Ester Francija Žerajić

E-mail: star@vinca.rs
Phone: +381 11 3408 304
ORCID: 0000-0002-5599-647X

  • PhD: Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, 2023.
    Title: "The role of GluN2A subunit of NMDA receptor in synaptogenesis and depressive like behaviour in an animal model of neuroinflammation"

    MSc: Reproductive Biology – Embryology, University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences and Medical Faculty, 2016.
    Title: “Infertility as a cause of polycystic ovarian syndrome”

    MSc: Biology, University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, 2016.
    Title: “Effect of cypermethrin on CYP1A1/2 enzyme activity, mitochondrial metabolites activity, and survival of rat and fish hepatoma cells”

    BSc: Biology, University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, 2012.

  • Research fields

    experimental neurobiology, behavioral biology, molecular biology, molecular psychiatry

    Selected publications

    1. Brkic Z, Francija E, Petrovic Z, Franic D, Lukic I, Mitic M and Adzic M. (2017) Distinct modifications of hippocampal glucocorticoid receptor phosphorylation and FKBPs by lipopolysaccharide in depressive female and male rats. J. Psychopharmacol 31(9): 1234-1249.
    1. Francija E, Petrovic Z, Brkic Z, Mitic M, Radulovic J, Adzic. (2019) Disruption of the NMDA receptor GluN2A subunit abolishes inflammationinduced depression. Behav Brain Res, 10.1016/j.bbr.2018.10.011.
    1. Adzic M, Glavonic E, Nesic MJ, Milosavljevic M, Mihaljevic M, Petrovic Z, Pavlovic Z, Brkic Z, Francija E, Soldatovic I, Mitic M, Radulovic J, Maric NP. (2018) Glucocorticoid receptor alpha translational isoforms as mediators of early adversities and negative emotional states. Prog. Neuro-Psychopharmacol. Biol. Psychiatry, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pnpbp.2018.12.011.
    1. Adzic M, Brkic Z, Mitic M, Francija E, Jovicic MJ, Radulovic J, Maric NP. (2018) Therapeutic strategies for treatment of inflammation-related depression. Curr Neuropharmacol 16(2):176-209.
    1. Francija E, Lukic I, Petrovic Z, Brkic Z, Mitic M, Radulovic J, Adzic M. (2021 ) GluN2A-ERK-mTOR pathway confers a vulnerability to LPS-induced depressive-like behaviour. Behav Brain Res 24;417:113625. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2021.113625