Eliava Institute
breadcrumbs

Laboratory of Microbial Biotechnology

The main directions of scientific work of Laboratory of Microbial Biotechnology are: research and development of bacteriophages active to various aerobic and anaerobic bacteria; isolation of lactic acid bacteria from endemic food products and assessment of their biotechnological value. The laboratory possesses large collection of well characterized bacteriophages and their host bacteria. The collection includes also lactic bacterial cultures that can be potentially used for construction of dairy starters.

 

Laboratory Personnel

Nina Chanishvili, PhD – Head of the Laboratory – nina.chanishvili@pha.ge

Gulnara Natroshvili, PhD – Senior Scientist

Nata Bakuradze – Senior Scientist- nata.bakuradze@pha.ge

Nino Grdzelishvili – Scientist-n.grdzelishvili@pha.ge

Tamar Tatrishvili – Scientist-t.tatrishvili@pha.ge

Davit Lazviashvili – Senior Laboratory assistant

Giorgi Chelidze – Senior Laboratory assistant

 

Scientific Grant projects (last 5 years)

  • 2024-2025 -NNLE “Eliava Foundation – Association for the Development of Bacteriophages in Georgia”- The study of polymicrobial biofilm degrading ability of P. aeruginosa and S.aureus specific bacteriophages. (PI: N.Grdzelishvili).
  • 2022–2025- COST Action PIMENTO (CA20128 Promoting Innovation of ferMENTed foods- WP3 “Health benefits and risks of fermented foods”. Project Manager:Nina Chanishvili.
  • 2022-2024- Shota Rustaveli Georgian National Science Foundation, Fundamental Research Grant Project FR-22-7437 –“Study of the potential of urophages in preventing development of antibiotic resistance in Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) “.
  • 2022-2023- Shota Rustaveli National Foundation of Georgia-Conference project – MG1SE- 22-1600-International Conference Viruses of Microbes – IVOM-2023. Project Manager: Nina Chanishvili
  • 2019-2021 – ‘Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation of Geoergia”- # 17-17189 “The perspectives of phage therapy for treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) in Georgian population”. (Co-PI: N.Chansivili)
  • 2019-2021 – “Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation of Geoergia”, Doctoral Study Program, # PHDF-19-8446: “Molecular and biological characterization of Pseudomonas aeruginosa specific bacteriophages and study of immune response to phage therapy using in vitro cells culture model”. (PI: N. Grzelishvili)
  • 2019-2020 -NNLE “Eliava Foundation- Association for the Development of Bacteriophages in Georgia”- “Commercialization of the collection of the endemic lactic acid bacteria”. (PI: N. Chanishvili)
  • 2018-2021 -Horizon 2020 FETOPEN #767015- “CURE Constructing a ‘Eubiosis Reinstatement Therapy’ for Asthma”. (Co-PI: Ni. Chanishvili)

 

Selected Publications (Last 5 years)

  • Jean-Paul Pirnay, Sarah Djebara, Griet Steurs, Johann Griselain, Christel Cochez, Steven De Soir, Tea Glonti, An Spiessens, Emily Vanden Berghe, Sabrina Green, Jeroen Wagemans, Cédric Lood, Eddie Schrevens, Nina Chanishvili, Mzia Kutateladze, Mathieu de Jode, Pieter-Jan Ceyssens, Jean-Pierre Draye, Gilbert Verbeken, Daniel De Vos, Thomas Rose, Jolien Onsea, Brieuc Van Nieuwenhuyse, Patrick Soentjens, Rob Lavigne, Maya Merabishvili, Personalized bacteriophage therapy outcomes for 100 consecutive cases: a multicentre, multinational, retrospective observational study, Nature Microbiology volume 9, pages 1434–1453 2024
  • R Tucker Gilman, Mark R Muldoon, Spyridon Megremis, David L Robertson, Nina Chanishvili, Nikolaos G Papadopoulos, Lysogeny destabilizes computationally simulated microbiomes, Ecology Letters, June, 2024
  • Almeida GMDF, Ravantti J, Grdzelishvili N, Kakabadze E, Bakuradze N, Javakhishvili E, Megremis S, Chanishvili N, Papadopoulos N, Sundberg L. 0. Relevance of the bacteriophage adherence to mucus model for Pseudomonas aeruginosa phages. Microbiol Spectr., June, 2024 0:e03520-23.
  • Bakuradze, N., Merabishvili, M., Kusradze, I., Ceyssens, P. J., Onsea, J., Metsemakers, W. J., Grdzelishvili, N., Natroshvili, G., Tatrishvili, T., Lazvliashvili, D., Mitskevich, N., Pirnay, J. P., & Chanishvili, N. “Characterization of a Bacteriophage GEC_vB_Bfr_UZM3 Active against Bacteroides fragilis”. Viruses, 15(5), 1042. (2023). 
  • Tzani-Tzanopoulou P, Skliros D, Megremis S, Xepapadaki P, Andreakos E, Chanishvili N, Flemetakis E, Kaltsas G, Taka S, Lebessi E, Doudoulakakis A, Papadopoulos NG. Corrigendum: Interactions of Bacteriophages and Bacteria at the Airway Mucosa: New Insights Into the Pathophysiology of Asthma. Front Allergy. 2023.
  • Elene Kakabadze, Khatuna Makalatia, Nata Bakuradze, Nino Grdzelishvili, Sophie Kereselidze, Tamar Ediberidze, Veriko Berulava, Nana Sabauri , Nana Cholokashvili, Mariam Motsikulashvili, Nina Chanishvili, Ivane Abiatari, Gut health of the children with the autism spectrum disorder in Georgia, World Academy of Sciences Journal, 2023 (Ref: 285253).
  • R Tucker Gilman, Mark R Muldoon, Spyridon Megremis, David L Robertson, Nina Chanishvili, Nikolaos G Papadopoulos, Lysogeny destabilizes computationally simulated microbiomes, bioRxiv, 2023.10. 23.563560, Publisher: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
  •  J-P. Pirnay, S. Djebara, G. Steurs, J. Griselain, Ch. Cochez, S. De Soir T. Glonti, An Spiessens, E. Vanden Berghe, S. Green, J. Wagemans, C. Lood, E. Schrevens, N. Chanishvili, M. Kutateladze, M.de Jode, P-J. Ceyssens, J-P. Draye, G. Verbeken, D. De Vos, Th. Rose, J. Onsea, B. Van Nieuwenhuyse, Bacteriophage Therapy Providers, Bacteriophage Donors, P. Soentjens, R. Lavigne, M. Merabishvili Retrospective, observational analysis of the first one hundred consecutive cases of personalized bacteriophage therapy of difficult-to-treat infections facilitated by a Belgian consortium. MedRxiv (The preprint server for Health Sciences). August, 2023
  • Mark P Khurana, Sabiha Essack, Ghada Zoubiane, Nandini Sreenivasan, Gloria Cristina Cordoba, Erica Westwood, Anders Dalsgaard, Robinson H Mdegela, Mirfin Mpundu, Rodrigo Scotini, Augustine B Matondo, Alexanda Mzula, Nina Chanishvili, Dimitri Gogebashvili, Maia Beruashvili, Marika Tsereteli, Talant Sooronbaev, Jesper Kjærgaard, Joakim Bloch, Elvira Isaeva, Geoffrey Mainda, Geoffrey Muuka, Ntombi B Mudenda, Fusya Y Goma, Duc-Huy Chu, Duncan Chanda, Uchizi Chirwa, Kaunda Yamba, Kenneth Kapolowe, Sombo Fwoloshi, Lawrence Mwenge, Robert Skov, Mitigating antimicrobial resistance (AMR) using implementation research: a development funder’s approach, JAC-Antimicrobial Resistance, Volume 5, Issue 2, April 2023, dlad031, 
  • Vita Rozman, Petra Mohar Lorbeg, Nina Chanishvili, Tomaž Accetto, Elene Kakabadze, Nino Grdzelishvili, Maja Rupnik, Bojana Bogovič Matijašić - Genomic insights into the safety and bacteriocinogenic potential of isolates from artisanal fermented milk Matsoni, LWT, Volume 185, 2023, 115183,  
  • A. Eskenazi, N. Balarjishvili ,L. Leshkasheli, L. Askilashvili, L. Kvachadze, N. Chanishvili , M. Kutateladze, M. Merabishvili , J.P.Pirnay, M. Jayankura, M. Hites, R. Lavigne , C. Lood , V. van Noort , J. Wagemans, J. Wubbolts , M. de Boer ,P.r Nibbering – Pre-adapted bacteriophage-antibiotic combination therapy in a patient with fracture-related infection due to pandrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae. – NATURE COMMUNICATIONS 13, Article number: 302 (2022).
  • Sara Arroyo-Moreno, Colin Buttimer, Francesca Bottacini, Nina Chanishvili, Paul Ross, Colin Hill, Aidan Coffey, (2022) Insights into Gene Transcriptional Regulation of Kayvirus Bacteriophages Obtained from Therapeutic Mixtures, Viruses, 14 (3):626.
  • Nina Chanishvili, Dmitryi Myelnikov, Timothy Blauvelt, Professor Giorgi Eliava and the Bacteriophage Institute, Phage: Therapy, Applications and Research, 2022, Volume: 3 Issue 2: June 16, 2022; 
  • Tzani-Tzanopoulou, P., Skliros, D., Megremis, S., Xepapadaki, P., Andreakos, E., Chanishvili, N., Flemetakis, E., Kaltsas, G., Taka, S., Lebessi, E., Doudoulakakis, A. & Papadopoulos, NG. 2021. Interactions of Bacteriophages and Bacteria at the Airway Mucosa: New Insights Into the Pathophysiology of Asthma. Front.in Allergy, 
  • Kakabadze, E., Zago, M., Rossetti, L., Grdzelishvili, N., Bonvini, B., Janashia, I., Tidona, F., Carminati, D., Giraffa, G. & Chanishvili, N. 2021. Design of an autochthonous starter culture using strains isolated from traditional Matsoni. FEMS Microbiology Letters, 368(11),
  • fnab061. 
  • Chanishvili, N. & Alavidze,Z. 2021. Early therapeutic and prophylactic uses of bacteriophages. In: Bacteriophages, Springer International Publishing.
  • Bakuradze N, Merabishvili M, Makalatia K, Kakabadze E, Grdzelishvili N, Wagemans J, Lood C, Chachua I, Vaneechoutte M, Lavigne R, Pirnay J-P, Abiatari I, Chanishvili N. In Vitro Evaluation of the Therapeutic Potential of Phage VA7 against Enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis Infection. Viruses. 2021; 13(10):2044. 
  • Krupovic, M., Turner, D., Morozova, V. … N. Chanishvili…. E. Adrianesens, Bacterial Viruses Subcommittee and Archaeal Viruses Subcommittee of the ICTV: update of taxonomy changes in 2021. Arch Virol 166, 3239–3244 2021. 
  • Leitner, L.; Ujmajuridze, A.; Chanishvili, N.; Goderdzishvili, M.; Chkonia, I.; Rigvava, S.; Chkhotua, A.; Changashvili, G.; McCallin, S.; Schneider, M.P.; et al. Intravesical Bacteriophages for Treating Urinary Tract Infections in Patients Undergoing Transurethral Resection of the Prostate: A Randomised, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Clinical Trial. The Lancet Infectious Diseases 2021, 21, 427–436, doi:10.1016/S1473-3099(20)30330-3.
  • Makalatia, K.; Kakabadze, E.; Bakuradze, N.; Grdzelishvili, N.; Stamp, B.; Herman, E.; Tapinos, A.; Coffey, A.; Lee, D.; Papadopoulos, N.G.; et al. Investigation of Salmonella Phage-Bacteria Infection Profiles: Network Structure Reveals a Gradient of Target-Range from Generalist to Specialist Phage Clones in Nested Subsets. Viruses 2021, 13, 1261, doi:10.3390/v13071261.
  • Leitner, L.; Ujmajuridze, A.; Chanishvili, N.; Goderdzishvili, M.; Chkonia, I.; Rigvava, S.; Chkhotua, A.; Changashvili, G.; McCallin, S.; Schneider, M.P.; et al. Intravesical Bacteriophages for Treating Urinary Tract Infections in Patients Undergoing Transurethral Resection of the Prostate: A Randomised, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Clinical Trial. The Lancet Infectious Diseases 2021, 21, 427–436, doi:10.1016/S1473-3099(20)30330-3.
  • Makalatia, K.; Kakabadze, E.; Bakuradze, N.; Grdzelishvili, N.; Stamp, B.; Herman, E.; Tapinos, A.; Coffey, A.; Lee, D.; Papadopoulos, N.G.; et al. Investigation of Salmonella Phage-Bacteria Infection Profiles: Network Structure Reveals a Gradient of Target-Range from Generalist to Specialist Phage Clones in Nested Subsets. Viruses 2021, 13, 1261, doi:10.3390/v13071261.
  • Chanishvili, N.; Alavidze, Z. Early Therapeutic and Prophylactic Uses of Bacteriophages. In Bacteriophages; Harper, D.R., Abedon, S.T., Burrowes, B.H., McConville, M.L., Eds.; Springer International Publishing: Cham, 2020; pp. 1–30 ISBN 978-3-319-40598-8.
  • Ngassam-Tchamba, C.; Duprez, J.N.; Fergestad, M.; De Visscher, A.; L’Abee-Lund, T.; De Vliegher, S.; Wasteson, Y.; Touzain, F.; Blanchard, Y.; Lavigne, R.; et al. In Vitro and in Vivo Assessment of Phage Therapy against Staphylococcus aureus Causing Bovine Mastitis. Journal of Global Antimicrobial Resistance 2020, 22, 762–770, doi:10.1016/j.jgar.2020.06.020.
  • Adriaenssens, E.M.; Sullivan, M.B.; Knezevic, P.; van Zyl, L.J.; Sarkar, B.L.; Dutilh, B.E.; Alfenas-Zerbini, P.; Łobocka, M.; Tong, Y.; Brister, J.R.; et al. Taxonomy of Prokaryotic Viruses: 2018-2019update from the ICTV Bacterial and Archaeal Viruses Subcommittee. Arch Virol 2020, 165, 1253–1260, doi:10.1007/s00705-020-04577-8.
  • Chanishvili, N. Commercial Products for Human Phage Therapy. In Bacterial Viruses: Exploitation for Biocontrol and Therapeutics; Caister Academic Press, 2020 ISBN 978-1-913652-51-7.
  • Chanishvili, N.; Nadareishvili, L.; Zaldastanishvili, E.; Balarjishvili, N.; Kutateladze, M. Application of Bacteriophages in Human Therapy: Recent Advances at the George Eliava Institute. In Bacterial Viruses: Exploitation for Biocontrol and Therapeutics; Caister Academic Press, 2020 ISBN 978-1-913652-51-7.
Laboratory of Microbial Biotechnology
Laboratory of Microbial Biotechnology