Department of microbiology and immunology

Scientific research activity

Institute of microbiology and gnotobiology

The research activities of the Institute are focused on the study of virulence factors of medically important microorganisms, including viruses as well as the area of beneficial bacteria. In the area of bacterial pathogens, the study focuses on the enteral pathogens and causative agents of cattle digital dermatitis. The Institute participates in the research activities focused on a) the study of bacterial resistance against clinically relevant antibiotics, b) the study of the synergistic effect of secondary metabolites of plants and probiotic bacteria products on the inhibition of biofilm producing pathogens. In the field of viral pathogens, the research activities of the Institute are focused on a) the study of the gastrointestinal tract virome of pigs and boar and b) characterization, epizootiology, phylogeny and diagnostics of arbovirus infections in animals (WNV, USUV, TBEV, TRBV). The research activity of the Institute is also focused on the development of new application forms for the use of beneficial bacteria in aquaculture to prevent fish diseases and improve their health status.

Projects

• VEGA 1/0729/16: West Nile virus (WNV) in Slovakia, characterization, epizootology, phylogenesis and diagnostics, implementation 2016 - 2019.

Participation on projects:

• VEGA 1/0009/15: The use of gnotobiotic laboratory animals in the study of gastrointestinal physiology and interactions of the natural microflora and the digestive tract pathogens, implementation 2015-2018.
• APVV-15-0377: Synergistic effect of secondary metabolites of plants and probiotic bacteria products on the inhibition of biofilm producing pathogens, implementation 2016-2019.
• APVV-15-0415: The gastrointestinal virome of the pigs and boars: identification and analysis of viral agents, implementation 2016 - 2019.
• APVV-16-0171: Progresive methods for elimination of development and spread of bacterial resistance against clinically relevant antibiotics, implementation 2017 - 2020.
• VEGA 1/0096/17: Occurence, characterization and comparison of antibiotic resistant bacteria from the field to the consumer, implementation 2017-2020.
• VEGA 1/0107/17: Investigation of etiological, diagnostic, therapeutic and preventive aspects of digital dermatitis – serious illness in cattle, implementation 2017-2019.
• VEGA 1/0161/17: VUse of feed supplemented with probiotics in fish nutrition to produce healthy food, implementation 2017 - 2019.
• APVV-16-0176: Targeted modulation of intestinal microbiota and its transplantation in the prevention and therapy of intestinal inflammatory diseases, implementation 2017 – 2021.

Laboratory of gnotobiology

Research activity of the Laboratory of gnotobiology is focused on the study of biological and technological properties of beneficial bacteria and their bioactive products, explanation of the mode of action of beneficial bacteria or other biologically active substances at the cellular level as well as at the level of organism and the study of potentiating the efficacy of beneficial bacteria. Department also develops the new application forms for the use of beneficial microorganisms and other biomodulators in prevention and therapy of diseases. Department staff is experienced in the realization of non-infection and infection experiments in the laboratory and field conditions. In the experimental work, this department uses gnotobiologic techniques and methods enabling study under defined conditions to acquire exact scientific results. Department is equipped with a facility for obtaining and rearing of gnotobiotic animals (pigs, mice, rats) for experimental purposes.

Projects

• APVV-15-0377: Synergistic effect of secondary metabolites of plants and products of probiotic bacteria on inhibition of biofilm-producing pathogens, implementation 2016 - 2019.
• VEGA 1/0009/15: The use of germ-free (gnotobiotic) laboratory animals in research of digestion tract physiology and mutual interactions between natural microflora and digestion tract pathogens, implementation 2015 - 2018.
• VEGA 1/0081/17: Study of the effect of beneficial microorganisms and their bioactive products on the inhibition of biofilm-forming pathogens, implementation 2017 - 2020.

Participation in the project:

• APVV-16- 0203: Therapeutic and preventive recolonization of skin ecosystem in equine dermatitis, implementation 2017 - 2020.
• APVV-16-0176: Targeted modulation of gut microbiota and its transplantation in prevention and treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases, implementation 2017 - 2021.

Patent application PP50050- Probiotic preparation, method for its preparation and use of a probiotic preparation

Awarded the Technology Transfer Award in Slovakia 2016 in the category Innovation with the greatest potential for use in practice.

Institute of immunology

The research activities of the Institute are focused on the impact of beneficial bacteria and substances of natural origin on animal immunity and intestinal microbiocenosis, especially in the prevention of infectious diseases without the use of antibiotics in order to produce safe and quality foods for human consumption. At present, the research focuses mainly on livestock species whose economic importance and breeding in the Slovak Republic are increasing, namely honey bees and fish. The part of Institute is a Laboratory of Biomedical Microbiology and Immunology as a joint workplace of UVMP in Košice and the Institute of Neuroimmunology (NIU) SAS in Bratislava (created in 1996). This workplace is focused on research into host-pathogen interactions.

Projects:

• VEGA č 1/0358/16: Modulation of intestinal microbiocenoses and immune responses of honey bees by using of probiotic lactobacilli in a new application form, implementation 2016 - 2018.
• VEGA 1/0633/17: Exopolysaccharides from Lactobacillus reuteri: the study of their immunomodulatory effect on porcine intestinal epithelial cells (IPEC-1) challenged with enterotoxigenic E.coli, implementation 2017 - 2019.

Participation in the project:

• APVV-14-0397: AApplication of organic feed in poultry feed to produce functional foods enriched with significant polyunsaturated fatty acids, implementation: 2015 – 2018.
• APVV-15-0377: SSynergistic effect of secondary metabolites of plants and products of probiotic bacteria on inhibition of biofilm-producing pathogens, implementation 2016 - 2019.
• APVV-16-0176: Targeted modulation of gut microbiota and its transplantation in prevention and treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases, implementation 2017 - 2021.
• APVV-16-0171: Progresive methods for elimination of development and spread of bacterial resistance against clinically relevant antibiotics, implementation 2017 - 2020.
• Patent application PP50081-2016 „Probiotic preparation for bees and their use“ and utility model application (PUV50129-2016): Probiotic preparation for bees.

Laboratory of biomedical microbiology and immunology

The Laboratory of Biomedical Microbiology and Immunology as part of University of veterinary medicine in Košice and Institute of Neuroimmunology, is dedicated to develop sophisticated research unit in the field on immunogenomics and immunoproteomics concerning to the exploration of host-pathogen interactions. The Research activities on a) mutations in the genes of innate immunity on the susceptibility of the host to pathogens, b) exploration of host specificity of pathogen and c) exploration of immune evasive mechanisms of pathogens, have yielded 5 doctoral thesis, and more than 70 original publications in the field. Currently, 5 doctoral fellows are working at LBMI applying a wide variety of molecular biology techniques since isolation of genomic DNA, RNA up to more sophisticated ”state of the art” technology for the study of host-pathogen interactions occurring among meningitis-causing pathogens and cells from the neurovascular unit.

Projects:

• APVV-14-0218: Deciphering the ligand-receptor interactions involved in central nervous system invasion by pathogens and development of targeted therapeutic strategy against neuroinfections, implementation 2015 – 2019.
• VEGA 1/0261/15: Mapping of borrelial epitopes and Multiple antigenic peptides construction for active immunization against Lyme borreliosis, implementation 2015 - 2019.
• VEGA 1/0258/15: Deciphering potential factors of neuroinvasive Lyme disease Borrelia inducing neuroinflammation upon infection of the CNS, implementation 2015 - 2019.

Participation in the project:

• VEGA 1/0633/17: Exopolysaccharides from Lactobacillus reuteri: the study of their immunomodulatory effect on porcine intestinal epithelial cells (IPEC-1) challenged with enterotoxigenic E.coli, implementation 2017 - 2019.