Lecture "How are the epilepsy molecular clocks ticking?"
2024-06-03 15:00 - 16:00 (Europe/Prague) | Kinosal, Vídeňská 1083, Praha
Cristina Reschke, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Dublin, Ireland

Seminář Subhadip Chakraborty, M.Sc.
2024-06-05 15:00 - 16:00 | Posluchárna Milana Haška / Milan Hašek Auditorium
“Understanding the mechanochemical transitions that underlie early embryo development”
During embryogenesis a single fertilized oocyte develops into an adult organism via tightly controlled patterns of cell division, cell polarization and cell movements. These mechanical processes depend on the actomyosin cortex, a thin 2D layer that resides underneath the plasma membrane. Importantly, for normal development the actomyosin cortex in rapidly dividing embryonic cells needs to transition between contractile and non-contractile phases. Surprisingly little is known about how these mechanical transitions are regulated in a developing embryo. To understand mechanical transitions during embryogenesis, I use C. elegans early embryos as a model, and perform quantitative live imaging of the actomyosin cortex as it transitions between contractile and non-contractile phases. In the IMG seminar I will present my recent results in which we demonstrate how two major signaling cascades, Cdc42 and RhoA, affect distinct mechanical phases and the transitions between them.

IEM CAS Institutional Seminar Series 06/2024
2024-06-06 14:00 - 15:00
Open Access Publishing & Green Open Access
Lecturer: Arzuv Caryjeva, Ph.D. / Data Manager / Director’s Secretariat
Annotation: The Open Science requirements of project funders and available options and tools to satisfy these requirements will be introduced. Mainly, Open access publishing and the green route to ensure open access to Scientific articles will be discussed. Moreover, there will be an introduction to the Institutional data repository and how researchers can use it. This seminar is particularly important for lab leaders and grant holders.
The seminar will take place on 6. 6. 2024 from 2 p.m. in the Turquoise Auditorium of the IEM CAS.
We look forward to your participation.

Practical course SUPER-RESOLUTION IN LIGHT MICROSCOPY
2024-06-12 - 2024-06-14 | IMG

IEM CAS μLectures Seminar Series: Digital Image Basics
2024-06-12 13:00 - 14:00
μLectures is a monthly seminar series designed to enhance researchers’ understanding of microscopy’s fundamental workings and principles. Each session, lasting 30 minutes, focuses on a specific concept or topic within microscopy. The practical information presented aims to deepen researchers’ comprehension of their microscopy experiments, giving them a better overview of the options available and enabling them to improve their experimental design and more effectively identify and resolve potential issues.
Annotation
The seminar aims to provide participants with the basic knowledge and skills to work with graphics and digital images. The participants will be introduced to key concepts and techniques. For example, they will learn how information is stored in a digital image or what bit depth is. Understanding these principles is essential for the proper processing of microscopic data.
The seminar will take place on 12.6.2024 from 1 p.m. in the Turquoise Auditorium of the IEM CAS. It will also be possible to join online using this link.
Registration
Registration is not required, but we will be happy if you let us know (in person or at iva.svecova@iem.cas.cz) and if we have an idea of how many people are planning to come.
Lecturer
Jan Setnička

Seminář Jiří Březina, M.Sc.
2024-06-12 15:00 - 16:00 | Posluchárna Milana Haška / Milan Hašek Auditorium
“How antigens get distributed in the thymus”
The presentation of self-antigens in the thymus by medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs) and dendritic cells (DCs) is crucial for the establishment of central tolerance. While mTECs produce and present self-antigens in an autonomous manner, DCs acquire them from mTECs by cooperative antigen transfer (CAT). Although CAT represents a key process of central tolerance, molecular determinants which define CAT’s effectivity as well as the the capacity of DCs to subsequently present highjacked antigens are largely unknown. To reveal the nature of these determinants, we compared the transcriptomes of CAT-experienced and inexperienced DCs via scRNAseq. In this seminar, we will focus on one such a determinant of CAT, gene product encoding the tight junction protein, CLAUDIN 1. A series of experiments demonstrated that CLAUDIN 1 is a regulatory molecule which coordinates CAT and T cell selection processes. The comprehension of these processes will aid in the resolution of the current controversy concerning the role of DCs in central tolerance.

Lecture "Obesity cannot be cured, but increasingly better treated"
2024-06-17 16:30 - 17:30 | Kinosal, Vídeňská 1083, Praha
Prof. Matthias Blüher, Director of the Helmholtz Institute for Metabolism, Obesity and Vasculature research at the Helmholtz Center Munich and the University of Leipzig, Germany

Seminář Josef Novák, Ph.D.
2024-06-19 15:00 - 16:00 | Posluchárna Milana Haška / Milan Hašek Auditorium
“Switch of ADP/ATP translocase isoforms in cellular senescence and malignancy”
Four isoforms of human ATD/ADP translocators (ANTs) have poorly understood functional differences. Due to their high sequence similarity, antibody-based detection of these proteins is challenging. We, therefore, developed a sensitive proteomic method for detecting ATD/ADP translocator isoforms and their relative ratio. Using this technique, we observed a switch of ANT isoforms during senescence establishment associated with changes in cellular energy metabolism. The switch of ANT protein isoforms was not correlated with the change of ANT transcripts. Similarly, we found a non-correlation of ANT transcripts with corresponding proteins in patients‘ glioblastoma and lung cancer samples. We concluded that protein levels of ANT isoforms are regulated on multiple levels and are tightly linked to mitochondria biogenesis.

Představení kandidáta na předsedu AV ČR pro funkční období 2025–2029 - Ing. Jiří Plešek, CSc.
2024-06-20 10:00 - 11:30 | Posluchárna Milana Haška / Milan Hašek Auditorium
Dne 24. 3. 2025 skončí druhé čtyřleté období ve funkci předsedkyně AV ČR
prof. RNDr. Evě Zažímalové, CSc. Volba kandidáta na předsedu AV ČR pro následné funkční období proběhne na zasedání sněmu AV ČR dne 10. 12. 2024.

Jedním z kandidátů na předsedu AV ČR je Ing. Jiří Plešek, CSc.

IEM CAS μLectures: Checklists for Publishing Images and Introduction to Image Archives
2024-06-25 13:00 - 14:00
μLectures is a monthly seminar series designed to enhance researchers‘ understanding of microscopy’s fundamental workings and principles. Each session, lasting 30 minutes, focuses on a specific concept or topic within microscopy. The practical information presented aims to deepen researchers‘ comprehension of their microscopy experiments, giving them a better overview of the options available and enabling them to improve their experimental design and more effectively identify and resolve potential issues.
Annotation
Thanks to speedy technological developments, microscopy images document a significant part of scientific discoveries in this data-intensive era. It is becoming increasingly important to ensure that images are presented in a transparent and reproducible manner. However, there are only a few guidelines available for publishing terabytes to petabytes of image data, while research funding agencies require data to be published in open repositories. The objective of this seminar is to provide an overview of the key aspects of data publication, with a particular focus on image data. In addition, the seminar will offer a brief introduction to repositories and other relevant resources.
The seminar will take place on 25. 6. 2024 from 1 p.m. in the Turquoise Auditorium of the IEM CAS. It will also be possible to join online using this link.
Registration
Registration is not required, but we will be happy if you let us know (in person or at iva.svecova@iem.cas.cz) and if we have an idea of how many people are planning to come.

Seminář Prof. Dirk Schübeler
2024-06-26 16:00 - 17:00 | Posluchárna Milana Haška / Milan Hašek Auditorium
“Finding your place: Transcription factors as sensors and modifiers of chromatin”
Transcription factors only bind a minority of their motifs in large mammalian genomes. One likely explanation is that many motifs are not accessible for binding due to the action of chromatin and DNA methylation. We are using mammalian stem cell models and their differentiation combined with genomics to understand this important interplay between gene regulation, chromatin structure and DNA methylation. We study the dynamics of the epigenome and test regulatory models in cellular models by genetic perturbation and genome editing approaches.
I will discuss our recent efforts in understanding how the sensitivity to DNA methylation and nucleosomes can limit transcription factor binding in the context of the cell and how TFs rely on specific chromatin remodelers for access to their binding sites.

IEM CAS Distinguished Guest Seminar Series – Cian O'Connor
2024-07-18 14:00 - 15:00
Lecturer: Cian O’Connor, PhD. / Tissue engineering research group, University of Medicine and Health Sciences Dublin
The seminar will take place on 18. 07. 2024 from 14:00 in the Turquoise Auditorium of the IEM CAS.
Introduction:
Cian O’Connor is a postdoctoral researcher in the Tissue engineering research group led by Prof. Fergal O’Brien, RCSI & physiology graduate from Trinity College Dublin with an interest in cellular neuroscience and biomaterials. His interest lies in studying glial cells and technological advancements associated with therapeutic treatments particularly via stem cell culture, development of scaffold implants, the use of non-viral gene delivery and electroconductive materials.
We look forward to your participation.

IEM CAS Distinguished Guest Seminar Series – Prof. Kai Liu
2024-07-18 15:00 - 16:30
Lecturer: Prof. Kai Liu / Division of Life Science, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
The seminar will take place on 18. 07. 2024 from 15:00 in the Turquoise Auditorium of the IEM CAS.
Introduction:
Prof. Kai Liu received his Bachelor degree from School of Life Sciences at Peking University in 1998, and received his Ph.D. from Rutgers University at New Brunswick in 2006. Then he did his postdoc research at Children’s Hospital Boston/Harvard Medical School. He joined Division of Life Science at HKUST as Assistant Professor in 2011, and is currently Cheng Associate Professor of Science. His research interest focuses on the intrinsic mechanisms regulating axonal regeneration and functional repair after central nervous system injuries.

Představení kandidáta na předsedu AV ČR pro funkční období 2025–2029 - prof. RNDr. David Honys, Ph.D.
2024-09-10 14:00 - 15:30
Dne 24. 3. 2025 skončí druhé čtyřleté období ve funkci předsedkyně AV ČR prof. RNDr. Evě Zažímalové, CSc. Volba kandidáta na předsedu AV ČR pro následné funkční období proběhne na zasedání sněmu AV ČR dne 10. 12. 2024.
Jedním z kandidátů na předsedu AV ČR je prof. RNDr. David Honys, Ph.D., který představí zaměstnancům krčského kampusu svou vizi o řízení AV ČR na jednání v úterý 10. 9. 2024 od 14:00 hod. v sále Milana Haška na ÚMG.

IEM CAS Institutional Seminar Series 09/2024
2024-09-12 14:00 - 15:00
The DNA single-strand break repair capacity of the mammalian oocytes and embryos
Lecturer: Nataliia Dudko, MSc. / Department of Cell Nucleus Plasticity
Annotation: The number of de novo mutations in mammalian oocytes and preimplantation embryos is substantially lower than in somatic cells, but the reasons for this phenomenon are unknown. In our study we focus on minor DNA lesions repaired via BER, as they are a common source of de novo mutations. We found that the abundance of BER proteins may not be the most critical factor in granting high genomic stability, and other factors such as chromatin landscape should be considered.
The seminar will take place on 12. 9. 2024 from 2 p.m. in the Turquoise Auditorium of the IEM CAS.
We look forward to your participation.

IEM CAS Advanced Course on Preclinical Imaging
2024-09-16 08:00 - 2024-09-20 17:00
Basic information
The course aims to teach multimodal preclinical imaging techniques, including in vivo two-photon microscopy, in vivo multi-photon-based label-free techniques (SHG, THG, CARS), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of small rodents. Participants will acquire theoretical knowledge and practical skills in various neuroimaging techniques, with a focus on intravital multi-photon microscopy and MRI principles. Emphasizing the importance of animal models in physiological research, the course guides participants through the entire process of conducting preclinical bioimaging experiments. It includes a detailed pipeline for analyzing brain tumour structures and functional parameters, covering cranial window surgery, two-photon microscopy usage, perfusion MRI and subsequent image analysis. Additionally, the workshop addresses the challenges in using animal models for research and provides access to field experts.
Intended audience
The course is designed for researchers (PhD candidates, Postdocs, Principal Investigators, etc.) with a serious interest in integrating in vivo imaging into their projects.
Methods
Two-photon fluorescent microscopy (functional calcium/voltage imaging, structural imaging), second harmonic generation (SHG), third harmonic generation (THG), coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy (CARS), high field magnetic resonance perfusion imaging (MRI), fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM)
Registration and more information can be found on our website.

6th CCP Phenogenomics Conference
2024-09-17 - 2024-09-18 | Posluchárna Milana Haška / Milan Hašek Auditorium

Představení kandidáta na předsedu AV ČR - PhDr. Pavel Baran, CSc.
2024-09-23 14:30 - 16:30 | Posluchárna Milana Haška / Milan Hašek Auditorium
Dne 24. 3. 2025 skončí druhé čtyřleté období ve funkci předsedkyně AV ČR prof. RNDr. Evě Zažímalové, CSc. Volba kandidátky/kandidáta na předsedu AV ČR pro následné funkční období proběhne na zasedání sněmu AV ČR dne 10. 12. 2024.

Jedním z kandidátů na předsedu AV ČR je PhDr. Pavel Baran, CSc., který představí zaměstnancům krčského kampusu svou vizi o řízení AV ČR na jednání v pondělí 23. 9. 2024 od 14:30 hod. v sále Milana Haška na ÚMG.

Holotomography Workshop - TOMOCUBE HT-X1
2024-09-24 09:00 - 2024-09-27 17:00 | IMG
Dear Colleagues,
Holotomography is an advanced imaging technique that uses a specialized microscope to capture high-resolution images of biological structures such as bacteria, cells, intracellular structures, or even entire organoids without the need for staining. This method allows for the acquisition of quantitative data, including dry mass measurements and various other parameters.
If you have ever considered exploring quantitative holotomography microscopy techniques or quantitative phase microscopy, this is an event you should not miss.
This workshop is designed for potential users and is fully dedicated to practically introducing holotomography as a quantitative microscopic technique. The method will be demonstrated through hands-on experience with the TOMOCUBE HT-X1 system.
The first half-day will take place a series of theoretical lectures, followed by three days fully dedicated to hands-on sessions. During these sessions, you will learn how to set up acquisitions, perform AI-boosted image segmentation, and analyze quantitative imaging data.
Led by one of Tomocube’s most advanced application specialists, Bruno Combettes, this workshop offers an excellent opportunity to discuss your experimental ideas and design with an expert in the method and system. It is also a unique chance to test your experimental design and ideas on the system, with expert guidance.
This event also provides an opportunity to gain valuable contacts for your future research work…
For any questions, please contact: ivan.novotny@img.cas.cz.

IEM CAS μLecture: Two-photon microscopy
2024-09-24 13:00 - 14:00
μLectures is a monthly seminar series designed to enhance researchers’ understanding of microscopy’s fundamental workings and principles. Each session, lasting 30 minutes, focuses on a specific concept or topic within microscopy. The practical information presented aims to deepen researchers’ comprehension of their microscopy experiments, giving them a better overview of the options available and enabling them to improve their experimental design and more effectively identify and resolve potential issues.
The topic of the September seminar will be two-photon microscopy. This technique is especially suitable for the imaging of processes in vivo. We will explain the two-photon microscopy principle, look at the advantages and disadvantages of this technique and what experiments it can be used for.
The seminar will take place on Tuesday 24. 9. 2024 from 1 p.m. in the Turquoise Auditorium of the IEM CAS. It will also be possible to join online using this link.
Registration is not required, but we will be happy if you can let us know if you plan to come (in person or via email iva.svecova@iem.cas.cz).

Noc vědců
2024-09-27 18:00 - 22:00

Researchers’ Night 2024 at the IEM CAS
2024-09-27 18:00 - 22:30
The mysterious world of experimental (bio)medicine
As night falls, our laboratories become a dark and magical place where the challenges of biomedicine become a reality. The darkness that surrounds the building creates a unique atmosphere. The light of microscopes shines through the darkness and reveals the secrets of life at the molecular and cellular level. Every click of the pipette, every flash of fluorescence and every record of information brings our scientists closer to their desired goal of discovering new diagnostic and therapeutic procedures that can change patients‘ lives worldwide.
Come and experience this feeling in person and visit selected experimental (bio)medicine laboratories. We look forward to welcoming you!
Programme
More information can be found on the official website (only available in Czech).

Seminář Marharyta Klianitskaya, Ing.
2024-10-02 15:00 - 16:00 | Posluchárna Milana Haška / Milan Hašek Auditorium
“Human Endogenous Retroviruses: Role in Negative Selection of T cells in the Thymus and Pathogenesis of Psoriasis”
Our research elucidates the role of human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) in biological processes related to T cell immunity, autoimmunity, and the pathogenesis of psoriasis. HERVs are ancient viral elements integrated into the human genome. While most of these elements are rendered non-functional due to mutations and epigenetic silencing, some retain the ability to express themselves. Despite their foreign origin, the expression of these endogenous retroviruses does not typically trigger autoimmune disease.
The study employed single-cell RNA sequencing data from thymic tissues, revealing that a wide range of HERVs is expressed in thymic cells responsible for presenting autoantigens to T cells and for their subsequent negative selection. This suggests that some HERVs may be perceived by the immune system as autoantigens, and disruptions in the negative selection process could potentially lead to autoimmune diseases.
Psoriasis is a T cell-mediated chronic inflammatory skin disease that occurs in predisposed individuals carrying specific HLA-C alleles, which are crucial for presenting small peptides to T cells that survey for non-self peptides. RNA-seq data from psoriasis-affected tissues highlighted a significant correlation between elevated HERV expression and the development of the disease. These findings emphasize the potential role of HERVs in T cell-mediated conditions and offer new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying psoriasis.

IEM CAS Institutional Seminar Series 10/2024
2024-10-03 14:00 - 15:00
Single-particle tracking of NMDA receptors at hippocampal synapses
Lecturer: Mgr. Petra Zahumenská / Department of Neurochemistry
Annotation: N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) are ionotropic glutamate receptors essential for excitatory neurotransmission. These heterotetrameric complexes consist of two obligatory GluN1 subunits combined with two GluN2 (GluN2A-GluN2D) or GluN3 (GluN3A-GluN3B) subunits. The surface expression and subtype composition of NMDARs are tightly regulated through externalization, internalization, and lateral diffusion between synaptic and extrasynaptic regions.
In our study, we utilized the uPAINT (Universal Point Accumulation Imaging in Nanoscale Topography) microscopy technique to examine the surface dynamics of different NMDAR subtypes. uPAINT enables the tracking of individual NMDARs with a high spatial and temporal resolution by labelling them with fluorescent probes. This allows us to observe the distinct patterns of synaptic and extrasynaptic localization of GluN2A- and GluN2B-containing NMDARs in hippocampal neurons. Our approach combines the use of a small anti-GFP nanobody derived from a llama conjugated with an Atto647N fluorophore, along with the tdTomato-Homer1c marker, to define synaptic regions. This allows us to gain insights into the mobility and distribution of NMDAR subtypes at the synaptic level.
The seminar will take place on 3. 10. 2024 from 2 p.m. in the Turquoise Auditorium of the IEM CAS.
We look forward to your participation.

Seminář Kristína Jamrichová, M.Sc.
2024-10-09 15:00 - 16:00 | Posluchárna Milana Haška / Milan Hašek Auditorium
“Investigating the Impact of Cullin-Dependent Degradation on Protein Homeostasis”
Cullin-dependent ligases (CRLs) regulate cellular homeostasis by targeting proteins for degradation. Mutations and alterations in the CRL substrate receptor FBXO38 have been linked to distal muscular atrophy, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and gender dysphoria. In our previous research, we demonstrated that FBXO38 controls centromeric chromatin density during spermatogenesis. We will present our progress in deciphering FBXO38 function, particularly in the context of protein homeostasis and ribosomal activity.

17th IMG PhD conference
2024-10-11 | Posluchárna Milana Haška / Milan Hašek Auditorium
Dear colleagues,
We would like to invite you to the 17th IMG PhD conference that will be on the 11th of October.
This year we will be hosting two international speakers: Mileidys Perez Alea, who will have a talk about ¨How to build a Start-up¨ and Elodie Chabrol, who will be talking about the world of ¨Science Communication¨.
We are opening the registration for everyone who is interested in attending the sessions we organized. You can find the program as well as information about the conference at the IMG website and the registration link below.
We are looking forward to seeing all of you and enjoying with us the up-coming conference.
Best regards,
Anton & Irina

Představení kandidáta na předsedu AV ČR - prof. RNDr. Radomír Pánek, Ph.D.
2024-10-16 09:30 - 10:30 | Posluchárna Milana Haška / Milan Hašek Auditorium
Dne 24. 3. 2025 skončí druhé čtyřleté období ve funkci předsedkyně AV ČR prof. RNDr. Evě Zažímalové, CSc. Volba kandidátky/kandidáta na předsedu AV ČR pro následné funkční období proběhne na zasedání sněmu AV ČR dne 10. 12. 2024.

Jedním z kandidátů na předsedu AV ČR je prof. RNDr. Radomír Pánek, Ph.D., který představí zaměstnancům krčského kampusu svou vizi o řízení AV ČR na jednání ve středu 16. 10. 2024 od 9:30 hod. v sále Milana Haška na ÚMG.

Lecture „Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: its modeling in mice and the effect of n-3 fatty acids“
2024-10-21 15:00 - 16:00 | Kinosal, Vídeňská 1083, Praha

Představení kandidáta na předsedu AV ČR - prof. RNDr. Libor Grubhoffer, CSc., dr. h. c. mult.
2024-10-22 10:30 - 11:30 | Posluchárna Milana Haška / Milan Hašek Auditorium
Dne 24. 3. 2025 skončí druhé čtyřleté období ve funkci předsedkyně AV ČR prof. RNDr. Evě Zažímalové, CSc. Volba kandidátky/kandidáta na předsedu AV ČR pro následné funkční období proběhne na zasedání sněmu AV ČR dne 10. 12. 2024.

Jedním z kandidátů na předsedu AV ČR je prof. RNDr. Libor Grubhoffer, CSc., dr. h. c. mult., který představí zaměstnancům krčského kampusu svou vizi o řízení AV ČR na jednání v úterý 22. 10. 2024 od 10:30 hod. v posluchárně Milana Haška na ÚMG.

Seminář Prof. Dr. Daniel Sauter
2024-10-23 15:00 - 16:00 | Posluchárna Milana Haška / Milan Hašek Auditorium
“Viral Influencers: How endogenous retroviruses regulate innate immunity and senescence”
The human genome harbors a significant number of endogenous retroviral elements, remnants of ancient viral integration events. While often referred to as “genomic fossils“ and “dark matter of the genome” many of these elements function as promoters or enhancers for cellular genes. This presentation will show how a specific subset of endogenous retroviruses is activated during infection, orchestrating the expression of genes involved antiviral immunity and cell cycle regulation.
