Projects

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Towards an Atlas of Human Genomic Imprinting University of Antwerp

Geert Vandeweyer
Cognitive Genetics (COGNET)
Imprinting refers to mono-allellic expression of genes. It is involved in developmental disorders and in tumor development. As the extend of imprinting in human is currently unknown, we will use RNA-sequencing to generate a comprehensive atlas of imprinted genes and parental origins of the expressed alleles. This will be of great value in the interpretation of genome wide data, from techniques such as microarray and whole exome sequencing.

Epstein-Barr virus and multiple sclerosis risk: does imprinting of monocytes provide better explanations? Hasselt University

Niels HELLINGS
Immunology & Infection
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a devastating chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system (CNS). While it has a high prevalence, its etiology is still poorly understood. MS is a multifactorial disease caused by a combination of genetic, immunological and environmental factors. The best documented and most strongly associated environmental risk factor for MS is Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). However, it is yet not known how EBV exactly ...

Inverse relationship between bone mass and fat mass: effects of steroid metabolism in the fatty tissue and fetal imprinting Ghent University

Jean Kaufman
Department of Internal medicine

Starting from previous observations in clinical studies of male osteoporosis of our research group, in which an inverse relationship was found between fat mass and bone mass, the present project wishes to examine the effects of adipose tissue on the bone, by means of further animal experimental work. The mechanism of this inverse relationship is not completely known, where two hypotheses will be investigated. (1) The inverse relationship ...

Epstein Barr-virus and multiple sclerosis: new tricks from an old dog. Does imprinting of inflammatory monocytes provide an answer? Hasselt University

Niels HELLINGS
Immunology & Infection
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a complex disease that arises under the influence of genetic, immunological and environmental factors. Although no MS-specific virus is known, epidemiological studies have shown that the Epstein-Barr herpes virus (EBV) increases the risk of developing MS up to four times. How this virus influences the development of MS is not sufficiently known. Current research focuses on the involvement of the adaptive immune system. ...

Gnotobiotic Artemia brine shrimp as a model for studying the transcriptional, translational and epigenetic mechanisms responsible for immune 'imprinting' against infectious diseases in invertebrates Ghent University

Daisy Vanrompay
Department of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology, Department of Animal production

Invertebrates, including shrimps, rely on their innate immunity to fight against pathogens. Innate immunity lacks the ability to show high degree of specificity and long-lasting memory. However, few reports claimed that invertebrates show some form of immunological specificity and memory similar to that of adaptive immunity in vertebrates. Using the gnotobiotic brine shrimp Artemia as model organism, this project aims to unambiguously prove ...

Heterogeneity and tissue imprinting of intestinal resident macrophages revisited: from transcriptome to function KU Leuven

Guy Boeckxstaens
Translational Research in GastroIntestinal Disorders

Intestinal macrophages are essential components of the gastrointestinal tract and exhibit highly specific functions depending on their anatomical location within the gut. Lamina propria macrophages face the gut lumen and are involved in bacterial clearance, initiation of adaptive immunity and installing oral tolerance. In contract, macrophages residing in the muscularis externa regulate intestinal peristaltic activity through direct crosstalk ...

Innate imprinting of resident alveolar macrophages by allergic airway inflammation: mechanism and consequences for asthma exacerbation Ghent University

Hamida Hammad
Department of Internal medicine, Department of Biomedical molecular biology

In a mouse model of asthma, resident alveolar macrophages showed an increased inflammatory reactivity upon post-infection of the asthmatic lung. This project aims to elucidate the mechanism underlying the altered macrophage innate functionality and hereby to enable interference with asthma exacerbation.



Molecularly imprinted nanoparticles for bio-sensing applications. Hasselt University

Patrick WAGNER
Organic and Bio-polymer Chemistry, Materials Physics
The development of biosensors for the detection of biologically relevant molecules in effect-relevant concentrations in a fast, cost effective and reliable way is highly demanded in the field of medical diagnostics as well as in food- and environmental safety. Biosensors based on the molecular recognition principle have been successfully employed for various types of target molecules and typical recognition processes are e.g. the ...

Lessons from pseudo(pseudo)hypoparathyroidism using platelets: (epi)genetic defects within and outside the imprinted GNAS cluster. KU Leuven

Kathleen Freson
Clinical and Experimental Endocrinology, Centre for Molecular and Vascular Biology

GNAS is an imprinted region that gives rise to several transcripts, including transcription of the alpha subunit of the stimulatory G protein (Gsalpha). The complexity of the GNAS cluster results in ubiquitous and tissue-specific genomic imprints and in multiple genotype-phenotype relationships. Phenotypes resulting from genetic and epigenetic abnormalities of GNAS include Albright Hereditary Osteodystrophy (AHO), ...