IMIC

Department of Immunology and Gnotobiology - Institute of Microbiology - Praha

Founded in 1962, the Institute of Microbiology (IMIC) of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic develops scientific research covering areas of physiology, molecular biology and genetics of microorganisms and their relationship with their hosts. It has more than 300 employees. Physiology and regulation of natural and acquired immunity mechanisms, ontogenetic development of these mechanisms in conventional and germ-free models and the causality and possible therapy of tumor and autoimmune diseases are investigated at IMIC. Located in Prague, the department of Immunology and Gnotobiology has detached facility in Nový Hrádek to house germ-free animals.

Research and Training Expertise

IMIC has developed expertise in the analysis of the interaction of commensal bacteria with intestinal mucosa and to elucidate the pathogenic mechanisms of intestinal inflammation using experimental models of human Inflammatory Bowel Disease. The group provides a unique expertise in handling and developing of animal models of human intestinal diseases. Germfree animals are helping to study the effect of commensal microflora.

In Dept. of Immunology and Gnotobiology there is continuing training of PhD students. We have now 24 PhD students who are studying various aspects of immunological and immunopathological responses. In connection with the role of microflora in IBD there are about 8 PhD students working in this field. IMIC is affiliated to a postgraduate school at the Charles University under the direction of Dr. Jiří Gabriel.

 

Key persons involved

Helena Tlaskalova-Hogenova, MD, PhD, DSc, is a Professor of Immunology and Microbiology at Charles University. She headed the Department of Immunology and Gnotobiology till 2003. She published 180 papers in international journals and her contribution to mucosal immunology has been awarded several times.

Tomas Hudcovic, PhD, is specialized in gnotobiology and mucosal immunology. He has been awarded by the Institute of Microbiology for the best PhD thesis.

Hana Kozáková, PhD, is the head of Laboratory of Physiology, Immunity and Ontogenesis of Gnotobionts since 2002 and a member of the committee of the International Association for Gnotobiology.

Material Ressources

The complete equipment for breeding of germfree mice is available at IMIC. Established methods for food sterilization allow maintaining its nutritional quality. The laboratory is fully equipped for immuno-histochemistry analysis.

3 Key publications

  • Stepankova R, Powrie F, Kofronova O, Kozakova H, Hudcovic T, Hrncir T, Uhlig H, Read S, Rehakova Z, Benada O, Heczko P, Strus M, Bland P, Tlaskalova-Hogenova H. (2007) Segmented filamentous bacteria in a defined bacterial cocktail induce intestinal inflammation in SCID mice reconstituted with CD45RB(high) CD4+ T cells. Inflamm Bowel Dis.;13:1202-11.[Pubmed]
  • Kozakova H, Kolinska J, Lojda Z, Rehakova Z, Sinkora J, Zakostelecka M, Splichal I, Tlaskalova-Hogenova H. (2006) Effect of bacterial monoassociation on brush-border enzyme activities in ex-germ-free piglets: comparison of commensal and pathogenic Escherichia coli strains. Microbes Infect., 8:2629-39.[Pubmed]
  • Palová-Jelínková L., Rožková D., Pecharová B., Bártová J., Šedivá A., Tlaskalová-Hogenová H., Spíšek R., Tučková L. (2005). Gliadin fragments induce phenotypic and functional maturation of human dendritic cells. J. Immunol. 175, 7038-45.[Pubmed]