Nikolai Vasilevich Sorokin and his research in botany, mycology, and microbiology at Imperial Kazan University, 1871-1901.

In 2019, the world scientific community celebrates the 110th anniversary of the death of Nikolai Vasilevich Sorokin (1846-1909), an eminent Russian biologist. On this occasion, this paper reviews the life and work of Sorokin, who was known for many important scientific breakthroughs, particularly in botany, mycology, and microbiology. Drawing upon Sorokin's publications and unpublished papers from archives, this account traces his key educational influences and the development of his research interests, research-related travels, contributions to the Russian movement in women's higher education, and his key publications, particularly his four-volume treatise on plant parasites.

Antimicrobial resistance in mollicutes: known and newly emerging mechanisms.

This review is devoted to the mechanisms of antibiotic resistance in mollicutes (class Bacilli, subclass Mollicutes), the smallest self-replicating bacteria, that can cause diseases in plants, animals and humans, and also contaminate cell cultures and vaccine preparations. Research in this area has been mainly based on the ubiquitous mollicute and the main contaminant of cell cultures, Acholeplasma laidlawii. The omics technologies applied to this and other bacteria have yielded a complex picture of responses to antimicrobials, including their removal from the cell, the acquisition of antibiotic resistance genes and mutations that potentially allow global reprogramming of many cellular processes.

Parkinson's Disease: Alpha Synuclein, Heme Oxygenase and Biotherapeutic Countermeasures.

Neurodegenerative disorders have been and remain persistent sources of enormous suffering throughout human history. The tragedy of their impact on human relationships, physical vitality, and fundamental dignity cannot be understated. Parkinson's disease (PD), one of the most common of these terrible illnesses, has a global incidence of approximately two-to-four percent of the human population, along with devastating social and economic impact.

Extracellular membrane vesicles secreted by mycoplasma Acholeplasma laidlawii PG8 are enriched in virulence proteins.

Mycoplasmas (class Mollicutes), the smallest prokaryotes capable of self-replication, as well as Archaea, Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria constitutively produce extracellular vesicles (EVs). However, little is known regarding the content and functions of mycoplasma vesicles. Here, we present for the first time a proteomics-based characterisation of extracellular membrane vesicles from Acholeplasma laidlawii PG8.

Adaptation of mycoplasmas to antimicrobial agents: Acholeplasma laidlawii extracellular vesicles mediate the export of ciprofloxacin and a mutant gene related to the antibiotic target.

This study demonstrated that extracellular membrane vesicles are involved with the development of resistance to fluoroquinolones by mycoplasmas (class Mollicutes). This study assessed the differences in susceptibility to ciprofloxacin among strains of Acholeplasma laidlawii PG8. The mechanisms of mycoplasma resistance to antibiotics may be associated with a mutation in a gene related to the target of quinolones, which could modulate the vesiculation level.

Extracellular membrane vesicles and phytopathogenicity of Acholeplasma laidlawii PG8.

For the first time, the phytopathogenicity of extracellular vesicles of Acholeplasma laidlawii PG8 (a ubiquitous mycoplasma that is one of the five common species of cell culture contaminants and is a causative agent for phytomycoplasmoses) in Oryza sativa L. plants was studied. Data on the ability of extracellular vesicles of Acholeplasma laidlawii PG8 to penetrate from the nutrient medium into overground parts of Oryza sativa L.

Unadapted and adapted to starvation Acholeplasma laidlawii cells induce different responses of Oryza sativa, as determined by proteome analysis.

For the first time, we studied the phytopathogenicity toward Oryza sativa L. of unadapted and adapted to unfavorable environment (starvation) cells of Acholeplasma laidlawii PG8--ubiquitous mycoplasma found in the soil, waste waters, tissues of the highest eukaryotes and being the basic contaminant of cell cultures and a causative agent of phytomycoplasmoses. The features of morphology, ultrastructural organization and proteomes of unadapted and adapted cells of the mycoplasma and infected plants were presented.

Extracellular vesicles derived from Acholeplasma laidlawii PG8.

Extracellular vesicle production is believed to be a ubiquitous process in bacteria, but the data on such a process in Mollicutes are absent. We report the isolation of ultramicroforms - extracellular vesicles from supernatants of Acholeplasma laidlawii PG8 (ubiquitous mycoplasma; the main contaminant of cell culture). Considering sizes, morphology, and ultrastructural organization, the ultramicroforms of A.

Atomic force microscopy analysis of DNA extracted from the vegetative cells and the viable, but nonculturable, cells of two mycoplasmas (Acholeplasma laidlawii PG8 and Mycoplasma hominis PG37).

This article reports on a study of some characteristics of DNA extracted from the vegetative and viable, but nonculturable (VBNC), cells of two mycoplasma species (Acholeplasma laidlawii PG8 and Mycoplasma hominis PG37) using atomic force microscopy (AFM). DNA images were obtained by operating the AFM microscope in the tapping mode. It was found that DNA from the VBNC forms of M.

Phytopathogenicity of avian mycoplasma Mycoplasma gallisepticum S6: morphologic and ultracytostructural changes in plants infected with the vegetative forms and the viable but nonculturable forms of the bacterium.

The data obtained in this study proved that Mycoplasma gallisepticum S6 known as avian pathogen had a phytopathogenic potential. The vegetative forms and the viable but nonculturable (VBNC) forms of this mycoplasma could infect the plants via an assemblage of rootlets, invade different tissues, persist there and cause destructive events characteristic to phytomycoplasmoses. In comparison with the vegetative forms, the VBNC forms induced more prominent destructive changes.

Atomic force microscopy investigation of DNA extracted from the vegetative forms and the viable but nonculturable forms of Mycoplasma gallisepticum S6.

Recent studies show that mycoplasmas have various programs of life. This means that changes in morphology and genome expression may occur once the environment of these microorganisms becomes extremely altered. In this article, we report on changes in the DNA molecule obtained from the vegetative forms and the viable but nonculturable (VBNC) forms of Mycoplasma gallisepticum S6.

The pattern of acute myocardial infarction in people with opportunistic infections.

First comparative analysis for some hemocoagulation reactions, immune state of acute myocardial infarction has been done in two groups of patients - with mycoplasma infections and without one. Postinfarction complications in the groups were observed. Atherosclerotic plaques of the patients were also studied on a presence of mycoplasmas and a content of strontium and zinc.

Significant delay of lethal outcome in cancer patients due to peroral administration of Bacillus oligonitrophilus KU-1.

Treatment of cancer patients remains a serious medical problem and the development of alternative treatment strategies is therefore of great importance. In this connection, we developed a new bacterial-based, anticancer method. Ten cancer patients (three males, seven females) were involved in this study.

Acholeplasma laidlawii PG8 culture adapted to unfavorable growth conditions shows an expressed phytopathogenicity.

Mycoplasmas are the smallest, self-replicating, prokaryotic organisms with avid biochemical potential and spreading in higher eukaryotes in nature. In this study, Acholeplasma laidlawii PG8 cells were cultivated on a deficient medium for 480 days resulting in a mycoplasma culture that was adapted in vitro to unfavorable growth conditions. Cells that survive this condition had decreased sizes (about 0.

Variability of the Vaa cytoadhesin genes in clinical isolates of Mycoplasma hominis.

The Mycoplasma hominis vaa gene encodes a highly variable surface antigen involved in adhesion to host cells. We studied 15 clinical isolates of Mycoplasma hominis with three types of the vaa gene. These vaa versions determine various forms of Vaa protein, which are characterized by different quantity and structure of homologous replaceable cassettes.

Effects of type II pyrethroids on Daphnia magna: dose and temperature dependences.

Environmental contamination with various insecticides remains an actual problem. In this connection, investigation of toxicologic hazard of insecticides is essential. In this work, effects of the type II pyrethroids (fenvalerate, cypermethrin and deltamethrin) on Daphnia magna were determined.

Antitumor features of Bacillus oligonitrophilus KU-1 strain.

Chemotherapy and radiotherapy remain mostly palliative methods for metastatic cancer treatment. Limitations in efficacy and safety of established treatments continue to underline the need for improved treatments for malignancy. Results with some probiotics with antitumor activity have been promising.

Distant non-chemical communication in various biological systems.

Communication is a natural ability of all living systems. It is very likely that various types of communication were evolved during evolution. While the communication by means of chemicals, direct contact or via organs of sense is under intensive study for a long time, alternative ways of interaction are still considered debatable, This review covers the topic of physically mediated communication in various biological systems.

Light-mediated "conversation" among microorganisms.

Light emitted from a wide variety of microorganisms was considered previously as a waste product. However, it is becoming apparent that it might be involved in microbial communication. This paper presents information on such a novel mode of communication in different microorganisms.

The possible role of electromagnetic fields in bacterial communication.

This paper presents a general review of the current knowledge regarding bacterial communication via electromagnetic fields. The possible role of ultraviolet, visible and infrared light, extremely high frequency and low frequency electromagnetic fields as well as sound waves is discussed. The probable mechanisms of remote microbial interactions are raised.

Culture-to-culture physical interactions causes the alteration in red and infrared light stimulation of Escherichia coli growth rate.

Escherichia coli MC1061 cells were irradiated at 660 and 900 nm, incubated in M9 and LB media with the use of a specially constructed device, and assayed for growth rate. There was a reduction of growth rate stimulation when the irradiated culture was cultivated jointly with the non-irradiated one. In the same time, the irradiated culture extended the invigorate effect on the non-irradiated one.

Studies on distant regulation of bacterial growth and light emission.

Reciprocal interactions of two Escherichia coli MC1061 cultures separated by a glass window were investigated. The growth parameters and light emission from these cultures were analysed. A link between light emission and the growth parameters was observed.