Science, Engineering and Technology Group
Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems
CENTRE OF MICROBIAL
AND PLANT GENETICS
Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria and
Research profile
Biodegradation
The main activity within the PGPRB group is dedicated to
The core activity of the CMPG is to generate and exploit
the exploration of antagonistic interactions among plant-
knowledge on evolution, genetic networks and biochemical
associated pseudomonads and related soil bacteria,
pathways for a selection of bacteria, fungi and plants,
mediated by proteins (bacteriocins) or secondary metabolites.
taking into account different environmental conditions.
Biosynthesis, structure and the mode of action of active
The experimental systems studied are various bacteria in
substances are elucidated using state-of-the-art approaches
relation to plant (e.g. Azospirillum, Rhizobium, Pseudomonas),
in molecular microbiology. In addition to gaining insight in
and human health (e.g. Lactobacillus, Pseudomonas),
this aspect of social life of these bacteria, this approach
Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Candida albicans, Arabidopsis
aims at the identification of novel antibacterials and their
thaliana and crop plants. The experimental approaches
targets suitable to combat pathogens. A second line of
combine wet lab analysis and computational biology,
research investigates the adaptive capacity of certain soil
aiming for a systems approach by integration of biology,
bacteria to degrade agrochemicals, such as herbicides
chemistry, bio-informatics and engineering, exemplified
and insecticides, by characterization of the genes and
by the systems microbiology which is strongly developed
biochemical pathways involved.
in the CMPG.
Plant-Fungi Interactions
The research within the CMP is organised in seven subgroups:
Research at PFI resulted in the discovery of several types
Salmonella and Probiotics of novel antifungal proteins. Pioneering research was
The S&P group consists of the Salmonella and Probiotic continued on one of them, namely the plant defensins
subgroups. The Salmonella group studies the molecular (PDFs). Primarily based on PDFs studies, research at PFI
mechanisms of bacterial biofilm formation and the interactions was further developed in two distinct research units,
between (evolving) strains within biofilms. This knowledge the Plant Unit and the Fungus/Yeast Unit. In the Plant
is applied to the development of novel antibiofilm strategies Unit research is focussed on stress-induced peptides,
which have a low likelihood of resistance development. including PDFs, and on their role in the plant's resistance
The Probiotic group investigates the interactions of mechanisms to mainly necrotrophic pathogens. Basic studies
gastrointestinal and urogenital probiotic Lactobacillus in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana are further translated
strains with the human host and with bacterial/viral (HIV, to agronimically important crops such as tomato, lettuce,
HSV-2) pathogens. Another focus is on the development corn and canola. The Plant Unit is associated with the VIB
of recombinant Lactobacillus strains to be used as vaccines. Department of Plant systems Biology. In the Fungus/Yeast
Unit research is focussed on the unravelling of the mode
of action of bioative peptides and small molecules including
their antifungal, antibiofilm, antiapoptotic activities. Yeast
models are developed to study diseases of higher eukaryotes
including plants and humans.
Symbiotic and Pathogenic Interactions that can affect protein function, assigning functions to
The SPI group performs molecular microbiological research post-translational modifications and the evolutionary
both on pathogenic as well as symbiotic bacteria with a dynamics of protein interaction networks.
focus on antibiotic-tolerance or persistence, evolutionary
dynamics of adaptation to complex phenotypes and Predictive Genetics and Multicellular Systems
bacterium-plant interactions. Target bacteria include Biology has become a data intense and quantitative science,
Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Rhizobium and advanced analyses of the generated measurements
etli, Staphylococcus aureus and Mycobacterium smegmatis. are important to advance our understanding of fundamental
At the methodological level, the group pursues in-house biological questions. In this group a predominantly
genetic-biochemical approaches combined with high- computational approach is taken, in close contact with
throughput genomic analyses (NGS, RNAseq), as well as experimentation, to advance a range of research topics.
advanced microscopic and bioinformatics examinations. One focus is on whole genome reverse genetic predictions,
Research is performed both at population and single-cell in which careful computational modeling of genetic variation
levels as well as during interaction with the eukaryotic host in individuals is used to predict likely phenotypes. A second
(cellular, plant and animal systems). Our application-oriented focus is on the embryogenesis of C. elegans,. We have
research pipeline is directed towards the discovery of novel developed a pipeline to retrieve cell positions and divisions
antibacterials which we want to further develop in the during early embryogenesis and then use this data to
framework of topical applications, anti-biofilm coatings try to advance our understanding of how cells move
and controlled release. autonomously, and interact with their neighbors to guide
cell differentiation.
Genetics and Genomics
The G&G team investigates how and why living systems
work. In particular, we are intrigued by genetic and epigenetic
Keywords
regulation, inheritance and evolution. Our research combines
theory and experiment, including molecular biology, genetics,
Molecular microbiology " plant molecular biology "
genomics, bioinformatics, and mathematical modelling.
biochemistry " biological chemistry " physiology "
Most research focuses on the model eukaryote
bioinformatics " systems biology
Saccharomyces cerevisiae (beer yeast), but we are also
venturing into higher eukaryotes, including insects, plants
and humans. Apart from striving for purely scientific insight,
we are also exploring possible applications of our findings, Unique infrastructure
most notably by optimising yeast strains for the fermentation
industry (beer, wine, bread, chocolate, biofuels etc.). The Centre of Microbial and Plant Genetics is equipped
with up-to-date instruments for culturing and molecular
Computational Systems Biology analysis of microbial cells, eukaryotic cells and plants
This group is interested in understanding biological systems and is developing algorithms and compendia for
as a whole and gaining insight into molecular evolution. computational biology.
This is achieved through computational analysis of complex
molecular data generated by the ever growing number of
new technologies that can systematically measure the
Collaboration and users
behaviour of multiple cellular components, such as biochemical
activities, biophysical properties, subcellular localization
The Centre of Microbial and Plant Genetics participates
and interaction. The analyses require both using and
with European (FP6, FP7), Belgian Federal (IUAP-PAI) and
developing new methods to integrate, visualize and query
Flemish (Programme Financing, BOF) authorities; Flemish
the large amounts of information available. Selected projects
Research Agencies (FWO, IWT, VIB, Odysseus, Hercules,
include analysis of protein mass-spectrometry data to
VLIR-UOS); industries (food and beer, plant and human
discover new protein interactions, analysis of mutations
health sector, pharma, agrochemical).
Contact
Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems
Centre of Microbial and Plant Genetics
Kasteelpark Arenberg 20 box 2460
3001 LEUVEN, Belgium
www.biw.kuleuven.be/m2s/cmpg
KU Leuven. Inspiring the outstanding.