Neuromuscular organization and haptoral armament of Polyclithrum ponticum (Monogenea: Gyrodactylidae).

Most gyrodactylids have a haptor armed with a pair of hamuli, two connecting bars and 16 marginal hooks. In some gyrodactylids, however, the haptor is disc-shaped and reinforced by additional sclerites. The genus Polyclithrum has arguably the most elaborate haptor in this group. This study aimed to gain better understanding of the anatomy of Polyclithrum by examining neuromusculature and haptoral armament of Polyclithrum ponticum, a species parasitizing Mugil cephalus in the Black Sea, with emphasis on haptoral sclerites and musculature in connection with host-attachment mechanisms. Musculature was stained by phalloidin, the nervous system by anti-serotonin and anti-FMRFamide antibodies, and haptoral sclerites were visualized in reflected light. The study provided new information on sclerites: in addition to previously described supplementary sclerites (A1-6), ear-shaped sclerites (ESSs) and two paired groups of ribs, reflected light revealed a rod-shaped process on the ESSs and a pair of small posterior sclerites. The sclerites were shown to be operated by 16 muscles, the most prominent of which were two transverse muscles connecting the hamular roots, three muscles attached to sclerite A2, the muscle fibres of anterior ribs and a set of extrinsic muscles. The nervous system consists of a pair of cerebral ganglia connected by a commissure and three pairs of nerve cords that unite in the haptor to form a loop between the opposite cords. The arrangement of sclerites and muscles suggests that Polyclithrum initiates the attachment by clamping a host's surface with longitudinally folded haptor and then secures its position with marginal hooks.

[Flow cytometry evaluation of the rhesus monkey cellular immunity following the Zaire ebolavirus (Filoviridae; Ebolavirus: Zaire ebolavirus) experimental infection].

INTRODUCTION: The outbreaks of the Zaire ebolavirus (ZE) disease (ZED) that have arisen in the last decade determine the need to study the infection pathogenesis, the formation of specific immunity forming as well as the development of effective preventive and therapeutic means. All stages of fight against the ZED spread require the experimental infection in sensitive laboratory animals, which are rhesus monkeys in case of this disease .The aim of the study is to evaluate the rhesus monkey cellular immunity following the ZE experimental infection by the means of flow cytometry (cytofluorimetry). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Male rhesus monkeys were intramuscularly infected by the dose of 15 LD50 (dose of the pathogen that causes 50% mortality of infected animals) of the ZE, the Zaire strain (ZEBOV). Levels of 18 peripheral blood lymphocyte populations of the animals before the ZE experimental infection and at the terminal stage of the disease were assessed using flow cytometry. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The certain changes in the levels of the lymphocyte populations were observed following infection, indicating simultaneous activation and suppression of the immune system during ZED. The increase in content was observed for T-lymphocytes, T-helper and cytotoxic T-lymphocytes expressing the corresponding markers of early activation. The decrease was recorded for T-lymphocytes and double-positive T-lymphocytes expressing corresponding markers of late activation, as well as natural killer cells expressing CD8 (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: For the first time in the Russian Federation, the rhesus monkey cellular immunity before and after the ZE experimental infection was assessed using flow cytometry.

Non-steady-state photo-EMF interferometer for detection of mechanical oscillations in transparent scattering objects.

The operation of an adaptive non-steady-state photo-electromagnetic field (EMF) sensor is studied in an interferometric arrangement including a diffuse scattering object-fiber optic plate. The mechanical oscillations of this plate induce the strains and stresses of the medium, which modulates the phase of the propagating light wave across the plate. The resonant frequencies of the mechanical system and the distribution of the phase modulation amplitude across the plate's surface are measured. The minimal detectable stress amplitude is estimated.

The fine structure of the germinal mass, brood cavity and birth canal of the rediae of the monoxenous hemiuroid digenean Bunocotyle progenetica Chabaud & Buttner, 1959.

Bunocotyle progenetica is a hemiuroid digenean whose sexual adults become fully developed and lay their eggs inside the rediae in the molluscan host. In this study, the fine structure of the germinal mass, brood cavity and birth canal in the B. progenetica rediae was examined using transmission electron and confocal microscopy. The large germinal mass attached to the body wall has a cellular composition typical for this organ. The characteristic traits of this germinal mass are weakly developed supporting tissue and the presence of deep lacunae opening into the brood cavity. These lacunae presumably participate in feeding the deeply lying embryos and facilitate their release into the brood cavity. The germinal mass is also characterized by intensive degeneration of cellular elements, which may represent a mechanism controlling the offspring number, limited in this species by the size of the redial brood cavity. The brood-cavity lining consists of flattened cells bearing lamellar projections and is connected anteriorly with the epithelium of the birth canal. The brood-cavity musculature, which is well developed in other hemiuroid digeneans, is significantly reduced in B. progenetica, most likely because their cystophorous cercariae remain inside the rediae, removing the need for muscle contractions pushing them through the brood cavity. The birth canal comprises three regions distinguished by the structure of the lining and muscle arrangement. The comparison of rediae of B. progenetica with parthenitae of other digeneans has shown that the organization of the redial reproductive apparatus in this species may have been influenced by life-cycle modification.

Measurements of electron density profile by frequency modulated continuous wave reflectometer in the T-10 tokamak using high magnetic field side probing and extraordinary mode lower cutoff.

A new, previously unused combination of the high magnetic field side probing and the lower extraordinary mode cutoff was used in the T-10 tokamak for the electron density profile measurements by using a frequency modulation continuous wave reflectometer. This scheme has a significant advantage for large fusion machines where flat electron density profiles and high electron temperatures are expected. The reflectometer design is based on a common scheme with voltage controlled oscillators, active multipliers, and in-phase/quadrature signal detection. Iterative procedures were applied to calibrate a microwave source frequency and compensate the dispersion of probing signals in the conventional rectangular waveguides used as the transmission lines. About 0.2% stability of the beating frequency was reached after the calibration procedure had been finished. An advanced finite-difference scheme was proposed for the reconstruction of the electron density profile to reduce errors and improve the overall performance of the algorithm. Reconstructed electron density profiles demonstrate good agreement with conventional T-10 diagnostic data. Some specific technical and physical aspects of the diagnostic were also discussed on the basis of T-10 operation experience.

Special evaluation of work conditions: drawbacks of method and ways to improve.

The authors present analysis of <> by RF Labor Ministry. Thorough consideration covers preparatory stage of special evaluation of work conditions and stage of identification of hazards. Drawbacks of the methods are revealed, improvement ways are suggested.

CHANGES IN SPINATION PATTERNS OVER THE COURSE OF METACERCARIAL DEVELOPMENT OF DIPLOSTOMUM PSEUDOSPATHACEUM NIEWIADOMSKA, 1984 (TREMATODA, DIPLOSTOMIDAE).

Metacercarial development of most Diplostomum species including D. pseudospathaceum occurs in the eye lenses of their fish hosts and is accompanied by radical morphological changes often referred to as metamorphosis. One of the structures undergoing substantial changes in D. pseudospathacewn are tegumental spines. The present study used phalloidin staining and confocal microscopy to examine these changes in D. pseudospathaceum over the course of development from 3-day-old to infective metacercariae. Although the general pattern of spination remained essentially unchanged, most larval spines continued growing in size until late in metacercarial development. From day 10 of development, larval spination was gradually replaced by small incipient definitive spines and the infective metacercariae had only definitive spination. The possible adaptive role of spines in developing metacercariae is discussed.

Buffalopox.

Buffalopox is a contagious viral disease affecting milch buffaloes (Bubalus Bubalis) and, rarely, cows. The disease has zoonotic implications, as outbreaks are frequently associated with human infections, particularly in the milkers. Buffalopox is associated with high morbidity (80%). The clinical symptoms of the disease are characterized by wartline lesions on the udder, teats, inguinal region, base of the ears, and over the parotid. In the severe form, generalized rash is observed. Although the disease does not lead to high mortality, it has an adverse effect on the productivity and working capacity of the animals resulting in large economic losses. The outbreaks of buffalopox occurred frequently in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Iran, Egypt, and Indonesia, where buffaloes are reared as milch animals. The buffalopox is closely related with other Orthopoxviruses. In particular, it is close to the vaccinia virus. There is a view that the buffalopox virus might be derived from the vaccinia virus. It is possible that it became pathogenic to humans and animals through adaptive evolution of the genome by obtaining the virulence genes. PCR is performed for the C18L gene for the purpose of specific detection and differentiation of the buffalopox virus from other orthopoxviruses. The C18L gene encodes the ankyrin repeat protein, which determines the virus host range. The open reading frame of this gene is only 150-nucleotide long as against 453 nucleotide in the vaccinia virus, 756 - in the camelpox virus, and 759 - in the cowpox virus. It can be concluded that a systematic study based on the epidemiology of the virus, existence of reservoirs, biological transmission, and the molecular organization of the buffalopox virus from buffalo, cow, and humans may pave the way to a better understanding of the circulating virus and contribute to the control of the disease using the suitable diagnostic and prophylactic measures.

[The vaccines based on the replicon of the venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis virus against viral hemorrhagic fevers].

The status of the various recombinant DNA and RNA-derived candidate vaccines, as well as the Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis virus (VEEV) replicon vaccine system against extremely hazardous viral hemorrhagic fevers, were reviewed. The VEEV-based replication-incompetent vectors offer attractive features in terms of safety, high expression levels of the heterologous viral antigen, tropism to dendritic cells, robust immune responses, protection efficacy, low potential for pre-existing anti-vector immunity and possibility of engineering multivalent vaccines were tested. These features of the VEEV replicon system hold much promise for the development of new generation vaccine candidates against viral hemorrhagic fevers.

[DETECTION OF VENEZUELAN EQUINE ENCEPHALOMYELITIS VIRUS RNA IN BIOLOGICAL SAMPLES BY REVERSE-TRANSCRIPTION POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION].

AIM: Detection-and identification of Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis (VEE) virus RNA in biological samples by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and RT-PCR in real time (rRT-PCR). MATERIALS AND METHODS: VEE, Sindbis, West Nile, Japanese and tick-borne encephalitis viruses were studied. Cell culture of chicken fibroblasts, outbred mice and rats, Javanese macaques were used in the experiments. Biological activity determination of the running culture of causative agents used in the experiments was carried out by negative colony method in monolayer cell culture under agar coating. and using intra-cerebral infection of mice. Reagent kits developed in the 48th Central Research Institute and Institute of Analytical Instrument Engineering were used during execution of experiments of VEE virus RNA detection by RT-PCR and rRT-PCR. RESULTS: VEE virus was detected in biological samples by various methods. Data from RT-PCR and rRT-PCR are in accordance with the results of virus detection in samples using sensitive animals. CONCLUSION: Use of molecular-diagnostics methods for detection in biological samples of a causative agent of a dangerous infectious disease is important for procuring biological safety of Russian Federation.

[EPIDEMIOLOGIC ANALYSIS OF OUTBREAKS OF DISEASES CAUSED BY AMERICAN EQUINE ENCEPHALITIS CAUSATIVE AGENTS IN ENDEMIC REGIONS].

Epidemiologic analysis of epidemic outbreaks caused by American equine encephalitis causative agents is carried out in the review. Eastern equine encephalomyelitis (EEE), Western equine encephalomyelitis (WEE) and Venezuela equine encephalomyelitis (VEE) viruses are etiologic agents of dangerous transmissive diseases that are usually accompanied by fever and neurologic symptoms. Among the New World alphaviruses, VEE virus has the most potential danger for humans and domestic animals. Currently, enzootic strains of VEE play an increasing role as etiologic agents of human diseases. Most of the VEE cases in humans in endemic regions during inter-epidemic period are caused by infection with VEE subtype ID virus. A possibility of emergence of novel epidemic outbreaks of VEE is determined by mutations of ID subtype strains into IC subtype, and those currently pose a potential threat as an etiologic agent of the disease. Despite low morbidity, EEE and WEE are a problem for healthcare due to a relatively high frequency of lethal outcomes of the disease.

[The molecular genetic characteristic of RNA of human enterovirus detected in bio-test from child with serous meningitis].

The article considers molecular genetic characteristic of RNA of human enterovirus detected in bio-test from child with serous meningitis. The nucleotide sequence of genome DNA is analyzed. In 98% it is identical to corresponding nucleotide sequences of strains of human enterovirus A serotype 71 detected in China.

[The separation, identification and molecular biologic analysis of isolates of pandemic influenza virus A(H1N1)pdm09].

The article presents data concerning analysis of bioassays under suspicion of influenza A(H1N1)pdm09. The technique of back transcription polymerase chain reaction and sequencing was applied. The separation of native influenza virus A was implemented using passaging through developing chick embryos.

[Giant abdominal urate tumor-like mass with multiple crystalline deposits in the bowel and lung walls in a patent with terminal heart failure].

The paper describes a unique case of a large abdominal urate mass with a peculiar inflammatory process with giant cells and smaller urate deposits in the lung and small bowel without articular changes and kidney injury in a patient with terminal heart failure.

[Cytoprotectors and their application in sports medicine].

The article presents data of literature review on potential use of cytoprotectors in sports medicine (exemplified by Mildronat medication). This group of medications improve metabolism and energy supply in tissues. One of leading indications to Mildronat use is state of low mental and physical performance, including that of athletes.

[The application of external and internal control objects in case of using of polymerase chain reaction and reverse transcription of polymerase chain reaction].

The external and internal control samples are used in case of polymerase chain reaction application to ensure validity of results. The external control samples are used to establish operability of reagents included into diagnostic kit. The internal control samples make it possible to check not only all the stages of reaction but also the process of amplification in each individual test tube with reaction mixture.

Subcutaneous IgG replacement therapy is safe and well tolerated in lung transplant recipients.

Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) replacement has been shown to decrease the risk of post-transplant infections secondary to hypogammaglobulinemia, however the use of subcutaneous immunoglobulin (SCIG) in this population has not been reported. A retrospective analysis of the efficacy and tolerability of subcutaneous immunoglobulin replacement on 10 lung-transplant recipients was performed. All 10 patients demonstrated an increase in IgG levels at three months that was sustained at 6-12 months with SCIG replacement therapy, with the majority (70%) tolerating infusion without complications. The results of this study suggest that subcutaneous IgG replacement therapy is a well tolerated alternative to IVIG.

Muscle fibers in the central nervous system of nemerteans: spatial organization and functional role.

The system of muscle fibers associated with the brain and lateral nerve cords is present in all major groups of enoplan nemerteans. Unfortunately, very little is known about the functional role and spatial arrangement of these muscles of the central nervous system. This article examines the architecture of the musculature of the central nervous system in two species of monostiliferous nemerteans (Emplectonema gracile and Tetrastemma cf. candidum) using phalloidin staining and confocal microscopy. The article also briefly discusses the body-wall musculature and the muscles of the cephalic region. In both species, the lateral nerve cords possess two pairs of cardinal muscles that run the length of the nerve cords and pass through the ventral cerebral ganglia. A system of peripheral muscles forms a meshwork around the lateral nerve cords in E. gracile. The actin-rich processes that ramify within the nerve cords in E. gracile (transverse fibers) might represent a separate population of glia-like cells or sarcoplasmic projections of the peripheral muscles of the central nervous system. The lateral nerve cords in T. cf. candidum lack peripheral muscles but have muscles similar in their position and orientation to the transverse fibers. The musculature of the central nervous system is hypothesized to function as a support system for the lateral nerve cords and brain, preventing rupturing and herniation of the nervous tissue during locomotion. The occurrence of muscles of the central nervous system in nemerteans and other groups and their possible relevance in taxonomy are discussed.