[Comparative characteristic of Burkholderiae pseudomallei group].

Aim: Comparative characteristic of diagnostic value of main cultural-biological characteristics of Burkholderiae pseudomallei group.

Materials And Methods: 59 strains of B. pseudomallei, 14 --B.

[Improvement of classification of human diseases of biological nature].

General problems of classification and nomenclature of human diseases caused by agents of biological nature are reviewed. From biological and epidemiological position, prion diseases that belong to non-infectious human pathology are analyzed. Directions of improvement of ecologic-etiologic and ecologic-epidemiologic classifications and nomenclature of human diseases caused by infectious, invasive and prion agents are determined.

[Mechanism of development of epidemic process of group A streptococcal infection in children collectives].

Aim: To study the characteristics of group A streptococcal infection epidemic process in children aged 12 - 14 years arrived to summer camp "Orlenok" (Tuapse) from different regions of Russia.

Materials And Methods: Epidemiological (retrospective analysis of incidence of acute respiratory infections, tonsillitis, and scarlet fever), microbiological (isolation and identification of group A streptococci [GAS]), and molecular biological (pulse-electrophoresis, analysis of spe and emm genes) methods were used for the study. Objects of the study were GAS strains isolated from patients and carriers.

[Epidemiological surveillance and policy of specific prophylaxis of invasive pneumococcal infections in Russia].

Literature data on contemporary state of specific prophylaxis of invasive pneumococcal infections in Russia and abroad are summarized in the review. Main advantages and disadvantages of existing polysaccharide and conjugated vaccines are discussed. Main routes for epidemiologic surveillance for invasive pneumococcal infections which will promote improvement of analytic, diagnostic and management activities of specialists from Federal Service on Surveillance for Protection of Consumers Rights and Human Welfare are proposed.

[Modern taxonomy, classification, and nomenclature of streptococci].

Comparative analysis of main trends of taxonomy, classification, and nomenclature of prokaryotic organisms and streptococci was performed. Phylogenetic classification of streptococci was thoroughly considered. Original classification of streptococci based on pathogenicity and ecological-epidemiological criteria was proposed for medical purposes.

[Typing of group A streptococci isolated from urban population of different social status and age].

Pulse-electrophoresis, sequencing of emm genes coding protein M and PCR analysis of speA, speB, and speC genes were used for characterization of group A streptococci (GAS) isolated in different years in Moscow and Tuapse mostly from children and military staff. It has been shown that epidemic process of streptococcal infection caused by GAS in Moscow is based on circulation of many independent clones of Streptococcus pyogenes. Obtained data on complex typing of S.

[Pulse electrophoresis of serogroup A streptocci isolated in Moscow].

Pulse electrophoresis of group A streptococci (GAS) isolated in 1998 - 2004 in Moscow from patients during outbreaks of tonsillitis in child institutions, military unit and also from sporadic cases in children and adults was performed. During analysis of 48 strains 16 pulse electrotypes were recognized. These data allow to consider that in different child institutions (and other groups) accumulation and spreading of most adapted to such environment variants of GAS are take place and population structure of GAS in such institutions is unique on molecular and other characteristics.

[Concept of a bacterial species and the evolution of the prokaryotic genome].

The present concepts of evolution and species delineation in prokaryotes are considered. Recently a considerable extension of knowledge on the processes of microevolution of medically significant bacteria was noted alongside with the importance of horizontal and lateral transfer of genes. The phylophenetic concept of species was considered in detail.

[Pulse-electrotypes of Listeria monocytogenes strains, isolated in Moscow].

The characterization of the pulse-electrotypes of L. monocytogenes, isolated in 2003-2004 in Moscow from different sources, is presented. Among the cultures, isolated from humans, one outbreak pulse electrotype was detected and from different objects in buildings where a wide variety of food products was produced several probably related and unrelated pulse-electrotypes were obtained.

[Complex typing of Salmonella typhimurium hospital strains].

A salmonellosis outbreak, caused by S. typhimurium, was investigated with the use of some microbiological and molecular-biological methods of typing. This investigation revealed that the outbreak was caused by the "outbreak" electrotype of the multi-resistant variant of the infective agent, found to have several plasmidovars.

[Genotypic emm-typing of streptococcal cultures, group A, isolated from patients with different clinical manifestations of streptococcal infection in Moscow].

The results of the intraspecific typing of group A streptococci (SGA), isolated from patients with different manifestations of group A streptococcal infection, carried out in Russia for the first time, are presented. The genotypic method of emm-typing, based on sequencing the DNA area coding the variable part of the molecule of SGA M-protein was used. The data obtained in this study made it possible to follow changes in the pattern of SGA M-types in Moscow and the specific features of SGA in comparison with the analogous data on other territories.

[Characterization of Escherichia coli strains O157:H7, isolated on the territories of the Central Federal District].

The characterization of E.coli strains O157:H7, isolated from humans and animals on some territories of the Central Federal District, is presented. Among the isolates from human outbreaks, related and, probably, related cultures prevailed, while among the isolates obtained from different animals mainly unrelated cultures have been detected.

[Molecular epidemiology of infectious diseases].

Data on molecular epidemiology of bacterial infections is summarized. The term definitions of "molecular epidemiology", "taxonomic species" are given, the limits and species structure of prokaryotes are described. The basic mechanisms of the prokaryotes variability in the epidemic process, as well as the possibilities and limitations of microbiological, molecular-biological and population--genetic typing methods, are characterized.

[Frequency of genes speA, speB, and speC in Streptococcus pyogenes strains and the identification of the infective agent by polymerase chain reaction].

In cultures of S. pyogenes isolated from patients and carriers in different territories of the Russian Federation the genes of erythorogenic toxins A, B and C (speA, speB and specC) were detected. The possibility of the identification of S.

[Stages and results of Epidemiology Department activities].

The paper sums up the activities of Department of Epidemiology of Medical Prophylaxis Faculty, I. M. Setchenov Moscow Medical Academy, in the 70 years of its existence.

[The outlook for the development of live vaccines for the prevention of melioidosis].

The effectiveness of immunization with Burkholderia pseudomallei attenuated strains (Pur and Ts), heterologous vaccines and the recombinant culture of Francisella tularensis RM2 carrying a plasmid with fragments of B. pseudomallei chromosome was studied in four species of experimental animals, essentially differing in their sensitivity to melioidosis. The most immunogenic B.

[The classification of streptococci and human streptococcal diseases].

The modern nomenclature, phenotypic, medical, ecological and phylogenetic classification of streptococci and different classification of streptococcal human diseases are presented. All phylogenetic groups of streptococci have been shown to contain species causing diseases in man. The most medically significant groups are the phylogenetic groups Pyogenes and Mitis.

[The efficacy and outlook for the study of live vaccines for the prevention of melioidosis].

The effect of immunization with Burkholderia pseudomallei, (Pur- and Ts), heterologous vaccines and the recombinant culture of Francisella tularensis RM2, carrying a plasmid with fragments of B. pseudomallei chromosome, was studied on four species of experimental animals, essentially differing by their sensitivity to melioidosis. B.

[The population dynamics of Salmonella typhi and Tetrahymena pyriformis during joint cultivation].

The data on changes in the number, as well as cultural and biological properties of S. typhi and free-living T. pyriformis in the course of their joint cultivation at 2 degrees C and 25 degrees C are presented.