Department of Medical Biology

Academic Staff, Department of Medical Biology, MU-Plovdiv

Contacts

e-mail: [email protected]
Телефони : +359 32 200 671; +359 32 200 673

Education

Instructions for Biology exam for Pharmacy students

Academic standards

Academic standart for the discipline Human Biology (Medicine), Human Biology and Genetics (Dental Medicine) and Biology (Medical College)
Academic standart for the discipline Biology (Pharmacy)

Programs

Syllabus

Annotation

The discipline Human Biology allows students to acquire knowledge and skills in the following basic biological concepts:

•Molecular foundations of life – biological macromolecules
•Realization of genetic information
•Genetic code
•Organization of the genetic material in the cell
•Karyotype
•Heredity and variability
•Human hereditary diseases
•Genetic engineering
•Biology of the cell
•Reproduction
•Individual development
•Immunological homeostasis
•Population genetics
•Theory of evolution
•Molecular evolution
•Interactions between organisms in biocenosis
•Human interactions with nature environment

Course objectives

The objective of the Human Biology course is to develop:

1. The understanding that living systems, including humans, have hierarchically ordered levels of organization with their own specificity and rules that determine biological features and functions.

2. The notion that humans, as a product of biological evolution, are ecologically connected to the development of nature and of the biosphere as a whole.

3. The ability to apply biological rules as scientific theory and methodology of medicine.

4. Practical skills and knowledge of basic biological techniques with medical application.

Course tasks

Proficiency in the most important properties and manifestations of the organismal world and humans in particular:

molecular and cellular basis of life;

heredity and variability;

reproduction and individual development of organisms;

immunological homeostasis;

biology and genetics of populations;

morphology and biological cycle of medically important parasites.

Obligatory competencies

1.Theoretical knowledge – mastering and analysis of:

•hierarchical levels and structural organization of the human organism (molecular, cellular and systemic)
•genetic structures and processes of transfer of genetic and epigenetic information
•mechanisms of immunological homeostasis
•ontogenesis and phylogenesis

2. Practical skills:

•preparation of temporary and permanent microscopic slides
•light microscopy
•karyotyping
•genetic cases
•basic immunological reactions
•blood typing
•basic molecular biology methods
•basic cellular biology methods
•fingerprinting and dermatoglyphics
•populational variation analysis

Elective course „Biology of Parasites“ – winter term; 15 hours; 1 credit

Example tests: Y. Feodorova, M. Kazakova, V. Alexandrov, N. Mehterov. V. Sarafian. Editor V. Sarafian. Tests in Medical Biology, ISBN 978-619-7085-88-4, Plovdiv, 2017

Information

Academic Staff

Prof. Maria Kazakova, PhD – Head of Department

Phone:032 200 677

e-mail: [email protected]

Prof. Victoria Sarafian, MD, PhD, DMSc

Phone: 032 200 670

e-mail: [email protected]
e-mail: [email protected]

Associate Professor Nikolai Mehterov, PhD

Phone: 032 200 675

e-mail: [email protected]

Professor Denitsa Docheva, PhD -Guest Professor

Department of Musculoskeletal Tissue Regeneration
Orthopaedic Hospital König-Ludwig-Haus
& University of Wuerzburg, Germany

e-mail: [email protected]

Chief Assistant Professor Milena Draganova, PhD – Responsible for quality control

Phone: 032 200 676

e-mail: [email protected]

Chief Assistant Professor Yana Feodorova, PhD – Responsible for

Phone: 032 200 672

e-mail: [email protected]

Chief Assistant Professor Yordan Sbikov, PhD – Responsible for International Cooperation and Project Activity

Phone: 032 200 672

e-mail: [email protected]

Chief Assistant Professor Maria Gevezova, PhD – Responsible for teaching activities

Phone: 032 200 675

e-mail: [email protected]

Assistant Professor Tsvetomira Ivanova, PhD

Phone: 032 200 676
e-mail:[email protected]

Assistant Professor Eleonora Kovacheva, PhD – Responsible for research activities

Phone: 032 200 672
e-mail: [email protected]

Bozhidar Vergov, MD – PhD student

Тел: 032 200 675
e-mail: [email protected]

Toma Tsvetanov – Bioinformatician, researcher at RIMU

Тел: 032 200 673
e-mail: [email protected]

Valentina Mihaylova, MSc – PhD student, Responsible for Distant learning

Phone: 032 200 671

e-mail: [email protected]

Technical staff

Valentin Dichev, PhD – Biologist

Тел: 032 200671
e-mail: [email protected]

Tatyana Todorova, MSc – Biologist

Phone: 032 200 671

e-mail: [email protected]

Tatyana Damyanova, MSc – Biologist

Phone: 032 200 671

e-mail: [email protected]

Elitsa Tanova, MSc – Chemist

Phone: 032 200 671

e-mail: [email protected]

Kalinka Nikolova – Technical Assistance

Phone: 032 200 673

e-mail: [email protected]
e-mail: [email protected]

Pavlina Slavova – Sanitary staff

Тел: 032 200 674
e-mail: [email protected]

Nedka Lambreva – Sanitary staff

Тел: 032 200 674
e-mail: [email protected]

Research

The present research topics in the Department of Medical Biology are connected with:
• Investigation of the cellular mechanisms of proliferation and apoptosis.
• Expression of different antigens (blood group, lysosomals and galectins) in tumor cell lines and in human tumors.
• Effects of natural and synthetic substances on the induction of immune response and cytokine secretion in vitro.
• Effects of biological and synthetic preparations on cell cultures in vitro.
• New disease biomarkers in tumorogenesis.
• Expression profiles i human diseases personalized molecular medicine.

There are four research laboratories in the Department of Medical Biology equipped for experimental and diagnostic work in the field of cell and molecular biology and fundamental and clinical immunology.

The Cell Biology laboratory provides oppоrtunity for cell and tissue cultivation and in vitro examination of the effect of different substances on lymphocyte cultures and cell lines. Laminar box, CO2-incubator, inverted microscope, digital microscope techнology are the basic technical equipment of this laboratory.

The Immunology Laboratory is specialized in immunoenzyme and immunocyto- and histochemistry analysises. There are: ELISA-reader, cryo and paraffin microtome, refrigerating centrifuges, immunoblot and immuno electrophoresis apparatus, fluorescent microscope.

Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Genetics has new equipment: Real-time PCR suitable for diagnostics, Two conventional PCR blocks, Cold and regular centrifuge, Ependorf tube heat incubator, Vortex, Nano-drop spectrophotometer, UV/ visible gel detection systems, Ice machines, Ultra-pure water system, DNA, RNA and protein gel electrophoresis systems, Protein blotting system, Laminar hood, -80 and -20 freezers.

The 3D bioprinting laboratory at the Department of Medical Biologyis equipped with all necessary facilities, tools and expertise in order to carry out quality research at the forefront of tissue engineering. The research unit boasts the first extrusion-based 3D bioprinter in the region, fully equipped cell culture labs, specialised instruments for live cell analysis, a histology section and others that provide the opportunity to create innovative 3D bioprinted tissue models to study diseases like cancer or degenerative or inflammatory conditions, to perform drug testing studies and to facilitate the advancement of personalised medicine.

The department took part in a number of projects. We have collaborators from Bulgaria, Belgium, Italy,Germany. There is a closele colaboration with scientists from the Institude of Molecular Biology, BAS, Sofia; Universuty of Plovdiv ,Paissii Hilendarsky‘; Thracian University‘ – Stara Zagora; Medical University-Sofia; National Centre of infectious and Parasitic Diseases – Sofia.
International collaboration is set with researchers from University Campus BioMedico, Rome, Italy; N. Copernicus University, Poland; University of Namur, Belgium; University of Munich, Germany; Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich, Switzerland; University of Groningen, The Netherlands; Max- Planck Institute, Potsdam, Germany, Istituto Regina Elena – Istituti Fisioterapici Ospitalieri, Rome, Italy; Scientific Center for Functional Genomics, Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, Cluj-Napoca, Romania, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece

The department is a training center for two accredited doctoral programs “Immunology” and “Medical Biology”.

Textbooks

Bios instant notes. Molecular Biology by A. McLennan, A. Bates, P. Turner, M. White. 2013, 4th edition, Garland Science, Taylor & Francis Group.
Bios instant notes. Immunology by P. Lydyard, A. Whelan, M. Fanger. 2003, 3rd edition, Garland Science, Taylor & Francis Group.
Basic Immunology: Functions and Disorders of the Immune System by A. K. Abbas, A.H. Lichtman, Shiv Pillai. 2012, 4th edition, Elsevier.
Human Biology by C. Starr and B. McMillan B. 2014, 10th edition, BOOKS/COLE.
Paniker’s Textbook of Medical Parasitology by C. K. Jayaram Paniker. 2013; 7th edition.
V. Sarafian, M. Kazakova, M. Draganova, N. Mehterov. Practical book Medical Biology for students in Medicine and Dental medicine, 3-rd edition, Plovdiv, 2020
V. Alexandrov, Y. Feodorova, M. Filipova, M. Kazakova, N. Mehterov, V. Sarafian. Parasitology Manual for first year students in Medicine and Dental medicine, Plovdiv, 2020.
M. Kazakova, M. Draganova-Filipova, V. Alexandrov, V. Sarafian. Parasitology microscopic Practical Course for first year students in medicine and dental medicine. Edited by Prof. V. Sarafian, MD, PhD, DMedSci, – electronic version – CD, Plovdiv, 2015.
Y. Feodorova, M. Kazakova, V. Alexandrov, N. Mehterov, V. Sarafian. Editor: V. Sarafian. Tests in medical biology. Plovdiv, 2017.

Publications

The results of our studies have been published in international journals such as Int J Cancer, Acta Pathol Microbiol Immunol Scand, Transpl Proceedings, Int Rheumatology, Arch Med Res, Acta Biologica, Acta Zoologica, J Mol Histol, Folia Biologica, Cytotechnology, Open J Animal Sci, Arch Dermatol Research, Plant Physiol Biochem, Biotechnology Advances, Methods in Enzymology, Plant Physiology Biochemistry, Cell Biol Toxicol, Am J Clinical Pathol, BBI-health, Pharmaceutics, Biomolecules, Front Oncol, Nat Cell Biol, etc. and have been cited thousands of times.