Projects
Experimental evolution in Candida biofilms: does drug tolerance facilitate drug resistance development in fungi?Experimental evolution in Candida biofilms: does drug tolerance facilitate drug resistance development in fungi? KU Leuven
Invasive fungal infections pose a profound and growing public health threat with treatment failure and mortality estimates often surpassing 50%. Only three major antifungal drug classes are available to treat lethal fungemia and the incidence of resistance to these drugs has risen significantly in recent years. Moreover, multidrug resistant (MDR) ‘superbugs’ like Candida auris have emerged. Despite these alarming concerns, fungal infections ...
Interaction between Fusarium mycotoxins and cytochrome P450 drug metabolizing enzymes and ABC drug transporters in a porcine animal model Ghent University
Mycotoxins are feed and food contaminants which can modulate the expression of genes encoding for CYP450 enzymes and ABC drug transporters and/or may modulate their activity. The goal of this research proposal is to investigate the effect of mycotoxin intake on the pharmacokinetic behavior of CYP450 and ABC substrate drugs in a pig animal model.
Nose-to-brain drug delivery via a muco-adhesive drug carrier Ghent University
The nose-to-brain transport of a drug following nasal adminisatration via a muco-adhesive carrier is evaluated. Initially the muco-adhesive formulation will be optimized, and the drug diffusion through nasal epithelium, mucociliary clearance and irritation of the formulation will be evaluated. In a later phase the pharmacological evaluation of the formulations after nasal administration is planned.
Zebrafish-based discovery of antiseizure natural products: focus on secondary metabolites from marine microorganisms KU Leuven
Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological conditions, affecting more than 70 million people worldwide. It is characterized by an enduring predisposition of the brain to generate epileptic seizures. Although current antiseizure drugs (ASDs) provide a satisfactory control of seizures in approximately 70% of patients, they are ineffective in 30% of patients that demonstrate drug resistance. Moreover, they entail a range of adverse effects ...