Peter van Baarlen

Peter van Baarlen is a Research Associate at Wageningen University & Research, affiliated with VLAG Graduate School and WIAS Institute, where he leads the Host-Microbe Interactomics research group. With over 100 research outputs and 36 datasets, he has established himself as a significant contributor to microbiology and host-pathogen interaction research.

His research spans several interconnected areas focused primarily on Streptococcus suis pathogenesis and host-microbe interactions. Dr. van Baarlen investigates how bacterial pathogens interact with host biological barriers, particularly the blood-brain barrier and blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier, using advanced models including choroid plexus organoids. His work on the pig tonsil microbiome has revealed novel antimicrobial compounds and insights into microbial ecology. He also develops cutting-edge genetic tools like CRISPRi systems and transposon-insertion sequencing approaches for studying bacterial pathogens.

Analysis of his recent publications shows a strong focus on molecular mechanisms of bacterial translocation, microbiome analysis for antimicrobial discovery, and development of genetic tools for pathogen research. His work consistently bridges fundamental microbiology with practical applications in animal and human health.

Dr. van Baarlen actively supervises PhD students as a Co-promotor, currently guiding four PhD candidates across projects focused on antimicrobial target identification, S. suis infection control, CRISPRi implementation, and TCS drug target analysis. His research is supported by multiple active projects addressing critical challenges in bacterial pathogenesis and antimicrobial development.

The Host-Microbe Interactomics group employs a diverse methodological toolkit including organoid models, CRISPR-based genome editing, transposon sequencing, and multi-omics approaches to investigate host-pathogen interactions at molecular, cellular, and systemic levels. Their work has significant implications for both veterinary medicine and human infectious disease treatment.