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 the production of bacteriophages. Laboratory staff developed an exceptionally successful Staphylococcal bacteriophage production technology.

Laboratory Personnel:

Nana Balarjishvili, PhD – Head of the Laboratory Email:   (n.balarjishvili@pha.ge)
Leila Kvachadze, PhD – Leading scientist Email:   (l.kvachadze@pha.ge)
Elisabed Zaldastanishvili, Dr. rer. nat – Senior scientist  Email:   (zaldastanishvili@pha.ge)
Lika Leshkasheli – Scientist / Doctoral student   Email:   (l.leshkasheli@pha.ge)
Darejan Bolkvadze – Scientist / Doctoral student   Email:   (d.bolkvadze@pha.ge)
Lia Askilashvili – Senior Laboratory assistant   Email:   (laskilashvili@pha.ge)
Megi Khanishvili – Laboratory assistant / Master’s student
Tata Ninidze – Laboratory assistant
Amalia Egikova – Laboratory assistant

Participation in Scientific Grant Projects:

2019-2023 Ferring Pharmaceuticals: “Developments of Phage-based Products in the field of Reproductive Medicine and Women’s health”
STCU P664a 2018-2020 Bacteriophages Lytic to selested multidrag resistant human pathogenic Bacteria: detailed characterization and evaluation of safety, therapeutic efficacy and decontamination potential
2014-2016, Scopes I Z7370_152319, “Evolution of a new Bacteriophage cocktail for treatment of Acinetobacter baumannii associated sepsis” (PI: M. Kutateladze).
2013-2015, FP7, “Anthrax envrionmental decontamination network” (Co PI: M. Kutateladze).
2013-2014, DTRA GG19, “Epidemiology of F.tularensis in Georgia” (Co PI: M. Kutateladze).

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2013-2015, DTRA/CRDF GG19, “Characterization of mechanisms of adaptive phage-host co-evolution using next generation sequencing and phenotypic profiling” (PI: M. Kutateladze).
2011-2012, DTRA TAP, “Comparative whole genome sequencing of diagnostic Brucella phages” (PI: M. Kutateladze).
2012-2013, BPG# 02/12, “Bacteriophage as Decontamination Alternative“ (PI: M. Kutateladze).
2011-2014, FP7 – IRSES 269175, “Aquaphage” (PI: M. Tediashvili).
2011-2012, STCU – p448, “Study of the role of bacteriophages in the biology of sulfatereducing bacteria” (PI: M. Kutateladze).
2010-2013, STCU #4744, “Methods of Receiving Nanoparticles through Extremophiles” (PI: T. Kalabegishvili).
2009-2011, DTRA GG18, “Ecology, genetic clustering and virulence of major bacterial and viral pathogens in the Republic of Georgia” (Co PI: R. Adamia).
2009-2011, GEB2-1962-TB-08, GG-17, “Clinical, Epidemiological and Laboratory Based Assessment of Brucellosis in Georgia” (Co PI: M. Kutateladze).
2009-2012, Novozyme (Denmark), “Identification and basic characterization of bacteriophages against bacterial strains that couse malodour” (PI: M. Kutateladze).
2007-2008, CF-1, grant from PhageBiotics Foundation, USA, “Characterization of bacterial strains isolated from the patients with CF in Georgia and Clinical examination after phage therapy” (PI: M. Kutateladze).
2007-2008, HCMR, “Phages against diseases of cultured Mediterranean fish” (PI: M. Tediashvili).
2005-2008, CRDF-GEB2-1958-Tb05 GG-13, “Isolation, distribution and biodiversity of selected vibrios and their bacteriophages from aquatic environments in Georgia” (PI: M. Tediashvili).
2004-2007, ISTC G-510, “Bacteriophages for the treatment of infectious diseases caused by antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa” (PI: N. Balarjishvili).
2001-2004, BTEP 20/ISTC G- 595, “Analysis of Phage Specific Potentially Lethal Genes and Investigation of Antibacterial Activity of “Killer” Proteins” (PI: M. Kutateladze).
1999-2001, INTAS-Georgia -97, N 1341, “Bacteriophages – a new approach for combating of the nosocomial respiratory infection caused by Ps.aeruginosa” (PI: N. Chanishvili).
1994-1995, SA 8000, Grant from the Soros Foundation for the maintenance of phage collection (PI: R. Adamia).

List of Selected Publications:

Lika Leshkasheli, Mzia Kutateladze, Nana Balarjishvili, Darejan Bolkvadze, Jonathan Save, Frank Oechslin, Yok-Ai Que, Grégory Resch. Efficacy of Newly Isolated and Highly Potent Bacteriophages in a Mouse Model of XDRAB Bacteremia. Journal of Global Antimicrobial Resistance. Available online 14 May 2019, ISSN, 2213-7165.
Corbellino, N. Kieffer, M. Kutateladze, N. Balarjishvili, L. Leshkasheli, L. Askilashvili, G. Tsertsvadze, S. G. Rimoldi, D. Nizharadze, N.Hoyle, L. Nadareishvili, S. Antinori1, C. Pagani, D. G. Scorza, A. L. L. Romanò, S.Ardizzone, P. Danelli, M. R. Gismondo, M.Galli1, P. Nordmann and L. Poirel. Eradication of a multi-drug resistant, carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae isolate following oral and intra-rectal therapy with a custom-made, lytic bacteriophage preparation. Clinical Infectious Diseases.ciz782, https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciz782, Published: 15 August 2019
Sergueev KV, Filippov AA, Farlow J, Su W, Kvachadze L, Balarjishvili N, Kutateladze M, Nikolich MP.Correlation of Host Range Expansion of Therapeutic Bacteriophage Sb-1 with Allele State at a Hypervariable Repeat Locus.Appl Environ Microbiol. 2019 Sep 6. pii: AEM.01209-19. doi: 10.1128/AEM.01209-19.
N. Hoyle, P. Zhvaniya, N. Balarjishvili, D. Bolkvadze, L. Nadareishvili, D. Nizharadze, J. Wittmann, C. Rohde, M. Kutateladze – “Phage therapy against Achromobacter xilosoxidans lung infection in a patient with cystic fibrosis: a case report-Research in Microbiology”, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resmic.2018.05.001.
I. Antadze, M. Dadunashvili, T. Burbutashvili, S. Gunia, N. Balarjishvili, E. Tevdoradze, T. Pataridze, RJ. Obiso, S. Hagius, P. Elzer, M. Kutateladze – “Diversity of Phage-Host Specificity in Brucella Phage”, Journal of Bacteriology and Mycology, 2017; 4(2): 1049.
A. Gundogdu, D. Bolkvadze, H. Kilic – “In vitro Effectiveness of Commercial Bacteriophage Cocktails on Diverse Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase Producing Escherichia coli Strains”, Frontiers in Microbiology, 2016, Vol. 7 – 1761.

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M. Kutateladze, L. Leshkasheli, D. Bolkvadze, L. Askilashvili, N. Balarjishvil – “Bacteriophages against multidrug resistant bacterial infections”, International Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2016, 53:46-47.
T. Kalabegishvili, I. Murusidze, D. Prangishvili, L. Kvachadze, E. Kirkesali, A. Rcheulishvili, E. Ginturi, M. Janjalia, G. Tsertsvadze, V. Gabunia, M. Frontasyeva, I. Zinicovscaia, S. Pavlov – “Silver Nanoparticles in Sulfolobus islandicus Biomass for Technological Applications”, Advanced Science, Engineering and Medicine, 2015, Volume 7, Number 9, pp. 797-804(8).
N. Balarjishvili, L. Kvachadze, M. Kutateladze, T. Meskhi, T. Pataridze, T. Berishvili, E. Tevdoradze – “New Virulent Bacteriophages Active against Multiresistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa Strains”, Journal of Applied Biochemistry and Microbiology, 2015, Vol. 51, No. 6, pp. 674–682.
E. Tevdoradze, J. Farlow, A. Kotorashvili, N. Skhirtladze, I. Antadze, S. Gunia, N. Balarjishvili, L. Kvachadze, M. Kutateladze – “Whole genome sequence comparison of ten diagnostic brucellaphages propagated on two Brucella abortus hosts”, Virology Journal, 2015, 12:66.
T. Kalabegishvili, I. Murusidze, D. Prangishvili, L. Kvachadze, E. Kirkesali, at al – “Gold nanoparticles in Sulfolobus islandicus biomass for technological applications”, Advanced Science, Engineering and Medicine, 2014, Volume 6, Number 12, pp. 1302-1308(7).
E. Tevdoradze, L. Kvachadze, M. Kutateladze, Charles R. Stewart – “Bactericidal Genes of Staphylococcal Bacteriophage Sb-1”, Current Microbiology, 2014, 68(2):204-210.
D. Fitzegerold-Hundhes, D. Bolkvadze, N. Balarjishvili, L. Leshkasheli, M. Ryan, L. Burce, N. Stevens, H. Humphreys, M. Kutateladze – “Susceptibility of extended-spectrum-β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli to commercially available and laboratory-isolated bacteriophages”, Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, 2014, 69 (4): 1148-1150.
D. Bolkvadze, E. Tevdoradze, N. Skhirtladze, L. Leshkasheli, L. Kvachadze, N. Balarjishvili, M. Kutateladze – “The identification of species of the Desulfovibrio genus, isolated in Georgia”, Proc. Georgian National Academy of Sciences, BioMed. Series, 2014, № 3-4, vol.40, pp. 83-92.
L. Kvachadze, N. Balarjishvili, T. Meskhi, E. Tevdoradze, N. Skhirtladze, T. Pataridze, R. Adamia, T. Topuria, E. Kutter, Ch. Rohde, M. Kutateladze – “Evaluation of lytic activity of Staphylococcal bacteriophage Sb-1 against freshly isolated clinical pathogens”, Microbial Biotechnology, 2011, v.4, issue 5, pp. 643-650.
L. Kvachadze, M. Kutateladze, N. Balarjishvili, T. Pataridze, N. Nikolaishvili, E. Tevdoradze, R. Adamia – “Proteins with antimicrobial activity, encoded by genome of Staphylococcal bacteriophage Sb-1”, Molecular medicine, 2011, №5, pp. 41-46.