Institute of Animal Biochemistry and Genetics
International projects
| EUWelNet - Coordinated European Welfare Network |
| Koordinovaná európska sieť pre welfare zvierat |
| Program: |
Multilaterálne - iné |
| Project leader: |
RNDr. Košťál Ľubor CSc. |
| Duration: |
31.12.2012 - 31.12.2013 |
| AWARE - Animal WelfAre Research in enlarged Europe |
| Výskum welfaru zvierat v rozšírenej Európe |
| Program: |
7RP |
| Project leader: |
RNDr. Košťál Ľubor CSc. |
| Annotation: | The goal of AWARE is to promote integration and increase the impact of European research on farm animal welfare (FAW). It will do so through the development of Europe-wide networks of scientists, lecturers and students, and by establishing a network of stakeholders active in FAW knowledge transfer and implementation.
AWARE actions will be organised in 3 mutually supportive Work Packages (WPs). WP A “Research” will enhance the integration of FAW research by fostering collaboration based on mutual recognition and by enhancing networking and proposal writing skills in motivated researchers throughout the enlarged Europe. WP B “Education” will promote cross-fertilisation in FAW university education, thus enhancing opportunities for young scientists in new and candidate countries to start research in FAW. WP C “Awareness and Implementation” focuses on enhancing public awareness, promoting implementation of EU policies, and facilitating uptake of FAW research. All 3 Work Packages proceed in 4 steps: 1. Mapping, 2. Establishing networks, 3. Improving skills and 4. Developing strategies for ongoing integration. Three horizontal activities support the WP’s: a Mobility
Desk facilitates mobility of researchers and students; the Communication module supports internal and external communication; and Management takes care of project management and effective communication with the
Commission.
AWARE will increase the European research capacity in FAW activities, through integrating the underutilized human and knowledge potential in the new and candidate countries. The project will result in faster and more comprehensive FAW knowledge transfer across Europe. It will also build for the future by drawing young scientists into FAW research and providing a base for harmonized implementation of FAW legislation in the enlarged EU. |
| Project web page: | www.aware-welfare.eu |
| Duration: |
1.3.2011 - 28.2.2014 |
National projects
| EpiNeuWel - Epigenetic, physiological and neurobehavioural aspects of poultry welfare |
| Epigenetické, fyziologické a neurobehaviorálne aspekty welfaru hydiny |
| Program: |
APVV |
| Project leader: |
RNDr. Košťál Ľubor CSc. |
| Duration: |
1.5.2011 - 30.4.2014 |
| YEASTLIPID - Mitochondrial lipid homeostasis: the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a model organism |
| Homeostáza mitochondriálnych lipidov: kvasinka Saccharomyces cerevisiae ako modelový organizmus |
| Program: |
APVV |
| Project leader: |
RNDr. Griač Peter CSc. |
| Annotation: | Major goal is to study mechanisms regulating optimal membrane lipid composition of eukaryotic cells. Project is focused on the elucidation of the regulatory role of degradation processes in the cardiolipin biosynthetic pathway. Specific items: 1. study of PG degradation, 2. determination of intracellular localization of Pgc1p, 3. study of the physiological role of Pgc1p degradation pathway, 4. possibilities to functionally replace PG for CL, 5. structure-function studies of Pgc1p. |
| Duration: |
1.9.2009 - 30.4.2015 |
| Neutral lipid homeostasis in yeast: from cell biology to biotechnology |
| Homeostáza neutrálnych lipidov u kvasiniek: od bunkovej biológie k biotechnológii |
| Program: |
VEGA |
| Project leader: |
RNDr. Hapala Ivan CSc. |
| Duration: |
1.1.2011 - 31.12.2014 |
| lipotox - Lipotoxicity in yeast: mechanisms of protection against accumulated fatty acids and squalene. |
| Lipotoxicita u kvasiniek: mechanizmy ochrany pri akumulácii mastných kyselín a skvalénu. |
| Program: |
APVV |
| Project leader: |
Mgr. Holič Roman PhD. |
| Annotation: | The basic research project is aimed at the mechanisms of cellular protection from lipotoxic effect of two lipophilic substances varied in structure and origin – squalene and ricinoleic acid. Squalene is an isoprenoid produced in yeast as a precursor in the ergosterol biosynthetic pathway. Ricinoleic acid is an unsaturated hydroxy fatty acid that will be produced in yeast after heterologous expression of a foreign gene encoding the enzyme hydroxylase. Using a broad spectrum of biochemical, genetic and genomic methods we will focus on two mechanisms of cellular protection from lipotoxic substances – increased storage capacity of yeast cell by stimulation of lipid particle biogenesis and secretion as a novel mechanism of lipid detoxification. Obtained knowledge will help to explain mechanisms of squalene and ricinoleic acid lipotoxicity in yeast as well as the general mechanisms how eukaryotic cells (including human ones) protect themselves from the toxic effect of lipids. The results may be also applied for increase of the production of these two industrially important lipids in yeast. |
| Duration: |
1.7.2012 - 31.12.2015 |
| MINAPTA - The mechanisms of interaction small molecules with DNA aptamers |
| Mechanizmy interakcie malých molekúl s DNA aptamérmi |
| Program: |
APVV |
| Project leader: |
Ing. Šnejdárková Maja CSc. |
| Duration: |
1.5.2011 - 31.10.2014 |
| MITOCHROM - Molecular architecture, dynamics and evolution of chromosomes in yeast mitochondria |
| Molekulárna architektúra, dynamika a evolúcia chromozómov v mitochondriách kvasiniek |
| Program: |
APVV |
| Project leader: |
RNDr. Griač Peter CSc. |
| Annotation: | Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) molecules and specific proteins form complexes termed nucleoids. These nucleo-protein structures are considered as cytological units of mitochondrial inheritance. Nucleoid proteins participate in the processes of mtDNA replication, expression and repair as well as segregation of the mitochondrial genome during division of eukaryotic cell. The nucleoids associate with mitochondrial inner membrane and several nucleoid proteins are subunits of mitochondrial enzymatic complexes, which illustrates a tight connection of mitochondrial inheritance with membrane functions and organelle metabolism. To understand the molecular principles controlling mitochondrial genome integrity and segregation it is essential to uncover functions of nucleoid proteins and mechanisms of packaging of individual mtDNA molecules into higher order structures, including their molecular architecture. This project proposal is aimed at investigation of mitochondrial genome dynamics, functions of protein components of mitochondrial nucleoids and the molecular architecture of these structures in yeast species containing topologically different forms of mtDNA molecules. |
| Duration: |
1.5.2011 - 31.10.2014 |
| Nucleo-mitochondrial interactions as the driving force for speciation |
| Nukleo-mitochondriálne interakcie ako hybná sila speciácie |
| Program: |
VEGA |
| Project leader: |
RNDr. Hapala Ivan CSc. |
| Annotation: | Yeasts provide a unique opportunity to understand the general principles of evolutionary mechanisms by phylogenomics. However, evolution and the divergence of the species can be studied experimentally through the interspecific hybrids of Saccharomyces cerevisiae with related species via hybrid speciation. The impact of “untuned” nucleo-mitochondrial interactions has been increasingly emphasized in this process, especially if the progeny receives the mitochondrial genome from one species and nuclear genome from another one. The aim of the project is to study the primary sources of interspecific nucleo-mitochondrial (in)compatibility in yeasts
repopulated with the mitochondria from related species and the molecular mechanisms leading to the changes in species-specific gene order in mitochondrial DNA by means of interspecific hybrids. |
| Duration: |
1.1.2012 - 31.12.2014 |
| Natural brain reward system, its dopaminergic mechanisms and poultry welfare |
| Prirodzený systém odmeňovania v mozgu, jeho dopamínergické mechanizmy a welfare hydiny |
| Program: |
VEGA |
| Project leader: |
RNDr. Košťál Ľubor CSc. |
| Annotation: | Animal welfare science solves recently not only the practical problems of the animal „quality of life“, but it also brings new theories. Mechanisms behind several of these concepts have the same denominator – natural brain reward system and mesolimbic dopaminergic system as a part of it. These concepts are for example a concept of welfare based on reward evaluating mechanisms in the brain, using anticipatory behaviour as an indicator for the state of reward systems (SPRUIJT et al., 2001), a concept of affective state induced cognitive bias (HARDING et al., 2004), or a concept of cognitive enrichment (MANTEUFFEL et al., 2009). All these concepts are based on mammalian models and avian or poultry data related to these concepts are scarce. The aim of the project is to contribute to the development of the welfare concepts based on natural brain reward system and to the understanding of their dopaminergic mechanisms in poultry. |
| Duration: |
1.1.2011 - 31.12.2013 |
| Fatty acid secretion in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae |
| Sekrécia mastných kyselín u kvasiniek Saccharomyces cerevisiae |
| Program: |
VEGA |
| Project leader: |
Mgr. Holič Roman PhD. |
| Annotation: | The proposed project is oriented towards the study of mechanisms of fatty acids secretion and uptake in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Using the whole genome analyses genes participating in the control mechanisms of fatty acids secretion will be identified. The mechanisms of fatty acids secretion in yeast is largely unknown. Available data indicate that mechanism of fatty acids secretion is tightly bound to the uptake of external fatty acids. It is therefore expected that in the course of the whole genome analyses of fatty acids excretion, also genes regulating uptake of external fatty acids will be identified. Obtained results may help to better understand the mechanisms of cellular defence mechanisms against lipotoxicity. The results will be applicable also in biotechnology in the heterologous production of important fatty acids.
|
| Duration: |
1.1.2012 - 31.12.2015 |
| Molecular mechanisms mediating the effect of ionophores on membrane compartments of eukaryotic cells |
| Štúdium molekulárnych mechanizmov sprostredkujúcich účinky ionofórov na membránové kompartmenty eukaryotickej bunky |
| Program: |
VEGA |
| Project leader: |
RNDr. Griač Peter CSc. |
| Annotation: | Cellular compartments represent a dynamic system that constantly evaluates the changes in the environment. The long-term goal of our laboratory is a detailed description of mechanisms contributing to regulation and execution of cellular responses to fluctuations in ion homeostasis induced by ionophores. Based upon the results obtained within the frame of the previous project financed by VEGA, we plan (i) to perform functional analysis of those genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, whose absence leads to changes in sensitivity of the mutant cells to
ionohores, (ii) to analyze the effects of ionophores on the yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, and (iii) to analyze the effects of ionophores on stability of mitochondrial nucleoids. The results of the proposed project will help us to get closer to our ultimate goal, which is better understanding of molecular principles enabling coordinated cellular
responses to perturbed ion homeostasis. |
| Duration: |
1.1.2012 - 31.12.2015 |
| The study of tissue distribution, biochemical properties and functions of CD molecules in the reproductive process of cattle. |
| Štúdium tkanivovej distribúcie, biochemických vlastností a funkcie CD molekúl v reprodukčnom procese hovädzieho dobytka. |
| Program: |
VEGA |
| Project leader: |
RNDr. Antalíková Jana PhD. |
| Annotation: | A part of the fertilization process in mammals is a cell adhesion of gametes, in which some of the CD molecules play a role. Most of them are glycoproteins with various functions in the immune system; some of CD molecules are present on gametes. The aim the proposed project is to study the expression and the localization of CD molecules on cattle gametes and tissues, with focusing on the analysis of CD9 molecule, forming complexes with other molecules within the ”tetraspanin web”, identification of its partner molecules and their participation in the process of fertilization. Using monoclonal antibodies against the bull sperm, the cytometric, histochemical and biochemical analysis will be performed. A detailed biochemical and functional analysis of the CD46 and CD52 in the gametes and embryos of the cattle using the mAbs IVA-520 and IVA-543 and the study of the changes in their expression and modification during the process of the sperm epidydimal maturation, capacitation and acrosome reaction will be made. |
| Duration: |
1.1.2012 - 31.12.2015 |
| Lipid transport and turnover: contribution to the understanding of yeast resistance to antifungals and stress |
| Transport a turnover lipidov: príspevok k poznaniu mechanizmov rezistencie kvasiniek na antifungálne látky a stres |
| Program: |
VEGA |
| Project leader: |
RNDr. Griač Peter CSc. |
| Duration: |
1.1.2010 - 31.12.2013 |
| Fertilita - Effect of body condition and some immunological factors (CD molecules) on fertilization process in cattle |
| Vplyv telesnej kondície a niektorých imunologických faktorov (CD molekúl) na fertilizačný proces u hovädzieho dobytka |
| Program: |
APVV |
| Project leader: |
Ing. Simon Michal DrSc. |
| Annotation: | The submitted projekt si based on the previous experiments of the team and follows-up the results of their previous project, which were oriented on the increase of the application of reproduction potential of farm animals using reproductive biotechnologies. The project is adequate to current needs of the practis for which the use of these approaches to reach specific breeding purposes will bring economic benefit. In the submitted proposal the mechanisms responsible for occurence of reproductive disorders in dairy cows with deteriorated body condition will be investigated. The research in frame the first of two stages will by mostly focused on the study of foliculogenesis with emphasis to solving the tasks of the influence of body conditions score on the developmental potential of oocyts, preovulatory folicles with definition the factors determining developmet of preimplantation embryos under in vitro conditions.
The study of sudden changes of body condition of dairy cows can help in reveling disorders of morfological-functional characterictics, developmental competence and capacity of oocytes following fertilization, what finally might have essential influence on ovarian functions and fertility of mamals. |
| Duration: |
1.5.2011 - 30.4.2014 |
| NanoTechPDT - Towards increased sensitivity of cancer detection and selectivity of cancer treatment: biophotonic nanotechnology applications |
| Využitie biofotonických nanotechnológií k štúdiu mechanizmov bunkovej smrti s cieľom zvýšenia citlivosti detekcie a selektivity liečby nádorov |
| Program: |
APVV |
| Project leader: |
RNDr. Bilčík Boris PhD. |
| Duration: |
1.7.2012 - 31.12.2015 |
Projects total: 16
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