Dr. Bozena Futoma-Koloch | Immunology and Microbiology | Best Faculty Award
University of Wroclaw | Poland
Dr. Bożena Futoma-Kołoch is an accomplished microbiologist whose research integrates microbial pathogenesis, antimicrobial resistance, and host–pathogen interactions, with a particular focus on Salmonella enterica. She is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Microbiology at the University of Wrocław, where she has built a coherent and internationally recognized research program grounded in molecular microbiology, immunology, and environmental microbiology. Her scientific work has substantially advanced understanding of how environmental stressors especially disinfectants, antiseptics, and human serum—shape bacterial virulence and survival. A central theme of her research is the phenomenon of cross-resistance, whereby exposure to biocides influences bacterial tolerance to antibiotics and serum-mediated immune defenses. Through detailed phenotypic and proteomic analyses, Dr. Futoma-Kołoch has demonstrated that changes in outer membrane proteins (OMPs) play a pivotal role in mediating resistance to serum complement, antibiotics, and disinfectants. These findings have provided new mechanistic insights into bacterial adaptation and have identified OMPs as promising biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets in the fight against multidrug-resistant pathogens. Her habilitation work, “Effect of disinfectants and serum on the phenotype associated with virulence in non-typhoid Salmonella enterica strains” (2024), represents a significant milestone, consolidating years of systematic research into how chemical and immunological pressures modulate virulence-associated traits. This research has strong translational relevance for public health, food safety, and infection control, particularly in the context of increasing antimicrobial resistance and widespread biocide use. Dr. Futoma-Kołoch is also actively engaged in interdisciplinary and applied research. Dr. Futoma-Kołoch’s scholarly output includes influential review articles that are widely cited and shape current thinking on bacterial virulence, serum resistance, and antimicrobial defense mechanisms. Her leadership in international collaborations, participation in COST Actions, and service as an editor and reviewer for high-impact journals further attest to her standing in the global microbiology community. Overall, her research profile reflects originality, continuity, and significant impact on both basic science and applied infectious disease research.
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Featured Publications
Biological activity of quaternary ammonium salts and resistance of microorganisms to these compounds
– World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology, 2021 | Cited by: 57
Killing of Gram-negative bacteria with normal human serum and normal bovine serum: use of lysozyme and complement proteins in the death of Salmonella strains O48
– Microbial ecology, 2009 | Cited by: 21
The effectiveness of newly synthesized quaternary ammonium salts differing in chain length and type of counterion against priority human pathogens
– Scientific Reports, 2022 | Cited by: 39
Sialic Acid-Containing Lipopolysaccharides of Salmonella O48 Strains—Potential Role in Camouflage and Susceptibility to the Bactericidal Effect of Normal
– Microbial ecology, 2010 | Cited by: 29
Antibacterial activity and action mode of Cu (I) and Cu (II) complexes with phosphines derived from fluoroquinolone against clinical and multidrug-resistant bacterial strains
– Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry, 2020 | Cited by: 14