Eco-biotechnology and drug development

We work on a number of topics at the interphase between biology and chemistry.

We are developing eco-sustainable processes based on microorganisms and microbial enzymes and using microbial bioactive metabolites as starting point for further structural optimizations and activity enhancements. We are interested in understanding how evolution shapes the properties of microbial metabolism (proteins, biopolymers and bioactive secondary metabolites) and in the dynamics of complex microbial communities.

The applications of this research range from the environmental applications such as the use of microorganisms for the upcycling of plastic waste into molecules of added value to development of novel methods to fight antibiotic resistant pathogens.

Plastics & Environment problems through biocatalysis and synthetic biology
‘All things bio’ – biomaterials, biofilms, biosensors, biopigments, biosurfactants, bioremediation, bioeconomy…
Towards next generation eco-friendly and low cost biopharmaceuticals
Biotechnologically relevant enzymes and directed evolution

IMGGE work program for 2022
Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia, 451-03-47/2023-01/ 200042
Principal Investigator: Dr Ivana Strahinic, IMGGE
Participants: all IMGGE researchers
BioECOLogics - Value-added biologics through eco-sustainable routes
Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia, Program IDEAS, 7730810, 2021-2024
Principal Investigator: Dr Jasmina Nikodinovic-Runic, IMGGE
Participants: Dr Sandra Vojnovic, dr Tatjana Ilic-Tomic, dr Sanja Jeremic, dr Dusan Milivojevic, dr Ivana Aleksic, dr Sanja Skaro Bogojevic, Brana Pantelic
Bio Innovation of a Circular Economy for Plastics (BioICEP)
European Comission, H2020-870292, 2020-2023
Coordinator: Dr Margaret Fournet, Athlone Institute of Technology
Participants: Dr Jasmina Nikodinovic-Runic
Functionalization of biopolymers
Bioplastech Ltd., Dublin, BP2013, Ireland
Principal Investigator: Dr Jasmina Nikodinovic-Runic, IMGGE
De-novo sequencing of 82 selected strains with biomass-degrading and bioremediation potential
JGI Community Science Program, US DOE, FP00010829, 2020-2023
Principal Investigator: Dr MIlica Ciric, IMGGE
Tiny creatures reign in our kitchen drain
Society for Applied Microbiology, 2022-2023
Principal Investigator: Dr Sanja Jeremic, IMGGE
Science on the move - from lab to streets & school (ScienceSCool)
European Comission, 101061631, 2022-2023
Principal Investigator: Dr Biljana Sljukic Paunkovic, Faculty of Physical Chemistry, University of Belgrade
Participant: Dr Sanja Jeremic
Eco conversion of lower grade PET and mixed recalcitrant PET plastic waste into high performing biopolymers (EcoPlastiC)
EU and EIC, HE Pathfinder, 101046758, 2022-2025
Coordinator: Dr Margaret Brennan Fournet, Technological University of the Shannon, Ireland
Participant: Dr Jasmina Nikodinovic-Runic

HEAD OF THE GROUP

Jasmina Nikodinovic-Runic - Full research professor

FULL RESEARCH PROFESSOR

Tatjana Ilić-Tomić

ASSOCIATE RESEARCH PROFESSOR

ASSISTANT RESEARCH PROFESSOR

RESEARCH ASSISTANT

JUNIOR RESEARCHER

OTHERS

Venkateswara Rao Chebrolu

Synthesis and characterization of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) precursors and potential degradation products: Toxicity study and application in discovery of novel PETases
Djapovic M, Milivojevic D, Ilic-Tomic T, Lješević M, Nikolaivits E, Topakas E, Maslak V, Nikodinovic-Runic J
Chemosphere 2021;275:130005
Progressing plastics circularity: A review of mechano-biocatalytic approaches for waste plastic (re)valorization
Nikolaivits E, Pantelic B, Azeem M, Taxeidis G, Babu R, Topakas E, Brennan Fournet M, Nikodinovic-Runic J
Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2021;9:696040
Synthesis and laccase-mediated oxidation of new condensed 1,4-dihydropyridine derivatives
Milovanovic J, Gündüz MG, Zerva A, Petkovic M, Beskoski V, Thomaidis N, Topakas E, Nikodinovic-Runic J
Catalysts 2021;11:727
Tailoring copper(II) complexes with pyridine-4,5-dicarboxylate esters to anti-Candida activity
Andrejevic T, Aleksic I, Pockaj M, Kljun J, Milivojevic D, Stevanovic N, Nikodinovic-Runic J, Turel I, Djuran M, Glisic B
Dalton Trans 2021;50:2627-2638
Photoactivatable surface-functionalized diatom microalgae for colorectal cancer targeted delivery and enhanced cytotoxicity of anticancer complexes
Delasoie J, Schiel P, Vojnovic S, Nikodinovic-Runic J, Zobi F
Pharmaceutics 2020,12:480
Production of bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) and its application as a solid support in transition metal catalysed cross-coupling reactions
Jeremic S, Djokic L, Ajdačić V, Božinović N, Pavlovic V, Manojlović DD, Babu R, Senthamaraikannan R, Rojas O, Opsenica I, Nikodinovic-Runic J
Int J Biol Macromol 2019;129:351-360
Biodegradation of poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and medium chain length polyhydroxyalkanoate (mcl-PHA) using whole cells and cell free protein preparations of Pseudomonas and Streptomyces strains grown on waste cooking oil
Mandic M, Spasic J, Ponjavic M, Nikolic MS, Cosovic VR, O'Connor KE, Nikodinovic-Runic J, Djokic L, Jeremic S
Polym Degrad Stab 2019;162:160-168
Biofilm-forming ability and infection potential of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains isolated from animals and humans
Milivojevic D, Šumonja N, Medić S, Pavic A, Moric I, Vasiljevic B, Senerovic L, Nikodinovic-Runic J
Pathog Dis 2018;76(4):fty041
Streptomyces spp. in the biocatalysis toolbox
Spasic J, Mandic M, Djokic L, Nikodinovic-Runic J
Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2018;102(8):3513-3536
Bacterial nanocellulose as green support of platinum nanoparticles for effective methanol oxidation
Ponjavic M, Stevanovic S, Nikodinovic-Runic J, Jeremic S, Cosovic VR, Maksimovic V.
Int J Biol Macromol. 2022;223(Pt A):1474-1484

Head Office / Mailing address:
Vojvode Stepe 444a,
11042 Belgrade 152, Serbia

Tel: +381 64 804 40 93
Mob: +381 64 8044093
Faks: +381 11 3975808

ecobiotech_lab@imgge.bg.ac.rs