The department was established in 1996 for precise education and practical preparation of students for analysis of biological materials to provide the specialist in diagnostic assays in medicine – immunochemistry, clinical biochemistry, haematology and microbiology. The group has been involved in the frame of research activities in proteome analysis of proteins specialized in bioaffinity chromatography and immunochemistry.
The group of Immunochemistry actively cooperates with other academic and research institutes such as Institute Curie, Paris, France (Dr. Jean-Louis Viovy), University of Constanz, Germany (Prof. M. Przybylski), University of Verona, Italy (Prof. P.-G. Righetti). In the frame of several research projects the Immunochemistry group takes part in the development (in close relationship with direct biochemistry application) of new magnetic micro/nanoparticles together with Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry Academy of Sciences (Czech Republic). The group participates in national project GAČR 203/05/0241 Development of bioaffinity reactors for detection and analysis of main immunogenic epitopes with microchip analytical devices, where Dr. Bílková is a main applicant, was initiated in 2005. Dr. Bílková currently participates in several projects: MŠMT Advanced analytical and separation methods and their application in diagnostics and technology of natural and synthetic materials; GA ČR 203/05/2106, modern instrumentation in chemical, food and clinical analysis. Dr. Bílková took part in preparation of projects in the 6th European frame program: new improved vaccines based on genomic and proteomic information, and Natural Strong Ligands of Dec-205 Receptor Expressed on Intestinal Immature Dendritic Cells Identified by Biosensor-Based Binding Kinetic Analysis; Patent (position of joint applicant): Superparamagnetic nano and microparticles covered by selected polysaccharides, preparation and application (2005, ČR).
Infrastructure
Department of Biological and Biochemical Sciences – Immunochemistry Group – is equipped with liquid chromatographic system Standard BioLogic LP system for automated protein and peptide purification, Microscope Olympus BX 41 with camera, scientific Microscope Nikon Eclipse 80i with phase contrast and differential interference contrast (Nikon Optoteam Prague), fluorescent Microscope Carl Zeiss JenaLumar contrast, preparative low-pressure LC system, Diode Array Spectrophotometer, Spectrofluorimeter AMINCO-Bowman Series2 AB2 (Chromspec, Prague), and 2-D electrophoresis system with immunoblotting detection. Department also possesses HPLC Shimadzu with UV –VIS, RF, Coulochem and fluorescent detectors, cooled multifunctional ultracentrifuge, multifunctional VIS vertical reader, Real-time Thermal Cycler (Corbett Research) for real-time detection of amplification products. The department has available full equipment for BioAffinity chromatography, covalent immobilization of biological molecules to the particles, HPLC of proteins, peptides, ion-exchange chromatography, size-exclusion chromatography, immunoelectrophoresis, immunoblotting, SDS-PAGE and for other immunoanalytical methods such as EIA, agglutination and precipitation, immunoturbidimetry, immunofixation.
Qualifications of key personnel
Dr. Zuzana Bílková graduated from Charles University, Faculty of Natural Sciences (Prague, CR) with RNDr. degree in Molecular Biology and Genetics in 1989 together with the Award of rector. She received doctoral degree in 1999 at University of Pardubice, Faculty of Chemical Technology in Analytical Chemistry (Liquid chromatography) and in 2005 she was habilitated at the position Associate Professor (Analytical Chemistry - Immunochemistry). From 2005 she has been established as a head of Department of Biological and Biochemical Sciences. As a leader of Immunochemistry group she is responsible for education of lectures and practicals in Immunochemistry, Basic Immunology and Clinical Immunology, she operates as the supervisor of many diploma works and thesis. Dr. Bílková has a deep research experiences in Immunochemistry, bioaffinity chromatography and enzymology.
The group will be in charge of the preparation of bioaffinity matrices with antibodies and ligands orientedly immobilized on magnetic nanoparticles for highly specific preconcentration of target proteins, and peptides. The group will also participate in the integration of these enzyme reactors and immunosorbents to microfluidic devices, and in the definition and preparation of model biological systems in WP9 (protein purification development).