@article{2-s2.0-85207674867,

title = {Correction to: An Organic–Inorganic Hybrid Nanocomposite as a Potential New Biological Agent (Nanomaterials, (2020), 10, 12, (2551), 10.3390/nano10122551)},

author = { M. Dulski and K. Malarz and M. Kuczak and K. Dudek and K. Matus and S. Sułowicz and A. Mrozek-Wilczkiewicz and A. Nowak},

url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85207674867&doi=10.3390%2fnano14201626&partnerID=40&md5=87fdb2076c18f18db5f6a1fc7c88aee9},

doi = {10.3390/nano14201626},

year  = {2024},

date = {2024-01-01},

journal = {Nanomaterials},

volume = {14},

number = {20},

publisher = {Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)},

abstract = {In the original publication [1], there was a mistake in Figure 9, as published. The authors identified an error in the incorrect description of the y-axes’ titles. Specifically, in the lower panel of Figure 9b, the axis title “Cell cycle stage [%]” was corrected to “Cellular subpopulations [%]”. Similarly, in Figure 9c, the title “Cell cycle stage [%]” was corrected to “ROS level [%]”. The corrected Figure 9 appears below. The authors state that the scientific conclusions are unaffected. This correction was approved by the Academic Editor. The original publication has also been updated. Impact of the tested nanocomposites at a 30 mg/L concentration on regulating the cell cycle (a) and inducing apoptosis (b) in the PANC-1 cells. Effect of the tested Ag/SiO2@CMC nanocomposite on the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the PANC-1 cells. Data normalized to the untreated cells (control) (c). Impact of Ag/SiO2@CMC on the expression of the p53, cyclin E1, and HO-1 proteins in the PANC-1 cells. The densitometric analysis of these proteins was normalized to GADPH (d). The results from all experiments are shown as the mean ± standard deviation (SD) of three independent measurements. Any statistical differences from the cell cycle, apoptosis, and immunoblotting experiments were analyzed using a one-way ANOVA with Bonferroni’s post-hoc test. Data from ROS measurements were analyzed using the Student’s t-test. Statistical significance: * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001, **** p < 0.0001 compared to the control group. © 2024 by the authors.},

note = {0},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{2-s2.0-85206851123,

title = {Culture-based and molecular investigation of antibiotic and metal resistance in a semi-arid agricultural soil repeatedly amended with urban sewage sludge},

author = { S. Mokni-Tlili and A. Markowicz and S. Sułowicz and H. Hamdi},

url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85206851123&doi=10.1016%2fj.envres.2024.120182&partnerID=40&md5=6ec26e1803bcbaca8153b9cfe3cf758a},

doi = {10.1016/j.envres.2024.120182},

year  = {2024},

date = {2024-01-01},

journal = {Environmental Research},

volume = {263},

publisher = {Academic Press Inc.},

abstract = {Unsustainable agricultural intensification and climate change effects have caused chronic soil depletion in most arid and semi-arid croplands. As such, the land application of urban sewage sludge (USS) has been regulated in several countries as an alternative soil conditioner with recycling benefits. However, the risks of multi-contamination have made its agricultural reuse debatable. Accordingly, this study explored the long-term the impact of repetitive USS applications with increasing rates (0; 40; 80; and 120 t ha−1 year−1) on a sandy soil properties. A special focus was on the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, metal-resistant bacteria and corresponding resistance genes in soil (ARB; MRB; ARGs and MRGs; respectively). The outcomes showed a dose-dependent variation of different soil parameters including the increase of heavy metal content and total heterotrophic bacteria (THB) up to the highest sludge application rate. Besides, the two last sludge lots applied in fall 2019 and 2020 contained cultivable ARB for all addressed antibiotics at much higher counts than in corresponding treated soils. Interestingly, the average index of antibiotic resistance (ARB/THB) increased in the USS used in fall 2020 compared to 2019 (from 6.2% to 9.4%). This indicates that factors such as fluctuations in wastewater quality, treatments operations, and extensive antibiotic use following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020 could have caused this variation. The molecular assessment of bacterial resistance resulted in the identification of three ARGs (mefA; sul1 and sul2), one MRG (czcA) and one integron (intI1). This might have implications on resistance co-selection, which can pose a threat to human health via contaminated crops. © 2024 Elsevier Inc.},

note = {0},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{2-s2.0-85164671680,

title = {Nanopesticide risk assessment based on microbiome profiling – Community structure and functional potential as biomarkers in captan@ZnO35–45 nm and captan@SiO220–30 nm treated orchard soil},

author = { S. Sułowicz and S. Borymski and M. Dulski and A. Nowak and K. Bondarczuk and A. Markowicz},

url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85164671680&doi=10.1016%2fj.jhazmat.2023.131948&partnerID=40&md5=775ca2f5e1913e2a86016ad201e0f52a},

doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131948},

issn = {03043894},

year  = {2023},

date = {2023-01-01},

journal = {Journal of Hazardous Materials},

volume = {458},

publisher = {Elsevier B.V.},

abstract = {Nanoformulation should minimise the usage of pesticides and limit their environmental footprint. The risk assessment of two nanopesticides with fungicide captan as an active organic substance and ZnO35–45 nm or SiO220–30 nm as nanocarriers was evaluated using the non-target soil microorganisms as biomarkers. The first time for that kind of nanopesticides next-generation sequencing (NGS) of bacterial 16 S rRNA and fungal ITS region and metagenomics functional predictions (PICRUST2) was made to study structural and functional biodiversity. During a 100-day microcosm study in soil with pesticide application history, the effect of nanopesticides was compared to pure captan and both nanocarriers. Nanoagrochemicals affected microbial composition, especially Acidobacteria-6 class, and alpha diversity, but the observed effect was generally more substantial for pure captan. As for beta diversity, the negative impact was detected only in response to captan and still observed on day 100. Fungal community in the orchard soil showed only a decrease in phylogenetic diversity in captan set-up since day 30. PICRUST2 analysis confirmed several times lower impact of nanopesticides considering the abundance of functional pathways and genes encoding enzymes. Furthermore, the overall data indicated that using SiO220–30 nm as a nanocarrier speeds up a recovery process compared to ZnO35–45 nm. © 2023 Elsevier B.V.},

note = {1},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{2-s2.0-85161623278,

title = {Copper-oxide nanoparticles exert persistent changes in the structural and functional microbial diversity: A 60-day mesocosm study of zinc-oxide and copper-oxide nanoparticles in the soil-microorganism-nanoparticle system},

author = { S. Borymski and A. Markowicz and A. Nowak and K. Matus and M. Dulski and S. Sułowicz},

url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85161623278&doi=10.1016%2fj.micres.2023.127395&partnerID=40&md5=05bde6f84916a21ee1cb12f314fd63eb},

doi = {10.1016/j.micres.2023.127395},

issn = {09445013},

year  = {2023},

date = {2023-01-01},

journal = {Microbiological Research},

volume = {274},

publisher = {Elsevier GmbH},

abstract = {Recent advances in nanotechnology and development of nanoformulation methods, has enabled the emergence of precision farming – a novel farming method that involves nanopesticides and nanoferilizers. Zinc-oxide nanoparticles serve as a Zn source for plants, but they are also used as nanocarriers for other agents, whereas copper-oxide nanoparticles possess antifungal activity, but in some cases may also serve as a micronutrient providing Cu ions. Excessive application of metal-containing agents leads to their accumulation in soil, where they pose a threat to non-target soil organisms. In this study, soils obtained from the environment were amended with commercial zinc-oxide nanoparticles: Zn-OxNPs(10−30), and newly-synthesized copper-oxide nanoparticles: Cu-OxNPs(1−10). Nanoparticles (NPs) in 100 and 1000 mg kg-1 concentrations were added in separate set-ups, representing a soil-microorganism-nanoparticle system in a 60-day laboratory mesocosm experiment. To track environmental footprint of NPs on soil microorganisms, a Phospholipd Fatty Acid biomarker analysis was employed to study microbial community structure, whereas Community-Level Physiological Profiles of bacterial and fungal fractions were measured with Biolog Eco and FF microplates, respectively. The results revealed a prominent and persistent effects exerted by copper-containing nanoparticles on non-target microbial communities. A severe loss of Gram-positive bacteria was observed in conjunction with disturbances in bacterial and fungal CLPPs. These effects persisted till the end of a 60-day experiment, demonstrating detrimental rearrangements in microbial community structure and functions. The effects imposed by zinc-oxide NPs were less pronounced. As persistent changes were observed for newly synthesized Cu-containing NPs, this work stresses the need for obligatory testing of nanoparticle interactions with non-target microbial communities in long-term experiments, especially during the approval procedures of novel nano-substances. It also underlines the role of in-depth physical and chemical studies of NP-containing agents, which may be tweaked to mitigate the unwanted behavior of such substances in the environment and preselect their beneficial characteristics. © 2023 Elsevier GmbH},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{2-s2.0-85147712076,

title = {The influence of ZnO nanoparticles on horizontal transfer of resistance genes in lab and soil conditions},

author = { A. Markowicz and S. Borymski and A. Adamek and S. Sułowicz},

url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85147712076&doi=10.1016%2fj.envres.2023.115420&partnerID=40&md5=7abb3a3fddc76ef4a505203ea0d75a7b},

doi = {10.1016/j.envres.2023.115420},

issn = {00139351},

year  = {2023},

date = {2023-01-01},

journal = {Environmental Research},

volume = {223},

publisher = {Academic Press Inc.},

abstract = {Antibiotic resistance is a severe problem that threatens the achievements of modern medicine. Metallic nanoparticles may promote the horizontal transfer of resistance genes due to their toxicity to bacterial cells and metal-induced co-selection mechanisms. In this study, we investigated the toxicity of ZnO nanoparticles to E. coli DH5α laboratory strain and the abundance of soil microbial community. Moreover, the influence of ZnO nanoparticles on resistance gene transfer in laboratory and soil conditions was evaluated. ZnO nanoparticles at concentrations up to 10 mg L−1 reduced the survival of E. coli cells by 14.6% and increased the transformation frequency by almost 1.8 fold. In soil, ZnO nanoparticles at a concentration of 1000 mg kg−1 affected the total abundance of bacteria, causing a decrease in the 16S rRNA gene copy number. We did not detect the presence of 11 target antibiotic resistance genes (sul1; sul2; imp2; imp5; blaCTX-M; ermB; mefA; strB; aadA1; tetA1; tetB), which confer resistance to five classes of antibiotics in soil treated with ZnO nanoparticles. No elevated conjugation frequency was observed in soil microbial communities treated with ZnO nanoparticles. However, the increase in czcA gene copies indicates the spread of genetic elements harbouring metal resistance. The data shows that metallic nanoparticles promote the spread of antibiotic and metal resistance genes. The broad implication of the present research is that the inevitable nanoparticles environmental pollution may lead to the further dissemination of antibiotic resistance and profoundly influence public health. © 2023 Elsevier Inc.},

note = {3},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{2-s2.0-85144772712,

title = {Assessment of the ecotoxicological impact of captan@ZnO35–45nm and captan@SiO2 20–30nm nanopesticide on non-target soil microorganisms – A 100-day case study},

author = { S. Sułowicz and A. Markowicz and M. Dulski and A. Nowak and D. Środek and S. Borymski},

url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85144772712&doi=10.1016%2fj.apsoil.2022.104789&partnerID=40&md5=cb952021744fa42dc32a497a08648add},

doi = {10.1016/j.apsoil.2022.104789},

issn = {09291393},

year  = {2023},

date = {2023-01-01},

journal = {Applied Soil Ecology},

volume = {184},

publisher = {Elsevier B.V.},

abstract = {Nanopesticide application should enable efficient pest management with smaller doses of an active ingredient. Nevertheless, the environmental risk assessment of nanopesticides is currently in its initial stages due to limited access to nanopesticides. Therefore, we synthesised nanofungicides with captan as an organic active ingredient and ZnO35–45nm or SiO2 20–30nm as nanocarriers (captan@ ZnO35–45nm and captan@ SiO2 20–30nm) and evaluated their environmental risk by testing different microbial parameters as its potential biomarkers. First, physicochemical analysis (SEM-EDS; XPS; and FTIR) confirmed the presence of captan in nanofungicides, and they maintained 43–61 % antifungal efficiency against pathogen fungi compared to captan. Second, a laboratory toxicity assay (spot test) showed that nanofungicides generally revealed 10–100-fold lower growth inhibition of non-target microbial strains compared to captan. Next, the effect of nanofungicides on the abundance, structure and function of non-target soil microorganisms was evaluated during the 100-day microcosm using orchard soil and compared to control, captan, and nanocarriers. The changes in the total number of bacteria, ammonia-oxidising bacteria (AOB) and fungi were enumerated using the copy number of the qPCR approach based on the copy number of 16S rRNA, amoA and ITS genes. The functional potential and microbial structure were estimated based on Community Level Physiological Profiles (CLPPs) and Phospholipid Fatty Acids (PLFAs) profiles. Generally, results indicated that nanofungicides affected soil microorganisms by changing, in different scale, various microbial parameters, but their negative effect was generally lower than pesticide. Although qPCR results revealed the harmful effect of all tested compounds on total bacteria number (16S rRNA) on day 42, and captan@ZnO35–45nm and nanocarrier SiO2 20–30nm still affected amoA gene copy number on day 100, but the total fungal abundance in orchard soil was not affected. Furthermore, the analyses of functional and structural microbial diversity indicated the recovery process that was the fastest for captan@SiO2 20–30nm nanofungicide. On the contrary, ZnO35–45nm increased and prolonged the negative effect of captan in synthesised nanofungicide and generally exerted a more profound and/or longer effect than SiO2 20–30nm nanocarrier. Therefore we conclude that SiO2 20–30nm has better potential to be used as a nanocarrier compared to ZnO35–45nm. More studies are needed but soil microorganisms as sensitive biomarkers should be used for environmental risk assessment of nanopesticides. © 2022 The Authors},

note = {4},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{2-s2.0-85107610518,

title = {Is sewage sludge a valuable fertilizer? A soil microbiome and resistome study under field conditions},

author = { A. Markowicz and K. Bondarczuk and A. Wiekiera and S. Sułowicz},

url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85107610518&doi=10.1007%2fs11368-021-02984-1&partnerID=40&md5=1bf943580bb94ecdefc37dbbe684f6c8},

doi = {10.1007/s11368-021-02984-1},

issn = {14390108},

year  = {2021},

date = {2021-01-01},

journal = {Journal of Soils and Sediments},

volume = {21},

number = {8},

pages = {2882-2895},

publisher = {Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH},

abstract = {Purpose: Sewage sludge land application is strongly recommended to improve soil quality and fertility despite the presence of pollutants, pathogens and antibiotic resistance genes. This study aimed to assess the fertilization value of low and recommended by law sewage sludge dose (15 t ha−1). Materials and methods: In a 540-day field study, the effect of sewage sludge on the soil physicochemical and microbial parameters, emphasising antibiotic and metal resistance spread, was investigated. Results: In contrast to expectations, sewage sludge did not improve the organic matter, nutrient content and microbial activity in the soil; therefore, the fertilization effect was not achieved. Moreover, an increase in the bioavailable Cd, Ni and Cu content was observed. Canonical correspondence analysis revealed that these increases mainly explain the changes in the soil microbial community. Sixteen resistance genes and four integron classes were detected in both the total DNA and on plasmids isolated from sewage sludge. Obtained plasmids confer β-lactam resistance or extreme resistance to tetracycline (> 256 μg mL−1). Two antibiotic resistance genes (blaNPS-2; tetA) were transferred into the fertilized soil and detected up to 6 months after the fertilization. Conclusion: Our results provide evidence that the regulated dose of sewage sludge, even when characterized by low total metal content, may affect soil microbial microbiome and resistome. Therefore, these findings provide critical data that have public health implications, which may raise concerns about the suitability of applying sewage sludge to the soil even at the low regulated dose. © 2021, The Author(s).},

note = {5},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{2-s2.0-85098228627,

title = {Land application of sewage sludge: Response of soil microbial communities and potential spread of antibiotic resistance},

author = { A. Markowicz and K. Bondarczuk and M. Cycoń and S. Sułowicz},

url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85098228627&doi=10.1016%2fj.envpol.2020.116317&partnerID=40&md5=75c3476abcdf729b9abb1051a5265419},

doi = {10.1016/j.envpol.2020.116317},

issn = {02697491},

year  = {2021},

date = {2021-01-01},

journal = {Environmental Pollution},

volume = {271},

publisher = {Elsevier Ltd},

abstract = {The effect of land application of sewage sludge on soil microbial communities and the possible spread of antibiotic- and metal-resistant strains and resistance determinants were evaluated during a 720-day field experiment. Enzyme activities, the number of oligotrophic bacteria, the total number of bacteria (qPCR), functional diversity (BIOLOG) and genetic diversity (DGGE) were established. Antibiotic and metal resistance genes (ARGs; MRGs) were assessed, and the number of cultivable antibiotic- (ampicillin; tetracycline) and heavy metal- (Cd; Zn; Cu; Ni) resistant bacteria were monitored during the experiment. The application of 10 t ha−1 of sewage sludge to soil did not increase the organic matter content and caused only a temporary increase in the number of bacteria, as well as in the functional and structural biodiversity. In contrast to expectations, a general adverse effect on the tested microbial parameters was observed in the fertilized soil. The field experiment revealed a significant reduction in the activities of alkaline and acid phosphatases, urease and nitrification potential. Although sewage sludge was identified as the source of several ARGs and MRGs, these genes were not detected in the fertilized soil. The obtained results indicate that the effect of fertilization based on the recommended dose of sewage sludge was not achieved. © 2020 Elsevier LtdThe dose of sewage sludge recommended by law did not cause the dissemination of resistance genes in fertilized soil, but the beneficial effect of fertilization on microbial communities was not achieved. © 2020 Elsevier Ltd},

note = {16},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{2-s2.0-85099146210,

title = {Key properties of a bioactive ag-sio2 /tio2 coating on niti shape memory alloy as necessary at the development of a new class of biomedical materials},

author = { M. Dulski and R. Gawecki and S. Sułowicz and M. Cichomski and A. Kazek-Kęsik and M. Wala and K. Leśniak-Ziółkowska and W. Simka and A. Mrozek-Wilczkiewicz and M. Gawęda and M. Sitarz and K. Dudek},

url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85099146210&doi=10.3390%2fijms22020507&partnerID=40&md5=51ceba524dbae9180a7059f9fd992ed0},

doi = {10.3390/ijms22020507},

issn = {16616596},

year  = {2021},

date = {2021-01-01},

journal = {International Journal of Molecular Sciences},

volume = {22},

number = {2},

pages = {1-17},

publisher = {MDPI AG},

abstract = {Recent years have seen the dynamic development of methods for functionalizing the surface of implants using biomaterials that can mimic the physical and mechanical nature of native tissue, prevent the formation of bacterial biofilm, promote osteoconduction, and have the ability to sustain cell proliferation. One of the concepts for achieving this goal, which is presented in this work, is to functionalize the surface of NiTi shape memory alloy by an atypical glass-like nanocom-posite that consists of SiO2-TiO2 with silver nanoparticles. However, determining the potential medical uses of bio(nano)coating prepared in this way requires an analysis of its surface roughness, tribology, or wettability, especially in the context of the commonly used reference coat-forming hydroxyapatite (HAp). According to our results, the surface roughness ranged between (112 ± 3) nm (Ag-SiO2 )—(141 ± 5) nm (HAp), the water contact angle was in the range (74.8 ± 1.6)◦ (Ag-SiO2 )—(70.6 ± 1.2)◦ (HAp), while the surface free energy was in the range of 45.4 mJ/m2 (Ag-SiO2 )—46.8 mJ/m2 (HAp). The adhesive force and friction coefficient were determined to be 1.04 (Ag-SiO2 )—1.14 (HAp) and 0.247 ± 0.012 (Ag-SiO2 ) and 0.397 ± 0.034 (HAp), respectively. The chemical data showed that the release of the metal, mainly Ni from the covered NiTi substrate or Ag from Ag-SiO2 coating had a negligible effect. It was revealed that the NiTi alloy that was coated with Ag-SiO2 did not favor the formation of E. coli or S. aureus biofilm compared to the HAp-coated alloy. Moreover, both approaches to surface functionalization indicated good viability of the normal human dermal fibroblast and osteoblast cells and confirmed the high osteoconductive features of the biomaterial. The similarities of both types of coat-forming materials indicate an excellent potential of the silver-silica composite as a new material for the functionalization of the surface of a biomaterial and the development of a new type of functionalized implants. Copyright: © 2021 by the authors. Li-censee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.},

note = {8},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{2-s2.0-85098179321,

title = {An organic–inorganic hybrid nanocomposite as a potential new biological agent},

author = { M. Dulski and K. Malarz and M. Kuczak and K. Dudek and K. Matus and S. Sułowicz and A. Mrozek-Wilczkiewicz and A. Nowak},

url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85098179321&doi=10.3390%2fnano10122551&partnerID=40&md5=34e2e6fb4c91b48611ee5bafa93ede2a},

doi = {10.3390/nano10122551},

issn = {20794991},

year  = {2020},

date = {2020-01-01},

journal = {Nanomaterials},

volume = {10},

number = {12},

pages = {1-25},

publisher = {MDPI AG},

abstract = {To solve the problem of human diseases caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors or by microorganisms, intense research to find completely new materials is required. One of the promising systems in this area is the silver-silica nanocomposites and their derivatives. Hence, silver and silver oxide nanoparticles that were homogeneously distributed within a silica carrier were fabricated. Their average size was d = (7.8 ± 0.3) nm. The organic polymers (carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) and sodium alginate (AS)) were added to improve the biological features of the nanocomposite. The first system was prepared as a silver chlorine salt combination that was immersed on a silica carrier with coagulated particles whose size was d = (44.1 ± 2.3) nm, which coexisted with metallic silver. The second system obtained was synergistically interacted metallic and oxidized silver nanoparticles that were distributed on a structurally defective silica network. Their average size was d = (6.6 ± 0.7) nm. Physicochemical and biological experiments showed that the tiny silver nanoparticles in Ag/SiO2 and Ag/SiO2@AS inhibited E. coli, P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, and L. plantarum's cell growth as well as caused a high anticancer effect. On the other hand, the massive silver nanoparticles of Ag/SiO2@CMC had a weaker antimicrobial effect, although they highly interacted against PANC-1. They also generated reactive oxygen species (ROS) as well as the induction of apoptosis via the p53-independent mechanism. © 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.},

note = {3},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{2-s2.0-85088957700,

title = {The impact of the functionalization of silica mesopores on the structural and biological features of SBA-15},

author = { M. Dulski and M. Laskowska and S. Sułowicz and T. Krzykawski and O. Pastukh and P.M. Zieliński and P. Pawlik and A. Nowak and Ł. Laskowski},

url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85088957700&doi=10.1016%2fj.micromeso.2020.110453&partnerID=40&md5=00caca3ae7d7fdaad27d70ad73001b6a},

doi = {10.1016/j.micromeso.2020.110453},

issn = {13871811},

year  = {2020},

date = {2020-01-01},

journal = {Microporous and Mesoporous Materials},

volume = {306},

publisher = {Elsevier B.V.},

abstract = {Hydrophobic and hydrophilic silver-functionalized SBA-15 silica nanocomposites were prepared via direct synthesis using the so-called BOTTOM-UP approach to nanotechnology. This process enables silica-based nanocomposites with a controlled metal content to be fabricated. XRD, XPS, Raman, SEM-EDX and TEM methods were used to describe the physicochemical properties of these systems. The surface atomic content of silver (XPS) was estimated at approximately 0.03 at.% and 0.04 at.% compared to the bulk signal (SEM-EDX), which was determined to be about 0.33 at.% and 0.48 at.%, respectively for the non-silylated and silylated systems. The XPS studies that were carried out for these two structures revealed the presence of elemental and/or oxidized silver on the surfaces. However, in the more volumetric XRD studies, there was no clear signal that corresponded to this metal, which suggests the presence of an ionic form of silver. Calcination was used to obtain the silver-decorated porous silica ceramic composites, for which the calcination temperature was determined from TGA/DTG studies. The calcination resulted in the compensation of the surface and bulk atomic content of silver at approximately 0.1 at.% (on both the surface and the bulk). The wettability measurements classified silylated specimens as well as silylated and calcined systems as being hydrophilic and hydrophobic, respectively. Low-angle diffraction confirmed the mesoporous character of the silica with hexagonal pore channels regardless of the degree of functionalization or calcination. The Raman data illustrated the impact of the silver on the propyl-carbonate chains and silica structure. Finally, the most vigorous bactericidal activity was found against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli for a hydrophilic system with a low silver content and a calcined sample with a slightly higher silver concentration. © 2020 Elsevier Inc.},

note = {10},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{2-s2.0-85081964757,

title = {Microbial communities from subglacial water of naled ice bodies in the forefield of Werenskioldbreen, Svalbard},

author = { S. Sułowicz and K. Bondarczuk and D. Ignatiuk and J.A. Jania and Z. Piotrowska-Seget},

url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85081964757&doi=10.1016%2fj.scitotenv.2020.138025&partnerID=40&md5=05556fab5373c731310fc10a0763a5d6},

doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138025},

issn = {00489697},

year  = {2020},

date = {2020-01-01},

journal = {Science of the Total Environment},

volume = {723},

publisher = {Elsevier B.V.},

abstract = {We assessed the structure of microbial communities in the subglacial drainage system of the Werenskioldbreen glacier, Svalbard, which consists of three independent channels. Dome-shaped naled ice bodies that had been forming and releasing subglacial water in the glacial forefield during accumulations season were used to study glacial microbiome. We tested the hypothesis that the properties of the water transported by these channels are site-dependent and influence bacterial diversity. We therefore established the phylogenetic structure of the subglacial microbial communities using next generation sequencing (NGS) of the 16S rRNA gene and performed bioinformatics analyses. A total of 1409 OTUs (operational taxonomic units) belonged to 40 phyla; mostly Proteobacteria, Gracilibacteria, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria and Parcubacteria were identified. Sites located on the edge of Werenskioldbreen forefield (Angell; Kvisla) were mainly dominated by Betaproteobacteria. In the central site (Dusan) domination of Epsilonproteobacteria class was observed. Gracilibacteria (GN02) and Gammaproteobacteria represented the dominant taxa only in the sample Kvisla 2. Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCoA) of beta diversity revealed that phylogenetic profiles grouped in three different clusters according to the sampling site. Moreover, higher similarity of bacterial communities from Angell and Kvisla compared to Dusan was confirmed by cluster analysis and Venn diagrams. The highest alpha index values was measured in Dusan. Richness and phylogenetic diversity indices were significantly (p < .05) and positively correlated with pH values of subglacial water and negatively with concentration of Cl−, Br−, and NO3 − anions. These anions negatively impacted the values of richness indices but positively correlated with abundance of some microbial phyla. Our results indicated that subglacial water from naled ice bodies offer the possibility to study the glacial microbiome. In the studied subglacial water, the microbial community structure was sampling site specific and dependent on the water properties, which in turn were probably influenced by the local bedrock composition. © 2018},

note = {12},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{2-s2.0-85074128230,

title = {Impact of temperature on the physicochemical, structural and biological features of copper-silica nanocomposites},

author = { M. Dulski and K. Dudek and J. Podwórny and S. Sułowicz and Z. Piotrowska-Seget and K. Malarz and A. Mrozek-Wilczkiewicz and K. Wolnica and K. Matus and J. Peszke and A. Nowak},

url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85074128230&doi=10.1016%2fj.msec.2019.110274&partnerID=40&md5=4ca0bcc3c03e0a4eaa660bc1dbe57b03},

doi = {10.1016/j.msec.2019.110274},

issn = {09284931},

year  = {2020},

date = {2020-01-01},

journal = {Materials Science and Engineering C},

volume = {107},

publisher = {Elsevier Ltd},

abstract = {Classical wet chemical synthesis was used to fabricate a hybrid composite that contained copper nanoparticles (average size ∼1 nm), which were embedded into a silicon oxide carrier. The structural and chemical alternations in the copper-functionalized silica were investigated in systems that were sintered at 573 K, 873 K, 1173 K, and 1473 K. A general trend, which was associated with the transformation of metallic copper with a cubic structure into copper(II) oxide with a monoclinic structure in the heat-treated systems, was found. XPS and FTIR spectroscopies also revealed the presence of copper(I) oxide, which formed a shell around the CuO. SEM and TEM showed gradual densification of the hybrid system at ever higher sintering temperatures, which corresponded with the gradual copper agglomeration. A temperature of 873 K was determined to be the temperature at which amorphous silica was transformed into cristoballite and tridymite, as well as the formation of a bulk-like copper structure. In relation to the physicochemical and structural data, high antimicrobial features that had a relatively low toxicity effect on the normal human fibroblasts (NHDF) below 250 mg/L was found for the initial copper-silica composite and the samples that were sintered at 573 K. In turn, a significant decrease in the biological impact was observed in the samples that were sintered at temperatures above 573 K. As a result, the paper discusses the model of structural modifications in copper-silica nanocomposite concerning their biological impact that was developed. © 2019 Elsevier B.V.},

note = {1},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{2-s2.0-85066952395,

title = {Physicochemical and structural features of heat treated silver-silica nanocomposite and their impact on biological properties},

author = { M. Dulski and J. Peszke and J. Włodarczyk and S. Sułowicz and Z. Piotrowska-Seget and K. Dudek and J. Podwórny and K. Malarz and A. Mrozek-Wilczkiewicz and M. Zubko and A. Nowak},

url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85066952395&doi=10.1016%2fj.msec.2019.109790&partnerID=40&md5=fff97a32db51f403cd8ec9a6905fae62},

doi = {10.1016/j.msec.2019.109790},

issn = {09284931},

year  = {2019},

date = {2019-01-01},

journal = {Materials Science and Engineering C},

volume = {103},

publisher = {Elsevier Ltd},

abstract = {In the last few decades, many nanostructures with varying properties and possible applications have been developed. These materials have been intended to work in various environmental temperature conditions. In this context, the main challenge has been to comprehend the impact of synergic interaction between individual elements included in non-annealed materials in relation to systems subjected to temperature impact. Another problem has corresponded to the impact of thermal modification on organisms such as bacteria and human cells. Such problems can be solved by the fabrication of a nanocomposite with mono-dispersed 8 nm silver (Ag0 or Ag+) embedded into a silica carrier, followed by the analysis of the impact of heat treatment under various temperature conditions on its physicochemical features. Therefore, methodical studies reported in this text have shown an increase of silver particle size up to 170 nm, a decrease of its concentration, as well as the formation of sub-nanometer Ag+ and/or Ag2+ clusters as the temperature rises to 1173 K. In turn, the structurally disordered silica carrier had been entirely transformed to cristobalite and tridymite only at 1473 K as well as partial reduction of Ag2+ to Ag+. Simultaneously, inhibition of growth of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, as well as an increase in cytotoxicity towards human cells was observed as the temperature rose. As a final point, for the first time, a “pseudo” phase diagram of the structural alterations in the Ag/SiO2 nanocomposite has been created, as well as a model of silver-silica transformation to biological systems has been developed. © 2019 Elsevier B.V.},

note = {7},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{2-s2.0-85061098891,

title = {Azadirachtin and trifloxystrobin had no inhibitory effects on key soil microbial functions even at high dose rates},

author = { N. Suciu and S. Vasileiadis and E. Puglisi and G. Pertile and M. Tourna and P.Α. Karas and A. Papolla and A. Ferrarini and S. Sułowicz and F. Fornasier and L. Lucini and D.G. Karpouzas and M. Trevisan},

url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85061098891&doi=10.1016%2fj.apsoil.2019.01.016&partnerID=40&md5=c2e04ace525685dbc4e83193e72dbc6a},

doi = {10.1016/j.apsoil.2019.01.016},

issn = {09291393},

year  = {2019},

date = {2019-01-01},

journal = {Applied Soil Ecology},

volume = {137},

pages = {29-38},

publisher = {Elsevier B.V.},

abstract = {Synthetic pesticides may have non-target effects on soil microorganisms which have been identified as a specific protection goal in pesticide environmental risk assessment. Most studies to date have focused on the effects of synthetic pesticides on soil microorganisms, whereas little is known about the response of the soil microbial community to the so-called low-risk pesticide classes. The main objective of this study was to assess the impact of a botanical (azadirachtin) and a low-dose pesticide (trifloxystrobin), applied as commercial formulations, on soil microbial functions. In a microcosm study, pesticides were applied in soil at increasing dose rates (up to ×100 the recommended dose rate). Their dissipation and the formation of the major transformation product (TP) of trifloxystrobin were determined. Enzymatic activities and the abundance of key functional microbial groups were measured via fluorometric assays, potential nitrification (PNT) and q-PCR. Trifloxystrobin and azadirachtin did not persist in soil at all dose rates with DT 50s of 1.1–1.4 and 1.3 days respectively. No pesticide dose-dependent inhibitory effects on the activity of soil enzymes, the abundance of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB), ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA), sulfur-oxidizing bacteria (SOB) and on PNT were seen. Instead the application of both pesticides at all dose rates stimulated PNT. Trifloxystrobin was transformed to trifloxystrobin acid (TFSA), which persisted in soil. However its formation did not correlate with adverse effects on soil microbial functions. We provide first evidence that trifloxystrobin and azadirachtin do not impose unacceptable effects on soil microbial functions even at high dose rates. © 2019 Elsevier B.V.},

note = {12},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{2-s2.0-85072842358,

title = {Toward the Development of an Innovative Implant: NiTi Alloy Functionalized by Multifunctional β-TCP+Ag/SiO2 Coatings},

author = { M. Dulski and K. Dudek and D. Chalon and J. Kubacki and S. Sułowicz and Z. Piotrowska-Seget and A. Mrozek-Wilczkiewicz and R. Gawecki and A. Nowak},

url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85072842358&doi=10.1021%2facsabm.8b00510&partnerID=40&md5=785458b6b09dd22d299d70bb052dd9ea},

doi = {10.1021/acsabm.8b00510},

issn = {25766422},

year  = {2019},

date = {2019-01-01},

journal = {ACS Applied Bio Materials},

volume = {2},

number = {3},

pages = {987-998},

publisher = {American Chemical Society},

abstract = {In recent years, one of the more important and costly problems of modern medicine is the need to replace or supplement organs in order to improve the quality of human life. In this field, promising solutions seem to have been implants which are based on NiTi alloys with shape memory effects. Unfortunately, this material is susceptible to the corrosion and release of toxic nickel to the human organism. Hence, its application as a long-term material is strongly limited. Therefore, this paper presents a new solution which should help to improve the functionality of the NiTi alloy and elongate its medical stability to use. The idea was focused on functionalization of the implant surface by a biocompatible, multifunctional coating without any impact on the features of the substrate, i.e., the martensitic transformation responsible for shape memory effects. For this purpose, we prepared a colloidal suspension, composed of β-TCP (particle size ∼450 nm) and the Ag/SiO2 nanocomposite which due to the electrophoretic deposition (EPD) led to the formation of structurally atypical calcium phosphosilicate coating. Those biomaterials formed a crack-free coating, adhering well to the NiTi surface when distributed over the entire surface, with low concentration of metallic and oxide silver (<3 at. %). At the same time, the coat-forming materials had resulted in the growth of a Gram-negative bacterial biofilm. Additionally, the additive of the silver-silica composite enhances cell proliferation, effectively a few times higher than commonly used coat-forming materials (e.g.; pure β-TCP). © 2019 American Chemical Society.},

note = {4},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{2-s2.0-85059397351,

title = {Sterile capsule–egg cocoon covering constitutes an antibacterial barrier for spider parasteatoda tepidariorum embryos},

author = { A. Babczyńska and S. Sułowicz and E. Talik and M. Hermyt and A.W. Bednarek and M.K. Sawadro and A.E. Molenda},

url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85059397351&doi=10.1086%2f701390&partnerID=40&md5=504d488f8cd07d799193cae0ca37d632},

doi = {10.1086/701390},

issn = {15222152},

year  = {2019},

date = {2019-01-01},

journal = {Physiological and Biochemical Zoology},

volume = {92},

number = {1},

pages = {115-124},

publisher = {University of Chicago Press},

abstract = {Coexistence of organisms and pathogens has resulted in the evolution of efficient antimicrobial defense, especially at the embryonic stage. This investigation aimed to substantiate the hypothesis that the layers of silk in a spider cocoon play a role in the immunity of the embryos against microorganisms present in the external environment. A two-step interdisciplinary attempt has been made. First, the eggs and empty cocoons of the spider Parasteatoda tepidariorum were incubated on lysogeny broth agar media for 3 d. In the samples of eggs, no growth of bacteria was detected. This indicated that the eggs inside cocoons were sterile. Therefore, in the second step, the cocoons and egg surface were analyzed using SEM, TEM, and LM. The obtained images demonstrated that both inner and outer layers of the silk are built of threads of the same diameter, set in an irregular manner, and randomly clustered into groups. Thethreadsintheouterlayerwerepackedmoredenselythan in the inner one. TEM analysis revealed threads of two types of fibrils and their arrangement. The resultant thread tangle of the cocoon, possibly correlated with the ultrastructure of the fibers, seems to be an example of a structure-function relationship playing a crucial ecoimmunological role in spider embryonic development. © 2018 by The University of Chicago. All rights reserved.},

note = {6},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{2-s2.0-85056623554,

title = {Blame it on the metabolite: 3,5-dichloroaniline rather than the parent compound is responsible for the decreasing diversity and function of soil microorganisms},

author = { S. Vasileiadis and E. Puglisi and E.S. Papadopoulou and G. Pertile and N. Suciu and R.A. Pappolla and M. Tourna and P.Α. Karas and F. Papadimitriou and A. Kasiotakis and N. Ipsilanti and A. Ferrarini and S. Sułowicz and F. Fornasier and U. Menkissoglu-Spiroudi and G.W. Nicol and M. Trevisan and D.G. Karpouzas},

url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85056623554&doi=10.1128%2fAEM.01536-18&partnerID=40&md5=718c5aaf0480c8b7a50078965efc3dac},

doi = {10.1128/AEM.01536-18},

issn = {00992240},

year  = {2018},

date = {2018-01-01},

journal = {Applied and Environmental Microbiology},

volume = {84},

number = {22},

publisher = {American Society for Microbiology},

abstract = {Pesticides are key stressors of soil microorganisms with reciprocal effects on ecosystem functioning. These effects have been mainly attributed to the parent compounds, while the impact of their transformation products (TPs) has been largely overlooked. We assessed in a meadow soil (soil A) the transformation of iprodione and its toxicity in relation to (i) the abundance of functional microbial groups, (ii) the activity of key microbial enzymes, and (iii) the diversity of bacteria, fungi, and ammonia-oxidizing microorganisms (AOM) using amplicon sequencing. 3,5-Dichloroaniline (3;5-DCA), the main iprodione TP, was identified as a key explanatory factor for the persistent reduction in enzymatic activities and potential nitrification (PN) and for the observed structural changes in the bacterial and fungal communities. The abundances of certain bacterial (Actinobacteria; Hyphomicrobiaceae; Ilumatobacter; and Solirubrobacter) and fungal (Pichiaceae) groups were negatively correlated with 3,5-DCA. A subsequent study in a fallow agricultural soil (soil B) showed limited formation of 3,5-DCA, which concurred with the lack of effects on nitrification. Direct 3,5-DCA application in soil B induced a dose-dependent reduction of PN and NO 3 - -N, which recovered with time. In vitro assays with terrestrial AOM verified the greater toxicity of 3,5-DCA over iprodione. "Candidatus Nitrosotalea sinensis" Nd2 was the most sensitive AOM to both compounds. Our findings build on previous evidence on the sensitivity of AOM to pesticides, reinforcing their potential utilization as indicators of the soil microbial toxicity of pesticides in pesticide environmental risk analysis and stressing the need to consider the contribution of TPs in the toxicity of pesticides on the soil microbial community. © 2018 American Society for Microbiology.},

note = {25},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{2-s2.0-85004191350,

title = {Abatement robustness of volatile organic compounds using compact trickle-bed bioreactor: Biotreatment of styrene, ethanol and dimethyl sulfide mixture in contaminated airstream},

author = { A. Bak and V. Kozik and P. Dybal and S. Sułowicz and D. Kasperczyk and S. Kus and K. Barbusinski},

url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85004191350&doi=10.1016%2fj.ibiod.2016.10.039&partnerID=40&md5=0891319f41d15e2bac18adf12dd87bae},

doi = {10.1016/j.ibiod.2016.10.039},

issn = {09648305},

year  = {2017},

date = {2017-01-01},

journal = {International Biodeterioration and Biodegradation},

volume = {119},

pages = {316-328},

publisher = {Elsevier Ltd},

abstract = {A wide range of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) chemical characteristics (aromatic; sulfur-containing organics and alcohol) were selected to demonstrate a prospective potential of the biotrickling technology in practical applications through the appropriate selection and combination of biological ‘agents’. The principal objective of this study was to specify operating boundaries of parameters at which the sampled microorganisms were most effective in the biodegradation of gaseous streams containing styrene, ethanol and dimethyl sulfide mixture at dynamic variations of pollutant load. The average conversion factor for the 3-component VOCs mixture was higher than 95% at lower range of the individual pollutant load and basically fell to 80% at middle range vs. 55% at the higher contaminant loads; however, the effectiveness of ethanol biodegradation is stable at the entire investigated range of the mass load. The consequences of an unexpected pollutant overload (media clogging) and the time necessary for the subsequent regeneration of the microbial community and restoring the process stability were investigated as well. © 2016 Elsevier Ltd},

note = {22},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{2-s2.0-85021678961,

title = {Unique properties of silver and copper silica-based nanocomposites as antimicrobial agents},

author = { J. Peszke and M. Dulski and A. Nowak and K. Balin and M. Zubko and S. Sułowicz and B. Nowak and Z. Piotrowska-Seget and E. Talik and M. Wojtyniak and A. Mrozek-Wilczkiewicz and K. Malarz and J. Szade},

url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85021678961&doi=10.1039%2fc7ra00720e&partnerID=40&md5=6c05b26f09aa8376a25c5d4cf449157d},

doi = {10.1039/c7ra00720e},

issn = {20462069},

year  = {2017},

date = {2017-01-01},

journal = {RSC Advances},

volume = {7},

number = {45},

pages = {28092-28104},

publisher = {Royal Society of Chemistry},

abstract = {The paper reports a new route for the fabrication and determination of physicochemical properties and biological activity, of metallic silica-based nanostructure (Ag/SiO2; Cu/SiO2). A research studies shows mono-dispersed nanoparticles in silica matrix with an average size of 12 nm for silver, as well as 12 nm and 4 nm, respectively for copper in hydrophobic and hydrophilic silica composites. The chemical analysis highlights metallic silver and copper ions heterogeneously distributed in the composite as well as metallic oxides such as Ag2O, Cu2O and CuO in hydrophobic system, and CuO in hydrophilic one. Structural research evidences the presence of amorphous, stoichiometric and non-stoichiometric crystalline phase of silica. Biological studies reveal potentially inhibition of growth gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria as well as microscopic fungi. The size of metal nanoparticles and level of silica hydrophobicity show the highest inhibition bacterial growth for hydrophilic system with embedding inside them, 4 nm in size copper nanoparticles. Finally, cytotoxic interaction against human cells with respect to silver and copper silica-based nanocomposites was not found. © 2017 The Royal Society of Chemistry.},

note = {32},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{2-s2.0-84964290483,

title = {Non-target impact of fungicide tetraconazole on microbial communities in soils with different agricultural management},

author = { S. Sułowicz and M. Cycoń and Z. Piotrowska-Seget},

url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84964290483&doi=10.1007%2fs10646-016-1661-7&partnerID=40&md5=962c642379ac1442ccc8926e6cc36bb3},

doi = {10.1007/s10646-016-1661-7},

issn = {09639292},

year  = {2016},

date = {2016-01-01},

journal = {Ecotoxicology},

volume = {25},

number = {6},

pages = {1047-1060},

publisher = {Springer New York LLC},

abstract = {Effect of the fungicide tetraconazole on microbial community in silt loam soils from orchard with long history of triazole application and from grassland with no known history of fungicide usage was investigated. Triazole tetraconazole that had never been used on these soils before was applied at the field rate and at tenfold the FR. Response of microbial communities to tetraconazole was investigated during 28-day laboratory experiment by determination of changes in their biomass and structure (phospholipid fatty acids method—PLFA), activity (fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis—FDA) as well as changes in genetic (DGGE) and functional (Biolog) diversity. Obtained results indicated that the response of soil microorganisms to tetraconazole depended on the management of the soils. DGGE patterns revealed that both dosages of fungicide affected the structure of bacterial community and the impact on genetic diversity and richness was more prominent in orchard soil. Values of stress indices—the saturated/monounsaturated PLFAs ratio and the cyclo/monounsaturated precursors ratio, were almost twice as high and the Gram-negative/Gram-positive ratio was significantly lower in the orchard soil compared with the grassland soil. Results of principal component analysis of PLFA and Biolog profiles revealed significant impact of tetraconazole in orchard soil on day 28, whereas changes in these profiles obtained for grassland soil were insignificant or transient. Obtained results indicated that orchards soil seems to be more vulnerable to tetraconazole application compared to grassland soil. History of pesticide application and agricultural management should be taken into account in assessing of environmental impact of studied pesticides. © 2016, The Author(s).},

note = {21},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{2-s2.0-84960129136,

title = {Rhizospheric bacterial strain brevibacterium casei MH8a colonizes plant tissues and enhances Cd, Zn, Cu phytoextraction by white mustard},

author = { T. Płociniczak and A. Sinkkonen and M. Romantschuk and S. Sułowicz and Z. Piotrowska-Seget},

url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84960129136&doi=10.3389%2ffpls.2016.00101&partnerID=40&md5=e5f857a1ee07a62caa63d2653e3266aa},

doi = {10.3389/fpls.2016.00101},

issn = {1664462X},

year  = {2016},

date = {2016-01-01},

journal = {Frontiers in Plant Science},

volume = {7},

number = {FEB2016},

publisher = {Frontiers Media S.A.},

abstract = {Environmental pollution by heavy metals has become a serious problem in the world. Phytoextraction, which is one of the plant-based technologies, has attracted the most attention for the bioremediation of soils polluted with these contaminants. The aim of this study was to determine whether the multiple-tolerant bacterium, Brevibacterium casei MH8a isolated from the heavy metal-contaminated rhizosphere soil of Sinapis alba L., is able to promote plant growth and enhance Cd, Zn, and Cu uptake by white mustard under laboratory conditions. Additionally, the ability of the rifampicin-resistant spontaneous mutant of MH8a to colonize plant tissues and its mechanisms of plant growth promotion were also examined. In order to assess the ecological consequences of bioaugmentation on autochthonous bacteria, the phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis was used. The MH8a strain exhibited the ability to produce ammonia, 1-amino-cyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid deaminase, indole 3-acetic acid and HCN but was not able to solubilize inorganic phosphate and produce siderophores. Introduction of MH8a into soil sigNificantly increaSed S. alba biomass and the accumulation of Cd (208%), Zn (86%), and Cu (39%) in plant shoots in comparison with those grown in non-inoculated soil. Introduced into the soil, MH8a was able to enter the plant and was found in the roots and leaves of inoculated plants thus indicating its endophytic features. PLFA analysis revealed that the MH8a that was introduced into soil had a temporary influence on the structure of the autochthonous bacterial communities. The plant growth-promoting features of the MH8a strain and its ability to enhance the metal uptake by white mustard and its long-term survival in soil as well as its temporary impact on autochthonous microorganisms make the strain a suitable candidate for the promotion of plant growth and the efficiency of phytoextraction. © 2016, Płociniczak, Sinkkonen, Romantschuk, Sułowicz and Piotrowska-Seget.},

note = {38},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{2-s2.0-84945561417,

title = {Response of microbial communities from an apple orchard and grassland soils to the first-time application of the fungicide tetraconazole},

author = { S. Sułowicz and Z. Piotrowska-Seget},

url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84945561417&doi=10.1016%2fj.ecoenv.2015.10.025&partnerID=40&md5=b5a8e7f8783fa4973fcccfa6bd7990b0},

doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2015.10.025},

issn = {01476513},

year  = {2016},

date = {2016-01-01},

journal = {Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety},

volume = {124},

pages = {193-201},

publisher = {Academic Press},

abstract = {The aim of the study was to assess the impact of the triazole fungicide tetraconazole applied at the field rate (FR) and at ten-fold the FR (10FR) on microorganisms in orchard soil with a long-term history of fungicides application and in grassland soil that had not previously been treated with pesticides. To ascertain this impact, the microbial activity determined by fluorescein diacetate (FDA) hydrolysis, the culturable number of bacteria, fungi and tetraconazole-resistant fungi, and the phospholipid microbial biomass and the structural and functional biodiversity assessed by the PLFA and Biolog approaches, respectively, were examined under laboratory conditions during 28-day experiment. The response of soil microorganisms to the fungicide tetraconazole, which had never been used before in these soils, depended on the management of the soils. In apple orchard soil that had been treated with FR or 10FR tetraconazole, a decrease in microbial activity was still observed on the 28th day after the application of the fungicide. In contrast, a significant impact of tetraconazole on the number of bacteria was still observed at the end of experiment in grassland soil. Results of principal component analysis (PCA) indicated that the application of tetraconazole significantly changed the structure of the microbial communities in the orchard soil. In addition, analysis of the Biolog profiles revealed a decrease in the catabolic activity of the microbial communities in grassland soil that had been treated with tetraconazole at both rates over time. The evaluation of the structural and functional diversity of microbial communities using PCA appears to be the most valuable monitoring tool for assessing the impact of tetraconazole application on soil microorganisms. © 2015 Elsevier Inc.},

note = {16},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{2-s2.0-84963818721,

title = {The impact of fungicides on soil microorganisms [Oddziaływanie fungicydów na mikroorganizmy w srodowisku glebowym]},

author = { S. Sułowicz and Z. Piotrowska-Seget},

url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84963818721&partnerID=40&md5=bce6f5daef61d50179a21ff30d52296a},

issn = {00794252},

year  = {2016},

date = {2016-01-01},

journal = {Postepy Mikrobiologii},

volume = {55},

number = {1},

pages = {12-18},

publisher = {Polish Society of Microbiologists},

abstract = {Modern agriculture depends heavily on pesticides, including fungicides. Fungicides such as triazoles, when applied every year, may accumulate in soils leading to the development of resistance to the applied compounds and subsequently to the spread of resistance genes to other fungi. Additionally, fungicides can impact non-target soil microorganisms by reducing their biomass, changing microbial activity, and altering functional and structural diversity of bacterial and fungal communities. Soil quality is closely linked to the microbial activity, therefore, the effects of fungicides on non-target soil microorganisms increase concerns about the fertility of soil. This new knowledge about specific interaction between fungicides and soil microorganisms has to be taken into consideration in designing a new strategy for soil protection.},

note = {2},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{2-s2.0-84953897287,

title = {Land spreading of wastewaters from the fruit-packaging industry and potential effects on soil microbes: Effects of the antioxidant ethoxyquin and its metabolites on ammonia oxidizers},

author = { E.S. Papadopoulou and B. Tsachidou and S. Sułowicz and U. Menkissoglu-Spiroudi and D.G. Karpouzas},

url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84953897287&doi=10.1128%2fAEM.03437-15&partnerID=40&md5=4e9bd4aa78b66cb046b710da4edfe05c},

doi = {10.1128/AEM.03437-15},

issn = {00992240},

year  = {2016},

date = {2016-01-01},

journal = {Applied and Environmental Microbiology},

volume = {82},

number = {2},

pages = {747-755},

publisher = {American Society for Microbiology},

abstract = {Thiabendazole (TBZ), imazalil (IMZ), ortho-phenylphenol (OPP), diphenylamine (DPA), and ethoxyquin (EQ) are used in fruitpackaging plants (FPP) with the stipulation that wastewaters produced by their application would be depurated on site. However, no such treatment systems are currently in place, leading FPP to dispose of their effluents in agricultural land. We investigated the dissipation of those pesticides and their impact on soil microbes known to have a key role on ecosystem functioning. OPP and DPA showed limited persistence (50% dissipation time [DT50]; 0.6 and 1.3 days) compared to TBZ and IMZ (DT50; 47.0 and 150.8 days). EQ was rapidly transformed to the short-lived quinone imine (QI) (major metabolite) and the more persistent 2,4-dimethyl-6-ethoxyquinoline (EQNL) (minor metabolite). EQ and OPP exerted significant inhibition of potential nitrification, with the effect of the former being more persistent. This was not reflected in the abundance (determined by quantitative PCR [qPCR]) of the amoA gene of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and archaea (AOA). Considering the above discrepancy and the metabolic pattern of EQ, we further investigated the hypothesis that its metabolites and not only EQ were toxic to ammonia oxidizers. Potential nitrification, amoA gene abundance, and amoA gene transcripts of AOB and AOA showed that QI was probably responsible for the inhibition of nitrification. Our findings have serious ecological and practical implications for soil productivity and N conservation in agriculturally impacted ecosystems and stress the need to include metabolites and RNAbased methods when the soil microbial toxicity of pesticides is assessed. © 2016, American Society for Microbiology.},

note = {12},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{2-s2.0-84922754626,

title = {Molecular basis of bacterial resistance to ampicillin [Molekularne podstawy bakteryjnej opornos̈ci na ampicylinę]},

author = { K. Bondarczuk and S. Sułowicz and Z. Piotrowska-Seget},

url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84922754626&partnerID=40&md5=8bd5979c0fea5faf79ba888c27098f8d},

issn = {00794252},

year  = {2014},

date = {2014-01-01},

journal = {Postepy Mikrobiologii},

volume = {53},

number = {4},

pages = {360-365},

publisher = {Polish Society of Microbiologists},

abstract = {β-lactam antibiotics are regularly used in medicine to control bacterial infections. However the overuse of these compounds in many human activities has led to dissemination of resistance determinants among pathogenic strains. Several mechanisms underlining β-lactam resistance, e.g. enzymatic inactivation, PBP modification, active efflux, and finally the reduction of cell wall permeability have been identified. Understanding of such mechanisms is the first step to overcome the resistance. Ampicillin was one of the first broad-spectrum amino penicillins introduced to therapy. Nowadays, five decades after the introduction of the antibiotic, ampicillin-resistant microbes are isolated all over the world. Current knowledge about the mechanisms involved in ampicillin resistance is presented in this review.},

note = {1},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{2-s2.0-84890900870,

title = {The bit value of working memory},

author = { M. Kaczmarzyk and J. Francikowsk and B. Łozowski and M. Rozpedek and T. Sawczyn and S. Sułowicz},

url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84890900870&doi=10.3922%2fj.psns.2013.3.11&partnerID=40&md5=8907e3d909ffb20646b208c5f84dfbb2},

doi = {10.3922/j.psns.2013.3.11},

issn = {19843054},

year  = {2013},

date = {2013-01-01},

journal = {Psychology and Neuroscience},

volume = {6},

number = {3},

pages = {345-349},

abstract = {The present study was based on the hypothesis that a limited amount of information can be simultaneously processed in working memory. The main objective was to determine the capacity of working memory under experiment conditions and express it in terms of bits of information. The bit values of the selected objects used in the experiment were determined using Shannon's formula. The objects were presented to the participants as a set of charts. Each chart presented a four-element object with a particular bit value. The elements constituted commonly known signs, with no difficulty in perception. The efficiency of object recollection from working memory decreased as the bit value of the object increased. In each of the experiments, the bit value of the recollected information oscillated between 26.7 and 31.9. The present results did not confirm sex differences in working memory function.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{2-s2.0-85027930598,

title = {Significance of silver birch and bushgrass for establishment of microbial heterotrophic community in a metal-mine spoil heap},

author = { S. Sułowicz and T. Płociniczak and Z. Piotrowska-Seget and J. Kozdrój},

url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85027930598&doi=10.1007%2fs11270-010-0417-x&partnerID=40&md5=d0ac7fb2fd48c67f242175ddba961bc0},

doi = {10.1007/s11270-010-0417-x},

issn = {00496979},

year  = {2011},

date = {2011-01-01},

journal = {Water, Air, and Soil Pollution},

volume = {214},

number = {1-4},

pages = {205-218},

publisher = {Kluwer Academic Publishers},

abstract = {Differences in the culturable fractions of total and metal-tolerant bacteria inhabiting bulk soil of a metal-mine spoil heap and the rhizosphere of silver birch (Betula pendula) or bushgrass (Calamagrostis epigejos), completed with changes in total microbial community structure in the soil, were assessed by MIDI-FAME (fatty acid methyl ester) profiling of whole-cell fatty acids. In addition, the abundance of metal-tolerant populations among the culturable bacterial communities and their identity and the metal-tolerance patterns were determined. The high proportions of Cu- and Zn-tolerant bacteria that ranged from 60.6% to 94.8% were ascertained in the heap sites. Within 31 bacterial isolates obtained, 24 strains were Gram-positive and Arthrobacter, Bacillus, Rathayibacter, Brochothrix, and Staphylococcus represented those identified. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) data indicated that several strains developed multi-metal tolerance, and the highest tolerance to Cu (10 mM) and Zn (12 mM) was found for Pseudomonas putida TP3 and three isolated strains (BS3; TP12; and SL16), respectively. The analysis of FAME profiles obtained from the culturable bacterial communities showed that Gram-positive bacteria predominated in bulk soil of all heap sites. In contrast, the rhizosphere communities showed a lower proportion of the Gram-positive group, especially for silver birch. For the total microbial community, mostly Gram-negative bacteria (e.g.; Pseudomonas) inhabited the heap sites. The results suggest that the quantitative and qualitative development of heterotrophic microbiota in the soil of the metal-mine spoil heap seems to be site-dependent (i.e.; rhizosphere vs. bulk soil), according to differences in the site characteristics (e.g.; enrichment of nutrients and total metal concentrations) and impact of plant species. © 2010 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.},

note = {7},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}