1 00:00:08,480 --> 00:00:11,439 Our laboratory, located in Prague’s Krč district, 2 00:00:11,439 --> 00:00:15,640 deals with the analyses of microorganisms found in humans and animals. 3 00:00:16,519 --> 00:00:20,879 We focus on hard-to-collect anaerobic bacteria and fungi 4 00:00:20,879 --> 00:00:27,199 inhabiting the digestive tract as well as the skin, lungs or biogas installations. 5 00:00:28,800 --> 00:00:32,840 The animal gut microbiota is irreplaceable 6 00:00:32,840 --> 00:00:35,000 - it participates in the decomposition of nutrients 7 00:00:35,000 --> 00:00:38,039 and the production of metabolites beneficial to the host, 8 00:00:38,600 --> 00:00:40,640 stimulates the host’s immune system 9 00:00:40,640 --> 00:00:43,880 and prevents its contamination by harmful microorganisms. 10 00:00:44,359 --> 00:00:47,560 Furthermore, it also plays a role in a number of diseases of civilization 11 00:00:47,560 --> 00:00:50,960 such as obesity, diabetes, Crohn’s disease, tumours 12 00:00:50,960 --> 00:00:54,439 as well as diseases seemingly unrelated to the digestive tract 13 00:00:54,439 --> 00:00:57,359 such as autism and Alzheimer’s disease. 14 00:00:57,960 --> 00:01:01,159 We aim to describe the changes and importance of microbiota 15 00:01:01,159 --> 00:01:02,840 in the course of these diseases 16 00:01:02,840 --> 00:01:07,319 and are interested in the effects of diet or treatment on the host microbiome. 17 00:01:08,560 --> 00:01:11,519 By analysing the skin microbiome of experimental minipigs, 18 00:01:11,519 --> 00:01:15,200 we were able to detect crucial differences between healthy skin and melanomas. 19 00:01:15,799 --> 00:01:19,560 We have identified bacteria that are associated with tumour growth. 20 00:01:20,280 --> 00:01:24,719 In cooperation with physicians, we examined the human gut microbiome 21 00:01:24,719 --> 00:01:27,120 affected by inflammatory bowel diseases and its changes 22 00:01:27,120 --> 00:01:31,799 during faecal microbiota transplantation used as experimental treatment. 23 00:01:32,239 --> 00:01:35,400 We are also interested in the role of microorganisms in the environment 24 00:01:35,400 --> 00:01:39,519 such as the link between the rumen microbiota and methane emission in beef cattle. 25 00:01:41,879 --> 00:01:44,840 We use two approaches in our research: 26 00:01:45,319 --> 00:01:49,159 The first is the isolation and description of pure strains of bacteria and fungi. 27 00:01:50,719 --> 00:01:53,640 We focus on probiotic bacteria in humans, 28 00:01:53,640 --> 00:01:56,959 animals and insects found mostly in the digestive tract. 29 00:01:57,560 --> 00:02:01,519 Our team has already described two dozen of new taxa within these bacteria. 30 00:02:04,000 --> 00:02:06,760 The second approach is of molecular genetic nature. 31 00:02:06,760 --> 00:02:10,000 It involves the analysis of complex environmental samples 32 00:02:10,000 --> 00:02:15,159 such as chyme, faeces, stool, biowaste or rumen fluid. 33 00:02:15,719 --> 00:02:18,639 For this purpose, we perform DNA isolation, 34 00:02:18,639 --> 00:02:22,280 PCR amplification of microbial genes 35 00:02:22,280 --> 00:02:25,360 and their subsequent sequencing and analysis. 36 00:02:26,319 --> 00:02:30,560 The results of our work are regularly presented at international conferences 37 00:02:30,560 --> 00:02:34,120 and published in prestigious scientific journals. 38 00:02:34,759 --> 00:02:38,879 In addition, the education of new scientists also forms an integral part of our work. 39 00:02:39,479 --> 00:02:42,120 Our team has hosted a number of students: 40 00:02:42,120 --> 00:02:45,680 from high school students to graduates and PhD students 41 00:02:45,680 --> 00:02:48,479 from both Czech and foreign universities.