Promotor: M. Ubbink, Co-Promotor: R. T. Dame

Our group operates at the cross-roads of different disciplines: molecular and cellular microbiology, biochemistry, structural biology and biophysics. The group harbors expertise in a multitude of molecular and cellular approaches including:

The group Theoretical Physics of Life Processes, led by Helmut Schiessel, focuses on the physics of chromatin, the DNA-protein complex that fills the nuclei of eukaryotic cells.

Key research articles and book chapters of the Chromatin group.

The research is aimed at development of an efficient gene targeting method that allows controlled integration of DNA at a preselected site in the Trichoderma genome.

Can we find new chemical and biological sensing routes on the edge and surface of graphene to improve the potential of graphene to act as a sensor?

Chemotherapy that does nothing until you irradiate it with light. Sylvestre Bonnet receives a Vici grant of 1.5 million euros for the development of this treatment. The Leiden chemist wants to build a new molecule to fight tumours that are at the time still difficult to treat.

Various companies in the plant biotech industry will test a recent Leiden discovery in their crops. The ‘Pol Theta’ technology is developed in Leiden and makes it possible to reduce undesired side effects during genome engineering of plants.

As part of the NEXUS1492 project, this project will use ancient DNA techniques to shed new light on the demographic and health history of the Caribbean and the impact of European colonization on indigenous communities in the region.

Lecture

Inaugural Lecture

PhD Defence

Promotor: A. Kros, Co-promotor: R.R.C.L. Olsthoorn

PhD Defence

PhD Defence

The relative simplicity of the bacterial cell, short generation times and well defined and inexpensive culturing conditions have significantly contributed to our understanding of many complex biological systems. Yet the workings of the bacterial genome, seemingly impossibly compressed within a tiny…

Agrobacterium tumefaciens, a gram-negative plant pathogen belonging to the family Rhizobiaceae, is the causative agent of crown gall disease, which can affect many plant species including agronomically important ones.

We aim to unravel the molecular mechanisms involved in the transformation of eukaryotic cells by Agrobacterium.

In this thesis, the focus lies on studying glucocorticoid receptor dynamics in living cells with the aim of understanding how this transcription factor finds its DNA target sites to regulate transcription.

Our focus is to optimize the fungal cell wall to both increase chitin production and chitin extractability.

Biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) for natural products are widespread in microbial genomes, and they are rapidly exchanged. This research assesses the factors that control the spread of BGCs and resistance genes in nature. This includes risk assessment for the spread of engineered DNA in nature.

Can a proposed new radiofrequency approach to graphene biosensors lead to groundbreaking changes in genome mapping?

Macromolecular Biochemistry is a section of the Leiden Institute of Chemistry at Leiden University, comprizing the PIs Marcellus Ubbink and Remus Dame.

PhD Defence

John van Noort

Is translocation of nucleases possible via Agrobacterium T4SS and is it efficient enough for mutagenesis?

Actinobacteria are Gram-positive bacteria that have a complex multicellular life cycle and are well known for their ability to produce a wide range of bioactive natural products (NPs).

Peter Grunwald

Lecture

What are the patterns and processes of human mobility in the pre-colonial circum-Caribbean as revealed by burial populations and what are the underlying motives and socio-cultural principles on both micro- and macro-scales?

A full overview of MCBIM PhD theses.

A full overview of MacBio PhD Theses.

A delegation of the Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML) of the Faculty of Science of Leiden University, led by the Dean of the Faculty of Science: Prof.dr. Geert de Snoo, visited the Kenyan ambassador Mr. Lawrence Lenayapa and his staff on Monday 29 of October in The Hague.

The RNA guided endonuclease based on the CRISPR/Cas system of Streptococcus pyogenus is a potent new tool for genome engineering in plants.

Nature uses a special class of histone proteins, histone variants, to modulate the properties of chromatin at defined genomic locations.

Cellular stress response pathways are activated upon exposure to chemicals and help organisms deal with various molecular dangers (e.g. oxidative stress). When these pathways become hyper-activated an adverse response takes place and cells die, which may lead to organism-level toxicity such as drug-induced…

The CIGR brings together a diverse range of unique expertise in genome research rooted in biology, chemistry and physics. Members of the CIGR investigate genome folding and genome transactions. An important aspect is direct as well as long term relevance for medicine.

Relevant publications of the CIGR participants.

How do we make tomorrow more sustainable, equitable, fair, and just? On the evening of 5 February scholars gathered in the conference room of Grand Café The Burcht to discuss this grand question at the Next444 Roundtable. Organized by the Young Academy Leiden as one of the final events of the Leiden…

Our object is to identify and characterize transcription factors involved in lignocellulosic biomass degradation in the filamentous fungus Aspergillus niger.

The mission of the Plant Science research programme is to contribute to the sustainable production of high quality crops, flowers and high-value bio-based products. This is realised by generating fundamental knowledge of basic biological processes related to development of plants and their interaction…

Lecture

PhD Defence

Lecture, LUCL Colloquium - Fall 2017

Lecture, Areal Histories

PhD Defence

PhD Defence

PhD Defence

PhD Defence