Lex Roelofs

PhD student in Veterinary Bacteriology

I’m a PhD student at the Department of Animal Biosciences (HBIO) at SLU, where I focus on developing improved diagnostic tools, specifically ELISAs, for bacterial infections in livestock. My research centers on two bacterial infections that affect the feet of animals: Digital Dermatitis in cattle and Contagious Ovine Digital Dermatitis in sheep. These diseases pose a global challenge, contributing to serious animal welfare issues and economic losses for farmers.

During my studies, I developed a strong interest in bacterial infections and how these pathogens interact with both their hosts and each other. This led me to pursue an academic career in infection bacteriology. Before starting my PhD at SLU I worked at Uppsala University where I studied antibiotic interactions, exploring both synergy and antagonism, as well as bacterial toxin-antitoxin systems.

Orginally from the Netherlands, I completed a Bachelor’s degree in Health and Life Sciences at the Vrije Universiteit (VU) in Amsterdam. I then moved to Uppsala for a Master’s in Infection Biology at Uppsala University and have been in Sweden ever since.

Digital dermatitis in Swedish dairy herds assessed by ELISA targeting Treponema phagedenis in bulk tank milk. BMC Veterinary Research, May 2024. Roelofs L, Frössling J, Rosander A, Bjerketorp J, Arabi Belaghi R, Hansson I, Frosth S. doi: 10.1186/s12917-024-04021-y. 

Potential risks of treating bacterial infections with a combination of β-lactam and aminoglycoside antibiotics: A systematic quantification of antibiotic interactions in E. coli blood stream infection isolates. EBioMedicine, April 2022. Fatsis-Kavalopoulos N, Roelofs L, Andersson D.I.. doi: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2022.103979