A5025295491- Advanced Fluorescence Microscopy Techniques
- Nanoparticle-Based Drug Delivery
- Advanced biosensing and bioanalysis techniques
- HIV Research and Treatment
- Angiogenesis and VEGF in Cancer
- Nanoplatforms for cancer theranostics
- Gold and Silver Nanoparticles Synthesis and Applications
- Lipid Membrane Structure and Behavior
- 3D Printing in Biomedical Research
- Click Chemistry and Applications
- Force Microscopy Techniques and Applications
- Developmental Biology and Gene Regulation
- X-ray Diffraction in Crystallography
- Photoreceptor and optogenetics research
- Advanced Electron Microscopy Techniques and Applications
- Crystallization and Solubility Studies
- Cellular Mechanics and Interactions
- Cytomegalovirus and herpesvirus research
- HIV/AIDS drug development and treatment
- Congenital heart defects research
- Cell Image Analysis Techniques
- Plasmonic and Surface Plasmon Research
- Monoclonal and Polyclonal Antibodies Research
- Photochemistry and Electron Transfer Studies
- Mitochondrial Function and Pathology
KU Leuven
2016-2025
Spanish National Centre for Cardiovascular Research
2017-2024
Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine
2009-2017
University of Münster
2009-2017
Centro De Medicina Veterinária Anjos De Assis
2017
Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
2014
Laboratoire de Spectroscopie pour les Interactions, la Réactivité et l'Environnement
2010
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
2010
Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes
2009-2010
University College London
2010
Endothelial cell-specific molecule 1 (Esm1) is a secreted protein thought to play role in angiogenesis and inflammation. However, there currently no direct vivo evidence supporting function of Esm1 either these processes.To determine the underlying molecular mechanisms.We generated analyzed knockout (Esm1(KO)) mice study its expression induced by vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) tip cells mouse retina. Esm1(KO) showed delayed outgrowth reduced filopodia extension, which are both...
Abstract Tissue vascularization entails the formation of a blood vessel plexus, which remodels into arteries and veins. Here we show, by using time-lapse imaging zebrafish fin regeneration genetic lineage tracing endothelial cells in mouse retina, that vein-derived tip contribute to emerging arteries. Our movies uncover arterial-fated change migration direction migrate backwards within expanding vascular plexus. This behaviour critically depends on chemokine receptor cxcr4a function. We show...
Most targeting strategies of anticancer drug delivery systems (DDSs) rely on the surface functionalization nanocarriers with specific ligands, which trigger internalization in cancer cells via receptor-mediated endocytosis. The endocytosis implies entrapment DDSs acidic vesicles (endosomes and lysosomes) their eventual ejection by exocytosis. This process, intrinsic to eukaryotic cells, is one main drawbacks because it reduces bioavailability intracellular environment. escape from is,...
Virus assembly and interaction with host-cell proteins occur at length scales below the diffraction limit of visible light. Novel super-resolution microscopy techniques achieve nanometer resolution fluorescently labeled molecules. The cellular restriction factor tetherin (also known as CD317, BST-2 or HM1.24) inhibits release human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) through direct incorporation into viral membranes is counteracted by HIV-1 protein Vpu. For analysis interactions, we established...
Live-cell surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) endoscopy is developed by using plasmonic nanowire waveguides as endoscopic probes. It demonstrated that the probe insertion does not stress cell. Opposed to conventional SERS endoscopy, with excitation at hotspot within cell, remote method yields low-background spectra from specific cell compartments minimal associated photodamage. As a service our authors and readers, this journal provides supporting information supplied authors. Such...
Accumulating evidence indicates that membrane lipids are not randomly distributed but rather form specific domains. In particular, raft-like microdomains composed of cholesterol and sphingolipids attracting a lot attention. These thought to serve as platforms for signal transduction molecular trafficking, it is difficult elucidate their detailed structure since reported size smaller than the resolution light microscopy. To circumvent this limitation, we designed probes cholesterol-...
Abstract Appropriate therapeutic modulation of endothelial proliferation and sprouting is essential for the effective inhibition angiogenesis in cancer or its induction cardiovascular disease. The current view that an increase growth factor concentration, resulting mitogenic activity, increases both sprouting. Here, we modulate stimuli different vascular contexts by interfering with function VEGF Notch signalling pathways at high spatiotemporal resolution vivo. Contrary to prevailing view,...
Advanced imaging techniques crucially depend on the labels used. In this work, we present structure-guided design of a fluorescent protein that displays both reversibly photochromic and green-to-red photoconversion behavior. We first designed ffDronpa, mutant Dronpa matures up to three times faster while retaining its interesting features. Using combined evolutionary structure-driven rational strategy, developed photoconvertible ffDronpa mutant, called pcDronpa, explored different...
Cells continuously sense external forces from their microenvironment, the extracellular matrix (ECM). In turn, they generate contractile forces, which stiffen and remodel this matrix. Although bidirectional mechanical exchange is crucial for many cell functions, it remains poorly understood. Key challenges are that majority of available matrices such studies, either natural or synthetic, difficult to control lack biological relevance. Here, we use a yet highly biomimetic hydrogel based on...
Preclinical studies have demonstrated that nanoparticles (NPs) hold significant potential for advancing cancer therapy by enhancing therapeutic efficacy while reducing side effects. Their effectiveness in solid tumors is, however, often constrained insufficient accumulation and penetration. Understanding how the physicochemical properties of NPs – such as size, shape, surface charge influence their interaction with cells within tumor is critical optimizing NP design. In this study, we...
Abstract Reprogramming T cell metabolism can improve intratumoural fitness. By performing a CRISPR/Cas9 metabolic survey in CD8 + cells, we identified 83 targets and applied single-cell RNA sequencing to disclose transcriptome changes associated with each perturbation the context of pancreatic cancer. This revealed elongation very long-chain fatty acids protein 1 ( Elovl1 ) as target sustain effector functions memory phenotypes cells. Accordingly, inactivation adoptively transferred cells...
All in one: Exceptionally photostable, highly fluorescent, water-soluble, and monofunctional perylene terrylene dyes bearing reactive groups for covalent attachment to biomolecules have been synthesized (see picture). Single-molecule enzyme tracking revealed that single enzymes could be visualized even on a substrate with fluorescent background.
Improved methods for manipulating and analyzing gene function have provided a better understanding of how genes work during organ development disease. Inducible functional genetic mosaics can be extraordinarily useful in the study biological systems; however, this experimental approach is still rarely used vertebrates. This mainly due to technical difficulties assembly large DNA constructs carrying multiple regulatory elements their targeting genome. In addition, mosaic phenotypic analysis,...
Abstract The enhancement of molecular absorption, emission and scattering processes by coupling to surface plasmon polaritons on metallic nanoparticles is a key issue in plasmonics for applications (bio)chemical sensing, light harvesting photocatalysis. Nevertheless, the point spread functions single-molecule near remain difficult characterize due fluorophore photodegradation, background from plasmonic structure. Here we overcome this problem exciting fluorophores remotely using plasmons...
Optical antennas made of metallic nanostructures dramatically enhance single-molecule fluorescence to boost the detection sensitivity. Moreover, emission properties detected at optical far field are dictated by antenna. Here we study from molecule-antenna hybrids means super-resolution localization and defocused imaging. Whereas gold nanorods make single-crystal violet molecules in tip's vicinity visible fluorescence, on enhanced molecular reveals geometrical centers nanorod antenna instead....
Over the last decade, water-soluble polyisocyanopeptides (PICs) have emerged as a new class of biomimetic polymers. Analogous to biopolymers, PICs exhibit semi-flexible nature; however, unlike their biological counterparts, they possess unique advantage being highly customizable. Hydrogels made fibrous and porous architecture and, consequently, mechanical properties. This includes strain stiffening, which is well known in materials but rarely found synthetic gels. These properties make PIC...
Cortical interneurons originate from subpallial precursors and migrate into the cortex during development. Using genetic lineage tracing in transgenic mice we examine contribution of two germinal zones, septum lateral ganglionic eminence/caudal eminence (LGE/CGE) to cortex. We find that septal neuroepithelium does not generate for neocortex. There is, however, clear migration cells LGE/CGE Comparison dynamics cortical colonization by major cohorts originating medial (MGE) has shown...