[Regularities and cellular mechanism of spontaneous mutations in enterobacteria].

The regularities and a possible mechanism of the formation of spontaneous mutations in enterobacteria were studied. Possible causes and the mechanism of these processes were analyzed. It was shown that the mechanism of formation of spontaneous mutations is not related to the replication process and DNA polymerase errors.

[The vital activities of enterobacteria in an aqueous medium in the absence of sources of organic nutrition].

Heterotrophic bacteria were found to be capable of proliferation in physiological saline and distilled water. In 1988-1989 experimental studies were made with a view to establish the role of the gaseous phase of atmospheric air and the products of the autolysis of dead bacteria as the sources of organic nutrition. The studies revealed that the complete removal of atmospheric air from vials with bacterial suspension completely stopped the stimulation of reproduction.

[A method for studying the effect of the geomagnetic field on the vital activities of microorganisms in the enteric family].

The proposed method makes it possible to find out the direct influence of the geomagnetic field (GMF) on microorganisms of the family Enterobacteriaceae (the genera Escherichia, Shigella, Salmonella). Different disturbances in the state of GMF, both in amplitude and frequency range, were modeled under laboratory conditions. Microbial cells were cultivated in sterile artesian-well water or physiological saline with no organic substrate added.