Development of a hyperimmune equine serum therapy for COVID-19 in Argentina.

The disease named COVID-19, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, is currently generating a global pandemic. Vaccine development is no doubt the best long-term immunological approach, but in the current epidemiologic and health emergency there is a need for rapid and effective solutions. Convalescent plasma is the only antibody-based therapy available for COVID-19 patients to date.

[Development of a product anti-Shiga toxin for prevention of the hemolytic uremic syndrome].

The typical hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is an orphan disease caused by Shiga toxin(Stx) producing Escherichia coli strains and characterized by acute kidney damage, microangiopathic hemolytic anemia and low platelet count. It is endemic in Argentina, the country with the highest incidence of HUS in the world. Stx is essential for its development and therefore, HUS is considered a toxemic non-bacteremic disorder, which could be treated with antibodies.

Whole-Mount Immunohistochemistry for Anti-F59 in Zebrafish Embryos (1-5 Days Post Fertilization (dpf)).

Immunohistochemistry (IHC) is a powerful method to determine localization of tissue components by the interaction of target antigens with labeled antibodies. Here we describe an IHC protocol for localizing the myosin heavy chain of zebrafish embryos at 1-2 and 3-5 days post fertilization (dpf).

Nuclear pore complexes in the maintenance of genome integrity.

Maintaining genome integrity is crucial for successful organismal propagation and for cell and tissue homeostasis. Several processes contribute to safeguarding the genomic information of cells. These include accurate replication of genetic information, detection and repair of DNA damage, efficient segregation of chromosomes, protection of chromosome ends, and proper organization of genome architecture.

Metabolic control of virulence genes in Brucella abortus: HutC coordinates virB expression and the histidine utilization pathway by direct binding to both promoters.

Type IV secretion systems (T4SS) are multicomponent machineries involved in the translocation of effector molecules across the bacterial cell envelope. The virB operon of Brucella abortus codes for a T4SS that is essential for virulence and intracellular multiplication of the bacterium in the host. Previous studies showed that the virB operon of B.

Phosphatidylethanolamine synthesis is required for optimal virulence of Brucella abortus.

The Brucella cell envelope contains the zwitterionic phospholipids phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE). Synthesis of PC occurs exclusively via the PC synthase pathway, implying that the pathogen depends on the choline synthesized by the host cell to form PC. Notably, PC is necessary to sustain a chronic infection process, which suggests that the membrane lipid content is relevant for Brucella virulence.

[Interferon-inducing and antiviral activity of dsRNA of yeast origin].

The paper describes derivation of double-stranded RNA from K plasmid of Sachcaromyces cerevisiae yeast by means of electrophoresis in agar gel and by differential salting out with 4 M lithium chloride. Studies in vitro and in vivo demonstrated a high interferon-inducing and antiviral activity of dsRNA preparations from the yeast plasmid.

[Aerosol method of using interferon inducers].

A method for aerosol use of interferon inducer in laboratory animals employing an ultrasonic aerosol generator is described. Formules and a table of calculations of an inhalation dose of interferon inducer in solution when atomized in a chamber, as well as in the use of individual masks for monkeys are presented. The aerosol administration of interferon inducer (replicative from RNA of phage f2) was found to be effective in inducing interferon production in mice and monkeys.

[Experimental study of viremia in immune host in tick-borne encephalitis].

Experimental studies of viremia in immune hosts with tick-borne encephalitis showed that triple vaccination alone, providing antibody accumulation in the blood sera of mice with a neutralization index up to 2.0 led to the survival of not more than 60% of the animals after subcutaneous inoculation of 100 LD50 of virus with the average survival time of 8.5 days.

[Biological activity of a new Soviet natural inducer, double-stranded RNA].

Antiviral activity of a two-spiral RNA (ts RNA), a new natural interferon inductor was studied. It was shown that ts RNA extracted from a phage infected E. coli culture was an active inductor of interferon and resistance to infection with the forestspring encephalitis virus experimental animals.

[Comparative antiviral and interferonogenic activity of natural and synthetic interferon inducers in vitro and in vivo].

Biological activities of the RNA replicative form of phage f2, a natural interferon inductor and poly-I -- poly-C, a synthetic polyribonucleotide complex were studied comparatively. Differences in the comparative interferonogenic and antiviral activity of the inductors were as dependent on the type of the cell system. It was shown that DEAE-dextran increased the interferon-inducing activity of RFf2 in the cell culture by 4 to 8 times.

[Effect of a natural interferon inducer (RFf2) on the formation of vaccinal immunity to tick-borne encephalitis].

The effect of the interferon inductor of the natural origin (RFf2) on formation of vaccinal immunity to vernal encephalitis was studied. A single intraperitoneal administration of the preparation in a dose of 10 gamma per a mouse 2 hours after the first injection of the vaccine resulted in increased resistance of the mice to the lethal dose of the infecting virus which was introduced 14 days after the vaccination completion. The production dynamics of interferon induced by RFf2 and its level in the serum of the immunized mice were the same as those in the non-vaccinated animals.

[Increase in the antiviral resistance of cells after treating them with messenger RNA for antiviral protein].

The authors studied antiviral resistance of murine cells L-929 following single introduction into them of homologous and heterologous informative RNA preparations for antiviral protein (i-RNA-AVP). As shown, in using homologous i-RVA-AVP preparations suppression of the virus production constituted 90--93%, and was stably traced in cell passage in the course of 1 1/2 months (observation period). Following cell contact with heterologous i-RNA-AVP preparations suppression the first 6 passages of the virus production constituted about 90%, rising by the 16th passage to 99.