Main research interest and scientific activity of the laboratory is isolation of bacteriophages against various pathogenic bacterial strains and study phage-biology and genetics, as well as elaboration of different medicinal forms of phage preparations and development of technology for phage production.

Laboratory Personnel:

Marina Goderdzishvili, PhD – Head of the Laboratory   Email:   (mgoderdzishvili@pha.ge)
Irina Chkonia, PhD – Leading Scientist   Email:   (irinachkonia@pha.ge)
Ia Kusradze, PhD – Senior Scientist   Email:   (iakusradze@pha.ge)
Natia Karumidze, PhD – Senior Scientist   Email:   (natiaqarumidze@pha.ge)
Sophie Rigvava, PhD – Senior Scientist   Email:   (sophierigvava@pha.ge)
Teona Dvalidze – Scientist
Nino Qvatadze – Technician
Darejan Jgenti – Technician

Participation in Scientific Grant Projects:

2017-2021, H2020-FETOPEN 767015, “Constructing a Eubiosis Reinstatement Therapy for Asthma” (Co PI: N. Chanishvili).
2016-2017, SRNSF 217874, “The role of XhIA domain containing protein in the development of lysogenic conversion“ (PI: S. Rigvava).
2015-2017, ISTC A-1420, “Targeted elimination of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Salmonella by bacteriophages” (Co PI: N. Chanishvili).
2015-2018, STCU P664, “Isolation and Detailed Characterization of Bacteriophages Lytic to Human Pathogenic Species Intrinsically Resistant to Antibiotics” (PI: M. Tediashvili).
2014-2016, SNSF-SCOPES N 152304, “Bacteriophage therapy for treating urinary tract infections: A randomized placebo – controlled, double-blind trial“ (PI: N. Chanishvili).
2010-2015, 7FP Program: Industry Academia Partnership Pathways (Acronym – ”NanoBacteriophageSERS”), “Design of Novel Portable-Sensors Based on Suspension Arrays Composed of Monoclonal Antibody and Bacteriophage Carrying Magnetically Loaded Nanoparticles and Surface Enriched Raman Spectroscopy (SERS)” (Co-PI: N. Chanishvili).
2012 -2014, STCU P 450, “Screening of anti-virus activity of indol-containing tetracyclic condensed systems for application in veterinary medicine” (PI: M. Tediashvili).
2011-2013, ISTC G1912p, “Development of bacteriophage products as alternative to antibiotics to control bacterial diseases of liverstock animals: Stage I – Selection of the promising candidate bacteriophages against Salmonella typhimurium, E.coli, Streptococcus suis and Cl. perfringens” (PI: N. Chanishvili).
2009-2012, ISTC G1666, “Development of a New Phage Composite Targeted to Prevent and Treat Mixed Infections” (PI: I.Chkonia).
2007-2008, ISTC 1467, “Preparation of a detailed review article/monograph on the practical application of bacteriophages in medicine, veterinary, environmental research based on old documents and publications” (PI: N. Chanishvili).
2006-2009, ISTC G1369, “Microflora of inflammatory process in chronic prostatitis and urogenital tracts in men and phage therapy prospects” (PI: Z. Alavidze).
2005-2008, GEB2 1958 TB 05, “Isolation, distribution and biodiversity of selected Vibrios and their bacteriophages from aquatic environments in Georgia” (PI: M. Tediashvili).
2004-2007, STCU-Gr-115, “Creation and Study of Antimicrobial-Antifungal Composite Using Biodegradable Polymer as a Matrix” (PI: M. Goderdzishvili).
2001-2003, ISTC G446, “Bacteriophages Containing Drug Sustained/Controlled Release Type Polymeric Composites – New Effective Preparations for the Treatment of Infected Wounds and Cavites” (Co-PI: M. Goderdzishvili).

List of Selected Publications:

S. Rigvava, I. Kusradze, N. Karumidze, T. Dvalidze, M. Katsitadze, S. Barbakadze, D. Bolkvadze, M. Goderdzishvili – “New Temperate Enterococcus phage vB_GEC_EFS_2 with potential of lysogenic conversion”, GMN Georgian Med News, 2018, (274):158-164.

L. Leitner, W. Sybesma, N. Chanishvili, M. Goderdzishvili, T. M. Kessler – “Bacteriophages for treating urinary tract infections in patients undergoing transurethral resection of the prostate: A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial”, BMC Urology, 2017, 17(1):90.

F. Nogueira, N. Karumidze, I. Kusradze, M. Goderdzishvili, I. C. Gouveia – “Immobilization of bacteriophage in wound-dressing nanostructure”, Nanomedicine: nanotechnology, biology, and medicine, 2017, V13.(8), pp. 2475-2484.

I. Kusradze, N. Karumidze, S. Rigvava, T. Dvalidze, M. Katsitadze, I. Amiranashvili, M. Goderdzishvili – ”Characterization and Testing the Efficiency of Acinetobacter baumannii Phage vB-GEC_Ab-M-G7 as an Antibacterial Agent”, Front Microbiol, 2016, 4;7:1590.

A. Uimajuridze, G. Jvania, N. Chanishvili, M. Goderdzishvili, W. Sybesma, L. Managadze, A. Chkhotua, T. Kessler – “265 Phage therapy for the treatment for urinary tract infection: Results of in-vitro screenings and in-vivo application using commercially available bacteriophage cocktails”, European Urology Supplements, 2016, Volume 15, Issue 3, Page e265.

H. Zschach, K. Joensen, B. Lindhard, O. Lund, M. Goderdzishvili, I. Chkonia, G. Jgenti, N. Kvatadze, Z. Alavidze, E. Kutter, H. Hasman, M. Larsen – “What Can We Learn from a Metagenomic Analysis of a Georgian Bacteriophage Cocktail?”, Viruses, 2015, 7(12), 6570-6589.

J.P. Pirnay, B. Blasdel, L. Bretaudeau, A. Buckling, N. Chanishvili, M. Goderdzishvili, F. Pouilot, G. Resch, C. Rohde, J. Scheres, M. Skurnik, M. Vaneechoutte, L. Van Parys, G. Verbeken, M. Zizi, G. Van den Eed – “Quality and Safety Requirements for Sustainable Phage Therapy Products”, Pharmaceutical research, 2015, 32(7):2173-9.

J. Sahota, C. Smith, P. Radhakrishnan, C. Winstanley, M. Goderdzishvili, N. Chanishvili, A. Kadioglu, C. O’Callaghan, M. Clokie – “Bacteriophage Delivery by Nebulization and Efficacy against Phenotypically Diverse Pseudomonas aeruginosa from Cystic Fibrosis Patients”, Journal of Aerosol Medicine and Pulmonary Drug Delivery, 2015, 28(5):353-60.

K. Elizabeth, J. Borysowski, R. Międzybrodzki, A. Górski, B. Weber-Dąbrowska, M. Kutateladze, Z. Alavidze, M. Goderdzishvili, R. Adamia – “Clinical Phage Therapy”, Chapter 11, In the book: Phage Therapy: Current Research and Applications, 2014, Editor: Jan Borysowski, Ryszard Międzybrodzki and Andrzej Górski, Caister Academic Press, 2014.

N. Karumidze, I. Kusradze, S. Rigvava, M. Goderdzishvili, K. Rajakumar, Z. Alavidze – “Isolation and Characterisation of Lytic Bacteriophages of Klebsiella pneumoniae and Klebsiella oxytoca”, Current Microbiology, 2013, v. 66, Issue 3, pp. 251-258.

S. Rigvava, I. Tchkonia, M. Goderdzishvili, D. Jgenti, T. Dvalidze, J. Carpino – “Comparative Analyses of Biological and Physical Properties of Enterococcus faecalis Bacteriophage vB_EfS_3 and Streptococcus mitis Bacteriophage vB_SmitisM_2”, Canadian Journal of Microbiology, 2013, v. 59, issue 1, pp 18-21.

N. Karumidze, J. Thomas, N. Kvatadze, M. Goderdzishvili, K. Hakala, S. Weintraub, Z. Alavidze, S. Hardies – “Characterization of lytic Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteriophages via biological properties and genomic sequences”, Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 2012, v. 94, Issue 6, pp 1609-1617.

I. Kusradze, S. Diene, M. Goderdzishvili, J.M. Rolainb – “Molecular detection of OXA carbapenemase genes in multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii isolates from Iraq and Georgia”, International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents, 2011, v. 38, Issue 2, pp.164–168.