SCIENTIFIC AND PRODUCTION CENTER “ARMBIOTECHNOLOGY” NAS RA

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Research Units

Research Units

 

Kristina Karapetyan

 
Head of Sector
PhD in Biology
e-mail: kristinakarapetyan@mail.ru

Probiotics Production Sector

 

The main scientific direction of the laboratory is the study of the properties of biologically active substances synthesized by lactic acid bacteria, as well as the development of new technologies for introducing these microbes into cattle breeding, medicine and food industry. 

 

RESEARCH MAIN DIRECTIONS

  • Study of BAS according to the main properties of probiotics preserved in the Culture Collection of the Microbial Depository Center of the SPC “Armbiotechnology” NAS RA
  • Study of probiotic BAS strains due to the target properties promoting health improvement (synthesis of amino and organic acids, production of bacteriocins, activity of bile salt hydrolysis, production of extracellular polysaccharides (EPS))
  • Study of biologically active substances: probiotic BAS
  • Design and study of consortia based on the probiotic strains with multifunctional properties
  • Development of a new range of biofunctional food and probiotics

 

MAIN INVESTIGATION RESULTS

  • Targeted strains of BAS, which can be used in dairy production as starters, were isolated, studied and selected from different samples of pet milk (buffalo, goat, cow, donkey and sheep) brought from householders of some regions of the Republic of Armenia.
  • Probiotic BAS strains with multifunctional properties have been selected, which can be used as a basis for the development of new probiotics and functional food for the prevention of certain diseases.
  • Bacteriocins with high antimicrobial activity may be offered as potential alternatives to antibiotics.
  • A collection of identified targeted probiotic strains was created and coordinated according to their properties and fields of application (production of probiotics or functional food, medicine, agriculture).

 

MAIN OBJECTIVES AND TASKS

  • Assessment of lactic acid bacteria due to some main properties of probiotics (ability to adhere to the epithelium of the gastrointestinal tract-adhesive property, antioxidant activity, antimicrobial ability, resistance to antibiotics), which are stored in the Culture Collection of the Microbial Depository Center of the SPC “Armbiotechnology” NAS RA.
  • Comparative study of biologically active substances obtained from probiotic BAS, study of antimicrobial properties against different taxonomic groups, conditionally pathogenic bacteria, bacteria that contribute to food spoilage, multidrug-resistant bacteria. Selected biologically active substances can be used in medicine, agriculture, and as food preservatives instead of antibiotics.
  • Selection of lactic acid bacteria endowed with certain targeted multifunctional properties for obtaining new probiotics and functional food to help prevent diarrhea, dysbacteriosis, diabetes, food allergies.
  • Study of the growth conditions effect on the increase of metabiotics (arginine, bacteriocins, β-galactosidase and bile salt hydrolase(BSH), exopolysaccharides) synthesis and yield.

 

LIST OF GRANT PROJECTS

  • ANSEF grant 20AN:NS-biotech-2244 "Using Lactic Acid Bacteria For Biopreservation of Milk Products", 2020-2021 (Project Manager: K. Karapetyan, PhD).
  • ANSEF biochem-4126 “Increasing of synthesis of bacteriocins of Lactobacillus rhamnosus BTK 20-12 by combined cultivation with yeast strains”, 2016-2017 (Project Manager: K. Karapetyan, PhD).
  • SCS MES RA, Armenian-Belarusian Grant 13РБ-064 “Development of a new method for obtaining novel bactericides aimed at protecting agricultural animals and poultries from infectious diseases”, 2014-2016 (Project Manager: F.Tkhruni, PhD).
  • ANSEF biochem biochem-3820 “Bacteriocins from Lactobacillus rhamnosus BTK 20-12 against multidrug–resistant human pathogens”, 2014-2015 (Project Manager: K. Karapetyan, PhD).
  • ISTC #A-1866P “Natural biological substances (peptides) with bactericidal properties toward various pathogens”, 2010-2013 (Project Manager: F. Tkhruni, PhD).

 

KEY PUBLICATIONS

Scientific articles

  1. F.S. Karimpour, F.N. Tkhruni, K.J. Karapetyan, S.H. Razavi  Certain probiotic properties of lactic acid bacteria from the Iranian dairy product “Richal”. Life Science Journal, 2013, 10 (6), p. 508-512.
  2. F.N. Tkhruni, K.J. Karapetyan, S.T. Danova, S.A. Dimov, F.S. Karimpour. Probiotic properties of endemic strains of lactic acid bacteria. J. BioSci. Biotech., 2013, 2(2),  p. 109-115.
  3. K. Karapetyan, F. Tkhruni, Ts. Balabekyan, L. Khachatryan, A. Isakhanyan.  Low molecular mass bacteriocins from Lactobacillus rhamnosus 109. Biological Journal of Armenia, 2013, 1(65), p. 84-85. 
  4. G. Catryan, K. Karapetyan, A. Isakhanyan.  Evaluation of antibacterial activity of lactic acid bacteria single cells. Biological Journal of Armenia, 2013, 1(65), p.54-55.
  5. Karimpour F., Tkhruni F.N., Karapetyan K.J., Razavi S.H. Certain probiotic properties of lactic acid bacteria from the Iranian dairy product “Richal”. Industria Alimentaria. Enero – Febrero, 2014.  v. 36, No. 1. p. 69-74. - www.alfaeditores.com | buzon@alfa-editores.com.mx
  6. Aghajanyan A.E., Tkhruni F.N., Hovhannisyan G. Zh., Yeghiyan K.I., Vardanyan A.A., Saghyan A.S. Isolation and Purification of Bioinhibitory Product from Culture Liquid of Lactic   acid Bacteria Lactobacillus acidophilus 1991 VKPM 6257 and Lactobacillus rhamnosus INMIA 9614.  J. Biotechnology, 2015, N 4 p. 62-69; DOI 10.21519/0234-2758-2015-4-62-69.
  7. Israyelyan A., Karapetyan K., Tkhruni F., Arstamyan L., Balabekyan Ts. Sensitivity of different pathogens to biological antimicrobial agents.  European Journal of Biomedical and Life Sciences, 2015, vol. №3, p. 61-66. DOI: https://doi.org/10.29013/ELBLS-15-3-61-66. 
  8. Tkhruni Flora N., Tsovinar R. Balabekyan, Kristina J. Karapetyan, Nicolay N. Yakimovich, Lilya A. Arstamyan. Antibacterial activity of single cells in the population of lactic acid bacteria. European Journal of Biomedical and Life Sciences. 2015, vol. №3, p.  76-80. DOI: https://doi.org/10.29013/ELBLS-15-3-76-80.
  9. Flora Nubar Tkhruni. The use of metabiotics of the lactic acid bacteria for the treatment of salmonellosis in farm. Asian Academic Research Journal of Multidisciplinary. 2015, vol.1, p. 176-183. Global Impact factor of Journal- 0.675.
  10. Flora Nubar Tkhruni. Efficiency of metabiotics from lactic acid bacteria against pathogens. International Journal of Current Research and Academic Review (Int. J. Curr. Res. Aca. Rev), 2015. 3(3): 86-96 [View Full Text-PDF] Web: www.ijcrar.com.
  11. Karimpour Farzad, Seyed Hadi Razavi, Flora Nubar Tkhruni. Investigation and comparative of antibacterial properties of LAB: strains isolated from Iranian and Armenian traditional dairy products. Journal of Birjand. University of Medical Science, 2016, on-line article, code: A-10-1943-1. (Journal of Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Majallah-i dānishgāh-i ’ulūm-i pizishkī-i Bīrjand. 1607-2197 (Print); 2423-6152 (Online), journal.bums.ac.ir
  12. Karimpour F, Razavi S, Tkhruni F. Evaluation and Comparison of Lactic Strains Isolated from Traditional Iranian Dairy Products (Richal Shiri) with Armenian Dairy Products on Control of Food Spoilage Agents. Armaghane danesh. 2016, 21 (7): 655-668, URL: http://armaghanj.yums.ac.ir/article-1-1408-en.html
  13. Karimpour Farzad, Seyed Hadi Razavi, Flora Nubar Tkhruni.   Investigation of Antibacterial properties of yeast strains isolated from Iranian Richal and traditional dairy products in Armenia (in Persian).  Journal of Birjand. University   of Medical Science, 2016, vol. 21(6), p. 552-562. code: A-10-645-1. (Journal of Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Majallah-i dānishgāh-i ’ulūm-i pizishkī-i Bīrjand. 1607-2197 (Print); 2423-6152 (Online), journal.bums.ac.ir)
  14. Mousavizadeh Ali, Farzad Karimpour, Seyed Hadi Razavi, Flora Nubar Tkhruni, Amir Peikar, Tatyana Khachatryan, Behrooz Ebrahimzadeh Koor. Investigation of possibility of using of obtained strains of LAB and yeast in technology of functional food production   (in Persian).   Biotechnology &Biotechnological Equipment, 2016.  р 2-13.
  15. Israyelyan Arevik L., Flora N. Tkhruni. Investigation of the Properties of Endemic LAB Strains of Genus Enterococcus Isolated from Samples of Cow Matsoon. Journal of Biotechnology and Biochemistry (IOSR-JBB), 2017. vol. 3, Issue 2. p. 41-45.
  16. Balabekyan Tsovinar R., Kristina J. Karapetyan, Tatyana V. Khachatryan, Garnik E. Khachatryan, Stepan Sh. Tatikyan. Antimicrobial activity of preparations after combined cultivation of lactic acid bacteria and yeast strains. Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal.Nutrition.  2018, Volume 102 (4), p. 933–938. https://doi.org/10.1111/jpn.12891
  17. Tsovinar R Balabekyan, Flora N Tkhruni and Kristina J Karapetyan.  Development and Application of Biological Preparations against Infectious Diseases of Cattle and Poultry. Journal of Dairy & Veterinary Sciences. Volume 11, Issue 5. May 2019.                                  DOI: 10.19080/JDVS.2019.11.555823
  18. Flora N. Tkhruni, Armen E. Aghajanyan, Tsovinar R. Balabekyan, Tatyana V. Khachatryan, Kristina J. Karapetyan. Characteristic of bacteriocins of Lactobacillus rhamnosus BTK 20-12 potential probiotic strain. Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins (PAAP, Probiotics & Antimicro. Prot. (2019)). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12602-019-09569-y First Online 23 July 2019, Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins, 01 Jun 2020, 12(2):716-724 DOI: 10.1007/s12602-019-09569-y      PMID: 31338788 .
  19. Исраелян А., Карапетян К., Арстамян Л.,  Алексанян Л. Взаимодействие молочнокислых бактерий при разных словиях совместного выращивания. Известия РАН. Серия биологическая. 2021, No 3, Стр.  1-6.
  20. Israyelyan A., K. Karapetyan, L. Arstamyan, L. Alexsanyan. Interaction of lactic acid bacteria under different conditions of combined growth. HERALD OF  THE RUSSIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, BIOLOGICAL SERIES,  2021, № 3, p. 1–6.

 

Local magazines

  1. Առստամյան Լ., Իսրայելյան Ա., Տխրունի Ֆ.: Մածնից անջատված կաթնաթթվային բակտերիաների որոշ պրոբիոտիկ հատկությունների գնահատումը: Материалы международной научной конференции, посвященной проблемам безопасности пищевых продуктов и продовольственной обеспеченности. НАУА, Ереван, 2015, С. 33-37:
  2. Իսրայելյան Ա., Առստամյան Լ., Տխրունի Ֆ. Կենսաբանական արգասիքների ազդեցության ուսումնասիրությունը որոշակի ախտածին մանրէների աճի վրա: Artsakh State University,s Proceedings.2015; 1. p.87-91.
  3. Israyelyan A., Tkhruni F, Arstamyan L, Balabekyan Ts, Khachatryan T, Karapetyan K. Comparative characterization of endemic lactic acid bacteria isolated from several regions of Armenia and Nagornokarabakh Republics. Biol. Journal of Armenia, Special Issue, 2016. vol. V(LXVIII), p. 50-57. 
  4. Хачатурян Н.С., Ф.Н. Тхруни, Ц.Р. Балабекян, А.А. Вердян. Подавление роста некоторых мицелиальных грибов антимикробными. Биологический журнал Армении, 2017. 69 (1). p. 102-106.

 

Patents

  1. Israyelyan A., Tkhruni F., Arstamyan L. Consortium of Enterococcus durans P13 MDC 9635 և  Lactobacillus helveticus KG5' strains for the preparation of dairy products // RA Patent, publication is allowed, app. No. AM20190085, 2019.
  2. F.N. Tkhruni, K.J. Karapetyan, A.S. Saghyan, Ts.R. Balabekyan, T.V. Khachatryan Lactobacillus rhamnosus БТК 20-12 bacterial strain producing arginine // RA Patent No. 3273 A, 2019.
  3. F.N. Tkhruni, A.S. Saghyan, Ts.R. Balabekyan, K.J. Karapetyan, T.V. Khachatryan, A.E. Aghajanyan Lactobacillus rhamnosus БТК 20-12 bacterial strain producing Rhamn 20-12 BCN1 and  Rhamn 20-12 BCN2 bacteriocins // RA Patent No. 2924 А, 2015.
  4. A. Aghajanyan, F. Tkhruni, G. Hovhannisyan, K. Yeghyan, A. Vardanyan, A. Saghyan A method for isolation and purification of bioinhibitor product from culture liquid // RA Patent No. 2925 A, C12 1/00, 2015.

 

Abstracts Presented at Conferences

  1. Karimpour F., Tkhruni F.N.,Razavi S.H., Karapetyan K.J. The characteristic of microflora of Iranian tradicional dairy beverage. The First international Scientific-Research Conference of Iranian students. Abstract book.Yerevan -Armenia, 16-17 September, 2011, p. 150.
  2. TkhruniF.N.,Karapetyan K.J. G. Tsatryan. Comparative study of properties of lactic acid bacteria from Armenian traditional salted cheese.Antimicrobial peptide simposium AMP.  Lille, France, June, 2012,  p.64. 
  3. A.M. Isakhanyan, F.N. Tkhruni, T.V. Khachatryan, Ts.R. Balabekyan.Study of Antimicrobial Properties of Certain Yeasts.Contribution of the young generation in the development of biotechnology.2nd International Scientific Conference of Young Researchers. October 1-4, 2013, Yerevan, Armenia, pp, 63-67.
  4. K.Dj. Karapetyan, F.N. Tkhruni, A.E. Aghajanyan, A.A. Hambardzumyan,   Ts.R. Balabekyan.Purification and Characterization of Antimicrobial Substances from Lactic Acid Bacteria.Сontribution of the young generation in the development of  biotechnology. 2nd International Scientific Conference of Young Researchers. October 1-4, 2013, Yerevan, Armenia, pp. 21-26.
  5. K.J. Karapetyan, F.N. Tkhruni,Ts.R.Balabekyan. Probiotic properties of endemic strains of lactic acid bacteria from Armenian salted cheese and matsun. 2nd World Summit “Gut Microbiota for Health”. February 24-26, 2013, Madrid, Spain, p. 8.
  6. F.N. Tkhruni, G.G. Melik-Andreasyan, A.V. Tsakanyan, K.J. Karapetyan, Ts.R. Balabekyan, Yu.T. Alexanyan. Multiple-Antibiotic Resistance of pathogens and using of biologically active peptides as an alternative to antibiotics. International scientific-practical conference “Actual Questions of Epidemiology”. November 4-5, 2013,Yerevan, Armenia, p. 242-246.
  7. Melik-Andreasyan G.G., F.N.Tkhruni, A.V. Tsakanyan, K.J. Karapetyan,G.J. Khanjyan,              T.V. Khachatryan.Evaluation of antibiotic resistance of human gut microbiota pathogens.International scientific-practical conference "Modern problems of infectious pathology of human" October 31-November 1, 2013, Minsk, Belarus. v.6, p. 208-213.
  8. Tkhruni F. N.,Karapetyan K.J., Chailyan S.G.  Nature of biologicaly active substances of Lactobacillus rhamnosus.Russian Journal of Infection and Immunity.Special Issue. September 21-24. 2014.  St. Petersburg, Russian Federation. p.57-58.
  9. Isakhanyan A.,Tkhruni F.,Karapetyan K., BalabekyanTs. Study of endemic strains of lactic acid bacteria and yeast for creation of new probiotic dairy products.Trends in Microbiology and microbial biotechnology.International Scientific Workshop.October 5-8, 2014, Yerevan, Armenia, p.66.
  10. Tkhruni F. N.,BalabekyanTs.R.,Karapetyan K.J., Isakhanyan A. M. Isolation of lactic acid bacteria from local armenian dairy products.Russian Journal of Infection and Immunity.Special Issue. September 21-24, 2014. St. Petersburg, Russian Federation.  p.57.
  11. Karapetyan, K., Tkhruni, F.,Aghajanyan, A., Balabekyan, T., Arstamyan, L.Comparative Characteristics of Bacteriocins from Endemic Lactic Acid Bacteria.World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology, International Science Index, Nutrition and Food Sciences, 2015,vol. 2(7), p.372.
  12. Karapetyan K., TkhruniF.,Israyelyan A., Arstamyan L, BalabekyanTs. Comparative antimicrobial activity of metabiotics against antibiotic-resistant  human  pathogens. III International Scientific Conference of Young Researchers «Dialogues on Science», 2015, June 23-26, Yerevan, Armenia, Book of Abstracts, P. 34.
  13. Israyelyan A., Arstamyan L., Khachatryan T.,  Tkhruni F.Use of lactic acid bacteria with antimicrobial  properties for co-cultivation. III International Scientific Conference of Young Researchers «Dialogues on Science», 2015, June 23-26, Yerevan, Armenia, Book of Abstracts, P. 18.
  14. Tkhruni F.N., N. N.Yakimovich, A.Leshchyk, T.V.Khachatryan, A.M.Isakhanyan. Combined cultivation of endemic strains of lactic acid bacteria and yeast with antimicrobial properties.World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology Nutrition and Food Sciences. 2015, vol: 2 (7), p.2.
  15. IsakhanyanArmina M., Flora N. Tkhruni, Tatyana V. Khachatryan, AnaidaS.Agayan. Bactericidal activity of probiotic lactic acid bacteria isolated from Armenian Matsoni.9th Congress on Probiotics, Prebiotics & New Foods - for microbiota and human health, Nutraceuticals& Botanicals, 10 to 12 of September, Rome, Italy, 2017. p.110.
  16. Karapetyan Kristina, ArevikIsrayelyan, Elena Yermolenko,ArshaluysVerdyan,Ts. Balabekyan. Creation of new complex probiotics on the basis of endemic lactic acid bacteria.9th Congress on Probiotics, Prebiotics & New Foods - for microbiota and human health, Nutraceuticals& Botanicals, 10 to 12 of September, Rome, Italy, 2017. p. 120
  17. Karapetyan Kristina, Flora Tkhruni, Tsovinar Balabekyan, Arevik Israyelyan, Tatyana Khachatryan. Evaluation of Antimicrobial Properties of Lactic Acid Bacteria of Enterococcus Genus.World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology International Journal of Biotechnology and Bioengineering.2018. Vol.12 (3): dai:10.1999/1307-6892/78961
  18. Karapetyan K., Tkhruni F.,ChitchyanК.,BalabekyanTs., Khachatryan T.,Verdyan A. Using of Lactic Acid Bacteria for Biopreservation of Dairy Products.International Conference on Biotechnology and Health (ICBH). October 29–31, 2020, Yerevan, Armenia. P. 84-85.

 

AWARDS

  1. ARPA Institute Invention Competition Award to F. Tkhruni as an invention consultant (4th place, 2019).
  2. Acknowledgment Award to F. Tkhruni from Artsakh Scientific Center for for cooperation with Artsakh Scientific Center (2017).
  3. NAS RA Award to F. Tkhruni for outstanding contribution to science (2013).

 

Staff

Flora

Tkhruni

Leading Researcher, PhD in Biology

floratkhruni@armbiotech.am 

Tsovinar

Balabekyan

Researcher

 

tstatunts@armbiotech.am 

Tatyana

Khachatryan

Researcher