PATHOGENIC ALGAE

30 05 2025

We cordially invite you to the institute seminar: on Monday, 2nd of June in room102B at 2 pm MSc Angelika Proskurnicka from the Department of Medical Microbiology will present final results of her PhD thesis.

Abstract:

Prototheca algae are a group of unicellular, yeast-like algae that have lost the ability to photosynthesize. They are the only known plants (Viridiplantae) capable of causing infections in humans and animals. Infections are rare but difficult to treat due to drug resistance of Prototheca spp. strains.

The aim of the project was to determine the pathogenic potential of four Prototheca species (P. bovis, P. ciferrii, P. stagnora, P. wickerhamii) using an in vitro model (mammalian cell lines) and in vivo (immunocompetent and immunosuppressive mice). Three routes of infection (subcutaneous, intraperitoneal and intramammary) and two infectious doses were examined. Microbiological, histopathological analyses and biochemical markers of inflammation in the blood were performed. The in vitro model assessed the ability of algae to adhere and invade host cells.

The project is carried out under the National Science Centre grant OPUS 17 (no. 2019/33/B/NZ6/01283; head of project: dr hab. Tomasz Jagielski).