Projects
Automation of a mucin mRNA isoform-based biomarker platform to monitor patients with inflammatory bowel diseases. University of Antwerp
Development and validation of the in vitro microfold cell model to investigate the role of breastmilk antibodies in infant protection against pertussis. University of Antwerp
Molecular mechanism and functional implications of the AGR2-IRE1ß axis in goblet cell homeostasis Ghent University
The intestinal mucus barrier forms an essential line of defense against pathogens, but how this barrier is regulated remains poorly understood. Both defects in mucus production and protein folding quality control (i.e. the unfolded protein response (UPR)) are risk factors for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This is not surprising, as a steep rise in protein production (such as the increase in mucin glycoproteins during inflammation) ...
Influence of microbiota on intestinal stem cell behaviour and differentiation in inflammatory bowel diseases. KU Leuven
Ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD) are the two major forms of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), which are chronic and progressive diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. The exact cause is unknown, but it has been suggested that the diseases result from an abnormal immune response towards environmental factors, such as the microbiota, in a genetically predisposed person. Current therapies aim to stop this inflammatory cascade. ...
Role of Interleukin-1 in mediating epithelial-dendritic cell crosstalk in the lung Ghent University
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the mucosal barrier lining the airways that is seen increasingly in westernized countries. A long-term objective is to find novel ways of prevention and treatment of this disorder. Airway dendritic cells (DC) and epithelial cells play a crucial role in the process of allergic sensitization and in the control of Th2-mediated allergic inflammation typical of asthma. Barrier epithelial cells influence ...
Making healthier and safer foods: development of a preclinical platform for testing of food components KU Leuven
Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are chronic inflammatory conditions of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. There are 2 main types of IBD, Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). The exact pathogenesis of IBD remains unclear, but it is thought that the disease is caused by a complex interaction between the microbiome, the immune system and environmental factors, in people with a genetic predisposition. In the last years, the ...