Written by Ivan Dulgerov

Assoc. Prof. Liliya V. Mihaylova

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Position: Postdoctoral researcher

Department: Plant Cell Biotechnology, CPSBB

Assoc. prof. Liliya V. Mihaylova is performing research on the mechanisms implicated in obesity, longevity and photoaging through molecular pharmacology approach. The main area of Dr. Mihaylova current research is modulation of obesity mechanisms through natural products and bioactive phytochemicals using experimental models of obesity in human adipocytes and in Caenorhabditis elegans as model organism. More specifically, she is interested in studying the pharmacological mimicking of caloric restriction, the modulation of mitochondrial activity and the role of the transcription factor Nrf2 in metabolic diseases.

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS:

Mihaylova L.V., Savova M.S., Todorova M.N., Tonova V., Binev B.K., Georgiev M.I. (2026) Cycloastragenol improves fatty acid metabolism through NHR-49/FAT-7 suppression and potent AAK-2 activation in Caenorhabditis elegans obesity model. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 27(2): 772. (IF 4.9)

Koycheva I.K., Stoyanova E., Todorova B., Stoykova I.D., Savova M.S., Mihaylova L.V., Mihaylova N., Georgiev M.I. (2025)
Anti-psoriatic activity of biotechnologically produced Harpagophytum procumbens extract in an imiquimod-induced psoriasiform skin inflammation model. South African Journal of Botany. 184: 936-950. (IF 2.7)
Savova M.S., Todorova M.N., Binev B.K., Georgiev M.I., Mihaylova L.V. (2025) Curcumin enhances the anti-obesogenic activity of orlistat through SKN-1/NRF2-dependent regulation of nutrient metabolism in Caenorhabditis elegans. International Journal of Obesity. DOI: 10.1038/s41366-025-01724-6. (IF 4.2)

Mladenova S.G., Todorova M.N., Savova M.S., Mihaylova L.V., Georgiev M.I. (2023) Maackiain mimics caloric restriction through aak-2-mediated lipid reduction in Caenorhabditis elegans. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 24(24): 17442. (IF 5.6)

Savova M.S., Mihaylova L.V., Tews D., Wabitsch M., Georgiev M.I. (2023) Targeting PI3K/akt signaling pathway in obesity. Biomedicine and Pharmacotherapy. 159: 114244. (IF 6.9)

Georgiev M.I., Vasileva L.V., Savova M.S. (2021) Antiobesity molecules of natural origin: Call for lead finding acceleration. Food Frontiers. 2(1): 23-24.

Vasileva L.V., Savova M.S., Tews D., Wabitsch M., Georgiev M.I. (2021) Rosmarinic acid attenuates obesity and obesity-related inflammation in human adipocytes. Food and Chemical Toxicology. 149: 112202. (IF 4.679)

Vasileva L., Savova M., Amirova K., Balcheva-Sivenova Zh., Ferrante C., Orlando G., Wabitsch M. , Georgiev M.I. (2020) Caffeic and chlorogenic acids synergistically activate browning program in human adipocytes: Implications of AMPK and PPAR-mediated Pathways. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 21: 9740. (IF 4.556)

Vasileva L., Savova M., Amirova K., Dinkova-Kostova A., Georgiev M.I. (2020) Obesity and NRF2-mediated cytoprotection: Where is the missing link? Pharmacological Research. 156: 104760. (IF 5.893)

Vasileva L, Marchev A, Georgiev M (2018) Causes and solutions to “globesity”: The new fa(s)t alarming global epidemic. Food and Chemical Toxicology 121: 173-193. (IF 3.775)