Bacterial vaginosis: etiopathogenetic aspects

Current microbiological data on the vaginal microecology in healthy women and in patients with bacterial vaginosis are presented in the article. Problems of formation of colonization resistance of vaginal microbiocenosis were discussed. Etiologic role of certain microorganisms and their associations in the pathogenesis of bacterial vaginosis was considered. Pathophysiological processes leading to development of vaginal disbiosis, features of local immune status and molecular specificity of intercellular interactions in the development of adaptive immune response were characterized.     

Correlation between HLA antigens with clinical features of mixed infection of hepatitis A and HBV-carriers

It is showed that HAV+HBV mixed infection is a genetically determined pathology. Following HLA-antigens were immunogenetic markers of the disease: HLA-A10, B21, Cw2, Cw5, A10-A19, 88-813, B21-B35, A3-821, A9-B21. Lower risk of disease development was associated with HLA-B5, A2-Cw3, A3-Cw4, B35-Cw4, A3-B35-Cw4. Atypical forms of the hepatitis A were often met in carriers of HLA-Cw5, 827-835, A3-814, A3-B21, A9-B21, whereas typical forms - in carriers of HLA-A10, Cw2, A10-A19, B8-813, 821-835. Mild forms of hepatitis A were associated with the presence of HLA-A10,B22, A10-A19, B8-B13, A3-B21, A9-B8, A10-814, A10-822, A10-Cw3 in the patients' phenotype, whereas intermediate and severe forms - with the presence of HLA-B17, 817-818, 821 - 835, A28-B21, B18-Cw2. The findings about distribution of HLA-antigens and their combinations in mixed hepatitis A+B can be used in attempt of their prediction and prevention.     

Peculiarities of functional activity of circulating phagocytes in patients with different forms of drug-resistant pulmonary tuberculosis

Functional activity of circulating phagocytes (macrophages and neutrophils — Ns) was studied in 30 patients with infiltrative and 30 patients with fibro-cavernous pulmonary tuberculosis (IPT and FCPT, respectively), characterized by similar biological properties of mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB), dissemination of the process, and manifestations of intoxication. Differences of the functional activity of both types of cells depending on the PT form were found: a more significant increase in the oxygen-depending activity in FCPT while bactericide potential estimated with the zymosan induced NST-test was more pronounced in IPT patients. These data correlate with the blood levels of neopterin and elastase, the markers of the mononuclear and neutrophil activity, respectively. Involvement of adenosine deaminase (ADA) and neopterin in realization of intracellular oxygen-dependent processes was demonstrated. Results of the multivariate analysis of the whole set of the studied phagocyte parameters, reflecting their different roles in this pathological process demonstrated a prevailing role of mononuclears in newly diagnosed IPT and neutrophils in the chronic progressive process.     

Cytokine-stimulating activity of lipopolysaccharide of gram-negative bacteria and its role in antitumor immunity

The review deals with the discussion of different mechanisms of the antitumor action of lipopolysaccharides (LPS), including the induction of endogenous cell mediators, the development of inflammatory and immune response and systemic metabolic changes. The complex action of these factors on the levels of cells, tissues, organs and the whole body led, in some cases, to the suppression or hemorrhagic necrosis of the tumor. These cases were regarded as analogous to the development of the septic syndrome when a cascade of reactions leading to the resorption of tumors was initiated and to chronic inflammation resulting, on the contrary, in the formation of pretumor status. The data on the role of cytokines in carcinogenesis are presented and the possible causes of established contradictions are discussed. The prospects of using LPS in the therapy of oncological diseases are discussed.     

Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus inducing influenza pneumonia in humans

The human disease caused by avian influenza virus in South Asia is a typical example of emerging infection resulting from transmission of a known causative agent to a new host. The first cases with a comparatively high level of lethality rates among patients were registered in 1997 and 1999. The situation is a special phenomenon in epidemiology which requires deep evolutionary and ecological analysis, as well as theoretical interpretation. With the example of avian influenza virus in Western Europe and South Asia in 2003-2004 the practical expediency of modern concepts "foci versus epidemics" and "eradication versus vaccination" is now evident.     

Influence of plasmid pR50 controlling bacterial protease activity on Salmonella experimental infection

The comparative analysis of the infectious process and immunological parameters in (CBA x C57BL/6)F1 mice infected with S. typhimurium isogenic strains differing by the presence of plasmid pR50 determining protease activity, was carried out. A growth in the expression level of antilactoferrin, anticomplementary and anti-immunoglobulin activity in bacteria isolated from the spleen in the course of the infectious process was detected. In mice infected with S. typhimurium having plasmid pR50, in contrast to nonplasmid recipients, a higher level of contamination of organs, the suppression of spontaneous, stimulated production of interferon-gamma and the bactericidal properties of peritoneal macrophages were noted. The data obtained in this investigation suggested that the acquisition of R-plasmid of 50 MD, controlling protease activity and multiple medicinal resistance, contributed to the persistence of intracellular bacteria.