Projects
Structural analysis of antibody-based profibrinolytics KU Leuven
Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), a member of the serine protease inhibitor superfamily, is the main physiologic inhibitor of plasminogen activators (PAs). Therefore, PAI-1 carries a flexible reactive center loop (RCL) that presents a substrate-mimicking peptide sequence that inserts into the active site of the PA. After initial complex formation, the reactive center in the RCL is cleaved by the PA which induces a conformational ...
Do shared “omics” biomarkers reveal a systemic pathogenetic condition explaining association between left ventricular dysfunction and macrovascular disease? KU Leuven
Atherosclerosis is the major disease of the macrovasculature and represents the major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide due to heart attack and stroke. Heart failure (HF) is another syndrome that represents a major public health problem in developing and developed countries alike. A striking observation is that many of the risk factors predicting HF are also related to macrovascular disease. One mechanism that explains this is ...
Optimization of diagnostic and treatment modalities to influence the natural history of breast cancer-related lymphedema KU Leuven
Lymphedema is a chronic, progressive and debilitating disease. It decreases patients quality of life not only because of the enlargement of the diseased limb but also because of the decreased mobility and recurrent infections. Lymphedema can be divided into primary and secondary lymphedema. In primary lymphedema there is an anomaly in the development of the lymphatic system. Secondary lymphedema, which is the majority, results from damage or ...
Humanized Immune Liver Mouse and 3D in vitro models for the study and therapy of liver disease. KU Leuven
The goal is the development of high quality in vitro 3D cell culture systems and in vivo humanized mouse models for studying hepatotropic virus infections, evaluation of efficacy, metabolism and toxicity of medication, and study of hepatocellular fibrosis.
Exploring the role of mini-proteins and toxin antitoxin-modules in Burkholderia cenocepacia biofilm formation and persistence Ghent University
B. cenocepacia is an opportunistic pathogen that can cause lung infections in cystic fibrosis patients. While previous research has predominantly focussed on larger proteins, evidence is accumulating that polypeptides (< 200 amino acids) are involved in various biological processes. The goal of the present study is to elucidate involvement of mini-proteins and toxin antitoxin-modules in B.cenocepacia biofilm formation and persistence. ...
The role of adipose tissue in arrhythmogenesis: an in silico study KU Leuven
The most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia is atrial fibrillation (AF), affecting approximately 1.5 % of the population [Lip G. et al. 2007]. AF is a progressive disease becoming more prevalent with increasing age and results in increased mortality, morbidity and impaired quality of life [Thrall G. et al. 2006].
AF is associated with important structural, electrical and mechanical (both passive and contractile) remodeling. The disease ...
DNA methylation in cardiac aging and disease and its potential interaction with Ca2+ handling pathways. KU Leuven
Cardiovascular diseases, including heart failure and atrial fibrillation are the leading cause of mortality worldwide. With age the greatest risk factor, their prevalence will substantially increase in the next decades. Factors contributing to this age-associated susceptibility to development of pathology are not established making the identification of new mechanistic targets and prognostic indicators of cardiac health urgently required. ...
Ventricular-arterial coupling disease as pathogenic link between subclinical heart failure and arterial stiffening. KU Leuven
Current heart failure (HF) guidelines place special emphasis on the early detection of people with subclinical left ventricular (LV) remodeling and dysfunction. To better understand the mechanism of LV remodeling related to cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension and diabetes, it is important to evaluate LV function in relation to changes in loading, i.e. preload and afterload. For instance, arterial stiffening increases the vascular ...
Molecular elucidation of three antibacterial proteins from Pseudomonas phage LUZ19 for biotechnological applications KU Leuven
Bacterial viruses or ‘bacteriophages’ have been proven to be valuable research objects. Modern molecular biology is founded on phage research, providing key insights in fundamental microbiology and resulting in commonly used phage-derived biotechnological tools for research purposes. As effective bacterial killing machines, phages have potential applications to control bacterial growth with applications in health, industrial, food and ...