Projects
Improvement of Cuban dairy cattle genetics as an aid to increase milk production potential. University of Antwerp
A chemical genetics screen for highly specific inhibitors of nematode feeding site establishment. Ghent University
Plant parasitic nematodes (PPNs) cause about 12% yield loss in agriculture annually, with root-knot nematodes (RKNs) being among the most harmful nematodes. They invade the root and form nematode feeding sites (NFS) in the vascular cylinder by inducing a series of morphological, molecular and biochemical changes in plant root cells, causing severe biotic stress in plants. Moreover, NFS are the sole food source for growth and reproduction of ...
Functional importance and genetics of common developmental osteo-articular abnormalities in sport horses KU Leuven
Osteo-articular problems and lameness are a major threat for the athletic career of sporthorses. Therefore, it has become routine to screen youngsters radiographically for developmental osteo-articular abnormalities (DOAs). The results of this screening largely influence the economic value of the horse and determines whether it is suitable for breeding. However, there is ongoing debate which specific DOAs indeed have a functional impact. ...
Functional importance and genetics of common developmental osteoarticular abnormalities in sport horses Ghent University
Osteo-articular problems and lameness are a major threat for the athletic career of sporthorses. Therefore, it has become routine to screen youngsters radiographically for developmental osteo-articular abnormalities (DOAs). The results of this screening largely influence the economic value of the horse and determines whether it is suitable for breeding. However, there is ongoing debate which specific DOAs indeed have a functional impact. ...
Molecular-genetic mechanisms of reproductive symbiosis in haplodiploids Ghent University
Bacterial symbionts infect the reproductive tissues of arthropods, including many economically important species that have a haplodiploid reproductive mode. By inducing various reproductive phenotypes, these symbionts often act as inheritable selfish elements for haplodiploid hosts. Previous work indicates that hosts can counteract symbiont-mediated reproductive phenotypes. Yet, despite the fundamental and applied importance of reproductive ...
Innovative Training Network in Female Reproductive Care KU Leuven
MATER consortium will establish Innovative Training Network (ITN) of five academia and five industry partners from 7 European countries with the aim to train a new generation of 14 creative, entrepreneurial, innovative and ethically sensitive early-stage researchers (ESRs) in the field of female reproductive care. The consortium plans research covering the female fertility from oocyte to a birth of a healthy baby, and related innovation ...
Harnessing reproductive genome instability to facilitate ploidy breeding in apple (Malus x domestica Borkh.) KU Leuven
Genetic improvement in apple typically occurs via classical crosshybridization and subsequent selection of superior genotypes. As most parental lines are diploid, apple breeding mainly occurs at the 2x level and hence does not take advantage of karyotypic variation to exploit the full genetic potential of the available germplasm. Occasionally formed tri- and tetraploid varieties exhibit improved agronomic features, and thus confirm that ...
Ecological speciation in orchids: the contribution of mycorrhizal divergence to reproductive isolation KU Leuven
The major aim of this research project is to disentangle the absolute and relative contribution of specific adaptations to distinct habitats and mycorrhizal divergence to reproductive isolation in closely related Epipactis species. Adaptive divergence due to habitat differences is thought to play a major role in formation of new species. However the extent to which individual reproductive isolating barriers related to habitat differentiation ...
Innovative Training Network in Female Reproductive Care KU Leuven
MATER consortium will establish Innovative Training Network (ITN) of five academia and five industry partners from 7 European countries with the aim to train a new generation of 14 creative, entrepreneurial, innovative and ethically sensitive early-stage researchers (ESRs) in the field of female reproductive care. The consortium plans research covering the female fertility from oocyte to a birth of a healthy baby, and related innovation ...