Research of the Host-Microbe Interactomics Group
The Host-Microbe Interactomics Group works at the heart of host-pathogen and host-microbiota research in health and disease, and performs research on vaccines and antimicrobials.
Our research themes
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Innate defence mechanisms in the small intestine
We study the molecular mechanisms by which bacteria (including probiotics), their metabolites and dietary components influence epithelial functions, and how this interplay may contribute to epithelial integrity and prevent inflammation. To decipher these interactions, we perform in vivo (human and animal) studies in combination with in vitro cell line -, and 2D and 3D organoid models.
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Bacterial interactions with immune cells
We have an interest in those interactions of bacteria and their metabolites with immune cells and mucosal tissues that mediate immune tolerance and adaptive responses. This work involves a variety of in vivo and in vitro models that contribute to our mechanistic insight in the immunomodulatory capacity of bacteria.
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Discovery of novel antimicrobials
We are part of the Dutch National Centre of One Health - Antimicrobial Resistance network where we identify and develop novel antibacterials and anti-infectives against a range of bacterial pathogens, including Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus suis and Enterococcus faecalis.
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Virulence and pathogenesis of Streptococcus suis
Together with partners at Cambridge Veterinary School UK, we investigate virulence and pathogenesis, genome diversity and new vaccines against S. suis.
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Microbiota analysis
We investigate the microbiota in parallel with various intestinal and/or systemic parameters in animal and human studies to identify correlations between abundance of specific microbial groups or functions and health and disease. We use changes in these parameters during an intervention (dietary or other) to construct mechanistic models to discover the working mechanism underlying the physiological intervention effects observed.
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Zebrafish: a model to study dysbiosis
We investigate the effect of feed, antibiotics and other water pollutants on development of zebrafish as well as its microbiota and aim to understand what processes might underly increased intestinal disease susceptibility.
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In-silico research
We have an important computational component, exploring for example large metagenomics datasets in relation to host health, and DNA sequence analysis to identify and study genes involved in commensalism and pathogenicity.
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Improving lactic acid bacteria performance
In collaboration with various (inter-)national research groups, we employ experimental and modelling approaches to unravel the mechanisms of natural gene transfer and metabolic performance in lactic acid bacteria that are being used in in industrial fermentation processes and as ingredients in functional foods including probiotics.
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Pesticides, microbes and hosts
Pesticides are omnipresent in our environment including our food and house dust. We are exposed to multiple pesticides on a daily basis. We investigate how this exposure impacts our gut microbiome, our gut health and our lung health.