Detection of Aneuploidy in Spontaneous Abortions Using Comparative Genomic Hybridization

Comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) technique was used to examine a set of ten spontaneous abortions whose cell cultures were characterized by the lack of proliferation in vitro, and thereby, were not available for the analysis by means of routine cytogenetic methods. Five abortions (50%) had aneuploidy of autosomes, including trisomy 10, 14, 18, and 21, and monosomy 22. The latter variant of unbalanced chromosomal abnormalities is rarely detected in spontaneous abortions by use of conventional cytogenetic methods. The results were validated by using fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis with centromere-specific DNA probes. Embryos with trisomy 10 and monosomy 22 displayed mosaicism with the frequencies of abnormal cell clones constituting 68 and 33% respectively. The advantages and limitations of the applying of CGH technique for detection of genomic abnormalities in both nonmosaic and mosaic forms are discussed.     

Incidence and levels of fumonisin contamination in Colombian corn and corn products

A survey was conducted to determine the levels of fumonisins B1 and B2 in corn and corn-based products available in Colombia for human and animal consumption. A total of 120 samples were analyzed by acetonitrile-water extraction, cleanup with a strong-anion-exchange column, and liquid chromatography with o-phthaldialdehyde-2-mercaptoethanol derivatization and fluorescence detection. The samples of corn and corn-based products for animal intake were taken at different feed manufacturing plants, whereas the samples used for human foods where purchased from local retail stores. The number of positive samples for fumonisin B1 was 20.0% higher in corn and corn-based products for animal intake (75.0%) than in corn and corn-based products for human consumption (55.0%). The levels of fumonisin B1 were also higher in corn and corn-based products for animal intake (mean = 694 μg/kg; range = 32–2964 μg/kg), than in corn and corn-based products for human intake (mean = 218 μg/kg; range = 24–2170 μg/ kg). The incidence and levels of fumonisin B2 were lower than those for fumonisin B1. Corn and corn-based products for animal consumption had an incidence of fumonisin B2 of 58.3%, with a mean value of 283 μg/kg, and a range of 44–987 μg/kg. The incidence of fumonisin B2 in corn-based products for human intake was 35.0%, with a mean value of 118 μg/kg and a range of 21–833 μg/kg. The highest incidence and levels of fumonisins were found in samples of hominy feed, with concentrations ranging from 86 to 2964 μg/kg fumonisin B1 and 57 to 987 μg/kg fumonisin B2.     

Vaccination of children born from HIV-infected mothers against Haemophilus influenzae type b infection

Course of postvaccinal period after injection of vaccine against Haemophilus influenzae type b administered simultaneously with vaccines of Russian national immunization schedule was studied in children born from HIV-infected mothers. Good tolerability of the vaccine administered concomitantly with diphtheria-tetanus-whole cell pertussis and inactivated polio vaccines (Imovax Polio), which is comparable with tolerability in healthy children, was demonstrated. Prevaccination titers of antibodies and their dynamics during immunization process were described. Increase of levels of antibodies was detected both in the group of children with perinatal contact with HIV infection and in the group of HIV-infected children.     

Biosynthesis of nanoparticles of metals and metalloids by basidiomycetes. Preparation of gold nanoparticles by using purified fungal phenol oxidases

The work shows the ability of cultured Basidiomycetes of different taxonomic groups—Lentinus edodes, Pleurotus ostreatus, Ganoderma lucidum, and Grifola frondosa—to recover gold, silver, selenium, and silicon, to elemental state with nanoparticles formation. It examines the effect of these metal and metalloid compounds on the parameters of growth and accumulation of biomass; the optimal cultivation conditions and concentrations of the studied ion-containing compounds for recovery of nanoparticles have been identified. Using the techniques of transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, X-ray fluorescence and X-ray phase analysis, the degrees of oxidation of the bioreduced elements, the ζ-potential of colloidal solutions uniformity, size, shape, and location of the nanoparticles in the culture fluid, as well as on the surface and the inside of filamentous hyphae have been determined. The study has found the part played by homogeneous chromatographically pure fungal phenol-oxidizing enzymes (laccases, tyrosinases, and Mn-peroxidases) in the recovery mechanism with formation of electrostatically stabilized colloidal solutions. A hypothetical mechanism of gold(III) reduction from HAuCl₄ to gold(0) by phenol oxidases with gold nanoparticles formation of different shapes and sizes has been introduced.

     

Dysbiotic manifestations during eradication therapy of Helicobacter pylori and their corrections

Forty-eight patients with duodenal peptic ulcer disease infected with Helicobacter pylori were examined. All patients undergo conventional 1-week eradication therapy. After its ending the patients were randomized to two groups: those who will be treated by synbiotics or control group. Normoflorin B and Normoflorin L, which contain bifidobacteria or lactobacilli in complex with different microelements, vitamins, aminoacids, organic acids, and antioxidants, were used as synbiotics. Morphologic study of biopsy samples of small intestine mucosa were performed in patients from both groups. It was determined that eradication therapy worsened existing symptoms of dyspepsia in 80.9% of cases or lead to their emergence, connected with dysbiotic manifestations, in 55.5% of patients. Inclusion of synbiotics in complex therapy resulted in rapid and effective elimination of dyspeptic symptoms, promoted recovery of affected morphologic and functional states of small intestine mucosal epithelium, and optimized metabolic processes important for the digestion.     

Activity of Lentinus edodes intracellular lectins at various developmental stages of the fungus

We studied changes of the hemagglutinating activity of intracellular lectins of the basidiomycete Lentinus edodes (shiitake) at various stages of its morphogenetic development depending on erythrocyte type, growth medium, and lectin purification degree. Under certain experimental conditions, the specific lectin activity at the brown mycelium film stage exceeded the corresponding value for nonpigmented mycelium. The sensitivity of the lectins towards trypsin-treated rabbit erythrocytes was no less than a hundredfold higher than towards any other erythrocyte type studied. The general regularities of specific activity change did not depend on nutrient medium composition. With purification of intracellular shiitake lectins, their sensitivity to human erythrocytes decreased seventyfold or more, whereas their sensitivity to rabbit erythrocytes increased by the same factor.     

Characteristics of dentition in gekkonid lizards of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Teratoscincus</Emphasis> and other Gekkota (Sauria,Reptilia)

The dentition and tooth crown microstructure of gekkonids and eublepharids are examined. Scanning electron microscopy shows that the lingual surface of teeth in these lizards has one, two, or, occasionally, several cusps separated by grooves. The teeth of geckoes usually have two (lingual and labial) cusps in the apical region. With respect to the number of teeth, the majority of Gekkota fall into two groups. The first includes a few species with many teeth (50 or more) in the dentary and maxilla, the eublepharids Goniurosaurus and Aeluroscalabotes, and the gekkonid Cyrtopodion louisiadensis. The second group, comprising most of the species, is subdivided into two subgroups, species with 20–30 or 30–40 teeth in jaw bones. Teratoscincus belongs to the first subgroup of the second group.     

Reduction of Selenite by Azospirillum brasilense with the Formation of Selenium Nanoparticles

The ability to reduce selenite (SeO₃ ^2?) ions with the formation of selenium nanoparticles was demonstrated in Azospirillum brasilense for the first time. The influence of selenite ions on the growth of A. brasilense Sp7 and Sp245, two widely studied wild-type strains, was investigated. Growth of cultures on both liquid and solid (2 % agar) media in the presence of SeO₃ ^2? was found to be accompanied by the appearance of the typical red colouration. By means of transmission electron microscopy (TEM), electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) and X-ray fluorescence analysis (XFA), intracellular accumulation of elementary selenium in the form of nanoparticles (50 to 400 nm in diameter) was demonstrated for both strains. The proposed mechanism of selenite-to-selenium (0) reduction could involve SeO₃ ^2? in the denitrification process, which has been well studied in azospirilla, rather than a selenite detoxification strategy. The results obtained point to the possibility of using Azospirillum strains as endophytic or rhizospheric bacteria to assist phytoremediation of, and cereal cultivation on, selenium-contaminated soils. The ability of A. brasilense to synthesise selenium nanoparticles may be of interest to nanobiotechnology for “green synthesis” of bioavailable amorphous red selenium nanostructures.     

Interaction of the haloalkaliphilic purple bacteria <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhodovulum steppense</Emphasis> with aluminosilicate minerals

The interaction was investigated between the haloalkaliphilic nonsulfur purple bacteria Rhodovulum steppense A-20s^T and layered aluminosilicates: micas (biotite, phlogopite, and muscovite) and clay minerals (montmorillonite and kaolinite). The interaction between all components of this system (minerals, water, medium, and bacteria) resulted in the changes in the chemical composition of the minerals and solutions. These changes were especially significant in the presence of bacteria. By using some elements for growth and promoting their transfer into the exchange pool of the minerals, bacteria removed these elements from the medium. The content of exchange bases in the aluminosilicates incubated in the presence of bacteria was several times higher than in the minerals incubated in sterile medium. The observed saturation of the mineral phase with potassium and magnesium may be considered the initial phase of diagenesis of the aluminosilicates under study.