WP2 – Knowledge acquirement

Work package leader: Miroslav Oborník

Objective of WP2 is to upgrade qualification of MODBIOLIN researchers by increasing their knowledge base, encouraging their critical discussions with peers, providing training in EU laboratories, supporting organization of workshops where they can establish networking, and delegating them to international meetings to expose their findings to criticism.

Main tasks

T 2.1: Invitations of top EU researchers to deliver lectures in BCAS

The lectures contribute to the knowledge base of MODBIOLIN researchers and to ERA networking. Six speakers were planned to be invited every project year for 2-3 days (incl. travel). Lectures are followed by discussions that also touch evaluation of related research carried on in BCAS. All researches are the target group of this activity.

T 2.2: Working stays of MODBIOLIN researchers in EU laboratories

Working stays of MODBIOLIN researchers in EU laboratories that promote their know-how of practical laboratory procedures and research management. A quota of 20 months per reporting period was set for this activity. Maximal length of a stay is limited to 3 months in order to satisfy more MODBIOLIN researchers.

T 2.3: Small workshops organized in conjunction with the partnering institutions

Organization of such workshops is efficient vehicle for twinning, ERA networking and for expert input into the research plans and performance of MODBIOLIN teams. Each workshop shall host 30-40 researchers for 3 days. Two workshops were planned for each reporting period, however finally it was possible to realize the total of 5 events. Following workshops and conferences were organized:

  • 2nd Chromera Meeting (22. – 25. 6. 2014, České Budějovice)

Meeting was organized as a follow-up of the 1st Chromera meeting (2011 in Australia). The meeting hosted outstanding speakers from the fields of cell biochemistry, photosynthesis, genomics and phylogenetics of Chromera velia and related organisms. The participants reported on novel findings in light harvesting and photosynthesis-related processes, heme and fatty acid biosynthesis, and cell morphology. Evolutionary relationships and underlying genetic and physiological consequences were discussed from various points of view. Also, the presence of Chromera-related accessions from aquatic environments around the world was pointed out. We can conclude much new has been revealed about this fascinating organism since the 1st Chromera Meeting in 2011 and there are still many future directions where current research aims to set off.

  • Ticks & and Tick-Transmitted Diseases 2015 (26. – 27. 3. 2015, Český Krumlov)

International workshop was organized in frame of the MODBIOLIN research area C/ Host - arthropod vector - parasite relationships, specifically within the topic “The tick Ixodes ricinus as a model for basic and applied biomedical research“. Apart from the interesting and important topic, workshop offered also a chance to establish new contacts and discuss co-operations. Six world-wide recognized scientists in the field of ticks and tick-borne diseases were invited to give the plenary talks: Prof. E. Fikrig (Yale University, USA), Dr. J.W. Hovius (Academic Medical Center, The Netherlands), Prof. B. Mans (Agricultural Research Council, South Africa), Prof. J. Anquita (CIC bioGUNE, Spain), Dr. A. Nijhoff (Institute for Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany), Prof. T. Schetters – ProtActivity, Cuijik, The Netherlands).  Also other highly recognized scientists from abroad joined the workshop as the regular participants: Additional contributions (talks and posters) were presented by the scientists and students from the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The quality of workshop was praised by all participants and the workshop attracted remarkable attention in public media.

  • Methods of Functional Genomics (20. - 22. 4. 2015 and 27. - 31. 7. 2015, České Budějovice)

The two-parts workshop was organized in frame of the MODBIOLIN research area B/ Circadian and seasonal rhythms, but it concerned advanced methods of molecular biology, with potential benefit for all MODBIOLIN teams. The first part of the workshop focused extensively on the genomics, bioinformatics and advanced cell-biology experiments. The first day was dedicated to the Microscopy techniques, High throughput microscopy experiments, RNAi interference and practical combination of these techniques during experimental design. Various world-recognized experts “backed up” theoretical lectures with practical sessions in computer rooms, during which participants analyzed data and had opportunity to discuss their own on-going or planned experiments. Second day was mostly focused on proteomics techniques and aspects of protein expression, again backed up by evening practical workshop during which actual proteomic data were analyzed. The third day theme was completely focused on massively parallel sequencing, including introduction to all available techniques with insight to just emerging approaches. Practical lecture on experiment planning followed up and specific seminar on variant calling and related problematics.
Second part of the workshop was entirely focused on practical aspects of microscopy techniques with special focus on confocal microscopy and was led by Dr. Alex Sossicks, a world recognized expert from Gourdon institute of Cambridge University, UK. Lectures combined with practical training and tutorials during which image analysis softwares (Image J, Imarris) were introduced. This workshop was a very efficient way to improve knowledge and molecular biology expertize of MODBIOLIN groups and other researchers of BCAS.

  • Molecular Methods in Insect Physiology (3. - 6. 6. 2015, České Budějovice)

The workshop was organized in frame of the MODBIOLIN research area A/ Regulatory gene cascades, specifically within the topic “Insect immune response, regulation of energy homeostasis and cell growth in D. melanogaster“. The workshop was focussed on covering the whole range of methods starting with memory testing, locomotion, and stress responses discussed by Z. Asztalos (Biological Research Center, Hungary), J.A. Veenstra (Uni. of Bordeaux, France). Highest attention was given to insect innate immunity, which was covered by I. Andó and G. Csordás (Biological Research Center, Hungary), L. Kučerová and U. Theopold (Stockholm Uni., Sweden), as well as B. Lemaitre (GHI-EPFL, Switzerland). Insect neurohormones were in focus of the contributions by I. Kiss (Biological Research Center, Hungary) and J.A.Veenstra (Uni. of Bordeaux, France). Y. Takasu (NIAS, Tsukuba, Japan) talked on mutagenesis and M. Uhlířová, Uni. of Cologne, Germany on Drosophila tumors. The relationship between stress and metabolism was treated in the lectures of R. Kühnlein (Max-Planck Institute für Biophysikaliche Chemie, Gemany) and P. Lehmann (Stockholm Uni., Sweden). The lectures were attended by 69 participants and were followed by informal discussions. Exchanges of opinions on possible joint EU projects represented important added value of the meeting.

  • International Conference on Viroids and Viroid-Like RNAs 2015  (25. – 28. 6. 2015, České Budějovice)

The conference was organized in frame of the MODBIOLIN research area D/ Plant genome analysis of viroid diseases, specifically in respect to “Exploitation of Arabidopsis thaliana model to improve health status and crop properties“. The workshop was focussed on viroid pathogenesis and diagnosis and was attended by 59 participants, primarily from EU countries. The invited key speakers included top experts on plant virology: F. Di Serio (Institute for Sustainable Plant protection, Italy), R. Flores (Spanish National Research Council, Spain), K. Kalantidis (TheInstitute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Greece), J. Perreault (Uni.of Sherbrooke, Canada), E.M. Tsagris (Uni. of Crete, Greece), and M. Wasseneger (RLP AgroScience, Germany). Informal discussions about the state-of-the-art of plant virology encouraged interests in collaboration within ERA.

T 2.4: Active participation of MODBIOLIN researchers at international conferences

Delegation of 5 MODBIOLIN researchers annually to international conferences is an important step for knowledge dissemination, enhancement of knowledge background of MODBIOLIN staff and promotion of collaboration and networking.

Progress

Lectures delivered in T 2.1

  • Yuri Moshkin, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam (29.10.2013)
    Lecture title: Chromatin Architecture and Transcription
  • Chris Bowler, CNRS Paris (29.11.2013)
    Lecture title: Global patterns of diatom abundance and diversity from the Tara Oceans expedition
  • Robert White, University  Cambridge (3.12.2013)
    Lecture title: Genome architecture and chromatin regulation in Drosophila
  • Hendrik Küpper, University Konstanz (21.1.2014)
    Lecture title: Analysis of metal metabolism in photosynthetic organisms with physicochemical and biophysical methods

Stays and conferences attended in frame of WP2 (T 2.2 and T 2.4)

 

project in frame of 7th programme for research and technological development

Use of model organisms to resolve crucial biological problems on the path to innovations

EUBiology centre

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