Lab of Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology - ENdEMIC

The increased industrialization and urbanization since World War II has co-occurred with a marked increase in chronic inflammatory disorders.  The hygiene hypothesis (or microbial deprivation hypothesis) proposes that reduced contact with microorganisms in the first years of life is an important factor in the dysregulation of the education of our immune system and this rise in inflammation. In addition, an increase in air pollution appears to play an important modulatory role in the pathogenesis of these diseases. Pro-inflammatory  capacities of particulate matter and other air pollutants have been shown, but the underlying mechanisms are not well understood.

The research team of Sarah Lebeer aims to gain more insights in the modulatory role of environmental microbes and air pollution on human health, by the application of molecular microbiological and immunological techniques. Hereto, the research is currently focusing on three major research themes:

• A first major topic focuses on the immunomodulatory capacity, anti-pathogenic action and other beneficial capacities of lactobacilli, present in fermented foods, pharmaceutical supplements, human gastro-intestinal tract, vagina and nasopharyngeal capacity. Hereby, special attention goes to the cell surface molecules of lactobacilli (proteins, lipoteichoic acid, polysaccharides, glycoproteins, pili, etc.) and their interaction with immune receptors.
• A second topic investigates environmental microbes present in the air and on plants (phyllosphere bacteria) in relation to air pollution and the hygiene hypothesis. Hereby, special attention goes to the development of molecular methods to monitor the diversity and activity of these microbes (bioremediation, immunomodulation, etc.).
• A third topic focuses on the monitoring of microbial endotoxins (such as lipopolysaccharides) in relation to air pollution. Hereby, special attention goes to the development of specific bioassays (e.g. in cell lines).

The Biodiversity hypothesis states that contact with natural environments enriches the human microbiome, promotes immune balance and protects from allergy and inflammatory disorders. This is especially relevant in urban settings, where contact with natural microbial communities is diminished and chronic diseases are on the rise. 

The team of Prof. dr. ir. Irina Spacova investigates beneficial microorganisms found at the interface between the human body and the environment, especially in the respiratory tract and on the skin, and how these microorganisms can benefit human health. An important bioscience engineering goal is to develop sustainable microbiome-based solutions for urban health challenges.

• The first research line focuses on investigating how contact with nature can enrich our own microbial communities and promote physical and mental health, for example at school playgrounds and in healthcare settings. The research focus is predominantly on environmental-human microbiome transfer and improvement of human clinical stress and inflammatory biomarkers.
• The second research line investigates how the microbial communities inhabiting our respiratory tract can help us fight respiratory viral infections. Clinical samples are collected in different populations, including cystic fibrosis patients. Afterwards, direct interactions between respiratory bacteria and viruses, and the immunostimulatory role of respiratory microbial communities, are explored in the laboratory.

In both lines of research, clinical studies (in collaboration with expert clinicians) are combined with experimental laboratory assays. For example, dedicated in vitro assays are developed and implemented to map the molecular immunological interactions between microorganisms and human cells, and to assess antiviral activity of bacterial isolates. The overall aim is to identify microorganisms that can benefit our health and protect us from infectious and chronic diseases in urban settings.