NCN OPUS grant for research on the small Regulatory RNAs in Yersinia Adaptation

12 12 2025

Dr Karolina Jaworska from the Department of Molecular Microbiology, Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology UW, has received funding from the National Science Centre (NCN) in the amount of PLN 1,740,940 under the OPUS 29 call for the project entitled “Small regulatory RNAs as key players in Yersinia adaptation: A comparative analysis of Y. enterocolitica and Y. ruckeri in pathogenesis and ecology”.

Microorganisms must rapidly adjust their gene expression to survive in fluctuating environments. Bacteria rely on several regulatory strategies, including small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs), which enable faster and energetically efficient responses compared to protein-based regulation. For pathogenic bacteria, quick adaptation to changing temperature, osmolarity, pH, nutrient levels and pressure from the host immune system is essential for synthesizing virulence and adaptation factors.

The close relationship between humans and animals presents a global public health challenge due to the potential transmission of zoonotic diseases. Campylobacteriosis, salmonellosis and yersiniosis are the most commonly reported zoonoses in the European Union. Yersinia enterocolitica is a major etiological agent of yersiniosis, transmitted primarily through contaminated food, especially pork and displays substantial diversity, comprising six biotypes that differ in virulence. Yersinia ruckeri poses a serious problem in aquaculture, causing ERM (enteric redmouth disease) in salmonid fish. This pathogen spreads through water, infected fish feces and biofilms, leading to significant economic losses in aquaculture systems.

The project aims to identify and characterize sRNAs in both Y. enterocolitica and Y. ruckeri. Using RNA sequencing, the study will identify sRNAs, examine their expression under diverse growth conditions, and determine potential targets linked to virulence. Detailed molecular analyses will clarify the roles of selected sRNAs in bacterial physiology and pathogenicity. Research will use clinical isolates with varying virulence levels to capture regulatory diversity among strains.

Project outcomes will improve understanding of sRNA-mediated post-transcriptional regulation in Yersinia sp., revealing mechanisms crucial for adaptation and disease. Identified sRNAs or synthetic analogues may support future gene-silencing strategies and contribute to developing targeted antibacterial approaches amid rising antibiotic resistance. The results will establish a foundation for innovative interventions focused on sRNA-dependent regulatory pathways.