Tunneling membrane nanotubes (TnTs) are one of the mechanisms of intercellular communication between eukariotic cells and between bacteria. TnTs are tubular protrusions that connect cells and facilitate active transport of organelles, vesicles and cytoplasmic moleculs between cells. In this thesis we studied the presence and location of three selected motor proteins: kinesin 5B, dynein and myosin Va in TnTs of normal urothelial cells (NPU) and cancer urothelial cells (T24). We used a method of correlative phase-contrast and fluorescent microscopy to study the development and morphology of TnTs. We used western blot to show that NPU and T24 cells contain different motor proteins, and determined their location in TnT with immunofluorescence. We proved that TnTs contain different motor proteins and that their presence correlates with the presence of appropriate cytoskeletal elements. We found out that TnTs of NPU and T24 cells differ in the content of motor proteins and direction of active transport. We also showed that different mechanisms of active transport can coexist inside one TnT. We cultured normal urothelial cells and cancer urothelial cells in coculture and proved that there are motor proteins present also in TnT between normal and cancer urothelial cells. The examination of the literature on bacterial TnTs showed that TnTs connect bacteria of the same and different species and that TnTs are crucial in development and maintainance of multicellular bacterial communities and biofilms. Mechanisms of transport in bacterial TnTs are still unknown. This master thesis provides new insights into the mechanisms of intercellular communication with TnTs that will in the future, together with further research, importantly contribute to the development of new approaches for treating cancerous and infectious diseases. The master's thesis was awarded with the Prešeren Prize of the Biotechnical Faculty for 2017. The project research involved three Master's theses (COBISS.SI-ID 3721039, COBISS.SI-ID 4820088, COBISS.SI-ID 1537279171) and two research projects, one of which received the Golden Award at the 52nd Young Researchers' Meeting of Slovenia for the year 2018, the work was also awarded with Krka Prize for 2018 (COBISS.SI-ID 6358042), and the second research assignment was awarded with the Prešeren Prize of the Faculty of Medicine for 2018. COBISS.SI-ID 34104793.
D.10 Educational activities
COBISS.SI-ID: 4820088Object of the invention is within the scope of tissue engineering. The procedure for the establishing of the biomimetic in vitro model of bladder cancer is as follows: fluorescently labelled cancer urothelial cells are seeded on the preformed partially differentiated normal urothelial model. The biomimetic model allows monitoring the adhering of cancer urothelial cells on the surface of partially differentiated urothelium and the growing of cancer cells between normal cells in live, as well as the analysis of cellular structures after fixation and immunolabeling of the model. The present biomimetic vitro model of bladder cancer allows us to study the cell-biological mechanisms of dissemination of cancer urothelial cells, and consequently, the formation of bladder cancer.
F.33 Slovenian patent
COBISS.SI-ID: 32541401Bladder (ISSN 2326-9901) is an international, open-access journal committed to publishing top-quality peer-reviewed articles describing basic laboratory, translational, and clinical investigations in the broad fields of bladder biology and diseases, including benign and malignant conditions. Subject areas covered by Bladder include, but are not limited to: anatomy, embryology, development, physiology, neurophysiology and diseases of the bladder and its neighbouring organs such as the urethra, ureters, seminal vesicle and pelvic floor. Researchers of the project group shows the membership in the editorial boards, if subjected to only a few: prof. dr. Julijana Kristl - European Journal of Pharmacy and biopharmacy (member of the editorial board 2014-) [COBISS.SI-ID 13176839], Journal of Biomedical Nanotechnology (member of the editorial board 2006 [COBISS.SI-ID 2927473] Journal of the supply of drugs Science and Technology (a member of the Editorial Board since 1999) [COBISS.SI-ID 2045297] Prof. Dr. Petra Kocbek Acta Pharmaceutica (a member of the editorial Board in 2015 [COBISS.SI-ID 13497349]. Prof. dr. Maja Čemažar Advances in cancer research (a member of the editorial board 2012- ) [COBISS.SI-ID 24886528] border and physiology (member of the editorial board 2010-) [COBISS.SI-ID 1218939] Radiology and Oncology (member of the editorial board from 2007 to 2012, editor 2013-, guest editor 2016) [COBISS .SI-ID 32649472] Reports of Practical Oncology and radiotherapy (member of the editorial board 2013-) [COBISS.SI-ID 234363] technology and cancer research and treatment (a member of the editorial board 2013-) [COBISS.SI-id 2235761].
C.06 Editorial board membership
COBISS.SI-ID: 32029913"Electron microscopy is one of the methods that enabled people overcome the restriction of the senses to detect previously undetectable and it opens up a view into a new cosmos," by facing the past and an exciting future we are guided though microscopy by prof. dr. Peter Veranič, head of the Institute of Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine and Head of the infrastructural centre - Biomedical Centre of Microscopy at University of Ljubljana. Researchers of the project team participated as interviewees in various magazines, events and RTV programs for the popularization of science, where they also presented individual research results of the project. 1. ERDANI-KREFT, Mateja (interviewed) Our body among starvation, (Bite science). Ljubljana: TV Slovenija, September 28, 2017 http://4d.rtvslo.si/arhiv/ugriznimo-znanost/174493591. [COBISS.SI-ID 33423577] 2. ERDANI-KREFT, Mateja (interviewee) How long can we live? : Broadcasting Science, TV Slovenia, 17 November 2016. Ljubljana: Television Slovenia, 17 November 2016 http://4d.rtvslo.si/arhiv/ugriznimo-znanost/174437737. [COBISS.SI-ID 32945625] 3. ERDANI-KREFT, Mateja (interviewer) Investigating children before birth, (Bite science). Ljubljana: TV Slovenija, October 20, 2016 http://4d.rtvslo.si/arhiv/ugriznimo-znanost/174432556. [COBISS.SI-ID 32882649] 4. ERDANI-KREFT, Mateja (interviewee). The cell is the world in small. Fireplace, ISSN 1318-1289. [Printed edition.], 2018, year 54, no. 4, p. 68-69, ilustr. http://revija.ognjisce.si/revija-ognjisce/362-znanost-in-vera/17502-celica-je-svet-v-malem. [COBISS.SI-ID 33775833] 5. VERANIČ, Peter (interviewer). They look at the cell and its structures. Journal, ISSN 1318-0320, 25 Nov. 2016, year 66, no. 274, p. 14, ilustr. [COBISS.SI-ID 33082073] 6. ZUPANČIČ Daša (interviewer) In the world of melatonin : "Možgani na dlani", Radio SLO1, 22. 2. 2018. [COBISS.SI-ID 33651417]
F.35 Other
COBISS.SI-ID: 32607705The project leader has presented the results obtained within this research project in the form of a invited lecture at the 2nd Slovene microscopic Congress with international participation (https://eventgrids.com/events/2017_sdm_en/invited-speakers) and two lectures at international conferences. Below are three more contributions related to the project, other contributions are presented in point 3: 1. ERDANI-KREFT, Mateja, RESNIK, Nataša, HUDOKLIN, Samo, ZUPANČIČ, Daša, VIŠNJAR, Tanja, BARAGA, Diana, PREZELJ, Tim, GLAŽAR, Polona, KOLŠEK, Irenej, ELLINGER, Adolf, POLISHCHUK, Roman S., MANDERS, Erik, VERANIČ, Peter. Tunneling membrane nanotubes as communication tool between urinary bladder cancer and normal urothelial cells : insights from combination of microscopic techniques. V: GAJOVIĆ, Andreja (ur.). Book of abstracts, 13th Multinational Congress on Microscopy, September 24-29, 2017, Rovinj, Croatia. Zagreb: Ruđer Bošković Institute: Croatian Microscopy Society. 2017, str. 371-372. https://mcm2017.irb.hr/content/download/12335/212504/file/BoA_MCM2017.pdf. [COBISS.SI-ID 33423321] 2. ERDANI-KREFT, Mateja, RESNIK, Nataša, VIŠNJAR, Tanja, GLAŽAR, Petra, HUDOKLIN, Samo. Application of correlative microscopy to study tunneling membrane nanotubes. European journal of histochemistry [COBISS.SI-ID 33495257] 3. ČEMAŽAR, Maja. Clinical electrochemotherapy and gene electrotransfer for tumor treatment. V: ASGCT 2018. [S. l.: s. n. 2018]. https://plan.core-apps.com/asgct2018/event/6c1289190efa1f4c97a5775046fa5e13. [COBISS.SI-ID 2958715]
B.04 Guest lecture
COBISS.SI-ID: 33234137