Serbian Society for Microbiology
XIII CONGRESS OF MICROBIOLOGISTS OF SERBIA - MIKROMED REGIO 5
“From Biotechnology to Human and Planetary Health”
MONA PLAZA HOTEL, Belgrade, Serbia - 4th-6th of April, 2024
Invited lecturers
Dubljanin Eleonora
Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Serbia
Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Serbia
"Biomarker guided antifungal therapy: a current state of laboratory mycology and antifungal management"
Eleonora Dubljanin, MD, PhD is an Assistant Professor of Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology at the Faculty of Medicine University of Belgrade. She is specialist in Medical Microbiology, and subspecialist in Medical Parasitology and Mycology. Her research interests are laboratory diagnosis of invasive and superficial fungal infections, antifungal resistance and risk factors for fungal infections, as well as human parasitic infections.
Alexander Jose
Clinical Microbiologist Director, AdventHealth Central Florida Division - South, Florida, USA
Clinical Microbiologist Director, AdventHealth Central Florida Division - South, Florida, USA
"1. Understanding Antimicrobial Resistance for Testing and Treatment Strategies; 2. Implementation of a rapid, cost-effective, and clinically focused NGS solution for the Microbiology Lab"
Jose Alexander is a Medical Doctor specialized in Medical Microbiology. He obtained his medical degree in the Central University of Venezuela where he specialized in Microbiology and Antimicrobial Resistance. Dr. Alexander currently is the Clinical Director for the microbiology services at AdventHealth Central Florida Division - South, Florida, USA. Dr. Alexander main areas of interest and expertise includes epidemiology & treatment options for antimicrobial resistance, implementation of rapid and cost-effective NGS solutions, development of data-drive protocols and AI
Atanasković-Marković Marina Atanasković-Marković
Allergology department, University Children’s Hospital, Belgrade, Serbia, University of Belgrade, Faculty of Medicine, Belgrade
Allergology department, University Children’s Hospital, Belgrade, Serbia, University of Belgrade, Faculty of Medicine, Belgrade
"Dangerous relations: Bacteria, antimicrobial therapies, and allergic diseases"
Marina Atanaskovic-Markovic is associate professor et department of Pediatrics at University of Belgrade, Faculty of Medicine. She is also the head of allergic daily hospital and the head of department of allergology and pulmonology at University Children’s Hospital of Belgrade. She was a chair of drug allergy interest group at European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) until 2022. She is a president of the Serbian Association of Allergology and Clinical Immunology (SAACI). She is an associate editor of journal Pediatric Allergy and Immunology (PAI) and member of the Editorial board of Journal of the World allergic Organization.
Bajić Đorđe
Section of Industrial Microbiology, Department of Biotechnology, Technical University Delft, Delft, The Netherlands
Section of Industrial Microbiology, Department of Biotechnology, Technical University Delft, Delft, The Netherlands
"Using fitness landscapes to engineer optimal function in microbial communities"
The overarching goal of my research is to develop a predictive understanding of the composition and function of microbial communities. To achieve this goal, the work of my group combines experimental approaches with computational modeling and theory development.
Banko Ana
Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Serbia
Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Serbia
"Research and development of new vaccines with a focus on the new RSV vaccine"
The scientific background of Prof. Banko's work mostly includes cancers and autoimmune diseases related to viral infections. In particular, to identify the viral triggers of diseases, as well as their future targeted therapy, the special challenge is to reveal viral biomarkers for many insufficiently clarified conditions of immune imbalance. In addition to numerous scientific publications and presentations of results at leading international conferences, Prof. Banko is involved or successfully leads several scientific projects. One of them, for which Prof. Banko is a principal investigator, is part of a special program for the excellent projects of young Serbian researchers (PROMIS) financed by the Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia.
Čolović Čalovski Ivana
MD, PhD, Full Professor, Department of Parasitology & Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Serbia
MD, PhD, Full Professor, Department of Parasitology & Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Serbia
"Diagnosis of intestinal helminth infections: strengths and limitations"
Specialist in Microbiology and Parasitology, Subspeciality in Parasitology. Areas of expertise are diagnostic and research of intestinal and tissue parasites. In fungal infections, special interest in superficial and invasive fungal infections.
Compant Stéphane
AIT Austrian Institute of Technology, Bioresources Unit, Tulln, Austria
AIT Austrian Institute of Technology, Bioresources Unit, Tulln, Austria
"Harnessing fungal-bacterial interactions to improve plant growth and health"
Dr. Stéphane Compant is Senior Scientist working on plant-microbe interactions at the AIT. He received his PhD degree from the University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne and his habilitation from the University of Bordeaux in France. Stéphane Compant was Associate Professor of Microbiology at the National Polytechnic Institute of Toulouse in France before to work at AIT. He is one of the leading research experts on microbial ecology of endophytic bacteria interacting with plants, on microscopy of plant-microbe interactions in general, and biocontrol of plant diseases using various biocontrol agents from different sources.
Cos Paul
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmaceutical, Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Belgium
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmaceutical, Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Belgium
"Challenges and lessons learned from antimicrobial research projects"
Paul Cos is a full professor at the University of Antwerp and he is currently the director of business & policy of the Federation of European Microbiological Societies (FEMS). He has published over 250 scientific articles. His main research interests are 1) bacterial lung infections with a focus on Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Streptococcus pneumoniae and 2) targeting redox homeostasis in mycobacteria. He has strong expertise in animal models of infection and antimicrobial drug discovery.
Čupić Maja
Department of Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Belgrade , Belgrade, Serbia
Department of Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Belgrade , Belgrade, Serbia
"Vaccines against influenza and covid 19 - what we know about them so far"
Professional work and research interest are focused on viral infections in verious groups of immunocompromised patients (adults and children) eg. with hematological malignancies, neurological disorders, solid organs and HSC recipients, and their risk for the emergence of clinically manifest outcomes. Also, my research interest is early diagnosis and identification the risk of perinatal viral infections.
Di Luca Mariagrazia
Department of Biology, Microbiology Lab, University of Pisa, Italy
Department of Biology, Microbiology Lab, University of Pisa, Italy
"The Janus-Face of Bacteriophages in the Antibacterial Therapy"
Dr Mariagrazia Di Luca is a Microbiologist. She got her PhD in “Microbiology and Genetics” (University of Pisa) in 2010. Then, she became Specialist in "Microbiology and Virology" in 2015. Since 2018 she is head of the Phage&Biofilm Lab at University of Pisa. Her current research interests include medical biofilms, the development of alternative strategies to target sessile bacteria, in vitro studies on the antibacterial activity of new drugs, bacteriophage-bacteria interaction, and bacteriophage therapy.
Đokić Lidija
Laboratory for Microbial Molecular Genetics and Ecology, Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering – University of Belgrade, Serbia
Laboratory for Microbial Molecular Genetics and Ecology, Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering – University of Belgrade, Serbia
"New approaches in the treatment of chronic bacterial infections"
The study of complex microbial communities with the primary focus on the production of compounds that are essential for the establishment and maintenance of social interactions (enzymes and signaling molecules). The main research interests are:
· New approach in antimicrobial treatments, such as the characterization of quorum-quenching enzymes that interfere with bacterial signaling pathways. This research is a promising approach in combating infectious diseases and better microbial control.
· Characterization of bacteria that degrade aromatic compounds and elucidation of the pathways involved in their degradation. This research contributes to the understanding of microbial metabolisms and holds potential for application in environmental remediation.
· New approach in antimicrobial treatments, such as the characterization of quorum-quenching enzymes that interfere with bacterial signaling pathways. This research is a promising approach in combating infectious diseases and better microbial control.
· Characterization of bacteria that degrade aromatic compounds and elucidation of the pathways involved in their degradation. This research contributes to the understanding of microbial metabolisms and holds potential for application in environmental remediation.
Esposito Alfonso
Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Enna “Kore”, Italy
Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Enna “Kore”, Italy
"Next-Generation Sequencing and Bioinformatics: How did microbiology benefits from cutting edge technologies?"
Graduated in Naples in 2006, I recieved the PhD in 2015 at the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano. After 5 years of post-doc at the University of Trento and 2 years as scientific consultant at the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB-Trieste) I got the current position position as Associate professor in Genetics. My research interests span the exploration of (meta)-omics datasets for both ecological inference and genotype-phenotype association in bacteria. Since 2010 I deal with the analysis of next-generation sequencing data and biostatistics using the language R in comparative genomics and metagenomics in both clinical and environmental settings.
Flocco Cecilia G.
Department of Microbial Ecology and Diversity Research Leibniz Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures GmbH, Braunschweig, Germany
Department of Microbial Ecology and Diversity Research Leibniz Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures GmbH, Braunschweig, Germany
"New Perspectives for Microbiology and Biotechnology in Cultural Heritage Research"
Cecilia G. Flocco is an interdisciplinary scientist and technology policy consultant working at the intersection of biotechnology and environmental sciences with cultural heritage research. She is the Scientific Coordinator of the Leibniz Biodiversity Hub at the Leibniz Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures GmbH (Braunschweig, Germany), one of the largest biological resources centers worldwide. Her current research interests encompass understanding the dynamics of microbial communities in extreme environments and niche habitats, such as polar regions (Antarctica) and cultural legacy objects, and advancing interdisciplinary approaches to cultural heritage research.
Profile: www.linkedin.com/in/ceciliagflocco
X: @cecilia_flocco
Bluesky: @ceciliaflocco.bsky.social
Profile: www.linkedin.com/in/ceciliagflocco
X: @cecilia_flocco
Bluesky: @ceciliaflocco.bsky.social
Gajić Ina
University of Belgrade - Faculty of Medicine, Serbia
University of Belgrade - Faculty of Medicine, Serbia
"Genomic epidemiology of carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa"
Ina Gajic is an Assistant Professor of Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology at the Medical Faculty, University of Belgrade. She is a medical doctor, a specialist in medical microbiology, a subspecialist in Bacteriology, and a member of the National Reference Laboratory for Streptococci. Her research interests are genetic basis of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, clonal relatedness of multidrug-resistant bacterial pathogens, virulence factors, and healthcare-associated infections.
Gobin Ivana
Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Croatia
Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Croatia
"Biofilms in premise plumbing systems - current challenges and potential solutions"
Ivana Gobin, PhD, MEPH, is employed as a full-time professor at the Department of Microbiology and Parasitology at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka.
Her area of interest is the research of bacterial biofilm and the pathogenesis of opportunistic premise plumbing pathogens, as well as multi-resistant pathogens associated with health care, and the research of alternative methods for their suppression.
Her area of interest is the research of bacterial biofilm and the pathogenesis of opportunistic premise plumbing pathogens, as well as multi-resistant pathogens associated with health care, and the research of alternative methods for their suppression.
Golić Nataša
Group for Probiotics and Microbiota-Host Interaction, Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Serbia
Group for Probiotics and Microbiota-Host Interaction, Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Serbia
"The use of integrative multi-omics approach in cultivation and characterization of gut bacteria related to microbiota-gut-brain axis as a source for Next Generation Probiotics"
Full Research Professor and Head of the Probiotics and Microbiota-Host Interaction Group, IMGGE. Author of 74 scientific papers published in peer-reviewed international journals. Author of one national and international patent (PCT). Active in technology transfer as the Head of the Technology Transfer Sector at IMGGE. CEO and co-founder of Invetlab, the spin-out company of IMGGE. Co-founder of DIASOLUTION, the spin-out company of IMGGE. My research interest is in deciphering the molecular mechanisms behind probiotic activity of lactic acid bacteria and next generation probiotics and in investigation of the role of microbiota in human and animal diseases.
Grahovac Jovana
Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Technology Novi Sad, University of Novi Sad, Serbia
Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Technology Novi Sad, University of Novi Sad, Serbia
"Microbial biomass production and application within biorefinery concept"
Dr. Jovana Grahovac is full professor in the field of Biotechnology at the Faculty of Technology Novi Sad and Deputy Head of the Department of Biotechnology. Her scientific work is focused on the development and scale-up of various bioprocesses and the principles of circular economy implementation in biotechnological production. She is also coordinator of the research group for the intensification of biotechnological production which is directed towards the development of bioprocess solutions for the production of bioactive compounds intended for use in agriculture as biofertilizers, biocontrol agents, phyto-stimulators and soil quality boosters.
Hladnik Matjaž
Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies (UP FAMNIT), University of Primorska, Slovenia
Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies (UP FAMNIT), University of Primorska, Slovenia
"Comparative analysis of phyllosphere microbiota in olive leaf spot disease"
His research focuses on the genetics, genomics, and transcriptomics of agricultural plants, microbiota analysis, and bioinformatics. In the field of agricultural plants, he is interested in the diversity of plant genetic resources, fingerprinting, population structure, and the identification of genes responsible for important agronomic traits. In the field of microbial community analysis using a metabarcoding approach, he is primarily interested in the interactions between microorganisms and plant pathogens. He has experience in transcriptome data analysis, genome assembly and annotation, development of microsatellite markers, and metabarcoding.
Hugo Alexandre Mendes de Oliveira
Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
"Advancements in bacteriophage-based therapies to control multidrug resistant infections"
Hugo Oliveira is a Senior Researcher working at the University of Minho in Portugal. Since his PhD in 2014, his research has been focused on “Addressing Antimicrobial Resistance through New Phage-inspired Strategies”. He also managed several research grants as PI and co-organized international conferences/webinars in the field of phages (iVoM2020 & VoM2022), as well as several international hands-on courses about phage training.
Janakiev Tamara
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Serbia
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Serbia
"Plant microbiomes: from diversity to healthy crops"
Dr. Tamara Janakiev is a research associate at the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology – University of Belgrade. Her scientific work focuses on the role of the microbiome in plant protection and plant-pathogen interactions based on a metabarcoding approach. In parallel, she is exploring microbial diversity in different habitats with a focus on the biological control of economically important phytopathogens by autochthonous bacterial strains.
Jovanović Marina
Institute of General and Physical Chemistry, Belgrade, Serbia
Institute of General and Physical Chemistry, Belgrade, Serbia
"Valorization of psychobiotics and agri-food by products as functional ingredients"
Marina Jovanović, PhD in Biological Sciences (Microbiology), SCOPUS-sourced h-index 6, 107 citations. Research associate in the field of Biotechnical sciences - Food engineering. She participated in different national projects as a principal investigator or team member. Her current work is based on research in the Psychobiotics and Zero waste fields from microbiological and genotoxicological point of view.
Jovičić Nevena
Department of pulmonology and allergology University Childrens Hospital Belgrade, Serbia
Department of pulmonology and allergology University Childrens Hospital Belgrade, Serbia
"Complications of pneumococcal pneumonia in children"
Pediatric pulmonologist employed at the University Children's Clinic in Belgrade and at the Faculty of Medicine in Belgrade. She defended her doctoral dissertation at the Faculty of Medicine in Belgrade in 2018. Author and co-author of scientific papers in the field of pediatrics and pediatric pulmonology
Kampouris Ioannis
Julius Kühn Institute (JKI) , Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants (JKI), Institute for Epidemiology and Pathogen Diagnostics, Braunschweig, Germany
Julius Kühn Institute (JKI) , Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants (JKI), Institute for Epidemiology and Pathogen Diagnostics, Braunschweig, Germany
"Plant-beneficial microbial inoculants improve iron uptake by assisting maize plants in selectively recruiting focal rhizosphere microbes from the soil"
Ioannis D. Kampouris has a BSc degree in Biochemistry and Biotechnology and an MSc in applied genetics and biotechnology from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Greece). From 2016-2022 he performed his PhD at the TU-Dresden (Germany), where he focused on the dissemination of antimicrobial resistance in the environment using molecular tools and bioinformatics. Currently he works in the project DiControl at Julius Kühn institute in the group of Dr. Doreen Babin. His research mainly focuses on the interactions between rhizosphere microbes and on utilizing microbial interactions for improving the plant growth by coupling bioinformatics with culture-based methods.
Karličić Vera
Department of Environmental Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Belgrade, Serbia
Department of Environmental Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Belgrade, Serbia
"Ecological services of soil microorganisms as paramount to sustainable agriculture"
Vera Karlicic got her PhD degree in Agricultural Sciences at the Faculty of Agriculture (UB) in 2017. Since 2014, she has been employed at the Faculty of Agriculture as a senior research associate. The research of interest covers applied microbiology, soil microbiology, microbial interactions, plant growth-promoting bacteria, and biological control.
Kastrin Tamara
Department for Public Health Microbiology, National Laboratory of Health, Environment and Food, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Department for Public Health Microbiology, National Laboratory of Health, Environment and Food, Ljubljana, Slovenia
"The importance of vaccination and national surveillance of invasive bacterial diseases and whooping cough in Slovenia"
Dr. Tamara Kastrin is a lead microbiologist in the field of public health microbiology of VPD – working on national laboratory surveillance of B. pertussis, N. meningitidis, S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae. She is National Operational Contact Point for ECDC (European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control).
Knežević Aleksandra
Virology Department, Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Belgrade - Faculty of Medicine, Serbia
Virology Department, Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Belgrade - Faculty of Medicine, Serbia
"HPV vaccines in the cancer prevention – recommendations and future prospective"
Full professor of microbiology at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Serbia; Specialist of microbiology with parasitology, subspecialist of virology; Long-term experience in clinical virology and diagnostics of viral diseases; Research areas of interest are persistent viral infections, oncogenic viruses, viral genetic variability and virus-host interaction.
Kolarević Stoimir
University of Belgrade Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković" National Institute of Republic of Serbia, Department of hydroecology and water protection
University of Belgrade Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković" National Institute of Republic of Serbia, Department of hydroecology and water protection
"Impact of wastewaters on surface water quality in the Danube River Basin "
Dr. Stoimir Kolarević is a senior research associate affiliated with the Department of Hydroecology and Water Protection at the Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković" National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade (Serbia). He is a microbiologist and eco/geno-toxicologist with expertise in water quality assessment and microbial pollution. His research focuses on microbiological water quality, wastewater-based epidemiology, and the effects of multiple stressors on aquatic ecosystems. Notable publications include studies on microbial pollution along the whole Danube River and the detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in surface waters of the Danube River.
Lapanje Aleš
Department of Environmental Sciences Jozef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Department of Environmental Sciences Jozef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia
"Harnessing Spatial Microbiome Dynamics for Cutting-Edge Environmental Biotechnology"
Dr. Aleš Lapanje, a colloid biology expert, heads the Colloid Biology group at JSI. His research primarily centers on understanding the spatial effects on bacterial behavior within microbial communities in diverse natural and synthetic polymicrobial structures. By exploring these relationships, he translates his findings into practical applications. This includes employing cell immobilization techniques and creating smart carriers for use in various biotechnological applications, particularly in environmental biotechnologies.
Lazarević Ivana
Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Serbia
Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Serbia
"Advances, challenges and novelties in HBV and HCV vaccines development"
Ivana Lazarevic is a full professor of Microbiology at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade. She has MD, MS, and PhD degrees and is a specialist in Microbiology and a subspecialist in Virology. As an author, she has 62 publications in extenso with a cumulative impact factor of 130.302 and an h-index of 12. Her research interests include viral genetic variability, hepatitis viruses, and antiviral resistance.
Leoni Livia
Department of Science, University Roma Tre, Italy
Department of Science, University Roma Tre, Italy
"Alternative strategies against Pseudomonas aruginosa infections"
L. Leoni research is focused on conserved mechanisms and regulatory processes involved in the expression of bacterial virulence and biofilm formation, with the aim of identifying new molecular targets for the development of new antibacterial compounds (e.g., antivirulence drugs and antibiotic potentiators). The main model organism used is the Gram negative ESKAPE pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Mandić Mulec Ines
Department of Microbiology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia
Department of Microbiology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia
"Kinship dependent and interspecies social behaviours by Bacillus subtilis "
I aim to improve understanding of bacterial social behaviors. During my PhD and postdoc at New York University, USA, I explored bacterial gene regulation and enriched my insights into pathogen-host interactions. Currently, I'm a Microbiology Professor and the Head of Microbiology Department at UL-BF. My team studies bacterial intra/inter-species and bacteria/host interactions. Our aim is to design more efficient probiotics for plants and animals.
Maróti Gergely
Institute of Plant Biology, Biological Research Centre, Szeged, Hungary
Institute of Plant Biology, Biological Research Centre, Szeged, Hungary
"Genome level investigation of inter-kingdom microbial interactions"
The main focus of his research is the investigation of various microbial interactions and the application of complex microbial communities in bioenergy generation, agriculture and environmental biotechnology. Gergely Maróti has co-written more than 130 peer-reviewed international publications (H-index: 37, ORCID: 0000-0002-3705-0461) in the fields of microbial biotechnology and molecular microbiology. His main interest is the investigation of interkingdom microbial interactions with special emphasis on natural and synthetic algal-bacterial communities. Beside conducting fundamental research he has strong commitment and ability to transform basic scientific achievements into exploitable products. His research team combines the most recent high-throughput omics approaches with traditional microbiology and molecular biology ways as well as with cutting-edge bioinformatic analyses including read-based and genome-centric metagenome invetigations.
Milenković Marina T.
University of Belgrade - Faculty of Pharmacy, Serbia
University of Belgrade - Faculty of Pharmacy, Serbia
"Herbal products as an alternative to antibiotics: application possibilities and limitations"
Research interest: antimicrobial activity of chemical compounds, nanoparticles and plant products, virulence factors expression in multidrug-resistant bacteria and immunomodulatory properties of probiotic microorganisms.
Milivojević Dušan
Group for eco-biotechnology and drug development, Institute of molecular genetics and genetic engineering, University of Belgrade, Serbia
Group for eco-biotechnology and drug development, Institute of molecular genetics and genetic engineering, University of Belgrade, Serbia
"From soil to lab: Exploring toxicology with Caenorhabditis elegans"
I completed my studies at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Belgrade, earning my PhD in microbiology. The experimental work for my PhD research was conducted at IMGGE. My research primarily focuses on microbial biofilms, with a specific emphasis on Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms. I explore topics related to pathogenicity, host-pathogen interactions, and the evaluation of novel antimicrobial compounds using Caenorhabditis elegans as an in vivo model system. Additionally, I utilize C. elegans as an in vivo model to assess the environmental toxicity of plastic pollutants.
Milivojević Vladimir
University Clinical Centre of Serbia - Clinic for Gastroenterology and Hepatology
University Clinical Centre of Serbia - Clinic for Gastroenterology and Hepatology
"Gut microbiota modulation in gastroenterology and hepatology"
Vladimir Milivojevic is a graduate of the School of Medicine at the University of Belgrade. He finished his specialisation in the field of Internal medicine in 2014. He subspecialized in gastroenterology and hepatology in 2019. He obtained his Ph.D. in 2023. He has been employed in the Clinic for Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the University Clinical Centre of Serbia since 2014. He was elected for the position of clinical assistant in 2019 and re-elected in 2022 (Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade). He is the founder and president of the Society of Nutrition, Microbiota, and Immunometabolism (part of the Serbian Medical Association). He is a member of the Serbian Association of gastroenterologists and nephrologists, the European Gastroenterology Association, the European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, the European Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, and the European Association of Gastroenterology, Endoscopy, and Nutrition. He takes a special scientific interest in Helicobacter pylori infection, gut microbiota, endoscopic techniques, and nutrition.
Miljanović Danijela
Virology Department, Institute for Microbiology and Immunology, University of Belgrade - Faculty of Medicine, Serbia
Virology Department, Institute for Microbiology and Immunology, University of Belgrade - Faculty of Medicine, Serbia
"MMR vaccine and seroprevalence of measles, mumps and rubella IgG antibodies among young medical students in Serbia"
Doctor, scientist and teacher of Medical Microbiology at the Faculty of Medicine University of Belgrade. Maine research area includes latent viral infections (polyomaviruses, herpesviruses,) and their role in immunosuppressed patients, autoimmune diseases and cancer. Also investigates the genetic variability of BKV, EBV, HBV and their role in medical importance regarding different diseases and conditions.
Mirković Nemanja
Food Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Belgrade, Serbia
Food Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Belgrade, Serbia
"Bacteriocins: past, current knowledge and future prospects"
Nemanja Mirković was born on 12/06/1982 in Belgrade. In 2016, he defended his dissertation at the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Belgrade, obtaining the title of Doctor of Science - Technological Engineering. In 2023 he was appointed Assistant Professor at the Department of Food Microbiology, at the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Belgrade.
Dr. Nemanja Mirković published and communicated a total of 67 scientific papers, including one PhD thesis. According to the data from SCOPUS, the total number of citations was 206, excluding self-citations, and the h-index was 10.
Dr. Nemanja Mirkovic has more than 10 years of theoretical and practical expertise in the field of food microbiology and optimization of basic methods for the detection and characterization of food microorganisms, as well as extensive experience in the field of antimicrobial substances. In addition, he has extensive experience in molecular microbiology for the identification of bacteria and antimicrobial compounds.
Dr. Nemanja Mirković published and communicated a total of 67 scientific papers, including one PhD thesis. According to the data from SCOPUS, the total number of citations was 206, excluding self-citations, and the h-index was 10.
Dr. Nemanja Mirkovic has more than 10 years of theoretical and practical expertise in the field of food microbiology and optimization of basic methods for the detection and characterization of food microorganisms, as well as extensive experience in the field of antimicrobial substances. In addition, he has extensive experience in molecular microbiology for the identification of bacteria and antimicrobial compounds.
Mrkonjić Fuka Mirna
Department of microbiology, University of Zagreb Faculty of Agriculture, Croatia
Department of microbiology, University of Zagreb Faculty of Agriculture, Croatia
"Fermented food ecosystems - a treasure chest of untapped microbial potential"
Dr. rer. nat. Mrkonjić Fuka is a full professor at the Faculty of Agriculture at the University of Zagreb and a lecturer at the Institute of Food Science, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Austria. She holds a PhD in soil microbiology from the Technical University of Munich. Her research interests include the structural and functional diversity of complex microbial communities in different ecosystems, including fermented foods, soils and karst caves, with a focus on beneficial microbes and their application in agriculture and food production.
Nikolić Nađa
Implant-research center, School of Dental Medicine, University of Belgrade, Serbia
Implant-research center, School of Dental Medicine, University of Belgrade, Serbia
"Microbiomes in oral carcinomas"
In 2016, she defended her doctoral dissertation at the Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade. Since 2011, she has been employed as a research trainee on a scientific project from the Basic Research Program funded by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia, entitled "Genetic control and molecular mechanisms in malignant, inflammatory and developmental pathologies of the orofacial region" (registration number 175075), and under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Jelena Milasin, within the School of Dental Medicine, University of Belgrade. From 2013 worked as a research assistant, since April 2018 as a research associate, and since February 2023 as a senior research associate at the School of Dental Medicine, University of Belgrade. Since January 2022, she works as a research fellow and a work package coordinator on a project funded by the Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia, entitled “Oral cancer - new approaches in prevention, control and post-operative regeneration - an in vitro study (ORCA-PCR)”.
Novović Katarina
Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering (IMGGE), University of Belgrade, Serbia
Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering (IMGGE), University of Belgrade, Serbia
"Acinetobacter baumannii resistant to last line antibiotics: an emerging threat in Western Balkan"
Katarina Novović is a PhD in Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade (2018) and a Research Associate at IMGGE (Laboratory for molecular microbiology) with ten years of working experience in molecular microbiology with a special accent on molecular mechanisms of antibiotic resistance and virulence as well as regulation of these phenomena in Gram-negative bacilli of nosocomial, animal and environmental origin.
Opavski Nataša
Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Belgrade - Faculty of Medicine, Serbia
Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Belgrade - Faculty of Medicine, Serbia
"Do we need higher valency pneumococcal conjugate vaccines in Serbia?"
Nataša Opavski, MD, PhD, Full Professor and Head of the Department at the Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine. She is the Head of the National Reference Laboratory for streptococci. Her main field of research is molecular epidemiology and seroepidemiology of streptococci, particularly pneumococci, as well as antibiotic resistance of bacteria causing healthcare-associated infections.
Osmolovskiy Alexander
Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Russian Federation
Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Russian Federation
"Proteinases of filamentous fungi as activators of hemostatic system proteins: key properties and application"
PhD in Microbiology and Biotechnology (including Bionanotechnology), Associate professor of the Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia. Scientific leader of the group for the study of targeted proteinases formed by micromycetes. Research interests cover issues related to the formation of proteinases for medical purposes by microorganisms. Research is being actively carried out to study the effect of proteinases of filamentous fungi of various systematic and ecological-trophic groups on the proteins of the human hemostasis system, especially on the activation of blood plasma enzymes.
Papadimitriou Konstantinos
Laboratory of Food Quality Control and Hygiene, Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Agricultural University of Athens, Greece
Laboratory of Food Quality Control and Hygiene, Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Agricultural University of Athens, Greece
"Multi-omics approaches to characterize the microbiota of artisanal fermented foods"
I have a BSc/MSc in Food Science and Technology from the Agricultural University of Athens (1998). I then pursued an MSc in Genetic Manipulation and Molecular Biology from Sussex University (2000). I was awarded my PhD in Food Microbiology with distinction from AUA (2006). My research interests include the microbiology of dairy products, the physiology, the genetics and the genomics of lactic acid bacteria, the metagenomics of food ecosystems, single cell microbiology, plasmid biology and applied bioinformatics. I am also interested in probiotics research and probiotics application in human health.
Perrin Elena
Department of Biology, University of Florence, Italy
Department of Biology, University of Florence, Italy
"Insights into the evolution of multipartite genomes in Proteobacteria"
I am currently research fellow in Genetics and I am interested in microbial genetics and genomics, from the antibiotic resistance mechanisms of Burkholderia spp. to the evolution of bacterial genomes.
Predojević Dragana
University of Belgrade - Faculty of Biology, Belgrade, Serbia
University of Belgrade - Faculty of Biology, Belgrade, Serbia
"Phytoplankton of small water bodies"
I am an assistant professor at the Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, teaching hydroecology and algology at all levels of study. My research focuses on phytoplankton, especially in shallow water ecosystems. My scientific interest is generally in the ecology of this group of organisms and the assessment of water quality based on this biological element. I am also interested in the potential of periphyton in the bioremediation of aquatic ecosystems and in the diversity and ecology of algae living in extreme environments such as caves. I like field work, teamwork and a positive atmosphere.
Rajilić-Stojanović Mirjana
Dept. Biochemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade, Serbia
Dept. Biochemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade, Serbia
"Modulation of human mycobiota as a tool for promoting health"
Dr Mirjana Rajilić-Stojanović holds a cum laude PhD in the field of gut molecular ecology and is an expert in gut microbiota diversity. She is a trans-disciplinary researcher, teacher and entrepreneur with research topics that include the development and application of molecular methods; identification of associations between microbiota diversity and (intestinal) diseases; microbial taxonomy and systematics; development of functional foods (probiotics and prebiotics including polyphenols). Dr Rajilić-Stojanović has authored 59 scientific articles, five book chapters and four patents and has presented as an invited speaker at over 60 conferences and meetings.
Rodrigues de Melo Luís Daniel
CEB – Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
CEB – Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
"New Insights on Phage-Bacteria interactions"
In 2009 I obtained a MSc in Biology from University of Porto. Then in 2010 I started my PhD at University of Minho and University of Bonn. Since 2015, I became a post-doc at CEB (University of Minho, Portugal) where I have been becoming independent and focusing my career on deepen the understanding of phage interactions with host at the molecular level. In that reseache field I was the PI of two funded projects (budget >470 k €).
Rupnik Maja
National laboratory of health, environment and food, Maribor, Slovenia Department of microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, Slovenia
National laboratory of health, environment and food, Maribor, Slovenia Department of microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, Slovenia
"The role of gut microbiota on infection with multiresistant bacteria"
Maja Rupnik is the head of the Department for Microbiological Research at the National Laboratory for Health, environment and food and a professor at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor. Her group works on the molecular epidemiology of Clostridioides difficile and on various aspects of gut, oral and skin microbiota.
Sachaneli Tamar
Viticulture and Enology Department, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Biosystems Engineering, Georgian Technical University, Georgia
Viticulture and Enology Department, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Biosystems Engineering, Georgian Technical University, Georgia
"Microbial Diversity and Dynamics of Georgian Artisanal Cheese Production"
Experienced Assistant Professor with a demonstrated history of working in the research industry. Skilled in Life Sciences, Microbiology, and Microbial Biotechnology. Strong education professional with a Ph.D. focused on Food microbiology.
Research interest: Probiotic microorganisms (propionic acid bacteria and lactic acid bacteria), Extremophilic microorganisms, Alcoholic fermentation of yeasts, Microbial diversity of Georgia.
Research interest: Probiotic microorganisms (propionic acid bacteria and lactic acid bacteria), Extremophilic microorganisms, Alcoholic fermentation of yeasts, Microbial diversity of Georgia.
Salmanton-García Jon
Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
"Overview on the current situation on epidemiology and management of IFI and future perspectives"
Jon Salmanton-García is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Cologne, Germany. Currently, he is investigating diagnostic and treatment tools for fungal infections by collaborating with colleagues worldwide. Additionally, he is involved in the VACCELERATE Consortium, where he coordinates vaccine trials across Europe, and leads the EPICOVIDEHA/EPIFLUEHA survey on respiratory viral infections in individuals with blood cancers.
Šantić Marina
Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Croatia
Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Croatia
"Legionella pneumophila - journey from the environment to human macrophages"
Dr. M. Santic is a full professor at the Department of Microbiology, University of Rijeka, Faculty of Medicine and Teaching Institute of Public Health of Primorje-Goranski kotar County. As of 2020. she is Vice Dean for Science at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka. She leads several projects on research of intracellular pathogens and host-pathogen interaction with special focus on F. tularensis and L. pneumophila. M. Santic has published more than 50 articles in high-ranking journals such as “Science” and “Journal of Experimental Medicine” as well as book chapters. M. Santic was awarded as the best scientist in Croatia in 2007, best scientist of the University of Rijeka in 2005 and 2006 and best scientist of Primorska-goranska County in 2010. She serves as FEMS delegate for Croatia. In 2023. she became president of the Tularemia International Society (TULISOC). So far, she has supervised 40 graduates, 5 PhD students and 3 postdoctoral students. She is collaborating with high profile research group within Europe and the USA.
Šmitran Aleksandra
Department of microbilogy and immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Banjaluka, Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Department of microbilogy and immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Banjaluka, Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina
"Potential of biocides and nanoparticles for eradicating bacterial biofilm"
Participated in numerous national and international congresses, lecturer at several sessions of continuous education. Interested in the testing of antimicrobial activities of unusual organic and unorganic substances against planktonic and biofilm- embedded bacteria.
Soković Marina
Mycological laboratory, Institute for Biological Research -Sinisa Stankovic-, Institute of National Importance for Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Serbia
Mycological laboratory, Institute for Biological Research -Sinisa Stankovic-, Institute of National Importance for Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Serbia
"Microfungi as a target and source of valuable compounds"
Dr Sokovic's research work started at the Department of Morphology and Systematics of Higher Plants and Fungi, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade (1995-1999). She earned the scientific title of scientific advisor at the Mycological Laboratory, IBISS in 2008. Dr Sokovic completed her postdoctoral studies at Plant Research International, Wageningen University, The Netherlands. She is a guest editor in several international journals and a reviewer in more than 30 prominent international journals. She has published more than 450 papers in international journals from the SCI list, more than 140 domestic and foreign announcements, and has about 13,000 citations (H index 57). She has given dozens of invited lectures at eminent domestic and foreign scientific meetings, as well as panels in the fields of mycology, food, natural products, and the biological activity of metabolites. Dr Sokovic is on the list of the world's most cited scientists in the top 2%, published by Stanford University. Currently, she is in the position of Assistant Minister for Science at the Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation.
Sovtić Akeksandar
Associate Professor of Pediatrics Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade Chair of the Ethics Committee Head, Department of pulmonology Mother and Child Health Institute of Serbia
Associate Professor of Pediatrics Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade Chair of the Ethics Committee Head, Department of pulmonology Mother and Child Health Institute of Serbia
"Respiratory infections in children – over the horizon"
Dr. Sovtić trained in the field of pediatric pulmonology in the most eminent centres in the world such as Mt. Sinai Hospital, Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, New York, USA; Children's Hospital, Columbia University, New York, USA; Hôpital d'enfants Armand Trousseau, Paris, France.
He completed his international training by participating in nine postgraduate courses, mostly as a stipended participant from European Respiratory Society. Dr Sovtic is the President of the Serbian Pediatric Respiratory Society (www.sprs.rs)
He completed his international training by participating in nine postgraduate courses, mostly as a stipended participant from European Respiratory Society. Dr Sovtic is the President of the Serbian Pediatric Respiratory Society (www.sprs.rs)
Stanojevic Maja
University of Belgrade Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Belgrade, Serbia
University of Belgrade Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Belgrade, Serbia
"Poliovirus eradication: challenges of containment"
Maja Stanojevic is a professor of microbiology at the University of Belgrade Faculty of Medicine. Her areas of research and expertise include virus diversity and evolution, emerging and chronic viral infections and co-infections, host-pathogen interaction, bioinformatics, and phylogenetic analysis in microbiology.
Stević Tatjana
Institute for Medicinal Plant Research „Dr. Josif Pančić“, Belgrade, Serbia
Institute for Medicinal Plant Research „Dr. Josif Pančić“, Belgrade, Serbia
"Biocontrol activity of plant products against plant pathogens"
I am the head of the laboratory for microbiological control of the Institute where I work. As there is no legal regulation for the application of any pesticide for medicinal plants, research is aimed at finding natural resources that would be used to protect medicinal plants from various disease-causing agents.
Udiković Kolić Nikolina
Division for Marine and Environmental Research, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
Division for Marine and Environmental Research, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
"Environmental microbiology and biotechnology / Antimicrobial resistance: a health challenge)"
Dr. Udiković Kolić is a scientific advisor and head of the Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology Laboratory at the Ruđer Bošković Institute in Zagreb, Croatia.
She holds a degree in Biotechnology Engineering and a PhD in Molecular Biotechnology from the Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology at the University of Zagreb. Her research interests focus on understanding the impact of anthropogenic activities, including the discharge of wastewater and the use of manure-based fertilizers, on the development and spread of antibiotic resistance in the environment.
She holds a degree in Biotechnology Engineering and a PhD in Molecular Biotechnology from the Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology at the University of Zagreb. Her research interests focus on understanding the impact of anthropogenic activities, including the discharge of wastewater and the use of manure-based fertilizers, on the development and spread of antibiotic resistance in the environment.
Ugarčina Perović Svetlana
Laboratory of Computational Metagenomics, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology – CIBIO, University of Trento, Italy
Laboratory of Computational Metagenomics, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology – CIBIO, University of Trento, Italy
"Challenges in metagenomic annotation of antibiotic resistome"
Svetlana Ugarcina Perovic is a microbiome scientist with the main research focus of global microbiome and antibiotic resistome. Svetlana is a strong supporter of the open science initiatives, such as the Microbiome Digest, Microbiome Virtual International Forum, National Summer Undergraduate Research Project and Outreachy.
Unković Nikola
Department of Algology and Mycology, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Serbia
Department of Algology and Mycology, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Serbia
"Research into the application of bacterial-based bioforumations in the conservation of fungal-deteriorated works of art in Serbia"
Dr. Nikola Unković is an Assistant professor and Research associate at the Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade. His primary research interest encompasses diversity and ecology of biodeteriogenic microfungi and study of biocontrol potential of beneficial bacteria applicable in conservation of infested works of art. He published 68 bibliographic records, including 35 papers. The quality of scientific papers is reflected in more than 519 citations and a Hirsch index of 14.
Veljković Marko
Department for vaccine preventable diseases surveillance and immunization, Institute of public health of Serbia “Dr Milan Jovanovic Batut“, Serbia
Department for vaccine preventable diseases surveillance and immunization, Institute of public health of Serbia “Dr Milan Jovanovic Batut“, Serbia
"Vaccination against pertussis in Serbia: past, current challanges and future perspectives"
Epidemiologists are involved in the planning, coordination, monitoring and evaluation of immunization programmes as well as in vaccine-preventable diseases and adverse events following immunization (AEFI) surveillance at the national level. One of the authors of the AEFI surveillance manual for HCWs and the Methodological guideline for immunization programme implementation and lecturer at national courses related to immunization and AEFI surveillance.
Venturi Vittorio
International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Trieste, Italy
International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Trieste, Italy
"Inter-species bacterial signaling in the plant microbiome"
Scientific interests are (i) how plant associated bacteria undergo interspecies communication and interkingdom signaling with plants, (ii) the role of LuxR solos in plant associated proteobacteria and (ii) plant microbiomes and the development of microbial products for a more sustainable agriculture. Supervised several PhD students and postdocs most of whom came from developing countries. Invited as speaker to many international symposia, organized several international workshops and courses and managed numerous national and international grants from government agencies, foundations and industry. Acting as editor of two international journals and is a regular reviewer for journals and funding agencies. Published 150 papers in international peer-reviewed scientific journals: Google scholar citations
Vukotić Goran
Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade; Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Serbia
Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade; Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Serbia
"Bacteriophages of multidrug-resistant nosocomial pathogens – Belgrade experience"
Assistant Professor at Chair of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, with more than thirteen years of experience in studying antimicrobial peptides and clinically relevant bacteriophages. His current research focuses on phages active against multidrug-resistant Gram-negative nosocomial pathogenic strains of Acinetobacter baumannii, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
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