Cools Frank

I am currently working at the University of Antwerp as a mandatory assistant and combine this with my PhD research, at the Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), faculty of Farmaceutical, Biomedical en Veterinary Sciences (FBD). In 2014 I graduated as a Masters in Drug Development: Pharmacist at our university. Besides teaching practical microbiology courses and helping 1st Bachelor students starting their studies, I am conducting research about host-pathogen interactions during Streptococcus pneumoniae-pneumonia. These past years, I have studied the importance of the galU gene (encoding for UDPG:PP) in in vitro epithelial cell adhesion, biofilm formation and macrophage phagocytosis. Also I have studied in vivo virulence using a Galleria mellonella infection model. This alternative in vivo model was further characterized, hoping to contribute to the reduction of laboratory animals used in research. If you have any further questions, don't hesitate to contact me via telephone or email.