https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14178/1 Faculties Sun, 19 Apr 2026 21:23:38 GMT 2026-04-19T21:23:38Z https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14178/3738 The ABC-LD@4EU+: enhanced version of the ABC Learning Design workshop tailored for the European University Alliance’s needs Michou, Vassiliki; Prataviera, Angela Maria; Michałowicz, Bartłomiej; Tonar, Zbyněk Young, Clive; Perović, Nataša; Havemann, Leo; Shackleford-Cesare, Karen The chapter shows how the 4EU+ Alliance adapted the original ABC Learning Design method for collaborative course design across eight European universities with different traditions, languages, and pedagogical cultures.Its main innovations were the addition of student workload, synchronous/asynchronous and on-campus/online dimensions to the cards and storyboard, together with a preparatory phase, a glossary of more than 60 terms, and new 4EU+ strategy cards.The authors conclude that ABC-LD@4EU+ became a practical and transferable model which, supported by tools such as Moodle, Draft.io, and Zoom, enables flexible, student-centred, and internationally shared course design. Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14178/3738 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14178/3737 From ecology to evolution: plasmid- and colicin-mediated persistence of antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli in gulls Růžičková, Michaela; Palkovičová, Jana; Nesporova, Kristina; Ryšavá, Markéta; Pariža, René; Krejci, Simon; Literak, Ivan; Dolejská, Monika Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in wildlife is an emerging concern within the One Health concept. Gulls, due to their synanthropic behavior and long-distance migration, are recognized as vectors and secondary reservoirs of resistant bacteria. These birds can facilitate the environmental spread of resistant strains across ecosystem boundaries. Understanding their role in shaping microbial communities is essential for assessing the broader ecological impact. This study investigates the persistence and competitive dynamics of cephalosporin-resistant Escherichia coli in Caspian gulls (Larus cachinnans) captured at their breeding colony at a water reservoir and subsequently monitored in captivity for three months, representing the longest in vivo experiment of its kind conducted on wild birds. We observed sustained colonization and long-term shedding of resistant E. coli throughout the entire study, marking the longest documented carriage of resistant bacteria in wild birds to date. Notably, rapid dissemination of various E. coli sequence types (STs) with CTX-M-1 was observed, with ST11138 rapidly outcompeting other strains, including the initially dominant ST11893. Genomic analyses revealed that ST11138 harboured F24:A-:B1 and IncI1/ST3/CTX-M-1 plasmids encoding colicins and corresponding immunity genes, likely conferring a competitive advantage. Our findings underscore the role of bacteriocin-mediated interactions in shaping microbial communities and highlight the importance of plasmid-encoded traits in the persistence of resistant strains in wildlife. Importantly, our findings underscore the ecological novelty of longitudinal in vivo tracking of AMR persistence in natural hosts and highlight the need to consider ecological and microbiome-level interactions when assessing the environmental dimension of AMR under the One Health concept.IMPORTANCEAntimicrobial resistance (AMR) in wildlife is an emerging concern within the One Health framework, with gulls recognised as important vectors and secondary reservoirs of resistant bacteria. Due to their synanthropic behavior and long-distance migration, these birds can facilitate the spread of resistant strains across ecosystems. However, the role of wildlife in resistance dynamics remains underexplored, especially in long-term, natural settings. Our study is unique in its scope and duration, representing the longest in vivo experiment of its kind conducted on wild birds. By capturing these processes in live hosts under naturalistic conditions and across an extended period, our study provides rare and ecologically grounded insights into how AMR is maintained outside clinical or laboratory settings. Our findings show sustained colonisation and long-term shedding of resistant E. coli, with strain ST11138 outcompeting others. Genomic analyses reveal plasmid-encoded traits, highlighting the ecological and evolutionary mechanisms underlying resistance maintenance in wildlife. Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14178/3737 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14178/3736 Remodeling of the cellular membrane architecture in response to BK polyomavirus infection Bruštíková, Kateřina; Forstová, Jitka; Holajová, Barbora; Huerfano Meneses, Sandra BK polyomavirus (BKPyV) is a human pathogen that causes severe disease in immunocompromised individuals. Although discovered in the 1970s, important gaps in our understanding of BKPyV biology persist. Key unresolved areas include the precise molecular mechanisms governing viral latency and reactivation, the specific host and viral factors determining the virus tropism towards the urinary track, and the intricate virus-host interactions that drive clinical pathogenesis. These unresolved biological questions have stalled the development of targeted therapeutics; as a result, no specific antiviral therapy is currently available for BKPyV-related diseases. In this review, we examined findings from both experimental models and clinical samples that investigate how BKPyV remodels host organelles and the molecular pathways underlying these alterations. We focus on BKPyV-driven changes in cellular membranes, including endoplasmic reticulum remodeling, mitochondrial disruption, the formation of endoplasmic reticulum-derived tubuloreticular structures, vacuoles, and autophagosomes, as well as the accumulation of lipid droplets. Collectively, these organelle-specific modifications highlight membrane remodeling as a central feature of BKPyV replication and pathogenesis. Addressing the key knowledge gaps in the molecular basis of virus-induced membrane remodeling will be critical for guiding the development of effective antiviral strategies. Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14178/3736 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14178/3735 Dynamic changes in the plasmidome and resistome in the gastrointestinal tract of chickens Ryšavá, Markéta; Stredanska, Katarina; Schwarzerova, Jana; Jakubickova, Marketa; Cejkova, Darina; Aytan-Aktug, Derya; Otani, Saria; Dolejská, Monika; Palkovičová, Jana The expansion of intensive poultry farming has led to a substantial increase in antibiotic use, which, in turn, has promoted the accumulation of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). The chicken gut serves as a reservoir for these genes and provides favorable conditions for their horizontal transfer via mobile genetic elements, such as plasmids. Through this process, commensal bacteria can transfer ARGs to pathogens, facilitating their spread and increasing the risk of transmission to humans. In this study, long-read sequencing was used to characterize the plasmidome and resistome in 12 fecal samples from 3 houses of a commercial broiler chicken farm. All chickens received enrofloxacin in the first days of life, with one house additionally treated with sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim combination. For comparison, metagenomic analysis using short-read sequencing was performed on the same samples. This study revealed the presence of various ARGs associated with resistance to 25 antibiotic classes. A strong genetic association between MOBP-type plasmids and fluoroquinolone resistance was observed within broiler chicken farms. Temporal trends indicated progressive mobilization of these ARGs, suggesting an increasing potential for horizontal gene transfer. While fluoroquinolone resistance expanded over time, diaminopyrimidine resistance remained stable despite the antibiotic treatment. Most ARGs were carried on small plasmids, and complete plasmid reconstructions ranged from 2.6 to 47.6 kb. Our findings demonstrate that plasmidome sequencing enables high-resolution detection of resistance-associated plasmids that may be overlooked by conventional metagenomic approaches. The observed patterns are consistent with an association between fluoroquinolone use in poultry farms and the presence of plasmid-mediated resistance genes with potential for horizontal dissemination. Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14178/3735 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z