News

„Molecular Immunology. How Science Works” – a new book by Prof. Carsten Carlberg and Dr. Eunike Velleuer

Prof. Carsten Carlberg, WELCOME2 ERA Chair at the Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research PAS, together with Dr. Eunike Velleuer, physician in the Centre for Child and Adolescent Health Helios Clinic (Germany), has published a new book. „Molecular Immunology. How Science Works” is to reveal the secrets of molecular immunology to readers.

The COVID-19 pandemic has made it clear that we need to learn more about the system that keeps us alive: the immune system. It consists of different biological structures: the lymphatic system, bone marrow, leukocytes, proteins, and antibodies. Keeping them in balance protects us from infectious diseases and cancer. The goal of molecular immunology is to understand the collective response of individual cells and proteins to foreign substances in our bodies.

The immune system is designed to fight viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites, but sometimes it happens to attack itself – as in the case of allergies. What’s more, improper immune system responses can lead to autoimmune diseases, such as type I diabetes and multiple sclerosis. These in turn can lead to sepsis and even death.

That is why the book „Molecular Immunology. How Science Works” by Prof. Carsten Carlberg and Dr. Eunike Velleuer, was written with the main aim of presenting the basics of molecular immunology. It covers the mechanisms and processes underlying immunity against bacteria and viruses, immune responses in organ transplantation, autoimmune reactions, allergies, and cancer immunology. The authors make it clear that immunology has a role in keeping our bodies healthy and preventing disease.

The book is available here.

„Not only does our immune system protect us from the serious effects of infectious diseases and the onset of cancer, but it is also capable of causing serious damage through sepsis, cytokine storms, and anaphylactic shocks. A molecular understanding of immunology should allow the reader to deal more rationally with common diseases, most of which are associated with chronic inflammation,” – says Professor Carsten Carlberg, author of the textbook.

The content of the book is related to the lecture course „Molecular Immunology”, which is part of the „Molecular Medicine and Genetics”, „Cancer Biology” and „Nutrigenomics” course series taught by Prof. Carsten Carlberg.

Research team of Chemistry and Biodynamics of Food with the Marshal Award

Researchers from Department of Chemistry and Biodynamics of Food have been honored with the Scientific Award of the Marshal of Warmia and Mazury, Gustaw Marek Brzezin.

The award was given to the whole team of scientists for the implementation of the research project „Buckwheat products of potential importance in the prevention of civilization diseases – a new brand of Warmia and Mazury. The awarded team consisted of: Prof. Henryk Zieliński, PhD, Małgorzata Wronkowska, PhD, Małgorzata Starowicz, Dorota Szawara-Nowak, PhD, Joanna Honke and Natalia Bączek, M.Sc.

Exceptional research for Warmia and Mazury and the entire country

Researchers from the Department of Food Chemistry and Biodynamics of the Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Olsztyn, headed by prof. dr hab. Henryk Zieliński has been conducting studies on the content of biologically active compounds in cereal raw materials, functional properties of cereals, pseudo-cereals, their milling products, and bakery products, including gluten-free ones, for many years. The results have been published in numerous scientific journals.

For the last two decades, scientists have researched the role of buckwheat grown in the region in the production of new generation food. The obtained results enrich our knowledge of the profile of biologically active compounds present in buckwheat, their functional properties, and qualitative and quantitative changes of those compounds in buckwheat products obtained as a result of traditional and modern technological processes.

The research conducted by the researchers made it possible to develop new buckwheat products which were put into circulation as part of pilot cooperation with entrepreneurs from Warmia and Mazury. These include bread with the use of roasted buckwheat flour, wholemeal sourdough bread with the addition of roasted buckwheat hulls, or graham rolls enriched with raw buckwheat hulls. It gives completely new possibilities for using buckwheat flours produced in Warmia and Mazury in shaping the pro-health properties of food products.

The described research is an important contribution to solving current problems related to the aging society and an increased risk of metabolic diseases, such as diabetes or hypertension. It is believed that long-term consumption of buckwheat products may be a factor preventing the so-called civilization diseases.

The Scientific Award of the Marshal of the Province of Warmia and Mazury is an expression of recognition for the whole research team. We would like to congratulate all scientists and cheer them on further research projects.

Aquaculture Europe 2022 – Europe’s largest aquaculture event in September in Rimini

Aquaculture Europe 2022 (AE2022) is the largest scientific event on aquaculture in the Old Continent. This year it will be held in the Italian city of Rimini from 27-30 September, and a scientist from our Institute is involved in organizing the conference.

Aquaculture Europe is a conference organized by the European Aquaculture Society, which gathers about 1000 participants (scientists, NGO representatives, and entrepreneurs related to aquaculture). The lectures are combined with an aquaculture fair where you can see the latest equipment, feed, and much more. Aquaculture Europe is organized in a different city every year – this time it is Rimini.

The local organizing committee is responsible for the organization of the conference, but always a specialist from „outside” (another country than the organizer) is invited, and responsible for the scientific program. This time the honor was given to Daniel Żarski, Ph.D., assistant professor from the Department of Gamete and Embryo Biology of the Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Olsztyn.

– This is a great honor for me because usually the most respected specialists are appointed to this position, and this time it fell on my humble person – said Dr. Żarski.

This year’s conference is expected to be record-breaking – nearly 2500 participants, about 30 scientific sessions (some conducted simultaneously), and a huge fair. So far, the organizers have received nearly 450 applications for scientific presentations, and there will be even more.

– This is a really big event, whereas a „Program Co-Chair” I will proudly represent our Institute. I am the first Pole to hold this honorable position at this conference, although it should be mentioned that in 2008 one edition was held in Krakow, where, of course, Poles were involved in the organization of this event – added Dr. Żarski.

The city of Rimini was not chosen by chance – it is the Italian province with the largest number of companies operating within the blue economy, where tourism, fishing, and aquaculture are the sectors with the most jobs. Due to its location on the Adriatic coast, Rimini is an excellent example of combining the natural and cultural heritage of the Mediterranean with modern and dynamic aquaculture.

More information about the conference.

Improving the quality of deer meat

Deer meat is already highly valued by gourmets, but can it be still improved? The research team of Dr. Anna Kononiuk from the Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research PAS works on enhancing the the quality of red deer meat through development of innovative feed additives.

Red deer is an increasingly popular meat in recent years, also in Poland. Unfortunately, there are no feed additives on the market which are strictly dedicated to deer. This may soon change thanks to the research team of Dr. Anna Kononiuk, which is carrying out a project funded by „Inkubator Innowacyjności 4.0” entitled „Feed additive for feeding deer after a reproductive period, intended for meat raw material”. Feed additives – as the name suggests – are nothing but additives to feed. They do not replace normal food, but when properly supplemented, they can offer various benefits to the animal. We asked Dr. Anna Kononiuk are the functions of the feed additive she is developing – both for animals and for consumers.

Marcin Powęska: How do we currently feed deer?

Dr. Anna Kononiuk: There are no supplements for deer available on the market that could influence the condition of the animal and the quality of its meat. They are either fed with fodder for cows (it is also a ruminant), or with no mixed feed at all – they are only given what is found in the forest plus alfalfa or hay. It’s not a professionally matched feed. To meet the market expectations, we decided to develop a dedicated feed supplement for deer to improve the quality of their meat.

MP: When is the best time to give such a feed supplement to an animal?

AK: It is meant to be administered in the autumn and winter, that is after the end of the reproductive period. This is the time when males are weakened after the roaring season, and females need strengthening during the development of pregnancy. Our supplement is meant to improve the condition of the animals, but also affect the quality of the meat that will be harvested, since the deer hunting season falls during the same period.

MP: There has been one supplement developed for males and females? What is their composition?

AK: As part of the experiment, we developed two different supplements – one targeting animal conditions and the other meat quality. I can’t pinpoint the exact differences, nor can I present the composition of these feeds as they are protected by patent rights. Our experiments made it possible to determine the dosage affecting changes in the condition and quality of the raw meat.

MP: Are similar feed additives for deer available worldwide?

AK: Commercially available are only feed additives that affect antler growth in deer. None improve the condition of the animals, much less the quality of their meat. That’s what inspired us to take up the challenge. When our feed additive hits the market, it will be the first of its kind.

MP: At what stage is your team’s research now?

AK: The feed additives have already been tested on deer and we are completing the results that show how it affects the condition of the animals. We are at the stage of statistical analyses of the results and summarizing the whole project.

MP: Has meat from deer fed with experimental feed additives been tested in restaurant conditions yet? Are there any taste differences?

AK: Yes, deer from animals fed with our additives have already been served to guests in restaurants and received positive reviews. Consumers were delighted with the meat and the restaurants appreciated our input, because for them it is not easy to find good quality cervid.

MP: What are your research plans for the future?

AK: We are currently focusing on the feed additives we have developed and trying to find customers for them. Surely they can still be improved and more parameters can be studied to determine their usefulness, but this takes time. At the moment we are satisfied with the progress of the work, but we are looking forward to more.

Scientists of our Institute are most frequently cited in Theriogenology

The research team’s publication led by Radosław Kowalski, Ph.D., from the Department of Gamete and Embryo Biology of our Institute was among the most cited articles published from 2018 to 2022 in Theriogenology.

The review paper „Sperm quality in fish: Determinants and affecting factors” by dr Radosław Kowalski and dr Beata Cejko, describes the latest diagnostic developments in the study of fish sperm quality taking into account interspecies differences, indicating the direction of their development. The paper critically describes the principle of Computer Assisted Semen Analysis (CASA) and explains, based on our own and other researchers’ results, why there are significant discrepancies in this analysis.

The authors pointed out the critical role of the FPS (frames per second) of the camera used in the CASA study in obtaining reliable sperm motility data. In addition, a visualization of the error rule in CASA analysis when the FPS value is too low is presented for the first time.

This publication is a summary of the knowledge gained over the last 20 years by the Molecular Andrology Team. It confronts the results obtained by our team with the works of other researchers, systematizing the knowledge on the factors that affect the quality of fish spermatozoa. The conclusions included in the paper, as well as further questions facing researchers dealing with fish reproduction, constitute an important scientific value of the publication, making it useful for anyone who starts their scientific work with fish gametes,” said Radosław Kowalski, Ph.D., lead author of the publication.

The full list of most cited publications is at this link.

Distinctions of the Committee of Animal Sciences and Aquaculture

Two scientific achievements of interdisciplinary research teams involving scientists from the Institute of Animal Reproduction and Research PAS have been honored by the Committee of Animal Sciences and Aquaculture of the Polish Academy of Sciences – one with the main prize and the other with an honorable distinction.

The main prize of the Committee of Animal and Aquaculture Sciences of the Polish Academy of Sciences was awarded for the scientific achievement „Antioxidant and immunostimulating effect of different levels and the mutual ratio of lysine, arginine, and methionine in mixtures for turkeys for slaughter”.

The authors of the paper are:

Prof. Dariusz Mikulski, Ph.D;
Prof. Katarzyna Ognik, Ph.D;
Paweł Konieczka, Ph.D;
Magdalena Krauze, Ph.D;
Anna Stępniowska, Ph.D;
Ewelina Cholewińska, Ph.D;
Bartłomiej Tykałowski, Ph.D;
Prof. Zenon Zduńczyk, Ph.D;
Prof. Jerzy Juśkiewicz, Ph.D.

The study aimed to determine the optimal ratio of lysine (Lys), arginine (Arg), and methionine (Met) in diets of turkeys for fattening, taking into account different intensities of feeding and multidirectional metabolic effects of amino acids analyzed. The researchers considered a wide range of indicators, including production performance, metabolic responses, immune system responses, possible oxidative damage to lipids, proteins, and DNA and protein nitration, epigenetic changes, repair mechanisms conditioning the intestinal integrity of turkeys infected with C. perfringens bacteria, and selected metabolic indicators illustrating the degree of lipid, protein and DNA oxidation.

Apart from cognitive aspects, appreciated by reviewers appointed by editors of renowned worldwide scientific journals, the results obtained were useful for turkey compound feed manufacturers.

The overriding aim of the conducted research is the possibility of using the results from economic entities involved in the production of turkey feed. Implementation of the research results may significantly contribute to improving the rearing efficiency of turkeys for fattening and also reducing the number of antibiotics used in their treatment.

The distinction of the Committee for Animal Sciences and Aquaculture of the Polish Academy of Sciences was honored to the scientific achievement „Development of a standardized method for cryopreservation of fish semen”.

The authors of the work are scientists from the Department of Gamete and Embryo Biology of our Institute:

Prof. Andrzej Ciereszko, Ph.D;
Sylwia Judycka, Ph.D.;
Joanna Nynca, Ph.D;
Mariola Dietrich, Ph.D;
Daniel Żarski, Ph.D;
Ewa Liszewska, M.Sc.

The research concerns the development and improvement of procedures for the cryopreservation of semen from salmonid fish (rainbow trout, alpine pike, rainbow trout neo-spawning, and spring trout) and perch fish (perch and pike-perch). Establishing semen banks for these fish is an important element of the strategy to protect the biodiversity of local species, as well as providing an opportunity to secure semen from the most valuable individuals in terms of breeding.

The research project has developed a novel, standardized (in terms of a constant number of sperm in the straw and final concentration of cryoprotectants) methodology for cryopreservation of fish semen using a simple glucose-methanol diluent. The researchers confirmed that an appropriate cryopreservation protocol must be used for each of the species studied.

The results of the study were published in a series of papers published in prestigious international aquaculture journals and summarized in a review paper („Opportunities and challenges related to the implementation of sperm cryopreservation into breeding of salmonid fishes”) published in a special issue of Theriogenology on fish reproduction.

Top Scientists Ranking

Research.com, an academic platform for scientists, published ranking lists of leading researchers in a given scientific discipline in 2022. The list includes 166,880 scientists from around the world. Among them are professors Ryszard Amarowicz and Andrzej Ciereszko.

Research.com lists are created based on the data from the Microsoft Academic Graph and Google Scholar websites, taking into account three bibliometric indicators (Hirsch index, h; number of citations; number of publications) relating to individual scientific disciplines. The list covered the years 2014-2021.

In the discipline of chemistry, Prof. Ryszard Amarowicz, head of the Department of Chemical and Physical Properties of Food, was classified 12th in Poland. Prof. Amarowicz owns this success to h = 60, over 12,000 citations and 288 publications.

Ranking: https://research.com/scientists-rankings/chemistry/pl

In the discipline of biology and biochemistry, the 16th position in Poland was taken by Prof. Andrzej Ciereszko, head of the Department of Gamete and Embryo Biology. His high position in the ranking was guaranteed by h= 44, over 6,000 citations and 209 publications.

Ranking: https://research.com/scientists-rankings/biology-and-biochemistry/pl

It is also worth noticing that the bibliometric achievements of Prof. Carsten Carlberg, who joined the scientific staff of our Institute in March this year, would give him the no. 1 position in Poland in the field of genetics and molecular biology (h = 75, nearly 15,000 citations, 195 publications).

Dr. Taisiia Yurchuk with NCN grant for Ukrainian Scientists

Dr. Taisiia Yurchuk from the Department of Reproductive Immunology and Pathology at the Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Olsztyn has received funding for the implementation of research projects under the NCN program for Ukrainian scientists.

NCN for Ukrainian Scientists is a special NCN program aimed at Ukrainian scientists, regardless of citizenship, who took or will take refuge in Poland after the Russian aggression against Ukraine. It is led by the National Science Center (NCN).

What will Dr. Yurchuk do at the Institute?

Dr. Taisiia Yurchuk will be involved in the NCN OPUS project „Biological research and mathematical modeling to describe and predict new processes controlling development, function, and atresia of bovine ovarian follicles”.

Dr. Yurchuk’s work will include but is not limited to: performing cell isolations and cultures and performing analyses using molecular biology techniques. Dr. Yurchuk will focus on modeling the process of normal and disrupted ovulation in cattle. Her findings may be used to create similar models in other animals and humans.

Why is this understanding of these mechanisms so important? Ovulation is the process of releasing an oocyte from ovarian follicles. After ovulation, in the early luteal phase, fertilization of the oocyte by the sperm can occuŕ. The factors that regulate ovarian follicle development, ovulation processes and their disorders (e.g., the phenomenon of multiple ovulations in animals with single ovulation), and oocyte quality are still unexplained.

In animal breeding (especially cattle), twin pregnancies are difficult to obtain by selection because of the low heritability of this trait, the long intergenerational period, and the unfavorable correlation with milk yield. A factor that may play a role in the appearance of higher twin pregnancy rates is the insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1). It has been shown that IGF-I plays an important role in the reproduction of cows, influences fertility, at different regulatory levels of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis, and may condition double ovulation resulting in twin pregnancies. However, no data are describing the mechanisms that lead to twin pregnancies/double ovulation. The NCN-funded research will help change this.

The experiments will determine the effects of IGF-1 on the growth and function of ovarian follicle granular layer cells in vitro. In addition, genes and proteins involved in the process of necroptosis, one type of cell death, will be traced. In addition, the expression of non-coding RNAs, the so-called miRNAs, will be investigated to find new markers of follicle quality and indicators of double ovulation. The results obtained will be used to explain the occurrence of double ovulation and twin pregnancy cases in cattle breeding. In addition, in vitro experiments will be confirmed under in vivo conditions to compare the results obtained. The obtained results will be used to create a planned mathematical model of the above-described processes occurring in the ovary, especially the process of double ovulation.

A long way to Olsztyn

Dr. Taisiia Yurchuk became one of the first beneficiaries of the program to support scientists from Ukraine and received a 3-month scholarship from the Polish Academy of Sciences. On March 14, 2022, she started work at the Department of Immunology and Reproductive Pathology.

Dr. Taisiia Yurchuk, along with a group of scientists, doctors, and patients, sheltered for over a week in the basement of an infertility clinic and maternity hospital in Kharkiv, which was bombed by Russian aggressors. She finally managed to escape from Kharkiv and after more than a week’s journey across Ukraine she finally arrived in Olsztyn.

Dr. Yurchuk has previously worked at the Institute of Problems of Cryobiology and Cryomedicine in Kharkiv. Her scientific specialties are gamete biology, embryology, cell biology, and 3D cell culture systems. Dr. Yurchuk has been in contact with the Institute for several years. She has presented papers at scientific conferences organized by the Institute: including Biodiversity, and recently gave a lecture at the conference Development of Scientific Cooperation in Reproductive Medicine Research VIII, organized by the Department of Biology and Pathology of Human Reproduction in October 2021 in Wroclaw. Dr. Yurchuk participated in the 5th edition of the Symposium „Perspectives in Biodiversity Conservation” organized by the Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences. She is a member of the Reproduction Committee.

New grants from NCN

Researchers from the Institute of PAS in Olsztyn received funding for the implementation of research projects under the competition PRELUDIUM BIS 3 announced by the National Centre for Science (NCN). (więcej…)

Precision farming is coming to Farming Simulator 22. The new free Precision Farming DLC is now available!

April 19 is a big celebration for all virtual farmers. Precision Farming, the free DLC (downloadable content) to the world-popular Farming Simulator 22, has its premiere today! The DLC development was supported by the Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences.

Farming Simulator is a simulation game created by the Swiss company Giants Software. It is one of the most advanced and popular simulators in the world, which allows players to learn all the secrets of farming. Its creators – Stefan Geiger and Christian Ammann – grew up in the countryside, so they know the life of a farmer inside out. One day, they decided to create a game that recreates the life of a farmer, simulating all of its most important aspects – from operating machinery through managing the soil to running the farm.

Precision Farming – What is it?

Precision Farming was first introduced in Farming Simulator 19. The free DLC has been downloaded over a million times worldwide. Precision farming is a solution that allows us to run a farm based on collecting and processing various data obtained, among others, thanks to satellite technologies. These allow us to better control the costs of fertilizers, seeds, and plant protection products.

Until recently, only the biggest growers could use such solutions, today this technology is available to everyone.

Precision Farming was introduced to Farming Simulator by John Deere as part of the „Precision Farming” project funded by EIT Food, Europe’s leading food innovation initiative. It focuses on promoting sustainable agriculture and draws attention to the urgency of reducing the human impact on the environment.

– People who live in large metropolitan areas may not know much about modern agricultural technology or how food gets to grocery stores and their tables. Our project aims to promote knowledge about smart agricultural solutions and sustainable food production practices, especially among people who encounter agriculture only virtually,” says Tomasz Jeliński, chief specialist at the Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Olsztyn, a research institute engaged in the creation of the Precision Farming DLC.

Precision Farming 22

In the first edition of the Precision Farming DLC, the basis of gameplay was fertilization and planning of field treatments. The obtained soil parameters facilitated the allocation of appropriate amounts of fertilizers and doses of liming. This equates to savings, crucial both in the game and on a real farm.

– We communicate the product especially towards young farmers to familiarize them with the latest technologies, including precision farming, commonly regarded as an expensive technique – says Tomasz Jeliński.

Two years after the premiere, a new version of Precision Farming is released, which is a free DLC to Farming Simulator 22.

In this edition of the DLC, the player can experience all advantages of precision farming. The DLC allows for variable seeding rates, weed control with spot spraying, and variable fertilizer rates using crop sensors, among other things. If players can’t or don’t want to put time into soil sampling themselves, they can purchase soil maps directly from a service provider. New to Farming Simulator 22 is an environmental score that allows you to optimize the impact of your crops on the external environment.

It’s not just a game!

A huge community has grown up around Farming Simulator 22, exchanging insights in online forums and competing in esports matches.

The Precision Farming DLC for Farming Simulator 22 is free to download on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox consoles starting April 19.

Download DLC

Update 1.4

The Precision Farming project is an international initiative of agricultural experts, food technologists, scientists, innovators, and game designers from John Deere, Giants Software, University of Hohenheim, University of Reading, Grupo AN (Spain’s largest grain cooperative), and the Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences.

EIT Food is supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union.