Hols P.

METABOLISM AND POST-GENOMICS OF LACTIC ACID BACTERIA

GROUP LEADER

PASCAL HOLS	Profile
	Prof. Pascal Hols is the team leader of the research on molecular biology of lactic acid bacteria in the group "biochemistry and molecular genetics of bacteria (BGMB)". Author of 70 articles and reviews in the field of LAB research. Master's Degree in Biology and Ph.D. in bacterial genetics at UCL (1994). Postdoctoral training at NIZO food research (The Netherlands), Research associate at FNRS (since 2004), and recently Associate Professor at UCL. Fields of expertise:  Molecular and bacterial genetics Biochemistry of the central carbon metabolism and cell wall biosynthesis in prokaryotes Organisation of bacterial genomes and functional genomics Biotechnology and engineering of fermentation pathways
Biochemistry and Molecular  Genetics of Bacteria (BGMB)   Bt. Carnoy (b.206) 5 Croix du Sud (Box 6) B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve-Belgium	Email : Tel.: +32 10 47 88 96 Fax.: +32 10 47 31 09

RESEARCH OVERVIEW

Research activities are focused on a specific group of Gram-positive bacteria, generically referred to as "lactic acid bacteria" (LAB), which are of major industrial importance in food fermentation. Moreover, some LAB species are natural members of the intestinal microflora of mammals where they play a beneficial health role.

Three model species  are currently studied at the genetic and physiological levels:

• Lactobacillus plantarum
• Lactococcus lactis
• Streptococcus thermophilus

A multidisciplinary range of genomics/post-genomics, biochemical, and biophysical approaches are used to study the function of genes that are involved in:

• Carbon metabolism
• Cell wall biosynthesis
• Metabolic adaptation to environmental parameters

In order to improve our knowledge of LAB metabolism, we established the complete genome sequence of Streptococcus thermophilus, a yoghurt starter and an unique example of a non-pathogenic Streptococcus. 

DNA microarrays are currently exploited for transcriptomic analyses in order to study regulatory networks (quorum-sensing mechanisms for bacteriocin production and competence, nitrogen metabolism, SOS response,...)

Metabolic engineering and heterologous expression technologies are also used to engineer LAB strains to serve as starters in dairy fermentation, or as host systems for the production and the delivery of specific compounds of food and pharmaceutical interest.

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STAFF

LAB AND TRANSPOSITION TEAMS (BGMB)

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