Research Camille Allonsius

Abstract

The crucial role of the vaginal microbiome in women's health cannot be overstated. Disruptions to this ecosystem by pathobionts can result in the development of prevalent vaginal conditions, including bacterial vaginosis, aerobic vaginitis, and vulvovaginal candidiasis. These infections not only affect physical health but have also broader implications for women's well-being, society, and the economy. Current treatment methods involve the use of antibiotics or probiotics, but concerns about emerging antimicrobial drug resistance and a lack of solid evidence for the efficacy of current probiotics are frequently raised. This PhD project explores an innovative approach using synthetic communities (SynComs) to develop vaginal therapeutics. First, a top-down approach will be used to screen and select consortia of vaginal microbiota, emphasizing synergistic interactions and eliminating antagonistic effects. A bottom-up approach will validate the top-down findings, providing defined communities suitable for automation and scaling up. Simultaneously, these defined SynComs will undergo testing for their probiotic potential, comparing them with single strains through in vitro anti-pathobiont assays, community fitness analyses, and implementation into cutting-edge vaginal cell models. This research project will offer ground-breaking insights into a novel approach to establishing robust, safe, and effective microbiome-targeted therapies.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Lebeer Sarah
• Co-promoter: Allonsius Camille
• Co-promoter: Donders Gilbert
• Co-promoter: Verhoeven Veronique
• Fellow: Victor Maline

Research team(s)

• Laboratory of Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology (LAMB)

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Climate change is hitting ever closer to home, with more and more extreme weather events in our region, such as intense rainfall, longer periods of drought and longer heatwaves. To study the impacts of climate change, researchers rely on climate data derived from weather station networks. It is however the local climate near the ground that dictate ecosystem processes such as primary production and hydrological, nutrient, and carbon cycles. These microclimates arise primarily from the soil, vegetation, and topography, but are also affected by land use and land management, especially in urban and anthropogenic environments. Assessing microclimates can – in contrast to the current weather station networks - provide ecologically relevant and sound climate data for modelling biodiversity and ecosystem functions. Important drivers in ecosystem functioning are the soil microbial communities. Both climate change or changes in land use are shown to cause losses in microbial diversity and abundance, and are thus linked to a lower stability of the ecosystem functions. Attempts to quantify the impact of climate change and anthropogenic land use on microbial communities are however hampered by the absence of accurate data, both on the local climatic conditions (e.g. the localized severity of heatwaves and droughts) and on the associated microbial communities (e.g. practical issues limiting measurements on private lands). Here, we propose to assess 250 carefully selected privately-managed soils for bacterial and fungal diversity, composition and abundance. By framing this project proposal within the large-scale citizen science project "CurieuzeNeuzen In De Tuin", we have access to a widespread network of 5000 microclimate weather stations over Flanders, quantifying soil temperature and soil moisture in-situ. In addition, information on a wide array of other soil conditions, such as pH, soil texture, bulk density and organic carbon content, as well as information on local land use and management will be obtained in this project. By combining these datasets with DNA-analysis of the soil microbial community, we can identify the factors driving (or disturbing) the microbial diversity, composition and abundance and even identify keystone species for a healthy soil.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Allonsius Camille

Research team(s)

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

In this project the potential antipathogenic and immunomodulatory activity of exopolysaccharides of model Lactobacillus strains is investigated by in vitro and in vivo models. Methods for extraction, characterization and formulation of the exopolysaccharides are also optimized.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Lebeer Sarah
• Co-promoter: Delputte Peter
• Fellow: Allonsius Camille

Research team(s)

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Ligands of the innate immune system form an important new class of adjuvants, but the desired immunostimulation is often linked with toxicity and serious side-effects. These ligands or 'microbe-associated molecular patterns' (MAMPs) can also be found on the surface of lactobacilli with a 'generally regarded as safe' status. Various studies have demonstrated the specific effects of certain lactobacilli and their surface molecules, but the potential of MAMPs such as exopolysaccharides and glycoproteins of lactobacilli still requires further investigation. Hereto, the project is divided in three parts. First, the molecular interactions between the glycoconjugates and receptors such as Toll-like receptors and C-type lectins will be mapped. Next the in vitro immune response of these molecules in immunological important cells will be investigated. Finally, the potential of selected molecules will be validated in a mouse model.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Lebeer Sarah
• Co-promoter: Delputte Peter
• Fellow: Allonsius Camille

Research team(s)

Project type(s)

• Research Project