Prof. Ulrich Theopold

Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute, Stockholm University, Sweden

We are interested in the innate immune system, its activation, development and interaction with other aspects of physiology. To understand innate immunity at the organismic level, we use insect models, in particular the vinegar fly Drosophila melanogaster.

Presently our research focuses on three major projects:
• The coagulation of insect hemolymph
• The insect response against entomopathogenic nematodes.
• The immune response against early stages of tumor development

See more information at Prof. Theopold´s research group website.

Hosted by

Pavel Hyršl

About the lecture

Cancer cells contain multiple biological alterations that allow them to escape from host surveillance mechanisms. One of the mechanisms that play an essential role in host protection against tumor growth is immunity. However, the immune system may act as a double-edged sword with the potential to both promote and limit tumor growth in a context-dependent

manner. This involves both internal and external signaling events such as stress signaling pathways but also communication between cells and/or between cells and the extracellular matrix (ECM). We use Drosophila melanogaster (the fruitfly) to understand the role of two immune-related components, namely the antimicrobial peptide Drosomycin (Drs) and a chitinase-like protein (Idgf3), in a tumor model that involves a tubular organ, namely the salivary glands. We find the expression of both proteins affects tumor phenotypes including the epithelial organization of the glands, the integrity of the ECM, duct formation and ultimately the glands secretory activity.

Registration for lunch with the speaker /for Ph.D. students/

The sponsored lunch usually takes place in the Campus River restaurant. Please meet the speaker and other students at 12:45 in the Atrium of CEITEC building E35.