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The results of the analysis of hepatitis A morbidity during the period of 1996 - 2001, are presented. The cyclic character of this morbidity in its dynamics over the period of several years was noted with the maximum morbidity level reached in 2000. The monthly dynamics of hepatitis A morbidity reflected its seasonal character with the maximum increase in autumn and winter. The virological control of drinking water revealed its contamination in spring and summer, with no subsequent rise in morbidity. The control of sewage reflected the emergence of the virus in the city collector in accordance with the increased morbidity.

The relationship between large and small particles of phages No. 1M and H17 reproducing simultaneously in one and the same bacterial cell of Bacillus mycoides was studied by the immune electron microscopic technique. The large particles of phages No. 1M and H17 were morphologically identical with phage No. 1 of B. mycoides, whereas only the tails of small particles of phages No. 1M and H17 were morphologically identical with the tail of phage No. 1. Antigens were identified in phages No. 1, No. 1M, and H17 using specific antibodies against phage No. 1, containing only large phage particles, and specific antibodies against phage H17 small heads. It was shown that (i) all structural elements of large particles and tails of small particles of phage No. 1M were antigenically identical with those of phage No. 1; (ii) all structural elements of small and large particles of phage H17, except the inner core of the tail, were antigenically different from phage No. 1; and (iii) the small heads of phages No. 1M and H17 were antigenically identical. Particles of phage No. 1 are morphologically and antigenically identical with the large particles of phage No. 1M and are antigenically different from the large particles of phage H17. Since the tails of small and large particles are antigenically identical in each phage pair (No. 1M and H17), this suggests that in both cases, the genome of a small defective phage codes for the synthesis of head proteins only, whereas its tail is borrowed from the corresponding helper phage. The small phage may therefore be considered as a satellite of the large phage which depends on a helper partner for production of complete particles and whose tail proteins are identical with those of the helper phage.

A comparative study of the fine antigen structure of phage DDVI and its h mutant using neutralization reaction and the electron microscopy of the phage-antibody complex has shown that the head and the tail of these phages have common protein constituents. The bulk of the antigens located in tail's fibers and in a base plates is also identical. However, the application of the cross-adsorbed sera has shown that the phage DDVI and the h mutant differ by only one specific antigen located in the distal part of tail's fibers.

We have applied the method of immunocolloidal gold in order to label the ribonuclear proteins of prokaryotic cells on isolated bacterial chromatosomes. In the process of protein synthesis it was possible to visualize a definite protein of defective phage D52 of Proteus mirabilis.

A brief review of literature data and our investigations on the antibodies used for specific labeling in electron microscopy is presented. Considered are the problems connected with structure and function of separate components of bacterial viruses revealed by means of specific antibodies. The results of fine differentiation of antigenic components in the case of phages of the colidysentery group allowed to elucidate the functional role of the adsorption apparatus in the course of phage interaction with the bacterial cell. The topology of structural proteins (gene-products 35, 36, 37) of the tail's long strands for phages T4, DDVI+h and DDVIh is determined. Antigenic properties of proteins that are found in the composition of two forms of Bacillus mycoides are demonstrated immune-electronmicroscopically. On the basis of this finding, a conclusion was made that one of these phages acted as precursor, the other--as satellite during the simultaneous development of these phages in the bacterial cell. It was also established that temperate and virulent phages are related antigenically, which proves that lysogenic bacteria can be one of the phage sources on the environmental conditions. Visualization of non-ribosomal genes of procaryots that code for structural proteins of a defective phage proves the efficiency of the immune-electronmicroscopic method for investigating of biological objects.

Dilution of human serum or solutions of highly purified subcomponent C1q of human complement results in the drop of C1q activity. Electron microscopy of highly purified subcomponent C1q revealed that a certain part of molecules has a changed ultrastructure and C1q subunits are dissociated. As the preparations for electron microscopy have been obtained from dilute solutions, the changes in the ultrastructure and C1q inactivation should be interrelated phenomena. The conformational liability of the C1q structure is supposed to have a functional role.

Topology of the products of the genes 34, 35, 36 and 37 of the bacteriophage T4D long tail fibers were determined with the aid of monospecific antibodies. The antibodies against gene product 34 were the only to interact with the proximal part of long tail fibers, but the distal part bound the antibodies against 35, 36 and 37. Product of the gene 35 is located at the joint-site with the distal part and binds the distance not more than 75 A long. Gene product 36 is located between these of 35 and 37 and occupy the region about 150 A. The capability of the antibodies obtained against the above-mentioned proteins were tested ot bind with long tail fibers diagnostic phages DDVIh+ and DDVIh Shigella disentheriae. We could'nt mark any difference in binding of the antibodies against gene 34, 35 and 36 product with DDVI phages and T4D. The distal part of the fibers of DDVIh bound the antibodies against product of gene 37 as T4D. Nevertheless DDVIh+ possesses only few antigenic sites relative to product of gene 37 of T4. The changes in the distal part of long tail fibers of h-strain DDVI may lead to the broadening of the host specifity of this virus.

In an investigation of the antigenic fine structure of phages T4 and DDVI with the use of the neutralization reaction and electron-microscopic observation of the phage-antibody complexes, it has been possible to establish that the head of phage T4 consists of proteins which have antigenic determinants of two types: The first type is identical to the antigens of the head of phage DDVI, and the second type is apparently absent in phage DDVI. The phage DDVI head contains mostly determinants which are common to the phage T4 head, since it was not possible to detect antigenically specific components in the phage DDVI head. The tail sheaths of phage T4 and DDVI appear to be identical in the antigenic respect. A difference has been observed in the fibers and the base plates of the phages investigated. The presence of the following three types of antigens has been established: 1) common to phages T2, T4, and DDVI, 2) common to phages T4 and DDVI, and 3) specific for each phage investigated.