imagine (Institute of molecular genetics and genetic engineering)
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Comparative analysis of the biological activities of wild and cultivated Helichrysum italicum
No full textHelichrysum italicum (Roth) G. Don (Compositae), also known as immortelle, plays an
important role in traditional Balkan medicine, where it is used as a tea, tincture, or balm to treat
skin conditions, wounds, respiratory and digestive problems, and inflammation. This study
aimed to compare the antioxidant, antidiabetic, and anti-inflammatory properties of the leaves
and aerial parts in the flowering phase of both wild and cultivated H. italicum plants, as well
as to determine the concentration of total phenolic compounds. The antioxidant activity of
ethanol extracts was measured using spectrophotometric methods based on the ability to donate
electrons and reduce metals. Antidiabetic activity was evaluated by the extracts' ability to
inhibit α-amylase and α-glucosidase, while anti-inflammatory activity was assessed based on
their ability to inhibit protein denaturation. The total phenolic content (TPC) of ethanolic
extracts was significantly higher in the leaves (746.287 ± 9.428 mg/gDW) and herba (513.165
± 8.256 mg/gDW) of wild plants compared to cultivated plants. Additionally, wild plant
extracts showed higher antioxidant capacity, as well as greater antidiabetic and antiinflammatory
activities. The reducing power of trace metals was similar in both extracts. Our
results suggest that H. italicum plants from natural habitats synthesize a greater amount of
phenolic compounds, enhancing their biological activity and supporting their potential use in
phytotherapy.Zbornik sažetaka: V simpozijum biologa i ekologa Republike Srpske sa međunarodnim učešćem - SBERS 2025 Prirodnomatematički fakultet, Univerzitet u Banjoj Luci, 13-15. novembar 202
Analiza varijanti u genima superfamilije Citohrom P450 kao prediktivnih markera za neodjuvantnu hemioradioterapiju u karcinomu rektuma
No full textColorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common malignancy worldwide, with incidence projected to
reach 2.2 million cases by 2030. While surgical resection remains the gold standard, patients with locally
advanced rectal cancer (LARC) often undergo neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) to reduce tumor
size and improve resectability. However, therapeutic response varies, highlighting the need for predictive
biomarkers. In recent study, two genetic variants with potential clinical relevance were identified. The
rs149012039 variant, located in the CYP2D7 pseudogene, represents a frameshift mutation that may enable
the formation of a functional transcript. This could enhance metabolic capacity and indirectly improve
drug processing and thereby a better response to 5-FU therapy. The rs3093200 variant, found in
CYP4F2 gene, is predicted to impair protein function, leading to increased vitamin K levels. Given vitamin
K’s radiosensitizing and synergistic effects with 5-FU, this variant may also contribute to improved therapeutic
outcomes.Kolorektalni karcinom (CRC) predstavlja treći najčešći malignitet u svetu, a očekuje se da će do 2030. godine
broj obolelih dostići 2,2 miliona. Iako je hirurško uklanjanje tumora zlatni standard terapije, pacijenti
sa lokalno uznapredovalim karcinomom rektuma (eng. locally advanced rectal cancer - LARC) često se
podvrgavaju neoadjuvantnoj hemoradioterapiji (eng. Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy - nCRT) radi smanjenja
veličine tumora i njegovog lakšeg uklanjanja. Međutim, odgovor na terapiju značajno varira kod
različitih pacijenata, što ukazuje na potrebu za prediktivnim biomarkerima. U nedavnoj studiji identifikovane
su dve genetičke varijante sa potencijalnim kliničkim značajem. Varijanta rs149012039, locirana u
CYP2D7 pseudogenu, predstavlja mutaciju koja menja okvir čitanja i potencijalno može omogućiti formiranje
funkcionalnog transkripta. Ovakav mehanizam bi mogao povećati metabolički kapacitet i indirektno
poboljšati metabolizam leka, i samim tim bolji odgovor na terapiju 5-FU. Varijanta rs3093200 u genu
CYP4F2 verovatno remeti funkciju proteina, dovodeći do povišenih nivoa vitamina K. S obzirom na to da
vitamin K povećava osetljivost na radioterapiju i deluje sinergistički sa 5-FU, ovaj polimorfizam takođe
može doprineti boljem odgovoru na terapiju
Development of bio-based and biodegradable polyethylene and polyesters for food packaging and agricultural applicationsb (Bio2PEs)
No full textBio2PEs - Creating Sustainable Solutions for a Circular Future: The plastics sector must adopt circular approaches with scalable solutions that diminish plastic waste and pollution, as well as enhance resource efficiency. This is in line with the European Circular Economy Action Plan. In this context, the EIC-funded Bio2PEs project produces bio-based and biodegradable polyethylene and polyester from biomass waste in an attempt to reduce plastic pollution. It will create prototypes of varying packaging sizes and conduct lifecycle assessments, including biodegradability tests in several EU climates. The project will enhance circularity by incorporating a self-repairing coating to increase longevity and using fluorescence technology to make products more recyclable. Synergies with other projects will enhance consumer take-up of biodegradable materials through interactive labelling, and feed data into an AI tool to make more accurate material recommendations.Principal Investigator: Dr Yuanyuan Chen, Technological University of the ShannonCoordinator for IMGGE: Dr Jasmina Nikodinovic-Runic, Group for Eco-Biotechnology & Drug DevelopmentDuration period: 2025 - 202
COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES OF WILD AND CULTIVATED Helichrysum italicum
No full textHelichrysum italicum (Roth) G. Don (Compositae), also known as immortelle, plays an
important role in traditional Balkan medicine, where it is used as a tea, tincture, or balm to treat
skin conditions, wounds, respiratory and digestive problems, and inflammation. This study
aimed to compare the antioxidant, antidiabetic, and anti-inflammatory properties of the leaves
and aerial parts in the flowering phase of both wild and cultivated H. italicum plants, as well
as to determine the concentration of total phenolic compounds. The antioxidant activity of
ethanol extracts was measured using spectrophotometric methods based on the ability to donate
electrons and reduce metals. Antidiabetic activity was evaluated by the extracts' ability to
inhibit α-amylase and α-glucosidase, while anti-inflammatory activity was assessed based on
their ability to inhibit protein denaturation. The total phenolic content (TPC) of ethanolic
extracts was significantly higher in the leaves (746.287 ± 9.428 mg/gDW) and herba (513.165
± 8.256 mg/gDW) of wild plants compared to cultivated plants. Additionally, wild plant
extracts showed higher antioxidant capacity, as well as greater antidiabetic and antiinflammatory
activities. The reducing power of trace metals was similar in both extracts. Our
results suggest that H. italicum plants from natural habitats synthesize a greater amount of
phenolic compounds, enhancing their biological activity and supporting their potential use in
phytotherapy.Zbornik sažetaka: V simpozijum biologa i ekologa Republike
Srpske sa međunarodnim učešćem - SBERS 2025 Prirodnomatematički
fakultet, Univerzitet u Banjoj Luci, 13-15. novembar 2025
WINTER AIR IN BELGRADE AS A RESERVOIR OF THE AIRBORNE RESISTOME AND MOBILOME: A METAGENOMIC APPROACH
No full textAirborne particulate matter (PM2.5), a proxy indicator of air pollution, has been proposed as a
carrier of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and mobile genetic elements (MGEs),
contributing to the environmental spread of antimicrobial resistance and posing a growing
public health concern. This study assessed the atmosphere’s role in dissemination of ARGs and
MGEs by analyzing the airborne resistome and mobilome in Belgrade during the winter
2024/2025. Outdoor air was sampled at eight locations using hydrophobic polypropylene
membrane filters. Following phenol-chloroform extraction, airborne DNA samples were
subjected to shotgun metagenome sequencing (Illumina Novaseq X plus) and bioinformatic
analysis (Novogene, UK). ARGs and MGEs were annotated using CARD, Integrall, Isfinder
and Plasmid databases, respectively. The highest ARGs abundance was observed in Leštane
(>30,000 ppm), while the lowest was recorded in Barajevo (<10,000 ppm). The most prevalent
ARG across all locations was blaTEM (21.5–24%). MGEs were most abundant in Leštane
(integrons, plasmids) and Zeleno brdo (insertion sequences, transposons), whereas Despota
Stefana showed the lowest MGEs levels. The predominant integrons were CP014269.1 and
CP033158.1 (intI1, Escherichia coli), while CP054302.1 (intI1, Acinetobacter baumannii) was
most frequent in Barajevo. Transposons/insertion sequences TnSwi1 and ISAeme22 were
widespread, collectively comprising nearly 50% at four locations. Plasmids showed the greatest
diversity, with 89,921 identified, of which 1,580 were shared across all locations. These
findings suggest that air in Belgrade may serve as a potential pathway for antimicrobial
resistance dissemination, with Leštane, the most polluted location (air quality index: 263),
showing the greatest enrichment of ARGs and MGEs.Zbornik sažetaka: V simpozijum biologa i ekologa Republike Srpske sa međunarodnim učešćem - SBERS 2025 Prirodnomatematički fakultet, Univerzitet u Banjoj Luci, 13-15. novembar 2025
Determination of antibacterial and photothermal properties of novel composites based on graphene oxide/reduced graphene oxide, gold nanoparticles, and graphene quantum dots
No full textPathogenic bacteria have emerged as a worldwide health problem nowadays as a result of excessive use or misuse of antibiotics. Thus the prevention of bacteria-mediated infections through the development of novel antibacterial materials has received significant importance. Here, we combined graphene-based materials, namely graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO), with gold nanoparticles and modified graphene quantum dots to obtain improved composite materials. Also, we measured their light-to-heat conversion under an 808 nm laser illumination and their ability to generate singlet oxygen under photoexcitation. We determined their antibacterial properties against 8 bacterial strains. The composite of rGO showed slightly improved photothermal conversion compared to the GO counterpart due to its larger sp2 domains, while the GO composite showed the highest capacity to generate 1O2 under blue-light photoexcitation. All prepared composites had the minimum inhibitory concentrations in the range of 125 μg mL−1 to 500 μg mL−1 and did not show any cytotoxicity against MRC-5 cells
Biosynthesis of Silver Nanoparticles on Polypropylene Nonwovens: towards Antimicrobial Protection
No full textThe utilization of disposable face masks is an essential approach to mitigate the transmission of microorganisms. Composed mainly of polypropylene (PP) nonwoven material, these masks do not exhibit any antimicrobial properties. This study examines the feasibility of employing Ag-based nanoparticles (NPs) as an antimicrobial agent. To activate the chemically inert PP samples, corona discharge was applied at atmospheric pressure. Subsequently, a sol-gel coating with (3-aminopropyl) triethoxysilane was performed, which introduced amino groups necessary for the absorption of silver ions. The in situ biosynthesis of Ag-based NPs was conducted using extracts from Cannabis sativa L., Cannabaceae, and Paliurus spina-christi Mill., Rhamnaceae. Morphological and chemical changes were evaluated using FESEM, FTIR, and XPS analyses. The antimicrobial activity of the fabricated substrates was tested against the Gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli, the Gram-positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus, and the yeast Candida albicans. Cytotoxicity assessments were conducted utilizing HaCaT and MRC5 cell lines. Findings from FESEM and AAS revealed that the size and quantity of the synthesized NPs were influenced by the plant extract used. XPS analysis confirmed the presence of NPs as a mixture of Ag2O and AgO, which achieved a remarkable bacterial reduction of 99.9% without exhibiting cytotoxic effects
Dynamic Model of Serotonin Presynapse and Its Application to Suicide Attempt in Patients with Bipolar Disorder
No full textSuicide attempts are prevalent among patients with bipolar disorder (BD). Impaired serotonin (5-HT) system in the pathogenesis of suicide attempt is partially heritable. To quantify the combined effects of multiple genetic variants, we developed a dynamic model of the 5-HT presynapse with functionally integrated individual genetic variants. The model includes five genetic variants in 5-HT system genes (TPH2, SLC6A4, MAOA) and quantitatively assesses their influence on 5-HT synthesis, reuptake, and degradation. The model was validated on 140 unaffected individuals and tested on 101 BD patients. Predicted mean concentrations of 5-HT, 5-HT precursor, and degradation product were compared between BD patients with and without a history of attempted suicide, and unaffected individuals. The model consists of eight differential equations that describe the temporal concentration change of model outputs. Calculated concentrations in unaffected control individuals aligned with published experimentally measured values, validating our model. BD patients with a history of suicide attempt showed lower calculated concentrations of 5-HT degradation product 5-hydroxy-3-indolacetic acid (5-HIAA) compared to unaffected individuals (p = 0.044). Additionally, higher calculated concentrations of free cellular 5-HT (p = 0.048) and stored 5-HT (p = 0.047), with the effect size d = 0.35, were observed when comparing suicide attempters to non-attempters.. Our approach illuminated a complex interplay of genetic variants in 5-HT system genes that contributes to the risk of suicide attempt, with quantitative and personalized outputs unattainable through genetic association studies
Bacterial nanocellulose and its oxidized form as functional carriers for pomegranate peel extract: A sustainable approach to bioactive delivery
No full textThis study explores bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) and its oxidized form (o-BNC) as carriers for pomegranate peel extract (PPE) intended for functional food applications. The TEMPO-mediated oxidation was used to introduce carboxylate groups to enhance the selectivity and efficiency of adsorbed active components from PPE. Structural and compositional analyses, including FTIR and HPLC, confirmed successful incorporation of PPE components, while FESEM provided an insight into the material's morphology. In vitro release studies of ellagic acid and punicalagin, showed more sustained release of the active compounds from o-BNC which is highly influenced by pH. Antioxidant activity was evaluated by DPPH and FRAP assays, while the α-glucosidase inhibition assay was used to assess the ability to slow carbohydrate digestion, which helps regulate blood sugar levels. The o-BNC-PPE formulation exhibited significantly higher antioxidant activity than BNC-PPE, attributed to its richer phenolic content. In hypoglycemic assays, o-BNC-PPE outperformed both BNC-PPE and the standard drug acarbose, showing greater α-glucosidase inhibitory activity (IC50 1.41 μg/mL for o-BNC-PPE vs. 29.1 μg/mL for BNC-PPE and 156.6 μg/mL for acarbose). Compared to unmodified BNC, a wider range of bioactive compounds was incorporated on o-BNC due to enhanced binding capacity and porosity, which translated into material stronger antioxidant activity, attributed to presence of additional phenolics like gallic acid and ellagitannins. These findings underscore the potential of BNC-based materials as carriers of natural bioactive compounds in functional foods, offering a sustainable approach to delivery of antioxidants and other health-promoting bioactive compounds through diet, while also supporting plant waste valorization
Metformin reduces inflammatory nociception in mice through a serotonin-dependent mechanism
No full textThe antidiabetic drug metformin has demonstrated antinociceptive efficacy in different pain models, and these effects are usually attributed to activation of the AMP-dependent protein kinase (AMPK). However, the downstream targets that contribute to inhibition of nociception following AMPK activation have been only partially elucidated. Here, we examined the contribution of serotonergic mechanisms in mediating metformin's antinociceptive effects, seeing as AMPK activators (including metformin) have been shown to modulate serotonergic neurotransmission. The formalin test in mice was used as an inflammatory pain model. First, we examined metformin's effects following systemic (intraperitoneal) and local peripheral (intraplantar) administration. In the second part, we examined the roles of the AMPK and serotonin system in mediating metformin's antinociceptive effects by (locally and/or systemically) pretreating animals with the AMPK inhibitor (dorsomorphin), antagonists of serotonin 5-HT1A (WAY100635) and 5-HT1B/1D receptors (GR127935) or the tryptophan-hydroxylase inhibitor (PCPA). Metformin significantly reduced second phase nociceptive behavior following systemic and local application. In inhibitor/antagonist studies systemic application of dorsomorphin, WAY100635 or GR127935 significantly inhibited metformin's antinociceptive effects. Local application of dorsomorphin did not change metformin's antinociceptive effects, however locally administered serotonin receptor antagonists significantly reduced them. Finally, four-day pretreatment with PCPA (which depleted brainstem and spinal cord serotonin content) led to a significant reduction of metformin's antinociceptive effects. In conclusion, metformin produces serotonin-dependent antinociceptive effects against inflammatory pain via peripheral, and possibly central, serotonin 5-HT1A and 5-HT1B/1D receptors. The serotonin-mediated mechanism appears to be dependent on serotonin release, seeing as depletion of endogenous serotonin content attenuated metformin's antinociceptive effects