Biomacromolecules and Biomolecular Interactions

Head of Department

Prof. Sashka Krumova, PhD

  • E-mail: sashka.b.krumova@gmail.com
  • Phone: 02 979 2608
  • Address: “Acad. G. Bonchev” Str., Block 21, Room 218,
    Sofia 1113, Bulgaria

Staff

Main research topics

See detailed information >

  • Thermal stability of proteins and complex biological systems. Application of the thermodynamic approach in biomedicine – microcalorimetric screening of serum proteome and erythrocytes in various pathologies
  • Nanomechanical and morphological properties of platelets and erythrocytes as biophysical markers for pathologies
  • Structural organization of pigment-protein complexes and photosynthetic membranes in higher plants and cyanobacteria, factors modulating their conformation, integrity and function
  • Interaction of new carbon-based materials with biological molecules and membranes
  • Biofunctionalization of hard surfaces and optimization of their biocompatibility for medical applications

Research projects

Current projects

Infrastructure projects

  • Research Infrastructure for Advanced Studies of Biomolecules, Biomembranes and Biosignals (BioMMS)
    Д01-398/18.12.2020, MES,
    Leader: Prof. T. Pencheva
  • National Centre on Biomedical Photonics,
    Leader: Prof. Lachezar Avramov, Coordinator for IBPhBME: Prof. Galia Staneva

Scientific projects

  • Modifications in the morphometric, nanomechanical and thermodynamic parameters of peripheral blood cells – a source of new diagnostic markers for neurodegenerative diseases, КП-05-Н31/8
    National Science Fund
    Coordinator: Prof. Stefka Taneva
  • Exploring the interactions between innovative nanomaterials and higher plants – basis for development of sustainable nanoagronomic practices, КП-06-Н36/8, 2019-2022
    National Science Fund
    Coordinator: Prof. Sashka Krumova
    Presentation (7172 Kb, pptx)
  • New biophysical markers for diagnosis of abnormalities in the coagulation system during pregnancy in high risk,
    Institute of Biophysics and Biomedical Engineering, KP-06-Н21/4, 18.12.2018
    Coordinator: Assoc. Prof. Svetla Todinova
    Presentation (in Bulgarian, 13 205 Kb, pptx)
  • Construction of hybrid biodegradable microcapsules with controlled properties for use in biomedicine, КP-06-M21/4, 12.12.2018
    National Science Fund
    Coordinator: Sen. Assist. Svetozar Stoichev
    Presentation (in Bulgarian, 2444 Kb, ppt)

Past projects

  • Project for future career development of Sen. Assist. Prof. Avgustina Danailova, National Research Programme “Young scientists and postdoctoral students” of the Bulgarian Ministry of Education and Science, Module: Young Scientists, 2020-2021
  • Project for future career development of Assist. Prof. Maria Ganova, National Research Programme “Young scientists and postdoctoral students” of the Bulgarian Ministry of Education and Science, Module: Young Scientists, 2020-2021
  • Project for future career development of Sen. Assist. Prof. Nia Petrova, National Research Programme “Young scientists and postdoctoral students” of the Bulgarian Ministry of Education and Science, Module: Young Scientists, 2020-2021
  • Thin biocompatible hybrid coatings for protein and cell/surface interactions
    Institute of Biophysics, Biological Research Center, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Hungary, Bilateral cooperation – 2019-2021
    Coordinator: Prof. Stefka Taneva
  • Role of photosystem II ordering in thylakoid membranes of higher plants for their resistance towards drought stress, ДФНП-17-138, 2017
    Coordinator:Assist. Prof. Nia Petrova
  • Calorimetric Plasma Proteome Assay for Early Diagnosis of Malignant Diseases. In vivo experimental models of colorectal carcinoma, ДФНП 17-133/2017
    Coordinator:PhD student Avgustina Danailova
  • Evaluation of the effect of autologous stem cell transplantation on the status of patients with multiple myeloma by microcalorimetry, project № ДФНП 140/2016
    PhD student Avgustina Danailova
  • Optimizing the biocompatibility of polyelectrolyte multilayer coatings made of hyaluronic acid and chitosan by introducing graphene oxide into the polymer matrix, project ДФНП 139/2016
    Аssist. Prof. Svetozar Stoichev
  • Human erythrocyte’s ageing in healthy and pathological subjects, studied by differential scanning calorimetry, atomic force microscopy and biochemical patterns
    Italy, Institute for the Structure of Matter, Italian National Research Council, Rome, Italy, Bilateral cooperation – 2016-2018
    Coordinator: Prof. Stefka Taneva
  • Factors modulating the structural organization, stability and oxidative stress resistance of cyanobacterial thylakoid membranes
    Institute of Plant Biology, Biological Research Center, Hungarian Academy of Sciences Hungary
    Bilateral cooperation – 2016-2018
    Coordinator: Assoc. Prof. Sashka Krumova
  • Surface biofunctunalization of solid surfaces for bioelectronic applications,
    Institute of Biophysics, Biological Research Center, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Hungary, Bilateral cooperation – 2016-2018
    Coordinator: Prof. Stefka Taneva
  • Optimized polyelectrolyte multilayer coatings for biofunctionalization of coronary stents
    2014-2016 National Science Fund, № ДНТС 01/9
    Project leader: Prof. Stefka G. Taneva
    Collaborator: NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany

Collaborations

National collaboration

  • National Specialized Hospital for Hematologic Diseases, Sofia
  • University Specialized Oncology Hospital, Sofia
  • Multiprofile hospital for active treatment in neurology and psychiatry “St. Naum”
  • Specialized Hospital for Active Treatment in Obstetrics and Gynecology “Maichin Dom”
  • Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”
  • Institute of Plant Physiology and Genetics, BAS
  • Institute of Organic Chemistry with Centre of Phytochemistry, BAS
  • Institute of Polymers, BAS
  • Medical University – Pleven

International collaboration

  • Biological Research Center, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Seged, Hungary
  • NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
  • Italian National Research Council, Institute of Structure of Matter, Rome, Italy

Lecture courses

  • Photosynthetic membranes. Approaches for structural an functional analysis – specialized course for PhD students, certified by the PhD Training Center – BAS; lecturer: Prof. S. Krumova
  • Model membranes – seminar series and laboratory exercises for master students, Faculty of Biology, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”
  • Biophysics – laboratory exercises for master students, Faculty of Biology, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”

Selected publications (last 5 years)

  1. Taneva S.G., Krumova S., Bogár F., Kincses A., Stoichev S., Todinova S., Danailova A., Horváth J., Násztor Z., Kelemen L., Dér A., Insights into graphene oxide interaction with human serum albumin in isolated state and in blood plasma, International Journal of Biological Macromolecules 2021, 175, 19-29.
    https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0141813021001938?via%3Dihub
  2. Velikova V., Petrova N., Kovács L., Petrova A., Koleva D., Tsonev T., Taneva S., Petrov P, Krumova S., Single-Walled carbon nanotubes modify leaf micromorphology, chloroplast ultrastructure and photosynthetic activity of pea plants, International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2021, 22(9), 4878
    https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22094878
  3. Langari A., Danailova A., Krumova S., Komsa-Penkova R., Golemanov G., Giosheva I., Gartchev E., Taneva S.G., Todinova S., Aging-related changes in the calorimetric profile of red blood cells from women with miscarriages, Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry 2020, 142, 1919–1926
    https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10973-020-10112-3
  4. Krumova S., Balansky R., Danailova A., Ganchev G., Djongov L., Gartcheva L., Taneva S.G., Todinova S., Calorimetric assay to follow colorectal cancer development in experimental rat models, Thermochimica Acta 2020, 691, 178723
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tca.2020.178723
  5. Dlouhý O., Kurasová I., Karlický V., Javornik U., Šket P., Petrova N.Z., Krumova S.B., Plavec J., Ughy B., Špunda V., Garab G., Modulation of non-bilayer lipid phases and the structure and functions of thylakoid membranes: effects on the water-soluble enzyme violaxanthin de-epoxidase, Scientific Reports 2020, 10, 11959
    https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-68854-x
  6. Vajravel S., Laczkó-Dobos H., Petrova N., Herman Е., Kovács T., Zakar Т., Todinova S., Taneva S., Kovács L., Gombos Z., Tóth T., Krumova S., Phycobilisome integrity and functionality in lipid unsaturation and xanthophyll mutants in Synechocystis, Photosynthesis Research 2020, 145, 79–188
    https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11120-020-00776-1
  7. Petrova N., Paunov N., Stoichev S., Todinova S., Taneva S.G., Goltsev V., Krumova S., Thylakoid membrane reorganization, induced by growth light intensity, affects the plants susceptibility to drought stress, Photosynthetica 2020, 58(SI), 369-378
    https://ps.ueb.cas.cz/artkey/phs-202002-0019_special-issue-in-honour-of-prof-reto-j-strasser-8211-thylakoid-membrane-reorganization-induced-by-growth.php
  8. Andreeva T.D., Dér A., Kelemen L., Krastev R., Taneva S.G., Modulation of the internal structure and surface properties of natural and synthetic polymer matrices by graphene oxide doping. Polymers Advanced Technology 2020, 31, 7, 1562-1570
    https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/pat.4885
  9. Rudt A., Andreeva T.D., Taneva S.G., Krastev R., Composite polyelectrolyte multilayers for biofunctionalization of medical devices, Current Directions in Biomedical Engineering 2020, 6, 3, 2020-3110
    https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/cdbme-2020-3110/html
  10. Petrova N., Todinova S., Paunov M., Kovács L., Taneva S., Krumova S., Thylakoid membrane unstacking increases LHCII thermal stability and lipid phase fluidity, Journal of Bioenergetics and Biomembranes 2019, 50(6), 425-435
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30607760/
  11. Danailova A., Krumova S., Iliev I., Gartcheva L., Taneva S.G., Todinova S., Calorimetric markers for inflammation in in vivo experimental models. International Journal of Bioautomation 2019, 23, 4
    http://biomed.bas.bg/bioautomation/2019/vol_23.4/files/23.4_08.pdf
  12. Petrova N., Stoichev S., Paunov M., Todinova S., Taneva S., Krumova S., Structural organization, thermal stability, and excitation energy utilization of pea thylakoid membranes adapted to low light conditions, Acta Physiologiae Plantarum 2019, 41, 188
    https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11738-019-2979-6
  13. Velikova V., Tsonev T., Tattini M., Arena C., Krumova S., Koleva D., Peeva V., Stojchev S., Todinova S., Izzo L.G., Brunetti C., Stefanova M., Taneva S., Loreto F., Physiological and structural adjustments of two ecotypes of Platanus orientalis L. from different habitats in response to drought and re-watering, Conservation Physiology 2018, 6(1): coy073 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6301291/
  14. Andreeva T., Stoichev S., Taneva S., Krastev, R., Hybrid graphene oxide/polysaccharide nanocomposites with controllable surface properties and biocompatibility, Carbohydrate Polymers 2018, 181, 78-85
    https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0144861717312092
  15. Todinova S., Krumova S., Gartcheva L., Dimitrova K., Petkova V., Taneva S.G., Calorimetric manifestation of IgA monoclonal immunoglobulins in multiple myeloma sera, Thermochimica Acta 2018, 666, 208-211
    https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0040603118304854
  16. Dinarelli S., Krumova S., Todinova S., Taneva S.G., Lenzi E., Mussi V., Longo G., Girasole M., Insight into the morphological pattern observed along the erythrocytes’ aging: Coupling quantitative AFM data to microcalorimetry and raman spectroscopy, Journal of Molecular Recognition 2018, 31, 11, e2732
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29876977/
  17. Petrova N., Todinova S., Laczko-Dobos H., Zakar T., Vajravel S., Taneva S., Gombos Z., Krumova S., Structural integrity of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 phycobilisomes evaluated by means of differential scanning calorimetry, Photosynthesis Research 2018, 137, 95-104
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29322483/
  18. Todinova S., Krumova S., Danailova A., Petkova V., Guenova M., Mihaylov G., Gartcheva L., Taneva S.G., Calorimetric markers for monitoring of multiple myeloma and Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia patients, European Biophysics Journal 2018, 47, 549-559
    https://doi.org/10.1007/s00249-018-1277-3
  19. Danova K., Motyka V., Todorova M., Trendafilova A., Krumova S., Dobrev P., Andreeva T., Oreshkova T., Taneva S., Evstatieva L., Effect of cytokinin and auxin treatments on morphogenesis, terpenoid biosynthesis, photosystem structural organization, and endogenous isoprenoid cytokinin profile in Artemisia alba Turra in vitro, Journal of Plant Growth Regulation 2018, 37, 403-418
    https://doi.org/10.1007/s00344-017-9738-y
  20. Krumova S., Todinova S., Mavrov D., Marinov P., Atanassova V., Atanassov K., Taneva S.G., Intercriteria analysis of calorimetric data of blood serum proteome, Biochimica et Biophysica Acta – General Subjects 2017, 1861, 409-417
    https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0304416516303877
  21. Todinova S., Komsa-Penkova R., Krumova S., Taneva S.G., Golemanov G., Georgieva G., Tonchev P., Tsankov B., Beshev L., Balashev K., Andreeva T.D., PlA2 polymorphism in glycoprotein IIb/IIIa modulates the morphology and nanomechanics of platelets, Clinical and Applied Thrombosis/Hemostasis 2017, 23(8), 951-960
    https://doi.org/10.1177/1076029616687847
  22. Andreeva T.D., Hartmann H., Taneva S., Krastev R., Regulation of the growth, morphology, mechanical properties and biocompatibility of natural polysaccharide-based multilayers by Hofmeister anions, Journal of Materials Chemistry B 2016, 4, 44, 7043-7170
    https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2016/tb/c6tb01638c#!divAbstract
  23. Andreeva T.D., Danailova A.K., Terziyska P., Krumova S.B., Taneva S.G., Krastev R., Hofmeister anions effect on the thickness and morphology of polyelectrolyte multilayers for biofunctionalization of cardiovascular stents. Bulgarian Chemical Communications A 2016, 48, 23-28
    https://www.researchgate.net/publication/308049375_Hofmeister_anions_effect_on_the_thickness_and_morphology_of_polyelectrolyte_multilayers_for_biofunctionalization_of_cardiovascular_stents
  24. Krumova S., Todinova S., Tileva M., Bouzhir-Sima L., Vos M., Liebl U., Taneva S.G., Thermal stability and binding energetics of thymidylate synthase ThyX, International Journal of Biological Macromolecules 2016, 91, 560-567
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27268384/
  25. Todinova S., Mavrov D., Krumova S., Marinov P., Atanassova V., Atanassov K., Taneva S.G., Blood plasma thermograms dataset analysis by means of InterCriteria and correlation analyses for the case of colorectal cancer. International Journal of Bioautomation 2016, 20, 1, 115-124
    http://www.clbme.bas.bg/bioautomation/2016/vol_20.1/files/20.1_09.pdf
  26. Todinova S., Krumova S., Andreeva T., Dimitrova K., Gartcheva L., Taneva S.G., Unusual thermal transition in the serum calorimetric profile of a patient diagnosed with multiple myeloma with secretion of monoclonal κ free light chains: a case report. Cancer Research Frontiers 2016, 2, 3, 416-426
    https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Unusual-thermal-transition-in-the-serum-profile-of-Todinova-Krumova/88a81e9a3ac068a5231bc4e9d4ab56c110d0708d
  27. Todinova S.J., Stoyanova E., Krumova S.B., Iliev I., Taneva S.G., Calorimetric signatures of human cancer cells and their nuclei, Thermochimica Acta 2016, 623, 95-101
    https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0040603115004359
  28. Komsa-Penkova R., Todinova S., Andreeva T., Krumova S., Taneva S.G., Golemanov G., Georgieva G., Mihaylova N., Tchorbanov A., Tonchev P., Alterations in platelet activity and elasticity modulus of healthy subjects, carriers of G20210A polymorphism in the prothrombin gene, Journal of Biomedical & Clinical Research 2016, 9, 1, 72-79
    https://sciendo.com/article/10.1515/jbcr-2016-0011

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