Miniatura 8 awarded to three UPWr researchers

The Miniatura competition is aimed at researchers who are beginning or advancing their careers, offering funding for single scientific activities such as preliminary research, queries, or research trips. This support enables scientists to gather the necessary data for larger projects and to further develop their scientific work.

The role of the septal pouch in thrombus formation leading to strokes

One of the laureates is Dr. Izabela Janus-Ziółkowska from the Department of Pathology, whose research focuses on a serious medical issue: ischemic stroke. This type of stroke is one of the leading causes of death and disability among adults. At the center of Dr. Janus-Ziółkowska’s research is a structure in the heart called the septal pouch (SP), first described in human medicine in 2006. Her studies aim to deepen the understanding of SP’s role in the process of thrombus formation, which can travel to the brain and lead to strokes. In the heart, particularly in the left atrium, thrombi can form through a specific process known as endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT). This is a process where heart endothelial cells lose their anticoagulant properties and transform into mesenchymal cells, which may promote thrombus formation.

Dr. Janus-Ziółkowska plans to conduct detailed studies on the presence of SP in cats, which previous studies have shown to have an extremely high occurrence of this structure (over 95%). The goal of her research is to determine whether cats can serve as an animal model for studying thromboembolic mechanisms, which could aid future stroke research in humans. Additionally, her project will focus on developing a new heart preparation method to assess the presence of thrombi in septal pouches and analyze changes in endothelial cells. The results of these studies will be key to future cardiovascular and stroke research projects.

Impact of chemicals on soil and their effects on the health of soil and crops

Dr. hab. Iwona Gruss, from the Department of Plant Protection, focuses her research on the impact of pesticide residues in soil on soil organisms and terrestrial plants. This is crucial for understanding the long-term consequences of using these substances in agriculture. While pesticides help increase crop yields, they pose a significant threat to soil biodiversity, negatively affecting organisms such as earthworms and springtails. Dr. hab. Gruss’s awarded project will analyze not only individual substances like glyphosate, tebuconazole, and azoxystrobin, but also the effects of pesticide mixtures commonly found in agricultural soils.

A key aspect of this research involves a wide range of ecotoxicological tests, covering both acute and chronic toxicity assessments, allowing for a comprehensive evaluation of the risks associated with pesticide use in agricultural soils. The goal is to understand how these chemicals affect soil ecosystems and what consequences this might have for soil health and crops. Dr. hab. Gruss’s research is important in the context of sustainable agriculture and could contribute to policy changes regarding pesticide use, supporting a more sustainable approach to crop protection.

Investigating the presence of ARG in digestate in the context of bacterial and archaeal biodiversity

Dr. Agata Siedlecka, from the Department of Applied Bioeconomy, addresses one of the most pressing issues in modern medicine and public health: antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This phenomenon is responsible for a growing number of deaths associated with infections that are resistant to treatment. Dr. Siedlecka’s research focuses on the anaerobic digestion (AD) process in biogas plants, which convert manure into a beneficial fertilizer called digestate. Although anaerobic digestion is considered a beneficial method for reducing antimicrobial resistance levels, its impact on antimicrobial resistance genes (ARG) in digestate is not yet fully understood.

Dr. Siedlecka’s project aims to investigate the presence of ARG in digestate against the backdrop of the bacterial and archaeal biodiversity it contains. She plans to collect samples from three biogas plants in the region and conduct detailed genetic and microbiological analyses, including the use of advanced next-generation sequencing (NGS) techniques. This research is critical because the presence of antimicrobial resistance genes in digestate could lead to the spread of AMR in the environment, posing a significant threat to human and animal health. The results of this study have the potential to set new standards in AMR monitoring and may influence health and environmental protection policies.

The research outcomes from the UPWr scientists could form the foundation for larger, more comprehensive projects, yielding tangible benefits for both science and society.
 

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  Escherichia coli – sometimes a friend, sometimes a foe

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  UPWr PhD student gets a Preludium grant

  She is finishing her PhD and has just received funding for a project awarded in the Preludium competition. Agata Matera, a student at the Doctoral School of Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences , is supervised by Professor Ewa Huszcza.