Bacteriology Laboratory

Type

Laboratory

Department

Institute of Medicine

Head:

Irina Podoprigora

Head of Laboratory

Structural unit: Institute of Medicine.

The Laboratory is a modern platform for studying the human body’s microbiota: from identifying and characterizing the immunobiological properties of commensal bacteria to creating next-generation probiotic preparations.

Resources

The laboratory facilities enable using the following research methods:

  • PCR
  • RT-PCR
  • ELISA
  • Working with eukaryotic cells
  • Identifying microorganisms by their metabolic profile (BioLog system)

Equipment Fleet

  • Binder ED 240 Drying and Heating Oven (Germany)
  • GK 100-3 Autoclave (Russia)
  • Being BJ-120TL Incubator (China)
  • Being BPN-40RHP Air Jacket СО2 Incubator (China)
  • Senova BS-3021 Benchtop Orbital Shaking Incubator (China)
  • Microbial Identification Test Panel — BioLog GEN III Omnilog Plus ID System (USA)
  • QuantGene 9600 Real-Time PCR Thermal Cycler (China)
  • Scientz-F Lyophilization Dryer (China)
  • Liston Model A1210 Water Distiller (Russia)
  • Mini-PROTEAN Tetra System BioRad Electrophoresis Chamber (USA)
  • Millipore 2.5 L cell system (Germany) and Amicon M2000 High Performance Ultra Filtration Cell controllers (USA)

Laboratory Team

  • Develops study designs and improves existing protocols to achieve optimal results
  • Uses culturomic, biochemical, molecular and genetic methods and cell-based technologies
  • Conducts comparative data analysis using international databases (NCBI; Genebank)

Work Procedures: isolate bacteria, analyze their characteristics and propose effective modification.

Partners

  • Microbiology and Virology Department of Institute of prevention medicine after named Z.P. Soloviev of N.I. Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University
Main scientific directions
  • Culturomic studies of human microbiota
  • Identifying and preserving commensal bacteria
  • Studying the immunobiological properties of commensal bacteria using cell cultures
  • Profiling bacteria by their antibiotic susceptibility spectrum
  • Searching for alternative ways to overcome antibiotic resistance in bacteria
Achievements

The laboratory team conducts research into the immunobiological properties of difficult-to-cultivate commensal bacteria in humans using cell cultures and heterogeneous spheroids; tries out methods for testing human microbiota to determine its immunobiological properties.

  • Promising results: separating commensal bacteria by their pro- and anti-inflammatory profiles, creating a collection of microorganisms with known immunobiological properties.
  • Application: selecting strategies for restoring and modulating microbiota for effective cancer treatment.