Gilles Van Wezel

Biography

I am a molecular biologist by training, with strong affinity for global regulatory processes that control the major processes in the bacterial cell. This led me via the control of protein synthesis (PhD thesis), via carbon catabolite repression (postdoc), to the two current main subjects: control of growth and cell division and control of antibiotic production in Streptomyces. The latter is then applied for novel approaches for drug discovery. To me the strict separation often seen between so-called ‘applied’ and ‘fundamental’ research is an illusion, and the two main research lines reflect that. A leading thread in the research is the resonance between these seemingly separated research fields. Rather than black box approaches, I seek to understand the biological principles, which is then applied in a rational design and evolution approach to obtain novel technologies and leads for industrial applications. I obtained a VICI grant from the Dutch Technology foundation STW (2009-2014) and was appointed full Professor in Molecular Biotechnology in Leiden in 2010. In 2012 my group moved from Chemistry to Biology, to unite the Microbiology and Applied Microbiology groups in a new Centre for Microbial Biotechnology.

Research Interest

Focus of my research is to provide novel insight into the complex regulatory pathways that control growth, development and antibiotic production of filamentous actinomycetes, and apply this knowledge for improved commercialization of these important industrial microorganisms. A major driving force behind my research is the strong resonance between fundamental and applied research, which in my view should be mutually supportive and cross-feeding. The main Research Lines of my group are: Discovery of novel antimicrobials Nutrient sensing and global control of antibiotic production Control of cell division and morphogenesis in streptomycetes Sugar metabolism and carbon catabolite control