm architecture can play a vital role in the benefits associated with the biofilm mode-of-life. However, more research ...
Computational study of protein-ligand interactions: Case study of SERCA and biofilm involved proteins KU Leuven
The goal of this PhD project was to use computational methods such as molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to gain a detailed insight into the structural basis of particular protein-ligand complexes. Here
these methods were applied on two case studies: a family of Ca2+ transporters called Sarco-/Endoplasmic Reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA), implicated in heart failure, and biofilms, an aggregate of micro-organisms ...
Validation of 2-aminoimidazoles as biofilm inhibitors in reverse osmosis and industrial water systems KU Leuven
The epigenetic regulation of gene expression provided by DNA methylation plays an important role in microbial biofilm resistance and tolerance: mechanistic insights and the road to future pharmacological interventions Ghent University
The hypothesis of my proposal is that regulation of bacterial physiology by epigenetic regulation of gene expression provided by DNA methylation contributes to the decreased susceptibility towards antimicrobial agents observed in bacterial biofilms. With my research I expect to obtain a fundamental understanding of how DNA methylation contributes to biofilm resistance in complex clinical environments, and I aim to provide proof-of-concept ...