<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

Many methods have been developed for studying and comparing bacterial diversity. These methods suffer from a number of drawbacks. Culture-dependent methods have a drawback that only a small number of bacteria can be cultured. Although many modifications in the traditional cultivation approach have been made, such as the use of gellan instead of agar and high throughput dilution to extinction culturing, but a large fraction of microbes still remain uncultured. Culture-independent methods were developed to explore uncultured bacterial diversity but they have their own drawbacks. PCR-based methods have biases during DNA extraction and the removal of substances that may inhibit polymerase activity during PCR and digestion with restriction enzymes. “Omics” approach, i.e., metagenomics, metatranscriptomics, and metaproteomics, aim to link bacterial community structure with function. Different combinations of methods can be used to know more precisely about the bacterial diversity. To date, no known method can reveal the exact bacterial diversity of different environments. This lacuna needs to be filled and newer methods must be developed that can help in exploring the immense bacterial diversity created by nature.
</abstract>

Exploring Bacterial Diversity: How Far Have We Reached?

<trans-abstract xml:lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<italic>Stenotrophomonas maltophilia</italic> is an important etiological factor of infections in patients with compromised immune systems, undergoing invasive diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, as well as in those suffering from cancer or cystic fibrosis. It poses a threat primarily to hospitalized patients. Due to its broad natural resistance and increasing acquired resistance, the therapy of infections caused by this pathogen is a challenge for modern medicine. The paper presents the current knowledge about the general characteristics, clinical significance and the most important pathogenicity factors of <italic>S. maltophilia</italic>. It also discusses therapeutic possibilities, including alternative ones, in infections caused by these microorganisms.
</trans-abstract>

Uniwersytet Medyczny im. Piastów Śląskich we Wrocławiu

Studenckie Koło Naukowe Mikrobiologów, działające przy Katedrze i Zakładzie Mikrobiologii

<italic>Stenotrophomonas maltophilia</italic> – Clinical Significance, Treatment of Infections

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

Biosurfactants are a group of surface-active agents mainly produced by microorganisms and have a wide range of applications in industries as well as agriculture. Global usage of such biologically active compounds as detergents, bioremediation agents, cosmetic products is hugely dependent on their high production. New avenues of research have opened up due to this increased interest, most of which are focused on identifying specialized microorganisms capable of biosurfactant production. Screening methods for selection of biosurfactant producing bacteria are, therefore, of utmost importance in this endeavor. The aim of this review was to discuss various conventional and novel methods that can overcome the hurdles encountered in time effective, economical microbial biosurfactant screening. This review lists several important biosurfactant screening methods based on supernatant, biomass as well as culture media. New methods devised for biosurfactant screening in the last half decade such as surfactant dependent dye solubilization, metagenomic studies etc. are also explained in detail. A thorough grasp of both contemporary and anachronistic screening methodologies will not only lead to discoveries of novel native strains capable of biosurfactant production but also form the basis on which new screening methods can be devised.
</abstract>

Microbial Biosurfactant Screening: Diversity in Assessment Methods

<trans-abstract xml:lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<italic>Enterococcus</italic> spp. are a component of the microbiota of humans and animals and are commonly found in the natural environment. They are opportunistic pathogens that can cause infections of various locations. These bacteria rarely cause community-acquired infections. Although they were considered microorganisms with low pathogenic potential, they have become one of the important hospital pathogens recently. Their common occurrence and ability to survive in the hospital environment contribute to the recorded and still increasing frequency of their isolation, also from invasive infections. The species most frequently isolated from infection cases are <italic>E. faecalis</italic> and <italic>E. faecium</italic>, which pose therapeutic problems due to their increasing multidrug resistance. Due to the growing clinical importance, mechanisms of natural and acquired resistance to antibiotics, and potential virulence factors, <italic>Enterococcus</italic> spp. have become the subject of many studies. The aim of the study is to present the current knowledge on the most important virulence factors that may occur in bacteria of the genus <italic>Enterococcus</italic>, which include: SagA secretory antigen, EfaA protein, Esp surface protein, Ace collagen binding protein, cytolysin, hyaluronidase, hemagglutinin, lipase, serine protease, aggregating substance, extracellular peroxides and gelatinase.
</trans-abstract>

The Role of Selected Virulence Factors in Infections Caused by <italic>Enterococcus</italic> spp.

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

The larvae of the insect <italic>Galleria mellonella</italic> have gained wide acceptance as an <italic>in vivo</italic> model for the study of virulence in Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and fungi. Importantly, <italic>G. mellonella</italic> offers an alternative, low-cost, and ethically acceptable method of assessing pathogens. These insects have a number of advantages, including ease of breeding, a rapid developmental cycle, low maintenance costs, and ease of experimental manipulation. Most importantly, <italic>G. mellonella</italic> larvae have a complete immune system and a nonspecific immune response similar to that of humans, making them a valuable model for studying pathogen-host interactions. Furthermore, using this model, it is possible to test the efficacy of various chemical compounds or natural substances that show antimicrobial activity. In this literature review, we provide a comprehensive overview of recent studies of the use of <italic>G. mellonella</italic> in virulence analyses and as a platform for testing the efficacy of new drugs.
</abstract>

Galleria Mellonella Larvae as an <italic>In vitro</italic> Model for Testing Microbial Pathogenicity

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Advancements of Microbiology

 The Advancements of Microbiology (formerly Postępy Mikrobiologii) is a quarterly of the Polish Society of Microbiologists. The journal was founded in 1961, initially under the patronage of the Microbiology Committee of the Polish Academy of Sciences, and in 1989 it became the organ of the PSM. The following professors have served as Editors-in-Chief of Postępy Mikrobiologii during the period: Prof. Edmund Mikulaszek 1962 – 1972, Prof. Władysław Tomasz Dobrzański 1972 – 1982, Prof. Zdzislaw Ilczuk 1983 – 1991, Prof. Jerzy Hrebenda 1991 – 2009, Prof. Jacek Bielecki 2009 – 2022. Journal implements the Society’s main goals, like promoting the development of microbiological sciences, popularizing the achievements of microbiology among members of the Society and broad circles of readers.   Advancements of Microbiology is topical journal for scientists in several microbiological fields and often the place where the first works of young researchers are published. Advancements of Microbiology include review articles from all areas of microbiology that are not printed in other journals. Please send manuscripts with attachments to the editor's e-mail address: editorial.office@am-online.org   Due to the great thematic diversity of the articles sent to the editorial office, it is not possible to print monographic volumes. Most of the papers currently published in Advancements of Microbiology are review articles in the field of bacterial physiology, microbial genetics, environmental microbiology, applied microbiology and virology; the work in the field of epidemiology, classification and identification of bacteria and applications of molecular biology techniques in microbiological research are particularly extensive.   The editors of Advancements of Microbiology strive to print works – ordered by eminent scientists – regarding currently fashionable problems of modern science. We especially encourage Authors to write articles in the field of their expertise, which guarantees the highest scientific level. The high scientific level of the journal was reflected in the progress of the JCR citation index and the presence of our journal on the Philadelphia list. It is especially important for young Authors, for whom Advancements of Microbiology often open the way to a scientific career. The current activity of Advancements of Microbiology is based mainly on publishing reviews related to the latest scientific achievements in the field of microbiology, which, at present is characterized by unusual dynamics of development and comprehensive application possibilities. The selection of current and relevant research topics and their presentation at a high scientific level in our journal is the basis for the existence of the quarterly, Advancements of Microbiology.   Open Access Policy   This journal provides immediate open access to its content under the Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 license　on the principle that making research freely available to the public supports a greater global exchange of knowledge. Under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 license users are free to share the work (copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format), if the contribution is properly attributed and used for non-commercial purposes. The material published in the journal may not be altered or built upon.   ABOUT SOCIETY   The origin of microbiology in Poland goes back to the XIX century. Professor Odo Feliks Kazimierz Bujwid (1857 – 1942) – was the first Polish bacteriologist, who graduated from the University of Warsaw and gained experience in Berlin working with Robert Koch, and in Paris at the Ludwik Pasteur Institute.   The Polish Society of Microbiologists (PSM), formerly the Polish Society of Microbiologists and Epidemiologists, was established in Warsaw on October 31, 1927 at the first Congress of Polish microbiologists. Professor Zygmunt Szymanowski was elected the first President of PSM. The same year, PSM also became cofounder of Federation of European Microbiological Societies (FEMS) and since 2005 PSM is a member of European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID).   Within over 95 years of activity, 29 Congresses of PSM were organized and 16 professors were elected as Presidents of PSM. About 900 ordinary members and 19 honorary members, associated in 14 PSM branches all over Poland, belong to the Society.   The aims of PSM have been the same since its very beginnings: to promote the development of microbiological sciences and to popularize the achievements of microbiology among the Society’s members and the broad public. PSM organizes congresses, scientific meetings, courses and lectures and competitions of scientific papers. Two quarterly journals, the Polish Journal of Microbiology and the Advancements in Microbiology are issued by PSM. The Society formulates opinions on the conditions and needs of Polish microbiology and applies in these cases to the state authorities; cooperates with related associations in the country and abroad.   Archiving   Sciendo archives the contents of this journal in Portico – a digital long-term preservation service of scholarly books, journals and collections.   Plagiarism Policy   The editorial board is participating in a growing community of Similarity Check System’s users to ensure that the content published is original and trustworthy. Similarity Check is a medium that allows for comprehensive manuscripts screening, aimed to eliminate plagiarism and provide a high standard and quality peer-review process. 

Advancements of Microbiology

Volume 62 (2023): Issue 3-4 (November 2023)

Exploring Bacterial Diversity: How Far Have We Reached?

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia – Clinical Significance, Treatment of Infections

Microbial Biosurfactant Screening: Diversity in Assessment Methods

The Role of Selected Virulence Factors in Infections Caused by Enterococcus spp.

Galleria Mellonella Larvae as an In vitro Model for Testing Microbial Pathogenicity

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