Department of Biotechnology

Granting Departments:	Institute of Microbiology of the CAS, v.v.i. Department of Biotechnology
Study Programme/Specialization:	Biotechnology of Pharmaceuticals ( in English language )
Supervisor:	prof. Ing. Jan Masák, CSc.

Annotation

Actinomycetes, known for their production of bioactive metabolites such as antibiotics, anticancer agents, and immunosuppressants, were thought to be an exhausted resource due to the frequent rediscovery of known compounds. That this is not the case has been revealed through advanced sequencing techniques that have identified the potential of actinomycetes for new compounds at the genome level. The challenge is that many compound-producing biosynthetic pathways in actinomycetes are inactive under standard lab conditions. In this project, we will focus on our unique collection of actinomycetes from different parts of the world. Through genome sequencing of these strains, we have identified gene clusters encoding biosynthesis of metabolites with unusual structural motifs. Our goal is to employ modern methods to activate these pathways and characterize the produced compounds structurally and functionally. Optionally, we will focus on how the compounds are formed by studying key enzymes involved their biosynthesis. To accomplish this, we will employ a multidisciplinary approach that includes culturing bacteria, DNA editing, heterologous expression, bioinformatics, LC-MS with state-of-the-art instrumentation, and bioactivity testing against a panel of clinically relevant pathogens.

Granting Departments:	Department of Biotechnology
Study Programme/Specialization:	Biotechnology of Pharmaceuticals ( in English language )
Supervisor:	prof. Ing. Alena Čejková, CSc.

Annotation

The proven antimicrobial effects of metal nanoparticles as a result of their unique properties have ensured a rapid increase in commercial applications. Natural forms of nanoparticles are produced by many different biotic and abiotic mechanisms. Biotechnological approaches using microbial cells/lysates or plant tissues and extracts, among others, are currently of interest, especially given the fact that this approach allows modifications in the size and shape of the nanoparticles produced and provides opportunities for targeted surface modification (functionalization). An integral part of the work will be the characterization of the chemical and biochemical properties with emphasis on the biological activity of the prepared nanoparticles.

Granting Departments:	Department of Biotechnology
Study Programme/Specialization:	Biotechnology ( in English language )
Supervisor:	prof. Dr. Ing. Petra Patáková

Annotation

The essence of the work will be to collect different types of secondary metabolites, especially pigments, formed by different fungi of the genus Monascus, in the form of both complex extracts and pure substances and to test their effect on Gram-positive sporulating bacteria, especially the genera Clostridium and Bacillus. Bacteria of these species are common food contaminants and their complete eradication is difficult due to the formation of highly resistant spores. Both staining and antimicrobial effects have been demonstrated for Monascus pigments, but testing of the antimicrobial effect has been limited to vegetative cells. Inhibition of sporulation and suppression of spore germination will also be tested in this work. Advanced methods such as flow cytometry together with fluorescent cell labelling, RT-qPCR and transcriptomic analysis will be used.

Granting Departments:	Department of Biotechnology
Study Programme/Specialization:	Biotechnology of Pharmaceuticals ( in English language )
Supervisor:	prof. Ing. Jan Masák, CSc.

Annotation

Nanoparticles and other nanostructures often have high biological activity. In this case, the biological activity is the result of a set of characteristic properties of these structures, such as their shape and size and their chemical composition. Initially, the predominant study of the biological activities of nanoparticles of metals and their oxides is shifting towards composite nanoparticles consisting of, for example, various polymers and metals. The spatial arrangement of these composites is often crucial. The topic of this dissertation is to find suitable procedures, with emphasis on "green synthesis", for the preparation of nanocomposites based on natural polymers such as chitosan and lignin in combination with various metals. The aim will be to obtain nanostructures with high antimicrobial activity, which are particularly useful in medicine and related fields.

Institute of Chemical Process Fundamentals of the CAS, v.v.i.

Granting Departments:	Department of Biotechnology Institute of Chemical Process Fundamentals of the CAS, v.v.i.
Study Programme/Specialization:	Biotechnology ( in English language )
Supervisor:	Ing. Irena Brányiková, Ph.D.

Annotation

Phycocyanin (PC) is a blue-coloured protein pigment associated with the accessory light-harvesting complex in microalgae. It is a water-soluble, multimeric compound having fluorescent tetrapyrrole chromophores. Recently, PC has been reported to have various therapeutic properties such as antioxidant, antidiabetic, antiaging, hepatoprotective, antimicrobial, anticancerous, immunoregulating, and antiinflammatory. Althought PC is already used in food technology and cosmetics, its potential is not yet fully exploited especially due to rapid degradation at acidic pH and relatively high price. The aim of this work will be to cultivate the cyanobacteria Limnospira sp., Aphanizomenon flos-aquae and red alga Galdieria sulphuraria (i), to determine the productivity of biomass and PC under different conditions in the autotrophic, heterotrophic and mixotrophic regime (ii), to optimize the production conditions on a laboratory scale (e.g. temperature, pH, source of nitrogen, carbon and energy) (iii), assess the chemical and thermal stability of PC (iv) and evaluate methods of PC extraction from the biomass including production costs estimation.

Institute of Microbiology of the CAS, v.v.i.

Granting Departments:	Department of Biotechnology Institute of Microbiology of the CAS, v.v.i.
Study Programme/Specialization:	Biotechnology ( in English language )
Supervisor:	prof. Ing. Jan Masák, CSc.

Annotation

Actinomycetes, known for their production of bioactive metabolites such as antibiotics, anticancer agents, and immunosuppressants, were thought to be an exhausted resource due to the frequent rediscovery of known compounds. That this is not the case has been revealed through advanced sequencing techniques that have identified the potential of actinomycetes for new compounds at the genome level. The challenge is that many compound-producing biosynthetic pathways in actinomycetes are inactive under standard lab conditions. In this project, we will focus on our unique collection of actinomycetes from different parts of the world. Through genome sequencing of these strains, we have identified gene clusters encoding biosynthesis of metabolites with unusual structural motifs. Our goal is to employ modern methods to activate these pathways and characterize the produced compounds structurally and functionally. Optionally, we will focus on how the compounds are formed by studying key enzymes involved their biosynthesis. To accomplish this, we will employ a multidisciplinary approach that includes culturing bacteria, DNA editing, heterologous expression, bioinformatics, LC-MS with state-of-the-art instrumentation, and bioactivity testing against a panel of clinically relevant pathogens.