First National Symposium on DNA barcoding held at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences

On December 5, 2024, the First National Symposium on DNA Barcoding, titled “Barcode of Life”, was held in the administrative building of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS). The event was organised by the Bulgarian Barcode of Life (BgBOL) consortium.

The consortium, established in October 2023, serves as the national representative of the International Barcode of Life organization. Its members include the Institute of Plant Physiology and Genetics — BAS, the Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research — BAS, the National Museum of Natural History — BAS, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski,” the AgroBioInstitute of the Agricultural Academy, the University of Forestry, and the scientific publisher Pensoft, acting as a technological innovator in the field of biodiversity.

The symposium was officially opened by Prof. Dr Lyubomir Penev, Chairman of the Management Board of the BgBOL consortium, founder, and CEO of Pensoft, who welcomed the participants and guests gathered in the “Prof. Marin Drinov” Hall.

The event featured a full-day program of lectures and a poster session, providing participants with the opportunity to explore the work of their colleagues across various applications of DNA barcoding methods in biology. Attendees included prominent Bulgarian scientists, early-career researchers, and PhD students.

The presentations covered diverse topics, such as the development of the Bulgarian molecular laboratory in Antarctica and the first studies on invertebrates in the surrounding waters, metabarcoding in different habitats around the research station on Livingston Island, and studies on the microbiomes of various agricultural animals, yeast systematics, phytopathogenic fungi, and more.

Highlights included findings from genetic Bioblitz studies on the fauna and flora of Bulgaria and neighboring countries, underrepresented in DNA reference libraries, presented by Prof. Vlada Peneva (Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research — BAS) and Assist. Prof. Dr Stefania Kamenova (National Museum of Natural History — BAS). Dr Maria Kachamakova (Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research — BAS) shared insights into genetic studies on beavers in Bulgaria, a species recently reintroduced after centuries of absence. The research identified two distinct haplotypes originating from Central Europe and the Scandinavian Peninsula. Prof. Petar Zhelev (University of Forestry) presented on the taxonomy of oak species in Bulgaria. The Head of Technology at Pensoft, Mr. Teodor Georgiev, introduced version 2.0 of the ARPHA Writing Tool, featuring numerous new functionalities and enhanced processes aimed at improving data publication, discoverability, reusability, and overall FAIRness.

During coffee breaks, delegates exchanged experiences and insights into institutional developments in various areas of DNA barcoding.

In his closing remarks, Prof. Penev welcomed the newest member of BgBOL, the Fridtjof Nansen Institute of Oceanology — BAS, and expressed hopes for the consortium’s growth. He also announced plans for the symposium to become an annual tradition and the launch of a new special collection in the Biodiversity Data Journal. This collection will publish studies on Bulgarian and Balkan biodiversity using DNA barcoding methods, with the first five accepted papers eligible for free publication.

Finally, Prof. Penev thanked the hosts from BAS and the organisers from the BgBOL Management Board, including Chairman Prof. Dr Georgi Bonchev (Institute of Plant Physiology and Genetics — BAS) and Vice-Chair Assist. Prof. Dr Stefania Kamenova (National Museum of Natural History — BAS). Special gratitude was extended to Prof. Pavel Stoev, Director of the National Museum of Natural History — BAS.

For more information, visit the BgBOL consortium website and follow them on Facebook.