Educational and Research Staff
ČERVENÝ Lukáš

Härtlová Anetta

JUN Daniel

KUČA Kamil

NOVOTNÝ Ladislav

PEJCHAL Jaroslav

POHANKA Miroslav

SHESHKO Valéria

STRAŠKOVÁ Adéla

ŠŤASTNÁ Eva

VILASOVÁ Zdeňka

Centre of Advanced Studies is an integral part of Faculty of Military Health Sciences of University of Defence, Czech Republic. The main task of the Centre is the transfer, utilization, and dissemination of advanced technologies for biomedical defence research supported by Ministry of Defence of Czech Republic. The biological labs of BSL2 and BSL3 category and chemical lab for the analyses of highly toxic chemicals were activated during the first year of its existence. The team of the Centre adopted and provided an access to new technologies. Among them are technologies for histochemistry, immunohistochemistry, laser microdissection, fluorescence microscopy, proteomic technologies including isolation and proteomic analysis of total membrane proteins and lipid-raft associated proteins, genomic technologies oriented to real time RT-PCR applications, mutagenesis of Francisella tularensis by allelic replacement, gene reporter assays, technologies for the qualitative and quantitative analyses of pesticides in natural samples using GC-MS (gas chromatography-mass spectrometry), method for determination of antioxidant and anti-aggregation properties of various samples (natural substances, antidotes against chemical warfare agents), preparation of quaternary and non-quaternary inhibitors of enzyme acetyl cholinesterase, click chemistry and random chemistry approaches in the development of acetyl cholinesterase inhibitors, technology of artificial neural networks and molecular modeling for prediction of new bioactive compounds, and finally microbiological technologies needed for screening of functional properties of bacterial mutants (proliferation assays and protective tests).

The new well protected chemical laboratory equipped for the study of highly toxic chemicals, was opened in the Center of Advanced Studies during the year 2008. This new laboratory enables the scientists of C group of the Centre to test new prophylactic and therapeutic antidotes and scavengers of highly toxic chemical warfare agents, as are sarin or soman.

CBRN programs in 2008 follow the long-lasting research strategy of the Centre. B-agent program involves several topics aimed at management of biological crises, modelling & risk assessment, (immuno)prophylaxis of infections and finally the genetics of biological agents oriented to Francisella tularensis. C-agent program is focused on development of new prophylactic and therapeutic antidotes and toxic agent scavengers utilizing the methodology of 3D in silico modelling and simulation of bio-molecular three- and quadridimensional structures and inter-molecular interactions. RN-agent program encompassing the problems of molecular markers of ionizing radiation injury is divided into biodosimetry and diagnosis and therapy of ionizing irradiation syndromes.

The new international contact has been established with several European military and civilian research institutions. Moreover, the broad-based collaboration under the umbrella of European Defence Agency started to be the indispensable tool for reinforcement of scientific collaboration inside the European Union. Collaboration with partners is supported by two-side or multilateral projects. During short time of its existence the Centre of Advanced Studies thus achieves all attributes of fully consolidated scientific centre collaborating with substantial number of prominent European scientific institutions.

RESEARCH PROJECTS

A new method of prophylaxis, decontamination, diagnostics and therapy after intoxication with nerve agents and yperits
Bajgar, J., Kassa, J., Cabal, J., Fusek, J., Bartošová, L., Kunešová, G., Kuča, K., Jun, D., Štětina, R., Svobodová, H., Musílek, K., Žďárová Karasová, J., Kolečkář, V.
Array technologies for BSL3 and BSL4 pathogens
Butaye, P., Sjostedt, A., Cassone, A., Veljkovic, V., Stulík, J., Homan, W., Toman, R., Macela, A.
BIODEFENCE – Classification of biological agents – support of an international project „Establishment and management of a common database of B-agents – A European Laboratory Biodefence Network
Hubálek, M., Macela, A., Kubelková, K.
Biological indicators of ionizing radiation
Řeháková, Z., Österreicher, J., Vilasová, Z., Pejchal, J., Tóthová, I., Tichý, A.
Butyrylcholinesterase and aldoximes – bioscavengers for detoxification of organophosphates
Kuča, K., Kovarik, Z., Jun, D., Žďárová Karasová, J., Musilová, L., Binder, J., Kolečkář, V., Bosak, A., Berend, S., Čalič, M., Vrdoljak, A., Šinko, G., Radiš, B.
Countermeasure against chemical terrorism – development of new antidotes against nerve agents
Kuča, K., Jun, D., Musílek, K.
Crisis management after the use of biological agents
Macela, A., Prymula, R., Urban, R., Winklerová, Z., Hernychová, L., Lenčo, J.
FARMAKO – Determination of important pharmacokinetic and biochemical parameters and evaluation of blood-brain barrier penetration using drugs introduced to Czech Army
Žďárová Karasová, J., Kuča, K., Pohanka, M., Novotný, L.
FRANCIS – Development of new prophylactic tools against Francisella tularensis infection
Stulík, J., Červený, L., Dresler, J., Härtlová, A., Hubálek, M., Lenčo, J., Link, M., Klimentová, J., Kročová, Z., Filipp, D.
HOREČKA – Method of viral hemorrhagic fevers' causative agents rapid detection and identification
Fajfr, M., Červený, L.
INDIKÁTORY II – Reverse detection of received ionizing radiation dose by monitoring of cell population changes using biophysical methods
Šinkorová, Z., Österreicher, J., Kročová, Z., Pejchal, J., Zárybnická, L., Tóthová, I.
INHIBITOR – Novel inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase as prophylaxis of nerve agent poisonings
Musílek, K., Pohanka, M., Žďárová Karasová, J.
New biological methods of the received dose determination
Šinkorová, Z., Faldyna, M., Zárybnická, L., Tichý, A., Vilasová, Z., Matiasovic, J.
ORCHIDS – Evaluation, optimisation, trialling and modelling procedures for mass casualty
Simpson, J., Cabal, J., Kuča, K.
PROTEIN – Biosensors for determination of nerve agents and yperites using recombinant proteins and nanotechnology
Pohanka, M., Kuča, K., Musílek, K., Žďárová Karasová, J., Kassa, J.
REAKTIVÁTOR – Robotized system for in vitro evaluation of novel rectivators of acetylcholinesterase inhibited by nerve agents
Cabal, J., Kuča, K., Jun, D., Musílek, K., Pohanka, M.
Relationship between structure of acetylcholinesterase reactivators and their reactivation potency
Kuča, K.
RONSDOZ – Noninvasive measurement of proinflamatory markers of oxidative stress in irradiated as an indicator of received dose of radiation. Protective role of acetyl-L-carnitine
Vávrová, J., Österreicher, J., Tichý, A., Pejchal, J., Řezáčová, M.
SUBSTANCE – Development of novel decontaminants and disinfectants of skin based on micellar compounds
Kuča, K., Cabal, J., Jun, D., Novotný, L., Musílek, K., Kassa, J., Pohanka, M.
Virulence factors of intracellular pathogen Francisella tularensis classified as cathegory A biological warfare agents
Stulík, J., Janovská, S., Macela, A., Hubálek, M., Kročová, Z., Lenčo, J., Zechovská, J., Hernychová, L., Klimtová, I., Härtlová, A., Červený, L., Strašková, A., Link, M., Pallová, P.