Thesis supervisor: Gábor János Szebeni
Location of studies (in Hungarian): HUN-REN SZBK Genetikai Intézet, Funkcionális Genomikai Laboratórium Abbreviation of location of studies: SZBK
Description of the research topic:
The cooperation of highly specialized cell types maintains the homeostasis of multicellular
organisms. The disturbance of that harmony contributes to the development of several diseases.
Most of the cellular functions are executed by proteins so it is essential to investigate biological
processes at the protein level. One of the routinely used methods to study cellular proteins is flow
cytometry which detects cell surface or intracellular proteins by fluorescently labeled antibodies
at single cell resolution. Currently, we use BC Cytoflex S (4 lasers), one BD FACSCalibur (2 lasers)
analyzators and one BD Jazz (2 lasers) sorter. Overlap among the fluorescence spectra of different
dyes limits the possibility of high multiplexicity in one single tube. To overcome the limitations of
flow cytometry, antibodies are labeled by stable heavy metal isotopes (min 96% monoisotopic) in
mass cytometry. Mass cytometer detects the distinct atomic mass of heavy metal isotopes which
offers the possibility to acquire up to 42 markers in one sample. Mass cytometry is unique
technology in our laboratory within Hungary. The characterization of cellular heterogeneity is
achieved at the protein level with single cell resolution from homogenous cell suspensions of
different biological samples (blood, solid tumors, different tissues) followed by antibody staining
for mass cytometry. High content data analysis (Cytobank, Astrolabe, Maxpar Pathsetter) is also
integrated in our portfolio.
We focus on the disturbances of the activation and regulation of immune system;
therefore we study human patient-derived blood or tissue samples at single cell resolution. The
high content immunophenotyping is performed on PBMCs or different tissues such as primary
adenocarcinoma.
The comparative bioinformatic analysis of biological specimens (patients vs healthy
controls) reveals differences in the expression pattern of proteins of interest at single cell
resolution. To complement the investigation of PBMCs we quantify the cytokine/chemokine
content of the corresponding liquid biopsies by Luminex (MagPix) or Legendplex (Biolegend)
technologies. We describe expression patterns of proteins associated with a given pathology such
as rheumatoid arthritis, adenocarcinoma, COPD to find diagnostic, prognostic markers or novel
therapeutic targets. We develop in vitro/ex vivo functional immune assays (i) to screen drug
candidate molecules, (ii) to better understand the pathomechanism and reveal signal
transduction pathways behind the given pathologies.
The laboratory is run on service and collaborative basis. We have built wide national and
international connections to research groups and biotech companies.
Required language skills: English Number of students who can be accepted: 1
Deadline for application: 2024-03-31
2024. IV. 17. ODT ülés Az ODT következő ülésére 2024. június 14-én, pénteken 10.00 órakor kerül sor a Semmelweis Egyetem Szenátusi termében (Bp. Üllői út 26. I. emelet).
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