Senior Assist. Prof. Dr. Martina Savova

Effect of hormetic stress on physiological parameters and metabolic profile in Caenorhabditis elegans – under contract number КП-06-М81/5

Hormesis is an evolutionary conserved mechanism by which organisms adapt to changing environmental conditions. The application of low levels of stress for a short interval, or so-called hormetic stress, has been shown to improve metabolic processes, general condition and resilience of the organism and may even significantly increase lifespan. The positive effect of hormesis activate a cascade of protective molecular mechanisms, which stimulate regenerative processes of the organism. Therefore, hormesis as a beneficial compensatory response is a phenomenon that can be exploited in the scientific field as preventive and therapeutic approach for metabolic and age-related non-communicable diseases. The project will contribute for establishing fundamental patterns regarding the effect of hormetic stress on metabolism in nematodes (Caenorhabditis elegans). Considering the evolutionary conserved metabolic signaling network between the nematodes and other species, established correlations could be further extrapolated to other model organisms and, subsequently, to human.

The project “Effect of hormetic stress on physiological parameters and metabolic profile in Caenorhabditis elegans” with a head researcher Senior Assist. Prof. Dr. Martina Savova. This project is funded by the Bulgarian National Science Fund under contract number КП-06-М81/5 from 09.12.2024 with total amount of funding 50 000 BGN and duration of two years.