Phylogenetic Characterization of Rabies Virus Field Isolates Collected from Animals in European Russian Regions in 2009-2022.

Rabies is a fatal disease of mammals that poses a high zoonotic risk to humans as well. The distribution of rabies is mainly driven by host animal migration and human-mediated dispersion. To contribute to the global understanding of the rabies virus (RABV) molecular epidemiology, 94 RABV field isolates collected from animals in 13 European Russian regions were phylogenetically characterized using the nearly full-size N gene nucleotide sequences.

Multilocus genetic analysis indicates taxonomic status of "Candidatus Rickettsia mendelii" as a separate basal group.

To date, the phylogeny of Rickettsia spp. from basal groups is based on the small number of identified species. Thus, the finding of "Candidatus Rickettsia mendelii" in 2016 is of great interest.

A nearly complete database on the records and ecology of the rarest boreal tiger moth from 1840s to 2020.

Global environmental changes may cause dramatic insect declines but over century-long time series of certain species' records are rarely available for scientific research. The Menetries' Tiger Moth (Arctia menetriesii) appears to be the most enigmatic example among boreal insects. Although it occurs throughout the entire Eurasian taiga biome, it is so rare that less than 100 specimens were recorded since its original description in 1846.

[Biological properties and phylogenetic relationships of tick-borne encephalitis virus (Flaviviridae, Flavivirus) isolates of siberian subtype isolated in the south of East siberia in modern period].

Introduction: Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is medically most important representative of the same-name serogroup of genus Flavivirus (Flaviviridae). In the view of various researchers there are 3 to 5 TBEV subtypes, of them siberian being the most prevalent. The aim of the work is to compare the biological properties and to reveal phylogenetic relationships of large group of modern (2006-2019) TBEV isolates of siberian subtype from natural foci in southern East Siberia.

Cellular Immune Response of an Endemic Lake Baikal Amphipod to Indigenous Pseudomonas sp.

Studies of invertebrates have shown that the internal environment of crustaceans is not always sterile in normal conditions, and in many species, it can be populated by microorganisms even in the absence of any visible pathological processes in the body. This observation raises the question of whether genetically modified indigenous hemolymph microorganisms can be used for biotechnological purposes inside the crustacean either as local producers of some compounds or as sensors to physiological parameters. In this study, we tested the ability of the bacteria isolated from the hemolymph of the amphipod Eulimnogammarus verrucosus to hide from the cellular immune response of the host as the most important feature for their potential long-term application in vivo.

Analysis of effectivity of the tickborne encephalitis virus detection methods in ixodid ticks.

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is transmissible viral disease widely common in temperate zone of Eurasia. ELISA and PCR are used for express identification of the vector's infection, but the results of the two methods often do not agree. Aim of the work is comparative analysis for TBE virus of Ixodid ticks from nature using complex of methods, including ELISA, PCR, and isolation of the virus in laboratory mice.

Phylogenetic analysis of tick-borne encephalitis virus strains found in an engorged tick and traveler returning from Russia.

Although travel-related tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) cases have been increasingly registered worldwide, very few published case studies are available to date. The present report describes a travel-related TBE case and provides genotypic characterization of two viral isolates. Laboratory diagnostics were based on complement fixation test and virus isolation.

Fox rabies outbreaks in the republic of Buryatia: Connections with neighbouring areas of Russia, Mongolia and China.

The Republic of Buryatia (RB) is located southeast of Lake Baikal and shares a long border with Mongolia. This region of Russia was rabies-free from 1982 to 2010. The first outbreak of fox rabies in RB was identified in 2011, about 30 km from the Russian-Mongolian border.

The diversity of microsporidian parasites infecting the Holarctic amphipod Gammarus lacustris from the Baikal region is dominated by the genus Dictyocoela.

Microsporidia are a highly diverse group of single-celled eukaryotic parasites related to fungi and infecting hosts belonging to all groups of eukaryotes, including some protists, invertebrate and vertebrate animals. We investigated the diversity of microsporidia in the Holarctic amphipod species Gammarus lacustris from mostly, but not limited to, water bodies in the Lake Baikal region. Ribosomal DNA sequencing and host transcriptome sequencing data from various works show that this species is predominantly infected by representatives of the genus Dictyocoela and probably has some features underlying this specific interaction.

"886-84-like" tick-borne encephalitis virus strains: Intraspecific status elucidated by comparative genomics.

Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) can cause severe meningitis, encephalitis, and meningoencephalitis. TBEV represents a pathogen of high zoonotic potential and an emerging global threat. There are three known subtypes of TBEV: Far-Eastern, Siberian and European.

Identification of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae): an external quality assessment of medical entomology laboratories in the MediLabSecure Network.

Background: Identification of vectors is of prime importance in the field of medical entomology for both operational and research purposes. An external quality assessment of mosquito identification capacities was carried out within the MediLabSecure Network, which is composed of laboratories located in 19 countries close to the European Union around the Mediterranean and Black seas.

Methods: A set of blind samples consisting of 7 or 8 adult mosquitoes and 4 larvae was given to each participant laboratory.

Genetic diversity of Microsporidia in the circulatory system of endemic amphipods from different locations and depths of ancient Lake Baikal.

Endemic amphipods (Amphipoda, Crustacea) of the most ancient and large freshwater Lake Baikal (Siberia, Russia) are a highly diverse group comprising >15% of all known species of continental amphipods. The extensive endemic biodiversity of Baikal amphipods provides the unique opportunity to study interactions and possible coevolution of this group and their parasites, such as Microsporidia. In this study, we investigated microsporidian diversity in the circulatory system of 22 endemic species of amphipods inhabiting littoral, sublittoral and deep-water zones in all three basins of Lake Baikal.

Humoral and cellular immune responses to Yersinia pestis Pla antigen in humans immunized with live plague vaccine.

Background: To establish correlates of human immunity to the live plague vaccine (LPV), we analyzed parameters of cellular and antibody response to the plasminogen activator Pla of Y. pestis. This outer membrane protease is an essential virulence factor that is steadily expressed by Y.

Partial Characterization of Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus Isolates from Ticks of Southern Ukraine.

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is the most common tick-borne viral infection in Eurasia; thousands of human cases are annually reported from several European countries. Several tick species are vectors of the tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), while TBE appears to be spreading from the Eurasian continent westward to Europe. Fifteen study sites were chosen from five territories of southern Ukraine, including Odessa, Mykolaiv, Kherson Oblast, the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, and Sevastopol.

Effect of Metal-Containing Nanocomposites on Functional Status of the Thymus in Experimental Animals.

The effects of nanostructurized composites argentogalactomannan and argento-poly-1-vinyl-1,2,4-triasole on the kinetics of T cell maturation in the thymus of albino mice were studied. These nanocomposites stimulated the formation of CD3CD4CD8 and CD3CD4CD8 cells from CD3CD4CD8 cells, the effect of argentogalactomannan was more potent. The efficiency of these compounds as agents improving the defense potential deserves special studies.

Actinobacteria possessing antimicrobial and antioxidant activities isolated from the pollen of scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) grown on the Baikal shore.

Isolated ecosystems existing under specific environmental conditions have been shown to be promising sources of new strains of actinobacteria. The taiga forest of Baikal Siberia has not been well studied, and its actinobacterial population remains uncharacterized. The proximity between the huge water mass of Lake Baikal and high mountain ranges influences the structure and diversity of the plant world in Siberia.

[The diagnostic significance of particular immune-dominating proteins of isogenic variants of Bacillus Anthracis.].

The polyclonal mono-specific sera to proteins of toxin and antigens of S-layer of Bacillus Anthracis separated in preparative electrophoresis. While fluorescent antibody technique was applied, immunoglobulins of sera to protein of S-layer of Bacillus Anthracis m.m.

Complete Genome Sequences of Four European Subtype Strains of Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus from Eastern Siberia, Russia.

Three tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) strains were isolated from Ixodes persulcatus ticks, and one was isolated from a shrew in the territory of eastern Siberia (Russia). The level of sequence identity compared to Neudoerfl (the European prototype strain) is 97.2 to 97.

Microsporidian Parasites Found in the Hemolymph of Four Baikalian Endemic Amphipods.

At present, approximately 187 genera and over 1300 species of Microsporidia have been described, among which almost half infect aquatic species and approximately 50 genera potentially infect aquatic arthropods. Lake Baikal is the deepest and one of the oldest lakes in the world, and it has a rich endemic fauna with a predominance of arthropods. Among the arthropods living in this lake, amphipods (Crustacea) are the most dominant group and are represented by more than 350 endemic species.

Yersinia pestis autoagglutination factor is a component of the type six secretion system.

Autoagglutination (AA) is a protective phenotypic trait facilitating survival of bacteria in hostile environments and in the host during infection. Autoagglutination factors (AFs) that possess self-associating ability are currently characterized in many Gram-negative bacteria, but Yersinia pestis AFs are still a matter of debate. Previously, we have shown that AF of Hms(-) strain Y.

Comparative analysis of biofilm formation by main and nonmain subspecies Yersinia pestis strains.

The biofilm-forming phenotype of 14 isolates from four 'nonmain' subspecies of Yersinia pestis was compared with eight isolates from the more commonly studied 'main' or epidemic subspecies of Y. pestis in this study. The four nonmain subspecies are more geographically limited, and are associated with certain mammalian hosts and regions of the Caucasus and Central Asia, whereas the main subspecies spread worldwide during the historic plague pandemics.

Pleiotropic effects of the lpxM mutation in Yersinia pestis resulting in modification of the biosynthesis of major immunoreactive antigens.

Deletion mutants in the lpxM gene in two Yersinia pestis strains, the live Russian vaccine strain EV NIIEG and a fully virulent strain, 231, synthesise a less toxic penta-acylated lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Analysis of these mutants revealed they possessed marked reductions in expression and immunoreactivity of numerous major proteins and carbohydrate antigens, including F1, Pla, Ymt, V antigen, LPS, and ECA. Moreover, both mutants demonstrated altered epitope specificities of the antigens as determined in immunodot-ELISAs and immunoblotting analyses using a panel of monoclonal antibodies.