Publications by authors named "Agnieszka Witek"

Lipid anchors are common post-translational modifications for proteins engaged in signaling and vesicular transport in eukaryotic cells. Rab proteins are geranylgeranylated at their C-termini, a modification which is important for their stable binding to lipid bilayers. The Rab escort protein (REP) is an accessory protein of the Rab geranylgeranyl transferase (RGT) complex and it is obligatory for Rab prenylation.

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During archaeological excavations in burial sites, sometimes stoned organic objects are found, in addition to human remains. Those objects might be of a different origin, depending on various factors influencing members of a community (i.e.

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Late blight caused by Phytophthora infestans greatly constrains potato production. Many Resistance (R) genes were cloned from wild Solanum species and/or introduced into potato cultivars by breeding. However, individual R genes have been overcome by P.

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Potato late blight, caused by the oomycete pathogen Phytophthora infestans, significantly hampers potato production. Recently, a new Resistance to Phytophthora infestans (Rpi) gene, Rpi-amr1, was cloned from a wild Solanum species, Solanum americanum. Identification of the corresponding recognized effector (Avirulence or Avr) genes from P.

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Article Synopsis
  • Disease resistance in plants involves NLR genes that detect pathogens, with wheat harboring many such genes, but they are difficult to annotate due to low expression and similar sequences.
  • A new tool called NLR-Annotator was developed for identifying these NLR genes without needing transcript support, and it can be applied to various plant species.
  • The analysis revealed 3,400 NLR loci in wheat, with 1,560 confirmed as actively expressed, and the tool aids in finding resistance genes that can enhance breeding for disease-resistant wheat varieties.
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Potato virus Y (PVY) is a major potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) pathogen that causes severe annual crop losses worth billions of dollars worldwide. PVY is transmitted by aphids, and successful control of virus transmission requires the extensive use of environmentally damaging insecticides to reduce vector populations.

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The cooperation of the mevalonate (MVA) and methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) pathways, operating in parallel in plants to generate isoprenoid precursors, has been studied extensively. Elucidation of the isoprenoid metabolic pathways is indispensable for the rational design of plant and microbial systems for the production of industrially valuable terpenoids. Here, we describe a new method, based on numerical modeling of mass spectra of metabolically labeled dolichols (Dols), designed to quantitatively follow the cooperation of MVA and MEP reprogrammed upon osmotic stress (sorbitol treatment) in Arabidopsis ().

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. This study presents a clinical and histological evaluation of human pulp tissue responses after direct capping using a new dentin adhesive system. .

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Global yields of potato and tomato crops have fallen owing to potato late blight disease, which is caused by Phytophthora infestans. Although most commercial potato varieties are susceptible to blight, many wild potato relatives show variation for resistance and are therefore a potential source of Resistance to P. infestans (Rpi) genes.

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Human adenovirus (HAdV) diversity in sewage was assessed by species-specific molecular methods. Samples of raw sewage were collected in 14 sewage disposal systems from January to December 2011, in Poland. HAdVs were detected in 92.

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The aim of this study was to apply environmental surveillance to evaluate circulation of non-polio enteroviruses (NPEVs) in sewage in Poland. Samples of raw sewage were collected in 14 sewage disposal systems from January to December, 2011. Sewage samples were concentrated prior to analysis by RT-PCR and isolation in cells (RD, L20B and Caco-2).

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Article Synopsis
  • Caco-2 cells were successfully used to isolate enteroviruses (EVs) from both environmental and clinical samples, showing their effectiveness in the process.
  • Of the 32 cerebrospinal fluid samples tested positive for enteroviruses, 68.75% yielded positive results with Caco-2 cells compared to 31.25% with RD cells.
  • The isolation rate for enteroviruses was significantly higher in Caco-2 cells, particularly from clinical specimens and sewage, highlighting their superior efficiency for this purpose.
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The work presented here demonstrates the utility of Caco-2 cells to detect enteroviruses in sewage. Viruses were concentrated by beef extract elution and organic flocculation prior to analysis by cell culture assays and RT-PCR. Enteroviruses were detected in all sewage samples, but only one sample was positive solely in RT-PCR assay.

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Clinical diagnosis of enteroviral infections of the central nervous system are performed by virus isolation in sensitive cell lines and RT-PCR assay. The aim of the study was evaluation these techniques for fast diagnosis meningitis caused by enteroviruses. 69 samples (cerebrospinal fluid, CSF) were collected and analised by RT-PCR reaction.

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Enteroviruses are important etiologic agents of many human diseases such as diarrhea, self-limiting gastroenteritis, respiratory infections, conjunctivitis, hepatitis, aseptic meningitis, encephalitis, and paralysis. The aim of this study was the evaluation of the frequency of enteroviral infections in Poland in 2008-2009. Out of 178 clinical materials tested for the presence of enteroviruses, 24 samples (13,5%) were positive.

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The availability of sensitive cell lines and molecular methods have allowed for epidemiological surveillance of nonpoliomyelitic enteroviruses in Poland in 2004-2008. The aim of the study was evaluation ofenterovirus diagnosis based on RT-PCR reaction. Available data collected in 2004-2008 indicated that 116 isolation of enteroviruses were performed.

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The synthesis and degradation of (1-->3)-beta-glycosidic bonds between glucose moieties are essential metabolic processes in plant cell architecture and function. We have found that a unique, conserved cysteine residue, positioned outside the catalytic centre of potato endo-(1-->3)-beta-glucanase - product of the gluB20-2 gene, participates in determining the substrate specificity of the enzyme. The same residue is largely responsible for endo-(1-->3)-beta-glucanase inhibition by mercury ions.

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