Perspectives of modern biology and biotechnology 1400-219PWBB

A series of lectures on various areas of modern biotechnology and biology:

1. Introductory lecture - the story of the most important discoveries in modern biotechnology, research direction mapped out by biotech companies; the first artificially synthesized genome - the techniques used, the benefits and concerns; synthetic nucleic acids - beyond DNA and RNA – dr hab. Adrianna Raczkowska/dr Marta Polańska

2. Synthetic Biology as a new field of science - basic principles, synthetic particles and biological systems; biobrick as the basic element in creating synthetic systems; the application of synthetic biology in biotechnology and medicine, future prospects and ethical issues – dr hab. Radosław Stachowiak

3. Silver and gold nanoparticles like multiactional new nanoweapon used for the treatment and prevention microbes - nanotechnology definition; nanometrical structures; nanoparticles synthesis; potential applications of silver-nanoparticles (AgNPs) and gold-nanoparticles (AuNPs) in medicine and biotechnology – dr Anna Grudniak

4. Artificial photosynthesis for clean energy production - conversion of solar energy into clean fuel and electricity as the main challenge for mankind in 21st century. Hydrogen as the energy-rich, zero carbon footprint fuel. Photocatalytic water splitting and production of solar fuels using various architectures of the "artificial leaf" (graphene and oxide semiconductive electrode materials interfaced with various synthetic and biological catalysts). State-of-the-art most promising prototypes of artificial photosynthetic devices (biohybrid and synthetic photoelectrochemical cells and tandem dye sensitised solar cells). Photoplasmonics as means to improve solar energy conversion efficiency in artificial photosynthetic devices - dr hab. Joanna Kargul, prof. UW

5. New generation vaccines against human pathogens - new tendencies in the construction of subunit vaccines; selection of the antigen (reverse vaccinology); route of antigen administration. Types of vaccines: inactivated or killed pathogen, toxoid vaccines, live attenuated bacterial and viral strains, subunit vaccines, DNA vaccines, therapeutic vaccines. New adjuvants. Global effects of vaccination. Systems and structural vaccinology. Vaccinomics and the future of personalized vaccines – dr Agnieszka Wyszyńska

6. Plant biotechnology – industry, agriculture and medicine: vision of green future vs reality.
Usually we do not realize how much we are dependent from plants. Plants shape Earth, influence the civilization, and supply food and everything for living. But we can gain more. Green cities, houses using carbon dioxide released by inhabitants for plant growth, bioreactors for fuel production, farms where we can "cultivate" the insulin or vaccines – these are some advantages what plant biology and biotechnology can give us. We have chance for healthier and more ecological future, if only we want to improve it. Dr Danuta Solecka

7. Algae in biotechnology - a short description of this cluster of organisms, The use of algae as bioreactors to produce energy, drugs, cosmetics and food, current achievements and prospects for the future. The current utilization of algae on an industrial scale and their impact on the environment. Review of methods used in the transformation of algae, issues related to transformation - promoters and regulators of expression, selection markers, codon usage optimization. The advantages of algae and higher plants plastid transformation - current achievements and problems to solve - dr hab. Maksymilian Zienkiewicz

8. Learning from nature to develop strategies for the directed evolution of C4 rice to improve photosynthesis. Is possible to create rice plants by engineering C4 gens into C3 rice? Overexpression of C4 pathway gens in C3 dicots potato, tobacco and Arabidopsis: experiences and future challenges. General strategies for engineering CO2 fixation in plants. Changes in metabolic cycles: reduction of photorespiration by the installation of a bypass of photorespiration in the chloroplast. The problem with Rubisco. C3-C4 intermediates as a blueprint for engineering C4 photosynthesis. Whether introduction of the PEPC gene from a CAM plant into transgenic rice could carry out higher photosynthesis day and night?

9. Plant biotechnology, industry and agriculture. The use of plant tissue culture in food, drug and cosmetic industry. Methods of plant transformation. The use of transgenic plants in agriculture – prof. dr hab. Paweł Sowiński

10. Embryonic stem cells in basic research - application of embryonic stem cells in studies of cell differentiation processes in vivo (formation of chimaeras and teratomas containing derivatives of all three primary germ layers in immunodeficient mice ) and in vitro (formation of embryoid bodies - three-dimensional aggregates of ES cells recapitulating subsequent phases of differentiation, which occur during normal embryogenesis); examples of research and breakthrough discoveries involving these cells – dr Aneta Suwińska

11. Mammalian embryos and embryonic cells in biotechnology – new research possibilities will be demonstrated, which are created by modern experimental embryology combined with molecular biology. Application of these techniques pushed forward our knowledge on the role of different genes in control of the development and function of the animal organism. Transgenic animals, including animals in which certain genes were knocked-out or knocked-in, and cloned animals as invaluable tool in modern biology, biotechnology and biomedicine. Most important achievements, practical applications and further perspectives of modern experimental mammalian embryology – prof. dr hab. Marek Maleszewski

12. The application of stem cells in regenerative medicine - contemporary knowledge of stem cells (embryonic and tissue-specific), and their origin, mechanisms of differentiation; role in tissue repair in adult organisms, the possibility of using stem cells in regenerative medicine and therapy– dr hab. Edyta Brzóska-Wojtowicz

13. Cell penetrating peptides - a promising tool for delivery drugs to cells. The characterization of peptides penetrating cells (CPPs), the type of transported cargo, mechanisms of cell penetration by peptides, the use of CPPs for the transport of therapeutic and diagnostic molecules - dr Joanna Trzcińska Danielewicz

14. Applications of monoclonal antibodies in research, diagnosis and therapy, immunotherapy, the therapeutic modulation of the immune system activity, cancer vaccines – dr Ewa Kozłowska