Research group

DISEASE TARGETING STRATEGIES

Main research area of the group

Biochemical, cell signaling, and genetic approaches for identification of key molecules for target therapy of infectious, neoplastic, and degenerative diseases

Leading researcher:

Prof. Vaniyo Mitev, MD, PhD, DSc

Dept. Chemistry and Biochemistry, Medical University – Sofia

Members of the research team:

  • Assoc. Prof. Maria Dragneva (Praskova), PhD;
  • Prof. Albena Todorova, PhD, DSc;
  • Assoc. Prof. Valentin Lozanov, PhD;
  • Nikolay Ishkitiev, PhD, DDS;
  • Silvia Kalenderova, PhD;
  • Violeta Dimitrova, PhD;
  • Vesela Lozanova, PhD;
  • Ralitza Alexova, PhD;
  • Ani Miteva, PhD;
  • Silvia Andonova, PhD;
  • Tanya Kadiyska, PhD

Research goals

  1. To create a clinical database and a sample collection of close to 400 hospitalized
    patients with severe symptoms and about 1200 outpatients, both mild and severe, who during the Covid-19 pandemic, were treated with our proposed
    Bromhexine/Colchicine/Hymecromone combination, alongside with a suitably large control group of about 200 Covid-19 infected individuals who have been symptomatic (both mild and severe) but who have not received Bromhexine/Colchicine/Hymecromone treatment.
  2. To genotype both groups using next-generation sequencing technology and Sanger sequencing, aiming at key regulatory pathways affecting the course and outcome of COVID-19 infection.
  3. To analyze the genomic data via bioinformatics and statistical methods, searching for correlations and putative causal variants leading to long-lasting complications, severe course of infection and possible neurodegeneration.
  4. To assess the effectiveness of Bromhexine/Colchicine/Hymecromone therapy in
    prevention of post-Covid-19 complications, following up with Covid-19 in- and
    outpatients that have been treated with the combination and a control group that has not received the medications.
  5. To analyze crucial transduction elements in key pathways like those of of Hippo and NEK7, involved in SARS-Cov-2 infection, in primary adult stem and differentiated cell culture settings.
  6. To study the metabolic response of in vitro cultured primary cell lines after treatment with compounds of interest.
  7. To identify key protein targets that are components of Hippo and NEK7 signaling using proteomics technologies.
  8. To provide new lead compounds with therapeutic potential and bioactivity, to be used in targeting key components of cell machinery, responding to different diseases.