Biological sciences

The main topic of our research is morphology of animal and human tissues at ultrastructural level and immunohistochemical level. We use standard techniques for transmission electron microscopy as well as immunogold technique. Immunohistochemical research includes techniques for immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence. For the last twenty years we have very successful collaboration with the research group from the Department of Anatomy, Embryology and Histology at School of Medicine, University of Split.

First identified genetic variants for most thyroid hormones/antibodies have been recently published by our research group. For now, only 5.34% of genetic variance has been explained for parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels while calcitonin and osteocalcin, which together with PTH regulate blood calcium homeostasis, have not been analysed on a genome-wide level. Prediction analyses have gained increasing significance over the last few years. The aim of such analyses is to predict the value of a quantitative trait based on genetic and environmental parameters.

http://www.mefst.unist.hr/research/research-groups-and-laboratories/laboratory-for-early-human-development-5047/5047

We investigate the roles of extracellular matrix (ECM) components from the glycosaminoglycan (GAG) class, enzymes for biosynthesis of GAGs and cell surface receptors of GAGs in the regulation of inflammatory response in generalized destructive form of periodontal disease in humans

The Microbial Ecology and Biodiversity Laboratory (LUBEM, UR n ° 3882) is a research laboratory at the University of Western Brittany specializing in the study of biodiversity and the ecology of microorganisms, mainly in agriculture, food industry and environment.

The LUBEM laboratory has 2 applicative axes:

• Ecosystems with fungal components (molds and yeasts).

• Risks associated with spore forming bacteria.

For a long time the great part of our scientific activity has taken place in the Arctic and recently in the Antarctic as well. We work there on the basis of polar stations: The Stanisław Siedlecki Polish Polar Station in Hornsund, SW Spitsbergen and The Henryk Arctowski Antarctic Station on King George Island, Admiralty Bay. However, we also camp in other polar regions e.g. in Magdalenefjorden (NW Spitsbergen) or Bear Island.

The wide sphere of our studies includes:

Ecological assessment and monitoring; with particular emphasis on themes concerning marine ecology, including ecology of seagrass and algal habitats; and environmental impacts of aquaculture, coastal development and other anthropogenic activities.

MERG’s research work focuses on: (1) characterisation of benthic habitats; (2) monitoring of changes to local marine life resulting from ongoing environmental changes (e.g. warming sea temperatures, species range expansions, invasion by non-indigenous species); (3) assessing the services provided by habitats and ecosystems (i.e. their resource potential); (4) monitoring the effects of human impacts on these habitats; (5) evaluating the conservation status of local coastal and marine living resources.

• changes in vegetation of lakes as a result of human pressure and global warming;
• functional diversity of vegetation in lake ecosystems; 
• stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes (δ13C and δ15N) in lakes;

Phytotoxicity of chemical contaminants of the water environment: physiological, biochemical and molecular responses of plants and green algae to pharmaceuticals, herbicides and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Factors influencing the cell cycle of the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Transient and stable transformation of selected plant and green algae species: production of recombinant proteins, lipids and waxes.