[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).

[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.

[Epizooty caused by high-virulent influenza virus A/H5N1 of genotype 2.2 (Qinghai-Siberian) among wild and domestic birds on the paths of fall migrations to the north-western part of the Azov Sea basin (Krasnodar Territory)].

Isolation, followed by the sequencing the full-size genome of strains of A/chicken/Krasnodarl300/07 and A/Cygnus cygnus/Krasnodar/329/07, has shown that they belong to genotype 2.2 (Qinghai-Siberian). The strains were deposited at the State Virus Collection of the Russian Federation and nucleotide consequences were at the International databank GenBank.

[Complex environmental and virological monitoring in the Primorye Territory in 2003-2006].

The paper presents the results of monitoring of viruses of Western Nile (WN), Japanese encephalitis (JE), tick-borne encephalitis (TBE), Geta, Influenza A, as well as avian paramicroviruses type I (virus of Newcastle disease (ND)) and type 6 (APMV-6) in the Primorye Territory in 2003-2006. Totally throughout the period, specific antibodies to the viruses were detected by neutralization test in wild birds (7.3%, WN; 8.

[Highly pathogenic influenza A/H5N1 virus-caused epizooty among mute swans (Cygnus olor) in the lower estuary of the Volga River (November 2005)].

Molecular virological studies of the field material collected in the epicenter of epizooty with high mortality among mute swans (Cygnus olor) in the area of the lower estuary of the Volga River (November 2005) could establish the etiological role of highly pathogenic influenza A (HPAI) virus of the subtype H5N1. Ten HPAI/H5N1 strains deposited at the State Collection of Viruses of the Russian Federation with the priority dated December 1, 2005 were isolated from the cloacal/tracheal swabs and viscera of sick and freshly died mute swans. Complete nucleotide sequences of all fragments of the genome of 6 strains have been deposited in the Gene Bank.

Evolution of T4-related phages.

Much progress has been made in understanding T-even phage biology in the last 50 years. We now know the entire sequence of T4, encoding nearly 300 genes, only 69 of which have been shown to be essential under standard laboratory conditions; no specific function is yet known for about 140 of them. The origin of most phage genes is unclear, and only 42 genes in T4 have significant similarity to anything currently included in GenBank.

[Temperature-dependent functional changes in sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes].

Temperature effect on changes in calcium ion transport and activity of Ca-ATPase of sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles (SRV) was studied. Several temperature intervals of the change of SRV functional activity parameters were found: 8-12 degrees C-beginning of accumulation of SRV Ca2+, 12-19 degrees sharp activation of Ca2+ accumulation, 27-32 degrees-activation of passive yield, 36-43 degrees-reversible change of the activity of the accumulation system and activation of Ca yield, 48 degrees and higher--irreversible denaturation of transport Ca-ATPase. Coincidence of temperature intervals of SRV structural reconstructions, detected by means of fluorescent probes and functional changes points to a close relationship between structural reconstructions and functional responses of biological membranes.

[Permeability of plane bilayer lipid membranes in the presence of sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles].

Interaction between vesicles of sarcoplasmic reticulum (VSR) and bilayer lipid membranes (BLM) was investigated. VSR were added into the membrane-surrounding solution. For the formation of complex VSR-BLM the surface of BLM was charged positively by adding 10(-6) M acetyltrimethylammonium bromide and the transmembrane electrical potential was applied in the negative direction (the positive direction was chosen from inner section of camera with VSR to outer section).

[Fluorimetric study of phospholipase A-induced efflux of Ca2+ from liposomes].

Artificial vesicles, liposomes, were prepared from the total fraction of phospholipids of rat liver mitochondria. Electron microscopy showed that the structure of liposomes depended on cation composition of the medium in which they were formed. Fluorescence of chlorotetracycline increased in the suspension of liposomes loaded with Ca+2 due to the formation of Ca+2-chlorotetracycline-phospholipid membrane complex.

[Letter: Effect of lipid peroxidation on the permeability of liposome membranes for Ca2+ ions].

Efflux of Ca2+ ions from liposomes after peroxidation of their lipids was studied using fluorescent assay with chlorotetracicline. It was shown that products of lipid peroxidation disturbed the stability of liposome membranes and increased their permeability for Ca2+ ions.