Department of Medical Biology

Academic Staff

Prof. Maria Kazakova, PhD – Head of Department

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]

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

Phone: 032 200 676

e-mail: [email protected]

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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]

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

Phone: 032 200 675

e-mail: [email protected]

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Assistant Professor Tsvetomira Ivanova, PhD

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

Assistant Professor Tsvetomira Ivanova, PhD

Assistant Professor Eleonora Kovacheva, PhD – Responsible for research activities

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

Bozhidar Vergov, MD – PhD student

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

Toma Tsvetanov – Bioinformatician, researcher at RIMU

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

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

Technical staff

Valentin Dichev, PhD – Biologist

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

Tatyana Todorova, MSc – Biologist

Tatyana Damyanova, MSc – Biologist

Elitsa Tanova, MSc – Chemist

Kalinka Nikolova – Technical Assistance

Phone: 032 200 673

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

Pavlina Slavova – Sanitary staff

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

1. Bios instant notes. Molecular Biology by A. McLennan, A. Bates, P. Turner, M. White. 2013, 4th edition, Garland Science, Taylor & Francis Group.
2. Bios instant notes. Immunology by P. Lydyard, A. Whelan, M. Fanger. 2003, 3rd edition, Garland Science, Taylor & Francis Group.
3. Basic Immunology: Functions and Disorders of the Immune System by A. K. Abbas, A.H. Lichtman, Shiv Pillai. 2012, 4th edition, Elsevier.
4. Human Biology by C. Starr and B. McMillan B. 2014, 10th edition, BOOKS/COLE.
5. Paniker’s Textbook of Medical Parasitology by C. K. Jayaram Paniker. 2013; 7th edition.
6. V. Sarafian, M. Kazakova, M. Draganova, N. Mehterov. Practical book Medical Biology for students in Medicine and Dental medicine, 3-rd edition, Plovdiv, 2020
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.

Monographs

Galleries

Dissertations

Dissertations defended in the Department of Medical Biology

PhD-Dissertations:

Dissertation for the degree “Doctor of Medical Sciences”: