Marta Zapotoczna, Ph.D – team leader
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5971-1163 @martazapotoczna @aureuslibrary
Paula Rożen, M.Sc. (Ph.D. candidate)
My research focuses on assessing the significance of the adhesion levels of Staphylococcus aureus bacterial isolates to blood glycoproteins, including fibrinogen and fibronectin, in the development of bacteremia. Additionally, I investigate the genetic variability responsible for the phenotypic differentiation of isolates.
S. aureus binds to host extracellular matrix components such as fibrinogen (Fg) and fibronectin (Fn) through cell-wall-anchored proteins like fibronectin-binding proteins (FnBP) and clumping factors (Clf). These interactions stimulate host immune cell activation and inflammatory responses, leading to cytokine release and immune cell recruitment to the infection site.
I analyzed a collection of 236 bacteremia isolates and performed association analyses. Adhesion levels were used to evaluate the correlation between adhesion levels and clinical outcomes of patients. Whole-genome association studies helped identify genetic determinants linked to varying adhesion levels.
Marcin Tomasz Buko, M.Sc. (Ph.D. candidate)
My research aims to understand the interplay of cofactors produced by Staphylococcus aureus, such as staphylocoagulase and staphylokinase. These cofactors modulate the dynamics of fibrin formation and degradation, impacting biofilm formation and the progression of bacteremia and its complications.
Staphylocoagulase activates prothrombin, leading to fibrinogen conversion into fibrin, which forms a biofilm scaffold and sustains infection. Conversely, staphylokinase activates plasmin, degrading fibrin and allowing bacterial spread from biofilms.
I use genetically modified bacterial isolates to study the effects of these bacterial factors on the described processes. My research is crucial for developing therapeutic interventions aimed at disrupting biofilm formation and preventing bacteremia complications.
Dr. Karol Makuch
I studied theoretical physics at the University of Warsaw, focusing on soft and quantum condensed matter. After 2015, I joined the microfluidics group at the Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, conducting microfluidic and biophysical experiments. I also worked on molecule transport in complex fluids and within living cells.
From March 2019 to March 2020, I visited John Brady’s active matter group at the California Institute of Technology. I specialize in statistical analysis of biological data within my projects.
Dr. Francesc Coll
Applied Microbial Genomics Unit, Department of Molecular Basis of Disease, Biomedicine Institute of Valencia (IBV), Spanish Research Council (CSIC), Valencia, Spain.
Department of Infection Biology, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
Collaboration on clinical database creation and phenotype studies:
Dr. habil. Monika Budnik, Medical University of Warsaw
Dr. Halina Marchel, Medical University of Warsaw
Dr. Jan Pluta, Medical University of Warsaw
Dr. habil. Janusz Trzebicki, Medical University of Warsaw
Dr. Katarzyna Holcman, Jagiellonian University
Dr. Aldona Olechowska-Jarząb, Jagiellonian University
Dr. Adrianna Berger Kucza, Medical University of Silesia
Prof. habil. Katarzyna Mizia-Stec, Medical University of Silesia
Students:
Marcin Małkowski, M.Sc. Eng., Graduate
Karolina Mijas, M.Sc. Eng., Graduate
Maciej Rykała, M.Sc., Graduate
Kacper Karczmarzyk, Former Team Member
Katarzyna Ścibek, Former Team Member