V3 (ADC) Urík, M.; Farkas, B.; Miglierini, M.B.; Bujdoš, M.; Mitróová, Z.; Kim, H.; Matúš, P. (2021). Mobilisation of hazardous elements from arsenic-rich mine drainage ochres by three Aspergillus species. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 409, art. no. 124938. doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.124938. (2019: 9,038 - IF, Q1 – JCR, Q1 – SJR)

V3 (ADC) Urík, M.; Polák, F.; Bujdoš, M.; Miglierini, M.B.; Milová-Žiaková, B.; Farkas, B.; Goneková, Z.; Vojtková, H.; Matúš, P. (2019): Antimony leaching from antimony-bearing ferric oxyhydroxides by filamentous fungi and biotransformation of ferric substrate. Science of the Total Environment, 664, 683-689, doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.02.033. (2018: 5,589 - IF, Q1 – JCR)

V3 (ADC) Farkas, B.; Kolenčík, M.; Hain, M.; Dobročka, E.; Kratošová, G.; Bujdoš, M.; Feng, H.; Deng, Y.; Yu, Q.; Illa, R., Ratn Sunil, B.; Kim, H.; Matúš, P.; Urík, M. (2020). Aspergillus niger decreases bioavailability of arsenic(V) via biotransformation of manganese oxide into biogenic oxalate minerals. Journal of Fungi, 6, art. no. 270, doi:10.3390/jof6040270. (2019: 4,621 - IF, Q1 – JCR)

V3 (ADC) Farkas, B.; Vojtková, H.; Bujdoš, M.; Kolenčík, M.; Šebesta, M.; Matulová, M.; Duborská, E.; Danko, M.; Kim, H.; Kučová, K.; Matúš, P.; Urík, M. (2021). Fungal mobilization of selenium in the presence of hausmannite and ferric oxyhydroxides. Journal of Fungi, 7, 810, DOI: 10.3390/jof7100810. (2020: 5,816 - IF, Q1 – JCR)

V3 (ADC) Farkas, B.; Bujdoš, M.; Polák, F.; Matulová, M.; Cesnek, M.; Duborská, E.; Zvěřina, O.; Kim, H.; Danko, M.; Kisová, Z.; Matúš, P.; Urík, M. (2021). Bioleaching of manganese oxides at different oxidation states by filamentous fungus aspergillus niger. Journal of Fungi, 7, 808, DOI: 10.3390/jof7100808. (2020: 5,816 - IF, Q1 - JCR)

V3 (ADC) Farkas, B.; Urík, M.; Matúš, P. (2020). Manganese biotransformation by microorganisms. Chemické Listy, 114, 841-846.

(2019: 0,390 - IF, Q4 – JCR, Q3 – SJR)

V3 (ADC) Balíková, K.; Farkas, B.; Matúš, P. ;Urík, M. (2022) Prospects of Biogenic Xanthan and Gellan in Removal of Heavy Metals from Contaminated Waters. Polymers, 14, 5342, DOI: 10.3390/polym1423532. (2021: 4.967 - IF, Q1 - JCR)

V3 (ADC) Duborská, E.; Balíková, K.; Matulová, M.; Zvěřina, O. ;Farkas, B.; Littera, P.; Urík, M. (2021) Production of Methyl-Iodide in the Environment. Frontiers in Microbiology, 1223, 804081, DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.804081. (2020: 5.640 - IF, Q1 - JCR)

V3 (ADC) Farkas, Z.; Puškárová, A.; Opálková Šišková A.; Poljovka, A.; Zámocký, M.; Vadkertiová, E.; Urík, M.; Farkas, B.; Bučková, M.; Krakova, L.; Pangallo, D. (2023).Evaluation of enzymatic stamp removal strategies on handmade (cellulose-based) and machine-made (lignin-containing) papers. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules 242 (2): 124599, doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.124599. (2021: IF - 8,025, Q1 - JCR)

V3 (ADC) Farkas, B.; Vojtková, H.; Farkas, Z.; Pangallo, D.; Kassak, P.; Lupini, A.; Kim, H.; Urík, M.; Matúš, P. (2023) Involvement of Bacterial and Fungal Extracellular Products in Transformation of Manganese-Bearing Minerals and Its Environmental Impact. International journal of molecular sciences 24 (11) doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24119215. (2021: IF - 6,208, Q1 - JCR)

Cudowski, A., Pietryczuk, A. (2019) Biochemical response of Rhodotorula mucilaginosa and Cladosporium herbarum isolated from aquatic environment on iron(III) ions. Scientific Reports, 9 (1), art. no. 19492 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-56088-5

Silva L.F.O., Bodah B.W., Lozano L.P., Oliveira M.L.S., Korcelski C., Maculan L.S., Neckel A.(2023) Nanoparticles containing hazardous elements and the spatial optics of the Sentinel-3B OLCI satellite in Amazonian rivers: a potential tool to understand environmental impacts. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 30 (29), pp. 73780 - 73798 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-27617-7

Jin C.-S., Deng R.-J., Ren B.-Z., Hou B.-L., Hursthouse A.S. (2020) Enhanced Biosorption of Sb(III) onto Living Rhodotorula mucilaginosa Strain DJHN070401: Optimization and Mechanism. Current Microbiology, 77 (9), pp. 2071 - 2083 DOI: 10.1007/s00284-020-02025-z

Dell’anno F., Rastelli E., Buschi E., Barone G., Beolchini F., Dell’anno A. (2022) Fungi Can Be More Effective Than Bacteria for the Bioremediation of Marine Sediments Highly Contaminated with Heavy Metals. Microorganisms, 10 (5), art. no. 993 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10050993

El-Badry M., Elbarbary T., Abdel-Fatah Y., Abdel-Halim S., Sharada H., Ibrahim I.A.(2022) Role of Actinomycete sp. In bio-extraction of copper from electronic waste. Biointerface Research in Applied Chemistry, 12 (5), pp. 6723 - 6740 DOI: 10.33263/BRIAC125.67236740

VEGA 1/0146/18; (2018-2021); scientific co-worker (chief researcher was Assoc. Prof. Martin Urík, PhD.); Effects of microbial extracellular metabolites and bio-transformation processes on mobility of Mn, Fe and Si, and other environmentally significant micro-nutrients; This project studies the mutual interaction of microorganisms or their extracellular metabolites and the surfaces of solid amorphous or crystalline inorganic phases, which affect the mobility and bioavailability of various elements.; ABSTRACT: Although Fe, Mn and Si are important micronutrients from the point of view of agrobiology and no less important elements from the viewpoint of geochemistry, the influence of filamentous fungi on their mobility in the environment is omitted in current literature. However, chelating and redox properties of fungal extracellular metabolites, rapid metabolism and high tolerance to chemical stressors, make this heterotrophic group ideal candidate for efficient mobilization of nutrients in soils. This unique property is, however, two-sided and can also mobilize hazardous substances bound in natural geochemical barriers, the dominant component of which is iron and manganese oxides and hydroxides. Therefore, this project is primarily assessing the impact of this significant heterotrophic microbial group, especially their extracellular products, on the stability and transformation of solid phases with high Fe, Mn and Si content and related changes in mobility and bioavailability of these nutrients in the environment. 

VEGA 1/0139/22; (2022-2025); scientific co-worker (chief researcher Mgr. Eva Duborská, PhD.); This project focuses on the study of factors influencing the mobility and translocation of selected essential trace elements (e.g. I, Se, Zn) from the soil to plant tissues. Despite of the medical importance of some essential trace elements, the number of experimental studies investigating their mobility in soils is very low. Studying the mechanisms of their retention in soils helps us to understand the reason for the formation of areas with their deficient or excessive content. Thus, in soils, it is necessary to study the retention mechanisms of essential trace elements, as well as their fractionation and distribution in soil horizons. Experimentally, their mobility in soils and other types of substrates will be monitored using sorption experiments, extraction procedures and bioaccumulation experiments with plants. The effect of biological and environmental factors on their bioavailability will be also assessed.

VEGA 1/0175/22; (2022-2025); scientific co-worker (chief researcher Assoc. Prof. Martin Urík, PhD.) Effects of mutual interactions of humic substances and microorganisms on mobility and bioavailability of iron. Iron is an important micronutrient, and its amorphous and mineral phases are no less important components of the environment. However, reports on influence of microscopic filamentous fungi on its mobility and speciation is scarce. Nevertheless, both chelating and redox properties of the extracellular metabolites of this soil microbial group are factors that regulate its release from solid phases and its subsequent transfer into plants. Soil organic matter is another major factor influencing iron distribution. In particular, its component, humic substances, participates in its reductive dissolution and sorption. Thus, microbially induced alteration of humic substances also changes the geochemical behavior of iron. Therefore, the aim of this project is to analyze speciation and distribution of iron in a complex matrices of soils, and microbial and plant biomass, which would provide insight into the mechanisms and consequences of the interaction of biotransformed solid iron phases and humic substances.

Fellowships for excellent researchers R2-R4 09I03-03-V04-00170; (7/2024-6/2026) principal investigator. Microbially assisted recovering of critically important element of manganese from abandoned deposits. Manganese (Mn) is an indispensable element for all living organisms. Both its amorphous and crystalline mineral phases play significant roles in the environment. They not only act as geochemical barriers, impeding the distribution of harmful elements resp. compounds, but also present an attractive substrate for producing valuable Mn-based materials across multiple industries. Recent years have seen a substantial rise in the demand for Mn, partly driven by the shift towards e-mobility, as certain forms of Mn can substitute cobalt, a previously preferred element. This heightened demand has prompted a reevaluation of abandoned Mn deposits, where conventional chemical extraction methods are financially unviable. The solution lies in exploring innovative, energy-efficient, and environmentally friendly alternatives, such as harnessing microbial activity to dissolve ores and extract Mn. Consequently, the principal objectives of this research project is to assess the potential of isolated indigenous microorganisms in bioextracting strategically significant Mn from its oxide forms or from naturally occurring manganese phases within ore deposits. Within the scope of biological transformation, we will primarily investigate the interactions of extracellular microbial products with redox-active, acidic, or chelating properties (e.g., oxalate) with the surfaces of solid oxide phases, (oxo)hydroxides, or manganese carbonates. We will evalute the consequences of these interactions on speciation, resp. manganese mobilization. Since the mentioned microbially stimulated interactions potentially induce, in addition to manganese extraction, the biological transformation of initial manganese-containing mineral phases into different secondary biomineral phases (e.g. oxalates), which have shown a perspective in their application as electrode materials in battery cells. Hence, another objective of this project is to evaluate the stability of these biogenic mineral phases, as well as their physicochemical properties (e.g., specific surface area, particle size distribution) and electrochemical behavior. Furthermore an important objective in the context of the presented project is the study of the distribution and forms of manganese bound or accumulated in the biomass of microorganisms, or phases associated with biomass (secondary biogenic phases on cell surfaces or in their immediate environment), for which various speciation analyzes will be used, including spectrometry and XANES/EXAFS and XPS analysis.