Neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson’s disease (PD), are increasing in prevalence due to the aging population. Despite extensive study, these diseases are still not fully understood and the lack of personalised treatment options that can target the cause of the diseases, rather than the symptoms,…

The progressive loss and degeneration of dopaminergic neurons is a major pathological hallmark of Parkinson's disease (PD). The onset and progression of PD can be triggered by multiple risk factors, for instance, genetic mutation, environmental exposure, and aging.

Parkinson's disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disease in the world. One of its symptoms is the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta.

The thesis describes the use of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, in continuous wave and pulse modes, to address the interaction of α-Synuclein (αS) with membranes and the aggregation of αS.

This thesis focuses on amyloid proteins, a class of proteins that convert into amyloid fibrils.

The aim is to develop methods to assess environmental and occupational exposure to (individual) pesticides, to be applied in epidemiological studies investigating pesticide exposure and human health. Furthermore, we aim to investigate the potential association between exposure to pesticides and Parkinson’s…

Met elektronspins hebben natuurkundigen het bindingsproces onderzocht van het eiwit α-synucleïne, dat wordt geassocieerd met de ziekte van Parkinson. Wat blijkt is dat het eiwit op een verrassend efficiënte manier bindt aan een hersenmembraan. Met deze in Leiden ontwikkelde methode hebben de onderzoekers…

Lysosomal storage disorders (LSDs) are a group of orphan diseases characterized by lysosomal dysfunction or impaired lysosomal catabolism and affect collectively about 1 in 5000 live births.

Soil is a home for an unbelievable diversity and abundance of microbial life that is essential for supporting life on our planet.

This thesis describes biochemical investigations of glucocerebrosidase (GBA), the lysosomal β- glucosidase that is deficient in Gaucher disease (GD).

Machine Learning is becoming a more and more substantial technology for industry.

Promotor: J. van der Greef; Co-promotor: E. van Wijk, M. Wang

Promotor: Prof.dr. H.J.M de Groot, Co-Promotor: A. Alia

Promotor: H.S. Overkleeft, Co-promotor: M. van der Stelt

The ideas underlying this thesis are that lipidomics may improve the diagnosis of liver metabolic diseases, and can provide further insights into the underlying pathophysiology of these diseases.

Promotor: J. Kuiper

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Cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death worldwide. The most important risk factor for developing this disease is high cholesterol levels in the blood.

Psycholoog Bernadet Klaassens heeft een groot fMRI-onderzoek opgezet naar het effect van medicijnen op hersennetwerken bij veroudering en de ziekte van Alzheimer. Het leverde een unieke dataset op en zicht op een nieuwe methode om medicijnen te ontwikkelen voor patiënten met Alzheimer.

The Minor Computational Approaches to Disease, Signaling and Drug Targets (CADSDT) is focused on fundamental scientific research required for discovery of new drug targets and development of new drugs.

Promotor: Prof.dr. J. Kuiper

Promotor: J. van der Greef, T. Hankemeier; Co-promotor: H.A. van Wietmarschen

In this thesis, we describe the potential of cell mechanical phenotyping for immune cell characterization, diagnosis, drug testing, as well as treatment of disease.

In this thesis, two potential therapeutic targets for diabetic nephropathy were dentified and investigated. First, we show that glomerular clusterin is upregulated in diabetic nephropathy and demonstrated that recombinant clusterin protein can protect the podocytes against oxidative stress in vitro.…

De Leidse biofysica Martina Huber was de eerste die ontdekte dat een eiwit dat mede verantwoordelijk is voor de ziekte van Parkinson de vorm van een verstrengeld hoefijzer kan hebben. Een bijzondere ontdekking want het eiwit is nagenoeg onzichtbaar.

The emergence of complex diseases resulting from abnormal cell-cell signaling and the spread of infectious diseases caused by pathogens are significant threats to humanity. Unraveling the dynamic mechanisms underlying cell-cell signaling and infectious disease spreading is crucial for effective disease…

The skin is our natural barrier and lipids are a key part of this barrier. In the outer skin layer, the stratum corneum (SC), lipids form a densely organized structure dependent on the composition of these lipids.

Leidse chemisch biologen, onder leiding van dr. Mario van der Stelt, hebben stoffen ontdekt die ontstekingsprocessen in de hersenen kunnen verminderen. Daarmee is een eerste stap gezet in de ontwikkeling van potentiële geneesmiddelen voor de behandeling van hersenziekten zoals de ziekten van Alzheimer…

Promotor: Prof.dr. H.P. Spaink, Co-promotor: Prof.dr. A.H. Meijer

The research described in this thesis combines the latest insights in lysosomal function with lysosome centred cell signalling.

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Promotores: H.A. Udo De Haes, P.M. Brakefield

The different kinds of cultural perspectives on health and disease of the participants are related to their knowledge, beliefs, values and practices manifested in various forms of lifestyle in Indonesia. The cultural diversity of the population is also related to differences in health behaviour.

Atherosclerosis is a progressive disease resulting in the formation of an arterial plaque. Despite lipid lowering, recurrent cardiovascular events remain a risk. While atherosclerosis is primarily lipid-driven, the immune system plays a critical role in the pathophysiology.

According to the amyloid cascade hypothesis, accumulation of beta-amyloid (Aβ) peptides initiates the pathological cascade in Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Within this thesis the central stage is taken by the discovery and investigation of transglycosylation of sterols. First, investigation focuses on the development of a method to accurately detect and quantify glucosylated metabolites in biological materials.

Ferritin is a spherical metalloprotein, capable of storing and releasing iron in a controllable way. It is composed of a protein shell of about 12 nm and within its cavity, iron is stored in a mineral form.

Cardiovascular syndromes are the major cause of death in Western societies.

Current therapies for patients with atherosclerosis are targeted primarily on reducing blood cholesterol, but this fails to prevent a large number of cardiovascular events.95 In order to identify new therapeutic strategies for treating atherosclerosis, it is important to study the interactions between…

Promotor: Prof.dr. J. Kuiper

Schistosomiasis is an acute and chronic disease caused by blood dwelling parasitic trematodes of the genus Schistosoma, and it is classified as the second most socioeconomically devastating parasitic disease, second only to malaria.

Cardiovascular diseases are among the most frequent causes of death in the world. The main underlying pathology of cardiovascular diseases is the development of atherosclerosis in the medium and large-sized arteries.

Promotor: Prof.dr. J.P. Abrahams

The studies described in this thesis deal with glycosidases, in particular alpha-galactosidases.

Promotores: Prof.dr. J. Kuiper, Prof.dr. P.H.A. Quax, Co-promotor: I. Bot