Microbial Communities on the Monuments of Moscow and St. Petersburg: Biodiversity and Trophic Relations

Stone monuments situated in the Alexander Nevsky Abbey, the Summer Garden, and the Smolenskoe Cemetery, St. Petersburg, and marble and limestone sculptures and tombstones situated in the Novodevichy Convent and the Donskoy Monastery, Moscow, were investigated for their microbial contamination. The architectural objects studied date back to the 12th century. The monuments in the Alexander Nevsky Abbey were found to be severely contaminated with micromycetes belonging to 24 genera (primarily of the class Deuteromycetes). The analysis of the samples taken from the monuments of the Donskoy Monastery by the serial dilution technique showed that they were contaminated with bacteria at a density of (1–1.7) × 10⁵ cells/g. This value, however, turned out to be 1 to 2 orders greater when the bacterial population was evaluated by the luciferin–luciferase method. We succeeded in identifying 12 bacterial genera; however, this number may be increased in the course of further studies. Some preventive measures to control the biodeterioration of stone heritage are discussed.     

Investigation of frequency of occurrence of core Y haplogroups in residents of Moscow and St. Petersburg

The collection of DNA from 239 Moscow residents and 62 St. Petersburg residents has been investigated by means of a biochip for genotyping haplogroup markers of the Y chromosome, including M130 (C), M145 (DE), P257 (G), M69 (II), U179 (I), M304 (J), M185 (L), M231 (N), M175 (O), P224 (R), L146 (R1a), and M343 (R1b). The distribution of haplogroup frequency in populations native to Moscow and St. Petersburg has been obtained. Three subsamples that vary in the duration of residence (one, two, or three generations) were compared. The increase in J, G, and R1b frequencies may be related to immigration from the Caucasus and other regions.     

Genetic Demography of the Population of St. Petersburg: Migration Processes

Russian Journal of Genetics - The principal genetic demographic parameters that describe migration processes affecting the structure of the St. Petersburg population gene pool were determined on...     

Current features of HIV-infection in St. Petersburg

Dynamics of HIV-infection epidemic in St. Petersburg was analyzed. New features of epidemic process, which were not observed in St. Petersburg earlier, whereas noted in other territories of Russia, were revealed and described.     

Jelly-like Microbial Mats over Subsurface Fields of Gas Hydrates at the St. Petersburg Methane Seep (Central Baikal)

Jelly-like microbial mat samples were collected from benthic surfaces at the St. Petersburg methane seep located in Central Baikal. The concentrations of certain ions, specifically chloride, bromide, sulphate, acetate, iron, calcium, and magnesium, were 2–40 times higher in the microbial mats than those in the pore and bottom water. A large number of diatom valves, cyanobacteria, and filamentous, rod-shaped and coccal microorganisms were found in the samples of bacterial mats using light, epifluorescence and scanning microscopy.Comparative analysis of a 16S rRNA gene fragment demonstrated the presence of bacteria and archaea belonging to the following classes and phyla: Betaproteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, Deltaproteobacteria, Verrucomicrobia, Cytophaga-Flavobacteria-Bacteroidetes, Cyanobacteria, and Euryarchaeota. The chemical composition and phylogenetic structure of the microbial community showed that the life activity of the mat occurs due to methane and its derivatives involved. Values of δ¹³C for the microbial mats varied from ?73.6‰ to ?65.8‰ and for animals from ?68.9‰ to ?36.6‰. Functional genes of the sequential methane oxidation (pmoA and mxaF) and different species of methanotrophic bacteria inhabiting cold ecosystems were recorded in the total DNA. Like in other psychroactive communities, the destruction of organic substances forming formed as a result of methanotrophy, terminates at the stage of acetate formation in the microbial mats of Lake Baikal (1,400 m depth). Its further transformation is limited by hydrogen content and carried out in the subsurface layers of sediments.     

Post-socialism and notions of context in St Petersburg

The anthropology of post-socialism has largely been framed around a suspension of judgement of the so-called 'transition to market capitalism'. In this article I explore this theme as an ethnographic question and ask how social context is marked locally. I argue that while suspending judgements about the nature of context is nearly impossible in a sustained fashion – marriages must be planned, universities attended, etc. – in many ways people have a practical disposition that does in fact resemble the anthropological hesitance to pass judgement. I argue that ways of imagining context have more to do with historically informed practices of personhood and 'pretence' than with crisis and chaos.     

Molecular-biological characteristics of rubella virus strains isolated in St. Petersburg

In the surveillance of the incidence of rubella in the northwestern region of Russia, an analysis was conducted of swabs from the noses and pharynxes of 37 patients with rubella treated in Solovev District Military Clinical Hospital No. 442. To isolate the virus, the RK-13 cell line was used, in total 22 strains were allocated. The strains of the Rubella virus isolated in St. Petersburg during the 2007 outbreak belong to the 1E genotype. In the culture of RK-13 cells, changes of cellular morphogenesis and the formation of replicative complexes, as well as the shells of virions of rubella viruses, were detected.     

Biochemical Genetics in St. Petersburg University: From the gene-enzyme model to medical biotechnology

The history of biochemical genetics research in St. Petersburg (Leningrad) State University is described. The main research projects and achievements of the Laboratory of Biochemical Genetics in studies on the mechanisms of gene expression control, coordinated regulation of metabolism, and the relationship of the physiological state of yeast cells with the maintenance of genetic stability are discussed. The fundamental importance of studies on the acid phosphatase model for the formation and development of medical biotechnology in St. Petersburg University is demonstrated.     

Biochemical genetics in St. Petersburg university: from the gene-enzyme model to medical biotechnology

The history of biochemical genetic research in St. Petersburg (Leningrad) State University is described. The main research projects and achievements of the Laboratory of Biochemical Genetics in studies on the mechanisms of gene expression control, coordinated regulation of metabolism, and the relationship of the physiological state of yeast cells with the maintenance of genetic stability are discussed. The fundamental importance of studies on the acid phosphatase model for the formation and development of medical biotechnology in St. Petersburg University is demonstrated.     

Spring macrobenthos communities of the Moscow province

Macrozoobenthos communities are described based on material from 70 springs and spring brooks of the Moscow province. The communities include 587 taxa of various origin: 27 rheophiles, 11 crenobionts, 10 ubiquists of small water bodies, and 3 limnophiles. Rheophile species predominate in diversity (52%) and total abundance (41.5%). Crenobionts include Beraea pullata, B. maura, Crunoecia irrorata, Apatania zonella, Parachiona picicornis, Potamophylax nigrocornis, Oxycera pseudoamoena, O. rara, O. pardalina, Pedicia rivosa, Thaumalea testacea; six of these are recorded in the region for the first time. Four types of spring communities are recognised in the region according to the Braun-Blanquet method: with predominant Rhyacophilafasciata and Baetis rhodani (macrorheocrenes), Potamophylax nigroicornis (microrheocrenes), Nemurella pictetii (limnocrenes), and Parachiona picicornis (helocrenes). Three of them are confined to water bodies of different size and flow velocity; one (N. pictetii) is linked to weakly flowing silted wated bodies. Change of spring communities is often observed also downstream due to the distance from the opening of the spring. The structure of rheocrene communities is most similar to that of brooks, that are significantly larger than the rheocrenes. Limnocrene and helocrene communities have no counterparts among communities of other types of water bodies. Some of the specific traits of spring communities fit the island theory and can be explained by it. Comparison of the studied communities with those of springs of Sweden and England reveals wide variance of the general faunistic composition of the communities with a rather stable assortmeont of troglobiot species.     

Airborne fungi in four stations of the St. Petersburg Underground railway system

The fungal and bacterial aerobiota of four St. Petersburg Underground stations has been examined over a 4-month period. In the indoor air of St. Petersburg Underground 50 fungal species were found, among which were likely deteriogenic fungi. The most prevailing genera were Acremonium, Aspergillus, Cladosporium and Penicillium. Fungal spore density in the underground air was within the sanitary level accepted for public buildings. The spore densities and specificities correlated with the station type. A more specific (independent of outdoor) air mycobiota was found in deeper stations. All fungal isolates were tested in laboratory conditions for their ability to produce extracellular proteinase, phospholipase, and hemolytic activities which can be associated to virulence. Only 2 of the 75 isolates expressed a high level of all three activities. Assuming this figure can serve as a rough assessment of pathogenicity potential, the risk of invasive mycoses was not considered significant. But taking into account the situation with peak-hours overcrowding, it may be concluded that the risk of “mould” allergic diseases for some categories of the underground passengers in St. Petersburg does exist.     

Biological Activity in Modern and Buried Soils of the Historical Center of St. Petersburg

Biological activity in the urban modern and medieval soils of St. Petersburg was determined using soil samples taken from sections located at the historical center of this city nearby the Kazan Cathedral and the Twelve Colleges building (now the main building of St. Petersburg State University) and on the site where the Swedish fortress Nienshants formerly existed. The studied parameters of biological activity included the rate of microbial transformation of organic matter under aerobic and anaerobic conditions, the intensity of denitrification and nitrogen fixation, and the amount of microbial biomass. This investigation is the first attempt to comparatively study modern urban anthropogenically impacted soils and buried soils that had formed the soil cover of this region before St. Petersburg was founded. The major microbiological and physicochemical parameters of the soils were subjected to correlation analysis.     

Seroepidemiological study of coronavirus infection in children and adults in St. Petersburg

As the result of prolonged (17 years) observations of patients with acute respiratory infections hospitalized in basic departments of clinics of the Research Institute of Influenza, coronavirus infection was found to be the cause of respiratory diseases, on the average, in 12% of cases (in some years in 6.8% to 28.6% of cases). The analysis of extensive morbidity rates among different age groups of the population showed that children were affected by coronavirus infection 5-7 times more often than adults. Three year cycles of this infection were established. The periods of coronaviruses activation were accompanied by their detection in patient material by electron-microscopy, a sharp increase of immune response of patients as well as in the number of nosocomial infections and the proportion of the monoinfection of the coronavirus nature. Coronaviruses played the leading role among other viruses in the etiology of hospital respiratory infections. Mucosal antibodies to coronaviruses in the secretions of the nasal cavity proved to be more important than serum antibodies not only in protection from infection, but also in the pattern of clinical manifestations of the disease.     

Etiology of the epidemic outbreak of community-acquired pneumonia in children in St. Petersburg

In September-December 1998 the epidemic rise of outhospital pneumonia (EP) among children was observed in St. Petersburg, which led to a twofold increase in morbidity rate this year. The study of the etiology of EP during the period of 1998-2001 confirmed the prime role of Streptococcus pneumoniae (74.5%) and, for the first time in Russia, revealed the epidemic outbreak of acute chlamydiosis (Chlamydia pneumoniae), diagnosed in 67.3% of children, the maximum occurrence (87.5%) in 1998 with only 19% of the patients having the disease in the form of monoinfection. The prevalence of S. pneumoniae and C. pneumoniae in the etiology of EP and more severe course of mixed infection suggested that these infective agents played a leading role in the epidemic outbreak of acute respiratory infections in St. Petersburg.