Research topics

Mechanisms of innate immunity of  insects. Host-pathogen interactions. Antimicrobial peptides and proteins and mechanisms of their action.

Contractor in research projects

1. 2013-2017 - 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 (Opus) no. 2012/05/B/NZ1/00033 (project manager Prof. Małgorzata Cytryńska)
2. 2015-2018 - Biological activity and mechanisms of action of porphyrinoid compounds against intracellular bee pathogens of the Nosema genus; research project of the National Science Center (Opus) No. 2015/17/B/NZ9/03607 (project manager dr hab. Mariusz Trytek)
3. 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) No. 2013/09/N/NZ6/00838 (project manager - Sylwia Stączek, M.Sc.)
4. 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 (project manager Prof. Małgorzata Cytryńska)
5. 2008-2010 - Mechanisms of the Galleria mellonella humoral response in bacterial and fungal infections - analysis of the profile and role of hemolymph defense peptides; research project of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, No. N N303 36 22 35 (project manager Prof. Małgorzata Cytryńska)
6. 2005-2008 - The role of apolipophorin III and mechanisms of signal transmission in the Galleria mellonella immune response; research project KBN No. 2 P04C 080 29 (project manager Prof. Teresa Jakubowicz)
7. 2004-2006 - Identification and assessment of antibacterial and antifungal properties of the Galleria mellonella hemolymph peptides; KBN research project No. 2 P04C 054 26 (project manager Prof. Małgorzata Cytryńska)

Prizes and awards

1.  Team Award of the Minister of Science and Higher Education for significant achievements in the field of implementation activity (Ptaszyńska A.A., Zdybicka-Barabas A., Cytryńska M., Mułenko W., Małek W.), 2019

2.  Silver medal awarded during the 70th International Fair "Ideas, Inventions, New Products" iENA in Nuremberg for developing a method for treating nosemosis in bees and supporting their immune system by enriching the winter diet of insects with bacteria of the genus Lactobacillus (Ptaszyńska A.A., Zdybicka-Barabas A., Cytryńska M., Mułenko W., Małek W.); 2018

3. Team Award of the Rector of Maria Curie-Skłodowska University for cooperation with the economic environment - commercialization of the invention 'Plant preparations used in supporting the treatment of nosemosis in bees and improving their immunity' (Ptaszyńska A.A., Zdybicka-Barabas A., Cytryńska M., Mułenko W., Małek IN.); 2018

4.  Individual Award of the UMCS Rector for scientific achievements; 2015

5.  Team Award of the UMCS Rector for scientific achievements; 2012

Selected publications

1. Cytryńska M., Rahnamaeian M., Zdybicka-Barabas A., Dobslaff K., Züchner T., Sacheau G., Innis C.A., Vilcinskas A. (2020) Proline-Rich Antimicrobial Peptides in Medicinal Maggots of Lucilia sericata Interact With Bacterial DnaK But Do Not Inhibit Protein Synthesis. Front. Pharmacol. 11, 532 doi: 10.3389/fphar.2020.00532
2. Wojda I.,Cytryńska M., Zdybicka-Barabas A., Kordaczuk J. Insect Defense Proteins and Peptides. In: Hoeger U. and Harris j.R. (eds.) Vertebrate and Invertebrate Respratory Proteins, Lipoproteins and other Body Fluid Proteins, Subcell. Biochem. Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020;94:81-121. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-41769-7_4
3. Palusińska-Szysz M., Zdybicka-Barabas A., Luchowski R., Reszczyńska E., Śmiałek J., Mak P., Gruszecki W.I.,Cytryńska M. (2020) Choline Supplementation Sensitizes Legionella dumoffii to Galleria mellonella Apolipophorin III. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 21(16):E5818. doi: 10.3390/ijms21165818
4. Palusińska-Szysz M., Zdybicka-Barabas A., Frąc M., Gruszecki W.I., Wdowiak-Wróbel S., Reszczyńska E., Skorupska D., Mak P.,Cytryńska M. (2020)Identification and characterization of Staphylococcus spp. and their susceptibility to insect apolipophorin III. Future Microbiol. 15(11)  doi: 10.2217/fmb-2019-0328
5. 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. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 21, 1912
6. Kalsy M., Tonk M., Hardt M., Dobrindt U., Zdybicka-Barabas A., Cytrynska M., Vilcinskas A., Mukherjee K. (2020) The insect antimicrobial peptide cecropin A disrupts uropathogenic Escherichia coli biofilms. NPJ Biofilms Microbiomes 6(1):6.
7. 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.
8. Grela E., Zdybicka-Barabas A., Pawlikowska-Pawlega B., Cytryńska M., Wlodarczyk M., Grudzinski W., Luchowski R., Gruszecki W.I. (2019) Modes of the antibiotic activity of amphotericin B against Candida albicans. Sci. Rep. 9, 17029.
9. 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.
10. Lipa P., Vinardell J-M., Kopcińska J., Zdybicka-Barabas A., Janczarek M. (2018) Mutation in the pssZ gene negatively impacts exopolysaccharide synthesis, surface properties, and symbiosis of Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii with Clover. Genes 9, 369; doi:10.3390/genes9070369.
11. 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. J. Insect Physiol. 105,18-27.
12. Zdybicka-Barabas A., Bulak P., Polakowski C., Bieganowski A., Waśko A., Cytryńska M. (2017) Immune response in the larvae of the black soldier fly Hermetia illucens. Invert. Surviv. J. ISJ 14, 9-17.
13. 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. Microbiol.  Res. 193, 121-131.
14. Ptaszyńska A.A., Borsuk G., Zdybicka-Barabas A., Cytryńska M., Małek W. (2016) Are commercial probiotics and prebiotics effective in the treatment and prevention of honeybee nosemosis C? Parasitol. Res. 115, 397-406.
15. Rahnamaeian M., Cytryńska M., Zdybicka-Barabas A., Vilcinskas A. (2016) The functional interaction between abaecin and pore-forming peptides indicates a general mechanism of antibacterial potentiation. Peptides 78, 17-23.
16. Palusińska-Szysz M., Zdybicka-Barabas A., Reszczyńska E., Luchowski R., Kania M., Gisch N., Waldow F., Mak P., Danikiewicz W., Gruszecki W.I., Cytryńska M. (2016) The lipid composition of Legionella dumoffii membrane modulates the interaction with Galleria mellonella apolipophorin III. Biochim. Biophys. Acta – Molecular and Cell Biology of Lipids. 1861, 617-629.
17. Cytryńska M., Zdybicka-Barabas A. (2015) Defense peptides: recent developments. Biomol. Concepts 6, 237-251.
18. Rahnamaeian M., Cytryńska M., Zdybicka-Barabas A., Dobslaff K., Wiesner J., Twyman R.M., Zuchner T., Sadd B.M., Regoes R.R., Schmid-Hempel P., Vilcinskas A. (2015) Insect antimicrobial peptides show potentiating functional interactions against Gram-negative bacteria. Proc. R. Soc. B 282, 20150293.
19. 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.
20. Zdybicka-Barabas A., Mak P., Jakubowicz T., Cytryńska M. (2014) Lysozyme and defense peptides as suppressors of phenoloxidase activity in Galleria mellonella. Archiv. Insect Biochem. Physiol. 87, 1-12.
21. 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.
22. Zdybicka-Barabas A., Palusińska-Szysz M., Gruszecki W.I., Mak P., Cytryńska M. (2014) Galleria mellonella apolipophorin III – an apolipoprotein with anti-Legionella pneumophila activity. Biochim. Biophys. Acta – Biomembranes 1838, 2689-2697.
23. Andrejko M., Zdybicka-Barabas A., Cytryńska M. (2014) Diverse effects of Galleria mellonella infection with entomopathogenic and clinical strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. J. Invertebr. Pathol. 115, 14-25.
24. Chmiel E., Palusińska-Szysz M., Zdybicka-Barabas A., Cytryńska M., Mak P. (2014) The effect of Galleria mellonella hemolymph polypeptides on Legionella gormanii. Acta Biochim. Pol. 61, 123-127.
25. Palusińska-Szysz M., Zdybicka-Barabas A., Cytryńska M., Wdowiak-Wróbel S., Chmiel E., Gruszecki W.I. (2014) Analysis of cell surface alterations in Legionella pneumophila cells treated with human apolipoprotein E. Pathog. Dis. 73, 1-8.
26. Zdybicka-Barabas A., Cytryńska M. (2013) Apolipophorins in insects immune response. Invert. Surviv. J. ISJ 10, 58-68.
27. 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. Biochim. Biophys. Acta – Biomembranes 1828, 1449-1456.
28. Andrejko M., Zdybicka-Barabas A., Janczarek M., Cytryńska M. (2013) Three Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains with different protease profiles. Acta Biochim. Pol. 60, 83-90.
29. Andrejko M., Zdybicka-Barabas A., Wawrzoszek M., Cytryńska M. (2013) Diverse susceptibility of Galleria mellonella humoral immune response factors to the exoproteinase activity of entomopathogenic and clinical strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Zool. Sci. 30, 345-351.
30. Zdybicka-Barabas A., Stączek S., Mak P., Piersiak T., Skrzypiec K., Cytryńska M. (2012) The effect of Galleria mellonella apolipophorin III on yeasts and filamentous fungi. J. Insect Physiol. 58, 164-177.
31. Zdybicka-Barabas A., Mak P., Klys A., Skrzypiec K., Mendyk E., Fiołka M., Cytryńska M. (2012) Synergistic action of  Galleria mellonella anionic peptide 2 and lysozyme against Gram-negative bacteria.Biochim. Biophys. Acta – Biomembranes 1818, 2623-2635.
32. Palusińska-Szysz M., Zdybicka-Barabas A., Pawlikowska-Pawlęga B., Mak P., Cytryńska M. (2012) Anti-Legionella dumoffii activity of Galleria mellonella defensin and apolipophorin III. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 13, 17048-17064.
33. Zdybicka-Barabas A., Cytryńska M. (2011) Involvement of apolipophorin III in antibacterial defense of Galleria mellonella larvae. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. B 158, 90-98.
34. Zdybicka-Barabas A., Januszanis B., Mak P., Cytryńska M. (2011) An atomic force microscopy study of Galleria mellonella apolipophorin III effect on bacteria. Biochim. Biophys. Acta - Biomembranes 1808, 1896-1906.
35. Mak P., Zdybicka-Barabas A., Cytryńska M. (2010) A different repertoire of Galleria mellonella antimicrobial peptides in larvae challenged with bacteria and fungi. Dev. Comp. Immunol. 34, 1129-1136.
36. Cytryńska M., Zdybicka-Barabas A., Jakubowicz T. (2007) The involvement of protein kinase A in the immune response of Galleria mellonella larvae to bacteria.  Acta Biochim. Pol. 54, 167-174.
37. Cytryńska M., Zdybicka-Barabas A., Jakubowicz T. (2007) Protein kinase A activity and protein phosphorylation in the haemocytes of immune-challenged Galleria mellonella larvae. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. B 148, 74-83.
38. Cytryńska M., Mak P., Zdybicka-Barabas A., Suder P., Jakubowicz T. (2007) Purification and characterization of eight peptides from Galleria mellonella immune hemolymph. Peptides 28, 533-546.
39. Cytryńska M., Zdybicka-Barabas A., Jakubowicz T. (2006) Studies on the role of protein kinase A in humoral immune response of Galleria mellonella larvae. J. Insect Physiol. 52, 744-753.
40. Cytryńska M., Zdybicka-Barabas A., Jabłoński P., Jakubowicz T. (2001) Detection of antibacterial polypeptide activity in situ after sodium dodecyl sulfate - polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Anal. Biochem. 299, 274-276.