Association between Glutathione S-Transferases Gene Variants and COVID-19 Severity in Previously Vaccinated and Unvaccinated Polish Patients with Confirmed SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

As the outcome of COVID-19 is associated with oxidative stress, it is highly probable that polymorphisms of genes related to oxidative stress were associated with susceptibility and severity of COVID-19. The aim of the study was to assess the association of glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) gene polymorphisms with COVID-19 severity in previously vaccinated and unvaccinated Polish patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. A total of 92 not vaccinated and 84 vaccinated patients hospitalized due to COVID-19 were included.

[Use of real-time PCR for quantitative assessment of lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacteria in dairy products].

Composition of lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacteria in raw milk and home-made milk products has been analyzed using real-time PCR (quantitative PCR) with genus-specific primers to Enterococcus, Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria. Bacteria belonging to these genera have been revealed in all samples analyzed (milk, sour cream, cottage cheese). It has been shown that the representatives of Enterococcus and Lactobacillus genera dominated in the samples analyzed (10(3)-10(7) genome equivalent/ml (mg)).

[Molecular-genetic studies of Trichogramma Westw].

Investigations of the genetic structure of internal noncoding transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) of ribosomal DNA of five Trichogramma species - T. pintoi Voeg., T.

[Development of diagnostic kit "Ptakh-Grip PLR" for detection of highly pathogenic strain of avian influenza virus H5N1 by polymerase chain reaction].

A diagnostic kit for detection of avian influenza virus by real-time polymerase chain reaction was developed. This kit allows to identify the influenza viruses type A and highly pathogenic strain of avian influenza virus H5N1. The diagnostic kit is universal and adopted for ABI PRISM SDS (Applied Biosystems), RotorGene (Corbett Research) and iQCycler (BioRad) PCR machines.

Transition from embryonic to adult transcription pattern of serotonin N-acetyltransferase gene in avian pineal gland.

The study reports the change of transcription pattern of serotonin N-acetyltransferase gene and melatonin receptor genes during ontogenesis of the avian pineal gland. The RT-PCR technique was used to investigate the expression of the arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase (AA-NAT) and melatonin receptor genes during development of the pineal glands isolated from Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) embryos incubated from 3 days on until hatching (17 days), and in some organs (pineal, brain hemisphere, eye, leg, heart) of the 3-day-old quail embryo. It was shown that two phases of AA-NAT expression are observed during pineal gland development.

Bidirectional communication between the pineal gland and the immune system.

The pineal gland is a vertebrate neuroendocrine organ converting environmental photoperiodic information into a biochemical message (melatonin) that subsequently regulates the activity of numerous target tissues after its release into the bloodstream. A phylogenetically conserved feature is increased melatonin synthesis during darkness, even though there are differences between mammals and birds in the regulation of rhythmic pinealocyte function. Membrane-bound melatonin receptors are found in many peripheral organs, including lymphoid glands and immune cells, from which melatonin receptor genes have been characterized and cloned.

Presence and developmental regulation of serotonin N-acetyltransferase transcripts in oocytes and early quail embryos (Coturnix coturnix japonica).

By RT-PCR two transcripts for arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase (AA-NAT; serotonin N-acetyltransferase; EC 2.3.1.

Expression of microinjected reporter gene lacZ during first cleavages of rabbit embryos.

The growing use of reporter genes in a model transgenic system has been a fundamental approach of biology, but the strategy of transgenic embryo selection prior to transfer to foster mothers may greately increase the efficiency of transgenic livestock production. This study was conducted to assess the possibility of beta-galactosidase (beta-gal)-labeled transgenic rabbit embryo production. Rabbit zygotes were obtained from superovulated females after mating.

[Comparative analysis of the genetic structure of Red Polish cattle in Poland and the Ukraine].

Comparative analysis of genetic structure of two groups of Red Polish cattle, which reproduce in Poland and Ukraine, was made. Six molecular-genetic markers (kappa-casein, beta-lactoglobulin, leptin, myostatin, growth hormone, and pituitary-specific transcription factor Pit-I) were tested by PCR-RFLP. No significant differences between the considered intrabreed groups were found.

[Genetic structure of local Ukrainian cattle breeds].

Analysis of 6 cattle breeds (5 local Ukrainian breeds and the Holstain breed) on the 9 polymorphous molecular-genetic markers (transferrin, ceruloplasmin, amylase-1, posttransferrin, receptor to vitamin D, haemoglobin, leptin, kapa-casein) was carried out. The rare allele of transferrin was revealed in two local breeds and the rare allele of leptin--in two another local breeds. Associations between syntenic loci (transferrin, ceruloplasmin, kappa-casein, receptor to vitamin D) were observed only in the local breeds but not in the Holstain one.

Expression of melatonin receptor transcripts (mel-1a, mel-1b and mel-1c) in Japanese quail oocytes and eggs.

Cloning and sequencing of the cDNA for avian melatonin (MEL) receptors have made it possible to investigate the expression of these receptors in different animal tissues and organs by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Our study demonstrates for the first time, the presence of MEL receptor transcripts in maternal RNA from Japanese quail oocytes and in RNA from the early embryos of the laid eggs. Specific primers permitted discrimination between mel-1a, mel-1b and mel-1c receptor sequences, and special techniques used to obtain the biological material made it possible to avoid accidental contamination with cells of somatic origin.

[The phenotypic and genetic structure of the Ukrainian Grey breed of cattle].

A comparative analysis of phenotypical characteristics, the polymorphism of erythrocyte antigens and genetic-biochemical systems in the groups of Ukrainian Grey cattle, bred in Ukraine and Russia was carried out in different years. Data have been obtained on peculiarities of genetic structure of Ukrainian Grey cattle and on certain breed distinctions in the space and time.

[The intraspecific differentiation of Przhewalski's horse and the domestic horse by 5 molecular genetic markers].

Analysis of albumin, transferrin, receptor to vitamin D, esterase, alpha 1-beta glycoprotein polymorphisms in Przhewalski's horse, Orlov's and Russian trotters, Guzul and Yakutian domestic horse breeds was carried out. The data about similarity of intraspecies differentiation of Przewalski's horse's populations and interbreed distinctions were obtained. Locus-specific particularities of genetic structures of investigated animal groups were revealed.

[Interlocus associations and their variability in cattle].

The results of analysis of interloci associations between two pairs of syntenic loci (transferrin and ceruloplasmin, receptor for vitamin D and kappa-casein) and two non-syntenic ones (amylase-1 and post-transferrin 2) in two cattle groups of Red Steppe breed (infected and uninfected by bovine leukosis virus) and in two groups of Black-and-White Holsteins (from relatively "pure" zone and from the 10 km zone of Chernobyl NPP) were presented. It is found that "linkage disequilibrium" between loci is observed independent of their synteny. The data obtained allowed the authors to suppose, that the interloci associations are rather controlled by different factors of artificial and natural selection than by the genetic linkages between genes.

[The bovine leukosis virus and the diagnosis of infected animals].

The results of selection of primers and amplification of fragments of provirus genes Gag and Env of bovine leukemia virus (BLV) in artificially infected cell line and in cattle leukocytes are presented. The distinctions between diagnoses of BLV infected animals by the testing their blood for antibodies to viral antigens and by the presence of provirus genes in DNA of their leukocytes were revealed.