The Agonistic Activity of the Human Epidermal Growth Factor is Reduced by the D46G Substitution.

Background: Resistance to anti-tumor agents targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) reduces treatment response and requires the development of novel EGFR antagonists. Mutant epidermal growth factor (EGF) forms with reduced agonistic activity could be promising agents in cancer treatment.

Methods: EGF D46G affinity to EGFR domain III was assessed with affinity chromatography.

Structural Shifts of the Parvovirus B19 Capsid Receptor-binding Domain: A Peptide Study.

Background: Binding appropriate cellular receptors is a crucial step of a lifecycle for any virus. Structure of receptor-binding domain for a viral surface protein has to be determined before the start of future drug design projects.

Objectives: Investigation of pH-induced changes in the secondary structure for a capsid peptide with loss of function mutation can shed some light on the mechanism of entrance.

Comprehensive surveillance data suggest a prominent role of parvovirus B19 infection in Belarus and the presence of a third subtype within subgenotype 1a.

Human parvovirus B19 (B19V) infection is not notifiable in Belarus and its most common clinical presentation erythema infectiosum (EI) is often difficult to distinguish from other exanthematous diseases. The objective of this study was to provide comprehensive data about EI epidemiology in Belarus based on the serological and molecular investigation of samples from measles and rubella discarded cases collected between 2005 and 2019. Overall, 4919 sera were investigated for IgM antibodies against B19V and the positive cases were analysed according to year, season and age.

Viral gastroenteritis in rotavirus negative hospitalized children <5 years of age from the independent states of the former Soviet Union.

Purpose: Rotavirus causes nearly 40% of all hospitalizations for AGE among children <5 years of age in the NIS of the former Soviet Union. The etiologic role of other established gastroenteritis viruses in this age group is unknown.

Methods: Laboratory-confirmed rotavirus negative fecal specimens (N=495) collected between January and December 2009 from children in 6 NIS (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Republic of Moldova and Ukraine) were tested for norovirus, sapovirus, enteric adenovirus and astrovirus by real-time RT-PCR.

Etiology of maculopapular rash in measles and rubella suspected patients from Belarus.

As a result of successful implementation of the measles/rubella elimination program, the etiology of more and more double negative cases remains elusive. The present study determined the role of different viruses as causative agents in measles or rubella suspected cases in Belarus. A total of 856 sera sent to the WHO National Laboratory between 2009 and 2011 were tested for specific IgM antibodies to measles virus (MV), rubella virus (RV) and human parvovirus B19 (B19V).

Rotavirus genotypes in Belarus, 2008-2012.

This study describes group A rotavirus (RVA) genotype prevalence in Belarus from 2008 to 2012. In 2008, data from 3 sites in Belarus (Brest, Mogilev, Minsk) indicated that G4P[8] was the predominant genotype. Data from Minsk (2008-2012) showed that G4P[8] was the predominant RVA genotype in all years except in 2011 when G3P[8] was most frequently detected.

Human parvovirus B19 surveillance in patients with rash and fever from Belarus.

Human parvovirus B19 (B19V) infection in immunocompetent patients usually has a mild clinical course, but during pregnancy it can cause serious and even fatal complications in the fetus. The most common clinical presentation of B19V infection is erythema infectiosum and in this case laboratory confirmation is required for differentiation from other exanthematous diseases. Measles and rubella negative sera collected in Belarus between 2005 and 2008 from 906 patients with a rash and fever were screened for B19V infection by ELISA.

Co-circulation of multiple rubella virus strains in Belarus forming novel genetic groups within clade 1.

Although the WHO recommends a comprehensive genetic characterization, little is known about circulating strains and genotypes of rubella virus (RUBV) for many European countries. Studies investigating the genetic diversity of a sizeable number of strains from a certain location are rare. This study presents the first molecular characterization of isolates from Belarus.

Gene immunization may induce secondary antibodies reacting with DNA.

The fear of autoimmunity in DNA-vaccine recipients initiated screening for anti-DNA antibodies in rabbits immunized with genes of viral nucleic acid-binding and adapter proteins. Of 11 DNA/protein-immunized rabbits, seven had developed secondary antibodies against DNA detected at weeks 11-50 from the on-start of immunization. Two rabbits immunized with HIV-1 reverse transcriptase gene developed transient anti-double-stranded DNA antibodies of high avidity that recognized DNA in the kinetoplasts of Crithidia luciliae.

Isolation of an intertypic poliovirus capsid recombinant from a child with vaccine-associated paralytic poliomyelitis.

The isolation of a capsid intertypic poliovirus recombinant from a child with vaccine-associated paralytic poliomyelitis is described. Virus 31043 had a Sabin-derived type 3-type 2-type 1 recombinant genome with a 5'-end crossover point within the capsid coding region. The result was a poliovirus chimera containing the entire coding sequence for antigenic site 3a derived from the Sabin type 2 strain.