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Research
BIOACTIVE MOLECULES, BIOCATALYSTS AND BIOMATERIALS FROM MICROBIAL RESOURCES
Research interests of the Laboratory for Microbial Molecular Genetics and Ecology (LMMGE) are biotechnology, molecular genetics, biochemistry and ecology of microorganisms and microbial communities.
Our laboratory has unique collection of Streptomyces and other bacteria species which serve us as the source of novel bioactive compounds and biotechnologically relevant enzymes.
With lab members’ backgrounds in microbiology, molecular genetics, synthetic chemistry, veterinary science, fermentation technology, and biocatalysis, and long standing collaborations with industrial microbiologists, biochemical engineers, medical mycologists, and chemists in particular, allows us to address interesting problems such as:
- Biotechnology (offering sustainable and greener solutions to synthesis of valuable molecules and biomaterials including waste conversion to value-added materials);
- Production and characterization of bioactive compounds (Streptomyces culture collection);
- Novel approaches in antimicrobial treatments (microbial communication modulating molecules; virulence modulating agents; host-pathogen interactions; activity against microbial biofilms; antifungal therapy);
- Biocatalysis (discovery and engineering of novel biocatalysts for the production of chiral molecules, and improvement of biocatalytic processes);
- Bioremediations (aromatic hydrocarbons, heavy metals) and biodeteriorations (cultural heritage paintings, books, monuments);
- Taxonomic assessment of microbial communities using metagenomic approaches and taxonomic identification of bacterial isolates through 16S sequence analysis.
Laboratory for microbial molecular genetics and ecology is continually seeking for new collaborations and is offering services that include microbiological analysis, analysis and characterization of bioactive molecules in different model systems such as C. elegans and D. rerio, and directed evolution of enzymes.
Current project
- Microbial diversity study and characterization of beneficial environmental microorganisms
173048
Principal Investigator: Dr Branka Vasiljevic, IMGGE
- Combinatorial libraries of heterogeneous catalysts, natural products, modified natural products and their analogues: the way to new biologically active agents
172061
Principal Investigator: Niko Radulovic, PhD, Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics, University of Nis
- New synergistic strategy to treat chronic wound infections
Principal Investigator: Dr Lidija Senerovic, IMGGE
International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), CRP/SRB16-02, 2017-2019
- Funkcionalizacija biopolimera
Principal Investigator: Dr Jasmina Nikodinovic-Runic, IMGGE
Bioplastech Ltd., Dublin, Ireland
- The upcycling of waste plastic packaging material to a biodegradable plastic: Waste to value added product
Principal Investigator: Dr Jasmina Nikodinovic-Runic, IMGGE
Green Innovation Vouchers Scheme for Serbia, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Austrian DRIVE (Delivering Resource Efficiency InVEstments) Programme
Selected publications
- Aleksić I, Šegan S, Andrić F, Zlatović M, Moric I, Opsenica D, Senerovic L. Long-chain 4‑aminoquinolines as quorum sensing inhibitors in Serratia marcescens and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. ACS Chem Biol. 2017;12(5): 1425–1434.
- Pavić A, Glišić BĐ, Vojnović S, Warżajtisc B, Savić ND, Antić M, Radenković S, Janjić GV, Nikodinovic-Runic J, Rychlewska U. Mononuclear gold(III) complexes with phenanthroline ligands as efficient inhibitors of angiogenesis: A comparative study with auranofin and sunitinib. J Inorg Biochem. 2017;174,156-168.
- Aleksic I, Petkovic M, Jovanovic M, Milivojevic D, Vasiljevic B, Nikodinovic-Runic J, Senerovic L. Anti-biofilm properties of bacterial di-rhamnolipids and their semi-synthetic amide derivatives. Front Microbiol. 2017; doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2017.02454.
- Jeremic S, Beskoski V, Djokic L, Vasiljevic B, Vrvic M, Avdalovic J, Gojgic Cvijovic G, Slavkovic Beskoski L, Nikodinovic-Runic J. Interactions of the metal tolerant heterotrophic microorganisms and iron oxidizing autotrophic bacteria from sulphidic mine environment during bioleaching experiments. J Environ Manage. 2016;172:151-161.
- Radivojevic J, Skaro S, Senerovic L, Vasiljevic B, Guzik M, Kenny S, Maslak V, Nikodinovic-Runic J, O’Connor K. Polyhydroxyalkanoate-based 3-hydroxyoctanoic acid and its derivatives as a platform of bioactive compounds. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 2016;100(1):161-172.
- Glisic B, Aleksic I, Comba P, Wadepohl H, Ilic-Tomic T, Nikodinovic-Runic J, Djuran M. Copper(II) complexes with aromatic nitrogen-containing heterocycles as effective inhibitors of quorum sensing activity in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. RSC Adv. 2016;6:86695-86709
- Pekmezovic M, Aleksic I, Barac A, Arsic-Arsnijevic V, Vasiljevic B, Nikodinovic-Runic J, Senerovic L. Prevention of polymicrobial biofilms composed of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and pathogenic fungi by essential oils from selected Citrus species. Pathog Dis. 2016;74(8):ftw102.
- Ilic-Tomic T, Genčić M, Živković M, Vasiljevic B, Djokic L, Nikodinovic-Runic J, Radulović N. Structural diversity and possible functional roles of free fatty acids of the novel soil isolate Streptomyces sp. NP10. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 2015; 99(11):4815-4833.
- Pavic A, Ilic-Tomic T, Pacevski A, Nedeljkovic T, Vasiljevic B, Moric I. Diversity and biodeteriorative potential of bacterial isolates from deteriorated modern combined-technique canvas painting. Int Biodeter Biodeg. 2015;97:40-50.
- Senerovic L, Zivkovic MD, Veselinovic A, Pavic A, Djuran MI, Rajkovic S, Nikodinovic-Runic J. Synthesis and evaluation of series of diazine-bridged dinuclear platinum(II) complexes through in vitro toxicity and molecular modeling: correlation between structure and activity of Pt(II) Complexes. J Med Chem. 2105;58(3):1442-1451.
Contact
Vojvode Stepe 444a
P.O BOX 23
11010 Belgrade, Serbia
Tel: +381 11 3976034
Faks: +381 11 3975808