Jan Černý received the Dean's Award of the Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia for his defended doctoral dissertation
At the beginning of March 2025, our colleague Jan Černý got the Dean's Award for his successfully defended PhD dissertation. This thesis, entitled - Hormonal Control of Defense Reactions Against Natural Toxins - explores the hormonal and physiological responses of insect models to natural hymenopteran toxins, particularly focusing on the honeybee Apis mellifera and the minute wasp Habrobracon hebetor venoms. It also addresses the role of antistress adipokinetic hormone in resisting these venoms. Further, the study analyses potential pharmacological applications of melittin, a key bee venom component. Additionally, it shows that the honeybee stinger, far from being a passive structure, actively contributes to venom's destructive effects and it is a living organ. The research also presents Drosophila melanogaster as a useful model for studying venom toxin activities, contributing to potential drug discoveries and advancements in toxicology.
The work was conducted in the Laboratory of Insect Physiology, led by Dalibor Kodrík, and reflects the laboratory's current research activities.
Literature:
Bodláková K., Černý J., Štěrbová H., Guráň R., Zítka O. and Kodrík D. (2022) Insect body defence reactions against bee venom: do adipokinetic hormones play a role? Toxins 14: 11 (IF=5.075).
Černý J., Weyda F., Perlík M. and Kodrík D. (2022) Functional ultrastructure of hymenopteran stingers: devastating spear or delicate syringe. Microsc. Microanal. 28: 1808-1818 (IF=4.099).
Hejníková M., Tomčala A., Černý J. and Kodrík D. (2024) Melittin—The principal toxin of honeybee venom—Is also produced in the honeybee fat body. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. C 281: 109928 (IF=3.900).
Černý J., Krishnan N., Hejníková M., Štěrbová H. and Kodrík D. (2024) Modulation of response to braconid wasp venom by adipokinetic hormone in Drosophila melanogaster. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. C 285: 110005 (IF=3.900).
Černý, J., Krishnan, N., Štěrbová, H. and Kodrík, D. Elimination of certain honeybee venom activities by adipokinetic hormone. Sci. Rep. (under review) (IF=3.800).
