prof. RNDr. Libor Grubhoffer, CSc., dr. h. c. mult.

Job Position: Research Scientist - Laboratory of Molecular Ecology of Vectors and Pathogens

Contact details

Phone: +420 387775050, +420 387775456
E-mail: libor.grubhoffer@bc.cas.cz
Web: liborex@paru.cas.cz
Room: 212, 312

Description

Research interests

molecular and cellular factors involved in the mechanism of pathogen transmission by ticks and of the tick immunity
Lyme borreliosis spirochaetes and tick-borne encephalitis virus with respect to protein-carbohydrate interactions, and their interaction with the inner environment of the tick Ixodes ricinus

Curriculum vitae

University Education

1976-1981: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, the Czech Republic. Area of study: biochemistry of lectins, and their biological significance at the cellular level (supervisor Professor Jan Kocourek). Isolation and characterization of the lectins from the seeds of Vicia villosa.
1982: RNDr. (equivalent to M.Sc.) biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, the Czech Republic.
1982-1983: Research Assistant in the Laboratory of Chemical Mutagenesis at the Research Institute of Organic Syntheses, Pardubice, Czech Republic.

Postgraduate Study

1983-1986: Ph.D. Research on the antigenic structures of mumps virus (Paramyxoviridae) with the respect to their physico-chemical, immunochemical, and biological properties thesis under the guidence of Professor Dimitrij Slonim in the Department of Preparative Virology at the Institute of Sera and Vaccines, Prague, Czech Republic
1986: Research Associate in the Laboratory of Arboviruses at the Institute of Parasitology, Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, the Czech Republic
1987: C.Sc. degree (equivalent to Ph.D.) in microbiology/virology. Thesis entitled "The study of antigenic structures of mumps virus and their possibilities in the practice employment" in the Institute of Microbiology, Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences, Prague, the Czech Republic.

Employment History

1987: Junior research scientist in the Institute of Parasitology, Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice.
1990-1994: Secretary for Science at the Institute of Parasitology, Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice.
1991: Appointed Head of the Laboratory of Molecular Ecology of Parasites at the Institute of Parasitology, Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice.
1993: Appointed assistant Professor in Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, the University of South Bohemia, Česke Budějovice, the Czech republic.
1994-2002: Director of the Institute of Parasitology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Ceske Budejovice.
1997: Appointed associated Professor in Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, the University of South Bohemia, Česke Budějovice. Teaches folowing courses: Biochemistry, Biochemistry and molecular biology of parasites, General Virology.
2001: Appointed Professor in Molecular and Cellular Biology and Genetics
2001-2004: Vice-rector of the University of Southern Bohemia for international relations.
2002-: Chairman of the Scientific Council of the Institute of Parasitology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Ceske Budejovice.
2002-: Czech Republic representative in the Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC) forum at the International Consortium on Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases (ICTTD-2/3).
2003-: Chairman of the Biomedical and molecular biological sciences panel #5 of the Grant Agency of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic.
2003-: Executive chairman of the National Committee of the International Union of Biological Sciences.
2003-: Member of the standing committee on a D.Sc. degree defence in ´Ecological Biology´.
2003-: Vice-chairman of the Committee for evaluation of the institutional research plans and results of institutes of the Academy o Sciences of the Czech Republic in Life sciences and Chemistry.

Scientific Background, Research Experience

Biochemistry and molecular biology of disease vectors; molecular factors in mechanisms of pathogens transmission with the respect to the role of protein-carbohydrate as well as other non-covalent interactions, immune reactions in arthropods. At present, he is concerned with the investigation of structural and functional components of Borrelia burgdorfferi and B. recurrentis spirochetes. He is also interested in tick-borne encephalitis virus, its virulence, separation, purification, isolation of the envelope glycoprotein E, and in the study on structural properties of this antigen. He also deals with the interaction of borreliae and TBE virus with internal environment of ixodid ticks. The other domain of his interest is the immunity of invertebrates and molecular biological factors influencing it. He has worked on the isolation and functional characterization of structures important for physiology of recognition and defense reaction in invertebrates. Till now, he has been a principal investigator of 4 grants of GA ASCR, 3 grants of GA CR, 3 grants of the Ministry of Education, one of those is VS 96066 ("Strengthening of Research at Universities"), and a co-principal investigator of two internatinal projects (IAAE; Fogarty Foundation/N.I.H.). A joint research project with NRC-IBS Ottawa within S&T Cooperation/Canada´(2003-2006).

Long-term Study Stays Abroad and International Collaborations

1989 University of Uppsala (Prof. K. Soderhall), 1992-1993, 1995 University of Arizona (Prof. M. Wells, Prof. J.Law). Develops a tight collaboration with the University of Arizona (within Biomedical Research Abroad: Vistas Open! programme), the University of Glasgow (1997-Prof. I. Maudlin; 2000-Dr. R. A. Smith: work placement of undergraduate students, Socrates/Erasmus), Karel Grote Hogeschol in Antwerpen (student mobility within Erasmus/Socrates, teaching a class on Biochemistry of Parasites). 2003 Georgia Southern University, Statesboro (USA), Institute of Parasitology and Arthropodology, (Prof. J. H. Oliver, Jr.) within NATO Senior Research Fellowship on molecular factors in tick-borrelia interactions.

Published a total of 70 scientific articles, 62 papers at conferences and 16 invited lectures. Member of the editorial board of Folia Parasitologica and of several scientific societies, and scienticic counciles of the University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice (USB), the Institute of Entomology AS CR, Institute of Plant Molecular Biology AS CR, Institute of Landscape Ecology AS CR, the Faculty of Biological Sciences USB, and the Institute of Physical Biology USB.

Teaching Biochemistry
Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia

Basic Laboratory Course in Biochemistry
Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia

Biochemistry I
Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia

Biochemistry 1
Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia

Biochemistry 2
Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia

Biological Chemistry - Bachelor Seminar
Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia

Developmental and Comparative Biochemistry (for Biological Chemistry)
Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia

Glycobiochemistry (for Biological Chemistry)
Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia

Laboratory practise from Biochemistry
Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia

Laboratory Course in Biochemistry
Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia

Advanced Laboratory Course in Biochemistry
Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia

Seminar in Advanced Biological Chemistry
Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia

Seminar in Advanced Biological Chemistry II
Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia

Publications

Total found: 157 records
Alaverdyan J., Celina S., Jirků M., Golovchenko M., Italiya J., Grubhoffer L., Rudenko N., Černý J. (2024) A first look at the relationship between large herbivore-induced landscape modifications and Ixodes ricinus tick abundance in rewilding sites Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases 24 : 666-672. DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2023.0146
Mašková H., Doudová L., Lieskovská J., Grubhoffer L., Štěrba J. (2024) Characterization of stem cell-derived langerhans-like cells: new model immune cells for tick-borne encephalitis virus infection studies Stem Cell Reviews and Reports 20 : 1367–1369. DOI: 10.1007/s12015-024-10722-6
Mazuecos L., Contreras M., Kasaija P.D., Manandhar P., Grąźlewska W., Guisantes-Batan E., Gomez-Alonso S., Deulofeu K., Fernandez-Moratalla I., Rajbhandari R.M., Sojka D., Grubhoffer L., Karmacharya D., Gortazar C., de la Fuente J. (2023) Natural Clerodendrum-derived tick repellent: learning from Nepali culture Experimental and Applied Acarology 90 : 83–98. DOI: 10.1007/s10493-023-00804-4
Rudenko N., Golovchenko M., Horák A., Grubhoffer L., Mongodin E.F., Fraser C.M., Qiu W., Luft B., Morgan R.G., Casjens S.R., Schutzer S. (2023) Genomic confirmation of Borrelia garinii in the USA Emerging Infectious Diseases 29 : 1. DOI: 10.3201/eid2901.220930
Grubhoffer L., Mašková H., Doudová L., Selinger M., Věchtová P., Štěrba J. (2022) Verification of markers for early stage of tick-borne encephalitis infection in vitro and in vivo Febs Open Bio 12 : 164–164 Supl. 1, Special Issue.
Hrnková J., Golovchenko M., Musa A.S., Needham T., Italiya J., Ceacero F., Kotrba R., Grubhoffer L., Rudenko N., Černý J. (2022) Borrelia spirochetes in European exotic farm animals Frontiers in Veterinary Science 9 : 996015. DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.996015
Selinger M., Novotný R., Sýs J., Roby J.A., Tykalová H., Ranjani G.S., Vancová M., Jaklová K., Kaufman F., Bloom M.E., Zdráhal Z., Grubhoffer L., Forwood J.K., Hrabal R., Rumlová M., Štěrba J. (2022) Tick-borne encephalitis virus capsid protein induces translational shut-off as revealed by its structural-biological analysis Journal of Biological Chemistry 298 : 102585. DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102585
Selinger M., Věchtová P., Tykalová H., Ošlejšková P., Rumlová M., Štěrba J., Grubhoffer L. (2022) The analysis of differential expression and interactions of host and virus derived RNAs in human primary neural cells reveals candidate effectors of TBEV-induced neuropathogenesis Febs Open Bio 12 : 164–164 Supl. 1, Special Issue.
Selinger M., Věchtová P., Tykalová H., Ošlejšková P., Rumlová M., Štěrba J., Grubhoffer L. (2022) Integrative RNA profiling of TBEV-infected neurons and astrocytes reveals potential pathogenic effectors Computational and Structural Biotechnology Journal 20 : 2759-2777. DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2022.05.052
Černý J., Elsterová J., Růžek D., Grubhoffer L. (2021) Vertebrate viruses in polar ecosystems. In: G. di Prisco, G.M.E. Howell, J. Elster, A.H.L. Huiskes (Eds.). Life in Extreme Environments: Insights in Biological Capability 126-147. DOI: 9781108724203
de la Fuente J., Armas O., Sánchez-Rodríguez L., Gortazar C., Lukashev A.N., Kotsyfakis M., Grubhoffer L. (2021) Citizen science initiative points at childhood BCG vaccination as a risk factor for COVID-19 Transboundary and Emerging Diseases 6 : 3114–3119. DOI: 10.1111/tbed.14097
Hejduk L., Rathner P., Strnad M., Grubhoffer L., Štěrba J., Rego R. O. M., Muller N. (2021) Resonance assignment and secondary structure of DbpA protein from the European species, Borrelia afzelii. Biomolecular NMR Assignments 15 : 415–420. DOI: 10.1007/s12104-021-10039-2
Hrnková J., Schneiderová I., Golovchenko M., Grubhoffer L., Rudenko N., Černý J. (2021) Role of Zoo-Housed Animals in the Ecology of Ticks and Tick-Borne Pathogens—A Review Pathogens 10 : 210. DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10020210
Kotsarenko K., Věchtová P., Wimmerová M., Štěrba J., Grubhoffer L. (2021) Possible ways for manipulating the gene expression in Ixodes ricinus ticks FEBS Open Bio 11 : 141.
Oh Y.J., Strnad M., Vancová M., Hain L., Salo J., Grubhoffer L., Nebesářová J., Hytoenen J., Hinterdorfer P., Rego R. O. M. (2021) 13 th EBSA congress, July 24-28, 2021, Vienna, Austria: Nanomechanical mechanisms of Borrelia interactions with extracellular matrix European Biophysics Journal with Biophysics Letters 50 : S59. DOI: 10.1007/s00249-021-01558-w
Rudenko N., Grubhoffer L., Golovchenko M. (2021) Climate impact on Lyme borreliosis and its causative agents In: P. Nuttall (Ed.) Climate, Ticks and Disease chapter 49. DOI: 9781789249637
Rusanov A.L., Kozhin P.M., Tikhonova O.V., Zgoda V.G., Loginov D.S., Chlastáková A., Selinger M., Štěrba J., Grubhoffer L., Luzgina N.G. (2021) Proteome Profiling of PMJ2-R and Primary Peritoneal Macrophages International Journal of Molecular Sciences 22 : 6323. DOI: 10.3390/ijms22126323
Strnad M., Oh Y.J., Vancová M., Hain L., Salo J., Grubhoffer L., Nebesářová J., Hytönen J., Hinterdorfer P., Rego R. O. M. (2021) Nanomechanical mechanisms of Lyme disease spirochete motility enhancement in extracellular matrix Communications Biology 4 : 268 . DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-01783-1
Věchtová P., Füssy Z., Štěrba J., Grubhoffer L. (2021) Expression of glycan biosynthetic enzymes and glycan-binding proteins in Ixodes ricinus tick life stages FEBS Open Bio 11 : 498.
Černý J., Lynn G., Hrnková J., Golovchenko M., Rudenko N., Grubhoffer L. (2020) Management Options forIxodes ricinus-AssociatedPathogens: A Review of Prevention Strategies International Journal of Environmental Researchand Public Health 17 : 1830. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17061830

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