Projects

Principal Investigator: Ivana Klun

Project team members:

Duško Ćirović, Oliver Tošković, Aleksandra Penezić, Stanislav Simin, Aleksandra Uzelac, Vladimir Ćirković, Dragana Miličić, Nikola Betić, Neda Bogdanović, Ilija Pantelić

Project number: 2424

Project duration: 2024-2026

Lead institution:

Institute for Medical Research, University of Belgrade

Collaborating institutions:

Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade; Faculty of Philosophy; University of Belgrade; Faculty of Agriculture, University of Novi Sad; Institute of Meat Hygiene and Technology

Abstract:

Background: The increasing prevalence of food and waterborne parasitoses in humans and animals in Europe calls for the need for holistic surveillance to detect emerging threats and identify reservoirs of infection, so that public health authorities can be alerted in a timely manner. Systematic monitoring programs for most of the parasites which cause these diseases do not exist and most parasitoses are not notifiable, thus it is upon the scientific community to gather evidence of these silent epidemics, raise awareness and advocate for innovative and improved food safety measures to reduce disease burden.

Novelty: PARASITE_HUNTER aims to incorporate One Health principles in food safety, with a strong emphasis on environmental matrices, as the 21^st century is characterized by significantly perturbed ecosystems due to anthropogenic disturbances. The impact of ecosystem health and wildlife on food safety will be evaluated and communication with stakeholders will be established.

Methods: Standardized parasitological methods [sedimentation, (Mini)FLOTAC] and validated molecular techniques (multiplex qPCR, nested PCR) will be applied to detect, quantify, and assess viability (staining and in vitro culture) of food and waterborne parasites (FWP) of public health significance in various human and animal foods, water and soil in which the food is produced.

Impact: This project aims to establish a data driven surveillance framework for FWP to improve food safety beyond the current standard by including monitoring of vulnerable groups (humans and animals) not covered by the current food safety legislation. Stakeholders will be engaged through questionnaires to assess the level of awareness regarding FWP and help draft a white paper with proposals to reduce/control the FWP burden.

Expected results: A sustainable, state of the art FWP surveillance program for timely identification of emerging threats to public health, and stakeholder approved measures to improve food safety.

Project leader: Aleksandra Uzelac

Project collaborators:

Katarina Breka, Jelena Karanović, Nikola Betić, Milica Kuručki, Tijana Kukurić

Project number: 10841

Duration of the project: 2024-2026

Leading Institution:

Institute for Medical Research, University of Belgrade

COLLABORATING INSTITUTIONS:
Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade; Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade; Institute of Meat Hygiene and Technology; Faculty of Agriculture, University of Novi Sad

Description of the project:

Analysis of the population genetics of Echinococcus is an ongoing effort in some parts of Europe, while the Balkans represent a significant knowledge gap. This project proposes to comprehensively survey the entire transmission cycle consisting of intermediate and definitive animal hosts and the environment using sample processing and analytical methods which have been standardized, validated and harmonized at the EU level to obtain high quality population genetics data via mitochondrial gene (cox1 and nad1) sequencing and characterization of the EmsB microsatellite from single eggs, larvae and adults. Specifically, this approach allows for the survey of as of yet underexplored reservoirs with a potentially high transmission capacity to humans. The population genetics data along with GPS coordinates of identified infected hosts will be systematized and graphically displayed through an interactive bioinformatics database, WormProfiler, to help identify transmission foci and ultimately model transmission dynamics. WormProfiler’s user interface will be specifically tailored to veterinarians and physicians, who are key stakeholders for transmission prevention, in order to facilitate education of the public and raise awareness of echinococcosis. Ultimately, the project’s goal is to create a software supported framework for systematic surveillance of Echinococcus to aid in the development of targeted transmission control actions to reduce echinococcosis case burden.