A new species of the fossil pufferfish genus †Archaeotetraodon (Tetraodontidae) from the Middle Miocene of the North Caucasus, Russia.

The fossil puffer fish genus †Archaeotetraodon Tyler & Bannikov, 1994 is unique among the Tetraodontidae in having the upright central spinule of the dermal scale plates bifid rather than singular and undivided. Six species of this genus have previously been described variously from the Oligocene and Miocene of Russia, Italy, Algeria, and Ukraine. Described herein is a seventh species of this genus, †Archaeotetraodon bemisae sp.

An Eocene paraclupeid fish (Teleostei, Ellimmichthyiformes) from Bolca, Italy: the youngest marine record of double-armoured herrings.

A new double-armoured herring of the clupeomorph order Ellimmichthyiformes, gen. et sp. nov.

Luciferase of the Japanese syllid polychaete Odontosyllis undecimdonta.

Odontosyllis undecimdonta is a marine syllid polychaete that produces bright internal and exuded bioluminescence. Despite over fifty years of biochemical investigation into Odontosyllis bioluminescence, the light-emitting small molecule substrate and catalyzing luciferase protein have remained a mystery. Here we describe the discovery of a bioluminescent protein fraction from O.

[CRISPR/CAS9, the King of Genome Editing Tools].

The discovery of CRISPR/Cas9 brought a hope for having an efficient, reliable, and readily available tool for genome editing. CRISPR/Cas9 is certainly easy to use, while its efficiency and reliability remain the focus of studies. The review describes the general principles of the organization and function of Cas nucleases and a number of important issues to be considered while planning genome editing experiments with CRISPR/Cas9.

A long-bodied centriscoid fish from the basal Eocene of Kabardino-Balkaria, northern Caucasus, Russia.

The Paleocene-Eocene transition is of crucial interest for interpreting the Cenozoic evolutionary radiation of vertebrates. A substantial increase of the number of vertebrate families occurred between the Late Paleocene and Early Eocene, with the appearance of most of the representatives of extant lineages. Basal Eocene marine fish diversity is currently poorly known, exclusively restricted to two assemblages from Denmark and Turkmenistan, respectively.

[Influenza viruses and atherosclerosis: the role of atherosclerotic plaques in prolonging the persistent form of influenza infection].

It was established that viral particles, like low-density lipoproteins (LDLP), when subjected to some modification changes, lost their ability to be internalized by tissue somatic cells and acquired tropism to macrophage cells. The data, obtained by us by using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method, made it possible to assert that atherosclerotic plaques, isolated from vessels of patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD) who underwent coronary bypass, contained RNA of the A(HINI) and AH3N3) influenza viruses. Whereas, the vessel portions, undamaged by atherosclerosis, did not contain any genetic substances of influenza viruses.

[Influenza virus infection in progressing atherosclerosis].

Aim: To study relationship between influenza virus infection and activity of clinical presentations of atherosclerosis.

Methods And Results: Average blood level of IgG to influenza A virus was significantly higher in patients with progressing forms of ischemic heart disease then in patients without objective signs of exacerbation of atherosclerotic process. Mean titles of antibodies to parainfluenza virus and adenoviruses were similar in both groups of patients.

[Characteristics of the acute phase reaction in humans with various types of autonomic nervous system regulation during simulated hyperthermia].

Depending on the type of autonomous regulation, differences in basic levels of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) were revealed under conditions of hyperthermia in healthy subjects aged 19-21. A parasympathetic type of autonomous regulation corresponded to higher initial levels of proinflammatory cytokinesis, whereas a dominating sympathetic type corresponded to lower levels of the IL-1 beta and TNF alpha. The subjects with the latter type of regulation revealed an increase in the IL-1 beta TNF alpha combined with a higher heat tolerance.

[Aspects of healthy humans' response to hyperthermia].

Single-shot hyperthermia of healthy young men in climate chamber up to rectal temperature of 39.5 degrees C over 75-110 minutes revealed variable heat resistance. Individuals with prevalent sympathetic vegetative regulation were more resistant to overheating, if compared to those with prevalent parasympathetic one.

[Molecular epidemiology of rotaviruses circulating among residents of St. Petersburg from 1986 through 1991].

The results of screening of 510 patients with acute gastrointestinal diseases over the period of 1986 to 1991 are presented. Rotaviruses were shown to be the infection agents in 112 (60%) children and 76 (40%) adults. The phoretyping of the isolated strains revealed cocirculation of 17 different phoretypes of rotaviruses: 8 "long" and 9 "short" ones.

[Features of interepidemic influenza A and B viruses].

The comparison of interepidemic influenza viruses with the pathogens of resultant influenza epidemics has revealed that they belong to the same type (subtype) of influenza virus. A definite correlation has been found between the antigenic specificity of haemagglutinin of epidemic and interepidemic strains. The antigenic structure of the interepidemic viruses and the pathogens of further epidemics of influenza B viruses have been found to be completely identical.

[Study of the nature and mechanism of action of virus neutralizing inhibitors of the blood].

Low-density lipoproteins (LDL, d 1.0.40-1.

[Comparative study of genomes of present-day influenza A and B viruses].

The electrophoretic mobility of RNA fragments was used to study epidemic influenza viruses A and B as compared with the reference strains and virological findings. Among those tested, there was a further drift involving both the genes coding glycosylated proteins and internal and non-structural proteins. The analysis of atypical isolates showed their reassortant nature.

[The receptor-mediated endocytosis of influenza viruses and low-density lipoproteins by tissue cells].

The experimental data obtained by immunological, immunomorphological, biochemical, and virological methods are presented which substantiate a concept that various strains of influenza virus under study may penetrate tissue cells at sites of high affinity usually meant for low-density lipoproteins (LDLP) providing the cells with cholesterol for construction of outer and inner membranes. A computer analysis of a bank of data on the primary structure of proteins (the package of GENBER programme) revealed significant similarity of amino acid sequences between the area of viral hemagglutinin site attachment to cells and corresponding amino acids comprising apoB LDLP. The presented proofs are a convincing example of virus particles mimicry realized at the molecular level and give new concepts concerning the mechanisms of virus penetration into body cells which are important for the development of a principally new approach to creation of highly effective antiviral compounds.

[Polymorphism of current human influenza A and B virus population].

During the past years, the etiological situation has been significantly complicated. It is characterized by simultaneous circulation of A(H1N1), A(H3N2) and influenza B viruses and by the isolation of reassortant strains and viruses, which are atypical in relation to the process of their natural variability. The antigenic properties of epidemic strains and unusual isolates were investigated.

[Long-term carriers of genomic structures of the influenza virus in the blood leukocytes of children with congenital pathology of central nervous system].

Children with central nervous abnormality were followed up for a long time (180 days). The clinical samples (nasal swabs, blood samples) were investigated for influenza virus antigens or RNA detection by virologic and molecular biological techniques. No viral isolate was found throughout the follow-up.

[Immunomorphological changes in the mouse brain after intracerebral administration of a neurotropic strain of influenza virus].

The work dealt with intracerebral inoculation of 150 mice with neurotropic strain of influenza virus A/WSN/33. Virological and immunohistochemical study of virus localization in the mice brain was carried out. It was shown that virus reproduction in ependymal lining cells and plexus choroideus epithelium is followed by destruction of cells and uptake of disintegration products by macrophages.

Effective inhibition of viral reproduction by hydrophobised antiviral antibodies.

A method is proposed for the inhibition of viral reproduction in cells by means of fatty-acylated antiviral antibodies which, in contrast to the unmodified antibodies, have the ability to enter the cells. The potential of this technique is demonstrated in experiments involving inhibition of the reproduction of various strains of influenza virus and respiratory syncytial virus.

Fatty acid acylated antibodies against virus suppress its reproduction in cells.

A method for suppression of virus reproduction in cells using fatty acylated antiviral antibodies, which in contrast to non-modified antibodies are capable of intracellular penetration, has been suggested. The addition of stearoylated antiviral antibodies to influenza A/Chili virus-infected cells causes a 100-fold suppression of virus reproduction. Non-modified antibodies do not produce any effect on virus reproduction.

[Antigenic anachronism of influenza viruses A(H2N2) in Leningrad in 1980. II. The laboratory characteristics of influenza A/Leningrad/80 viruses].

As indicated by the results of the hemagglutination inhibition (HAI) test, influenza viruses A/Leningrad/80 contain hemagglutinin (HA), similar to that of virus A/Singapore/1/57 (H2N2). Neuraminidase contained in viruses A/Leningrad/80 belongs to serological subtype N2 and is similar to that of virus A/Singapore/1/57 (H2N2). No differences in the polypeptide composition of the virus-induced proteins of viruses A/Leningrad/527/80, A/Leningrad/549/80, A/Leningrad/553/80 and virus A/Singapore/1/57 used as reference have been detected in the study of their electrophoretic mobility in polyacrylamide gel, as well as the mobility of duplexes obtained by the hybridization of the virion and complement RNA of viruses A/Leningrad/553/80 and A/Singapore/1/57.