Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever in Rostov Province: the epidemiological characteristics of an outbreak

The results of the epidemiological analysis of the outbreak of hemorrhagic fever which was caused by Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus and occurred during the period of July 3-19, 1999, in the Oblivskaya district of Rostov Province are presented. The specific epidemiological features of the outbreak have been determined. The possible versions of the appearance of the focus of infection and the role of Ixodes ticks in the circulation of the infective agent are discussed.     

Origin of the bacterial SET domain genes: vertical or horizontal?

The presence of Supressor of variegation-Enhanser of zeste-Trithorax (SET) domain genes in bacteria is a current paradigm for lateral genetic exchange between eukaryotes and prokaryotes. Because a major function of SET domain proteins is the chemical modification of chromatin and bacteria do not have chromatin, there is no apparent functional requirement for the existence of bacterial SET domain genes. Consequently, their finding in only a small fraction of pathogenic and symbiotic bacteria was taken as evidence that bacteria have obtained the SET domain genes from their hosts. Furthermore, it was proposed that the products of the genes would, most likely, be involved in bacteria-host interactions. The broadened scope of sequenced bacterial genomes to include also free-living and environmental species provided a larger sample to analyze the bacterial SET domain genes. By phylogenetic analysis, examination of individual chromosomal regions for signs of insertion, and evaluating the chromosomal versus SET domain genes' GC contents, we provide evidence that SET domain genes have existed in the bacterial domain of life independently of eukaryotes. The bacterial genes have undergone an evolution of their own unconnected to the evolution of the eukaryotic SET domain genes. Initial finding of SET domain genes in predominantly pathogenic and symbiotic bacteria resulted, most probably, from a biased sample. However, a lateral transfer of SET domain genes may have occurred between some bacteria and a family of Archaea. A model for the evolution and distribution of SET domain genes in bacteria is proposed.     

The role of lung afferent system in respiratory control during head-down tilt

The role of lung receptors in respiratory control during acute head-down tilt (AHDT, -30 degrees) was investigated in anesthetized, tracheostomized rats. The results show that AHDT increased the mechanical respiratory load, slowed inspiratory flow, reduced the end expiratory lung volume, tidal volume and minute ventilation. On the other hand, during AHDT a significant rise in inspiratory swings of oesophageal pressure was recorded indicated a compensatory increase in inspiratory muscle contraction force. These effects were reduced after transaction of the vagus nerve. It was also shown that respiratory response on added mechanical load was reduced during AHDT as compared with the value in horizontal position. This deference disappeared after vagotomy. The data obtained suggested that afferent information from lung receptors take part in compensation of respiratory effects of AHDT. The cause of reduction in respiratory response to loading during AHDT involves weakness of lung reflexes evoked by volume changes.     

Erratum to: Electron Paramagnetic Resonance: Study of the Regulatory Mechanisms of Light Phases of Photosynthesis in Plants

Biophysics - An Erratum to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1134/S0006350922330016     

Study of genetic diversity and spatial structure of the wild soybean (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Glycine soja</Emphasis> Sieb. &; Zucc.) population from the neighborhood of the settlement of Ekaterinovka in the south of Primorskii krai

Data are presented on the genetic diversity and spatial structure of the natural wild soybean population from the neighborhood of the settlement of Ekaterinovka in Primorskii krai and on the relationship between the genetic structure of this population and its spatial organization. These data are discussed in comparison with the results of studies of wild soybean populations in the Far East region of the Russian Federation and China. Recommendations are given concerning the collection of genetic wild soybean resources.     

Early behavioral changes and quantitative analysis of neuropathological features in murine prion disease: Stereological analysis in the albino Swiss mice model

Behavioral and neuropathological changes have been widely investigated in murine prion disease but stereological based unbiased estimates of key neuropathological features have not been carried out. After injections of ME7 infected (ME7) or normal brain homogenates (NBH) into dorsal CA1 of albino Swiss mice and C57BL6, we assessed behavioral changes on hippocampal-dependent tasks. We also estimated by optical fractionator at 15 and 18 weeks post-injections (w.p.i.) the total number of neurons, reactive astrocytes, activated microglia and perineuronal nets (PN) in the polymorphic layer of dentate gyrus (PolDG), CA1 and septum in albino Swiss mice. On average, early behavioral changes in albino Swiss mice start four weeks later than in C57BL6. Cluster and discriminant analysis of behavioral data in albino Swiss mice revealed that four of nine subjects start to change their behavior at 12 w.p.i. and reach terminal stage at 22 w.p.i and the remaining subjects start at 22 w.p.i. and reach terminal stage at 26 w.p.i. Biotinylated dextran-amine BDA-tracer experiments in mossy fiber pathway confirmed axonal degeneration and stereological data showed that early astrocytosis, microgliosis and reduction in the perineuronal nets are independent of a change in the number of neuronal cell bodies. Statistical analysis revealed that the septal region had greater levels of neuroinflammation and extracellular matrix damage than CA1. This stereological and multivariate analysis at early stages of disease in an outbred model of prion disease provided new insights connecting behavioral changes and neuroinflammation and seems to be important to understand the mechanisms of prion disease progression.Key words: prion disease, optical fractionator, neuropathology, behavioral changes, albino Swiss mice     

The dynamic of breathing biomechanics and intrathoracic hemodynamics parameters during microgravity modeling

In ground-based model of the hemodynamics effects of weightlessness, the intersystem relation of breathing and circulation was investigated during inspiration and expiration separately in anesthetized catz. It's shown that the dynamics of central venous pressure, esophageal pressure and filling pressure of the heart during inspiration in supine and head-down tilt position has obvious similarity to those which hypothetically can be present in microgravity. The results suggest that intrathoracic hemodynamics during inspiration in supine and head-down position may be an adequate ground model for investigation of weightlessness influences on intrathoracic circulation.     

Furin cleavage of the HIV-1 Tat protein

Extracellular human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) Tat protein and Tat-derived peptides are biologically active but mechanisms of Tat processing are not known. Within the highly conserved basic region of HIV-1 Tat protein (amino acids, a.a. 48-56), we identified two putative furin cleavage sites and showed that Tat protein was cleaved in vitro at the second site, RQRR\ (a.a. 53-56\). This in vitro cleavage was blocked by a monoclonal antibody that binds near the cleavage site or by the furin inhibitor alpha-1 PDX. Monocytoid cells rich in furin also degraded Tat and this process was slowed by the furin inhibitor or the specific monoclonal antibody. Furin processing did not affect the rates for Tat uptake and nuclear accumulation in HeLa or Jurkat cells, but the transactivation activity was greatly reduced. Furin processing is a likely mechanism for inactivating extracellular HIV-1 Tat protein.     

Mathematical modeling of electron and protein transport, coupled with ATP synthesis in chloroplasts

A mathematical model of electron and proton transport in chloroplasts of higher plants was developed, which takes into account the lateral heterogeneity of the lamellar system. Based on the results of numerical experiments, lateral profiles of pH in the thylakoid lumen and in the narrow gap between grana thylakoids under different metabolic conditions (in the state of photosynthetic control and under photophosphorylation conditions) were simulated. Lateral profiles of pH in the thylakoid lumen and in the intrathylakoid gap were simulated for different values of the proton diffusion coefficient and stroma pH. The model demonstrated that there might be two mechanisms of regulation of electron and proton transport in chloroplasts: (1) the slowing down of noncyclic electron transport due to a decrease in the intrathylakoid pH, and (2) the retardation of plastoquinone reduction due to slow diffusion of protons inside the narrow gap between the thylakoids of grana.