In October, we had the pleasure of hosting Chau Tran (PhD student) from RMIT University Vietnam in our laboratory. Chau specializes in gut microbiota research. During her stay, she trained in bioinformatics, protein purification methods, and DNA sequencing techniques. It was a great pleasure to have Chau with us!

On October 30, 2025, after completing his research and publishing the results in record time (all within three years), Karol Ciuchcinski successfully defended his PhD. The defense was excellent, and Karol answered the reviewers’ questions with great professionalism. We wish Karol all the best on his new path and lots of success as he leaves our laboratory but continues his journey in the scientific world!

As part of the research project “The role of urban recreational reservoirs in the accumulation, dissemination and horizontal transfer of antibiotic resistance genes”, led by Dr. Przemysław Decewicz, our team conducted a yearly field sampling campaign across selected urban lakes in Poland. We collected surface water and sediment samples for comprehensive microbiological, chemical, and molecular analyses. Urban reservoirs are often exposed to various anthropogenic pressures, making them potential hotspots for the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance. Our studies will focus on identifying and quantifying antibiotic resistance genes, assessing their ability to transfer horizontally, and investigating the environmental conditions that may promote their persistence in these ecosystems.

Recently, Przemyslaw Decewicz and Agata Bluszcz visited the local Primary School, SP23, and organized workshops in the first-grade classes. They talked about bacteria around us, how they influence our lives, and how scientists study their prevalence and characteristics. With some help, young explorers could check and see how versatile and numerous bacteria are around them.