Understand human phagocyte dynamics and function from their birth to their death in health and inflammation. These insights can be used to predict the status of a disease and susceptibility to infectious and immune mediated diseases.
Our team
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Our Science
Homeostasis
Our lab investigates eosinophils, monocytes and neutrophils as first responders in (sterile) inflammation. In order to understand how phagocyte dynamics change in disease it is pivotal to first understand their functions in homeostasis. We use cutting edge techniques such as deuterated glucose labeling in humans to determine phagocyte production, migration and death in blood, bone marrow and peripheral tissues in both health and inflammation.
Physical trauma
Upon physical trauma neutrophils can quickly recognize and signal damage as well as combat penetrating pathogens. A fully automated flow cytometer called the AQUIOS enables the quick measurement of neutrophil subtypes and activation without the requirement of trained personnel. These insights can predict disease severity, the susceptibility to infections and aid to personalize treatment.
Lung inflammation
Our lab investigates eosinophils, monocytes and neutrophils as first responders in (sterile) inflammation. These phagocytes can quickly recognize and signal danger as well as combat pathogens. Inflammatory diseases the lab focuses on are (long) COVID, asthma, COPD and cystic fibrosis.
We can use these fast responding cells to biomonitor the inflammatory status of the patient even at point-of-care. A fully automated flow cytometer called the AQUIOS enables the quick measurement of these cells without the requirement of trained personnel. These insights can predict the status of a disease, the susceptibility to infections and aid to personalize treatment.
Lung transplantation
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Microplastics
A recent innovative research line studies the response of phagocytes to environmental microplastics
Our tools
Glucose labeling of human innate immune cells
In order to unravel human phagocyte dynamics in both health and inflammation we use deuterated glucose labeling to determine phagocyte production, maturation, migration and death in blood, bone marrow and peripheral tissues.
- Deuterated glucose molecuul
Intravital 2PM microscopy
We visualize phagocyte migration longitudinally in living mice using 2-photon microscopy.
Microfluidics and 3D gels
We visualize human phagocyte migration in 3D matrices and microfluidics. For instance to understand whether the typical lobular nucleus of a neutrophil and eosinophil aids in squeezing through narrow pores, but also to compare migration of different neutrophil subsets. In addition, we visualize how phagocytes migrate towards bacteria versus microplastics and investigate whether the phagocytosis of microplastics influences human neutrophil migration.
- Gif microfluidics
Automated point-of-care flow cytometry
A fully automated flow cytometer called the AQUIOS enables the quick measurement of eosinophils, monocytes and neutrophils without the requirement of trained personnel. We can use these fast responding cells to biomonitor the inflammatory status of the patient even at point-of-care.
News
- Emma will defend her thesis xx
- Simon and Berber will present their data at the ERS xxx
- Aquios in the bus is ready to drive!
Get in touch
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