Projects
Syndecan-PDZ scaffolds in the molecular and functional heterogeneity of extracellular vesicles: the role of syntenin in ncRNA transfer KU Leuven
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) emerge as organelles supporting cell-to-cell communication over short or long distances. They contribute to various physiological and pathological processes. They contribute to various systemic diseases, in particular cancer, neurodegeneration and pathogen invasion. EVs are limited by a lipid bilayer, and can be released by any type of cell. They have the same topology as the cell and contain a mixture of genetic ...
The chicken cerebellum as a model to study the impact of monocarboxylate transporter 8 deficiency on early brain development KU Leuven
Thyroid hormones (THs) have been characterised as important regulatory factors of vertebrate brain development. As such, they contribute to a wide variety of neurodevelopmental processes that depend on adequate TH levels as well as a correct timing of TH access to distinct neural cells in order to obtain a fully functional brain. This strict regulation of local TH availability is the result of a complex interplay between TH transporters ...
Role of the rRNA modifications and lncRNA-derived micropeptides in melanoma translation rewiring and therapy resistance KU Leuven
Bij gemetastaseerd melanoom blijft, ondanks de recente doorbraken in gerichte therapie en Immune Checkpoint Blockade (ICB), het 5-jaars overlevingspercentage rond de 54%. Dit is in ieder geval gedeeltelijk te wijten aan de hoge plasticiteit van melanoomcellen en hun vermogen om snel te schakelen tussen verschillende geneesmiddeltolerante rangen bij blootstelling aan therapie, waardoor ze aan deze dreiging kunnen ontsnappen. ...
Generation of artificial nucleic acid system for biotechnology and therapeutics KU Leuven
* Artificial nucleic acid (XNA/DZA) blocks as bioengineering tools for construction of stable vectors and protection of cleavage sites.
* Fully substituted biopolymers (DNA and RNA) as templates for genetic information storage and transfer in living organisms (bacterial and mammalian cells).
* Design of stable non-immunogenic XNA-based therapeutics