This line aims:
- to gain more insight in regulation of lipid metabolism in mammalian cells, especially in the biosynthesis of the phospholipids PC and PE in relation to apoptosis.
- to obtain more insight into the function and dysfunction of equine chondrocytes, to characterize the matrix vesicles produced by chondrocytes and to obtain further information on the role of these vesicles in the mineralisation process.
- to further investigate the structure and biogenesis of the proteins of pulmonary surfactant, their interactions with the surfactant lipids and their roles in innate defense mechanisms.
- to discover and characterize adaptations in the biochemistry and molecular biology of parasitic helminths and protozoa. These parasite-specific adaptations are scientifically interesting as they often provide novel models to study general biological phenomena, and because they are unique targets for the development of new antiparasitic drugs.
- to investigate membrane dynamics and host-pathogen interactions. The aim is to gain a better understanding of intracellular membrane biogenesis and transport mechanisms in mammalian cells and to use this knowledge to study changes in membrane dynamics in host cells during host-pathogen interactions. |
