Molecular Genetics Microbiology and Virology

Study of measles virus recombinant proteins and their immunobiological properties
Kulak MV, Netesova NA, Belavin PA, Seregina EV and Ignatyev GM
Recombinant proteins rN (nucleocapsid) and rH/Nh (hemagglutinin) of the measles virus strain NovO/96 of genotype A were obtained. The immunobiological properties of the proteins were studied in the reaction with a panel of positive and negative sera. BALB/c mice were immunized with recombinant proteins and native antigen of the measles virus strain NovO/96 in order to obtain hyperimmune serum and its analysis using ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) and PRN (plaque reduction neutralization). The hyperimmune sera against recombinant proteins and native antigen of the measles virus strain NovO/96 were found to be highly active in ELISA. The antibodies against the proteins rN and rH/Nh were found to be capable of neutralizing the virus in titer 1 : 13.5 and 1 : 22.9, respectively. The neutralization titer of the antibodies generated against native antigen of the measles virus strain NovO/96 was 1 : 25.7.
Development and verification of real-time PCR assay for identification of viral agents causing acute respiratory infections in human beings
Sergeeva EI, Ternovoi VA, Demina OK, Demina AV, Korneev DV, Shikov AN, Beryllo SA, Agafonov AP and Sergeev AN
A multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for identification of four viruses causing acute respiratory diseases in human beings was developed. The analytical sensitivity of developed RT-PCR for identification of adenovirus, respiratory-syncytial virus, flu viruses types A and B, and actual subtypes of type A flu virus (seasonal and pandemic variants H1N1, seasonal H3N2, and viruses of bird flu that are pathogenic to human beings H5 and H7) was 1 × 10 genome equivalents per milliliter. Diagnostic sensitivity for flu virus type A and B, and also subtypes H1 (seasonal H1N1, pandemic variant of H1N1 of year 2009), H3, H5 was 1 × 10-10 viral particles per milliliter. The method developed has high specificity and does not have positive signal in experiments with DNA/cDNA of human beings and viral DNA. We have studied 50 samples using the developed set. Etiology was defined in 33 samples.
Not gene therapy, but genetic surgery-the right strategy to attack cancer
Sverdlov ED
In this review, I will suggest to divide all the approaches united now under common term "gene therapy" into two broad strategies of which the first one uses the methodology of targeted therapy with all its characteristics, but with genes in the role of agents targeted at a certain molecular component(s) presumably crucial for cancer maintenance. In contrast, the techniques of the other strategy are aimed at the destruction of tumors as a whole using the features shared by all cancers, for example relatively fast mitotic cell division or active angiogenesis. While the first strategy is "true" gene therapy, the second one is more like genetic surgery when a surgeon just cuts off a tumor with his scalpel and has no interest in knowing delicate mechanisms of cancer emergence and progression. I will try to substantiate the idea that the last strategy is the only right one, and its simplicity is paradoxically adequate to the super-complexity of tumors that originates from general complexity of cell regulation, strongly disturbed in tumor cells, and especially from the . An analysis of the most widely used for such a "surgery" suicide gene/prodrug combinations will be presented in some more details.
The use of loop-mediated isothermal DNA amplification for the detection and identification of the anthrax pathogen
Shchit IY, Ignatov KB, Kudryavtseva TY, Shishkova NA, Mironova RI, Marinin LI, Mokrievich AN, Kramarov VM, Biketov SF and Dyatlov IA
The results of detection and identification of strains in loop-mediated isothermal DNA amplification (LAMP) reaction performed under optimized conditions with original primers and thermostable DNA polymerase are presented. Reproducible LAMP-based detection of chromosomal and plasmid DNA targets specific for strains has been demonstrated. No cross reactions with DNA from bacterial strains of other species of the group were detected. The development of tests for anthrax-pathogen detection based on the optimized reaction of loop isothermal DNA amplification is planned. These tests will be convenient for clinical studies and field diagnostics due to the absence of requirements for sophisticated equipment.
Viral infections in patients with acute respiratory infection in Northwest of Iran
Faezi NA, Bialvaei AZ, Leylabadlo HE, Soleimani H, Yousefi M and Kafil HS
Acute respiratory infection (ARI) is one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality all around the world. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency, mortality and association with clinical entities of influenza virus type A, influenza virus type B, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), coronavirus, and adenoviruses in patients with ARI.
The New Coronavirus COVID-19 Infection
Bevova MR, Netesov SV and Aulchenko YS
In December 2019, the first cases of pneumonia of unknown etiology were found in Wuhan (China). Later, the pneumonia was associated with a new coronavirus; in February 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) gave the name COVID-19 to the new disease, while the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) gave the name SARS-CoV-2 to the virus causing it. By March 11, 2020, when the virus had spread to 114 countries, the number of diagnosed patients had reached 118 thousand and the number of deaths was 4000, the WHO declared the outbreak of the disease a pandemic. In this review, we summarize the relevant information about the origin and spread of SARS-CoV-2, its epidemiology and diagnostics, and the clinical course and treatment of COVID-19.
Absence of LEDGF/p75 Expression in Astrocytes May Affect HIV-1 Integration Efficiency
Yoder KE
In spite of effective anti-retroviral therapy, HIV-1 infection may still lead to neurological impairment in patients. The underlying mechanism of neurodegeneration remains mysterious. HIV-1 does not infect neurons, but does infect microglia cells in the brain. It is controversial whether HIV-1 productively infects astrocytes, an abundant glial cell type in the brain. Thirty years of investigation have led to conflicting reports concerning the entry, infection, and production of progeny virions from astrocytes. New models from studies in primary human fetal astrocytes suggest phagocytosis of HIV-1 with little productive infection. The retroviral life cycle requires integration of the viral genome to the host genome. The host protein LEDGF/p75 is required for efficient HIV-1 integration. In the absence of LEDGF/p75, HIV-1 integration and infection efficiency is reduced ten fold. Differentiated astrocytes do not appear to express LEDGF/p75, which suggests these cells are disabled for efficient integration. Phagocytosis of HIV-1 virions and the lack of LEDGF/p75 expression in astrocytes suggest that this cell type is not efficiently infected in vivo.
Impacts of the Staphylococcal Enterotoxin H on the Apoptosis and lncRNAs in PC3 and ACHN
Safarpour-Dehkordi M, Doosti A and Jami MS
Cancer is considered as the most lethal disease for human beings, and up to now many attempts were failed for prevention and treatment of this tremendous health problem. Consequently, this study purpose was to investigate novel therapeutic methods for cancer. The bacterial toxin can result in cell death throughout the induction of apoptosis in cancer cell lines. We evaluated apoptosis and the expression levels of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in PC3, ACHN and HDF cell lines that were transfected with pCDNA3.1(+)- and empty plasmid. pCDNA3.1(+)- treatment showed overexpression of ( = 0.0033 and = 0.0033) in PC3 and ACHN cells, down regulation of and ( = 0.0092 and = 0.0097) in the PC3 cells, and down regulation of and ( = 0.0239 and = 0.0133) in the ACHN cells in comparison with the empty plasmid, but there was no significant effect on HDF normal cells. Additionally, this study data demonstrated that the cell adhesion was down regulated. The flow cytometry data showed transfection by pCDNA3.1 (+)- could elevate PC3 and ACHN cell apoptosis levels in comparison with empty plasmid. This study findings propose that SEH toxin of could be a useful candidate for therapeutic researches in cancer vaccine development.
Developing and Testing a Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction to Identify and Quantify Bovine Respiratory Syncytial Viruses
Nefedchenko AV, Glotov AG, Koteneva SV and Glotova TI
The bovine respiratory syncytial virus () known as according to the international classification is one of the most important etiological agents of respiratory diseases in calves. At present, rapid and reliable methods to detect and measure the concentrations of this pathogen are needed. The objectives of the survey are developing the real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to identify and quantify the RNA and, based on it, determining the number of the virus genomes in the respiratory tract of sick animals during the disease outbreaks. The nucleocapsid (N) protein gene of the virus served as the target for amplification. Messenger RNA (mRNA) of bovine was used as a reference gene. A panel of positive control samples at known concentrations was used to estimate the virus and numbers. The concentration of viral RNA extracted from the biomaterial samples was quantified relative to the bovine mRNA level. The analytical sensitivity of PCR demonstrating high specificity and reproducibility was 1 × 10 genome equivalents per 1 cm. All 273 samples of biological material taken from the animals with the respiratory diseases were analyzed. The virus genome was detected in 19.4% of samples. The viral RNA was more frequently detected in the lungs, which comprised 10.61% of positive samples. It was less frequently found in the mucous membranes of trachea and bronchi and the lymph nodes of the lungs, which comprised 0.73% of positive samples each. Concentrations of the virus in samples varied. The highest concentration was recorded in the lungs (1.3 ± 0.5-4.8 ± 0.47 log copies of / RNA). The developed test kit may be used to quantify the concentration of the bovine respiratory syncytial virus in disease pathogenesis and to estimate the efficiency of vaccine or antivirus preparations for animals.
Comparison of Fragments in Human Hemostatic Proteins That Mimics Fragments in Proteins of A/H1N1 Viruses and Coronaviruses
Zhilinskaya IN, Marchenko VA and Kharchenko EP
: To compare the repertoire of proteins of the human hemostatic system and fragments mimicking these proteins in the proteins of influenza A/H1N1 viruses and coronaviruses. . Influenza viruses A/H1N1 (A/Brevig Mission/1/18), A/St. Petersburg /RII04/2016 (H1N1)pdm09, coronaviruses SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 (strain Wuhan-Hu-1) were used for comparative computer analysis. The sources of the primary structures of proteins of the analyzed viruses and 41 proteins of the human hemostatic system were publicly available Internet databases, respectively, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov and www.nextprot.org. The search for homologous sequences in the structure of viral proteins and hemostatic proteins was carried out by comparing fragments of 12 amino acids in length, taking as related those that showed identity at ≥8 positions. . Comparative analysis of the repertoire of cellular proteins of the hemostatic system and fragments mimicking these proteins in the structure of proteins of viruses A/H1N1 1918, A(H1N1)pdm09 isolated in 2016, SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2, showed a significant difference between SARS-CoV-2 and analyzed viruses. In the protein structure of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, mimicry was revealed for almost all analyzed hemostasis proteins. As for the comparison of viruses A/H1N1 1918, A(H1N1)pdm09 2016 and SARS-CoV, the influenza virus A/H1N1 1918 and SARS-CoV are the closest in the repertoire of hemostatic proteins. . Obtained bioinformatic analysis data can serve as a basis for further study of the role of homologous fragments in the regulation of hemostasis of the host organism.
SARS-CoV-2 and Patent Activity
Nikitina IB and Smirnova EA
The article provides information on the patent activity of inventors in relation to applications for inventions related to coronaviruses, in particular, to SARS-CoV-2. The presence of a steady interest in this topic for the period 1996-2020 is illustrated. It is indicated what objects of patent law can be inventions related to vaccines.
COVID-19, Influenza, and Other Acute Respiratory Viral Infections: Etiology, Immunopathogenesis, Diagnosis, and Treatment. Part I. COVID-19 and Influenza
Ilyicheva TN, Netesov SV and Gureyev VN
The paper briefly reviews pathogens causing acute respiratory viral infections (ARVIs), including influenza viruses; coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2; parainfluenza viruses, adenoviruses, pneumoviruses, and specifically respiratory syncytial virus and metapneumoviruses, enteroviruses, rhinoviruses, and bocaviruses. This review presents modern data on the structure and replication of viruses, epidemiology, and immunopathogenesis of diseases and on diagnostics, preventive vaccination, and antiviral drugs for the treatment of ARVIs. Special attention is paid to the SARS-CoV-2 virus caused COVID-19 pandemic with analyses of similarities and differences between COVID-19 and other ARVIs, first of all, influenza virus. Topical issues regarding ARVI vaccination and the search for new broad-spectrum antiviral drugs are discussed.
Production and Characterization of Rat Monoclonal Antibodies against the PAL Antigen of spp
Zeninskaya NA, Riabko AK, Marin MA, Kombarova TI, Mitsevich IP, Yeruslanov BV, Firstova VV and Shemyakin IG
The purpose of this work was to obtain genus-specific monoclonal antibodies against the spp. recombinant PAL protein, which will subsequently allow to use them as a basis for the development of new express tests for pathogenic legionella detection. A short three-week immunization protocol for Wistar rats was used to generate rat-mouse heterohybridomas producing antibodies against PAL. Mouse myeloma cell line Sp2/0-Ag14 served as the fusion partner. Hybridization was performed using two methods: PEG-mediated fusion and electrofusion. Subsequent screening was performed by indirect solid-phase ELISA against the target protein rPAL. Specificity analysis was performed by dot-blot using a panel of lysates obtained from 39 pure cultures of different strains, which included closely related and heterologous microorganisms among others. No difference in the efficiency of stable hybridoma clones production by the two indicated cell-fusion methods was detected. Twelve clones producing specific rat monoclonal antibodies were obtained based on the screening results. The obtained rat monoclonal antibodies are highly specific towards the PAL protein of of different serological groups and other pathogenic legionella and are good candidates to be used as the components of diagnostic test systems for the detection of pathogenic representatives of the genus.
Oral Delivery of SARS-CoV-2 DNA Vaccines Using Attenuated as a Carrier in Rat
Zhu D, Mengyue M, Qimuge A, Bilige B, Baiyin T, Temuqile T, Chen S, Borjigen S, Baigude H and Yang D
The 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is the disease that has been identified as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), but the prophylactic treatment of SARS-CoV-2 is still under investigation. The effective delivery of eukaryotic expression plasmids to the immune system's inductive cells constitutes an essential requirement for generating effective DNA vaccines. Here, we have explored the use of as vehicles to deliver expression plasmids orally. The attenuated was constructed by the one-step gene inactivation method, and plasmid-encoded the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 was transform into the by electroporation. Western blot experiment was used for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 expression on 293T cells. Wistar rats were immunized orally with that carried a eukaryotic expression plasmid once a week for three consecutive weeks. The ELISA was performed to measure the SARS-CoV-2 specific IgG at rat's serum samples. pSARS-CoV-2 can be successfully expression on 293T cells, and all immunized animals generated immunity against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, indicating that a based vaccine carrying the Spike gene can elicit SARS-CoV-2-specific secondary immune responses in rats. Oral delivery of SARS-CoV-2 DNA vaccines using attenuated may help develop a protective vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 infection.
COVID-19, Influenza, and Other Acute Respiratory Viral Infections: Etiology, Immunopathogenesis, Diagnosis, and Treatment. Part 2. Other Acute Respiratory Viral Infections
Ilyicheva TN, Netesov SV and Gureyev VN
The first part of this paper presented the current knowledge on two very significant respiratory diseases with high pandemic potential, COVID-19 and influenza. The second part reviews other pathogens that cause acute respiratory viral infections, ARVI, including parainfluenza viruses, adenoviruses, pneumoviruses and specifically respiratory syncytial virus, enteroviruses, rhinoviruses, bocaviruses, and seasonal coronaviruses. The review presents modern data on the structure and replication of viruses, epidemiology and immunopathogenesis of diseases, diagnostics, preventive vaccination, and antiviral drugs. Topical issues regarding ARVI vaccination and the search for new broad-spectrum antiviral drugs are discussed.
Genetic Diversity of Detected in the Production Environment of Meat Processing
Voronina OL, Ryzhova NN, Aksenova EI, Kunda MS, Kutuzova AV, Karpova TI, Yushina YK and Tartakovsky IS
The safety of food production as concerns is the key to the sanitary wellbeing of manufactured products. Molecular-genetic methods for the analysis of , including whole-genome sequencing, are effective in monitoring persistent contaminants and in the epidemic investigation of cases of foodborne infections. They have been adopted in the European Union, United States, and Canada. In Russia, multilocus and whole-genome sequencing has proven itself in the analysis of clinical food isolates and from the environment. The objective of the study was molecular-genetic characterization of detected in the industrial environment of meat processing. To characterize the isolates, microbiological methods were used according to (State Standard) 32031-2012, as well as multilocus sequencing, including the analysis of seven housekeeping genes and four virulence genes, as well as whole-genome sequencing. In swabs that were positive for the presence of a spp. taken at two meat-processing plants in Moscow, constituted 81% and 19%. The predominant genotype (Sequence Type, ST) of was ST8. The variety was supplemented with ST321, ST121, and ST2330 (CC9 (Clonal Complex 9)). , which prevailed in the second production, was represented by ST1050 and ST2331. The genomic characteristics of isolates confirmed that they have high adaptive capabilities both as concerns production conditions (including resistance to disinfectants) and the metabolic peculiarities of the gastrointestinal tract of animals. CC9 and CC121 are also correlated with food production in other countries. However, CC8 and CC321 can cause invasive listeriosis. The concordance in the internalin profile of the ST8 isolates from the industrial environment with the clinical isolates ST8 and ST2096 (CC8) is a cause for concern. The study showed the effectiveness of molecular-genetic methods in determining the diversity of detected in the production environment of meat processing, and laid the foundation for monitoring of persistent contaminants.