[Coxiella burnetii antigens--inducers of tumor necrosis factor and interleukin-1].

The cultivation of mouse peritoneal macrophages in the presence of antigenic preparations obtained from C.burnetii was accompanied by the appearance of phagocytes and considerable amounts of tumor necrosis factor and interleukin 1 in the culture medium. The production of cytokines depended on the doses of preparations used as inducers.

Immunochemical and antigenic characterization of Coxiella burnetii strains isolated in Europe and Mongolia.

SDS-PAGE, immunoblotting and serological methods such as microimmunofluorescence (MIF) test and ELISA were used to compare protein and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) profiles and antigenicity of 12 Coxiella burnetii strains isolated mostly from ticks in Europe and Mongolia with three reference C. burnetii strains originating from USA, namely Nine Mile from tick, Priscilla from goat placenta and S from human heart valve. Among strains from Europe and Mongolia, no significant differences in protein and LPS profiles were observed, irrespective of their origin, i.

[The dynamics of the metabolic and functional activities of the immunocompetent cells in mice following immunization with different vaccines against Q fever].

It was shown that the immunization of mice by the chemical Q fever vaccine prepared with the use of the strain "Coxiella burnetii, Nine Mile", phase I did not markedly activate the oxidative metabolism of the peritoneal exudate cells and did not induce the non-specific cytotoxicity in them. However, it resulted in a significant suppression of the mitogen-induced proliferation of splenocytes on days 3-5. The immunization of mice by the combined (corpuscular/chemical) vaccine prepared with the use of the strain "Apodemus flavicollis-Luga", phase I induced a significant activation of the oxidative metabolism of the peritoneal exudate cells and the development of the nonspecific cytotoxicity in them, whereas no suppression of the mitogen-induced proliferation of splenocytes was observed.

[Characteristics of DNA restriction fragment length polymorphisms of C. burnetti strains, isolated from areas of Russia].

The structural heterogeneity in Coxiella burnetii chromosomal DNA isolated in the European part of Russia from people, agricultural animals, and ticks has been studied. It is compared with the one of the European strains Henzerling and M44, the only genetically characterized strains up to date. The digestion of the total DNA by the restriction endonucleases BamHI, PstI, XhoI resulted in obtaining two types of restriction patterns.

Biological properties of chloroform/methanol extracts of Coxiella Burnetii.

Biological properties of antigens of whole cells of C. burnetii in phase I (WCI), their residue (CMR) and extract (CME) obtained by extraction of C. burnetti with chloroform/methanol mixture were subjected to a comparative study.

[Leptospira infection under the natural conditions of the environs of Saint Petersburg].

The existence of valent natural foci of leptospirosis, stable and polyhostal, under the conditions of urban agglomerations has been established. In an intensively urbanized landscape, the foci of mixed (natural and anthropic) type can be found. Depending on the character of microlandscape in a given zone, the main hosts of leptospires are different species of small mammals in whose populations, as a rule, the circulation of at least three Leptospira species is observed.

Ultrastructure of viable and inactivated Coxiella burnetii after inoculation of mice.

C3HA mice were inoculated intraperitoneally (i.p.) with viable Coxiella burnetii (C.

Coxiella and Rickettsiella: comparison of ultrastructure with special reference to their envelope.

Ultrastructure of Rickettsiella phytoseiuli (R.p.) multiplying in female ticks Dermacentor reticulatus was compared with that of Coxiella burnetii (C.

[The host reaction to the administration of different components of Coxiella burnetii].

After the intraperitoneal injection of corpuscles of C. burnetii antigen (Ag), phospholipid (PL), and sediment obtained after the extraction of PL from Ag with chloroform-methanol (CM) slight leukocytic reaction developed in the peritoneum on day 1, and on day 2 it could be observed in the liver and in the spleen. Ag induced the most pronounced morphological changes.

[An immunoenzyme method for demonstrating Coxiella burnetii antigens].

Materials on the development of an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) system for the detection of the antigens of C. burnetii, the causative agent of Q rickettsiosis, are presented. The system is highly specific and effective with respect to both corpuscular antigens of phases 1 and 2 and soluble antigen (lipopolysaccharide).

Indirect haemolysis test in Q-fever.

Sheep erythrocytes sensibilized with the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) extracted from Coxiella burnetii phase 1 cells were used in indirect haemolysis test (IHT). The test was highly sensitive and specific. Its use seemed reasonable when following the chronic course of Q-fever by serologic methods.

[Typhus infection (Brill's disease) in the environment of a large city].

The data on the epidemiological analysis of 675 cases of infection of the typhus nature, detected in Leningrad in 1974-1986, are presented. The seasonal morbidity curve, the age structure of patients, the character of the clinical course of the disease and other data gave a reason for the diagnosis of Brill's disease. The comparison of the relative data on morbidity rates in typhus at different periods of the current century was made.

[Interaction of live and killed Coxiella burnetii with model animal cells at the ultrastructural level].

Materials are submitted on electron-microscopic studying of alive and inactivated Coxiella in their interaction with murine cells during 28 days observations. The most variability of Coxiella morphologic types is shown to be found in spleen. The structure of endospora type is described.

[Ixodid ticks and rickettsia].

Ixodid ticks are an important link in the ecology of rickettsiae. Some tick species became specific vectors as well as reservoirs of certain species of rickettsiae ensuring their long lasting maintenance via interstadial and transovarial transmission often over generations in nature. To now many significant questions on relationship between ticks and rickettsiae became clear, however, most of them still remain to be elucidated.

[The epidemiology of Q fever].

Q fever as one of infections with natural foci is characterized by epidemic outbreaks. Biologic plasticity and ecologic peculiarities of Coxiella determine its wide distribution and development of Q fever infections which are disseminated almost every-where. They occur in two, i.

[Immunogenic and immunomodulating properties of phospholipids from Coxiella burnetii].

It is proved that the challenging of the extract isolated from Coxiella (as a result of treatment with the mixture of chloroform and methanol) to animals doesn't provoke the appearance of antibodies to these microorganisms. It also doesn't cause the sensibilization of lymphocytes to Coxiella, but the extract can interact specifically with a serum containing antibodies to Coxiella. It permits to characterise the tested extract of Coxiella as a hapten with properties of adjuvant because it stimulates antibody-appearance.

[An epidemiologic projection of foci of Q fever within herds].

In one of the rural regions of the nonchernozem zone retrospective epidemiological diagnosis was carried out in connection with high morbidity rates in acute respiratory diseases and influenza. This diagnosis was shown to cover cases of Q fever. Altogether 172 cases of this infection were retrospectively diagnosed.

[Characteristics of the interaction of Leptospira with the host organism in the infectious process in golden hamsters].

The comparative evaluation of the interaction of L. icterohaemorrhagiae strain P, L. canicola strain CL and L.

[Interaction of Leptospira with the host's body in the infectious process in guinea pigs].

In experiments on guinea pigs the pathogenicity of leptospires is manifested by their adhesion to liver cells, colonization of the surface of these cells, accumulation of leptospires in the renal interstice and their colonization of the nephrothelial surface of proximal convoluted tubules in the kidneys, by toxic microcirculatory disturbances, dystrophy and necrosis of nephrothelial cells. Then the primary toxic action of circulating leptospires, microcirculatory disturbances and hemorrhagic syndrome augment during the colonization of the surface of liver cells, accompanied by their dystrophy and dissociation, as well as by jaundice. The accumulation of leptospires in the renal interstice and their subsequent multiplication on the nephrothelium of the proximal convoluted tubules are responsible for the development of interstitial nephritis and necrotic nephrosis.

[Natural-focus infections in urbanized landscapes].

The data on natural-nidal diseases typical for cities, urban agglomerations and culture coenoses are summarized in the paper in the light of academician E. N. Pavlovsky's theory.