Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: Novosibirsk State University –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
The 4th School of Young Scientists, "Application of Synchrotron Radiation for Solving Biological Problems," is taking place at Novosibirsk State University from October 1st to 3rd. Ninety-five participants are participating, most of whom are young researchers. Forty-seven of the participants are NSU students. Many of them are also employees of research institutions: the State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology "Vector" of Rospotrebnadzor, the Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Cytology and Genetics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and the A.V. Nikolaev Institute of Inorganic Chemistry of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Representatives of ITMO University, the SKIF Collective Use Center, Kazan Federal University, and Moscow State University are also participating. Lomonosov, Tyumen State University, Sechenov University (First Moscow State Medical University named after I.M. Sechenov), Tomsk State University, and others. More than 30 school participants came from 11 Russian cities: Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kazan, Yekaterinburg, Tyumen, Pushchino (Moscow region), Vladivostok, Krasnoyarsk, and Barnaul.
At the opening of the School, the Rector of Novosibirsk State University, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Mikhail Fedoruk, delivered a welcoming speech:
Novosibirsk State University is actively involved in establishing the SKIF Common Use Center and developing its user base. NSU's Physics Department has launched new educational programs: starting in their second year, all master's students take two courses related to synchrotron and neutron research. Educational programs in this area have also been introduced at NSU's Faculty of Natural Sciences. In 2024, NSU established the Center for X-ray, Synchrotron, and Neutron Research, which will be located in the research center currently under construction, part of the second phase of the new NSU campus. The launch of the SKIF-NSU educational and research station is planned for the SKIF Common Use Center. The university will actively participate in all research programs related to synchrotron research. For example, a number of projects, including pharmaceutical and medical ones, are being implemented within the Priority 2030 program. I am confident that with the commissioning of the SKIF Center for Collective Use, great prospects and limitless possibilities will open up for scientists.
Anastasia Gladysheva, Head of the Laboratory, Senior Researcher at the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology Vector (Rospotrebnadzor), and a PhD in Biology, discussed the implementation of the project "Application of Synchrotron Radiation for Virology Research to Develop New Immunobiological Drugs," which is being implemented under the Federal Scientific and Technical Program for the Development of Synchrotron and Neutron Research and Research Infrastructure until 2030, and its future prospects.
-Within the framework of the current project of the Federal Scientific and Technical Program (FNF) of the development of synchrotron and neutron studies, three key areas are identified: tumor tesds, the study of new viruses and the development of immunobiological drugs. The project is aimed at research in the field of oncological diseases. This approach combines diagnosis and treatment, that is, it implies the ability to simultaneously visualize a cancerous tumor using a synchrotron source and destroy it using oncolytic viruses with certain transgenes. The study of new viruses is equally important. To develop effective biological products to combat them, you need to know how they are arranged. To complete this task, it is necessary to use a structural-oriented approach using synchrotron methods, which will allow us not only to fundamentally study how new viruses are arranged, but also by targeted, on the basis of structural data, to develop immunobiological drugs both against the new and long-known viruses, to struggle with direct effects of direct action before. But in order for these studies to take place, we need scientific personnel. NSU took the solution of this problem, for which we are grateful to the university. For the fourth time, a school of young scientists is being held, an additional professional education program is being implemented annually. This year we received several other university graduates who are already full -fledged researchers, ”said Anastasia Gladysheva.
Sergey Arkhipov, Head of the Laboratory at the Crystallization Educational and Methodological Center of the NSU Institute of Chemical Technology, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Solid State Chemistry at the NSU Faculty of Natural Sciences, and Senior Researcher at the SKIF Center for Collective Use, delivered an introductory lecture on the SKIF Center's potential for research in biology. Sergey Sedykh, PhD in Biology, presented the educational programs of the NSU Advanced Engineering School, and Boris Zakharov, Doctor of Chemical Sciences, spoke about the Master's program "Methodological Support for Physicochemical Studies of Condensed Phases" at the NSU Faculty of Natural Sciences.
The School's goal is to highlight the potential of synchrotron radiation for studying biological samples. Young researchers will learn about the key stages of studying biopolymer crystals using X-ray diffraction analysis, biopolymer solutions using small-angle X-ray scattering, and the use of X-ray fluorescence analysis and tomography to study biological samples.
A school for young scientists in this field has been held annually at NSU since 2022. The first school focused on X-ray diffraction analysis, which is available at the first-stage station 1.2 "Structural Diagnostics" of the Siberian Ring Photon Source. The second school's program included small-angle X-ray scattering, whose applicability in structural biology is also significantly expanded by the use of synchrotron radiation. The third school emphasized the combined use of molecular modeling methods and experimental approaches to solving problems in structural biology. Thus, the organizers linked the theoretical and experimental sections as complementary. At last year's school, each participant was provided with a full-fledged workstation, creating comfortable conditions for mastering the fundamentals of experimental data processing and structural modeling skills.
"This year's School is unique in that it includes in-depth modules on processing X-ray diffraction data and analyzing small-angle scattering data combined with gel filtration. It also includes a practical component on processing tomographic data and using X-ray fluorescence analysis to study biological samples," explained Sergei Arkhipov.
The School program traditionally includes a theoretical component and practical sessions. Roman Moryachkov, PhD (Kazan Scientific Center, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Krasnoyarsk), will introduce participants to the small-angle X-ray scattering method for solving problems in structural biology. Sofia Borisevich, Doctor of Chemical Sciences (SKIF Center for Collective Use), who is also a part-time employee of NSU, will discuss the combined application of experimental methods and molecular modeling techniques to solving problems in structural biology. Sergey Rashchenko, PhD (Geology and Mineralogy, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences), will introduce participants to the fundamental principles of synchrotron radiation interactions with biological objects. Konstantin Usachev, Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences (Kazan Scientific Center, Kazan), will give a lecture on the crystallography of macromolecular structures. Lectures will also cover the application of cryo-electron microscopy in studying macromolecular structures and X-ray diffraction analysis in solving problems in structural biology.
Practical work will be carried out in eight master classes in four parallel groups: "Conducting Molecular Docking (Protein–Ligand) and Molecular Modeling Based on X-ray Structural Analysis Data," "Conducting Protein–Protein Docking and Molecular Modeling for Subsequent Experimental Verification Using Small-Angle X-ray Scattering," "Solving and Refinement of the Crystal Structure of Lysozyme Using X-ray Structural Analysis," "Processing Primary Data Obtained by Computed Tomography," and "X-ray Fluorescence Analysis: Theory and Practical Application for Studying Biological Samples." Master classes will also be held on processing data obtained by NSU postgraduate students at the Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Center using X-ray diffraction analysis and small-angle X-ray scattering.
Last year, new terminal rooms in the educational laboratory building were used for practical training related to data processing. This year, these resources will be complemented by a computer lab at the Gazpromneft-NSU Scientific and Educational Center and classrooms in the new classroom building. The experience of the previous school demonstrated the effectiveness and ease of use of computer labs for participants.
The school will conclude with a lecture by Sergei Arkhipov, PhD in Chemistry, in which he will review currently available experimental capabilities for biopolymer crystallization and biological sample studies using X-ray diffraction, small-angle X-ray scattering, X-ray fluorescence, and X-ray tomography. He also plans to introduce school participants to the SKIF Center for Collective Use's planned capabilities for structural biology and biomedical applications.
The School for Young Scientists "Application of Synchrotron Radiation for Solving Biological Problems" is supported by the Russian Ministry of Education and Science.
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