Adrian Wiater

Maria Curie-Sklodowska University in Lublin · Department of Industrial and Environmental Microbiology

We investigated the modulating effect of α-(1→3)-glucooligosaccharides (GOS), i.e. a product of fungal α-(1→3)-D-glucan hydrolysis, on the gut microbiota composition. Mice were fed with a GOS-supplemented diet and two control diets for 21 days, and fecal samples were collected at 0, 1, and 3-week time points. The bacterial community composition was...

Despite the common use of Potentilla L. species (Rosaceae) as herbal medicines, a number of species still remain unexplored. Thus, the present study is a continuation of a study evaluating the phytochemical and biological profiles of aqueous acetone extracts from selected Potentilla species. Altogether, 10 aqueous acetone extracts were obtained fro...

The aim of this study was to characterize, for the first time, the interactions, location, and influence of flavonoids isolated from aerial parts of Scleranthus perennis (Caryophyllaceae) and Hottonia palustris (Primulaceae) on the properties of model lipid membranes prepared from dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) and egg yolk phosphatidylcholi...

Due to a widespread occurrence of multidrug-resistant pathogenic strains of bacteria, there is an urgent need to look for antimicrobial substances, and honey with its antimicrobial properties is a very promising substance. In this study, we examined for the first time antimicrobial properties of novel varietal honeys, i.e., plum, rapeseed, Lime, Ph...

One of the important features of prebiotics is their beneficial effect on the health of the host, which consists in the inhibition of the growth of harmful bacteria, including strains causing caries. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the cariogenic potential of a hydrolyzate of (1→3)-α-D-glucan (GOS) isolated from fruiting bodies of Laet...

Cinquefoils have been widely used in local folk medicine in Europe and Asia to manage various gastrointestinal inflammations and/or infections, certain forms of cancer, thyroid gland disorders, and wound healing. In the present paper, acetone extracts from aerial parts of selected Potentilla species, namely P. alba (PAL7), P. argentea (PAR7), P. gr...

The widespread presence of flavonoids in the diet, low toxicity and beneficial effects on health make flavonoids interesting to study [1-2]. Explanation of interactions with membranes may contribute to understanding the molecular mechanisms of their actions important for the treatment of diseases [1,3-5]. The aim of the study was to characterize th...

Honeybees are very important pollinators, and their role in ecosystems cannot be overestimated. Apis mellifera workers pollinate approximately 80 percent of flowering plants; only in the United States are efforts estimated up to $15 billion worth of crops annually performed. Moreover, honeybees produce honey, wax, pollen, royal jelly, and propolis,...

Nowadays, there is an urgent need to look for antimicrobial substances due to a widespread occurrence of multidrug resistant bacterial and fungal strains. Honey with its antimicrobial properties is a very promising substance with many valuable properties. In this study we examined for the first time antimicrobial properties of novel varietal honeys...

Laetiporus sulphureus (Bull.: Fr.) Murrill is an arboreal species of the large-fruited Basidiomycota fungus from the Polyporales, family Laetiporaceae. The cell wall of this fungus is the source of many bioactive polymer compounds, including (1→3)-α-D-glucans. (1→3)-α-D-glucans can be hydrolyzed to shorter compounds, (1→3)-α-D-glucooligosaccharides...

Root-feeding Amphimallon solstitiale larvae and certain other scarab beetles are the main soil-dwelling pests found in Europe, while entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) have been used as a biocontrol agent against these species. Our study provides the first detailed characterization of the bacterial community of the midgut in wild A. solstitiale larva...

Potentilla L. (Rosaceae) species are valuable medicinal plants that have been known since antiquity as a remedy inter alia against diarrhoea, jaundice, oral inflammations and topical infections. The literature data report that species from this genus are a rich source of polyphenols, such as hydrolysable tannins, flavonoids and phenolic acids, as w...

Entomopathogenic nematodes (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae and Heterorhabditidae) are a group of organisms capable of infecting larvae of insects living in soil, including representatives of the family Scarabaeidae. Their insecticidal activity is related to the presence of symbiotic bacteria Xenorhabdus spp. or Photorhabdus spp. in the alimentary tra...

Recognition of pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) by appropriate pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) is a key step in activating the host immune response. The role of a fungal PAMP is attributed to β-1,3-glucan. The role of α-1,3-glucan, another fungal cell wall polysaccharide, in modulating the host immune response is not clear. This...

A new species of entomopathogenic nematodes, Steinernema sandneri n. sp., was recovered by baiting from Poland. Its morphological traits indicate that the new species is a member of the feltiae-kraussei group. A body length of 843 (708–965)μm, a more anterior position of excretory pore (56μm), and the lower D% value (40 vs >46) discriminate this sp...

This study focused on the potential relationships between midgut microbiota of the common cockchafer Melolontha melolontha larvae and their resistance to entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) infection. We investigated the bacterial community associated with control and unsusceptible EPN-exposed insects through nanopore sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene....

Alpha-1,3-glucan, in addition to β-1,3-glucan, is an important polysaccharide component of fungal cell walls. It is reported for many fungal species, including human pathogenic genera: Aspergillus, Blastomyces, Coccidioides, Cryptococcus, Histoplasma and Pneumocystis, plant pathogens, e.g. Magnaporthe oryzae and entomopathogens, e.g. Metarhizium ac...

Increasing knowledge of the role of the intestinal microbiome in human health and well-being has resulted in increased interest in prebiotics, mainly oligosaccharides of various origins. To date, there are no reports in the literature on the prebiotic properties of oligosaccharidesproduced by the hydrolysis of pure fungal alfa-(1-3)-glucan. The aim...

Increasing knowledge of the role of the intestinal microbiome in human health and well-being has resulted in increased interest in prebiotics, mainly oligosaccharides of various origins. To date, there are no reports in the literature on the prebiotic properties of oligosaccharides produced by the hydrolysis of pure fungal α-(1→3)-glucan. The aim o...

The aim of this study was to determine the anti-tumor activity of extracts isolated from Potentilla alba L. on human colon cancer cells of the HT-29 line and on non-cancer colon epithelial cells of the CCD 841 CoTr line. The research methods we used to determine the cytotoxic and proliferative properties were 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphen...

Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and Raman spectroscopy and mapping were applied to the analysis of biofilms produced by bacteria of the genus Streptococcus. Bacterial biofilm, also called dental plaque, is the main cause of periodontal disease and tooth decay. It consists of a complex microbial community embedded in an extracellular matrix compo...

Phenoloxidase (PO) is a key enzyme in the melanization process involved in elimination of pathogens in insects. The PO system is rapidly activated in response to pathogen recognition. Inhibition of PO activity can be a way to avoid immune response and increase infection effectiveness. In this study, the effects of inoculation of Galleria mellonella...

Exopolymeric substances (EPS) can determine plant-microorganism interactions and have great potential as bioactive compounds. The different amounts of EPS obtained from cultures of three endophytic Fusarium culmorum strains with different aggressiveness—growth promoting (PGPF), deleterious (DRMO), and pathogenic towards cereal plants—depended on gr...

The mechanisms of action of the complex including entomopathogenic nematodes of the genera Steinernema and Heterorhabditis and their mutualistic partners, i.e., bacteria Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus, have been well explained, and the nematodes have been commercialized as biological control agents against many soil insect pests. However, little is k...

Various phytochemical studies have revealed that jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam.) is rich in bioactive compounds, including carotenoids, flavonoids, volatile acids, tannins, and lectins. The aim of the study was to analyze the biological activity of water-soluble polysaccharide (WSP) isolated from jackfruit and to assess its immunomodulato...

Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading global cause of mortality indicating the need to identify all possible factors reducing primary and secondary risk. This study screened the in vitro antiplatelet and anticoagulant activities of hot water extracts of eight edible mushroom species (Agaricus bisporus, Auricularia auricularia-judae, Coprinus c...

Novel α-(1 → 3)-glucooligosaccharides (α-(1 → 3)-GOS) were prepared by acid hydrolysis of α-(1→ 3)-glucan isolated from Fomitopsis betulina fruiting bodies and characterized. Their anti-cancer potential was evaluated in in vitro assays in a colon cancer cell model. The tested α-(1 → 3)-GOS showed antiproliferative (MTT assay) and pro-apoptotic (Ann...

The cell walls of fungi are composed of glycoproteins, chitin, and α-and β-glucans. Although there are many reports on β-glucans, α-glucan polysaccharides are not yet fully understood. This review characterizes the physicochemical properties and functions of (1→3)-α-d-glucans. Particular attention has been paid to practical application and the effe...

Potentilla alba (Rosaceae) has been used in the traditional folk medicine for several hundred years. However, data on the cytotoxicity effects of this plant are limited [1,2]. In the study the following extracts from aerial parts of P. alba were used: MeOH (PAL1), 50% MEOH (PAL2), water (PAL3), Et2O (PAL4), EtOAc (PAL5), n-BuOH (PAL6) and 70% aceto...

Four bacterial EPSs extracted from Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii Rt24.2, Sinorhizobium meliloti Rm1021, Bradyrhizobium japonicum USDA110, and Bradyrhizobium elkanii USDA76 were determined towards their metal ion adsorption properties and possible modification of Cerrena unicolor laccase properties. The highest magnesium and iron ion-sorption...

The extracellular crude Rhizomucor variabilis lipase was used for synthesis of flavor ester butyl caprylate and 1-butyl oleate often used as a diesel additive, a polyvinyl chloride plasticizer, a water-resisting agent, and an additive to hydraulic fluids. The influence of various reaction parameters such as the molar ratio, time, enzyme and substra...

Higher Basidiomycota have been used in natural medicine throughout the world for centuries. One of such fungi is Fomitopsis betulina (formerly Piptoporus betulinus), which causes brown rot of birch wood. Annual white to brownish fruiting bodies of the species can be found on trees in the northern hemisphere but F. betulina can also be cultured as a...

Water-insoluble, alkali-soluble polysaccharide (marked as ASP) was extracted from the vegetative mycelium and fruiting body of Cerrena unicolor strain. Monosaccharide examination of ASP demonstrated that the isolated biopolymer was composed mainly of glucose, xylose, and mannose monomers. The methylation investigation of studied polymers indicated...

The characterisation and flocculation behaviour of exopolymer R-202 produced by Rhodococcus rhodochrous were investigated. The water-soluble fraction of this polymer with the molecular weight of about 1.3×10³ kDa was found to be 62.86% of polysaccharide and 10.36% of protein. Chemical analysis showed the presence of reducing sugars, uronic acids, a...

In the present study, hydrogels containing the dried extract of tormentil (Potentilla erecta (L.) Raeusch., Rosaceae) were designed and qualitatively evaluated regarding their viscosity, thixotropy, and texture properties. As mucoadhesiveness is a crucial factor determining drug retention within the oral cavity, mucoadhesive properties expressed as...

According to the European Pharmacopoeia, Tormentillae rhizoma is the dried rhizome of tormentil (Potentilla erecta (L.) Raeusch, Rosaceae), freed from the roots. Tormentillae rhizoma is a traditional herbal medicinal product for symptomatic treatment of unspecified diarrhoea, mild inflammation of the oral and pharyngeal mucosa [1]. Dental plaque is...

Steinernema silvaticum is a common entomopathogenic nematode in soil of Europe; however, little is known about the bacteria living in symbiosis with this animal. In this study, we have isolated four bacterial strains from S. silvaticum and identified them as members of the species Xenorhabdus bovienii. This study was based on 16S rRNA and concatena...

A water-insoluble polysaccharide (WIP) was isolated from the fruiting bodies of Hericium erinaceus HE01 by an alkaline solution with the yield of 5%. Structural and compositional analyses by total acid hydrolysis, methylation analysis, FT-IR, FT-Raman, and 1H NMR spectroscopy as well as other instrumental techniques showed predominantly glucose lin...

Screening of Actinobacteria producing exopolymers with flocculating activity was carried out. An extracellular polymer with the highest flocculating activity extracted by Rhodococcus opacus was selected to characterisation. The water-soluble fraction of this exopolymer with molecular weight of about 760 kDa was found to be 64.6% polysaccharide and...

Piptoporus betulinus is a wood-rotting basidiomycete used in medicine and biotechnology. However, to date, no indoor method for cultivation of this mushroom fruiting bodies has been developed. Here we present the first report of successful production of P. betulinus mature fruiting bodies in artificial conditions. Four P. betulinus strains were iso...

Biofilm-related infections of the oral cavity, including dental caries and periodontitis, represent the most prevalent health problems. For years, treatment thereof was largely based on antibacterial chemical agents. Recently, however, there has been growing interest in the application of more preventive and minimally invasive biotechnological meth...

The present study was performed to evaluate the effect of different extracts and subfractions from Rubus caesius leaves on two human colon cancer cell lines obtained from two stages of the disease progression lines HT29 and SW948. Tested samples inhibited the viability of cells, both HT29 and SW948 lines, in a concentration- dependent manner. The m...

Potentilla L. (Rosaceae) species have been used in traditional and in folk medicine for many years. This study analyzed the biological activity of aqueous extracts from aerial parts of selected Potentilla species (Rosaceae): P. argentea, P. anserina, P. grandiflora and P. erecta as well as one species of closely related to the genus Potentilla, Dry...

Alkali-soluble polysaccharides (ASPs) were isolated from the cell wall of four Aspergillus species (A. fumigatus, A. nidulans, A. niger, and A. wentii). The chemical and spectroscopic investigations (immunofluorescent labelling, composition analysis, methylation analysis, FTIR, and 1H NMR) indicated that the ASPs were polymers composed almost exclu...

α-(1→3)-Glukany stanowią najmniej poznaną grupę polisacharydów budujących ścianę komórkową grzybów. Celem pracy była ocena aktywności biologicznej karboksymetylowanych pochodnych α-(1→3)-glukanów uzyskanych z owocników uprawnych gatunków rodzaju Pleurotus (P. citrinopileatus, P. dja-mor, P. erynii i P. precoce). Polisacharydy wyizolowane z owocnikó...

The present paper describes optimization of fermentation conditions in shaken flasks and scale-up of fermentor production up to 115 L. The response surface methodology (RSM) has been successfully applied in standardization of mutanase production by Trichoderma harzianum CCM F-340. The model was very well fitted to the experimental data and explaine...

In this study, for the first time, we investigated in vitro inhibitory effects of Drymocallis rupestris extracts and their subfractions obtained with solvents of different polarity (aqueous, 50% ethanolic, diethyl ether, ethyl acetate and n-butanolic) against bacterial viability and caries virulence factors of Streptococcus spp. strains. The diethy...

Potentilla L. (Rosaceae) species have been used in traditional medicine in Asia, Europe and Northern America. This study analyzed the biological activity of aqueous extracts of Potentilla species (Rosaceae): Dasiphora fruticosa (syn. P. fruticosa), P. norvegica, P. pensylvanica, P. thuringiaca, P. crantzii and P. nepalensis. The activities were tes...

Extracellular α-(1 → 3)-glucanase (mutanase, EC 3.2.1.84) produced by Trichoderma harzianum CCM F-340 was purified to homogeneity by ultrafiltration followed by ion exchange and hydrophobic interaction chromatography, and final chromatofocusing. The enzyme was recovered with an 18.4-fold increase in specific activity and a yield of 4.3%. Some prope...

The chemical structure of a water insoluble α-glucan isolated from the cell wall of Aspergillus wentii was described on the basis of total acid hydrolysis, methylation analysis, and 1D and 2D NMR studies (TOCSY, DQF-COSY, NOESY and HSQC) as well as other instrumental techniques. It was established that the analyzed preparation contained a linear po...

Laetiporus sulphureus is an edible wood-rotting basidiomycete fungus whose fruiting bodies contain substances with verified therapeutic evidences and large amounts of α-(1 → 3)-glucan which is used as an effective inducer of microbial α-(1 → 3)-glucanases. However, production of mature fruiting bodies of this species under artificially controlled c...