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PROVAXS is embedded in the University of Ghent

PROVAXS is the coordinating center of a network of laboratories of the University of Ghent that unite their expertise in the development of veterinary and human vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics

PROVAXS focuses on those projects and research results that respond to an urgent need in society or in the market and can lead to industrial applications. We can therefore rely on specific funds for valorization that are available at our University and on the continuous support of Technology Transfer, the central department at the University of Ghent that assists in the protection and licensing of our intellectual property and helps to build strategic alliances.


Mission

PROVAXS wants to facilitate the transfer of new technologies in the domain of veterinary and human vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics that result from multidisciplinary research to a practical and/or industrial application, thus realising a return to fundamental research.


Vision

PROVAXS is an interface that, with attention for the quality of high-end scientific research, is open for the needs and demands of our industrial partners and offers them solutions and opportunities in a pro-active way.


Benefits & Value

PROVAXS offers a multidisciplinary environment for research and development directed towards technologies with practical applications in industry

PROVAXS offers expertise in mucosal immunology, pathogen-host interactions of viruses and parasites, biomarkers of infections, immune response and immune diseases, related diagnostics, formulations for drugs and vaccines

PROVAXS can be your gateway to participation in a network of high-quality R&D in various research programs at national and international level

Via partnering PROVAXS can offer you access to gap-funding, an extra tool to stimulate and accelerate valorization of new technologies


The PROVAXS consortium of UGent laboratories

PROVAXS joins the forces of laboratories of four different faculties of the University of Ghent

Faculty of Veterinary Medicine :  Department of Virology, Parasitology and Immunology, Laboratory of Bacteriology

Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences : Centre for Vaccinology, Department of Rheumatology, Centre for Cllinical Immunology and Allergy

Faculty of Bioscience Engineering : Laboratory for Immunology and Animal Biotechnology, Laboratory for Biochemistry and Molecular Cytology

Faculty of Pharmacy : Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Technology, Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Laboratory of General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy


Laboratory of Virology

Research

In the Laboratory of Virology, the research is focused on the animal, cellular and molecular pathogenesis of viruses, with a special emphasis on viruses that have developed strategies to escape from the host's immune response.

Projects are focused on the following topics :

  • Pseudorabies virus
  • Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV)
  • Influenza
  • Equine herpesvirus Type 1
  • Feline infectious peritonitis virus
  • Porcine circovirus Type 2
  • Porcine respiratory coronavirus
  • White spot syndrome virus
  • Murine cytomegalovirus

Website

www.vetvirology.ugent.be


Laboratory of Parasitology

Research

In the Laboratory of Parasitology, the research is mainly focused on the study of gastro-intestinal parasites and their interactions with the host animal.

Projects are focused on the following topics :
  • The epidemiology and control of cattle nematodes
  • Vaccination against the abomasal cattle nematode Ostertagia ostertagi
  • Macrocyclic lactone resistance in the nematodes Ostertagia ostertagi and Cooperia onchophora.
  • Role of Cryptosporidium parvum and Giardia spp. in neonatal diarrhoea complex in ruminants
  • The epidemiology of cysticercosis and trichinellosis in Vietnam, Zambia and Ecuador
  • The epidemiology of animal schistosomiasis in Africa
  • Miscellaneous topics on the epidemiology, diagnosis and control of parasite infection in horses, swine and exotic animals


Services

We offer analysis of
  • Cryptosporidiosis
  • Lungworms
  • Determination of parasites
  • Coccidiosis
  • Tapeworm
  • Pepsinogen
  • Gastrointestinal nematodes
  • Fasciola
  • Giardia
  • Cyathostominae
  • Ectoparasites

Website

www.vetparasitology.ugent.be

Laboratory of Immunology

Research

Our expertise on mucosal immunity is based on more than 15 years of research in extensive cooperation with several national and international research institutes.

In vivo models (e.g. F4 in pigs) are used to gain insights in the mucosal immune mechanisms as well as to develop vaccination strategies for the induction of protective mucosal immunity.

Examples of applied strategies for mucosal immunizations are :
  • Parenteral DNA vaccination
  • Parenteral protein vaccination
  • Immunisation targeted to epithelial cells or DCs
  • Oral vaccination with antigen in enteric coated pellets
  • Oral vaccination with nanoparticles
Furthermore adjuvants are evaluated in this models such as CpG, GM-CSF, Vitamin D3, ß-glucans, inulin and nucleotides.

Starting from the results obtained in the in vivo models we develop in vitro systems for the evaluation and optimisation of adjuvants and antigens.

New research will be initiated on allergies, immunopathologies that are becoming increasingly important and are related to the field of mucosal immunology.

Another part of the research focuses on the interplay between alphaherpesviruses and the immune system. Alphaherpesviruses establish lifelong infections in neurons of their hosts in a latent, dormant form and can be sporadically reactivated. Our aim is to develop systems to study the mechanisms of virus latency and reactivation cycles and to develop strategies to interfere with these cycles.

Services

A number of diagnostic assays for diagnosing auto-immune diseases and immunodeficiencies are available. Combining different assays enables us to analyze the effect of various factors (oligosaccharides, nucleotides, vitamins, fatty acids and others) on mucosal and systemic vaccination.
  • Flow cytometry : CD2 or CD3, CD4, CD8+ T cells, CD11a+ cells, IgM+ B-cells, monocytes/macrophages, neutrophils
  • IgA, IgG, IgM, IgE concentrations in serum of horses, donkeys, dogs and cattle
  • IgA antibodies in cerebrospinal fluid of dogs
  • Lymphocyte proliferation assays in all animal species
  • Cytokine detection in swine and dogs
  • F18-verotoxigenic E. coli specific serum and milk antibodies by ELISA
  • F4-enterotoxigenic E. coli specific serum and milk antibodies
  • Anti-nuclear antibody concentration in serum of horses and dogs (ANA test)
  • Anti-erythrocyte antibody concentration in horses, dogs and cats (COOMBS test)
  • Canine rheumafactor (Rheuma test)
  • Tissue-specific auto-antibodies using indirect immunofluorescence
  • Canine leukocyte adhesion deficiency by PCR and restriction enzyme digestion
  • Bovine leukocyte adhesion deficiency by PCR and restriction enzyme digestion
  • Receptor for F18+ verotoxigenic E. coli by PCR and restriction enzyme digestion

Diagnosis
  • Immunodeficiencies (at the level of B-lymphocytes, T-lymphocytes, monocytes, neutrophiles, IgM, IgA, IgG) in all species
  • Total IgE concentrations in dogs (allergy)
  • Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
  • Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA)
  • Corticoid-responsive meningitis
  • BLAD
  • CLAD
Website
www.vetimmunology.ugent.be

 


Laboratory of Immunology and Animal Biotechnology

Research

Chlamydophila psittaci and Chlamydia trachomatis infections

The most important animal chlamydiosis of zoonotic character is psittacosis, a systemic disease in psittacine birds of acute, protracted, chronic or subclinical manifestation. It is a notifiable disease in Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Switzerland, the UK and other countries. The analogous infection in domestic and wild fowl is often called ornithosis.

The economic damage in connection with outbreaks in poultry flocks can be considerable. Although the causative agent, Cp. psittaci, is known to be very wide spread in many avian species, not all carrier birds actually show symptoms of disease. Present knowledge about factors contributing to the development of clinical disease, including virulence factors of field strains, is rather limited. The main purpose of our research is developing new molecular diagnostic methods for identifying and typing the bacterium as well as studying the bacterium host cell interaction in order to develop innovative prophylactic measurements like for instance recombinant protein and DNA vaccination.

At present, we are focusing on type III secretion in Chlamydophila psittaci. We recently identified a type III secretion machinery in this obligate intracellular bacterium and found it to be essential for the bacterial pathogenesis. Additionally, we are focusing on preventing the infection from being spread from birds to man as the agent can cause severe respiratory disease in man.

C. trachomatis infections have an enormous impact on human health. C. trachomatis is the most common cause of sexually transmitted infections throughout the world. Infections are asymptomatic in most females (>75%) and can result in scarring and fibrosis of urogenital tissues, resulting in chronic pelvic pain, ectopic pregnancy, and pelvic inflammatory disease, which can lead to infertility. Acute C. trachomatis infections can be treated effectively with antibiotics, although, once infection and pathology are established, treatment may not prevent complications. Therefore, treating only symptomatic patients will never control the spread of infection.

Asymptomatic individuals can be identified through screening programmes, but this approach is likely to be too costly for developing countries. A vaccination programme would be much cheaper and have a greater impact on controlling C. trachomatis infections world­wide. Computer modeling suggests, that even a partially efficacious chlamydial vaccination programme would rapidly reduce the prevalence of genital infection. In order to develop effective C. trachomatis vaccines, it is important to identify those antigens that elicit a protective immune response and also to develop new and adequate methods and adjuvants for effective vaccine delivery as conventional methods have failed to induce protective immunity.

Trachoma, an ocular infection caused by related C. trachomatis serovars, is the major cause of preventable infectious blindness. Development of a vaccine against urogenital C. trachomatis infections would open the way to a vaccine against trachoma as well. The main objective of our C. trachomatis research is to develop a candidate vaccine against genital Chlamydia (C.) trachomatis infections in females. The vaccine should generate and sustain an adequate protective immune response at the mucosal surface and should also offer protection against all genital serovars of C. trachomatis. Adequacy and efficacy of the candidate vaccine should be measurable by either complete prevention of infection or restriction of infection and prevention of complications.


Website
www.molecularbiotechnology.ugent.be

Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Cytology

Research

Our main topics are telomere biology and the DNA damage response. We investigate the effect of oxidative stress, radiation and physical stress on the single cell level.

Telomeres are sequences that shield the chromosome ends, thereby preventing them from being recognized by the DNA damage response. In normal somatic cells, telomeres shorten with each division until they reach a critical length. Once attained this alerts the cell’s damage checkpoints, signalling it either into senescence or apoptosis.

By scoring the telomeric signals after hybridization with PNA probes and correlating them with telomere lengths (Q-FISH), we are able to map the replicative state of certain cell types, such as human lymphocytes.

Furthermore we are interested in how telomeres are organized and move in the interphase nucleus. Using GFP-coupled telomere binding proteins and confocal time-lapse microscopy we study telomere dynamics in its cellular context. Early results suggest that most telomeres in ‘healthy’ cells are firmly anchored, possibly to a nuclear matrix. Currently we are studying the effect of different kinds of stress factors on telomere distribution and mobility.

DNA damage induces the formation of single stranded (ss) and double stranded (ds) breaks. ³H2AX specifically localizes to ds breaks and recruits DNA damage repair proteins to the ds break site. ³H2AX marks the repair foci very rapidly and dissolves after or during repair. Using very local X-irradiation to induce DNA damage, we study the formation and dynamics of ³H2AX foci in target cells as well as neighbouring cells.

Website
www.molecularbiotechnology.ugent.be

Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Technology

Research

The research is focused on the development of innovative drug dosage forms (mainly solid dosage forms) for human application as well as for veterinary use.

These dosage forms are based on pharmaceutical accepted excipients used as such or as mixtures to impart specific drug release properties (immediate, controlled or sustained release) to the formulation.

The projects at the Department of Pharmaceutical Technology are focused on the following topics:
  • extrusion/spheronisation
  • bioadhesion
  • controlled release based on hot stage extrusion technology
  • freeze-drying
  • tabletting and
  • granulation
These projects involve fundamental research, technical development and in-vitro evaluation of the newly developed formulations as well as a biopharmaceutical part which evaluates the in-vivo efficiency of the formulations following administration to animals or human volunteers.

Next to formulation research several projects involve specific pharmaceutical problems such as the quality of pharmaceuticals in 3rd world countries, the bioavailability of drugs used in palliative care and the development of an alternative method (using naked snails) to determine the mucosal irritation of drugs.

Due to the revolution within the pharmaceutical biotech-industry and to the importance of the parenteral route as the main route of administration of biotech drugs, research work in this field will be initiated at the Department of Pharmaceutical Technology.


Services

Formulation of dosage forms including production at lab-scale.

Characterisation of solid dosage forms via
  • in-vitro dissolution (USP methods 1, 2 and 3)
  • hardness, friability and desintegration time of tablets (Eur. Pharm.)
  • compression properties of drugs and excipients (using an excentric press and compaction simulator)
  • bioadhesion test of tablets

Physical characterisation of materials
  • flow properties of powders and granules (Eur. Pharm.)
  • particle size distribution (sieve analysis and laserdiffraction)
  • thermal analysis (Differential Scanning Calorimetry)
  • water content (IR-oven, Karl Fischer titration)
  • viscosity
  • pH-determination
  • bulk and tapped volume
  • true density (He-pycnometry)
  • pore size distribution (Hg-porosimetry)

Development and optimalisation of freeze-drying cycles


Website
www.ugent.be/fw/farmtech

Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology

Research

The research is focused on the following topics :

Optimization of DNA analysis using STR technology

Besides routine DNA typing for the department of justice, our lab performs research in the field of DNA fingerprinting for optimising and improvement of the procedures. We created already our own multiplex of four STR loci and investigated the influence of dactyloscopic powders on DNA analysis.

At this moment we are investigating the use of immunomagnetic beads to purify and isolate specific cell types from mixed forensic samples. This way sperm cells could be isolated before DNA extraction avoiding time-consuming differential DNA extraction. Forensic mixtures in general can be avoided when this mixed sample consists of different cell types.

Rheumatology : A close encounter with Proteomics

Proteomics is defined as the large-scale characterisation of the entire protein complement of a cell line, tissue and organism. It provides us with a more global and integrated view of biology by studying all the proteins of a cell rather than each one individually. With the completion of the sequencing of several genomes it became clear that a lot of information could not be obtained by studying genes alone. It is impossible to elucidate mechanisms of disease, ageing and effects of the environment solely by studying the genome.  Proteomics can provide us with a powerful tool for studying and understanding disease mechanisms and can actively contribute to the search for new drug targets.

Because of their nature of pathology, rheumatoid diseases have and are still extensively studied and looked at from an immunological point of view. However, proteomics is catching up with them! We are currently looking at the proteome of several rheumatoid tissues of different rheumatoid diseases in order to find differences in the expressed protein patterns. This study will provide us a better insight in the pathology of these diseases.

Proteome analysis of mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) by 2D-PAGE and mass spectrometry

Natural killer T (NK T) cells are a recently discovered line of T lymphocytes. There is increasing evidence of their regulatory function in several immune processes. Their differentiation pathway requires the interaction with the lymphotoxin b receptor (LTbR) expressed on stromal cells. This interaction promotes the stromal cell to produce several growth factors. Proteome analysis of different MEFs (LTbR stimulated versus non-stimulated MEF) reveals which proteins are potential growth factors.

Services

DNA fingerprinting (human)

The Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology performs human identification by the use of DNA profiling techniques, mainly for the department of justice in Belgium. The laboratory has a Beltest accreditation since the 15th of September 1996 for DNA isolation and fingerprinting.

Through the combination of the short tandem repeat Loci (STR) in a multiplex polymerase chain reactions (PCR) individuals can be identified with very high levels of certainty. By using PCR technology profiles can be obtained (and thus identification) of very minute and old, badly stored samples (e.g. cigarette butts, blood(stains), saliva(stains), sperm(stains), skin debris, hair, biological tissues, ...):

In our laboratory all 13 STR CODIS loci (loci recommended by the FBI) can be performed (= D3S1358, vWA, FGA, TH01, D21S11, D8S1179, D18S51, TPOX, CSF1PO, D16S539, D13S317, D5S818 and D7S820), including sex determination by determination of the amelogenin locus on the X- and Y-chromosome.

Besides the commercially available kits we also created our own multiplex of 4 STR loci (CD4, TH01, D21S11 and SE33). This multiplex is described and published in 1998 in Electrophoresis. Our multiplex of 4 STR loci shows a great sensitivity and specificity which is much better than the available commercial kit as presented on the Second European Symposium on Human Identification in June 1998 in Innsbruck (DNA typing of fingerprints on skin debris: Sensitivity of Capillary Electrophoresis in forensic applications using multiplex PCR).

This way 15 different STR loci can be determined with sex determination. All STR loci are analysed on a ABI310 and/or ABI3100. The overlapping loci between the available commercial kits and our multiplex (i.e. TH01 and D21S11) give an extra control on the obtained profile.

In special, very urgent cases DNA identification can be performed within 24 hours after receipt of the samples (max. 2-3 samples). Regular cases are performed in max. 3 months.


DNA fingerprinting (animals)

Besides DNA profiling of samples of human origin, this laboratory can also perform DNA typing on cattle and horses. Other animals e.g. dogs under request.


Mitochondrial DNA

The analysis of mtDNA (mitochondrial DNA) is performed by sequencing in order to detect point mutations that are maternally inherited. DNA-sequencing however is a time consuming technique. Mass spectrometry could be very useful for genotyping of forensic samples in gaining important time.

The technique, which is mostly used today, is the determination of oligonuleotides by MALDI-TOF MS (matrix-assisted laserdesorption / ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry). The resolution of this technique however is momentarily too small to analyse PCR products that are longer than 100 bases. A Q-TOF MS (quadrupole time-of-flight MS), which combines an electrospray to time-of-flight MS, is installed in our laboratory. This Q-TOF MS will be used for analysing nuclear and mitochondrial DNA.

Ghent Research Group on Nanopharmacy

Research

The Laboratory of General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy hosts the Ghent Research Group on Nanopharmacy (GRCN).

Nanopharmacy aims at applying nanotechnology in drug therapy and medical diagnostics. Advanced drug delivery and medical diagnostics constitute the core disciplines of GRCN. Advanced drug delivery systems are nano-/micrometre sized delivery systems for biological therapeutic agents (like nucleic acids and proteins) which are much larger than classical drugs like for example aspirin.

The GRCN is a multidisciplinary research environment, including pharmacists, material engineers, cellular biologists and biophysics who build scientific and technical expertise between "nano" and pharmacy.

Our expertise focuses on the following areas :

Pharmaceutical carriers for gene therapy

With regard to DNA therapy the Laboratory of General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy evaluates the use of non viral carriers for DNA delivery. Such 'DNA particles' (which are between 50 and 500 nm in size) consist of DNA and cationic polymers or cationic lipids.

Our DNA delivery research is especially focused on the mobility and the stability of non-viral DNA particles in the extra- and intracellular matrix.

To better understand the cellular behavior of non viral gene DNA complexes, we evaluate the potentials of new biophysical (microscopy) techniques like fluorescence correlation spectroscopy, fluorescence recovery after photobleaching,...

We believe that, in order to obtain real breakthroughs in the design and the understanding of the behavior of the DNA particles in cells, there is an urgent need for advanced biophysical methods which allow to characterize the critical steps in cells that govern gene transfection.

By modern biophysical methods we study e.g. the intracellular release of the DNA from the carriers, the intracellular degradation of DNA, the mobility of naked DNA and DNA particles in the cytosol, the uptake of DNA by the nuclei,...

Pulsed delivery of macromolecules drugs

Pharmaceutical research aims to design drug delivery systems that respond to therapeutic needs. To correlate with our biological needs, precisely timed drug delivery is required. Precisely timed therapy could be improved by the use of 'programmable dosage forms' which deliver the drug at well defined times after e.g. intramuscular or subcutaneous injection.

The Laboratory of General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy aims to design 'exploding particles' for pulsed release of macromolecular therapeutics. The pulsed delivery concept we are investigating is based on the use of degradable hydrogels. A degradable gel is encapsulated in the interior of a micron sized capsule along with the drug of interest . At the time the polymer gel becomes a polymer solution the swelling pressure suddenly increases inside the capsule. This results in a rupture of the capsule followed by drug release.

Services

Enzyme analysis

The Laboratory of General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy is officially approved to perform analysis of pharmaceutical enzymes on behalf of the Belgian Ministry of Health.

The laboratory is also a member of the European Network of Official Medicines Control Laboratories (OMCL).  It also performs analysis of pharmaceutical enzymes ordered by the pharmaceutical industry.


Contract work

Our contract work especially deals with the physicochemical characterization of solutions and solids like:

  • viscosity and elasticity of materials
  • size characterization of nano- and microparticles
  • zeta-potential measurements
  • molecular weight determination of polymers
  • determination of diffusion coëficient
  • intrinsic viscosity mesaurements
  • osmometry
  • osmolality measurements


Website
www.ugent.be/fw/biofys


Department of Rheumatology

To be updated


Centre for Clinical Immunology and Allergy

To be updated


Laboratory of Bacteriology

The mission of the Laboratory of Veterinary Bacteriology and Mycology is to promote knowledge on veterinary bacteriology and mycology through education, research and public services.

Research

The main research interests of the laboratory are : 


1) host-pathogen interactions of veterinary and / or zoonotically important bacteria and fungi.
2) antimicrobial resistance in veterinary and / or zoonotically important bacteria and fungi.

Expertise

Animal species used for research purposes: Pigs, poultry, pigeons, mice, gerbils, reptiles, amphibians.


The laboratory is approved for research activities with these animal species, meeting both ethical and biosafety requirements to perform infection experiments up to an L2 level, including GMOs. All infection experiments are carried out in A2 stables, adapted to meet all ethical and biosafety requirements.

Microorganisms:
1) Host-pathogen interaction studies: Salmonella (several serovars), Campylobacter jejuni, Helicobacter (several gastric and enterohepatic species), Clostridium perfringens, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, Aspergillus fumigatus, Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae, Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus
2) Antimicrobial resistance: bacteria of veterinary and / or zoonotic importance (please inquire for specific taxa)

In vitro models:
1) Adhesion, invasion and cytotoxicity assays using several cell lines and primary cell cultures.
2) Determination of Minimal Inhibitory Concentrations (MIC) for various veterinary and / or zoonotically important bacteria.
3) Virulence gene expression of Salmonella.

In vivo models:
Pigs Salmonella:
Several infection models are used, inoculating 3 to 4 week-old piglets either with a single Salmonella strain or with multiple strains (mixed infection):

  • colonization (up to 5 days post inoculation)
  • persistency (up to 28 days post inoculation)
  • stress induced re-excretion (28 days post inoculation)
  • intestinal loop model (max 12 hours)

 


Poultry Salmonella:

  • day-old to 10 day-old chicks
  • laying hens for egg contamination
  • seeder model in broilers
  • intestinal loop model (max 24 hours for cecal loops)

 


Poultry Campylobacter jejuni:

  • inoculation of 10 to 14 day-old chickens
  • seeder model
  • intestinal loop model

 


Poultry Clostridium perfringens: reproduction of necrotic enteritis lesions
Pigeons Salmonella Typhimurium: reproduction of pigeon paratyphoid
Pigeons Aspergillus fumigatus: reproduction of avian aspergillosis
Gerbils and mice gastric Helicobacter species: reproduction of gastric lesions
Pigs Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae: reproduction of enzootic pneumonia
Reptiles Salmonella: persistent colonization
Pigs Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae
Rabbits Staphylococcus aureus


Management

Business Developer Dr. ir. Sven Arnouts
Technology Developer Dr. ir. Peter Delputte
Prof. Dr. Eric Cox (promotor)
Prof. Dr. Bruno Goddeeris
Prof. Dr. Dieter Deforce
Prof. Dr. Jo Demeester
Prof. Dr. Stefaan De Smedt
Prof. Dr. Dirk Elewaut
Prof. Dr. Herman Favoreel
Prof. Dr. Freddy Haesebrouck
Prof. Dr. Bart Lambrecht
Prof. Dr. Hans Nauwynck
Prof. Dr. Jean Paul Remon
Prof. Dr. Daisy Vanrompay
Prof. Jozef Vercruysse

Towards joint research and knowledge transfer activities

PROVAXS wants to facilitate knowledge transfer activities and research collaboration with other research institutes and industrial companies.

Our Technology Offers describe technologies with clear practical applications that are part of our IP-portfolio.

R&D projects are an invitation to join us in early stage development programs that already showed a proof of concept but need some further exploratory research in order to define clear target applications in the market.

We also offer Tools and Test Models that you can use for screening and testing of the biological activity of your material.

We kindly invite you to examine if our technologies can match your company strategy and market needs and can be converted into useful products or services.


Technology offers

Permissive cells for PRRSV production

• The PRRS-virus can infect the cells via the natural route due to the presence of both sialoadhesin and CD163, the two receptors that are essential for binding, internalization and multiplication

• On average Sn+CD163 cells can produce PRRSV at titers of 1 log higher than in MARC-cells

• Multiple PRRSV-strains can be grown on the Sn+CD163 cells which offers flexibility in production (e.g. for multistrain registration)

• The cells can be used for QC or in a potency test to demonstrate structural and functional integrity of the PRRSV as long as it can bind and internalize

• Since the PRRS-virus can follow its natural route of infection no or little virus adaptation is expected

You can download a Technology Offer here.

Effective and safe inactivated viral vaccines

Our technology enables you to check the antigenicity (efficacy) and safety of your inactivated viral vaccine in vitro

A quick and safe way to develop safe and effective viral vaccines against emerging diseases or new aggressive strains

Fully documented proof-of-concept study on a PRRSV-vaccine, that is capable of inducing neutralizing antibodies upon vaccination and protection upon challenge with live virus

Complete toolkit for the production of an inactivated PRRSV-vaccine including

  • Antibodies to check structural integrity of critical viral proteins
  • Diagnostics to check the antigenicity of the inactivated virus

 Please download the Technology Offer for more information.

PCV2 : identification of different strains

We describe monoclonal antibodies that can be used to identify antigenic differences between PCV2 strains.

Based on this identification the strains can be assigned to clusters with varying virulence.

The technology can thus be used for diagnosis and for selection of strains that should be included in a vaccine to obtain a broad protection against PCV2.

The monoclonal antibodies are described by Lefebvre et al. in Journal of General Virology 2008, 89, 177-187. 

Please download the Technology Offer for more information.

IMPACS-inhibitors enable the immune system to clear viral infections

  • We have demonstrated a new immune escape mechanism that is used by viruses of the Coronaviridae and Herpesviridae : intracellular retention of viral proteins or antibody-induced internalization of proteins that reached the plasma membrane.
  • We found that myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) is involved as a positive regulator in the internalization pathway of viral proteins upon binding of antiviral antibodies in the host cell.
  • IMPACS-inhibitors can inhibit viral immune escape mechanisms thus enabling the host to clear infections with viruses of the family of Coronaviridae, Herpesviridae and Retroviridae

You can download a Technology Offer here.

Ostertagia ostertagi antibody ELISA - LICENSED

Ostertagia ostertagi is one of the most important gastrointestinal nematodes for cattle worldwide.  As Ostertagia ostertagi is present on pasture, all grazing cattle in temperate climate regions are exposed to the parasite.


Nematode infestations in adult cows are predominantly subclinical, but may lead to a decrease in milk production.  The screening for Ostertagia ostertagi antibodies in cattle milk samples is a promising tool to follow the infestation level, thus becoming an instrument to determine the need for anthelmintic control.


Our Department of Virology, Parasitology and Immunology-Faculty of Veterinary Medicine has developed an O. ostertagi-Ab ELISA to detect Ostertagia ostertagi specific antibodies in milk.  The test is commercialised by Svanova. (www.svanova.com/inside.asp)

Entry portal through the intestinal barrier

Our technology enables controlled transfer of biological compounds through the intestinal (mucosal) barrier

Via selective transcytosis through the intestinal barrier various functions at the level of the intestinal epithelium and beyond can be modulated

  • antigens can be efficiently presented to the gut associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) leading to a protective mucosal immune response
  • drugs or drug-containing (nano-)particles can be transferred and delivered across the intestinal barrier

Blocking the gateway through the intestinal barrier can reduce the colonisation of and passage through the intestinal epithelium by bacteria, more specifically by E. coli (F4 or K88 positive) , well known for causing diarrhoea in animals and man.

Please download the Technology Offer for more information.

The first vaccine for Psittaciformes against Cp psittaci

We have developed a codon-optimized, MOMP-based DNA vaccine that significantly protects birds (Psittaciformes) against a high challenge with the zoonotic pathogen Chlamydophila psittaci (Cp psittaci).

The vaccine

  • can be used in the presence of circulating antibodies against Cp     psittaci
  • induces a high cellular immune response, which is more important for protection against the intracellular pathogen than high antibody titers
  • can be useful for prevention of the infection (e.g. in breeding facilities or zoos)

The vaccine can significantly reduce the infection of people that are in contact with Psittaciformes like breeders, veterinarians, pet bird owners but also the public at large.

Genotype specific detection of Chlamydophila psittaci

  • The technology comprises the qualitative and quantitative detection of ompA genotypes of Chlamydophila psittaci (zoonotic agent).
  • The method is based on the hybridization of oligonucleotides with the DNA of Chlamydophila psittaci (quantitative PCR) using internal probes and optionally competitor probes which increase specificity.
  • The technology also describes a strain of Chlamydophila psittaci with a novel genotype E/B and methods to distinguish this novel genotype from existing genotypes.

 

Specialized medium (ChlamyTrap) to collect aerosolized obligate intracellular microorganisms

  • The technology comprises a novel medium, which can be used for bioaerosol monitoring of live obligate intracellular pathogens such as viruses and bacteria.
  • The medium is not toxic to eukaryotic artificial hosts for obligate intracellular microorganisms (e.g. cell cultures or embryonated eggs).
  • The medium can also be processed for PCR and does not inhibit polymerase activity.
  • The medium can be used in aerosol impactors combining the high sensitivity and speed delivered by these devices with the possibility of concentrating small microorganisms present in the medium by (ultra)centrifugation prior to cultivation.

 

Safe Salmonella DIVA-vaccine

  • we developed Salmonella Typhimurium strains of which the humoral response elicited in pigs can easily be differentiated from the humoral response, elicited by a wildtype fieldstrain.
  • the use of these markerstrains as a vaccine in pigs would thus not interfere with existing Salmonella control programs in which the classification is based on the serological status of the herd
  • vaccination with the novel strains leads to protection against a challenge with a highly virulent strain
  • the novel strains can thus be used in the existing Salmonella control programs as a control measure
  • moreover, vaccine strains can be developed with reduced recrudescence when pigs are in stress conditions

You can download a Technology Offer here.

Growth factor and biomarkers for chondrocytes and ACT

We have identified a set of 3 biomarkers of phenotypic stability and biological activity of chondrocytes in cell culture. One of the markers can be measured in the culture medium. Moreover, this marker is also a growth factor that stimulates cartilage matrix production by the chondrocytes.


The level of expression of the markers can be used as a quality standard for chondrocyte cultures and to optimize the culture conditions.


The growth factor can control the phenotypic stability or differentiation of chondrocytes and stimulate or maintain the cell’s capacity to produce cartilage matrix.


You can find more information on the markers and the growth factor in the Technology Offer that you can download on this page.

Passive immunization (oral) with plant produced antibodies

  • As a proof of concept we have developed antibodies against F4 fimbriae of Escherichia coli in seeds of Arabidopsis.
  • Plant F4 Abs can provide passive immunity to pigs and protect them against infection with F4+ ETEC and development of diarrhoea
  • The technology can easily be transferred from Arabidopsis to other crops that are suitable feed ingredients (e.g. soybean).
  • Plant based F4 Abs can thus provide a valuable alternative for antibiotics and avoid huge financial losses for the farmer.

Conferences

22-09-2011 / 24-09-2011

European Macrophage and Dendritic Cell Society

We would like to invite you to join us for the

 

 25th Annual Meeting of the European Macrophage and Dendritic Cell Society (EMDS), to be held from the 22nd to the 24th of September 2011 in Brussels.


Up-to-date information, registration and abstract submission are available through the congress website: www.emds2011.eu.
Please note that registration to this meeting will be strictly limited to 270 participants! So do not miss the opportunity to attend the EMDS 2011 meeting and register today. As a bonus for early registration, take advantage of € 100.00 early bird registration fee discount.
Please address all inquiries concerning the EMDS 2011 meeting to the dedicated contact address info@emds2011.eu

Symposium Topics
Clinical and fundamental aspects of monocyte, macrophage and dendritic cell plasticity
• Regulation of the monocyte, macrophage and DC pool
• Monocytes, macrophages and DCs in distinct organs and tissues
• Monocytes, macrophages and DCs in infectious diseases
• Monocytes, macrophages and DCs in cancer
• Inflammatory signaling in macrophages and DCs
• Macrophage activation states
• Imaging the behaviour of monocytes, macrophages and DCs

International Keynote Speakers
Judith E. Allen Bart Lambrecht Caetano Reis e Sousa
Rudi Beyaert Suzanne Ostrand-Rosenberg Antonio Sica
Philippe Bousso Mikael Pittet Michael H. Sieweke
Thorsten Hagemann Fiona Powrie Frank Tacke
Steffen Jung Gwendalyn J. Randolph Yvette van Kooyk

Additional symposium attraction points
• Focused and highly interactive meeting with non-concurrent plenary presentations and poster sessions.
• Short oral presentations and article contributions for a special issue of Immunobiology selected from submitted abstracts.
• Awarding of travel grants and poster prizes (sponsored by EMDS).
• Biannual EMDS prize lecture for excellence in the field of macrophage or dendritic cell biology by Nicole Kaneider (prize sponsored by Becton-Dickinson Biosciences).
• Free satellite lunch seminar on the use of FlowJo for analysis of multi-parameter flow cytometry data (sponsored by Celeza GmbH)
• Congress Dinner in a masterpiece of Art Nouveau architecture designed by Victor Horta at the Belgian Comic Strip Center

 

 


News

Register now for OPINNO - Module 3 for Master Students: the Life Sciences job market

24-05-2012 - Author: Sven Arnouts"

Dear Master Student

Are you interested to learn more about career opportunities in the life sciences sector? Then you should follow our third OPINNO Educational Module during Knowledge for Growth, Europe's largest regional biotech convention organized by FlandersBio (24 May 2012, Ghent).

Registration for this module (taking place between 1:30 pm and 5 pm) is free of charge for Master Students from the participating universities (UGent, KU Leuven, University of Antwerp and UHasselt) but mandatory before 17 May via module3.opinno.be.


Double trouble: interactions between deoxynivalenol ...

16-04-2012 - Author: Sven Arnouts"

On April 16 2012, Virginie Vandenbroucke will defend her PhD thesis on

Double trouble: interactions between deoxynivalenol and the
pathogenesis of Salmonella Typhimurium infections in pigs

 

You are kindly invited to attend the defence at the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke (start 4.30 pm, kliniekauditorium D)

You can download an invitation to the PhD defence (Dutch)


Domestication of the trypanosome transmission cycle

12-04-2012 - Author: Sven Arnouts"

 

On April 12, 2012, Simbarashke Chitanga will defend his PhD thesis on

Domestication of the trypanosome transmission cycle and its effect on the level of drug resistance, transmissibility and virulence of Trypanosoma congolense

You are kindly invited to attend the defence at the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke (start at 4 p.m., auditorium Hoogbouw)

You can download an invitation to the PhD defence (Dutch).


The epidemiology of zoonotic fasciolosis in Central Vietnam

02-04-2012 - Author: Sven Arnouts"

On April 2, 2012 Giang Thanh Nguyen Thi will defend her PhD thesis on

The epidemiology of zoonotic fasciolosis in Central Vietnam

You are kindly invited to attend the defence at the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke (start at 4 p.m., auditorium Hoogbouw)

You can download an invitation to the PhD defence.


Toxoplasma gondii

06-03-2012 - Author: Sven Arnouts"

On March 6, 2012, Stéphane De Craeye will defend his PhD thesis on

Toxoplasma gondii, a successful and underestimated foodborne parasite. Development of detection methods and their use for the screening of animal reservoirs

You are kindly invited to attend the defence at the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke (start at 4 p.m., auditorium Hoogbouw)

You can download an invitation to the PhD defence (Dutch).

 


Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli

02-03-2012 - Author: Sven Arnouts"

On March 2, 2012 Maria-Adelheid joris will defend her Phd thesis on

Prevalence, characterization and long-term follow up of Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli and TTSS-specific antibodies in cattle.

You are kindly invited to attend the defence at the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke (start at 5 p.m., Auditorium Hoogbouw)


Insights into the epidemiology of enteropathogens of young pigs raised in Cuban piggeries

27-02-2012 - Author: Sven Arnouts"

On February 27, Pedro Yoelvys de la Fé Rodríguez will defend his PhD thesis on

Insights into the epidemiology of enteropathogens of young pigs raised in Cuban piggeries .

You are kindly invited to attend the defence at the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke (start 5 p.m. auditorium D)

You can download an invitation to the defence.


Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae strain diversity in pigs

17-02-2012 - Author: Sven Arnouts"

On February 17, 2012, Katleen Vranckx will defend her PhD thesis on

Mycoplasma hopneumoniae strain diversity in pigs

You are kindly invited to attend the defence at the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke (start at 5 p.m., Kliniekauditorium A)


Doctoraatsbursaal vacature EPOS

16-12-2011 - Author: Sven Arnouts"

Het Laboratorium voor Immunologie



Faculteit Diergeneeskunde, Universiteit Gent



zoekt



DOCTORAATSBURSAAL

Alle info over de vacture vindt u op de pdf in bijlage


Interplay between alphaherspesviruses and interferon

13-12-2011 - Author: Sven Arnouts"

On Tuesday, December 13, Nina Van Opdenbosch will defend her Phd on

A triple entente ? Interplay between alphaherpesviruses and interferon in sensory neuronal cells

You are kindly invited to attend the defence at the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke (start at 4.30 pm, auditorium B)

You can download in invitation to the PhD defence (Dutch)

 


The 2011 Belgian Biosafety Symposium

13-12-2011 - Author: Sven Arnouts"

Op 13 december 2011 organiseert Bayer zijn jaarlijks symposium

 

The 2011 Belgian Biosafety Symposium

 

"Viruses, viral vectors and synthetic biology"

 

Dit jaar ligt de focus op virussen en mogelijke toepassingen. Het programma is bewust breed gehouden, zodat zowel mensen bezig met plant-, dier-, als humaan onderzoek aan hun trekken komen. Je kan de flyer in bijlage vinden.


Seminar ROLE OF SURFACTANT PROTEIN D IN PORCINE PULMONARY DEFENCE AGAINST INFLUENZA A VIRUS

09-12-2011 - Author: Sven Arnouts"

We would like to invite you to a seminar by Dr. Martin van Eijk from the Dept. of Infectious Diseases and Immunology (Utrecht University, Netherlands) entitled:



Time and location:
Friday December 9, 2011
11 a.m.-12 a.m.
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kliniek auditorium D
Salisburylaan 133
9820 Merelbeke

 

Background information
Two collectins are abundantly expressed in the lung: surfactant protein A (SP-A) and surfactant protein D (SP-D), which are also known as the "lung collectins?. They have been the subject of investigation by Dr. Martin van Eijk and Prof. Henk Haagsman for more than twenty years. Their research has contributed to fundamental knowledge about the structure and functions of these proteins. They have distinguished several molecular structural elements of collectins as being important for interactions with influenza A viruses (and other pathogens), as well as with immune cells. This contributed to a better understanding of the various mechanisms that are involved in collectin-mediated host defense, but also encouraged the development of recombinant collectin-based drugs with distinctive anti-influenza properties.

ROLE OF SURFACTANT PROTEIN D IN PORCINE PULMONARY DEFENCE AGAINST INFLUENZA A VIRUS


UGent Prijs onderzoek verspreiding herpesvirussen

29-11-2011 - Author: Sven Arnouts"

UGent-onderzoeker wint prestigieuze prijs voor onderzoek

over verspreiding herpesvirussen

Belga; , 09-11-2011,

(BELGA) = Met het ontrafelen van de manier waarop herpesvirussen zich van de éne naar de

andere cel verspreiden, wint immunoloog/viroloog Herman Favoreel van de Universiteit Gent de

Wetenschappelijke Prijs Studiecentrum Joséphine Charlotte. Die tweejaarlijkse onderscheiding is

één van de belangrijkste in het vakgebied van de virologie.

Aan de vakgroep Virologie, Parasitologie en Immunologie van de Universiteit Gent werd de

afgelopen zes jaar onderzoek verricht rond de manier waarmee herpesvirussen zich van de éne

naar de andere cel verspreiden.

"In tegenstelling tot bacteriën, die op zichzelf vermeerderen, hebben virussen lichaamscellen

nodig om zich te vermeerderen", aldus professor Herman Favoreel. "Wij ontdekten dat

herpesvirussen de vorm van lichaamscellen die ze infecteren, kunnen veranderen waardoor deze

tentakels vormen die contact maken met andere cellen. Via deze tentakels verspreidt het virus

zich van de ene naar de andere cel. Die verspreidingsmethode is veel efficiënter dan uit de cel

breken en toevallig een nieuwe cel bereiken."

De UGent-onderzoekers ontdekten ook welk eiwit van het virus en welke eiwitten van de cel

verantwoordelijk zijn voor de vorming van de tentakels. "Het hele proces in kaart brengen opent

deuren voor de ontwikkeling van antivirale therapieën."

De ontdekking heeft betrekking tot het herpes simplex type 1 (verantwoordelijk voor koortslip en
oogontsteking) en type 2 (genitale ontstekingen) en het varicella-zoster virus (windpokken en

zona).

Belga

© 2011 Belga


Mucin and galectin dynamics (...)

11-10-2011 - Author: Sven Arnouts"

on October 11, 2011, Prisca Hoorens will defend her PhD thesis on

Mucin and galectin dynamics during gastro-intestinal parasite infections in cattle

You are kindly invited to attend the defence at the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke (start at 4.30 p.m., auditorium B)

You can download an invitation to the PhD defence (Dutch)


Infosessie Confidentialiteit

28-09-2011 - Author: Sven Arnouts"

 


Donderdag 24 november 2011 – 13u30 tot 15u00


Auditorium Hoogbouw (1) – 3e verdieping

 

Voor alle details en inschrijving zie pdf in bijlage

INFOSESSIE CONFIDENTIALITEIT

 


Symposium E.coli and the Mucosal immune System

02-07-2011 - Author: Sven Arnouts"

We would like to invite you to attend the symposium

E.coli and the Mucosal immune System : Interaction, Modulation and Vaccination

 

2-5 July 2010, Ghent University

 

You can download a flyer.


Antigenic profiling of the porcine reproductive syndrome virus

28-06-2011 - Author: Sven Arnouts"

On June 28, 2011, Merijn Vanhee will defend his PhD  thesis on

Antigenic profiling of the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus

You are kindly invited to attend the defence at the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke (start at 4.30 pm, Auditorium Hoogbouw).

You can download an invitation to the PhD defence (Dutch).


Open Call EC-funded Vaccine Development Services

16-06-2011 - Author: Sven Arnouts"

TRANSVAC : European Network of Vaccine Research and Development

 

In order to support and accelerate vaccine development in Europe, TRANSVAC is providing a vaccine development platform that may be accessed for free by innovative European groups

You can download a brochure in attachment.

 

Open Call for EC-funded Vaccine Development Services 


Studies van P-glycoproteïne bij hond en kat.

14-06-2011 - Author: Sven Arnouts"

On June 14 2011, Sara Van der Heyden will defend her PhD thesis on

Exploratieve studies van P-glycoproteïne bij hond en kat : weefseldistributie en therapeutische implicaties

 

You are kindly invited to attend the defence at the Faculty of Veterinay Sciences, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke (start at 5 p.m. Auditorium Maximum)

You can download an invitation to the PhD defence (Dutch)


Porcine leukocytes and dendritic cells by glucans

31-05-2011 - Author: Sven Arnouts"

On May 31, 2011, Eva Sonck will defend her PhD thesis on

Immunomodulation of porcine leukocytes and dendritic cells by -(1,3) glucans

You are kindly invited to attend the defence at the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke (start at 5.30p.m., Kliniekauditorium B)

You can download an invitation to the PhD defence (Dutch)


The pathogenesis of EHV1 in horses

30-05-2011 - Author: Sven Arnouts"

On May 30, 2011, Annick Gryspeerdt will defend her PhD thesis on

The pathogenesis of EHV1 in horses : novel insights from experimental inoculations and field situations

You are kindly invited to attend the defence at the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Salisburylaan 1133, 9820 Merelbeke (start at 4.30 pm, auditorium Hoogbouw)

You can download and invitation to the PhD defence (Dutch)

 


Aanwerving van een doctoraatsstudent

30-05-2011 - Author: Sven Arnouts"

In het kader van een boeiend onderzoeksproject is één doctoraatspositie beschikbaar.


Het handelt over

 “Controle van enterohemorrhagische E. coli besmetting van mens via van dragerdieren en preventie van infectie van deze dieren door vaccinatie

De looptijd van het project is 1 1/2+2 jaar.

Meer details vindt u in het attachment.

 


Interactie van het reproductief en respiratoir syndroom

26-05-2011 - Author: Sven Arnouts"

On May 26, 2011, Wander Van Breendam will defend his PhD thesis on

Interactie van het porcien reproductief en respiratoir syndroom virus met het macrofaag-specifieke lectine sialoadhesie

You are kindly invited to attend the defence at the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke (start at 4.30 pm, Auditorium A)

You can download an invitation to the PhD defence (Dutch)


16th Internation Summer School of Immunology

16-05-2011 - Author: Sven Arnouts"

from 3-11 September 2011, the 

16th International Summer School of Immunology

will take place in Hvar, Croatia

 


Helicobacter suis virulence and control

12-05-2011 - Author: Sven Arnouts"

On April 12, 2011, Bram Flahou will defend his PhD thesis on

Experimental studies on Helicobacter suis virulence and control

 

You are kindly invited to attend the defence at the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke (start 4.30 p.m., Auditorium D)

You can download an invitation to the PhD defence (Dutch)


Knowledge for Growth - Ghent

05-05-2011 - Author: Sven Arnouts"

On Thursday 5 May 2011, FlandersBio organises the 7th edition of its annual life sciences convention Knowledge for Growth at the ICC Ghent

Focus: Biotech meets global needs

Knowledge for Growth is Europe's largest regional biotech convention.

The principal ingredients of the convention are networking, keynote scientific lectures, science, technology and management presentations and a trade and poster exhibition. Just like last year, we will also organise a Job Fair, giving companies and jobseekers in the life sciences an opportunity to get to know each other.

The participants are biotech, medical technology and pharma companies, as well as academic research institutes and providers of capital, services and technologies to the life sciences community.

More than 200 companies were present at Knowledge for Growth 2010, 90 scientists presented their scientific abstract as a poster at the convention, 95 jobseekers submitted a CV for the Job Fair and more than 900 individual participants (62% industry, 38% academic) registered for the convention. This made the 2010 edition of Knowledge for Growth the most successful since its inception. Click here to consult our archive.

Knowledge for Growth 2011 will focus on Biotech meets global needs. The Flemish biotech industry has experienced significant growth in recent years. Some companies have products on the market for the first time; others signed key partnerships that will have a significant impact on their continued growth. These important evolutions create a new commitment with patients and consumers, but also with financial stakeholders and other partners. KfG 2011 focuses on the significance of these and other recent developments.

www.knowledgeforgrowth.be


Vacancy Postdoctoral Scientist UGent

03-05-2011 - Author: Peter Delputte"

Vacancy Postdoctoral Scientist @ UGent.

 

Please find more details in the attachment.

 

 


Staphylococcus aureus

29-04-2011 - Author: Sven Arnouts"

On May 2, 2011, Lieve Meulemans will defend her PhD thesis on

Staphylococcus aureus in rabbits : pathogenesis and prevention

You are kindly invited to attend the defence at the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke (start at 17:00) Auditorium Kliniek B.

You can download an invitation to the PhD defence (Dutch)

 


The use of bulk tank milk ELISAs

11-04-2011 - Author: Sven Arnouts"

On April 11, 2011 Sita Bennema will defend her PhD thesis on

The use of bulk tank milk ELISAs to assess the spatio-temporal distribution of helminths in dairy cattle

 

You are kindly invited to attend the defence at the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Salisburlylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke (start 4 p.m., auditorium D)

You can download an invitation to the PhD defence (Dutch).


Congress : Life Science Summit Biomedica

07-04-2011 - Author: Sven Arnouts"

On April 8, 2011

Dr. Ir. Bruno De Geest - Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Technology, Department of Pharmaceutics, Ghent University, Belgium

will give a lecture on

Enhancing celluar immune responses by microencapsulated vaccines

at the Life Science Summit congress by Biomedica from April 7-8 in Eindhoven, The Netherlands

www.biomedica2011.com

 

 

Enhancing cellular immune responses by microencapsulated vaccines

 


Impact van Chlamydophila psittaci

24-03-2011 - Author: Sven Arnouts"

Op 24 maart 2011 zal Veerle Dickx haar doctoraal proefschrift openbaar verdedigen met als titel 

 Epidemiologie en Zoönotische Impact van Chlamydophila psittaci

U wordt vriendelijk uitgenodigd om dit bij te wonen om 16U in lokaal A0.030 in de Faculteit Bio-Ingenieurswetenschappen, Coupure Links 353, 9000 Gent.

U kan een uitnodiging downloaden.

 

 


Equine nasal mucosal explants

07-03-2011 - Author: Sven Arnouts"

On March 7, 2011, Annelies Vandekerckhove will defend her PhD on

Equine nasal mucosal explants : a valuable tool to study early events of the pathogenesis of equine herpesvirus infections

 

You are kindly invited to attend the defence at the Faculty of Veterinay Sciences, Salisburylaann 133, 9820 Merelbeke (start  4.30 p.m., auditiorium Hoogbouw)

You can download an invitation to the PhD defence (Dutch)


Ivermectin resistance

15-02-2011 - Author: Sven Arnouts"

On February 15, 2011, Abdellati Abdelkarim will defend his PhD thesis on

 Ivermectin resistance in the bovine nemathode cooperia oncophora

 

 

You are kindly invited to attend the defence at the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke (start at 4 p.m., kliniekauditorium D, Salisburylaan 133, Merelbeke)

 

You can download an invitation to the PhD defence (Dutch) 

 

 

Ivermectin resistance in the bovine nematode
Cooperia oncophora


PhD position available at Ghent Ghent University (1)

11-02-2011 - Author: Sven Arnouts"

PhD position available at Ghent University

Title: Molecular epidemiology of Chlamydopila (Chlamydia) psittaci infections in humans and development of a recombinant C. psittaci vaccine for chickens

Period: for 2 years with a possibility to prolong till 4 years.

 

Please find more details in the attachment.


New strategies for prevention of E. coli 0157:H7 infection in sheep

10-01-2011 - Author: Sven Arnouts"

On January 10, 2011 Maryam Atef Yekta will defend her PhD thesis on

New strategies for prevention of E. coli 0157:H7 infection in sheep

You are kindly invited to attend the public defense on Monday, 10 January 2011 at 16h00 in Kliniekauditorium D, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, Merelbeke


Conscription doctorate student

04-01-2011 - Author: Sven Arnouts"

Provaxs is looking for a doctorate student for a project called

”Bepaling van de besmettingsgraad van Toxoplasmose in de Belgische landbouwbedrijven"

Please find all details in the attached file.


Insights in the immune response against E. colli

22-12-2010 - Author: Sven Arnouts"

On December 22, 2010, Kris Vande Walle will defend her PhD thesis on

Insights in the immune response against E.coli 0157:H7 infection in sheep 

You are kindly invited to attend the defence at the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke (start at 4.00 pm, auditorium Hoogbouw).

You can download an invitation the the Phd Defence (Dutch).

 


6th International Symposium Pig Diseases

10-12-2010 - Author: Sven Arnouts"

CReSA (www.cresa.cat) is the scientific institution in charge of the organization of the next

6th International Symposium on Emerging and Re-emerging Pig Diseases (chaired by Dr Joaquim Segalés).

Barcelona, June 12-15, 2011

The meeting will take place next year in Barcelona (Spain) and we expect to surpass the number of 1200 attendants present in the last edition of the symposium in Krakow (Poland). You may have some more information about it at www.emerging2011.com.

 


Press release Mymetics

10-12-2010 - Author: Sven Arnouts"

November 30, 2010 - Mymetics HIV Vaccine Shows Strong Preliminary Phase I Data

• HIV-1 vaccine designed to block early transmission and infection events, preventing virus
from settling and spreading within the body
• In Phase I trial, vaccine generated both serum antibodies and mucosal antibodies in the
genital and intestinal tracts

You can download the full press release.


Chlamydiaceae en Chlamydia trachomatis DNA

27-09-2010 - Author: Sven Arnouts"

On september 27, 2010, Katelijn Schautteet will defend her PhD thesis on

 

Epidemiologisch onderzoek naar Chlamydiaceae in varkens en de evaluatie van een Chlamydia trachomatis DNA vaccin

 

 

You are kindly invited to attend the defence ath the Faculteit Bio-ingenieurswetenschappen, Universiteit Gent, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Gent (lokaal A0.030)

 

You can download an invitation to the PhD defence (Dutch)


ERC Grant

27-08-2010 - Author: Sven Arnouts"

Professor Bart Lambrecht has obtained an ERC Starting Grant in Life Sciences. This is a recognition for the quality of the research of his group (Centre for Clinical Immunology and Allergy) as ERC Grants are granted to excellent researchers for high-risk, high-gain innovative projects.


PRRSV vaccin

08-07-2010 - Author: Sven Arnouts"

Op 8 juli 2010  zal Iris Delrue haar doctoraal proefschrift verdedigen over

Ontwikkeling van een nieuw geïnactiveerd porcien reproductief en respiratoir syndroom virus (PRRSV) vaccin

 

U wordt vriendelijk uitgenodigd op de openbare verdediging in de Faculteit Diergeneeskunde, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke (start om 16u, auditorium Hoogbouw)

 

U kan een pdf downloaden.

 


TSOL 18 vaccine antigen

29-06-2010 - Author: Sven Arnouts"

On June 29, 2010, Emmanuel Assana will defend his PhD thesis on

 

TSOL 18 vaccine antigen of Taenia solium : development of monoclonal antibodies and field testing of the vaccine in Cameroon

 

 

You are kindly invited to attend the defence at the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke (start at 4 p.m., auditorium D)

You can download an invitation to the phD defence (Dutch)


Presentatie Prof Dr. Mick Bailey

07-06-2010 - Author: Sven Arnouts"

On June 7, 2010

Prof Dr. Mick Bailey , professor of Comperative Immunology at the School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Bristol, will give a presentation on

Interactions between intestinal microbiota and the immune system

You are kindly invited to attend the presentation at the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, auditorium D, start at 13u30 pm.


Interaction of porcine intestinal cells

28-05-2010 - Author: Sven Arnouts"

On June 7, 2010 Bert Devriendt  will defend his PhD thesis on

Interaction of porcine intestinal epithelial cells and dendritic cells with enterotoxigenic E.coli virulence factors and immune complexes

Your are kindly invited to attend the defence at the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke (start 4.30 pm, kliniekauditorium D)

You can download an invitation to the PhD defence (Dutch)


Modern Vaccines/Adjuvants - Cannes, France

19-05-2010 - Author: Sven Arnouts"

PROVAXS will participate at the conference

Modern Vaccines/Adjuvants Formulation 2010, October 13-15, Cannes, France

with the following contributions (oral presentation) :

 

 'Alum adjuvant, uric acidand inflammasome : crucial breakthrough or still a dirty little secret ?'

(Bart Lambrecht)

 

 'Oral B Glucans modulate systemic antigen responses in dogs and pigs'

(Edith Stuyven, S. Arnouts, B.M. Goddeeris and Eric Cox)

You can download a brochure of the conference in attachment

 

 

 

 


Third International Conference Modern Vaccines adjuvants

19-05-2010 - Author: Sven Arnouts"

Bart Lambrecht, professor at the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Ghent University, will give a lecture on

'Alum adjuvant, uric acid and inflammasome : crucial breakthrough or still a dirt little secret ?'

Edith Stuyven, S. Arnouts, B.M. Goddeeris and Eric Cox will give a lecture on

'Oral B Glucans modulate systemic antigen responses in dogs and pigs'

at the Third international Conference of 'Modern Vaccines/Adjuvants Formulation 2010' in Cannes, France


InBev-Baillet Latour Prize

05-05-2010 - Author: Peter Delputte"

22/04/2010

Professor Dirk Elewaut (University of Ghent), receives the

InBev-Baillet Latour Prize for Clinical Research 2010 for the Flemish commuity.

 

 

More information can be downloaded as pdf file.


Modulation of immune responses in domestic animals

30-04-2010 - Author: Sven Arnouts"

On May 10, 2010, Edith Stuyven will defend her PhD thesis on

Modulation of immune responses in domestic animals by oral administration of β-1,3/1,6-glucans

 

You are kindly invited to attend the defence at the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke (start at 4.00 pm, kliniekauditorium D)

You can download an invitation to the PhD defence (Dutch)


Clostridium perfrigens associated necrotic enteritis

29-04-2010 - Author: Sven Arnouts"

On April 29, 2010, Anouk Lanckriet will defend her PhD thesis on

Evaluating established and exploring novel strategies to control Clostridium perfringens associated necrotic enteritis in broilers

You are kindly invited to attend the defence at the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke (start at 17.00 pm, kliniekauditorium D)

You can download an invitation to the PhD defence (Dutch)


Modern Mucosal Vaccines, Adjuvants & Microbicides

28-04-2010 - Author: Sven Arnouts"

PROVAXS will partcitipate at the conference Modern Mucosal Vaccines, Adjuvants & Microbicides with the following contributions (oral
presentation) :


'Prophylactic use of transferrins against chlamydiosis.


Daisy Vanrompay, Delphine S.A. Beeckman and Caroline Van Droogenbroeck (Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium)


'The food contaminant fumonisin B1 reduces the maturation odf porcine CD11R1+intestinal antigen presenting cells and antigen-specific immune respnses, leading to a prolonged intestinal ETEC infection.'' 

Bart Devriendt, Melanie Gallois, Frank Verdonck, Yann Wache, Diane Bimczok, Isabelle P. Oswald, Bruno M. Goddeeris and Eric Cox (University of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium)

'Maltose-binding protein (MPD) is a potential carrier for oral immunizations'.

Philippe Bellot, Petra Tiels, Frank Verdonck, Vesna Melkebeek, Bruno M. Goddeeris and Eric Cox (University of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium)


You can download a brochure of the conference in attachment

 



 

 


Chlamydophila psitacci infections in turkeys

26-04-2010 - Author: Sven Arnouts"

On April, 26 2010, Caroline Van Droogenbroeck will defend her PhD thesis on

Chlamydophila psittaci infections in turkeys : zoönosis, bioaerosol monitoring and prophylaxis

You are kindly invited to attend the defence at Faculty of Bio-Engineering, Ghent University,  Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent

You can download an invitation to the PhD defence (Dutch)


9th Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology

30-03-2010 - Author: Sven Arnouts"

Eric Cox , professor at the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Ghent University, will participate at

 9th Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology

Tokyo, 16-20 August 2010

If you would like to meet him there please contact him at

eric.cox@ugent.be

You can download a pdf to the Congres

 


Sialoadhesin and CD163, a dynamic duo

30-03-2010 - Author: Sven Arnouts"

On March 30, 2010, Hanne Van Gorp will defend her PhD thesis on

Sialoadhesin and CD163, a dynamic duo involved in porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus entry in macrophages and possible targeting molecules

You are kindly invited to attend the defence at the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke (start 17.00 pm, auditorium Hoogbouw)

You can download and invitation to the PhD defence (Dutch)


Vacature administratief medewerker

29-03-2010 - Author: Sven Arnouts"

 

Provaxs wenst over te gaan tot het aanwerven van een

Administratief medewerker

Een 80% betrekking in Graad 4 als administratief medewerker aan het
laboratorium voor Immunologie (VakgroepVirologie-Parasitologie-
Immunologie van de Faculteit Diergeneeskunde) en PROVAXS,
valorisatieconsortium UGent

Meer info vindt u op de pfd in bijlage.


Rol van het pseudorabiës virus US3 proteïne kinase

29-03-2010 - Author: Sven Arnouts"

On March 29, 2010 Matthias Deruelle will defend his PhD thesis on

Rol van het pseudorabiës virus US3 proteïne kinase in de evasie van antivirale afweermechanismen van de gastheer

You are kindly invited to attend the defence at the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke (start at 4.30 pm, kliniekauditorium D)

You can download an invitation to the PhD defence (Dutch).


Respiratory coronavirus and bacterial cell wall toxins

12-02-2010 - Author: Sven Arnouts"

On February 12, 2010 Kalina Atanasova will defend her PhD thesis on

Interactions between porcine respiratory coronavirus and bacterial cell wall toxins in the lungs of pigs

You are kindly invited to attend the defence at the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke (start 16.00pm, auditorium Hoogbouw)

You can download an invitation to the PhD defence


Treatment of bacterial respiratory disease

11-02-2010 - Author: Sven Arnouts"

On February 11, 2010 An Garmyn will defend her PhD thesis on

Challenging the prescribed enrofloxacin treatment regimen of bacterial respiratory disease caused by Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale and Escherichia coli in turkeys

You are kindly invited to attend the defence at the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke (start 17.00pm, auditorium D)


You can download an invitation to the PhD defence (Dutch)


Wetenschapscafé 'Virussen en vaccins'

09-02-2010 - Author: Sven Arnouts"

Hierbij nodigen wij u van harte uit op het

Wetenschapscafé op dinsdag 9 februari 2010 van 19.45u tot 21.45u met als thema :

Virussen en vaccins

Sprekers : prof. Geert Leroux-Roes, prof. Hans Nauwynck

Moderator : Joël De Ceulaer

Lokatie : Zebrastraat NV, Zebrastraat 32, 9000 Gent (in buurt van Decascoop)

www.wetenschapscafegent.be/cafe/1265760000

www.wetenschapscafegent.be/


Lab for Parasitology recognized as WHO-partner

22-01-2010 - Author: Sven Arnouts"

The Lab for Parasitology of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine has officially been recognized by the WHO (World Health Organization) as the 'Collaboration Centre for the monitoring of anthelminitic drug efficacy for soiltransmitted helminths'.

The lab is therefore responsible for the follow-up of the research on the efficacy of anti-helminthics for humans. Worm infections are the most occurring disease for humans and animals.

Worldwilde, about 1,2 billion of people are contaminated. The disease occurs mostly in the tropics.

Professor Jozef Vercruysse, Lab for Parasitology, Department Virology, Parasitology and Immunology, +32 9 264 73 90, Jozef.Vercruysse@UGent.be


Contact

Dr. ir. Sven Arnouts
Business Developer
Center for Strategic Prophylaxis and Vaccine Development - PROVAXS
Ghent University
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
Department of Virology, Parasitology and Immunology
Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
Tel. : +32 495.707.334
Fax : +32 9 264.74.96

Sven.Arnouts@UGent.be