The increasing prevalence of antibiotic resistant bacteria is currently one of the most serious health threats. There is growing evidence that continuous environmental discharge of antibiotics and heavy metals contributes to this issue. The selection pressure imposed by these pollutants has promoted the development and spread of antibiotic resistance among commensal and pathogenic bacteria. Although pharmaceutical waste is recognized as the most important point source of these pollutants in the receiving aquatic environment, its impact on the composition and antibiotic resistance profile of exposed microbial communities is not known. To fill this important research gap, we propose to take an interdisciplinary approach focusing on freshwater sediments impacted by wastewaters of two local pharmaceutical industries. We will assess the prevalence of antibiotics and heavy metals in these sediments and identify potential hot spots for resistance evolution. Antibiotic resistance genes from hot spots and reference sites will be discovered using functional metagenomics. This will lay the groundwork for a quantitative study that will establish spatio-temporal relationships between industrial discharge and the occurrence of antibiotic resistance. This, in combination with direct capturing of resistance plasmids from sediment bacteria to a model pathogens will be critical to draw conclusions about the spread of resistance genes among bacteria. Complete sequencing of transferable plasmids will furthermore assist in identifying novel plasmids that carry clustered antibiotic and heavy metal resistance gene loci. Finally, the impact of discharge on dynamics of sediment community composition will be analyzed by Illumina sequencing of 16S rRNA genes. We believe that the obtained knowledge will have vital implications for the development of effective management strategies to reduce the spread of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance determinants via environmental pathways.

Research of anchialine cave „Vodena Jama“

The SPHERE as an extension and continuation of the project „Nature of organic matter, interaction with traces and surfaces in environment“ aims to study sulphur (S) and carbon (C) dynamics between different environmental compartments (atmosphere, water, sediment, biota) of the sea- and fresh-water environment including distribution between organic, inorganic, dissolved, colloidal and nanoparticulate fractions. 

The aim of the proposed project entitled "Transport and Chemodynamics of Trace Elements in Freshwater and Coastal Sedimentary Systems" (TRACESS) is to increase our understanding of the biogeochemical cycles that are important for freshwater and coastal sedimentary systems in karstic areas, using specific groups of elements i.e. anthropogenic and bioactive (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, V, Zn), rare earth elements (REE), redox sensitive elements, toxic elements and compounds (organotin compounds) which were chosen to represent different biogeochemical environments where a suite of geochemical processes can be traced. Sideline research will involve balneochemical investigations of peloid producing environments in pristine and anthropogenically impacted locations along the eastern Adriatic coast.

Oxidant is an ion or a compound that reacts with a certain component of a living cell and oxidizes it. The reactive oxygen species produced in cells include hydrogen peroxide, hypochlorous acid, hydroxyl radical and superoxide anion. Antioxidant is a foreign substance that reacts with the oxidant faster than the components of the cell. An imbalance between oxidants and antioxidants in favour of the oxidants is termed oxidative stress. Antioxidants act as free radical scavengers and therefore can lower the risk of numerous degenerative diseases by preventing damages caused by free radicals. Fruits and vegetables are the major sources of antioxidants in human diet. Several natural compounds found in food, such as polyphenols, vitamins A and E, and some carotenoids, have been found to show excellent antioxidant activity. Chlorophylls and their derivatives have also been reported to possess this activity. However, literature is still scarce regarding their antioxidant properties. It is known that the amount of each antioxidant in fruits, vegetables and their derivatives is strongly influenced by numerous factors such as agro-technical processes, environmental conditions, processing factors and storage conditions. Continuous monitoring of antioxidant capacity of plant-based foods through different phases, from cultivation to storage, is needed to maintain or even improve the beneficial properties of food. The goal of this project is to develop several cyclic multi-pulse voltammetric techniques for the characterization of natural antioxidants and to apply them in routine analysis of food quality. Experimental results will be explained by the comparison with the theoretical simulation of responses of various electrode mechanisms of independent and conjugated multiple redox centers.

The main aim of the project is to investigate quality and quantity of the seawater organic matter (lipids, acidic polysaccharides and polymeric organic matter containing N catalytic atoms) that is produced in the altering environment. Ecosystem changes that will be followed imply opposite nutritional regimes, oligotrophy and eutrophy, and temperature variations. Further on, this project aims to clarify how variations in the concentrations and forms of these organic substances are reflected in the availability and cycling of micronutrients metals of interest, being Fe, Co, Cu, Zn and Cd.

The aim of the interdisciplinary project is to improve environmental management and increase conservation and social benefits of nature protected areas. We propose to do this by developing a novel, comprehensive method of calculating carrying capacity of protected areas, and demonstrating the method for two protected areas of divergent environmental and socio-economic attributes.

Research of anchialine cave „Jama u Čapljini“

Monitoring the sediment quality below fish farm.

Determination of ecotoxic metals fro subterranean waters from Mala mlaka water field

Environmental impact assessment of Mandalina - Kuline Harbour