Svetlana Soković Bajić

Assistant Research Professor
GROUP FOR PROBIOTICS AND MICROBIOTA-HOST INTERACTION
Laboratory for Molecular Microbiology (LMM),

Institute of molecular genetics and genetic engineering (IMGGE),
University of Belgrade

Vojvode Stepe 444a, 11042 Belgrade 152, Serbia
Mobile phone:   +381 65 3976065
Phone:     +381 11 3975960
Fax:    +381 11 397 58 08
E-mail: svetlana.sokovic@imgge.bg.ac.rs

EDUCATION

2019 - PhD in Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade - Faculty of Biology (UB - BF)
(Thesis: Characterization of the lactic acid bacteria producers of γ-aminobutyric acid and their role in the prevention and treatment of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis)
2014 - M.Sc. in Biology, UB - BF
2013 - B.Sc. in Biology, UB - BF

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

2020 - Assistant research professor, LMM, IMGGE, UB
2017 - Research Assistant, LMM, IMGGE, UB
2014 - Research Trainee, LMM, IMGGE, UB

OTHER ACTIVITIES

2023 – Member of the Serbian Society for Extracellular Vesicles
2017 - Member of the Serbian Society for Molecular Biology
2014 - Member of the Serbian Society of Microbiology

RESEARCH INTEREST

Identification and characterization of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains that produce γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA).
Selection of LAB strains in order to develop novel GABA-enriched functional foods and probiotics.
Molecular mechanisms promoting probiotic activity of LAB.
Host-microbe interactions.
Bioactive compounds from microbes as modulators of the immune response.
Extracellular vesicles of probiotic and commensal bacteria and their role in communication with the host