SNP rs657152 Is Not Associated with the Level of Viral Load in COVID-19 or the Probability of Disease in the Population of Caucasians in Eastern Siberia.

Cross-replicating associations with rs657152 at the 9q34.2c locus and rs11385942 at the 3p21.31 locus found in patients with severe COVID-19 in the Caucasian population require the study of the discovered phenomenon in various populations, including as an independent biological marker. Primers and TaqMan probes for PCR discrimination of the A and C alleles in single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs657152 have been developed. The polymorphism of the rs657152 A/C locus was determined in 129 patients with COVID-19 and in a control group of 466 healthy individuals. There were no significant differences in the frequency of distribution of the A and C alleles, 0.47/0.53 and 0.45/0.55, between patients and healthy subjects, respectively. Also, no differences were found in the distribution of alleles in patients with a high viral load in the smear (Ct in the range of 16-25) in comparison with an average and low viral load (Ct in the range of 26-40).

Cytokine Profiling of Subclinical Tick-Borne Infections in Humans.

Over many years, tick-borne infections remain one of the most serious threats to human health worldwide. The immune response to these infections in a human after confirmed bite by an infected carrier at the early stages of infection in the absence of clinical symptoms can be the first indicator of the presence of the infectious agent in the body. During viral infection, the concentration of IL-1α, IL-8, IL-10, IL-17A, and IFNγ increases; superoxide dismutase also increases, in contrast to bacterial infections. A slight decrease in the concentration is observed only for receptor antagonist IL-1Ra. During the infection caused by bacterial pathogens, very similar profiles of the innate human immune response are observed: activation of IL-1α, IL-8, and IFNα and suppression of superoxide dismutase, IL-1Ra, and IL-17A production. It has been demonstrated, that the immune response is triggered immediately after infection, and changes in the concentration of the main cytokines in the blood plasma can be detected as early as on days 2-5 after tick bite. These results can be useful in developing new methods of emergency diagnosis and prevention of tick-borne infections.

[Child and Adolescent Interepydemic Immunity to Influenza Viruses].

OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to evaluate the child and adolescent population immunity to influenza A viruses (IAV) and influenza B virus (IBV). METHODS: The concentration and specificity of antiviral antibodies was evaluated by hemagglutination inhibition assay (HAI) that was performed using commercial HAI diagnostic kits. RESULTS: The serum samples of 254 clinically healthy children and adolescents were examined in this study. 245 participants had the antibodies to IAV, 199--to IAV and IBV and only 4 children aged between 1 and 4 years and a 12-year-old boy had no immunity to IAVor IBV. The number of children with specific immunity increased in elder groups by 43% (from 81 to 116) for N0N1, and H3N2 subtypes and by 110% (from 38 to 80) for H1N1 subtype of IAV. In children younger than 4 years the titer of specific antibodies against the H1N1pdm09 was 1:210 and against the H3N2--1:270, whereas in adolescents of 10-14 years these figures were by 1.6 and 2.4 times lower (1:130 and 1:120) respectively. Antibodies to the subtypes H2N2 and H5N1 were not detected. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that 98.4% of child and adolescent population in interepidemic influenza season are immune to the various IAV (H3N2, H1N1, H0N1) as well as to the IBV. More than half of children and adolescents (57.4%) are immune to H1N1pdm09 subtype of IAV. The strength of immune response to the recent pathogens (H3N2 u H1N1pdm09) is higher in infants than in teenagers.

[Genetic characteristics of the causative agent of tick-borne encephalitis in Mongolia].

A patient with diagnosed meningoencephalitis and a history of tick bite died in Mongolia in 2008. The purpose of this paper is to characterize the virus causing the ill person's death. The virus was identified using the phylogenetic analysis of the 520-bp fragment of the tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) genome, which codes the fragment of TBEV protein E between 52-223 amino acids. TBEV RNA was detected in the samples of medulla oblongata, cerebral cortex, and pia mater of brain, but not in the cerebellar tissue. The study virus fragment was genetically closest to the representatives of the Far East subtype. Its closest relative was virus 740-84 (GenBank EU878282) isolated from large-toothed redback voles (Clethrionomys glareolus) in Buryatia and greatly differed from the Far East virus Soffin. Two amino acid substitutions (H86R and VI7A) were detected within the study protein E fragment. The paper is the first to describe the causative agent of tick-borne encephalitis on the territory of Mongolia and to discuss the evolution and pathogenicity of TBEV.

Understanding the alphaviruses: recent research on important emerging pathogens and progress towards their control.

The alphaviruses were amongst the first arboviruses to be isolated, characterized and assigned a taxonomic status. They are globally very widespread, infecting a large variety of terrestrial animals, insects and even fish, and circulate both in the sylvatic and urban/peri-urban environment, causing considerable human morbidity and mortality. Nevertheless, despite their obvious importance as pathogens, there are currently no effective antiviral drugs with which to treat humans or animals infected by any of these viruses. The EU-supported project-VIZIER (Comparative Structural Genomics of Viral Enzymes Involved in Replication, FP6 PROJECT: 2004-511960) was instigated with an ultimate view of contributing to the development of antiviral therapies for RNA viruses, including the alphaviruses [Coutard, B., Gorbalenya, A.E., Snijder, E.J., Leontovich, A.M., Poupon, A., De Lamballerie, X., Charrel, R., Gould, E.A., Gunther, S., Norder, H., Klempa, B., Bourhy, H., Rohayemj, J., L'hermite, E., Nordlund, P., Stuart, D.I., Owens, R.J., Grimes, J.M., Tuckerm, P.A., Bolognesi, M., Mattevi, A., Coll, M., Jones, T.A., Aqvist, J., Unger, T., Hilgenfeld, R., Bricogne, G., Neyts, J., La Colla, P., Puerstinger, G., Gonzalez, J.P., Leroy, E., Cambillau, C., Romette, J.L., Canard, B., 2008. The VIZIER project: preparedness against pathogenic RNA viruses. Antiviral Res. 78, 37-46]. This review highlights some of the major features of alphaviruses that have been investigated during recent years. After describing their classification, epidemiology and evolutionary history and the expanding geographic distribution of Chikungunya virus, we review progress in understanding the structure and function of alphavirus replicative enzymes achieved under the VIZIER programme and the development of new disease control strategies.

[The heterogeneity of the ospa gene of Borrelia garinii and Borrelia afzelii in western Siberia and Mongolia].

48 full-length Borrelia garinii and Borrelia afzelii from West Siberia and Mongolia ospA gene nucleotide sequences was determined. Four groups of Borrelia garinii were revealed using the analysis of nucleotide sequences. The most variable ospA gene region was demonstrated to be included in region where the antigenic determinants of protein were encoded. High homology level was shown for nucleotide sequences corresponding to isolates of Borrelia afzelii.

[Molecular epidemiology of tick-borne encephalitis].

The review presents information on the development of studies into the molecular epidemiology of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) in Russia and foreign countries. The existence of three major virus genotypes has been established by various techniques, such as genomic fragment sequencing, molecular hybridization using genotype-specific probes, and restriction fragment length polymorphism test. Each of the genotypes prevails in different parts of a natural habitat; the Ural-Siberian genotype (a Siberian subtype) is most commonly encountered. The genetic differences between the strains belonging to different genotypes are great and comparable with differences between some mammalian flaviviruses transmitted by ticks (viruses of a TBE complex). Further studies of the molecular epidemiology of TBE are of importance in understanding the evolution of the causative agent, improving the taxonomy and the classification of flavivuruses, and designing highly effective methods for the specific diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of the disease.

[Current approaches to emergency specific prevention of tick-borne encephalitis].

Emergency specific prevention of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) by using homologous immunoglobulin is an important element in the package of controlling measures against this viral natural and focal infection. There are annually a few hundred thousand referrals for health care facilities for tick bites. Their maximum coverage tactics via immunoglobulin prevention is medically unreal and unjustifiable. The paper presents the results of a long-term application of another approach based on preliminary rapid studies of the ticks taken from victims or the blood of patients in the period of possible development of virusemia and preventive immunoglobulin use only in the persons bitten with TBE virus-infected ticks. Examination of the material available from more than 56 thousand referrals indicated the high epidemiological (more than 99%) and economic effectiveness of the target administration of an immunological drug. By taking into account the accumulated data on a wide spread of combined foci of TBE and other tick-borne infections and the authors' own experience, it is suggested that it is necessary to organize a comprehensive differential laboratory diagnosis and emergency prevention against the whole complex of Ixodes tick-borne infections.

[Heterogeneity of the gene P83/100 of Borrelia borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex].

The 35 full-length Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex a83/100 gene nucleotide sequences were determined. High level of homology was observed in the nucleotide sequences corresponding to the strains and isolates of Borrelia fzelii. The analysis of the nucleotide sequences revealed two groups of Borrelia garinii. The most variable p83/100 gene region containing species-typical insertions and deletions was demonstrated to be included into the region where the antigenic determinants of protein were encoded. According to the data obtained in this work, the modification of the P83/100 protein structure and immunological properties could be suggested to exist even within species. The results of this work could be used for receiving recombinant P83/100 proteins useful for diagnostic applications.

[Ecology and evolution of influenza viruses in Russia (1979-2002)]. / Ekologiia i évoliutsiia virusov grippa v Rossii (1979-2002 gg.).

The research results on ecology and evolution of influenza A viruses, which has been conducted by the Center of Ecology and Evolution of influenza Viruses of Ivanovsky's Institute of Virology, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, for more than 30 years, are summarized in the paper. A gene pool of influenza A viruses circulating in Russia's territory was defined. Foci of influenza A viruses were detected in natural biocenosis. Issues conditioned by the population interrelations of influenza viruses, i.e. between the populations of wild and home animals and the populations of people, are also under discussion.

[Isolation of a novel rickettsia from the tick Dermacentor silvarum in Baikal lake region]. / Obnaruzhenie novoi rikketsii v kleshchakh Dermacentor silvarum v raione ozera Baikal.

A new species of rickettsiae with unknown pathogenicity has been detected in ticks Dermacentor silvarum in the region of Baikal Lake. As revealed by the analysis of the primary structure of the gene fragment coding surface membrane protein of 190 kD (rOmpA), the nucleotide sequence of the rickettsiae under study is mostly similar to the sequences of R. sp. MOAa isolate (96%), R. sp. WB-8-2 (96%), R. massiliae strain GS (94%), Rickettsia BAR-29 (94%), R. rhipicephali (94%). Similarity with the sequence of R. sibirica has proved to be 91%. The data thus obtained indicate that the detected rickettsiae represent a new rickettsial species in the territory of East Siberia.