Projects
Land Use Changes and Si Transport through the Scheldt River Basin. (LUSi - second phase) University of Antwerp
Critical evaluation of marine calcareous skeletons as recorders of global climate changes. (CALMARS II - second phase) University of Antwerp
Profiling phages through pores: unlocking the transcriptome architecture of bacterial viruses KU Leuven
Bacteriophages, or phages, are viruses that specifically prey on bacteria. Ever since their discovery more than a century ago, early phage research has played a pivotal role in shaping the field of molecular biology and transformed our understanding of genetics and fundamental cellular processes. Now, in an era where the global increase in multidrug-resistant bacteria poses a significant threat, the need for alternative therapeutic approaches ...
PMD4U - Development of a device for accurate and universal quantification of phages HOGENT
Customized phages and tailocins targeting Shiga-toxin producing Escherichia coli Ghent University
Both phages and tailocins (phage tail-like bacteriocins) are highly specific antibacterials that leave the microbiome unaffected. Their primary specificity determinant is their tail fiber that makes the initial contact with the pathogen. Whereas phages kill a cell through a lytic replication cycle ended by cell lysis, tailocins kill the cell by membrane depolarization. Both phages and tailocins share the potential for customization. In this ...
Evaluation of the potential and safety of using Staphylococcus lytic phages to combat MRSA colonization and treatment of S. aureus skin infections in farm animals Ghent University
In this project new lytic phages against S. aureus and S. aureus MRSA strains that are relevant to be isolated farm animals. New insulation is done with a view to the application of a larger collection of lytic phages strictly to the use in a faagcocktail increases, which may be appropriate in order to prevent resistance with respect to phage infection. A wide / diverse host range (including MRSA clone ST 398), clear plaques (strictly ...
Function, organization, dynamics and evolution of hyperbranched receptor-binding protein systems in Klebsiella jumbo phages and their interactions with bacteria Ghent University
The most intense co-evolution on our globe takes place between bacteria and their viruses, called bacteriophages. Bacteriophages kill their bacterial host with a very high specificity. Every phage infection is initiated by the recognition of a specific structure on the bacterial surface by a receptor-binding protein (RBP). Some phages having a single RBP, infect only one specific bacterial serotype, while others can attack different bacterial ...
The organization and evolution of receptor binding proteins in Klebsiella phages by exploiting novel tools in synthetic biology Ghent University
The most intense co-evolution process on our globe takes place between bacteria and bacteriophages. Every phage infection is initiated by the recognition of a specific receptor located on the bacterial cell surface by the phage’s receptor binding protein (RBP). I have elaborated before the modular build-up of Klebsiella phage RBPs. I found that N-terminal structural domains needed to organize the attachment of RBP systems to the phage ...
KLEOPATRA: Development and implementation of an effective combination of phages and antibiotics as an improved therapy against Klebsiella pneumoniae KU Leuven
The innovation objectives of the KU Leuven part of this project are the development of (i) a biobank of both capsule-specific and -independent phages that actively target Klebsiella strains isolated from a one health environment; (ii) new mathematical models for optimization of antimicrobial combinations in treatment protocols (in silico phagogram) and companion diagnostics for K. pneumoniae, as proof of concept for encapsulated pathogens. ...