Microbiology and Parasitology

Research professor

Branko Bobić

Principal research fellow

Ivana Klun

Senior research associate

Tijana Štajner

Tijana Stajner is an M.D., Ph.D., Specialist in Medical Microbiology, Head of the National Reference Laboratory for Toxoplasmosis and Senior Research Associate at the Group for Microbiology with Parasitology. Her research interests are focused on medical microbiology and infectious diseases, primarily parasitic diseases, i.e., parasitic zoonoses with emphasis on toxoplasmosis. Her current research goals are mainly directed towards improvement and development of diagnostic procedures and treatment options for clinical entities caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii. She is also aimed at elucidating various aspects of the microorganism-host relationship (molecular, immunological) and their interpretation in the context of the One Health concept.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

Laboratory technician

Biljana Jednak