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Welcome to International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology podcasts!
Today we launch a new era of our scientific dialogue with the society. And we join the international podcast community. We hope you will find our podcasts an interesting source of information on scientific issues. All our podcasts are in Polish, furthermore the lectures are perfectly intelligible for all human beings. For youngsters, for science lovers, for podcasts fans, for everyone ...

INTERVIEWS IN THE MEDIA

WYKŁADY XXI WIEKU: WSPÓŁCZESNE POGLĄDY NA EWOLUCJĘ

NOBEL 2006

Dr hab. Jacek Jaworski, Międzynarodowy Instytut Biologii Molekularnej i Komórkowej, "SiRNA - mała cząsteczka, wielkie nadzieje. Ekspresowy Nobel XXI wieku."

CHOROBY RZĘSKOPOCHODNE

Prof. dr hab. Michał Witt: "Choroby rzęskopochodne"

All you should know about the Alzheimer disease

For the beginning, we are proud to present podcasts recorded during the meeting "All you should know about the Alzheimer disease" (Warsaw, November 13, 2006). Introduction about Alzheimer Disease and involvement of Polish scientists in European efforts to fight neurodegenerative diseases was delivered by Prof Jacek Kuznicki. The issue of diagnosis of Alzheimer Disease and genotyping were explained by Maria Styczynska, Ph.D. M.D. Neurochemical diagnosis of Alzheimer Disease was a topic of a lecture by Piotr Lewczuk, Ph.D., M.D., from Erlangen. Prof Maria Barcikowska lectured on immunotherapy of Alzheimer Disease. The meeting "All you should know about the Alzheimer disease" was organized within the framework of APOPIS, an Integrated Project funded by the EU under the Sixth Framework Programme, Priority: Life Sciences for Health, Contract No. LSHM-CT-2003-503330.

More info: http://www.verum-foundation.de/apopis

TargetSOCE logo

“Pathways of Store-Operated Calcium Entry (SOCE) as a novel
therapeutic target in neurodegenerative diseases”

TargetSOCE

ERA.Net RUS
Linking Russia to the ERA: Coordination of MS/AC S&T programmes
towards and with Russia
Pilot Joint Call for Collaborative S&T Projects

Project Partners

Prof. Jacek Kuźnicki (Coordinator), International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IIMCB), Laboratory of Neurodegeneration

Prof. Axel Methner, Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center Mainz (UM Mainz), Department of Neurology

Prof. Elena Kaznacheyeva, Institute of Cytology of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IC RAS), Laboratory of Ionic Channels of Cell Membranes

Project Consultant

Prof. Ilya Bezprozvanny, University of Texas, USA

News

September, 30 2014
TargetSOCE accomplishment

On September, 30th, TargetSOCE project has come to an end. The final project reports were submitted to the Joint Call Secretariat, and to the partnering countries’ national agencies. TargetSOCE was initiated to expand partners’ knowledge about the role of Ca2+ signaling in neurodegenerative disease and to strengthen ties of the three laboratories involved. Both these goals were reached, the groups published together 4 publications in well-renown journals, exchanged personnel, and met on a regular basis. The published and unpublished results are the basis of future projects, which are already developed.

September, 30 2013
By the end of September 2013, the first TargetSOCE year has been accomplished and the intermediate report was submitted to the Joint Call Secretariat from this period.

March, 31 2013
By the end of March 2013, the first 6 months of the TargetSOCE was realized and the first interim report was submitted to and accepted by the Joint Call Secretariat from this period.

February, 15th 2013
TargetSOCE project kick-off meeting took place at IIMCB. View pictures from the Meeting.

Prof. Jacek Kuźnicki, the project coordinator, hosted partners from abroad: Prof. Elena Kaznacheyeva with two young team members Dr. Alexey Shalygin and Maria Ryazanstseva from the Institute of Cytology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Saint Petersburg, Russia and Prof. Axel Methner with Dima Lisak and Teresa Schacht from the University Medical Center of Johannes Gutenberg-University of Mainz, Germany. The event was inaugurated by an open seminar delivered by Prof. Kaznacheyeva and her colleagues. Further, partners discussed their so far research progress and planned future tasks and activities. Guests had opportunity to learn more about IIMCB, visit its laboratories, equipment premises and zebrafish core facility. At the kick-off a TargetSOCE Scientific Board meeting was organized with remote participation of the project consultant, Prof. Ilya Bezprozvanny from the Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, USA.

October, 7th 2012
TargetSOCE partners concluded Consortium Agreement specifying the relationship among the partners, especially concerning the organization of work between them, the management of the projects and the rights and obligations of the partners with regard to liability, access rights, dispute resolution, etc.

July, 7th 2012
The Umbrella Agreement between Joint Call Secretariat and IIMCB on behalf of the Project consortium was signed. The Umbrella Agreement is a general agreement setting up regulatory framework for horizontal issues related to the transnational funding of the collaborative TargetSOCE research project.

TargetSOCE in a nutshell

There are no effective drugs to cure or to delay the progression of Alzheimer’s and Huntington’s diseases. It is clear that new target proteins respective pathways need to be addressed. TargetSOCE will respond to it by targeting calcium (Ca2+) homeostasis as a potential site for new treatments as both diseases are accompanied by profound changes in the intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis. Partners will study three transgenic mouse models, compare them and observe whether changes are specific for a certain pathological mechanism or are general downstream effects of neurodegeneration. In TargetSOCE, Russian, German and Polish groups complement one other. The expected results are highly relevant to prevailing neurodegenerative diseases in aging societies.

General information / aims of the project

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder histopathologically defined by the extracellular deposition of the amyloid-β peptide, intracellular hyperphosphorylated neurofibrillary tangles, and selective neuronal loss. Huntington’s disease (HD) is a hereditary neurodegenerative disease caused by expression of a polyglutamine stretch in the protein Huntingtin. There are no effective drugs neither to cure these diseases, nor to delay their progression. It is clear that new target proteins pathways need to be addressed. We propose to approach this problem by targeting calcium (Ca2+) homeostasis as a potential site for new treatments as both diseases are accompanied by profound changes in the intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis. We hypothesize that changes in the function or abundance of the Ca2+ machinery at the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) result in changes in Store-Operated Calcium Entry (SOCE) and that this initiates or propagates the neurodegenerative process in AD and HD. We then hypothesize that genetic or pharmacological manipulation of SOCE alters or even ameliorates the course of disease. Thus, our research objective is to verify these hypotheses by the specific aims:
1) To systematically determine changes in the amount and function of the major players of the ER Ca2+ machinery in the brain of different transgenic mouse models for AD and HD;
2) To determine the cell death susceptibility of primary neurons from transgenic mouse models for AD and HD in response to different stressors involved in the pathophysiology of the disease;
3) To develop and evaluate genetic and pharmacological tools to alter changes in Ca2+ homeostasis involved in these models.
We will study these aims in three transgenic mouse models overexpressing mutated Amyloid Precursor Protein, Presenilin1, or expanded Huntingtin. We will investigate changes in the expression of proteins relevant for the ER Ca2+ machinery and study Ca2+ handling of different organelles with its consequences for the intrinsic function of neurons, the propagation of electrical signals. We will develop the genetic and pharmacological tools needed to alter changes in Ca2+ homeostasis and study their effects on cell death and on electrophysiological function of neurons. These studies aim to clarify the role of SOCE in AD and HD. We expect changes in the amount and function of some ER Ca2+ players such as Ca2+ release channels, ER Ca2+ pumps or STIM proteins, which are ER sensor proteins that activate SOCE. Moreover, we expect to identify genetic or pharmacological tools to correct the dysregulated Ca2+ homeostasis. Direct comparison of different mouse models will reveal whether the observed changes are specific for a certain pathological mechanism or general downstream effects of neurodegeneration. In TargetSOCE Russian, German and Polish groups complement one another. The aim and expected results are highly relevant taken into account the prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases in aging societies.

Project tasks

Axel Methner lab, Mainz, Germany
Task 1: To determine the abundance of key proteins of the Ca2+ machinery in brains from transgenic mouse models for AD and HD

Task 2: To determine changes in the intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis of primary neurons from transgenic mice expressing mutant APP and expanded Huntingtin

Task 3: To determine cell death susceptibility of primary neurons from transgenic mouse models for AD and HD

Elena Kaznacheyeva lab, St. Petersburg, Russia
Task 4: To determine changes in the SOC and L-type currents of primary neurons from transgenic mice expressing expanded Huntingtin and mutant PS1.

Task 5: To determine the effect of genetic tools evaluated by JK and quinazoline-derived compounds on Ca2+ currents in HD and PS1 neurons

Task 6: To determine the target of quinazoline-derived compounds by knockdown of proteins upregulated in HD and PS1 neurons on SOC currents of primary HD and AD neurons

Jacek Kuznicki lab, Warsaw, Poland
Task 7: To determine changes in the intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis of primary neurons from mice expressing mutant PS1

Task 8: Identification of pharmacological and genetic tools modifying SOCE in neurons

Task 9: Analysis of Ca2+ homeostasis in cultured neurons from mouse models using selected shRNA or drug(s) affecting SOCE

Project budget

The overall implementation and administration of the project is assured by the Era.Net-Rus General Secretariat. However, the operational management and the financing was entrusted to national agencies/institutions of the countries which participate in the Era.Net-Rus initiative.

Thus, the TargetSOCE partners receive support from the following national institutions:
IIMCB - National Centre for Research and Development
IC RAS - Russian Academy of Sciences
UM Mainz - Federal Ministry for Education and Research in Germany (minor support)

Project duration

24 months: October, 1st 2012 – September, 30th 2014

Project management and contact

Project coordinator: Prof. Jacek Kuźnicki, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Project manager: Dorota Libiszowska, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Scientific Board: Prof. Jacek Kuźnicki, Prof. Axel Methner, Prof. Elena Kaznacheyeva, Prof. Ilya Bezprozvanny

Health-Prot Website

The project is targeted at continuation and expansion of activities initiated as the FP5 Centre of Excellence in Molecular Bio-Medicine (CEMBM). In the past as the Centre of Excellence we developed an advanced methodology of analysis of complex protein structures with the use of cell and molecular biology techniques, biochemical methods, crystallographic analysis and computer modelling. Our goal is to become a top protein studies Centre in the region by unlocking the potential of all our research groups. This will be achieved mainly by twinning each of the Institute's groups with European groups leading in the field (first objective), through joint research activities, organization of workshops and conferences and participation in consortia within FP7.

We plan to create the place for experienced scientist to conduct research at the highest level (second objective), and for junior scientists to obtain the best possible mentoring and a degree based on the top-flight theses. We also intend to reach an ultimate critical mass by completing the organisation of IIMCB's structure (third objective). We aspire to be more innovative towards applications in medicine and biotechnology (fourth objective). In parallel, we will popularize science and raise social awareness of the benefits of modern biology and biotechnology (fifth objective). We will leverage the activities of the existing professional popularization science unit and use the available electronic media to disseminate knowledge on protein research. Ultimately, a reinforced S&T potential of our research groups will allow us to become more visible and attractive as a collaborating partner in the European Research Area, for both academia and industry.

images/Marta_mikroskop.jpg

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PUBLICATIONS

Auresine Project auresine r

Head
Izabela Sabała, PhD

Senior Scientist
Elżbieta Jagielska, PhD

Postdoc
Piotr Małecki, PhD

PhD Students
Paweł Mitkowski, MSc
Alicja Wysocka, MSc

Technician
Weronika Augustyniak, MSc

MSc students
Karolina Trochimiak
Piotr Bartosz

Our research is focused on bacteriolytic enzymes that in a very selective and effective way eliminate staphylococcal cells from various environments. We are working on development of commercial applications for such enzymes, especially for a patented one - Auresine®. These enzymes can be used in diagnostic tests, as a food bioprotectant, to decontaminate various surfaces in industry and hospitals, and as a component of hygiene products for animals and humans. Thanks to results of our basic research we are able to address very practical issues, like development of resistance, tolerance to environmental conditions, protein stability. Structural and biochemical characterization of enzymes broaden our knowledge about their activity regulation and determination of enzyme specificity, and also provide a scientific basis for structure-designed enzyme engineering.

Main achievements in 2018:

1. In December 2017 we have launched TeamTech project (Foundation for Polish Science program), which is focused on developing new-generation wound dressings that are functionalized with bacteriolytic enzymes. We have completed building up the project team and also the network of external experts, who support our efforts in the area of nanomaterials.

2. We were awarded a grant in International Academic Partnerships program funded by the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA). The MolSpec project “Molecular basis of enzyme specificity and applications”, will be carried out in collaboration with the Trinity College Dublin (Ireland), the Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit of the Department of Life Sciences FCT-NOVA (Portugal) and with the Fraunhofer Institute for Silicate Research (Germany).

3. Our team completed three Quest for Commercialization grants (founded by IIMCB) to leverage commercialization of Auresine. They allowed us, among others:
      •   to establish very simple and effective technology for one step, large scale purification of our recombinant enzyme
      •   to get international trademark protection of the name and the graphic logo of Auresine®
      •   to prepare new, professional webpage dedicated to Auresine project (www.auresine.com) illustrated by our technician Weronika Augustyniak

illustr

4.   We continue collaboration with our business partners to test the implementation of Auresine in industry and also with global supplier of R&D chemicals on worldwide distribution of Auresine®.
5.   We have established collaboration with the global supplier of veterinary products interested in implementation of our enzymes in their innovative products.
6.   Our research has been presented at prestigious international meetings:
        •   EMBO Workshop on Bacterial Persistence and Antimicrobial Therapy, Ascona, Switzerland
        •   EMBO Workshop Viruses of Microbes, Wrocław, Poland
        •   18th International Symposium on Staphylococci and Staphylococcal Infection, Copenhagen, Denmark
        •   The Lysin Meeting: 2nd International Symposium on Antimicrobial Hydrolytic Enzymes, Rockefeller University, New York, USA,
        •   Bessy User Meeting, 2018, Berlin, Germany.

Ongoing Projects:

TEAM TECH (FNP) “INFECTLESS: New generation of antibacterial wound dressing” click here for more information.

MolSpec (Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange, NAWA) “Molecular basis of enzyme specificity and applications”.

Address

4 Ks. Trojdena Street

02 - 109 Warsaw, Poland

Tax No. PL 526-22-78-704

REGON 013082798

Phone & E-mail

tel. (+48 22) 597 07 00

fax (+48 22) 597 07 15

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The main character of the Be Healthy as a Fish educational campaign is the zebrafish, which helps scientists find the cause of certain human diseases and discover new-generation therapies and medicines. The program is directed towards children aged 9-12 years old.

Be Healthy as a Fish 2019

Workshops

For the young target audience, the workshop is an opportunity to visit a real scientific institute. During the classes, the participants are introduced to the zebrafish as a model organism that is used in basic and applied research because of its high genetic similarity to humans, transparent embryos, very short reproduction cycle, access to experimental manipulations, a large collection of mutant/transgenic lines, and low maintenance cost. Therefore, the zebrafish is an attractive alternative to mammalian in vivo models and can be used to implement the “3R” principles (reduction, replacement, and refinement). To empathize with the role of scientists, the students observe 1- to 2-day-old zebrafish embryos under a stereoscopic microscope. They have the opportunity to see the beating heart of a small fish and living brine shrimp (Artemia) larvae and rotifers. They learn that zebrafish development is very similar to the embryogenesis of higher vertebrates. In contrast to mammals, zebrafish develop from fertilized, transparent eggs outside the mother’s body, which allows scientists to observe the embryogenesis process.

Participants of the workshop learn how much the human body is similar in its genesis and development to the body of a small fish. They learn that when scientists observe the zebrafish, human embryogenesis, and the mechanisms of the human body, various functions can be better understood. By explaining the concept of the homology of genomes, they are shown the importance of animals in the multi-stage process of discovering new drugs and therapies. We also show participants how we breed zebrafish and how we tend to their welfare. We familiarize children with the issues of ethics in research that is performed with animals. The participants independently investigate water properties by performing calorimetric tests and measuring the pH and hardness of tap water and aquarium water that is used in the facility. Water analyses are supervised by animal caretakers who work at IIMCB. The children are permitted to perform water tests themselves and have the opportunity to ask questions about zebrafish husbandry, fish biology, operation of the fish facility, and other tasks. At the end of the workshop, the students are given the Be Healthy as a Fish book and a three-dimensional bookmark with images of zebrafish.

Movie

The aim of the movie is to familiarize viewers with IIMCB’s facilities and scientific interests and show the everyday work lives of scientists. This 6-min movie is mostly animated. However, part of it shows real images of various locations within the institute (e.g., laboratories, fish facility, the office of the Director of IIMCB, and a lecture hall where the workshops are held). The storyline of the animation consists of a humorous tour around the institute that is guided by two cartoon characters: the Professor and a zebrafish. During the tour, the children are told the reason why the zebrafish facility was established, and they can witness the formation of a new international team of scientists. The viewers are informed that science has no borders, and new discoveries result from joint efforts of scientists around the world who exchange information during seminars and conferences. Both Polish and English versions of the movie are available on the IIMCB YouTube channel.

Book

The book brings the complex world of science closer to young readers. Because the book is geared toward primary school children with an elementary knowledge of life sciences, it is illustrated with cartoons to make the content more interesting for a young audience. Moreover, to help readers absorb the story’s message, the book provides engaging assignments. A short glossary defines terms that are used in the book that may be difficult for some readers to understand. Importantly, the factual content was created in consultation with an educational biology expert to ensure that the message of the story is both understandable and inspiring for a young audience.

The book is distributed to all of the participants of the workshop as an invitation to broaden their knowledge beyond the topics that are discussed in their classes. The content of the book was written such that it can be regarded as an independent story from which those who do not participate in the workshops can benefit. The Be Healthy as a Fish book can be interesting additional material for teachers to support discussions about the evolution of life, cell biology, heredity, and anatomical similarities between humans and animals.

Achievements

• Presentation about the campaign at 9th European Zebrafish Meeting in Oslo, Norway

• Poster prize at 6th European Forum for Marketing of Scientific and Research Organizations in Warsaw, Poland

• Publication in the Zebrafish Journal (Goś et al., 2016, doi: 10.1089/zeb.2015.1195)

• Presentation about the campaign at 7th European Forum for Marketing of Scientific and Research Organizations in Warsaw, Poland

• Publication in the Polish Journal of Environmental Sciences “Wszechświat” (no 10-12 2016)

"Be Healthy as a Fish" book

"Be Healthy as a Fish" movie

Publication in Zebrafish

Be Healthy as a Fish Educational Program at the International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw, Poland
Goś Daria, Szymańska Ewelina, Białek-Wyrzykowska Urszula, Wiweger Małgorzata, and Kuźnicki Jacek. Zebrafish. June 2016, 13(4): 266-271. doi:10.1089/zeb.2015.1195.

Group members

Head Mikołaj Cup	Laboratory Manager Paweł Morga
Project Manager Agnieszka Muśnicka	Lead Educators Jakub Tomaszewski Małgorzata Malczewska

BioCEN - Touch Science!

The Centre for Innovative Bioscience Education (BioCEN) was established in 2002 by the International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw, the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, and the Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics.

BioCEN exists to bridge the gap between the scientific community and society by providing educational activities that popularize modern experimental natural sciences among the broader community. We use innovative educational methods to provide hands-on experience in topics of interest. Our workshops, presentations, and educational materials are based on scientific findings and the expertise of our collaborators. BioCEN receives financial support from IIMCB, which has been BioCEN’s Strategic Sponsor since 2015. In addition to IIMCB’s support, BioCEN is subsidized by Nencki Institute, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Warsaw Faculty of Biology, and BioEducation Foundation.

BioCEN Laboratory

BioCEN workshops cover various areas of life sciences and medicine, with a focus on practical and experimental approaches. Our goal is to cover several scientifically and educationally important topics, such as molecular and cell biology, histology, immunology, biochemistry, biotechnology, microbiology, biophysics, plant physiology, bionics/bioengineering, environmental sciences, medical sciences, astrobiology, and astrophysics. We encourage participating students to express their creativity while working individually on real-life experiments.

A total of 7,568 students participated in laboratory and outdoor workshops in 2023, and our materials reached ~6500 recipients. Moreover, various BioCEN online activities were viewed over 60.000 times.

Target audience

BioCEN's regular workshop offer is available to all primary school students (from the second grade onwards) and high school students from all over Poland. The classes are tailored to the needs and capabilities of students at their respective educational levels. The presented experiments make students aware that the theoretical knowledge found in textbooks directly translates into reality. Thus, BioCEN's slogan "Touch Science!" perfectly reflects our mission.

You can register for our workshops via the BioCEN website: https://biocen.edu.pl/kalendarz/

Customized BioCEN Workshops

Since our team consists of many specialists from various fields, we can design customized workshops for audiences other than schools. As BioCEN, we have repeatedly offered special classes for kindergartens, educational foundations, groups of adult enthusiasts, and university students.

As an educational and science popularization institution, BioCEN also designs workshops for the healthcare and cosmetics industries. We conduct classes that can enhance events such as conferences, training sessions, or scientific symposia. Our regular collaborators include renowned cosmetics companies.

If you are interested in organizing personalized workshops, please contact us by sending email to the Scientific Project Coordinator (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

WORKSHOP OFFER

Classes for primary schools (2h):

Microbe Hunters (Primary school)
CSI: BioCEN
Green Factories of Sweetness
Look Inside the Cell (Primary school)
See Your DNA (Primary school)

Classes for secondary schools:

Two-hour workshops:

Microbe Hunters (High school)
Look Inside the Cell (High school)
See Your DNA (High school)

Four-hour workshops:

Synergy – The Inner Life of the Cell
Histology
Sokaris – Introduction to Astrobiology

General Structure of Workshops at BioCEN

We host our workshops in the BioCEN Laboratory, located at Skierniewicka Street 21 (100 meters from the Płocka metro station).

The classes are usually divided into a short theoretical introduction, during which we familiarize students with safety rules, workflow in the BioCEN Laboratory and introduce the necessary concepts for conducting experiments. Then our educators instruct students on how to perform the experiments and discuss their individual stages. After completing the experiments, students gather the results of their work and discuss them together, drawing appropriate conclusions.

During the classes, our educators are available to answer students' questions about the experiments being conducted, scientific work, and available pathways of further development.

Collaboration with IIMCB

BioCEN supports the outreach activities organized by IIMCB by:

Organizing activities for exceptional youth associated by the National Children’s Fund
Organizing scientific seminars for schools collaborating with the Institute
Co-designing educational resources for scientific projects such as “Degradator - A Game about Protein Degradation”

Collaboration with other entities

BioCEN co-organizes the annual Symposia for Teachers with the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology (link: Symposia for Teachers), where we share our experience in popularizing science.

Together with Nencki EduTube (link: //www.youtube.com/@NenckiEduTube">Nencki EduTube), we prepare lectures to introduce students to aspects of the research work of our educators.

BIOCEN EDUCATORS AND COLLABORATORS

Notable members of the BioCEN team include educators and coworkers without whom our educational activities would not be possible. In 2023, the following individuals collaborated with BioCEN:
Educators: Dasza Babiuk, Julia Brzykcy, Julia Gilewska, Rafał Jabłuszewski, Jakub Janiec, Aleksandra Kowalczyk, Katarzyna Krzyżewska, Paweł Morga, Maksymilian Nowak, Małgorzata Orłowska, Magdalena Pełka, Gustaw Zientarski, Jedrzej Kardasz, Alina Kiedryńska, Kalina Węgrzyn, Adela Jezierska-Suwińska, Hubert Kubiszewski, Zuzanna Napora, Stanisław Szleszkowski, Aleksandra Maciejczuk

Lead Educators: Małgorzata Malczewska, Jakub Tomaszewski

Laboratory Support Personnel: Paweł Morga, Małgorzata Malczewska

Management Board Members: Mikołaj Cup (CEO), Patrycja Dołowy, Maciej Kotliński