Unique enzyme solutions for obtaining products of added value from cornUniCorn

UniCorn team

Dr Biljana Dojnov
leader UniCorn team

Dr Biljana Dojnov

ORCID ID 0000-0002-0489-7105

Principal research fellow at ICTM

Principal research fellow at ICTM and PI of the UniCorn project. Coordinates WP1 and WP4 and participates in the implementation of work packages 1, 2 and 4 of the project UniCorn. She coordinates and supervises all project activities, fostering synergy among team members and maintaining communication with the Science Fund, SRO participants and actively promoting the project.

She obtained her PhD in Biochemistry in 2011 from the Faculty of Chemistry of the University of Belgrade. She achieved successful international collaboration with two research groups from the Biochemical Technology Research Department, Institute for Chemical Engineering, Environment and Biosciences, Technical University of Vienna, through which, in addition to scientific collaboration, she also provided training stays for PhD students through the implementation of a joint project.

Research areas

Production of hydrolytic enzymes from filamentous fungi of the genera Aspergillus and Trichoderma, their characterization, and application in biotechnological processes; application of isolated enzyme complexes and individual enzymes for obtaining high-value food products (dietary fibers and prebiotics) starting from readily available, economically very favorable, and often waste materials; use of agricultural waste materials in processes for obtaining enzymes from filamentous fungi as well as starting material for obtaining added value food products.

Engaging in projects

She was a PI of an innovation project (451-03-2802/2013-16/75) financed by the Ministry of Science and Technology Development and a bilateral project between the Republic of Serbia and Austria. She has also participated in the implementation of several national and international projects funded by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development and the Innovation Fund. She continues active scientific cooperation with colleagues from TU Vienna through Erasmus+ KA1 mobility. She is a participant in the COST action COZYME CA21162.

Staff education

She is active in the education and training of scientific personnel, as a mentor in the realization of numerous bachelor's and master's theses, as well as PhD thesis. She has mentored two PhD theses and is a member of the Committee for the Evaluation of Scientific Basis for two more.

Membership in committees

She actively participates in the work of ICTM as a member of the Scientific Council since 2017. At ICTM, she is the institutional coordinator for Erasmus projects and the President of the Organizing Committee of the internal institute conference "ICTM-Step forward".

Awards

She has been awarded several times for her work. She also contributed to the popularization and development of innovations by participating and winning first place in the prestigious Competition for the Best Technological Innovation in Serbia in 2014.

UniCorn | Program PRISMA | Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia
Selected publications

Dr Biljana Dojnov - Selected publications

01
Selected publications

Stojanović, S., Ristović, M., Stepanović, J., Margetić, A., Duduk, B., Vujčić, Z., Dojnov, B. Aspergillus welwitschiae inulinase enzyme cocktails obtained on agro-material inducers for the purpose of fructooligosaccharides production, Food Research International 160, 111755 (2022).

doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2022.111755
02

Stojanović, S., Stepanović, J., Špirović Trifunović, B., Duduk, N., Dojnov, B., Duduk, B., Vujčić, Z. Selection of non-mycotoxigenic inulinase producers in the group of black Aspergilli for use in food processing. Food Technology and Biotechnology 60, (4) (2022).

doi.org/10.17113/ftb.60.04.22.7521
03

Margetić, A., Stojanović, S., Ristović, M., Vujčić, Z., Dojnov, B. Fungal oxidative and hydrolyzing enzymes as designers in the biological production of dietary fibers from triticale, LWT - Food Science and Technology 145, 111291 (2021).

doi.org/10.1016/j.lwt.2021.111291
04

Grujić, M., Dojnov, B., Potočnik, I., Atanasova, L., Duduk, B., Srebotnik, E., Druzhinina, I., Kubicek, C., Vujčić, Z. Superior cellulolytic activity of Trichoderma guizhouense on raw wheat straw, World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology 35, 194 (2019).

doi.org/10.1007/s11274-019-2774-y
05

Miočinović, J., Tomić, N., Dojnov, B., Tomašević, I., Stojanović, S., Djekic, I., Vujčić, Z. Application of new insoluble dietary fibers from triticale as supplement in yoghurt - effects on physicochemical, rheological and quality propertie, Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 98, 1291–1299 (2018).

doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.8592
06
Lecture by invitation

“Recycling of agro waste by fungi for obtaining enzymes and prebiotics”, 1st European Symposium on Phytochemicals in Medicine and Food, September 2022, Belgrade, Serbia.

07
Patent

B. Dojnov, Z. Vujčić, A. Margetić, M. Vujčić. A procedure for the production of insoluble, low-calorie, non-allergenic dietary fibers from triticale. Intellectual property gazette, Intellectual property office Republic of Serbia, 2018/12, ISSN 2217 – 9143.

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