[Molecular genetic characteristics of the newcastle disease virus velogenic strains isolated in Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and Kirghizia].

The F gene fragment of 79 Newcastle disease virus (NDV) strains isolated from domestic and synanthropic birds in Kazakhstan, Kirghizia, Ukraine, and Russia in 1993 to 2007 was comparatively analyzed. Phylogenetic analysis of test isolates and reference NDV strains obtained from the GenBank was carried out by polymerase chain reaction with subsequent sequencing and comparative analysis of 154-bp nucleotide sequences in the main functional region of the F gene. All newly characterized isolates belong to three NDV genotype VII subgroups: VIIa, VIIb, VIId. The results show it necessary to monitor of NDV strains isolated in the CIS countries since the spread of NDV among migratory and synanthropic birds (pigeons, crows, and jackdaws) poses a serious threat to commercial poultry industry.

[A method of preparing antibody erythrocytic diagnostic means for detecting viruses]. / Sposob prigotovleniia antitel'nykh éritrotsitarnykh diagnostikumov dlia indikatsii virusov.

It was found possible to use method for preparation of antibody erythrocytic diagnosticums for detection of agents of influenza and arboviral infections. Test systems prepared by the developed method were superior in sensitivity to immunoreagents prepared with previously proposed amidol. Testing of 1387 tick samples collected in various climatic geographical zones of the Republic of Kazakhstan detected arboviral antigens in 4.61% of cases. The highest share of positive results was observed with diagnostic agents for detection of Syrdarya valley fever and Sindbis viruses (37:5 and 32.81%, respectively).

[Yucaipa-like viruses isolated in Kazakhstan in 1987-1989]. / Izuchenie iukeipapodobnykh virusov, vydelennykh v Kazakhstane v 1987--1989 gg.

From domestic birds 13 strains of avian paramyxoviruses, serotype 1, and 14 strains of serotype 2 were isolated. Avian paramyxoviruses, serotype 2, differ antigenically and biologically from each other and from the prototype variant chicken/Yucaipa/California/56. The virus was also detected experimentally in birds having contact with the infected specimens. Examinations of avian blood sera revealed wide dissemination of viruses related to the chicken/Yucaipa/56 strain in domestic bird breeding farms (43.6% to 50.0% of positive birds). The detected variability of the antigenic structure of the isolates attests to the potential emergence of a pathogenic variant.

[The sensitivity of a number of cell cultures to different types of influenza viruses and their reassortants]. / Izuchenie chuvstvitel'nosti riada kletochnykh kul'tur k razlichnym tipam virusov grippa i reassortantam.

The study of reproductive activity of human and animal influenza A, B, and C viruses as well as influenza A virus reassortants in some cell cultures allowed one to determine the range of cells susceptible for each type (subtype) of the viruses. Differences in the range of cells were demonstrated for different strains of influenza viruses of the same antigenic subtype. It was noted that reassortants of influenza A viruses with the same hemagglutinin subtypes as the parental strains had a wider range of susceptible cell lines and a higher reproductive capacity in these cells.

[Effective stabilizer for preparing antibody erythrocyte diagnostic agents for influenza A and B viruses]. / Effektivnyi stabilizator dlia prigotovleniia antitel'nykh éritrotsitarnykh diagnostikumov k virusa grippa A i B.

A method for preparation of erythrocyte antibody diagnosticums capable of differentiating in PHA test the type and subtype appurtenance of influenza virus strains was developed on the basis of amidol sensitization of erythrocytes with immunoglobulin preparations and the use as a stabilizing agent of nonionic detergent triton X-100. The method is simple, highly sensitive, reproducible, and may be used at virological laboratories of practical health institutions.

[Influenza morbidity in the Kazakh SSR 1977-1984]. / Zabolevaemost' grippom v Kazakhskoi SSR v 1977-1984 g.

In 1977-1984, 6 epidemic outbreaks of influenza were recorded in the republic of which 2 were due to influenza A (H1N1), 2 to A (H3N2) and 2 to influenza B virus. The epidemics of influenza H1N1 (1977-1978, 1981) and H3N3 (1979-1980, 1983) were characterized by gradual decrease of their intensity as manifested by lowering of the morbidity rate and frequency of virus isolation. On the contrary, epidemics of influenza B showed a certain trend to increase. An important feature of the epidemics etiologically associated with A (H1N1), A (H3N2), and B viruses consisted in the predominant involvement of the child population.

[Erythrocyte antibody diagnostic agents for determining the type and subtype of influenza viruses]. / Antitel'nye éritrotsitarnye diagnostikumy dlia opredeleniia tipovoi i podtipovoi prinadlezhnosti virusov grippa.

The method of antibody sensitization of sheep erythrocyte using amidole was employed to prepare diagnosticums for influenza A/USSR/090/77 (H1N1), A/Bangkok/1/79 (H3N2), and B/Hong Kong/75 viruses. Comparison of the potency of diagnosticums obtained on the basis of hyperimmune influenza sera and immunoglobulin preparations demonstrated that the use of globulins isolated with ammonium sulphate, by gel filtration on Sephadex G-200, and ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose 32 gives a higher sensitivity of the HI test than that obtained with sera and Fab-2 fragments of antibodies. The diagnosticums produced by the amidole method show higher specificity and facilitate the determination of the type and subtype appurtenance of epidemic and inter-epidemic influenza virus strains. In determinations of hemagglutinin the sensitivity of HI test with subtype homologous antibody diagnosticum was 2-8 times higher than that of HA test.

[Selection of antigenic variants of H1N1 influenza viruses by means of monoclonal antibodies]. / Selektsiia antigennykh variantov virusos grippa H1N1 posredstvom monoklonal'nykh antitel.

Six different monoclonal antibodies to influenza A/Brazil/11/78 virus hemagglutinin were used for selection of antigenic variants of H1N1 viruses: A/USSR/090/77 and A/black-headed gull/ Kaz . SSR/470/79. The group-specific monoclonal antibody completely neutralized the infective activity of the parental viruses (dilutions 1:5 to 1:640). Two antigenic variants of wild type viruses were obtained using cross-reactive antibody. A comparative study of the antigenic structure, biological properties, and peptide maps of the heavy chain of the original viruses, antigenic variants, and some epidemic H1N1 strains was carried out. The selected variants of A/black-headed gull/ Kaz . SSR/470/77 and A/USSR/090/79 viruses were shown to be similar to epidemic H1N1 strains isolated in 1953 and 1978.

[Influenza viruses isolated from wild birds]. / Izuchenie virusov grippa, vydelennykh ot dikikh ptits.

Ninety-eight hemagglutinating agents were isolated from washings of cloaca and organs of 750 birds collected in southern and southeastern regions of the Kazakh SSR. Determinations of their type appurtenance allowed 36 agents to be classified into influenza A virus. Among them 4 strains had H1N1 surface antigens, 29 strains were Hav2 Nav5 and 3 strains had unidentified neuraminidase and Hav2. The data on the biological properties of influenza virus strains of both subtypes are presented.

[Quantitative indices and physico-chemical properties of non-specific inhibitors of influenza A virus hemagglutination in the sera of different species of animals and birds]. / Kolichestvennye pokazateli i fiziko-khimicheskie svoistva nespetsificheskikh ingibitorov gemaggliutinatsii virusov grippa A v syvorotkakh razlichnykh vidov zhivotnykh i ptits.

The results of studies of the quantitative values of nonspecific antihemagglutinins of influenza viruses in the sera of birds, laboratory, wild and domestic animals (altogether 27 species) are presented. The antiviral inhibitors characterized by a number of physicochemical properties (sensitivity to heating, KIO4, trypsin, rivanol, 2-mercaptoethanol) were divided into 3 groups, sera of sheep, goats and cattle making up a separate group with regard to their sensitivity to heating and treatment with KIO4. Studies using molecular screen chromatography demonstrated the nonspecific inhibitors present in bovine sera to be heterogenous both in type (thermolabile and thermostable) and in the molecular composition. Alongside with thermolabile inhibitors of macroglobulin nature, thermostabe 19S and 4S inhibitors were identified.

[Preparative isolation of alpha 2-macroglobulin, transferrin, albumin and study of their nonspecific gamma-inhibitory activity]. / Preparativnoe vydelenie alpha 2-makroglobulina, transferrina, al'bumina i izuchenie ikh nespetsificheskoi gamma-ingibitornoi aktinosti

Profiles of distribution of non-specific gamma-inhibitors of influenza A2/Victoria/35/72 in donkey and horse sera were established by gel chromatography in Sephadex G-200. High and low molecular inhibitors were found in 19S and 4S serum fractions. Highly purified preparations of a2-macroglobulin, transferrine and albumin were isolated by a combination of methods of salt precipitation, gel chromatography on Sephadex G-100, G-200 and ion exchange on DEAE-Sephadex A-50. Heating sera resulted in a considerable increase of the antiviral activity of a2-macroglobulin and transferrine and a reduction of albumin activity.