Cell physiology

elective courses

Basic cell biology, including cell cycle regulation, cytoskeletal function, establishment of cellular junctions, programmed cell death etc.

Classroom

The course is comprised of 7 2-day lab classes; their topics will be chosen from the list below:

1) Regulation of meiotic division in mouse oocytes.

2) Sermatozoon as an example of a motile cell.

3) Regulation of fertilization in mouse; role of Ca2+ as a signalling molecule.

4) Regulation of mitotic divisions in mouse embryos.

5) Establishment of cellular junctions and cell polarity in compacting mouse embryos.

6) Signalling pathways, ligand-receptor interaction; autocrine and paracrine signalling - FGF signalling in mouse embryos.

7) Mast cells and their role in homeostasis and immune response.

8) P-glycoprotein pomp (PgP) activity and its role in drug resistance in parasites.

9) Parasite infection - Babesia microti.

10) Bacterial infection and a cellular response to it.

11) Cell death - types and regulation.

1) Regulation of meiotic division in mouse oocytes.

Isolation of mouse oocytes in prophase of the 1st meiotic division and their in vitro culture; immunostaining of the metaphase spindle; microscopic analysis of the immunostained cells.

2) Sermatozoon as an example of a motile cell.

Isolation of mouse spermatozoa; examination of the effect of cytoskeletal and mitochondrial inhibitors on sperm motility.

3) Regulation of fertilization in mouse.

Practical class: isolation of mouse metaphase II oocytes and spermatozoa; fertilization in vitro; examination of the Ca2+ ionophore effect on sperm ability to fertilize. Work with computers: analysis of Ca2+ oscillations induced in oocytes by fertilization.

4) Regulation of mitotic divisions in mouse embryos.

Work with computers: morphokinetic analysis of time-lapse movies of dividing embryos.

5) Establishment of cellular junctions and cell polarity in compacting mouse embryos.

Isolation of 8-cell embryos, examination of the effect of cytoskeletal and l inhibitors and Ca2+ chelators on compaction of the embryos.

6) Signalling pathways, ligand-receptor interaction; autocrine and paracrine signalling - FGF signalling in mouse embryos.

Work with computers: analysis of the effect of FGF signalling modulation on number of cells in the first embryonic cell lineages in mouse blastocysts.

7) Mast cells and their role in homeostasis and immune response.

Work with computers: a presentation prepared by students based on the literature provided by the course instructors. Practical class: isolation of mast cells, assay for a degranulanulation induced by parasite antigens, metachromasia of mast cells.

8) P-glycoprotein pomp (PgP) activity and its role in drug resistance in parasites.

Work with computers: a presentation prepared by students based on the literature provided by the course instructors.Practical class: examination of the effect of antiparasitic agents on a PgP activity - egg hatching assey for Heligmosomoides polygyrus, analysis of the chitosan and saponin effect on the parasite survival.

9) Parasite infection - Babesia microti.

Work with computers: a presentation prepared by students based on the literature provided by the course instructors. Practical class: examination of the inflammation stages, parasitemia and hematocrit; viability assay for Babesia (immunostaining with rhodamine 123), fluorescence assay as a diagnostic tool in Babesia infection.

10) Bacterial infection and a cellular response to it.

11) Cell death - types and regulation.

Examination of the reaction of immune cells to LPS; flow cytometry analysis of activation and apoptosis of the examined cells.

1) Podstawy biologii komórki, Bruce Alberts i in., PWN or its English original version

2) Cell Physiology. Source book, ed. N. Sperelakis, Academic Press

3) Podstawy Cytofizjologii, ed. J. Kawiaka, J.Mireckiej, M.Olszewskiej i J. Warchoła, PWN

4) Immunologia, Roitt, Brostoff, Male, PZWL

5) Ćwiczenia z biologii rozwoju zwierząt ed. M. Maleszewskiego. Wydawnictwa UW

6) Developmental Biology, Scott F. Gilbert, Sinauer Associates, Inc.

7) artykuł Maria Doligalska, Kinga Jóźwicka, Mauryla Kiersnowska, Agnieszka Mroczek, Cezary Pączkowski, Wirginia Janiszowska. Triterpenoid saponins affect the function of P-glycoprotein and reduce the survival of the free-living stages of Heligmosomoides bakeri. VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY Tom 30 Nr 179 r. 2011, str. 144-151

The student knows in-depth selected theoretical and practical aspects (including techniques and methods) of cell biology and cytophysiology and is able to use this knowledge, incl. in broadly understood microbiology (S1_W01).

The student applies and disseminates the principles of interpreting phenomena and processes occurring in eukaryotic cells based on empirical data resulting from their experiments (S1_W02).

The student understands the basic (bio)ethical and legal rules related to the use of animal material in scientific and didactic activities (S1_W05).

The student is able to formulate and solve scientific problems in cell biology and cytophysiology by conducting experiments, proper selection of sources and advanced research methods as well as by their critical evaluation in the light of current knowledge and is able to assess their relationship to other biological issues, incl.those of general microbiology (S1_U01).

The student is able to critically evaluate scientific and popular science content (S1_K01).

In order to be allowed to take the exam, students must show an involvement in all activities scheduled during the classes. The exam includes knowledge accquired from the introductory talks presented during the lab courses and the literature suggested by the course instructors. Exam includes test and open questions.

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