[The generation and characteristics of reassortant influenza A virus with H5 hemagglutinin and other genes from the apathogenic virus H6N2].

The experimental reassortant vaccine strain VN-gull (H5N2) containing H5 hemagglutinin (HA) with a removed polybasic site in the connecting peptide and other genes from the apathogenic H6N2 virus A/gull/Moscow/3100/2006 (gull/M) was obtained using a two-step protocol. At Step 1, the reassortant with HA of A/Vietnam/1203/04-PR8/ CDC-RG and other genes from cold-adapted A/Leningrad/17/47 (VN-Len) viruses was generated due to selection with antibody to H2N2 at 26 degrees C. At Step 2, the reassortant VN-gull was obtained by replacing all genes from Len with those from gull/M due to selection with antibody to H6N2 at 39 degrees C.

[A possible association of fatal pneumonia with mutations of pandemic influenza A/H1N1 sw1 virus in the receptor-binding site of the HA1 subunit].

The paper gives the results of sequence analysis of 150 positive samples in real-time RT-PCR, including 47 autopsy materials from patients (including 10 pregnant women), who died from fatal pneumonia mainly in November-December 2009, in whom the lifetime etiological diagnosis had not been made and hence no early etiotropic therapy performed. 70% of the primary materials from the deceased patients were found to have pandemic influenza A(H1N1) v mutants in the lung tissue with D222G (15%), D222N (15%), D222E (2%) substitutions, as well as a mixture of mutants (38%). Nasopharyngeal lavages from 3 Chukotka deceased patients exhibited only consensus (nonmutant) D222 virus variants; there was a mixture of consensus and mutant virus variants in the trachea and a mixture of mutant ones in the lung.

[Development of a diagnostic test system on the basis of sandwich ELISA for the detection of avian influenza A virus].

A panel of hybridomas producing monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to nucleocapsid protein (NP) of avian influenza A virus was obtained. On the basis of 2 MAbs, the authors designed an antigen-bound ELISA (sandwich ELISA), in which NP3 MAbs were used as antigen-bound antibodies and NP MAbs conjugated with horse radish peroxidase as antigen detection antibodies. The specificity of the test system to avian influenza virus was determined.

[A/H13 and A/H16 influenza viruses: different lines of one precursors].

Analysis of the data of annual (1980-2005) monitorings of influenza A viruses in the North Caspian Sea basin and the Volga river delta, as well as the primary hemagglutinin structure of isolates of different years revealed the circulation of A/H13 and A/H16 viruses among gulls since 1976. Phylogenetic analysis revealed 3 significantly different evolutionary lines: an American line, a European line, and a line comprising the isolates from America and Eurasia. The H13N6 and H16N3 viruses isolated in Russia replicated in the respiratory and intestinal tracts of ducks and induced the production of antibodies; the H16N3 viruses induced the antibodies neutralizing viruses of subtype H16 only.

[The study of the nonpathogenic influenza virus A/gull/Moscow/3100/2006 (H6N2) isolated in Moscow].

The influenza virus A/gull/Moscow/3100/2006 (H6N2) was isolated from gull feces within the precincts of Moscow in autumn 2006. The nucleotide sequence of the complete genome (GenBank, EU152234-EU152241) and genotype (K, G, D, 6B, F, 2D, F, 1E) for this virus were determined. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that the H6N2 virus derived by numerous reassortment between viruses that have been circulating among different birds in Europe since 1999 and in South-East Asia (NA gene) for last years.

[Infection of pigs with influenza A/H4 and A/H5 viruses isolated from wild birds on the territory of Russia].

Pigs were intranasally infected with avian influenza A/H5 (H5N1, H5N3) and A/H4 (H4N6, H4N8) viruses in mono- and coinfection. Infection with both apathogenic and pathogenic strains caused no clinical manifestations. A virus and/or fragments of its genome retained in nasopharyngeal fluid as long as 6-8 days after infection.

[Isolation of influenza virus A (Orthomyxoviridae, Influenza A virus), Dhori virus (Orthomyxoviridae, Thogotovirus), and Newcastle's disease virus (Paromyxoviridae, Avulavirus) on the Malyi Zhemchuzhnyi Island in the north-western area of the Caspian Sea].

The paper presents the results of the 2003 and 2006 environmental virological monitoring surveys on the Malyi Zhemchuzhnyi Island where a large breeding colony of sea gull (Laridae) is located. In the past several years, expansion of cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo) has enhanced the intensity of populational interactions. The investigators isolated 13 strains of influenza A virus (Orthomyxoviridae, Influenza A virus) subtype H13N1 (from sea gulls (n = 4), cormorants (n = 9) 1 strain of Dhori virus (Orthomyxoviridae, Thogotovirus) from a cormorantwith clinical symptoms of the disease, 3 strains of Newcastle disease virus (Paramyxoviridae, Avulavirus) from cormorants.

[Complex environmental and virological monitoring in the Primorye Territory in 2003-2006].

The paper presents the results of monitoring of viruses of Western Nile (WN), Japanese encephalitis (JE), tick-borne encephalitis (TBE), Geta, Influenza A, as well as avian paramicroviruses type I (virus of Newcastle disease (ND)) and type 6 (APMV-6) in the Primorye Territory in 2003-2006. Totally throughout the period, specific antibodies to the viruses were detected by neutralization test in wild birds (7.3%, WN; 8.

[Molecular virological monitoring of Newcastle disease virus strains (Paramyxoviridae, Avulavirus) in the populations of wild birds in the Volga estuary (the 2001 data)].

The paper analyzes the results of isolation of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) strains from 336 swaps of 31 wild bird species collected in the 2001 summer in the Volga estuary (Astrakhan Region). Twenty-seven NDV strains were isolated from little terns (Sterna albifrons) (n=11; infection rate, 24.4%), great cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo) (n=6; 11.

[Newcastle disease virus in the populations of wild birds in the south of the Primorye Territory in the period of autumn migrations in 2001-2004].

The paper presents the results of molecular virological monitoring of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) by reverse-polymerase chain reaction (followed by sequence of F-gene fragment 374 p.n.) and chick embryo isolation of samples from the avian cloacal swabs collected in the south of the Primorye Territory in September-October 2001-2004.

[Different receptor specificity of influence viruses from ducks and chickens and its reflection in the composition of sialosides on host cells and mucins].

The ability of influenza viruses from different hosts to bind to the intestinal epithelium of various birds (Anseriformes (Anatidae), Galliformes, Charadriiformes (sandpipers and sea gulls), Ciconiiformes (storks), Podicipediformes (grebes), and Gruiformes was studied. The composition of sialo-containing receptors on the epithelia was examined, by using lectins. Intestinal epitheliocytes of the Anatidae (Anseriformes) family was shown to have a low content of receptors binding both Sambucus nigra agglutinin (SNA) lectin specific to Siaalpha-6Gal, and Maackia amurensis agglutinin (MAA) lection specific to Siaalpha2-2Gal.

[Molecular genetic characteristics of the Newcastle Sterna/Astrakhan/Z275/2001 virus isolated in Russia].

The genome of the NDV strain Sterna/Astrakhan/2755/2001 isolated from a wild bird of the Volga River delta in 2001 was completely sequenced. The phylogenetic analysis of the strain investigated and other NDV strains clearly demonstrated that Sterna/Astrakhan/2755/ 2001 belonged to the lineage 5b. Comparative analysis of molecular genetic markers of pathogenicity of strain Sterna/Astrakhan/2755/ 2001 allows its velogenic character to be suggested.

[Sensitivity of influenza A/H5 viruses isolated from wild birds on the territory of Russia to arbidol in the cultured MDCK cells].

The effect of the antiviral drug arbidol on the reproduction of avian influenza A/H5 viruses was studied in in vitro experiments. The strains were isolated from the wild birds of Eastern Siberia and they were closely related to the 1997-2000 viruses from South-Eastern Asia. Arbidol was shown to exert a selective inhibiting effect on the reproduction of these viruses in the MDCH cell cultures.

[Effects of antiviral agents on the reproduction of avian influenza virus A/H5 isolated in Russia].

The antiviral agents rimantadine, ribavirine, and tamiflu were tested for the effects on the reproduction of avian influenza virus A/H5 in in vitro experiments. The findings evidence the selective inhibitory effect of these agents on the reproduction of these viruses in the cultured MDCK cells.

[Cross-population interactions of influenza A viruses in man and animals].

The paper considers the molecular mechanisms of host specificity of influenza A viruses, which are associated with the crossing of host-specificity barriers, which may give rise to new pathogenic variants and a subsequent risk of a pandemic.

[Evolution of the receptor specificity of influenza viruses hemagglutinin in its transfer from duck to pig and man].

The receptor properties of H1 and H2 influenza viruses (IV), isolated from duck, pig and man were studied by using the natural and synthetic sialoglycoconjugates. It was shown that viruses, isolated from different hosts, adapt themselves to the host cell receptors. The IV affinity was increasing to 6'sialy(N-acetyllactosamine) in proportion as amino acids (in positions 138, 190, 194 and 225), which are for avian IV, were increasingly replacing.

[Ecology and evolution of influenza viruses in Russia (1979-2002)].

The research results on ecology and evolution of influenza A viruses, which has been conducted by the Center of Ecology and Evolution of influenza Viruses of Ivanovsky's Institute of Virology, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, for more than 30 years, are summarized in the paper. A gene pool of influenza A viruses circulating in Russia's territory was defined. Foci of influenza A viruses were detected in natural biocenosis.

[The formation of the influenza virus aggregates, enriched with hemagglutinin].

The formation of electrostatic aggregates was studied by analysis of two types of virus-containing liquids: initial warm liquid collected at temperature 37 degrees and the same liquid stored over the night at temperature 4 degrees C. The formation of virus aggregates was revealed at 4 degrees C. The aggregates formed at temperature 4 degrees C had a relatively high HA/NP ratio in comparison with unassociated virus analyzed at 37 degrees.

[Differences in receptor specificity between the influenza A viruses isolated from the duck, chicken, and human].

The affinity of the duck, chicken, and human influenza viruses to the host cell sialosides was determined, and considerable distinctions between duck and chicken viruses were found. Duck viruses bind to a wide range of sialosides, including the short-stem gangliosides. Most of the chicken viruses, like human ones, lose the ability to bind these gangliosides, which strictly correlates with the appearance of carbohydrate at position 158-160.

[Dependence of oligomerization of influenza virus nucleoprotein on the species affiliation of the virus].

Comparison of human and avian influenza virus nucleoprotein (NP) oligomerization showed that the efficiency of NP oligomerization is different in influenza viruses of different origin. NP oligomerization is virtually complete in avian influenza viruses, while in human influenza viruses only part of monomeric NP is oligomerized. The authors discuss the utilization of NP oligomerization efficiency as a sign for identification of the origin of influenza virus.

[Gene analysis and phenotypic characteristic of highly-reproductive reassortants, containing the gene for bird influenza virus subtype H2 hemagglutinin].

A series of reassortant clones with antigenic formulae H2N1 and H2N3 were produced by genetic reassortment performed with the use of an avian influenza virus, A/Pintail Duck/Primorie/695/76 (H2N3) and a high-yield reassortant strain X-67. Preliminary identification of the parent origin of NP and NS genes for 5 reassortants was performed by comparison of the mobilities of virus-specific proteins in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The parent origin of genes of internal and nonstructural proteins for 3 reassortants was identified by partial sequencing.

[Influenza remains an unpredictable infection].

Influenza virus A (H5N1) was isolated from the tracheal swab of a 3-year-old boy who died from influenza with the Raye syndrome in Hong Kong in May, 1997. Up to the present time, influenza viruses with hemagglutinin H5 were known to circulate only among birds. They caused a variety of diseases: from asymptomatic to epizootic with 100% mortality, particularly among chickens.

[The isolation of the herpes virus from the white crane and a study of its properties].

Isolation of a virus agent from sick white cranes in National Oka Preserve is described. The results of virological and serological studies on specimens from the sick birds permitted a conclusion that the infection in the cranes could be induced by avian herpes virus.

[Yucaipa-like viruses isolated in Kazakhstan in 1987-1989].

From domestic birds 13 strains of avian paramyxoviruses, serotype 1, and 14 strains of serotype 2 were isolated. Avian paramyxoviruses, serotype 2, differ antigenically and biologically from each other and from the prototype variant chicken/Yucaipa/California/56. The virus was also detected experimentally in birds having contact with the infected specimens.