Human monkeypox and smallpox viruses: genomic comparison.

Monkeypox virus (MPV) causes a human disease which resembles smallpox but with a lower person-to-person transmission rate. To determine the genetic relationship between the orthopoxviruses causing these two diseases, we sequenced the 197-kb genome of MPV isolated from a patient during a large human monkeypox outbreak in Zaire in 1996. The nucleotide sequence within the central region of the MPV genome, which encodes essential enzymes and structural proteins, was 96.3% identical with that of variola (smallpox) virus (VAR). In contrast, there were considerable differences between MPV and VAR in the regions encoding virulence and host-range factors near the ends of the genome. Our data indicate that MPV is not the direct ancestor of VAR and is unlikely to naturally acquire all properties of VAR.     

Assessment of the human immunological status by taking into account the correlations among individual indices

The problem of correlation of the parameters of the immune system in the normal subjects and in patients with immunological diseases has been considered. The most informative relations have been determined and an attempt has been made to reveal common and specific signs of various immunological diseases.     

The capacity for competition in rats raised in isolation]

It is shown, that rats, bred in conditions of intraspecies isolation are able to competition for water in the kin group, having usual experience of intraspecies intercourse. At the same level of drinking motivation in conditions of competition for water the intraspecies activity is significantly higher in rats, bred in isolation in comparison with grouped animals. Rats-isolants significantly more often than the grouped animals use extraordinary tactics of intraspecies behaviour, which increase their competitive ability in conditions of limited access to water.     

DNA-synthesizing activity of the nucleoid protein core in Escherichia coli

Nucleoids obtained from E. coli cells by extraction with 1 M NaCl and detergents containing solution were further extracted with 2 M NaCl. From these samples, that contain only tightly bound proteins, fractions of protein core and peripheral nucleoprotein were obtained. It is shown that DNA synthesis proceeds mainly in the core structures. We have found that DNA polymerase I, which is bound with DNA nucleoid loops and with the above mentioned core structures, is not dissociating in 2M NaCl solution.     

Individual typologic characteristics of the open-field behavior of rats

By means of ethograms record and analysis, connection has been studied between the properties of rats behaviour organization in the open field, determining the level of behaviour entropy in this test, and the speed of conditioned reflexes formation in the Skinner chamber. According to behaviour entropy level the rats are significantly divided into four groups; the lowest speed of conditioned reflexes formation in the Skinner's chamber is observed in the animals of the first (low entropy) group, the highest--in the fourth (high entropy) group. The obtained data are discussed according to Pavlov's concepts on the characteristics of the basic nervous processes, determining individual-typological characteristics of the higher nervous activity of the animal. Conclusion is made that division according to the level of behaviour entropy in the open field test may serve as a safe method of express-estimation of the animals abilities to conditioned habits formation.     

Signal Recognition Particle-ribosome Binding Is Sensitive to Nascent Chain Length

The signal recognition particle (SRP) directs ribosome-nascent chain complexes (RNCs) displaying signal sequences to protein translocation channels in the plasma membrane of prokaryotes and endoplasmic reticulum of eukaryotes. It was initially proposed that SRP binds the signal sequence when it emerges from an RNC and that successful binding becomes impaired as translation extends the nascent chain, moving the signal sequence away from SRP on the ribosomal surface. Later studies drew this simple model into question, proposing that SRP binding is unaffected by nascent chain length. Here, we reinvestigate this issue using two novel and independent fluorescence resonance energy transfer assays. We show that the arrival and dissociation rates of SRP binding to RNCs vary according to nascent chain length, resulting in the highest affinity shortly after a functional signal sequence emerges from the ribosome. Moreover, we show that SRP binds RNCs in multiple and interconverting conformations, and that conversely, RNCs exist in two conformations distinguished by SRP interaction kinetics.     

Ontogenetic features of the accumulation and restoration of thiamine of the digestive system organs in white rats

Accumulation and renewal of thiamine in tissues of the uneven-aged rats have been investigated. The activity of thiamine-metabolizing and thiamine-retaining systems is shown to decrease in tissues of the digestive system with aging; the same refers to the intensity of enterohepatic recirculation of that vitamin. These phenomena underlie the revealed retardation of the thiamine renewal in organs of the digestive system.