The microalgae laboratory deals with the study of microalgae / cyanobacteria and their use in food, environmental and pharmaceutical biotechnology. The research focus is the production of desirable metabolites (secondary substances, vitamins) and biodegradation of pollutants (AZO dyes, microplasts). An important part of the laboratory is also the study of the interaction of nanoparticles with microalgae (“Pros and Con” approach). The laboratory investigates their potential use in the genetic engineering of microalgae, but at the same time tries to understand the molecular nature of their toxicity. It also deals with a more detailed study of the anti-stress response to abiotic stress, which includes the roles of epigenetic markers (DNA methylation, miRNA regulation) and secondary metabolites. Another important direction is the introduction and use of CRISPR technology in the above-mentioned research areas. The laboratory includes a collection of unicellular microalgae and cyanobacteria.
The main research is related to the following topics:
- The study of abiotic stress answer
- The study of genetic engineering techniques and the CRISPR/Cas system for the regulation of gene expression
- The elucidation of the role of RNA interference mechanism in biosynthetic pathways of plant secondary metabolism
- The study of biodegradation of pollutants (AZO dyes, microplasts) using microalgae/cyanobacteria
- The study of the interaction of nanoparticles with microalgae/cyanobacteria
- The study of the production of desirable metabolites (secondary substances, vitamins) using microalgae/cyanobacteria
Ing. Martina Koláčková, Ph.D.
Head of the Laboratory of Microalgae
Academic staff – assistant professor
Phone number: 420 545 133 280
Address: ÚCB AF, Zemědělská 1, 61300 Brno – Budova D
Office: BA02N2028
E-mail: martina.kolackova@mendelu.cz
Researcher ID: AAH-1132-2020
ORCID: 0000-0002-2469-9587
Team members
- Ing. Martina Koláčková, Ph.D.
- Ing. Anna Jánová
- Ing. Pavel Chaloupský
- Ing. Markéta Dobešová
- Ing. Vladimíra Tarbajová
- Ing. Michaela Durďáková
- Mgr. Katarina Molnárová
- Mgr. Ondřej Pěnčík
- Bc. Marek Straka
- Ing. Monika Zvalová