OVERVIEW
The Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Genetics was founded on the basis of the Prion Research Center (2001-2010) and Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Clinical Biochemistry (2011-2025). Doctor of Veterinary Sciences, professor, academician of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine Vasyl Vlizlo was the head of the laboratory until 2015. From 2015 to 2026 the laboratory head was doctor of agricultural sciences, senior researcher Dmytro Ostapiv. Since 2026 acting head of the laboratory is Mariia Kozak, PhD, senior researcher.
THE LABORATORY STAFF:
Kozak Mariya – Acting Head of Laboratory, PhD
Buslyk Tetiana – Leading Researcher, PhD
Petrukh Iryna – Senior Researcher, PhD
Todoriuk Vasyl – Senior Researcher, PhD
Martin Yuriy – Leading Specialist.
RESEARCH AREAS
The laboratory performs the following tasks in the Scientific Research Program 27 «Regulatory mechanisms of productivity and resistance formation in farm animals (Animal physiology and biochemistry) and 29 "Development of breeding and technological solutions for sheep and goat breeding" (sheep and goat breeding)".
27.00.02.04 F. 0126U002016 “Biological properties and mechanism of action of new polymeric adjuvants”, Institute of Animal Biology of NAAS of Ukraine, 2026-2030, state budget funds.
29.00.01.06 F. “Evaluation of gene polymorphisms involved in the regulatory mechanisms of productivity formation in domestic sheep breeds" (2026-2030).
Study of prion infections and development of modern molecular biology techniques for treatment and prevention of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies.
Study of adjuvant properties of synthetic and natural molecules in order to create safe and effective vaccines.
Development and efficacy evaluation of new antimicrobial agents and delivery systems for therapeutic compounds.
Development and optimization of protocols for the identification of specific DNA markers in genomic analysis of small cattle.
Study of associations between genetic polymorphisms, indicators of meat productivity and adaptive potential of sheep.
Systematic genetic control of selection uses combined SNP genotyping and STR marker analysis.
Identification of genes responsible for the formation of productive qualities in farm animals.
Analysis of candidate gene polymorphisms for marker-associated breeding to improve economically useful traits in animals
MAIN ACHIEVEMENTS
The Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Genetics is a new research laboratory, dedicated to solve major problems in animal health and disease using multidisciplinary methods. Antisense technology technique for the prevention of transmissible spongiform encephalopathy is developed at the laboratory. In 2010, young researchers (Lyudmila Ivanytska and Mariya Kozak received grant support from 14-th Annual West-Ukrainian Biomedical Research Center (WUBMRC): Competition for Project: Novel nanosized carriers for antisense DNA delivery in vivo. This support helped in the study of the impact of the technique on animals.
Methods for the detection of oligodeoxynucleotide polyplexes with cationic oligoelectrolytes (patent № 70080, 2012), methods of obtaining steroid hormones (patent № 59121, 2011), complex drug "Remivital" (patent №95820, 2015), reducing the content of cellular prion in animals (patent № 144124, 2020), enhancing the precipitation reaction during immunoelectrophoresis (patent № 144483, 2020), phosphorus-containing polyester ether derivatives of natural α-amino acids and polyethylene glycols (patent №124918, 2021), method of increasing the antimicrobial effect of enrofloxacin (patent № 152046, 2022) are developed by our scientists.
Laboratory staff participated in the preparation of Decree of the President of Ukraine "On urgent measures to ensure stable epizootic situation in Ukraine"; resolutions of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine "About the State target program Diagnosis, prevention and measures to eliminate spongiform encephalopathy and other prion infections in the territory of Ukraine in 2005–2010"; Resolutions of the CMU "On approval of the Program for the prevention and elimination of disease manifestations in cattle with bovine spongiform encephalopathy and other prion infections in the territory of Ukraine in 2001-2010"; Instructions "Regarding diagnostics, prevention and control of bovine spongiform encephalopathy"; and Instructions "Regarding the prevention and control of bluetongue (catarrhal fever of sheep)".
The laboratory is accredited by the State Research Control Institute of Veterinary Medicines and Feed Additives and the State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety.
The laboratory meets the management and technical systems requirements of the standard and has adequate equipment to perform PCR diagnostics, enzyme immunoassay, Western Blot and Dot Blot analyses, electrophoresis, immunoprecipitation, and analysis of hematopoiesis, protein metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, lipid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, antioxidant system activity, mineral and vitamin metabolism, histological and immunohistological studies of organs and tissues.
COLLABORATION INTERESTS
Study a non-viral nanoscale-based delivery of antisense oligonucleotides to enhance inhibition of the cellular prion expression in vivo. Development and testing of new chemically synthesized substances and of natural origin with adjuvant properties in order to create effective and safe vaccines.
- Modification of antibiotics to improve their therapeutic effects.
- Hydrogels, composite materials and their application in veterinary and humane medicine.
- Genetic potential of animals for successful breeding.
- Genes responsible for antibiotic resistance
The laboratory offers:
- Molecular, genetic, immunoenzymatic, biochemical, histology and immunohistology studies in health and pathology;
- Advisory assistance to farms on marker-linked selection, feeding, health, diagnostics;
- Conducting research using multidisciplinary methods (ELISA, PCR);
- Detection of the presence and quantitative content of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in feed components, plant raw materials and livestock processing products;
- DNA testing for breeding enables the identification of specific genetic mutations, allowing breeders to select for desirable traits while avoiding hereditary diseases;
- Broad range of thesis projects for BSc, MSc and PhD students.
PUBLICATIONS
Buslyk T, Peka M, Saienko A, Kozak M, Yuzviak M, Salyha Y, Stapay P, Trapina I, Paramonova N. Identification and bioinformatic functional analysis of novel and known polymorphisms in the myostatin gene of Ukrainian Carpathian Mountain sheep. Sci Rep. 2026 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-44326-6 (Scopus Q1, WoS Q1, United Kingdom)
Kozak M, Petruh I, Kovalchuk I, Vlizlo V. Toxicity analysis of amoxicillin, polyphosphate ester and its complex with amoxicillin on mice. Scientific Reports. 2025; 15(1). http://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-94916-z (Scopus Q1, Web of Science Q1). United Kingdom
Kozak M, Sementsiv K, Sementsiv N, Petruh I. Formulation and Wound Healing Evaluation in vivo of Ointment Based on Propolis, and Containing Curcumin. Majalah Obat Tradisional. 2025; 30 (3): 347–354. http://doi.org/10.22146/mot.104987. Available at: https://jurnal.ugm.ac.id/TradMedJ/article/view/104987/43089 (Scopus Q4) Indonesia
Kozak M, Stasiuk A, Vlizlo V, Ostapiv D, Bodnar Y, Kuz’mina N, Figurka N, Nosova N, Ostapiv R, Kotsumbas I, Varvarenko S, Samaryk V. Polyphosphate Ester-Type Transporters Improve Antimicrobial Properties of Oxytetracycline. Antibiotics. 2023; 12(3): 616. https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics12030616 (Scopus Q1). Switzerland
Kozak M, Zelenina O, Ostapiv D, Skrypka M, Samaryk V, Vlizlo V. Blood creatinine content and rat kidney structure after intramuscular injection of pegylated antibiotic enrofloxacin. Studia Biologica, 2023; 17(3): 47–56. http://doi.org/10.30970/sbi.1703.720 (Scopus Q4). Ukraine
Kozak MR, Petruh IM. Blood biochemical parameters in mice under the action of polyphosphate esters and their complexes with antibiotics. The Animal Biology. 2023; 25(2): 3–7. https://doi.org/10.15407/animbiol25.02.003
Buslyk T, Rosalovsky V, Salyha Y. PCR-Based Detection and Quantification of Mycotoxin-Producing Fungi. Ukraine. Cytology and Genetics. 2022; 56(1): 16–30. https://doi.org/10.3103/S0095452722010042 (Scopus Q3)
Balatsky V, Oliinychenko Y, Saienko A, Buslyk T, Bankovska I, Peka M, Doran O. Associations of Polymorphisms in Leptin and Leptin Receptor Genes with Meat Quality in Pigs of the Ukrainian Large White Breed. Cytology and Genetics. 2022; 56(6): 513–525. https://doi.org/10.3103/S0095452722060020 (Scopus Q3). Ukraine
Kozak M., Petruh I., Vlizlo V. Comparison of adjuvant properties of chitosan during oral and subcutaneous immunization of mice with BSA. Ukrainian Biochemical Journal. 2022; 94(2): 31–37. https://doi.org/10.15407/ubj94.02.031 (Scopus Q4). Ukraine
Zelenina O, Vlizlo V, Kozak M, Ostapiv D, Samaryk V, Dron I, Stetsko T, Skrypka M, Tomchuk V, Danchuk O, Levchenko A. Antimicrobial activity of the PEGylated antibiotic enrofloxacin and its functional and structural effect on the liver in rats. Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Science. 2022; 12 (6): 68–75. DOI:10.7324/JAPS.2022.120607 (Scopus)
Kozak MR, Ostapiv DD, Mitina NY, Petruh IM, Volianiuk KA, Zaichenko AS, et al. An influence of complexes of therapeutic antisense oligodeoxynucleotides with cationic polymers on cell respiration. Bioplym Cell 2021; 37(5): 357-368. http://dx.doi.org/10.7124/bc.000A61 (Scopus)
Ostapiv D, Kuz’mina N, Kozak М, Hu S, Vlizlo V, Kotsiumbas I, et al. Application of fluorescein copolymer to improve the efficiency of counter-immunoelectrophoresis for diagnostics of animal infectious diseases. Ukr Biochem J 2021; 93(1): 104-112. DOI: 10.15407/ubj93.01.104 (Sсopus)
Zelenina O, Vlizlo V, Ostapiv D, Samaryk V, Dron I, Kozak M, Kuz’mina N, Chernushkin B, Maksymovych I, Leno M, Rusyn V, Prystupa O, Fedorovych V, Lukashchuk B, Zinko H. PEGylation of antibiotic enrofloxacin and its effects on the state of the antioxidant system in rats. Ukrainian Journal of Ecology, 2021; 11(1): 202-208. DOI: 10.15421/2020_32 (Web of Science)
Kozak M, Mitina N, Zaichenko A, Vlizlo V. Anionic polyelectrolytehydrogel as an adjuvant for vaccine development. Sci. Pharm. 2020; 88 (56): 1-13. DOI: 10.3390/scipharm88040056 (Scopus)
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Patent of Ukraine for a utility model No№ 144124 «Method of reducing the content of cellular prion in the body of animals” Vlizlo V.V., Zaichenko O.S., Shulak L.A., Kushkevych M.V., Kozak M.R., Mitina N.E., Ostapiv D.D. No u 201912126, 21.12.2019. Publ. 10.09.2020., Bul. N 17
Methodical guidelines. "Methodology of creation, evaluation of effectiveness of nanosized polymeric carriers for nucleic acids"/ M.R. Kozak, D.D. Ostapiv, M.V. Kushkevych et al. Lviv, 2020. ― 28 pp.
A method for enhancing the antimicrobial action of enrofloxacin. Patent of Ukraine for a utility model. u 2022 00707, 10/20/2022, 10/19/2022, publ. Bulletin No. 42. authors: Zelenina O. M., Vlizlo V. V., Ostapiv D. D., Samaryk V. Ya., Kozak M. R., Danchuk O. V., Levchenko A. G.
Method for enhancing the antimicrobial action of doxycycline. Patent of Ukraine for a utility model No 152993. publ. 05/10/2023, publ. Bulletin No. 19. authors: IBT NAAN Ostapiv D. D., Kuzmina N. V., Bodnar Yu. V., Kozak M. R., Petrukh I. M., Vlizlo V. V., Don I. A, Stasyuk A.V., Bukartik N.M., Nosova N.G., Varnarenko S.M., Samarik V.Ya., Ostapiv R.D.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Contact person: Mariia Kozak – Acting Head of the laboratory, PhD, Senior Researcher.
Tel: +38 (073) 318 2269 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
