Projects
Third generation sequencing and herpesvirus diversity: Towards complete double-stranded DNA virus genomes KU Leuven
Viral variability can be understood as genetic differences between nucleotide sequences. It can be used to define viral taxonomic units (species, genera, class, or family), viral subgroups, strains or life-cycle stages (lytic and latent phases). Viral diversity has been extensively studied, mostly through second-generation sequencing techniques, such as IonTorrent or Illumina sequencing. In the last years, third-generation technologies, such ...
IMPLEMENTATION OF GENOME-WIDE CELL-FREE DNA SEQUENCING FOR THE EARLY IDENTIFICATION AND EFFICIENT MANAGEMENT OF HIGH-RISK PREGNANCIES KU Leuven
IMPLEMENTATION OF GENOME-WIDE CELL-FREE DNA SEQUENCING FOR THE EARLY IDENTIFICATION AND EFFICIENT MANAGEMENT OF HIGH-RISK PREGNANCIES
In prenatal diagnosis, NIPT (non-invasive prenatal testing) has been introduced as a safe and reliable screening test for common fetal chromosomal aneuploidies (trisomy 21, 18 and 13). The test is based on sequencing fetal cell-free DNA (cffDNA) in the maternal circulation of pregnant women. In 2013, ...
Single-cell DNA and RNA sequencing of human cleavage and blastocyst stage embryos to study genomic instability and its functional impact on early development KU Leuven
The human genome is considered stable throughout development. However, recent analyses of human single cells –particularly of human preimplantation embryos following in vitro fertilization as well as of normal human primary tissue– challenge this dogma. Amazingly little is known about the true rate at which somatic DNA-mutation occurs, the different natures of the acquired mutations, as well as the cellular responses and selection processes ...
Nanopore SERS for DNA identification and sequencing. KU Leuven
Exploring the opportunities of the SIP biosensor and nanopore DNA sequencing for microbiological analyzes in the agri-food industry. KU Leuven
SIPORE is a collective fundamental research project (type SBO) aimed at unlocking the opportunities offered by the SIP biosensor and nanopore DNA sequencing for microbiological analyzes in the agri-food industry. This by delivering proof-of-concept, checking their performance and trying to improve it, optimizing protocols and doing further research to bring their practical application closer to the companies.
Improved characterization of Alzheimer's disease genetic risk through fine-mapping and long-read sequencing of DNA and single-nuclei RNA. University of Antwerp
Tracking Multiple Myeloma by low-pass sequencing of circulating cell free DNA KU Leuven
Due to its genetic complexity and the difficulty to separate aberrant plasma cells from samples, one malignancy that has consistently represented a challenge to track is Multiple Myeloma (MM). This malignancy has shown to be highly variable, with the appearance of several clones during the evolution from a monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) to plasma cell leukemia, causing an additional difficulty during treatment of ...
Identification of novel genetic and epigenetic mechanisms involved in the etiopathogenesis of orofacial clefts by means of exome sequencing, searching for DNA elements and p63 transcription factor binding sites KU Leuven
Cleft lip/palate (CL/P) is one of the most common birth defects in man (1 in 700 live births) and arises through a combination of genetic susceptibility factors andinfluences of / exposures to environmental risk factors in utero. In the identification of genetic causes of CL/P, only a limited number of cases is expected to be explained by mutations in the coding regions. These are presumed to be present in families with multiple OFC affected ...