Plague in Kazakhstan at the present time.

Since 1990 to 2002, 19 human plague cases and 2 bacteria-carriers cases were registered in natural plague foci on the territory of the republic. For last 12 years plague in forms of bubonic and bubonic-septic was diagnosed in Kazakhstan. Out of 19 patients (14 men--73.

Clinical and epidemiological characteristic of tularemia in Kazakhstan.

From 1950 to 1977, 5049 human tularemia cases were registered that had been associated with a large number of non-immunized people coming to Kazakh tularemia endemic areas from different places of Soviet Union to harvest the grain. Since 1978, the number of tularemia patients has considerably decreased and during 1992-2001 thirty-one human cases were reported. Epidemiological analysis showed that infection was transmitted by a variety of routes, including bites of infected arthropod, ingestion of infected food and water, transfer to mouth by contaminated hands and direct contact from skinning musk-rats and hares.

[An immunoglobulin-penicillinase conjugate for detecting the antigen of the causative agent of tularemia].

Immunoglobulin penicillinase conjugate for the detection of Fr. tularensis antigen in enzyme immunoassay has been prepared. Its sensitivity is 0.

[Prospects for the use of monoclonal antibodies in Yersinia pestis].

Industrial production of plague monoclonal antibodies in mice BALB/c was shown possible. Precipitation of the immunoglobulins with caprylic acid provided the highest purity of the preparations. Maintenance of the specific activity by the monoclonal antibodies was stable.

[Antigenuria in plague-infected great gerbils].

In the urine of plague-infected great gerbils Yersinia pestis capsular antigen was detected by means of diagnostic preparations, both commercial and experimental (based on monoclonal antibodies). The antigen was detected in many urine samples taken from the animals over a prolonged period. The incidence and duration of antigenuria were found to be related to the survival time of great gerbils after infection and the level of antibodies in their blood.

[Field trial of an immunoenzyme method using beta-lactamase as the monoclonal antibody marker for the capsular antigen of the plague microbe].

Beta-lactamase (penicillinase) has been used as a marker of monoclonal antibodies in the enzyme immunoassay made with a view to the detection of Y. pestis capsular antigen and antibodies to it. The trial of the enzyme immunoassay with the use of the beta-lactamase conjugate in laboratories and under field conditions has revealed the advantage of this assay over hemagglutination tests commonly used for this purpose.

[Use of monoclonal antibodies for the production of a plague antibody erythrocyte diagnostic agent].

Monoclonal antibodies to Yersinia pestis capsular antigen were fixed onto the surface of formulated sheep red blood cells. The preparation thus obtained was compared with commercial antibody erythrocyte diagnosticum in the passive hemagglutination test aimed at the search for the capsular antigen in the suspensions of Yersinia pestis museum cultures and in the antigen neutralization test aimed at the search for antibodies in the sera of wild and laboratory animals having had plague. Monoclonal erythrocyte diagnosticum proved to be suitable for the detection of both the capsular antigen and antibodies.

[Sensitivity of repair-defective mutants of the plague microbe to the action of physical and chemical agents].

By the character of the sensitivity of UV-irradiation, to N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine, 5-bromuracil, mitomycin C, crystalviolet, and by the capacity to restore phage injuries the 1435-A and 1435-24 mutants were referred to the uvr-hcr-, 17 mutant--to the uvr-hcr+, and 35 mutant--to lon genotype. As a result of UV irradiation the experimental strains formed heteromorphic forms of bacteria, spindle-shaped, filamentous cells, were sensitive to the action of static electrical field of high frequency, this pointing to disturbance of cellular membranes structure in these mutants.

[Mutants of the plaque microbe defective in the dark repair system].

The mutants of plague bacteria deficient in dark repair are described. They are sensitive to UV, mitomycin C, polymixin. Mutants have lost the ability to host cell reactivation in phage T7.