Instytut Biologii

The use of ionising radiation for the diagnosis and treatment of lymphoma and brain tumours has significantly improved healthcare and patient outcomes. Ionising radiation is now relied on heavily for patient diagnosis and treatment. We investigate the effects of radiation exposure on patients, workers and carers as well as the public and the environment during patient management. It will organise high-level multidisciplinary training in the field of radiation dosimetry, risk appraisal and radiation protection. More specifically, we develop new dosimetry and risk appraisal methods and tools. Artificial intelligence (AI) will be used to determine the radiation burden on patients, and new techniques will be designed to manage data from radiation therapy sessions.

Our group is a multidisciplinary research team operating at the interfaces of biophysics, nanobiology and nanomedicine. In our research, we focus on studying the mechanism of permeability of the outer bacterial membrane by antibacterial dendritic nanoparticles eg. dendrimers. Dendrimers, by virtue of the unique ramified nanostructure and multivalent cooperativity, are emerging as promising nanomaterials thanks to their antibacterial activity and their ability to deliver antibacterial like phage-endolysin. As antibacterial resistance has become a global threat, there is a pressing
need for new antibacterial agents to treat bacterial infection and overcome drug resistance. Drug resistance is mainly due to the presence of an additional outer membrane (OM) in Gram-negative bacteria. Therefore, we study the antibacterial properties of cationic dendrimers with antibacterial activity closely related to membrane permeabilization or membrane disruption. Moreover, we are focusing on study the synergic effect of antibacterial dendritic nanoparticles together with phage-endolysin as a new tool to kill antibiotic resistance bacteria. Another area of our research is the study of the nanotoxicity of dendritic nanoparticles and the study of the effect of dendronization of selected proteins.

Our team is focused to evaluate the permeabilization of the bacterial outer membrane (OM) during physiological pyroptosis process to promote bactericidal activity of recombinant phage endolysins against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Pyroptosis is a natural immune response of eukaryotic cells to bacterial infection, leading to the secretion of the gasdermin D protein (GSDMD), which forms pores in biological membranes. Permeabilization of Gram-negatives (OM) would allow the delivery of phage muralytic enzymes (endolysins) to the target (peptidoglycan) located in the periplasmic space.
Degradation of peptidoglycan by endolysin leads to bacterial cell lysis in seconds. Unfortunately, endolysins applied externally do not exhibit an efficient lytic activity against Gram-negative bacteria due to the OM barrier. The idea of presented project is to combine two natural antibacterials (gasdermin and endolysin). The scientific objective of our team work is to evaluate whether the natural immune response of human eukaryotic cells to bacterial infection, i.e. pyroptosis, can lead to effective eradication of bacteria when combined with exogenously applied phage endolysins. The next topic of our work is innovative application of laser interferometry method in analysis of quantitative eradication of biofilm forming by model and clinical Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains by bacteriophages, metals complexes, biopolymers with antibacterial agents and nanoparticles. Our study are focused on an investigation of new biocomposites containing polysaccharides (hydrogels), nanocopper/copper ions, furanone, and viral particles to evaluate their biocompatibility, antibacterial and antibiofilm properties. We optilmalized the laser interferometry system to analysis of new drugs diffucion through eukariotic cell monolayer. The laser interferometry system was constructed in our lab in cooperation with physicans from JKU.

Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) is the most commonly diagnosed aggressive leukemia. It originates from a single dominant mutation, and then transfers into a complex disease during which abnormally proliferating cells acquire collaborative mutations with different clinical/biological importance. Quick and exact profiling of patients mutational profile is important for the introduction of precise and personalized therapies. The spectrum of possible mutations that are observed in AML results in fact that the significance of many of them remain unclear. We focus on investigation the molecular mechanisms (mutations, translocations and genes expression) driving AML development using Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) that allows testing genetic diversity in multiple genes parallelly with significantly high sensitivity of detections. Testing the relationship between patients mutational profiles and course of diseases/therapies outcomes will help in classification of mutations as prognostic factors and searching of new therapeutic targets. In addition use of NGS will allow also to investigate the occurrence of minimal residual disease (MRD) after treatment, that is important for risk stratification and treatment planning.
Colorectal cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed malignant neoplasms in men and women. Despite the availability of colonoscopy, most cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage, when metastases to other organs are already present. Unfortunately, recent studies indicate that 80% of colorectal cancer cases metastasize in very early stage of disease. The aim of the research is to find out about the molecular biology of colon cancer and the interaction of cancer cells with cells of the immune system and the microbiome. Understanding these complex interactions will help identify new therapy targets and strategies for early detection of colorectal cancer.

The next topic of our work is in vitro analysis of the anticancer properties of transition metal complexes and nanoparticles. In our study we focus on cyto- and genotoxic activities of new antitumor agents on DNA and protein level as well as mechanism of their action using normal and cancer cell lines.

Stress reactivity of animals using physiological traits as a model to study genetic variability. Adaptive changes in the activity of lysosomal and glutathione enzymes: peroxidase, transferase, reductase, superoxide dismutase, concentration of glutathione, triacylglycerols and fatty acids in the model of laboratory and farm animals, induced by factors disturbing intracellular homeostasis. Activity of the lysosomal compartment of model species of farm and laboratory animals; enzymatic activity as an adaptive syndrome in animals, degradation of cellular proteins with the participation of lysosomal enzymes. Effect of essential fatty acid and saturated fatty acids on the level of glutathione and the activity of antioxidant enzymes in mouse tissues and cell cultures in interaction with statins.

Comparative anatomy of vertebrates taking into account interspecies diversity. Brain base vascularity. Morphology and neurochemical coding of the autonomic nerve structures in small mammals. Distribution and neurochemical characteristic of the peripheral autonomic nerve structures of the head (ciliary ganglion, pterygopalatine ganglion, otic ganglion and mandibular ganglion) heart, digestive tract, liver, pancreas, (ganglia, fibers, autonomic plexuses).

The research focuses mainly on the activity of the lysosomal system (with particular emphasis on the processes of autophagy) in cells and tissues of animals after loading with compounds of plant origin with potential antitumor activity (vinblastine, vincristine, taxol, colchicine, iscador, anthraquinones) and after combined action of these compounds with selected components of antioxidant protection. Moreover, the range of changes in cells induced by glucocorticosteroids, antihistamines, vanadium, and magnesium compounds, and ionizing radiation are analyzed at the ultrastructural and biochemical levels. In vitro and in vivo studies include the assessment of the dynamics of ultrastructural and biochemical changes in the lysosomal compartment, peroxisomes, Golgi apparatus, microtubules and mitochondria, and the regulation of autophagy and apoptosis in normal and neoplastic cells. The research also includes an evaluation of the correlation of allergen concentration in urban agglomerations with cytological changes in selected groups of patients, before and after treatment with antihistamines.