What made you decide to study Biology?

It’s not that I had known I would become a biologist since I was a child. As a small girl I played, as I called it, offices. There had always been many pieces of paper, files and calculators around me and everyone thought that my life would take a different direction. But in my secondary school I opted for the Biology and Chemistry class though at the time my interests were not so specific. After my final exams I was even thinking more about studying Chemistry, Pharmaceutics or wondering whether I shouldn’t go for Medicine. But finally I chose Biology at the University of Gdańsk. And already in my first year I realised that it was a very good choice because my Biology classes were nothing like my lessons at school. There was a great deal of practice, thanks to which I was able to understand all of the biological processes all the more easily. And after I completed my first year, I noticed at the beginning of my second year of study that the most important, most enjoyable thing for me and closest to my heart, is laboratory work rather than field work. I managed to complete my MA in the Department of Molecular Biology and I have been there to this day, which makes me very happy.

I have just checked that you can boast as many as seven publications, which is a great success at your age! What are they about?

These publications are not just the result of my own efforts but that of the entire team because we work in a team made up of several people.  

In Biology you cannot do it any other way.

No, you cannot, therefore this is a concerted effort. The publications concern the research I am conducting as part of my PhD dissertation. Maybe I’ll start from the beginning. I’d like to say a few words about Escherichia coli bacteria because they also contain strains pathogenic for humans which code Shiga toxin. Such bacteria are referred to as the enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli or EHEC in short. Humans infected with these bacteria suffer from bloody diarrhoea and may go on to develop a number of chronic illnesses, such as, Hemolytic-uremic syndrome.

Meaning?

That it may result in acute kidney failure and at times even death. When it comes to the cause of infection with these bacteria, Shiga toxin is responsible. This toxin is coded by genes referred to as the stx genes which were initially thought to be coded in the bacterial genome but which later turned out to be coded in the bacteriophage genome. Bacteriophages, maybe I’ll just tell you quickly, are tiny viruses which attack bacteria. That’s the best way to explain it, I think.   

What size are they?

They are much, much smaller than the bacteria they attack and one ten-thousandth of a millimetre in size.

What effects are you anticipating? Can this research be helpful as a result?

Very much so. When it comes to Shiga toxin, which  is responsible for this infection, then the expression of the genes which code this toxin takes place only after the induction of the bacteriophage I have just mentioned and after it starts its lytic cycle. That’s when the production of the toxin takes place, which is dangerous for humans. Therefore, the aim of our research is to discover and understand the mechanisms which regulate the development of these bacteriophages. We hope that in future the research we conduct will contribute towards creating a therapy aimed at fighting EHEC infections, which is very important.

It is clear that this is a very complicated issue. If you want to devote yourself to science, why did you have the idea to finish a pedagogy course?

I did the pedagogy course when I was completing my BA studies. I didn’t really know or think back then that I would get to a level at which I would be continuing my doctoral studies at university. And at first I was treating it as an emergency exit. We all know that you cannot always find the job of your dreams after you graduate and I had always wanted to work in a laboratory. But I had also always enjoyed working with children and that is why I decided to do such a course. My life has gone in a slightly different direction. I stayed at university and I think the course proved really useful because as a doctorate student I also conduct classes with students. And this is where I can use the knowledge I gained during my studies. 

You have also been active in the Baltic Festival of Science.

That’s right, for three years now.

And what passions do you devote yourself to in your free time?

Laboratory work does take up a lot of time, I must admit. Because it often happens that when we get back home, we still have to continue our work by, for example, analysing the results of previously conducted experiments. But I do find time for my interests of course. I read a lot, in fact I read at every free moment at home and on my way to work. Another passion of mine is travelling. And although I lack time for it, doctoral studies make it a bit easier for me. It happens that every now and then we present our results at various kinds of conferences, in Poland and also abroad. This is a time when we can meet many researchers, often from all over the world, and discuss our results with them. But apart from this purely scientific aspect, we also have a chance to spend a day or two observing other cultures or new places.

What is the furthest you have been?

Among the greatest trips, and in fact fulfilments of my dreams to travel, are the trips to Rome and Australia. I had never thought that these dreams would come true but it happened.

That’s fantastic! Thank you for the conversation.

Thank you very much.

Gdańsk, 19 February 2016

Interview: Dr Tadeusz Zaleski
Photography: Piotr Pędziszewski