Research topics:

The mechanisms of innate immunity of invertebrates using insects as a model organism. Mechanisms of action of antimicrobial proteins and peptides.

Research projects:

2014 - 2017 Alpha-1,3-glucan, a component of the fungal cell wall, as an inducer of the innate immune response of insects, research project of the National Science Center, PRELUDIUM competition No. 2013/09 / N / NZ6 / 00838, principal investigator

2013 - 2016 Analysis of the interaction of Galleria mellonella anionic and cationic peptides belonging to four different families of defense peptides on bacterial and fungal cells, NCN research project No. 2012/05 / B / NZ1 / 00033, contractor

2010 - 2012 Galleria mellonella apolipoforin III - a protein with many functions, research project of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, No. N N303 58 02 39, contractor

Selected scientific publications:

1. Januszanis B., Stączek S., Zdybicka-Barabas A., Bądziul D., Jakubowicz-Gil J., Langner E., Rzeski W., Cytryńska M. (2012) The effect of Galleria mellonella hemolymph polypeptides on human brain glioblastoma multiforme cell line – a preliminary study. Annales UMCS Sectio C (Biologia), LXVII(2): 53-62. Versita 10.2478/V10067-012-0020-1 (5 pkt. MNiSW; IF brak)
   Zdybicka-Barabas A., Stączek S., Mak P., Piersiak T., Skrzypiec K., Cytryńska M. (2012) The effect of Galleria mellonella apolipophorin III on yeast and filamentous fungi. Journal of Insect Physiology, 58: 164-177. (35 pkt. MNiSW; IF₂₀₁₂ 2,236)
2. Zdybicka-Barabas A., Stączek S., Mak P., Skrzypiec K., Mendyk E., Cytryńska M. (2013) Synergistic action of Galleria mellonella apolipophorin III and lysozyme against Gram-negative bacteria. Biochimica et Biophysics Acta - Biomembranes 1828, 1449-1456. (35 pkt. MNiSW; IF₂₀₁₃ 3,990)
3. Sowa-Jasiłek A., Zdybicka-Barabas A., Stączek S., Wydrych J., Mak P., Jakubowicz T., Cytryńska M. (2014) Studies on the role of insect hemolymph polypeptides: Galleria mellonella anionic peptide 2 and lysozyme. Peptides 53, 194-201.  (25 pkt. MNiSW; IF₂₀₁₄ 2,618)
4. Zdybicka-Barabas A., Sowa-Jasiłek A., Stączek S., Jakubowicz T., Cytryńska M. (2015) Different forms of apolipophorin III in Galleria mellonella larvae challenged with bacteria and fungi. Peptides 68: 105-112.
5. Wiater A., Paduch R., Choma A., Stączek S., Pleszczynska M., Tomczyk M., Locatelli M., Szczodrak J. (2015) (1→3)-α-D-Glucans from Aspergillus spp.: Structural Characterization and Biological Study on their Carboxymethylated Derivatives. Current Drug Targets16:13, 1488-194.
6. Sowa-Jasiłek A., Zdybicka-Barabas A., Stączek S., Wydrych J., Skrzypiec K., Mak P., Deryło K., Tchórzewski M., Cytryńska M. (2016) Galleria mellonella lysozyme induces apoptotic changes in Candida albicans cells. Microbiological Research 193:121-131.
7. Zdybicka-Barabas A., Stączek S., Cytryńska M. (2017) Różnorodność peptydów przeciwdrobnoustrojowych bezkręgowców. Kosmos 66 (4), 563-574.
8. Stączek S, Grygorczuk K, Zdybicka-Barabas A, Siemińska-Kuczer A, Vertyporokh L, Andrejko M, Wojda I, Cytryńska M. (2017) Different faces of phenoloxidase in animals. Postepy Biochemii 63: 315-325.
9. Siemińska-Kuczer A, Vertyporokh L, Andrejko M, Wojda I, Stączek S., Zdybicka-Barabas A, Grygorczuk K, Cytryńska M. (2017) Metalloproteases and their inhibitors: role in pathogenesis of selected examples. Postępy Biochemii 63: 269-276.
10. Stączek S., Zdybicka-Barabas A., Mak P., Sowa-Jasiłek A., Kedracka-Krok S., Jankowska U., Suder P., Wydrych J., Grygorczuk K., Jakubowicz T., Cytryńska M. (2018) Studies on localization and protein ligands of Galleria mellonella apolipophorin III during immune response against different pathogens. Journal of Insect Physiology  105: 18-27.
11. Zdybicka-Barabas A., Stączek S., Pawlikowska-Pawlęga B., Mak P., Luchowski R., Skrzypiec K., Mendyk E., Wydrych J., Gruszecki W.I., Cytryńska M. (2019) Studies on the interactions of neutral Galleria mellonella cecropin D with living bacterial cells. Amino Acids. 51:175-191.
12. Stączek S., Zdybicka-Barabas A., Pleszczyńska M., Wiater A., Cytyńska M. (2020) Aspergillus niger α-1,3-glucan acts as a virulence factor by inhibiting the insect phenoloxidase system. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology. 171:107341.
13. Sowa-Jasiłek A., Zdybicka-Barabas A., Stączek S., Pawlikowska-Pawlęga B., Grygorczuk-Płaneta K., Skrzypiec K., Gruszecki W.I., Mak P., Cytryńska M. (2020) Antifungal activity of anionic defense peptides: insight into the action of Galleria mellonella anionic peptide 2. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 21: 1912.
14. Stączek S, Zdybicka-Barabas A, Wiater A, Pleszczyńska M, Cytryńska M. (2020) Activation of cellular immune response in insect model host Galleria mellonella by fungal α-1,3-glucan. Pathogens and Disease, doi: 10.1093/femspd/ftaa062.
15. Stączek S, Zdybicka-Barabas A, Pleszczyńska M, Wiater A, Cytryńska M. (2020) Aspergillus niger α-1,3-glucan acts as a virulence factor by inhibiting the insect phenoloxidase system. J Invertebr Pathol. 171:107341. doi: 10.1016/j.jip.2020.107341.
    
16. Stączek S, Zdybicka-Barabas A, Wojda I, Wiater A, Mak P, Suder P, Skrzypiec K, Cytryńska M. (2021) Fungal α-1,3-Glucan as a New Pathogen-Associated Molecular Pattern in the Insect Model Host Galleria mellonella. Molecules 26:5097. doi: 10.3390/molecules26165097.
17. Kaminski K, Skora M, Krzyściak P, Stączek S, Zdybicka-Barabas A, Cytryńska M. (2021) Synthesis and Study of Antifungal Properties of New Cationic Beta-Glucan Derivatives.
     Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 14:838. doi: 10.3390/ph14090838.