[Cloning and expression of the IGA-specific endopeptidase genes from Neisseria meningitidis].

IgA1-specific proteinases (Igase) are acknowledged as a pivotal pathogenicity factor in meningococcus (Neisseria meningitidis) and in some related bacteria. These enzymes belong to trypsin-like clan of serine proteases. They exhibit high substrate selectivity being able to discriminate between IgA1 and IgA2.

Sup35p yeast prion-like protein as an adapter for production of the Gag-p55 antigen of HIV-1 and the L-chain of botulinum neurotoxin in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Effective expression of the HIV-1 core protein Gag-p55 was obtained in Saccharomyces cerevisiae under control of the inducible UASgal/CYC1 promoter as a translational fusion with the prion-forming NM domain of the translation terminator Sup35p (eRF3) of S. cerevisiae. where only poor expression of the original-type Gag-p55 was observed.

[The theory and practice of using in-house control in screening and verification studies for the diagnosis of HIV infection].

Three batches of two diagnostic test kits for the in-house control (IHC) HIV infection were made up of the 8 pools of sera, containing antibodies to all antigens of HIV-1 (4) and HIV-negative sera (4) obtained from healthy donors. All sera used for this purpose did not contain antibodies to viruses of hepatitis A, B, C. In the process of the preparation of the batches of diagnostic test kits for IHC 500 individual donor sera and more than 100 of individual sera of HIV-infected persons were studied.

[Immunoenzyme test system for detecting antibodies to group-specific antigens of group A Streptococcus on the base of conjugated N-acetylglucosamine and its use in medical practice].

Enzyme immunoassay kit has been created for detecting antibodies to group A Streptococcus, based on N-acetylglucosamine. N-acetylglucosamine was selected as the group-specific determinant due to the structure of group A Streptococcus polysaccharide, in which this monosaccharide residue is lateral to the main polysaccharide chain and hence more available for antibodies. Water-soluble polyacrylamide is the carrier in this kit, for this carrier is stable and not liable to nonspecific reaction with proteins.

Antibody to hepatitis E virus in HIV-infected individuals and AIDS patients.

Antibody to hepatitis E virus of IgG class (anti-HEV IgG) is regularly detected in industrialized countries, where HEV is non-endemic, at levels not exceeding 2-3%; seropositive individuals are often found in certain groups of patients and professionals exposed to an increased risk of blood-borne infections. The present study was aimed at the identification of anti-HEV IgG in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, including acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), living in Russia and Belarus, an area of low anti-HEV prevalence with a moderate spread of HIV infection and AIDS. In Russia, 13 out of 117 HIV-infected patients (11.

[The diagnostic and prognostic significance of the indices of the immune response to streptococcal group A antigens in rheumatism].

Serum samples obtained from 33 patients with acute rheumatic fever (ARF), 60 patients with rheumatic heart disease (RHD) and 30 adult healthy persons have been studied. Antibodies to streptococcal A polysaccharide (SAP) and lypoteichoic acid (LTA) were examined by ELISA, to streptolysin O by standard technique. SAP antibodies in high titers persisted from 5 to 12 months in ARF and rheumatic carditis patients especially when RHD was developing.

[Streptococcal group A carriage: new data on the characteristics of the biology of the causative agent and of the immune response of the host].

Carriership of group A streptococcus (A-STR) was registered with significantly greater frequency among children of preschool and early school age (29.8%) than among adults (4.0%).

[Enzyme immunoassay test system for detection of antibodies to Streptococcus pyogenes group-specific A polysaccharide in blood droplets on paper].

An enzyme immunoassay-based test system has been developed to assess the level of specific antibodies to A polysaccharide which permits analysis of material (droplets of native sera or blood eluate) collected on filter paper. Special variants of the test system permit separate detection of IgA, IgG, and IgM antibodies. The test system is fit for clinical and epidemiologic studies.