معرفی
Katy Poncin is a Researcher at the Research Unit in Biology of Microorganisms within the Namur Research Institute for Life Sciences at the University of Namur. She specializes in molecular mechanisms of bacterial pathogenesis, with particular focus on Brucella species and their interactions with host organisms.
Her research interests include:
- Molecular mechanisms of bacterial stress response
- Host-pathogen interactions in intracellular infections
- DNA repair mechanisms in bacterial pathogens
- Regulation of bacterial metabolism and virulence
- Vaccine development against bacterial infections
Dr. Poncin's recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on Brucella pathogenesis, examining how these bacteria respond to alkylating stress, regulate essential enzymes through small RNAs, and interact with host immune systems. Her work combines molecular microbiology, bacterial genetics, and in vivo infection models to identify potential targets for novel antimicrobial strategies and vaccine development. She has also contributed to diagnostic research, including validation of RT-LAMP for SARS-CoV-2 detection.
Her scientific contributions include:
- Principal Investigator for SAPRISTi project (2023-2026) investigating resistance mechanisms against polymyxin and cationic peptides
- Previous project on alkylating stress in Brucella abortus (2017-2018)
- Multiple high-impact publications in journals including Nature Communications, PLOS Pathogens, and Molecular Microbiology
Dr. Poncin actively collaborates with researchers across institutions, as evidenced by her visiting researcher appointments at Université Catholique de Louvain and Université de Liège. She regularly participates in scientific conferences, including the Microbial Cell Biology Meeting and Women and Girls in Science events, demonstrating her commitment to both research excellence and scientific community engagement.
