Image-based second opinion for blood typing.

This paper considers a new method for providing a recommendation (second opinion) for a laboratory assistant in manual blood typing based on serological plates. The manual method consists of two steps: preparation and analysis. During preparation step the laboratory assistant needs to fill each well of a plate with a blood sample and a reagent mixture according to methodological guidelines.

[Listeriosis of the Central nervous system].

Object: To study the main causes of severe course and high mortality in patients with nervous form of listeriosis.

Materials And Methods: The analysis of the course of Listeria meningoencephalitis (LM) in 36 patients aged from 9 to 85 years, who were treated in the Infectious clinical hospital No. 2 DZM (IKB No.

Development of A Lateral Flow Highway: Ultra-Rapid Multitracking Immunosensor for Cardiac Markers.

The integration of several controlled parameters within a single test system is experiencing increased demand. However, multiplexed test systems typically require complex manufacturing. Here, we describe a multiplexed immunochromatographic assay that incorporates a conventional nitrocellulose membrane, which is used together with microspot printing, to construct adjacent microfluidic "tracks" for multiplexed detection.

[THE DEVICE REGISTRATION OF IMMUNE CHROMATOGRAPHIC EXPRESS-TESTS].

The development of sector of "fast-testing" i.e. test-systems permitting carrying out analysis during home visit of doctor or at primary examination of patient without any additional devices and reagents is predominant tendency in international practice.

Multiarray on a test strip (MATS): rapid multiplex immunodetection of priority potato pathogens.

Multiarray on a test strip (MATS) was developed for the detection of eight important potato pathogens. The proposed assay combines the rapidity of immunochromatography with the high throughput of array techniques. The test zone of the immunochromatographic strip comprises ordered rows of spots containing antibodies specific for different potato pathogens.

Quantum dot-based lateral flow immunoassay for detection of chloramphenicol in milk.

A novel rapid (20 min) fluorescent lateral flow test for chloramphenicol (CAP) detection in milk was developed. The chosen format is a binding-inhibition assay. Water-soluble quantum dots with an emission peak at 625 nm were applied as a label.

Microarray method for multiplex and serial latex agglutination tests with digital image registration.

A microarray analytical system for performing tests of latex agglutination reaction in microformat with digital image registration was developed. The system allows the application of latex microdrops to the surface of the carrier in the form of a regular microarray and mixing of the latex droplets with the individual samples in each droplet of the microarray. The reaction is performed in a total mixture volume of about 1 microl for each of 30 samples simultaneously with video registration and interpretation of the results using a scanning device and specially developed software.

Outbreak of West Nile virus infection, Volgograd Region, Russia, 1999.

From July 25 to October 1, 1999, 826 patients were admitted to Volgograd Region, Russia, hospitals with acute aseptic meningoencephalitis, meningitis, or fever consistent with arboviral infection. Of 84 cases of meningoencephalitis, 40 were fatal. Fourteen brain specimens were positive in reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction assays, confirming the presence of West Nile/Kunjin virus.

Atomic force and electron microscopy of high molecular weight circular DNA complexes with synthetic oligopeptide trivaline.

Intramolecular compact structures formed by high molecular weight circular superhelical DNA molecules due to interaction with synthetic oligopeptide trivaline (1) were studied by atomic force and electron microscopy. Three DNA preparations were used: plasmids pTbol, pRX10 and cosmid 27,877, with sizes 6,120 bp, 10,500 bp and 44,890 bp respectively. Plasmid pTbo1 and pRX10 preparations along with monomers contained significant amount of dimers and trimers.

Electron microscopy of DNA complexes with synthetic oligopeptides.

Electron microscopical data is presented on the varying morphology of the complexes formed between DNA and a number of synthetic beta-oligopeptides. In general, these peptides produce DNA compaction or condensation, resulting in two main types of complexes: toroids and rods. By controlling the ratio of peptide to DNA, interpretations of the possible packing of DNA within the various compact particles are advanced.

Electron microscopic and physico-chemical studies of DNA complexes with synthetic oligopeptides: binding specificity and DNA compact structures.

Binding to DNA of two synthetic peptides, Val-Thr-Thr-Val-Val-NH-NH-Dns and Thr-Val-Thr-Lys-Val-Gly-Thr-Lsy-Val-Gly-Thr-Val-Val-NH-NH-Dns (where Dns is a residue of 5-dimethylaminonaphthalene-1-sulfonic acid), has been studied by circular dichroism, electron microscopy and fluorescence methods. It has been found that these two peptides can self-associate in aqueous solution as follows from the fact that concentration-dependent changes are observed in the UV absorbance and fluorescence spectra. The two peptides can bind to DNA both in self-associated and monomeric forms.

Triple rings: a new type of compact structure of circular DNA.

Complexes of circular superhelical pBR322 DNA with a synthetic tripeptide capable of beta-structure formation (dansylhydrazide trivaline) were studied at different peptide/DNA ratios by electron microscopy. It was shown on rotary-shadowed preparations that peptide binding induces intramolecular DNA condensation and compact ring-shaped particles are formed from fibres 120 A thick. The analysis of the morphology of the ring structures observed at various peptide/DNA ratios as well as contour length measurements enabled us to draw conclusions about the organization of the double-stranded DNA filaments in these structures.

Torus-shaped particles formed due to intermolecular condensation of circular DNA upon interaction with synthetic tripeptide.

The morphology of complexes between relaxed circular plasmid pBR322 DNA and tripeptide L-Val-L-Val-L-Val-NH-NH-Dns (TVP) at different peptide/DNA ratios was studied by electron microscopy. The results show that interaction of TVP with circular DNA leads to the formation of perfect torus-shaped particles. The torus parameter measurements offer the possibility to conclude that DNA condensation observed is of intermolecular nature.

The structure of inactive interphase macronuclear chromatin of the ciliate Bursaria truncatella. Radial loops in the structure of chromatin clumps.

The organization of chromatin in macronuclei of Bursaria truncatella cells that completed their growth and differentiation was electron microscopically studied. The data obtained showed that (1) inactive macronuclear chromatin was organized in compact chromatin clumps 120 to 180 nm in diameter linked by one or several chromatin fibres, and (2) in low salt buffer the chromatin clumps gradually unraveled, radial loops of supranucleosomal or, more often, nucleosomal structure appearing around chromatin clumps. Upon prolonged incubation in low salt buffer chromatin clumps were completely transformed into nucleosomal fibres.

Structural transitions of chromatin induced by netropsin.

Structural changes of chromatin induced by interaction of netropsin (Nt) with DNA has been examined by analysis of CD and electromicroscopic measurements. The results demonstrate the existence of a transition from the condensed globular state of chromatin into nucleosomal fibres generated by extremely low Nt concentration up to 1 mole Nt per 200 nucleotides. A second transition occurs at high Nt ratio per DNA phosphate (v' = 0.

Protein-free spreading technique for the electron microscopy of DNA and chromatin.

A new protein-free technique of preparation of DNA molecules for electron microscopy is described. The technique is based on the phenomenon of formation of a thin liquid film of a high concentration buffer on the surface of the hypophase of the lower concentration buffer on depositing a droplet of the high concentration buffer on the hypophase. We found that under certain specific conditions most of all frequently used buffers form films of such a type.

The effect of various conditions of chromatin isolation on the nucleosomal structure of the isolated chromatin.

Chromatin from calf thymus isolated under hypotonic conditions in the presence of various agents was investigated by methods of electron microscopy prior to and after EDTA treatment. It is shown that the presence of chelating agents and, especially, the application of considerable mechanical forces in the course of isolation may cause damage to the nucleosomal structure of the chromatin. Moreover, sufficiently great mechanical forces are liable to destroy the structure of the chromatin nucleosomal fibres even when they are packed in structures of a higher order of organization of the chromatin.

Changes in chromatin structure induced by EDTA treatment and partial removal of histone H1.

Electron microscopy shows that EDTA treatment or partial removal of histone HI converts 200-250 A chromatin fibres characteristic for native chromatin, isolated in low ionic strength conditions into fibres consisting of nucleosomes connected by segments of DNA. This structural transition is accompanied by an increase in the amplitude of positive band of CD spectra at 280 nm. Comparison of electron microscopic, thermal denaturation and electrophoretic data suggests that multiphasic character of melting curves, observed for chromatin, lacking histone HI is due to the removal of histone HI and destabilisation of the DNA segments, connecting nucleosomes.

Serum immunoglobulin levels in various forms of meningococcal infection and in meningococcus carriers.

The levels of serum IgG, IgA and IgM were examined in 191 adults including 103 patients with various forms of meningococcal infection, 32 meningitis convalescents and 56 carriers, in order to elucidate the causes of different susceptibility to the meningococcal infection. The IgD level was determined in 54 meningitis patients as well as in convalescents and carriers. The amount of immunoglobulins was determined by radial immunodiffusion.