[Herpesvirus infection in patients with chronic glomerulonephritis].

Virological examinations of blood, urine and saliva in 75 patients with chronic glomerulonephritis (CG) revealed, in 95% of them, herpes-virus infections caused by herpes simplex virus, type 1 (34.4%), herpes simplex virus, type 2 (2.6%) and cytomegalovirus (12%) or mixed infections (46%). The infection rate in the control group of children without renal pathology was reliably lower. A majority of CG patients (94%) had a diagnostically significant level of antiherpetic antibodies, class IgG, which also evidence to chronic herpes-virus infection.

[The laboratory diagnosis of cytomegalovirus infection in infants in the first months of life]. / Laboratornaia diagnostika tsitomegalovirusnoi infektsii u detei pervykh mesiatsev zhizni.

The detection rate of IgM, specific to cytomegalovirus (CMV), in the umbilical blood was 2.0 +/- 1.8% in infants with antenatal complications in their medical history, 8.9 +/- 1.8% in hospitalized infants aged 7 days to 6 months; simultaneously, such IgM proved to be absent in healthy infants of the same age. The maximum primary detection rate of CMV-specific IgM in hospitalized infants was registered at the age of 1.5-4 months and the minimum detection rate, at the age of 6 months, as well as at the age of 1 month and younger. In sick infants aged 0-6 months CMV-specific IgM were detected, as a rule, for 2-4 weeks. 86% of infants with CMV-specific IgM detected in their blood were found to have cytomegaloviremia; in 80% of patients the virus was excreted with saliva and in 50% the virus was detected in blood plasma.

[Viral antigens in kidney biopsies of children with glomerulonephritis]. / Virusnye antigeny v bioptatakh pochechnoi tkani u detei s glomerulonefritom.

A relationship between clinical forms of glomerulonephritis and incidence of viral antigens in renal tissue was revealed: Hepatitis B virus antigens (HBsAg) are more frequently detected in the glomeruli in the patients with nephrotic glomerulonephritis, Herpes simplex antigens are detected in the glomeruli in mixed glomerulonephritis, and cytomegaloviral and Herpes simplex antigens are detected in the epithelium of the proximal canaliculi in patients with hematuric glomerulonephritis. No correlations between the persistence of Herpes simplex type 1, cytomegalovirus, and HBsAg in the renal tissue were detected. HBsAg is detected in the renal tissue mainly in the children without free HBsAg in the blood serum. This may be indicative of an important role of specific immune complexes in the pathogenesis of glomerulonephritis associated with hepatitis B viral infection. The results point to an appreciable contribution of a persistent viral infection to the progress of glomerulonephritis.

[Selection of primers and their use in the polymerase chain reaction for diagnosing infections caused by herpes simplex virus and cytomegalovirus]. / Podbor praimerov i ikh ispol'zovanie v polimeraznoi tsepnoi reaktsii dlia diagnostiki infektsii, vyzyvaemykh virusami prostogo gerpesa i tsitomegalovirusom.

The authors present the results of studies on the construction of highly sensitive primers for rapid diagnosis of infections caused by Herpes simplex virus (HSV) and cytomegalovirus. An oligonucleotide primer to HSV-1 is described, which permits detection of HSV-1 DNA in infected cultures and in clinical material in dilution 10(-7), whereas the "universal" primer constructed on the basis of published data detects both HSV-1 and HSV-2 only in dilution 10(-4). Study of the clinical material in polymerase chain reaction (PCR) vs. virus isolation in infected cell cultures permitted us assess the diagnostic value of this reaction with the constructed primers as high. Use of two pairs of primers (those designed to HSV-1 and the "universal") permitted a differential diagnosis in the PCR between HSV-1 and HSV-2 in clinical material. Highly specific oligonucleotide primers were designed for the rapid diagnosis of cytomegaloviral infection, and clinical material was investigated making use of these primers.

[The antitumor action of double-stranded interferon inducers (larifan, ridostin) and reaferon in an experiment]. / Protivoopukholevoe deistvie dvuspiral'nykh induktorov interferona (larifana, ridostina) i reaferona v éksperimente.

Interferon inducers larifan and rhidostin, and reaferon were shown to exert an inhibiting antitumor effect manifested in the prolongation of the incubation period, decrease of the size of tumors, and longer survival of the animals. The maximal anti-tumor and immunomodulating effect was obtained by combined use of preimmunization with tumor cells and simultaneous administration of reaferon or interferon inducers, larifan and rhidostin. Larifan was also shown to have a greater antitumor activity than rhidostin. Larifan, however, was maximally active only in combination combination with vaccination using syngeneic cells of the virus-induced tumor. In this case levels of alpha and gamma interferons were 2-4 times higher than normally.

[The experimental efficacy of vaccination with a recombinant yeast vaccine against hepatitis B in combination with immunomodulators]. / Effektivnost' v éksperimente vaktsinatsii rekombinantnoi drozhzhevoi vaktsinoi protiv gepatita B v sochetanii s immunomoduliatorami.

Experiments in BALB/c mice were carried out to study a number of immunomodulators in combination with vaccination using a recombinant yeast hepatitis B vaccine. The use of poludan, ridostine, amixine, larifan, myekonide significantly enhanced specific antibody production and at least doubled cell-mediated immune response by 14 and 28 days postvaccination. The above-mentioned immunomodulators are planned to be used in vaccination with the recombinant yeast vaccine against hepatitis B.

[The use of immunostimulants for enhancing the immunogenicity of a herpes vaccine]. / Ispol'zovanie immunostimuliatorov dlia povysheniia immunogennosti gerpeticheskoi vaktsiny.

National immunostimulators and interferon inducers (poludan, ridostin, larifan, myelopide, vegetan) in combination with a commercial herpes vaccine (HV) were used for experimental immunization of mice. A 3-fold or greater rise of specific antibody titres was observed after a single immunization of intact BALB/c mice. In experiments in chronically infected animals a single inoculation of HV resulted in a 3-fold rise of specific antibody titres at 6 days postimmunization but not in later periods (20, 30 days). Administration of larifan, an interferon inducer, but not the immunostimulator myelopide, induced a synergic effect in these experiments. Activation of alpha-interferon production was observed early after combined use of HV and immunostimulators. It is concluded that combined experimental use of HV and immunostimulators activated both specific antibody production and interferon production.

[The diagnosis of herpesvirus infection in patients with organ allografts]. / Diagnostika gerpesvirusnoi infektsii u bol'nykh s allotransplantirovannymi organami.

The diagnostic value of three methods for detection of herpes virus infection caused by herpes simplex virus and cytomegaloviruses was investigated in patients with allotransplanted organs. The method of molecular hybridization was demonstrated to be more sensitive in diagnosing herpes virus infection than virological and cytological methods. Herpes virus infection can be effectively diagnosed by a complex of methods including the detection of cytomegalic cells in the urine and saliva.

[The isolation of the herpesvirus from yaks during the epizootic in Mongolia in 1990]. / Vydelenie gerpesvirusa ot iakov vo vremia épizootii v Mongolii v 1990 g.

Strains of virus belonging, according to the results of electron microscopic examinations, to the herpes virus family, were isolated in Vero cell culture from the organs and aphtha secretions in the buccal cavity of yaks developing the disease during an epizootic (more than 500 animals) in Khubsugul aimak (Mongolian village) in Mongolia, 1990. Virus-neutralizing antibodies were detected in the blood sera of the sick animals. The isolated strains differ from herpes viruses affecting man. No infection could be induced by materials of the sick animals in cows and oxen of different breeds in Mongolia. Seroepidemiological surveys are planned because of the mass character of the disease and its repeated occurrence.

[The isolation of the herpes virus from the white crane and a study of its properties]. / Vydelenie virusa gerpesa ot belogo zhuravlia i izuchenie nekotorykh ego svoistv.

Isolation of a virus agent from sick white cranes in National Oka Preserve is described. The results of virological and serological studies on specimens from the sick birds permitted a conclusion that the infection in the cranes could be induced by avian herpes virus.

[Human hybridoma neutralizing antibodies to the herpes simplex virus]. / Chelovecheskie gibridomnye neitralizuiushchie antitela k virusu prostogo gerpesa.

Human hybridoma cells producing monoclonal antibodies to human herpes simplex virus were generated. The antibody produced by the hybrid cells interacted with herpes virus types I and II in enzyme immunoassay and complement fixation test, had neutralizing activity both in vivo and in vitro. These human monoclonal antibodies may be used for immunotherapy of herpes virus infection.

[The effect of herpesvirus infections on the results of a kidney allograft]. / Vliianie gerpesvirusnykh infektsii na rezul'tat allotransplantatsii pochki.

It was shown to be necessary to control the level of antibody to cytomegalovirus in order to improve the selection of donor-recipient pairs. High antibody titres to cytomegalovirus constitute one of contraindications against allotransplantation.

[Anti-idiotypic antibodies to the herpes simplex type-1 virus neutralize the virus' infectious activity]. / Antiidiotipicheskie antitela k virusu prostogo gerpesa tipa 1 neitralizuiut infektsionnuiu aktivnost' virusa.

Immunochemical study of blood sera from mice immunized with rabbit immunoglobulins (AT1) to herpes simplex virus type I (HSV-I) detected antiidiotypic antibodies AT2 in five of them (antiID). The affinity-purified antiID were shown to induce in syngeneic mice production of antibody (AT3) interacting with HSV-I antigen. In vitro, antiID (AT3) were shown to neutralize the virus activity. Analysis of the results suggests that the antiID imitate the antigenic properties of HSV-I and can induce specific immune response.

[Anti-idiotypic antibodies against antibodies to the herpes simplex virus and its early antigens]. / Antiidiotipicheskie antitela protiv antitel k virusu prostogo gerpesa i ego rannim antigenam.

Polyclonal anti-idiotypic antibodies (anti-Id-AT or AT2) were produced to AT idiotopes of virion antigens--structural proteins of herpes simplex virus (HSV) and of early virus-induced antigens (VIA). The method of SPRIA established that anti-Id-AT seemed to be associated with AT active centers. Besides, immunization with anti-Id-AT produced anti-anti-Id-AT (AT3) similar in their specificity with antiviral AT or anti-VIA. It was shown that AT2 could be used as a diagnostic preparation instead of specific antigen for the detection of antibody to HSV or VIA in human sera by indirect RIA.

[Immunity to tumors induced by herpes simplex virus in hamsters]. / Immunitet k opukholiam, indutsirovannym virusom prostogo gerpesa u khomiakov.

Preparations of early herpes simplex virus antigen (VIA) and specific antibodies to it were used to induce active and passive immunity to herpes virus-induced tumors in experimental animals. The results demonstrated the increased resistance of animals to transplantation of tumor cells due to vaccination with VIA-containing preparations. Thus, in VIA-vaccinated animals there was a delay in the development of tumors and the survival time was significantly higher than in the controls. The sera of these animals contained antibodies to VIA in high titres. Experiments with passive immunization also gave encouraging results.

[Immune mechanisms of resistance in mice to the Western equine encephalomyelitis virus]. / Immunnye mekhanizmy rezistentnosti myshei k virusu zapadnogo éntsefalomielita loshadei.

Using the immunogenetic method and method of immunomodification of outbred animals, it was established that immune response of humoral or cell-mediated type to WEE virus antigens did not play any important role in the survival of intact mice infected with WEE virus. Under such conditions, it is inexpedient to select immune response modulators. The immune response of predominantly cell-mediated type is a determining factor of resistance to WEE virus in mice after immunization started 7 days before challenge of the animals.

[The fluorescent antibody method in the diagnosis of hepatitis B virus infection in glomerulonephritis patients]. / Metod fliuorestsiruiushchikh antitel v diagnostike infitsirovaniia virusom gepatita B bol'nykh glomerulonefritom.

In 107 patients with glomerulonephritis (GN) (28 were with acute and 79 with chronic GN) and 54 patients afflicted with other diseases of the kidneys, peripheral blood leukocytes were examined for HBsAg by indirect immunofluorescence. In 60 patients with GN and 32 patients with other diseases, blood sera were examined for HBsAg and anti-HBs by enzyme immunoassay along with examination of blood leukocytes for HBsAg. In blood leukocytes of GN patients, HBsAg was detected in 23.4% of cases, whereas in patients afflicted with other diseases of the kidneys, in 5.6% of cases. In the blood serum, HBsAg was also demonstrated more frequently in GN patients (in 15% of cases) as compared to patients with other diseases of the kidneys (in 3.1% of cases). The rate of anti-HBs demonstration did not significantly differ in patients with GN and in those suffering from other diseases of the kidneys. None of the examined patients both with GN and other diseases of the kidneys showed at a time HBsAg and anti-HBs in the serum or HBsAg in leukocytes and anti-HBs in the blood serum. HBsAg in leukocytes and in the blood serum was identified at a time only in one patient afflicted with chronic GN.

[Persistence of herpes simplex virus and adenoviruses in lymphocytes of patients with urogenital tumors]. / Persistentsiia virusa prostogo gerpesa i adenovirusov v limfotsitakh bol'nykh s opukholiami urogenital'nogo trakta.

Certain viruses with neoplastic potential are known to be capable of participating in tumor formation to impair the immune system. In the present study, this association was investigated in patients with urogenital tract tumors. In studies of latent virus carrier state by means of immunofluorescence techniques using specimens from 118 patients with malignant tumors and 70 control persons it was found that in more than 50% of the patients, latent antigens of herpes simplex virus or adenoviruses were present in 1-3% of circulating lymphocytes. In the control group, virus carrier state in lymphocytes was demonstrated in only few patients. Using lymphocyte blastogenesis test, the effect of nonspecific mitogen (phytohemagglutinin) induced transformation of only 10-50% lymphocytes to lymphoblast cells in patients with malignant tumors, the percentage of transformation being also dependent on the stage of the tumor process. In the control group, treatment of lymphocytes with phytohemagglutinin resulted in transformation of 55-85% of lymphocytes into lymphoblasts. The lymphocytes of the majority of patients with tumors became sensitive to specific herpes-virus and adenovirus antigens, mainly the lymphocytes of the patients whose blood cells were also virus carriers.