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Laboratory of Molecular Biology

The Laboratory of Molecular Biology performs molecular and biological studies of the bacteriophages that are included in the Eliava Institute’s therapeutic and prophylactic preparations. The researchers of the laboratory have been involved in various scientific studies for the isolation and detailed characterization of bacteriophages against both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. One of the main interests and activities of the team is investigation the mechanisms of phage – host bacterial cell interaction, study phage genes responsible for the lysis, and identification phage-specific “killer” proteins. The Laboratory has substantial experience and the capability for improvement and standardization of technological schemes for production of bacteriophage therapeutic preparations. Laboratory staff developed an exceptionally successful technology for production of highly purified Staphylococcal bacteriophage preparation.

 

Laboratory Personnel

Elisabed Zaldastanishvili, Dr. rer. na– Head of the Laboratory – zaldastanishvili@pha.ge
Leila Kvachadze, PhD – Leading scientist – l.kvachadze@pha.ge
Lika Leshkasheli – Senior Scientist / PhD – l.leshkasheli@pha.ge
Darejan Bolkvadze – Scientist / Doctoral student – d.bolkvadze@pha.ge
Lia Askilashvili – Senior Laboratory assistant – laskilashvili@pha.ge
Pikria Goglidze – Senior Laboratory assistant

Marina Khutsishvili – Laboratory assistant

 

Scientific Grant projects (last 5 years)

  • 2024-2025 -NNLE “Eliava Foundation – Association for the Development of Bacteriophages in Georgia”- Combined antibacterial effect of phages and cationic peptides.(PI: E.Zaldastanishvili).
  • 2024 -NNLE “Eliava Foundation – Association for the Development of Bacteriophages in Georgia”- Detailed characterization of newly isolated phages against Raoultella strains from the collection of Eliava Institute.(PI: E.Zaldastanishvili).
  • 2023-2026 “German Federal Ministry of Education and Research” – “Characterization of factors, responsible for bacterial resistance development during phage therapy”. Collaboration with WWU Münster, Germany (the coordinator) and KU Leuven, Belgium (associated partner). Local project manager: Elisabed Zaldastanishvili.
  • 2022-2024 “Shota Rustaveli Georgian National Science Foundation” – Investigation of possible synergistic and antagonistic effects of phage-antibiotic combinations on members of Klebsiella genus.Project Manager: Elisabed Zaldastanishvili.
  • 2023- Georgia’s researchers’ mobility program- “Engineering bacteriophages to overcome host immunity”. Project Manager: Elisabed Zaldastanishvili.Hosted by Brouns Lab, Department of Bionanoscience, Delft University of Technology, the Netherlands.
  • 2022-2023-NNLE “Eliava Foundation – Association for Development of Bacteriophages in Georgia” -“Study of colistin resistance induced by MCR 1 gene in gram-negative bacteria isolated from Georgian and foreign patients”. (PI: D. Bolkvadze).
  • 2022-2023 – NNLE “Eliava Foundation – Association for Development of Bacteriophages in Georgia”- “Characterization and systematization of autophages against Klebsiella spp.” (PI: L. Leshkasheli).
  • 2022-2023 – NNLE “Eliava Foundation – Association for Development of Bacteriophages in Georgia” -“Characterization of the strains of the genus Raoultella in the collection of the Institute and the phage acting on them.” (PI: E. Zaldastanishvili).
  • 2022-2023 -NNLE “Eliava Foundation – Association for Development of Bacteriophages in Georgia”- “Detailed case analysis of one current patient at Eliava Phagotherapy Center” (PI: E. Zaldastanishvili).
  • 2021-2022 – “Shota Rustaveli Georgian National Science Foundation”, Fundamental Research Grant Project FR-21-8952 -“Selection and study of bacteriophages with therapeutic potential against infections caused by microorganisms of the genus Klebsilla“.(PI: L. Kvachadze).
  • 2019-2023 -“Ferring Pharmaceuticals”: “Developments of Phage-based Products in the field of Reproductive Medicine and Women’s health”. (PI: M. Kutateladze)
  • 2019-2020– NNLE “Eliava Foundation- Association for the Development of Bacteriophages in Georgia”- “Evaluation of the effectiveness of phage therapy for the treatment of chronic infections”. (PI: N. Balarjishvili)
  • 2019-2020 -NNLE “Eliava Foundation- Association for the Development of Bacteriophages in Georgia”-
  • “Study of MCR-1 gene induced colistin resistance in gram-negative bacteria isolated from Georgian and foreign patients”. (PI: D. Bolkvadze).

 

Selected Publications (Last 5 years)

  • 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).
  • Balarjishvili N. , L. Kvachadze, E. Tevdoradze, N. Skhirtladze, L. Leshkasheli,D. Bolkvadze1 , T. Pataridze, T. Meskhi, R. Chakraborty , M. Kutateladze and T. Torok. Significance of lysogeny for the metabolism of Desulfovibrio spp. strains isolated from aquatic environments of Georgia. Journal of Applied Microbiology, 2021pp;1-16.
  • Zaldastanishvili E., L. Leshkasheli, M. Dadiani, L. Nadareishvili , L.Askilashvili, N. Kvatadze, M. Goderdzishvili, M. Kutateladze, N. Balarjishvili-Phage Therapy Experience at the Eliava Phage Therapy Center:Three Cases of Bacterial Persistence,Viruses 2021, 13, 1901. 
  • Balarjishvili, N.; Kvachadze, L.; Tevdoradze, E.; Skhirtladze, N.; Leshkasheli, L.; Bolkvadze, D.; Pataridze, T.; Meskhi, T.; Chakraborty, R.; Kutateladze, M.; et al. Significance of Lysogeny for the Metabolism of Desulfovibrio Spp. Strains Isolated from Aquatic Environments of Georgia. J Appl Microbiol 2021, jam.15030, doi:10.1111/jam.15030.
  • Corbellino, M.; Kieffer, N.; Kutateladze, M.; Balarjishvili, N.; Leshkasheli, L.; Askilashvili, L.; Tsertsvadze, G.; Rimoldi, S.G.; Nizharadze, D.; Hoyle, N.; et al. Eradication of a Multidrug-Resistant, Carbapenemase-Producing Klebsiella pneumoniae Isolate Following Oral and Intra-Rectal Therapy With a Custom Made, Lytic Bacteriophage Preparation. Clinical Infectious Diseases 2020, 70, 1998–2001, doi:10.1093/cid/ciz782.
Laboratory of Molecular Biology