Projects
MYCOGUT: Mycotoxins and gut microbiota, an unresolved interplay towards human chronic low-grade gut inflammation Ghent University
There is an urgent demand to investigate combined effects of multiple mycotoxins over the life course on alterations of the gut microbiota and the development of chronic low-grade gut inflammation through observational studies. Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by toxigenic fungi that contaminate food and feed. Practically everyone undergoes chronic, low-dose, variable dietary exposure to mycotoxins throughout their lives, but ...
Role of mucosal integrity and low-grade inflammation in gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and functional dyspepsia. KU Leuven
Can 3 months strength training counter chronic low-grade inflammation and improve immune function in older persons? Vrije Universiteit Brussel
mediators, defined as a chronic low-grade inflammatory profile
(CLIP) and a reduced skin immunity. Physical exercise is one of the
best means to counter CLIP, and has shown to accelerate wound
healing in older adults. Exercise provokes an acute and brief
liberation of myokines, which induce an anti-inflammatory effect,
probably by ...
The bidirectional stress-obesity relation: mediating role of low-grade inflammation and gut microbiota. Ghent University
Researchers still struggle to understand the complex processes by which psychosocial factors like chronic stress increase disease susceptibility. This project will elucidate mechanistic pathways in the bidirectional stress-obesity relation, i.e. the mediating role of food choice, low-grade inflammation and disturbed gut microbiota. Observational and interventional research will be combined in community samples and clinical samples during ...
The bidirectional stress-obesity relation: mediating role of inflammation and gut microbiota. Ghent University
This project will elucidate mechanistic pathways in the bidirectional stress-obesity relation in childhood community and clinical samples: (a) longitudinal pathways in existing cohorts; (b) contrasting groups on depression and overweight to unravel individual risk factors; and (c) two interventions to substantiate new treatments i.e. probiotics in depression and emotion-regulation training in obesity.
The interplay of psychological stress, increased intestinal permeability and low grade inflammation in the pathophysiology of functional and inflammatory gastrointestinal disorders. KU Leuven
In this project we will investigate whether similar abnormalities are present in the colon, which is of importance to study IBS, and whether the observed pathology also leads to hypersensitivity of the gut. In the second part of the project we will set up a treatment study with the antiinflammatory agent budesonide, first in the BB-rat and later also in patients with functional dyspepsia. From these results we will learn if inflammation is ...
Elucidating the pathophysiological mechanisms in functional dyspepsia: what is the role of duodenal luminal factors? KU Leuven
Functional dyspepsia (FD) is one of the most common functional gastrointestinal disorders, characterized by a variety of symptoms localized in the epigastric region. Due to the high human and economic burden, more effective treatment is badly needed. Progress in the understanding of the diverse underlying pathophysiological mechanisms could lead to better treatment through the development of targeted therapy. We recently reported that ...
The role of impaired mucosal integrity in the pathogenesis of postinflammatory gastrointestinal motor dysfunction. KU Leuven
Quantitative Metagenomics: use of bacterial strains as internal standards for the analysis of faecal microbials. KU Leuven
Recent technological advances (next-generation sequencing) have enabled new approaches in microbial ecosystem research, including metagenomics: random shotgun sequencing of total DNA from environmental or clinical samples. These developments provided the opportunity to study and monitor various microbial communities associated to the human body at a previously unseen scale, allowing the phylogenetic assessment of the uncultivable fraction of ...