https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14178/908 2026-08-17T06:53:30Z 2026-08-17T06:53:30Z Škarková, Aneta Rösel, Daniel Brábek, Jan https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14178/3891 2026-08-08T01:00:15Z 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z

Cancer invasion plasticity during the metastatic cascade: strategies to survive and thrive Škarková, Aneta; Rösel, Daniel; Brábek, Jan The metastatic process is largely inefficient, yet its outcome - the dissemination of cancer cells from the primary tumor to distant sites and the formation of metastases - remains the leading cause of cancer-related death. The individual steps of the metastatic cascade impose major challenges and represent bottleneck steps, eliminating the majority of cancer cells along the way. To overcome these barriers, cancer cells must adapt to diverse environments, ranging from confining spaces to fluid, non-adhesive milieus. Distinct invasion strategies, including collective, mesenchymal and amoeboid, confer specific advantages under such conditions. Cancer cells capable of exploiting features of the invasion modes by switching among them are more likely to survive and thrive throughout all steps of the metastatic cascade. Thus, invasion plasticity represents a key adaptive strategy enabling cancer cells to endure metastatic progression. In this review, we concisely summarize the contribution of collective, mesenchymal and amoeboid invasion features during individual steps of the metastatic cascade, highlight evidence that invasion plasticity fuels metastatic dissemination and discuss how targeting such adaptability may reduce metastatic burden.

2026-01-01T00:00:00Z Stejskalová, Markéta Polanská, Nikola Desloire, Sophie Ratinier, Maxime Volf, Petr Jančářová, Magdaléna https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14178/3888 2026-08-13T01:00:14Z 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z

Negative interactions between Toscana virus and Leishmania infantum limit coinfection in sand flies Stejskalová, Markéta; Polanská, Nikola; Desloire, Sophie; Ratinier, Maxime; Volf, Petr; Jančářová, Magdaléna Background: Phlebotomine sand flies transmit a wide range of human and veterinary pathogens, including Leishmania spp. and Toscana virus (TOSV). Both pathogens co-circulate extensively in the Mediterranean basin and may share hosts and vectors, raising the possibility of mixed infections with epidemiological relevance. While previous studies have suggested interactions between TOSV and Leishmania in mammalian hosts and in vitro systems, evidence from natural vectors is still lacking. Understanding these interactions is essential for predicting transmission outcomes in areas of pathogen overlap.Methods: We investigated coinfection dynamics of TOSV and Leishmania infantum in their natural vector, Phlebotomus tobbi. Female sand flies were experimentally challenged with both pathogens through blood feeding. We measured infection rates, dissemination rates, and infection intensity levels at days 4 and 8 postinfection (p.i.) and compared the coinfected groups with the control harboring a single infection.Results: At day 4 (D4) p.i., the coinfection resulted in significant suppression of both pathogens: TOSV infection rates decreased, as did L. infantum infection rates. However, neither infection intensity nor viral dissemination showed significant differences between groups. By day 8 (D8) p.i., L. infantum maintained a negative effect on TOSV infection, while TOSV did not alter L. infantum development. Dissemination and parasite load remained unaffected.Conclusions: Our findings suggest competitive interactions between TOSV and L. infantum in sand flies, providing the first experimental indication of pathogen-pathogen interference within a natural vector. Such competition likely contributes to the rarity of coinfected sand flies in field surveys and highlights the importance of considering vector-level interactions when assessing transmission risks in endemic regions.

2026-01-01T00:00:00Z Ženíšková, Kateřina Stopka, Pavel Martín-Pérez, Tania Chevreux, Guillaume Grechnikova, Mariia Drncová, Eliška Malych, Ronald Mach, Jan Walochnik, Julia Camadro, Jean Michel Šuťák, Róbert https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14178/3886 2026-07-29T01:00:31Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Molecular Mechanisms of Acanthamoeba castellanii Response to Different Sources of Oxidative Stress Ženíšková, Kateřina; Stopka, Pavel; Martín-Pérez, Tania; Chevreux, Guillaume; Grechnikova, Mariia; Drncová, Eliška; Malych, Ronald; Mach, Jan; Walochnik, Julia; Camadro, Jean Michel; Šuťák, Róbert Oxidative stress is a biological principle affecting all life on Earth and is also an important factor in the pathogen-host relationship. The pathogenic free-living amoeba Acanthamoeba castellanii has several pathways to cope with reactive oxygen species and the damage that they cause. In this study, we aimed to provide a comprehensive analysis of the amoeba's response to different sources of oxidative stress. Using whole-cell proteomic analysis, we obtained a complex picture of the changes in the proteome and identified potential key players in the defense against oxidative stress. Importantly, from the differential proteomics analysis, we identified a candidate efflux pump that may be involved in Acanthamoeba drug resistance.

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z Slabá, Jitka Jírová, Jitka Šťastná, Anna Kocourková, Jiřina https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14178/3883 2026-07-25T01:00:28Z 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z

Exploring the full spectrum of reproductive experiences Slabá, Jitka; Jírová, Jitka; Šťastná, Anna; Kocourková, Jiřina Objective: The study examines changes across cohorts in terms of the timing and frequency of the full spectrum of reproductive events and explores whether these reproductive trajectories reflect broader trends towards the destandardisation of family formation. Furthermore, the study assesses the quality and limitations of Czech health registry data by comparing them with official vital statistics. Background: Analysing fertility alone is insufficient with respect to understanding individual reproductive trajectories since reproductive experiences are interconnected across the lifespan and may be influenced by other reproductive events that affect both the tempo and the quantum - especially within the context of fertility postponement.Method: This study employs individual data obtained from the Czech National Health Information System (NHIS) that enable the holistic analysis of reproductive trajectories including live births, induced abortions, in vitro fertilisation, miscarriages and stillbirths across selected cohorts of women (1976-1991).Results: The younger cohorts experienced delayed and less frequent reproductive events. However, the lower incidence of adverse events partly reflected fewer conceptions due to the postponement of reproduction to older ages. The most common combination of event types involved live births with induced abortions or miscarriages. Reproductive trajectories were found to diversify with age but exhibited limited variation across the cohorts, and an early live birth remained linked to higher completed fertility. The NHIS data were largely in line with the vital statistics, with the moderate underestimation of live births and the under-reporting of early miscarriages and induced abortions.Conclusion: The findings highlight the potential and limitations of health registry data in terms of capturing the full spectrum of reproductive events. Forming a deeper understanding of women's reproductive trajectories and experiences, enabled via the use of linked health register data, is essential in terms of developing policies on reproductive health and rights in the context of declining fertility levels and the postponement of childbearing to later ages.

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