Relation between interferon-inducing activity of natural interferon inducers and their chemical structure]

The interferon-inducing activity of new derivatives of gossypol, a low molecular weight natural polyphenol, and its model compounds was studied in regard to their chemical structure. The active groups required for development of optimal interferon inductors on the basis of the natural polyphenols were defined. As a result of the studies the new interferon inductor AC-1 which is a condensation product of gossypol, a natural polyphenol, and a cellulose derivative was isolated. The interferon-inducing activity of AC-1 was investigated with respect to its dose and the administration route. High interferon-inducing activity of the interferon inductor after its administration by any route in doses of 10 to 100 mg/kg was demonstrated. The serum interferon titers reached 2560 units/ml.     

Direct Molecular Fishing of Zinc-Dependent Protein Partners of Amyloid-beta 1–16 with the Taiwan (D7H) Mutation and Phosphorylated Ser8 Residue

Molecular Biology - We previously showed that the metal-binding domain 1–16 of intact amyloid-beta (Aβ) is involved in interactions with a number of proteins from the cytosolic fraction...     

Assessment of biodiversity in Central Federal District using satellite-based maps of terrestrial ecosystems

A research study of the ecosystem biodiversity of the Central Federal District (CFD) has been carried out at the regional level with the use of the map of vegetation in the terrestrial ecosystems, which was created on the basis of the high spatial resolution (30 m) data obtained from the Landsat satellite series. Numerical characteristics such as the areas of the forest and other terrestral ecosystems; the number of forest plots; their average areas in a federal region; the disturbed forest land areas over the past 5 years; the proportions of the coniferous, deciduous, and mixed forests; and the total number of ecosystem types found in the federal region are calculated for each federal region in the Russian Federation within the CFD. The dominant landscape type is defined using a regular grid whose cell size matches the size of the average basal area of the forest plot on the vegetation map. The areas of the forest, agricultural, grassland, and agro-forest landscapes within each grid cell are estimated. The dominant landscape areas are assessed for each federal region; the analysis reveals that, on average, a quarter of all land areas in the district are occupied by agroforest landscapes. A logical sequence of research activities has been presented to assess the indicators of biodiversity in the forest and other terrestrial ecosystems and their functions and services.     

An effect of the microsporidian Vairimorpha ephestiae (Microsporidia: Burenellidae) on activity and spectrum of nonspecific esterases in different tissues of the greater wax moth galleria mellonella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) larvae

The effect of the microsporidian Vairimorpha ephestiae Matted (Microsporidia: Burenellidae) on nonspecific esterases was studied in hemolymph, fat body and midgut of the larvae of Galleria mellonella L. (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). Esterase patterns were analyzed by the polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, the total esterase activity was detected spectrophotometrically. The increase of total esterase activity was registered in hemolymph of inflected larvae. An overexpression of esterase isozyme in hemolymph was already detected at the 3rd day post infection. No changes in esterases pattern were observed in the fat body's homogenates of the G. mellonella larvae possessing the symptoms of microsporidiosis. The degradation of esterase isozymes and the decrease of total esterase activity in the pattern of the midgut homogenates of infected larvae were registered during parasite sporogony. The greatest esterase activity in hemolymph and midgut tissues was registered during vegetative reproduction of parasite, but the least level of esterase activity was observed during mass sporogony of microsporidia.     

Plasmonic Nanoparticle Aggregates in High-Intensity Laser Fields: Effect of Pulse Duration

We use an optodynamic model to study the interaction of pulsed laser radiation of different duration with mono- and polydisperse dimers and trimers of plasmonic nanoparticles as resonant domains of colloid Ag multiparticle aggregates. A comparative analysis of the influence of pulse duration on the kinetic characteristics of domains accompanied by the change in their local structure was carried out taking into account the intensity of incident radiation. The obtained results explain the reasons for laser photochromic reactions in materials containing colloidal aggregates of plasmonic nanoparticles.     

Biosensor analysis of the interaction of potential dimerization inhibitors with HIV-1 protease

Inhibitors of protein-protein interactions are currently considered as perspective prototypes of a new generation of drugs. The most attractive targets for such inhibitors are the oligomeric enzymes which active sites are formed by amino acid residues from different subunits. HIV-1 protease (HIVp), which is active only as a homodimer form, is the classic example of such enzymes. We have developed a new approach for experimental screening of HIVp dimerization inhibitors. It is based on an original biosensor test-system for differential analysis of interaction of tested substances with HIVp dimers and monomers. Using this test-system we have analyzed the most perspective candidate substances predicted by the method of virtual screening, and also some derivatives of glycyrrhizin, triterpenic and steroid glycosides. In the results of this study we have found one compound, which preferentially interacts with HIVp monomers and inhibits in vitro activity of this enzyme with the IC₅₀ value of about 10^?6 M.