Thesis supervisor: Péter Engelmann
Location of studies (in Hungarian): Univ. Pécs, Medical School Abbreviation of location of studies: UP
Description of the research topic:
Nanotechnology is a dynamically developing field producing large amounts of nanoparticles that are applied in industry, daily life and health care. During production, use, and waste these materials (e.g. silver nanoparticles) could end up in water or soil. Large scale contaminations of our environment are a threat to public health. There is a general lack of detailed assessment of how nanoparticles affect human health and environment. Numerous studies have revealed that metallic pollution can bias the immune response. The relative simplicity of invertebrate immune functions offers potentially sensitive and accessible means of monitoring the effects and complex interactions of metal nanoparticles which ultimately affect host resistance. The aim of this project is to understand and compare the conserved toxic mechanism of metal nanoparticles on the innate immune responses of invertebrate and vertebrate immune systems. With the aid of our complex in vitro experimental system the obtained knowledge can provide exciting insights into the conserved molecular and cellular mechanisms of NP toxicity between invertebrates and vertebrates. Understanding the unique characteristics of engineered nanoproducts and their interactions with biological systems in our environment is essential to the safe realization of these materials in novel biomedical applications.
Required language skills: English Number of students who can be accepted: 1
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