en_GB – Strona 48 – Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of PAS

Małgorzata Starowicz PhD and Agnieszka Mostek-Majewska PhD with a scholarship for outstanding young scientists

Małgorzata Starowicz Ph.D. and Agnieszka Mostek-Majewska Ph.D. from our Institute have received a scholarship from the Minister of Education and Science for outstanding young scientists.

This is the 17th edition of the support program for particularly talented young scientists, and another in which people from the Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences have been awarded. The competition was strong, as a total of 1,719 applications were submitted. The Minister of Education and Science awarded scholarships to 215 young scientists, including 37 doctoral students. When evaluating the applications, the greatest importance was attached to the measurable effects of scientific activity in the form of scientific publications and practical applications of the results of scientific research or development work.

Małgorzata Starowicz Ph.D. received a scholarship in the field of food technology and nutrition and Agnieszka Mostek-Majewska Ph.D. in the field of zootechnics and fisheries.

The topic of Małgorzata Starowicz’s research is the characterization of chemical distinguishing features in foods of plant origin that determine their sensory quality, biological quality, and safety. The research is conducted to analyze the content of biologically active compounds in plant raw materials and final products, as well as determine the influence of technological processes on the formation of favorable and unfavorable Maillard reaction compounds. Her research has made a major contribution to expanding the knowledge of the properties of buckwheat, herbs and spices, bee products, and their beneficial application in functional food formulation from both health-promoting and sensory aspects. The research may contribute to solving problems related to the aging population and the increased risk of metabolic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension.

In turn, Agnieszka Mostek-Majewska’s scientific work focuses on sperm physiology – she has contributed, among other things, to expanding knowledge in previously unknown areas, including redox signal transmission. Mostek-Majewska’s greatest scientific achievement is the implementation of methods for the analysis of oxidative modifications of proteins for the study of bull spermatozoa. She was the first to show that cryopreservation (freezing) of spermatozoa induces oxidation of selected proteins (through a process known as carbonylation). Other research by Agnieszka Mostek-Majewska confirmed that the process of capacitation (conditioning of sperm for fertilization) in bulls is accompanied by reversible modifications of proteins. The findings can be used to study the treatment of infertility in animals. Dr. Agnieszka Mostek-Majewska’s project „Potential use of peroxiredoxins to improve the quality of cryopreserved bull semen” received funding from the National Science Center under the recent SONATA 17 competition.

We are glad to learn that this year’s winners of this prestigious prize include also young researchers who have built their scientific acheivements during PhD studies in our Institute. Dr. Natalia Drabińska is currently doing a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Life Sciences in Poznań. Dr. Paulina Opyd, like the 2020 laureate of Minister’s scholarship, Dr. Tomasz Sawicki, continues her scientific career at the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn. The fact that many early careers researchers succeed in competitive scholarships and find employment in other research units, confirms that we are training skilful human resources not only for our, but also other’s advantage. Their succeess, e.g. receiving the Minister’s award, proves we are working on a top class level.

The full list of winners is HERE.

In this year’s edition, the Minister of Education and Science adopted a new approach to the method of selecting candidates for the grant, resulting from the equality of scientific and artistic disciplines. It involves awarding a similar number of scholarships in each discipline. Thus, young scientists competed against each other within a given discipline, rather than an entire field, the announcement stated.

Institution name:

Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences (IAR&FR PAS)

Name of the position:

Post-doctoral Researcher in an NCN project OPUS 22 entitled „Towards unraveling the role of carp cold acclimation protein 31 (Cap31) – a new important player in fish antimicrobial defense?”

Description of the position:

The candidate will participate in the following research tasks:

Development of the isolation and purification procedure of Cap31, production of anti-Cap31 antibodies and development of ELISA for Cap31 determination;
Determination of physicochemical characteristics and kinetical properties of possible cytidine deaminase activity of Cap31;
Determination of the kinetics of Cap31 in relation to acclimation to cold;
Determination of relationships between Cap31 and well-being and health status of carp in aquaculture conditions.

Conditions of work:

The elected candidate will receive a monthly salary of 7500-8500 PLN per month (brutto),
Location of the workplace: Department of Gamete and Embryo Biology, IAR&FR PAS, Bydgoska Str. 7, 10-243 Olsztyn,
Date of beginning of the employment: July/August 2022,
Length of work contract: 48 months.

Requirements:

Ph.D. in bioengineering, biotechnology, biology, veterinary, or related discipline (obtained not earlier than 7 years before the date of the announcement, a degree should be obtained outside the Institution where the project will be carried out);
Knowledge in the field of biochemistry, molecular biology, biology of reproduction and immunology;
Experience with the following techniques: purification and characterization of proteins, mass spectrometry MALDI TOF, proteomics, analysis of post-translational modifications, ELISA, electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE, 2D PAGE, 2D-DIGE, Western blot), qPCR, microscopy techniques, immunofluorescence staining of proteins in the cell, sperm analyses, including CASA;
Co-authorship of 10 scientific papers;
Ability to communicate easily in English;
Ability to work in a group.

Interested candidates are asked to provide the following documents:

Motivation letter;
CV including a list of publications, conference presentations, and other awards;
Ph.D. diploma or certificate of participation in studies at the moment;
Recommendation letter confirming skills necessary for completing the project;
Other documents, that in the opinion of the candidate are important when considering him/her for the position.

Applications should be sent to:

Prof dr hab. Andrzej Ciereszko a.ciereszko@pan.olsztyn.pl, deadline July 8, 2022 until 3:00 p.m. The subject of the message should be „Call for Post-doc Researcher/OPUS”.

In your CV, please include a consent clause for the processing of personal data in the recruitment process:

„I consent to the processing of my personal data contained in the application documents by the Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Olsztyn, 10-748 Olsztyn, ul. Tuwima 10, in order to carry out the recruitment process and publishing the full results of the competition on the Institute’s website”.

Information clause:

The administrator of personal data processed as part of the recruitment process is the Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Olsztyn, 10-748 Olsztyn, ul. Tuwima 10, phone no. 89 523 46 86, e-mail: instytut@pan.olsztyn.pl.
Contact with the personal data protection officer is possible at the above-mentioned address.
The provided personal data will be processed in order to carry out the current recruitment process and kept until its completion on the basis of expressed consent (in accordance with Article 6 (1) (a) of the GDPR).
You have the right to withdraw consent at any time without affecting the lawfulness of the processing which was carried out on the basis of consent before its withdrawal.
You have the right to access your personal data, request their rectification or removal. Submitting a request to delete data is tantamount to resignation from participation in the recruitment process. In addition, you have the right to request the restriction of processing in the cases specified in art. 18 GDPR.
You have the right to lodge a complaint with the President of the Personal Data Protection Office against the unlawful processing of his personal data. This authority will be competent to consider the complaint, provided that the right to file a complaint concerns only the lawfulness of the processing of personal data, and not the recruitment process.
Your data will not be profiled or made available to entities or third countries. The recipients of the data may be institutions authorized by law.
Providing your personal data is not obligatory, but it is a necessary condition to participate in the recruitment process.

Professor Henryk Zieliński honorary citizen of Jabłonowo Pomorskie!

Professor Henryk Zieliński from the Department of Food Chemistry and Biodynamics of our Institute received the title of „Honorary Citizen of Jabłonowo Pomorskie” from the government of his home town in recognition of his outstanding scientific career.

The Professor was awarded the title of Honorary Citizen of the City of Jabłonowo Pomorskie on June 9, 2022, during a unique session of the City Council of Jabłonowo Pomorskie. It was related to the celebration of the 60th anniversary of granting town rights and the 800th anniversary of the existence of Jabłonowo Pomorskie.

After presenting the award certificate, Prof. Zieliński gave a short speech. He referred to his origin, recalling many anecdotes connected with Jabłonowo Pomorskie. Professor Zieliński also presented the Director of the Irena Nowicka Kindergarten Agnieszka Lis-Kornacka, the Director of the Municipal Public Library in Jabłonowo Pomorskie Mariola Olszewska and the Director of the Culture and Sports Center in Jabłonowo Pomorskie Katarzyna Pomianowska with commemorative props, and the Mayor of the Town and Commune of Jabłonowo Pomorskie and the Chairman of the Jabłonowo Pomorskie Town Council Zbigniew Mikulicz with a commemorative coat of arms.

Professor Zieliński also received a congratulatory letter from the President of Olsztyn, Piotr Grzymowicz, expressing his highest appreciation for Prof. Zieliński’s scientific achievements and social activity.

Outstanding scientist from Jabłonowo Pomorskie

Born in Jabłonowo Pomorskie, Professor Henryk Zieliński has been affiliated with Olsztyn for over 37 years. In 1996 he received his doctorate in zootechnics at the Agricultural and Technical Academy in Olsztyn. Since then he has been working in our Institute – currently, he is the head of the Department of Food Chemistry and Biodynamics.

In the years 2010-2020, he was the editor-in-chief of the scientific quarterly Polish Journal of Food and Nutrition Science, thanks to which the journal, as the only one among Polish journals in the field of food science, is indexed in international databases such as Journal Citation Report (JCR), Web of Science (WoS) and Scopus. The title of Professor of Agricultural Sciences was conferred on him by the President of the Republic of Poland in 2011, and in 2013 he was awarded the Golden Cross of Merit.

We sincerely congratulate the Professor on this honorable distinction by the authorities of his hometown and express our appreciation for his scholarly activities to date.

Anna Szóstek-Mioduchowska, Ph.D., with an award for the habilitation thesis

Anna Szóstek-Mioduchowska, Ph.D., from our Institute, has received the first-degree award for outstanding scientific achievement presented in the form of a monothematic series of works constituting the basis for awarding the habilitation degree. Her research work is widely commented on and highly appreciated in the scientific community, resulting in numerous awards.

On April 14, 2022, the Annual Awards Committee meeting for 2021 was held. Polish Society of Veterinary Sciences. After considering the submitted applications, the Commission decided to award the first-degree prize to a scientist from the Department of Immunology and Reproductive Pathology. Anna Szóstek-Mioduchowska, Ph.D., was honored for her outstanding scientific achievement presented in the form of a monothematic series of papers: „The role of selected mediators of inflammatory response and lysophosphatidic acid in the development of endometriosis in mares”.

The performed studies describe the influence of inflammatory mediators released by immune cells (mainly macrophages) on processes connected with the development of endometriosis in mares. It is an active or inactive fibrotic process that develops around the glands of the endometrium and in the connective tissue stroma. It leads to excessive deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) and activation of cells called fibroblasts.

These studies will help to understand the mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of endometriosis, which in the future may contribute to the development of effective therapeutic strategies (also in humans for the treatment of endometriosis).

Another award in a scientific career

It is worth mentioning that this is another award for Szóstek-Mioduchowska for her research on the mechanisms of endometriosis in mares. The XVI Congress of the Polish Society of Veterinary Sciences „Omnia Autem Animalia Sunt” took place on November 26-27, 2021, where Szóstek-Mioduchowska was awarded for the highest scored oral presentation in the session on equine physiology and pathology. At the end of the year, she also received a distinction during the 5th edition of the Scientific Awards of the Olsztyn and Białystok Branches of the Polish Academy of Sciences.

Works constituting the basis for awarding the habilitation degree:

Effect of transforming growth factor-β1 on α- smooth muscle actin and collagen expression in equine endometrial fibroblasts. Theriogenology 2019, 124:9-17.
Effect of proinflammatory cytokines on endometrial collagen and metallopeptidase expression during the course of equine endometrosis. Cytokine 2019, 123:154767.
Matrix metallopeptidase expression and modulation by transforming growth factor-β1 in equine endometrosis. Scientific Reports 2020, 10:1119.
Prostaglandins effect on matrix metallopeptidase and collagen in mare endometrial fibroblasts. Theriogenology 2020, 153:74-84.
Lysophosphatidic acid as a regulator of endometrial prostaglandin and connective tissue growth factor secretion during estrous cycle and endometrosis in the mare. BMC Veterinary Journal 2020, 16:343.

Daniel Żarski Ph.D. on the European Aquaculture Society Board

Daniel Żarski Ph.D. from our Institute has become the first Pole ever elected to the Board of the European Aquaculture Society, the most important scientific organization in the field of aquaculture on the Old Continent. This is another great achievement of our assistant professor!

The European Aquaculture Society (EAS) is an association established in 1984 to promote the development of European aquaculture as a platform for communication between scientists, producers, and legislators (at local and European levels). One of the really important elements of this communication is the organization of the largest scientific event in Europe combined with an aquaculture fait trades – the Aquaculture Europe Conference. This year the conference will be held in Rimini, Italy.

Daniel Żarski, Ph.D., who is an assistant professor in the Department of Gamete and Embryo Biology, was recently selected by EAS as the specialist responsible for the Aquaculture Europe 2022 scientific program. Now he has experienced an even greater honor.

EAS is governed by a Board of Directors under the direction of a Chair – elected for two-year terms. This year, Daniel Żarski Ph.D. was elected to the Board, making him the first-ever Pole to hold this honorable position. This is a result of his highly regarded work for the development of freshwater aquaculture to date, but also the recognition resulting from effective scientific work in the area of fish reproduction in its broadest sense.

– As a board member I will have a direct influence on the direction of the association and the debate on the development of aquaculture in Europe itself. In my program I emphasize supporting the development of freshwater aquaculture in Central Europe while remaining open to innovation in the sector on a European level, says Daniel Żarski.

Daniel Żarski will serve on the EAS Board from 2022 to 2024. It will be a challenging time, so we keep our fingers crossed that all the goals he has set will be achieved.

Invitation to participate in the 5th International Conference on Uterine Disorders in Farm Animals: Endometritis as a cause of infertility in domestic animals

We kindly invite you to take part in the 5th international conference „Endometritis as a cause of infertility in domestic animals”.

The conference program is available at https://endometritis.pan.olsztyn.pl/. It is still possible to register and online participate in the conference.

Foundation Act for the new building of the Institute

The groundbreaking ceremony for the new building of the Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research PAS took place on June 10. The event was attended by many distinguished guests from the world of science, business and regional authorities. This is the beginning of a new era in the history of the Institute.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the new building of the Institute took place on June 10 at noon. The investment is part of the project „Center for Environmental Research and Innovative Food Technology for Quality of Life”, which is located near the Olsztyn Science and Technology Park.

Construction of the new headquarters of the Institute officially began in mid-December 2021. It will have its seat at Władysława Trylińskiego Street, in the area of the Olsztyn Science and Technology Park. On June 10, a time capsule with the Foundation Act, local press, and coins was placed in the existing foundations of the building. The ceremony was attended by guests from the world of science, business and regional authorities.

The Foundation Act was signed and embedded by: Prof. Mariusz Piskuła – Director of IARFR PAS, Gustaw Marek Brzezin – Marshal of the Warmińsko-Mazurskie Voivodship, Piotr Grzymowicz – President of Olsztyn and Jakub Nagraba – General Construction Director of Budimex S.A., the general contractor of the investment.

The first to speak was Prof. Mariusz Piskuła:

– I am very happy that we are at this point in history where we are now. For a long time, we have suffered from a shortage of space, and I know from my own experience that the Institute’s location near a technology park would be a great asset. The project has been going on for 10 years now and we are well on track to bring it to a happy end. I think that this time capsule will survive us – maybe one day someone will get to it and read about what happened here in 2022 – said Prof. Mariusz Piskuła.

The second speaker was Gustaw Marek Brzezin – Marshal of the Warmińsko-Mazurskie Voivodship, who congratulated Prof. Piskuła on his perseverance and being a notable beneficiary of the regional operational program. The Marshal handed Professor Piskuła a special commemorative letter.

– This is not the first project of the Institute, it is the whole history of well spent funds, not only for the sake of science development, but the whole society as such. In such circumstances, I always recall our experiences in Brussels when we were the representatives of the European Commission, and Professor Piskuła, like the best teacher, preached about Warmia and Mazury having great opportunities. This project is a summary of that vision. At the end of the availability of EU funds, I would like to point out that the co-financing of about PLN 80 million for the development of the state-of-the-art research and development center will be continued from regional funds. I am convinced that with such research facilities and personnel as Professor Piskuła leafs, we will become a leader. You can already hear about Warmia and Mazury not only in Poland but also throughout Europe – added Gustaw Marek Brzezin.

– We are on the right track with the development of Warmia and Mazury, as well as the growth of Olsztyn. I am convinced that what we have prepared earlier in the development plan of the city will allow the Institute to achieve success in Poland and Europe. The new seat of the Institute will be a dream come true for several generations of scientists. I think that locating the building by the Olsztyn Science and Technology Park is an excellent idea as it allows the creation of a new space for running science in our city, with the option of turning it into practical and innovative solutions – added Piotr Grzymowicz, President of Olsztyn.

After the President’s speech, the groundbreaking ceremony took place, and then the guests took the floor.

– This is a very important moment for Olsztyn – the building of the Foundation Act for the new seat of the Institute. This is an example that Poland can develop evenly – not only in large agglomerations but also in smaller ones, with equally large scientific potential. I am glad that I could make my contribution to the realization of this goal. Olsztyn is joining the big world of science – we should all be proud of that. Olsztyn stands for science! – said Dr. Marcin Kulasek, MP.

At the end, Jarosław Babalski, read out the letter on behalf of Artur Chojecki, Warmian-Masurian Voivode.

A new era of the Institute

Completion of the construction is scheduled for September 2023, and already a year later all departments of the Institute of PAS, currently located in two locations in Olsztyn and two in Białystok, are to move in. This will facilitate cooperation between scientists, increase the potential of the institution and create optimal conditions for conducting innovative research.

The facility will have five floors and is being built under the design-build formula, which means that the contractor – Budimex – has prepared the project and is implementing it based on the functional-utility program developed by the Institute. The usable area of the building will be about 7.5 thousand square meters, and its cubature will be about 24 thousand cubic meters. The investment will also include access roads, parking lots, a roofed shelter for bicycles, and green areas.

Funds for the project come, among others, from the European Union, the Regional Operational Programme for Warmia and Mazury for 2014-2020, and the volume of funding is more than 79 million PLN. The entire project including equipment is an investment of PLN 95.4 million.

Excellent Paper Awards by the Japanese Society of Animal Science

Researchers from the Department of Biological Functions of Food received an honorable mention from the Japanese Society of Animal Science (JSAS).

The paper „The effect of administration of copper nanoparticles to chickens in their drinking water on the immune and antioxidant status of the blood”, published in „Animal Science Journal 89”, was awarded the Excellent Paper Awards by the Japanese Society of Animal Science. Its co-authors are Prof. Jerzy Juśkiewicz and Prof. Zenon Zduńczyk from our Institute.

The study aimed to determine what dose of copper nanoparticles added to a standard diet supplemented with copper sulfate improves antioxidant and immune protection in chickens. The experiment was conducted on 126 broiler chickens, which were divided into seven groups. Animals in the control group were not given copper nanoparticles and developed copper deficiency. Chickens are given copper nanoparticles during 3- or 7-day periods, the deficiency problem was not noted. At 42 days of age, blood markers were determined in broilers, and the results showed the increased antioxidant potential of the body and inhibition of lipid peroxidation.

The study showed that it is possible to simultaneously increase the antioxidant and immune defenses of chickens by feeding them copper nanoparticles for 6 weeks of feeding. This achieved a level that did not exceed the National Research Council (NRC) recommendation by more than 7%.

The work „The effect of administration of copper nanoparticles to chickens in their drinking water on the immune and antioxidant status of the blood” is of great biological importance as copper is considered to be one of the most important micronutrients essential for growth, development, and function of all living organisms. It exhibits the ability to accept and donate electrons readily and is a component of many enzymes, including copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (CuZn-SOD), cytochrome c oxidase, and L-lysine oxidase, ascorbate oxidase, tyrosinase, and dopamine beta-hydroxylase. The enzymes in turn play important roles in antioxidant defense, melanin synthesis, connective tissue formation, or mitochondrial respiration.

We congratulate all authors of the paper, especially scientists from our Institute – Prof. Jerzy Juśkiewicz and Prof. Zenon Zduńczyk. We wish you further scientific success!

The paper is available here.

„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.

Archiwa