Microorganisms are the most numerous organisms on the planet and are widespread in all spheres of the environment: in all waters, they are part of the lithosphere in which they influence the formation of the soil, inhabit the atmosphere, and other organisms, including humans. The human body itself has about 100 billion bacteria, most of which live on the skin and in the digestive system. Although they are known to cause serious diseases such as pneumonia, meningitis and toxic shock syndrome, only 3% of bacteria are actively harmful to humans or animals. Bacteria are well-known producers of antibiotics, which throughout history have saved many lives, but their irresponsible use has led to the emergence of resistant microorganisms, and to our growing need for new antibiotics. Less well known is the fact that bacteria can also produce the basis for other drugs, such as antitumor and immunosuppressive compounds.

Recently, a research team of 14 scientists from three institutions (Institute for Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering from Belgrade, Faculty of Science and Mathematics, Center for Information Technologies from Kragujevac and International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology from Trieste) started working on the BioECOLogics project, funded from the Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia, as part of the IDEA program, and formally started working on the realization of the project "from waste to new eco-sustainable biotherapeutics".

Source: University of Kragujevac.