Caroline EMK Dricot
Caroline Dricot is a third year PhD candidate at the Lab of Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, University of Antwerp (Belgium). Soon after graduating her Master in Bioscience engineering, she obtained a FWO-SB fellowship to study the role of B-vitamin production by Lactobacillaceae sourced form other environments than the gut, with the guidance of Prof. Sarah Lebeer and Prof. Irina Spacova. She currently focuses on the role of riboflavin (vitamin B2) producing lactobacill, isolated form the Isala project, in vaginal health. More specifically, within her PhD, she investigates whether Limosilactobacillus-derived riboflavin supports the dominance of health-associated microbiota members, including L. crispatus, and whether it can reinforce the vaginal epithelial barrier function through MAIT-cell signaling. In this regard, Caroline has learned many different techniques from collaborating research groups in and outside of University settings, including a research stay at the Zimmermann group (Metabolic microbiome-host interactions.), European Molecular Biology Laboratory (Heidelberg).
Abstracts this author is presenting: