Testing the presence and diversity of the mycobiome in plants before and after reintroduction: why is this important?
Prof. Marlena Lembicz
Botanist, ecologist and mycologist, academic teacher at the Faculty of Biology of the University of Warsaw. Adam Mickiewicz in Poznań
Scientific interests: (1) ecological and evolutionary effects of interactions between endophytic fungi and plants and animals, (2) mechanisms of functioning of clonal and fungal plant networks, (3) vertical and horizontal transfer of endophytic fungi, and recently (4) endophytic fungi as “living tools” to improve the condition of dying and cultivated plants (barley). She is the author of many scientific and popular research articles on the subject, as well as Polish and English monographs. Manager/contractor of more than ten Polish grants and one funded by National Geographic Science. Winner of the two-time Praeceptor Laureatus award, certified Tutor and Leader in Education. Enthusiast of mountain expeditions and Lower Silesia.
Co-author of presentation: M.A Wojciech Wysoczański, second year doctoral student at the Doctoral School of Natural Sciences at the University of Warsaw. Adam Mickiewicz in Poznań. Scientific interests: (1) the diversity of endophytic fungi, their transfer in clonal plant networks and its influence on the adaptation of units forming the so-called ramet networks, (2) the use of fungal endophytes to improve the condition of plants threatened with extinction and (3) the search for endophytic fungi producing chemical compounds for use in the fight against cancer. Scholarship holder of the Minister of Education and Science and head of the “Pearls of Science” grant.
The use of mycorrhizal fungi in the organic cultivation of nightshade vegetables
Prof. Agnieszka Jamiołkowska
Employed at the Department of Plant Protection of the University of Life Sciences in Lublin
Phytopathologist, specialist in Plant Protection
Author and co-author of 100 scientific and popular science publications and research projects financed by the National Science Center (NCN), the Ministry of National Education (MEN) and the Provincial Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management in Lublin ( WFOŚiGW ); member of the Editorial Board of the scientific journal Acta Mycologica and a reviewer of many scientific articles in journals indexed in Web of Science.
- Member of the Lublin Scientific Society
- Member of the Polish Phytopathological Society
- Member of the International Society for Plant Pathology
- Member European Association for Research on Plant Breeding “EUCARPIA”
Area of scientific research:
- The use of biological preparations to protect vegetables against pathogenic fungi and their role in inducing plant defense reactions
- The influence of mycorrhiza on the health and biofortification of crop plants
- Assessment of the biocidal properties of plant extracts against phytopathogens
- Biochemical characteristics of plant extracts and their impact on plant health and immunization
Antibiotic resistance among bacterial endophytes – Does endophytic use promote antibiotic resistance spread?
Dr. Agata Goryluk-Salmonowicz – SGGW
Employment: Assistant Professor in Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Institute of Biology, Warsaw University of Life Sciences
Specialist in Biotechnology and Environmental Microbiology- Author and co-author of 13 scientific publications, investigator of national and international projects financed by European or national funding.
- Co-author of academic book entitled ‘Industrial use of microorganisms’ (In Polish).
- Member of the Polish Society of Microbiology (PTM) and Polish Society of Genetics (PTG).
- Reviewer of publications in Web of Science indexed journals. Co-organizer of the annual scientific national conference entitled ‘Metagenomics of different environments’.
- A committed academic teacher, creator and coordinator of 10 subjects in the microbiology specialization, supervisor of 13 diploma theses (6 master’s and 7 bachelor’s).
Endophytes have become the main object of my scientific interest. I decided to conduct further researches on mechanisms responsible for bacterial endophytic resistance and discover the evolution of endophytes and resistance determinants in endophytes. I am searching for bacteria with applicable potential, especially plant growth promoting ones. Moreover in 2020-2023 I worked as a Postdoctoral researcher in the international Antiversa project at the University of Warsaw: ANTIVERSA – Biodiversity as an ecological barrier for the spread of clinically relevant antibiotic resistance in the environment, BiodivERsA Call 2018, 2020-2023. The main goal of the project was to confirm that microbial biodiversity act as a barrier for antibiotic resistance in environments.
Agrobiotechnology potential of endophytic microorganisms
Dr. Agnieszka Kuźniar – KUL
Employed at the Department of Biology and Biotechnology of Microorganisms, Faculty of Medicine, The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin.
Biotechnologist by education and passion, manager of 3 scientific projects (including LIDER IX project) and investigator in 6 scientific projects financed from external sources (NCN, NCBiR, ARiMR). Author of many scientific papers in biological sciences in international journals with high IF, monographs and chapters in monographs (H-index=16). Reviewer of publications in journals indexed in Web of Science. Laureate of scientific awards granted by the authorities of the Catholic University of Lublin. Co-inventor of 3 patents on biotechnology. Member of the Polish Society of Microbiologists, the Polish Society of Genetics and the Polish Metabolomics Society.
Research interests:
- Analysis of microorganisms in different ecological niches using new techniques,
- Determination of the metabolic potential of microorganisms,
- Application of selected microorganisms in biotechnology.
Insights from the interaction of lytic bacteriophages and plant pathogenic Dickeya spp.
Prof. Robert Czajkowski – Laboratory of Biologically Active Compounds, Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology UG and MUG in Gdansk
He is a microbiologist by education and passion, specializing in molecular research on the interactions of beneficial and pathogenic bacteria with their plant hosts. Recently, together with his research group, he has been investigating the interactions of bacteria-infecting viruses (bacteriophages) with bacterial plant pathogens and their impact on the adaptation and evolution of bacteria in natural and agricultural environments. The research model uses pectinolytic bacteria of the genus Pectobacterium spp. and Dickeya spp. and potato plants.
Exploring the properties of plant-associated microorganisms in the context of their interactions with the plant host and determinants of biocontrol activity
Dr. Dorota Krzyżanowska – University of Gdańsk
Information about the invited guest:
Employed at the Laboratory of Biologically Active Compounds, Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology UG&MUG, University of Gdańsk
A microbiologist studying the properties of plant-associated bacteria
Main research interests
- Molecular basis of the ability of selected bacteria to protect plants against pathogens (biological plant protection/biocontrol)
- Interactions within the microbiome and between the microbiome and the host plant
- Practical use of microorganisms to reduce disease symptoms in plants
Co-author of 16 original publications and co-inventor of 4 patented inventions related to biological plant protection.
Innovative solutions dedicated for modern agriculture based on the use of cold atmospheric pressure plasmas
Dr. Agata Motyka-Pomagruk
Information about the invited guest:
Employed at the Laboratory of Plant Protection and Biotechnology of the Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology University of Gdańsk and Medical University of Gdańsk, and deputy quality manager at the only accredited by PCA for compliance with ISO 17025 and certified according to. ISO 14001 laboratory at University of Gdańsk i.e. Research and Development Laboratory of IFB UG & MUG.
Co-author of 35 scientific publications (according to the Scopus) and 4 chapters in foreign books, PI of the Preludium 11 project (NCN), executor in 22 projects financed by NCN, NCBiR, Ministry of Science and Higher Education, completed research internships at INSA (Lyon, France), University of Florence (Italy) and NIBIO (AS, Norway), co-author of the implementation, 5 national patents and 7 patent applications (including two foreign ones), scholarship holder of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education in the competition for outstanding young scientists (2023), awarded by the Prime Minister for outstanding doctoral dissertation (2020), received distinction twice (2019, 2021) in the competition for the award of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Gdańsk for young scientists, obtained Award from the Polish Phytopathological Society for publication achievements (2018), winner of the 2nd edition of the Young Fahrenheit competition (2023), co-author of inventions: awarded in the 9th edition of the Eureka! by Dziennik Gazeta Prawna (2022), received distinction in the 7th edition of the Eureka! competition (2020), awarded with a Silver medal at the International Warsaw Invention Show (2022), granted a Special Award from the Polish Association of Employers of Pharmaceutical Industry in the 12th Student-Inventor competition (2022) and honored with a Special Award from the President of the Patent Office of the Republic of Poland in the 10th Student-Inventor competition (2020), co-author and author of over 80 conference reports, review editor at Frontiers in Microbiology, guest editor at Agronomy, reviewer of publications in journals indexed in Web of Science, highly involved in science popularization activities.
Member of the Polish Phytopathological Society
Research interests:
- broadly understood environmental and clinical microbiology, phytopathology
- comparative genomics, metagenomics, transcriptomics, statistical analyzes and visualization of biological data
- methods of detecting, identifying and eradicating bacterial pathogens
Plant secondary metabolites as antibacterial agents – the insight into mechanisms of action
Prof. Agnieszka Szalewska-Pałasz, PhD
- Head of the Department of Bacterial Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk
- Molecular biologist and microbiologist
- Member of Polish Genetic Society
- Author and co-author of 68 publications in indexed scientific journals (such as Nucleic Acid Research, Microbial Cell Factories, Infection and Immunity, Scientific Reports, International Journal of Molecular Sciencies, Frontiers in Microbiology).
- Principal investigator of grant projects financed by National Science Center
- Expert and reviewer of projects submitted to NCN and European Commission
- Scientific interests:
- mechanisms of antibacterial effects of plant secondary metabolites against pathogenic bacteria
- mechanisms of bacterial stress response
- regulation of gene expression in microorganisms
- virus-host interactions using bacteriophages as models
Structural and functional characteristics biodiversity of soil microorganisms in the forest ecosystem and agricultural and degraded soils
dr hab. Anna Gałązka, prof. IUNG-PIB
- Department of Agricultural Microbiology
- Doctor habilitated in the field of agricultural sciences, in the discipline of environmental protection and development.
- Specialization: soil microbiology, 18 years of experience in the assessment of microbial diversity and soil biological activity, specialist in determining the functional diversity and metabolic potential of microorganisms.
- Scientific achievements including 82 original scientific publications from the IF, 15 publications not on the IF list, 2 scientific monographs in Polish, 4 chapters in a monograph in English, 25 chapters in a monograph in Polish, 54 abstracts from international conferences and over 170 reports from conferences domestic.
- Head of the Department of Agricultural Microbiology at IUNG (since 2013).
- She specializes in the assessment of microbial diversity of soils related to agricultural practice and environmental protection (research in molecular biology; assessment of genetic differentiation and identification of microorganisms, and characterization of the metabolic profile of bacteria and fungi), as well as the practical use of bacteria capable of fixing atmospheric nitrogen and bacteria symbiotic for plants legumes.
- She participates in international and national projects, coordinates the task under the financing of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and earlier as part of the implementation of the Multiannual Program of IUNG-PIB regarding biological activity and determining soil microbiological diversity.
- Member of the Polish Microbiological Society since 2004.
- Reviewer of numerous scientific papers submitted to Polish and English-language journals (including the IF) and in doctoral and postdoctoral proceedings.
- Supervisor of three completed and auxiliary supervisor of one doctoral dissertation.
- She received three awards from the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (2016, 2017, 2021) and the Bronze Medal for Long Service awarded by the President of the Republic of Poland (2020).
- In 2022, it received the „Innovation Ambassador” award for achievements in favor of ecological development, introducing changes and solutions that are environmentally friendly and significantly improving its condition, and for promotional activities aimed at changing social awareness. Award given by the European Center for Economic Development. As well as a nomination for the Scientist of the Future Award 2021 and in 2022 in the category Innovative technologies and research of the future, for the implementation of the research project entitled The use of microorganisms and seed coating to improve soil fertility and plant yield in organic and conventional cultivation of legumes (No. 1/ININ 4.0/IUNG-PIB/2021) under the Innovation Incubator 4.0 Program (MNiSW).
- Currently, he is the head of the NCN OPUS project entitled „The interaction between the microbiome, mycobiome and metavirion of the rhizosphere and endorhizosphere of ruderal plants and their role in the passive and active remediation of heavily degraded and long-term oil-contaminated soils” (2023-2027), project number: 2022/45/B/NZ8/02398.
Microorganisms in agrobiotechnology – a case for corn monoculture and metagenomic research in line with the EC’s strategy „From the field to the table”
Project co-funded from the state budget under the program of the Ministry of Education and Science named „Science for Society”, number NdS/531260/2021/2021, the amount of funding 100%, the total value of the project 625 910.50 PLN
dr hab. Agnieszka Wolińska, prof. KUL
- Ph.D., DSc., prof. KUL in the field of biological sciences, in the discipline of microbiology.
- Head of the Department of Biology and Biotechnology of Microorganisms at the Institute of Biological Sciences of the Medical Faculty of the John Paul II Catholic University in Lublin.
- Co-author of 78 original scientific publications with IF, 2 scientific monographs in Polish, 2 chapters in monographs in English. Her Hirsch index is 17.
- Scientific interests: soil microbiology in the field of bacteria and fungi, 21 years of experience in research on biological activity and biodiversity of the soil environment.
- Member of the Polish Society of Microbiology.
- Reviewer of numerous scientific papers submitted to Polish and English-language journals in the biological sciences and in PhD dissertations.
- Supervisor of one completed and one open PhD dissertation.
- Supervisor of 28 master’s theses and 13 bachelor’s theses.
- She has received the award of the Rector of the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin (KUL) four times for original and creative scientific achievements, the Medal of the National Education Commission for teaching achievements, and the Silver Medal for 20 years of excellent professional work.
Induction of wheat resistance pathways by extracellular polymers (EPS) obtained from the cultures of three Fusarium culmorum isolates – PGPF, DRMO and the pathogen
dr Artur Nowak – UMCS
- Employed at the Department of Environmental and Industrial Microbiology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, UMCS
- Biochemist and Environmental Microbiologist
- Author and co-author of 10 original publications and implementer of projects financed by National Centre Science (NCN) and National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR); reviewer of publications in journals indexed in Web of Science
- Member of the Polish Phytopathological Society
Research interests:
- Isolation and study of properties of extracellular and cell wall polymers obtained from fungal cultures
- Determination of biological and enzymatic variability in soils exposed to long-term monoculture stress
- Determination of changes occurring in plant tissues under the influence of microorganisms and their secondary metabolites
Enemies of our enemies are our friends – the strategies of biological control of plant pathogens, a case of the soft rot Pectobacteriaceae
dr hab. Sylwia Jafra, prof. UG – University of Gdańsk
Research interests:
- Understanding the interactions between rhizosphere bacteria and the plant, with
particular emphasis on bacteria beneficial to plants, with potential in biological plant
protection; - Cell-to-cell communication – quorum sensing, (QS), the mechanism of gene expression
regulation in response to environmental signals mediated by signaling molecules and
disrupting this QS communication in the so-called quorum quenching mechanism (QQ)
by enzymatic degradation of signaling molecules.
The team’s research goals:
- Understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in plant-bacterial interactions;
- Determining the antimicrobial activity of bacteria derived from the plant’s
environment; - Understanding the molecular basis of the colonization of biotic and abiotic surfaces
by rhizosphere bacteria.
- Understanding the interactions between rhizosphere bacteria and the plant, with
Phyllosphere biotechnologial potential
Aleksandra Ziembińska-Buczyńska, Ph.D., DSc., prof. SUT
- Ph.D., DSc., prof. SUT, microbiologist, teacher and science communicator, working at Environmental Biotechnology Department SUT; director of Science Popularization Centre SUT, v-ce head of Science Communication Council Polish Academy of Science, member of the Spokesmen of Science
- Scientific interests: ecology of microbial communities at natural and industrial environment, water and soil bioremediation, biological wastewater treatment, obtainment of biotechnologically relevant microbes from various environments, phyllosphere microbiology
The gut microbiome; from human to insects
prof. dr hab. inż. Sławomir Ciesielski
- Profesor Uniwersytetu Warmińsko-Mazurskiego w Olsztynie, Wydział Geoinżynierii, Katedra Biotechnologii w Ochronie Środowiska,
- Zainteresowania naukowe: zróżnicowanie mikroorganizmów; regulacja ekspresji genów u prokariontów; bioremediacja; mikrobiologiczna synteza polimerów, surfaktantów i barwników,
- Ekspert/recenzent w NCN, NCBiR, NAWA, Komisja Europejska (ocena i monitoring projektów badawczo-rozwojowych).
Interaction of nanopesticides with soil microbiome
Sławomir Sułowicz, Ph.D.
- Assistant Professor at the University of Silesia in Katowice, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Institute of Biology, Biotechnology and Environmental Protection
- Environmental microbiologist
- Leader of Nano-Microbiology Research Group
- Research interests:
- nanomaterials – microbes interactions
- soil microbial communities structure and function in response to pesticides, nanomaterials and heavy metals pollution
- soil metagenomics
- microbial toxicity test
- environmental risk assessment
- polar microbiology
- Co-author 23 ISI papers, PI of NCN grants, author of 66 verified reviews
- Member of Topical Advisory Panel “Materials” journal
- Member of SIOS (Svalbard Integrated Arctic Earth Observing System) Data Management System Working Group
Mortierellomycotina members in the soil microbiome.
The hidden history of symbiosisDr. Marta Wrzosek, Prof. UW
University of Warsaw, Faculty of Biology
- Professor at the University of Warsaw, a teaching fellow at the Faculty of Biology of Warsaw, collaborator of the Biological and Chemical Research Center UW, and the Andean Research Center.
- Research interests – ecology of interactions between organisms, taxonomy, and phylogeny of fungi.
- Author and co-author of 47 original publications, PI and executor of Polish and international projects (NCN, Cost Actions, Peruvian grant); reviewer of publications for journals indexed in Web of Science, an expert mycologist in court cases.
- Member of scientific societies (IMA, PTMyk), Member of the Committee of the Organismal Biology of the Polish Academy of Sciences.
- Member of Scientific Councils: Institute of Botany of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Discipline of Biology at the University of Warsaw, Andean Research Centre.
- Author of popular science books.
Bread wheat endosphere mycobiome
dr hab. Lidia Błaszczyk
Institute of Plant Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences (IPG PAS), Poznan, Poland, Head of The Plant Microbiomcs Departments
- Sc. in biotechnology and engineer’s degree in biotechnology, plant biotechnology specialization, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Poland;
- D and habilitation in Agricultural Sciences, Agronomy discipline, IPG PAS, Poznań, Poland
- co-author of more than 50 scientific publications and monographs;
- PI and contractor of projects from the NSC, MESP, MARD;
- secretary of the Board of the Polish Genetic Society, Poznań Department;
- chairwoman of the Mycology and Mycotoxins Section of the Polish Phytopathological Society;
- member of the Board of the Polish Society of Phytopathology, Poznań Department;
- member of the „Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries” evaluation panel at Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P. (FCT), a Portuguese public agency that finances research and development (R&D) projects;
- expert at the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange;
- member of the Biotechnology Committee of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Poznań;
- coordinator of the agriculture and horticulture discipline at the Poznań Doctoral School of the Institutes of the Polish Academy of Sciences;
- co-editor of the Bulletin of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Poznań.
Reasearch profile:
- small RNAs involvement in multidirectional plant-pathogen-symbiote interactions;
- assessment of diversity and composition of microorganisms communities associated with rhizosphere, phyllosphere and endosphere of plants;
- recognition of the transmission mode of endogenous microorganisms;
- analysis of factors modulating the plant microbiome;
- defining the morphological, anatomical, physiological, and molecular wheat plants’ reactions to changes in their microbiome
- morphological, molecular, and biochemical characteristics of fungi from the Trichoderma genus;
- evaluation of antagonistic activity of the polish Trichoderma strains toward the toxigenic Fusarium
28th February 2022 – 10:00 a.m.
Endophytes of crops: diversity, functions, application
prof. dr hab. Katarzyna Hrynkiewicz
- Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń
- Head of the Department of Microbiology at the Institute of Biology (Faculty of Biological and Veterinary Sciences)
- Author and co-author of over 70 original publications, manager and executor of Polish and international projects (NCN, NCBiR, HORIZON2020, COST Actions)
- Completed short-term and long-term (post-doc) internships e.g. at the University of Rostock (Germany), Eberhard-Karls-University Tübingen (Germany), Leibniz-Institute of Vegetable- and Ornamental Crops Großbeeren (Germany)
- Member of the Biotechnology Committee of the Polish Academy of Sciences
- Research interests concerning broadly understood research issues related to interactions between microorganisms and plants. The focus is on:
• endophytic microorganisms (bacteria / fungi)
• symbiotic fungi (ectomycorrhizal and arbuscular fungi)
• diazotrophic (N2-fixing) bacteria
• bacterial and fungal plant pathogens
• human pathogenic microorganisms
• plant viruses
Plant microbiome of environments contaminated with heavy metals: the role of microorganisms in plant adaptation to the environment
dr hab. Piotr Rozpądek, prof. UJ
- Małopolska Centre of Biotechnology
- Jagiellonian University in Kraków
- Plant-Microorganism Interactions Group leader
Interaction of barley yellow dwarf virus with translation initiation factor eIF4G as an example of a cap-independent translation mechanism
dr hab. Krzysztof Treder
The Plant Breeding and Acclimatization Institute (IHAR) – National Research Institute – Division in Bonin
- A graduate of Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń in 1995, obtained a master’s degree in biology with a specialization in molecular biology. After graduation employed at the IHAR-PIB Bonin Research Center.
- In 2003 he got the Prime Minister’s award for his doctoral dissertation, defended with distinction from the IHAR Council in 2002.
- Since 2008 head of the Laboratory of Molecular Diagnostics and Biochemistry.
- Scientific internships at universities in Umea (Sweden) and Cork (Ireland), in Scottish Crop Research Institute in Scotland, and two postdoctoral fellowships (5 years in total) at Iowa State University (USA).
- His virological interests include molecular interactions between plants and infecting viruses and modern methods of virus detection.
- He is also involved in research on the mechanisms of potato cultivar response to drought and high-temperature stress and the role of the soil microbiome and endophytes in the potato’s ability to tolerate biotic and abiotic stresses.
The use of natural technologies in the cultivation of vegetables – research results in the ŻywNatur project
prof. dr hab. Ewa Solarska
University of Life Sciences in Lublin; Faculty of Food Science and Biotechnology; Department of Biotechnology, Microbiology and Human Nutrition
Management strategies in organic crops production of agricultural and horticultural plants
dr hab. Eligio Malusa
The National Institute of Horticultural Research in Skierniewice
Microorganisms in plant-pest interactions
Chosen aspects of modern plant pathogens’ diagnostics
Aleksandra Obrępalska-Stęplowska, PhD
Professor of the Institute of Plant Protection – PIB, head of Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology IOR-PIB in Poznań. Graduate of biotechnology at Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan, Ph.D. in biological sciences within molecular biology, Ph.D. in agricultural sciences.
Research interests – molecular basis of plant-pathogen (mainly viruses and pathogenic RNA) and pest interactions, resistance induction, the role of the microbiome in biotic stress, pesticide resistance, and molecular diagnostics. Author and co-author of over 60 original publications, PI and executor of Polish and international projects (NCN, NCBiR, Cost Actions, Nordic-Baltic grant); reviewer of publications for numerous journals, expert/reviewer in NCN, NCBiR, NAWA, as well as European Commission (Horizon 2020, IA and RIA) and ANR. Member of scientific societies, including International Society for Molecular Plant-Microbe Interaction (IS-MPMI), Association of Applied Biologists (AAB), Network for Advancing and Evaluating the Societal Impact of Science (AESIS). Member of the Committee on Biotechnology, Polish Academy of Sciences.