Persistence factors of Helicobacter pylori

Isolates of H. pylori from patients with chronic gastritis and peptic ulcer, were found to be capable of inactivating lysozyme and intercide (the bactericidal component of human leukocytic interferon). The expression and penetration capacity of their antilysozyme activity (ALA) and antiintercide activity was determined. The wide spread of ALA among H. pylori clinical isolates associated with inflammatory changes in bioptic specimens, confirmed the leading role of this microorganism in the pathogenesis of the gastric mucosal lesions. The retrospective analysis of clinical cases made it possible to recommend the use of the ALA sign as one of the criteria for choosing the scheme of eradication therapy even at the stage of the initial diagnostics of H. pylori infection.     

The suppression of cellular Na+/H+ exchange leads to the inhibition of influenza virus activity

It was shown that amiloride, orthovanade and uabain induced almost a two-fold decrease in the rate of incubation medium oxidation by the chick embryo fibroblasts due to the Na+/H+ exchange and inhibited by more than 95 per cent the influenza virus activity. The following mechanism for inhibition of the influenza virus multiplication in the cells under the effect of the above mentioned substances was proposed: suppression of the cellular Na+/H+ exchange responsible for the decrease in pH value in the virus-carrying endosomes----prevention of the decrease in the intraendosomal pH value to the critical level----blocking of the acid dependent process of the virus uncoating----inhibition of the influenza infection as a whole.     

Bifurcation analysis of a neural network model

This paper describes the analysis of the well known neural network model by Wilson and Cowan. The neural network is modeled by a system of two ordinary differential equations that describe the evolution of average activities of excitatory and inhibitory populations of neurons. We analyze the dependence of the model's behavior on two parameters. The parameter plane is partitioned into regions of equivalent behavior bounded by bifurcation curves, and the representative phase diagram is constructed for each region. This allows us to describe qualitatively the behavior of the model in each region and to predict changes in the model dynamics as parameters are varied. In particular, we show that for some parameter values the system can exhibit long-period oscillations. A new type of dynamical behavior is also found when the system settles down either to a stationary state or to a limit cycle depending on the initial point.     

The structural transitions of erythrocyte membranes induced by cyclic AMP.

The generalized structural transitions of erythrocyte membranes induced by cyclic AMP were registered by ESR, fluorescence, freeze-fracture and circular dichroism methods. Two transitions different in nature were revealed. One, which arises at 10-(11)--10-(10) M cyclic AMP, is cooperative and may be considered as a consequence of interaction of cyclic AMP with a receptor. It was calculated that a structural rearrangement in one erythrocyte ghost is induced by three cyclic AMP molecules. As a result of it the membranes are "loosened". The other transition arises at 10-(10)--10-(8) M cyclic AMP and depends on the activity of the protein kinase system. This transition was shown to be non-cooperative and due to phosphorylation of membranous proteins. During this rearrangement the membranes are "stiffened". Both transitions were demonstrated to relate to the membrane integrity.     

Changes in the orientation of the fracture plane of cell membranes during freeze-fracturing as an index of change in membrane structure

Using freeze-fracture method it is shown that the direction of the fracture plane is a sensitive indicator of the membrane structural organization. A decrease in the proportion of longitudinal fractures is noted upon the membrane rearrangement presumably associated with changes in the lipid phase, and, on the contrary, an increase in the proportion of these fractures is observed upon some actions resulting, presumably, in changes of the protein phase of membranes.     

Rapid ribosomal translocation depends on the conserved 18-55 base pair in P-site transfer RNA

The L shape of tRNA is stabilized by the 'tertiary core' region, which contains base-pairing interactions between the D and T loops. Distortions of the L shape accompany tRNA movement across the ribosomal surface. Here, using single-turnover rapid kinetics assays, we determine the effects of mutations within the tertiary core of P site-bound tRNA(fMet) on three measures of the rate of translocation, the part of the elongation cycle involving the most extensive tRNA movement. Mutations in the strictly conserved G18.U55 base pair result in as much as an 80-fold decrease in the rate of translocation, demonstrating the importance of the 18-55 interaction for rapid translocation. This implicates the core region as a locus for functionally important dynamic interactions with the ribosome and leads to the proposal that translocation of ribosome-bound tRNAs may be sequential rather than concerted.     

Analysis of the seasonal dynamics of river phytoplankton based on succession rate indices for key event identification

The seasonal dynamics of river phytoplankton was analyzed using succession rate indices based on data collected from year-round observations of two small plain rivers in the Upper Ob Basin (Western Siberia). The study revealed a generally clear seasonal pattern of structural changes in the phytoplankton of the lower reaches of the studied rivers. The dynamics of succession rate indices reflects the key events in the life of phytoplankton in the Bolshaya Losikha and Barnaulka Rivers, showing mainly changes in the dominant species during the main phases of the hydrological cycle. The most significant changes in phytoplankton structure tend to occur in the period between the spring flood decline and the beginning of summer–autumn low water. These changes coincide with the most drastic changes in both environmental conditions and phytoplankton successional stages. Use of succession rate indices to analyze the seasonal dynamics of phytoplankton allowed us to distinguish between periods of abrupt change and periods of comparatively low-intensity changes in plankton composition in small lowland temperate rivers.

     

Captures of Pacific Rainbow Smelt Osmerus dentex (Osmeridae) in the Langery River (North-East of Sakhalin Island)

Journal of Ichthyology - The article describes captures of three specimens of the Pacific rainbow smelt Osmerus dentex in the area of the north-east of Sakhalin Island, where the species was not...     

Patterns of Downstream Migration of Pink Salmon Oncorhynchus gorbuscha in the Malaya Khusi River (Sakhalin Oblast)

Journal of Ichthyology - Patterns of downstream migration of juvenile pink salmon Oncorhynchus gorbuscha in the Malaya Khusi River (northeast of Sakhalin island) are revealed as a result of...     

Lipid status and feeding habits of salmonid juveniles in the year preceding seaward migration as factors controlling their future smoltification

Juveniles of coho salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch (Walb.) and mykiss Parasalmo mykiss (Walbaum) of the same age (1+) become differentiated as early as eight months before smoltification and seaward migration by their lipid level, feeding habits, and size and weight parameters. It is found that juveniles of coho salmon and mykiss with a high lipid status have a greater (on average) length and weight and consume more calorific food items. The juveniles with a lower lipid status have a lower length and weight and consume less calorific organisms. It is presumed that a considerable part of juveniles with a high lipid status will migrate seaward next year. The role of the trophic factor in development of this differentiation and, accordingly, in determination of smoltification dates is discussed.