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201 HIV infected and 200 non HIV infected patients have been observed to detect antibodies to virus hepatitis G. It was established that IgG antibodies are detected more often in HIV infected than in non-HIV-infected persons (24,9% of cases). The highest number of hepatitis G-infected patients is observed among HIV patients at before-HIV clinically apparent stage and HIV clinical stage as well as in patients infected by HIV virus during parenteral infusion.

Recombinant proteins were used to study the effect of heterogenicity of the primary structure of NS3 protein of hepatitis C (HCV) on the immunoreactivity of a complex of antigenic epitopes located within the amino acid sequences 1192-1456. Six genes encoding for the above fragment NS3 from different genotypes were collected from synthetic oligonucleotides and expressed in E. coli cells, by using the polymerase chain reaction. The homology of amino acid sequences of antigens ranged from 78.4 to 92.2%. All the antigens showed a higher coefficient of their reactivity with antibodies in the sera samples from patients infected by HCV of a respective genotype; however, there was no strong genotype-specific immunoreactivity. The findings lead to the conclusion that the primary structure of antigens has an impact on their immunoreactivity. Selection of variants of the primary structures of antigens is essential in developing a diagnostic test.

Aim: To assess condition of the liver in drug abusers., Materials and Methods: Clinicobiochemical, immunological, virological and morphological hepatic tests were made in 144 patients with different forms of drug addiction., Results: Hepatic diseases are rather common in drug addicts. They have some specific clinical features: weak clinical symptoms and laboratory ++indications, high incidence of viral hepatitides markers, repeated infection, initially absent definite evidence on immunological status disturbance, predominant morphologically inactive forms. Symptoms of hepatic disorders were found both in the period of active abuse and in abstinence., Conclusion: Young people with psychopathological behavior should be examined and followed up for detection of drug addiction and concomitant liver diseases.

Six synthetic peptides from immunodominant region 65-80 aa derived from the sequences of delta-antigen corresponding to 3 HDV genotypes were obtained. Their antigenic activities were assessed by indirect enzyme immunoassay with sera of patients with hepatitis D and of asymptomatic carriers of anti-delta antibodies. Differences in antigenic characteristics of full-size 65-80 and truncated 71-80 aa peptides corresponding to three HDV genotypes were revealed. The diagnostic significance of synthetic 65-80 aa fragments is shown.