Search

Silicon dioxide-based mesoporous materials have been synthesized by the sol-gel method in alcohol solutions of octylamine, dodecylamine, and poly(ethylene imine). It has been established that, in contrast to the traditional method of mesoporous silica preparation using surface-active amines, in which mesophases are developed at the stage of the sol-gel synthesis, in the presence of poly(ethylene imine) in the liquid phase, X-ray amorphous organoinorganic composites are formed that further form mesoporous structures upon a thermal treatment.

In the second half of 2005, a large-scale outbreak of influenza in poultry and wild birds was caused by a highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza virus in Russia. The level of pathogenicity is a polygenic trait, and most individual genes contribute to the influenza A virus pathogenicity in birds, animals, and humans. The full-length nucleotide sequences were determined for H5N1 strains isolated in the Kurgan region (Western Siberia). The structure of viral proteins was analyzed using the deduced amino acid sequences. The receptor-binding site of hemagglutinin (HA) in strains A/chicken/Kurgan/05/2005 and A/duck/Kurgan/08/2005 was typical for avian influenza viruses and contained Glu and Gly at positions 226 and 228, respectively. The structure of the basic amino acid cluster located within the HA cleavage site was identical in all isolates: QGERRRKKR. According to the neuraminidase structure, all H5N1 isolates from the Kurgan region were assigned to the Z genotype. Amino acid residues typical for the avian influenza virus were revealed in 30 out of 32 positions of M1, M2, NP, PA, and PB2, determining the host range specificity. One of the strains contained Lys at position 627 of PB2. Isolates from the Kurgan region were shown to have a remantadine-sensitive genotype. Both strains contained Glu at position 92 of NS1, indicating that the virus is interferon-resistant. Phylogenetic analysis related the Kurgan isolates to subclade 2 of clade 2 of highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza viruses.

Antiviral activity of the new chemically synthesized compound NIOCH-14 (a derivative of tricyclodicarboxylic acid) in comparison with ST-246 (the condensed derivative of pyrroledione) was observed in experiments in vitro and in vivo using orthopoxviruses including highly pathogenic ones. After oral administration of NIOCH-14 to outbred ICR mice infected intranasally with 100 % lethal dose of ectromelia virus, it was shown that 50 % effective doses of NIOCH-14 and ST-246 did not significantly differ. The ‘therapeutic window’ varied from 1 day before infection to 6 days post-infection (p.i.) to achieve 100–60 % survival rate. The administration of NIOCH-14 and ST-246 to mice resulted in a significant reduction of ectromelia virus titres in organs examined as compared with the control and also reduced pathological changes in the lungs 6 days p.i. Oral administration of NIOCH-14 and ST-246 to ICR mice and marmots challenged with monkeypox virus as compared with the control resulted in a significant reduction of virus production in the lungs and the proportion of infected mice 7 days p.i. as well as the absence of disease in marmots. Significantly lower proportions of infected mice and virus production levels in the lungs as compared with the control were demonstrated in experiments after oral administration of NIOCH-14 and ST-246 to ICR mice and immunodeficient SCID mice challenged with variola virus 3 and 4 days p.i., respectively. The results obtained suggest good prospects for further study of the chemical compound NIOCH-14 to create a new smallpox drug on its basis.

We report here a low-temperature method for the growth of self-organized nanoscale nickel-based particles with high energy storage properties. The Ni balls covered with highly porous NiO/NiOH thin shells are shown to form in an amine solution. High specific surface area (SBET = 56 m2/g) and crystallinity (Scherrer size = 28 ± 0.5 nm) made it possible to achieve a specific capacity of 2742 F/g at a scanning rate of 2 mV/s, which is higher in terms of mass of a surfactant layer than previously reported for other chemical approaches. In addition, an operating stability of at least 5000 cycles for electrodes produced on the basis of the synthesized particles is proved

Particles of titanium dioxide and titanium dioxide-hydroxypropyl cellulose organic-inorganic composite are synthesized by the sol-gel method. The effects of an electric field on the shear stress, viscosity, tensile and compression stresses of dispersions of titanium dioxide, the hybrid material, and titanium dioxide-hydroxypropyl cellulose mechanical mixture are investigated. It is established that the value of the electrorheological effect observed for hybrid material dispersions is higher than that for dispersions of titanium dioxide and mechanical mixtures of the materials.

International audience; The current unprecedented outbreak of Ebola virus (EBOV) disease in West Africa has demonstrated the urgent need for a vaccine. Here, we describe the evaluation of an EBOV vaccine candidate based on Kunjin replicon virus-like particles (KUN VLPs) encoding EBOV glycoprotein with a D637L mutation (GP/D637L) in nonhuman primates. Four African green monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops) were injected subcutaneously with a dose of 10(9) KUN VLPs per animal twice with an interval of 4 weeks, and animals were challenged 3 weeks later intramuscularly with 600 plaque-forming units of Zaire EBOV. Three animals were completely protected against EBOV challenge, while one vaccinated animal and the control animal died from infection. We suggest that KUN VLPs encoding GP/D637L represent a viable EBOV vaccine candidate.

In early February 2014, an outbreak of the Ebola virus disease caused by Zaire ebolavirus (EBOV) occurred in Guinea; cases were also recorded in other West African countries with a combined population of approximately 25 million. A rapid, sensitive and inexpensive method for detecting EBOV is needed to effectively control such outbreak. Here, we report a real-time reverse-transcription PCR assay for Z. ebolavirus detection used by the Specialized Anti-epidemic Team of the Russian Federation during the Ebola virus disease prevention mission in the Republic of Guinea. The analytical sensitivity of the assay is 5 × 10(2) viral particles per ml, and high specificity is demonstrated using representative sampling of viral, bacterial and human nucleic acids. This assay can be applied successfully for detecting the West African strains of Z. ebolavirus as well as on strains isolated in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2014.

Mycobacterium tuberculosisis an intracellular pathogen that persists within macrophages of the human host. One approach to improving the treatment of tuberculosis (TB) is the targeted delivery of antibiotics to macrophages using ligands to macrophage receptors. The moxifloxacin-conjugated dansylated carboxymethylglucan (M-DCMG) conjugate was prepared by chemically linking dansylcadaverine (D) and moxifloxacin (M) to carboxymethylglucan (CMG), a known ligand of macrophage scavenger receptors. The targeted delivery to macrophages and the antituberculosis activity of the conjugate M-DCMG were studied in vitro and in vivo. Using fluorescence microscopy, fluorimetry, and the J774 macrophage cell line, M-DCMG was shown to accumulate in macrophages through scavenger receptors in a dose-dependent (1 to 50 μg/ml) manner. After intravenous administration of M-DCMG into C57BL/6 mice, the fluorescent conjugate was concentrated in the macrophages of the lungs and spleen. Analyses of the pharmacokinetics of the conjugate demonstrated that M-DCMG was more rapidly accumulated and more persistent in tissues than free moxifloxacin. Importantly, therapeutic studies of mycobacterial growth in C57BL/6 mice showed that the M-DCMG conjugate was significantly more potent than free moxifloxacin.

The interaction of ascorbic acid with hydroxypropyl-α- and hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrins of different degree of substitution was studied at 298.15 K and different pH using solution calorimetry. In an aqueous solution, only hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrins form weak molecular complexes with the nonionized form of ascorbic acid. The thermodynamic functions of complex formation and stability constants of the complexes were calculated. The systems with weak intermolecular interaction without complex formation were characterized by enthalpic virial coefficients. On the basis of the obtained thermodynamic characteristics it was shown that the selectivity of complex formation of hydroxypropyl-α- and hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrins with ascorbic acid is determined by the size of the macrocyclic cavity, the presence of the hydroxypropyl substituent, and the medium acidity. The degree of substitution of hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrins exerts no substantial effect on the thermodynamic parameters of interaction with ascorbic acid.

A new procedure was developed to attach titania hydrosols to polyester fabrics, providing processed fibers with self-cleaning properties.

A new personal bioaerosol sampler has recently been developed and evaluated for sampling of viable airborne bacteria and fungi under controlled laboratory conditions and in the field. The operational principle of the device is based on the passage of air through porous medium immersed in liquid. This process leads to the formation of bubbles within the filter as the carrier gas passes through and thus provides effective mechanisms for aerosol removal. As demonstrated in previous studies, the culturability of sampled bacterium and fungi remained high for the entire 8-h sampling period. The present study is the first step of the evaluation of the new sampler for monitoring of viable airborne viruses. It focuses on the investigation of the inactivation rate of viruses in the bubbling process during 4 h of continuous operation. Four microbes were used in this study, influenza, measles, mumps, and vaccinia viruses. It was found that the use of distilled water as the collection fluid was associated with a relatively high decay rate. A significant improvement was achieved by utilizing virus maintenance fluid prepared by using Hank's solution with appropriate additives. The survival rates of the influenza, measles, and mumps viruses were increased by 1.4 log, 0.83 log, and 0.82 log, respectively, after the first hour of operation compared to bubbling through the sterile water. The same trend was observed throughout the entire 4-h experiment. There was no significant difference observed only for the robust vaccinia virus.

Two systems have been examined for delivery of DNA-vaccine encoding a HIV-1 polyepitope CTL-immunogen (TCI). One is intended for i.m. injection and is in the form of an artificial virus like particle containing eukaryotic expression plasmid pcDNA-TCI encapsulated within a spermidine–polyglucin conjugate. The other is intended for mucosal immunization and is based on attenuated Salmonella typhimurium strain 7207, which can deliver pcDNA-TCI directly into professional antigen-presenting cells (APC). After immunization, the artificial VLP and recombinant Salmonella induced an enhanced HIV specific serum antibody, proliferative and CTL responses compared to those induced by naked pcDNA-TCI. The most significant responses were produced when pcDNA-TCI was delivered by Salmonella. © 2004 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

One of the major problems in the development of successful recombinant vaccines against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is that of correct identification of a safe and effective vaccine delivery system with which to induce protective immunity using soluble protein antigens. An original method for constructing artificial immunogens in the form of spherical particles with yeast dsRNA in the center and hybrid proteins exposing epitopes of an infectious agent on the surface is reported. The dsRNA and the proteins were linked with spermidine-polyglucin-glutathione conjugates. Particles exposing HIV-1 epitopes were constructed, and their immunogenicity tested.

While various sampling methods exist for collecting and enumerating airborne bacteria and fungi, no credible methodology has yet been developed for airborne viruses. A new sampling method for monitoring the personal exposure to bioaerosol particles has recently been developed and evaluated with bacteria and fungi. In this method, bacterial/fungal aerosol is aspirated and transported through a porous medium, which is submerged into a liquid layer. As the air is split into numerous bubbles, the particles are scavenged by these bubbles and effectively removed. The current feasibility study was initiated to evaluate the efficiency of the new personal sampler prototype ("bubbler") with airborne viable viruses. Two common viral strains, Influenza (stress-sensitive) and Vaccinia (robust), were aerosolized in the test chamber and collected by two identical "bubblers" that operated simultaneously for a duration of upto 5 min. A virus maintenance liquid, proven to be the optimum collecting environment for the test organisms, was used as a collection fluid. After sampling, the collecting fluid was analyzed and the viral recovery rate was determined. The overall recovery (affected not only by the sampling but also by the aerosolization and the aerosol transport) was 20% for Influenza virus and 89% for Vaccinia virus. The new sampling method was found feasible for the collection and enumeration of robust airborne viruses.

The highly photoactive conductive coatings of nanosized titania and a titania/copper(ii) oxide nanocomposite were prepared based on the low-temperature sol-gel transformations and interactions of multiphase colloidal system components.

) appear to be highly virulent for chickens. The chance of AFV infection of chickens in case of intranasal challenge is 20 times as great as in the case of peroral one, and 300 times as great as in the case of intragastral one, which bears evidence to higher sensitivity to AFV of the tissues of avian respiratory organs, in comparison with the tissues of gastro-intestinal tract. Therewith, primary target organ for virus in intranasal infected birds is their respiratory channel (mucous membrane of the nasal cavity in particular). Registered is the possibility of existence of fecal-nasal AFV transfer mechanism in chickens.

Synthesis of photochromic, highly photoactive Cu@TiO 2 films by low-temperature sol–gel route has been reported. The photoelectric properties of nanostructured non-calcined composite film are higher than that in individual compounds. Synthesized films are characterized by AFM, UV–vis absorption spectra and X-ray diffraction. The functional properties are estimated by photopolarization measurement. Titania films were soaked with a copper salt solution and chemical reduction treatments are performed using NaBH 4 . We used P123 for protection metal surface and decreasing agglomeration activity. Also, the utilization of a mesoporous titania substrate allows to control the nanoparticle size and the interparticle distance. UV–vis absorption spectra experiments provide the evidence that UV illumination induces a strong accumulation of copper nanoparticles in the subsurface of the layer.

Nanocomposite dermal drug delivery systems based on cellulose nanofibers with grafted titania nanoparticles loaded by two antibiotic medicines from different classes, i.e. tetracycline (TC) and phosphomycin (Phos), were successfully produced by a ‘‘green chemistry’’ approach in aqueous media. The influence of a different surface binding mechanism between the drug molecule and modified cellulose nanofibers on the release of the drug and, as a result, on antimicrobial properties against common pathogens Gram-positive, Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-negative Escherichia coli was investigated. The disk diffusion method and broth culture tests using varying concentrations of drugs loaded to nanocomposites were carried out to investigate the antibacterial effects. The influence of UV irradiation on the stability of the obtained nanocomposites and their antibacterial properties after irradiation were also investigated, showing enhanced stability especially for the TC loaded materials. These findings suggest that the obtained nanocomposites are promising materials for the development of potentially useful antimicrobial patches.

The studied strains of avian influenza virus A/H5N1 (AIV), isolated in the territory of the Russian Federation and CIS countries, can be classified into three groups according to their virulence for mice after intranasal and aerosol challenging: highly virulent strains [50 % aerosol lethal dose (ALD50) - 4,5 lg EID50] - A/Turkey/Suzdalka/Nov-1/2005 and A/Chicken/Suzdalka/Nov-11/2005. Registered is the high degree of correlation (r = 0,89 ) between the indexes of virulence of the strains, obtained by means of intranasal and aerosol challenging of mice. The primary target-cells in mice, respiratory-infected by AIV, are the respiratory tract ciliated cells and pneumonocytes of I, II types.

After intracerebral challenge with 100 PFU of Lassa virus (strain Josiah), all infected mice (CBA/calac) died (control group). Production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1beta, TNF-alpha) significantly increased in the blood of these mice during the infection. For neutralization of increasing concentrations of these cytokines recombinant IL-1RA was used intraperitonealy at a dose 100 microg kg(-1), everyday, within 5 days from the third day after the challenge. Injections of IL-1RA decreased the concentration of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha and resulted in survival of all infected mice (treatment group). Marburg fever (strain Popp) caused in guinea pigs by 5 LD(50) of virus lead to the significant increase of TNF-alpha in the animal's blood and caused a lethal outcome (control group). Treatment of infected guinea pigs by IL-1RA or anti-TNF serum decreased the concentration of TNF-alpha and resulted in survival of half of the animals (treatment group). For the treatment recombinant IL-1RA was used at a dose 100 microg kg(-1), intramuscularly, everyday, within 6 days from the third day after the challenge or anti-TNF serum, intramuscularly 0.5 ml (2000 U ml(-1); 1 U of the antiserum neutralises 0.03 ng of TNF-alpha), everyday, within 6 days from the third day after the challenge.

Sequence analysis of 285 nucleotides located on the variable part of the N gene was undertaken on measles virus (MV) samples collected from acutely infected patients in Germany, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Poland, and Russia. Two distinct genotypes (C2 and D6) have circulated in Germany between 1993 and 1996. Isolates of genotype C2 were related to strains reported in Germany before 1993. This genotype was also found in the Czech Republic in 1992 and in Denmark in 1997. The occurrence of genotype D6 in Germany is described below for the first time. In 1998, this genotype was identified in Poland. Genotypes C2 and D6 were also reported in Spain and in the United Kingdom between 1992 and 1996. Therefore, it is concluded that these genotypes are widely distributed over Europe. The analysis of the isolates from Russia revealed that genotype A was present in 1988 in the European part of the country and in 1996 in Siberia. An isolate identified in 1997 in Siberia belonged to genotype D6, which had never been found previously in Russia. We also analysed MV obtained from a case of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) in 1995 in Turkey. A comparison of this sequence with published sequences implied that this SSPE case was associated with a new genetic lineage of MV.

The aim of this investigation was to study the influence of electrolytes on a reaction of triiodide complex formation. Investigation of the salt effect as concerns the thermodynamics of I 3 - formation in methanol, ethanol and n-propanol solutions revealed regularities of the influence of the electrolyte on triiodide complex formation connected with a multifactorial effect of the ionic medium. The quasichemical model presented was used to calculate parameters reflecting the overall salt effect.

Presentwork is devoted to investigation of structure and functional properties of hybrid nanomaterials based on the TiO2-modified cellulose fibers of cotton. The titania hydrosol was successfully prepared using the titanium tetraisopropoxide as precursor and the nitric acid as peptizing agent via the low-temperature sol–gel synthesis in aqueous medium and applied to cotton fabric. For cross-linking of titania nanoparticles to cotton the 1,2,3,4-butanetetracarboxylic acid (BTCA) was used as a spacer. The morphology and composition of the surface pure and TiO2 modified cotton fibers were investigated by the scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The cotton/TiO2 composite was characterized by the dielectric permittivity. For the estimation of total titania concentration, all samples were calcined at 650 °C. The antimicrobial activity of the treated TiO2 cotton fibers was investigated against Escherichia coli as a model Gram-negative bacteria after exposure to UV-irradiation for 10 min

Introduction. ARI occupying the first place in the structure of total human morbidity. The aim of the study was to investigate the species diversity of the viruses causing ARI among residents of the Novosibirsk region during epidemic season (October to April). Materials and methods. 164 nasopharyngeal swabs were collected and analyzed. Viral RNA/DNA, cDNA synthesis and PCR were carried out employing “RIBO-prep”, “Reverta-L”, “AmpliSens Influenza virus A/B-FL” and “AmpliSens ARI-screen-FL” kits (CRI of Epidemiology). Results. Etiological agent of the disease was found in 69 (43%) samples. Monoinfection was found in 58 (35%).In 14 (9%) samples were detected serogroup I coronaviruses, in 13 (8%) rhinoviruses, in 7 (4%) respiratory syncytial virus, in 6 (4%) parainfluenza virus type 1, in 5 (3%) parainfluenza virus type 3. Adenoviruses and bocavirus were identified in 3 (2%) samples. Parainfluenza virus type 2 and 4, metapneumovirus, serogroup II coronaviruses (HKU1 and OC43) were presented in 2 (1%) samples. In 11 (7%) samples was found mixed infection. Conclusion. The majority of common colds were caused by serogroup I coronaviruses (NL63 and 229E), rhinoviruses and mixed infections. The peak of species variability of viruses caused acute respiratory infections was determined in age group of children 2–4 years old. In older age groups the species variability of analyzed viruses was decreased, rhinovirus infection becomes prevalent.

Adsorption capacities of mesoporous silica materials having various surface functional groups (hydroxyl, phenyl, mercaptopropyl, aminopropyl) at pH values of 4.8, 7.4, and 8.0 were studied. It was found that the maximum amount of adsorbed molsidomine is affected by method of preparation of the silica materials, chemistry of their surfaces and solution pH from where adsorption is carried out. The effects were explained by different states of the adsorbents and molsidomine in solution at the studied pH. The most efficient adsorption of molsidomine is observed onto phenyl modified silica prepared by grafting at pH 4.8. Aminopropyl modified silica adsorbs the lowest amount of molsidomine and the adsorption was observed only at pH 7.4. Interactions responsible for the adsorption were elucidated by spectroscopic studies.

The densities of 18-crown-6-water and 18-crown-6-amino acid-water solutions at 298.15 K were determined. These values were used to estimate the partial molar volumes of 18-crown-6 in water and 0.15 M aqueous solutions of amino acids, as well as the volumes of transfer of 18-crown-6 from water to aqueous solutions of amino acids. The interaction of 18-crown-6 with amino acids involves H bonds and electrostatic forces. A conclusion was drawn that the nature and arrangement of side groups in amino acids affect their complex formation with the crown ether.

An oligonucleotide microarray was developed for diagnostics of human pathogenic influenza-A virus subtypes. It contained discriminating probes for H1, H2, H3, H5, H7, and H9 subtypes of hemagglutinin and for N1, N2, and N7 subtypes of neuraminidase. An additional set of probes was used for revealing the M-gene of the influenza-A virus. The proposed microarray was tested on samples of pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus, pandemic H1N1 swine influenza virus, and seasonal H1N1 and H3N2 influenza viruses. The microarray can be used for the analysis both of cultivated strains and clinical specimens.

The possibility of emergency prophylaxis of Marburg hemorrhagic fever with leukocytic and recombinant interferons was studied in experiments on Cercopithecus aethiops. None of the agents protected monkeys from the action of lethal doses of Marburg virus. Recombinant interferon-α2administered according to the emergency prophylaxis schedule prolonged the mean life-span of monkeys injected with Marburg virus in doses of 100 and 1000 LD50 by 1.9 and 6.1 days, respectively.

The results of development of a method for detection and genotyping of the bacteria Pasteurella multocida capsular five groups and Mannheimia haemolytica Al based on the multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with electrophoretic detection are submitted. Diagnostic sensitivity of the developed method was 103 CFU/ml in the study of the pure cultures and 105 CFU/g in the study of biological material. A study of 260 samples of biological material from infected animals revealed Pasteurella multocida in 50.0%, and Mannheimia haemolytica in 11.2% of the investigated samples. Circulation among the tested livestock of capsular groups B and E of Pasteurella multocida was not revealed. The majority of the tested samples contained group A, in some cases, group D, and, in one case, group F. On the basis of the phylogenetic analysis circulation of two different genetic types of Pasteurella multocida of the capsular group A was revealed.

A synthetic T cell immunogen (TCI) has been designed as a candidate DNA-based vaccine against Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 using cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CD8 + CTL) and T-helper lymphocytes (CD4 + Th) epitopes retrieved from the Los Alamos HIV Molecular Immunology Database . The protein 392 amino acids in length contains about eighty CTL-epitopes, many of which are overlapping and are totally restricted by ten different HLA class I molecules. To be able to detect CTL responses induced by a DNA vaccine in experimental animals, additional epitopes, restricted by mouse and Macaque rhesus major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules, were included in the target immunogen. The gene encoding the TCI protein was assembled, cloned into vector plasmids and expressed in a prokaryotic and a eukaryotic system. The presence of HIV-1 protein fragments in the immunogen structure was ascertained by ELISA and immunoblotting using panels of HIV-1-positive sera and monoclonal antibodies to p24. It has been demonstrated that DNA vaccine can induce both specific T cell responses (CTL and blast transformation) and specific antibodies in mice immunized with pcDNA-TCI.

Due to recent SARS related issues (Science 300 (5624) 1394; Nature 423 (2003) 240; Science 300 (5627) 1966), the development of reliable airborne virus monitoring procedures has become galvanized by an exceptional sense of urgency and is presently in a high demand (In: Cox, C.S., Wathers, C.M. (Eds.), Bioaerosols Handbook, Lewis Publishers, Boca Raton, FL, 1995, pp. 247-267). Based on engineering control method (Aerosol Science and Technology 31 (1999) 249; 35 (2001) 852), which was previously applied to the removal of particles from gas carriers, a new personal bioaerosol sampler has been developed. Contaminated air is bubbled through porous medium submerged into liquid and subsequently split into multitude of very small bubbles. The particulates are scavenged by these bubbles, and, thus, effectively removed. The current study explores its feasibility for monitoring of viable airborne SARS virus. It was found that the natural decay of such virus in the collection fluid was around 0.75 and 1.76 lg during 2 and 4 h of continuous operation, respectively. Theoretical microbial recovery rates of higher than 55 and 19% were calculated for 1 and 2 h of operation, respectively. Thus, the new sampling method of direct non-violent collection of viable airborne SARS virus into the appropriate liquid environment was found suitable for monitoring of such stress sensitive virus.

Highly photoactive nanocomposites were obtained by drawing silver nanoparticles onto the surface of a nanostructured non-calcined film of TiO2 prepared by a sol-gel technique.

The structural conversion of a titanium dioxide–polyethylene glycol monooleate hybrid thin film applied from an alcohol sol to the glass substrate surface into ordered periodic lattice framework induced by the heat treatment is reported.

An organized mesoporous CuO–Al 2 O 3 composite was synthesized using a sol-gel based self-assembly technique; unfolded polyethyleneimine supramolecular formations were employed as a structure-directing agent. The formation mechanism of a well- organized composite structure is explained.

We report that silver nanowires (AgNW) entrapped in a series of sol–gel thin films – zirconia, alumina, titania and silica – provide conductive, highly flexible, highly adhesive, transparent thin films with excellent thermal and electrical stability. These films were subjected to intensive study and characterization including resistance, percolation analysis, critical bending angle analysis, critical thermal stability, transparency, and more. Remarkably, when resistance is kept constant, all of the studied parameters follow the same order – either increasing or decreasing – of ZrO2, SiO2, Al2O3, and TiO2. A detailed interpretation, based on the particle-sizes of the elementary sol–gel building blocks, is provided. In particular we found that the AgNWs re-enforce the ceramic matrices, thus providing excellent electroconductive stability with low silver concentration and high degree of homogeneity of the dopant distribution. Having in mind that current materials for films with these properties are often accompanied by disadvantages (such as brittleness, scarcity and poor adhesion) we offer the new conductive films as an interesting alternative to be considered.

According to modern views, an ideal vaccine must provide a life-long immunization effect in 100% of the vaccinated persons, should be safe, thermostable, cheap, and should not be administered parenterally. As known, the most important feature of live vaccines against respiratory infections is rapid development of local secretory immunity in the portal of respiratory and intestinal tracts. We have developed a new technology for production of peroral live measles vaccine where a special attention is paid to optimization of biological stabilizers. The vaccine trials in rabbits, the tablet and capsule forms of the preparation being administered intraduodenally, revealed a stimulation of humoral and cellular immunity and demonstrated the absence of side effects.

In the present work the kinetics of some indices of immunity (tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interferon (IFN), natural killer cells (NK), lymphocyte proliferation activity, virus-specific antibodies, CD4/CD8 ratio) in response to Marburg virus infection in Macaca mulatta were studied. The different kinetics of immunological parameters for animals which survived Marburg virus infection and for animals which died after infection are shown. A comparison of the indices of IFN, TNF and spontaneous lymphocyte proliferation activity in Macaca mulatta infected with Marburg virus at different stages of life shows the relationship between the increase of these indices and the decrease in the animals' lifespan. Marburg virus immunosuppressive properties were corroborated by studying lymphocyte proliferation activity in response to antigenic stimulation in vitro and the CD4/CD8 index during experimental Marburg virus infection in Macaca mulatta. We conclude that the disease outcome depends on the dynamics of certain immunologic indices such as TNF and IFN.

The intermolecular complexes of D-galactose, D-maltose, sucrose and raffinose with 18-crown-6 were found to be entropy stabilised.

Summary As a result of the conducted experimental studies on intranasal challenge of ICR mice, rabbits and miniature pigs (even in the maximum variant) with the doses of 4.0–5.5 lg PFU of monkeypox virus (MPXV), some clinical signs such as purulent conjunctivitis, blepharitis and ruffled fur were found only in mice. The 50% infective dose (CID50) of MPXV for these animals estimated by the presence of external clinical signs was 4.8 lg PFU, and LID50 estimated by the virus presence in the lungs of mice 7 days post-infection taking into account its 10% application in the animal respiratory tract was 1.4 lg PFU. When studying the dynamics of MPXV propagation in mice challenged intranasally with 25 LID50 of MPXV, the maximum pathogen accumulation was revealed in nasal cavity, lungs and brain: 5.7 ± 0.1, 5.5 ± 0.1 and 5.3 ± 0.3 lg PFU/ml, respectively. The pathomorphological examination of these animals revealed the presence and replication of the pathogen in the traditional primary target cells for MPXV (mononuclear phagocyte system cells and respiratory tract epitheliocytes) as well as in some other types of cells (endothelial cells, reticular cells, connective tissue cells). Our use of these animals to assess the antiviral efficacy of some drugs demonstrated the agreement of the results (a significant positive effect of NIOCH-14 and ST-246) with those described in scientific literature, which opens up the prospects of using ICR mice as animal models for monkeypox to develop preventive antismallpox drugs.