On the development of body-wall musculature Diplostomum chromatophorum metacercariae (Trematoda: Diplostomidae)

The body-wall musculature of invasive cercariae and metacercariae of Diplostomum chromatophorum at different intervals after the penetration into the experimental intermediate host Cyprinus carpio (1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 10, 12, 20, 34, 40 days) has been investigated with the help of TEM technique. During the first 10 days after the invasion (in conditions of our experiment), the cercarial subtegumental muscle fibres degenerate. These muscles are replaced by newly formed ones. Mass differentiation of myoblasts beneath the tegument was observed in 7-10-day-old metacercariae. Obtained data indicate the metamorphosis of body-wall musculature during the morphogenesis in Diplostomum chromatophorum metacercariae.     

Strains of Vibrio cholerae serogroups O1 and O139 that produce the basic protective antigens

To find out stable and effective producers of major protective antigens intended for use as components of cholera chemical vaccine against V. cholerae strains of serogroups O and O139, the comparative analysis of the production of cholera toxin, toxin-coregulated pili (TCP), antigens O1 and O139, polysaccharide capsule and outer membrane protein OmpU in different V. cholerae strains groups O1 and O139 has been made. V. cholerae strain KM68, serogroup O1, has been found capable of the production of antigen O1, serovar Ogawa, protein OmpU at a sufficiently high level and the hyperproduction of cholera toxin and TCP, and thus suitable for use in the manufacture of cholera bivalent vaccine as the source of these antigens. Specially selected alysogenic noncapsular strain KM137 of serogroup O139, characterized by a high and stable level of the biosynthesis of this somatic antigen when grown in both laboratory and production conditions, may serve as the produces of antigen O139.     

Studying plant genome variation using molecular markers

The authors' studies on the organization and variation of plant genome with the use of molecular markers are briefly reviewed with special emphasis on random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR), sequence characterized amplified region (SCAR), and cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence (CAPS) markers detected with the use of polymerase chain reaction (PCR). These markers have been demonstrated to be promising for identifying cultivars and determining the purity of genetic strains of pea. Genetic relationships between strains, cultivars, and mutants of pea have been studied. The role of molecular markers in molecular genetic mapping and localizing the genes of commercially important characters of pea has been shown. The possibility of the use of molecular markers for studying somaclonal variation and detecting mutagenic factors in plants during long-term spaceflights is considered. The prospects of using DNA markers for understanding the organization and variability of higher plant genomes are discussed.     

Legionella natural biofilms and their role in epidemiology of the infection: methods of study and modelling

Ability of Legionella species to form biofilms in association with other microorganisms is the key factor of their spreading in potentially dangerous water systems. Ability of different strains of Legionella to form monospecies biofilms as well as biofilms in association with Pseudomonas aeruginosa in constant conditions was analyzed. It was shown that ability of Legionella strains to form monospecies biofilms correlates with their ability to persist in biofilms formed by P. aeruginosa.     

Degradation of hydrocarbons and their derivatives by a microbial association based on Canadian pondweed

The degrading action of an aquatic plant-microbial association on the base of Canadian pondweed (Elodea canadensis) and its components (sterilized plant and two periphytonic strains, Pseudomonas fluorescens E1-2.1 and Brevundimonas diminuta E1-3.1) on crude oil, the water-soluble crude oil fraction, and individual test compounds (phenol, toluene, benzene, decalin, and naphthalene) was studied. It was found that the native association had a wider range and higher degree of degrading activity than individual species. Bacterial strains were significantly more active only towards naphthalene. The ability of the sterilized plant to degrade crude oil and phenol was no less than that of microorganisms and much more for toluene. Enzymatic activity towards the pollutants studied was found in E. canadensis exudates and buffer extracts of its cells.     

Epigenetic cell reactions induced by ionizing radiation

The importance of radiation modification of epigenetic activity in the general mechanism of radiobiological reactions is proved. The inheritable epigenetic changes induced by irradiation are one of the basic reasons of formation of the remote radiation pathology. It is noted that epigenetic inheritable changes of cells have the determined character distinguishing them from mutation changes, being individual and not directed. It is underlined the ability of ionizing radiation to modify a level of spontaneous genetic instability inherited in a number of cell generations on the epigenetic mechanism.     

A new electrometric approach to studying specific biomolecular complexes

In the article the results of the influence of some types of biological molecules and their specific immune complexes on the volt-amperic characteristics of surface-barrier contact structures with the super thick metal film are presented. Moreover, the possibility to develop on this basis a simple instrumental method for separate registration of initial components and products of their interaction is discussed. It was shown that the volt-amperic characteristics of surface-barrier structures of Ni-Si changed at the deposition of myoglobin and its specific monoclonal antibodies. These structures more essentially reacted to the formed presence of specific immune complex and, in particular, to the direct formation of this complex on the surface at the subsequent use of the initial immune components in comparison with their separate presence. For all investigated types of biological molecules and their specific complexes we found optimal thickness of metal film when changes of volt-amperic characteristics of system achieved maximum level. It was concluded that this electrometrical method was suitable for the express and separation free registration of specific immune complex.     

Luminescence of aqueous solutions of glycine and its N-methyl derivatives

A nonmonotonous dependence of luminescence intensity of aqueous solutions of 0.1 M glycine and its N-methyl derivatives on the number of methyl groups in the solute molecule was found. A correlation between luminescence intensities and optical density at the excitation wavelength of 300 nm was revealed. Possible causes of the phenomenon observed were analyzed. Among these are: luminescence of admixtures, intrinsic luminescence of dissolved molecules, and luminescence related to the formation of nanoscale complexes in solution. On the basis of the data, it is impossible to make a final choice between the three above-mentioned mechanisms of luminescence of aqueous solutions of glycine and its N-methyl derivatives.     

The experience of FISH technique application for reconstruction of individual radiation doses in Chernobyl liquidators in the framework of Ukrainian-American project "Leukemia"

The results of proper investigations received under the cytogenetic examination of 225 persons (control groups, Chernobyl liquidators exposed to different radiation doses, oncogematology patients) had been summarized and analyzed. The conclusion concerning possibilities and limitations of FISH technique usage for retrospective biodosimetry of human radiation exposure has been presented.