Download A - BIOL-CHEM UWB

Dept. of Microbiology, Institute of Biology, University of Białystok:
Research interests (extended)
1
A. Microbiology
1. Entomopathogenic properties of environmental Bacillus thuringiensis strains.
Isolation of new strains active against insect larvae.
The occurrence of genes encoding -endotoxins (toxins Cry) and Vip toxins in
environmental Bacillus thuringiensis strains (investigations based on PCR and
Southern blotting). Diversity of nucleotide sequences of cry present in new described
strains active against Lepidoptera larvae. Plasmids characterisation harbouring
entomopathogenic toxins genes based on molecular techniques (replication models,
sequencing).
2. Polymorphism of Bacillus thuringiensis and Bacillus cereus populations from natural
environment.
The analysis of Bacillus thuringiensis and Bacillus cereus populations based on
genotypic (PFGE, rep-PCR, MLST, 16S rDNA) and phenotypic (biochemical
profiling, the whole cell protein profiling SDS-PAGE) analysis. Psychrotrophic
properties of Bacillus thuringiensis and Bacillus cereus strains (the growth
temperature, cspA and 16S rDNA sequences).
3. Toxicity of Bacillus cereus from food products.
The characteristics of toxicity of Bacillus cereus strains isolated from food products on
the genetic (PCR, Southern blotting, DNA sequencing, plasmid profiling) and
phenotypic level (immunoenzymatic tests).
4. Sporulation and germination mechanisms of bacilli belonging to the Bacillus cereus
group.
Analyzes of mechanisms responsible for the spore forming and their further
germination in different media (microbiological substrates, food products). Genetic
differentiation of the gerA operon homologues responsible for the initiation of spore
germination in food-originating Bacillus cereus strains.
5. Phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of staphylococci from free-living small
mammals.
The characteristics of staphylococci from wild small mammals: rodents and
insectivores based on phenotypic properties (biochemical tests, proteins profile SDS-
Dept. of Microbiology, Institute of Biology, University of Białystok:
Research interests (extended)
2
PAGE, susceptibility to antimicrobial agents), and molecular methods (PFGE
electrophoresis, plasmids profile, length polymorphism in the 16S-23S rDNA
intergenic spacer region, PCR amplification of genes mediating resistance to some
classes of antibiotics).
6. Molecular analysis of plasmids and genes encoding resistance to various classes of
antibiotics.
Investigation of structure and organization of tetracycline, chloramphenicol and MLSB
resistant plasmids – electrotransformation, restriction mapping, cloning, sequencing,
and comparison with related plasmids
7. Biodiversity and taxonomy of field strains of Staphylococcus sp.
The identification of field staphylococcal strains, often atypical, based on sequencing
and restriction analysis of 16S rRNA, tuf, gap, rpoB, hsp60 and dnaJ genes. The
classification of hitherto undescribed Staphylococcus strains by phenotypic and
genotypic methods. Evaluation of a novel methods for identification and
differentiation of staphylococcal (sub)species based on PCR-RFLP of some genes.
B. Physiological immunology
Demonstration of the evolutionary trade-off between costs of mounting of an immune
response and costs of maintenance of other important physiological activities. Studies concern
on measuring energetical and physiological costs of mounting of some parameters of specific
and non-specific immune response in animals housed in laboratory conditions (laboratory
mice for many generations selected for high and low metabolic rate BMR) and wild animals
captured on Biebrza National Park (tundra vole, Microtus oeconomus).
Briefly, studies are based on estimation of (i) the specific humoral immune response
(measured as production of IgM anti-KLH antibodies) following energy restriction, (ii) the
relationship between an antioxidants level and non-specific humoral immunity (measured as a
total white blood cells count, H/L ratio, a level of natural antibodies and lytic activity of
complement) and specific humoral immune response (measured as production of IgM antiKLH antibodies), (iii) the relationship between differences in metabolic rates (measured as
RMR and PMR) and some parameters of non-specific humoral immunity, (iv) effect of the
relationship between metabolic rates and innate immunity on survival rate in animals from
Dept. of Microbiology, Institute of Biology, University of Białystok:
Research interests (extended)
natural populations and (v) the relation between innate immunity and corticosterone level
(one of the stress hormones) in small mammals.
3