SSST - Lejla Pašić, PhD

Associate Professor, USMLE Coordinator

lejla.pasic@ssst.edu.ba

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PhD
- University of Ljubljana, Medical Faculty, Biomedicine Dissertation: ‘Biochemical characterization of halocins and phylogenetic analysis of halophilic Archaea inhabiting Sečovlje salterns’ Advisers: prof. dr. Blagajana Herzog Velikonja, prof. dr. Nataša Poklar Ulrih Committee: Prof. dr. Miklavž Grabnar, prof. dr. Ana Plemenitaš, prof.dr. Gorazd Avguštin
BSc
- University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Department of Biology Dissertation:’Interactions of parazoanthoxantin A with DNA’ Advisers: prof. dr. Tom Turk, prof. dr. Nataša Poklar Ulrih

EMBO short term fellowship Fellowship ASTF 366.00-2007 awarded for project ‘Mechanisms of phage evasion in prokaryotes: modification of targets by intragenomic recombination’
FEMS short term fellowship Fellowship 2006-1 awarded for project ‘Metagenomic analysis of genetic diversity of the hyperhalophilic archaeon Haloquadratum walsbyi and hyperhalophilic bacterium Salinibacter ruber’

I am interested in exploration of diversity and ecological function of prokaryotes in natural environments of aquatic (groundwater and hypersaline waters of marine origin) and subterranean origin. Understanding microbial complexity is extraordinarily difficult, but essential to predict issues of paramount importance for the Mankind such as the emergence of new pathogens. To achieve these goals my colleagues and I are using nucleic acid sequence information that is extracted directly from the environment through metagenomics, metatranscriptomics and single cell genomics. My colleagues and I combine our findings to gain insight into structure of microbial communities, their biotechnological potential and patterns of horizontal genetic exchange (e.g. spread of antibiotic resistances).

Microbiology
- Sampling techniques (aquatic, soil-like environments), sample analysis and preservation, axenic culture, isolation of viruses, phenotypic characterization of microbes, light, fluorescence and phase-contrast microscopy, MLST
Molecular biology
- DNA isolation, RNA isolation, electrophoresis (agarose, PFGE, DGGE, TGGE), recombinant DNA technology (plasmid, fosmid, phage vectors), PCR (single, multiplex, RT-PCR), cDNA preparation, Sanger sequencing, hybridization (Southern and Northern blot), random and site-directed mutagenesis, DNAi, heterologous expression, electrophoretic mobility shift assay.
Biochemistry
- Gel chromatography, affinity chromatography, HPLC, spectrophotometry, fluorimetry, CD spectroscopy, SDS-PAGE, Western blotting.
Bioinformatics
- Analysis of Sanger and next generation sequencing data: sequence quality control, sequence assembly, sequence statistics, gene detection, functional annotation, comparative genomics, genome recruitment, phylogenetic analysis

J1-6741 Employing the recent advances in metagenomics to explore the karst groundwater microbiome (basic research project) financed by Slovenian Research Agency
Temporal and spatial dynamics of prokaryotic communities inhabiting Adriatic solar salterns, financed by Slovenian Research Agency

J7-4208 Microbiological and structural investigations of biologically damaged textiles ffrom Slovenian museums, financed by Slovenian Research Agency
J3-3624 Virulence factors as potential targets of vaccines, financed by Slovenian Research Agency
J4-2111 Molecular mechanism of initiation of protease activity of bacterial repressor LexA, financed by Slovenian Research Agency
P1-0198 Molecular Biology of Microorganisms