ALDOSTERONE SYNTHASE GENE С-344Т POLYMORPHISM AS A RISK FACTOR OF EARLY LEFT VENTRICULAR REMODELING IN YOUNG HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS WITH OBESITY.

The purposes of the research were to study the prevalence of C-344T polymorphism and the distribution of aldosterone synthase gene (CYP11B2) genotypes, to analyze the association of aldosterone concentration with aldosterone synthase gene genotypes, to study the features of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) by echocardioscopy and identify their association with different genotypes of the aldosterone synthase gene in young patients with arterial hypertension (AH), depending on the presence or absence of concomitant obesity (or overweight). 123 young patients with essential AH (18-44 years old) were examined, the average age was (32,83±0,58) years old, the male/female ratio was 72/51 respectively. All patients were divided into 3 groups: group 1 (n=41) with normal body weight; group 2 (n=40) with overweight; group 3 (n=42) -with obesity. It was revealed that the "pathological" genotypes (CC+CT) of the aldosterone synthase gene C-344T polymorphism were significantly more frequent in patients as with normal body weight and with concomitant obesity or overweight. In concomitant overweight and obesity the average blood aldosterone concentration was significantly higher, that confirms the presence of additional activation of aldosterone synthesis in such comorbid combination and requires further study of the exact mechanism of this type of hyperaldosteronism. Concomitant overweight and obesity significantly influenced on the echocardiographic parameters characterizing LVH processes in young patients with AH with the significant increased proportion of eccentric LVH. "Pathological" genotypes (CT+TT) of the C-344T polymorphism of the aldosterone synthase gene are associated with a higher blood aldosterone concentration and more expressed LVH processes in young patients with AH.

[ORGAN-SPECIFIC AND ORGAN-NONESPECIFIC AUTOANTIBODIES AND DAMAGE OF ORGANS AND SYSTEMS AT SJOGREN'S SYNDROME].

The aim of the study was to determine the presence of various organ-specific and organ - nonspecific autoantibodies and their association with Sjogren's syndrome - one of the most pervasive autoimmune disorders that affects entire body. The etiology of Sjogren's syndrome is not clearly understood. It may be due combination of factors: inherited, hormonal, infection from virus. 21 patients were examined, all women, mean age 53.5±0.9 years. Everyone was conducted clinical, laboratory and instrumental trial, definition of existence of antinuclear antibodies, a rhematoid factor, antibodies to antigens of a thyroid gland, smooth muscles, parietal cells of a stomach, antigens of sial glands and alpha- fodrin. In addition to SS- A and SS - B antibodies and a rheumatoid factor there are characteristic of Sjogren's syndrome, were revealed antibodies to the native and denatured DNA, antigens of a thyroid gland, stomach, smooth muscles, neutrophilic leukocytes, sial glands. It was found that in addition to a clinical manifestations Sjogren's syndrome is characterized by existence of a wide range of organ-specific and organ- nonspecific autoantibodies that is a consequence of polyclonal uncontrollable activation of the immune system. Existence of autoantibodies is associated with features of a course of a disease, existence of damage of organs and systems and requires individual treatment.

[CURRENT TRENDS IN THE PREVENTION, DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF RHEUMATIC FEVER AND RHEUMATIC HEART DISEASE (REVIEW)].

The purpose of the work is to analyze the evolution of the clinical course, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and chronic rheumatic heart disease (RHD), antibiotic therapy of streptococcal infection, using modern analysis of modern literature and our own observations. Diagnostic criteria for the disease were revised. Improving the capabilities of echocardiography can improve the prognosis of the disease through the early use of treatment and prevention. The level of ORL / RHD correlates with the economic development of countries. Mutation of the etiological factor of rheumatism - ß-HSA, the formation of antibiotic resistance, increased migration, tourist activity in countries with high morbidity due to ß-HSA can lead to new outbreaks of this infection. Prevention ARF/RHD is multistage. Thus, using the experience of healthcare in different countries, new approaches to prevention can improve disease control.

Еcology, Systematics and Antibiotic Activity of Pseudomonas batumici and Alteromonas macleodii in Connection with Analysis of their Genome Structure.

New data about ecology, systematics and synthesis of biologically active substances of the type strain Pseudomonas batumici UCM-321 producing the antibiotic batumin, highly effective against staphylococci, and of Alteromonas macleodii strains, as representatives of marine species widely inhabiting the world ocean, was obtained based on a complex analysis of their biological properties and genomic structure. Analysis of taxonomic data indicated that P. batumici is a novel species. Illumina HiSeq sequencing of the chromosomal DNA enabled to obtain the complete genome sequence of P. batumici UCM B-321. Its DNA contained 127 contigs of the total length of 6608172 bp. Batumin biosynthesis operon was identified as 77 kbp operon containing in total 28 protein coding genes. This operon sequence was significantly less GC-rich and the program SeqWord Genomic Island Sniffer predicted a horizontal acquisition of this region. The closes relatives of UCM-321 were P. gingeri and P. protegens; both have no batumin operon in their genomes. HLPC-analysis of the culture broth has shown the presence of batumin in P. batumici broth and no any similar substances in P. gingeri culture medium. The phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genetic peculiarities of 5 deep-water strains of A. macleodii (isolated from a depth of 1000­3500 m) and 5 strains of the same species isolated from the surface layer have been studied. Electron microscopy has shown that the deep strains' cells were, on average, two times longer (2.1±0.2×0.7±0.1 µm) than the surface strains (1.1±0.1×0.6±0.1 µm). Using fatty acid analysis the deep and surface isolates were clearly separated into two clusters. The distinctions between them were also found in different lectin binding capacity, which was probably determined by the structure of their extracellular polysaccharide matrix. Analysis of the PCR results with the primers to repeated nucleotide sequences revealed a higher level of genetic polymorphism in surface strains in comparison to the deep-water isolates. The described peculiarities probably reflect the specific conditions in which A. macleodii strains live on the surface or in the depth of the World Ocean.

[FATTY ACID COMPOSITION ALTEROMONAS-LIKE BACTERIA ISOLATED FROM THE BLACK SEA WATER].

Alteromonas macleodii strains isolated from the Black sea water were similar in their fatty acids composition with the type strain of this species. Analysis of lipid composition of 10 A. macleodii strains isolated from the deep and surface water layers in different World ocean regions including the Black sea water has shown that the deep and surface isolates of this species formed two groups different in their fatty acids profiles. The Black sea isolates of Pseudoalteromonas haloplanktis, P. citrea, P. flavipulchra conformed to these species type strains in their fatty acids composition. On the basis of the fatty acids spectra similarity of three Pseudoalteromonas species strains with Plipolytica described in 2010 has been established. Presence of three isomers C16:1ψ7, C 16:1ψ9 and C16:1ψ6--components of hexadecenic acid in the Black sea isolates of Shewanella baltica has been shown.

[The taxonomic study of the strain Bacillus sp. UCM B-7404--phytopathogenic fungae antagonist].

The polyphasic taxonomic analysis of strain Bacillus sp. UCM B-7404 active against phytopathogenic fungi and producing extracellular phytohormones, lytic enzymes and lipopeptide antifungal compounds has been carried out. The basic cell wall fatty acids presented by branched iso- and anteiso- C15:0 and C17:0 acids, contained 65-77% of the average pool. Phylogenetic assay of 16S rRNA gene nucleotide sequence, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characteristics proved the attachment of strain Bacillus sp. UCM B-7404 to Bacillus amyloliquefaciens subsp. plantarum.

Taxonomic analysis of the Streptomyces sp. 2435 strain, a producer of antimicrobial substances.

The study of the taxonomic status of the antimicrobial substances producer strain Streptomyces sp. 2435 was conducted The nucleotide sequence of 16S rRNA gene of the strain was determined and deposited in the Genbank (No JN129837) database. Results of morphological, biochemical and cell wall fatty acids content analyses, evaluation of biosynthesis features of Streptomyces sp 2435, together with the phylogenetic analysis have provided the basis to identify this strain as Streptomyces albus.

[Antifungal and antiviral substances of Pseudomonas chlororaphis subsp. aureofaciens strains--components of gaupsin].

Phenazine-1-carboxylic, 2-hydroxy-phenazine-carboxylic acid and 2-hydroxy-phenazine active against phytopathogenic fungi were detected in fermentation broth of Pseudomonas chlororaphis subsp.aureofaciens strains UCM B-111 and UCM B-306--components of insectofungicide biopreparation gaupsin using chromato-mass-spectrometric methods; strain B-306 produced antifungal antibiotic pyrrolnitrin together with phenazines. Supernatants of fermentation broth of P chlororaphis subsp. aureofaciens B-111 and B-306 strains grown in King A medium and exopolymers preparations obtained from these supernatants using evaporation, dialysis and liophylisation were highly active against tobacco mosaic virus (TMV). At a dose of 10 mg/ml they reduced TMV infectivity by 76-96%, at concentrations 1 and 0.1 mg/ml the antiviral effect was decreased to 40-62 and 14-27%, respectively. Dialysis did not influence the antiviral activity of isolated preparations. The latter contained 2-7.6 % of carbohydrates including neutral monosaccharides: fucose, mannose, galactose and glucose.

[Geno- and phenotypic characteristic of Bacillus strains--components of endosporin].

Endosporin is used in veterinary for the prophylaxis and treatment of disbacteriosis, intestinal infections, festering wounds and postpartum pyoinflammatory complications in agricultural animals. The probiotic is based on two Bacillus strains which inhibit growth of a broad spectrum of pathogenic microorganisms and synthesise proteolytic enzymes and other biologically active secondary metabolites, particularly - polysaccharides. The activity of these two strains was supplementary. For the species identification of these strains, sequences of 16S rRNA genes and fatty acid content of cell walls were analysed. It was found that the both strains belong to B. velezensis. Limitations of application of 16S rRNA sequences for identification of closely related species are discussed in the paper. A method of 16S rRNA sequence profiling by polymorphic nucleotides was proposed. It was also shown that usefulness of Bacillus strains in probiotics is mostly based on their unique strain specific properties rather than on general species characteristics.

Does the applicability of Bacillus strains in probiotics rely upon their taxonomy?

The taxonomic position and biological activities of two Bacillus strains used in veterinary probiotics were studied in this work. These microorganisms inhibit growth of a broad spectrum of pathogenic cultures. They synthesize proteolytic enzymes and other biologically active metabolites, and to some extent, supplement each other with probiotic activities. It is not clear whether these versatile activities are properties of individual strains or bacterial taxa as whole. 16S rRNA comparisons were conducted and illustrated the relatedness of these strains to Bacillus amyloliquefaciens . Their cell wall fatty acid contents were consequently analysed and specified a relation to the " Bacillus velezensis " ecomorph. On account of the previous observations, a simple method of 16S rRNA profiling by polymorphic nucleotides was proposed to determine a group of organisms closely related to "B. velezensis" and B. amyloliquefaciens subsp. plantarum, for they are biologically active strains suitable for use in biotechnology. The extreme genetic plasticity of these bacteria endowed each strain with a unique spectrum of antagonistic activity.

Pseudomonas batumici sp. nov., the antibiotic-producing bacteria isolated from soil of the Caucasus Black Sea coast.

Four novel strains of saprophytic bacteria were isolated from the soil samples collected in the moist subtropics region (the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus) and studied using methods of polyphasic taxonomic analysis. Microorganisms were Gram-negative, oxidase positive, aerobic, rod-shaped motile bacteria that produced antibiotic named batumin with high and selective activity against staphylococci; its total formula was C30H48N2O7 Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences (1376 bp, accession number in Genbank--JF306642) indicated that the isolates belonged to the gamma-Proteobacteria formed a separate branch within the genus Pseudomonas and had 98% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with Pseudomonas gingeri. The latter essentially differed from the studied strains in its phenotypic characteristics. The predominant cellular fatty acids of isolates were similar and included Cl6:0, C16:1, C18:1, and up to 22.9% of deltaC17:0; their DNA G+C content was 64.0 mol%. An analysis of taxonomic data indicated that the studied isolates represented a novel species, for which the name Pseudomonas batumici sp. nov. is proposed with the type strain UCM B-321 (Ukrainian Collection of Microorganisms).

In vitro antifungal activity of phenylheptatriyne from Bidens cernua L. against yeasts.

In vitro antifungal activity of phenylheptatriyne from Bidens cernua L. (Asteraceae) was studied using broth macrodilution method against 125 strains of yeasts including 104 clinical and other isolates of Candida spp. (C. albicans, C. krusei, C. tropicalis, C. guilliermondii, C. parapsilosis, C. glabrata, C. inconspicua), 16 strains of basidiomycetous yeasts (Cryptococcus neoformans, C. albidus, Trichosporon cutaneum, Rhodotorula glutinis) and five standard reference strains of Candida species. Phenylheptatriyne has shown significant activity against investigated strains, and the Minimal Inhibitory Concentrations for Candida spp. were determined as 12.5-50 microg/ml and for basidiomycetous yeasts as 12.5-100 microg/ml.

[Analysis of relation between structure and antibiotic activity of Batumin].

Antimicrobial activity of six derivatives and products of chemical modification of antistaphylococcal antibiotic Batumin and one natural analog of this antibiotic formed by the strain-producer has been investigated. Not a single substance, which could exceed Batumin or be equal to it as to activity and selectivity in respect of staphylococci was detected among the studied compounds. It was shown that a unique antimicrobial effect of Batumin was determined by several peculiarities of its molecule: presence of double bonds, group--CONH2, as well as carboxyl and hydroxyl groups. The substitution or modification of each of these groups decreased activity against staphylococci and qualitatively changed antimicrobial spectrum of the antibiotic.

[Antimicrobial spectrum of antibiotic batumin].

Antibacterial activity of antibiotic batumin, isolated from Pseudomonas genus has been studied using CLSI standard methods. Batumin was highly active against all studied strains belonging to 10 species of Staphylococcus genus (minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC)--0.25-0.5 microg/ml); it has shown a moderate activity against enterobacteria of genera Salmonella, Bordetella, Escherichia, Klebsiella (MIC 8-64 microg/ml) and practically did not inhibit strains ofmicrococci, streptococci, sporeforming bacteria including Clostridium sporogenes (MIC 256 microg/ml or above). Strains of yeasts and microscopic fungi Candida tropicalis, C. utilis, C. albicans, Saccharomyces cerevisiae u Aspergillus niger were resistant to batumin. Antibiotic activity depended on test-culture cells concentration and medium pH and was greatest at pH 5.5 characteristic of human skin.

[Influence of cultivation conditions on the antibiotic activity in "Pseudomonas batumici"--batumin producer]. / Vplyv umov kul'tyvuvannia na antybiochnu aktyvnist' "Pseudomonas bamuci"--produtsenta batuminu.

The optimum parameters of cultivation of "Pseudomonas batumici"--a producer of antistaphylococcal antibiotic batumin has been established. The periodical process of culture development and antibiotic synthesis has been studied. Conditions of batumin biosynthesis are the temperature 23-25 degrees C, aeration 0.55-0.65 g O2/l.h and neutral pH of the medium. Probably batumin is not the secondary metabolite, because its synthesis begins in the culture exponential growth phase and continues in parallel with it.

[The epidemiological surveillance of poliomyelitis in the Ukraine]. / Epidemiologicheskii nadzor za poliomielitom na Ukraine.

Correlation has been revealed between the circulation of polioviruses among the population and environmental objects. A rise in the circulation of polioviruses, type I, was caused by a decrease in collective immunity to this virus type. Water supply and sewage system purification was found ineffective with respect to enteroviral contamination. Vaccinal prophylaxis, carried out for many years, did not lead to the elimination of poliovirus strains, genetically different from vaccine ones.