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Rab proteins in sperm life
Vojtová, Kristýna ; Páleníková, Veronika (advisor) ; Zelenková, Natálie (referee)
Rab proteins are the largest group of small GTPases. They work as key regulators in the intracellular vesicular transport of cells. This bachelor's thesis contains a literature review of current information on the function of Rab proteins in mammalian spermatozoa. The first part of the work is devoted to their structure, function, cycle, and diseases related to the dysfunction of Rab proteins. The second part is focused on sperm development and maturation linked with specific Rab proteins involved in individual steps during the life of the sperm. Rab proteins are important in cytoskeletal organization and cytokinesis of sperm during spermatogenesis. They participate in the acrosome biogenesis mediated by the Golgi apparatus and the morphological changes of sperm during spermiogenesis. They also play a key role in the acrosome reaction and interaction with the zona pellucida. Due to their necessity in the sperm development and maturation, Rab proteins are proposed as a marker of male fertility, which is summarized in the last part of the thesis. Keywords Rab proteins, GTPases, sperm, spermatogenesis, spermiogenesis, fertilization, infertility
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Leishmaniases and their vectors in the Middle East
Zelenková, Natálie ; Dvořák, Vít (advisor) ; Votýpka, Jan (referee)
Leishmaniases are vector-borne parasitic diseases that remain major neglected tropical diseases of the world. Both cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis is endemic in the Middle East, with several countries reporting increasing incidence in recent years. The Middle East is a region of great political instability and the escalating conflicts in Syria, Yemen and Iraq have led to collapses of local healthcare systems. These countries have consequently seen many outbreaks of leishmaniasis. War is associated with refugee crisis that enables further spread of the disease to previously non-endemic areas. L. major and L. tropica are the main causative agents of cutaneous leishmaniasis and species of the L. donovani complex are the causative agents of visceral leishmaniasis in this region. Many species of the genus Phlebotomus occur here, with P. papatasi and P. sergenti being among the most abundant proven local vectors. Rodents and dogs are considered to be the main reservoir hosts of the infection. The aim of this bachelor thesis is to summarize the occurence of leishmaniases in the Middle Eastern countries in the context of the current situation in this region.
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