Experimental Bacteriology

Antimicrobials are a staple for the prevention and treatment of bacterial infectious diseases. However, antimicrobial resistance is a global concern, and oftentimes antimicrobials can have unwanted side-effects on the microbiome.

Aim of our research

Our research group aims to understand bacterial pathogens at a molecular level in order to

  1. identify novel targets for antimicrobials;
  2. to understand how bacteria interact with their host and their environment and
  3. to identify and combat antimicrobial resistance.

We also explore how we can administer bacteria to humans in order to study mechanisms of pathogenesis (i.e. controlled human infections) or to modulate the microbiome to achieve health benefits.

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Our research group aims to understand bacterial pathogens at a molecular level in order to

  1. identify novel targets for antimicrobials;
  2. to understand how bacteria interact with their host and their environment and
  3. to identify and combat antimicrobial resistance.

We also explore how we can administer bacteria to humans in order to study mechanisms of pathogenesis (i.e. controlled human infections) or to modulate the microbiome to achieve health benefits.

Our research focuses on pathogenic bacteria, in particular well-known healthcare-associated bacteria like Clostridioides difficile and Staphylococcus aureus, is highly cross-disciplinary (microbiology, genetics, molecular biology/biochemistry, omics technologies) and increasingly involves translational aspects. We have state-of-the-art (anaerobic) culture facilities at different biosafety levels and contribute to the National Expertise Center for C. difficile infections, the Netherlands Donor Feces Bank and the Center for Microbiota Analyses and Therapeutics.

Group members

  • Wiep Klaas Smits (Group leader)
  • Ed J. Kuijper (emeritus professor)
  • Jeroen Corver (senior researcher)
  • Annemieke Friggen (research technician)
  • Mia Urem (postdoctoral researcher)
  • Céline Harmanus (research technician)
  • Nina Musch (master student)

Partners / Collaborators

We work together with clinical microbiologists and public health institutes, as well as partners from both industry and academia. Some of our key collaborations are listed below.

  • LUMC: dr. P. Hensbergen, Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics; J. van Prehn and dr. E.M. Terveer, LUCID Clinical Microbiology and Infection Prevention; dr. M. H. Lamers, Cell and Chemical Biology; prof. dr. M.R. Roestenberg, LUCID.
  • University of Leiden: prof. dr. N. Martin, dr. S. Hacker.
  • RIVM: dr. K. Vendrik, dr. D. Notermans, dr. S. de Greeff, and dr. T. Cuperus
  • University of Leeds, UK: dr. J. Freeman, prof. dr. M. Wilcox
  • Charles University and Czech Academy of Sciences, Czech Republic: dr. M. Krutova, dr. L. Krasny, dr. G. Notovna
  • Medical University of Silezia, Poland: prof.dr. T. Wasik

Research clusters

Selected publications