Emergence of Candida auris in Russia.

This paper reports the emergence of Candida auris infections in an intensive care unit at a hospital in Moscow. Forty-nine cases were diagnosed in 2016-2017, and the risk factors and antifungal susceptibilities are described. The 30-day all-cause mortality for 19 bloodstream infections in patients who did not receive appropriate antifungal therapy was 42.1%. Phylogenetic analysis of the internal transcribed spacer and D1-D2 regions and K143R substitution in the ERG11 gene indicated that the studied C. auris strains were of South Asian origin. This first reported series of C. auris infections in Russia demonstrates the rapid dissemination of this species, and the need for international surveillance and control measures.

[Subtyping of lipooligosaccharides of non-typeable haemophilus influenzae isolated from children with bronchopulmonary diseases].

AIM: Subtyping of lipooligosaccharides (LOS) of non-typeable strains of Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) isolated from children with bronchopulmonary diseases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Lipooligosaccharides obtained from 62 acapsular strains of H. influenzae were studied by vertical SDS-electrophoresis in PAAG. RESULTS: Majority of LOS formed electrophoretically mobile components in low molecular mass zone. Obtained results allowed to differentiate 23 subtypes of LOS. Lipooligosaccharides of majority of strains (67.7%) belonged to one of 10 main subtypes, 30.6% of strains belonged to mixed subtypes because they had signs of 2-3 subtypes. CONCLUSION: Strains possessing LOS of three subtypes--VI, VII, and X--were significantly more prevalent in pediatric patients (p < 0.05). More than one third (43.5%) of studied NTHi strains belonged to these subtypes.

[Influence of the different detoxifying agents on toxic characteristics of Haemophilus influenzae lypooligosaccharides].

AIM: To study toxicity of lypooligosaccharides (LOS) of non-typable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) strain and products of their detoxication obtained using different reagents. MATERIALS AND METHODS: LPS was obtained from the NTHi strain grown on solid brain-heart infusion nutrient medium using previously described method of isolation and purification of LOS. Obtained LPS was treated in same conditions by one of the 3 detoxifying agents: anhydrous hydrazine (AH), alkali (NaOH), and hydrochloric hydroxylamine (HH). Toxicity of LOS and its detoxified derivatives was measured on outbred mice which were administered 0.5 ml of actinomycin D intraperitoneally 1 day before immunization. Death of animals was assessed on day 2 after immunization. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was used for study the influence of detoxifying agents on physico-chemical properties of LOS. RESULTS: As a result of treatment of NTHi No.45 LOS by different detoxifying agents, 3 preparations of detoxified LOS (d-LOS) and 3 preparations from precipitates (nd-LOS) were obtained. Preparation d-LOSAH was the least toxic. Toxic properties of nd-LOSHH did not reliably change. PAAG electrophoresis showed that virtually all detoxified preparations were characterized by higher migration of lypooligosaccharide components compared to original LOS of NTHi No. 45, which indicates the lowering of LOS molecular weight after treatment by detoxifying agents, associated with elimination of lipid A higher fatty acids. CONCLUSION: Analysis of effects of detoxifying agents indicates the need to select individual conditions for treatment by each of them.

[Immunity to antigens of nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae strains].

Nonencapsulated (nontypeable) Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) is a Gram-negative coccobacillus colonizing upper respiratory tract of most healthy people and causing such diseases as otitis media, sinusitis, exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and bronchitis. NTHi may cause systemic infection. As a result, over the past decade the bacterium has been the subject of intense research. However immune response to NTHi has not been well characterized. Data on research of immune response to NTHi are presented.

[Surface antigens of Haemophilus influenzae non-typed strains].

H. influenzae non-typed strains cause diseases of respiratory organs, otitis, sinusitis and conjunctivitis. H. influenzae surface antigens play an important role in the vital activity of bacteria and the pathogenesis of diseases. A large number of antigens with similar functions and different structure, as well as the variability of their structure, determine the strain specificity of immune response and facilitate the development of chronic diseases. Modern data on the structure and functions of surface antigens of H. influenzae non-typed strains are presented.

[Influence of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide and hemin concentrations on the growth of Haemophilus influanzae type b and the synthesis of capsular polysaccharide].

In the process the cultivation of H. influenzae, type b, in semisynthetic nutrient medium with aminopeptide base the growth of the bacteria and the synthesis of capsular polysaccharide were shown to depend on the concentrations of aminopeptide, nicotinamide adenine nucleotide (NAD) and hemin. An increase in the concentrations of NAD and hemin stimulated the growth of H. influenzae and inhibited the synthesis of capsular polysaccharide. Similar effect was observed in the simultaneous increase of NAD and hemin concentrations. At elevated concentrations of NAD and hemin and the content of aminopeptide equal to 350 mI/l the maximum weight of biomass was achieved. The increase of hemin concentration had no influence on the growth of H. influenzae, type b, and the synthesis of capsular polysaccharide.

[Influence of the aminopeptide concentration on the growth of Haemophilus influenzae, type b, and the synthesis of its capsular polysaccharide].

The influence of the aminopeptide concentration on the growth of H. influenzae b culture and the synthesis of H. influenzae b capsular polysaccharide was determined. The maximum amount of capsular polysaccharide was accumulated at the concentration of aminopeptide in the culture fluid reaching 50 ml/l. An increase in the aminopeptide concentration led to a decreased amount of synthesized polysaccharide and an increased amount of biomass. The decrease of the aminopeptide concentration to 10 ml/l resulted in decreased amounts of both biomass and synthesized polysaccharide.

[Problem of occupational risk criteria and of evaluating compensations for workers].

The article covers problem of occupational risk criteria and compensation of health damage, with consideration of domestic and international experience.

[Cultivation of Haemophilus influenzae, serotype B, in amino peptide-based semisynthetic nutrient medium]. / Kul'tivirovanie Haemophilus influenzae serotipa B na polusinteticheskoi pitatel'noi srede na osnove aminopeptida.

The work shows the possibility of the cultivation of H. influenzae, serotype b, in semisynthetic nutrient medium with amino peptide as the only source of amino acids, glucose--as the main source of carbon and energy and containing, in addition, the necessary growth factors and vitamins.

[Dynamics of growth of Haemophilus influenzae serotype B and synthesis of capsular polysaccharide in the process of cultivation in a synthetic nutrient medium]. / Dinamika rosta Haemophilus influenzae serotipa B i sinteza kapsul'nogo polisakharida v protsesse kul'tivirovaniia na sinteticheskoi pitatel'noi srede.

The dynamics of H. influenzae, serotype b, growth and synthesis of their capsular polysaccharide in the synthetic nutrient medium, proposed by Herriot for noncapsular strains, was studied using 6 strains. The growth rate of H. influenzae, serotype b, and the amount of capsular polysaccharide, synthesized in the above mentioned medium, practically were not different from those in heart-brain broth (Difco). The possibility of minimizing the composition of Herriot's medium without any adverse effect on the amount of synthesized capsular polysaccharide was shown. As the result of these studies, the expediency of the cultivation of H. influenzae, serotype b, in the synthetic medium, intended for obtaining the preparations of capsular polysaccharide, was proved.

[Changes in sensitivity of lymphocytic leukemia P388 cells to oxidative stress and platidiam upon tumor growth]. / Izmenenie chuvstvitel'nosti kletok limfoleikoza P388 k okislitel'nomu stressu i platidiamu po mere rosta opukholi.

We studied the effect of oxidative stress induced by hyperoxia, hydrogen peroxide, or menadione on mouse leukemia P388 cells at early (4 days) and late (7 days) stages of tumor growth. Oxidative stress proved to inhibit cell division and to induce apoptosis. Seven-day leukemia cells feature lower proliferative potential and higher sensitivity to oxidative stress and platidiam.

[Specific characteristics of composition of synthetic nutrient media for cultivation of Hemophilus influenzae type b from the standpoint of bacterial metabolism]. / Osobennosti sostava sinteticheskikh pitatel'nykh sred dlia kul'tivirovaniia Hemophilus influenzae type b s pozitsii sovremennykh predstavlenii o metabolizme étikh bakterii.

In many countries vaccination against Haemophilus influenzae of type b (Hib) has permitted the liquidation of severe generalized forms of infections caused by these bacteria. The vaccine is obtained on the basis of Hib capsular polysaccharide. To obtain pure capsular polysaccharide, Hib should be cultivated on synthetic nutrient media. The present review deals with the data substantiating the advantages of using synthetic nutrient media for the cultivation of these bacteria with a view to obtaining pure capsular polysaccharide.

[Immunohistochemical study of cell phenotypes in organ culture of the rat embryo liver]. / Immunogistokhimicheskoe izuchenie fenotipov kletok v organotipicheskoi kul'ture émbrionov krys.

The organ culture of the liver of a 14 day old rat embryo was used for immunohistochemical recognition of the available cell types. This culture contains the tissue explant, confluent monolayer cells and a zone of single cells (ZSC). At the start of cultivation a monolayer is formed at the expense of cells slipping down together from the explant, and later these cells were seen to migrate actively from the explant and to proliferate. ZSC is formed by cells migrating from the monolayer. Desmin-containing cells (hepatoblasts, Ito cells and myofibroblasts) migrate from the explant to the monolayer and ZSC. In the monolayer hepatoblasts lose gradually desmin and are converted into cytokeratin 18 (CK-18) expressing hepatocytes. In ZSC, hepatoblasts lose desmin, but no CK-18 synthesis occurs in them. The Ito cells (hypothetical progenitor cells) are spreading over the whole culture, and desmin expression in them does not change. The embryonal Ito cells may transform presumably into myofibrils. Myofibroblasts lie flat on the periphery of ZSC. Besides, desmin myofibroblasts express alpha-actin from smooth muscles. Expression of CK-18 in cells depends on the pattern of intercellular interactions. In the monolayer, CK-18 expression extends successively via the adjacent cells towards the explant. In hepatocytes, migrating into ZSC, CK-18 expression stops. In ZSC, CK-18 expression reappears in compact clusters of stopped cells. It supposed that during formation of close contacts in the monolayer the cells-predecessors may be differentiated into hepatocytes, whereas in the case of disturbance of intercellular connections in ZSC the cells-progenitors may be converted into myofibroblasts. However, on the reconstruction of cell contacts in motionless dense clusters the cells in ZSC are differentiated into hepatocytes.

[Growth inhibition and induction of tumor cell death by phospholipase A2 and lipoxygenase inhibitors]. / Podavlenie rosta i induktsiia gibeli opukholevykh kletok ingibitorami fosfolipazy A2 i lipoksigenazy.

We studied the effect of arachidonic acid metabolism inhibitors in a wide concentration range on the proliferation and death of lympholeukemia cells P-388. Proliferation of the cells was estimated by metaphase frequency and the proportion of cells in S phase; cellular death was determined by their lysis, trypan blue staining, damaged nuclei, the proportion of cells with subdiploid DNA content, and DNA fragmentation. Low concentrations of phospholipase A2 and lipoxygenase inhibitors were shown to stimulate cell division, while higher concentrations inhibited it by blocking G1-S transition and inducing apoptotic cellular death. Indomethacin, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, had no effect on proliferation and induced no cell death at concentrations up to 10 microM. Inhibitors of phospholipase A2 and lipoxygenase also inhibited tumor growth in mice.

The effect of inhibitors of arachidonic acid metabolism on proliferation and death of tumor cells.

The effect of inhibitors of arachidonic acid metabolism on proliferation and death of tumor P-388 cells in a broad concentration range was studied. Cell proliferation was estimated by the metaphase frequency and the proportion of cells in S phase; cell death was determined from lysis, staining of cells with trypan blue, nuclear damage, percentage of cells with subdiploid DNA and the type of DNA fragmentation. It was shown that low concentrations of phospholipase A2 and lipoxygenase inhibitors stimulated the proliferation of P-388 cells. At higher concentrations, the inhibitors suppressed cell proliferation by blocking the G1-S transition and induced cell death of the apoptosis type. Indomethacin, an inhibitor of cyclooxygenase, did not initiate cell death, nor did it affect the proliferation of P-388 cells at concentrations of up to 10 microM.

[The effect of tetracycline therapy on the laboratory indices of chlamydia infection in Reiter's disease (preliminary report)]. / Vliianie tetratsiklinoterapii na laboratornye pokazateli khlamidiinoi infektsii pri bolezni Reitera (predvaritel'noe soobshchenie).

The authors studied the effect of tetracycline therapy (short and long courses) on the indices of chlamydia infection (antigens and antibodies) in Reiter's urogenous disease. The concentration of tetracycline in the blood serum and synovial fluid when administered in a daily dose of 2.0 g (single dose 0.5 g) was determined. It has been established that tetracycline exerts an inhibitory effect on the chlamydia infection not in all the patients suffering from Reiter's disease despite sufficient concentration of the antibiotic in biological fluids (blood serum, synovial fluid). Prolonged courses of tetracycline therapy proved most effective.

[Surface structure of the elementary bodies of Chlamydia]. / Stroenie poverkhnosti élementarnykh telets khlamidii.

The surface structure of chlamydial elementary bodies (strain PL-B577 causing enzootic abortion of ewes and strain CP-1 isolated from a patient with Reiter's syndrome), concentrated directly on the grid of an electron microscope, was studied by the method of negative staining. The surface of the cell wall of chlamydial elementary bodies in the preparations of crude cultures, not subjected to enzymatic purification, was formed by spherical subunits 4 nm in diameter. The surface of the cell wall of elementary bodies was found to have projections 10-20 nm long and 3-4 nm in diameter, as well as annular structures 15-22 nm in diameter in hexagonal arrangement, spaced at 45 nm and probably traversed by these projections. The number of such structures in a group was 12-15. These data correspond to the model representing the structure of the surface of chlamydiae, which was proposed by Matsumoto in 1979.

[Study of viral contamination of Japanese quail and cell cultures from their embryos]. / Izuchenie virusnoi kontaminatsii iaponskikh perepelov i kul'tury kletok iz ikh émbrionov.

Agents identified as adenovirus CELO were isolated from organ suspensions of 1500 Japanese quails (JQ) in 4 experiments. No contaminating viruses were found in examinations of cell cultures prepared from the kidneys of 80 JQ. Negative results were obtained in examinations of 163 antigens from JQ organs in the COFAL test. Agents identified as mycoplasma were isolated in 16 cases from 736 specimens of the virus-containing fluid used for manufacture of measles virus. According to the results of the CFT, 59 antigens prepared from Japanese quail embryo cell cultures contained no oncornavirus antigens and were negative in the COFAL test. Among 1848 JQ sera examined for the presence of antibody to leukemia-sarcoma complex viruses only 2 sera were found in 1976 to contain antibody to Rous sarcoma virus. No antibody to Marek disease virus in 414 serum samples or to Newcastle disease virus in 554 sera were detected. Among 500 sera tested 30.8% contained antibody to adenovirus CELO.