LABORATORY “GENOME DYNAMICS AND STABILITY”

Acting Leader

Associate Professor Georgi Bonchev, PhD

Building 21, Office 106
Phone: +359 2 979 2678;
Е-mail: georgi.bonchev71@gmail.com

Field of Research

The laboratory unit is engaged in fundamental and applied research addressing various topics on genetic and epigenetic mechanisms implicated in genome dynamics and functioning in eukaryotic organisms in natural and stress-induced environment.

The main research areas in the laboratory are:

Molecular mechanisms of DNA damage repair and tolerance to environmental stress in the genome of cultivated plants.
Development of chromosome and DNA markers for genome identification and assessment of natural and mutant genetic diversity in plants.
Molecular mechanisms of carcinogenesis. Antitumor potential of medicinal and aromatic plants.
Epigenetic regulation of gene expression.

Ongoing Research Projects

Research Topics

Scientific Publications

Lab facilities

The unit has in possession two main laboratories for high-throughput research in molecular genetics (lab. 211 and 221). Another one lab is at the stage of preparation for entering into functionning (lab. 514).

Laboratory 211

Laboratory 221

Laboratory 514

Research Team

	Georgi Bonchev – Associate Professor, PhD Building 21, Office 106, Lab. 211, 221 Phone: +359 (2) 979 2678 E-mail: georgi.bonchev71@gmail.com Professional interests: DNA molecular markers, DNA barcoding; 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.
	Vasilissa Manova – Assistant Professor, PhD Building 21, 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; DNA barcoding and metabarcoding of plants and fungi.
	Irina Boycheva – Assistant Professor, PhD Building 21, Оffice 117, Lab. 211, 221 Phone: +359 (2) 979 2689 e-mail: irina_boycheva@bio21.bas.bg Professional interests: DNA barcoding and metabarcoding – plants, algae, fungi, databasing, epigenetics; regulation of gene expression; functional and comparative genomics in model plants.
	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.
	Ivelina Nikolova – Researcher, MSc Building 25, Lab. 322 A Phone: +359 (2) 979 3673 E-mail: ivahilator@abv.bg Professional interests: DNA barcoding of plants and fungi; DNA damages and repair; Molecular-cytogenetics characterization of plant species; DNA markers and fluorescent in situ hybridization; Position-specific effects in barley chromosomes; Chromosome aberrations; Abiotic stress; Statistical analyses.
	Ilija Nikolov – Researcher, MSc Building 25, Lab. 322 A Phone: +359 (2) 979 3673 E-mail: ilija_nik@mail.bg Professional interests: Molecular markers; Bioinformatics and computer technologies.
	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.
	Teodora Taseva – Assistant Professor, PhD Building 21, 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 – Researcher, MSc 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.
	Svetozar Stoychev- Researcher, PhD Building 21, Office 307, lab. 211, 221 Phone: +359 (2) 979 2628 E-mail: thylakoid85@gmail.com Professional interests: Biomedicine; Antitumor properties and molecular mechanisms of action of natural and synthetic products.