A5045606950- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
- Developmental Biology and Gene Regulation
- Insect Resistance and Genetics
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Cephalopods and Marine Biology
- Insect-Plant Interactions and Control
- Retinal Development and Disorders
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Invertebrate Immune Response Mechanisms
- Genetics, Aging, and Longevity in Model Organisms
- Entomopathogenic Microorganisms in Pest Control
- RNA Research and Splicing
- Agricultural pest management studies
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Research
- Plant Molecular Biology Research
- Animal Genetics and Reproduction
- Cholinesterase and Neurodegenerative Diseases
- Alzheimer's disease research and treatments
- Legume Nitrogen Fixing Symbiosis
- Axon Guidance and Neuronal Signaling
- Marine Ecology and Invasive Species
- Genetics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Marine Bivalve and Aquaculture Studies
- Insect Utilization and Effects
KU Leuven
2016-2025
Biologie Fonctionnelle Insectes et Interactions
2019
VIB-KU Leuven Center for Cancer Biology
2006-2017
Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie
2005-2016
VIB-KU Leuven Center for Microbiology
2012-2014
Institut thématique Génétique, génomique et bioinformatique
2010-2012
Center for Human Genetics
2009-2012
Institute of Human Genetics
2012
University of Houston
1999-2009
Novartis (Switzerland)
2006
The Drosophila gene eyeless ( ey ) encodes a transcription factor with both paired domain and homeodomain. It is homologous to the mouse Small eye Pax-6 Aniridia in humans. These genes share extensive sequence identity, position of three intron splice sites conserved, these are expressed similarly developing nervous system during morphogenesis. Loss-of-function mutations insect mammalian have been shown lead reduction or absence structures, which suggests that functions By targeted...
Abstract Cardiovascular disease associated with metabolic syndrome has a high prevalence, but the mechanistic basis of cardiomyopathy remains poorly understood. We characterised cardiac transcriptome in murine (MetS) model (LDLR−/−; ob/ob, DKO) relative to healthy, control heart (C57BL/6, WT) and transcriptional changes induced by ACE-inhibition those hearts. RNA-Seq, differential gene expression transcription factor analysis identified 288 genes differentially expressed between DKO WT...
ABSTRACT The Drosophila Pax-6 gene eyeless acts high up in the genetic hierarchy involved compound eye development and can direct formation of extra eyes ectopic locations. Here we identify sine oculis absent as two mediators eye-inducing activity eyeless. We show that induces requires expression both genes independently during development. During normal development, is expressed earlier than required for absent, but not vice versa. Based on results presented here those others, propose a...
Abstract Hexanucleotide repeat expansions in C9orf72 are the most common cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal degeneration (FTD) (c9ALS/FTD). Unconventional translation these repeats produces dipeptide proteins (DPRs) that may neurodegeneration. We performed a modifier screen Drosophila discovered critical role for importins exportins, Ran-GTP cycle regulators, nuclear pore components arginine methylases mediating DPR toxicity. These findings provide evidence an...
Microglia, the mononuclear phagocytes of central nervous system (CNS), are important for maintenance CNS homeostasis, but also critically contribute to pathology. Here we demonstrate that nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) regulatory protein A20 is crucial in regulating microglia activation during homeostasis and In mice, deletion increases microglial cell number affects regulation neuronal synaptic function. Administration a sublethal dose lipopolysaccharide induces massive activation,...
Pax-6 in vertebrates and its homolog eyeless Drosophila are known to be essential for eye development. Here we investigate the role of development another major systematic group, molluscs. We demonstrate that alternatively spliced RNAs derived from a single gene squid ( Loligo opalescens ) expressed embryonic eye, olfactory organ, brain, arms. Despite significant sequence differences between region outside paired- homeodomains, is able induce formation ectopic eyes . Our results support idea...
Cytoplasmic accumulation and nuclear clearance of TDP-43 characterize familial sporadic forms amyotrophic lateral sclerosis frontotemporal lobar degeneration, suggesting that either loss or gain function, both, cause disease formation. Here we have systematically compared loss- gain-of-function Drosophila TDP-43, TAR DNA Binding Protein Homolog (TBPH), in synaptic function morphology, motor control, age-related neuronal survival. Both TBPH severely affect development result premature...
RNA-binding protein aggregation is a pathological hallmark of several neurodegenerative disorders, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). To gain better insight into the molecular interactions underlying this process, we investigated FUS, which mutated aggregated in both ALS FTLD. We generated Drosophila model FUS toxicity identified previously unrecognized synergistic effect between N-terminal prion-like domain C-terminal arginine-rich to...
We have identified a sine oculis gene in the planarian Girardia tigrina (Platyhelminthes; Turbellaria; Tricladida). The ( Gtso) encodes protein with (Six) domain and homeodomain that shares significant sequence similarity so proteins assigned to Six-2 family. Gtso is expressed as single transcript both regenerating fully developed eyes. Whole-mount situ hybridization studies show exclusive expression photoreceptor cells. Loss of function by RNA interference during regeneration inhibits eye...
Metabotropic glutamate receptor 7 (mGluR7), a with distinct brain distribution and putative role in anxiety, emotional responding, spatial working memory, could be an interesting therapeutic target for fear anxiety disorders. mGluR7-deficient (mGluR7-/-) mice showed essentially normal performance tests neuromotor exploratory activity passive avoidance learning but prominent anxiolytic behavior two tests. They delayed curve during the acquisition of hidden-platform water maze, three...
The clinical effects of treatment withn β-adrenoceptor (β-AR) agonists and antagonists in heart failure vary with duration therapy, as do the β-AR asthma. Therefore, we hypothesized that chronic “β-blockers” asthma may differ from those observed acutely. We tested this hypothesis an antigen (ovalbumin)-driven murine model Airway resistance responses ( R aw ) to muscarinic agonist methacholine were measured by using forced oscillation technique. In comparison nontreated asthmatic mice, that:...
Lysosomal storage is the most common cause of neurodegenerative brain disease in preadulthood. However, underlying cellular mechanisms that lead to neuronal dysfunction are unknown. Here, we report loss Drosophila benchwarmer (bnch), a predicted lysosomal sugar carrier, leads carbohydrate yolk spheres during oogenesis and results widespread accumulation enlarged late endosomal inclusions. At bnch larval neuromuscular junction, observe similar inclusions find defects synaptic vesicle...
Aggressive behavior in animals is important for survival and reproduction. Identifying the underlying genes environmental contexts that affect aggressive understanding evolutionary forces maintain variation natural populations, to develop therapeutic interventions modulate extreme levels of humans. While role neurotransmitters a few other molecules mediating modulating aggression well established, it likely many additional genetic pathways remain undiscovered. Drosophila melanogaster has...
Dominant-intermediate Charcot–Marie–Tooth neuropathy (DI-CMT) is characterized by axonal degeneration and demyelination of peripheral motor sensory neurons. Three dominant mutations in the YARS gene, encoding tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase (TyrRS), have so far been associated with DI-CMT type C. The molecular mechanisms through which lead to are currently unknown, animal models for DI-CMTC not yet available. Here, we report generation a Drosophila model DI-CMTC: expression 3 mutant—but wild...