NRL of Immunology

NRL of Immunology

Head: prof. Maria Nikolova, MD, DSc  - clinical immunologist 

 

NRLI performs highly specialized phenotypic and functional studies of the immune system with  focus on secondary immunodeficiencies and infections. A significant part of the research is related to the immune monitoring of   HIV+ patients and the  recovery of immune response in the course of antiretroviral therapy.

NRLI offers a range of methods for complex evaluation of the immune system, including humoral and cellular components, natural and acquired immune response.   Precise quantitative flow cytometry analysis of T-, B- and NK-lymphocytes and their subpopulations, quantification of antigen-specific response in chronic infections (HIV, EBV, CMV, HBV, tuberculosis), functional studies of phagocytes, determination of sensitization to allergens by in vitro allergen-specific activation of basophils, quantitative measurement of CD34+ stem cells, phenotyping of leukosis and lymphomas. In vitro diagnosis of latent and active tuberculosis infection as well as monitoring of antituberculosis therapy by QuantiFERONTBGoldIn-Tube and T.SPOT.TB is also available.

Since the beginning of 2020, NRLI offers a range of tests for evaluation of SARS-CoV-2 specific antibody and T-cell response.

The proposed tests are extremely useful for evaluation of patients with primary and secondary immune deficiencies, chronic viral infections and unexplained fever, "chronic fatigue syndrome", malignancies and allergies.

Research studies performed at NRLI are related to the homeostasis and regeneration of lymphocyte subsets, the regulation of the immune response and its disorders in chronic infections, the possibilities for immunomodulation of adaptive and natural immune response. NRLI has established collaborations with the Medical Universities in Sofia, Plovdiv, the Biology Department of Sofia University, the institutes of Microbiology and Molecular Biology at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences,etc. A long-term collaboration exists with the National Institute of Health and Medical Research of France (INSERM), the Medical Faculty of UPEC and the Department of Clinical Immunology of the University Hospital A. Mondor”, Creteil, France, as well as the Immunology Department of Tor Vergata University in Rome, Italy. The   laboratory staff has co-authored  over 200 scientific publications in Bulgarian and international scientific journals.   

Diagnostic tests offered at NRLI

  • Quantitative determination of serum (plasma) immunoglobulins (IgG, IgM, IgA)
    1. Immunophenotyping of blood cells by flow cytometry, basic panel (% )
    2. Immunophenotyping of blood cells by flow cytometry, basic panel (%, absolute number)
    3. Immunophenotyping of blood cells by flow cytometry,
    4. Immunophenotyping of leukemias and lymphomas
  • IGRA tests for diagnosis of tuberculosis infection
  • IGRA tests for SARS-CoV-2 cellular immune response
  • Determination of phagocytic activity by flow cytometry
  • Determination of leukocyte activation by flow cytometry
  • Flow cytometry determination of antigen-specific T – lymphocytes (EBV, CMV, HIV, SARS-CoV-2)
  • Flow cytometry test for basophilic degranulation
  • Determination of T-cell functional activity by spontaneous and mitogen-induced production of IFN-gamma
  • Determination of IgG anti-nuclear autoantibodies (against 15 and 18 autoantigens)

The site of National Centre of Infectious and Parazitic Diseases uses cookies to interact with its users.