Adaleta Durmic

• PhD
• Head of Department at Institute for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is a widely cultivated crop of global importance. However, its ability to accumulate nickel (Ni) in fruits poses a health risk for individuals with Ni sensitivity and allergies. Biopriming may have the potential to limit Ni translocation to fruit while also enhancing overall plant health. Benefits of plant-microbe i...

Introduction The strategic utilization of plant growth-promoting (PGP) rhizospheric bacteria is a sustainable approach to mitigating the negative effects of anthropogenic activities and excessive nickel (Ni) accumulation in plants. Given that the specific effects of symbiotic interactions depend on the direct relationship between the plant species,...

Polyploidy is a powerful mechanism driving genetic, physiological, and phenotypic changes among cytotypes of the same species across both large and small geographic scales. These changes can significantly shape population structure and increase the evolutionary and adaptation potential of cytotypes. Alyssum moellendorfianum, an edaphic steno-endemi...

Serpentine soils are characterized as a unique environment with low nutrient availability and high heavy metal concentrations, often hostile to many plant species. Even though these unfavorable conditions hinder the growth of various plants, particular vegetation with different adaptive mechanisms thrives undisturbed. One of the main contributors t...

Copper is essential for plant growth, but excess levels disrupt photosynthesis, nutrient absorption, and inhibit overall growth. Major cause of excess Cu in soil is anthropogenic activity. Plants evolved an array of mechanisms which enable compensation of heavy metal induced damage. Interactions with plant growth-promoting (PGP) rhizobacteria is am...

Serpentine soils are distinctive ecosystems characterised by low macronutrient availability and high concentrations of heavy metals. Plants adapt by developing a variety of protective mechanisms which include interactions with plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). PGPR can improve overall plant health and tolerance to biotic and abiotic stre...

Serpentine soils exhibit unique chemical properties, characterized by high concentrations of heavy metals (usually Ni, Fe, Cr, and Co) and limited availability of micronutrients, rendering them unfavorable for numerous microbial species. In response, serpentine bacteria have evolved various adaptive strategies that enable their undisturbed prolifer...

Edaphic conditions of serpentine soils, naturally rich in heavy metals, act as a strong selection pressure that shapes specific metal-tolerant ecotypes. Medicago lupulina L. (black medick) is not only a widespread plant species that prefers calcareous and dry soil types but also grows at the borders of serpentine formations. It can also be found in...

The provisions of the Law on GMO in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) are event based. The official testing laboratories should be able to detect GMO presence, to identify and quantify authorized, and to detect and identify unauthorized GMO events. The laboratories are also required to perform under ISO17025, and to introduce accredited methods accordin...

Plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPR) colonize the rhizosphere and improve plant growth through different mechanisms. Production of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), one of the most physiologically active auxins, is an essential tool for rhizobacteria to stimulate plant growth. IAA supports root elongation and increases the number of root hairs and root...

Phosphorus (P) is an essential macronutrient required for plant development and growth. It is a crucial component of numerous metabolic pathways and building molecules. Inadequate P or low bioavailability causes stunted development, oxidative stress, reduced yield, as well as DNA damage. In food production systems, P is supplemented within fertiliz...

Many heavy metals (HMs) are essential micronutrients for the growth and development of plants. However, human activities such as mining, smelting, waste disposal, and industrial processes have led to toxic levels of HMs in soil. Fortunately, many plant species have developed incredible adaptive mechanisms to survive and thrive in such harsh environ...

The World Health Organization recognizes air pollution as a significant health and environmental concern. Threatening air pollutants are a common predicament of developing countries. Located in a valley and surrounded by high mountains, Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H), suffers temperature inversions during autumn/winter which...

Heavy metals (HMs) are crucial micronutrients for the growth and development of plants, however, human activities such as mining, smelting, and fertilizers have led to toxic levels of HMs in soil. Fortunately, many plant species have developed incredible adaptive mechanisms to survive and thrive in such harsh environments. As a widespread and ruder...

Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) is among the European countries with the highest rate of air pollution-related death cases and the poorest air quality. The main causes are solid fuel consumption, traffic, and the poorly developed or implemented air pollution reduction policies. In addition, the city of Sarajevo, the capital of B&H, suffers temperature...

Heavy metal polluted soils present one of the major threats to ecosystem integrity. Mounting evidence suggests various plant species tolerate or accumulate heavy metals. However, for scientists, the selection of effective potential phytoremediators poses an old riddle (a great challenge). In this regard, the aim of our research was to investigate t...

In our earlier study, we explored the potential of widely distributed and stress resilient ornamental plant Ligustrum vulgare L. to serve as air pollution indicator in urban settings. The results of comet assay applied to selected L. vulgare leaves indeed show an increase in DNA damage proportional to the level of exposure to the air pollution. The...

Many plant species have developed adaptive mechanisms to protect against stress, including stress caused by exposure to heavy metals. As a ubiquitous plant, Sanguisorba minor Scop. is usually found on various polluted and unpolluted sites. In that light, the main purpose of the study was to determine the level of stress in S. minor populations from...

As sessile organisms, plants are constantly exposed to numerous environmental factors. Pollutants originating from the atmosphere and soil can induce DNA damage. Therefore, different plants can be utilized in ecotoxicology throughout the monitoring of genetic damage. Recently, as the plant comet assay became more reliable and sensitive, new possibi...

Various biotic and abiotic factors, often, influence the growth and development of plants throughout different life stages. Harsh environments and sessile life have forced plants to develop a myriad of diverse protective mechanisms, including secondary metabolites, crucial components in plant-environment interactions. Even though Sanguisorba minor...

The last decade has witnessed revival of comet assay as a method for evaluation of DNA damage and DNA repair in single-cells. When performed in plant cells, it may serve as an invaluable tool in environmental monitoring. However, due to issues related to nuclei extraction, inadvertent DNA damage due to photochemical reaction, lack of standardizatio...

In natural environments plants are continuously exposed to different biotic and abiotic stressors which affect their growth. When confronted by various kinds of stressors, plants respond by readjusting levels of ethylene which reduces shoot and root growth, thus reestablishing homeostasis. The ACC (1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid) is key inte...

Heavy metal contamination of soil poses concerns regarding human health and a balanced ecosystem. Mounting evidence suggests that devastating anthropogenic activities endanger different types of soil across the world and influence plant growth and their survival.Therefore, creating different strategies to alleviate the detrimental impacts of heavy...

The focus of this study was to evaluate the genetic diversity and population structure of potential Bosnian mountain horse and to determine the possible sources of undoubtedly autochthonous germplasm using microsatellite markers. Genomic DNA was extracted from the whole blood collected from 61 potential Bosnian mountain horse specimens divided into...

Since the commercialization of transgenic crops in 1996, the biotech crop planted area has continuously increased. The European consumers have particularly been sceptical about transgenes in food products and EU (European Union) has enacted very complex legislation. The area of food analytics requires continuous development and improvement of detec...

Background: Boron and boron containing compounds are known for their biological and protective roles being non-toxic and non-mutagenic in low concentrations. Male rats were exposed to halogenated boroxine (HB), dipotassium-trioxohydroxytetrafluorotriborate K2[B3O3F4OH], a potential new boron-containing therapeutic, aiming to determine concentrations...

Plants evolved a number of coping mechanisms wherewith they overcome negative environmental influences. Secondary metabolites are essential in plants’ stress management toolbox. One of the crucial environmental problems is contamination of soil with toxic heavy metals by different human activities. Serpentine soils are naturally burdened with heavy...

Plantago lanceolata L. is widely distributed in Eurasian region. The species inhabits grasslands and agricultural soils and is tolerant to drought and many common diseases and pests. In our study, we have analyzed physiological and biochemical status of plants growing in different soil types most of which contain high concentrations of heavy metals...

Metalliferous soils are restrictive habitats for the majority of plant species due to metal phytotoxicity, however, some species evolved tolerance mechanisms, which enable surviving in these hostile environments without developing toxicity symptoms. Pseudometallophytes can thrive in both metalliferous and non-metalifferous soils thus representing e...

Soils derived from serpentine rocks are characterized by specific and commonly sparse vegetation in terms of both biodiversity and abundance. The lack of essential nutrients, low calcium to magnesium ratio and commonly high concentrations of heavy metals are the main causes for the specificity of serpentine flora. In addition to genetic physiologic...

In the present study modern technology of DNA extraction and automatic genotyping was applied in Bosnian and Herzegovinian autochthonous horse breed by using 17-Plex horse genotyping kit. The study was aimed at investigating usefulness of the 17-plex STR Kit for Bosnian mountain horse genotyping and establishing highly useful microsatellite markers...

Genetics and Applications

Of the four species of the genus Satureja (Lamiaceae) that are recognized in Bosnia and Herzegovina, S. subspicata has the the widest distribution. It is taxonomically challenging species of geographically limited distribution and little data on its genetic diversity throughout its range is available. We sampled six geographically distinct populati...

Apart from its physiological role in the cellular oxidation of ethanol interesting feature of the ADH1B gene locus is its characteristic geographical distribution in which certain variants of ADH1B peak in different parts of the world. Therefore, ADH1B rs2066701 polymorphism is exploited as a genetic marker in tracing of the evolutionary processes...

Following the “horse meat scandal” in 2013, European Union countries have conducted official control of EU market and unraveled food fraud which implicated a number of processed food products and food businesses. Five years after the breakout of the scandal, no official information on market surveillance in Bosnia and Herzegovina is available. Ther...

Innovation holds the potential for economic prosperity. Biotechnology (BT) has proved to be a viable vehicle for the development and utilization of technologies, which has brought not only advances to society, but also career opportunities to nation-states that have enabling conditions. In this review, we assess the current state of BT-related acti...

The second most dominant genetically modified (GM) crop is maize. Increasing number of GM maize events puts significant pressure on GMO testing laboratories to achieve the level of competence necessary to fulfill legal requirements. In the European Union, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) is the method of choice for identification and quantification...

Soy sauce is worldwide popular condiment of Asian origin. With the advent of GM soybean production, soy sauce drew the interest of food safety control. Samples collected for inspection are generally of industrial grade soy sauce type, which is produced from hydrolyzed soybean and grain. Following the failure to perform RealTime PCR based GMO screen...

The focus of this study was on genetic diversity of TB horse population raised in B&H. Genomic DNA was genotyped by using 17 microsatellite markers. A total of 103 alleles were detected. The average number of alleles per locus was 6.059 and effective number of alleles was 3.293. Means of observed and expected heterozygosity were calculated 0.645 an...

In the present study, for the first time we investigated the genetic diversity among horse breeds from Bosnia and Herzegovina: potential Bosnian and Herzegovinian mountain horse, Arabian horse, Thoroughbred horse and crossbreeds, with special emphasis on the gene pool of potential Bosnian and Herzegovinian mountain horse. In total, 138 animals were...

In the present study, for the first time we investigated the genetic diversity among horse breeds from Bosnia and Herzegovina: potential Bosnian and Herzegovinian mountain horse, Arabian horse, Thoroughbred horse and crossbreeds, with special emphasis on the gene pool of potential Bosnian and Herzegovinian mountain horse. In total, 138 animals were...

Despite the fact that Asplenium scolopendrium L. is a wide spread fern which has been used as a human remedy for centuries, there are very poor or no data about activity and genotoxicity of A. scolopendrium extracts. In this work, vacuum dried water and ethanol extracts of A. scolopendrium fronds were tested for their antimicrobial, cytotoxic and g...

The primary value of DNA typing has been significantly increased over the last fifteen years due to introduction of short tandem repeat (STR) loci in paternity testing, as well as in forensic cases and mass disaster human identification. Nowadays, several commercial multiplex kits are available, allowing routine use of this powerful forensic-geneti...

To report on the use of STR, Y-STRs, and miniSTRs typing methods in the identification of victims of revolutionary violence and crimes against humanity committed by the Communist Armed Forces during and after World War II in which bodies were exhumed from mass and individual graves in Slovenia. Bone fragments and teeth were removed from human remai...

Modern Bosnia and Herzegovina is a multi-ethnic and multi-religion country, with a very stormy history. Certain archaeological findings indicate continuous population of its territory since the Paleolithic. In time, vast number of different factors jointly influenced fascinating diversity of local human populations. A great number of small, more or...

To present the joint effort of three institutions in the identification of human remains from the World War II found in two mass graves in the area of Skofja Loka, Slovenia. The remains of 27 individuals were found in two small and closely located mass graves. The DNA was isolated from bone and teeth samples using either standard phenol/chloroform...

To study the distribution of allele frequencies of 15 short tandem repeat (STR) loci in a representative sample of Croatian population. A total of 195 unrelated Caucasian individuals born in Croatia, from 14 counties and the City of Zagreb, were sampled for the analysis. All the tested individuals were voluntary donors. Buccal swab was used as the...

In our previous population studies of B&H human population, we used 17 autosomal and 12 Y-chromosomal STR loci, as well as 28 NRY bi-allelic markers to generate referent database. Wishing to test our database in order to obtain specific results in various DNA analysis, we have decided to analysis additional individuals, firstly at fifteen autosomal...

We have analyzed the distribution of allele frequencies at fifteen autosomal short tandem repeats loci in the representative sample of Croatians. A total of 110 unrelated individuals (Caucasians) born in Croatia have been sampled for the analysis. All of them have been voluntary donors. Buccal swab have been used as the DNA source. Specimens were a...

Many historical episodes marked Bosnia and Herzegovina as a significant ethnic crossroads, which makes it a very interesting site for various population studies. The first stages of these complex investigations were based on observations of numerous phenotype markers. The following phase, which was relatively brief, was dominated by the use of diff...

During the 1992-1995 siege, as well as after the war activities, citizens of Sarajevo were most probably exposed to various potential genotoxic agents. The effects of those potential genotoxins were evaluated by micronucleus-cytokinesis blocked assay. The study included 30 individuals who resided in the area of Sarajevo during the war and the postw...

Population: We have analyzed the distribution of allele frequencies at two short tandem repeats loci (D2S1338 and D19S433) in a multinational sample of Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) residents. A total of 110 unrelated male and female individuals (Caucasians) from different regions of B&H were sampled for the analysis. We ensured that the sample ref...

Standard molecular techniques, with only a slight modification, are very useful in obtaining and interpreting the final results in the field of forensic genetic. Data obtained through such analysis are highly reliable and can be used as a very powerful tool that produces valuable results. However, success and swiftness of DNA typing of biological e...

In our previous population studies of B&H human population, we have used l5 STR loci included inthe PowerPlex I6@ System, twelve Y-chromosomal short tandem repeats loci incorporated in the PowerPlex@ Y System and 28 Y-chromosome NRY bi-allelic markers. All obtained results were included in Bosnian referent database. ln order of future development o...

Marjanović D., Durmić-Pašić A., Bakal N., Haverić S., Kalamujić B., Kovačević L., Ramić J., Pojskić N.,Škaro V., Projić P., Bajrović K., Hadžiselimović R., Drobnić K., Huffine E., Davoren J., Primorac D. (2007): DNA identification of skeletal remains from world war II mass graves uncovered in Slovenia. Croatian Medical Journal, 48 (4): 513-519.

Summary Several years ago a proposal was made to construct hydropower plant with accompanying dam on Neretva river. The proposal gained financial and political support and strong opposition from local citizens' organisations which demand alternative solutions. The results of genetic characterisation of brown trout populations from Neretva and its t...