VEGA projects
VEGA 2/0002/11
Bacteriocin-producing microbiota, their bacteriocins and health of poultry.
Principal investigator: MVDr. Andrea Lauková, CSc.
01/2011-12/2013
The aims: To test occurrence of selected bacterial groups (enterococci, staphylococci, lactobacilli, enterobacteriae, salmonellae) in poultry ecosystem with the focus on farming husbandry of ostrichs, genotypization (phenotypization) of selected bacteria from different genera and species, to test the properties of selected enterococci, especially their bacteriocin activity (antimicrobial spectrum), selection of bacteriocin - producing isolates with a broad inhibitory spectrum, optimalization of bacteriocin production by producer strains, partial purification of bacteriocin, testing of physico-chemical properties of bacteriocin, detection of its molecular mass, testing of competitive effect of partially purified bacteriocin,experimental application of bacteriocin-producing strain and its bacteriocin in model experiment using model animals (chickens, Japanese quails) or on farm (stability of producer strain testing, effect of bacteriocin on the other microbiota, biochemical, zootechnical parameters, phagocytic activity, occurrence of Eimeria spp.
VEGA 2/0010/10
The effect of essential oils on physiological processes in the intestine of animal.
Principal investigator: Doc. MVDr. Faix Štefan, CSc.
01/2010-12/2012
The aim of this project is to obtain a new knowledge about effect of natural antioxidants on physiology of digestion and on mucosa and microflora of gastrointestinal tract. Experiments will be made in vivo and in vitro by Ussing chamber. Next, new knowledge will be acquired about interactions of intestinal microflora, (model-Enterococus faecium AL41), their quantification by PCR as well as classical cultivation methods. The results obtained in this project can be used in the veterinary diagnostics.
VEGA 2/0019/11
Microbial and functional gut changes in relation to food intake and growth of animals
Principal investigator: MVDr. Štefan Mozeš, CSc.
01/2011-12/2013
The objective of the project is to analysis the participation of the intestinal tract in food intake control and growth of the animals and to test adaptation of their microbial/enzymatic characteristics to dietary manipulation. To reach the mentioned goals we will be studied: a) enzymatic, microbial, food intake and somatic parameters in rat dams exposed either to normal or over-nutrition and nursing a different number of pups in nest, b) effects of early nutritional influences on programming of intestinal ontogeny and feeding/metabolic profile in the offspring with enhanced or stunted growth after transit on the normalized nutritional conditions or exposed to over-feeding in post-weaning period and later life, c) the impact of dietary supplementation with probiotics and/or prebiotics to precisely delineate their effects on metabolic efficiency and consequent somatic manifestation in weanlings.
VEGA 2/0001/11
The use of microorganisms to influence of conjugated linoleic acid production in ruminants.
Principal investigator: MVDr. Jalč Dušan, CSc.
01/2011-12/2013
In the proposal of the project, the effect of diets containing grass and/or corn silage inoculated with microorganisms (enterococci) on the production of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and their isomers (CLA, TVA) in fermentation fluid in artificial rumen will be studied. During these experiments the screening of rumen ciliates from fermentation fluid in Rusitec for the determination of CLA content will be realized. In addition to, the testing of agro-industrial substrates enriched with microbial PUFA after solid state fermentation (SSF) with oleaginous microorganisms in Rusitec will be carried out. Also, the effect of these substrates used as the part of feed ration on rumen fermentation and the production of PUFA and their isomers (CLA, TVA) in fermentation fluid in Rusitec will be sudied.
VEGA 2/0005/09
Natural substances and their use for healthy dogs
Principal investigator: MVDr. Viola Strompfová, PhD.
01/2009 -12/2011
The project is directed to the specification of the properties, to the testing of effects of probiotic strain Lactobacillus fermentum AD1 (CCM 7421) as well as to the investigation of strain AD1 influence in order to support health condition of animals. Strain AD1 will be potentiated by prebiotic-inulin and by phytoadditive; these combinations will be also tested. Under in vitro conditions, production of bacteriocin-like substances, inhibitory effect of strain AD1 and its combination with prebiotic and phytoadditive against harmful microflora of canine gastrointestinal tract will be studied. In vivo, quantitative changes of intestinal microflora composition, biochemical, immunological, clinical parameters and occurence of Giardia sp. oocysts will be detected. Results of this project will spread the knowledge about possibilities of unconventional natural componets to include them into optimal biopreparation needing for prevention of canine gastrointestinal tract diseases.
VEGA 1/0859/11
Study of the effect of essential oils and their bioactive compounds on metabolism and protective mucus barrier in the intestine of animals
Coordinator: Doc. MVDr. Faix Štefan, CSc.
01/2011-12/2013
The goal of the project is to study the effect of feeding diet supplemented with essential oil extracts on blood biochmistry, haematology and performance during infection and after probiotic strain application. Mucus production and its distribution along the intestine in relation to the age and animal breed will be evaluated. Occurrence of possible side-effects of essential oil on animals will be assessed.
VEGA 2/0049/11
Disorders of fertility and preimplantation embryo development associated with obesity.
Principal investigator: MVDr. Fabian Dušan, PhD
01/2011-12/2013
Project is focused on the assessment of reproductive disorders associated with maternal obesity. In animal model (mouse), the influence of changes in female body condition on the basic reproductive parameters – follicular growth, ovulation rate, fertilization rate and preimplantation embryo development - will be studied. The main aim of the project is to reveal possible differences in embryo quality between embryos obtained from obese and
non-obese dams and to define their influence on later development of individual.
VEGA 2/0005/11
Mechanisms of acquired antibiotic resistance in enterobacteria and staphylococci
Principal Investigator: prof. MVDr. Vladimír Kmeť, DrSc.
01/2011-12/2013
The mechanisms of betalactam and fluoroquinolone resistance in Escherichia coli strains isolated from broilers meat and environment of slaughter house were studied, during 2011. Extended spectrum betalactamases (ESBLs) were detected more frequently in E. coli isolates from environment (43,7 %) than from meat (14,3%). However E.coli with high level MIC for fluoroquinolones were more frequently from meat (67%) than from environment (29%). Maldi tof analysis of selected E.coli showed a clear clonal relatedness of environmental strains and smaller relatedness between environmental and meat E.coli. The results were already accepted to the press in polish journal “Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine“
VEGA 2/0066/11
Genomics and biotechnology exploitation of Enterococcus faecalis bacteriophage genomes.
Principal Investigator: Doc., RNDr. Pristaš Peter, CSc.
01/2011-12/2013
VEGA 1/0581/11
Time- space trends of wood decays in intravilans during last three decades.
Coordinator: Doc. RNDr. Pristaš Peter, CSc.
01/2011-12/2013
The project based on the long-term studies on harmful activity of wood-rotting fungi on urban trees in Slovakian urban area. At present time our data as to their activities are available from 1982-2003. Some supplementary data are available also from 2004-2009. The goal of this project is to answer the following questions: 1) What was the change in the spread of both rots and phytopathologically important wood-rotting fungi in the mentioned area during the period of increasing urbanization (1982-2013)? 2) How long can an infected tree survive in an urban
area? Sampling of various types of tree injuries, conducted in the 1982-2003 (2004-2009), will be repeated by using the same mehods in the 2011-2013 in Slovakian towns. Tree changes will be evaluated for every tree recorded in 1982-2003 (2004-2009) for future inventory. The ecological situation of these trees and the reasons for the rot infections will be evaluated. Taxonomically difficult fungal taxa will be determined by methods of molecular taxonomy.
VEGA 2/0006/9
Effects of fusarium mycotoxins on antioxidative status and immunity of poultry.
01/2009 -12/2011
Principal investigator: Ľubomír Leng
The objectives of presented project proposal are to determine the degree of immunosuppresion and oxidative stress in poultry due to intake of feed contaminated with subtoxic and/or marginal contents of Fusarium-mycotoxins. Subtoxic or marginal mycotoxin dosages can affect both immunity and antioxidant status of chickens and such a way they might subsequently contribute to increased incidence of a number of poultry diseases. The immunity responses of young chickens to marginal intake of zearalenone and deoxynivalenol will be evaluated by flow cytometry and immunohistochemical analysis of lymphatic tissues. The oxidative stress induced by mycotoxins will be investigated in birds supplied with increased amounts of natural antioxidants too. The effects of various mycotoxin mixtures on oxidative stress of chicken intestine epithelium will be investigated in vitro too.
VEGA 2/0041/09
Extracellular signals-the influence on preimplantation embryogenesis.
Principal investigator: RNDr. Štefan Čikoš, CSc
01/09-12/11
The project deals with the influence of extracellular signals on the development of preimplantation embryo and is focused mainly on the examination of molecular mechanisms involved in the transduction of signals from the maternal milieu. The aim of the project is to identify cell receptors which can be activated by “stress hormones” at various stages of mouse preimplantation development, starting with oocyte and ending with blastocyst. The influence of activation of the identified receptors on the development of mouse preimplantation
embryo in vitro as well as in vivo is examined in the project. The role of selected regulatory proteins (protein kinases and protein phosphatases) in regulation of oocyte and first cell cycles after the fertilization is also studied.
VEGA 2/0021/09
Impact of xenobiotic substances on the biodiversity and the antioxidative status of natural microbial ecosystems.
01/2009 -12/2011
Principal investigator: Doc. RNDr. P. Javorský, DrSc.
The scientific goals of the project involve the toxic impact study of some manufactured carbon nanoparticules and chosen pesticides used in agriculture on the natural microbial ecosystems. The examination of these substances effect on the microbial biodiversity of the soil and rumen microbial ekosystems and also their influence on the level of antioxidative and detoxicative enzymes of selected soil and rumen microbes (bacteria and protozoa). The long-term goals of this project is the understanding of possible impact of industrial C-nanoparticles on the natural microbial environments and by the way of them also on the health of humans (nano-eco- toxicology).
SRDA projects
APVV-0009-10
Beta-lactamase genes of enterobacteria in the animal environment and bioaerosols
Principal investigator: prof. MVDr. Vladimír Kmeť, DrSc.
05/2011- 10/2014
APVV-0237-10
Control mechanisms of oocyte and preimplantation embryo development
Principal investigator: MVDr. Vladimír Baran, CSc.
05/2011-10/2014
The project is focused on role protein kinases Aurora-A, Plk1, Chk1 which are involved in control of meiotic division of oocyte and also in control of onset and progress of one-cell embryo mitosis. In addition, activity of studied kinases will be analyzed during preimplantation embryo develpment after activation of embryonic genome expression and also primary differentiation of embryonal stem cells.
LPP 0045/09
Antimicrobial resistance of Escherichia coli as food biohazard
Principal investigator: prof. MVDr. Vladimír Kmeť, DrSc.
2009-2013
LPP 0213-06
The effects of fusarium mycotoxins on antioxidant status of farm animals.
Principal investigator: MVDr. Ľubomír Leng, DrSc.
01/2007-12/2011
APVV- 0586-07
Enzybiotics - molecular design of new antibacterials degrading Gram-positive cocci cell wall.
Principal investigator: Doc. RNDr. P. Javorský, DrSc.
The aim of project is isolation and molecular characterization of new cell-wall hydrolases of Gram-positive cocci and molecular design of new antibacterials based on these enzymes. New and existing lytic enzymes from three different sources - bacteriolysins, phage lysins and bacterial endolysins - will be completely characterized on functional, biochemical and molecular levels. These enzymes and their functional domains will be overexprimed by recombinant DNA techniques and tested for biological activity against target microorganisms. By targeted domain shuffling new enzyme derivatives will be constructed with alleviated bacteriolytic activity and effectivity spectrum. Selected enzymes will be tested for protective effect against and treatment of Gram-positive cocci infections in animals (cow mastitis) and their potential for application in human medicine will be evaluated.
LPP 0094-06
Enterocins and amelioration of biological costs of acquired antibiotic resistance in enterococci.
Principal investigator: Doc. RNDr. Pristaš Peter, CSc.
03/2007-08/2012
VVCE 0064-07
Biomembranes: Structure and dynamics of biological membranes related to cell fluctuations.
Project coordination - Institute of Animal Biochemistry and Genetics SAS
IAP coordinator: Doc. MVDr. Koppel Juraj, DrSc.
07/2008-06/2011