RESEARCH FOCUS

• biocatalysis in aqueous and non-aqueous solutions using fungal enzymes or fungal biomass (free or immobilised)
• extracellular polymer produced by bacteria and algae - structure, function and possible application (e.g. bioflocculants)
• biomaterials modification using active molecules (enzyme inhibitors, antibiotics, antioxidants)
• metabolism of organic acids in wood-degrading fungi

MEMBERSHIP

• Polish Biochemical Society
• Lublin Scientific Society

PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION

Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin

• Professor in biological sciences (2019)
• Doctor habilitated in biological sciences – biotechnology (2009; Agricultural University of Wroclaw)
• Doctor degree in biological sciences (1999)
• MSc degree in biological sciences – molecular biology (1990)

University of Economics and Innovation in Lublin

• Postgraduate studies “Management of research projects and development works” (2011-2012)
• Postgraduate studies "Public relations in scientific research" (2009-2010)

Stanford University, USA

• TOP 500 Innovators: Science - Management – Commercialization Program of the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education, 04-06. 2012

SCIENCE POPULARISATION

• Objazdowy Festiwal Nauki - second edition (2023) - financed by the Ministry of Education and Science
• practical classes for UMCS partner schools
• Design Thinking workshops (the Design Thinking Week, Young Researchers’ Forum, the EU Erasmus + Program “DT.Uni. – Design Thinking Approach for an Interdisciplinary University” )
• Noc Biologów – workshops for children and teenagers
• Lubelski Festiwal Nauki - participation in the Scientific Picnic
• Objazdowy Festiwal Nauki czyli nauka bez barier (financed by the Foundation for Polish Science in the eNgage competition)
• Konkurs Biochemiczny – competition for secondary school pupils

RESEARCH PROJECTS

- as the coordinator

1. 2017-2022 – Modification of biomedical materials with proteolytic enzyme inhibitors (OPUS 13; ID376957, NZ7), NCN
2. 2015-2019 - Characterisation and role of a new oxalic acid oxidase (OXOAb) in the response of Abortiporus biennis to the presence of heavy metals in the growth environment(Opus 5; 2014/13/B/NZ9/02106), NCN
3. 2011-2014 - Fungal biosynthesis of dyes (NN 302 633040), NCN
4. 2004-2007 - Sustainable bioprocesses in the European dye industry (139/E-339/SPB/6. PR UE/DIE 450/2004-2007), MNiSW, Special Research Programs
5. 2004-2008 - Sustainable Bioprocesses for the European Colour Industries (SOPHIED, NMP2-CT-2004-505899) - financed by the European Union under the 6th Framework Program

- as the scientific supervisor of projects

1. 2016-2021 - Analysis of biological and physico-chemical properties of exopolymers produced by Rhodococcus opacus strain FCL1069 (Preludium 11; 2016/21/N/NZ9/2309), NCN, head of the project - Magdalena Czemierska MSc
2. 2016-2021 - Immobilised fungal laccase as a universal catalyst in the transformation of aromatic compounds (Preludium 9; 2015/15/N/NZ9/03647), NCN, head of the project - Kamila Wlizło MSc
3. 2015-2018 - Analysis of selected physicochemical, biological, and pharmacological properties of biomedical materials modified with a synthetic serine protease inhibitor (Preludium 8; 2014/15/N/NZ7/04092), NCN, head of the project - Katarzyna Szałapata MSc
4. 2008-2010 - From the mycelium to the yarn (Ventures/2008-1/4), Foundation for Polish Science

- as an investigator

1. 2013-2016 - Isolation of polysaccharides from a Rhodococcus bacterial strain and a comprehensive study of their potential application as biofocculants and biosorbents and in the control of the biomineralisation process (Opus 3; 2012/07/B/ST5/01799), NCN, principal investigator
2. 2012-2015 - Textile dyes with antimicrobial activity synthesised by fungal laccase, Juventus Plus project (IP2011 043371);  MNiSW, investigator
3. 2008-2011 - Fungal ligninolytic peroxidases: unique properties and potential application, Polish Academy of Sciences,  project No 33, Polish-Russian research project, investigator
4. 2008 - Investigations of the impact of apigenin and thermal shock on human cervical cancer cells (NB-14/2008), team grant from the UMCS Vice-Rector for Research and International Cooperation, investigator
5. 2000-2003 - Biodegradation of wood pulp in ligninolytic enzyme reactions (139/E-339/SPUB-M-5PR-UE/DZ 280/2000-2003), Committee for Scientific Research, Special Research Programs, principal investigator
6. 2002 - Rhizoctonia praticola - an alkaline laccase producer - an interdisciplinary grant from the UMCS Vice-Rector for Research and International Cooperation, investigator

FEATURED PUBLICATIONS

Kapral-Piotrowska J., Jarosz-Wilkołazka A., Chudzik B., Paduch R., Jakubowicz-Gil J., Wawrzyniak A., Łuszczewska-Sierakowska I., Sławińska-Brych A., Zdzisińska B., Reszczyńska E., Trębacz K., Gruszecki W.I., Pawlikowska-Pawlęga B. (2023) Apigenin targets proteins and lipids of HeLa cells and exhibits protective efficacy against oxidative stress. Acta Pol. Pharm. 80 (1), 109-127, doi: 10.32383/appdr/163049

Graz M., Ruminowicz-Stefaniuk M., Jarosz-Wilkołazka A. (2023) Oxalic acid degradation in wood-rotting fungi. Searching for a new source of oxalate oxidase. World J. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 39:13, 1-9, doi: 10.1007/s11274-022-03449-4

Ciempiel W., Czemierska M., Szymańska-Chargot M., Zdunek A., Wiącek D., Jarosz-Wilkołazka A., Krzemińska I. (2022) Soluble extracellular polymeric substances produced by Parachlorella kessleri and Chlorella vulgaris – biochemical characterization and assessment of their cadmium and lead sorption abilities. Molecules 27, 7153, doi:10.3390/molecules27217153

Polak J., Grąz M., Wlizło K., Szałapata K., Kapral-Piotrowska J., Paduch R., Jarosz-Wilkołazka A. (2022) Bioactive properties of a novel antibacterial dye obtained from laccase-mediated oxidation of 8-anilino-1-naphthalenesulfonic acid. Molecules 27, 487, 1-16, doi:10.3390/molecules27020487

Czemierska M., Szcześ A., Jarosz-Wilkołazka A. (2021) Physicochemical factors affecting flocculating properties of the proteoglycan isolated from Rhodococcus opacus. Biophys. Chem. 277, 106656, doi: 10.1016/j.bpc.2021.106656

Wlizło K., Polak J., Kapral-Piotrowska J., Grąz M., Paduch R., Jarosz-WilkołazkaA. (2020) Influence of carrier structure and physicochemical factors on immobilisation of fungal laccase in terms of bisphenol A removal. Catalysts 10, 951, doi:10.3390/catal1009095

Polak J., Wlizło K., Pogni R., Petricci E., Szałapata K., Osińska-Jaroszuk M., Grąz M., Kapral-Piotrowska J., Pawlikowska-Pawlęga B., Jarosz-Wilkołazka A. (2020) The structure and bioactive properties of dyes synthesised by fungal laccase. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 21, 2052, doi:10.3390/ijms21062052

Jaroszuk-Ściseł J., Nowak A., Komaniecka I., Choma A., Jarosz-Wilkołazka A., Osińska-Jaroszuk M., Tyśkiewicz R., Wiater A, Rogalski J. (2020) Differences in production, composition, and antioxidant activities of exopolymeric substances (EPS) obtained from cultures of endophytic Fusarium culmorum strains with different effects on cereals. Molecules, 25, 616, 1-33, doi:10.3390/molecules25030616

Janusz G., Pawlik A., Świderska-Burek U., Polak J., Sulej J., Jarosz-Wilkołazka A., Paszczyński A. (2020) Laccase properties, physiological functions, and evolution. Int. J. Mol. Sci., 21(3), 966, 1-25, doi:10.3390/ijms21030966

Szałapata K., Osińska-Jaroszuk M., Kapral-Piotrowska J., Pawlikowska-Pawlęga B., Łopucki R., Mroczka R., Jarosz-Wilkołazka A. (2020) – Serine protease inhibitors - new molecules for modification of polymeric biomaterials. Biomolecules 10, 82, 1-19, doi:10.3390/biom10010082

Grąz M., Jarosz-Wilkolazka A., Pawlikowska-Pawlęga B., Janusz G., Kapral-Piotrowska J., Ruminowicz-Stefaniuk M., Zięba E., Skrzypek T. (2020) Oxalate oxidase from Abortiporus biennis – protein localization and gene sequence analysis. Int. J. Biol. Macromol. 148, 1307-1315, doi:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2019.10.106

Wlizło K., Polak J., Jarosz-Wilkołazka A., Pogni R., Petricci E. (2020) Novel textile dye obtained through transformation of 2-amino-3-methoxybenzoic acid by free and immobilised laccase from a Pleurotus ostreatus strain. Enzyme Microbial. Technol. 132, 109398, doi:10.1016/j.enzmictec.2019.109398

Dobrowolski R., Krzyszczak A.,  Dobrzyńska J., Podkościelna B., Zięba E., Czemierska M., Jarosz-Wilkolazka A. Stefaniak E. (2019) Extracellular polymeric substances immobilized on microspheres for removal of heavy metals from aqueous environment. Biochem. Eng. J.  143, 202-211, doi.org/10.1016/j.bej.2019.01.004 

Janusz G., Pawlik A., Sulej J., Świderska-Burek U., Jarosz-Wilkołazka A., Paszczyński A. (2017) Lignin degradation: Microorganisms, enzymes involved, genomes analysis and evolution. FEMS Microbiol. Rev. 941-962, doi: 10.1093/femsre/fux049
 
Czemierska M., Szcześ A., Hołysz L., Wiater A., Jarosz-Wilkołazka A. (2017) Characterisation of exopolymer R-202 isolated from Rhodococcus rhodochrous and its flocculating properties. Eur. Polym. J. 88, 21-33, doi: 10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2017.01.008
 
Grąz M., Jarosz-Wilkołazka A., Janusz G., Mazur A., Wielbo J., Koper P., Żebracki K. (2017) Transcriptome-based analysis of the saprotrophic fungus Abortiporus biennis – response to oxalic acid. Microbiol. Res. 199, 79-88, doi: 10.1016/j.micres.2017.03.002
 
Dobrowolski R., Szcześ A., Czemierska M., Jarosz-Wilkołazka A. (2017) Studies of cadmium (II), lead (II), nickel (II), cobalt (II) and chromium (VI) sorption on extracellular polymeric substances produced by Rhodococcus opacus and Rhodococcus rhodochrous. Biores. Technol. 225, 113-120, doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2016.11.040
 
Szcześ A., Czemierska M., Jarosz-Wilkołazka A. (2016) Calcium carbonate formation on mica supported by extracellular polymeric substance produced by Rhodococcus opacus. J. Solid State Chem. 242 (1), 212-221, doi: 10.1016/j.jssc.2016.07.014 

Czemierska M., Szcześ A., Pawlik A., Wiater A., Jarosz-Wilkołazka A. (2016) Production and characterisation of exopolymer from Rhodococcus opacus. Biochem. Eng. J. 112, 143-152, doi:10.1016/j.bej.2016.04.015

Szałapata K., Osińska-Jaroszuk M., Jarosz-Wilkołazka A. (2017) Inhibitory enzymów o potencjalnym zastosowaniu medycznym. Post. Biochem. 63 (4), 261-268

Wlizło K., Polak J., Jarosz-Wilkołazka A. (2017) Związki biologicznie aktywne i metody ich usuwania na drodze biokatalizy. Post. Biochem. 63 (4), 304-314