Analysis of the Morphology of Monocytes and Lymphocytes from COVID-19 Patients Using Low-Voltage Scanning Electronic Microscopy.

Severe course of COVID-19 is largely determined by hyperactivation of the immune system, or cytokine storm, in which immune cells (lymphocytes, monocytes, etc.) play a major role. Using low-voltage scanning electron microscopy, we studied the morphology of lymphocytes and monocytes during cytokine storm. Monocytes and lymphocytes were isolated by fluorescence sorting from the blood of healthy volunteers (n=6) and patients with COVID-19 (n=5) during cytokine storm (IL-6>23 ng/ml, smear positive for SARS-CoV-2). For each patient, 11-32 individual cells were analyzed at magnification of 18-32,000 times. Measurements showed that monocyte size was increased during cytokine storm (p=0.0001).

Genomic diversity of cercarial clones of Himasthla elongata (Trematoda, Echinostomatidae) determined with AFLP technique.

The aim of this study was to reveal genomic diversity formed during parthenogenetic reproduction of rediae of the trematode Himasthla elongata in its molluskan host Littorina littorea. We applied amplification fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) to determine the genomic diversity of individual cercariae within the clone, that is, the infrapopulation of parthenogenetic progeny in a single molluskan host. The level of genomic diversity of particular cercariae isolates from a single clone, detected with EcoR1/Mse1 AFLP reaction, was significantly lower than the variability of cercariae from different clones. The presence of intraclonal genomic diversity indicates a nonsexual shuffle of alleles during parthenogenesis in the rediae of H. elongata. The obtained polymorphic AFLP fragments were long enough to detect the sequences that may be responsible for clonal genomic variability. Based on this, AFLP can be recommended as a tool for the study of genetic mechanisms of this variability.

[Line class retroposon is the component of the DNA polymorphic fragments pattern of trematode Himasthla elongata parthenitae].

We have determined that S-SAP method (Sequence specific amplification polymorphism) reveals clonal variability in the genomes of larvae of flatworm Himasthla elongata (Trematoda, Echinostomatidae). Being parthenogenetic the larvae were previously considered to be genetically homogeneous. Cloning and sequencing of a -500 bp conservative fragment (B1) from the fragments' pattern has been performed. Sequence analysis of B1 has shown that this fragment has maximum homology with LINE elements from CR1 family of Hydra and sparrow. In situ hybridization (FISH) has detected dispersed distribution of B1. Several other fragments cloned from the same lane of agarose electrophoresis correspond to conservative domain of reverse transcriptase (RT) from CR1 family. Thus, we have shown that 1) cercariae of trematode H. elongata have clonal variability; 2) the S-SAP method allows to obtaining patterns of fragment distribution characteristic of individual cercariae; 3) conservative domain of RT of CR1 family participates in the pattern of polymorphic fragments generation. Identification of the CR1 transcripts in cercariae of H. elongata transcriptome is the aim of the future work. Cloning of the variable fragments from the fragments' pattern is in progress.

[Characterization of transposon mariner from the Himasthla elongata genome].

A novel transposable element Hemar 1 was identified and characterized in the genome of Himasthla elongata flatworm. This element is a member of mariner family; it belongs to capitata subfamily and highly homologues to turbellarian worm Dugesia tigrina mariner transposon. Hemar 1 is a dispersed repeat and accounts for about 0.01% of H. elongata genome. Identified element Hemar 1 represents useful tool for investigation of functions of the mobile elements in H. elongata genome.