Microbiology
VIB’s microbiology research focuses on pathogenic microbes to develop new and improved antibiotics to control infectious diseases; beneficial microbes and their impacts on digestion and human health; and industrial microbes for their production of fermented foods and beverages like cheese, beer, and wine.
Impact on society
Experimental micro-brewery of VIB and KU Leuven
In 2017, Professor Verstrepen received support from AB InBev and other partners to establish a state-of-the-art experimental brewery in Kasteelpark Arenberg, Leuven. The brewery serves as a platform for his team to investigate the behavior of yeast cells in large beer vessels. By bridging the gap between the laboratory and industry, the brewery and fermenters enable the study and testing of new yeast varieties, which can be applied in commercial beer production.
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Soy in Flanders
Catching nitrogen-fixing bacteria (Rhizobia) to introduce high protein-containing soybean for a sustainable agriculture in Flanders in the Soy project.
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Contagious
An in-dept characterization of the dynamic immune response to coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 in the Contagious project.
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The Flemish Gut Flora Project
In this ambitious project, we are trying to find out more about the role of gut bacteria in health with the help of thousands of Flemish volunteers. We collect and examine stool samples from more than 5000 participants. This has never happened on this scale worldwide. Here you will find all information and news about the research project.
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Center for Microbiology
The VIB-KU Leuven Center for Microbiology (CFM) combines basic research on microorganisms with translational research and industrial valorization. Using extensive knowledge of molecular biology and biochemistry, CFM research provides novel insights into prokaryotic and eukaryotic biology, ecology, genetics, genomics, metabolism, and pathology.