Dr. Marija Vukčević

Written By Pavle Banović

Head of Department of Biochemistry

Institute for biocides and medical ecology

Belgrade, Serbia

Topics of interest: Diagnostics of vector-borne diseases in vectors and humans; enzyme-mediated resistance to biocides; application of the One Health concept.

Contribution to BAVBD mission:

I am applying for membership in the Balkan Network for Vector-Borne Diseases to foster collaboration and contribute to the regional fight against vector-borne threats. As a PhD in Biochemistry,  I am employed at an institution with a 135-year-old tradition in public health (www.biocidi.org.rs), long recognized for its pioneering work in disinfection, disinsection, and deratization (DDD) measures. For over a decade, our institution has been actively engaged in the molecular and biological diagnostics of vector-borne pathogens directly within the vectors. However, driven by accelerating climate change and the consecutive, long-term use of identical biocidal products, the emergence of resistance has become a critical challenge in recent years. To address this, our current research focus has expanded toward monitoring the enzyme activities responsible for these resistance mechanisms.

References:

  1. Vukčević M, Nikolić-Kokić A, Aleksić I, Todorović S, Oreščanin-Dušić Z, Blagojević D, Despot D. Evaluation of Tick Abundance and Pyrethroid Resistance Via Determination of Glutathione-S-Transferases Activity. J Econ Entomol 2023;116:233–9. https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toac190

  2. Marija Vukčević, Suzana Milosavljević, Aurora Beljin, Dragana Despot: Vektorske zarazne bolesti: Dijagnostika, prevencija i lečenje. 35. Savetovanje dezinfekcija, dezinsekcija i deratizacija jedan svet - jedno zdravlje; 29.05.2024.-01.06.2024.; Vrnjačka Banja, hotel "Vrnjačke Terme". Srpsko veterinarsko društvo; 2024. p. 191-96 ISBN 978-86-83115-53-2

  3. Delić M, Hanđa G, Despot D, Vukčević M. Integrated diagnostics in zoonosis control: The crucial role of laboratory diagnostics within The One Health framework. In: Milutin Đ, editor. 36. Savetovanje dezinfekcija, dezinsekcija i deratizacija jedan svet - jedno zdravlje; 28.05.2025.-31.05.2025.; Vrnjačka Banja, hotel "Vrnjačke Terme". Srpsko veterinarsko društvo; 2025. p. 174-80. https://doi.org/10.5937/DDD25174D

Pavle Banović
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