Head
Prof. Mangesh Bhide, MVSc, PhD, - mangesh.bhide@uvlf.sk, bhidemangesh@gmail.com
has been working last fifteen years in the field of neuroinfection and host-pathogen interactions. In 2007 he finished his postdoctoral research (Marie-Curie post-doctoral fellowship) in the field of host–Borrelia interactions. Since 2008 he has been leading the Laboratory of Biomedical Microbiology and Immunology (LBMI) one of the top laboratories in infectious diseases in Slovakia. He has published 110 papers in peer-reviewed journals with total 3066 citations (h index – 24). He has published 8 chapters in the books printed by international publishers. 2 books in the filed for bioinformatics (In silico veritas I and II). He has successfully completed 16 research projects (6 funded by national agencies) and led bi-lateral projects between Slovakia and Portugal, Russia and France. He actively involved in 4 COST actions funded by European science foundation, ESF (action numbers - FA1002, TD1303, N1301, CM1307). He lead “section of proteomics” in the centre of excellence INFEKTZOON and in Medipark project (both funded by EU structural funds for Slovakia). In 2015-2017 he chaired Europen funded position – ERA Chair Holder in the field of proteomics in University of Zagreb. Till to date he has guided 8 post-doctoral fellows (4 from Slovakia, 1 India, 1 Hungary, 1 Spain, 1 Mexico) and 8 doctoral fellows. He is WP leader and PI in H2020 project - H2020-MSCA-ITN-2017 project ID – 765423, and WP leader of EFSA funded project (Obermics).
Profesor emeritus
prof. MVDr. Ivan Mikula Sr., Dr.Sc. - mikula@uvlf.sk
Former head of the department of microbiology and immunology. Worked in the field of innate immunity against various pathogens like Mycobacterium, IBR, Staphylococcus etc.
Researchers
RNDr. Katarína Bhide, PhD. - katarina.bhide@uvlf.sk
Katarina obtained Master of Science at the University of Pavol Jozef Safarik in Kosice. She graduated from Zoology and Animal Physiology. She obtained PhD at The Department of Microbiology and Immunology of UVLF in the field of virology. Her focus is molecular biology of viral diseases. Expertise in cell culture techniques, real time PCR, sequencing, cloning etc. PI of the VEGA project VEGA 1/0439/18
MVDr. Evelína Mochnáčová, PhD. - Evelina.mochnacova@uvlf.sk
Evelina obtained a degree on General veterinary medicine at The University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Kosice. In 2019 completed her PhD dissertation in study programme neuroscience at UVLF, where she studied protein-protein interactions between neurovascular unit cells and N. meningitidis. Nowadays, she works as a post-doc in LBMI, and the main aim of her research is to develop antimicrobial peptides against neuroinvasive Borrelia.
RNDr. Katarína Kucková, PhD. - katarina.kuckova@uvlf.sk
Katarína Kucková completed her Master's degree in Zoology and Physiology of animals from Univesity of Pavol Jozef Šafárik, Faculty of Science, Košice, Slovakia. During the course of her Master's degree her research was based on ecology of bats in urban area. She finished her doctoral degree in Institute of Animal Physiology, Centre of Bioscences, Slovak Academy of Sciences in Košice. Her work was dedicated to antioxidant effect of feed additives in sheep/rabbits. Currently she is developing and testing antibacterial molecules to contend neuroinvasive pathogens of bacterial origin.
Mgr. Lukáš Žid, PhD. - lukas.zid@uvlf.sk
Lukáš obtained Master of Science and PhD. at the University of Pavol Jozef Šafárik, Faculty of Science, Košice, Slovakia. During his master’s and PhD. degree he focusses on a design and production of smart drug delivery systems based on mesoporous silica, which can increase solubility of NSAID and cytostatic drugs and improve site targeting by stimuli-responsive release. He published the results of his research in 5 papers in peer-reviewed journals, which together received over 100 citations. Currently he is working on design, synthesis and purification of antimicrobial peptides against neuroborreliosis, COVID-19 and tick-borne encephalitis.
MVDr. Jana Hruškovicová, PhD.
Jana obtained degree on General veterinary medicine on The University of Verinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Kosice in 2019. In her diploma thesis she studied Tribeč virus that belongs to the Flaviviridae family. In 2019 she started doctoral study in neuroscience at Laboratory of Biomedical Microbiology and Imunology at The University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Kosice. In her doctoral thesis she worked on in vitro production of nanobodies (single domain antibodies) against neuroinvasive flaviviruses and its conjugation with nanocarriers to traverse blood-brain barrier.
Secretory/Lab technicians
Ing. Martina Cepková - Martina.Cepkova@uvlf.sk
Martina graduated in Environmental Management at the Technical University in Kosice in 2010. Since 2002 she has been a laboratory assistant at the Laboratory of Biomedical Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Kosice.
Bc. Jozef Masarovič
Jozef completed his Bachelor’s degree in Biology at the Faculty of Science, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, Slovakia. Since 2025, he has been working as a laboratory assistant at the Laboratory of Biomedical Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Slovakia. Currently, he collaborates on the design, synthesis, and purification of antimicrobial peptides targeting neuroborreliosis, COVID-19, and tick-borne encephalitis.
Doctoral fellows
Mgr. Lea Maľarik (Doctoral fellow) - leatalpasova@gmail.com
Lea Talpašová completed her Bachelor's degree in Biology and Master's degree in Genetics and Molecular cytology from University of Pavol Jozef Šafárik, Faculty of Science, Košice, Slovakia. During the course of his Master's degree her research was based on Molecular and microcopical detection of prevalence of blood parasites in lizards Iberolacerta cyreni. Currently she is working on synthesis of anti-SARS-Cov-2 peptides and fusion with Fc domain to effectively induce immune response.
RNDr. Jakub Víglaský (Doctoral fellow) - jakub.viglasky@student.uvlf.sk
Jakub Víglaský studied genetics and molecular cytology at Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice. The main focus of his diploma thesis was the elements of mobile genetics in halophilic bacteria. In the Laboratory of Biomedical Microbiology and Immunology, he is dedicated to studying the interactions between SARS-CoV-2 and the human complement system.
MSc. Sivabalan Vairamuthu (Doctoral fellow) - vairamuthu1@uniba.sk
Sivabalan Vairamuthu completed his Bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology in 2021 at Ayya Nadar Janaki Ammal College and his Master’s degree in Biotechnology in 2023 from Thiruvalluvar University, Tamil Nadu, India. During his Master’s studies, he worked on nanodrug development using nanoparticles to target multidrug-resistant bacteria. His current doctoral research focuses on the development of CNS-targeted therapeutic strategies against neuroinvasive Borrelia, with particular emphasis on peptide synthesis, conjugation strategies, and targeted nanomedicine.
Mgr. Diana Kosturíková (Doctoral fellow) – diana.kosturikova@student.uvlf.sk
Diana Kosturíková completed her Bachelor´s degree in Biology and Psychology and Master´s degree in Genetics and Molecular cytology from University of Pavol Jozef Šafárik, Faculty of Science, Košice, Slovakia. During the course of her Master´s degree her research was based on Therapeutic and neuroregeneration potential of mesenchymal stem cells. Currently, she is working on the construction of an in vitro blood-brain barrier model and its validation for the drug permeability assays and study of neuroinfections.
MRes. Abhijit Nikam (Doctoral fellow)
Abhijit is a PhD researcher with a background in Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry. He gained early research experience at the GVR Emergency Management and Research Institute, focusing on zoonotic diseases and the development of treatment protocols for infectious diseases in animals. During his Master of Research (MRes) in Animal Sciences in Wales, he developed expertise in molecular diagnostics, including PCR, multiplex PCR, nested PCR, DNA analysis, and comparative DNA sequence analysis of Cryptosporidium and Coccidia involved in zoonotic infections. He later worked at the CRUK Cambridge Institute, gaining hands-on experience in flow cytometry, PCR, immunohistochemistry (IHC), and animal research. He is currently pursuing a PhD titled “Development of antiviral peptides against the neuroinvasive pathogen West Nile Virus.” He has authored eight peer-reviewed publications, including in veterinary surgery and flow cytometry.
Mgr. Tomáš Maľarik (Doctoral fellow, external)
Tomáš Maľarik completed his Bachelors in Biology and Master's degree in Genetics and Molecular cytology from University of Pavol Jozef Šafárik, Faculty of Science, Košice, Slovakia. During the course of his Master's degree his research was based on Molecular detection of tick-borne pathogens and estimation of their prevalence in ticks and ground squirrels in Muránska planina region. Currently he is working on synthesis of nanocarrier systems to effectively transport anti-TBEV and anti-WNV peptides/aptamers across the human blood-brain barrier.