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Programme Details
| Study Language
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Czech |
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Standard study length
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4 years |
| Form of study
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combined
,
full-time
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| Guarantor
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prof. Ing. Karel Melzoch, CSc.
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| Place of study
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Praha |
| Capacity
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15 students |
| Programme code (national)
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P0711D130019 |
| Programme Code (internal)
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D302
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| Number of Ph.D. topics
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7 |
Ph.D. topics for study year 2025/26
Degradation of bacterial signaling molecules by rational engineered Ntn-hydrolases as novel antibacterials
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Study place:
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Institute of Microbiology of the CAS
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| Guaranteeing Departments: |
Department of Biotechnology
Institute of Microbiology of the CAS
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Also available in study programmes:
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Biotechnology (
in English language
)
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| Supervisor: |
RNDr. Andrea Palyzová, Ph.D.
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| Expected Form of Study: |
Full-time |
| Expected Method of Funding: |
Scholarship |
Annotation
Growing antibiotic resistance will result globally in 10 million deaths annually by 2050. The targeted design of quorum-quenching (QQ) enzymes, negatively affecting the communication process in Gram-negative bacteria leading to biofilm formation, known as quorum sensing (QS) process, represents a clever strategy to effectively combat this threat. Construction and development of modified proteins from the Ntn-hydrolase group (e.g., ecPGA isolated from Escherichia coli) using genetic-molecular techniques (RF cloning, PCR-based methods, CRISPR/Cas technology) and biotechnological strategies (scale-up process, His tag purification) will lead to the develop of a unique QQ enzyme with properties for specific binding to a wider spectrum of HSL molecules (3-oxo-C12-HSL, C8-HSL, C6-HSL, C4-HSL). The designed modified enzymes will be used in in vitro interactions with selected HSL molecules, and their degradation activity will be monitored. Degradation efficiency will be tested in a biological model during biofilm development and maturation in significant HSL-dependent Gram-negative pathogens Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Aeromonas veronii. Biofilm morphology will be analyzed using electron microscopy, while the profile of signaling molecules synthesized in the bacterial population will be thoroughly examined using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. The project will explore and enhance the biotechnological potential of these QQ enzymes to act as an alternative and complement to conventional antibiotic therapies and agents for medical and industrial applications in combating biofilm formation.
Sameness evaluation – Development and Application of Methods for Demonstrating the Equivalence of Active Ingredients in Generic Drugs
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Study place:
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Department of Biotechnology, FFBT, VŠCHT Praha
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| Guaranteeing Departments: |
Department of Biotechnology
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| Supervisor: |
prof. Dr. Ing. Michaela Rumlová
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| Expected Form of Study: |
Full-time |
| Expected Method of Funding: |
Scholarship + salary |
Annotation
This dissertation focuses on the development and application of advanced analytical methods to establish proof of sameness of active ingredients, particularly peptides, proteins and nucleotides, in generic pharmaceuticals and complex mixtures. The aim of the research is to optimise characterisation techniques, including chemical, physical and biological analyses, using orthogonal approaches. Emphasis will be placed on compliance with FDA and EMA regulatory requirements for pharmaceutical equivalence and bioequivalence.
Evaluation of the effect of secondary metabolites of <i>Monascus</i> fungus on gram-positive spore-forming bacteria
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Study place:
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Department of Biotechnology, FFBT, VŠCHT Praha
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| Guaranteeing Departments: |
Department of Biotechnology
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| Supervisor: |
prof. Dr. Ing. Petra Patáková
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| Expected Form of Study: |
Full-time |
| Expected Method of Funding: |
Scholarship + salary |
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.
Interaction of starch and phenolic antioxidants in heat-treated cereal materials
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Study place:
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Department of Biotechnology, FFBT, VŠCHT Praha
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| Guaranteeing Departments: |
Department of Biotechnology
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| Supervisor: |
Ing. Lukáš Jelínek, Ph.D.
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| Expected Form of Study: |
Full-time |
| Expected Method of Funding: |
Scholarship + salary |
Annotation
The interaction of starch with phenolic antioxidants at high temperature has been known for a relatively long time, but it is only the new generation of analytical instruments that allows a comprehensive study of this complex phenomenon It is known that starch and polyphenols can interact at high temperature, caused by steaming or extrusion, to form a unique material with properties fundamentally different from those of conventional gelatinized starch. This can result in composites that are very easily degraded by amylolytic enzymes, as well as composites with a major proportion of resistant starch forms. This work will deal with the production and study of starch-polyphenol materials in terms of structure, physicochemical properties (viscosity, ability to pass into aqueous solutions) and biological properties (enzymatic degradability, fermentability, digestibility). In the future, the results could contribute significantly to the development of completely new, nutritionally and health valuable starch-based foods.
Comprehensive Characterization of Mason-Pfizer Monkey Virus Reverse Transcriptase: From Biochemical and Structural Analysis to the Molecular Mechanisms of Replication
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Study place:
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Department of Biotechnology, FFBT, VŠCHT Praha
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| Guaranteeing Departments: |
Department of Biotechnology
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| Supervisor: |
prof. Dr. Ing. Michaela Rumlová
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| Expected Form of Study: |
Full-time |
| Expected Method of Funding: |
Scholarship + salary |
Annotation
Reverse transcriptase (RT) is a key enzyme in the replication cycle of retroviruses, enabling the transcription of viral RNA into DNA. While the structure and function of HIV-1 RT, a representative of lentiviruses, is well characterized, only limited information is available on the RT of Mason-Pfizer monkey virus (M-PMV) — a betaretrovirus. Current data suggest that, unlike other betaretroviruses, M-PMV RT may form and function as a heterodimer, similar to HIV-1 RT. However, there is no enzymatic or structural evidence available yet to support this claim.
This dissertation therefore aims to provide a comprehensive characterization of M-PMV RT: from detailed biochemical analyses through attempts to elucidate the structural features of the enzyme, to investigations into the molecular mechanisms involved in retroviral replication. The findings may not only expand our understanding of RT function in betaretroviruses but also highlight the potential of M-PMV RT for biotechnological applications, such as use in qPCR-based reverse transcription assays.
Application of fruit for the production of non-alcoholic and low-alcoholic beers
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Study place:
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Department of Biotechnology, FFBT, VŠCHT Praha
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| Guaranteeing Departments: |
Department of Biotechnology
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| Supervisor: |
Ing. Marcel Karabín, Ph.D.
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| Expected Form of Study: |
Full-time |
| Expected Method of Funding: |
Scholarship |
Annotation
The combination of lifestyle changes and upcoming legislative changes related to the taxation of alcoholic beverages has created a high demand for the production of low-alcohol beers and beverages derived from them. The fresh taste of certain fruits could be an interesting benefit for the consumers of these products, especially if the fruit is fresh or only slightly processed.
The aim of this work is to test different forms of fruit materials (juice, puree, dried, lyophilized) for the production of low-alcohol beers and derived beverages (radlers). The results should be used to design suitable production technology, especially for craft brewing conditions.
Changes in the urinary microbiome and metabolome in response to the therapeutic intervention in female patients with overactive bladder symptoms
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Study place:
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Institute of Microbiology of the CAS
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| Guaranteeing Departments: |
Department of Biotechnology
Institute of Microbiology of the CAS
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Also available in study programmes:
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Biotechnology (
in English language
)
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| Supervisor: |
RNDr. Andrea Palyzová, Ph.D.
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| Expected Form of Study: |
Full-time |
| Expected Method of Funding: |
Scholarship |
Annotation
Research into the microbiome of the urinary tract has progressed dramatically over the last decade. Currently, more than 500 bacterial species have been identified in urine, indicating significant diversity in the microbiome of the niche. As our understanding of the urinary microbiome grows, there is evidence of differences in microbiome composition between healthy individuals and those with lower urinary tract diseases. Overactive bladder (OAB) is a chronic disease of the lower urinary tract dysfunction affecting up to 20% of the population, more often women than men, characterized by sudden urges to urinate with a negative impact on quality of life. The pathophysiology of OAB is multifactorial, including metabolic syndrome, affective disorders, sex hormone deficiency, and other factors. The standard treatment of OAB is mainly based on lifestyle modification, behavioural therapy, and pharmacotherapy with anticholinergics. This study aims to correlate characteristics of the urinary microbiome and metabolome with OAB symptom severity and then to evaluate changes in the urinary microbiome and metabolome in response to therapeutic intervention for OAB. The study will include 210 subjects, approximately 60 with OAB symptoms and 150 healthy controls. Inclusion criteria for the OAB group will be the presence of clinical symptoms, the OAB-V8 patient-reported outcome questionnaire and the nerve growth factor (NGF) levels. Standard molecular techniques of DNA isolation and purification, PCR amplification, and sequencing by massively parallel sequencing on the Illumina MiSeq platform, complemented by bioinformatic analysis, will be used to gain insights into the microbiome. In addition to the composition of the microbial community, the molecular mechanisms at the level of identification of specific low molecular weight metabolites will play a key role in the patient´s condition. We will use non-targeted metabolomics to obtain comprehensive molecular profiles and semi-quantitatively determine the levels of unique metabolites. This will provide new insights into the biochemical functions of the detected metabolites associated with OAB and identify potential biomarkers associated with the development of this disease.
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