Contact

zuzanna.bacinska@pwr.edu.pl 
A-2, room 305a 

Research

I am a microbiologist with a research focus on the biological activity of natural fragrance materials, particularly essential oils. My work explores their anti-microbial, anti-biofilm, and synergistic properties against pathogens responsible for common oral diseases, including Porphyromonas gingivalis, Streptococcus mutans, and Candida albicans. I am interested in identifying natural alternatives to conventional antimicrobial agents, with an emphasis on biofilm inhibition and combination strategies to enhance efficacy.

As part of international research collaborations with the University of Lisbon and the National Institute for Agrarian and Veterinary Research (INIAV) in Oeiras, Portugal, I extended my studies to assess the inhibitory potential of natural materials against the pinewood nematode (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus). These interdisciplinary projects have allowed me to apply microbiological methods across different biological systems and explore the broader applications of plant-derived compounds.

I was a recipient of a Minigrant in the 1st edition of the Doctoral School’s funding program at Wrocław University of Science and Technology, which supported the development of my independent research in this field.

Education and research internships

2025 PhD Student Internship, (Erasmus+ exchange) University of Lisbon, Faculty of Sciences, Lisbon, Portugal. Exploring the antiparasitic properties of natural fragrance raw materials.

2025 PhD Student Internship, INIAV - Instituto Nacional de Investigação Agrária e Veterinária, Oeiras, Portugal. Evaluate the biological activity of 30 plant extracts against pinewood nematode in direct contact bioassays.

2022 – present PhD student in Chemical Sciences, Doctoral School, Faculty of Chemistry, Department of Chemical Biology and Bioimaging, Wroclaw, Poland. Thesis: Analysis of the activity of natural fragrance raw materials against oral pathogens.

2021 – 2022 MSc. in Biotechnology (specialization: Environmental Biotechnology), Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Poland. Natural fragrance raw materials as growth inhibitors of Gram-negative bacteria of the species Enterobacter, Pseudomonas, Burkholderia, and Klebsiella.

2017 – 2021 Eng. in Biotechnology, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Poland, Biotechnological applications of non-thermal plasma.

Publications and patents

Bacińska Z, Strub DJ, Balcerzak L. Antibacterial potential of essential oils against oral pathogenic bacteria: A literature and clinical review. J Appl Microbiol 2025 [accepted for publication]

Bacińska Z, Baberowska K, Surowiak AJ, Balcerzak L, Strub DJ. Exploring the antimicrobial properties of 99 natural flavour and fragrance raw materials against pathogenic bacteria: a comparative study with antibiotics. Plants 12, 21, 3777, p.1-17. (2023) doi: 10.3390/plants12213777

Conferences

Bacińska Z, Balcerzak L, Strub DJ. Exploring Synergistic and Antagonistic Interactions: Investigating Antimicrobial and Biofilm Inhibitory Activity in the Oral Cavity. 54th International Symposium on Essential Oils "ISEO 2024", Balatonalmádi, Hungary, 09/2024

Bacińska Z, Strub DJ, Balcerzak L. Natural plant extracts as antibacterial agents against periodontal pathogens. 53rd International Symposium on Essential Oils "ISEO 2023", Milazzo, Italy, 09/2023

Bacińska Z, Strub DJ, Balcerzak L. Materials of plant origin as antibacterial agents towards dental pathobionts. ChemBiotIC, 2nd edition of Chemistry & Biotechnology International Conference, 06/2023

Bacińska Z, Strub DJ, Balcerzak L. Natural raw materials as agents against oral pathogens. XIX Ogólnopolskie Seminarium dla Doktorantów i Studentów "Na pograniczu chemii i biologii", Trzebieszowice, Poland, 06/2023

Bacińska Z, Balcerzak L. Natural fragrance raw materials as growth inhibitors of the species Burkholderia and Pseudomonas. 52nd International Symposium on Essential Oils "ISEO 2022", Wrocław, Poland, 09/2022

Bacińska Z, Balcerzak L. Natural fragrance raw materials as growth inhibitors of Gram-negative bacteria of the species Enterobacter and Klebsiella. agroBiotechnology For Better Future Conference, Wrocław, Poland, 03/2022