[Nanocerium restores the erythrocytes stability to acid hemolysis by inhibition of oxygen and nitrogen reactive species in old rats].

In experiments in vivo the effect of nanocerium (cerium oxide nanoparticles) on the stability of red blood cells to acid hemolysis, levels of both ROS and RNS generation and H2S pools in plasma and erythrocytes of old rats were investigated. In red blood cells of old rats the proton penetration into the matrix of erythrocytes showed a significant raising and the fate of labile "aging" erythrocytes in old animals compared with adult were up- regulated. These phenomena paralleled with significant up-regulation of ROS and RNS generation. Introduction for 14 days per os to old rats 0.1 mg/kg of nanocerium fully restored resistance of erythrocytes to acid hemolysis by ROS and RNS in both plasma and erythrocytes reduction. Nanocerium decreased the erythrocytes and, conversely, significantly increased the plasma's pools of H2S.

Spread and morphological-structural properties of plant rhabdoviruses and similar pathogens in Basidiomycetes.

Long-term studies of spread of rhabdoviruses which indicated their harmfulness in different plant species under conditions of environmental factors were first discussed. Their harmfulness to different plant species under environmental conditions was shown. A comparative description of rhabdoviruses with similar pathogens of the mushrooms is carried out. Thus the main focus was on the morphology and structure of the pathogens. These data are extremely important in the study of distribution of the rhabdovirus on crops in different regions.

[The lysate and recombinant antigens in ELISA-test-systems for diagnostic of herpes simplex].

The lysate and recombinant antigens of various production included informula of ELISA-test-systems were analyzed. The ELISA-test-systems are used for detection of IgG to Herpes simplex virus type I and II. For testing the panel of serums PTH 201 (BBI Inc.) were used. The samples of this panel contain antibodies to Herpes simplex virus type I and II in mixed titers. The 69 serums of donors were used too (17 samples had IgG to Herpes simplex virus type I, 23 samples to Herpes simplex virus type II and 29 samples had no antibodies to Herpes simplex virus). The diagnostic capacity of mixture of recombinant antigens gG1 Herpes simplex virus type I and gG2 Herpes simplex virus type II (The research-and-production complex "DiaprofMed") was comparable with mixture of lysate antigen Herpes simplex virus type I and II (Membrane) EIE Antigen ("Virion Ltd."). In the test-systems for differentiation of IgG to Herpes simplex virus type I the recombinant antigen gG1 Herpes simplex virus type I proved to be comparable with commercial analogue Herpes simplex virus-1 gG1M ("Viral Therapeutics Inc."'). At the same time, capacity to detect IgG to Herpes simplex virus type II in recombinant protein gG2 Herpes simplex virus type II is significantly higher than in its analogue Herpes simplex virus-2 gG2c ("Viral Therapeutics Inc.").

Panthenol-stabilized cerium dioxide nanoparticles for cosmeceutic formulations against ROS-induced and UV-induced damage.

A method of panthenol-stabilized cerium dioxide nanoparticles synthesis was developed and their effect on the survival rate of human epidermoid cancer cells HEp-2 and diploid epithelial swine testicular cell line (ST-cells) under oxidative stress conditions induced by hydrogen peroxide introduction and UV irradiation was studied. The results obtained indicate that the use of panthenol as a stabilizer supposedly provides a substantial increase in the efficiency of protection. The degree of protection is determined by panthenol-to-ceria molar ratio. The combination of panthenol and nano-ceria protects biological objects under study from reactive oxygen species (ROS) and UV-irradiation more effectively than individual panthenol or ceria. The protective action of panthenol-stabilized cerium dioxide nanoparticles depends strongly on their composition and the means of their application.

[Simultaneous quantification of soluble fibrin and D-dimer in blood plasma for the assessment of the threat of thrombosis].

Soluble fibrin and D-dimer are the most specific markers of blood coagulation cascade and the threat of thrombosis. Two immunoassay test systems were designed using the fibrin-specific and D-dimer-specific monoclonal antibodies. The clinical trials of the test systems were carried out in Ukraine. The high informative value of soluble fibrin quantification as a prognostic indicator of the threat of thrombosis associated with hip replacement and endoprosthetics of the abdominal aorta was shown. Independent D-dimer quantification is less informative. Simultaneous quantification of soluble fibrin and D-dimer before operation and at different time intervals after it is required for the prediction of postoperative thrombotic complications and monitoring the efficiency of antithrombotic therapy. Only in this case it is possible to get information about the state of the balance between blood coagulation and fibrinolytic systems, and determine the degree of the threat of thrombosis.

[Production of purified human recombinant alpha2b-interferon].

Technology for producing biologically active recombinant alpha2b-interferon is based on creating a bacterial producer strain containing the cDNA of human interferon alpha. The authors have obtained two producers of recombinant alpha2b-interferon, the synthesis of the target protein in them occurs in the inclusion bodies. The schemes of isolation and purification of biologically active recombinant alpha2b-interferon have been developed. The drug purity was approximately 97-98%. Biological activity in the culture of sensory cells in the cytopathic test was 4.2*10(8)ME/mg.

Cholesterol-lowering activity of lactic acid bacteria probiotic strains in vivo.

Cholesterol-lowering activity of probiotic strains of lactic acid bacteria genera Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium in the in vivo experiments on the model of experimental hypercholesterolemia in mice was studied. It is established that the prophylactic scheme of introduction of probiotic cultures is more effective than therapeutic one for the manifestation of cholesteraze activity of probiotic cultures. The most effective were the cultures: L. acidophilus and B. bifidum, as well as the composition B. bifidum + B. longum. Cholesterol-lowering activity of the studied strains and their compositions in this experiment ranged between 40-78%. It is noted that cholesteraze activity of other studied strains was not lower and in some cases, higher than that of most of the drugs currently used in cholesterinozis.

[Obtaining of hairy-root, callus and suspension carrot culture (Daucus carota L.) able to accumulate human interferon alpha-2b].

Here we report the obtaining of suspension, callus and hairy root culture initiated from carrot plants of Nantskaya and Perfektzya variety with the highest level of recombinant human interferon alpha-2b accumulation exhibited the highest level of plant protein extract antiviral activity (up to 12.8 x 10(3) IU/mg TSP). The antiviral activity of callus extracts was significantly lower comparing to the activity of plant extracts from parent organisms. However, the antiviral activity level of suspension culture extracts (up to 4.42 x 10(3) IU/mg TSP) and Ri-root ones (up to 4.42 x 10(3) IU/mg TSP) appeared to be comparable to analogical data of antiviral activity of transgenic carrot leaf extracts, this way the described cultures could be possibly used for comparatively speedy obtaining of recombinant therapeutic protein for curing and preventing of virus diseases.

[Influence of physiological state of Escherichia coli cells on the expression of soluble protein--recombinant analog of glycoprotein G of Herpes simplex virus of type 2].

It is shown that the recombinant protein GST-HSV2gG, containing the immunodominant regions of glycoprotein G of HSV-2 is accumulated in the form of inclusion bodies or in soluble form in the Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) cells. The ratio between protein fractions varied depending on the physiological state of cells before biosynthesis. The kinetic parameters of bacterial populations were determined by mathematical modeling of growth curves based on the Verhulst logistic function. It was established that the induction of biosynthesis in the growth acceleration phase (at OD600 = 0.3) with 0.1 mM IPTG gives the maximum yield of soluble protein (26.75 mg/l or 17.6 mg/g biomass). The target protein was purified using the immobilized metal ion affinity and affinity chromatography technologies. Antigenic activity of the soluble form of recombinant protein GST-HSV2gG, was significantly (three times) higher than that of the protein purified from inclusion bodies (p < 0.05) and was comparable with the activity of the commercial analog (p > 0.05), that allows using this product in the immunosorbent test kits for diagnosis of IgG to HSV-2.

UV-shielding property, photocatalytic activity and photocytotoxicity of ceria colloid solutions.

UV-shielding property, photocatalytic activity and cytotoxicity (including photocytotoxicity) of citrate-stabilized ceria colloid solutions were studied. It was established that UV-shielding property (namely, the sun protection factor, the critical absorption wavelength and the UVA/UVB-ratio) of ceria nanoparticles are as good as those of titanium dioxide and zinc oxide nanoparticles. It was further demonstrated that ceria nanoparticles possesses substantially lower photocatalytic activity, which additionally decreases upon decrease in ceria particle size. It was found that colloid ceria solutions are non-toxic to mouse fibroblasts (L929) and fibroblast-like cells of African Green monkey (VERO). Moreover, ceria nanoparticles are capable to protect these cells from UV-irradiation-induced damage. It was proposed that nanocrystalline ceria could be used not only as UV-blocking material, but also as prophylactic and even therapeutic compound for sunburns treatment.

[Nanocrystaline ceria based materials--perspectives for biomedical application].

Nanocrystalline ceria possesses a unique complex of physical and chemical properties making it highly bioactive material. In this review, modern data on the action of nanocrystalline ceria on cells, micro- and macroorganisms are analyzed. Special attention is paid to the analysis of the factors affecting protective properties of CeO2 with respect to the living systems.

Production of human interferon alfa 2b in plants of Nicotiana excelsior by Agrobacterium-mediated transient expression.

Human interferon alpha2b gene was transiently expressed in Nicotiana excelsior plants. Fusion with N. plumbaginifolia calreticulin signal peptide for improved apoplast targeting and carrying out the expression under optimized conditions resulted in maximal interferon activity of 3.2 x 10(3) IU/g fresh weight (FW) with an average of 2.1 +/- 0.8 x 10(3) IU/g FW. It proves that N. excelsior is a suitable host for Agrobacterium-mediated transient expression of genes encoding physiologically active human proteins. The transient expression conditions optimized for GFP marker protein were confirmed to be preferable for hIFN alpha2b.

[Antiviral effect of cerium dioxide nanoparticles stabilized by low-molecular polyacrylic acid].

Antiviral activity of nanosize cerium dioxide sols (CeO2) in animal cell culture has been studied. The inhibiting effect of the mentioned sols upon reproduction of vesicular stomatitis test-virus was demonstrated for the first time in case of preliminary 24-hour contact with cells lines L929 and EPT. The effectiveness of protective action depends on initial precursor and the way of obtained water nanosize nanosols.

[Thrombin inhibitors which display antibacterial activity].

The investigation of cytotoxicity and antibacterial activity of the novel thrombin inhibitors containing retro-D-sequences -D-Arg-D-Phe--modified by D-arginine amino group by the residues of lauric acid or chromone-contained substituent, in comparison with known cationic preservative Nalpha-lauroyl-L-arginine ethyl ester (LAE) have been carried out. It has been shown that compound Laur-D-Arg-D-Phe-OMe has a similar cytotoxicity with LAE, and Chrom-D-Arg-D-Phe-OMe has almost twice higher toxicity than it fatty moiety contained analogues. Antibacterial activity of Laur-D-Arg-D-Phe-OMe against Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis is close in action to LAE. It is assumed that ability of thrombin inhibitors to suppress the growth of some microorganisms can be explained by their ability to suppress activity of trypsin-like serine proteinases, which participate in the infection process of Staphylococcus aureus and influence on Bacillus subtilis sporulation. These findings open new prospects for exploring efficient antimicrobial agents among synthetic low-molecular trypsin-like serine proteinase inhibitors.

Murine spleen lymphocytes apoptosis in the experimental model of staphylococcal intravaginal infection.

The results of research on changes in the level of apoptosis among the spleen cells during the development of intravaginal staphylococcal infection in experimental models of different genetic mice lines are given in the paper. Intravaginal injection of Staphylococcus aureus resulted in an increased number of cells with morphological characteristics of apoptosis in underbred and line BALB/c mice, while it decreased in the ICR line mice. The level of the apoptotic cells in the underbred and line BALB/c mice was accompanied by some level of microorganisms that were seeded out of kidneys--the higher was the number of microorganisms, the more apoptotic cells were indicated.

[An atypical case of Werner syndrome: epigenetic control and DNA damage response alterations].

A case of adult progeria has been described. It has been suggested that this case is an atypical form of Werner syndrome with laminopathy--not WRN helicase-nuclease defect. During detailed studies of the patient's cells, epigenetic control and DNA damage response alterations were detected.

[Gene-engineering technologies and stem cells].

In the review it has been presented the conceptional analysis of modern state of stem cells use problem (SC) in gene therapy ex vivo. Principles of vectorial systems construction have been expounded, designed for SC transfection. It has been displayed results of experimental investigations and clinical data on transplantation of genetically modifiable SC at different monogenous and multifactorial diseases. Special attention is focused on the problem of biosecurity ensuring.

[The role of Toll-like receptors in regulation of immune responses in norm and pathology].

We have analyzed the recent data about Toll-like receptors (TLRs) that play the most important role in host immune defense. TLRs involved in induction and modulation of innate and acquired immunity as the integrators of their reactions. Genetic disorders of TLRs or their signaling pathways components were noticed with different pathologies. TLRs are the ideal molecular target for the therapy of many diseases including inflammatory, autoimmune, allergic and tumor diseases.

[Interferon-stimulating activity of muramoyl dipeptide glycosides].

The uninvestigated interferon (IFN)-inducing capacity of glycoside derivatives of N-acetylmuramoyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutamine (MDP) has been studied. Most MDP glycosides tested in vitro were more active than the reference preparation MDP. Under the in vivo conditions three studied preparations: MDP, a-heptyl-MDP and beta-(2-methyl-3-phenylchromonyl-7)-MDP stimulated production of considerable amount of circulating IFN that evidences for the promising character of their further investigation as preparations immunostimulators.

[Optimization of microbial synthesis of recombinant analogs of Treponema pallidum membrane proteins (Tpp17 and Tpp47) and estimation of their immunochemical properties].

Two strains which produce recombinant proteins--analogs of membrane immunodominant epitopes with molecular weights 17 and 47 kDa of Treponema pallidum were constructed on the basis of E. coli recipient BL21 (DE3)-Gold with phage T7RNA-polymerase expression system. The method of mathematical modeling of growth curve was used to determine kinetic parameters which characterized physiological state of the culture producer in the process of fermentation. Results of immunoenzymatic analysis of blood serum samples from patients with syphilis and healthy donors are presented.