Projects
A two step bioreactor-based strategy for the manufacturing of patterned tissue structures: designing living implants. KU Leuven
Current tissue engineering strategies based on manual trial and error approaches mostly give limited and unpredictable in vitro and also in vivo outcomes. Recently a biomimetic methodology for in vitro process design was described, inspired by in vivo developmental stages of tissue formation. This strategy suggests a gradual and concerted progression of chondrocyte cell assembly and condensation followed by growth and differentiation, leading ...
Decamouflaging plant blindness. Use of plants in contemporary art to reclaim histories of the weak. KU Leuven
Plants tend to be overlooked by humans in general. The term 'plant blindness' - inability to notice plants unless they become resources useful for people: medicines, food, textiles etc. - was coined by botanist James H. Wandersee and biologist Elisabeth E. Schussler, but a similar mechanism was also recognized in traditional art history. According to art historian Giovani Aloi, plants either serve as a backdrop lacking individual ...
Bacterial root endophytes to protect plants against cold temperatures Ghent University
Like animals, plants are known to host a community of endophytic microorganisms that live inside
their tissues, without causing harm. Starting from the observation that some plants seem to tolerate
winter cold quite well, we intend to study the contribution that endophytic bacteria in roots make
to plant cold tolerance. By looking directly at the DNA of the endophytes without cultivating them,
we will ...
Interaction between Pseudomonas protegens and Sarocladium oryzae in rice plants with sheath rot Ghent University
Rice is the daily food for more than half of the world's population. This crop is threatened by various diseases, including rice sheath rot which results in rotting of the rice sheath and sterility of the resulting grains. The major pathogen causing this disease is a fungus, called Sarocladium oryzae. This fungus produces two toxic compounds, helvolic acid and cerulenin. Helvolic acid is not only toxic for the plant, but also for other ...
Molecular basis of DNA recognition by SOG1: the master regulator for DNA damage control in plants Vrije Universiteit Brussel
leads to abnormalities and diseases. Therefore, every organism
needs to protect its DNA. Upon damage, the DNA must be repaired
as soon as possible and the division of cells with damaged DNA
must be stopped. Plants and animals achieve this through the DNA
Damage Response (DDR) pathway. In animals, this is centrally
controlled by the ...
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and the conservation of Elp3 function from flies to plants. KU Leuven
The Flanders Forest Living Lab: a semi-automated observatory for multi-scale forest ecological functioning. University of Antwerp
Exploiting an unusual polyketide chain release mechanism for the production of novel antibiotic analogues KU Leuven
Over the past century, the discovery and development of antibiotic compounds have saved millions of lives. However, the extensive antibiotics use in both healthcare and agriculture has resulted in alarming levels of antimicrobial resistance. Consequently, the development of novel antibacterial compounds is urgently required. In that regard, microorganisms are a rich source of specialized metabolites, with many having potent bioactivities and ...
The use of root endophytic bacteria to boost lettuce growth at low temperature conditions. Ghent University
In flanders, lettuce farmers create a yearly turnover of 37 million euro, making it the regions
second most grown vegetable. Lettuce growth is optimal at temperatures ranging between 20°C
and 25°C, making it possible for farmers to grow it up to a consumable size in six weeks during
spring and summer. During the winter time on the other hand, this process takes up to four
months. A promising discipline to promote plant ...