[Characteristic of the new Khatanga virus genotype].

Complete nucleotide sequence of the S-segment and partial sequences of M- and L-segments (981 and 1005 nucleotide respectively) have been determined in 20 strains of California encephalitis serocomplex, isolated in Yakitiya, Sakhalin, and Kamchatka. The phylogenetic analysis ofgenomic S-, M-, and L-segments showed that all 20 strains are related to Khatanga virus (La Cross subtype of California encephalitis serotype). Eight strains belong to group 2 of Khatanga virus while the remaining 12 make up a new (third) genetic group of this virus having original S- and M-segments and L-segment similar to that of the second group.

[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.

[Detection of amino acid substitutions of asparaginic acid for glycine and asparagine at the receptor-binding site of hemagglutinin in the variants of pandemic influenza A/H1N1 virus from patients with fatal outcome and moderate form of the disease].

The paper analyzes the amino acid sequence of the receptor-binding site of hemagglutinin (HA) in the variants of pandemic influenza A/H1N1 swl from 18 patients with moderate (n=1) and fatal (n=17) forms of the disease in 2009. Nine samples contained asparaginic acid at position 222 of HA1 (D). This site exhibited mutations in 9 samples: D222G (n=3), D222N (n=3), and D222G/D222N (n=3).

[The first break-through of the genotype 2.3.2 of high-virulence influenza A virus A/HSN1, which is new for Russia, in the Far East].

The epizootic etiologically associated with highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 genotype 2.3.2 that is new for Russia among wild and domestic birds in the south of the Primorye Territory during spring migration in April 2008 has been decoded.

[Interpretation of the epizootic outbreak among wild and domestic birds in the south of the European part of Russia in December 2007].

The paper presents the results of interpreting the epizootic outbreak etiologically associated with high-virulent influenza virus A/H5N1 among domestic and wild birds in the Zernogradsky and Tselinsky districts of the Rostov Region. Epizooty was characterized by a high infection rate in the synanthropic birds of a ground-based complex. RT-PCT revealed influenza virus A/H5 in 60% of pigeons and crows and in around 20% of starlings, and in 10% of tree sparrows.