DEPARTMENT OFMICROBIAL ECOLOGY

Kolishka Tsekova, PhD, Associate Professor

Head of Department

Tel: (+359 2) 979 31

E-mail:

1950 / Born November 17, Tsareva poliana, Haskovo
1973 / MS, Faculty of Chemistry, Sofia University ‘St. Klimetn Ohridski’
1974-77 / ResearchAssistant, Institute of Wine Production, Ministry of Agriculture
1978-82 / Research Assistant, Institute of Microbiology. BAS
1983 / Research Scientist, Institute of Microbiology. BAS
1985 / PhD in Microbiology, Institute of Microbiology, BAS
2003 / Associate Professor, Institute of Microbiology. BAS
2005 / Head of the Department of Microbial Ecology, Institute of Microbiology. BAS
Teaching:
2003-05 / University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy, Sofia

Staff

Sava Mutafov, PhD, Associate Professor

Alexandar Hristov, PhD, Research Scientist

Dessislava Todorova, MS, Research Assistant

Maria Ianis, MS, Research Assistant

Vera Dencheva, MS, Research Assistant

Yulia Bebova, MS, Research Assistant

Main Research Topics

  • Biosynthesis of biological active substances: organic acids and enzymes
  • Kinetics, modeling, optimization of biotechnological processes and their set-up in industrial scales
  • Investigation on physiological response of microorganisms to different pollution: heavy metals, pesticides, oil products
  • Biosorption of heavy metals by free and immobilized cells of filamentous fungi
  • Biological solubilization of rock phosphates with free and immobilized filamentous fungi.
  • Investigation on microbial diversity, structures and dynamics of microbial populations and processes development for waste water and soil purification.
  • The changes in the structure and function of microbial communities in river and marine ecosystems in the presence of xenobiotics were investigated.

Most Important Achievements:

  • Original baker's yeast strains - Saccharomyces cerevisiae were selected. These strains have high trehalose content and high maltase activity.
  • Method for quantitative determination of biotin applying specially selected methanol utilizing yeast strain was elaborated.
  • Strains of Aspergillus niger producers citric and gluconic acids under double limitation of nitrogen and phosphorous during their cultivation were selected.
  • The mathematical model of growth and production of citric acid on different carbon sources was developed.
  • The strains bioindicators and detectors of heavy metal and pesticides pollution were selected.
  • Microbial association degrading phenol was selected.

Selected Publications

Tsekova, K., Dentcheva, V., Ianis, M. (2001): Copper uptake by Penicillium brevicampactum, Z. Naturforschung56c, 803-805.

Tsekova, K., Ilieva, S. (2001): Copper removal from aqueous solution using Aspergillus niger mycelia in free and polyurethane-bound form, Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 55, 636-637.

Tsekova, K., Galabova, D., Todorova, K., Ilieva , S. (2002): Phosphatase activity and copper uptake during growth of Aspergillus niger, Process Biochemistry37, 753-758.

Tsekova, K., Todorova, D. (2002): Copper (II) accumulation and superoxide dismutase activity during growth of Aspergillus niger B-77, Z. Naturforschung57c, 319-322.

Tsekova, K., Petrov, G. (2002): Removal of heavy metals from aqueous solution using Rhizopus delemar mycelia in free and polyurethane-bound form, Z. Naturforschung57c, 629-633.

Tsekova, K., Galabova, D. (2003): Phosphatase production and activity in copper (II) accumulating Rhizopus delemar, Enzyme and Microbial Technology 33, 926-931.

Mutafov S., Angelova B., Schmauder H.-P., Avramova T., Boyadjieva L. (2003): Titrostat: a reliable technique for continuous cultivation of microorganisms utilising liquid or gaseous water insoluble substrates. Bitechnology and Bioengineering84,160-169.

Mutafov S., Angelova B., Schmauder H.-P., Avramova T., Boyadjieva L. (2004): Stoichiometry of microbial continuous-flow purification of toluene contaminated air. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology65, 228-234.

Angelova B., Bejar V., Mutafov S., Schmauder H.-P. (2004): Bioavailability of substrates in processes of biodegradation and biotransformation. CHISA 2004 - 16th International Congress of Chemical and Process Engineering, , p. 3543.

Angelova B., Fernandes P., Cruz A., Pinheiro H.M., Mutafov S., Cabral J.M.S. (2005): Hydroxylation of androstenedione by resting Rhodococcus sp. cells in organic media. Enzyme and Microbial Technolo37, 718-722.

Angelova B., Mutafov S., Avramova T., Stefanova L. (2005): Effect of nitrogen source in cultivation medium on the 9α- hydroxylation of pregnane steroids by resting Rhodococcus sp. cells. Biotechnology and Biotechnological Equipment19, 113-116.

Todorova, N., Ivanov, I., Hristov, A., Karamfilov, V. (2005): Application of Ardrea analysis for early warning of the effects of oil pollution in coastal marine ecosystems. Research into laboratory “Microcosm” model. Ecological Engineering and Environment Protection3-4, 69-75.

Tsekova, K., Christova, D., Ianis M. (2006): Heavy metal biosorption sites in Penicillium cyclopium. J. Appl. Sci. Environ. Mgt.10, 117-121.

Angelova, B., Fernandes, P., Spasova, D., Mutafov, S., Pinheiro, H.M., Cabral, J.M.S. (2006): Scanning electron microscopy investigations on bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate treated Mycobacterium cells. Microscopy Research and Technique, , 69, 613-617.

Mutafov, S., Avramova, T., Stefanova, L., Angelova, B. (2006): Decolorization of Acid Orange 7 by bacteria of different tinctorial type: a comparative study. World Journal Microbiol. Biotechnol., DOI 10.1007/s11274-006-9241-2,