[dr Marija Dj. Gavrovic Jankulovic]

Faculty of Chemistry, Studentski trg 12-16, Beograd
Department of Biochemistry

Phone:   011-3336661

Phone (local):   661

Office:   430

E-mail:   mgavrov@chem.bg.ac.rs

Personal data

Born in Gornji Milanovac 1969. Finished primary and secondary school in Gornji Milanovac. Married.

Education and qualifications

1987-1991: Undergraduate studies - Chemistry / University of Belgrade - Faculty of Chemistry (Belgrade, Serbia)

1996: Master of science studies - Chemistry / University of Belgrade - Faculty of Chemistry (Belgrade, Serbia)

1997-2002: Doctoral academic (PhD) studies - Chemistry / University of Belgrade - Faculty of Chemistry (Belgrade, Serbia)

History of employment

1992: Junior expert associate / University of Belgrade - Faculty of Chemistry (Belgrade, Serbia)

1992-1995: Graduate associate / University of Belgrade - Faculty of Chemistry (Belgrade, Serbia)

1993: Expert associate / University of Belgrade - Faculty of Chemistry (Belgrade, Serbia)

1995-1997: Graduate assistant / University of Belgrade - Faculty of Chemistry (Belgrade, Serbia)

1997-2001: Teaching assistant / University of Belgrade - Faculty of Chemistry (Belgrade, Serbia)

2003-2008: Assistant professor / University of Belgrade - Faculty of Chemistry (Belgrade, Serbia)

2008-2013: Associate professor / University of Belgrade - Faculty of Chemistry (Belgrade, Serbia)

2013: Full professor / University of Belgrade - Faculty of Chemistry (Belgrade, Serbia)

Scientific interest

Our research focuses on the structural and immunological characterization of allergenic proteins and the use of molecular approaches in the design of novel allergy treatments. Allergic disease is pandemic in modern society, affecting 150 million people in the EU alone. Allergy diagnosis and treatment is faced with a multitude of obstacles arising from natural variations in source materials and unknown underlying mechanisms of sensitization.

Employing the methods of biochemistry and molecular biology our group has contributed to the improvement of predictive and prognostic values of in vitro diagnostic results in kiwifruit allergy by describing novel kiwifruit allergens (kiwifruit TLP- Act d 2, cysteine proteinase inhibitor- Act d 4) and performing extensive studies regarding the influence of thermal treatment and inhibitor binding on the structure and allergenicity of major kiwifruit allergen actinidin (Act d1). Our current research also revolves around elucidating the mechanism of allergic sensitization to food proteases and we have shown that actinidin, a cysteine protease, induces changes in morphology and adhesion of T84 intestinal epithelial cells and compromises the intestinal barrier by disrupting tight junctions in Caco-2 intestinal cells. In addition, our research group has successfully produced and characterized numerous recombinant forms of IgE binding proteins for facilitated diagnosis of food allergies (banana beta-1,3-glucanase – Mus a 5; kiwifruit cysteine proteinase inhibitor- Act d 4, actinidin- Act d1...).

A second area of active research involves the use of molecular approaches to design new methods for allergy treatment. This goal is achieved by molecular modification of allergenic proteins (such as creation of hypoallergenic variants Ţf kiwifruit allergens) and the development of improved and novel approaches based on protein therapeutics. Currently, we are investigating the potential use of chimeric recombinant proteins with immunomodulatory or mucoadhesive components (e.g. banana lectin, H1N1hemagglutinin) as delivery systems in immunotherapy.

Awards and merits

1991: Diploma "Djordje Stefanović"
Awarded by the Faculty of Chemistry to the best student in generation of study group Biochemistry.

Other activities

Member of Serbian Chemical Society.

Member of European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

Member of Serbian Biochemical Society from August 22, 2013. Secretary General of Serbian Biochemical Society

Vice Dean for Science and International Cooperation from May 19, 2010 till May 19, 2013.

Head of the Department of Biochemistry from October 1, 2013 till September 30, 2019.

Head of the Department of Biochemistry from October 1, 2019 till September 8, 2022.

Member of the from December 10, 2020 till January 10, 2024.

Member of the Ethical Committee from July 12, 2021.

Head of the Department of Biochemistry from September 8, 2022.

Member of the Committee for Capital Equipment Management from November 10, 2022.

Member of the Committee for the Protection of Intellectual Property from June 8, 2023.

Member of the from January 11, 2024.

Educational activities

Participation in research projects

Active projects:

Finished projects:

  • 2010: Reinforcement of the Faculty of Chemistry, Uvinersity of Belgrade, towards becoming a centre of excellence in the region of West Balkans for molecular biotechnology and food research – FCUB-ERA 256716
    project type:   International
    project is funded by: European Union (Brusseles, Belgium)
  • 2011: Allergens, antibodies, enzymes and small physiologically relevant molecules: design, structure, function and significance – 172049   (principal investigator)
    project type:   National Fundamental Research Projects
    project is funded by: Ministry of Science and Technological Development (Belgrade, Serbia)
  • 2011-2015: Multivalent Glycosystems for Nanoscience - MultiGlycoNano – COST Action CM1102
    project type:   International
    project is funded by: Evropska Unija (Brusseles, Belgium)
  • 2016: Isolation of recombinant nanobodies specific for exosome subclasses
    project type:   International
    project is funded by: Ministry of Science and Technological Development (Belgrade, Serbia)
  • 2014: 5) Improving Allergy Risk Assessment Strategy for New Food Proteins (ImpARAS) – COST Action FA1402
    project type:   International
    project is funded by: European Union (Brusseles, Belgium)
  • 2019: Functional glyconanomaterials for the development of diagnostics and targeted therapeutic probes – CA18132
    project type:   International cooperation - COST Actions
    project is funded by: European Commission (Brusseles, Belgium)
  • 2020: Novel treatment approach for tetanus toxin intoxication – PoC-5132
    project type:   Proof of Concept
    project is funded by: Innovation Fund of the Republic of Serbia (Belgrade, Serbia)

Author identification numbers

Representative references

Knjige i revijalne radovi / Books and reviews:

  1. Cirkovic Velickovic T, Gavrovic-Jankulovic M, Jankov RM. 2005. Overview of the most commonly used methods in allergen characterization (Review). Journal of the Serbian Chemical Society 70: 347-60

Izabrani radovi / Selected papers:

1. Mačinković, I.S., Abughren, M., Mrkic, I., Grozdanović, M.M., Prodanović, R., Gavrović-Jankulović M. Employment of colorimetric enzyme assay for monitoring expression and solubility of GST fusion proteins targeted to inclusion bodies. J Biotechnology 2013, 168(4), pp. 506-10.

2. Mrkic, I., Abughren, M., Nikolic, J., Andjelkovic, U., Vassilopoulou, E., Sinaniotis, A., Petersen, A., Papadopoulos, N.G., Gavrovic-Jankulovic, M. Molecular characterization of recombinant mus a 5 allergen from banana fruit. Molecular Biotechnology 2014, 56(6), pp. 498-506

3. Grozdanović, M.M., Drakulić, B.J., Gavrović-Jankulović, M. Conformational mobility of active and E-64-inhibited actinidin. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - General Subjects 2013, 1830 (10) , pp. 4790-4799.

4. Grozdanovic, M.M., Burazer, L., Gavrovic-Jankulovic, M. Kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa) extract shows potential as a low-cost andefficient milk-clotting agent. International Dairy Journal 2013, 32 (1) , pp. 46-52.

5. Popovic, M., Andjelkovic, U., Burazer, L., Lindner, B., Petersen, A., Gavrovic-Jankulovic, M. Biochemical and immunological characterization of a recombinantly-produced antifungal cysteine proteinase inhibitor from green kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa).  Phytochemistry 2013, 94, pp. 53-9

6. Blazic, M., Kovacevic, G., Prodanovic, O., Ostafe, R., Gavrovic-Jankulovic, M., Fischer, R., Prodanovic, R. Yeast surface display for the expression, purification and characterization of wild-type and B11 mutant glucose oxidases. Protein Expression and Purification, 2013, 89 (2) , pp. 175-180.

7. Popovic, M., Grozdanovic, M., Gavrovic-Jankulovic, M. Kiwifruit as a food allergen source. Journal of the Serbian Chemical Society, 2013. 78 (3) , pp. 333-352.

8. Popovic, M., Andjelkovic, U., Grozdanovic, M., Aleksic, I., Gavrovic-Jankulovic, M. In Vitro Antibacterial Activity of Cysteine Protease Inhibitor from Kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa). Indian Journal of Microbiology, 2013, 53 (1) , pp. 100-105.

9. Atanasković-Marković, M., Gaeta, F., Gavrović-Jankulović, M., Čirković Veličković, T., Valluzzi, R.L., Romano, A. Diagnosing multiple drug hypersensitivity in children. Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, 2012, 23 (8) , pp. 785-791

10. Popovic, M.M., Bulajic, A., Ristic, D., Krstic, B., Jankov, R.M., Gavrovic-Jankulovic, M. In vitro and in vivo antifungal properties of cysteine proteinase inhibitor from green kiwifruit. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 2012, 92 (15) , pp. 3072-3078.

11. Atanasković-Marković, M., Gavrović-Jankulović, M., Janković, S., Blagojević, G., Ćirković-Veličković, T., Milojević, I., Simić, D., Nestorović, B. Immediate allergic reaction to methylprednisolone with tolerance of other corticosteroids. Srpski Arhiv za Celokupno Lekarstvo, 2012, 140 (3-4) , pp. 233-235.

12. Dimitrijevic, R., Stojanovic, M., Micic, M., Dimitrijevic, L., Gavrovic-Jankulovic, M. Recombinant banana lectin as mucosal immunostimulator. Journal of Functional Foods, 2012, 4 (3) , pp. 636-641.

13. Čavić, M., Grozdanović, M., Bajić, A., Srdić-Rajić, T., Anjus, P.R., Gavrović-Jankulović, M. Actinidin, a protease from kiwifruit, induces changes in morphology and adhesion of T84 intestinal epithelial cells. Phytochemistry, 2012, 77, pp. 46-52.

14. Grozdanovic, M., Popovic, M., Polovic, N., Burazer, L., Vuckovic, O., Atanaskovic-Markovic, M., Lindner, B., Petersen, A., Gavrovic-Jankulovic, M. Evaluation of IgE reactivity of active and thermally inactivated actinidin, a biomarker of kiwifruit allergy. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 2012, 50 (3-4) , pp. 1013-1018.

15. Aleksic, I., Popovic, M., Dimitrijevic, R., Andjelkovic, U., Vassilopoulou, E., Sinaniotis, A., Atanaskovic-Markovic, M., (...), Gavrovic-Jankulovic, M. Molecular and immunological characterization of Mus a 5 allergen from banana fruit. Molecular Nutrition and Food Research, 2012, 56 (3) , pp. 446-453.