International Conference: Adriatic Biodiversity Protection – AdriBioPro2019

Jelena and Ilija participated at the International Conference: Adriatic Biodiversity Protection – AdriBioPro2019 organized by University of Montenegro and Institute for Marine Biology in the period between 7^th and 10^th April in Kotor, Montenegro. They presented their research in Freshwater biodiversity conservation section as oral presentations. 

- Ilija Šćekić, Jelena Lujić, Juan German Herranz-Jusdado, Zoran Marinović, Béla Urbányi, Tamás Müller, Juan F. Asturiano, Ákos Horváth. New strategy for conservation of European eel

- Jelena Lujić, Zoran Marinović, Ilija Šćekić, Béla Urbányi, Ákos Horváth. New strategy for ichthyofaunal conservation - cryopreservation and transplantation of early stage germ cells

Group photo for the beginning

We are ready

AdriBioPro2019 photo wall

Jelena`s presentation

Ilija`s presentation

Project meeting in Valencia

In parallel with Jelena and Ilija’s lab work in Valencia Ákos and our colleague Tamás Müller have participated at the second preparatory meeting of the MSCA ITN project EEL-NOW at the Polytecnic University of Valencia in Spain. The meeting was organized by Dr. Juan F. Asturiano and his colleagues. The meeting was attended by colleagues representing various institutions in Germany, Italy, Denmark, the Netherlands, France, Spain and Hungary. We are looking forward to a successful application and keep our fingers crossed.

Attendees of the project meeting

Joint work in Valencia

Jelena and Ilija spent two weeks in Valencia (Spain) working at the Universitat Politècnica de València in the group for Aquaculture and Biodiversity leading by Juan F. Asturiano. It was continuing of long-term fruitful collaboration of our two groups. The main topic of our visit was developing protocols for cryopreservation of eel gonads. All experiments were successful and we are looking forward for the next step in our joint research. We greatly appreciate your warm hospitality, thank you for everything Johnny, German and Victor. 

Eye to eye

Ilija and Victor in a hunting mode

Dissection

Pippeting, filtering....with German

Preparation for viability test

Vitrification

Ákos was there to help in the critical moment

Hunting mode vol.2

Checking viability of the cells

New paper accepted in The Journal of Visualized Experiments (JoVE)

A new paper in collaboration with our collegues from the Polytechnic University of Valencia was accepted for publication in The Journal of Visualized Experiments (JoVE), entitled 'Handling and treatment of male European eels (Anguilla anguilla) for hormonal maturation and sperm cryopreservation'

J.G. Herranz-Jusdado, E. Kása, T. Kollár, V. Gallego, D.S. Peñaranda, C. Rozenfeld, L. Pérez, Á. Horváth, J.F. Asturiano The Journal of Visualized Experiments (JoVE). In press.

Abstract
During the last years, several research groups have been working on the development and improvement of new protocols for the European eel handling and maturation. As of yet, weekly injections of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) have proved to maturate males after just 5-6 weeks of treatment, producing high volumes of high-quality sperm during several weeks. In addition, sperm cryopreservation protocols using different extenders, cryoprotectants and cooling and thawing times have been previously described for European eel. Here, we show that Tanaka´s extender solution can be directly used for fertilization or for cryopreservation, making unnecessary the usage of different types of solutions and dilutions. Furthermore, the use of methanol as a cryoprotectant makes this protocol easy to use as methanol has low toxicity and does not activate the sperm. The sperm does not need to be cryopreserved immediately after the addition of the cryoprotectant, and it can be used long after being thawed. Moreover, sperm motility is still high after thawing although it is lower than that of fresh sperm. The aim of this work is to show the best available protocol for European eel handling, maturation, and sperm cryopreservation.

5th AQUAGAMETE training school: Cryopreservation of fish germ cells

Three members of our group had the luck to participate at the 5th AQUAGAMETE training school in Valencia from 07-03-2016 to 11-03-2016 (organized by Dr. Juan Asturiano at the Polytechnic University of Valencia). Ákos was invited as a speaker, Ági and Eszti were selected as trainees.

Eszti, Ákos and Ági during the field trip of the second day of the course

During the 5 days of the course we have heard very interesting presentations by Dr. Asturiano, Dr. Pšenička, Dr. Labbé, Dr. Pifferer, Dr. Robles, Dr. Pérez, Dr. Ciereszko and Dr. Soler.

Dr. Pifferer presenting about epigenetics

 ...and we also prepared some presentations: 

Ákos's second presentation was about standardization of methods

students also made some presentations, here Eszti is advertising this blog :)

Ági presenting her results

And we have gained experience in cryopreservation, spermatogonia isolation and microinjection:

David showing us some cryopreservation tehcniques

examination of eel sperm motility

microinjection practice

Victor dissecting a male eel to obtain testis for spermatogonia isolation

Percoll gradient procedure

Dr. Pšenička during microinjection

the right point to inject 2-cell zebrafish embryos

Dr. Pšenička showed us how to inject zebrafish larvae

Eszti pulls a capillary for microinjection

Ági practicing microinjection

Ákos practicing microinjection

We have visited PROISER facilities at the Scientific Parc of the University of Valencia:

Ági examines sperm motilty in the facility of PROISER

sperm head morphometrty analysis (ASMA) at PROISER

And we had a beautiful field trip at the Albufera lagoon:

the map shows the original size of Albufera lagoon (green) and the actual size (small blue lake)

landscape with the city of Valencia in the background

workers of the Tancat de la Pipa collect and remove invasive species found in the nets

this small crayfish is also a non-native species in this area

boat trip in the lagoon

Center for preservation of freshwater species

walking in El Palmar

eel males

Fishermen facilities, El Palmar

presenation: Dr. Jover and Dr. Asturiano

this is the point where eels can swim out to the sea from the lagoon

In conclusion, the course was really interesting, and full of nice experiences, thanks to the organizers!