Projects
An experimental and theoretical study into the competition between halogen bonding and hydrogen bonding. University of Antwerp
An experimental and theoretical study into the competition between halogen bonding and hydrogen bonding. University of Antwerp
Getting picobodies out of their comfort zone - Investigating the in vitro affinity maturation, folding and structure of isolated picobodies Ghent University
The picobodies are novel mini-proteins that were discovered recently in cattle. The picobodies combine several exciting features - small size, disulfide-rich and rigid structure, strong binding to pharmacological targets, and immense sequence diversity. Currently, the only way to discover new biologically active picobodies is to immunize cattle. The bovine immune system produces the picobodies as fusion proteins with a much larger antibody ...
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 ...
Sabbatical Ilse Jonkers: Multi-scale insights in the role of mechanical loading in cartilage homeostasis, repair and disease as basis for regenerative rehabilitation and excercise regimes in osteoarthritis KU Leuven
I wish to strengthen my research line in multi-scale cartilage mechanobiology by deepening existing international collaborations or starting up new collaborations and embedding them further within my research line on cartilage mechanobiology in Leuven – in preparation for an ERC advanced grant (submission 2024). To this end, I would like to propose a 3-part approach: - Stay in AO Foundation (Davos, Switzerland) with which I already cooperate. ...
Are old folks wise, or are they wiser than youngsters? How the wording of claims about social groups spreads stereotypes. KU Leuven
Verbal messages transmit beliefs about social groups (stereotypes) not just through their content, but also their wording. An important aspect of that wording is the messages’ comparative format – the extent to, and the manner in which they emphasize an intergroup comparison. This project examines how the valence and the distribution of properties in and across social groups shape communicators’ selection of comparative formats. It also ...
Form follows function: design, development and application of a new tool to assess how the 3D microstructure of biological tissues changes during mechanical loading KU Leuven
Biological tissues undergo physiological mechanical loading during their functioning in vivo. To properly respond to these mechanical signals, tissues have a highly complex microstructural organization. However, there is not yet sufficient knowledge about the link between their microstructural organization and their mechanical behaviour. Therefore, this PhD project aims to optimize a novel tool that allows to dynamically assess in 3D how the ...
The role of bacteria in copepod feeding behavior to steer the energy flow at the basis of marine food webs Ghent University
Worldwide, natural environments are increasingly disturbed by climate change, land-use change and pollution. There is an urgent need for a better understanding of the overall functioning of earth’s marine ecosystems. Interactions at the basis of marine food webs are yet to be fully understood. Determination of the role of bacteria in the microbial food web and their interactions with first-level consumers, i.e. harpacticoid copepods, are ...
An innovative modelling approach to estimating loading history from bone micro-architecture KU Leuven
Bone is remarkable tissue in that its morphology can inform us about the loading history in which it was developed. The fact that bone adapts in response to habitual mechanical stimuli is of interest to a wide range of research fields. Computational tools, such as Finite Element (FE) modelling and machine learning, have been applied in the clinical and paleo fields to study bone remodelling and its adaptation to function. Yet, with the amount ...