Biomarkers for the prediction of the resistance and susceptibility of grapevine leaves to downy mildew.

We examined metabolic profiles of acetone and butanol extracts obtained from the leaves of 18 seedlings of the Bulgarian wine-making cultivar Storgozia. The acetone extracts contained the components from the leaf surface, while the butanol extracts were enriched with polar components from inside the leaf tissue. The leaves displayed different degrees of resistance and susceptibility to the etiological agent downy mildew, Plasmopara viticola.

Evaluation of antibacterial activity of synthetic aliphatic and aromatic monoacylglycerols.

The antibacterial activity of synthetic aliphatic and aromatic monoacylglycerols (MAGs) was studied against two human pathogens: Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The active compounds inhibited selectively S. aureus.

MDR-reversal activity of chalcones.

The ability of 11 chalcones with 3,4,5-trimethoxy substitution on ring A to inhibit the transport activity of P-glycoprotein was studied. Flow cytometry was applied in multidrug-resistant human mdr1 gene-transfected mouse lymphoma cells (L 5178 Y). The reversal of multidrug resistance (MDR) was investigated by measuring the accumulation of rhodamine-123 in cancer cells.

Examination of growth inhibitory properties of synthetic chalcones for which antibacterial activity was predicted.

A large series of chalcones were synthesized and studied against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Chalcones were either unsubstituted in ring A or possessed 4'-chloro or 3',4',5'-trimethoxy groups. Their other ring B was variously substituted.

Preliminary study on biomarkers for the fungal resistance in Vitis vinifera leaves.

We examined the leaf chemical composition of six seedlings obtained by self-pollination of the Bulgarian wine-making variety Storgozia as well as the cultivar Bouquet, which is the susceptible parent of Storgozia. The chemical composition was investigated in the framework of a program for identification of metabolites associated with disease resistance in grape-vine. Acetone, dichloromethane and butanol extracts, as well as volatiles obtained from fresh material were analyzed by GC/MS.