Projects
Optimization of probiotics via experimental evolution: towards a treatment less prone to (antibiotic) resistance development KU Leuven
Artificial nutrition and probiotics for drones Ghent University
Probiotia for bumblebees Artificial nutrition and probiotics for bumblebees IWT + Blegium Biobest NV 130356
Expanding the horizon of Bacillus environmental probiotics using experimental evolution KU Leuven
This project aims to characterize the mode of action of cleaning agents based on probiotics and to use experimental evolution to further optimize this mode of action.
Development and characterization of a new generation of probiotics against vulvovaginal candidiasis, based on yeast cells and ascospores KU Leuven
Of all women worldwide, 70% will get vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) at least once in her life, 40% more than once and 5% suffers from the recurrent version and they get at least four infections a year. In addition to the direct symptoms, such as increased vaginal discharge and physical pain, VVC can also cause serious complications during pregnancy, such as miscarriages. Current treatment consists of administration of antifungal agents. ...
Using Experimental Evolution to Optimize Probiotics for their Application in Wound Care KU Leuven
This project aims at delivering the proof-of-concept for the enhancement of probiotics through experimental evolution. By exploiting the evolutionary arms race between probiotics and bacterial pathogens, probiotic strains exposed to competitors in the lab could obtain an 'evolutionary head start', increasing their effectiveness in combating pathogens. This approach could result in a general strategy to improve the effectiveness of existing ...
Study of the skin microbiome and the potential of topical probiotics in atopic dermatitis. University of Antwerp
SEQuential REcolonizaTion [Seqret] - an alternative approach to design next-generation probiotics KU Leuven
The use of and interest in probiotics to modulate the human intestinal microbiota as a therapeutic strategy has sharply increased in recent years. Different microbiome-based studies in various pathologies have identified bacterial markers associated with different diseases. However, the low sample size, methodological differences and the normal-range microbiota variation result in a lack of consensus between many of the studies. To solve, ...
Designing anti-inflammatory probiotics to treat chronic lung inflammation. Ghent University
While inflammation is key to our body’s defence against pathogens, an uncontrolled pro-inflammatory reaction can lead to tissue deterioration and ultimately death. Chronic lung inflammation is the main driver of pathogenesis in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cystic fibrosis (CF). In COPD patients, chronic lung inflammation is mainly triggered by cigarette smoke exposure, while in CF patients this is due to ...