Full-time study

4 years

prof. RNDr. Ivana Márová, CSc.

Chairman :
prof. RNDr. Ivana Márová, CSc.
Councillor internal :
prof. Mgr. Václav Brázda, Ph.D.
doc. Ing. Eva Vítová, Ph.D.
prof. Ing. Stanislav Obruča, Ph.D.
prof. Ing. Adriána Kovalčík, Ph.D.
doc. Ing. Pavel Diviš, Ph.D.
Councillor external :
prof. RNDr. Jiří Doškař, CSc.
prof. Ing. Jana Hajšlová, CSc.
Ing. Martin Polovka, Ph.D.
prof. Ing. Milan Čertík, Ph.D.
prof. Ing. František Buňka, Ph.D.

1. Characterization and Study of Properties of Proteins Isolated from Food Industry Waste

   The food industry generates a substantial amount of waste, much of which contains valuable biomolecules like proteins that can be isolated and repurposed. Protein-rich byproducts, such as those from dairy, meat processing, or plant-based production, represent an underutilized resource with significant potential for creating value-added products. These proteins can be extracted and refined for various applications, including functional food ingredients, animal feed, biodegradable materials, or even bioactive compounds for the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. This work aims to characterize proteins in waste materials predominantly of plant origin using various separation and other instrumental methods, propose potential applications for these proteins, and examine how they behave at different stages of their processing and final use.Utilizing food industry waste not only reduces environmental impact but also aligns with circular economy principles by turning waste into marketable products, promoting sustainability and economic efficiency.

   Tutor: Diviš Pavel, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

2. Molecular biological approaches in the analysis of nucleic acids and proteins in foods and food supplements

   Nucleic acids and proteins are among the biopolymers that are the basic structural and functional molecules of all living organisms. While nucleic acids store genetic information, proteins have structural, transport, catalytic, regulatory, protective functions in the body. Proteins and nucleic acids are also found in most foods from plant and animal production. Contamination of food by various pathogenic organisms causes a great danger in food, on the other hand a number of microorganisms are used in the food industry in a targeted manner and probiotic bacteria have a positive effect on the microflora of the large intestine. Within this topic, molecular biology methods will be used to characterize the authenticity, composition of food, pathogenic viruses and microorganisms with emphasis on pathogens that may be primarily or secondarily introduced into the food matrix. The used methodological procedures have a wide range of uses in the analysis of raw materials, food and medical applications. Cooperation with a foreign workplace is expected.

   Tutor: Brázda Václav, prof. Mgr., Ph.D.

3. Research and Development of Innovative Composites Based on Polyhydroxyalkanoates and Conductive Polymers

   The subject of the dissertation will be the development of polymer composites based on polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) and conductive polymers. PHAs are biodegradable polymers with high potential for use in various fields, including medicine, pharmacy, cosmetics, and biodegradable food packaging. The work will focus on preparing and characterizing composites based on PHA, modified with bioactive and inorganic components, to improve their mechanical, thermal, and biological properties. The work will include testing and evaluating the biocompatibility and antimicrobial activity of selected formulations in various models, emphasizing medical applications. The prepared composites will be tested as drug carriers, and the release kinetics will be evaluated using various models, such as the Higuchi model, Korsmeyer-Peppas model, and first-order model. The results of the dissertation will have the potential for application in healthcare. This dissertation will be supported by the GAČR grant agency. The student will collaborate with the project partner AVČR and international partners, gaining valuable experience in interdisciplinary research. The expected skills and experience of the candidate include knowledge in the field of biotechnology/bioengineering, willingness to learn techniques for preparing polymer composites, willingness to work in a multidisciplinary team, and the ability to communicate in English.

   Tutor: Kovalčík Adriána, prof. Ing., Ph.D.

4. Study of microbial enzymes involved in biopolyester synthesis

   Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) are biologically derived polyesters that are accumulated by a wide range of prokaryotic microorganisms as storage metabolites, significantly enhancing the cells' stress resistance. Simultaneously, PHAs represent a highly promising biodegradable alternative to synthetic polymers. This dissertation will begin with a screening of microbial consortia for the presence of PHA producers. The metabolism of selected PHA-producing microorganisms will then be studied in detail, with a primary focus on PHA synthase – the key enzyme involved in polymer synthesis within microbial cells. The activity and substrate specificity of selected PHA synthases will be thoroughly investigated both in vivo and in vitro. Additionally, the regulation of PHA metabolism will be examined, and the biotechnological potential of the selected enzymes will be considered in the context of PHA production using metabolic engineering tools.

   Tutor: Obruča Stanislav, prof. Ing., Ph.D.

5. Study of the interaction of natural and synthetic substances in food with nucleic acids

   Nucleic acids are found in all cells. For DNA, the most common structure is the so-called B-DNA structure, however, DNA is a very dynamic molecule and depending on its environment, sequence and interaction with other molecules and proteins, it can occur in many other double or multi-stranded structures. RNA is an even more dynamic molecule, and its proper arrangement is essential for its proper function. Within this topic, molecular biological methods will be used to investigate how foods and dietary supplements interact with nucleic acids and their various structural motifs. As part of the study, bioinformatic and biophysical and molecular biological methods will be used to study the occurrence of local structures in nucleic acids and their interaction with substances that are used in medicine and the food industry.

   Tutor: Brázda Václav, prof. Mgr., Ph.D.

6. tudy of probiotics, prebiotics and postbiotics of the new type

   Probiotics are living microorganisms that naturally occur in the human digestive tract and are also added to the diet. If these bacteria are consumed in adequate quantities, they contribute to maintaining the correct health condition of the user. Prebiotics are food and substrate for probiotics, they are usually oligosaccharides. The complex of probiotics and prebiotics consists of so-called symbiotics. Postbiotics are then metabolites of probiotics that have a beneficial effect on the consumer, support the immune system and many other functions. This thesis is focused on study of use of some non-conventional bacteria and yeasts as probiotics and, further, use of biomass and products of some organisms (yeasts, algae and medical fungi) as prebiotics. Common synergic synbiotic effect of probiotics and prebiotics will be studied as well. Except of cultivation of organisms mentioned above on suitable substrates and evaluation of their growth and metabolic activity will be as a part of this study realized optimization of methods for evaluation of complex effect of prepared probiotics, synbiotics and postbiotics on living systems. Antioxidative effect and antimicrobial effect will be evaluated using several types of test microorganisms. Safety, quality and biological effect will be studied using a battery of cytotoxicity tests on human cell lines with different type of detection. Cell extracts will be stabilized by encapsulation. Detailed characterization of application forms will be performed and long-term stability in some model and real conditions will be tested.

   Tutor: Márová Ivana, prof. RNDr., CSc.