Projects
Characterisation of the human gut virome in patients with liver steatosis in order to identify biomarkers for diagnosis and targets for drug development. KU Leuven
The community of viruses, mainly phages, inhabiting our gastrointestinal tract constitutes a crucial, yet understudied component of the complex human gut microbial ecosystem. While the significance of the gut virome in human health and disease is increasingly recognized, the precise involvement of these viruses in the development and progression of chronic liver disease (CLD), a major global health burden, remains a subject of scientific ...
The impact of the gut mycobiome on multiple sclerosis' Hasselt University
The impact of the gut mycobiome on multiple sclerosis Hasselt University
Biomarkers of multiple sclerosis disease course in the blood and in the gut KU Leuven
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory, degenerative disease of the central nervous system with a heterogeneous disease course. Previous studies indicate a role of the gut microbial community (microbiota) in the pathogenesis of MS. However, a lot remains unclear as most studies with MS patients were relatively small-scale, cross-sectional and considering few possible confounders. There is a need for large prospective studies of the gut ...
The Effects of Gut Bacterial Metabolites Short-Chain Fatty Acids on Stress-Induced Impairment in Core Executive Functions KU Leuven
The gut microbiome has emerged as a likely mediator of physiologic (e.g., hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis), emotional, and cognitive responses to stress. The short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) acetate, propionate and butyrate are the main metabolites of fermentation of complex carbohydrates in the colon by the gut microbiota, and are thought to play a key role in microbiota-gut-brain communication. The effects of SCFAs on these ...
The early life exposome towards appetite regulation: a focus on gut hormones Hasselt University
The early life exposome towards appetite regulation: a focus on gut hormones Ghent University
In an era of food abundance, uncontrolled appetite and overeating is an issue We hypothesize that environmental factors modify gut hormones incretion, which in turn affect appetite and obesity over the first two decades of life Data from two ongoing cohorts will be used: a 4y follow-up birth cohort and a 10y follow-up in adolescents We will test whether psychological (stress) and physiological (greenness/pollution) environmental factors ...
Defining single cell signatures in the gut that promote intestinal barrier dysfunction during cirrhosis KU Leuven
Cirrhosis is associated with bacterial translocation progressively leading to immune dysfunction. However, patients are not equally sensitive to bacterial infections. Understanding the immune response to spontaneous bacterial infections, inflammation and injury is crucial to establish risk assessment and targeted therapies for cirrhotic patients, especially for SBP patients as they have a short time span of survival.
As bacterial ...
A profound study of gut homeostasis in Parkinson's disease. Ghent University
ParkinsonU+2019s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder and due to the
lack of early diagnosis and effective therapy, represents a large burden for our society and
healthcare system. The last years, it became increasingly apparent that non-motor symptoms,
including gastrointestinal dysfunction, precede the onset of the typical PD motor symptoms by
over two decades. Moreover, emerging ...