Next generation sequencing, which allows concurrent parallel sequencing of many samples and makes it possible to distinguish the infection from multiple viral types in the sample, is well suited as a detection format for such assays described below. The aim of the thesis was to develop a method that could detect all known types of human adenoviruses, human enteroviruses, and bacteriophages selected for their presence in the intestine. Using the next- generation sequencing. The first step was to design primers capable of detecting all known types of viruses, covering the area that is capable of distinguishing these viruses. This method was tested on a set of 47 human adenovirus samples and 30 human enterovirus samples of known serotype. Samples with two serotypes in different proportions were also created. After amplification of the target genome, the samples were purified and sequenced on MiSeq, Illumina. The method was further used in the typing of adenoviruses, enteroviruses and bacteriophages in pre-diabetic cohorts of DIPP, MIDIA, and a cohort of diabetics from African and Asian countries. The tested sample was RNA / DNA isolated from the stool specimen. We have demonstrated that the method is capable to detect all tested virus types, including infections with two different types, even if the...

The process of immune "self-nonself discrimination" is of utmost importance for the survival of all species as the biodestructive force of immune system can be directed towards the host as much as to pathogens. Thus, to shift this balance towards the latter, T cells bearing self- recognizing receptors are removed in the thymus (central tolerance) or their reactivity is harnessed through various additional mechanisms in periphery (peripheral tolerance). If the selfreactive T cells are not deleted and persist in the body, the regulation of self-tolerance can be breached, leading to the onset of autoimmunity. Presented thesis revolved around α-defensins, very effective bactericidal peptides that represent an important part of humoral innate immunity. There are two types of α-defensins: myeloid, expressed predominantly in neutrophils, and enteric, synthesized by intestinal Paneth cells. Data presented inhere are first to characterized the involvement of α-defensin- expressing cells in two types of autoimmune diseases, insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (T1D) and autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy (APECED). The former relates to the identification of transcriptionally activated myeloid α-defensin- expressing eosinophils present in the thymus of diabetes prone rat. In...

Distinct cellular level of the Ca2+ binding chaperone calreticulin (CRT) is essential for cardiac development and postnatal function. However, CRT is also a potential autoantigen eliciting formation of antibodies (Ab), whose role is not yet clarified. Immunization with CRT leads to cardiac injury, and overexpression of CRT in cardiomyocytes induces dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in experimental animals. Hence, we analysed levels of anti-CRT Ab and calreticulin in the sera of patients with idiopatic DCM and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). ELISA and immunoblot using human recombinant CRT and Pepscan with synthetic, overlapping decapeptides of CRT were used to detect anti-CRT Ab. Significantly increased levels of anti-CRT Ab of IgA (P<0.001) and IgG (P<0.05) isotypes were found in patients with both DCM (12/34 seropositive for IgA, 7/34 for IgG) and HCM (13/38 seropositive for IgA, 11/38 for IgG) when compared with controls (2/79 for IgA, 1/79 for IgG). Titration analysis in seropositive DCM and HCM patients documented anti-CRT Ab detected at 1/1600 dilution for IgG and 1/800 for IgA (and IgA1) and at least at 1/200 dilution for IgA2, IgG1, IgG2 and IgG3. Pepscan identified several immunogenic CRT epitopes: EVKIDNSQVESGSLED, IDDPTDSKPE, DKAPEHIPDPDA and RKEEEEAEDKEDDAEDKDEDEEDE recognised by IgA and...

5 Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are essential for the maintenance of peripheral self-tolerance and prevention of autoimmunity by suppressing the response of self-reactive CD8+ and CD4+ T cells. However, while interactions of Tregs with CD4+ T cells have been extensively studied, their effect on the self-tolerance of CD8+ T cells has not been explored in detail. The main aim of this diploma project was to provide evidence whether and how Tregs prevent autoimmunity induced by CD8+ T cells. We used an experimental mouse model of autoimmune diabetes allowing us to acutely deplete Tregs and titrate the number of self-reactive T cells, self- antigen affinity, and self-antigen doses. We found out that Tregs play an important role in the prevention of CD8+ T-cell mediated autoimmunity. Moreover, we revealed that Tregs suppress both high-affinity T cells that escape negative selection and relatively weakly self-reactive, but numerous, positively selected T cells. Tregs do so by increasing requirement for the number of self-reactive CD8+ T cells required for the autoimmunity induction. Intriguingly, presence of Tregs does not impact threshold for self-antigen. Moreover, for the first time, we showed that Tregs can suppress CD8+ T-cell-mediated autoimmunity in the absence of conventional CD4+ T cells. This means that...

Thyroid nodules represent a very common pathology. Using modern high-resolution ultrasound, nodules could be found in up to 68 % of patients. The most important task is the diagnosis of thyroid cancer which represents only about 5-15 % of nodules, however the incidence is still growing. Even with the use of a fine needle aspiration biopsy, it is not always possible to decide on the biological nature of the nodule. A significant proportion of such patients have to undergo thyroid surgery for diagnostic reason. Thyroid surgery is associated with risks to the patient and financial costs to the health-care system. In recent decades, the efforts to improve non-invasive diagnostics of thyroid nodules have been made. The thyroid elastography and thyroid autoimmunity are among the examined risk parameters. Using real-time strain elastography, thyroid carcinomas elasticity has been significantly reduced compared to benign thyroid nodules in our group of patients. The elastography of thyroid nodules can be used as a suitable complement to conventional sonographic examination. In our work, the combination of both methods (conventional ultrasound and elastography) increased the negative predictive value compared to both methods individually. The results of our work further indicate that, in case of absence of...

Introduction: Type 1 diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disease caused by autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells. The theory of the disease onset is derived from study of a disease course in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice, in which the diabetes occurs due to a dysregulation of the immune system. Experimental and clinical studies showed that the autoimmunity may be abrogated by immune intervention, which if initiated early enough may at least slow down the ongoing beta cells lost and preserve residual insulin secretion. But immune intervention alone is not sufficient to restore normoglycemia in the majority of cases. Several interventional studies showed that stimulation of proliferation and/or regeneration of beta cells are necessary to restore normoglycemia in animal models. Aim of the study: To find out, if the combination of a potent immunosuppression (murine anti-thymocyte globulin (mATG), gusperimus) together with stimulation of islet regeneration (sitagliptin) will be able to slow down or reverse the course of the disease. Another aim is to identify the mechanism by which the substances act. Material and methods: All experiments were performed in female NODShiLtJ (H2g7 ) mice. The following parameters were examined at day 0, 7, 14 and 28: blood glucose, subpopulations of...

Introduction: Type 1 diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disease caused by autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells. The theory of the disease onset is derived from study of a disease course in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice, in which the diabetes occurs due to a dysregulation of the immune system. Experimental and clinical studies showed that the autoimmunity may be abrogated by immune intervention, which if initiated early enough may at least slow down the ongoing beta cells lost and preserve residual insulin secretion. But immune intervention alone is not sufficient to restore normoglycemia in the majority of cases. Several interventional studies showed that stimulation of proliferation and/or regeneration of beta cells are necessary to restore normoglycemia in animal models. Aim of the study: To find out, if the combination of a potent immunosuppression (murine anti-thymocyte globulin (mATG), gusperimus) together with stimulation of islet regeneration (sitagliptin) will be able to slow down or reverse the course of the disease. Another aim is to identify the mechanism by which the substances act. Material and methods: All experiments were performed in female NODShiLtJ (H2g7 ) mice. The following parameters were examined at day 0, 7, 14 and 28: blood glucose, subpopulations of...

Charles University in Prague Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové Department of Biological and Medical Sciences Candidate: Bc. Barbora Zedníková Supervisor: Doc. MUDr. Josef Herink, DrSc. Title of diploma thesis: The role of the gut microbiome in immune-mediated CNS disorders Human body hosts a large number of microorganisms - i.e. Archea, Eukarya, Bacteria and viruses. These microorganisms form microbiome, the total number of the microorganisms is ten times higher than the number of all human cells. Largest part of the microbiome is located in the intestine. The current development of molecular genetics revealed the close relationship between intestinal microbiome and health. Recent studies the most recent studies have pointed to a connection with the pathogenesis of various diseases. This dissertation is focused on the connection between intestinal microbiome and autoimmune diseases of the central nervous system. Research shows that the key factor are the ongoing changes in the composition of microbiome. These changes lead to increased immune stimulation and thereby to inflammatory proliferation.

Summary: This diploma thesis deals with the relation between autoimmune processes at biological level (through proven neurological autoimmune disease - multiple sclerosis) and possible autoaggressive processes at the mental level. It is divided into several points. The first one introduces human immunity in general. The first part is followed by immune system description, including autoimmunity and the principle of diseases of this system. Thereafter, psychological aggression is described, in which the division into aggression and auto- aggression fits. This is followed by chapters on projective psychodiagnostics taking into account the detection of various forms of aggression. Then, the thesis focuses on the study of possible auto-aggressive manifestations in patients suffering from the most widespread neurological autoimmune disease, multiple sclerosis. The second half of the thesis describes the author's research on this topic.

(En) Paneth cells are one of the major player in the maintenance of the homeostatic relationship between intestinal microbiota and the immune system. This function is largely achieved by their production of bactericidal enteric α-defensins (ED) and other antimicrobials. Disruption of Paneth cell functions is associated with severe human disorders such as Crohn's disease (CD) and Autoimmune Polyendocrinopathy- Candidiasis-Ectodermal Dystrophy (APECED). However, there is only a very limited information regarding the interactions and regulatory circuits operating between Paneth cells and intestinal immune system in either health or under pathological conditions. The previous study conducted in our laboratory described a new mechanism for the initiation and maintenance of Paneth cells targeted autoimmunity. The suggested model was that ED-specific T cells escape the selection in the thymus, infiltrate the intestine and diminish Paneth cell numbers through autoimmune destruction. This process also lead to the accumulation of inflammation- inducing bacteria, which were implied to exacerbate the inflammatory autoimmunity. Since this model of intestinal autoimmunity is of correlative nature, its intrinsic mechanism and functional relationships between immune system, Paneth cells and microbiota are largely...