[Analysis of population immunity of residents of Russian Federation regions against seasonal and highly pathogenic strains of influenza virus].

AIM: Determine the level of antibodies against socially significant types/serotypes of influenza virus in sera of individuals residing in various regions of Russia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 1525 samples of blood sera collected in August-December 2013 in 8 regions of Russian Federation were studied in hemagglutination inhibition reaction (HAI) with antigens obtained from A/California/07/09, (H1N1)pdm09, A/Victoria/361/2011(H3N2), B/Brisbane/60/2008 (Victoria line), B/Massachusetts/2/2012 (Yamagata line), A/Commongull/Chany/2006 (H5N1), A/Anhui/01/2013 (H7N9) influenza virus strains. RESULTS: None of the blood sera samples had significant HAI titers against A/H5 and A/H7 antigens. Of all the 1525 samples, 788 (52%) were positive with A(H1N1)pdm09 antigen; 734 (48%) reacted with A(H3N2) antigen; 1010 (66%) samples were positive with B/Victoria antigen and 602 (39%) samples were positive with B/Yamagata antigen. CONCLUSION: Healthcare institutions should pay attention to the correction of population immunity profile in regions for the reduction of social-economic losses from seasonal influenza epidemics.

[Detection of antibodies to A/H5N1 influenza virus in citizens of Russian Federation].

AIM: To determine levels of antibodies to influenza virus A/H5N1 in serum samples of people living in different regions of Russia in order to assess the risk of infection with avian influenza H5N1. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two thousand one hundred sixty-eight serum samples were tested by hemagglutination inhibition assay for the presence of antibodies to influenza virus A/H5N1. RESULTS: Twenty-six serum samples obtained from residents of Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Area and 2 samples from residents of Novosibirsk region were positive for antibodies to serotype A/H5. There were no clinical cases of avain influenza A/H5N1 infection in medical history of studied persons. CONCLUSION: Since cases of asymptomatic carriage of A/H5N1 influenza virus in water birds are described and ability of the virus to survive in water environment for a long time is shown, it seems logical to detect antibodies to influenza virus A/H5 in sera of subjects living in Russian Federation taking into account that influenza virus A/H5N1 is isolated from wild fowl and poultry since 2005.

[Monitoring for influenza in population of Western Siberia in 2007-2009].

AIM: To analyze influenza viruses isolated in the 2008-2009 autumn-winter season, and to test sera collected in the south of Western Siberia during the beginning and the end of the epidemic seasons from 2007 until the A/H1N1 pandemic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Total 149 clinical samples were analyzed and 2190 blood sera were tested. During the 2008-2009 season 17 influenza viruses were isolated. 9 of these were A/H1N1, 5-were A/H3N2, and 3 were influenza B viruses. The nucleotide sequences and amino acid composition of influenza A virus hemagglutinin (HA) were compared with reference strains. RESULTS: Among A/H1N1 viruses circulating in Novosibirsk region three viruses contained four amino acid replacements in antigen sites Ca, Cb and Sb. In A/ H3N2 viruses from Novosibirsk, 2 amino acid substitutions were detected in antigen sites B and E. CONCLUSION: Based on genotyping influenzae epidemic on February to April of 2009 in the south of western Siberia was associated with influenza viruses A/H1N1, A/H3N2, and B. All A/H3N2 influenza virus isolates were variants of reference A/Brisbane/10/2007(H3N2) and A/ H1N1 influenza viruses isolates were similar to reference A/Brisbane/59/2007(H1N1).

[Monitoring of antibodies to influenza A virus in populations of different regions of West Siberia].

AIM: To study levels of antibodies to influenza virus in sera of subjects residing in different regions of West Siberia in order to assess the risk of infection with avian influenza virus H5N1. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two hundred and sixty-five serum samples were tested for the presence of antibodies to influenza virus A/New Caledonia/99 (H1N1), A/New York/55/2005 (H3N2), A/Whooper swan/ Mongolia/244/2005 (H5N1) by hemagglutination inhibition assay (HAI) and reaction of microneutralization. RESULTS: All tested sera were negative for antibodies to H5N1. 14.2% and 44.1% of sera were positive for antibodies to H1N1 in HAI and reaction of microneutralization respectively. In respect of antibodies to H3N2 virus, the proportion of positive sera was higher--40.3% and 76.2%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Results of such studies are very actual, especially during pandemic threat. Furthermore, such information allows to better predict consequences of seasonal influenza epidemics caused by serotypes circulating at the present time.

[Hemagglutination inhibition test for retrospective diagnosis of avian influenza in mammals].

AIM: To compare usage of native and formalinized erythrocytes from different animal species in hemagglutination inhibition (HI) test for detection of level of specific antibodies to H5N1 influenza virus in sera of mammals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Level of anti-H5 antibodies to influenza H5 control antigen and to influenza viruses A/Common gull/Chany/2006 (H5N1), A/duck/Tuva/01/06 (H5N1), A/Anas platyrhynchos/Chany Lake/9/03 (H5N3) was determined by hemagglutination inhibition test in two influenza A (H5) reference antisera as well as in ferret antisera to native strains of avian influenza virus. Equine, rhesus macaque, sheep, guinea pig, goose, and chicken erythrocytes were used. RESULTS: Using reference antisera, H5 hemagglutinin was detected in all tested antigens with all used erythrocytes. While testing ferret antisera in HI test with reference antigen, anti-H5 antibodies were not detected or detected in extremely low titre (1/80) and only with equine erythrocytes. In most cases, titers of anti-H5 antibodies in HI test with formalinized erythrocytes were higher than with native ones. CONCLUSION: During monitoring for antibodies to H5N1 avian influenza virus in human population it is necessary to use native strains of A/H5N1 along with reference antigen. It is possible to use formalinized equine, rhesus macaque, goose, and chicken erythrocytes.

[Antiviral activity of vegetable triterpens, their derivatives and ribavirin phosphonates]. / Protivovirusnaia aktivnost' triterpenov rastitel'nogo proiskhozhdeniia, ikh proizvodnykh i fosfonatov ribavirina.

The purpose of the study was to investigate, in the Vero cell culture, the antiviral activity of vegetable tritrpens derivatives and ribavirin analogues against the viruses of measles, herpes simple (type 1), cytomegaloviruses and filoviruses. The toxicity and antiviral activity of compounds were determined after coloring of cells with crystal violate. Additionally, the combined action of triterpens' derivatives and ribavirin was investigated. The studied compounds showed relatively low antiviral activity, nonetheless, further research of vegetable triterpens and their derivatives as well as ribavirin analogues would be promising.

[Immunostimulating effect of plant triterpenes and their derivatives]. / Immunostimuliruiushchaia aktivnost' triterpenov rastitel'nogo proiskhozhdeniia i ikh proizvodnykh.

The immunostimulating activity of triterpenes of vegetable origin and their derivatives was studied. The study revealed that glycyrrhizic and betulonic acids, as well as derivatives of ursolic and glycyrrhetinic acids, enhanced the level of specific antibodies to bovine serum albumin in mice.

[Immunoenzyme test-system for detection of glycyrrhizic acid]. / Immunofermentnaia test-sistema dlia vyiavleniia glitsirrizinovoi kisloty.

An experimental enzyme immunoassay test kit was developed for detecting glycyrrhizic acid (GA) during pharmacokinetic investigations. This method was used to determine the GA content in the blood plasma of mice and guinea pigs after intraperitoneal and intravenous injections. The results of the GA determination using the new test kit agree with the data obtained by HPLC.

[Content of progesterone, glucocorticoid and glycyrrhizic acid receptors in normal and tumoral human breast tissue]. / Soderzhanie retseptorov progesterona, gliukokortikoidov i glitsirrizinovoi kisloty v opukholevoi i normal'noi tkani molochnoi zhelezy cheloveka.

Progesterone and glucocorticoid receptor levels were assayed in breast tumor. The progesterone levels in tumor were 1.2-2.5 times those in normal tissue sampled from the same patients. The binding of glycyrrhizic acid (GA) to cytoplasmic proteins (GA "receptor" levels) was studied using procedures for glucocorticoid receptor assay. The "receptor" concentrations in tumor tissue were 1.5-5 times that in normal one. The "receptors" were detected only in 5.9% of normal breast tissue samples. The Kd of GA-protein complex was ca.7 x 10(-8) M. GA seems to offer significant advantage as a drug-carrier involved in therapy of glucocorticoid-dependent breast cancer.

[Preparation of a specific immunogen based on bacteriophage M13]. / Poluchenie spetsificheskogo immunogena na osnove bakteriofaga M13.

Earlier we developed an expression vector on the basis of bacteriophage M13 allowing the exposure of short peptides on the virion surface. It was used to obtain a recombinant phage carrying the antigenic determinant of HIVI gag protein p17. This phage was tested as immunogen in rabbits. It was shown by ELISA that Ig against the fusion phage reacted with the 17-kDa core protein of the virus and with its polyprotein precursor p55 on strips activated by the transfer of HIVI viral proteins. These data may be used in vaccine development.