Department of Molecular Microbiology

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DEPARTMENT HEAD

prof. dr hab. Dagmara Jakimowicz

STAFF MEMBERS

PhD Students

(rooms: 2.24, 2.25, 3.18)

mgr inż. Marta Derkacz
mgr Patrycja Wadach
mgr Jakub Mikołajczyk
mgr Anna Musiolik
mgr Kamil Sobarnia
mgr Kinga Klich
mgr Elżbieta Kryska
mgr Dominik Bania
mgr Diana Valietova
mgr Kornel Milcarz
mgr Martyna Pisula
mgr Justyna Ruszkowska

RESEARCH OVERVIEW

We study Actinobacteria (Streptomyces, Mycobacteria), focusing on:

chromosome organization during the cell cycle, including the roles of topoisomerases, nucleoid-associated proteins, and condensins;
chromosome replication and its regulation by chromosome topology;
mechanisms of chromosome segregation, particularly the role of the ParAB system;
coordination of the cell cycle, including the synchronization of chromosome segregation with cell division and cell elongation;
regulation of gene expression, emphasizing the influence of chromosome topology and transcriptional regulators;
morphogenesis and apical cell growth;
antibiotic biosynthesis and the activation of silent biosynthetic pathways.

RESEARCH PROJECTS

ONGOING RESEARCH PROJECTS

2025-2029: „Exploring the Link Between the Mycobacterial Cell Cycle, Cell Envelope, and Antibiotic Susceptibility: The Role of ParA-DivIVA Interplay” (Opus 28 2024/55/B/NZ1/00656)
Principal Investigator – D. Jakimowicz

2025-2026: „Discovering the role and activating signal of SitKR – a novel two-component system in the regulation of gene expression in the naturally antibiotic-producing bacterium Streptomyces coelicolor„ (NCN Preludium 24)
Principal Investigator – P. Wadach

2024-2028: „The role of ParA-like protein in coordination of mycobacterial cell cycle.” (NCN, Preludium Bis 5, nr 2023/50/O/NZ1/00103)
Principal Investigator – D. Jakimowicz

2024-2028: „Exploring molecular mechanisms controlling ParB-dependent chromosome rearrangements in Streptomyces.” (NCN, OPUS 25; nr 2023/49/NZ1/00781).
Principal Investigator – M. Szafran

2024-2028: “The interplay between nucleoid associated proteins and transcription factors at regulation of gene expression in antibiotic producing bacteria.” (NCN, OPUS 25, nr 2023/49/B/NZ2/00356)
Principal Investigator – D. Jakimowicz

2023-2027: “Antibiotic discovery by induction of inactive antibiotic gene clusters.” (NCN, OPUS 24; 2022/47/B/NZ1/00556)
Principal Investigator – B. Kepplinger

2022-2026: ” Novel two-component system in Streptomyces and its role in growth regulation and mediating interspecies competition.” (NCN, SONATA 17; nr 2021/43/D/NZ2/00284)
Principal Investigator – M. Gongerowska-Jac

2021-2026: “ Chromosome architecture and translocation in asymmetrically growing and dividing Mycobacterium.” (NCN, OPUS 19; nr 2020/37/B/NZ1/0055)
Principal Investigator – J. Zakrzewska-Czerwińska

2021-2025: “ How do antibiotic-producing bacteria cells grow and branch?” (NCN, SONATA 16; nr 2020/39/D/NZ1/00303)
Principal Investigator – B. Kepplinger

FORMER RESEARCH PROJECTS

2019-2022: „Spatial organisation of Streptomyces chromosome during sporulation – impact on chromosome segregation, cell division, spores viability and germination.” (NCN, OPUS 16).
Principal Investigator – D. Jakimowicz

2019-2022 „Two lysine posttranslational modifications, acetylation and pupylation and their role in the regulation of Streptomyces chromosome topology.” (NCN, SONATA 14).
Principal Investigator – M. Szafran

2019-2022: „Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus, a ‘living antibiotic’ – life cycle dynamics during predation on different pathogens.” (NCN, OPUS 15; no. 2018/29/B/NZ6/00539.” (NCN, OPUS 15).
Principal Investigator – J. Zakrzewska-Czerwińska

2018-2022: „Mechanism of mycobacterial chromosome segregation – the role of proteins interacting with ParA.”(NCN, OPUS 14; nr. 2017/27/B/NZ1/00823).
Kierownik projektu – D. Jakimowicz

2018-2021: “mIHF, a unique mycobacterial nucleoid associated protein and its role in chromosome organization and gene expression.” (NCN, SONATINA 2; nr. 2018/28/C/NZ1/00128).
Principal Investigator – J. Hołówka

2018-2021: „Interaction between proteins HupA and HupS during Streptomyces growth and stress respon.” (NCN, SONATINA 2; nr. 2018/28/C/NZ1/00241).
Principal Investigator – A. Strzałka

2019-2020: „Global analysis of AdpA-dependent gene expression in Streptomyces under fluctuating oxygen level.” (NCN, Miniatura 3).
Principal Investigator – M. Wolański

2018-2019: „Biological role of the DnaA protein phosphorylation in Streptomyces coelicolor.” (NCN, Preludium 13).
Principal Investigator – T. Łebkowski

2017-2020: „Lsr2 protein as a global chromosomal organizer and transcription factor in Mycobacterium – an interplay of Lsr2 with SMC complex and HupB.” (NCN, Opus 13).
Principal Investigator – J. Zakrzewska-Czerwińska

2017-2020: „The architecture of bacterial chromosome – the cooperation of topoisomerase I and segregation protein ParB in Streptomyces.” (NCN, Harmonia 8).
Principal Investigator – M. Szafran

2017-2019: „Genetic tool for identification proteins regulating supercoiling- sensitive promoter of gene encoding topoisomerase I from Streptomyces coelicolor.”(NCN, Preludium 12).
Principal Investigator – M. Gongerowska-Jac

LAB EQUIPMENT

Real Time PCR thermocyclers – StepOnePlus (Applied Biosystem), Eco Real-Time PCR System (Illumina)
Real Time PCR cabinet – Aura PCR (Bioair / Euroclone)
Laminar flow hoods – BIO60 (Faster), Mars Safety Class 2 (ScanLaf)
Incubators – Excella E-24R (New Brunswick Scientific), Infors HT Multitron, Binder CO2 incubator (Binder)
Real time microbiology reader – Bioscreen C
Microbiology real time growth analysis system in flasks – Cell Growth Quantifier (CGQ, SBI aquila biolabs)
Plate reader – Infinite M Plex (Tecan)
Inverted fluorescence microscopes – Delta-Vision Elite with microfluidic CellASIC system, ONIX
Fluorescence microscopes – Leica DM6 B
Low temperature freezers – C340 (New Brunswick Scientific), Igloo C820 (Telstar), MDF-DU502VH-PE (PHCbi)
FPLC protein Purification system – Akta Start (GE/Cytiva)
Analytical HPLC system – LC-2050C 3D (Shimadzu)
Preparative HPLC system – LC-20AP (Shimadzu)
Rotary evaporator – B-100 (Buchi)
Freeze dryer – FreeZone 4.5L (Labconco)
Capilary electrophoresis system – QIAxcel (Qiagen)
UV/Vis spectrophotometer – Nano-drop ND-1000, Pharmacia Biotech
Centrifuges – AVANTI J-26 XPI (Beckman), Allegra X-22R (Beckman), 5415R (Eppendorf), Micro FC5515R (Ohaus)
Drying cabinets and other microbiology incubators (Binder)
Autoclaves– Varioklav 75S, Tuttnauer 2840EL-D
Gel visualization systems – ChemiDoc XRS+ (Bio-Rad), Smart Imaging (Vilber)
Water purification system – Simplicity UV (Millipore)

PUBLICATIONS