Research Program

Functional Molecular Biology

Briefly, ‘Functional Molecular Biology’ tries to unravel particular functions of micro-organisms or microbial communities, using molecular biology methods. It focuses particularly on the identification and (functional) characterization of genes and gene products that are responsible for a particular phenotype. Special emphasis is given to virulence mechanisms, enzymatic activity, antibiotic resistance, physiological behavior, osmotic adaptation etc. Insight in these mechanisms may, ultimately, enhance the exploitation of microbial strains or complex communities in the management of industrial processes.

For example, the bacterium Vibrio (Listonella) anguillarum is the causative agent of vibriosis, a deadly haemorrhagic septicaemic disease affecting many economically important marine fish species. Until now, the virulence mechanisms of this pathogen and the critical virulence factors that determine pathogenesis are still insufficiently known.

Using in vivo expression technology (IVET), virulence genes of V. anguillarum are currently identified in a gnotobiotic model system with European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) larvae as hosts. This will not only result in new insights in the virulence mechanism of this pathogen, but may also lead to improved diagnostic assays. For example, identified virulence markers may be implemented in a DNA array-based pathogen detection tool, which will greatly improve the relevance and confidence of currently used detection and identification techniques.

A complementary functional genomics approach, i.e. examining the relationship between an organism's genome and its phenotype, provides a more complete picture of how biological function arises from the information encoded in an entire organism's genome. For instance, comparing the genome of specific strains can be used to identify specific genes or mutations that contribute to a quantitative genetic trait of known adaptive significance.

 

Research topics

  • Characterization and role of various virulence factors in the pathogenesis of Vibrio (Listonella) anguillarum.
  • Comparative genomics of virulent and avirulent Vibrio anguillarum strains
  • Comparative genomics of osmo- and salt-tolerant Tetragenococcus strains

Click here for a list of related publications.