Dr. Eszter Andrea Virág is a Hungarian biologist and senior researcher specializing in microbiology, plant science, and bioinformatics. She earned her PhD in Biology from the University of Pécs, focusing on antibiotic mechanisms, and later expanded her expertise with a degree in Computer Science Operational Engineering. With over 15 years of research experience, she has held key academic and leadership roles, including Scientific Director at the Research Institute of Medicinal Plants and Herbs and Senior Research Fellow at the University of Debrecen. Dr. Virág has led government-funded projects on plant-based pesticides, supervised numerous MSc and PhD students, and taught a wide range of courses across Hungarian universities. Her interdisciplinary approach bridges biology and computational science, contributing significantly to sustainable agriculture and environmental research. She is a recipient of several prestigious national awards and is an active member of scientific committees, reflecting her impact on Hungary’s research and academic landscape.
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Dr. Eszter Virág holds a PhD in Biology from the University of Pécs, Hungary, awarded in 2012. Her doctoral research focused on the mechanism of action of the antibiotic primycin, demonstrating her foundational expertise in microbiology and antibiotic studies. She also earned a biology degree from the same university in 2008, where her thesis examined the effects of capsaicin on human platelets and yeast cell membranes. Recognizing the growing importance of computational methods in biology, she pursued further education in Computer Science Operational Engineering at the University of Pannonia, completing her absolutorium in 2022. Her thesis in this field addressed the integration of command-line bioinformatics tools with user-friendly graphical interfaces for agricultural and biological applications. Dr. Virág has also participated in several postgraduate training programs, including courses on next-generation sequencing, fluorescence sensing, and bioinformatics education, underlining her commitment to continuous learning and her multidisciplinary capabilities in life sciences and informatics.
Dr. Eszter Virág’s professional journey spans research, leadership, and academia. She currently serves as a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Debrecen’s Institute of ‘One Health’, where she contributes to interdisciplinary studies combining human, animal, and environmental health. Since 2018, she has been the Scientific Director of the Research Institute of Medicinal Plants and Herbs, where she leads research on plant-based bioactive compounds and their agricultural applications. Her previous roles include Senior Research Fellow at the University of Pannonia’s Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology (2014–2021) and Postdoctoral Fellow at the Department of Biochemistry, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Ukraine. Early in her career, she worked as a pharmaceutical researcher at PannonPharma Ltd. Her experience encompasses scientific project management, research supervision, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Dr. Virág’s broad professional background demonstrates her ability to lead innovative research initiatives across both academic and applied science settings.
Dr. Virág’s research interests lie at the intersection of microbiology, plant science, and bioinformatics. She focuses on the genomic and transcriptomic analysis of plants, particularly in exploring the biological activities and nanoformulations of botanical extracts for agricultural and therapeutic use. Her work in developing plant-based pesticides aligns with the global movement toward sustainable farming. In the field of microbiology, she has investigated the effects of natural compounds on microbial communities and cell membrane dynamics. She is also actively involved in soil metagenomics, studying microbial biodiversity and function in various ecological contexts. Dr. Virág’s bioinformatics expertise supports the integration of large-scale biological data into practical solutions, particularly in agro-IT applications. Her multidisciplinary approach bridges laboratory science and computational analysis, making her research both cutting-edge and highly relevant to current challenges in agriculture, environmental protection, and public health. Her ability to combine wet lab and in silico methods enhances the impact and scope of her scientific contributions.
Dr. Eszter Virág has received several prestigious recognitions for her research contributions. Notably, she was awarded the Mayor’s Fellowship of the city of Pécs in 2011 for outstanding research achievements. She later secured the Hungarian Academy of Sciences’ (MTA) Postdoctoral Fellowship for 2014–2016, reflecting her early promise and excellence in scientific investigation. She is a two-time recipient of the ÚNKP New National Excellence Program fellowship, awarded in 2016 and 2017, which supports top-performing Hungarian researchers. In 2017, she was honored as the Young Scientist of the Year by the Georgikon Faculty at Pannon University, acknowledging her research leadership and academic mentorship. In addition to these accolades, Dr. Virág is an active member of national scientific bodies, including the MTA Interdepartmental Scientific Committee on Bioinformatics and the Association of Hungarian Geneticists. These honors collectively underscore her national standing as a respected researcher and educator in Hungary’s scientific community.
Dr. Eszter Virág is an accomplished interdisciplinary researcher whose career blends biology, bioinformatics, and agricultural science. With a PhD in Biology and additional qualifications in computer science, she brings a holistic and forward-thinking perspective to her research. Her professional experience includes leadership roles in both academic institutions and applied research centers, where she has managed national projects and mentored students at various levels. Her scientific contributions—ranging from antibiotic mechanisms to plant-based pesticide development and genomic analysis—reflect a commitment to sustainability, innovation, and scientific rigor. She has earned multiple fellowships and awards that affirm her impact and recognition within the Hungarian research community. Dr. Virág’s ability to translate complex scientific knowledge into practical applications and her dedication to mentoring future researchers make her a strong candidate for recognition such as the Best Researcher Award. Her work continues to contribute meaningfully to the advancement of environmental and biological sciences.
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Title: Different expression pattern of flowering pathway genes contribute to male or female organ development during floral transition in the monoecious weed Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.
Authors: KK Mátyás, G Hegedűs, J Taller, E Farkas, K Decsi, B Kutasy, N Kálmán, …
Year: 2019
Citations: 26
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Title: tert‐Butyl hydroperoxide‐induced differing plasma membrane and oxidative stress processes in yeast strains BY4741 and erg5Δ
Authors: Z Gazdag, G Máté, M Čertik, K Türmer, E Virág, I Pócsi, M Pesti
Year: 2014
Citations: 20
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Title: Direct in vivo interaction of the antibiotic primycin with the plasma membrane of Candida albicans: an EPR study
Authors: E Virág, J Belagyi, Z Gazdag, C Vágvölgyi, M Pesti
Year: 2012
Citations: 18
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Title: Transcriptome datasets of β-Aminobutyric acid (BABA)-primed mono- and dicotyledonous plants, Hordeum vulgare and Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: G Hegedűs, Á Nagy, K Decsi, B Kutasy, E Virág
Year: 2022
Citations: 17
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Title: Complex formation between primycin and ergosterol: Entropy–driven initiation of modification of the fungal plasma membrane structure
Authors: E Virág, M Pesti, S Kunsági-Máté
Year: 2012
Citations: 15
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Title: Characterization of β-lactamases and multidrug resistance mechanisms in Enterobacterales from hospital effluents and wastewater treatment plant
Authors: C Mutuku, S Melegh, K Kovacs, P Urban, E Virág, R Heninger, R Herczeg, …
Year: 2022
Citations: 14
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Title: Illumina sequencing of the chloroplast genome of common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.)
Authors: E Nagy, G Hegedűs, J Taller, B Kutasy, E Virág
Year: 2017
Citations: 13
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Title: Competitive hydrogen bonds associated with the effect of primycin antibiotic on oleic acid as a building block of plasma membranes
Authors: E Virág, M Pesti, S Kunsági-Máté
Year: 2010
Citations: 13
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Title: In vivo direct interaction of the antibiotic primycin on a Candida albicans clinical isolate and its ergosterol-less mutant
Authors: E Virág, Á Juhász, R Kardos, Z Gazdag, G Papp, Á Pénzes, M Nyitrai, …
Year: 2012
Citations: 12
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Title: Illumina Sequencing of Common (Short) Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.) Reproductive Organs and Leaves
Authors: E Virág, G Hegedűs, E Barta, E Nagy, K Mátyás, B Kolics, J Taller
Year: 2016
Citations: 11
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Title: Antifungal activity of the primycin complex and its main components A1, A2 and C1 on a Candida albicans clinical isolate, and their effects on the dynamic plasma membrane changes
Authors: E Virág, J Belagyi, S Kocsubé, C Vágvölgyi, M Pesti
Year: 2013
Citations: 11
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Title: Liposomal Formulation of Botanical Extracts may Enhance Yield Triggering PR Genes and Phenylpropanoid Pathway in Barley (Hordeum vulgare)
Authors: G Hegedűs, B Kutasy, M Kiniczky, K Decsi, Á Juhász, Á Nagy, JP Pallos, …
Year: 2022
Citations: 10
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Title: RNA-seq datasets of field soybean cultures conditioned by Elice16Indures® biostimulator
Authors: K Decsi, B Kutasy, M Kiniczky, G Hegedűs, E Virág
Year: 2022
Citations: 10
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Title: Detection of target-site herbicide resistance in the common ragweed: nucleotide polymorphism genotyping by targeted amplicon sequencing
Authors: B Kutasy, Z Farkas, B Kolics, K Decsi, G Hegedűs, J Kovács, J Taller, …
Year: 2021
Citations: 9
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Title: Natural immunity stimulation using ELICE16INDURES® plant conditioner in field culture of soybean
Authors: K Decsi, B Kutasy, G Hegedűs, ZP Alföldi, N Kálmán, Á Nagy, E Virág
Year: 2023
Citations: 7
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Title: Supplementation of the Plant Conditioner ELICE Vakcina® Product with β-Aminobutyric Acid and Salicylic Acid May Lead to Trans-Priming Signaling in Barley (Hordeum vulgare)
Authors: E Virág, M Kiniczky, B Kutasy, Á Nagy, JP Pallos, L Laczkó, C Freytag, …
Year: 2023
Citations: 6
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Title: Time-course gene expression profiling data of Triticum aestivum treated by supercritical CO2 garlic extract encapsulated in nanoscale liposomes
Authors: B Kutasy, K Decsi, M Kiniczky, G Hegedűs, E Virág
Year: 2022
Citations: 6