meet

The research and development centre

The SANPROBI Research and Development Centre (RDC) is a modern laboratory with a team of experienced scientists specialising in general, environmental and industrial microbiology and biotechnology. We use state-of-the-art equipment to research the quality of probiotic products and to analyse the structure and function of the intestinal barrier and its disorders.

Our centre carries out numerous scientific projects that combine the methods of classical microbiology, molecular biology, flow cytometry and mass spectrometry. Drawing on the experience and expertise of outstanding scientists and physicians, our team is ready to take on new challenges and help you discover the world of microorganisms as part of your research and development work.

our experts

People at the SANPROBI RDC

Professor of Medicine and Public Health Karolina Skonieczna-Żydecka

Director of the SANPROBI Research and Development Centre

Prof Karolina Skonieczna-Żydecka is a renowned expert in the field of gut microbiota and its impact on human health, particularly in relation to the brain-gut axis and mental health. She is Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the Medical University of Pomerania in Szczecin and Head of the Department of Biochemical Research. Her interdisciplinary research combines microbiology, biochemistry and psychiatry, allowing a comprehensive approach to understanding the role of the microbiota in health disorders.

Doctor of Biological Sciences Joanna Śliwa-Dominiak

Head of Quality Control Laboratory at the SANPROBI Research and Development Centre

Dr Joanna Śliwa-Dominiak is an experienced microbiologist and a graduate of the University of Szczecin, where she obtained a PhD in biological sciences. Her research focuses on the analysis of probiotic bacterial strains and methods for their identification and evaluation of efficacy.

Doctor of Biological Sciences Anna Wierzbicka-Woś

Head of the Research and Development Laboratory and Science Department at the SANPROBI Research and Development Centre

Dr Anna Wierzbicka-Woś is an expert in biotechnology and metagenomics, focusing on the analysis of microbiomes and microorganisms using innovative molecular biology methods. She graduated from the University of Szczecin with a PhD in Biological Sciences.

Doctor of Medicine and Health Sciences Daniel Styburski

Staff member of the Mass Spectrometry Laboratory at the SANPROBI Research and Development Centre

Dr Daniel Styburski specialises in mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography and has many years of experience in metabolite analysis and metabolomic profiling. He completed his PhD at the Medical University of Pomerania, where he gained extensive experience in the identification of metabolites and the study of their role in the functioning of microorganisms.

Katarzyna Sielatycka, MD

Independent Flow Cytometry Specialist at SANPROBI R&D Centre and Quality Control Laboratory

Dr Katarzyna Sielatycka is a specialist in flow cytometry and stem cell biology with extensive experience gained both in Poland and abroad. She has a PhD in Medical Sciences and developed her research skills during a 1.5 year research internship at the Stem Cell Institute of the University of Louisville (Kentucky, USA).

Martyna Radaczyńska, M.Sc.

Staff member of the Quality Control Laboratory and Microbiology Laboratory

Martyna Radaczyńska, MSc, is an experienced microbiologist and a graduate of the University of Szczecin, where she specialised in microbiological analysis. Her laboratory work focuses on the verification and validation of microbiological methods, which are crucial for ensuring the quality of research related to the monitoring of the stability and efficacy of probiotic products.

Alicja Zenka, MSc

Staff member of the Quality Control Laboratory and Microbiology Laboratory

Alicja Zenka, M.Sc. is a graduate of Medical Biotechnology at the Medical University of Pomerania, where she gained experience in microbiological analysis. She specialises in research on probiotic microorganisms, with a focus on their therapeutic properties and impact on human health.

Doctor of Biological Sciences Alicja Trzeciak-Ryczek

Staff member of the Research and Development Laboratory and staff member of the Molecular Biology Laboratory

Dr Alicja Trzeciak-Ryczek is a specialist in molecular biology. She completed her PhD at the University of Szczecin, where she was awarded the Ministerial Prize for Excellence. Her research interests include gene expression using qPCR, cell phenotyping and evaluation of cell apoptosis using flow cytometry.

Dr Mariusz Kaczmarczyk, MD, PhD

Head of Bioinformatics and Statistical Analyses Department

Dr Mariusz Kaczmarczyk graduated with honours from the Medical University of Pomerania in Szczecin (now the Medical University of Pomerania in Szczecin). He is also a graduate of the Technical University of Szczecin (now the West Pomeranian University of Technology) and holds an engineering degree in computer science. In the early stages of his scientific career, he focused on molecular biology and genomics. Currently, his main area of interest is the metagenomics of the human gut microbiome.

Dr Konrad Podsiadło, MD, PhD

Staff member of the Bioinformatics and Statistical Analysis Department

Dr Konrad Podsiadło is a specialist in the Bioinformatics and Statistical Analysis Department. He graduated from the Department of Medical Biotechnology at the Medical University of Pomerania in Szczecin, where he acquired the knowledge and skills necessary to work in the field of biostatistics and bioinformatics.

Doctor of Biological Sciences Danuta Cembrowska-Lech

Staff member of the Bioinformatics and Statistical Analysis Department

Dr Danuta Cembrowska-Lech is a molecular biologist and bioinformatician specialising in the analysis of microorganisms and microbiomes using advanced computational biology methods.

highly specialised

Services

Molecular analysis of the human and environmental microbiome

Method based on next generation sequencing (NGS). Stages of analysis:

Isolation of genetic material from the tested micro-organism population (optional stage);
Construction of a library for NGS sequencing based on the amplification method of a selected DNA fragment or the shotgun DNA method;
NGS sequencing with Illumina;
Basic or advanced bioinformatic analysis, in the context of taxonomic and functional sequence analysis, statistical hypothesis testing, data mining (basic and multidimensional exploratory methods, machine learning techniques);
Genome analysis of prokaryotic microorganisms - from DNA isolation and sequencing to analysis and description.

Flow cytometry - accurate counting of microorganisms

A modern CytoFLEX LX flow cytometer (Beckman Coulter) with 6 lasers and 21 fluorescence channels.
External laboratory services include tests such as:

the quantitative assessment of bacteria in a viability test according to ISO 19344, independent of the matrix;
quantitative assessment of bacteria in a metabolic activity test according to ISO 19344, independent of the matrix;
on request, the use of the cytometric method in product stability tests.

In addition:

quantitative evaluation of microbubbles;
quantitative protein test - Cytometric Bead Array (CBA);
proliferation test;
apoptosis test;
cell cycle assessment;
quantitative assessment of specific phenotypes of human and animal cells isolated from various materials (including peripheral blood, umbilical cord blood, bone marrow).

Assays can be modified upon consultation.

CytoFLEX LX Flow Cytometer (Beckman Coulter)

For quantitative analysis of bacteria, human and animal cells and microparticles. Thanks to the integrated peristaltic pump, the result is given as the number of cells per specific sample volume.

Isolation of cells with a specific phenotype

The BD FACS Melody cell sorter allows the isolation of cells with a specific phenotype while sorting 4 different cell populations simultaneously.

The BD FACS Melody is equipped with:
4 lasers (red 640 nm, blue 488 nm and violet 405 nm);
9 fluorescence parameters and 2 scatter parameters (FSC and SSC).

The BD FACS Melody has a standard nozzle of 100 μm.

The sample temperature control allows the operator to set the sample temperature to 4°C, 20°C, 37°C or 42°C.

The instrument is equipped with a cooler/heater option to cool or heat collection tubes, multi-well plates or slides.

BD FACS Melody Cell Sorter

High quality cell populations can be sorted without affecting their viability. They can therefore be used for cell culture, cytometric studies and various analyses.

Spectrometric testing

Carried out on one of the most advanced devices on the market, a quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer (Q-ToF-MS) - AB Sciex TripleTof® 6600+, coupled to a high performance liquid chromatograph - AB Sciex Exion LC AD. The service includes tests such as:

untargeted metabolomics of samples of biological origin (qualitative analysis).
determination of short chain fatty acids (SCFA) in biological material (quantitative analysis),
qualitative analysis of metabolites present in the cell medium together with quantitative measurement of selected metabolites.

state-of-the-art

Laboratory equipment

Real-time PCR system

Programmed to differentiate between different types, species and strains of bacteria using a range of fluorescent dyes: FAM™/SYBR™Green, VIC™/JOE™/HEX™/TET™, ABY™/NED™/TAMRA™/Cy™3, JUN™, ROX™/TexasRed™, Mustang Purple™, Cy5™/LIZ™, CY™5.5.; also allows bacterial enumeration. In addition, it is possible to examine microRNA expression in individual samples.

Western Blot

This device is used to examine gene expression at the protein level. It includes an electrophoresis and transfer kit and a visualisation system.

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Capillary sequencer

A complex device enabling the sequencing and analysis of DNA fragment lengths using the capillary method. The reading accuracy of the sequencing device in the Sanprobi laboratory is not less than 98%, and the reading accuracy of the fragment analysis is not less than 99.9%. The device can compare DNA sequences to a reference sequence, analyse single nucleotide polymorphisms, detect mutations, determine heterozygosity and search for a specific sequence – for research purposes, especially clinical research, and when archiving results.

ELISA plate reader

A universal spectrophotometric reader that can be used with immunoenzymatic kits to determine the concentrations of proteins important for intestinal barrier function. This reader also allows the measurement of nucleic acid concentrations (DNA and RNA).

Bead homogeniser

A device necessary for isolating genetic material from bacterial cells.

Light microscope

A device necessary for assessing the morphology of bacterial cells.

Environmental chamber

A Device used to test product stability.

Non temperature controlled freezer

Biological material is stored in a freezer to ensure that it does not lose its properties.

Flow cytometer

A device used to evaluate the cytochemical and cytogenetic properties of cells to determine immunophenotype, proliferative and apoptotic potential.

Cell sorter

The cell sorter works by measuring the fluorescence of cells suspended in a liquid. This makes it possible to separate cells on the basis of more than a dozen of their characteristics simultaneously. It enables the detection, characterisation and counting of microorganisms and somatic cells, including their separation. Devices of this kind allow the collection of populations with a purity of over 98% and a viability of over 95%. The cell sorter extends the capabilities of the flow cytometer.

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Next-generation sequencers

Sequencers from Illumina, models MiSeq and iSeq100. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) devices sequence multiple sequences simultaneously. They allow the sequences of many different DNA fragments to be read simultaneously, making it possible to study the metagenomes of samples.

SANPROBI’s R&D department has a laboratory with state-of-the-art equipment that enables advanced research into microorganisms and their impact on the human body.

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