NRL Hepatitis viruses

Head of NRL Hepatitis viruses

Tencho Tenev, MD

1233 Sofia, Bulgaria; 44A General Stoletov blvd.

tel. 02/8329118

email:
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Laboratory staff:

  • Assistant Professor Elica Golkocheva-Markova,PhD – biologist

  • Chijdem Ismailova, MSc – biologist

  • Viliana Yoncheva, MSc – biologist

  • Silviya Nyagolova - laboratory worker

 

Laboratory activities

The main activities of the NRL Hepatitis viruses are the diagnosis of hepatotropic viruses by serological and molecular methods. The following hepatitis markers are detected:

  • for Hepatitis A virus (HAV) - Anti-HAV IgM and Anti-HAV IgG;
  • for Hepatitis B virus (HBV) - Anti-Hbc IgM, Anti-Hbc IgG, Anti-Hbe, HbeAg, Anti-HBs, HBV DNA and HBV genotype;
  • for Hepatitis D Virus (HDV) - Anti-HDV IgM and Anti-HDV IgG;
  • for Hepatitis C Virus ( HCV) - Anti-HCV and HCV RNA;
  • for Hepatitis E virus ( HEV) - Anti-HEV IgM and Anti-HEV IgG.

Diagnostic activities related to serological detection follow the accredited standard BDS ENISO/IEC17025.

Participation in inter-laboratory and international control

The NRL “Hepatitis viruses” is responsible for the organization of national internal control in medical laboratories that perform diagnosis of hepatotropic viruses.

The laboratory participates in international external control of quality assurance and standardization in laboratory medicine, conducted by Instand homepage, Germany.

Training

The NRL Hepatitis viruses provides training programs for graduate and PhD students, and postgraduate training for healthcare professionals.

Scientific studies

The main research topics of the NRL “Hepatitis viruses” are:

  • Genotype distribution of HCV and HBV in patients with acute or chronic infection, in general population and in risk groups, such as intravenous drug users.
  • Development of post vaccinated anti-HBV response.
  • Distribution and role of HEV infection among non-A non-C viral hepatitis.

Important publications

  1. Golkocheva-Markova E, Ganova-Raeva L. Editorial: Epidemiology and Control of Hepatitis Viruses. Life. 2024; 14(11):1369. https://doi.org/10.3390/life14111369, SJR (2023) 0.71, IF (2024) 3.2, Q1
  2. Komitova, R., Kevorkyan, A., Golkocheva-Markova, E., Atanasova, M., Rangelova, V., Raycheva, R., Ismailova C, Stoyanova A, Tenev, T. (2024). Clinical and virological profile of locally acquired acute hepatitis E in South Bulgaria. The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries, 18(01), 136–144. https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.18341 , SJR (2023) 0.45, IF (2022) 1.9, Q3
  3. Chiydem Ismailova, Asq Stoyanova, Viliana Yoncheva, Tencho Tenev, Lubomira Nikolaeva-Glomb, Elitsa Golkocheva-Markova. Phylogenetic analysis of twelve Bulgarian sequences based on partial Open Reading Frame 2 genome fragment of hepatitis E virus. Problems of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, 2024; 52(1): 5-12, https://doi.org/10.58395/y45wev44
  4. Pishmisheva-Peleva, M.; Kotsev, S.; Golkocheva-Markova, E.; Argirova, R. Extrahepatic manifestations in patients with acute hepatitis E – Pazardzhik, Bulgaria 2014 – 2022. Probl Infect Parasit Dis 2024, 52 (2), 5-10. https://doi.org/10.58395/sdrgfr19
  5. Golkocheva-Markova E, Ismailova C, Kevorkyan A, Raycheva R, Zhelyazkova S, Kotsev S, Pishmisheva M, Rangelova V, Stoyanova A, Yoncheva V, Tenev T, Gladnishka T, Trifonova I, Christova I, Dimitrov R, Bruni R, Ciccaglione AR. Age and Gender Trends in the Prevalence of Markers for Hepatitis E Virus Exposure in the Heterogeneous Bulgarian Population. Life. 2023; 13(6):1345. https://doi.org/10.3390/life13061345, SJR (2022) 0.63, IF (2022) 3.253, Q
  6. Kevorkyan A, Golkocheva-Markova E, Raycheva R, et al. Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) Infection among Hemodialysis Patients from Southern Bulgaria. Pathogens. 2023;12(10):1208. Published 2023 Sep 30. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12101208, SJR (2022) 0.81, IF (2022) 3.7, Q2
  7. Kotsev S, Pishmisheva-Peleva M, Golkocheva-Markova E, Ismailova C, Vatev N (2023) Clinical Course and Outcome of Acute Hepatitis E Infection in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B and C. J Clin Infect Dis Pract, 8: 171.
  8. Komitova RT, Kevorkyan A, Vasilev P, Golgocheva-Markova E, Atanasova M. When two viruses collide: coronavirus disease after hepatitis B virus reactivation. Folia Med (Plovdiv) 2023;65(2):343-347. https://doi.org/10.3897/folmed.65.e79869
  9. Elitsa Golkocheva-Markova, Ani Kevorkyan, Ralitsa Raycheva, Chiydem Ismailova, Viliana Yoncheva, Tencho Tenev, Radoslava Emilova, Lyubomira Grigorova, Ivan Baltadzhiev, Radka Komitova. Assessment of Hepatitis E positivity among HIV-infected patients in Bulgaria. Brazilian Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2022; 26 (1):102329, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bjid.2022.102329 ; IF (2021) 3.257, Q3, SJR 0.67 https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85141616654&doi=10.3390%2fbiom12111543&partnerID=40&md5=3c289
  10. Romaní Vidal Adriana, Vaughan Aisling, Innocenti Francesco, Colombe Soledad, Nerlander Lina, Rachwal Natalia, Ciancio Bruno Christian, Mougkou Aikaterini, Carvalho Carlos, Delgado Enrique, Mook Piers, de Muylder Géraldine, Peeters Michael, Tenev Tencho, Golkocheva-Markova Elitsa, Vorobieva Solholm Jensen Veronika, Koch Anders, Figoni Julie, Brouard Cécile, Nikolopoulou Georgia, Zisouli Anastasia, Murphy Niamh, Broderick Annemarie, Goldberg Lital, Rich Rivka, Hecht Sagie Lior, Tosti Maria Elena, Suligoi Barbara, Joosten Rosa, Pijnacker Roan, Fjeldheim Ingvild, Heen Eli, Stępień Małgorzata, Polański Piotr, Tato Marinho Rui, Vieira Martins João, Varela Carmen, Avellón Ana, Andersson Emmi, Jansson Mörk Marie, Mandal Sema, Watson Conall, Coughlan Laura, Chand Meera, Neill Claire, Bradley Declan T, Li Kathy, O’Leary Maureen, McInnes Neil, Williams Christopher J, Moore Catherine, Gjini Ardiana, Duffell Erika, Pebody Richard. Hepatitis of unknown aetiology in children – epidemiological overview of cases reported in Europe, 1 January to 16 June 2022. Euro Surveill. 2022;27(31):pii=2200483. https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2022.27.31.2200483 ; IF (2021) 21.286, Q1, SJR 4.42 https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85135422163&doi=10.2807%2f1560-7917.ES.2022.27.31.2200483&partn
  11. Golkocheva-Markova E. Micro RNAs—The Small Big Players in Hepatitis E Virus Infection: A Comprehensive Review. Biomolecules. 2022; 12(11):1543. https://doi.org/10.3390/biom12111543 ; IF (2021) 6.064, Q2, SJR 1.02 https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85125142044&doi=10.1016%2fj.bjid.2022.102329&partnerID=40&md5=5
  12. Chiydem Ismailova, Vlilana Yontcheva, Tencho Tenev, Elitsa Golkocheva-Markova. Correlation between the antibody response toward specific HCV proteins and HCV viral load. Probl Inf Parasit Dis.,2021, 49(1), 13-18.
  13. Komitova R, Kevorkyan A, Golkocheva-Markova E, Atanasova M, Boykinova O. Acute liver failure associated with hepatitis E infection in a young man with immune thrombocytopenia. J of IMAB. 2021 Jul-Sep;27(3):3901-3904. DOI: 10.5272/jimab.2021273.3901.
  14. Sperle, I., Nielsen, S., Gassowski, M., Naneva Z., Perchemlieva, T., Amato Gauci, A., Heiden, M., Bremer, V., Golkocheva Markova, E., Hristov, K., Kaneva, E., Simeonova, Y., Tenev, T., Varleva, T., Duffell, E., R. Zimmermann. Prevalence of hepatitis C in the adult population of Bulgaria: a pilot study. BMC Res Notes 13, 326 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-020-05158-3 IF 1.340; Q2
  15. Ivailo Alexiev, Elitsa Golkocheva-Markova, Asya Kostadinova, Reneta Dimitrova, Lora Nikolova, Anna Gancheva, Tencho Tenev, Ivaylo Elenkov, Tatiana Tcherveniakova, Nina Yancheva, Mariyana Stoycheva, Tsetsa Doychinova, Lilia Pekova, Marina Alexandrova. The prevalence of hepatitis B and C co-infections among people with HIV-1 in Bulgaria: 2010–2015, Future Virology Published Online: 30 Jan 2020 https://doi.org/10.2217/fvl-2019-0092 IF 0.730.
  16. Ivanov, D., Tenev, T., Golkocheva-Markova, E. Prevalence of antiA-HBc in HBsAg-negative population: Screening of patients with unspecified acute hepatitis and review of the literature. Probl Inf Parasit Dis.,2020, 48(1), 33-38.
  17. Zhelyazkova-Glaveeva, S., E. Golkocheva-Markova, A. Kevorkyan, T. Tenev, E. Shikova, I. Tournev. Serological and molecular genetic studies on the involvement of hepatitis E virus in the pathogenesis of neurological diseases. 6th Congress of the European Academy of Neurology, Virtual 2020 (ePoster In EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY, 2020; vol. 27 (S1), pp. 1187-1187).
  18. Eleonora Cella, Elitsa Golkocheva-Markova, Caterina Sagnelli, Vittoria Scolamacchia, Roberto Bruni, Umbertina Villano, Anna Rita Ciccaglione, Michele Equestre, Evangelista Sagnelli, Silvia Angeletti, Massimo Ciccozzi. Human hepatitis E virus circulation in Bulgaria: Deep Bayesian phylogenetic analysis for viral spread control in the country. J Med Virol., 2019; 91 (1): 132-138. https://doi.org/10.1002/jmv.25296. IF 1.988
  19. Ganova-Raeva L, Dimitrova Z, Alexiev I, Punkova L, Sue A, Xia G-l, Gancheva A, Dimitrova R, Kostadinova A, Golkocheva-Markova E, Y Khudyakov. HCV transmission in high-risk communities in Bulgaria. PLoS ONE., 2019; 14(3): e0212350. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0212350. IF: 2.766
  20. Komitova R, Kevorkyan A, Atanasova M, Ivanova A, Golkocheva-Markova E. Booster immunity – diagnosis of chronic hepatitis B viral infection. J Infect Dev Ctries., 2019,13 (3):255-260. IF (2017) 1.353
  21. Stefka Krumova, Elitsa Golkocheva-Markova, Svetla Angelova, Silviya Voleva, Adelina Pavlovae, Irina Georgievaf, Petia Genova-Kalo. Dried Blood Spots as a Clinical Samples for Laboratory Diagnosis and Surveillance of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases in Bulgaria. American Scientific Research Journal for Engineering, Technology, and Sciences (ASRJETS). 2019; 51 (1): 183-191.
  22. Chiydem B. Ismailova, Elitsa N. Golkocheva-Markova, Tencho D. Tenev, Stefka I. Krumova. The use of dry blood spots into a measurement of immunity against HBV: the significance of antibody dilution. Probl Inf Parasit Dis., 2019; 47 (1): 16-20.
  23. Eleonora Cella, Elitsa N. Golkocheva-Markova, Diljana Trandeva-Bankova, Giulia Gregori, Roberto Bruni, Stefania Taffon, Michele Equestre, Angela Costantino, Silvia Spoto, Melissa Curtis, Anna Rita Ciccaglione, Massimo Ciccozzi, Silvia Angeletti. The genetic diversity of hepatitis A genotype I in Bulgaria. Medicine., 2018; 7:3(e9632). IF: 2.028
  24. Bruni R, Villano U, Equestre M, Chionne P, Madonna E, Trandeva-Bankova D, Peleva-Pishmisheva M, Tenev T, Cella E, Ciccozzi M, Pisani G, Golkocheva-Markova E, Ciccaglione AR. Hepatitis E virus genotypes and subgenotypes causing acute hepatitis, Bulgaria, 2013–2015. PLoS ONE. 2018, 13 (6): e0198045. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0198045 IF: 2.766
  25. Pishmisheva M., Baymakova M., Golkocheva-Markova E., Kundurzhiev T., Pepovich R., Popov G.T., I. Tsachev. First serological study of hepatitis E virus infection in pigs in Bulgaria. C. R. Acad. Bulg.Sci., 2018; 71 (7): 1001-1008. IF 0.270
  26. Golkocheva-Markova EN, Peleva-Pishmisheva M, Bruni R, Villano U, Pisani G, Equestre M, Kevorkyan A, Ciccozzi M, A.R. Ciccaglione. Following a patient with prolonged response against hepatitis E virus. Panminerva Med., 2018; 60 (4): 000-000. DOI: 10.23736/S0031-0808.18.03457-2 [approved for publication]. IF 2.102
  27. Tsaneva-Damyanova D, Golkocheva-Markova E, Ivanova L, Kostadinova T, Stoykova Z. Occult Hepatitis B Virus Infection Among Patients with Liver Dysfunction in Varna, Bulgaria. J of IMAB. 2018 Oct-Dec; 24 (4): 2196-2200. DOI:10.5272/jimab.2018244.2196