[Epidemic strains of different plasmidovars of bacteria from Shigella genus].

Plasmid analysis of 46 strains of Shigella species confirmed the view about heterogeneity and variability of plasmids composition in these microorganisms. On the other hand,the presence of low-molecular, multiplicated extrachromosomal replicons, which were stable, was shown. Using them, it was possible to divide the Shigella isolates into two major plasmidovars, characterize them according to repertoire of the most stable plasmids and determine epidemically significant variants during sporadic and outbreak incidence of shigellosis in towns Nizhny Novgorod and Kstovo (Nizhny Novgorod region).

[Plasmid analysis of bacteria of Bacillus genus used in the development of probiotics].

Presence of plasmid-contained strains in probiotics prepared on the basis of Bacillus bacteria was assessed. Plasmid analysis was performed by the method based on neutralization of bacterial suspension after alkaline treatment with lithium chloride. Presence of 4-6 plasmids with molecular weight from 1 to 75 MDa was revealed in 4 commercially available probiotics.

[Pseudomonas rathonis--a new species of "Pseudomonas aeruginosa-complex"].

Pseudomonas strains (n = 8), isolated from soil and attributed to a new species of Pseudomonas rathonis have been studied by the methods of polyphasic taxonomic analysis. The data of 16 S rRNA sequence, sequence of gyr B-gene, DNA-DNA molecular hybridization, data of fatty acid composition and phenotypical analysis proved, that the studied bacteria belonged to "Pseudomonas aeruginosa-complex". The set of characteristics to differentiate Pseudomonas rathonis from other 11 species of this complex has been proposed.

[Evaluation of the bacteriological safety of wares made from different metals].

The determination of the integral toxicity of a liquid after its contact with different metallic wares could provide a comparative assessment of the hazards of this ware to living organisms. The distilled water and physiological solution exposed to silverware even for a short period of time (15 min) proved to be deleterious to the specially selected bacterial strains differing in their resistance to different chemical substances while aluminum ware was quite harmless to them after their long (4-day) standing of liquids.

[Taxonomic analysis of Pseudomonas strains with uncertain taxonomic status].

Pseudomonas strains isolated from soil and rhizosphere and designated as "Pseudomonas rathonis", Pseudomonas sp. B and Pseudomonas sp. C have been characterized by 113 phenotypic properties and studied by methods of molecular-genetic analysis.