Project “CityBiome – Discovering the Urban Microbiome of Łódź – Towards a Safe and Resident-Friendly Environment”
The objective of the project, carried out by researchers and students from the University of Lodz and the University of Zagreb, is to understand the urban microbiome and identify bacteriophages capable of combating antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the environment. The research will be conducted by collecting samples of sewage and rainwater, isolating bacteria and bacteriophages, and analysing the activity of these viruses against selected bacterial strains. The expected results include obtaining a collection of bacterial and phage strains, laying the foundation for the practical application of research results in wastewater treatment, and developing scientific cooperation and student research skills.
The Department of Environmental Management at the City of Lodz Office, whose activities encompass environmental protection and development in Lodz, including waste management, urban greenery protection, air quality monitoring and implementation of the city's environmental policy, is the project partner. The Department will provide sampling locations, participate in the analysis of research results and support the team in interpreting the data in the context of the city's needs. Thanks to the Department of Environmental Management, the project results will be used to develop city policies and environmental regulations.
The project will provide insight into the presence of bacteriophages in urban wastewater, which can limit the growth of pathogenic bacteria. The research results can help the Department of Environmental Management at the City of Lodz Office better assess the state of the environment and plan actions to improve water quality and sanitary safety in the city. The project has practical implications for the city – it can contribute to the implementation of modern, biological methods supporting wastewater treatment.
The project team:
- Dr Magdalena Moryl – an Assistant Professor at the Department of Biology of Bacteria at the Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz. Her research focuses on bacterial biofilms formed by uropathogenic bacteria and assessing the potential of bacteriophages to combat antibiotic-resistant microorganisms. Paper: The Combination of Phage Therapy and β-Lactam Antibiotics for the Effective Treatment of Enterococcus faecalis Infections, DOI: 10.3390/ijms26010011. Int. J Mol. Sci 2025
- Prof. Jasna Hrenović – an academic teacher at the University of Zagreb, Faculty of Science. Prof. Hrenović's research interests include wastewater treatment, aquatic media and bacteriology.
- Weronika Morgaś – a 2nd year MA student of Microbiology, Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Laboratory Diagnostics. Diploma thesis: Temperate phages as a source of bacterial variability.
- Mgr Blanca Dadic – a doctoral student at the University of Zagreb, Faculty of Biology. Thesis: Carbapenem-resistant bacteria in the environment, https://doi.org/10.2478/aiht-2025-76-3956, Archives of Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology, 2025
- Anna Wierzbicka – the Head of the Department of Environmental Management of the City of Lodz
Science Hub UniLodz (SH) is a collaboration platform at the University of Lodz that connects students, university experts and external entities, supporting them in the implementation of innovative research and implementation projects. Teams operating within the University of Lodz cooperate to address real-world scientific challenges submitted by partner organisations.
The "We are UNIC!” project is financed by the European Union under the "Support for European University Alliances" programme, project NAWA FERS.01.05-IP.08-0219/23, amount: PLN 62,705,297.60.
