RESEARCH FOCUS

Noninfectious disease (Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, cancer, allergy)

PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION

1. Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin, Institute of Microbiology and Biotechnology,  Department of Virology and Immunology, field: microbiology

•     Professor in biological sciences (2014)
•     Doctor habilitatus in biological sciences (2006)
•     Doctor degree in biological sciences (1995)
•     MSc degree in biological sciences (1987)

2. University of Economics and Innovation in Lublin

• Postgraduate studies "Manager of research and development projects" (2012-2013)
• Postgraduate studies “Management of research projects and development works” (2011-2012)

3. Stanford University, USA

• TOP 500 Innovators: Science - Management – Commercialization Program of the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education, 04-06. 2013
• Scientific Internship: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, USA, June 2013

RESEARCH PROJECTS

1. Project NCN No 2017/27/B/NZ6/01544  (2018-2021 ): “Bacterial determinants of increased virulence of Legionella pneumophila serotype 1 strains” 
2. International project financed from sources other than the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education: “Experimental in vitro study as a first step to assess the anti-endotoxin (LPS) effect of Potencil vs a fluoroquinolone” Project No 1/2015: Virbac France - University of Life Science Lublin - University of Maria Curie-Skłodowska Lublin (2015)
3. Project NCN No N302 633040 (2011-2014): ”Biosynthesis of textile dyes by fungi”
4. Project NCN No N303822640 (2011-2014): “Genetic and biochemical study of the phosphatidylocholine biosynthesis pathways in Legionella spp.”
5. Project MNiSW No N302 061034(2008-2011): “Ribosomal P protein of Plasmodium falciparum as a component of the antimalarial vaccine”.
6. Project MNiSW No 2P05A 169 29 (2005-2008): „Mechanisms of fibrosis in alcoholic liver    disease - in vitro investigations”.

 PATENTS

• Patent (Patent Office of the Republic of Poland, UPRP) No 212249, „Ribosomal P protein complex from Plasmodium falciparum as an antigen of the malaria pathogen and a method for obtaining this antigen”, 2011.
• International patent (European Patent Office – EPO) No EP2409987, “Ribosomal P protein complex from Plasmodium falciparum as an antigen in vaccines against malaria”, 2013.

 HONORS AND AWARDS

• Laureate of the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education competition „TOP 500 INNOVATORS Science Management Commercialization”, 2013
• Prestigious Scientific Award “Maria Curie Prize” for the best UMCS scientific achievement in 2011, Lublin
• The 3rd place in the "Fokus Lens 2011" plebiscite for research on malaria antigen
• The 3rd place in the category „Scientific discovery of the year " (2011) in the National Geographic Traveler plebiscite for research on malaria antigen
• The 3rd place in the international competition for the best article in the field of gastroenterology and hepatology „Dr Bares Award” 2011: “Zinc supplementation attenuates ethanol- and acetaldehyde-induced liver stellate cell activation by inhibiting reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and by influencing intracellular signalling”
• UMCS Rector’s team award; 1999, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2016, 2017, 2019
• UMCS Rector's Award for a Doctoral Dissertation, 1995
• Scholarship Foundation for Polish Science for Young Scholars, 1994

SPECIAL LECTURE INVITATION

1. „Norovirus as an alarm pathogen” - I Congress of Polish Society of Virology, Lublin 2013
2. „Modern virological threats” XXVII Congress of Polish Society of Microbiologists, Lublin 2012
3. „Deadly Ebola–genesis”, Lublin Edition of the 5th Workshop "DNA - Encyclopedia of Life" 2012
4. “Cytokines in physiology, pathology and therapy”, International Conference & Exhibition on Cell Science & Stem Cell Research, Philadelphia 2011

 FEATURED PUBLICATIONS

1. Rzymski P, Szuster-Ciesielska A, Dzieciątkowski T, Gwenzi W, Fal A.:  
   mRNA vaccines: The future of prevention of viral infections? J Med Virol. 2023 Feb;95(2):e28572.
2. Rzymski P, Szuster-Ciesielska A.: 
   
   The COVID-19 Vaccination Still Matters: Omicron Variant Is a Final Wake-Up Call for the Rich to Help the Poor. Vaccines (Basel). 2022 Jul 3;10(7):1070.
   
3. Szuster-Ciesielska A*., Wawiórka L., Krokowski D., Grankowski N., Jarosz Ł., Lisiecka U., Tchórzewski M.: Immunogenic Evaluation of Ribosomal P-Protein Antigen P0, P1, and P2 and Pentameric Protein Complex P0-(P1-P2)(2) of Plasmodium falciparum in a Mouse Model. Journal of Immunology Research, 2019, DOI: 10.1155/2019/9264217
4. Szuster-Ciesielska A*., Zwolak A., Daniluk J., Kandefer-Szerszeń M.: Metformin inhibits both oleic acid-induced and CB1R receptor agonist-induced lipid accumulation in Hep3B cells: The preliminary report. International Journal of Immunopathology and Pharmacology, 2019, 33, DOI: 10.1177/2058738419832714
5. Szuster-Ciesielska A.*, Renata Urban-Chmiel, Andrzej Wernicki, Laurent Mascaron, Marek Wasak, Eric Bousquet.: Evaluation of the ability of colistin, amoxicillin (components of Potencil®), and fluoroquinolones to attenuate bacterial endotoxin – and Shiga exotoxin-mediated cytotoxicity – in vitro studies. Journal of Veterinary Pharmacology and  Therapeutics, 2018, 1-19. DOI:10.1111/jvp.12710
6. Tutaj K., Szlązak R., Szałapata K., Starzyk J., Rafał Luchowski, Grudziński W., Osińska-Jaroszuk M., Jarosz-Wilkołazka A., Szuster-Ciesielska A., Gruszecki W.I.: Amphotericin B-Silver Hybrid Nanoparticles: Synthesis, Properties and Antifungal Activity. Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology and Medicine 2016, 12 (4), 1095-1103
7. Zwolak A., Słabczyńska O., Semeniuk J., Daniluk J., Szuster-Ciesielska A.*: Metformin Changes the Relationship between Blood Monocyte Toll-Like Receptor 4 Levels and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease-Ex Vivo Studies. PLOS One, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0150233 2016.
8. Pachuta-Stec A., Szuster-Ciesielska A*.:  New Norcantharidin Analogs: Synthesis and Anticancer Activity. Arch.Pharm.Chem.Life Sci (ARCHIV DER PHARMAZIE) 2015, 348, 1-11
9. Zwolak A., Szuster-Ciesielska A., Daniluk J., Słabczyńska O., Kandefer-Szerszeń M.: Hyperreactivity of Blood Leukocytes in Patients with NAFLD to Ex Vivo Lipopolysaccharide Treatment Is Modulated by Metformin and Phosphatidylcholine but Not by Alpha Ketoglutarate. PLOS One, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0143851 2015.
10. Palusińska-Szysz M., Szuster-Ciesielska A., Kania M., Janczarek M., Chmiel E., Danikiewicz W.: Legionella dumoffii utilizes exogenous choline for phosphatidylcholine synthesis. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2014, 15, 8256-8279.
11. Szuster-Ciesielska A.*, Mizerska-Dudka M., Daniluk J., Kandefer-Szerszeń M. (2013): Butein inhibits ethanol-induced activation of liver stellate cells through TGF-β, NFkB, p38, and JNK signaling pathways and inhibition of oxidative stress. Journal of Gastroenterology 48, 222-237.
12. Szuster-Ciesielska A.*, Sztanke K., Kandefer-Szerszeń M. (2012): A novel fused 1,2,4 triazine aryl derivative as antioxidant and nonselective antagonist of adenosine A_2A receptors in ethanol-activated liver stellate cells. Chemico-Biological Interactions 195, 18-24.
13. Szuster-Ciesielska A.*, Plewka K., Kandefer-Szerszeń M. (2011): Betulin, betulinic acid and butein are inhibitors of acetaldehyde-induced liver stellate cell. Pharmacological Reports 63, 1109-1132.
14. Szuster-Ciesielska A.*, Plewka K., Daniluk J., Kandefer-Szerszeń M. (2011): Betulin and betulinic acid attenuate ethanol-induced liver stellate cell activation by inhibiting reactive oxygen species (ROS), cytokine (TNF-α, TGF-β) production and by influencing intracellular signaling. Toxicology 280, 152-163
15. Szuster-Ciesielska A.*, Plewka K., Daniluk J., Kandefer-Szerszeń M. (2009): Zinc supplementation attenuates ethanol- and acetaldehyde-induced liver stellate cell activation by inhibiting reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and by influencing intracellular signaling. Biochemical Pharmacology 78, 301-314.
16. Szuster-Ciesielska A.*, Plewka K., Daniluk J., Kandefer-Szerszeń M. (2008): Zinc inhibits ethanol-induced HepG2 cell apoptosis. Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology229, (1), 1-9.
17. Szuster-Ciesielska A.*, Słotwińska M., Stachura A., Marmurowska-Michałowska H., Dubas-Ślemp H., Bojarska-Junak A., Kandefer-Szerszeń M. (2008): Accelerated apoptosis of blood leukocytes and oxidative stress in blood of patients with major depression. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology Biological Psychiatry 32, 3, 686-94.
18. Szuster-Ciesielska A.*, Kandefer-Szerszeń M. (2005): Protective effects of betulin and betulinic acid against ethanol-induced cytotoxicity in HepG2 cells. Pharmacological Reports 57, 588-595.