"We study genetics of evolutionary adaptations in immunity leading to animal disease resistance."

Offer

We are open to a wide spectrum of collaboration with partners from applied research, industry, and state and non-profit organisations.

- Expertise in the field of evolutionary adaptations in vertebrate immunity

- Highly qualified and enthusiastic human resources

- Genetic, bioinformatic and immunological analyses of biological data and samples

- Experience with animal field research (wildlife and veterinary research)

Requirements

- Access to publicly relevant host-pathogen systems

- New complementary technologies

- Access to animals or biological samples

- Novel methods in genetics, bioinformatics, cell and tissue culturing, immunophenotype detection and health monitoring

Know-how & Technologies

Our aim is to investigate the association between genotype and environment in forming the immunophenotype in health and disease.

- Genetic mapping of interspecific and intraspecific variability in immune-related genes (e.g. MHC, pattern recognition receptors – TLRs, antimicrobial peptides)

- Investigation of natural selection acting on individual genetic variants (including predictions of protein functional changes in response to pathogen-mediated selective pressures)

- Comparative immunology: characterisation of avian inflammation and identification of cytokines responsible for modulation of inflammation in birds

- Disentangling associations between the genotype, gene expression, immunophenotype, health, and condition in natural avian populations and domestic breeds

Main Capabilities

- Molecular genetics and bioinformatics

- Avian cell biology techniques (mainly focused on innate immunity) and methods of avian haematology

- Functional immunological testing in vivo and in vitro (e.g. inflammatory immune responsiveness, detection of antimicrobial peptides)

Key Research Equipment

- Fully equipped laboratory for molecular genetics (including cyclers, real-time PCR instruments, in-house sequencing systems, etc.)

- Cell and tissue culture laboratory

- Luminometry, photometry and fluorometry (Varioskan Flash Multimode Reader)

- Flow cytometry (LSR II)

- Microscopic facility

- Genomic sample biobank

Achievements

Publications in respected international journals with high impact factors: Frontiers in Immunology | Science of the Total Environment | Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology | Scientific Reports | Functional Ecology | Journal of Evolutionary Biology | BMC Evolutionary Biology | Developmental and Comparative Immunology | Animal Behaviour | Genetics Selection Evolution

Main Recent Projects

- 2018–2020: Vinkler M.: Impact of neuroinflammation on brain development and learning in cognitively advanced birds. Charles University, grant No. PRIMUS/17/SCI/12

- 2012–2014: Pattern recognition receptor allelic diversity in domestic chicken breeds (The Czech Science Foundation, grant No. P502/12/P179)

- 2015–2017: Biology of ageing: mechanisms and patterns of senescence in free-living birds (The Czech Science Foundation, grant No. P506/15-11782S)

Participation in four other projects funded by the Czech Science Foundation, five projects funded by the Charles University Grant Agency and one project funded by the Grant Agency of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic

Partners and Collaborations

Are you interested in this expertise?

Please contact CPPT UK

Web: www.cppt.cuni.cz/

Mail: transfer@cuni.cz

Phone: +420 224 491 255

Experts and their department

RNDr. Michal vinkler, Ph.D.

Department of Zoology