A5005464788- Hepatitis Viruses Studies and Epidemiology
- SARS-CoV-2 detection and testing
- SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- COVID-19 epidemiological studies
- Viral gastroenteritis research and epidemiology
- Hepatitis C virus research
- Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
- COVID-19 Clinical Research Studies
- Liver Disease and Transplantation
- Veterinary medicine and infectious diseases
- COVID-19 diagnosis using AI
- Plant-Microbe Interactions and Immunity
- Acute Myeloid Leukemia Research
- COVID-19 Pandemic Impacts
- Biosensors and Analytical Detection
- Hepatitis B Virus Studies
- Plant pathogens and resistance mechanisms
- Plant Pathogens and Resistance
- COVID-19 Digital Contact Tracing
- Platelet Disorders and Treatments
- COVID-19 and Mental Health
- Plant Pathogenic Bacteria Studies
- Immune responses and vaccinations
- COVID-19 impact on air quality
- Respiratory viral infections research
Rega Institute for Medical Research
2024
KU Leuven
2024
Sciensano (Belgium)
2018-2023
Institut Scientifique de Santé Publique
2019-2022
European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
2019
Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam
2010-2018
University of Amsterdam
2010-2018
Sanquin
2009-2018
Inserm
2015
Institut Pasteur
2015
In plants, an active defense against biotrophic pathogens is dependent on a functional continuum between the cell wall (CW) and plasma membrane (PM). It thus anticipated that proteins maintaining this also function in defense. The legume-like lectin receptor kinase LecRK-I.9 putative mediator of CW-PM adhesions Arabidopsis known to bind vitro Phytophthora infestans RXLR-dEER effector IPI-O via RGD attachment motif present IPI-O. Here we show associated with membrane, two T-DNA insertions...
Between 1 June 2016 and 31 May 2017, 17 European Union (EU) Economic Area countries reported 4,096 cases associated with a multi-country hepatitis A (HA) outbreak. Molecular analysis identified three co-circulating virus (HAV) strains of genotype IA: VRD_521_2016, V16–25801 RIVM-HAV16–090. We categorised as confirmed, probable or possible, according to the EU outbreak case definitions. Confirmed were infected one strains. investigated characteristics strain-specific risk factors for...
This retrospective multi-center matched cohort study assessed the risk for severe COVID-19 (combination of severity indicators), intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and in-hospital mortality in hospitalized patients when infected with Omicron variant compared to Delta variant. The is based on a causal framework using individually-linked data from national registries. population consisted 954 (of which, 445 were Omicron) above 18 years old admitted Belgian hospital during autumn winter...
asymptomatic carriers of the virus could represent an important driver transmission.To limit spread SARS-CoV-2 in closed residential facilities, we iterate importance widely applying extensive infection prevention and control measures as long epidemic is ongoing.We declare no competing interests.
Contact tracing is one of the main public health tools in control coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). A centralized contact system was developed Belgium 2020. We aim to evaluate performance and describe results, between January 01, 2021, September 30, 2021. The characteristics COVID-19 cases impact vaccination on testing are also described.We combined laboratory diagnostic test data (molecular antigen test), data, data. descriptive analysis done insights into epidemiology by tracing.Between...
Epidemiological data are crucial to monitoring progress towards the 2030 Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) elimination targets. Our aim was estimate prevalence of chronic HCV infection (cHCV) in European Union (EU)/European Economic Area (EEA) countries 2019. Multi-parameter evidence synthesis (MPES) used produce national estimates cHCV defined as: π = πrecρrec + πexρex πnonρnon; πrec, πex, and πnon represent among recent people who inject drugs (PWID), ex-PWID, non-PWID, respectively, while ρrec,...
Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has significantly improved the quality of life and expectancy HIV-infected individuals. Still, drug-induced side effects emergence drug-resistant viral variants remain important issues that justify exploration alternative therapeutic options. One strategy consists a gene based on RNA interference to induce sequence-specific degradation HIV-1 genome. We have selected four potent short hairpin (shRNA) candidates targeting capside, integrase,...
BackgroundHepatitis E virus (HEV) is an emerging public health concern in high-income countries and can cause acute chronic hepatitis. Reported numbers of indigenously acquired HEV infection have increased the past decade many European countries. Since 2010, National Reference Centre (NRC) for Hepatitis Viruses has been testing samples suspected hepatitis cases Belgium.AimIn this surveillance report, we present epidemiological trends symptomatic infections Belgium, from distribution by age,...
Abstract Some European countries recently reported an increase in hepatitis E virus genotype 3 (HEV-3) of the subtype 3c. No link between HEV-3 subtypes and severity is established to date. Here, we report that patients infected with HEV-3c were at lower risk hospitalisation, compared those HEV-3f, other main circulating Belgium.
With the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), an existing national laboratory-based surveillance system was adapted to daily monitor epidemiological situation severe acute respiratory syndrome 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in Belgium by following number confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infections, performed tests and positivity ratio. We present these main indicators over a one-year period as well impact performance laboratories, regarding speed processing samples reporting results, for surveillance.
Cell adhesion and migration are important determinants of homing development hematopoietic stem progenitor cells (HSPCs) in bone marrow (BM) niches. The extracellular matrix protein transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) inducible gene H3 (BIGH3) is involved migration, although the effect BIGH3 highly cell type-dependent. abundantly expressed by mesenchymal stromal cells, while its expression HSPCs relatively low unless induced certain BM stressors. Here, we set out to determine how modulates...
Wastewater-based surveillance was conducted by the national public health authority to monitor SARS-CoV-2 circulation in Belgian population. Over 5 million inhabitants representing 45% of population were monitored throughout 42 wastewater treatment plants for 15 months comprising three major virus waves. During entire period, a high correlation observed between daily new COVID-19 cases and concentration corrected rain impact covered size. Three alerting indicators included weekly...
Hepatitis B splicing-regulated protein (HBSP) of the hepatitis virus (HBV) was uncovered a few years ago but its function remains unknown. HBSP expression occurs from spliced viral transcript that increases during course liver disease. This study aimed at characterizing impact on cellular signaling pathways in vitro and pathogenesis transgenic (Tg) mice. By RT-qPCR array, NF-κB-inducible genes appeared modulated HepG2 cells transduced with HBSP-encoding lentivirus. Using luciferase Western...
Abstract Background National public health agencies are required to prioritise infectious diseases for prevention and control. We applied the prioritisation method recommended by European Centre Disease Prevention Control rank diseases, according their relative importance surveillance health, inform future action in Belgium. Methods multi-criteria-decision-analysis approach. A working group of epidemiologists statisticians from Belgium ( n = 6) designed a balanced set criteria. panel Belgian...
Some occupational sectors, such as human health and care, food service, cultural sport activities, have been associated with a higher risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection than other sectors. To curb the spread SARS-CoV-2, it is preferable to apply targeted non-pharmaceutical interventions on selected economic rather full lockdown. However, effect these general sector-specific virus circulation has only sparsely studied. We assess COVID-19 incidence under different levels per activity during autumn...
The interactions of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) with extracellular matrix (ECM) components from the bone marrow (BM) microenvironment control their homeostasis. Regenerative BM conditions can induce expression ECM protein transforming growth factor beta-induced gene H3 (TGFBI or BIGH3) in murine HSPCs. In this study, we examined how increased reduced TGFBI human HSPCs mesenchymal stromal (MSCs) affects HSPC maintenance, differentiation, migration. that overexpressed...
SARS-CoV-2 strains evolve continuously and accumulate mutations in their genomes over the course of pandemic. The severity a infection could partly depend on these viral genetic characteristics. Here, we present general conceptual framework that allows to study effect variants COVID-19 disease among hospitalized patients.A causal model is defined visualized using Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG), which assumptions relationship between (confounding) variables are made explicit. Various DAGs...
Abstract Since the onset of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in Belgium, UZ/KU Leuven has played a crucial role as National Reference Centre (NRC) for respiratory pathogens, to be first Belgian laboratory develop and implement developed diagnostic assays SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute syndrome 2) later assess quality commercial kits. To meet growing demand decentralised testing, both clinical laboratories government-supported high-throughput platforms were gradually deployed across Belgium....
Abstract Acute gastroenteritis (AGE) remains a common condition in both low- and high-income countries. In Belgium, however, there is currently lack of information on the societal health economic impact AGE. We conducted retrospective study using mortality cause-of-death data, hospital primary care interview survey data other published data. estimated burden illness during 5-year period (2010–2014) Belgium terms deaths, patients admitted to hospitals, consulting their general practitioner...
Introduction Sequence-based typing of hepatitis A virus (HAV) is important for outbreak detection, investigation and surveillance. In 2013, sequencing was central to resolving a large European Union (EU)-wide related frozen berries. However, as the sequenced HAV genome regions were only partly comparable between countries, results not always conclusive. Aim The objective gather information on surveillance in EU/European Economic Area (EEA) countries find ways harmonise their procedures,...
Abstract Background Differences in the genetic material of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants may result altered virulence characteristics. Assessing disease severity caused by newly emerging is essential to estimate their impact on public health. However, causally inferring intrinsic infection with using observational data a challenging process which guidance still limited. We describe potential limitations and biases that researchers are confronted...