Projects
Investigation towards the importance for virulence and biofilm formation of a novel pathway for glycerol biosynthesis in the human fungal pathogen Candida albicans KU Leuven
Candida albicans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen that often colonizes the skin and mucosal surfaces of healthy individuals. However, in immunocompromised patients, it can cause diseases leading to blood-stream infections and eventually death. Currently, a major problem in hospitals with this pathogen is its capacity to form biofilms (i.e. three-dimensional structures consisting of yeast and hyphal cells and surrounded by an extracellular ...
Investigation of the underlying mechanism by which the PKA and calcineurin pathway regulate stress tolerance in the human fungal pathogen Candida glabrata KU Leuven
Candida glabrata is an opportunistic fungal pathogen that often colonizes the skin and mucosal surfaces of healthy individuals. However, in immunocompromised patients, it can cause diseases leading to blood-stream, oral and vaginal infections and eventually death. A major characteristic of this species is its very high tolerance to a wide number of stresses, including antifungal stress. Its intrinsic tolerance to fluconazole, the most used ...
Interaction of rice with soilborne pathogens and nematodes implicated in yield decline and resistance mechanisms against fungal leaf pathogens Ghent University
This project is about a collaboration with the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in the Philippines about yield decline in aerobic rice and the role of pythium and nematodes in this process. In addition, the aetiology of Cochliobus miyabeanus, the causal agent of brown spot on rice will be investigated together with resistance mechanisms of rice against this pathogen.
Simultaneous detection of bacterial, fungal and oomycete plant pathogens by Nanopore sequencing of multiple genetic markers (Nanotect) KU Leuven
Microbial plant pathogens cause severe diseases and considerable yield losses in many economically important crops worldwide. Early detection and accurate quantification of pathogenic microorganisms are essential for effective disease management and to improve sustainability of agroecosystems. Although new detection technologies have considerably improved over the years regarding accuracy and sensitivity, simultaneous detection of multiple ...
Role of trehalose biosynthesis enzymes in the virulence and stress tolerance of the human fungal pathogens Candida glabrata and Candida auris KU Leuven
There is an increase in infections caused by human fungal pathogens. The underlying reason is that there is an increased resistance towards the few antifungal drug classes that are used in the clinic. In addition, the advancement of medicine makes that people become older but their immune system gets weaker, which makes them vulnerable for fungal infections. Also the increased use of various implant materials causes an increase of ...
Characterization of plant parasitic nematodes and fungal pathogens associated with banana in East Africa and their bio-control by means of endophytes Ghent University
Plant-parasitic nematodes and Fusarium wilt of banana are significant pest of banana causing significant crop losses. A survey and visual assessment of banana farms in Kenya/Uganda will be done to characterise the plant-parasitic nematodes and the fungal endophytes associated with banana. Competent fungal endophytes for nematode and Fusarium wilt management will be
identified.
Integrated control of soilborne fungal pathogens in vegetable production in Vietnam. Ghent University
The aim of the project is to develop an integrated contral strategy against Rhizoctonia solani on bean and cabbage and Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. Lycopersici on tomato, based on soil amendments with lignin, alone or in combination with antagonistic Pseudomonas bacteria that produce phenazine antibiotics and/ or biosurfactants. This method should be applicable in Vietnamese soil conditions.
Understanding the risk posed by cross kingdom fungal pathogens: the case of Fusarium musae KU Leuven
The aim of my PhD project is to characterise fungal species which usually are pathogen in agriculture but that showed the ability to infect also human patients. Understanding the diversity of these species and the mechanisms that lead to cross kingdom pathogenicity will be achieved by integrating omics approaches to characterise fungal diversity and infection mechanisms with in vivo pathophysiological observations in different hosts. My ...
G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) of human pathogenic fungi and their role on growth, morphogenesis and virulence KU Leuven
Human pathogenic fungi, such as Candida albicans and Aspergillus fumigatus are important human fungal pathogens. C. albicans normally lives as a commensal in our intestinal tract or in the oral mucosa. In immunocompromised persons, however, it can cause a number of diseases ranging from superficial infections to subcutaneous as well as systemic infections, often resulting in death. Aspergillus fumigatus is a fungus that lives in the ...