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Type 1 interferon (IFN) is a major contributor to the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). A landmark study by Caielli et al. now shows that erythrocytes from lupus patients that fail to switch from glycolysis to oxidative phosphorylation during differentiation retain their mitochondria. These mitochondria-containing erythrocytes represent a novel source of IFN when phagocytosed by macrophages.

The aim of the study was to assess the antiviral activity of the 7 types of liquid corneal storage medium on an experimental model of herpesvirus infection in vitro. Material and methods. The study of antiviral activity of 7 samples of liquid corneal storage medium on a model of herpesvirus infection caused by the herpes simplex virus type 1 in Vero-cell using virological and statistical research methods was carried out. Results and discussion . All the studied images of the corneal storage medium, including the Borzenka-Moroz base medium, did not have a cytotoxic effect on Vero cell culture. Out of of 7 samples of liquid corneal storage medium, 4 samples had reliable antiviral activity against HSV-1 when used under the therapeutic regimen (1 hour after infection) and under the preventive regimen (2 hours before infection). Antiviral activity was established in 2 samples containing the interferon inducer cycloferon at a concentration of 10 mg/kg and 30 mg/kg (sample 2, 3), in a sample containing the interferon inducer gamapren 15 mg/kg (sample 5), and in a sample containing a combination of drugs - 10 mg/kg cycloferon and an acyclic nucleoside analog-acyclovir 10 mg/kg (sample 6). According to the results of 2 test regimens, the maximum statistically significant inhibitory effect in relation to HSV-1 was detected in sample 6, containing a combination of drugs. Against the background of sample 6, the infectious activity of the test virus decreased by an average of 3.2 lg, the inhibition coefficient was 54.5%. Conclusion. The results of the study indicate the prospects of using types of media with antiviral activity (samples 2, 3, 5, 6) for storing donor corneas in order to increase the effectiveness of keratoplasty in patients with ophthalmic herpes.

Despite the obvious advances in vaccination and therapy, influenza remains a poorly controlled infection with high morbidity and mortality. This study examined the antiviral activity of interferon inducer Kagocel on a mouse model of lethal influenza pneumonia. It has been shown that the therapeutic and prophylactic use of Kagocel leads to a dose-dependent decrease in specific mortality and suppression of virus reproduction in lung tissue. The effect of Kagocel was statistically identical to the effect of the reference drug — Arbidol (umifenovir).

Introduction. Interferons (IFN) and IFN inducers are effective in suppressing viral reproduction and correcting of the innate immunity mechanisms. The aim of the study was to test the hypothesis of the possible involvement of the IFN inducer CelAgrip (CA) as an activator or suppressor of antiviral effects in Burkitt’s lymphoma (LB) cell cultures with different ability to produce Epstein-Barr virus antigens (EBV). Material and methods. The kinetic analysis of the dynamics of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and determination of gene group expression by real-time PCR in response to CA treatment were done in human cell lines LB P3HR-1 and Namalva, spontaneously producing and not producing EBV antigens. Results and discussion. When treating CA in Namalva cells, a decrease in the ROS activation index was found; in P3HR-1 cells, an increase was observed. After treatment with CA, there was no reliable activation of the IFN-α, IFN-β and IFN-λ genes in Namalva cells, but the expression of the ISG15 and P53(TP53) genes was increased more than 1200 times and 4.5 times, respectively. When processing the CA of P3HR-1 cells, the expression of IFN-α genes increased by more than 200 times, IFN-λ - 100 times, and the ISG15 gene - 2.2 times. The relationship between IFN-inducing action of CA and the activity of ISG15 and ROS in LB cell cultures producing and not producing EBV antigens is supposed. Conclusion. In Namalva cells that do not produce EBV antigens the treatment of CA results in suppression of ROS generation and activation of the expression of genes ISG15 and P53 (TP53); in P3HR-1 cells producing EBV antigens, the opposite picture is observed - the formation of ROS and the expression of the IFN-α and IFN-λ genes are activated and the activity of the ISG15 and P53 (TP53) genes is suppressed.

To assess the effectiveness of the use of the antiviral drug enisamium iodide in the complex treatment of acute respiratory viral infections (ARVI) caused by various pathogens in routine clinical practice.А prospective randomized study included 134 patients who were treated in the epidemic season of influenza and ARVI in 20182019. All patients were examined for the presence of influenza A and B viruses, respiratory syncytial virus, human metapneumovirus, parainfluenza virus, coronaviruses, rhinoviruses, adenoviruses in nasopharyngeal swabs by PCR. Patients of the main group received enisamium iodide along with symptomatic therapy, the control group received only symptomatic therapy. The primary parameter of the effectiveness of therapy was evaluated on the scale of the general severity of the manifestations of ARVI (Total Symptom Score TSS) from the 2nd to the 4th day and by the secondary criteria of effectiveness: assessment of the duration of ARVI, the severity of fever, the proportion of patients with normal body temperature, the duration of the main clinical symptoms of acute respiratory viral infections, the proportion of patients in whom complications requiring antibiotics were noted, the dynamics of interferon status on the 6th day. To conduct a statistical analysis, depending on the efficiency parameter, the ANCOVA method with a fixed group factor and an initial score on the TSS severity scale was used as covariates, a criterion for comparing quantitative indicators in two independent groups.According to the results of the analysis of the primary efficacy parameter, the median (interquartile range) of the average score on the scale of the general severity of ARVI manifestations in the main group was 4.33 (3.675.83), in the comparison group 6.00 (4.677.25; p0.001). The duration of systemic and local manifestations of acute respiratory viral infections was statistically significantly less in the main group (p=0.002 and p=0.019, respectively). Prescription of additional therapy was required in 2 (2.9%) patients of the main group (patients taking enisamium iodide), compared with 8 (11.9%) patients in the control group. Serum levels of interferon  and interferon  on the last day of treatment were statistically significantly higher in patients of the main group compared with the control group (p0.001). Treatment (excellent) was evaluated by 42 (62.7%) patients, while in the control group only 17 (25.8%) patients gave similar ratings. Both patients (p0.001) and doctors (p0.002) rated therapy tolerance better in the study group.The results confirmed the safety and effectiveness of enisamium iodide as a treatment for ARVI and influenza. The antiviral, interferonogenic and anti-inflammatory properties of the drug are involved in the formation of an antiviral response and reduce the risk of complications, which makes it possible to reduce the number of symptomatic agents used.Цель. Оценка эффективности применения в рутинной клинической практике противовирусного препарата энисамия йодида в комплексной терапии острых респираторных вирусных инфекций (ОРВИ), вызванных различными возбудителями. Материалы и методы. В проспективное рандомизированное исследование включены 134 пациента, проходивших лечение в эпидемический сезон гриппа и ОРВИ в 20182019 гг. Все пациенты обследованы на наличие вирусов гриппа А и B, респираторно-синцитиального вируса, метапневмовируса человека, вируса парагриппа, коронавирусов, риновирусов, аденовирусов в мазках из носоглотки методом полимеразной цепной реакции. Пациенты основной группы получали энисамия йодид наряду с симптоматической терапией, контрольная группа получала только симптоматическую терапию. Первичный параметр эффективности лечения оценивали по шкале общей выраженности проявлений ОРВИ (Total Symptom Score TSS) со 2 по 4-й день и вторичным критериям эффективности: оценка продолжительности ОРВИ, выраженность лихорадки, доля пациентов с нормальной температурой тела, продолжительность основных клинических симптомов ОРВИ, доля больных, у которых отмечено развитие осложнений, требующих назначения антибиотиков, динамика интерферонового статуса на 6-й день. Для проведения статистического анализа в зависимости от параметра эффективности применялся метод ANCOVA с фиксированным фактором группы и исходным баллом по шкале выраженности TSS в качестве ковариаты, критерий сравнения количественных показателей в двух независимых группах. Результаты. По результатам анализа первичного параметра эффективности медиана (межквартильный диапазон) средней оценки по шкале общей выраженности проявлений ОРВИ в основной группе составила 4,33 (3,675,83), в группе сравнения 6,00 (4,677,25; p0,001. Продолжительность системных и локальных проявлений ОРВИ была статистически значимо меньше в основной группе (р=0,002 и р=0,019 соответственно). Назначение дополнительной терапии потребовалось 2 (2,9%) пациентам основной группы (принимающие энисамия йодид) по сравнению с 8 (11,9%) пациентами из контрольной группы. Сывороточные уровни интерферона  и интерферона  на последний день лечения были статистически значимо выше у пациентов основной группы по сравнению с контрольной (p0,001). Оценку лечению отлично дали 42 (62,7%) пациента, в то время как в контрольной группе аналогичные оценки поставили только 17 (25,8%) больных. И пациенты (p0,001), и врачи (p0,002) оценивали переносимость терапии лучше в основной группе. Заключение. Полученные результаты подтвердили безопасность и эффективность энисамия йодида как средства терапии ОРВИ и гриппа. Противовирусные, интерфероногенные и противовоспалительные свойства препарата участвуют в формировании противовирусного ответа и снижают риск осложнений, что дает возможность уменьшить количество применяемых симптоматических средств.

Significance Here, we show that expression of key circadian clock genes in the skin is altered by acute inflammation in mice treated topically with the immune activator imiquimod and by chronic inflammation in human psoriatic lesions. We show time-of-day–dependent activation of the interferon pathway, a key pathway involved in the host defense response. Mice lacking circadian rhythms have greater epidermal hyperplasia and more robust activation of the interferon pathway. Furthermore, we show that daytime-restricted feeding shifts the phase of interferon-sensitive gene expression in mouse skin. These findings demonstrate a role for the circadian clock in a major defense pathway in the skin’s response to microbes and cancer and suggest that timing of feeding can affect this response in the skin., The circadian clock coordinates a variety of immune responses with signals from the external environment to promote survival. We investigated the potential reciprocal relationship between the circadian clock and skin inflammation. We treated mice topically with the Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) agonist imiquimod (IMQ) to activate IFN-sensitive gene (ISG) pathways and induce psoriasiform inflammation. IMQ transiently altered core clock gene expression, an effect mirrored in human patient psoriatic lesions. In mouse skin 1 d after IMQ treatment, ISGs, including the key ISG transcription factor IFN regulatory factor 7 (Irf7), were more highly induced after treatment during the day than the night. Nuclear localization of phosphorylated-IRF7 was most prominently time-of-day dependent in epidermal leukocytes, suggesting that these cell types play an important role in the diurnal ISG response to IMQ. Mice lacking Bmal1 systemically had exacerbated and arrhythmic ISG/Irf7 expression after IMQ. Furthermore, daytime-restricted feeding, which affects the phase of the skin circadian clock, reverses the diurnal rhythm of IMQ-induced ISG expression in the skin. These results suggest a role for the circadian clock, driven by BMAL1, as a negative regulator of the ISG response, and highlight the finding that feeding time can modulate the skin immune response. Since the IFN response is essential for the antiviral and antitumor effects of TLR activation, these findings are consistent with the time-of-day–dependent variability in the ability to fight microbial pathogens and tumor initiation and offer support for the use of chronotherapy for their treatment.

BackgroundViral-based immunotherapy can overcome resistance to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) and fill the unmet needs of many patients with cancer. Oncolytic viruses (OVs) are defined as engineered or naturally occurring viruses that selectively replicate in and kill cancer cells. OVs also induce antitumor immunity. The purpose of this study was to compare the antitumor effects of live oncolytic vaccinia viruses versus the inactivated versions and elucidate their underlying immunological mechanisms.MethodsWe engineered a replication-competent, oncolytic vaccinia virus (OV-GM) by inserting a murine GM-CSF gene into the thymidine kinase locus of a mutant vaccinia E3L∆83N, which lacks the Z-DNA-binding domain of vaccinia virulence factor E3. We compared the antitumor effects of intratumoral (IT) delivery of live OV-GM versus heat-inactivated OV-GM (heat-iOV-GM) in a murine B16-F10 melanoma bilateral implantation model. We also generated vvDD, a well-studied oncolytic vaccinia virus, and compared the antitumor effects of live vvDD vs heat-inactivated vvDD (heat-ivvDD) in a murine A20 B-cell lymphoma bilateral tumor implantation model.ResultsHeat-iOV-GM infection of dendritic cells (DCs) and tumor cells in vitro induced type I interferon and proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines, whereas live OV-GM did not. IT live OV-GM was less effective in generating systemic antitumor immunity compared with heat-iOV-GM. Similar to heat-iOV-GM, the antitumor effects of live OV-GM also require Batf3-dependent CD103+ dendritic cells. When combined with systemic delivery of ICB, IT heat-iOV-GM was more effective in eradicating tumors, compared with live OV-GM. IT heat-ivvDD was also more effective in treating murine A20 B-cell lymphoma, compared with live vvDD.ConclusionsTumor lysis induced by the replication of oncolytic vaccinia virus has a limited effect on the generation of systemic antitumor immunity. The activation of Batf3-dependent CD103+ DCs is critical for antitumor effects induced by both live OV-GM and heat-iOV-GM, with the latter being more potent than live OV-GM in inducing innate and adaptive immunity in both locally injected and distant, non-injected tumors. We propose that evaluations of both innate and adaptive immunity, induced by IT oncolytic viral immunotherapy at injected and non-injected tumors, should be included as potential biomarkers for host responses to viral therapy.

Acute respiratory viral infections (ARVI) are some of the most widely spread diseases worldwide that are of 80% of economic cost of infectious diseases. It is known that specific prophylaxis (vaccination) and, in some clinical cases, direct-acting antiviral prophylaxis are key strategies for the prevention of influenza as one of the most dangerous ARVI viruses. However, there are a number of reasons why specific prophylaxis of influenza does not entirely address the issue of prophylaxis of ARVI that are caused by more than 200 different viruses, such as formation of immune response only to vaccine influenza strains and absence of immune response to other respiratory infections, induction in the case of short-term protection, especially, in the aged and others. Prevention of influenza with antiviral drugs is limited by risks of development of resistant influenza strains aa well as contraindications and limitations of use. Therefore, the use of nonspecific drugs such as broad-spectrum antiviral drugs of interferon type (IFN) and their inducers (II), as well as sanitary and hygienic measures is recommended for prevention. For the purpose of prevention, the use of inducers of endogenic interferons is relevant in unvaccinated persons during pre-epidemic and epidemic ARVI periods; in high-risk group (students, medical professions, transport workers, elderly, patients with comorbid pathologies, people in structured organizations, for example, military personnel), in immunocompromised people. One of the most extensively studied interferon inducers widely used in clinical practice since 2003 for prevention and treatment of influenza and diseases caused by Herpesviruses is an antiviral drug Kagocel®. The paper presents real-time data of the preventive efficacy of Kagocel® in the therapy of acute respiratory viral infections and influenza caused by different viral strains including pandemic ones.

Introduction . Cytokines activated in response to immunosuppressive viral infections can directly or indirectly affect the neoplastic transformation of B cells. In this study, we studied a new substance designed to produce the antiviral drug CelAgrip (CA, CelAgripus), which exhibits interferon (IFN) and cytokine-inducing activity and, apparently, can be used as an activator of antiviral immunity. Purpose - is to evaluate the cytokine-regulating effect of CA in Burkitt's lymphoma (LB) cell lines latently infected with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Objectives : to study the CA-induced expression of the cytokine genes IL-ip, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, IL-17, IL-18, IFN-a, IFN -Y, IFN-p, IFN-A1, IFN-A2, IFN-A3, TNF-a in normal and EBV transformed LB cells. Material and methods . Cell line: the human embryo fibroblasts (HEF), Namalva, Daudi, Raji, P3HR-1. Preparations: CA, gossypol-acetic acid (GAA), sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (Na-CMC). Methods: RT-PCR and methods for assessing cytotoxicity (MTT and Scepter 2.0 Merck cell counter). Results . The effect of the CA preparation on the expression of IFN- Л , IL-1p, IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10 genes was revealed. Discussion. We observed the activation of gene expression of IFN-A, IL-1P, IL-6, IL-8 and suppression of IL-10 gene activity when treatment CA of LB cells. Conclusion . The substance CA has new effects on the activation of the expression of a number of key cytokine genes in stable Burkitt lymphoma cell lines.

In this article topical issues in treatment of acute respiratory infections in children and place of both exogenous interferons and interferon inducer drugs in their treatment are reviewed, including mechanisms of action, advantages and disadvantages of their application, special features of use in children. The latest clinical and laboratory data on the efficacy meglumine acridone acetate use in this pathology are given here. Depletion of inflammatory manifestations, correction of immune system imbalance were observed, leading to reduction of symptoms severity and disease duration, which, along with the good tolerability of the drug allows us to recommend it for widespread use in children.

Immunotherapy has revolutionized cancer treatment, with sustained responses to immune checkpoint inhibitors reported in a number of malignancies. Such therapeutics are now being trialed in aggressive or advanced cancers that are heavily reliant on untargeted therapies, such as triple negative breast cancer. However, responses have been underwhelming to date and are very difficult to predict, leading to an inability to accurately weigh up the benefit-to-risk ratio for their implementation. The tumor immune microenvironment has been closely linked to immunotherapeutic response, with superior responses observed in patients with T cell-inflamed or 'hot' tumors. One class of cytokines, the type I interferons, are a major dictator of tumor immune infiltration and activation. Tumor cell inherent interferon signaling dramatically influences the immune microenvironment and the expression of immune checkpoint proteins, hence regulators and targets of this pathway are candidate biomarkers of immunotherapeutic response. In support of a link between IFN signaling and immunotherapeutic response, the combination of type I interferon inducers with checkpoint immunotherapy has recently been demonstrated critical for a sustained anti-tumor response in aggressive breast cancer models. Here we review evidence that links type I interferons with a hot tumor immune microenvironment, response to checkpoint inhibitors and reduced risk of metastasis that supports their use as biomarkers and therapeutics in oncology.

Bronchial asthma (BA) remains one of the most pressing problems in modern pediatrics. The incidence of this pathology is increasing annually and, according to WHO, about 300 million people in the world suffer from asthma. Despite the recent advances in the diagnosis and treatment of asthma, complete control over the course of asthma has failed. The objective of the workwas to evaluate the effect of immunomodulatory therapy on nonspecific and humoral immunity in children with BA by including interferon inducer (cycloferon) in a standard base therapy. There were 120 children with bronchial asthma aged 5 to 14 years, with an average age of (11.6 ± 1.5) years. To determine the diagnosis and effectiveness of therapy used the international classification of diseases of the 10th examination, protocol for the diagnosis and treatment of bronchial asthma in children (order of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine № 767 from 27.12.2005), GINA 2011. The main group (n = 60) included children, who, in addition to basic therapy, received in addition interferon inducer (cycloferon) according to the scheme: 150 mg on 1-, 2-, 4-, 6- and 8-th day of therapy (No. 5) and then 150 mg after 72 hours. (No. 5) (1500 mg total). The comparison group included children (n = 60) who received only basic therapy, depending on the severity of the disease. The control group consisted of 25 healthy children. The level of serum interferon, virus-induced production of interferon-a (IFN-a), mitogen-stimulated production of interferon-g (IFN-g), the level of total serum IgE were determined by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The phagocytic activity of neutrophils (NG) was evaluated. The circulating immune complexes (CECs), immunoglobulins (Ig) A, M and G in serum were determined by the immunodiffusion reaction method. It was found that the additional use of cycloferon had a corrective effect on phagocytes, which led to an increase in the synthesis of IFN-a and IFN-g, a decrease in the severity of the allergic component due to the decrease in IgE and circulating immune complexes and a normalization of the synthesis of IgA, IgM, IgG with further development of long-term clinical remission of the disease.

The article justifies the use of interferon inducers in a clinical practice of pediatrician. The authors isolated a group of derivatives of acridone acetic acid, which effectiveness is associated with the features of pharmacokinetics and pharmacological activity. They demonstrated preventive and therapeutic efficacy of cycloferon in the complex treatment of children with influenza and other acute respiratory viral infections, herpes virus, arbovirus, rotavirus infections, viral hepatitis and tick-borne encephalitis due to its immunomodulatory potency. The article analyzed the use of cycloferon in frequently sick children, patients with allergic diseases, chronic tonsillitis, etc.; also it showed a decrease in the frequency of relapses of both infectious and allergic diseases, the possibility of combined use with other etiotropic and symptomatic drugs.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the ARVI prevention effectiveness in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) using interferon inducer amixin. Materials and methods. Conducted a comprehensive survey, dynamic monitoring and treatment of 60 patients aged from 49 to 70 years (mean age 60.25±4.57 years, 17 men and 43 women) with CHF with preserved ejection fraction of left ventricle (LVEF) (≥50%), II-III functional class (FC) according to the classification of new York Heart Association (NYHA), which developed as a result of coronary heart disease (CHD), hypertensive disease (HD). Of these, 30 patients (group 1) on the background of standard therapy for CHF received for the prevention of ARVI tiloron (Amixin) at a dose of 125 mg once a week for 6 weeks, two courses for 1 year. Group 2 patients received only standard therapy for CHF. Results. A decrease in the frequency of ARVI in patients with CHF treated with Amixin was found, which was accompanied by a decrease in the severity of subclinical inflammation by reducing the production of proinflammatory (IL-1β) and increasing the production of anti-inflammatory (IL-10) cytokines, reducing neurohumoral activation (reducing levels of aldosterone and Nt-proBNP), increasing the level of α- and γ-interferon. The positive dynamics of biomarkers of systemic inflammation and neurohormonal activation explains the improvement of the clinical course in patients with CHF (increase of tolerance to physical loads, reducing the number of visits to General practitioner and hospital admissions in the hospital during 12 months of observation). Conclusion. A promising approach to the prevention of SARS in patients with CHF is course therapy with Amixin (2 times a year before the seasonal rising in the incidence of respiratory viral infections and influenza), which allows to achieve both decreasing in the frequency of SARS per year, and improvement the clinical course of CHF.

Early growth response gene (EGR1) is a transcription factor known to be a downstream effector of B-cell receptor signaling and Janus kinase 1 (JAK1) signaling in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). While EGR1 is characterized as a tumor suppressor in leukemia and multiple myeloma, the role of EGR1 in lymphoma is unknown. Here we demonstrate that EGR1 is a potential oncogene that promotes cell proliferation in DLBCL. IHC analysis revealed that EGR1 expression is elevated in DLBCL compared with normal lymphoid tissues and the level of EGR1 expression is higher in activated B cell–like subtype (ABC) than germinal center B cell–like subtype (GCB). EGR1 expression is required for the survival and proliferation of DLBCL cells. Genomic analyses demonstrated that EGR1 upregulates expression of MYC and E2F pathway genes through the CBP/p300/H3K27ac/BRD4 axis while repressing expression of the type I IFN pathway genes by interaction with the corepressor NAB2. Genetic and pharmacologic inhibition of EGR1 synergizes with the BRD4 inhibitor JQ1 or the type I IFN inducer lenalidomide in growth inhibition of ABC DLBCL both in cell cultures and xenograft mouse models. Therefore, targeting oncogenic EGR1 signaling represents a potential new targeted therapeutic strategy in DLBCL, especially for the more aggressive ABC DLBCL. Implications: The study characterizes EGR1 as a potential oncogene that promotes cell proliferation and defines EGR1 as a new molecular target in DLBCL, the most common non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) create multiple lines of defense against viral infection. Here, we show that interferon-induced protein 35 (IFI35) inhibits swine (H3N2) influenza virus replication by directly interacting with the viral protein NS1. IFI35 binds more preferentially to the effector domain of NS1 (amino acids 128 to 207 [128-207aa]) than to the viral RNA sensor RIG-I. This promotes mutual antagonism between IFI35 and NS1 and frees RIG-I from IFI35-mediated K48-linked ubiquitination and degradation. However, IFI35 does not interact with the NS1 encoded by avian (H7N9) influenza virus, resulting in IFI35 playing an opposite virus-enabling role during highly pathogenic H7N9 virus infection. Notably, replacing the 128-207aa region of H7N9 NS1 with the corresponding region of H3N2 NS1 results in the chimeric NS1 acquiring the ability to bind to and mutually antagonize IFI35. IFI35-deficient mice accordingly exhibit more resistance to lethal H7N9 infection than exhibited by their wild-type control. Our data uncover a novel mechanism by which IFI35 regulates RIG-I-mediated antiviral immunity through mutual antagonism with influenza virus protein NS1. IMPORTANCE Influenza A virus (IAV) infection poses a global health threat and is among the most common contagious pathogens to cause severe respiratory infections in humans and animals. ISGs play a key role in host defense against IAV infection. In line with others, we show IFI35-mediated ubiquitination of RIG-I to be involved in innate immunity. Moreover, we define a novel role of IFI35 in regulating the type I interferon (IFN) pathway during IAV infection. We found that IFI35 regulates RIG-I-mediated antiviral signaling by interacting with IAV NS1. H3N2 NS1, but notably not H7N9 NS1, interacts with IFI35 and efficiently suppresses IFI35-dependent ubiquitination of RIG-I. IFI35 deficiency protected mice from H7N9 virus infection. Therefore, manipulation of IFI35-NS1 provides a new approach for the development of anti-IAV treatments.

The mitochondrial antiviral-signaling protein (MAVS, also known as VISA, IPS-1, or CARDIF) plays an essential role in the type I interferon (IFN) response and in retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I) mediated antiviral innate immunity in mammals. In this study, the caprine MAVS gene (caMAVS, 1566 bp) was identified and cloned. The caMAVS shares the highest amino acid similarity (98.1%) with the predicted sheep MAVS. Confocal microscopy analysis of partial deletion mutants of caMAVS revealed that the transmembrane and the so-called Non-Characterized domains are indispensable for intracellular localization to mitochondria. Overexpression of caMAVS in caprine endometrial epithelial cells up-regulated the mRNA levels of caprine interferon-stimulated genes. We concluded that caprine MAVS mediates the activation of the type I IFN pathway. We further demonstrated that both the CARD-like domain and the transmembrane domain of caMAVS were essential for the activation of the IFN-β promotor. The interaction between caMAVS and caprine RIG-I and the vital role of the CARD and NC domain in this interaction was demonstrated by co-immunoprecipitation. Upon infection with the Peste des Petits Ruminants Virus (PPRV, genus Morbillivirus), the level of MAVS was greatly reduced. This reduction was prevented by the addition of the proteasome inhibitor MG132. Moreover, we found that viral protein V could interact and colocalize with MAVS. Together, we identified caMAVS as a RIG-I interactive protein involved in the activation of type I IFN pathways in caprine cells and as a target for PPRV immune evasion.

Introduction . Medicines from the group of interferon inducers (IFNs) “swith on” the synthesis of type 1 interferons (IFN-I) and induce the expression of IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs) that regulate innate immunity reactions and protect the host from infectious agents and the tumour pathology. The purpose of the study was to determine the role of the drug celagrip (CA) in the activation of innate immunity genes and the effect on the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in patients with follicular lymphoma (FL). Objectives : to study the intensity of ROS production and the level of expression of the IFN-α2, IFN-λ1, ISG15, BCL2, P53 (TP53) and USP18 genes in response to the treatment of blood cells of patients with FL with the preparation of CA. Material and methods . The study involved primary cancer patients diagnosed with follicular lymphoma (FL) and healthy volunteers. A kinetic analysis of the dynamics of production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was performed in whose blood cells, and the expression of the group of genes was determined by real-time PCR in response to CA processing. Results and discussion . ROS production by blood cells of patients with FL and volunteers in the presence of CA significantly decreased ( P < 0.05). The level of gene expression of ISG15 , P53 (TR53) and USP 18 in the group of patients with FL was significantly higher than that in the group of volunteers. When treating blood cells with CA, it becomes possible to divide patients with FL into groups with a positive and negative response in accordance with the level of expression of the USP18 gene. We divided FL patients into groups with a positive and negative response in accordance with the level of USP18 gene expression after treatment of blood cells with CA. Conclusions . The CA drug reduces the production of ROS and simultaneously stimulates the activity of the innate immunity genes ISG15 , P53( TP53 ) and USP18 in the blood cells of patients with FL.

High expression of suppressors of cytokine signalling (SOCS) has been detected during various viral infections. As a negative feedback regulator, SOCS participates in the regulation of multiple signalling pathways. In this study, to study the related mechanism between SOCS and BDV and to explore the effect of SOCS on IFN pathways in nerve cells, downregulated of SOCS1/3 in oligodendroglial (OL) cells and OL cells persistently infected with BDV (OL/BDV) were constructed with RNA interference technology. An interferon inducer (poly I:C, PIC) and an IFN-α/β R1 antibody were used as stimulation in the SOCS1/3 low-expression cell models, qRT-PCR was used to detect type I IFN and BDV nucleic acid expression, Western blot was used to detect the expression of BDV P40 protein. After BDV acute infection with OL cells which with downregulated SOCS expression, the virus accounting was not detected, and the viral protein expression was lower than that of OL/BDV cells; the OL/BDV cells with downregulated SOCS expression had lower virus nucleic acid and protein expression than OL/BDV cells. Stimulated by IFN-α/β R1 antibody, the expression of type I interferon in OL/BDV cells decreased, and the content of BDV nucleic acid and protein increased, which was higher than that of OL/BDV cells. From the results, it was concluded that downregulating SOCS1/3 can inhibit the formation of acute BDV infection and virus replication in persistent BDV infection by promoting the expression of IFN-α/β and that SOCS can be used as a new target for antiviral therapy.

The skin epithelial layer acts as an important immunological barrier against pathogens and is capable of recognizing and responding to pathogen associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) in human and mouse models. Although presumed, it is unknown whether amphibian skin epithelial cells exhibit the ability to respond to PAMPs such as viral double-stranded RNA (dsRNA). To address this, two cell lines from the dorsal skin (Xela DS2) and ventral skin (Xela VS2) of the African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis) were established. Xela DS2 and Xela VS2 cells have an epithelial-like morphology, express genes associated with epithelial cells, and lack senescence-associated beta-galactosidase activity. Cells grow optimally in 70% Leibovitz’s L-15 medium supplemented with 15% fetal bovine serum at 26°C. Upon treatment with poly(I:C), a synthetic viral dsRNA analogue and known type I interferon inducer, Xela DS2 and Xela VS2 exhibit marked upregulation of key pro-inflammatory and antiviral transcripts suggesting frog epithelial cells participate in the recognition of extracellular viral dsRNA and production of local inflammatory signals; similar to human and mouse models. Currently, these are the only known Xenopus laevis skin epithelial-like cell lines and will be important for future research in amphibian epithelial cell biology, initial host-pathogen interactions, and rapid screening of the effects of environmental stressors, including contaminants, on frog skin epithelial cells.

For the last 50 years we have known of a broad-spectrum agent tilorone dihydrochloride (Tilorone). This is a small-molecule orally bioavailable drug that was originally discovered in the USA and is currently used clinically as an antiviral in Russia and the Ukraine. Over the years there have been numerous clinical and non-clinical reports of its broad spectrum of antiviral activity. More recently we have identified additional promising antiviral activities against Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, Chikungunya, Ebola and Marburg which highlights that this old drug may have other uses against new viruses. This may in turn inform the types of drugs that we need for virus outbreaks such as for the new coronavirus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Tilorone has been long neglected by the west in many respects but it deserves further reassessment in light of current and future needs for broad-spectrum antivirals.

The review contains a brief analysis of the 60-year history of the discovery, study and medical application of interferons, a new group of remarkable proteins that have found wide medical application in the therapy of virological, oncological, neurological, ophthalmic and other pathologies. Modern data on the classification of interferons and the mechanisms of their action are given. Particular attention is paid to the clinical use of medications of interferon and its inducers.Обзор содержит краткий анализ 60-летней истории открытия, изучения и медицинского применения интерферонов - новой группы замечательных белков, нашедших широкое применение в терапии вирусологических, онкологических, неврологических, офтальмологических и иных форм патологии. Приводятся современные данные о классификации интерферонов и механизмах их действия. Особое внимание уделено клиническому применению лекарственных препаратов интерферона и его индукторов.

BACKGROUND: Impaired antiviral interferon expression may be involved in asthma exacerbations commonly caused by rhinovirus infections. Allergy is a known risk factor for viral-induced asthma exacerbation, but little is known whether allergens may affect interferon responses.OBJECTIVE: Our hypothesis is that house dust mite (HDM) impairs viral stimulus-induced antiviral signalling.METHODS: Experimental asthma exacerbations were produced in vitro in human bronchial epithelial cells (HBECs) and in mice by using sequential challenges with HDM and a viral infection mimic, Poly(I:C). We examined rhinovirus pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) signalling pathways and potential mechanisms of impaired interferon response.RESULTS: HBECs and mice exposed to HDM prior to Poly(I:C) exhibited a reduced antiviral response compared to Poly(I:C) alone, including reduced IFN-β, IFN-lambda, TLR3, RIG-I, MDA5, IRF-3 and IRF-7. Heat-inactivation of HDM partially restored the TLR3-induced interferon response in vitro and in vivo. Our HBEC-data further showed that HDM directly affects TLR3 signalling by targeting the receptor glycosylation level.CONCLUSIONS: Direct effects of allergens such as HDM on PRRs can present as potential mechanism for defective antiviral airway responses. Accordingly, therapeutic measures targeting inhibitory effects of allergens on antiviral PRRs may find use as a strategy to boost antiviral response and ameliorate exacerbations in asthmatic patients. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. (Less)

BackgroundPeritoneal carcinomatosis is a fatal clinical presentation of colon cancer, characterized by unresponsiveness to conventional anticancer therapies, including immune checkpoint inhibitors. Here, we elucidated the immune-evasion mechanisms during the peritoneal carcinomatosis of colon cancer and developed a novel immunotherapy by activating the stimulator of interferon genes (STING) pathway.MethodsWe generated a syngeneic peritoneal carcinomatosis model of colon cancer. Mice were intraperitoneally treated with either STING agonist (MIW815, also known as ADU-S100) or PD-1 blockade or both. The tumor microenvironment was comprehensively analyzed using multiplexed immunofluorescence imaging, flow cytometry, and NanoString immune profiling.ResultsIntraperitoneal colon cancer cells induce a massive influx of immunosuppressive M2-like macrophages, upregulate immune checkpoints, and impair effector T cell functions during peritoneal dissemination; these collectively create a highly angiogenic and immunosuppressive milieu that is resistant to anti-PD-1 monotherapy. Intraperitoneal administration of a STING agonist suppressed aberrant angiogenesis, increased pericyte coverage, and normalized tumor vessels, thereby facilitating the infiltration of activated CD8+ T cells into peritoneal tumor nodules. Moreover, STING activation reprogramed tumor-associated macrophages toward the M1 phenotype. STING activation converted immunologically cold peritoneal tumors into T-cell-inflamed tumors in a type-I interferon-dependent manner. Lastly, the STING agonist synergistically cooperated with PD-1 and/or COX2 blockade to further suppress the peritoneal dissemination of colon cancer, resulting in complete eradication of tumor and ascites, and inducing durable antitumor immunity.ConclusionsSTING activation can normalize the peritoneal vascular and immune microenvironment, providing a rationale for a novel combination therapeutic strategy for peritoneal carcinomatosis in colon cancer.

The article provides the summarized data of clinical trials evaluating the efficacy and safety of kagocel used to prevent and treat influenza and acute respiratory viral infections of different etiologies. The results of numerous preclinical and clinical trials suggest that the kagocel substance is highly safe and that it is appropriate to use the drug for the treatment and prevention of influenza and acute respiratory viral infections of another etiology.Представлены обобщенные данные клинических исследований по оценке эффективности и безопасности использования препарата кагоцел для профилактики и лечения гриппа и острых респираторных вирусных инфекций другой этиологии. Результаты многочисленных доклинических и клинических исследований свидетельствуют о высокой безопасности субстанции кагоцел и о целесообразности использования препарата для лечения и профилактики гриппа и острых респираторных вирусных инфекций другой этиологии.

Peripheral viral infections increase seizure propensity and intensity in susceptible individuals. We have modeled this comorbidity by demonstrating that intraperitoneal (ip) injection of the conventional viral mimetic, polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (PIC), renders the brain hypersusceptible to seizures induced by kainic acid (KA). At the molecular level, the hippocampus, which is the ictal site of KA-induced seizures, exhibits upregulated expression of messages encoding several inflammatory genes. Here, we profiled temporal expression of these genes at the protein level. Briefly, eight-week old female C57BL/6 mice were ip injected with 12 mg/kg of PIC and inflammatory proteins were quantified in the hippocampus and blood by ELISA. We found a robust but transient increase in blood concentration of IL-6, CXCL10, CCL2, CXCL9, CCL7 and CCL12 six hours after PIC challenge. CXCL1, IL1β, TNFα and CXCL2 featured a moderate increase. However, only four chemokines were increased in the hippocampus. CXCL10 showed the highest increase 6-12 h after PIC challenge, and its level dwindled to the baseline by 48 h. CXCL1, CXCl9 and CXCL2 were also transiently elevated but their maximal values were by an order of magnitude lower than the values for CXCL10. These results indicate that CXCL10 is the primary inflammatory protein generated in the hippocampus in response to PIC challenge, and that this chemokine may drive the development of seizure hypersusceptibility. In addition, the hippocampus featured a protracted increase in the levels of anaphylatoxins C3a and C5a, indicating the activation of the complement cascades.

Airway epithelial cells (AEC) exhibit a pro-inflammatory phenotype in patients with allergic asthma. We examined the effect of an allergic cytokine environment on the response of AEC to rhinovirus (RV), the most common trigger of acute exacerbations of asthma. Calu-3 cells, a well-differentiated human AEC line, were cultured with or without the T-helper type 2 cytokines interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13, then stimulated with a toll-like receptor (TLR) 3 agonist (poly I:C, dsRNA) or a TLR7 agonist (imiquimod), or infected with RV 16. Expression of pro-inflammatory and antiviral mediators, and of viral pattern-recognition molecules, was assessed using nCounter assays, quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and protein immunoassays. Both dsRNA and imiquimod stimulated expression of mRNA for IL6 and IL8 whereas expression of several chemokines and antiviral response genes was induced only by dsRNA. Conversely, expression of other cytokines and growth factors was induced only by imiquimod. RV infection not only stimulated expression of the inflammation-related genes induced by dsRNA, but also of complement factor B and the novel pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-32. In the T helper type 2 (Th2) cytokine environment, several mediators exhibited significantly enhanced expression, whereas expression of interferons was either unchanged or enhanced. The allergic environment also increased expression of pattern-recognition receptors and of intercellular adhesion molecule 1, the cell surface receptor for RV. We conclude that Th2 cytokines promote increased production of pro-inflammatory mediators by AEC following infection with RV. Increased viral entry or enhanced signalling via pattern-recognition receptors could also contribute to the exaggerated inflammatory response to RV observed in allergic asthmatics.

The objectives of the study conducted at the Research Institute of Children’s Infections of the Federal Medical and Biological Agency was to analyze the changes in the severity of clinical syndromes and isolation of influenza/ARVI viruses during treatment with Kagocel®. The study group consisted of 80 children aged 3–11 years who were hospitalized with symptoms of influenza and ARVI, whose complex therapy included Kagocel®. The study showed a significant (p

In the Russian Federation, the incidence of influenza and other acute viral respiratory infections (ARVI) increases every year during the autumn-winter period. The most common ARVI are parainfluenza, adenoviral and respiratory-syncytial infection. The constant mutability of influenza viruses and emergence of new ARI pathogens are especially dangerous. Medications from various groups including interferon inducers, particularly Kagocel, are recommended for the treatment and prevention of influenza and ARVI.

The article presents data on the place of the modern endogenous interferon inducers in the treatment and prevention of influenza and ARVI in children and the mechanisms of action. The focus is on the domestic antiviral innovation Kagocel which demonstrated high clinical efficacy and safety in a number of multi-center, blind, placebo-controlled studies of the treatment and prevention of ARVI/flu in children over 2 years old.

Background Conventional treatments for warts like cryotherapy are limited by the pain during procedures, especially in pediatric patients. Imiquimod is a topical immune response modifier, but the thick stratum corneum of common warts prevents drug permeation through skin. Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of fractional laser/topical 5% imiquimod cream for the treatment of warts in children. Methods Eleven pediatric patients with multiple recalcitrant common warts were included. Lesions were treated using an ablative fractional 2,940-nm Er:YAG laser at 1- or 2-week interval. After each laser treatment session, imiquimod 5% cream was self-applied once daily 5 days a week. Response and adverse effects were assessed 2 weekly until complete clearance or up to maximum of 48 weeks. Pain during fractional laser was assessed using a visual analogue scale (0-10). Results Eight of the 11 (72.7%) children experienced complete clearance. Mean duration was 29.7 (16-48) weeks, and the mean number of fractional laser was 17.5 (8-37). No significant adverse effect was observed. Pain visual analogue scale during fractional laser was 2.4 (1-4) compared to 6.2 (5-8) during cryotherapy. Conclusion This pilot study indicates that fractional laser-assisted topical imiquimod may provide benefit for recalcitrant warts in children.

The review summarizes literature data on the development of drugs based on natural and synthetic high-polymeric double-stranded RNA, and their antiviral, immunoadjuvant and antitumor properties. Special attention is paid to cell receptors responding to exogenous dsRNA, the paths of dsRNA-dependent antiviral reaction, ability of dsRNA to inhibit growth and induce apoptosis ofmalignant cells. It has been shown that enhancing the innate immune response with dsRNA can be an effective component in improving methods for treating and preventing infectious and cancer diseases. The further use of dsRNA for the correction of pathological processes of different origin is discussed.Obobshcheny predstavlennye v literaturnykh istochnikakh rezul'taty issledovaniĭ, posviashchennykh sozdaniiu lekarstvennykh preparatov na osnove prirodnykh i sinteticheskikh vysokopolimernykh dvuspiral'nykh RNK (dsRNK), izucheniiu ikh protivovirusnykh, immunoad'iuvantnykh i protivoopukholevykh svoĭstv. Privedeny svedeniia o retseptorakh kletok, reagiruiushchikh na ékzogennye dsRNK, putiakh realizatsii dsRNK-zavisimoĭ protivovirusnoĭ reaktsii, sposobnosti dsRNK ingibirovat' rost i vyzyvat' apoptoz malignizirovannykh kletok. Pokazano, chto usilenie vrozhdennogo immunnogo otveta s pomoshch'iu dsRNK mozhet byt' éffektivnoĭ sostavliaiushcheĭ v uluchshenii sposobov lecheniia i profilaktiki infektsionnykh i onkologicheskikh zabolevaniĭ. Obsuzhdaetsia vopros o perspektivakh dal'neĭshego ispol'zovaniia dsRNK dlia korrektsii patologicheskikh protsessov razlichnogo proiskhozhdeniia.

Alphavirus infections are characterized by global inhibition of cellular transcription and rapid induction of a cytopathic effect (CPE) in cells of vertebrate origin. Transcriptional shutoff impedes the cellular response to alphavirus replication and prevents establishment of an antiviral state. Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a highly pathogenic alphavirus representative, and its nonstructural protein 2 (nsP2) plays critical roles in both inhibition of transcription and CPE development. Previously, we have identified a small peptide in Sindbis virus (SINV) nsP2 (VLoop) that determined the protein’s transcriptional inhibition function. It is located in the surface-exposed loop of the carboxy-terminal domain of nsP2 and exhibits high variability between members of different alphavirus serocomplexes. In this study, we found that SINV-specific mutations could not be directly applied to CHIKV. However, by using a new selection approach, we identified a variety of new VLoop variants that made CHIKV and its replicons incapable of inhibiting cellular transcription and dramatically less cytopathic. Importantly, the mutations had no negative effect on RNA and viral replication rates. In contrast to parental CHIKV, the developed VLoop mutants were unable to block induction of type I interferon. Consequently, they were cleared from interferon (IFN)-competent cells without CPE development. Alternatively, in murine cells that have defects in type I IFN production or signaling, the VLoop mutants established persistent, noncytopathic replication. The mutations in nsP2 VLoop may be used for development of new vaccine candidates against alphavirus infections and vectors for expression of heterologous proteins. IMPORTANCE Chikungunya virus is an important human pathogen which now circulates in both the Old and New Worlds. As in the case of other Old World alphaviruses, CHIKV nsP2 not only has enzymatic functions in viral RNA replication but also is a critical inhibitor of the antiviral response and one of the determinants of CHIKV pathogenesis. In this study, we have applied a new strategy to select a variety of CHIKV nsP2 mutants that no longer exhibited transcription-inhibitory functions. The designed CHIKV variants became potent type I interferon inducers and acquired a less cytopathic phenotype. Importantly, they demonstrated the same replication rates as the parental CHIKV. Mutations in the same identified peptide of nsP2 proteins derived from other Old World alphaviruses also abolished their nuclear functions. Such mutations can be further exploited for development of new attenuated alphaviruses.

Ingavirin® (imidazolyl ethanamide pentandioic acid) is an original antiviral drug, which is used in Russia for treatment and profilaxis of influenza and other acute viral infections. We confirmed that imidazolyl ethanamide pentandioic acid (IEPA), not being interferon inducer itself, enhances synthesis of both interferon-a/fi receptors (IFNAR) to interferone and cell sensitivity to interferone signalling, which was suppressed by NS1 protein - pathogen factor of influenza virus. IEPA is able to promote antiviral effector proteins PKR and MxA in infected cells, in opposition to interferon system suppression by influenza virus. Theoretical ground of clinical efficacy of Ingavirine® could be confirmed by obtained data of influence to innate immune system during viral infection.

Many cancers both evoke and subvert endogenous anti-tumor immunity. However, immunosuppression can be therapeutically reversed in subsets of cancer patients by treatments such as checkpoint inhibitors or Toll-like receptor agonists (TLRa). Moreover, chemotherapy can leukodeplete immunosuppressive host elements, including myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and regulatory T-cells (Tregs). We hypothesized that chemotherapy-induced leukodepletion could be immunopotentiated by co-administering TLRa to emulate a life-threatening infection. Combining CpG (ODN 1826) or CpG+poly(I:C) with cyclophosphamide (CY) resulted in uniquely well-tolerated therapeutic synergy, permanently eradicating advanced mouse tumors including 4T1 (breast), Panc02 (pancreas) and CT26 (colorectal). Definitive treatment required endogenous CD8+ and CD4+ IFNγ-producing T-cells. Tumor-specific IFNγ-producing T-cells persisted during CY-induced leukopenia, whereas Tregs were progressively eliminated, especially intratumorally. Spleen-associated MDSCs were cyclically depleted by CY+TLRa treatment, with residual monocytic MDSCs requiring only continued exposure to CpG or CpG+IFNγ to effectively attack malignant cells while sparing non-transformed cells. Such tumor destruction occurred despite upregulated tumor expression of Programmed Death Ligand-1, but could be blocked by clodronate-loaded liposomes to deplete phagocytic cells or by nitric oxide synthase inhibitors. CY+TLRa also induced tumoricidal myeloid cells in naive mice, indicating that CY+TLRa's immunomodulatory impacts occurred in the complete absence of tumor-bearing, and that tumor-induced MDSCs were not an essential source of tumoricidal myeloid precursors. Repetitive CY+TLRa can therefore modulate endogenous immunity to eradicate advanced tumors without vaccinations or adoptive T-cell therapy. Human blood monocytes could be rendered similarly tumoricidal during in vitro activation with TLRa+IFNγ, underscoring the potential therapeutic relevance of these mouse tumor studies to cancer patients.

The co-evolution of viruses with their hosts has led to the emergence of viral pathogens that are adept at evading or actively suppressing host immunity. Pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) are key components of antiviral immunity that detect conserved molecular features of viral pathogens and initiate signalling that results in the expression of antiviral genes. In this Review, we discuss the strategies that viruses use to escape immune surveillance by key intracellular sensors of viral RNA or DNA, with a focus on RIG-I-like receptors (RLRs), cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) and interferon-γ (IFNγ)-inducible protein 16 (IFI16). Such viral strategies include the sequestration or modification of viral nucleic acids, interference with specific post-translational modifications of PRRs or their adaptor proteins, the degradation or cleavage of PRRs or their adaptors, and the sequestration or relocalization of PRRs. An understanding of viral immune-evasion mechanisms at the molecular level may guide the development of vaccines and antivirals.

The neuropathology of schizophrenia has been reported to be closely associated with microglial activation. In a previous study, using the prenatal PolyI:C schizophrenia animal model, we showed an increase in cell numbers and a reduction in microglial branching in 30-day-old PolyI:C descendants, which suggests that there is microglial activation during adolescence. To provide more information about the activation state, we aimed to examine the expression levels of Iba1, which was reported to be up-regulated in activated microglia. We used a flow cytometric approach and investigated CD11b and CD45, two additional markers for the identification of microglial cells. We demonstrated that intracellular staining against Iba1 can be used as a reliable flow cytometric method for identification of microglial cells. Prenatal PolyI:C treatment had long-term effects on CD11b and CD45 expression. It also resulted in a trend towards increased Iba1 expression. Imbalance in CD11b, CD45, and Iba1 expression might contribute to impaired synaptic surveillance and enhanced activation/inflammatory activity of microglia in adult offspring.

This article presents the results of data analysis or references on etiology, epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical features, therapy and prophylaxis of Zika virus infection. The article presents the results of the literature analysis of the data on the etiology, epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical presentation, treatment and prevention of Zika virus infection. Currently Zika fever is common in tropical climates (Uganda, Brazil, Haiti, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Venezuela, Jamaica, Thailand, etc.). However, a large number of travelers and areolas mosquito habitat Αedes kind of make this a global problem. Acquired Zika virus infection usually occurs in mild and/or moderate forms. The development of severe forms occurs mainly in people with a weakened immune system or autoimmune diseases. Patients affected with Zika virus may develop neurological complications such as encephalitis, myelitis, optic neuritis, meningoencephalitis, Guillain-Barre syndrome. Transplacental and sexual transmissions contribute to an increase in the number of cases among children, including newborns. Zika congenital infection is characterized with brain damage, hearing and sight. Acquired Zika fever in children is accompanied by the presence of the following syndromes: subfebrile fever, mild intoxication, maculopapular rash with a landmark distribution, arthralgia, myalgia, photophobia and conjunctivitis, diarrhea rarely observed. In the laboratory diagnosis are used virological, molecular biological and serological methods. There are no specific prophylactic methods.To treat Zika virus infection, may be used recombinant human inteferona α2β and interferon inducers.

Mitochondrial nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) control permeability transition pore formation and cytochrome c release in the presence of apoptogenic factors. This study demonstrates that pharmacological agents amixin and agmatine affect mitochondrial nAChR functioning: they slightly suppress cytochrome c release from mouse brain and liver mitochondria stimulated with apoptogenic dose of Са2+ and prevent the effect of α7 nAChR agonist PNU282987. We conclude that mitochondria may be one of therapeutic targets of amixin and agmatine.

The lecture presents the results of many years own research and analysis of the literature on the clinical presentation and therapy of acute infectious mononucleosis, Epstein-Barr viral nature of children. The detailed characterization of the leading clinical syndromes such as fever, intoxication, lymphoproliferative, gepatolienalny syndrome, exanthema. The clinical and laboratory criteria for evaluating the severity of the disease. Principles of drug therapy are presented in accordance with clinical guidelines (treatment protocol) and standards of care for children with infectious mononucleosis. In the treatment leading place etiotropic and immunotropye funds. In pediatric practice, the most widely used and combined antiviral drug viferon immunotropic who appoint 150 000 IU - children up to 7 years, 500 000 IU - children 7-12 years and 1 000 000 IU - children over 12 and adults 2 times per day every 12 hours within 10 days. After a course of therapy with interferon will be a significant reduction in terms of the febrile period and intoxication, difficulty breathing and nasal lymphoproliferative syndrome, a significant reduction in the duration of hospital stay. Viferon also has a positive effect on the speed of the normalization of the hemogram and hemostasis indicators, such as prothrombin time and activated partial (partial) thromboplastin time. Synthesis of endogenous interferon inducers (anaferon children, tsikloferon, derinat) cause prolonging circulars in the blood of its own interferon. Antibiotic therapy is conducted at parenchymatous tonsillitis, taking into account the sensitivity of selected microorganisms. Symptomatic therapy includes the use of fever-reducing, vasoconstrictors, antihistamines. With the development of toxic-allergic rash viferon-apply ointment, gel viferon, allergoferon.

Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H MRS) studies in schizophrenia patients generally report decreased levels of N-acetyl-aspartate (NAA), glutamate and glutathione, particularly in frontal cortex. However, these data are inconsistent in part due to confounds associated with clinical samples. The lack of validated diagnostic biomarkers also hampers analysis of the neurodevelopmental trajectory of neurochemical abnormalities. Rodent models are powerful tools to address these issues, particularly when combined with (1)H MRS (clinically comparable technology). We investigated the trajectory of metabolic changes in the prefrontal cortex during brain maturation from adolescence to adulthood in vivo using (1)H MRS in rats exposed prenatally to polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (POL), a rodent model of maternal immune activation (MIA), an epidemiological risk factor for several psychiatric disorders with a neurodevelopmental origin. Longitudinal in vivo (1)H MRS revealed a significant decrease in PFC levels of GSH and taurine in adult, but not adolescent rats. Significant age×MIA interactions for PFC levels of NAA were also observed. These data replicate some deficits observed in the PFC of patients with schizophrenia. There were no significant changes in the levels of glutamate or any other metabolite. These data suggest prenatal exposure to POL leads to subtle metabolic perturbations of the normal maturing PFC, which may be related to subsequent behavioural abnormalities. Further work is however required to examine any potential confound of shipping stress on the presumed imbalances in PFC metabolites in POL-exposed offspring. Testing the interactions between MIA with stress or genetic risk variants will also be an important advance.

Tilorone dihydrochloride (tilorone) is a small-molecule, orally bioavailable drug that is used clinically as an antiviral outside the United States. A machine-learning model trained on anti-Ebola virus (EBOV) screening data previously identified tilorone as a potent in vitro EBOV inhibitor, making it a candidate for the treatment of Ebola virus disease (EVD). In the present study, a series of in vitro ADMET (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, toxicity) assays demonstrated the drug has excellent solubility, high Caco-2 permeability, was not a P-glycoprotein substrate, and had no inhibitory activity against five human CYP450 enzymes (3A4, 2D6, 2C19, 2C9, and 1A2). Tilorone was shown to have 52% human plasma protein binding with excellent plasma stability and a mouse liver microsome half-life of 48 min. Dose range-finding studies in mice demonstrated a maximum tolerated single dose of 100 mg/kg of body weight. A pharmacokinetics study in mice at 2- and 10-mg/kg dose levels showed that the drug is rapidly absorbed, has dose-dependent increases in maximum concentration of unbound drug in plasma and areas under the concentration-time curve, and has a half-life of approximately 18 h in both males and females, although the exposure was ∼2.5-fold higher in male mice. Tilorone doses of 25 and 50 mg/kg proved efficacious in protecting 90% of mice from a lethal challenge with mouse-adapted with once-daily intraperitoneal (i.p.) dosing for 8 days. A subsequent study showed that 30 mg/kg/day of tilorone given i.p. starting 2 or 24 h postchallenge and continuing through day 7 postinfection was fully protective, indicating promising activity for the treatment of EVD.

The fungal vectors are all obligate parasites which inhabit the roots of plants; some are pathogens in their own right, whereas others are avirulent root parasites. All the proven vectors are lower fungi, Olpidium spp, in the Chytridiales and Polymyxa and Spongospora spp. in the Plasmodiophorales. The discovery of fungal double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) interferon inducers and viruses ofPenicillium and Aspergillus spp. had a major impact on fungal virology. It was realized that fungal viruses were probably much more common than had been understood hitherto and many investigators were stimulated to look for viruses in the fungi in which they were interested. Rigid rod-shaped virus-like particles (VLPs) have been described in several species in the Ascomycotina, Basidiomycotina, and Deuteromycotina and are probably widespread in the fungi. The rigid rod VLPs found in fungi each appear to consist of one particle size and hence might be expected to have an undivided genome.

Introduction. It is known that interferon is a cytokine and is a substantial part of the immune system necessary for antigenic challenge immune response full expression. Also it is considered that every antigen is an interferon inducer. Interferon induces antivirus response via binding to specific receptors, this receptors can be revealed straight on cell membranes of immune cells. Research objective. To evaluate the interferon inducer ability of some Influenza A virus strains upon indications of receptors functional activity (capacity) to alpha and gamma interferons on peripheral mononuclear blood cells (PBMC) induced in vitro by different Influenza A virus strains. Material and methods. The method is based on lymphocytes separation from the venous heparinized blood, with followed by in vitro lymphocytes inducing at temperature 36.5°С in the presence of 5% CO2. Blood samples were taken in different time intervals, labelled by mouse anti-idiotipyc FITCconjugated antibodies, structurally simulated human alpha and gamma interferon, samples were fixed with paraformaldehyde. Interferon receptors expression were performed by flow cytometer. Results. The in vitro experiments have determined the interferon-inducing ability of three influenza virus strains: A/PR8/34 (H1N1), A/Krasnodar/101/59 (H2N2) and A/ Ryazan/6103/87 (H3N2). MPBC blood sample (blood group was 0, Rh factor – positive) was induced by irradiated noninfectious allantoic fluid with hemagglutinating activity. Expression of alpha and gamma interferon receptors (alpha and gamma IFNR) on MPBC was determined by IFNR markers labelled with FITC and it (expression) was estimated by flow cytometer. In parallel we compared expression of alpha and gamma IFNR on MPBC in primed and non primed cells by low doses of human alpha interferon. It was found that expression of alpha and gamma IFNR on MPBC, induced influenza A/ PR8/34 (H1N1) antigen, with high hemagglutinating activity was higher in primed MPBC in comparison with non primed and higher then expression was induced by influenza virus A/Krasnodar/101/59 (H2N2) and A/Ryazan/6103/87 (H3N2) with lower hemagglutinating activity. It should be noted that IFN alpha receptor (IFNAR) expression on induced by influenza virus strain A/PR8/34 (H1N1) and primed by low doses of alpha interferon, repose on high level from induction point (1 hour) and protract during high level during 5 hours. Evaluation of gamma IFNR (IFNGR) expression level on MPBC induced by different influenza virus strains testify that firstly up-regulation IFNGR expression on MPBC primed by low doses of alpha interferon is absent and secondly up-regulation IFNGR on MPBC bear no relation with hemagglutinating activity of Influenza virus antigen. Conclusion. Experiment results clearly suggest that all influenza strains used carry the interferon induced ability which is possible to see by expression of IFNAR and IFNGR on MPBC induced by described above virus antigens. Rate of interferon induce ability in different influenza virus A connected on one side with virus hemagglutinating activity level in estimating IFNAR and on the other side with virus strains in estimating IFNGR.

Summary Aims Brain ischemia activates astrocytes in a process known as astrogliosis. Although this process has beneficial effects, excessive astrogliosis can impair neuronal recovery. Polyinosinic–polycytidylic acid (Poly IC) has shown neuroprotection against cerebral ischemia–reperfusion injury, but whether it regulates reactive astrogliosis and glial scar formation is not clear. Methods We exposed cultured astrocytes to oxygen–glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) and used a rat middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO)/reperfusion model to investigate the effects of Poly IC. Astrocyte proliferation and proliferation-related molecules were evaluated by immunostaining and Western blotting. Neurological deficit scores, infarct volumes and neuroplasticity were evaluated in rats after transient MCAO. Results In vitro, Poly IC inhibited astrocyte proliferation, upregulated Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) expression, upregulated interferon-β, and downregulated interleukin-6 production. These changes were blocked by a neutralizing antibody against TLR3, suggesting that Poly IC function is TLR3-dependent. Moreover, in the MCAO model, Poly IC attenuated reactive astrogliosis, reduced brain infarction volume, and improved neurological function. In addition, Poly IC prevented MCAO-induced reductions in soma size, dendrite length, and number of dendritic bifurcations in cortical neurons of the infarct penumbra. Conclusions By ameliorating astrogliosis-related damage, Poly IC is a potential therapeutic agent for attenuating neuronal damage and promoting recovery after brain ischemia.