Organizers: Prof. Dr. Reinhard Wetzker and MSc Caroline Schmidt

Course description:

The workshop is aimed to transfer basic insights into the functional pattern of microglia from mouse brain.

Microglia have been described as the first defense barrier for infections of the central nervous system. Similarly to macrophages microglia exhibit the abilities of sensing infectious microorganisms, actively migrating to and finally phagocytosing the pathogens.

Ongoing investigations in the laboratory are directed to investigate the role of the signaling protein phosphoinositide 3-kinase y as a major mediator of the anti-infectious functions of microglia.

Permitting insights in the interrelation of the molecular functions of PI3Ky and the functional pattern of microglia is the main goal of the workshop.

Topics:

• Isolation and characterization of microglia cells from mouse brain
• Investigation of the phagocytotic activity of microglia
• Background knowledge on the functional pattern of microglia

Date: June 6 - 7, 2011

Location: Institute of Molecular Cell Biology, CMB, University Hospital Jena, Hans-Knöll-Strasse 2

Meeting Point: June 6th, 8:30 am at the Institute of Molecular Cell Biology, CMB, University Hospital Jena, Hans-Knöll-Strasse 2, room 339

Register now by email: ulrike.schleier(at)uni-jena.de