Members of the research program P4-0053 are actively involved in university graduate and postgraduate study, as well as long term education programs as lecturers and supervisors of graduate and PhD students. Moreover, research program members are closely involved in educational programs at other national and foreign research and educational institutions. The results of their research are therefore of great importance for the implementation of the educational process based on knowledge gained through research ("evidence-based medicine"). However, these modern teaching approaches based on experiential learning also require adjustments and updates to the pedagogical process and curricula. Members of P4-0053 are project leaders or collaborators of several projects aimed at preparing the necessary conditions for the successful creation of updated curricula and the empowerment of teachers to implement a pedagogical process based on experiential learning, active participation of students and use of information and communication technology (three ongoing ERASMUS + programs). In the framework of the Erasmus+ project, in collaboration with other European faculties, we are developing curricula for teaching some so-called life skills (digital, communication, entrepreneurial), which are important in the profession in different areas of veterinary medicine. By implementing the projects "On the creative path to knowledge" we enable groups of students to broaden their knowledge, develop competences and skills, get acquainted with the labor market and get in touch with potential employers. Through the successful supervision of students' research projects, we spread awareness of the importance of research work among undergraduate students; their research work is optional at the Veterinary faculty i.e., not assessed by ECTS. Members of the research group are also involved in the implementation of continuing education programs and in this way, we meet the needs of society and industry for knowledge and lifelong learning, which is also targeted in the emerging National Education Program for adults for the period 2021-2030.
D.10 Educational activities
Sabina Drofenik student research work entitled »Description of the mechanism and interdependence of the action of two nose-horned viper venom proteins, secretory phospholipase A2 and chymotrypsin inhibitor« was awarded the Prešeren award of the University of Ljubljana for the best student research work of 2020. The work was supervised by Robert Frangež (member of P4-0053) and Igor Križaj (Institute Jožef Stefan). Sabina Drofenik comprehensively investigated the mechanism of action of two proteins from nose-horned viper venom, neurotoxic secretory phospholipase A2 (amoditoxin A (AtxA)) and chymotrypsin inhibitor (VaaChi) on neuromuscular transmission. The realization of this study was methodologically and analytically extremely complex and combined sophisticated experimental work for the isolation and characterization of the investigated proteins as well as electrophysiological measurements (measurements of isometric contraction of skeletal muscle and membrane potentials of muscle fibers) to determine their effects ex-vivo on a neuromuscular preparation of a mouse hemidiaphragm. The results of electrophysiological measurements did not confirm the synergistic effect between AtxA and VaaChi. The ex vivo effect of VaaChi is opposite to that of AtxA, so the electrophysiological measurements do not support the hypothesis that the AtxA-VaaChi complex is more neurotoxic than AtxA itself. However, the results obtained confirm that VaaChi is a structural homologue of ?-dendrotoxin, an inhibitor of voltage-gated K+ channels from the venom of the green mamba (Dendroaspis angusticeps), and therefore probably acts in the same way as ?-dendrotoxin. VaaChi increases the amplitude of simple muscle contraction and motor plate potentials, indirectly suggesting an inhibitory effect on voltage-gated K+ channels in the presynaptic membrane of the neuromuscular junction. VaaChi is probably the first example of a Kunitz-type protein from viperid snake venom that inhibits both serine proteases and voltage dependent K+ channels. The main findings have already been published in the article "The first Kunitz-type proteins from a viperid venom that potentiate neuromuscular transmission" in a renowned scientific journal Toxicon (Drofenik et al., Toxicon 2020, vol. 187, pp. 262-270; COBISS.SI - ID 30718979) that further confirms the successful involvement of undergraduate students in the research work.
E.01 National awards
COBISS.SI-ID: 36932355In collaboration with the Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, we developed a plasmid for canine interleukin 12 (IL-12) without antibiotic resistance, representing an important step towards its safer use in clinical practice to prevent the transfer of antibiotic resistance to susceptible bacterial species. We also confirmed the greater efficacy of the canine plasmid in the treatment of neoplasms in dogs compared to the human plasmid for IL -12. A questionnaire was used to assess the quality of life of dogs after treatment with electrochemotherapy and gene transfer with IL -12, which will help in the selection of appropriate patients in the future. In addition, through clinical studies, we successfully optimized key parts of standard protocols for the treatment of neoplastic diseases with electrochemotherapy and gene electrotransfer. With the first pharmacokinetic study of bleomycin after intravenous administration of the therapeutic agent, we optimized the time window for the application of electrical pulses, allowing for higher treatment efficacy. We also confirmed that contrast ultrasound is a suitable method for non-invasive monitoring of the efficacy of electroporation-based therapeutic procedures, contributing to more effective therapy of patients undergoing electrochemotherapy and/or gene electrotransfer of therapeutic plasmids. Therapeutic success has been encouraging, particularly with tumors too large for surgical excision or unresponsive to chemotherapy, confirming the suitability of these new/optimized protocols for the treatment of various canine tumors. This is also reflected in the interest of pet owners in novel oncological treatments; thus the therapy has great potential for successful commercialization in veterinary medicine. For the treatment of dogs with cancers of various origins, we currently perform more than 100 electrochemo- and gene electrotransfer therapies annually, confirming the successful transfer of these methods into clinical practice.
F.17 Transfer of existing technologies, know-how, methods and procedures into practice
COBISS.SI-ID: 30212611