Activity of Chemically Synthesized Peptide Encoded by the miR156A Precursor and Conserved in the Brassicaceae Family Plants.

It was recently found that the primary transcripts of some microRNA genes (pri-miRNAs) are able to express peptides with 12 to 40 residues in length. These peptides, called miPEPs, participate in the transcriptional regulation of their own pri-miRNAs. In our previous studies, we used bioinformatic approach for comparative analysis of pri-miRNA sequences in plant genomes to identify a new group of miPEPs (miPEP-156a peptides) encoded by pri-miR156a in several dozen species of the Brassicaceae family.

Phylogenetic Analysis and Molecular Typing of Trichothecene-Producing Fusarium Fungi from Russian Collections.

We performed a three-locus phylogenetic analysis of strains presumably capable of trichothecene production, which were deposited in the Russian national collections. The intra- and interspecific polymorphism of partial sequences of the translation elongation factor 1 alpha () gene and two genes from the trichothecene cluster and was studied. A study of 60 strains of different origins using DNA markers confirmed, and in the case for several strains, clarified their taxonomic characteristics.

xMAP-based analysis of three most prevalent staphylococcal toxins in Staphylococcus aureus cultures.

Detection of staphylococcal toxins presents a great interest for medical diagnostics. Screening of clinical samples for the presence of several types of staphylococcal toxins using traditional methods-biological tests on animals or cell cultures as well as ELISA-is laborious. Multiplex detection methods would simplify testing.

Development of xMAP assay for detection of six protein toxins.

xMAP technology was used for simultaneous identification of six protein toxins (staphylococcal enterotoxins A and B, cholera toxin, ricin, botulinum toxin A, and heat labile toxin of E. coli). Monoclonal antibody-conjugated xMAP microspheres and biotinilated monoclonal antibodies were used to detect the toxins in a sandwich immunoassay format.

[Production and characteristics of monoclonal antibodies to the diphtheria toxin].

Monoclonal antibodies to the diphtheria toxin were produced without cross reactivity with the thermolabile toxin (LT) from Escherichia coli; ricin; choleraic toxin; the SeA, SeB, SeE, SeI, and SeG toxins of staphylococcus; the lethal factor of the anthrax toxin; and the protective antigen of the anthrax toxin. A pair of antibodies for the quantitative determination of the diphtheria toxin in the sandwich variation of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was chosen. The determination limit of the toxin was 0.