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The paper reports the investigation of the population structure of Yersinia pestis strains belonging to the ulegeica subspecies (genetic branch 0.PE5), which is endemic to the natural plague foci in Mongolia and which is characterized by low epidemic potential compared to the strains belonging to the main plague subspecies. Whole genome SNP analysis of 12 Y. pestis subspecies ulegeica strains isolated in Mongolia considering the 1581 identified core SNPs revealed two main genetic clusters in correspondence with the geographic distribution of these strains. The first cluster, named 0.PE5/1, contains the strains isolated in the Umnegov’, Uverkhangai, and Gov’-Altai aimaks located in the south of Mongolia. The second cluster 0.PE5/2 comprises two subclusters, namely, 0.PE5/2-1, containing the strains from the Bayan-Ulgii and Khovd aimaks, and 0.PE5/2-2, represented solely by the strains isolated in the Bayan-Ulgii aimak. To find the possible causes of the selective virulence of subspecies ulegeica strains, the analysis of the nucleotide sequences of 79 pathogenicity factors along with some other genomic regions has been carried out. Specific mutations have been found in the following genes: irp1, included in the high-pathogenicity island of the chromosomal pigmentation region, and yscQ, involved in the regulation of the synthesis of the LcrV protein and outer membrane proteins (Yops) associated with plague pathogen virulence.

In highly virulent strains of Yersinia pestis, the porin gene border- ing pigmentation (pgm) locus was observed to be usually broken by IS100. In this case, the pgm locus that carries virulence genes (high pathogenicity island) and biofilm formation genes (hms operon) is flanked by direct copies of IS100, which can cause its destabilization. We studied the prevalence of the intact and dis- rupted porin genes among 240 strains of Y. pestis from 39 natural centers in Russia and abroad, and 68 strains of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis from different geographical regions. The majority of the highly virulent Y. pestis strains and some phylogenetic lines of Y. pseudotuberculosis 0:1 serotype contain disrupted porin genes. At the same time, deletion of the pgm locus by flanking IS100 in Y pseudotuberculosis is impossible, because IS100 is integrated in the porin gene in the reverse orientation as compared to Y pestis. The porin genes are intact in all Y pestis strains with low epidemic importance and some phylogenetic lines of highly virulent Y pestis strains from some desert foci and Caspian sandy focus, as well as most strains of Y pseudotuberculosis 0:1 serotype. Less virulent strains of Y pseudotuberculosis 0:3 serotype revealed extensive deletion, which included the porin gene and a portion of the gene astE. The nucleotide sequence of the porin genes in Y pestis and Y pseudotuberculosis strains from different geographical regions are identical. Three alleles of the porin gene differ solely by the site of integration and orientation of IS 100 or by the lack of integration. The nucleotide sequence of IS 100, embedded in the porin gene of Yersinia, has minor differences only in two Y pestis strains isolated in America. Low frequency of Hms- mutations correlates with the intact condition of the porin gene in Y pestis. This correlation is absent in Y pseudotuberculosis.

Objective of the study is to determine phylogenetic affinity of the Vibrio cholerae strains of classical biovar, isolated between 1937 and 1969 in Russia, to the strains from near and far abroad countries. Materials and methods. Utilized were 27 Vibrio cholerae strains of classical biovar. PCR was carried out applying “BIS M112” amplifier. Genetic analyzer ABI 3500xl was used for sequencing of the strains. MLVA-analysis was performed by reference to 5 MLVA-loci: VC0147, VC0436-0437, VC1650, VCA0171, and VCA0238. Nutrient requirement and soluble hemagglutinin/protease production was established using plate method. Results and conclusions. Identified have been 8 MLVA-clusters and 21 MLVA-types. It is determined that the strains, isolated during atypical cholera outbreak 1942–1943 in Russia, are inhomogeneous as regards phenotype and genotype and fall into two separate groups, one of which is related to the strain, isolated during cholera outbreak 1938 in Khabarovsk, and another group – to the strains from India and China, isolated in 1946 and 1949, respectively.

The genetic diversity of Yersinia pestis strains from the Mongolian natural plague foci has been investigated. A total of 32 strains isolated from western, eastern, and central aimaks, as well as from the territory of the Gobi region, have been studied. Twenty-four strains belong to the main Y. pestis subspecies, while eight belong to non-main subspecies. There is only one strain of biovar medievalis (genovariant 2.MED1) among the strains of the main subspecies, while the rest of the subspecies belong to the biovar antiqua. Biovar antiqua strains are split into three groups. Strains from the eastern part of the country were classified as genovariant 2.ANT3, and those from the western and central regions were classified as genovariant 3.ANT2, which was endemic for Mongolia. One strain from the Bayan-Ulegeiskii aimak had the rare genovariant 4.ANT. None of the strains of the biovar antiqua belonged to its ancient 0.ANT branch, which is inconsistent with the commonly accepted idea that ancient marmot’s plague agent race originates from Mongolia. Six out of eight strains of the non-main subspecies belonged to the ulegeica subspecies, which are endemic to Mongolia, one strain belonged to the microtus group, and the last belonged to a previously uncharacterized variant of the minor subspecies.

The results of a study on the taxonomy and quantitative abundance of free-living amoebas in soil samples from the Russian plague foci of the Northwestern Caspian steppe, the Caspian sand, and the Volga-Ural steppe are presented. Amoebas of the Willaertia and Hartmanella genera, as well as representatives of myxomycetes, were isolated from samples. From these, amoebas of the Acanthamoeba genus predominated and could be as abundant as 300000 cells per 1 g of soil. Sequencing of the18S rRNA gene region showed that Acanthamoeba from the Volga-Ural steppe focus belonged to the A. castellanii species. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed that amoebas from two other Caspian foci belonged to the species of Acanthamoeba spp.

The comparative analysis of the genome regions associated with virulence in various V. cholerae strains: classical biovar, as well as typical and genetically altered strains of El Tor biovar was performed with the use of PCR assays and fragment sequencing. V. cholerae classical biovar genome was demonstrated to be more stable in comparison with the same in V. cholerae El Tor biovar. Within the genome of El Tor vibrios there were identified extensive variable regions carrying pathogenicity genes. It was also found that unlike classical cholera vibrios, in the V. cholerae El Tor genome there is absent CRISPR-system limiting horizontal transfer of the genes. The obtained data concerning these structural peculiarities of V. cholerae El Tor genome may be used in the delivery of the new generations of gene-diagnostic preparations and for improvement of molecular-epidemiological monitoring in case of cholera.

and degraded polysaccharide (PS) are easily soluble in water and in 0,9 % NaCl solution. They are homogenous and characterized by an adequate degree of purity. Aside from that, it is demonstrated that potentially PS is the most productive molecule fragment of LPS for the construction of plague immunodiagnostic preparation, since despite its decreased cytotoxocity PS retains identity of chemical composition and immunechemical specificity of endotoxin.

The nucleotide sequences of the Tc’s insect toxin complex genes have been analyzed in 18 natural strains of the main and non-main subspecies of Yersinia pestis isolated in different natural foci in the Russian Federation, as well as neighboring and more remote countries, as compared to the data on Y. pestis and Y. pseudotuberculosis strains stored in the NCBI GenBank database. The nucleotide sequences of these genes in plague agent strains have been found to be highly conserved, in contrast to those of the pseudotuberculosis agent. The sequences of two genes, tcaC and tccC2, have been found to be almost identical in Y. pestis strains, whereas other three genes (tcaA, tcaB, and tccC1) contain a few mutations, which, however, are not common for all strains of the plague agent. Exceptions are only strains of the Y. pestis biovar orientalis, whose tcaB gene is in a nonfunctional state due to a nucleotide deletion. The results suggest that the formation of the species Y. pestis as an agent of a natural focal infection with a transmissive mechanism has not resulted in degradation of the Tc’s complex genes. Instead, these genes are likely to have been altered as the plague agent have been adapting to the new environment.

Structural and functional analyses of the araC gene, which is involved in regulation of expression of diagnostically important characteristics, such as arabinose fermentation in the plague microbe strain, were carried out. It was established that the reason for the lack of arabinose fermentation in the altaica and hissarica subspecies and strains of talassica groups is the presence of the insertion of a single nucleotide in the araC gene at position 773 bp. The strains of the basic, caucasia, and ulegeica subspecies do not contain this mutation in the araC gene, which correlates to their ability to ferment arabinose.

A study of the structural and regulatory genes that determine rhamnose fermentation, which are located in the rha locus of the chromosome of Yersinia pestis main and nonmain subspecies and of the Yersinia pseudotuberculosis of serogroups I-III was performed. The nucleotide sequence of main subspecies of Y. pestis differs substantially from those of nonmain subspecies and Y. pseudotuberculosis by the presence of a nucleotide substitution in 671 bp location of rhaS gene, resulting presumably in the inability of the Y. pestis nonmain subspecies to utilize rhamnose. Other nucleotide substitutions found in Y. pestis nonmain subspecies strains influence only the expression efficiency of this diagnostic criterion.

Determined was complete nucleotide sequence of rhaS gene, the regulatory gene of rha locus of chromosome in Yersinia pestis strains of main and minor subspecies and in Y. pseudotuberculosis of I-III serovariants. The presence of significant and inessential nucleotide replacements in rhaS gene was shown. Evidently, these replacements are the cause of different abilities for rhamnose fermentation in the strains of plague etiological agent (main and minor subspecies) and those of pseudotuberculosis agent.

Fifty six Yersinia pestis strains, isolated over the period of more than 50 years in three high-mountain foci of Kyrgyzstan (Tien Shan, Alai, and Talas), have been characterized by means of PCR and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) typing methods. Seven of these strains were also characterized by means of whole genome sequencing and genome-wide SNP phylogenetic analysis. It was found that forty two strains belong to 0.ANT2, 0.ANT3 and 0.ANT5 phylogenetic branches. From these, strains of 0.ANT2 and 0.ANT3 branches were earlier detected in China only, whereas 0.ANT5 phylogenetic branch was identified for Y. pestis phylogeny for the first time. According to the results of genome-wide SNP analysis, 0.ANT5 strains are ones of the most closely related to Y. pestis strain responsible for the Justinianic Plague. We have also found out that four of the studied strains belong to the phylogenetic branch 2.MED1, and ten strains from Talas high-mountain focus belong to the phylogenetic branch 0.PE4 (sub-branch 0.PE4t). Established diversity of Y. pestis strains and extensive dissemination of the strains pertaining to the 0.ANT branch confirm the antiquity of the mentioned above plague foci and suggest that strains of the 0.ANT branch, which serve as precursors for all highly virulent Y. pestis strains, had their origin in the Tien Shan mountains.

To determine sialic acids and O-acetyl groups content in Yersinia pestis and Vibrio cholerae antigens in order to establish their association with biological activity.The following antigens of Y. pestis EV NIIEG strain--capsular antigen (F1), major somatic antigen (MSA), lipopolysaccharide (LPS), Pla-protease, allergen pestin PP--as well as O-antigens (O-AG) of V. cholerae serogroups O1 and O139 were used in the study. Sialic acids were identified by the thiobarbituric method, and O-acetyl groups--according to Alicino. Specific polysaccharides in the MSA and O-antigens were detected by the immunodiffusion assay.Sialic acids were found in LPS, Pla-protease, allergen pestin PP, and all cholera O-AG; their absence was demonstrated in MSA and F1. O-acetyl groups were identified in cholera O-AG of both studied serogroups as well as in LPS, Pla-protease, MSA and pestin PP of Y. pestis. Tendency to correlation between O-acetyl groups content in MSA and serological activity titer was observed.Sialic acids and O-acetyl groups identified in carbohydrate-containing antigens of Y. pestis and V. cholerae could be characterized as reaction-active markers of pathogenetic mechanisms of cholera and plague infections as well as immunochemical activity of microbial polysaccharides.

A study of the structural and regulatory genes, determining rhamnose fermentation, that are located in the rha locus of the chromosome of Yersinia pestis main and non-main subspecies and of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis of serogroups I-III was performed. The nucleotide sequence of Y. pestis main subspecies differs substantially from those of non-main subspecies and Y. pseudotuberculosis by the presence of a nucleotide substitution in 671 bp location of rhaS gene resulting presumably in the Y. pestis non-main subsp inability to utilize rhamnose. This results in incapability of Y. pestis non-main subspecies to utilize rhamnose. Other nucleotide substitutions found in Y. pestis non-main subspecies strains influence only upon expression efficiency of this diagnostic criterion.

In highly virulent strains of Yersinia pestis, the porin gene border- ing pigmentation (pgm) locus was observed to be usually broken by IS100. In this case, the pgm locus that carries virulence genes (high pathogenicity island) and biofilm formation genes (hms operon) is flanked by direct copies of IS100, which can cause its destabilization. We studied the prevalence of the intact and dis- rupted porin genes among 240 strains of Y. pestis from 39 natural centers in Russia and abroad, and 68 strains of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis from different geographical regions. The majority of the highly virulent Y. pestis strains and some phylogenetic lines of Y. pseudotuberculosis 0:1 serotype contain disrupted porin genes. At the same time, deletion of the pgm locus by flanking IS100 in Y pseudotuberculosis is impossible, because IS100 is integrated in the porin gene in the reverse orientation as compared to Y pestis. The porin genes are intact in all Y pestis strains with low epidemic importance and some phylogenetic lines of highly virulent Y pestis strains from some desert foci and Caspian sandy focus, as well as most strains of Y pseudotuberculosis 0:1 serotype. Less virulent strains of Y pseudotuberculosis 0:3 serotype revealed extensive deletion, which included the porin gene and a portion of the gene astE. The nucleotide sequence of the porin genes in Y pestis and Y pseudotuberculosis strains from different geographical regions are identical. Three alleles of the porin gene differ solely by the site of integration and orientation of IS 100 or by the lack of integration. The nucleotide sequence of IS 100, embedded in the porin gene of Yersinia, has minor differences only in two Y pestis strains isolated in America. Low frequency of Hms- mutations correlates with the intact condition of the porin gene in Y pestis. This correlation is absent in Y pseudotuberculosis.

In this paper the principle possibility for determining the incorporation efficiency of plague capsular antigen (PCA) into liposomes on the basis of elastic light scattering is shown. To find the most informative index, which characterizes the process of PCA sorption into liposomes, the angular light scattering dependencies for the liposome suspensions containing various PCA concentrations were measured by means of laser polarization nephelometer. Its construction and measurement technique are described in detail. For all preparations to be investigated, the incorporation efficiency was determined using traditional biochemical method and correlation between the scattering matrix element values and the incorporation efficiency was made. The most informative index, characterizing the process of PCA incorporation into the liposomes, appeared to be the light scattering integral intensity (LSII) at an angle of 90 degree(s). It was found that the PCA incorporation into liposomes results in the LSII increasing by a factor of 2 - 5 times in the incorporation efficiency range from 5% to 45%. The electron microscopy data and angular dependencies for the light scattering matrix elements have shown that LSII increase is due to the refraction index variation of the liposome membrane. The obtained LSII dependence on the incorporation efficiency enables us to determine the PCA incorporation efficiency into the liposomes by measuring the LSII.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

This paper describes the investigation of incorporation processes of the plague lipopolysaccharide (LPS) into artificial phospholipid vesicles (PLV) on the basis of elastic laser radiation scattering. For this purpose, the angular light scattering dependencies of PLV suspensions, containing various LPS concentrations (0 - 5 mg/ml), were measured using the polarization nephelometer. The design of the polarization nephelometer and the measurement technique are described in detail. Measuring results are compared with electron microscopy data. The most pronounced variation as a result of LPS incorporation into PLV appeared to be the light scattering integral intensity (LSII) at angles exceeding 100. It is shown that the LPS adding into the PLV suspension causes the LSII to increase by a factor 2 - 6 for a LPS concentration range from 0.5 to 5 mg/ml as compared with `empty' PLV. Proceeding from the electron microscopy data it was found that the LSII increase, in general case, is conditioned by variation of the PLV membrane refraction index and formation of PLV aggregates. It was shown that the LSII measurement for the PLV suspension containing LPS can be used as a qualitative express analysis for the LPS incorporation into PLV as well as procedure for determination of the aggregate formation stage from PLV. The LPS of the plague, which as determinants being common for various gram-negative bacteria, is of great interest from the viewpoint of creating preparations for prophylactic measures against the endotoxin infections. However, the LPS toxicity due to the lipid A presence is a disadvantage of this weak antigen. Incorporation of the LPS int bilayer phospholipid membranes leads to its lower toxicity and higher immunization ability. The immunization ability and toxicity of the LPS complexes with bilayer membranes depend essentially on the LPS quantity sorbed in the membrane, as well as on the shapes and sizes of aggregates formed by the LPS and membranes in water environment.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

Recently a great deal of attention has been given to the investigation artificial lipid liposomes, due to their application as "containers" for directed transport of biologically active compounds into particular cells, organs and tissues for prophylaxis and therapy of infectious diseases. The use of traditional methods of liposome investigation, such as sedimentation, electrophoresis and chromatography is impeded by low liposome resistivity to different deformations. In conjunction with this, optical methods of laser light scattering are promising as they allow nondisturbing, precise and quick investigations. This paper describes the investigation of vesicle systems prepared from egg lecithin of Serva Corporation and their complexes with the capsular antigen of the plague microbe. The capsular antigen Fl was obtained from EV plague microbe grown at 37° C on Huttinger agar. Fl was isolated by gel-filtration on ASA-22 followed by freeze drying of the preparation. Angular dependences of polarized radiation scattering were measured for several liposome suspension samples in a saline solution before and after the interaction with the plague microbe capsular antigen. The aim of the investigation was to analyze the nature of mutual antigen arrangement in a liposome and to develop methods for measuring its inclusion percentage.

Thermographic investigations of the datolite concentrate established two endothermic effects. The first (maximum about 730~ is connected with the dehydration of the datolite and the formation of calcium orthosilicate, bredigite;the second (maximum about 930~ the decomposition of the calcium orthosilicate, and the appearance of calcium metasilicate, wollastonite, which with rise in temperature is converted into parawollastonite. At about 1000~ sintering and partial fusion of the datolite concentrate commence, and upon the attainment of 1200~ there forms a structurally stable, noncrystallizing glass phase.

Examination of 94 patients with stage II hypertensive disease and 20 rabbits with hypertension showed that in the hypokinetic type of hemodynamics separate medication with dibazol, papaverin hydrochloride and reserpine caused a reduction of arterial pressure in all cases due to a decrease in total peripheral resistance. In combination with phentolamine dibazol and papaverin hydrochloride caused no further decrease of arterial pressure whereas the hypotensive effect of reserpine in this case was intensified along the type of summation of hypotensive effects due to more significant decrease in total peripheral resistance. During beta-adrenostructure blocking in patients with hyperkinetic type of hemodynamics, arterial pressure dropped due to a decrease of the cardiac output. Medication with dibazol, papaverin hydrochloride and reserpine during beta-adrenergic block led to more marked drop in arterial pressure because these agents prevented an increase of total peripheral resistance encountered when only beta-adrenergic blocking agents are given.

The activity of Na+, K+ATPase (EC 3.6.1.3) and acetylcholinesterase (EC 3.1.1.7) as well as the content of masked and exposed SH-groups in sealed and unsealed erythrocyte ghosts were studied as affected by single rapid freezing-thawing. The freezing-thawing procedure resulted in different reactions of membrane-bound enzymes: Na+, K+-ATPase activity is doubled in sealed ghosts and unchanged in unsealed ones. In both types of ghosts the equal decrease in the AChE activity was found to be parallel with the diminution in the content of masked SH-groups but this cannot be referred to exposed SH-groups. The obtained results seem to suggest that the changes in the native conformation of membrane catalytic proteins resulted from cryodamage are responsible for the lowered aChE activity; the primary cause of increase Na+, K+-ATPase activity is due to the changes in the permeability and integrity of erythrocyte membrane, which are followed by the greater accessibility of the substrate (ATP) to the enzyme.