A membrane protein VanZTei which is encoded by the gene vanZ from the vanA glycopeptide resistance gene cluster is a part of the large family of VanZ proteins. VanZTei confers resistance to teicoplanin in Enterococcus faecalis without the presence of other proteins encoded by the cluster. The aim of my work was to compare the ability of two orthologous proteins VanZTei and VanZg (from the genome of Enterococcus faecium) to confer resistance to glycopeptides in Staphylococcus aureus RN4220 and Enterococcus faecium. We have shown that VanZg increases resistance to teicoplanin (Tei) 8 to 16 times the and also to dalbavancin (Dalb) 8 times. VanZTei also confers resistance to Tei and Dalb, but the increase is only twofold. Conversely VanZTei confers resistance to newly synthetized glycopeptides more effectively than VanZg (fourfold increase of resistance confered by VanZTei and two to fourfold increase of resistance confered by VanZg). It suggests that both proteins have different specificity to antibiotics. In despite the mutants of S. aureus RN4220 VanZTei pRMC2 with increased resistance to teicoplanin (MICTei> 8 µg/ml) in which the resistance is dependent on vanZTei expression were selected. These resistant mutants do not carry mutation in a gene vanZTei or in its ribosomal binding site. Neither of the...

Resistance to chemotherapeutics is a widespread phenomenon in cancer cells that may counteract the successful therapy of many patients. In resistant cells, higher level of ABC transporters, among others, often can be detected. This high level of ABC transporters represents a suspected mechanism of acquired cancer resistance. We studied the molecular mechanism of resistance to taxanes in cancer cells using SK-BR-3 and MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines. We analyzed the effect of paclitaxel on apoptosis induction in the originally sensitive cells of these lines as compared to their counterpart resistant cells, developed by gradual adaptation to paclitaxel. In resistant cells of the SK-BR-3 and MCF-7 lines, we did not detected ongoing induction of apoptosis but we did detect significantly increased expression of ABCB1 transporter after paclitaxel application. By silencing the expression of the transport via employment of small interfering RNA (siRNA), we tested the role of the ABCB1 transporter in cells resistant to paclitaxel. We found that resistant cells with silenced expression of the ABCB1 transporter had a statistically significant increase of sensitivity to paclitaxel as compared to control resistant cells with high expression of this transporter. Along with increased sensitivity, we demonstrated...

Acinetobacter baumannii is an important nosocomial pathogen characterized by the ability to acquire and develop complex resistance to antimicrobial agents. This capability is caused by eflux systems removing molecules of antibiotics from bacterial intracellular space. AdeABC is an RND-type chromosomal eflux system specific for A. baumannii which has a broad substrate spectrum. In this work, we focused on functional analysis of AdeABC to define its role in the resistance development to aminoglycosides in genetically different strains. We studied a set of 15 epidemiologically and genotypically well characterized strains of A. baumannii which were fully susceptible to aminoglycosides and other antibiotics primarily effective against this species. We determined genotyp of AdeABC for these strains and performed a selection for resistant variants in the presence of netilmicin. Using real-time qRT-PCR we compared the expression of the transporter gene adeB in originally sensitive strains and selected variants. The obtained results confirmed that the increased expression of AdeABC significantly reduces susceptibility to aminoglycosides and other antibiotics. The results also suggest that the efflux system provides a significant selective advantage for nosocomial strains of A. baumannii.

Charles University Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology Student: Adéla Janoušková Supervisor: RNDr. Jakub Hofman, Ph.D. Title of diploma thesis: Study on impact of selected protein kinase inhibitors on drug resistance mediated by cytochromes P450 Pharmacokinetic drug resistance often leads to failure of an anticancer therapy. One of the mechanisms is increased efflux of drugs from tumour cells, whereas some studies suggest that increased drug conversion to an inactive metabolite might be another contributing mechanism. The aim of this work was to define the possible role of CYP3A4 and CYP2C8 enzymes in the phenomenon of pharmacokinetic resistance and to investigate the possibility of its modulation by new targeted drugs. In the first part, we used the MTT proliferation method together with HepG2 cells stably transduced with particular human enzymes and demonstrated significant involvement of CYP3A4 in docetaxel resistance. In the following part, we examined the inhibitory effects of four selected tyrosine kinase inhibitors on the CYP3A4 activity in intact cells using a commercial kit. Cobimetinib and dabrafenib showed significant inhibitory activity, while osimertinib and brivanib did not. In the final part, we demonstrated the ability of the first two...

This thesis was about the relationship of the Factor V Leiden mutation and activated protein C resistance. I looked up patients with Leiden mutation and activated protein C resistance. I monitored the frequency of thromboembolism and miscarriages in the personal and family case history of patients. Subsequently, I looked up if other risk factors which affect clinical manifestations in patients with this mutation can be found.

Translocation t(12;21) with the presence of the fusion gene ETV6-RUNX1 (TEL-AML1) is the most common chromosomal aberration found in acute lymphoblastic leukemia in childhood. The occurrence of the ETV6-RUNX1 is associated with excellent prognosis and high sensitivity to the treatment with the enzyme L-asparaginase (ASNase). Resistance to the drug aggravates the outlook of the patient and increases the risk of treatment failure, therefore, the CLIP working group has been for a long time involved in the identification of the mechanism of action of ASNase and the origin of the resistance to it. This thesis follows previous findings of the group and is devoted to the analysis of the importance of ETV6-RUNX1 and signalization and metabolic changes accompanying shifts in the L-asparaginase resistance. In the first part of the thesis, the knockout clones with stable increased resistance to ASNase have been established thanks to the CRISPR/Cas9 system, which created frameshift in the fusion gene. The accomplishment in this regard and removal of the fusion protein was confirmed on the level of DNA, mRNA a protein expression. The presence of other significant chromosomal aberrations affection the sensitivity to ASNase was ruled out by the means of SNP analysis. In the second part of the project, the signalization...

This study focuses on the question of the epidemiology of resistance to antibiotics in Acinetobacter baumannii, which is nowadays one of the most problematic bacterial patho- gens associated with failing antimicrobial therapy. Its aim was to define population-genetic properties, epidemiology and the nature of multidrug resistance for a sample of the current population of A. baumannii from Czechia. A total of 55 isolates were collected in eight medi- cal facilities in central Bohemia from October 2016 to May 2018. The isolates were assessed for their identity at the species, clonal and strain levels as well as resistance phenotype and genotype; they were classified into five clonal groups, each of which encompassed isolates that were likely to be epidemiologically related. The 55 isolates studied belonged, nearly exclusively, to global clone ECII, with 53 % of them forming a genetically relatively homoge- neous group characterized by extensive resistance to antibiotics (susceptible only to col- istin), the presence of genes encoding ArmA a OXA-23 (resistance to all aminoglycosides and carbapenems) and spread in all locations. The in-depth epidemiological analysis of isolates from the city of Příbram and its vicinity indicated the regional spread of two strains, one of which belonged to the...

In the first part of my thesis I focus on mapping problems associated with antibiotic therapy and subsequent development of antibiotic resistance. Tracking resistance is based primarily on data collection and evaluation of the results set sensitivity from around the world. Antibiotic resistance is a natural phenomenon that can be observed in the evolution of microbes as one of the mechanisms of adaptation to new conditions in the environment. For this work I have chosen the following research questions. Do the incidence of ESBL strains in the České Budějovice Hospital a.s. increase over time? Are these values comparable to those achieved in another region, namely in Moravian hospitals the University Hospital of Olomouc, Ostrava University Hospital and Regional University Hospital of T. Bata in Zlin? The data collection I made in collaboration with the laboratory technicians and doctors at Hospital?s Bacteriology Laboratory in České Budějovice. Bacteries tested for the detection of ESBL production originated from biological materials, witch came from patients of hospital in České Budějovice. The first objective was to compare the results achieved in the České Budějovice Hospital in the period of 2007 to 2012. If we look at the total number of ESBL strains that have been isolated since 2007, values have upward trend. While in 2007 there were only 64 strains a year later, the number more than doubled. In 2010, the value soared to 281 tribes and in the year 2012, the number was 321 tribes. The incidence of ESBL strains in 2007 increased about five times. In the long term we can say the numbers have increasing tendency and the range of each species in the production of ESBL has significantly changed. In 2007, it was K. pneumoniae strains that dominated the statistics, but over time the strains of E. coli came forefront. Values of 2012 suggest that the presence of ESBL strains of K. pneumoniae is again almost equal to the number of E. coli strains. The second objective was to compare the results of the 2012 with study of the Prevalence of ESBL-positive Enterobacteriaceae in large Moravian hospitals. In the general overview of ESBL producers values in Hospital České Budějovice (5.23%) are comparable to those in Ostrava (4.9%) and in Zlín (4.3%). Number of strains in the Hospital in Olomouc (11.8%) is about twice as high as the numbers in České Budějovice. In this comparison the České Budějovice Hospital is one of the hospitals with a lower incidence of ESBL producers. The České Budějovice Hospital is below the national average, which originate from an elaborate system of care for patients with colonization or infection with ESBL strains, and from therapy control system using antibiotic center. These results may serve to the Hospital in České Budějovice for statistical purposes, and also for proposals for improving patient care. In the discussion, I pointed out the danger of the spread of resistant strains of bacteria in the community and also the associated risks that mentioned bacteria mean for patients injured in mass accidents or disasters. In these cases, number of infections including ESBL producers can penetrate through open wounds into the affected body. Unlike conventional sensitive bacteria those strains are resistant to commonly used antibiotics and thereby endanger the lives of people affected by the accident.

The Master's thesis entitled "Gestational Diabetes Diet" deals with the issue of eating habits and a lifestyle of women diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus during pregnancy. The theoretical part of the thesis describes the definition, causes and a mechanism of origin, consequences for mother and fetus and also deals with the diagnostic procedures and all possibilities of treatment of this disease. In this part, the diagnostic method analyzed by using the oGTT stress test and a diabetic diet - that together with other preventive measures (mainly physical aktivity) is the first choice in the treatment of pregnancy diabetes - are described in more details. The practical part of this master's thesis contains the results of a questionnaire survey in two groups of pregnant women - with already diagnosed gestational diabetes and before its diagnosis in the oGTT test. It also contains the results of the analysis of women with GDM diets. The analysis were processed by the NutriPro Expert diet program and the results are then compared with the current nutritional recommendations of the Czech Republic for pregnant and nursing women. The aim of this work was to map the eating habits and lifestyle of women with gestational diabetes and find out whether they meet current nutritional recommendations or...

A total of 587 faecal samples were collected from 98 horses of different age from three farms with various breeding system (pasture, stable and combination) in the South Bohemia, Czech Republic during three consecutive years (from 2009 to 2011), and screened for the presence of endoparasites, especially these inhabiting gastrointestinal tract and lung, using standard parasitological methods including flotation, sedimentation and staining methods. Moreover presence of Encephalitozoon spp. was detected using genus specific nested PCR. Small strongyles were the most common nematodes among studied horses. The age of animals was evaluated as a risk factor in relation to Eimeria leuckarti, Strongyloides westeri and Parascaris equorum infection in foals. The resistance of small strongyles (Cyathostominae) to benzimidazol anthelmintics has been revealed only on one of the visited farm. Most of examined animals were mono-infected. The breeding of horses in the stable represent management system with lowest risk in relation to parasitic infection of animals. Molecular analysis revealed the presence of human pathogenic Encephalitozoon cuniculi genotype I in horses.