A Report on the 10th International Peptide Conference of the Bulgarian Peptide Society

CONFERENCE REPORT
10^th International Peptide Conference of the Bulgarian Peptide Society
Varna, Bulgaria, 1 – 4 September 2023

The 10^th International Peptide Conference of the Bulgarian Peptide Society (10^th Anniversary Peptide Symposium of the Bulgarian Peptide Society) was held on 1 – 4 September 1–4, 2023 in the sea capital of Bulgaria – Varna city. The event was organized by the Institute of Molecular Biology at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Neurobiology at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy – Sofia, and the host organization – the Faculty of Pharmacy at the Medical University of Varna. This year´s edition was held under the patronage of the Rector of the Medical University of Varna. Across the past two decades, the success of this biennial meeting never ceases to motivate our efforts; we strive to expand the coverage of the peptide science into new areas of research.

The aim of the symposium was to bring together all the research scientists who work on different aspects of the peptide science and present their new research, which is carried out in the scientific community in Bulgaria and abroad. The organizers wanted to establish new and maintain older contacts, to create and foster collaborations – importantly, for both seasoned scientists and young researchers. The BPS always aims to stimulate the active participation of young researchers. In this context, a special session for young researcher and young researcher’s poster session was organized and the most outstanding young participants were awarded on the last day of the event – the 4^th of September.

This year the Scientific Committee has thoughtfully curated a panel of internationally renowned experts in the field, from both academia and industry, ensuring a rich and interdisciplinary scientific programme. The different lectures and posters encompassed current challenges in modern peptide chemistry, recent successful case studies, as well as practical workshops on drug design.

There were 63 registered participants in the 10^th International Peptide Conference of the Bulgarian Peptide Society from 8 foreign countries (Austria, Belgium, Germany, Greece, Israel, Italy, Poland, and Ukraine) and from Bulgaria, representing 21 research institutions. Bulgarian representants were from 5 different Institutes at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (Institute of Molecular Biology, Institute of Neurobiology, Institute of Organic Chemistry with Centre of Phytochemistry, Institute of Experimental Morphology, Pathology and Anthropology, and Insitute of Solid-State Physics), University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy – Sofia, South-West University “Neofit Rilski” – Blagoevgrad, Trakia University – Stara Zagora, Medical University of Pleven, Medical University of Sofia, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, and Medical University of Varna. Among all participants, over 43% were PhD and MSc students, and postdocs.

The scientific program began with five splendid plenary lectures delivered by appreciated professors from the field of chemistry and biochemistry, and pharmacology of peptides: by Professor Anna Maria Papini (Italy) “From peptide-based drug and diagnostics to cosmetics to inspire next generation EU researchers to transfer academic results into the market”; by Professor Diana Imhof (Germany) “How peptides help to understand transient heme binding to proteins”, by Professor Illana Gosez (Israel) “Peptides and sex regulation: NAP (DAVUNETIDE) as a case study”, by Professor Peter Gmeiner (Germany) “Neurotensin-based GPCR ligands”, and by Professor Steven Ballet (Belgium) “G protein peptidomimetics to stabilize active GPCR conformations”. An introduction in the world of the virtual screening using “trillions of molecules” was performed by Dr. Marcus Gastreich from BioSolveIT (Germany) with its lecture entitled: “Green” navigation in trillions of on-demand compounds”. For first time during a BPS symposium, a free workshop for beginners was conducted. The workshop was organized by BioSolveIT and leaded by Dr. Gastreich. The workshop was addressed to young researchers with the purpose to introduce first knowledges in the field of protein-ligand complex-based drug design and modeling as well as fragment-based ligand design.

Keynote lectures were presented by Assoc. Prof. Nikolay T. Tzvetkov (Bulgaria); Prof. Atanas Atanasov (Austria); Assoc. Prof. Tatyana Dzimbova (Bulgaria); Prof. Dancho Danalev (Bulgaria); Prof. Reni Kalfin (Bulgaria); Prof. Nikolay Vassilev (Bulgaria); Prof. Lyubka Tancheva (Bulgaria); Assoc. Prof. Tsvetelin Georgiev (Bulgaria); and Assoc. Prof. Tamara Pajpanova (Bulgaria).

The main attention of the Organizing and the Scientific Committees was given to the young researcher´s session on the last symposium´s day with four young scientists lectures by Sirine Jaber (Bulgaria/Lebanon); Boryana Borisova (Bulgaria); Martina Peeva (Bulgaria), and Boryana Yakimova (Bulgaria). Along with oral presentations there was a poster session with networking and exhibition. During the poster session more than 52% of all posters were presented by young scientists. A young scientific competition was organized and evaluated by Assoc. Prof. Nikolay T. Tzvetkov, Assoc. Prof. Tamara Pajpanova, Prof. Nikolay Vassilev, Prof. Reni Kalfin, Prof. Lyubka Tancheva, and Prof. Ivanka Stoineva. Three best scientist awards were given to Boryana Borisova (Best young scientist award peptide science), Martina Peeva (Best young scientist award interdisciplinary research), and Ivan Bogdanov (young scientist award for Best poster).

The lectures and posters covered different topics in the field of peptide science including synthesis of peptides, amino acids and proteins; green peptide chemistry and technology; peptide mimetics, conjugates and peptide amino acids; bioactive peptides and peptide-based therapeutics; structure and conformational case studies of peptides and proteins.

The financial support from the European Peptide Society, National Science Fund of Bulgaria, and from the industry, including BioSolveIT (Germany), Elta’90 (Bulgaria), FOT (Bulgaria), Valerus (Bulgaria), Labprim (Bulgaria), and Chromservis (Bulgaria), make it possible to invite several distinguished scientists, young researchers and students.

Finally, the 10^th International Peptide Conference of the Bulgarian Peptide Society (10^th Anniversary Peptide Symposium of the Bulgarian Peptide Society) was a great success to the lecturers, participants, to our sponsors and donators, to the young scientists, and we already looking forward to the next 11^th Peptide Symposium of the BPS.

Contributed by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nikolay T. Tzvetkov, Chairperson of the Organizing Committee
Prof. Dancho Danalev, President of the BPS and Representative of Bulgaria to the EPS