Projects
Pseudomonas proteins and metabolites mediating interactions in the rhizosphere KU Leuven
Research in the De Mot group explores antagonistic interactions among Pseudomonas, interference competition of Pseudomonas with other bacteria, and interaction with plants, mediated by proteins (e.g. bacteriocins) or secondary metabolites (e.g. lipopeptides). For newly discovered activities, insight in structure, biosynthesis, and mode of action of the bioactive molecules is pursued using state-of-the-art approaches in ...
Study of fatty acid modification and metabolism on the activity of quorum sensing molecules and lipopeptides produced by Pseudomonas spp. Ghent University
Pseudomonads produce antimicrobial or cytotoxic cyclic lipopeptides (CLPs) and quorum sensing signal molecules, i.e. N-acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs) as interesting secondary metabolites. The overall goal is a) the identification of the role of AHL-mediated quorum sensing mechanisms in regulating secondary metabolite production (CLPs) and b) the elucidtation of fatty acid-based biosynthetic pathways and SAR of CLPs.
In-depth analysis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa persistence mechanisms Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Role of cyclic lipopeptides produced by plant-associated fluorescent Pseudomonas, in pathogenicity, and disease resistance. Ghent University
Objectives
1. Elucidation of the structure of the CLPs produced by Pseudomonas CMR12a and Pseudomonas
CMR5c, isolated from the rhizosphere of cocoyam and those produced by Pseudomonas cichorii, the
pathogen on lettuce.
2. Investigation of the pathogenicity on monocots (rice) and dicots (lettuce, bean, tomato) of the CLPproducing
bacteria, mentioned in (1) and CLP producers from the viscosin, tolaasin, and ...
Towards an alternative and well-founded control of Pseudomonas infections in cherry and pear Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
In Flemish pear and cherry production, bacterial canker caused by the Pseudomonas syringae pathovars syringae (Pss) and morsprunorum (Psm), results in large losses almost every year as it is extremely difficult to control. In bacterial canker, all above-ground parts of the plant can be affected (stem, branch, leaf, bud, flower, fruit): leaves wilt ...
Ctrl-Pseudo: Towards alternative and sustainable control of Pseudomonas infections of pear and cherry pcfruit npo
Despite the importance of Pseudomonas bacterial disease due to the considerable damage it causes almost every year there are still major gaps in the knowledge about this disease, which hinder a more targeted and effective approach. Hence, the final goal of this project is to test alternative Pseudomonas control methods and to be able to give growers more targeted warnings on Pseudomonas infection risk. To achieve this, first of all more ...
Detection and characterisation of milk-spoiling Pseudomonas proteases in UHT milk Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
This project will investigate molecular, microbiological and immunological methods to predict and to improve the shelf-life of long-life dairy products. This will give the milk processing industry the ability to adapt the production process to the enzymatic quality of the raw material. As increasingly longer storage periods are used for farm milk, psychrotrophic microorganisms (especially ...
MEMCLIP: A comprehensive chemical-biology approach to understand the bioactivity of Pseudomonas cyclic lipopeptides on eukaryotic membranes Ghent University
The activity of cyclic lipopeptides, produced by Pseudomonas bacteria and chemically synthesized analogues will be tested in a standardized way on human (healthy and cancer) cells, plant cell suspensions and fungal cells. Using a combination of biological and (physico-)chemical methods we will test the hypothesis that in all these eukaryotic cells, these lipopeptides act on lipids in the cell membranes.
Characterization of lytic bacteriophages infecting Pseudomonas aeruginosa and their peptidoglycan and exopolysaccharide degrading enzymes KU Leuven
Antibiotic resistance of bacterial pathogens is an emerging problem worldwide.
As multidrug resistant organisms fail to respond to antimicrobial therapy, infections become more severe and cause more complications which in turn leads to longer illnesses (Gould, 2006; Haecker, 2009; Hübner et al., 2012). The aerobic Gram-negative bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the most important and dangerous microbes ...