Larisa Besic

International BURCH University · Department of Genetics and Bioengineering

Background Serostudies are important resources when following pandemics and predicting their further spread, as well as determining the length of protection against reinfection and vaccine development. The aim of this study was to update data on the prevalence of seropositive individuals in Canton Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) from Septemb...

The goal of this part of the study was to optimize the sequencing procedure for 16 human genes and their regulatory regions that might be associated with differential immunological response to COVID-19. The study was performed on 60 COVID-19 patients from the General Hospital of Tešanj, Bosnia and Herzegovina, categorized into three groups of mild,...

Bosnia and Herzegovina is located in the South-Eastern Europe, characterized by numerous historical influences, massive migration processes and complex population structure. For that reason, the aim of this study is to provide an accurate and precise update of the population genetics data of allele frequencies on 23 Y-STR loci in Bosnia and Herzego...

Introduction Serological detection of SARS-CoV-2-specific IgG and IgM antibodies is becoming increasingly important in management of COVID-19 pandemic. Material and methods We are reporting the first results of COVID-19 serological testing in Bosnia and Herzegovina on 2,841 samples collected and analyzed in two medical institutions in Sarajevo. An...

Human Y-chromosomal haplogroups are an important tool used in population genetics and forensic genetics. A conventional method used for Y haplogroup assignment is based on a set of Y-single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers deployed, which exploits the low mutation rate nature of these markers. Y chromosome haplogroups can be successfully predi...

Brain tumors diagnosis in children is a scientific concern due to rapid anatomical, metabolic, and functional changes arising in the brain and non-specific or conflicting imaging results. Pediatric brain tumors diagnosis is typically centralized in clinical practice on the basis of diagnostic clues such as, child age, tumor location and incidence,...

p>Here we describe the major genetic and genomic aberrations found in myeloid malignancies and how those markers are used in patients’ diagnosis, prognosis, and targeted treatment. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, cytogenetic and molecular diagnostics for myeloid malignancies have been established and continually improved since 2005. We report the curren...

Background: The human angiotensin I converting enzyme 1 (ACE1) gene insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism is classified based on the presence or absence of a 287 bp Alu sequence. The ACE1 D allele is associated with higher ACE1 concentrations in tissues. Previous research has shown that susceptibility to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronaviru...

Glucosylceramidase (GCase) is a lysosomal enzyme that catalyzes the cleavage of β-glucosidic linkage of glucocerebroside (GC) into glucose and ceramide; thereby, plays an essential function in the degradation of complex lipids and the turnover of cellular membranes. The growing list of 460 mutations in the gene coding for it—glucosylceramidase beta...

Glucosylceramidase (GCase) is a lysosomal enzyme that catalyzes the cleavage of β-glucosidic linkage of glucocerebroside (GC) into glucose and ceramide; thereby, plays an essential function in the degradation of complex lipids and the turnover of cellular membranes. The growing list of 460 mutations in the gene coding for it—glucosylceramidase beta...

The poster describes the variants of the MTHFR gene and their association with clinical conditions.

Several association studies focusing on FTO gene polymorphisms have been published in the past years; however, the association between FTO-related conditions and FTO gene variants remains unexplained. Population genetics and association studies of different populations provide a valuable tool for further research. Thus, the aim of this systematic r...

Since the first widespread use of depleted uranium in military in the 1991 Gulf War, the so-called "Gulf War Syndrome" has been a topic of ongoing debate. However, a low number of reliable scientific papers demonstrating the extent of possible contamination as well as its connection to the health status of residents and deployed veterans has been p...

The relationship between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and phenotypes is noisy and cryptic due to the abundance of genetic factors and the influence of environmental factors on complex traits, which makes the idea of applying artificial neural networks (ANNs) as universal approximates of complex functions promising. In this study, we compa...

Y-chromosomal short-tandem repeat (STR) markers are intended to be used in forensic casework, kinship analysis and population genetic studies. One of the firsts in forensic practice was the ‘minimal haplotype’ (MHT) marker set which consists of nine loci and still forms the core of all Y-STR kits. When designing the new sets derived from the MHT, a...

The main aim of this review is to summarize and discuss the current state of knowledge on chemical toxicity and radioactivity of depleted uranium (DU) and their effect on living systems and cell lines. This was done by presenting a summary of previous investigations conducted on different mammalian body systems and cell cultures in terms of potenti...

In recent years, contradicting data has been published on the connection between the presence of depleted uranium and an increased cancer incidence among military personnel deployed in the Balkans during the 1992-1999 wars. This has led to numerous research articles investigating possible depleted uranium contamination of the afflicted regions of t...

In a study of the Bosnian-Herzegovinian (B&H) population, Y chromosome marker frequencies for 100 individuals, generated using PowerPlex® Y23 kit, were used to perform Y chromosome haplogroup assignment via Whit Athey’s Haplogroup Predictor. This Whit Athey’s algorithm determines Y chromosome haplogroups from Y chromosome short tandem repeat (Y-STR...

Analysis of Y-chromosome haplogroup distribution is widely used when investigating geographical clustering of different populations, which is why it plays an important role in population genetics, human migration patterns and even in forensic investigations. Individual determination of these haplogroups is mostly based on the analysis of single nuc...

An overview of population genetic studies recently conducted on isolated Turkish population currently residing in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, on the basis of autosomal and Y-STR loci, as well as determination of the most prevalent Y-chromosomal haplogroups

β-Glucosidase was purified from Brassica oleracea by salting out with ammonium sulfate and hydrophobic interaction chromatography. Results demonstrated that the enzyme is a dimer (130 kD) made up of one major (80 kD) and one minor subunit (50 kD). The pH optimum is 6.0, with 50% of the enzyme's original activity remaining between pH 4.0 and pH 7.0....

Short tandem repeats (STRs) located on the Y-chromosome are a useful tool for various scientific fields, such as forensic investigation, but also for the investigation of population structure and molecular history. In this study, population data based on 23 Y-STR loci (DYS19, DYS389I, DYS389II, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392, DYS393, DYS385a/b, DYS437, DYS...

β-Glucosidase (β-D-glucoside glucohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.21) is a catalytic enzyme present in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes that selectively catalyzes either the linkage between two glycone residues or between glycone and aryl or alkyl aglycone residue. Growing edible mushrooms in the soil with increased cellulose content can lead to the production...

Forensic botany refers to the application of plant biology disciplines in crime investigations. Since plants are widespread in most habitats, they often provide valuable clues in criminal investigations. Hence, the primary role of forensic botany is to establish a connection between the victim or suspect and the crime scene. The forensic applicatio...

Short tandem repeats (STRs) located on the Y-chromosome are a useful tool for the study of population structure and history. In this study, 23 Y-STR loci from 50 populations were compared (DYS19, DYS389I, DYS389II, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392, DYS393, DYS385a/b, DYS437, DYS438, DYS439, DYS448, DYS456, DYS458, DYS635, GATAH4, DYS481, DYS533, DYS549, DYS5...

Although DNA genetic markers, including Y-chromosomal short tandem repeats (Y-STRs), are widely used in the analysis of population data, autosomal short tandem repeats (STRs) have a wide role in the investigation of human migration patterns throughout the history, genealogical research, and population genetics. In this review, allele frequencies of...

Autosomal short tandem repeats (STRs) are the most widely used DNA markers in forensic investigation of the population history, human migration patterns, and genealogical research. In this study, the usefulness of 13 most widely used STR loci (TPOX, and FGA) was examined along with the investigation of their application in the studies of the phylog...

Although Y-STRs are widely used in the analysis of population data, autosomal STRs have an important role in the investigation of human migration patterns throughout the history, genealogical research, and population genetics. In this research, allele frequencies of 13 autosomal STR loci (D3S1358, TH01, D21S11, D18S51, D5S818, D13S317, D7S820, D16S...