Research

We exploit the developed technologies for our own research interests in inflammation and immunity, in collaboration with experts within and outside of CMB. For development and exploitation of our technologies in other fields, we collaborate intensively with the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry.

Research Focus

At the moment, our strategic technology development focuses on microbial cell engineering as a basis for the discovery and development of novel immunomodulatory biopharmaceuticals. We are also developing new glyco-analysis tools and animal models to pursue the role of inflammation-induced lymphocyte glycosylation changes in the pathophysiology of inflammatory disease.

For example, we discovered new markers for the non-invasive monitoring of progression of chronic inflammatory diseases (focused on the liver), and these markers are now being validated and translated into routinely applicable diagnostic tests. We are also pursuing potential links between the discovered biomarkers and pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory disease.

We are also investigating and engineering the interaction between the tuberculosis vaccine (Mycobacterium bovis BCG) and the immune system, leading to a novel vaccine.

To enable the production of specific glycoforms of immune effector proteins (cytokines, antibodies) with customized therapeutic functions, and to allow more robust membrane protein expression, we are engineering the eukaryotic protein secretion system in yeasts and mammalian cells. These technologies will allow the development of more potent and selective therapies of immune system-related diseases.

Grand Challenges

This research is part of the VIB Grand Challenges Program.