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Jakub Soukup, PhD

Grant Title: Higher-resolution visualization of prion fibrils in neurons and extracellular vesicles using state-of-the-art Cryo-TEM and FIB-SEM imaging

Location: Rocky Mountain Laboratories, NIAID, NIH

Grant Year: 2025
This project aims to use cutting-edge electron microscopy techniques to get a clearer look at how prions interact with their surroundings inside cells and on extracellular vesicles (EVs) which are released from cells. These interactions could play a major role in how prion diseases cause damage. While previous studies showed that prions can distort cell membranes, they lacked the fine detail needed to see exactly how this happens. Using advanced tools like cryo-electron microscopy and 3D imaging, this study will visualize prions in their natural environment in infected mouse neurons and derived EVs at a much higher resolution. This work is important because understanding how prions affect cells and spread via EVs can provide new insights into prion disease mechanism.

About the Researcher:

Jakub earned his M.Sc. in Virology before pursuing a Ph.D. in prion research at Charles University in Prague, Czechia. Following his Ph.D., he joined Byron Caughey’s lab at Rocky Mountain Laboratories as an early-career researcher. His work focuses on prion- containing extracellular vesicles and the pathophysiology of prion-infected cells. Jakub's expertise lies in advanced electron and light microscopy, as well as flow cytometry.