LABORATORY “GENOME DYNAMICS AND STABILITY”

Acting Leader

Assistant Professor Georgi Bonchev, PhD

Phone: +359 2 979 2678

Field of Research

The laboratory unit is engaged in research about the genetic and epigenetic mechanisms implicated in genome dynamics and functioning in eukaryotic organisms in natural and stress-induced environment.

The main research topics are:

Molecular mechanisms of DNA damage repair and tolerance to environmental stress in the genome of cultivated plants. More …
Development of chromosome and DNA markers for genome identification and assessment of natural and mutant genetic diversity in plants. More…
Molecular mechanisms of carcinogenesis. Antitumor potential of medicinal and aromatic plants. More…
Epigenetic regulation of gene expression: 1) during the ontogenetic development of eukaryotes; 2) under changes induced by extrinsic factors; 3) in human disease processes. More….

Research projects

Project BULCode Д01-271/02.10.2020 „Fostering plant biodiversity research capacity in Bulgaria through scientific excellence in DNA barcoding and metabarcoding“, National program “European Scientific Networks”, Ministry of Education and Science of Bulgaria. 2020-2022.
Budget: 957 008 leva
Coordinator: Institute of Plant Physiology and Genetics
Project Leader: Assist. Prof, Dr Georgi Bonchev
IAEA National TC Project BUL5016 „Improving the Productivity and Quality of Economically Important Crops through Mutation Breeding and Biotechnology“ 2020-2021.
Project coordinator from IPPG – BAS: Prof. Lubomir Stoilov
KP-06-H25/5 Correlation between psychosocial and epigenetic characteristics in problematic psychoactive substances use, National Science Fund of Bulgaria, Ministry of Education and Science, 2018-2021
Coordinator: Assist. Prof. Maria Krasteva, PhD
“Complex assessment of anticancer properties of medicinal plant Cotinus coggygria Scop. against human skin cancer cell lines”, contract № KP-06-М21/5, Competition for financial support for projects of junior basic researchers and postdocs – 2018-2020, Bulgarian Ministry of Education and Science, National Science Fund.
Coordinator: Assist. Prof. Zlatina Gospodinova, PhD
КП-06-Н21/8: „Mechanisms of recovery from drought and frost-induced desiccation: strategies for survival of the resurrection plant Haberlea rhodopensis“, 2018-2020.
Project coordinator: Prof. Katya Georgieva (IPPG – BAS).
National Research Program: „Healthy nutrition for a strong bioeconomy and quality of life“, 2019-2022.
Project coordinator from IPPG – BAS: Prof. Violeta Velikova.
National Research Program: „Environmental protection and reduction of the risk for adverse climate changes“, 2019-2023.
Project coordinator from IPPG – BAS: Prof. Valya Vassileva.

Scientific Publications

Research Team

Research area “DNA damage, repair and genome stability”
	Georgi Bonchev – Assistant Professor, PhD Office 106, lab. 211, 221 Phone: +359 (2) 979 2678 E-mail: bonchevg@mail.bg Professional interests: Transposable elements – structure, function and regulation. Development and application of DNA molecular markers with emphasis on transposable elements for the assessment of the natural and stress-induced genetic diversity. Population genetics, micro-evolutionary changes and ecology. Genetic bases of abiotic stress.
	Vasilissa Manova – Assistant Professor, PhD Office 106, lab. 211, 221 Phone: +359 (2) 974 2678 E-mail: vmanova@bas.bg Professional interests: Molecular mechanisms of DNA damage response in plants: Genomic and gene-specific DNA repair in barley; Gene expression profiling of barley under genotoxic stress (UV radiation, environmental pollution, etc.). Molecular detection and characterization of fungal pathogens in crop plants.
	Irina Boycheva – Assistant, PhD Оffice 117, lab. 211, 221 Phone: +359 (2) 979 2689 e-mail: irina_boycheva@bio21.bas.bg Professional interests: Molecular mechanisms of DNA damage response in plants: Genomic and gene-specific DNA repair in barley; Chromatin modifications; Molecular characterization and detection of fungal pathogens in crops.
	Ivelina Nikolova – Research Scientist Lab. 322 A Phone: +359 (2) 979 3673 E-mail: ivahilator@abv.bg Professional interests: DNA damages and repair; Molecular-cytogenetics characterization of plant species; DNA markers and fluorescent in situ hybridization; Position-specific effects in barley chromosomes; Chromosome abberations; Abiotic stress; Statistical analyses.
	Ilija Nikolov – Research Scientist Lab. 322 A Phone: +359 (2) 979 3673 E-mail: ilija_nik@mail.bg Professional interests: Molecular markers; Bioinformatics and computer technologies.
Research area “Molecular mechanisms of carcinogenesis. Antitumor potential of medicinal and aromatic plants”
	Zlatina Gospodinova – Assistant Professor, PhD Office 234 (Build. 23), lab. 211, 221 Phone: +359 (2) 979 2617 E-mail: zlatina.go@abv.bg Professional interests: Antitumor activity and pharmacological potential of medicinal and aromatic plants; Molecular mechanisms of antitumor effect; Genetic and epigenetic mechanisms of carcinogenesi.
	Georgi Antov – Assistant Professor, PhD Office 234 (Build. 23), lab. 211, 221 Phone: (+359 2) 979 2617 E-mail: antov8107@abv.bg Professional interests: Genetic and epigenetic mechanisms in carcinogenesis; Antitumor potential of medicinal and aromatic plants; Nutrigenetics.
Research area “Epigenetics”
	Maria Krasteva – Assistant Professor, PhD Office 106, lab. 211, 221 Тел.: +359 (2) 979 2678 E-mail: maria_krasteva@abv.bg Professional interests: Biomedicine; Biopsychosocial aspects of human disease; Molecular mechanisms in disease process; Epigenetics; Epigenetics and adaptation; Correlation between psychosocial and epigenetic characteristics in problematic psychoactive substances use.
	Teodora Taseva – Assistant Professor, PhD Office 109, lab. 211, 221 Тел: +359 (2) 973 2690 Е-mail: tasevatk@bio21.bas.bg Professional interests: Molecular genetics, Epigenetic regulation of gene expression, DNA methylation, de novo and maintaining DNA methyltransferases, imprinted genes, studies on the effects of substances on obesity in animals, embryonic development, statistics models of mediation and moderation.
	Yana Koicheva – Research Scientist, PhD student Office 234 (Build. 23), lab. 211, 221 Phone: +359 (2) 979 2617 E-mail: yana.koicheva@gmail.com Professional interests: Epigenetic mechanisms of programming and reprogramming of the genome in eukaryotic organisms; Mechanisms of regulation of imprinted genes; Epigenetic changes in mouse parthenogenesis.
	Stiliana Simeonova – Research Scientist, bachelor student Office 234 (Build. 23), lab. 211, 221 Phone: +359 (2) 979 2617 E-mail: steli_sim@abv.bg Professional interests: Expression of target genes in psychoactive substance use disorder.