AVOIDANCE OF MECHANISMS OF INNATE IMMUNE RESPONSE BY NEISSERIA GONORRHOEAE

Jagoda Płaczkiewicz

Abstract Neisseria gonorrhoeae (gonococcus) is a Gram-negative bacteria and an etiological agent of the sexually transmitted disease – gonorrhea. N. gonorrhoeae possesses many mechanism to evade the innate immune response of the human host. Most are related to serum resistance and avoidance of complement killing. However the clinical symptoms of gonorrhea are correlated with a significant presence of neutrophils, whose response is also insufficient and modulated by gonococci. 1. Introduction. 2.(..)

DOI: 10.21307/PM-2019.58.4.367

Published Online: 31-December-2019

EDAPHIC FACTORS AND THEIR INFLUENCE ON THE MICROBIOLOGICAL BIODIVERSITY OF THE SOIL ENVIRONMENT

Karolina Furtak/ Anna Gałązka

Abstract The edaphic factors are the soil properties that affect the diversity of organisms living in the soil environment. These include soil structure, temperature, pH, and salinity. Some of them are influenced by man, but most are independent of human activity. These factors influence the species composition of soil microbial communities, but also their activity and functionality. The correlations between different abiotic factors and microbial groups described in this manuscript indicate bot(..)

DOI: 10.21307/PM-2019.58.4.375

Published Online: 31-December-2019

ADVANCEMENTS IN DEVELOPING ANTI-CAMPYLOBACTER VACCINE FOR POULTRY

Agnieszka Wyszyńska/ Patrycja Kobierecka/ Katarzyna Elżbieta Jagusztyn-Krynicka

Abstract Campylobacter jejuni/coli is the leading bacterial cause of diarrhoea in humans in both developing and developed countries. Epidemiological studies show that most cases of campylobacteriosis are the result of the consumption of undercooked, contaminated poultry meat. Although campylobacteriosis is largely a self-limiting disease with low mortality, a specific treatment is required for patients infected with strains resistant to clinically important antibiotics and for patients who devel(..)

DOI: 10.21307/PM-2019.58.4.385

RECOMBINANT ANTIGENS IN SEROLOGICAL DIAGNOSIS OF LYME BORRELIOSIS

Weronika Grąźlewska/ Lucyna Holec-Gąsior

Abstract Lyme borreliosis, an infectious disease caused by tick-borne spirochetes of the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex, is regarded as the most commonly reported vector-borne infection in the Northern Hemisphere. Currently, the basis for laboratory diagnosis of Lyme disease is a two-step serological examination. The first is an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). If the test result is positive or questionable, a Western blot is used as the second phase test. In both methods, the(..)

DOI: 10.21307/PM-2019.58.4.399

MECHANISMS OF FUNCTIONING AND CONTROL OF HEME UPTAKE IN GRAM-NEGATIVE PATHOGENIC BACTERIA

Karolina Jaworska/ Adrianna Raczkowska/ Julia Frindt/ Joanna Wachowicz/ Katarzyna Brzostek

Abstract Iron is one of the most important micronutrients used by bacteria, essential for their basic metabolism. Over 70% of bioavailable iron in mammals is in the heme molecule. Gram-negative pathogenic bacteria during colonization and infection of the host organism use heme as the main source of iron. Bacteria have developed two types of outer membrane receptors/transporters involved in the heme uptake. The first one focuses on the receptors recognizing heme or hemoproteins and transporting t(..)

DOI: 10.21307/PM-2019.58.4.415

ENDOTOXEMIA AND INTESTINAL BARRIER DISORDERS ASSOCIATED WITH OVERWEIGHT AND OBESITY

Agata Janczy/ Zdzisław Kochan/ Sylwia Małgorzewicz

Abstract According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the widespread problem of overweight and obesity is the fifth most important risk factor for deaths in the world. The most frequently mentioned are the genetic and environmental factors that lead to the absorption of excess energy from food and to accumulate it in the form of spare adipose tissue. Another important fact is that even the use of a low-energy diet does not support the effective reduction of excessive body weight. It turns o(..)

DOI: 10.21307/PM-2019.58.4.427

OCCURRENCE OF THE CO-SELECTION PHENOMENON IN NON-CLINICAL ENVIRONMENTS

Agata Goryluk-Salmonowicz/ Magdalena Popowska

Abstract Multi-resistant bacterial strains currently present the main health problem worldwide. Numerous public health organizations call for the prevention, and control the spread, of antibiotic resistance from any sources. From the literature data, it is well known that agricultural areas are a source of antibiotic resistance because of the use of antibiotics and heavy metals to promote plant and animal growth. Moreover, natural water reservoirs and soil not used for agriculture are also sourc(..)

DOI: 10.21307/PM-2019.58.4.433

VIRUSES OF EXTREME ENVIRONMENTS

Mikołaj Wołącewicz/ Dominika Bębnowska/ Rafał Hrynkiewicz/ Paulina Niedźwiedzka-Rystwej

Abstract Extremophilic viruses inhabit even the most extreme environments, such as underwater and terrestrial hydrothermal vents, deserts, subpolar areas, deep subsurface sediments, hypersaline environments, and alkaline lakes. These are mainly viruses that infect bacteria (belonging to the Myoviridae and Siphoviridae families) and archaea (classified to the families Lipothrixviridae, Rudiviridae, Yueviridae, Ampullaviridae, Globuloviridae, Sphaerolipoviridae, Bicaudaviridae, Fuselloviridae, Gut(..)

DOI: 10.21307/PM-2019.58.4.447

KILLER YEASTS AND THEIR APPLICATION

Urszula Błaszczyk

Abstract A killer phenotype, associated with the production and secretion of killer toxins, is widespread among yeasts and in competitive conditions gives an advantage to killer yeast strains in relation to other, sensitive microorganisms colonizing the same ecological niche. Killer toxins are proteins, usually glycoproteins, that are able to kill strains of susceptible yeasts. Each killer toxin has unique properties that vary depending on the strain of yeast that produces it. These differences (..)

DOI: 10.21307/PM-2019.58.4.455

ENTOMOPATHOGENIC FUNGI AND THEIR BIOCENOTIC IMPORTANCE

Beata Zimowska/ Ewa Dorota Król

Abstract Naturally occurring entomopathogens are important regulatory factors of insect populations. Among them, entomopathogenic fungi play a meaningful role. The invasion of insects by parasitic fungi occurs through penetration of the host integument. Death of the host is a result of tissue destruction, exhaustion of nutrients, and the production of toxins. Many recent studies show that entomopathogenic fungi are not only considered as insect pathogens, but also play additional roles in nature(..)

DOI: 10.21307/PM-2019.58.4.471

MOLECULAR METHODS FOR DIAGNOSTICS OF DERMATOMYCOSES – REVIEW OF AVAILABLE TECHNIQUES AND EVALUATION OF THEIR ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES IN IMPLEMENTATION FOR IN ROUTINE USE

Sebastian Gnat/ Dominik Łagowski/ Aneta Nowakiewicz/ Mariusz Dyląg

Abstract Fungal infections of the skin, hairs, and nails undeniably dominate among all types of fungal infections. The etiological factors of the majority of superficial fungal infections are dermatophytes which, although they are the oldest microorganisms considered as pathogens, have long been unstable in the taxonomic position. From a diagnostic point of view, the species identification of dermatophytes is still a serious problem, often generating therapeutic errors. An increasing number of i(..)

DOI: 10.21307/PM-2019.58.4.483