Die vertikale Verbreitung der Lituolaceen und Miliolaceen (Foraminifera) an einem Unterwasserkliff in der Adria (Jugoslawien)

The distributional patterns of recent benthic foraminifera have been studied in the Adriatic Sea near the Kornati Islands Middle Dalmatia at a submarine cliff of 70 m height. One of the submarine cliffs is exposed to the open sea, the other one to the channel. Diagrams show the composition of the foraminiferal fauna with respect to the highest systematic categories to the species level, as well as the distribution and abundance of the most common foraminifera of the superfamilies Lituolacea and Miliolacea. These diagrams can be used for bathymetric interpretations and for the definition of ecological niches. Nearly half of the species are known also from Ancient environments.     

Genetic identification of rickettsiae of the tick-borne spotted fever group, isolated in the foci of tick-borne rickettsiosis

A total of 25 rickettsial cultures of the tick-borne spotted fever (TBSF) group from the collection of the Research Institute of Infections in Omsk, isolated from different sources in the territory of the Russian Federation (from the Urals to the Far East) during the period of 1954-2001) were studied by the methods of genetic analysis. The fragments of the gene coding the outer-membrane protein of 190 kD (ompA) and synthetase citrate (gltA) of the rickettsiae under the study were sequenced. 23 isolates were identified as R. sibirica, among them 3 isolates obtained from patients, 16 isolates obtained from Dermacentor ticks, 2 isolates from Haemaphysalis concinna and 2--from Ixodes persulcatus. The strain Primorye 32/84, isolated from D. silvarum ticks in the Far East and earlier identified as S. sibirica by the results of the PCR-RFLP analysis proved to be a genovariant Rickettsia spBJ-90, i.e. close to this species. Strain Karpunino 19/69, isolated in the Kurgan region, was identified as R. slovaca. The results obtained extended our notions of the spectrum of rickettsiae group TBSF in Russia as well as their vectors.     

Paleoenvironmental model for Eocene foraminiferal limestones of the Adriatic carbonate platform (Istrian Peninsula)

The foraminiferal limestones from the Middle Eocene Central Istrian region illustrate progressive deepening of depositional gradients. Shifting of Lower Cuisian to Upper Lutetian microfacies can be described in terms of a ramp model. The Orthophragminae-bearing parts of the foraminiferal limestones are interpreted in terms of larger foraminiferal faunal associations, planktonic foraminiferal relative abundance, limitations of algal endosymbionts, foraminiferal lamellar thickness and flattening of test shapes. Microfacies I contains the most diverse larger foraminiferal association with a predominance of large, thick nummulitids, assilinids, and asterocyclinids. Microfacies II is characterized by a gradual increase of Orthophragminae diversity and abundance. Nummulitids, equally abundant, are dominated by lenticular and subspherical specimens. The reduction in number of nummulitid specimens with characteristic biconical radiate morphologies, and relative abundance of flattened orthophragminids, characterizes Microfacies III. Scattered biodestructed orthophragminid tests and planktonic foraminifera constitute Microfacies IV, indicating the end of a long-lasting, shallow-marine Adriatic Carbonate Platform regime.     

Mutation and recombination variability of vaccine polioviruses isolated in Belarus (1960-1999)

One hundred and eight vaccine-derived strains of types 1, 2, and 3 poliovirus (25 PV1, 34 PV2, and 48 PV3) isolated in Belarus in 1960-1999 were analyzed by double restriction fragment length polymorphism assay (RFLP-1, -3D1). Forty-four (40.7%) of strains were genetically modified. Eight (7.4%) PV were modified by mutation, 16 (14.8%) by recombination, and 20 (18.5%) by both mutation and recombination. The genomes of 16 PV were analyzed by multiple RFLP technique covering VP1-, VP1/VP2A-, P2-, 3AC-, and 3D1-coding regions. The majority of recombinants were "simple" (with one crossing over site). One strain was "double" recombinant (two crossings over sites) and one more "multiple" recombinant (three crossing over sites). Partial nucleotide sequencing of some recombinant strains showed that the degree of these strains' divergence was less than 1% in comparison with the original vaccine viruses.     

Enhancement of growth promoting activity of human blood on keratinocytes after its irradiation in vivo (transcutaneously) and in vitro with visible and infrared polarized light

To stimulate wound healing, current medicine uses various methods of phototherapy. The induced activation of proliferative processes in the wound occurs due to development of not only local, but also systemic processes, whose nature remains largely uninvestigated. The present work provides evidences that as early as 30 min after irradiation of a small area of the volunteer's body surface with polychromatic visible light + infrared polarized light (400-3400 nm, 95% of polarization) at a therapeutic dose (12 J/cm2), soluble factors appear in the circulating blood, which are able to stimulate proliferation of human keratinocytes in primary culture. A similar effect was also revealed after a direct blood irradiation. A proof is provided in favor of a hypothesis that a rapid rise of growth promoting activity of the entire circulating blood may be a consequence of transcutaneous photomodification of the small amount of light-modified blood in superficial skin vessels, and of the effect of such blood on its entire circulating volume. A possibility of a release into plasma of growth factors from blood cells and complexes with alpha 2-macroglobulin is discussed.