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Mycology

Research topics

(credit A. Miłobędzka)

Our group is mostly interested in evolutionary old lineages of land fungi (Mucoromycota) and their interactions with bacteria. Mucoromycota representatives are common fungi which can be found in various habitats all around the world. The vast majority of them are organisms which degrade dead organic matter. In recent years it has been discovered that some Mycoromycota may contain bacteria inside their hyphae. However, the diversity and factors influencing the frequency of occurrence or the effect on the host of these bacteria remains poorly understood. Our team studies evolution and ecology as well as physiology of this group of fungi. We are interested in their adaptations to extreme environments (Arctic, Antarctic, oil reservoirs in Iran, contaminated soil) and how endohyphal bacteria can influence these adaptations. In our research we use both classical culturing methods and modern molecular methods paired with bioinformatic tools.

Moreover, we are working on DNA barcoding and mapping distribution of mushrooms in Poland and Europe. Aside from research, we have an active outreach group (e.g. film). We also perform mycological inventories and expertises.

Ongoing research projects

Completed research projects

  • NCN OPUS 13 nr 2017/25/B/NZ8/00473 (2017-2021): Influence of soil contamination on the occurence and diversity of Mucoromycota and their endosymbiotic bacteria (leader: Julia Pawłowska)
  • NCN SONATA nr 2015/17/D/NZ8/00778 (2015-2019):Evolution of carbon assimilation abilities within Mucorales representatives (leader: Julia Pawłowska)
  • Iranian ICRP nr 364 (3/7/2019) (2019-2022): Phylogenetic and Evolutionary Study of mucoralean fungi from Iran with bioremediation potential for oil contaminated soils (leader: Somayeh Dolatabadi)
  • MNiSW nr DNM/SP/468952/2020 (2020-2021): Protected mushrooms of Poland (leader: Anna Kujawa)
  • MNiSW nr DI2014012344: Phylogenetic classification of Laboulbeniales in the light of evolution of other entomopathogenic fungi (leader: Michał Gorczak).
  • Iranian National Science Foundation nr 96003337 (2016-2019): Phylogenetic and evolutionary study of black yeasts from Iran with bioremediation potential for oil- contaminated soils (leader: Somayeh Dolatabadi)
  • MNiSW nr N303 548839 (2010-2014): Phylogenetics and taxonomy of Thamnidiaceae based on morphological, molecular and physiological data (leader: Bożena Zakryś)
  • The spread of Aureoboletus projectellus in Europe

Selected publications

2023

Sokołowska, Blanka; Orłowska, Małgorzata; Okrasińska, Alicja; Piłsyk, Sebastian; Pawłowska, Julia; Muszewska, Anna

What can be lost? Genomic perspective on the lipid metabolism of Mucoromycota Journal Article

In: IMA Fungus, vol. 14, iss. 22, 2023.

Links | BibTeX

Siedlecki, Igor; Piątek, Marcin; Majchrowska, Maria; Okrasińska, Alicja; Owczarek-Kościelniak, Magdalena; Pawłowska, Julia

Discovery of Formicomyces microglobosus gen. et sp. nov. strengthens the hypothesis of independent evolution of ant-associated fungi in Trichomeriaceae Journal Article

In: Fungal Biology, 2023, ISSN: 1878-6146.

Links | BibTeX

2021

Muszewska, Anna; Okrasińska, Alicja; Steczkiewicz, Kamil; Drgas, Olga; Orłowska, Małgorzata; Perlińska-Lenart, Urszula; Aleksandrzak-Piekarczyk, Tamara; Szatraj, Katarzyna; Zielenkiewicz, Urszula; Piłsyk, Sebastian; Malc, Ewa; Mieczkowski, Piotr; Kruszewska, Joanna S.; Bernat, Przemysław; Pawłowska, Julia

Metabolic Potential, Ecology and Presence of Associated Bacteria Is Reflected in Genomic Diversity of Mucoromycotina Journal Article

In: Frontiers in Microbiology, vol. 12, pp. 239, 2021.

Abstract | Links | BibTeX

Okrasińska, Alicja; Bokus, Aleksandra; Duk, Katarzyna; Gęsiorska, Aleksandra; Sokołowska, Blanka; Miłobędzka, Aleksandra; Wrzosek, Marta; Pawłowska, Julia

New Endohyphal Relationships between Mucoromycota and Burkholderiaceae Representatives Journal Article

In: Applied and Environmental Microbiology, vol. 87, no. 7, 2021, ISSN: 0099-2240.

Abstract | Links | BibTeX

2019

Pawłowska, Julia; Okrasińska, Alicja; Kisło, Kamil; Aleksandrzak-Piekarczyk, Tamara; Szatraj, Katarzyna; Dolatabadi, Somayeh; Muszewska, Anna

Carbon assimilation profiles of mucoralean fungi show their metabolic versatility Journal Article

In: Scientific Reports, vol. 9, pp. 11864, 2019.

Links | BibTeX

Banasiak, Łukasz; Pietras, Marcin; Wrzosek, Marta; Okrasińska, Alicja; Gorczak, Michał; Kolanowska, Marta; Pawłowska, Julia

Aureoboletus projectellus (Fungi, Boletales) – An American bolete rapidly spreading in Europe as a new model species for studying expansion of macrofungi Journal Article

In: Fungal Ecology, vol. 39, pp. 94 - 99, 2019, ISSN: 1754-5048.

Links | BibTeX

 

Finansowanie: