Antropogenic activities, presence of chemical and physical stressors in the environment and their combined action exert strong stressful influence to the whole living world including phytophagous insects and their populations. Early changes in physiological, biochemical and molecular parameters in insect stress may be extremely sensitive markers in ecophysiological studies and biomonitoring. Besides the direct impact, environmental variations alter host plant physiology and, consequently, phytophagous insect responses dependent on changes in host plant quality (concentration of defence allelochemicals and nutrients, accumulation of heavy metals and toxic chemicals etc.).
Current research involves natural and laboratory populations of insect that are differently adapted to environmental stressors. The aim of our research is to study mechanisms of insect adaptations to environmental stress in order to gain better understanding of their potential for physiological plasticity in a changed environment. Our group seeks to clarify specific and unspecific stress responses of insects (from subcellular to population level of biological organization) after short and long term exposure to chemical (inorganic and organic pollutants, mycotoxins, plant defense allelochemicals etc.) and physical (high temperature, constant and alternating magnetic fields etc.) environmental stressors.
Our investigations are focused on main stress responsive components: neuroendocrine system as the first-line of stress response (stress hormones), digestive system as an intermediary between the external and the internal environment (activity and expression of molecular isoforms of the most important groups of digestive enzymes), circulatory system (quantification of metabolites in the hemolymph). Our studies include the antioxidative defence, detoxification strategy, synthesis of heat shock proteins and hystological /cytological changes in various insect tissues after the acute and chronic impact of different stressors.
Current research is also concerned with the physiological basis for improving methods for inclusion of insects in circular economy systems (“insect farms”). Model systems includes insects that are very useful in recycling of organic waste (plastic, food waste, etc.). We are interested in insects use in the diet of domestic animals and pets as alternative feed and the use of their fras as organic plant fertilizer.
Gypsy moth Lymantria dispar and Euproctis chrysorrhoea (as the important forest pest), mealworm Tenebrio molitor as stored-gain pest and other insect species such as Morimus funereus, Blatta orientalis, etc. are also used in experiments.
Various advanced and classical biochemical, molecular, histochemical and electrophysiological methods are used in our research.
The multidisciplinary approach of studies in the Department of Insect Physiology and Biochemistry, apart from its fundamental importance, contributes to finding physiological, biochemical and molecular parameters as biomarkers in ecotoxicology. The results of our work also make an important scientific contribution to the inclusion of insects in sustainable circular economy systems. Research also participates in the improvement of sustainable methods for the regulation of the abundance of populations of economically important insects and bioconservation.
MAIN GOALS:
• Mechanisms of insect's adaptation to environmental stress
• Local adaptations in stress susceptible and resistant populations of insects
• Determination of physiological, biochemical and molecular biological parameters that can be used as biomarkers of environmental changes
• Physiological plasticity in pest insects stress tolerance
• Improvement of sustainable methods for regulation of insect pest populations
• Insects in the decomposition of plastics and organic waste
• Insect components as the basis for high-quality food for animals
• Insect fras as organic fertilizer for plants
The main research topics of the Department of Immunology, Institute for Biological Research „Siniša Stanković" are organ-specific autoimmune and immunoinflammatory disorders and experimental immunooncology. Our research is predominantly conducted in animal models, but it also involves in vitro studies, as well as samples obtained from human subjects. The Department is consisted of the following groups:
(group leader Ivana Stojanović)
Basic experimental models of Type 1 diabetes that we use are diabetes induced in inbred strains of mice by multiple low doses of streptozotocin and spontaneous or accelerated diabetes in NOD mice. Our main research focus is the role of gut immune cells in the development of Type 1 diabetes and possibilities for disease prevention or therapy that imply the application of plant-derived extracts or pure intact or modified plant products.
(group leaders Danijela Maksimović-Ivanić and Sanja Mijatović)
The main focus of the group is investigation of the communicational network inside tumor microenvironment (TME) with an accent on immune cell function, cancer cell differentiation status, and influence of dying cell subpopulations on the behaviour of all TME constituents. This platform serves as a base for the development of new therapeutic approaches based on drug repurposing, treatment of inflammation, and usage of naturally occurring and synthetic compounds as potent sources of differentiation-inducing agents. In the context of targeted therapy, various nano-technological pads are applied. Important segment of the research is related to establishment of protocols that will improve conventional treatments by incorporation of chemosensitizing compounds or enhancement of tumour cell sensitivity to cytotoxic activities of immune cells. Model systems include transformed malignant cell lines in vitro, and syngeneic solid and metastatic tumor models of melanoma, breast and colon.
(group leader Tamara Saksida)
The group is interested in investigation of inflammation in physiological conditions and its modulation in the disease setting. In order to determine the control mechanisms of inflammation and to modulate it via pharmacological agents, we use animal models of myocarditis and acute respiratory distress syndrome. Cellular therapy with mesenchimal stem cells isolated from the outer root of hair folicule is underway. Another focus of the group is the comparing the immune response in domestic animals to various pathogens, in order to facilitate the development of vaccines and immune intervention strategies for human diseases.
(group leader Đorđe Miljković)
The group is focused on the discovery of novel elements of molecular and cellular mechanisms responsible for the initiation, the development and the limitation of the CNS-directed autoimmune response. The search for novel therapeutic options for multiple sclerosis is our primary activity. Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in Dark Agouti (DA) rats induced with central nervous system antigens is used as an experimental model of multiple sclerosis. Rats of Albino Oxford (AO) strain, resistant to the induction of diabetes and EAE are also involved in the studies. We are investigating autoimmune response directed against the CNS in the peripheral immune organs, such as lymph nodes, and within the CNS. We are particularly interested in the role of gut immune cells in the regulation of the autoimmune response. Also, we are involved in the investigation of the influence of multiple sclerosis drugs on the immune system of the patients.
Jovana Ilic has received "Goran Ljubijankić" Foundation prize for the best MSc work in 2016 "Investigation of anticancer activity of tetraphenyl stanan bound to mesoporous material SBA-15 in human and mouse melanoma model in vitro". The work was done under the supervision of Daniejla Maksimović-Ivanić, Research professor, Immunooncology group, Department of Immunolog.
We would like to announce lectures on the topic: "Microbiota in health and disease" that are organized by the Kolarac Center for Lectures and our Department of Immunology. The lectures will take place at Kolarac on January 20th, January 27th, February 3rd and February 10th.
Immunology Group from our Institute was awarded with Best Theme for Day of Immunology Award by the International Union of Immunological Societies (IUIS). The award was presented at the International Immunology Congress in Melbourne, Australia on August 23rd, 2016.
Report for the campaign for the Day of Immunology - SERBIA
WHAT WE DID...
Scientific part of the celebration of this year’s Day of Immunology started with a meeting of Serbian Immunological Society held in Serbian Academy of Sciences (April 27th – 28th, 2016). Also, we have advertised Immunotherapy at the COST meeting held at the University of Belgrade Rector Palace (May, 9th-11th) dedicated to Immune cell therapy (A FACTT – Action to Focus and Accelerate Cell-based Tolerance-inducing Therapies).
Popularization of the importance and advantages of immunotherapy was performed through media both on TV and radio, as well as through their web pages: Radio Televizija Srbije – National Radio-Television (http://goo.gl/ah3rd2), Studio B Television (Dr. Srđa Jankovic, https://goo.gl/Izd6lT, http://goo.gl/G2VBfo), Radio Belgrade 1 (Dr. Ljiljana Sofronic-Milosavljevic http://goo.gl/VyM2ct), Radio Belgrade 2 (Scientific program – Solaris, Dr. Ivana Stojanovic and Dr. Djordje Miljkovic, http://goo.gl/bNhR8h). Further, information about immunotherapy was disseminated through Facebook pages “Reč, dve o imunoterapiji” (A word on immunotherapy) and “Imunologija IBISS”. Also, we have made a game “Immunity” and a quiz “Which cell of the immune system are you?” that was disseminated in schools and through the Facebook pages.
We have organized a session about cells with children from pre-school (around 30) and they provided us with valuable illustrations of immune cells that we used for advertising immunotherapy in the following activities such as interactive performances in High-schools (School of Pharmacy Belgrade, 5th and 13th Belgrade Gymnasium, Savremena Gymnasium Belgrade, Veliko Gradište Gymnasium), then with the members of the Serbian Molecular Biology Society Youth, and in Petnica Science Center (organization for extracurricular, informal science education http://www.petnica.rs). These performances were given from May 18th till June 10th. Before the performance, an introduction on immune system and immunotherapy was given. The performance itself was presented as a competition among the cells of the immune system (macrophage, dendritic cell, NK cell, T and B cell) and each cell described its functions in the immune system and the reason why it should be declared the best cell for immunotherapy. After the performance, the audience took a test which allowed us to deduce which of the participants were careful listeners and also they voted for the best immunotherapeutic cell. Only votes from those who were successful at the test were taken in final consideration. After the voting, discussion about the results and the current possibilities and achievements of immunotherapy was done. Total number of 290 students watched the performance, and, importantly 92.1% were successful with the test. The results of the students’ votes are given in the Chart 1 (for each school and as a total). Photos from the performances are provided as supplementary material. In addition, a video on immunotherapy was made when we attended Savremena Gymnasium and it is publicly available on YouTube (https://goo.gl/eXGJpF). Finally, Dr. Srdja Jankovic gave a lecture on vaccination at the Kolarac People’s University that promotes education and popularizes science achievements in Serbia (http://www.kolarac.rs/en/). The audio recording of the lecture can be found at http://goo.gl/2JkKtz.
The people we reached... The estimated number of people reached is as follows: through TV and radio - 1 million (38.84 % of the population in the Belgrade region of Serbia), through Facebook pages - 5.000, through direct contact with students and attendants of the lecture - 500, through direct contact with colleagues - 300.
Major results... Most of the people in Serbia were not aware of immunotherapy before our action. Now, we have spread the word about potential benefits of immunotherapy in general, and particularly about cell-based immunotherapy. We have also used this action to promote vaccination, thus opposing growing anti-vaccination movements. Finally, we informed general population about aims and activities of the Serbian Immunological Society, EFIS and IUIS. The students that we have reached are potential future leaders in Serbia, including science, medicine and policy making. We are convinced that after accepting basics of immunotherapy they will utterly support immunotherapy studies and application. Also, we have had discussions with clinicians about the importance of immunotherapy and about possibilities to introduce it in various forms in Serbia in near future. Thus, with this action we have set the basis for building the facilities for cell-based immunotherapy in Serbia.
Dr. Mirna Bulatović won the prize from "Goran Ljubijankić" Foundation for the best doctoral dissertation in the field of molecular biology for 2015 with doctoral dissertation entitled "Evaluation of Antitumor Activity of 6-(triphenylstannyl)hexan-1-ol Loaded in SBA-15 Mesoporous Nanostructured Material in the Mouse Model of Melanoma In Vitro and In Vivo".
Tamara Saksida, PhD, Senior research associate at the Department of Immunology, is a laureate of a national award "For women in science" for 2015. Founders of this award are company L'Oréal Balkan, National committee for UNESCO and Ministry of education, science and technological development of the Republic of Serbia.
Immunological Society of Serbia
https://www.isos.rs/
Transforming Cancer Treatment
http://www.onconox.com/about.htm
European School of Neuroimmunology
http://www.esni.isniweb.org/
European Federation of Immunological Societies
https://www.efis.org/
Research team of the Department of Hydroecology and Water Protection works on ecology of aquatic biota ‒ phytoplankton, phytobenthos, aquatic vascular plants, macroinvertebrates, fish and amphibians. The activities of the Department also include research of biodiversity, taxonomy, endangered aquatic species, fish parasites, non-indigenous and invasive taxa, as well as monitoring of specific physiological, biochemical and molecular biomarkers in order develop new methods and to track and assess changes in environmental quality.
The team members and their activities contribute to the implementation of EU Water Framework Directive in Serbia, Balkan and the Danube River Basin. In order to design the system for ecological status assessment of water bodies, the team worked on the typology of surface water bodies, identification of reference sites and reference conditions. Relaying on biological quality elements, especially aquatic macroinvertebrates, the correction of original ecoregion boundaries was done as well as definition of hydro-faunistic subregions in Serbia.
Ichthyologic research comprises: an overview of ichthyofauna in terms of ecological and biogeographical characteristics. Beside ichthyo-parasitic studies contribute to the complexity of the research covering the infection extent and medical status of fish.
The team also works on the study of activity of antioxidant defence enzymes and expression of protein CYP1A, as the indicators of stress in aquatic ecosystems.
Since 2005, the Department successfully participates in Proficiency Testing Scheme for benthic macroinvertebrates in order to acquire the reference status of our Laboratory, for access in the TransNational Monitoring Network of the Danube basin.
Phone: +381 11 20 78 300
Fax: +381 11 27 61 433
Email: ibiss@ibiss.bg.ac.rs
Bulevar despota Stefana 142
11108 Belgrade
Serbia
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