Amsterdam institute for Immunology and Infectious diseases

Until 21 September 2026, researchers from the Amsterdam institute for Immunology and Infectious Diseases (AI&I) can submit proposals for the AI&I Synergy Grant 2027 together with a researcher from AGEM, ACS, APH, or AMS. Last year, AI&I and AGEM awarded one of these grants to the project led by Dr. Rens Zonneveld (AI&I) and Dr. Vanesa Muncan (AGEM) titled ‘Guardians of the gut’. 

Blastocystis is a genus of protists long regarded as parasites of the human gut. However, recent evidence suggests that they are commensals rather than parasites and that their presence is positively associated with gut health. 

Dr. Zonneveld explains: ‘We take these associations a step further and hypothesize that Blastocystis may even actively contribute to a healthy gut. We address this hypothesis using cultivated Blastocystis in a 2D organoid intestinal epithelial model.’ 

The team aims to unravel how Blastocystis spp. Interact with human intestinal epithelium in an epithelial organoid monolayer model. 

Early findings: subtype-dependent effects on epithelial integrity

After receiving the Synergy Grant, the team started building their model by exposing intestinal epithelium to supernatants from different cultivated Blastocystis subtypes. Dr. Zonneveld: ‘Our very first preliminary results imply that these supernatants may have different cytotoxic effects, depending on the subtype. This could mean Blastocystis may have a subtype-dependent effect on integrity of the intestinal epithelium through secretory pathways.’ The team is currently expanding their experimental set-up to confirm these observations. If confirmed, they will also test whether supernatants of different Blastocystis spp. can restore epithelial integrity after chemical or physical damage.

Shifting the focus in microbiome research

Protists in the human gut (the ‘protistome’) receive little to no attention in intestinal microbiome research, which has largely focused on bacteria. Dr. Muncan: 'If our hypothesis is confirmed, this will be the first step towards rebranding an intestinal parasite into an active protector of the human gut.’ Such findings could fundamentally change how we view protists within the human intestinal microbiome and open new avenues for microbiome research.

Synergy Grant in practice: combining unique expertise

The Synergy Grant has been highly valuable for both researchers. Dr. Zonneveld: ‘It brought us together, through which we both found new avenues to explore with our respective unique skill.’ Before the project Dr. Zonneveld’s expertise focused on cultivated Blastocystis, while Dr. Muncan had developed a well-described and validated 2D organoid epithelial monolayer. The synergy grant fused these two strengths into a feasible and innovative project.

Thinking outside the box: advice for future applicants

Dr. Muncan notes that the option to apply for a synergy grant encourages researchers to look beyond their own field and find collaborators across institutes. Before they started writing the application, the two researchers were not fully aware of each other’s work. 

During the Synergy Grant kick-off meeting in September 2025, Dr. Zonneveld pitched the availability of cultivated Blastocystis and the need for fundamental research into its role in the human gut. Shortly afterwards, the researchers were connected and merged their skills and ideas into the proposal. 

Even with overlapping laboratory experience, they did not immediately understand each other’s methodologies and had to adapt to each other’s terminology and practices. Their main advice for future applicants: start early and take your time. 

Dr. Muncan: ‘Driven by synergetic energy you think you have a great idea and that everything is possible. And then reality sets in and conceptual and methodological limitations appear. It took many discussions and at least a few iterations of the proposal to come to a final version in which we had addressed all limitations.’

A memorable moment was finding the project title. Dr. Zonneveld: ‘After we came up with the phrase ‘Guardians of the Gut’, writing the rest of the project proposal was a lot more fun. A strong title that is both informative and catchy is highly essential in many ways!’

Keep the synergy going

If you would like advice or are interested in collaborating, Dr. Zonneveld (r.zonneveld@amsterdamumc.nl) and Dr. Muncan (v.muncan@amsterdamumc.nl) encourage you to get in touch.

Dr. Muncan: ‘Our project clearly has thought us that we have methodologies that can be adapted towards new ideas and avenues of research. So feel free to approach us and keep the synergy going!’

Text: Esmée Vesseur, Rens Zonneveld and Vanesa Muncan

Image credit: Vanesa Muncan