Research interests
The Laboratory of Microbial Genetics is focused on the study of the variability and genetics of microorganisms that inhabit the rumen. We have described novel species of Treponema and Actinobacteria for scientific purposes. A more detailed examination has been conducted of the genomics, with a particular focus on the genomics of selected bacteria. The genomes of several mobile gene elements, including plasmids, transposons, and bacteriophages, were characterised, and their role in the transfer of antibiotic resistance genes was analysed. It has been demonstrated that the plasmids of Selenomonas ruminantium represent a novel class of RCR plasmids. The composition of the rumen microbial ecosystem was studied, with a particular focus on the production of bacteriocins. The large heat-labile bacteriocin enterolysin A was characterised, and it was demonstrated that this bacteriocin hydrolyses the cell walls of sensitive bacteria, recognising and binding to lipoteichoic acid molecules. This bacteriocin has potential as a novel therapeutic for the treatment of enterococcal infections in veterinary and human medicine.
A major area of research is the genetic ecology and epidemiology of antibiotic resistance genes. The genetic ecology of antibiotic resistance genes and the role of wild small mammals (Apodemus, Clethrionomys, Sorex spp.) as a reservoir of antibiotic resistance (ESBLs, plasmid quinolone resistance, carbapenemases) in the indicator bacteria Escherichia coli are the subjects of our research. Furthermore, we are investigating the anti-biofilm activity of natural substances, namely biosurfactants and cell-free extracts of lactobacilli, using both static and dynamic biofilm models on a range of surfaces, including plastics, catheter material and food-grade stainless steel.
Lab equipment
- Agilent 2100 capillary microelectrophoretic system for automated on-chip electrophoretic analysis of DNA, RNA and proteins, with the option of simple flow-cytometric analysis.
- MALDI TOF – Bruker’s Biotyper for bacterial diagnostics and biodiversity determination of bacteria and yeast based on protein spectra.
- DCode Universal Mutation Detection System from BioRad with extension for DGGE analysis.
- CHEF-DR III System for pulse electrophoresis.
- ABI PRISM 3100 Genetic Analyzer for sequence analysis with extension for fragmentation analysis.
People
Zuzana Alexiová
RNDr. Dobroslava Bujňáková, PhD.
Ing. Ľudmila Hamarová, PhD.
MVDr. Lívia Karahutová, PhD.
RNDr. Anna Kopčáková, PhD.
Doc. RNDr. Peter Pristaš, CSc.
MVDr. Viola Strompfová, DrSc.
MVDr. Lucia Štempelová, PhD.