Phone
608-890-2640Office Location
1605 Linden Drive,
Room A203B
Madison, WI, 53706
Education
Education B.S., Biotechnology, Noordelijke Hogeschool Leeuwarden, The Netherlands (1999)
M.S., Biology, Leiden University, The Netherlands (2002)
Ph.D., Microbiology, University College Cork, Ireland (2007)
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- Dammann AN, Chamby AB, Catomeris AJ, Davidson KM, Tettelin H, van Pijkeren JP, Gopalakrishna KP, Keith MF, Elder JL, Ratner AJ, Hooven TA 2021. Genome-Wide fitness analysis of group B Streptococcus in human amniotic fluid reveals a transcription factor that controls multiple virulence traits. PLoS pathogens 17((3)):e1009116
- Zhang Z, Wang K, Oh JH, Zhang S, van Pijkeren JP, Cheng CC, Ren D, Wei H, Gänzle MG, Walter J 2021. A Phylogenetic View on the Role of Glycerol for Growth Enhancement and Reuterin Formation in . Frontiers in microbiology 11:601422 PMC7779471
- Tocmo R, Le B, Heun A, van Pijkeren JP, Parkin K, Johnson JJ 2020. Prenylated xanthones from mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana) activate the AhR and Nrf2 pathways and protect intestinal barrier integrity in HT-29 cells. Free radical biology & medicine 163:102-115
- Oh JH, Schueler KL, Stapleton DS, Alexander LM, Yen CE, Keller MP, Attie AD, van Pijkeren JP 2020. Secretion of Recombinant Interleukin-22 by Engineered Lactobacillus reuteri Reduces Fatty Liver Disease in a Mouse Model of Diet-Induced Obesity. mSphere 5((3)): PMC7316485
- Cheng CC, Duar RM, Lin X, Perez-Munoz ME, Tollenaar S, Oh JH, van Pijkeren JP, Li F, van Sinderen D, Gänzle MG, Walter J 2020. Ecological Importance of Cross-Feeding of the Intermediate Metabolite 1,2-Propanediol between Bacterial Gut Symbionts. Applied and environmental microbiology 86((11)): PMC7237793
- Blenner M, van Pijkeren JP 2020. Editorial overview: Food biotechnology. Current opinion in biotechnology 61:vi-viii
- Zhang S, Özçam M, van Pijkeren JP 2020. Draft Genome Sequences of 12 Lactobacillus reuteri Strains of Rodent Origin. Microbiology resource announcements 9((7)): PMC7019054
- de Maat V, Stege PB, Dedden M, Hamer M, van Pijkeren JP, Willems RJL, van Schaik W 2020. CRISPR-Cas9-mediated genome editing in vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium. FEMS microbiology letters 366((22)):
- Zhang X, Fisher R, Hou W, Shields D, Epperly MW, Wang H, Wei L, Leibowitz BJ, Yu J, Alexander LM, VAN Pijkeren JP, Watkins S, Wipf P, Greenberger JS 2019. Second-generation Probiotics Producing IL-22 Increase Survival of Mice After Total Body Irradiation. In vivo (Athens, Greece) 34((1)):39-50 PMC6984118
- Gaur G, Oh JH, Filannino P, Gobbetti M, van Pijkeren JP, Gänzle MG 2019. Genetic Determinants of Hydroxycinnamic Acid Metabolism in Heterofermentative Lactobacilli. Applied and environmental microbiology 86((5)): PMC7028971
We work at the interface of industry and medicine. While we have completed projects with various lactic acid bacteria, most of our research focuses on Limosilactobacillus reuteri, until recently known as Lactobacillus reuteri. L. reuteri is an important gut symbiont, and select strains have demonstrated health-promoting, i.e., probiotic, properties. The ultimate goal of our research program is to understand probiotic mechanisms towards the development of next-generation probiotics.
For many years, we have invested in developing genetic tools for use in L. reuteri and other lactic acid bacteria. As a consequence, our laboratory is at the forefront of lactic acid bacteria genome editing. These genome editing tools place us in the exciting position to pursue research in the following areas:
(1) to unravel the molecular underpinnings by which probiotic bacteria interact with the vertebrate host;
(2) to unravel the tripartite interplay between diet, a probiotic, and its bacteriophages;
(3) to develop probiotic bacteria as therapeutic delivery vehicles.
We’re grateful for our current and past funding, which, combined with great collaborators, made it possible to build a dynamic team of staff and students to drive our research.
If you are interested in learning more about our work, please don’t hesitate to contact us.