Research interests
biological diversity and prevalence of yeasts in various anthropogenic substrates, physiological, biochemical and ecological features of yeasts involved in biodestruction processes, practical use of yeasts and other microorganisms for biodegradation of various substrates and biological cleaning of the environment. Microbiological (mycological and bacteriological), molecular biological (PCR, MALDI-TOF) and rare and dangerous human pathogens research.
Annotation of the dissertation
The aim: To study the prevalence of yeast in various anthropogenic substrates, their biological and ecological features, and the possibilities of activity regulation
Objectives:
1. To isolate and identify yeasts in various anthropogenic substrates;
2. To determine morphological and physiological features of isolated yeasts;
3. To find out biochemical features and produced metabolites of isolated yeasts;
4. To evaluate interactions between isolated yeats and other substrate microorganisms and to assess the possibility of their activity regulation.
Yeasts are a group of single-celled microscopic fungi comprising about 1,500 yeast species belonging to the phylums Ascomycota and Basidiomycota. They are distributed throughout the world, found in soil, water, and various plant surfaces, and particularly abundant in sugary media such as flower nectars and fruits.
Yeasts can participate in various biodegradation and bioremediation processes, play the role of biological indicators, and their properties help to suspect environmental pollution and determine its source.
The increasing accumulation of various anthropogenic wastes, pollutants, and other substances of anthropogenic origin in the environment causes large-scale ecological problems. Currently used methods of disposal of various substrates of anthropogenic origin (physical (burning), chemical, mechanical processing, etc.) are not environmentally friendly, so there is a need to search for new methods of processing or destruction. One such method is biodegradation.
- Žvirgždas J., Paškevičius A., Levinskaitė L. (2022) Prevalence and biodiversity of yeasts in chromium-contaminated soil of Klaipėda city. Human and nature safety: Selected papers, p. 266-271, ISSN 1822-1823 (Print) ISSN 2538-9122 (Online) https://doi.org/10.7220/2538-9122.2023
- Žvirgždas J., Kiverytė S., Paškevičius A., Jacevičius P. (2021) A Retrospective Study of dermatomycosis Causative Agents in Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Clinics. Laboratorinė medicina, t. 23, Nr. 4 (90), p. 198-206. ISSN 1392-6470.
- 2021 02 02 / 07 /19 / 23. VMU Methodological training for PhD students: Scientific sources: critical selection, systematic selection, comparison, types of literature reviews, Methods, forms and tests of scientific text preparation, Methodological choices: from theory to empirics, Academic ethics: why, what, how?
- 2020 03 06 / 2020 08 26. Short-term scientific internship at the Department of Food Science and Technology of the Kaunas University of Technology under the guidance of assoc. dr. Dalia Čižeikiene. Acquainted with the methods of determining enzyme activity, learned to quantitatively study the activity of enzymes (cellulases and amylases) produced by microorganisms using the spectrophotometric method.
- 2016 10 20. MALDI Advanced Operator Training Course, MALDI Biotyper Filamentous Fungi Identification.
International scientific conferences:
- Žvirgždas J., Paškevičius A., Levinskaitė L. 2022. Prevalence and biodiversity of yeasts in chromium-contaminated soil of Klaipėda city – 29th International Scientific – Practice Conference Human and nature safety 2023, May 10-12, Akademija, Kaunas dist., Lithuania.
- Žvirgždas J., Paškevičius A., Petrovas S., Iljasevičius K., Galginienė I. 2022. Isolation, selection and use of oil degrading microorganisms for biological treatment of contaminated soil – Ecology & Safety, August 16-19, Burgas, Bulgaria (remote conference).
National scientific conferences:
- Žvirgždas J., Paškevičius A., Levinskaitė L., Jokšas K. 2022. Yeast prevalence and biodiversity in the Baltic Sea in the territory of the Būtingė oil terminal – 15th Lithuanian Young Scientists Conference Biofuture: perspectives of natural and life sciences, November 24, Vilnius , Lithuania: 11.
https://www.lma.lt/uploads/BIOATEITIS%20prane%C5%A1im%C5%B3%20tez%C4%97s_2022.pdf. - Žvirgždas J., Paškevičius A., Petrovas S., Ilyasevičius K., Galginienė I. 2021. Selection and application of oil-oxidizing microorganisms for biological treatment of contaminated soil – 10th conference of young scientists „Young scientists for agricultural progress“, November 18, Vilnius, Lithuania: 28.
http://www.lma.lt/uploads/LMA%20leidyba/Jaunieji%20mokslininkai%20-%20%C5%BEem%C4%97s%20%C5%ABkio%20pa%C5%BEangai.%20Prane%C5%A1im%C5%B3%20tez%C4%97s_2021.pdf. - Žvirgždas J., Paškevičius A., Iljasevičius K., Galginienė I. 2020. Selection of oil-oxidizing microorganisms for efficient degradation of its products – 13th conference of young scientists Biofuture: perspectives of nature and life sciences, December 4, Vilnius, Lithuania: 7.
https://www.lma.lt/uploads/news/id1049/LMA_BIOATEITIS_gamtos%20ir%20gyvybes%20mokslu%20perspektyvos_programa-pranesimu%20tezes-taisytos.pdf