Effects of the Linear Fragments of Beta-(1→3)-Glucans on Cytokine Production in vitro.

Beta-glucans, homopolysaccharides composed of 3,6-branching ß-(1→3)-D-glucan chains, attract great interest as inducers of cytokine synthesis. In this work, we studied the ability of linear fragments of beta-glucan chains to activate cytokine synthesis. Synthetic nona-ß-(1→3)-D-glucoside (SO) representing a linear fragment of beta-glucan chain, endotoxin (ED), and natural ß-(1→3)-D-glucan (GL) were tested for their role as inducers of cytokines in whole peripheral blood cultures collected from 17 individuals. The concentrations of IL-12p70, IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-10, IL-8, IL-6, IL-4, IL-5, IL-1ß, TNF-α, and TNF-ß were measured in the supernatants after 2, 24, and 48 h of cell culturing. SO, ED, and GL stimulated production of pro-inflammatory IFN-γ, IL-1ß, IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α and anti-inflammatory IL-10. The highest levels of biosynthesis after stimulation with SO were registered for IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α. SO stimulated production of all cytokines (except IFN-γ) to a lesser extent than ED and GL. The IFN-γ/IL-10 (Th1/Th2) ratios after 24 and 48 h of culturing were 3.1 and 7.5 for SO; 0.03 and 0.1 for GL; and 0.06 and 0.2 for ED, respectively. The results indicate that linear fragments of beta-glucans cause a more pronounced shift of immune response towards the pro-inflammatory (Th1) type than beta-glucan itself.

[The monitoring of sensitivity of natural strains and clinical isolates of yeast fungus to anti-mycotics.]

The disc diffusion technique was applied to test sensitivity to anti-mycotics of 15 strains of fungi genus Candida separated from natural substrates and 25 clinical isolates. The fungi were of species C. albicans, C. glabrata, C. guilliermondii, C. parapsilosis, C. tropicalis.The high sensitivity of clinical isolates to Fluconazole, Nystatin, Сlotrimazole, Itraconazole, Amphotericin Bwas established, except strains C. glabrata 5 and C. tropicalis 4 demonstrating average level of sensitivity. The high sensitivity to anti-mycotics of strains separated from natural samples was demonstrated except 4 resistant strains C. parapsilosis. It can be supposed that up to one forth of natural strains of fungi genus Candida can have resistance to antibiotics, bringing to various forms of mycotic affections.

[The study of profile of hypersensitivity to pollen and fungal allergens in the Moscow region].

The profile of hypersensitivity to pollen and fungal allergens is an important element of common pattern of immune diseases needed for development of effective pharmaceuticals. The purpose of the study was to analyze the rate of detection of combined forms of hypersensitivity to pollen and fungal allergens (pollen of birch, hazel, cocksfoot, wormwood, fungi A. alternata, C. herbarum, R. nigricans, P. notatum, C. albicans, A. fumigatus) in the Moscow region on the basis of data of scarification skin samples. The mono-sensibilization was established in 23.36% of all cases of hypersensitivity. At that, among leading allergens turned out A. alternata and cocksfoot pollen (6.54% and 4.67%), followed by allergens of wormwood pollen, P. notatum, R. nigricans, birch pollen and C. albicans (3.74%, 3.74%, 1.87%, 1.87% and 0.93% correspondingly). The polysensibilization was established in 51.40% of cases. Besides, the combined hypersensitivity to pollen allergens of plants (20.26%) and to pollen and fungal allergens (20.56%) occurred more frequently In the group of patients with polysensibilization predominated combined allergic reactions to pollen allergens and A. alternata allergens (36.36%). On the whole, most frequently occurred sensitization to allergens of birch, hazel, cocksfoot, wormwood and A. alternata allergen (76.14%, 69.32%, 57.95%, 55.68%, 39.77% and 56.82% correspondingly). In the Moscow region predominate combined forms of hypersensitivity to two and more pollen and fungal allergens. The polysensitization to pollen allergens and A. alternata allergen occurs more frequently.

[The dynamics of detection of antibodies class G against Chlamydia pneumoniae and Chlamydia psittaci in blood serum of patients of different age groups].

The detection of antibodies class G in blood serum of patients of different age groups was carried out in 2005-2010. The analysis permitted to establish the peak of activity of chlamydiae infection in 2006 and increase of activity of morbidity in 2010.

[Polysaccharide compounds of mycelial fungi in dust of living quarters].

AIM: Detection of correlation between quantity of fungi and concentration of polysaccharides in dust of living quarters in Moscow. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Micromycetes from home dust were isolated by dilution method (1:1000). Polysaccharide concentration in home dust was evaluated by using gel-thromb test (Lal-test, Associates of Cape Cod Inc.). RESULTS: Correlation between quantity of fungi and concentration of polysaccharide in home dust was not detected. CONCLUSION: For pyrogenic load evaluation in quarters besides detection of quantity of micromycetes and exposition of microgenic allergens, consideration of concentration of polysaccharide compounds is also actual.

[Incidence of hypersensitivity to mycotic and mite allergens].

Scratch tests were used to study the rate of sensitization to house dust mite allergens, mold and yeast-like fungi among the patients of an allergological center. It was found that 12.69 of the patients showed hypersensitivity only to one allergen. Combined forms of sensitization to two allergens or more were detected in 87.31% of the patients. Sensitization to mycotic allergens is more frequently encountered (82.84%) than that to house dust mite allergens (67.16%).

[Microbial contamination of Moscow dwelling rooms].

The rise of allergic diseases warrants an investigation of various environmental factors that are able to influence man negatively. By interacting with the human organism, bacteria and their decomposition products are well-known to stimulate different immunological reactions. The 24-month study has indicated that the total bacterial contamination of dust and the typical diversity of microbes depend on the season. In winter the occurrence ofgram-negative bacteria is high. The latter is indicative of that the dust of flats may contain high levels of endotoxin and thus the less comfort of life in the individuals who are genetically predisposed to hypersensitivity.

[Current views of bacterial infections caused by Chlamydia and Mycoplasma].

The current knowledge about the nature of pathogenic bacteria from the families Mycoplasmataceae (the genus Mycoplasma and the genus Ureaplasma) and Chlamydiaceae and their infectious activity requires that the previous view of the above microbes as accompaniments of the underlying disease shall be revised. No intrinsic clinical signs in infection, a propensity to the chronic pattern of the process, and an ambiguous immunological response of the human body require in each case scrupulous attention to both the diagnosis of and the therapy for mycoplasmosis and chlamydiosis. It is necessary to take into account the ability of atypical microorganisms to stimulate an allergic reaction in human beings during therapy in particular.

[The detection rate of antibodies against Mycoplasma pneumoniae antigens in the sera of patients of an allergology center].

With a rise in the incidence of allergic diseases and in the number of studies into the mechanisms of their occurrence, M. pneumoniae undoubtedly attracts a particular attention as a microorganism whose infection is able to simultaneously cause Th1 and Th2 types of immunological reactions. A serological survey of the patients of an allergology center could detect immunoglobulins M and G to M. pneumonia antigens.

[Disacarification in the prevention of allergic diseases].

Elimination of domestic dust mites (Acariformes: Pyroglyphidae) from the premises is a significant factor of improving the quality of life in individuals with mite-borne sensitization. Some ways of reducing the number of domestic dust mites in the premises are considered.

[Serologic examination of patients with prolonged cough in anamnesis].

Serological examinations of patients with prolonged cough in history, made at an allergy center, revealed, in 56% of them, IgG to antigens of Chlamydia pneumoniae and C. psittaci; antibodies to M. pneumonie were detected in 25% of them. It is expedient to diagnose serologically opportunistic infections in order to prevent chronic disease forms and further allergization.

[Methods of detection of tick allergens in house dust]. / Metody opredeleniia kleshchevykh allergenov v pyli pomeshchenii.

Different detection methods of housing dust allergens (belonging to the tick species Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, D. farinae) were considered. As shown in this study, the immunochemical method in combination with acarological analysis proved to be most promising. On the basis of the data on the cross activity of tick allergens and changes in their content in dust, grounds were given for the expediency of detection by the immunochemical method with the use of polyclonal antibodies to specially obtained immunogen.

[Detection of antibodies against Lamblia antigens in serum from atopic patients]. / Obnaruzhenie antitel k antigenam liamblii v syvorotkakh atopicheskikh bol'nykh.

The method of solid-phase immune-enzyme assay was used to test the sera of atopic patients for the purpose of detecting IgG to lamblias. A high degree of protozoal invasion was established especially among pre-school and school children. It was proven as expedient to make the serological examinations of atopic patients in cases the clinical finding is unclear.

[Polyclonal antisera to birch pollen allergen for the air allergen screening]. / Poliklonal'nye antisyvorotki protiv allergena pyl'tsy berezy dlia skrininga aéroallergenov.

The cross reactivity of the pollen allergens of birch (Betula pendula), hazel (Corylus avelana), alder (Alnus glutinosa), wormwood (Artemisia absinthium), oak (Quercus robur) and ashtree (Fraxinus excelsior) was studied by the methods of the enzyme immunoassay and gel diffusion with the use of rabbit polyclonal antisera (PAS) prepared against birch pollen allergen. PAS was shown to be greatly related to all above-mentioned allergens with the exception of oak pollen allergen. PAS was found capable of forming precipitates in the layer of agar gel only with birch pollen allergen. A proposal was made to use PAS, in view of the established specific features of its immunochemical properties, in the development of test systems for the ecological monitoring of biotopes.

[Cultivation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in media with chlorella fermentative hydrolysate as nutrient base]. / Kul'tivirovanie Pseudomonas aeruginosa na sredakh s ispol'zovaniem fermentativnogo gidrolizata khlorelly v kachestve pitatel'noi osnovy.

The specific features of the growth of P. aeruginosa in media prepared with the use of Chlorella fermentative hydrolysate as nutrient basis were studied. The accumulation of microbial biomass was shown to depend on increased content of amino nitrogen in the media, while the effectiveness of the pyocyanin formation was linked with decreased content of amino nitrogen and a rise in the amount of sodium chloride.

[Culture media as artificial environment ensuring the growth and development of microorganisms]. / Pitatel'nye sredy kak iskusstvennaia sreda rosta i rasvitiia mikroorganizmov.

Literature review is presented on culture media that are regarded as artifical environment for microorganisms permitting modeling of various conditions for revealing cultural, morphological and biochemical properties, characteristic for a given microorganism, as well as manipulations with these conditions.