Projects
Stress and herpes infections in the frigatebird (Fregata magnificens): an experimental evolutionary physiological approach. University of Antwerp
Sensing of viral Z-RNA by ZBP1 Ghent University
Viruses are the smallest lifeform on earth and in order to replicate they need to deliver their genetic material under the form of nucleic acid, RNA or DNA, inside the host cell. Our immune system exploits this by using sensors which specifically recognize viral nucleic acids. However, our cells are packed with RNA and DNA molecules and how these sensors tell the difference between our own nucleic acid and that of a virus is a key question. ...
In the moonlight of GTF3A: a new way to see innate antiviral signaling? Ghent University
Herpes viruses are omnipresent in the human population and cause a range of benign but unpleasant diseases. However, in a small percentage of people, infections with herpes viruses become recurrent or invasive resulting in increased morbidity and mortality. The quintessential example is herpes encephalitis (HSE) that causes neurological sequela in most patients and lethality up to 25% even with appropriate antiviral treatment. The immune ...
Development of immunoinformatics tools for the discovery of T-cell epitope recognition rules. University of Antwerp
Clinical, genetic and immunological study of human adenosine deaminase type 2 deficiency KU Leuven
Human adenosine deaminase type 2 (ADA2) deficiency is a recently described inborn error of immunity with a broad presentation including fever with cutaneous vasculitis but also intracranial hemorrhages, immunodeficiency and bone marrow anomalies. It carries important morbidity and substantial mortality (10%). Bi-allelic mutations in the gene ADA2 are responsible for this rare condition. The gene product, adenosine deaminase 2, plays a role in ...
Alphaherpesvirus-mediated modulation of plasmacytoid dendritic cells Ghent University
Alphaherpesviruses have developed a sophisticated and fine-tuned balance with the immune system. Disturbance of this balance can result in aggravated alphaherpesvirus disease. For example, deficiencies in the type I interferon (IFN-I) response are associated with life-threatening encephalitis caused by herpes simplex virus (HSV).
IFN-I are the strongest antiviral molecules produced by the innate immune response. Plasmacytoid dendritic ...
Alphaherpesvirus-induced downregulation of ligands for the activating NK cell receptor NKG2D Ghent University
Alphaherpesviruses represent the largest herpesvirus subfamily and contain several important pathogens of man and animal, including herpes simplex virus in man and pseudorabies virus (PRV) in pigs. Natural killer (NK) cells are innate immune cells that are of particular importance during herpesvirus infections. NK cell activity is mainly regulated by activating and inhibitory receptors on their cell surface. One of the most potent activating ...
Peripheral HSV1 infection and neuroinflammation as potential trigger mechanisms of Alzheimer’s disease Ghent University
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder affecting 50 million people worldwide. To date, there is no cure and current therapies are not effective in delaying progression. Thus, there is an urgent need to change the way of looking at the disease and to rethink possible therapies. Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV1) has recently received growing attention for its role in AD. HSV1 infects the mouth and invades peripheral sensory ...
Taking IBD Genes from GWAS to Function to Drug Target Ghent University
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), mainly represented by Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, affects ~1/300 people in Western societies and is increasing all over the world. The risk to develop IBD varies between individuals and is in part determined by genetics. Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS) have revealed specific risk loci in our genome and indicated many candidate causative genes for IBD. Moreover, they have potential to ...