Department of Microbiology
At present, the Department conducts research on the insecticidal activity of Bacillus thuringiensis toxins and botanicals against insect pests of the orders Lepidoptera, Coleoptera and Diptera.
The aim is to develop new insecticides with high activity and a broad spectrum of action.
The second research stream aims at understanding the genetic determinants of antibiotic resistance, mechanisms of formation of multidrug resistance and determining the spread and evolution of resistance in bacterial populations of patients treated in hospitals and in non-hospital environments (surface water, wastewater, air).
In addition to studies on cultured bacteria, metagenomic analyses are also used.
In ZM, work is also conducted to determine the mechanisms determining the pathogenicity of bacteria.
Adhesion, cytotoxic and cytotonic activity, biofilm formation and its properties are determined.
The most recent research topics focus on identification and phylogeny of intracellular bacterial endosymbionts of the order Oribatida.
