Molecular surveillance of measles and rubella in the WHO European Region: new challenges in the elimination phase.

BACKGROUND: The WHO European Region (EUR) has adopted the goal of eliminating measles and rubella but individual countries perform differently in achieving this goal. Measles virus spread across the EUR by mobile groups has recently led to large outbreaks in the insufficiently vaccinated resident population. As an instrument for monitoring the elimination process and verifying the interruption of endemic virus transmission, molecular surveillance has to provide valid and representative data. Irrespective of the country's specific situation, it is required to ensure the functionality of the laboratory surveillance that is supported by the WHO Global Measles and Rubella Laboratory Network. AIMS: To investigate whether the molecular surveillance in the EUR is adequate for the challenges in the elimination phase, we addressed the quality assurance of molecular data, the continuity and intensity of molecular monitoring, and the analysis of transmission chains. SOURCES: Published articles, the molecular External Quality Assessment Programme of the WHO, the Centralized Information System for Infectious Diseases of the WHO EUR and the WHO Measles and Rubella Nucleotide Surveillance databases served as information sources. CONTENT: Molecular proficiency testing conducted by the WHO in 2016 has shown that the expertise for measles and rubella virus genotyping exists in all parts of the EUR. The analysis of surveillance data reported nationally to the WHO in 2013-2016 has revealed some countries with outbreaks but not sufficiently representative molecular data. Long-lasting supranational MV transmission chains were identified. IMPLICATIONS: A more systematic molecular monitoring and recording of the transmission pattern for the whole EUR could help to create a meaningful picture of the elimination process.

[PROBLEMS TOWARDS MEASLES ELIMINATION IN RUSSIAN FEDERATION].

Introduction of live measles vaccines into daily practice resulted in a pronounced reduction of measles morbidity in many countries, that allowed WHO to develop the measles eradication program. Russian Federation has commenced realization of the eradication program for local measles cases in the country, (measles elimination) in 2002. and had achieved significant success by 2007. For 4 years (2007 -2010) the parameter of measles morbidity in Russian.Federation did not exceed the WHO measles elimination criteria - no more than 1 measles case per 1 million population. However, the situation for measles began to deteriorate from 2011, reflecting the growth of measles morbidity in many regions of the world. The main reason for measles morbidity growth was accumulation of a contingent,of individuals not immunized against measles against the background of internal and external population migration. Under the condition ofconstant maintenance of a high vaccination coverage of the population (above 95%) on thewhole territory of Russia, the objective of measles elimination in the country can be successively met.

Copper-promoted reductive homocoupling of quasi-aromatic iron(II) clathrochelates: boosting the inhibitory activity in a transcription assay.

A copper-promoted reductive homocoupling reaction, for the first time used for a metal complex, allowed obtaining a new kind of complexes with the encapsulated metal ions, C-C conjugated bis-clathrochelates. These compounds demonstrate extremely high transcription inhibition activity in the T7 RNA polymerase system with values of IC50 reaching as low as the submicromolar range, which places them among the most potent metal-based transcription inhibitors.

Genetic variability of wild-type measles viruses, circulating in the Russian Federation during the implementation of the National Measles Elimination Program, 2003-2007.

Genetic characterization of wild-type measles viruses (MVs) is an important component of laboratory surveillance of measles. In this study, a phylogenetic analysis was performed of the nucleoprotein gene sequences of 228 MVs isolated in the Russian Federation between 2003 and 2007. Five genotypes, D4, D5, D6, D8, and H1, were detected. From 1999 through the first 6 months of 2003, the most prevalent genotype in the European part of Russia was D4. All genotype D4-type viruses were closely related to each other (with overall sequence diversity of