[Persistence of bacteria and viruses in Ixodes].

Behaviour of viruses and salmonellas in ticks after their single or combined contamination was thoroughly studied on laboratory animals with bacteriemia or virusemia. When Ixodes ricinus was contaminated simultaneously with forest-spring encephalitis virus and salmonellas there were observed a decrease in the virus titer by the 30th-40th days and its death in 60 days. In case of the I. ricinus nymphs contamination, the virus titer after the combined contamination was by a factor of 10(2) lower in 60 days vs. the contamination with the virus alone and did not reach the contamination dose. The simultaneous contamination of the ticks with two pathogens (forest-spring encephalitis virus and salmonellas) resulted in inhibition of the growth and development of both the virus and the salmonellas.

[Investigation of antitumor substance from Trichoderma].

The effect of L-lysine-alpha-oxidase from Trichoderma harzianum Rifai on the functional activity of T-lymphocytes was investigated. It was shown that in a dose of 35 units/kg administered parentally the enzyme had no suppressive effect on the T-lymphocyte functional activity. An inhibitory effect of L-lysine-a-oxidase on some indices of the macrophages functional activity was observed. L-Lyzine-alpha-oxidase had a selective lymphotropic action and showed no mytostatic activity, which is in favour of the enzyme vs. other antitumor agents.

[Preclinical trials of L-lysine-alpha-oxidase, an antitumor enzyme].

The effect of L-lysine-alpha-oxidase from a representative of the Trichoderma genus on the humoral immune response to protein antigens was studied. It was shown that repeated fife-fold intravenous administrations of L-lysine-alpha-oxidase in a dose of 35 U/kg had no depressive action on the humoral immunity. The enzyme had no suppressive effect on the delayed type hypersensitivity to xenogenous erythrocytes. The use of L-lysine-alpha-oxidase in a therapeutic dose or in a twice as higher dose had no reliable effect on the leukocyte migration capacity vs. the control.

[Biochemical characteristics of ticks of the families Argasidae and Ixodidae].

Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was used to study homogenate supernatants from the bloodsucking ticks (Argasidae and Ixodidae) belonging to 8 different genera and species. Differences were found in the electrophoretic mobility of protein fractions in adult ticks of these two different families and between several genera of Ixodes ticks (such as Haemaphysalis, Hyalomma, Dermacentor, Rhipicephalus and Ixodes). Argasidae ticks were found to have generic and even species-specific differences at the nymphal stage of development. A. lahorensis nymph-3 contained 5 protein fractions; O. papillipes had 2 fractions, and O. moubata had 3 fractions. Electrophoretic protein separation showed the equal number of protein fractions within one genus of ticks. At the larval stage, the tick homogenates were always found to have one protein fraction. The hemolymph of O. papillipes and O. moubata ticks displayed differences between the imago and nymph-3. A new biochemical marker was proposed to establish a species affinity.

[Antiherpetic activity of l-lysine-alpha-oxidase in different dosage forms]. / Effektivnost' antigerpeticheskogo deistviia razlichnykh lekarstvennykh form l-Lizin-alpha-oksidazy.

The antiviral effect of different medicinal forms on base of L-lysin-alpha-oxidase (LO) in treatment of experimental keratits and skin diseases induced by herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) at the rabbits was examined. Treatment with gel form of LO was more effective in comparison with water solution form of LO. This effect was tested by morphological, histological and immunoblotting methods in dynamics of viral disease.

[Effect of L-lysine-alpha-oxidase gel on development of ophthalmic herpes and herpetic skin lesions in rabbit]. / Izuchenie vliianiia gelevoi formy L-lizin-alpha-oksidazy na razvitie oftal'mogerpesa i gerpeticheskikh porazhenii kozhi krolika.

The effect of various doses of L-lysine-alpha-oxidase gel (1.4-3.5 and 70 mcg/ml) on development of eye and skin herpetic lesions due to type 1 herpes simplex virus was studied on rabbits. The doses of 1.4 to 3.5 mcg/ml were not sufficient for the therapeutic effect. The dose of 70 mcg/ml provided complete healing of the lesions in 3 to 4 days. The results were confirmed by the immunological tests.

[Effect of L-lysine-alpha-oxidase on skin carcinoma induced by methylcholanthrene in mice]. / Vozdeisvie L-lizin-al'fa-oksidazy na kartsinomu kozhi myshei, indutsirovannuiu metilkholantrenom.

Effect of enzyme L-lisyne-a-oxidase in complex with gel (Sakap) on carcinoma of the skin of mice induced by methylcholantrene was studied. Gel application once daily during 3 weeks decreased carcinoma dimensions on 40 per cent.

[The reciprocal influence of Escherichia coli and Salmonella bacteria in a mixed infection of Ornithodoros papillipes Birula ticks]. / Vzaimovliianie bakterii kishechnoi palochki i sal'monell pri smeshannom zarazhenii kleshchei Ornithodoros papillipes Birula.

The paper presents and analyzes the results of experiments on the Escherichia coli-Salmonella relationships in combined infection of Ornithodoros papillipes ticks. The findings have led to the following conclusions. The body of hungry adult O. papillipes ticks can retain the pathogen of Salmonella infection for a month. This model object is also favourable for avirulent E. coli strain persistent in the body's cavity both alone and in combination with Salmonella typhimurium strain in a 1:1 ratio. Binary carriage in hungry Ornithodoros papillipes ticks revealed that the ticks associated with Salmonella typhimurium and E. coli 083 mcl + lyz No 225, microcine and lysozyme producers, are freed of pathogenic bacteria during 24 hours. The initial bacteria E. coli 083 mcl also suppress salmonellae; however, their elimination occurs much later--in 5 days. Calculating the correlation between the pairs (S. typhi and E. coli) has revealed a linear functional relationship of the rate of E. coli growth to S. typhimurium suppression.

Bacteriocidal qualities of ixodid tick (Acarina: Ixodidae) salivary cement plugs and their changes under the influence of a viral tick-borne pathogen.

The abundance of bacteriocidal compounds contained in the salivary cement plug of ixodid ticks was changed because of the reproduction of tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) in their bodies. The size of TBEV-infected Ixodes persulcatus Shulze lytic zone surrounding the cement plug enlarged to that of naive ticks, whereas Micrococcus lysodeikticus (Cohn) lytic zones induced by the cement plugs of TBEV-infected Amblyomma hebraeum Koch nymphs or Rhipicephalus appendiculatus Neumann females were reduced, compared with those produced by noninfected specimens. It is possible that an increase of lysozyme production by the primary TBEV vectors (Ixodinae) infected salivary gland cells, compared with suppression of the bacteriocidal qualities of saliva of ticks that are not TBEV vectors in nature (Amblyomminae), is an indication of the specificity of a I. persulcatus-TBEV interface.

[The probable utilization of the protective properties of the vector's saliva by the causative agents of specifically tick-borne infections]. / O veroiatnom ispol'zovanii zashchitnykh svoistv sliuny perenoschika vozbuditeliami spetsificheski kleshchevykh infektsii.

It is proved that in the tick fluid saliva and in the cement plug produced by Rhipicephalus appendiculatus there are bactericidal substances very similar in their activity to the egg lysozyme. The possible role in the transmission and conservation of the specific tick-borne, insensitive to the lysozyme pathogens such as rickettsiae, tick-borne encephalitides virus and borreliae (pathogen of Lyme disease) is discussed. It is supposed, that bactericidal substances in the cement plug protect accumulated in it the tick-borne pathogens (TBE virus, borreliae) from the compete and destructive influence of the vulgar, mainly coccal microflora and from the purulent inflammation, which hinders not only tick feeding but probably specific tick-borne pathogens spreading in the vertebrate host.

[Changes in the bactericidal activity of the cementing fraction in ixodid tick saliva under the influence of the presence of the tick-borne encephalitis virus]. / Izmenenie bakteritsidnoi aktivnosti tsementiruiushchei fraktsii sliuny kleshchei iksodi pod vliianiem prisutstviia virusa kleshchevogo éntsefalita.

It is demonstrated that the abundance of bactericidal compounds in the salivary cement plug of ixodid ticks is changing under the influence of virulent tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) reproduction in their bodies. TBEV infected Ixodes persulcatus cement plug-forming lytic zone size enlarged in comparison with the naive tick one whereas Micrococcus lysodeikticus lytic zones induced by the cement plug of TBEV infected Amblyomma hebraeum nymphs or Rhipicephalus appendiculatus females reduced compared with produced by noninfected specimens. It is supposed that increasing of the lysozyme that production by the main TBEV vectors (Ixodinae ticks) infected salivary gland cells in comparison with suppression of the bactericidal qualities of saliva of the ticks which are not TBEV vectors in the nature (Amblyomminae ticks) is one of markers of the specificity of I. persulcatus-TBE virus interface.

[Comparative characteristics of lysozymes of different origin]. / Sravnitel'naia kharakteristika lizotsimov razlichnogo proiskhozhdenia.

Lysozymes with different molecular weights were isolated from homogenates of ticks or Ixodoidea with a procedure based on specific sorption of the enzyme by chitin. Lysozymes with a molecular weight of 13,800 were isolated from O. moubata, O. papillipes and A. lahorensis and lysozymes with a molecular weight of 15,000 were isolated from H. asiaticum and I. persulcatus. Micrococci and staphylococci proved to be the most sensitive to the lysozymes. E. coli and Salmonella spp. were less sensitive. The activity of the lysozymes from O. moubata, O. papillipes and A. lahorensis was 2 to 4 times as high as that of the yolk lysozyme and 4 to 8 times as high as that of the lysozymes from H. asiaticum and I. persulcatus. The activity of the yolk lysozyme was 2 or more times as high as that of the lysozymes from H. asiaticum and I. persulcatus. The lysozymes were resistant to heating in acid media. In alkaline media a marked loss of the activity was observed.

[The lysozyme of Ixodes persulcatus ticks]. / Lizotsim kleshchei Ixodes persulcatus.

Using a technique based on specific enzyme sorption by chitin (beta-1-4-N-acetylglucosamine), lysozyme with a molecular mass of 15,000 has been isolated from homogenates of the Ix. persulcatus ticks. Micrococci and staphylococci proved to be most sensitive to lysozyme from the Ix. persulcatus ticks, while E. coli and Salmonella were less sensitive. The minimum inhibitory concentration of lysozyme from Ix. persulcatus was 2-4 times lower than that of egg lysozyme. Lysozyme from the Ix. persulcatus ticks is resistant to heating in acid medium and loses some of its activity in alkaline medium. The loss of the activity in the both media is somewhat lower than that of egg lysozyme in analogous conditions.

[Characteristics of the transphase and transovarial transmission of Rickettsia sibirica by ixodid and argasid ticks]. / Osobennosti transfaznoi i transovarial'noi peredach Rickettsia sibirica iksodovymi i argasovymi kleshchami.

Both the specific vector Dermacentor silvarum and the nonspecific one Ornithodoros papillipes are shown to become Rickettsia sibirica infected while sucking blood on the infected guinea pigs. Meanwhile, the specific vector D. silvarum is more sensitive to R. sibirica than the nonspecific. O papillipes. The infectivity of D. silvarum and O. papillipes ticks by R. sibirica was found to be dependent on the intensity of guinea pigs' rickettsemia. Transovarial transmission of Rickettsia has been established for the D. silvarum and O. papillipes ticks, but the Rickettsia titer in the infested D. silvarum larvae exceeded that O. papillipes. Survival of D. silvarum ticks infected by various concentrations of the R. sibirica microbial bodies was found to exceed that of O. papillipes.

[Immunological identity of lysozymes of various origins]. / Izuchenie immunologicheskoi identichnosti lizotsimov razlichnogo proiskhozhdeniia.

Antisera to lysozymes of O. maubata, O. paillipes, A. lahorensis and H. asiaticum were prepared for the first time with a purpose of investigating the immunological identity of the lysozymes. Partial antigenic identity of the egg lysozyme and the lysozymes of the above ticks was shown with the methods of precipitation in agar and the immunoenzymatic assay.

[Processes of bacterial L transformation and L form reversion in the body of argasid ticks]. / Protsessy L-transformatsii bakterii i reversii L-form v organizme argasovykh kleshchei.

The experimental infection of tampan ticks (Ornithodoros moubata) with the bacterial cultures of Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella typhimurium, as well as with their L-forms, was carried out. These experiments demonstrated that both the L-transformation of bacteria and the reversion of their L-forms into the initial bacterial culture could occur in the body of the ticks.

[Biological activity of lysozymes of various origins]. / Izuchenie biologicheskoi aktivnosti lizotsimov razlichnogo proiskhozhdeniia.

The in vitro and in vivo studies showed that lysozymes obtained from O. papillipes, O moubata, A. lahorensis and H. asiaticum had bacteriostatic and bactericidal effects. The effect of the lysozymes obtained from the above ticks was studied in comparison to that of the egg lysozyme. Micrococci, staphylococci, streptococci, E. coli and C. diphtheriae proved to be the most sensitive. Salmonella, Listeria, Pasteurella pseudotuberculosis and Pasteurella tularensis were less sensitive. The comparison of the antibacterial effects of the lysozymes obtained from the ticks and the egg lysozyme showed that the lysozyme from O. moubata, O. papillipes and A. lahorensis had the most pronounced bactericidal effect. The lysozyme obtained from H. asiaticum had the lowest bactericidal activity.

[Immune reactions of Ornithodoros papillipes ticks (Argasidae) to the administration of different microorganisms]. / Immunnye reaktsii kleshchei Ornithodoros papillipes na vvedenie razlichnykh mikroorganizmov (Argasidae).

It has been shown that ticks possess cellular factors of organism protection which fulfil functions of seizure and digestion of different microorganisms in a way similar to phagocytosis. In response to the introduction of bacteria lysozyme quantity increases in tick's haemolymph that exerts a bactericide effect on the introduced strains Micrococcus lysodeikticus 2665, Staphilococcus aureus 209 and Salmonella typhimurium IT-2. When administering phage FX-174 into tick's haemolymph a persistence of phage particles during 1-2 months is observed. Specific antibodies developing in response to introduced phage corpuscles were not found.