[Clinical laboratory characteristics of serous meningitides in Saint Petersburg].

Four hundred and sixty-seven cases of serous meningitides that had occurred in 2007 and 2009, verified by the standard virological techniques: polymerase chain reaction, enzyme immunoassay, and complement-binding reaction, were analyzed. The authors ascertained the following features: the shift of the morbidity peak to autumn and winter months, the preponderance of ECHO enterovirus serotypes 6, 11, and 30 among the pathogens, the onset of meningitis masking various diseases, multiple organ dysfunction with a predominance of central nervous system changes and with the involvement of the cardiovascular system.

[Genetic study of a new color of the beet Beta vulgaris L].

A new genetic character of the beet Beta vulgaris L., named stem color, was described and studied genetically. This character was shown to be dominant trait and monogenically inherited. The first-year beet plants with the genotype Stc/_have red leafstalks, weakly colored central rib, and colored storage root; however, the root itself is not colored. The second-year plants have a red-colored low third of the floral shoot. The plants with the genotype stc/stc are uncolored. The Stc gene was localized to the first linkage group at a distance of 17.5 +/- 2.1 crossing over units from the gene B (Bolting), which controls the annual-perennial habit of beet.

[dw2, a new mutation of beet Beta vulgaris L].

Twelve dwarf plants were found in the second hybrid generation of beet. The average height of mutant plants was 21.8 cm, their leaf blades and flowers were significantly smaller than normal, and the plants exhibited male and female sterility. This dwarfism was shown to be caused by a mutation differing from that previously described in beet, which is named dwarf2 (dw2). The experimental evidence suggests that this mutation appeared in one of the first-generation plants. Based on plant phenotype in the first hybrid generation and the number of mutant plants in the second one, this mutation is suggested to be under recessive monogenic control of the dw2 gene. The genotypic class segregation in the second hybrid generation indicates that the dw2 gene is inherited independently of genes m, at, and ap that control choricarpousness, gene male sterility, and pollen grain aggregation into tetrads.

[The use of a modified complement fixation reaction for the rapid diagnosis of viral infections in children]. / Ispol'zovanie modifitsrovannoi reaktsii sviazyvaniia komplementa dlia ékspresssnoi diagnostiki virusnykh infektsii u detei.

A system of diagnostic tests (complement enzyme assay) is developed, detecting viral and other antigens, toxins, antibodies, and specific immune complexes in liquid enzyme immunoassay based on the complement fixation test. The system is simple and economic, the results can be transferred into digital data, and the above factors can be detected individually in biological materials from patients. The system is effective, and in many cases (for example, in the diagnosis of enteroviral diseases) is the only method for rapid isolation and typing of the infection agents.

[Antitumor activity of cold-adapted strains of influenza virus in a model transformed murine tumor cells]. / Protivoopukholevaia aktivnost' kholodoadaptirovannykh shtammov virusa grippa na modeli perevivaemykh linii opukholevykh kletok myshei.

Influenza virus suppressed tumor growth after injection to tumor zone in a dose of 7-8 lg EID50, as was shown for two continuous mouse tumor cell strains, Ehrlich's carcinoma and L-1210 lymphoma. Influenza virus strains differed by their antitumor activity which correlated with their interferonogenic activity. Antitumor activity of influenza virus depended on the site of application, dose of the virus, and interferonogenic activity. Virus therapy of tumors stimulated specific cytotoxic activity towards tumor antigens.

[Variants of immune response in children with acute respiratory viral infections]. / Varianty immunnogo otveta pri ostrykh respiratorno-virusnykh infektsiiakh u detei.

Four patterns of changes in the proliferative activity of T-lymphocytes in the lymphocyte blastogenesis test with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) are distinguished in children with acute respiratory viral infections (ARVI). The differences between these patterns are due to aggravated clinical severity of the infection process and enhancement of the cytokine reaction of macrophage monocytes. Comparison of immunological characteristics of response to ARVI in 4 groups of children showed that high reactivity of T-lymphocytes during the acute phase of disease (first and third variants) correlated with a relatively weak production of immunoglobulins and antiviral antibodies, while the suppression of T-lymphocyte response to PHA (second and fourth variants) is associated with expressed humoral profile of immune response by the level of immunoglobulin and antiviral antibody production. These data permit a hypothesis about the predominant generation of T x 1-like clones in children with the first and third variants of immune response and of T x 2-like clones in children with the second and fourth variants.

[The biological activity of saparal in an influenzal infection]. / Biologicheskaia aktivnost' saparala pri grippoznoi infektsii.

The antiviral and interferon-inducing activity of saparal, an adaptogen of plant origin, was studied. Tests in experimental mice demonstrated the interferon-inducing activity of saparal providing its antiviral effect. An optimal scheme of saparal administration was developed. The preparation had no direct inhibitory effect on influenza virus replication. The application of saparal for prophylaxis among workers resulted in a 2-fold or greater decrease of influenza and other ARD morbidity and in an increase of endogenous serum interferon level in 67-75% of the persons examined.

[Viral and bacterial associations and their role in the development of bronchopulmonary diseases in children]. / Virusno-bakterial'nye assotsiiatsii i ikh rol' v formirovanii bronkholegochnykh zabolevanii u detei.

Clinical and laboratory criteria for estimating the role of viruses and bacteria that determine bronchopulmonary diseases have been derived. The clinical importance of the detectable microflora, part of which permanently invade the nasopharynx (pneumococcus, adenoviruses) is under critical review. Pneumonias that may develop within the first days of acute respiratory viral infection are characterized by monoviral influenzal or RS-infection; later pneumonias are marked by viral infection with the predominance of adenoviruses. Attempt has been made to reveal the role of geno- and phenotypic factors (N-acetylation, lipid peroxidation, synthesis of alpha-interferon). The data obtained support an assumption about self-regulation of the child's immune system and the adaptation character of responses in mixed infections.

[The role of myxovirus neuraminidase in the interferon induction system]. / Rol' neiraminidazy miksovirusov v sisteme interferonogeneza.

Interaction of myxovirus neuraminidases, in particular, that of influenza virus, with interferon (IFn) was established. When IFn is treated with viral neuraminidases, its antiviral activity tested in tissue culture does not change but it is eliminated from the body by the kidneys much more intensively and is more absorbed by the liver than native IFn. The degree of IFn elimination from the body is directly related to the level of enzymatic activity of viral neuraminidases affecting interferon. The homologous IFn treated with viruses, when inoculated into animals, is less capable than native IFn to protect mice from experimental influenza infection because of its more rapid elimination from the body. The presence of antineuraminidase antibodies in the blood of children slowed down endogenous IFn elimination which alleviates the course of influenza infection.