112 years ago, Doncaster and Raynor published a paper on an interesting mode of inheritance of a light morph (“lacticolor”) in the magpie moth, Abraxas grossulariata, occurring more frequently in females. Based on their observations, they introduced the concept of female heterogamety (i.e. ♀WZ/♂ZZ and derived sex chromosome systems). However, despite the following cytogenetic studies, the sex chromosomes of this iconic species remained unknown. We took advantage of modern methods of molecular cytogenetics and identified and analyzed the chromosomes in this iconic moth and its congener, A. sylvata. The study revealed a pair of molecularly well-differentiated WZ sex chromosomes in both species. Although these species split only around 9.5 million years ago, their W chromosomes differ greatly, and our results suggest their rapid molecular divergence by independent spreading of female-specific repetitive sequences. Our article was selected for the cover story of the June 2018 Issue of the Genes journal:
Zrzavá M., Hladová I., Dalíková M., Šíchová J., Õunap E., Kubíčková S., Marec F. (2018) Sex chromosomes of the iconic moth Abraxas grossulariata (Lepidoptera, Geometridae) and its congener A. sylvata.Genes 9: 279.
The magpie moth, Abraxas grossulariata (photo Andrej Makara) and its sex chromosomes W and Z. (a) The wild-type form of A. grossulariata. (b) WZ bivalent at the pachytene stage of meiotic prophase I. The W chromosome is highlighted by FISH with a W-painting probe (green), clusters of genes for ribosomal RNA (rDNA, red) are immersed into nucleoli (grey circles in the schematic drawing). (c) Mitotic metaphase chromosomes. The W chromosome was identified by FISH with the W-painting probe (not shown). Bar = 10 μm.
Mitochondria are famously known in the textbooks as the powerhouse s of eukaryotic cells, a group of organisms that include us, mushrooms and plants. These organelles have a complex architecture, being made up of two membranes with the self-descriptive names outer and inner membrane. These define two compartments within the mitochondria: the intermembrane space between the two membranes and the matrix surrounded by the inner membrane.
In contrast to the outer membrane, the inner membrane has a quite elaborate structure. It is folded into finger-like projections that extend into the matrix called cristae. Cristae are the location protein complexes (a collection of proteins, in which each represents a vital part of a working molecular machine) that allow eukaryotes to breathe oxygen, a vital process for generating energy for the whole cell.
Mitochondria are ancient organelles of eukaryotes, cristae are ancient characters of the organelle and the protein complexes that provide the machinery for respiration are ancient features on cristae. All are found throughout diverse eukaryotes such as us, mushrooms and plants. They are also found in single-cell eukaryotes called protists. Belonging to this diverse and fascinating group of organisms is the causative agent of sleeping sickness, the flagellate calledTrypanosoma brucei.
In the Current Biology article by Iosif Kaurov and colleagues, we set out to answer the following questions: what are the shared parts of the machinery that build cristae throughout eukaryotes and what parts of this machinery are different so that suits the containing eukaryote’s specific respiration needs?T. bruceiwas used in this study since it has a well-developed genetic toolbox, developed by researchers trying to find ways to specifically kill the pathogen, to allow us to dissect the machinery responsible for cristae shaping.
The name of the machine that was the focus of our study is MICOS (mitochondrial contact site andcristaeorganizationsystem). In yeast (a close relative of mushrooms) and human (which we’ll collectively call “yuman”), it is known that this protein complex generates sites in which the inner and outer membranes to come into close contact with each other and also attach cristae to the rest of the inner membrane. If the yuman MICOS machine is broken, cristae detach from inner membrane and float in the matrix.
Only a single gene for one protein piece of yuman MICOS was found inT. brucei. Knowing this, we were able to isolate the whole MICOS protein complex fromT. bruceiand see what its similarities and differences are in comparison to yuman MICOS. We found that the inner and outer membrane contact site and cristae attachment to the inner membrane functions were the same between theT. bruceiand yuman. Because these two types of organisms are about as distant eukaryotic relatives as can be possibly examined, we can conclude that this role of MICOS is a fundamental one throughout eukaryotes.
But the differences were surprising. Besides that lone recognizable protein of MICOS, the other pieces are very different from those that make up the yuman machine. Furthermore, one of the pieces seems to have a different role than any known so far yuman MICOS. This part helps to capture proteins that belong in the intermembrane space. Among these proteins are little pieces of the respiratory protein complexes that reside in cristae. Therefore we demonstrate thatT. bruceiMICOS not only helps to give cristae their shape, but also help to place the protein machinery in this part of the mitochondria that is responsible for respiration.
Iosif Kaurov, Marie Vancová, Bernd Schimanski, Lawrence Rudy Cadena, Jiří Heller, Tomáš Bílý, David Potěšil, Claudia Eichenberger, Hannah Bruce, Silke Oeljeklaus, Bettina Warscheid, Zbyněk Zdráhal, André Schneider, Julius Lukeš, Hassan Hashimi
The European Union’s Erasmus+ programme enables university students to undertake an internship in their field in a European country of a duration between 2 and 12 months. Within the Erasmus+ programme, graduates are also eligible for such an internship.
PhD students can also use a short-term internship between 5-30 days. There is no possibility to use the internship between 31 - 59 days in the framework of Erasmus program.
Graduate work placement
the work placement may also take place newly within 12 months of graduation (including the placement period)
the student becomes a graduate on the day of successfully passing the state examination – the work placement must start and end within exactly one year starting from this day (it is also vital to respect the academic calendar and not exceed one academic year)
participant must pass the selection procedure and have all necessary documents prepared for the mobility before graduation
University of South Bohemia provides students on internships with a grant of 630 to 750 euros per month depending on which country the internship is to be spent in. For a short-term internship between 5 - 30 days the grant is approx. 60 Euros per day.
An Erasmus work placement may take place only in the countries involved in the Erasmus+ programme:
EU member states: Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Cyprus, Lithuania, Latvia, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Austria, Romania, Greece, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden.
countries of the European Economic Area (Norway, Iceland, and Lichtenstein)
also Turkey and Macedonia
It is not possible to undertake an internship in Switzerland.
The ERASMUS ID code of University of South Bohemia is CZ CESKE01.
Deadlines for applications:
29 February 2024
15 May 2024
27 September 2024
25 November 2024
Participation conditions
the student must be enrolled in an accredited Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Doctoral study programme at University of South Bohemia – full-time, combined, or even distance form of study
the student must be duly registered in a study programme at the sending institution during the work placement; the student can neither interrupt nor terminate their studies at the sending institution before completion of the work placement
the work placement is to take place in any public organisation or private enterprise active in the labour market or in the sphere of education (private or public enterprise at local, regional, or national level; professional association; trade
union; research institutes; non-financial organisations; educational centres, etc.)
the student is to find their own mentor/supervisor at the host institution
unauthorised organisations where a work placement cannot be entered into:
organisations administering EU programmes (due to prevention of conflict of interests and/or double financing, such as national agencies)
the student is to work full-time in the foreign enterprise (40 hours per week)
PROCEDURE
Application
Application form
Motivational letter(the reason for selection of the host institution, what the content of the work placement will be and why – direct relation to the student’s field of study, benefits of the work placement for the student – academic benefits/job opportunity benefits)
Proof of foreign language(certificate, TOEFL, study results, letter from your teacher, …)
All document are to be sent to Barbora Okosy:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.or the originals submitted to her at the Faculty of Science International Office (Building C, door number 00013).
Selection process criteria
quality of motivational letter ( maximum 100 points)
study average (maximum 15 points)
the level of foreign language (maximum 20 points)
Students receiving 75 points or over are considered to have passed the selection process. The quality of the application and financial resources may, however, also influence the mobility. The results of the selection process will be announced to applicants by email within one week of submission.
Before Departure
1. A document detailing the Learning Agreement for Traineeship is to be jointly submitted by all three parties – the student, Erasmus coordinator (Barbora Okosy), and host institution (the student’s supervisor at the host institution).The student is to contact their supervisor at their chosen university/institution/company and fill in the Learning Agreement for Traineeship in consultation with them. This document may, preferably, be submitted to the Erasmus coordinator along with the application documents or separately at a later date, but no later than three weeks before the commencement of the mobility.
2. OLA - Online Language TEST of your mobility language
the test is mandatory (not for native speakers)
the results are to be made available to the student only, who will receive recommendation, if necessary, on how to improve their level
students are to take and submit the test before signing their Grant Agreement
the student attaining a result of between CEFR levels A1 and B1 in their OLS test will be automatically allocated a language course licence
in other cases, students may assign themselves a voluntary language course in their OLS profile
3. Grant agreement signature
the grant agreement is to be signed no later than 14 days before the student’s departure – without this agreement, the Erasmus traineeship cannot begin and the scholarship cannot be paid out
the grant agreement is to be submitted for signature to the International Office, Rectorate Building, 4rd floor, door No. 04045
The student is to contact Ms. Vašková via e-mail at - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - when they have collected all the documents needed to sign the Grant Agreement - at least 5 working days beforethe expected date of the meeting
The following documents are to be attached to the e-mail in the following formats:
the completed Grant Agreement form (yellow marked fields) in Word
a scan of the Learning Agreement for Traineeship signed by the student, the faculty coordinator (Barbora Okosy) and the supervisor at the receiving organisation
a copy of the health insurance and a liability insurance
First, however, the student is to contact the Erasmus faculty coordinator (Barbora Okosy) who is to help them complete their Learning Agreement and check the other documents.
The student isobliged to have valid health insurance and insurance of liability for the duration of his/her mobility for the final destintion. The faculty offers for you the insurance of liability, it is valid for one year in the whole EU. It costs 568 CZK. You can pay it online. The bank account number is 104725778/0300. And you have to send the bank statement to Ms. Okosy (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) till 20th of previous month with your name, address, date of birth and phone.
The insurance company who deals especialy with Erasmus+ mobility: https://www.erapo.cz/, you can check it.
Any student who feel the need for further explanation may also arrange an appointment at the International Office Contact Centre where you will be informed about all matters related to their Erasmus mobility.
After the mobility
Students are to:
submit the original Traineeship certificate with the dates of departure and arrival (in Learning Agreement for traineeship, 3rd part – After mobility) to Barbora Okosy, this document must be the ORIGINAL !!!
complete and submit the Final report (students will receive the login code via email (check the spam) - EU Survey
take the online language test again on return from their mobility
Gabriela Krejcova, Adam Bajgar from Dmel macrophages squadand coworkers from theLaboratory of molecular integrative physiology in Drosophilaled by Tomas Dolezal published anarticle in eLife journal. The authors show that activated insect macrophages undergo a metabolic shift to aerobic glycolysis and that this metabolic remodeling is highly conserved between insects and mammals, being regulated by the same molecule - Hypoxia-inducible factor 1α.
While the switch to aerobic glycolysis has been known for a while in mammalian immunity, the finding that insect immune cells undergo the same switch demonstrate how important such metabolic behavior of activated immune cells is throughout evolution. This is further supported by conserved molecular regulation by Hypoxia-inducible factor 1α in both mammals and insects. In addition, macrophage-derived factors produced in response to aerobic glycolysis also cause changes in systemic sugar metabolism and represent a mechanism by which activated immune cells secure enough energy for ongoing processes. These results connect the aerobic glycolysis with the privileged behavior of immune system, which was previously identified in the same laboratory.
If you wish to come to our faculty as an Erasmus+ student, firstly check with your home institutional coordinator, whether your university has a valid Erasmus+ Agreement with Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice. If yes, then ask your home coordinators about the selection and nomination process at your home institution.
Your home university must officially nominate you for a study stay via e-mail (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). The information provided should include:
Name and surname
Date of birth
E-mail address
Study area according to an agreement
Level of Study (Undergraduate, Master, Doctorate)
Period of mobility (Fall, Spring or whole year)
After receiving the official nomination sent by home university, a nominated student will receive an information e-mail with the web link to reach online application.
Branišovská 1645/31a, 370 05 České Budějovice Tel. 387 776 201 | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Branišovská 1645/31a, 370 05 České Budějovice Tel. 387 776 201 | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
