Doctoral student Malwina Mularczyk. A biotechnologist with a passion for microbiology

• The doctoral student of the UPWr Doctoral School is working on creating a supplement for horses, which will support the inhibition of metabolic development.
• The world of biotechnology and microbiology has fascinated Malwina for years, and she claims it can solve many contemporary problems.
• – A good supervisor is half of the success of a doctoral student – says Malwina Mularczyk.

Inhibit the development of metabolic syndrome in horses

Malwina Mularczyk is carrying out her PhD programme under the supervision of Prof. Krzysztof Marycz, head of the Department of Experimental Biology at the UPWr and leader of the Leading Research Team Marycz Lab (Reg-Med-Lab). In her scientific work, the doctoral student deals with the isolation of bioactive substances from bacterial, yeast and plant cells. They reduce oxidative stress, which is a factor influencing the development of insulin resistance. 

– Insulin resistance is a serious component of the metabolic syndrome (EMS) in horses, which our team is studying. This is important research, and although we are focusing on EMS research at the moment, this disease syndrome is also a serious threat to people. An increasing number of people are dying from metabolic diseases, i.e. obesity, diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver, atherosclerosis or cardiovascular diseases – explains Malwina, stressing that their research could provide a basis for further research in human medicine, as horses are a model animal for many human diseases – some diseases entities are similar to those in humans.

The doctoral student is currently conducting research on yeasts that produce astaxanthin, a compound belonging to the carotenoid group. Astaxanthin is a powerful antioxidant, and its antioxidant effect is up to 54 times greater than beta-carotene, 65 times greater than vitamin C and 550 times greater than vitamin E.

- I am studying the effect of the active substances obtained on hepatic and fat cell lines, because they are the most correlated with insulin resistance. I am currently at the stage of research on the impact of astaxanthin, and I previously studied probiotics and postbiotics, i.e. products produced by lactic acid bacteria. I strive to select the appropriate concentrations of the right substance to give a therapeutic effect – says the doctoral student, adding that at a later stage of the research she wants to select supplemental doses for horses and compare the same parameters that she compared on cell lines. 

The aim of Malwina Mularczyk's research is to create an economically viable horse supplement with a bioactive substance that will inhibit the development of metabolic syndrome. – An additional challenge is the development of a low-cost process, so that breeders will be willing to give their animals the supplement – says the doctoral student, who is consequently trying to optimise the production process by, among other things, increasing the proportion of the compound, isolating it from yeast by extraction and purification, creating a more efficient product.

Biotechnologist by profession, microbiologist by passion

She's been fascinated by biology and microbiology for a long time. Why? – Bacterial cells cannot be seen with our bare eyes, yet they can be used for countless processes. They’re a production source of many substances. Yeast, on the other hand, can be used to create economically viable therapeutic substances – says Malwina Mularczyk, adding that at the beginning of her studies it was microbiology that interested her the most, and she had planned to develop in that direction. – Today I know that the process world attracted me more and biotechnology was a great choice. Microbiology is also very useful on a daily basis – says the doctoral student.

As Malwina emphasises, the university is very open to funding. – I belong to the POWER programme, so from the very beginning I had funding for external analyses, purchase of materials, publications or trips. And a part of the astaxanthin research is funded by the Innovative Doctorate programme. It just so happens that these funds for research have overlapped, so I don’t have to worry about the financial aspect – says the doctoral student, who, after completing the current stage of research, plans to go to the United States to the University of California, Davis.

Partnership is the key to success

Malwina Mularczyk didn’t start her PhD immediately after her studies. First, she started working at the Wrocław Technology Park in a R&D department, where she worked for a year. – Working professionally, I realised that I lacked academic knowledge. I also felt that my career had started to slow down significantly, but I really liked the business aspect of the life-science sector – admits the doctoral student.

She met Prof. Marycz during the recruitment process to the UPWr Doctoral School. – I am very satisfied with our cooperation. Professor Marycz is a great supervisor, and the right supervisor is responsible for half of a doctoral student's success. The other half is hard work and focusing on achieving your goal. Professor Marycz is interested in my development, we often discuss what we want to achieve, and even if I’m not sure of the result he always says "give it a try, we will see what can be done". For me, it was important to find someone who wouldn’t inhibit my development. Earlier, I had a problem with the fact that my superiors did not want to get involved in projects that I wanted to develop. After three years at the UPWr Doctoral School, I can see that it is the best place for me to develop - says Malwina.

In the future, the doctoral student plans to focus on the commercialisation of her research. – I love biotechnology because it is the solution to many modern problems, and such processes are easy to introduce and commercialise. But I do also not rule out continuing research at the university. However, I’m most interested in institutions that combine science and business, i.e. various research centres where you can meet clients and develop new projects – says the doctoral student about her plans.

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