Assoc. 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 81 papers in peer-reviewed journals with total 1666 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, TN1301, 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).
prof. MVDr. Ivan Mikula Sr., Dr.Sc. - mikula@uvlf.sk
Profesor emeritus. Former head of the department of microbiology and immunology. Worked in the field of innate immunity against various pathogens like Mycobacterium, IBR, Staphylococcus etc.
Amod Kulkarni, PhD - amod.kulkarni@uvlf.sk
Amod holds a position of researcher at the LBMI since April 2018. He obtained his PhD in Aquatic Bioscience from Nord University, Bodø, Norway in 2014. His research activities are directed to recognize the host – pathogen interactions in cells of neurovascular unit forming the Blood-brain barrier (BBB) and neuroinvasive pathogens like Neisseria meningitidis, Borrelia burgdorferi and West Nile Virus. Expert in high throughput genomics and proteomics techniques, phage display and production of nanobodies and BBB organoids. He is involved in EU funded projects - EuroNanoMed III (TJC2018-049), OBEMIRISK - GP/EFSA/ENCO/2018/03, and Slovak national projects - APVV-14-0218 and APVV-18-0259, He has published 20 articles in international peer reviewed journals with h- Index: 8.
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.
MVDr Jana Hruškovicová (Doctoral fellow)
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.
MSc. Jorge Peinado (ITN-Marie Curie Sklodovska H2020 - Doctoral fellow)
Jorge obtained his Bachelor´s degree on Biotechnology in 2016 and his Master´s degree on Celular and molecular Biology in 2017 both at the University of Zaragoza. His Bachelor´s thesis was focused on the determination of estradiol effects on ram sperm functionality while his Master´s thesis revolved around the study of the enzyme FAD3 from Arabidopsis Thaliana. He carried out an internship in the Centro de Investigación en Ecosistemas de la Patagonia (Chile) before starting his PhD studies. Jorge´s PhD project is being cosupervised by the University of Glasgow and the University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Kosice as part of the European Joint Doctorate ITN MANNA which is funded by the European Commision under the Horizon 2020 Marie Curie initiative. As part of his project, Jorge is developing a novel methodology to determine individual proteins Fractional Synthesis Rates which is being used to assess the effect of novel feed compounds and immunological challenges on broiler chicken growth and immune status.
Dr. Kevin James, MVSc (Doctoral fellow) - kevs.james@gmail.com
Kevin James completed his Bachelors in Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry and Master's degree in Animal Biotechnology from Mumbai Veterinary College, Parel, Mumbai, India. During the course of his Master's degree his research was based on Molecular characterization of nucleoprotein (N) gene and sero-surveillance of Rabies in Mumbai region. Currently he is working on synthesis of nanocarrier system to effectively transport anti-dengue peptides/aptamers across the human blood-brain barrier.
Mgr. Lea Talpašová (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.
Mgr. Tomáš Maľarik (Doctoral fellow) - tomas.malarik.jm@gmail.com
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.
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.
Ing. Viera Kopčáková - Viera.Kopcakova@uvlf.sk
Viera studied in Rescue fire and safety technology from Technical University in Košice, Slovakia. She completed her studies in April 2015 and since 2017 she is laboratory technician in the Laboratory of Biomedical Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy (UVLM) in Košice, Slovakia. During her work at UVLF, she has collected many certificates namely, Fire safety expert, GMO handling, High pressure machines operation and training for emergency in case of the accident (according to GMO rules and law in Slovakia). She has expertise in HPLC and FPLC. Her main work is focused to sequence DNA (Sanger sequencing), Polymerase chain reaction, DNA-library preparation for sequencing as well as administrative works (invoices, purchasing, personal agenda, participation in preparation of the future projects and in involvement in the current projects reports – Slovak and European) at the Laboratory of Biomedical Microbiology and Immunology