17 Apr 2024
Job Information
- Organisation/Company
Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra- Department
Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Science- Research Field
Biological sciences- Researcher Profile
First Stage Researcher (R1)- Country
Slovakia- Application Deadline
31 May 2024 - 23:59 (Europe/Bratislava)- Type of Contract
Not Applicable- Job Status
Full-time- Hours Per Week
37,5- Offer Starting Date
1 Sep 2024- Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?
Not funded by an EU programme- Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?
No
Offer Description
Clarification of the relationship between the functionality of testicular cells and their sensitivity to nanoplastics/microplastics in vitro
Supervisor: prof. Ing. Norbert Lukáč, PhD.
Workplace: Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Science, Slovak University of Agruculture in Nitra
Field of Study: Biology
Study program: Molecular Biology
Form of study: full-time
Language: Slovak
Abstract
Cells of the reproductive system are among the most sensitive components of the animal organism to oxidative stress generated by xenobiotics. Currently available literature suggests that exposure to nanoplastics (NPs) / microplastics (MPs) collectively referred to as "MNPs" can lead to oxidative stress, inflammation, impaired immune function, alteration of cellular and energy metabolism, inhibition of cell proliferation, tissue degeneration, abnormal development and organ dysfunction, change in biochemical parameters and even cause genotoxicity and carcinogenicity. Although numerous animal and cell culture studies have indicated adverse biological effects of MNPs on human health, the underlying mechanisms are still unclear. The main goal of the dissertation is the exact determination of the MNP effect in relation to the biological aspects of the animal system. It deals in detail with the effect of the mentioned particles on regulatory or signaling mechanisms in connection with the inflammatory process, steroidogenesis with the simultaneous use of mammalian cellular models in in vitro conditions. Identification of the molecular mechanism of action of these substances in exposed cells will not only provide us with new theoretical knowledge about inter- and intracellular changes, but at the same time we expect their practical use in the protection of human and animal health.
In the dissertation, we will monitor the effects of the investigated substances at various levels, such as redox status, mitochondrial dysfunction, membrane continuity or lysosomal integrity, intercellular communication, steroidogenesis, activation of micro-inflammation and associated immunomodulation. The processing of the results, statistical analysis and gradual interpretation of the results will support the proposed hypotheses of the work, and the formulated conclusions will be presented at the domestic or foreign scientific conferences and professional symposia.
Scientific goals: (1) identification of the activation mechanisms of cells against oxidative stress (gnomic, proteomic), (2) activation of protective and antioxidant genes during the response of cells to the resulting stress, (3) identification of structural damage of experimental cells
Methodological objectives: in vitro experiments with Leydig cells and Sertoli cells or endothelial cells, processing and co-cultivation of cells with MNP, monitoring the dynamics of the expression of stress response genes and protective mechanisms using Real Time PCR, DNA microarray, western blotting, which will subsequently be correlated with the analysis of structural integrity (membrane integrity, DNA fragmentation, etc.), functional activity and oxidative profile (production of free radicals, antioxidant capacity, oxidation of proteins and lipids) of testicular cells. The work will use the equipment of the Department's Laboratory of Cellular and Subcellular Structures, Experimental Biology Laboratories and integral laboratories of the AgroBioTech Research Center as well as partner institutions in Slovakia and abroad.
Expected benefits: The result of the work will be the clarification of new relationships between MNP and the functionality of testicular cells and the mechanisms of response to stress conditions. This key information can be used in subsequent processes of prevention and management of male infertility.
Objasnenie súvislosti medzi funkčnosťou testikulárnych buniek a ich citlivosťou na nanoplasty/mikroplasty in vitro
Abstrakt
Bunky reprodukčného systému patria medzi najcitlivejšie zložky živočíšneho organizmu na oxidatívny stres generovaný xenobiotikami. V súčasnosti dostupná literatúra naznačuje, že expozícia nanoplastami (NPs) / mikroplastami (MPs) súhrnné označenie „MNP“ môže viesť k oxidačnému stresu, zápalu, zhoršenej imunitnej funkcii, zmene bunkového a energetického metabolizmu, inhibícii bunkovej proliferácie, degenerácii tkaniva, abnormálnemu vývoju a dysfunkcii orgánov, zmene biochemických parametrov a dokonca spôsobiť genotoxicitu a karcinogenitu. Hoci početné štúdie na zvieratách a bunkových kultúrach naznačili nepriaznivé biologické účinky MNP na ľudské zdravie, základné mechanizmy sú stále nejasné. Hlavným cieľom dizertačnej práce je exaktná determinácia efektu MNP vo vzťahu k biologickým aspektom živočíšneho systému. Detailne sa zaoberá pôsobením uvedených častíc na regulačné či signalizačné mechanizmy v súvislosti so zápalovým procesom, steroidogenézou za súčasného využitia cicavčích celulárnych modelov v podmienkach in vitro. Identifikácia molekulového mechanizmu účinku týchto látok v exponovaných bunkách nám poskytne nielen nové teoretické poznatky o inter- a intracelulárnych zmenách ale zároveň očakávame ich praktické využitie v ochrane zdravia ľudí a zvierat.
Účinky skúmaných látok budeme v dizertačnej práci sledovať na rôznych úrovniach ako je redoxný status, mitochondriálna dysfunkcia, membránová kontinuita či lyzozomálna integrita, medzibunková komunikácia, steroidogenéza, aktivácia mikrozápalu a s tým spojená imunomodulácia. Spracovanie výsledkov, štatistická analýza a postupná interpretácia výsledkov podporia navrhované hypotézy práce a formulované závery budú prezentované na domácich resp. zahraničných vedeckých konferenciách a odborných sympóziách
Vedecké ciele: (1) identifikácia aktivačných mechanizmov buniek voči oxidatívnemu stresu (gnómická, proteomická), (2) aktivácia protektívnych a antioxidačných génov pri odpovedi buniek na vzniknutý stres, (3) identifikácia štrukturálneho poškodenia experimentálnych buniek
Metodické zámery: in vitro experimenty s Leydigovými bunkami a Sertoliho bunkami prípadne endoteliálnymi bunkami, spracovanie a ko-kultivácia buniek s MNP, sledovanie dynamiky expresie génov stresovej odpovede a protektívnych mechanizmov s využitím Real Time PCR, DNA microarray, western blottingov, ktoré budú následne korelované s analýzou štrukturálnej integrity (membránová integrita, fragmentácia DNA, a.i.), funkčnej aktivity a oxidatívneho profilu (produkcia voľných radikálov, antioxidačná kapacita, oxidácia proteínov a lipidov) testikulárnych buniek. V práci sa využije prístrojové vybavenie Laboratória celulárnych a subcelulárnych štruktúr katedry, Laboratórií experimentálnej biológie a integrálnych laboratórií Výskumného centra AgroBioTech ako aj partnerských inštitúcií na Slovensku a v zahraničí.
Očakávané prínosy: Výsledkom práce bude ozrejmenie nových vzťahov medzi MNP a funkčnosťou testikulárnych buniek a mechanizmami odpovede na stresové podmienky. Tieto kľúčové informácie môžu byť využité v následných procesoch prevencie a manažmente infertility samcov.
More information about PhD position
Additional research info: [email protected]
https://fbp.uniag.sk/sk/molekul%C3%A1rna-biol%C3%B3gia-6625/
https://fbp.uniag.sk/sk/phd-stupen/
https://is.uniag.sk/prihlaska/
Requirements
- Research Field
- Biological sciences
- Education Level
- Master Degree or equivalent
- Languages
- SLOVAK
- Level
- Good
Additional Information
Work Location(s)
- Number of offers available
- 1
- Company/Institute
- Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Science, Slovak University of Agruculture in Nitra
- Country
- Slovakia
- City
- Nitra
- Postal Code
- 94976
- Street
- Tr. A. Hlinku 2
- Geofield
Where to apply
- Website
https://is.uniag.sk/prihlaska/
Contact
- State/Province
Slovakia- City
Nitra- Website
http://www.uniag.sk/sk/- Street
Trieda Andreja Hlinku 2- Postal Code
949 76
[email protected]
STATUS: EXPIRED
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