Transcript Inst-Microbiology-EN.. - Institute of Microbiology

BULGARIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
The STEPHAN ANGELOFF
INSTITUTE OF MICROBIOLOGY
Associated with Institut Pasteur, Paris
The Institute of Microbiology (IMicB) was founded in 1947 by
Prof. Stephan Angeloff, Member of Bulgarian Academy of
Sciences. Ever since, the Institute’s strategic lines have been:
(1) research on problems with implications in public health and
industrial use; (2) teaching activities and training of PhD
students. In 2004, The Stephan Angeloff Institute of
Microbiology was accepted as associated member of the
Pasteur Institute (Paris) family, the sixth associated institute in
Europe: a great recognition by this world centre of
microbiology and molecular biology, a leader in the struggle
against infectious diseases.
The Institute has 11 departments and a staff of 170 including 4
professors, one of them Corresponding Member of BAS, 34
associate professors and 52 research scientists. Its expertise
areas are: morphology and ultrastructure, genetics,
biochemistry, physiology and ecology of microorganisms,
mycology, virology, infectious microbiology and immunology.
In the recent years, IMicB has structured its research activity
to reflect both European and national bioscience priorities. The
efforts are currently concentrated on some key practical
problems of public health (tuberculosis, actual viral infections,
autoimmunity and autoimmune diseases, vaccines), drug
design (screening and development of antivirals, antibiotics
and other antimicrobial agents, biological response modifiers),
food safety, biotechnology, and environmental protection.
Recent achievements include:
In the field of infectious bacteriology: Tuberculosis, emerging
zoonotic diseases and food-borne infections as serious problems for
healthcare, agriculture and food industry are the principal topics. Molecular
epidemiological investigation on pandemic tuberculosis spread in Bulgaria was
started within the frame of the Pasteur Institutes cooperation.
The case detection rate of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis is improved
by molecular characterization of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains.
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been developed for rapid detection of
food-born pathogens in meat, milk and their products. This highly specific and
sensitive method allows detection of 1 to 10 bacterial cells per gram sample.
Effective control was carried out against Campylobacter, Salmonella, and
Listeria from farm to dish. Enteric Yersinia species are selected for
development of new generation of live carrier vaccines (against swine pest).
Bacteria are efficiently attenuated by targeted disruption of genes encoding
virulence factors. To assess the important role of vaginal lactobacilli in
maintaining the vaginal health and in the prevention or therapy of bacterial
vaginosis, a molecular-genetic study of vaginal lactobacilli from Bulgarian
women was carried out. Twenty-two active strains were identified and grouped
according to their genetic relatedness, based on a combined approach which
included amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis (ARDRA), ribotyping and
PCR with species-specific oligonucleotide primers.
In the field of virology: Antiviral agents – inhibitors of viral replication is the
main topic of virological stuidies in the Institute with a leading position in
European scale.
A large-spectrum antiviral screening system was developed resulting in
discovery of a series of new prospective antiviral substances (mopyridone,
active vs. influenza and togaviruses, oxoglaucin – vs. enteroviruses, substances
isolated from plants– vs. influenza viruses, etc.). The principal topics in antiviral
investigations include: determination of the molecular mechanisms of action of
antivirals – viral proteins ligands (influenza virus M1 protein as a target of
mopyridone, adenovirus hexon protein – of abitylguanide), the drug-resistance
phenomenon in enterovirus capsid-binding inhibitors as a barrier for the
development of anti-enteroviral chemotherapy, the chemical structure – antiviral
activity relationship. Several synergistic combinations of antivirals hihly efficient
against enteroviruses, influenza A virus, herpesviruses and vaccinia virus have
been established. Cycluridine has been developed as an efficacious
chemotherapeutic agent against flaviviruses, including pestivirus infections in
cattle. Role of oxidative stress in flu pathogenesis and protective effect of
antioxidants were clarified. Efficacy of other biological response modifiers
(immunomodulators, proteolysis inhibitors) was proved. Systematic studies on
virucidal microbicides resulted in the characterization of a new-type virucidal
agent for hand disinfection. Evidence on the role of hantaviruses in pathogenesis
of the Balkan endemic nephropathy was obtained. Molecular epidemiological
study on human papillomaviruses as etiological agents of the cervical cancer in
this country was realized. New proves on the role of neurotropic viruses in the
insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (on a model of herpesvirus infection in organ
culture of Langerhans islets) was presented.
In the field of infectious immunology:
The ability of the opportunistic yeast Candida albicans to
induce reactive arthritis in normal and in predisposed individuals
has been studied. The relationship between infections and
rheumatic diseases has been analyzed in detail with the aim to
propose new therapeutic approaches.
The pathological autoreactive B lymphocytes in
autoimmune diseases are logical targets for a selected therapeutic
intervention. We have hypothesized that it should be possible to
suppress selectively the activity of these B cells by using artificial
molecules that cross-link their immunoglobulin- with the inhibitory
IgG Fc-gamma IIb receptors. A series of hybrid molecules has
been constructed and shown to decrease specifically the
production of disease-associated IgG autoantibodies and to delay
the development of systemic lupus erythematosus in mice. The
use of chimeric antibodies targeting inhibitory B lymphocyte
receptors represents a novel approach for the selective
suppression of autoreactive disease-associated B cells in
autoimmune diseases.
We have also worked on new therapeutic strategies in
sepsis as there is an urgent unmet medical need for new
treatments for this disease. Our therapeutic approach consists of
the conception, development and testing of improved
immunoglobulins with enhanced anti-inflammatory activity.
In the field of applied microbiology:
The Institute has always played a leading role in applied microbiology in
Bulgaria and in the Central and South-East European areas. The most important
attainments in this field are the development of effective technologies for
production of industrial important biologically active substances – enzymes
(proteinases, pectinases, glucoamylase, neuraminidase, superoxide dismutase,
glucose isomerase, keratinase, -galactosidase, yeast protein phosphatases,
etc.), amino acids, growth factors, polysaccharides, vitamins, carotinoids, and
various antibiotics. A wide spectrum of methods for the immobilization of
enzymes and microbial cells-producers of valuable products, were elaborated.
The physiology and biochemistry of microbial producers, as well as the
properties of the synthesized products were studied in detail. The efforts were
focused also on characterization of microbial cell response against different
types of environmental stress (oxidative stress, heat- and cold-shock, heavy
metal toxicity); examination of mechanisms responsible
for microbial degradation of
aromatic compounds (phenol and its toxic
derivatives, methylstyren, acetone,
benzoic acid, methanol, organic cyanides
-nitriles) and genomic analysis of the
aromatic catabolic pathways; microbial
transformation of steroid compounds,
resulting in intermediates for pharmacy
and drugs; role of surface active
compounds in the development of efficient
technologies for bioremediation of
polluted sites; identification of lactic acid
bacteria from different ecological niches
and the characterization of antimicrobial
peptides (bacteriocins) produced.
The Institute’s scientists studied
unique natural biosystems of lactic acid
microflora and created multi-component
symbiotic starters for wholesome dairy
products of high nutritive value. The
results contributed to the force of the
Bulgarian trade mark.
New bacterial strains representing unknown phylogenetic units were isolated
from Bulgarian hot springs. Many of them are producers of thermostable
enzymes with huge biotechnological importance (nitrilase, gellan lyase, xylanase,
lipase, cyclo-dextrin transferase, superoxide dismutase). A collection of
psychrophilic, psychrotrophic and mesophilic microorganisms isolated from
Antarctic samples provided by the Bulgarian Antarctic Expeditions at the
Livingston Island and Arctic (Spitzbergen) was made. The biological potential and
metabolic ability of selected strains (bacteria, actinomycetes, yeasts and fungi)
were studied.
New bacterial strains
representing unknown
phylogenetic units were
isolated from Bulgarian hot
springs. Many of them are
producers of thermostable
enzymes with huge
biotechnological importance
(nitrilase, gellan lyase,
xylanase, lipase, cyclo-dextrin
transferase, superoxide
dismutase). A collection of
psychrophilic, psychrotrophic
and mesophilic
microorganisms isolated from
Antarctic samples provided by
the Bulgarian Antarctic
Expeditions at the Livingston
Island and Arctic (Spitzbergen)
was made. The biological
potential and metabolic ability
of selected strains (bacteria,
actinomycetes, yeasts and
fungi) were studied.
The educational activities of the Institute include: doctoral studies
(35 PhD students within the last five years); training courses for young
scientists from the Balkan countries at the Atellie Institut Pasteur;
participation in the Leonardo da Vinchi Programme of EC. Thirteen scientists
give lectures at nine Bulgarian universities.
Scientists from the Institute participate in scientific councils, editorial
boards, councils of organizations and scientific societies in Bulgaria and
abroad (such as WHO, IUMS, FEMS, etc.).
IMicB is the initiator of the establishment of the Balkan Society for
Microbiology, and is the head quarter of this society and the Bulgarian
Society for Microbiology.
Consultancy is provided for many institutions (governmental,
university, private etc) about ecology and environment, public health,
agriculture and food industry. Scientists are included in the work of many
expert groups among which , Expert Group on Countering the Effects of
Biological and Chemical Terrorism at EC, Permanent Commission for
Prevention of the Population from Natural Disasters and Catastrophes,
Expert Council for Epidemiological Control of Infectious Diseases and
Immunoprophylaxis, Commission for Eradication of Polyomyelitis at the
Ministry of Public Health, National Agencies of Standardization and
Authorization.