Microbiology and Parasitology

The scientific research work of the Microbiology and Parasitology Group is focused on parasitic zoonoses and respecting the One Health concept, takes place in several directions

  1. improvement of diagnostic and therapeutic options for various clinical entities caused by T. gondii, especially toxoplasmosis after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
  2. epidemiological studies of T gondii, E. granulosus and H. Diminuta infection
  3. examination of the presence and genotypes of parasitic protozoa in surface stagnant waters - reservoirs for the spread of parasitic infections,
  4. establishing an iatrogenic mouse model of reactivated toxoplasmosis - a basis for testing therapeutics. 5. investigation of the effectiveness of newly synthesized ferrocene quinoline derivatives as potential antimalarials in vitro and in vivo.
The activities of the National Reference Laboratory for Toxoplasmosis will continue in accordance with the obligations and tasks provided for reference laboratories in Serbia.

NEXT THREE YEARS:

  • improvement of diagnostic and therapeutic options, especially after solid organ transplantation,
  • monitoring of toxoplasmosis in patients with autoimmune diseases,
  • correlation of immune status in T. infection. gondii and certain psychiatric entities.
  • field research on aquatic ecosystems and water as a medium for the spread of parasitic infections in Serbia
  • development of an in vitro model of toxoplasmic infection,
  • testing, newly synthesized potential therapeutics on an iatrogenic mouse model of reactivated toxoplasmosis and in vitro
  • the antimalarial activity of newly synthesized acridine derivatives will be investigated.

 

 

National reference laboratory for toxoplasmosis will intensify work on infection prevention – health education and quality control of serological diagnostics in Serbia. The introduction of a quality control program for molecular diagnostics is planned. In the context of technology transfer, it is planned to develop specialist services for monitoring zoonotic parasites in animals and in the environment

Head of the Research Group

No members found

Group Members

Principal research fellow

Ivana Klun
jelena.srbljanovic@imi.bg.ac.rs

Jelena Srbljanović
Research associate

Aleksandra Uzelac
Research associate

Vladimir Ćirković
Research assistant

Neda Bauman
Research assistant

Olivera Lijeskić
Junior research assistant

Đorđe Zlatković
Laboratory technician

Biljana Jednak

Principal research fellow

Ivana Klun

Email:iklun@imi.bg.ac.rs

jelena.srbljanovic@imi.bg.ac.rs

Jelena Srbljanović

In accordance with focus of Centre of Excellence for Food and Vector-borne Zoonoses and the specific tasks of the last national and two international projects, my work refers to the research of parasitic zoonoses and their etiological agents, focusing on parasites of Apicomlexa filum: Plasmodium sp. and Toxoplasma sp. My PhD thesis is based on the in vitro and in vivo experimental malaria chemotherapy, so I have specific knowledge in this field of parasitological research. My main skills include cell culture techniques, molecular techniques and microscopy, as well as immunodetection techniques (ELISA, WB).

Email:jelena.srbljanovic@imi.bg.ac.rs

Research associate

Aleksandra Uzelac

Aleksandra Uzelac is a molecular biologist at the Group for Microbiology and Parasitology of the Center of Excellence for Food and Vector-borne Zoonoses. Aleksandra’s research focus are population genetics and molecular mechanisms of virulence of environmentally transmitted parasites. Her current research interest are food and water borne parasites, particularly Toxoplasma gondii. Her research contributes to the understanding of the co-evolution of host and parasite.

Email:aleksandra.uzelac@imi.bg.ac.rs

Research associate

Vladimir Ćirković

Vladimir Cirkovic is a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and works in the Microbiology and Parasitology Group. He received his PhD in Ecology (Hydroecology) at the University of Belgrade Faculty of Biology. His research focuses on studying the occurrence and genotypes of the parasitic protozoa Giardia intestinalis, Cryptosporidium spp., and Toxoplasma gondii in aquatic habitats. He also studies the role of water in the transmission of parasitic diseases. He is interested in continuing and expanding the research in ecosystem parasitology, particularly the contamination of terrestrial ecosystems and the implications for food safety and human and animal health, and the role of paratenic hosts in the spread of parasites in populations.

Email:vladimir.cirkovic@imi.bg.ac.rs

Research assistant

Neda Bauman

Research assistant

Olivera Lijeskić

Olivera Lijeskić is a Doctor of Medicine, currently working as a research assistant in the Group for Microbiology and Parasitology. She is enrolled in the PhD programme – Microbes and Infection, at the School of Medicine, University of Belgrade. Her research is focused on the humoral immune response after SARS-CoV-2 infection and active immunization against COVID-19. In addition, she is also regularly involved in the diagnostic activities of the National Reference Laboratory for Toxoplasmosis.

Email:olivera.lijeskic@imi.bg.ac.rs

Junior research assistant

Đorđe Zlatković

Đorđe Zlatković, junior research assistant, is a first year PhD student at Facutly of Pharmacy, University of Belgrade. Since January 2023, he is a member of Group for microbiology and parasitology and Center of excellence for food and vector-borne zoonoses. His research efforts are mainly directed towards Apicomplexa parasites ( Toxoplasma and Plasmodium) and pharmaceutical chemistry (synthesis of biologically active compounds). He is currently actively training in serological diagnosis, working in cell culture environment and working with experimental animals.

Email:djordje.zlatkovic@imi.bg.ac.rs

Laboratory technician

Biljana Jednak

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