Projects
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 ...
Novel mechanisms of biocontrol in the Pseudomonas asplenii subgroup Ghent University
Microbial biocontrol agents (MBCA) are getting increased attention since the use of chemical pesticides needs to be reduced. Current screening methods of MBCA strongly focus on the production of secreted metabolites and may not pick up MBCAs with novel modes of actions. This project aims to study novel biocontrol mechanisms against soilborne pathogens in five taxonomically related plant-associated Pseudomonas strains obtained from disease ...
Molecular mechanism of Type 3 protein targeting and secretion KU Leuven
Type III secretion (T3S) is a specialized protein export and delivery system for bacterial protein toxins. These effectors are directly injected in the cytoplasm of host eukaryotic cells, through a dedicated nanosyringe, the injectisome, that spans two bacterial and one eukaryotic membrane. T3SS is one of the most complex protein secretion systems known. To become functional, up to 40 different proteins, in hundreds of copies, interact and ...
Calcium Controls the Intrinsic Dynamics of the Type 3 Translocase Export gate to Switch Client Secretion KU Leuven
The type three secretion system (T3SS) is a multiprotein (20-30) transmembrane complex used by Gram-negative organisms to deliver bacterial cytoplasmic proteins to the host cell cytoplasm. The T3SS is a very important virulence mechanism for many pathogenic organisms. This system has been studied across the globe in the last three decades but still some of the aspects of this system are yet to be unveiled.
The main aim of this thesis ...
TOWARDS UNDERSTANDING THE FUNDAMENTAL ASPECTS OF SECRETION MECHANISMS IN E. COLI (Cytoplasmome/secretome divide in E. coli and in vitro reconstitution of the Type 3 Secretion in EPEC) KU Leuven
To function properly, proteins need to reach their final sub-cellular destinations and acquire their final folded state. Therefore, protein targeting and transport are essential cellular processes in all kingdoms of life. Understanding how proteins become transported and folded into a functional state reveals the fundamental aspects of cellular protein biology, like cell wall biogenesis, cell division, molecule-export/uptake/degradation ...
Study of endocytosis, transcytosis and nuclear location of porcine lactoferrin in enteroids and design of smart lactoferrin by nanobody mediated targeting of lactoferrin to intestinal Chlamydia suis and its virulence factors Ghent University
Chlamydia suis is a gram negative obligate intracellular bacterium. C. suis is an emerging pig pathogen causing significant economic losses in the pork industry. The focus of our proposal is on prevention of intestinal C. suis in swine as: i) the gut functions as a C. suis reservoir, ii) C. suis and especially tetracycline resistant C. suis, causes economic loss and preventive strategies are currently unavailable and iii) C. suis is a ...
What are the internal rotation and mixing properties of intermediateto high-mass stars? KU Leuven
The PhD project covers modelling of large samples of detached eclipsing double-lined spectroscopic or astrometric binaries (EB-SB2) with intermediate- and high-mass components. This will be done for two comparative samples. Both will have an as wide as possible range of orbital periods and will cover masses between 1.3 and 50 solar masses. Sample 1 will contain non-pulsating EB-SB2s while sample 2 will consist of EB-SB2s with non-radial ...
Modelling and experimental validation of deposition on vegetation to facilitate urban particulate matter mitigation. University of Antwerp
The Ethiopian Public Sector Leadership Profile Unveiled: Determining the Leadership Profile of the Ethiopian Federal Civil Service Organizations KU Leuven
The PhD dissertation entitled ‘’The Ethiopian Public Sector Leadership Profile Unveiled: Determining the Leadership Profile of the Ethiopian Federal Civil Service Organizations’’ is motivated by calls for Afro-specific leadership research and pragmatic leadership problem in Ethiopian federal civil service organizations. It dealt with profiling the civil service leaders contrasting how the leaders are expected to act in terms of contextual ...