Projects
Effect of skin microbiome diversity on epicutaneous sensitization to allergens Ghent University
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways, which is increasingly seen in developed
countries. The disease is driven by an exaggerated inflammatory response to inhaled allergens such
as house dust mite (HDM), pollen and animal dander. Asthma can be caused by allergic sensitization
to HDM via the lungs but we have recently shown that sensitization to HDM can also occur via the
skin. Both sensitization ...
Response of the strawberry rhizosphere microbiome to chitin and biochar in function of plant health: expanding towards metatranscriptomics and DNA-SIP Ghent University
An alternative strategy to fertilizer and pesticide application, is the use of environment-friendly
substrate amendments such as chitin and biochar to improve crop growth and disease resistance.
Chitin or biochar amendment to substrate have proven to increase disease resistance and growth
of plants, which is at least in part regulated through a change in the microbial community
interacting with the ...
Effects of prenatal and early childhood exposure to ambient air pollution and residential green spaces on the human gut microbiome and corresponding consequences on cardiovascular function and neurobehavioral performance. Hasselt University
The missing variability of the Human Gut Microbiome what is the role of host genetics? KU Leuven
The human intestinal tract contains billions of bacteria and archaea, they train our immune system, digest food and provide energy, and at the same time defend host against infectious bacteria. Studies have identified multiple environmental factors affecting the gut flora composition: diet, living habits, gender and disease have great impact. However, much less knowledge is there for the effects of host genetics, and none for the interplay of ...
The disease-modifying effect of the microbiome in a spontaneous mouse model for systemic lupus erythematosus Ghent University
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease affecting 0.2% of the population. Despite substantial disease heterogeneity, lupus nephritis is a universal and major concern in patients with SLE, often leading to impaired kidney function or end-stage renal disease even with aggressive treatment. Because of unknown drivers of disease, current treatments for lupus nephritis fail to target the underlying pathophysiology and new ...
Exploring transcriptome and microbiome dynamics in response to microbial challenges and nutritional immunomodulation in Hermetia illucens larvae. KU Leuven
Our food system struggles to sustainably meet the demands of the growing world population and needs to shift towards a sustainable, bio-based model. Specific insects are envisioned as actors in this transition, by efficiently transforming renewable biomass into high-quality protein and other compounds. The Black Soldier Fly (BSF) is important for bioconversion, as its larvae are able to valorize low quality organic waste streams (e.g. ...
WISH-ROOT: Tuning the wheat root microbiome to improve soil health and optimize rhizosphere nitrogen cycling and availability KU Leuven
The WISH-ROOTS project is an ERA-NET project (EJP-SOIL) coordinated by the John Innes Centre (UK) with seven partners in which KU Leuven participates. The main objective is to restore and preserve soil health through wheat root traits with special attention to the effect of wheat genotypes on nitrogen cycling and biological nitrification in soil. We aim to: 1) identify key traits associated with functionality of microbial guilds in the ...
BioRodDis: Managing biodiversity in forests and urban green spaces. Dilution and amplification effects of rodent microbiome and rodent-borne diseases. University of Antwerp
Bugs on drugs: the use of the Drosophila melanogaster gut microbiome to study bacterial antibiotic tolerance in a complex in vivo condition KU Leuven
Antibiotics have revolutionized medical practice. Soon, however, simple infections will once again kill millions and lead to outrages economic losses. Indeed, antibiotic resistance is on the rise, enabling bacterial growth in the presence of antibiotics. In addition, bacteria also resort to another defense mechanism, tolerance. Bacterial populations, for example, rely on a subset of antibiotic-tolerant persister cells that simply sit out a ...