Spontaneous urogenital infection in macaques

Rates of natural infection of macaques with microorganisms that cause urogenital tract infections (UGT)--chlamydias, mycoplasms, ureaplasms and trichomonades--have been assessed. 198 macaques (rhesus, javan and lapunder) aged from newborn to 25 years (born healthy or from females with complicated pregnancy or labour) were examined. High rate of infection (40%) was observed in healthy macaques by PCR assay. In animals born from females with complicated pregnancy or labour (abortion, complicated labour, stillbirth or inflammatory postdelivery complications) rate of pathogens detection was significantly higher (up to 54,5 - 64,5%). In such animals mixed infection with 2 - 4 microorganisms in association was commonly observed. Births of weak, low weight and vitality monkey's calves was observed in infected macaques aged 17 - 25 years. Pathogens' nucleotide sequences that were analogous to ones detected in mothers were detected in calves that died during 1st month of life. This finding can be the evidence of the intrauterine infection of calves.     

Neuromuscular adaptations during 30 days of cast-immobilization and head-down bedrest

Prolonged skeletal muscle disuse, during space flights and on Earth, produces distinct adaptive changes in the neuromuscular system of human subjects. There is a significant decline in muscle mass and strength, exercise capacity, fatigue resistance, integrated EMG (IEMG) output and time-dependent alterations in the behavior of Hoffman (H) and deep tendon reflexes. The objective of this study was to examine the changes in excitability of segmental motoneuronal network and its influence upon gastrocnemius-soleus (G-S) function in healthy male and female subjects, who underwent either 6 degrees head-down bedrest (HDB) or unilateral cast-immobilization (CIM) for a period of 30 days.     

Phylogenetic analysis of the mycoplasma isolated from the Javanese macaque (M. fascicularis)

The nucleotide sequence of the fragment of 16S-aRNA of mycoplasma was determined. The fragment was identified using the PCR method in the urogenital scrape of the Javanese macaque (M. fascicularis). The sequenced fragment of mycoplasma of M. fascicularis was compared to well-known sequences of mycoplasma of mammals. The results of our comparative and phylogenetic analyses of the sequenced DNA fragment revealed that the mycoplasma belonged to the M. primatum species and fell within the same cluster as M. hominis. The mycoplasma M. primatum was for the first time observed in the monkeys M. fascicularis. The pathogenicity of the mycoplasma species with respect to monkeys is being studied.     

Development of the PCR-test system for detection primate betaherpesvirinae

A PCR-test system for detection of primate Betaherpesvirinae viruses was developed. Using alignment of complete genome of human, chimpanzee, and macaque rhesus cytomegalovirus conserve regions of viral genes were found. The oligonucleotide primers for consensus conserve regions of CMV UL56 gene were developed. The conditions of PCR were optimized and primer specificity for cytomegaloviruses of different primate species was confirmed.     

Analysis of DNA of higher primates using inter-SINE PCR

Two types (MIR and Alu) of short interspersed repeated DNA sequences (SINEs) were used for analysis of genetic relationships among higher primates, and for detection of polymorphism in human genomic DNA. The DNA regions located between the neighboring copies of these SINEs were amplified in polymerase chain reaction with primers complementary to the MIR and Alu consensus sequences (inter-SINE PCR). Comparison of the sets of amplified DNA fragments for different species or individuals provides evaluation of the relationships among them. Using inter-MIR PCR technique, the relationships among the higher primates of the infraorder Catarrhini reported elsewhere were confirmed, pointing to the efficiency of the method for phylogenetic studies. No human DNA polymorphism was revealed with the help of inter-MIR PCR. This polymorphism was detected by means of inter-Alu PCR, which is probably associated with the continuing amplification of Alu elements in human genome.     

Analysis of DNA of higher primates using inter-SINE PCR

Two types (MIR and Alu) of short interspersed repeated DNA sequences (SINEs) were used for analysis of genetic relationships among higher primates, and for detection of polymorphism in human genomic DNA. The DNA regions located between the neighboring copies of these SINEs were amplified in polymerase chain reaction with primers complementary to the MIR and Alu consensus sequences (inter-SINE PCR). Comparison of the sets of amplified DNA fragments for different species or individuals provides evaluation of the relationships among them. Using inter-MIR PCR technique, the relationships among the higher primates of the infraorder Catarrhini reported elsewhere were confirmed, pointing to the efficiency of the method for phylogenetic studies. No human DNA polymorphism was revealed with the help of inter-MIR PCR. This polymorphism was detected by means of inter-Alu PCR, which is probably associated with the continuing amplification of Alu elements in human genome.