Projects
Unravelling the hidden potential of two ORFans from Pseudomonas virus LUZ7 KU Leuven
The gram-negative bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a highly versatile bacterium that is able to thrive in a variety of niches. Due to the selective pressure imposed by the widespread use of antibiotics, this highly adaptive bacterium has become resistant to many of the contemporary antibiotics. The occurrence of multi-drug resistant and even pan-resistant strains of this opportunistic human pathogen, makes it into one of the most ...
Role of the EMT transcription factor ZEB2 in the immune response associated with skin pathologies Ghent University
Our mousemodels clearly suggest a role for the EMT transcription factor Zeb2 in the immune response associated with skin pathologies. The aim is to study the implications of Zeb2 expression in skin cells for the immune compartment and how this accelerates disease. Secondly, it will be determined whether there is a specific role for Zeb2 in the immune compartment itself.
Function and evolution of plant peptides and protein interactions KU Leuven
In this thesis work, we try to understand the function and evolution of small/short plant peptides that are induced under oxidative stress and to further understand the functions of members of two plant transcription factor (TF) families viz. the MADS domain and AT-Hook proteins. An important feature of plant stress response comprises the production of peptides with signaling, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. Our primary aim ...
Isolation and characterisation of genes affecting low temperature growth in Serratia plymuthica RVH1 KU Leuven
Refrigerated foods are one of the most rapidly growing segments in the food industry. Refrigerated storage is necessary because these foods are perishable and can support growth of microorganisms that can cause spoilage or foodborne disease. Psychrotrophy, i.e. the ability to grow at temperatures below 4 °C, is widespread among bacteria of diverse phylogenetic lineages, but often varies at the genus, species or even strain level. The ...
Exploring oxidative stress responsive post-transcriptional gene regulators in plants Ghent University
Cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) at low and moderate
concentration can function as second messenger that integrate in the
intra- and intercellular signaling cascades to enable plant acclimation
to abiotic and biotic stresses. Exploiting the key regulators and
targets underlying oxidative stress signaling networks is therefore in
a high priority. It still remains fragmented for comprehensively ...
Understanding the biosynthesis of novel specialized metabolites from Pseudomonas fluorescens KU Leuven
The rise of multidrug resistant bacteria and the gap in antibiotics development pose a serious threat to human health. Secondary metabolites (also termed specialized metabolites) have always been the main source of therapeutic antibiotics as well as molecules serving in various other pharmaceutical domains. They are compounds produced by bacteria, fungi or plants that are not essential for growth of the producing organism, but provide an ...
OZR backup mandate: Targeting quorum sensing mechanisms in Haloarchaea as a strategy to improve the production of polyhydroxyalkanoates Vrije Universiteit Brussel
mediterranei are promising PHA cell factories as they combine native production capabilities with an extremophilic lifestyle. However, titers and productivities are still too low for the production process to be economically viable. In this project, I will address ...
Carbon Concentrating Mechanisms: Linking CO2 uptake to growth and development in the green seaweed Ulva mutabilis Ghent University
Seaweeds have substantial ecological function and economic potential and yet they have been largely ignored in biotechnological research. I have developed a molecular toolkit to help make Sea Lettuce (Ulva mutabilis) a model organism for multicellular green algae. My research has resulted in the efficient expression of transgenes in Ulva and I am now optimizing site-directed mutagenesis using CRISPR/Cas9. I propose to use this molecular ...