Prof. Dr. Emmy Van Kerkhove

Current position

1998 - ...
Full Professor 
Hasselt University
Dept. MBW - Physiology
Campus Diepenbeek
Agoralaan - Gebouw D
B3590 Diepenbeek
Belgium
tel. +32 11 268533
fax +32 11 268199
E-mail emmy.vankerkhove@uhasselt.be

Teaching

• 2nd year Biology: Vertebrate Physiology

• 1st year Bachelor in Medical Sciences: Cell as organism.

• 2nd year Medical students (preclinical years): Blok II-1: Transport and communication in cells and tissues

• 2nd and 3d year Medical students (preclinical years): assistance in teaching human physiology

• Master of Science in Biostatistics (Censtat): Medical Biology

Research topics and projects

Current Projects:

2002-2006 BOF project (Bijzonder Onderzoeksfonds, Groot Project), in cooperation with Prof. Jaco Vangronsveld, Prof. R. Valcke and Dr. A. Cuypers: “Responses of plant and animal cells to cadmium stress: A comparison of defence mechanisms and cellular functional state. A multidisciplinary approach”

2002-2004 Bilateral project with South Africa (Prof. S. Nicolson, Pretoria), (Promotor E. Van Kerkhove, Copromotor Prof. L. Schoofs, KULeuven). “Antagonistic control of Malpighian tubule by diuretic and antidiuretic peptides in insects: peptide localisation and mode of action. A role for KATP channels?”

tUL impulsfinancing
2004-2007: doctoral bursary and part-time technician
“Luminal perfusion of the proximal tubule of the kidney: effects of cadmium on epithelial transport”

2000-2006 AAP (Assisting Academic Personel): PhD student Sara Terryn: Study of the vertebrate proximal nephron in primary cell culture: properties in control conditions and after acute or chronic exposure to heavy metals.

2003-2009 AAP (Assisting Academic Personel): PhD student Daniel Janssen: mGluR in DUM neuronen of Locusta migratoria.

Former projects:

Fundamental research in epithelial cells (excretory and gut cells): cellular mechanisms and regulation:
Bilateral project Flanders-South Africa: PhD student Ursula Wiehart: Diuretic and antidiuretic peptides in insects: from purification to mode of action.
Mode of action of d-endotoxins from Bacillus thuringiensis, environmentally friendly insecticides, that act via the midgut of certain insect pests.

Bilateral project Flanders-Québec: Structure-function analysis of Bacillus thuringiensis insecticidal crystal proteins: a study of native and engineered chimeric proteins.

Electrophysiological study of epithelia in control conditions and after exposure to cadmium (the midgut of a springtail, Orchesella cincta; renal proximal tubule cells of mammalia).
BOF project (Bijzonder OnderzoeksFonds): PhD student Georg Klein (1999-2003): Metal pathways in soil invertebrates. Handling of cadmium by a springtail, Orchesella cincta

Electrophysiological study of isolated insect neurons: characterization and effect of toxins (paralysins, scorpion toxins). 
IWT (Instituut voor de aanmoediging van Innovatie door Wetenschap en Technologie in Vlaanderen): PhD student Bert Brône: DUM neurons (dorsal unpaired median neurons) of insects: electrophysiological properties and mode of action of toxins

Bilateral project Flanders-South Africa: Ion channel specific modifiers to combat pain.

Bilateral project Flanders-China: New insights into insect-pest control owing to the family of short-chain insectotoxin-like peptides from scorpion venom.

Supervisior of PhD defences

1. Reinhilde Weltens (PhD in 1988)
2. Anne Leyssens (PhD in 1993)
3. Nadine De Decker (PhD in 1993)
4. Sandra Dijkstra (PhD in 1993)
5. Bart Laenen (PhD in 1999)
6. Ursula Wiehart (BIL project 98/53 Flanders- South Africa, PhD in 2002)
7. Bert Brône (IWT bursary, PhD in september 2003)
8. Georg Klein (PhD in december 2003)
9. Sara Terryn (AAP october 2000- september 2006)
10. Sandy Thijssen (BOF project 2002-2006)
11. Daniel Janssen (AAP february 2003 – january 2009)
12. Koen Jolling (tUL impulsfinancing 15 march 2004-14 march 2007)



Publications in international peer reviewed journals

Recent articles: 2001 - ...

Laenen B., De Decker N., Steels P., Van Kerkhove E., Nicolson S. (2001) An antidiuretic factor in the forest ant: purification and physiological effects on the Malpighian tubules. J. Insect Physiol., 47, 185-193

*Wiehart , U. I. M., Nicolson , S. W. and Van Kerkhove E. (2003) K+ transport in Malpighian tubules of Tenebrio molitor: a study of electrochemical gradients and basal K+ uptake mechanisms. Journal of Experimental Biology 206, 949-957

*Wiehart, U. I. M., Klein, G., Steels, P., Nicolson, S. W., and Van Kerkhove E. (2003) K+ transport in Malpighian tubules of Tenebrio molitorL.: is a KATP channel involved? Journal of Experimental Biology 206, 959-965

Brône Bert, Jan Tytgat, Da-Cheng Wang, Emmy Van Kerkhove (2003)
Characterization of Na+ currents in isolated DUM neurons of Locusta migratoria and effect of the a-like scorpion toxin BmK M1. Journal of Insect Physiology 49, 171-182

Wiehart , U. I. M., Nicolson , S. W. and Van Kerkhove E. (2003) The effects of the endogenous diuretic and antidiuretic peptides and second messengers in the Malpighian tubules of Tenebrio molitor: an electrophysiological study. Journal of Insect Physiology 49, 955-965

Laenen, B., Wiehart, U., De Decker, N., Steels, P. and Van Kerkhove, E. (2003) Body extracts from the forest ant and the honeybee: chromatographic comparison of factors affecting the ant Malpighian tubule. Physiological Entomology 28, 306-314

* These articles merit a highlight in the Journal of Experimental Biology

Former articles: 1989 - 2001

Van Kerkhove E., Weltens R., Roinel N. & De Decker N. 1989
Haemolymph composition in Formica (Hymenoptera) and urine formation by the short isolated Malpighian tubules: electrochemical gradients for ion transport.
J. Insect Physiol. 35, 991-1003

Leyssens A., Steels P., Lohrman E., Weltens R. & Van Kerkhove E. 1992
Intrinsic regulation of K+ transport in Malpighian tubules (Formica): electrophysiological evidence.
J. Insect Physiol. 38, 431-446

Weltens R., Leyssens A., Zhang S.L., Lohrmann E., Steels P. & Van Kerkhove 1992
Unmasking of the apical electrogenic H-pump in isolated Malpighian tubules (Formica polyctena) by the use of barium.
Cell.Physiol. and Biochem.2, 101-116.

Leyssens A., Van Kerkhove E., Zhang S.L., Weltens R., Steels P. 1993
Measurement of intracellular and luminal K+ activities in a Malpighian tubule (Formica). Estimate of basal and luminal electrochemical K+ gradients
J. Insect Physiol.39, 945-958

Leyssens A., Zhang S.L., Van Kerkhove E., Steels P. 1993
Both dinitrophenol and Ba2+ reduce KCl and fluid secretion in Malpighian tubules of Formica:. The role of the apical H+ and K+ concentration gradient.
J. Insect Physiol. 39, 1061-1073

Dijkstra S., Lohrman E., Van Kerkhove E. & Steels P. 1994
Characteristics of the luminal proton pump in Malpighian tubules of the ant.
Renal Physiol. Biochem. 17, 27-39

Zhang S.L., Leyssens A., Van Kerkhove E., Weltens R., Van Driessche W., Steels P. 1994
Electrophysiological evidence for the presence of an apical H+-ATPase in Malpighian tubules of Formica polyctena: intracellular and luminal pH measurements.
Pflügers Arch. 426, 288-295

Urbach V., Van Kerkhove E., Harvey B. 1994
Inward-rectifier K+ channels generate the basolateral membrane conductance in frog skin principal cells
J. Gen. Physiol. 103, 1 - 22

Van Kerkhove E. 1994
Cellular mechanisms of salt secretion by the Malpighian tubules of insects
Belgian J. Zool. 124, 73-90

Dijkstra S., Lohrman E., Van Kerkhove E., Steels P., Greger R. 1994
Effects of DNP on active transport processes and cell membranes in the Malpighian tubule of Formica.
Pflügers Arch. 428, 150-156

Leyssens A., Dijkstra S., Van Kerkhove E., Steels 1994
Mechanisms of K+ uptake across the basal membrane of a K+ secreting insect epithelium
J. exp. Biol. 195, 123-145

De Decker N., Hayes T.K., Van Kerkhove E., Steels P. 1994
Stimulatory and inhibitory effects of endogenous factors and head extracts of Formica polyctena (Hymenoptera) on fluid secretion of the Malpighian tubules.
J. Insect Physiol. 40, 1025-1036

Van Kerkhove E., Pirotte P., Petzel D.H., Stanley-Samuelson D.W. (1995)
Eicosanoid biosynthesis inhibitors modulate basal fluid secretion rates in the Malpighian tubules of the ant, Formica polyctena
J. Insect Physiol.,41, 435-441

Dijkstra S., Leyssens A., Van Kerkhove E., Zeiske W., Steels P. (1995)
A cellular pathway for Cl- during fluid secretion in the ant Malpighian tubules? Evidence from ion-sensitive microelectrode studies
J. Insect Physiol., 41, 695-703

Andersen H.K., Urbach V., Van Kerkhove E., Prosser E., Harvey B.J. (1995)
Maxi K channels in the basolateral membrane of the exocrine frog skin gland regulated by intracellular calcium and pH.
Pflügers Arch., 431, 52-65

Urbach V., Van Kerkhove E., Maguire D., Harvey B. (1996)
Cross-talk between ATP-regulated K+ channels and Na+ transport via cellular metabolism in frog skin principal cells.
J. Physiol., 491, 99-109

Urbach V., Van Kerkhove E., Maguire D., Harvey B. (1996)
Rapid activation of KATP channels by aldosterone in principal cells of frog skin.
J. Physiol., 491, 111-120

Escriche B., De Decker N., Van Rie J., Jansens S., Van Kerkhove E. (1998)
Changes in permeability of brush border membrane vesicles from Spodoptera littoralis midgut induced by insecticidal crystal proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis.
Appl. Environ. Microbiol., 64, 1563-1565

Laenen B., Verhaert P., Schoofs L., Steels P., Van Kerkhove E. (1999)
Partial identification of a peptide that stimulates the primary urine production of single isolated Malpighian tubules of the forest ant, Formica polyctena.
J. Insect Physiol., 45, 743-753

Petzel D.H., Pirotte P.T., Van Kerkhove E. (1999)
Intracellular and luminal pH measurements of Malpighian tubules of the mosquito Aedes aegypti: the effects of cAMP.
J. Insect Physiol., 45, 973-982

Laenen B., De Decker N., Steels P., Van Kerkhove E., Nicolson S. (2001)
An antidiuretic factor in the forest ant: purification and physiological effects on the Malpighian tubules.
J. Insect Physiol., 47, 185-193

Publications in proceedings or books.

De Decker N., Weltens R., Hayes T.K., Steels P. & Van Kerkhove (1993) Isolation of diuretic factors from head extracts of Formica polyctena. in Molecular Comparative Physiology: Vol. 12. Structure and Function of Primary Messengers in Invertebrates: Insect Diuretic and Antidiuretic Peptides. Ed. K.W. Beyenbach, Karger, Basel, pp.100-114.

Guest Editor

Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology, volume 98, No. 2, January 1994
Special Issue: Calcium Signalling


Membership

APS (American Physiological Society)
SEB (Society for Experimental Biology, UK)
Physiological Society (UK)
Belgische Vereniging voor Fundamentele en Klinische Fysiologie en Farmacologie
BCLAS (Belgian Council for Laboratory Animal Science )
ESCPB (European Society for Comparative Physiology and Biochemistry
Koninklijke Belgische Vereniging voor Dierkunde (Royal Belgian Society for Zoology)
Universitaire Stichting (Fondation Universitaire)

Academic Distinctions, Research Fellowships, Research and Exchange Grants

March-April 1988: Grant from the British Council and NFWO for a 5 week stay at The University Laboratory for Physiology, Oxford, U.K.

September 1989-August 1990 Grant from CEA (Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique) for a one year stay at the Laboratoire Jean Maetz (in collaboration with Dr. B. Harvey), Villefranche-sur-Mer, France.

1989-1991 reserach grant from IWONL (Instituut voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek in de Nijverheid en de Landbouw) Postdoc bursary and running budget (Dr. R. Weltens) 

1992 ARC grant (British Council-NFWO) with Dr. B.H. Knowles (Dept. Zoology, University of Cambridge, UK) 

1989-1993 EC grant in Science program (promotor Prof. P. Steels LUC) with Universities of Pamplona (Spain), Freiburg (Germany), München (Germany).

1992-1994 NATO Collaborative Research Grant: in collaboration with Dr. D. Petzel (Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska, USA)
Prolongation 1994-1996.

1993-1997 Research grant from FKFO (Fonds voor Klinisch en Farmacologisch Onderzoek) with Prof. De Loof (coordinator, KULeuven) in collaboration with Prof. P. Steels (LUC): running budget

1994 Cultural Exchange Program Ireland-Vlaamse Gemeenschap: one week visit of the Physiology Laboratory of the University College Cork, Ireland

1994 Research grant from NFWO (Nationaal Fonds voor Wetenschappelijk onderzoek = National Foundation for Scientific Research): equipment

1994-1997 Research grant from LUC. 'Geassocieerde Onderzoeks Actie' (GOA) in collabration with Prof. Steels and Dr. Ameloot: PhD bursary, running budget, equipment

1995-1997 Research grant from IWT (Vlaams Instituut voor de bevordering van het Wetenschappelijk-technologisch onderzoek in de Industrie) Postdoc bursary and running budget (Dr. N. De Decker)

1995-1997 Research grant from EC (Human Capital and Mobility) postdoc bursary and running budget for Dr. B. Escriche, Valencia, Spain

1996-1999 Bilateral cooperation with South Africa (Coordinator: Prof. J. Tytgat, KULeuven). "Purification and characterization of natural toxins from scorpions living in southern Africa targeting ion channels in humans and insects."

1997 Research grant from FWO (Fonds voor Wetenschappelijk onderzoek - Vlaanderen) "Paralysins: newly discovered endogenous toxins in holometabolous insects". Coordinator L. Schoofs, KULeuven; Copromotor E. Van Kerkhove, LUC. Running costs

1997 ARC grant (British Council-FWO) with Dr. G. Coast (Birkbeck College, London, UK). "Purification and physiological effects of CRF-related peptides from head extracts of the forest ant (Formica polyctena)."

1997-2000 Bilateral cooperation with Québec, Canada (Promotor E. Van Kerkhove, Copromotor Prof. L. Schoofs, KULeuven). "Structure-function analysis of Bacillus thuringiensis insecticidal crystal proteins: a study of native and engineered chimeric proteins."

1998-2001 Bilateral cooperation with South Africa (Promotor E. Van Kerkhove, Copromotor Prof. L. Schoofs, KULeuven). "Diuretic and antidiuretic peptides in insects: from purification to mode of action."

1999-2003 BOF project (Bijzonder Onderzoeksfonds): " Metal pathways in soil invertebrates. Handling of cadmium by a springtail, Orchesella cincta." PhD bursary, running costs and equipment. 

2001-2003 Bilateral cooperation with China (Promotor E. Van Kerkhove, copromotor, Prof. Jan Tytgat, KULeuven). "New insights into insect-pest control owing to the family of short-chain insectotoxin-like peptides from scorpion venom."

2001-2003 Bilateral cooperation with South Africa (Promotor Prof. Jan Tytgat, KULeuven, copromotor E. Van Kerkhove). "Ion channel specific modifiers harnessed to combat pain."