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Research Programmes

 

Molecular Bacteriology

 Prof. MVDr. Alois Čížek, CSc.
Research Group Leader

THEMATIC RESEARCH FOCUS

RESEARCH AREAS

  • Studies on molecular mechanisms of pathogen-host interactions
  • Epidemiology of selected bacterial pathogens
  • Bacterial resistance to antimicrobials and circulation of antibiotic resistance genes in animal populations and environments
  • Diagnostics development

MAIN OBJECTIVES

  • To obtain novel information on the causes, mechanisms and spreading of infectious diseases in domestic animals.
  • Identification of mechanisms and prevention of the circulation of zoonotic pathogens and commensal antimicrobial-resistant bacteria in the food chain.
  • Definition of the role of host genetics in infectious diseases. Identification of signatures of selection in immunity-related genes based on comparative immunogenomic analysis.

CONTENT OF RESEARCH

Analysis and the prevention of the circulation of zoonotic pathogens in the food chain

Extended spectrum beta-lactamases-producing Escherichia coli: identification and evaluation of risk factors associated with the safety food production on farm level

Identification of the routes of spread of extended spectrum beta-lactamases-producing E. coli to the human population via the food chain and studying plasmid-mediated quinolone-resistance genes in commensal bacteria (E. coli, Aeromonas spp.). Recent results indicate that the risk of ESBL-producing E. coli spreading to the human population via food chain is relatively high. We will combine expertise in bacteriology, molecular biology and microbial epidemiology to determine the routes of spread of extended spectrum beta-lactamases-producing E. coli and plasmid-encoded fluoroquinolone-resistant E. coli to the human population via the food chain based on the identification of these E. coli strains in hazardous raw materials of animal origin; to define the ways of spreading of these E. coli, their prevalence in animal and human populations and their survival in environment including in wild animal reservoirs, and to assess risks of the spreading of these E. coli strains for humans, animals and environmental health. Another purpose of the project is to assess the effects of commercial probiotics asfand prebiotics on the induction of colonisation resistance towards resistant E. coli in animal intestine.

KEY RESEARCH EQUIPMENT

PLANNED RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE

Technology Units

  • Molecular bacteriology
  • Molecular bacteriology in animal pathogens

CURRENT RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE

The laboratory is presently equipped with the facilities required for the cultivation, identification and characterisation of non-fastidious bacteria.

MAIN PROJECTS

  • Prevalence and subtyping study for Escherichia coli O157 in raw products and beef cattle (GA525/97/0373), Czech Science Foundation, 1997-1999, A. Čížek, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno.
  • Escherichia coli O157 and other Shiga toxin-producing serotypes: identification and analysis of risk factors of the safety food production on farm level (GA525/00/0666), Czech Science Foundation, 2000-2002, A. Čížek, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, P. Alexa, Veterinary Research Institute.
  • Recombinant lipoprotein (BmpB) of the outer membrane of B. hyodysenteriae and scFv antibodies as a means of determination of asymptomatic carriers (GA524/06/1501), Czech Science Foundation, 2006-2008, A. Čížek, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno.
  • Characterisation of coliform bacteria resistant to cephalosporins and the risk assessment of antimicrobials usage for their selection (GPP502/10/P083), Czech Science Foundation, 2010-2012, M. Dolejská, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno.
  • Veterinary aspects of food safety and quality (MSM6215712402), Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, 2005-2011, V. Večerek, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno.

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

  • LITERAK, I., PETRO, R., DOLEJSKA, M., GRUBEROVA, E., DOBIASOVA, H., PETR, J., CIZEK, A. Antimicrobial resistance in fecal Escherichia coli isolates from healthy urban children of two age groups in relation to their antibiotic therapy. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2011, 55, p. 3005-3007.
  • LITERAK, I., DOLEJSKA, M., RYBARIKOVA, J., CIZEK, A., STREJCKOVA, P., VYSKOCILOVA, M., FRIEDMAN, M., KLIMES, J. Highly variable patterns of antimicrobial resistance in commensal Escherichia coli isolates from pigs, sympatric rodents, and flies. Microb Drug Res. 2009, 15, p. 229-237.
  • CIZEK, A., DOLEJSKA, M., NOVOTNA, R., HAAS, D., VYSKOCIL, M. Survey of Shiga toxigenic Escherichia coli O157 and drug-resistant coliform bacteria from in-line milk filters on dairy farms in the Czech Republic. J Appl Microbiol. 2008, 104(3), p. 852-860.
  • LOBOVA, D., SMOLA, J., CIZEK, A. Decreased susceptibility to tiamulin and valnemulin among Czech isolates of Brachyspira hyodysenteriae. Journal of Medical Microbiology. 2004, 53, p. 287-291.
  • BIELASZEWSKA, M., SCHMIDT, H., LIESEGANG, A., PRAGER, R., RABSCH, W., TSCHAPE, H., CIZEK, A., JANDA, J., BLAHOVA, K., KARCH, H. Cattle can be a reservoir of sorbitol.fermenting Shiga toxin-producing Esherichia coli O157: H- strains and a source of human diseases. Journal of Clinical Microbiology. 2000, 38(9), p. 3470-3473.
 

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