[Development and use of a domestic test system for diagnosis of tuberculous infection on the basis of quantitative analysis of interferon-gamma induction in whole blood samples in vitro, by using specific recombinant antigens].

A test system was developed to detect tuberculous infection by qualitative analysis of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in the plasma samples after 20-24-hour incubation of whole blood samples in the presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MBT) antigens: tuberculin PPD and a mixture of the MBT-specific recombinant antigens ESAT-6 and CFP-10. The analysis used 3 test tubes each containing 1 ml of heparinized venous blood, one of which served as a control; the other two test tubes were employed to measure antigen-induced IFN-gamma production. Whether this test system might be used to determine primary tuberculous infection was studied in 277 children and adolescents.

[In vitro interferon-gamma induction in whole blood samples is a test for tuberculous infection in children and adolescents].

By applying the interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) induction technique in the whole blood samples exposed to short-term (22-24-hour) incubation in the presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens--PPD tuberculin and specific recombinant ESAT-6 lacking in the cells of vaccine BCG and other non-tuberculous mycobacteria, the authors studied the groups of children and adolescents with a negative Mantoux test (n = 31), with postvaccine BCG allergy (n = 40), as well as patients with primary tuberculous infection (n = 84) and those with pulmonary tuberculosis (n = 44). Patients with primary tuberculous infection and a high sensitivity (94%) and a high specificity (97%) may be differentiated from children and adolescents with postvaccinal allergy when the recombinant ESAT-6 antigen and the critical IFN-gamma level (greater than 70 pg/ml) detectable in the plasma samples after incubation with the antigen. It has been also shown that in adolescents with local forms of pulmonary tuberculosis specific IFN-gamma induction may be suppressed in number of cases, which is ascribed to decreased specific immunity.

[Polymerase chain reaction to determine and control drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains].

Real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to develop a one-stage procedure for molecular genetic analysis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MBT) DNA in order to determine mutations associated with drug resistance to the antituberculous agents: isoniazid and rifampicin. To analyze the spread of drug-resistance of the causative agent of tuberculosis in Russia, two thousand MBT strains were studied in 24 regions of all the federal districts. Testing 1406 MBT strains isolated by first detected and untreated patients revealed multidrug resistance (MDR) in 21.

[Significance of determination of gamma-interferon in the diagnosis of tuberculous exudative pleurisy].

The pleural fluid concentration of gamma-interferon (gamma-IFN) was studied in 44 patients with exudative pleurisy. The tuberculous nature of exudative pleurisy was established in 25 patients on the basis of X-ray study, a follow-up, microbiological study of pleural exudate specimens, and morphological studies of biopsy specimens obtained at video-assisted thoracoscopy or surgery. The the pleural exudate concentrations of gamma-IFN were over 300 pg/ml (mean 1019 +/- 161 pg/ml) in 19 out of 21 patients with exudative pleuritis in a phase of active inflammation.

[Use of polymerase chain reaction for the diagnosis and evaluation of chemotherapy for pulmonary tuberculosis].

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using a new procedure for preparing sputum samples for DNA isolation on the basis of immunomagnetic separation of mycobacteria was employed to examine sputum samples from 141 patients with first diagnosed pulmonary tuberculosis and 510 diagnostic materials from patients with nonspecific lung disease. In 47 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, sputum bacterial isolation was followed up, by using PCR and conventional microbiological studies during regular, every 6-7-week, examination. The sensitivity of PCR employing the above procedure for preparing the samples averaged 66% versus 48% when a cultural study was applied.

[The effectiveness of Mycobacteria tuberculosis isolation by polymerase chain reaction: results of a randomized trial].

The results of testing sputum for Mycobacterium tuberculosis by different methods: polymerase chain reaction (PCR), luminescence microscopy, and culture tests were compared. Clinical sputum samples were studied in 62 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and 72 patients with non-specific diseases of the lung. The specificity of PCR was 98.

[Direct genetic analysis of the rifampicin resistance of M. tuberculosis isolates in sputum samples].

The paper shows a rapid method for diagnosing the resistance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to rifampicin in the testing of clinical sputum samples. The sputum samples from 12 patients ineffectively treated for pulmonary tuberculosis were treated by the immunomagnetic mycobacterial separation technique; polymerase chain reaction was used to perform the amplification and direct sequencing of the gene fragment rho poB by identifying the mutations responsible for mycobacterial rifampicin resistance. Other equal parts of the same sputum samples were cultured on liquid medium for 5 days and subsequently examined in the same manner and also cultured on the Löwenstein-Jensen solid medium, followed by the determination of rifampicin sensitivity by the routine procedure.

[Value of molecular biological methods in the diagnosis of urogenital tuberculosis].

Enzyme immunoassay (EIA) was used to study the diagnostic value of determination of serum Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MBT) antibodies in 41 patients with active urinary tract tuberculosis, 14 with inactive tuberculosis and 140 with nontuberculous diseases of the urinary system. The sensitivity of EIA was 73% with 88.6% sensitivity.

Identification of rifampin-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains by hybridization, PCR, and ligase detection reaction on oligonucleotide microchips.

Three new molecular approaches were developed to identify drug-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis using biochips with oligonucleotides immobilized in polyacrylamide gel pads. These approaches are significantly faster than traditional bacteriological methods. All three approaches-hybridization, PCR, and ligase detection reaction--were designed to analyze an 81-bp fragment of the gene rpoB encoding the beta-subunit of RNA polymerase, where most known mutations of rifampin resistance are located.

Detection of rifampicin-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains by hybridization and polymerase chain reaction on a specialized TB-microchip.

Two alternative methods for identification of rifampicin-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis on biological microchips are developed. The methods are based on detection of point mutations and other rearrangements in the rpoB gene region determining rifampicin resistance. Hybridization on TB-microchip detects 30 mutant variants of DNA in rifampicin-resistant strains (about 95% of all resistant forms).

[Generalized tuberculosis after kidney transplantation].

Tuberculosis is one of severe infectious complications in patients on hemodialysis and after kidney transplantation. Incidence of disseminated and generalized forms is high, whereas clinical symptoms are weak and nonspecific. An aggressive generalized form of tuberculosis was observed in a kidney transplant recipient.

[Immunoenzyme analysis for the identification of Mycobacterium bovis by using monoclonal antibodies].

Three monoclonal antibodies (MAb) were obtained after fusion of mouse BALB/c splenocytes immunised with gamma-irradiated field strains M. bovis and cells of mouse myeloma. Mab specificity was determined at enzyme immunoassay of the bacteria.

[The use of highly dispersed iron particles for increasing the sensitivity of the luminescent microscopic method of determining Mycobacterium tuberculosis].

A highly dispersed ferromagnetic powder obtained by a plasmochemical method (particle size was 100-500 A) was treated by means of an ultrasonic disperser: suspension was added to the trisodium phosphate homogenized and neutralized sputum (0.3 mg of the initial powder per 1 ml of sputum) of patients with various forms of pulmonary tuberculosis. The sputum was then incubated at slight stirring for 40 min and centrifuged; the precipitate was used to prepare smears which were stained with auramine; mycobacteria were detected by luminescence microscopy.

[Determination of antituberculous antibodies in the cerebrospinal fluid by an immunoenzyme assay method in patients with tuberculous meningitis].

Possibilities of using enzyme immunoassay to identify specific antibodies to M. tuberculosis in the cerebrospinal fluid of 44 patients with tuberculous meningitis and 81 cases with other diseases of the central nervous system were analysed. The assay sensitivity and specificity in an active period of tuberculous meningitis made up 100 and 97.

[Prospects of developing a computerized public health system in the COMECON countries].

The results of predicting the development of automated information systems for public health in the CMEA member-countries up to 2010 are presented. Priority trends of computerization in the CMEA countries have been determined along with its key tasks. Specific computerization problems are listed for various levels of public health administration.

[An immunologic method for identification of M. tuberculosis and M. bovis (BCG) based on the use of monoclonal antibodies].

Monoclonal antibodies interacting with specific selectivity with human tubercle bacilli (monoclonal antibodies of the cell producing strain 62D) and bovine tubercle bacilli (BCG) (monoclonal antibodies of the cell producing strain 60D) were produced with hybridoma technology. A rapid, productive and safe procedure for identification of M. tuberculosis and M.

[Determination of antibodies to mycobacterial antigens in tuberculosis by erythrocyte immunoadsorption with a rosette marker].

A solid-phase enzyme immunoassay system for the determination of antibodies to mycobacterial antigens, based on the method of erythrocyte immunoadsorption in microchambers for immunological reactions, has been developed. To detect antibodies specifically bound with the solid-phase antigen, the affinity rosettes of Staphylococcus aureus strain Cowan I, carrying protein A, with erythrocytes conjugated with human gamma globulin have been used. The significant correlation of the titers of 34 sera, determined by means of erythrocyte immunoadsorption, with extinction values obtained in the solid-phase enzyme immunoassay of antibodies to Mycobacterium tuberculosis has been established.

[Obtaining hybridomas producing monoclonal antibodies with different specificities against Mycobacterium tuberculosis of the human and bovine types].

A procedure for isolation of hybridomes producing monoclonal antibodies (McAB) to tubercle bacilli is described. Specificity of the McABs was studied with the solid phase radioimmune and immunoenzyme tests. Supernatant of tubercle bacilli destroyed with ultrasound was used as antigens.

[Multiplication of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the organs of mice with a single exposure to cyclophosphamide].

The injection of cyclophosphamide, used as an immunomodulating agent in a dose of 100 mg/kg, into mice infected with M. tuberculosis induced an increase (a virulent culture) or a decrease (a culture with low virulence) in the multiplication of mycobacteria in the spleen. In mice infected with a virulent culture and protected from infection with streptomycin for 1 week cyclophosphamide induced a considerable decrease in the number of viable mycobacteria in the lungs by days 18-20 after infection.

[Pharmacokinetics of dihydrostreptomycin, after intravenous administration as a liposomal preparation, in the blood serum and tissues of intact mice and those with generalized tuberculosis].

Distribution of 3H-dihydrostreptomycin ( DHS ) in the blood serum and organs of intact mice and mice with generalized tuberculosis was studied. The antibiotic was administered in the form of a liposomal preparation and solution. It was shown that the distribution pattern of DHS administered in the form of a liposomal preparation corresponded to that of liposomes, which were the drug carriers.

[Production of liposomal preparations of streptomycin and dihydrostreptomycin].

The effect of the conditions of the formation of liposomal preparations of streptomycin and dihydrostreptomycin on incorporation of the antibiotics into the liposomes was studied. The liposomes were obtained with the detergent (cholate) method modified by the authors. The modification implies preliminary application of a 20 per cent antibiotic buffer solution on columns for gel filtration of a mixed mycellar antibiotic solution (20 per cent).

[Effectiveness of liposome-incorporated streptomycin in experimental tuberculosis in mice].

The chemotherapeutic efficacy of streptomycin incorporated into liposomes was studied on mice with experimental tuberculosis. Streptomycin incorporated into liposomes was prepared with the detergent method using purified egg lecithin, sodium cholate and streptomycin sulfate. The level of streptomycin incorporation into liposomes was 250-399 micrograms of streptomycin base per 1 mg lecithin.