Applications of the phage display technology in molecular biology, biotechnology and medicine.

The phage display technology is based on the presentation of peptide sequences on the surface of virions of bacteriophages. Its development led to creation of sophisticated systems based on the possibility of the presentation of a huge variability of peptides, attached to one of proteins of bacteriophage capsids. The use of such systems allowed for achieving enormous advantages in the processes of selection of bioactive molecules.

Determination of Effects and Mechanisms of Action of Bacterial Amyloids on Antibiotic Resistance.

Bacterial functional amyloids, apart from their many other functions, can influence the resistance of bacteria to antibiotics and other antibacterial agents. Mechanisms of modulation of susceptibility of bacterial cells to antimicrobials can be either indirect or direct. The former mechanisms are exemplified by the contribution of functional amyloids to biofilm formation, which may effectively prevent the penetration of various compounds into bacterial cells.

Into the Unknown: Microbial Communities in Caves, Their Role, and Potential Use.

Caves have been an item of amateur and professional exploration for many years. Research on the karst caves has revealed great diversity of bacteria, algae, and fungi living on stone walls and speleothems, in mud puddles or sediments. They have become the source of interest for various research groups including geologists, chemists, ecologists, or microbiologists.

Antibacterial, Antifungal and Anticancer Activities of Compounds Produced by Newly Isolated Strains from the Szczelina Chochołowska Cave (Tatra Mountains, Poland).

Resistance of bacteria, fungi and cancer cells to antibiotics and other drugs is recognized as one of the major problems in current medicine. Therefore, a search for new biologically active compounds able to either kill pathogenic cells or inhibit their growth is mandatory. Hard-to-reach habitats appear to be unexplored sources of microorganisms producing previously unknown antibiotics and other molecules revealing potentially therapeutic properties.

Phage display and other peptide display technologies.

Phage display technology, which is based on the presentation of peptide sequences on the surface of bacteriophage virions, was developed over 30 years ago. Improvements in phage display systems have allowed us to employ this method in numerous fields of biotechnology, as diverse as immunological and biomedical applications, the formation of novel materials and many others. The importance of phage display platforms was recognized by awarding the Nobel Prize in 2018 'for the phage display of peptides and antibodies'.

Unexplored potential: Biologically active compounds produced by microorganisms from hard-to-reach environments and their applications.

Rapid development of antibiotic resistance of bacteria and fungi, as well as cancer drug resistance, has become a global medical problem. Therefore, alternative methods of treatment are considered. Studies of recent years have focused on finding new biologically active compounds that may be effective against drug-resistant cells.