CONSTANTINE SCIENCE BRIDGES
WEBINARS

From October 2024 to June 2025, National Biotechnology Research Center C.R.Bt, Constantine - Algeria

Welcome to our webinar series, a journey into the groundbreaking fields of Proteomics, Genomics, Bioinformatics, Organoids and Bioimaging. In this series, we will introduce you to powerful strategies to elevate your research and critical thinking. We will describe the core principles of these fields, showcase impactful techniques, and simplify complex concepts for practical application.
Whether you're just beginning your journey or seeking to deepen your expertise, these webinars provide a unique opportunity to learn directly from experts and apply cutting-edge techniques in your field.

Organizing Committee

Salah Elias

University of Southampton

Boucheham Abdeldjalil

Biotechnology Research Center

Sakhri Fatma Zahra

National School of Biotechnology

Saifi Boubakeur

National School of Biotechnology

Bouhedjar Khalid

Biotechnology Research Center

Rezgui Abdelmalek

Biotechnology Research Center

Benkhemissa Abdelhamid

Biotechnology Research Center

Webinar Speakers

Anissa Belfetmi

Harvard Medical School

Antonio Scialdone

Helmholtz Munich

Colinda Scheele

ku leuven, department of oncology

Diego Gomez Nicola

University of Southampton

James Canham

GetGenome

Kif Liakath-Ali

University of Southampton

Omaya Dudin

University of Geneva

Rafael Polidoro Alves Barbosa

Indiana University School of Medicine

Sabrina Absalon

Indiana University School of Medicine

Salah Elias

University of Southampton

Event Schedule

Registration for webinar-5 is open

Dr. Sabrina Absalon

Dr. Sabrina Absalon

Harnessing Expansion Microscopy to Unveil Mechanisms of Plasmodium Parasite Cell Division.

The malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum presents unique challenges for cell biology due to its small size and highly specialized structures. To overcome these limitations, my lab has pioneered the application of Ultrastructure Expansion Microscopy (U-ExM) in Plasmodium research, enabling unprecedented visualization of subcellular architecture with nanoscale resolution. This talk will explore how U-ExM has transformed our understanding of parasite biology, with a focus on two key areas: cell division and apicoplast inheritance.

We have used U-ExM to produce the first detailed atlas of cell division in P. falciparum, visualizing previously inaccessible structures such as the centriolar plaque (a unique microtubule-organizing center) and its role in synchronizing nuclear division with the biogenesis of essential organelles. These findings shed light on how Plasmodium coordinates cell polarity and organelle inheritance during its complex life cycle, revealing potential new targets for therapeutic intervention.

In parallel, our research into apicoplast fission and inheritance has uncovered novel insights into how this essential plastid organelle is divided and distributed among daughter parasites. We identified Anchor, a previously uncharacterized protein that modulates actin dynamics and is critical for apicoplast fission. By exploring the interaction between Anchor and key organelle biogenesis proteins such as Plasmodium Dynamin 2, we aim to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying apicoplast division, a process that is vital for parasite survival and offers a promising avenue for drug targeting.

By integrating U-ExM with genetic and biochemical approaches, we are pushing the boundaries of what is possible in Plasmodium cell biology. This talk will highlight how these cutting-edge tools are allowing us to answer long-standing questions about parasite replication and organelle inheritance, ultimately advancing our understanding of malaria biology and informing the development of new antimalarial strategies.

Dr. Colinda Scheele

Dr. Colinda Scheele

Intravital microscopy and organoid models to study development and disease.

We study the dynamics of tumor progression at multiple scales ranging from the molecular level to the organ level. During this process, the affected organ transforms from a highly organized and functional structure into a disorganized and dysfunctional assembly of cells. Our goal is to understand how healthy tissue architecture is involved in this dynamic process of tumorigenic transformation. Better understanding of the interplay between healthy tissue structure and transformed cells will give us new insights into how tissue architecture can either prevent or promote tumor initiation and progression. Ultimately, we aim to use these new insights to explore new therapeutic strategies that could delay or even prevent tumor progression.

To investigate the dynamics of these complex tissue rearrangements, we develop and use state-of-the-art imaging techniques, such as whole organ 3D imaging and high-resolution intravital microscopy, and combine these techniques with the latest genetic mouse models. To gain visual access to the tissues we use small imaging windows that can be surgically implanted into mice. These windows enable visualization of the behavior of individual tumor cells within the tissue context. Moreover, malignant transformation can be followed at the single cell level in real-time within the primary tumor or at distant organs over a period of several days to weeks.

To fully understand the complex interplay between healthy tissue organization and malignant transformation, just visualization is not enough. Therefore, our lab combines imaging approaches with lineage tracing techniques to obtain quantitative information on cellular behavior, as well as more detailed molecular analysis to further understand the molecular networks involved in (pre-)malignant transformation. In addition, we also developed and use patient-derived xenograft models and complex organoid models.

In my lecture I will showcase some examples of these technologies and how we use them to unravel the mechanisms of tumor formation.

Dr. Omaya Dudin

Dr. Omaya Dudin

Multicellular developmental diversity at the root of animals.

All animals develop from a single-celled zygote and undergo complex morphogenetic processes to form multicellular organisms. These processes are regulated by intrinsic and extrinsic factors that drive key developmental events, such as symmetry breaking, cell division, and differentiation. Despite the remarkable conservation of these pathways across species, the evolutionary origins of these morphogenetic mechanisms remain unclear. A major challenge in addressing this question is the limited availability of microscopy and cell biological data from key protists that occupy pivotal phylogenetic positions in the eukaryotic tree, including those identified as the closest unicellular relatives of animals.

In this talk, I will share recent insights into Ichthyosporeans, a lineage of protists closely related to animals, which exhibit diverse multicellular development strategies. These include species that undergo coenocytic development followed by cellularization, as well as others that develop through cleavage divisions to form spatially organized multicellular colonies. Our findings highlight the importance of studying diverse unicellular taxa to trace the origins of animal multicellularity, positioning Ichthyosporeans as a promising model for exploring the evolutionary roots of animal embryogenesis.

Dr. Anissa Belfetmi

Dr. Anissa Belfetmi

Biological NMR spectroscopy to study Protein and RNA structural properties

Protein and nucleic acid structures are at the heart of biochemical reactions. We use biophysical methods to solve the structure or study the complexes' interactions to understand the mechanisms and processes involved in a biological response and how their deficiencies lead to diseases. NMR spectroscopy is a powerful tool for accessing macromolecules' structure and dynamic and interaction properties at atomic resolution. It is also widely used for drug discovery. Recent impactful developments in the field have also led to its use in metabolomics to diagnose diseases. I will present the theory and basics of NMR spectroscopy to study protein interactions, intrinsically disordered domains, and RNA structures. At the end of the presentation, students will be able to understand the NMR pulse sequence building blocks, the process of making an isotopically labeled sample, NMR spectra recording, processing, and analysis, structure determination strategies, and relaxation techniques to study dynamics. Aspired next-generation NMR spectroscopists will leverage AI/ML to speed up the analysis of NMR spectra. How can we take the most crucial advantage it offers over other structural tools to observe macromolecule dynamics? Deriving NMR quantitative data for practical application would benefit biotechnology innovation and how we screen for therapeutic agents.

Dr.James Canham

Dr.James Canham

TBD

Dr.Antonio Scialdone

Dr.Antonio Scialdone

Investigating cell fate decisions with single-cell RNA-seq data analysis.

Dr. Kif Liakath-Ali

Dr. Kif Liakath-Ali

TBD

Dr. Mohamed-Ali HAKIMI

Dr. Mohamed-Ali HAKIMI

Epigenetic Reprogramming in Host-Parasite Coevolution: The Toxoplasma Paradigm.

Dr. Rafael Polidoro Alves Barbosa

Dr. Rafael Polidoro Alves Barbosa

TBD

Prof. Diago Gomez-Nicola

Prof. Diego Gomez-Nicola

TBD

Dr. Salah Elias

Dr. Salah Elias

Mechanisms of oriented divisions and fate decisions in the mammary epithelium.

Event Venue

National Biotechnology Research Center, Constantine, Algeria

Frequently Asked Questions

How to join this webinar?

Click the link at the email confirmation that you received from the host.

What platform do you use for your webinar?

All sessions are conducted via Zoom webinar using the same link.

How do I access the webinar via a mobile device or tablet?

On your mobile device or tablet:
1- Click the webinar link from our Events team. If you have the Zoom app installed, it will open, prompt you for your login details, and join the webinar.
2- If you don't have the Zoom app:
a- You'll be prompted to download it. Once installed, click the link again to join the webinar.
o Zoom Cloud Meetings (Android)
o Zoom Cloud Meetings (iOS)
b- Alternatively, you can dial in by clicking the link, calling the first number on the list, and entering the webinar ID and passcode followed by #.

Is the webinar live?

Yes, all the session are live

I have joined the webinar, but I can't hear anything, what should I do?

If you can't hear the panelists, please:
- Check your device's volume and ensure it's not muted
- Click the ‘Audio settings’ button (bottom left) and choose a different speaker device.

Do I need to mute myself on the webinar?

No, we’ll handle that. All delegates are automatically muted on arrival, and microphone and camera functions are disabled by default

How long is a webinar?

All of our webinars are 120 minutes which consists of a 45 minutes presentation, 15 minutes Q &A session and 60minutes presentation/discussion about one cutting edge technique

Can I ask questions during the webinar?

Absolutely, we encourage you to ask questions during the webinar using the Q&A feature. Your inquiries are valuable and contribute significantly to the discussion. No question is too small or insignificant, so please feel free to share any queries or insights you may have. Engaging actively will enrich the experience for everyone involved.

Are the webinars recorded?

Yes, the webinars are recorded. However, we are unable to share them until we receive consent from all the speakers involved. We appreciate your understanding

What if I know that I will be unable to attend one live session? May I view a recording of the Webinar at a later time?

If you are unable to attend a live session, you can view the recording at a later time. Please note that the recordings will be made available once we receive consent from all the speakers involved. We appreciate your patience and understanding.

What if I am unable to attend the live session? Will I still receive a certificate of participation?

To receive a certificate of participation, attendees must be present for the entire live session. Unfortunately, certificates will not be issued to those who are unable to attend the full session.

What can I expect from this webinar series?

In this webinar, you can expect a comprehensive exploration of various multidisciplinary topics. We will cover advancements in bioinformatics, organoid research, microscopy techniques, and proteomics, along with the technical methods employed in these areas. Our goal is to provide you with a thorough understanding of these fields, their intersections, and the latest techniques and technologies used.

Can I provide feedback?

Absolutely, at the end of each session, please take a moment to complete our brief online survey, your feedback is incredibly valuable to us. Additionally, you are welcome to email us (event email) with any comments or suggestions, whether positive or constructive. Your input will help us refine future events to better meet your needs in these dynamic times. Thank you for helping us improve!

Registration

Registration is open until 48 hours before each webinar. Once you are selected to participate, you will receive a confirmation email and reminders from Zoom Webinar. Your confirmation email will include access details for the webinar. All sessions will begin at Algeria time (GMT+01)


Contact

Address

National Biotechnology Research Center, Ali Mendjli Nouvelle Ville UV 03 BP E73, Constantine, Algeria

Call Us

+213 (31) 77.50.37/39

Email Us

relations-ext@crbt

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