Head: Professor Jacek Osek, DVM, PhD, ScD
Email: josek@piwet.pulawy.pl
Phone: 81 889 3182

Deputy Head: Professor Kinga Wieczorek, PhD, ScD
Email: kinga.wieczorek@piwet.pulawy.pl
Phone: 81 889 3409

Secretariat
Email: dbm@piwet.pulawy.pl
Phone: 81 889 3084

Department Research Profile:
Research in the field of hygiene and sanitary-veterinary assessment of food of animal origin, including raw milk. Development of new methods and guidelines for laboratory food control. Research in the field of microbiology and technology of heat-treated milk and dairy products. Research on residues of antibacterial substances in milk and dairy products, as well as in animal tissues, eggs, honey, drinking water for animals, and feed. Determination of histamine in fish and fish products, biogenic amines in food, marine biotoxins in bivalve molluscs, and basic chemistry, including the determination of nitrogen and phosphorus in food. Detection of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in feed, assessment of the impact of GMOs on animal health and the safety of food of animal origin, assessment of the scope of GMO use in feed in Poland, and analysis of the feed market in terms of sources and methods of using feed raw materials from GMOs. Development and implementation of molecular and genomic methods for detecting viral infectious agents transmitted through food into laboratory practice. Identification of zoonotic viral agents in animal reservoirs and farm environments, with particular emphasis on research into the epidemiology of infections in livestock caused by hepatitis E virus. Detection of viruses in food and analysis of the food production chain of animal origin. Genetic characterization of selected viral infectious agents contaminating food. Detection and species identification of processed animal protein in feed. Determination of the molecular weight of protein hydrolysates. Improvement and implementation of diagnostic methods for identifying the species of meat and meat products, raw animal by-products (ABPs), and vegan products into laboratory diagnostics. Development, improvement, and implementation of methods for testing antibacterial substances in food, feed, and water into laboratory practice. Research on antimicrobial resistance of Enterococcus spp., Staphylococcus spp., and Campylobacter spp. bacteria.

Research Teams

Microbiology of Food and Feed
Leader: Prof. Professor Kinga Wieczorek, PhD, ScD
Email: kinga.wieczorek@piwet.pulawy.pl
Phone: 81 889 3409
Team’s research profile:
Research in hygiene and sanitary-veterinary assessment of food of animal origin, including raw milk. Research in microbiology and technology of heat-treated milk and dairy products. Studies on the presence in food of Campylobacter spp., Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, including verocytotoxigenic E. coli, coagulase-positive staphylococci, including Staphylococcus aureus and staphylococcal enterotoxins, determination of the number of aerobic bacteria and bacteria from the Enterobacteriaceae family. Research on the antimicrobial resistance of Enterococcus spp., Staphylococcus spp. and Campylobacter spp.

Antibacterial Substance Residues and Medicated Feeds
Leader: Monika Przeniosło-Siwczyńska, DVM, PhD
Email: monip@piwet.pulawy.pl
Phone: 81 889 3081
Team Research Profile:
Research and development work in the detection of antibacterial substances in food, feed, and water. Key areas of research activity include: developing, improving, and implementing methods for testing antibacterial substances in food, feed, and water into laboratory practice, as well as research on the resistance of Enterococcus spp. bacteria.

Genetically Modified Organisms
Leader: Zbigniew Sieradzki, PhD, Eng.
Email: zbigniew.sieradzki@piwet.pulawy.pl
Phone: 81 889 3080
Team Research Profile:
The main tasks and areas of research activity include: research on the use of genetically modified feed in Poland, research on methods for GMO analysis using real-time PCR technique, research on the impact of GMO feed on animal health and welfare, and the safety of food of animal origin. The team for genetically modified feed also plays a key role in the GMO feed control system in Poland. It is the National Reference Laboratory for genetically modified feed containing rapeseed, cotton, and microorganisms. The team’s activities are reflected in ensuring feed safety and consumer protection by conducting specialized GMO research, providing expert knowledge in this area, cooperating with control bodies, and other actions aimed at monitoring and controlling the presence of GMOs in feed.

Biogenic Amines and Biotoxins
Leader: Marzena Pawul-Gruba, MSc
Email: marzena.pawul@piwet.pulawy.pl
Phone: 81 889 3302
Team Research Profile:
Research on the detection and determination of histamine in fish and fish products, biogenic amines in ripening food, and marine biotoxins in bivalve molluscs.

Animal Protein
Leader: Anna Weiner, DVM, PhD
Email: aweiner@piwet.pulawy.pl
Phone: 81 889 3293
Team Research Profile:
The team conducts research and development work in the identification of animal-derived components in feed and food. Key areas of activity include: detection and species identification of animal protein in feed (PAP) using microscopic and molecular methods (PCR, real-time PCR), determination of the molecular weight of protein hydrolysates using SDS-PAGE technique, improvement of diagnostic methods for identifying the species of meat, meat products, animal by-products (ABPs), and vegan products using molecular methods (PCR, real-time PCR) and electrophoretic methods (IEF).

Food Virology
Leader: Professor Artur Rzeżutka,DVM, PhD, ScD
Email: arzez@piwet.pulawy.pl
Phone: 81 889 3036
Team Research Profile:
Development and implementation into laboratory practice of methods for detecting viruses (hepatitis A and E viruses, noroviruses) transmitted through food of plant and animal origin. Monitoring of food of animal origin and its production chain for the presence of viral contamination. Research on the recognition and epidemiology of food-borne viral zoonoses, especially infections caused by hepatitis E virus in livestock and wild animals. Genetic characterization of selected viral infectious agents contaminating food. Research on the epidemiology of cryptosporidiosis in animals.