Scientific Laboratories
Eliava Institute houses seven scientific laboratories, an electron microscopy department and phage quality control group. Among scientific laboratories is the laboratory of bacterial strains and phage collection, where the institute keeps its vast collection of bacterial strains and phages.
The main goal of the ongoing research is the development of ecologically safe biopreparations and appropriate methodologies for their future application in human and animal health, agriculture and environmental protection.
Information about scientific activity of the Institute – 2000-2021 years.
The Laboratory of Applied Microbiology investigates problems of medical, veterinary and agricultural microbiology. The Laboratory is focused on creation of bacteriophage preparations for prevention and treatment of infectious diseases. From animal infectious diseases, we are interested in pathogens causing intestinal and purulent diseases (mastitis, endometrioses, salmonellosis, etc.), as well as in plant pathogens and creation of phage preparations against these pathogens. The Laboratory is also focused on food safety issues, such as microbiological investigations of food products and epidemiological research of food-borne pathogens for prevention of outbreaks of infections. The Laboratory is focused on investigations of nosocomial pathogens and the elaboration of different phage-based methods for decontamination and elimination of such pathogens, especially biofilm formatting ones. The Laboratory conducts investigations of microbial enzymes and creation of different drug preparations based on these enzymes.
Laboratory Personnel
Tarasi Gabisonia, MD – Head of the Laboratory – t.gabisonia@pha.ge
Manana Loladze, PhD – Leading Scientist – m.loladze@pha.ge
Natela Chakhunashvili, PhD – Leading Scientist
Manana Nadiradze, PhD – Senior Scientist
Teimuraz Katamadze, PhD – Scientist – t.katamadze@pha.ge
Maia Alibegashvili, MSc – Scientist
Tamar Kalandarishvili, MSc – Scientist
Tatiana Eliava – Scientist
Natia Tamarashvili– Scientist
Tinatin Kusiani – Senior laboratory assistant
Liana Khadurishvili – laboratory assistant
Scientific Grant projects (last 5 years)
Selected Publications (Last 5 years)
The Laboratory of Microbial Ecology studies different aspects of microbial ecology and evolution, including microbial diversity in natural and artificial environments, microenvironments of the human body, prevalent microflora in hospital environment, physiology of bacterial communities in relation to system-level processes, marine, freshwater and geothermal water microbial habitats, influence of environmental factors on abundance and composition of microbes and their viruses. The Laboratory is actively engaged in the scientific projects related to the role of microbes in human health and disease, environmental and food safety, plant protection and aquaculture. The phage research remains one of the main directions of the lab and is primarily associated with various aspects of phage ecology, also selection of efficient phage candidates for the prevention, diagnosis and therapy of bacterial diseases in medicine, food industry and agriculture.
Laboratory Personnel
Marine Tediashvili, PhD– Head of the Laboratory-m.tediashvili@pha.ge
Nino Janelidze, PhD – Leading Scientist -n.janelidze@pha.ge
Tamar Kokashvili, PhD – Leading Scientist – t.kokashvili@pha.ge
Tamar Eliashvili, PhD – Senior Scientist
Elene Didebulidze, PhD – Senior Scientist – e.didebulidze @pha.ge
Nino Lashkhi, MSc – Scientist
Sophiko Sturua – Scientist
Ketevan Porchkhidze, MSc – Senior laboratory assistant
Tinatin Khukhunashvili, MSc – Senior laboratory assistant
Tamar Koberidze, MSc – Senior laboratry assistant
Kristina Tchalidze – Laboratory assistant
Maia Mepharishvili – Senior Scientist
Scientific Grant projects (last 5 years)
Selected Publications (Last 5 years)
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
Marina Khutsishvili – Laboratory assistant
Pikria Goglidze – Senior Laboratory assistant
Scientific Grant projects (last 5 years)
Selected Publications (Last 5 years)
Activity of the laboratory includes scientific research for human health and veterinary. The lab is working on study a humoral immunity status and protective immunoglobulins (IgA, IgG, IgM) for viral, bacterial and mixed infection. Correlation analysis of some representatives of the family of Herpes virus with other agents of non-viral ethology is one of the topics of the laboratory research. Immune reactions of organisms in the process of therapeutic bacteriophage application, in particular, determination of non-specific and specific indicators of immunity are studied. The groups is working on development of therapeutic-preventive immune-biological preparations (vaccines, sera).
Laboratory Personnel
Nino Rcheulishvili – Doctor of Science in Biomedical Engineering, Head of the Laboratory
Besarion Lasareishvili -PhD , Leading scientist
Dali Gogiashvili, PhD – Senior scientist
Tamar Dalakishvili – lab technician – tamar.dalakishvili@yahoo.com
Ketevan Tsanava – Scientist
Scientific Grant projects (last 5 years)
Selected Publications (Last 5 years)
The main function of the Phage and Strains Collection is organization and centralized recording of all bacteriophages and bacterial strains held across the various laboratories of the G. Eliava Institute. Registration and storage of pathogenic and conditionally pathogenic bacterial strains and phages are based on study their biological properties that allows further expansion and development of collection for scientific research and biotechnological production. The scientists of the laboratory participate in different scientific projects, which are focused on isolation and study of various phages against different aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms.
Laboratory Personnel
Marine Darsavelidze, PhD – Head of the Laboratory – m.darsavelidze@pha.ge
Tamar Suladze, PhD – Senior Scientist – tamuna_suladze@pha.ge
Sophio Gunia, PhD – Scientist – guniasopo@hotmail.com
Maia Elizbarashvili, PhD – Scientist – m.elizbarashvili@pha.ge
Marina Dadunashvili – Senior Laboratory assistant
Manana Labadze – Laboratory assistant
Mzia Mchedlidze – Laboratory assistant
Scientific Grant projects (last 5 years)
Selected Publications (Last 5 years)
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)
Selected Publications (Last 5 years)
The main research interest and scientific activity of the laboratory is the isolation of bacteriophages against various pathogenic bacterial strains and study phage-biology and genetics, as well as the elaboration of different medicinal forms of phage preparations and development of technology for phage production. The laboratory personnel participate in various international scientific projects in the field of medicine, veterinary and microbial ecology. In addition to scientific-research directions, the laboratory is creating new therapeutic forms of phage preparations, developing and standardizing the technology of their production. The laboratory actively cooperates with the commercial structures of the Eliava-Consortium (“Bacteriophage Biopreparations”, “Pharmacy”, “Phage therapy Center”) both in terms of expanding the antimicrobial spectrum (activity) of existing commercial phage preparations, as well as preparing individual phages for patients.
laboratory Personnel
Marina Goderdzishvili, PhD – Head of the Laboratory – mgoderdzishvili@pha.ge
Irina Chkonia, PhD – Leading Scientist –ichkonia@gtu.ge
Ia Kusradze, PhD – Senior Scientist –iakusradze@pha.ge
Natia Karumidze, PhD – Senior Scientist – natiaqarumidze@pha.ge
Sophie Rigvava, PhD – Leading Scientist –srigvava@pha.ge
Nino Qvatadze – Senior laboratory assistant
Darejan Jgenti – Senior laboratory assistant
Maria Tchichashvili – Scientist
Nino Tatrishvili – laboratory assistant
Scientific Grant projects (last 5 years)
Selected Publications (Last 5 years)
