Use of the polymerase chain reaction for typing allelic variants of the human HLA-DQA1 by hybridization with oligonucleotide probes, specific for specific alleles]

Class II HLA molecules are the most useful markers for susceptibility to different autoimmune diseases, including insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Polymerase chain reaction and hybridization with a set of allele-specific oligonucleotide have been used for analysis of allelic sequence variation. The analysis of frequencies of HLA-DQA1 alleles among 10 patients of the russian population revealed a uneven distribution. We have developed a method for preparing non-radioactive oligonucleotide probes with terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase and Bio-11-dUTP. Comparison of biotinylated and 32P-labeled hybridization probes gave the same sensitivity for HLA-DQA1 typing of amplified DNA. Amplification of the HLA-DQA1 gene has been successful on 10 pg of total DNA. This amount of DNA is close to the amount of DNA in a single cell. Alternatively, HLA-DQA1 typing could be based on the analysis of buccal cells of saliva that would avoid the problem of individuals who object to giving blood samples.     

Interaction of bromophenol blue with serum albumin: criteria for using dyes for assessing the state and quantity of protein

The optical properties of the complexes of the pH-dependent dye bromophenol blue (BPB) with human serum albumin were investigated by the spectrophotometric method. The solvatochromic longwave displacement of bound BPB-2 absorption and BPB-1/BPB-2 redistribution were shown to form the optical signal of complexes. Because of the distortion of the bound BPB-2 signal its quantity was determined as delta A630 = A630 - A660 and the use of lambda max as structural parameter was limited to low pH less than or equal to 3. The conclusion was made that BPB is inapplicable as a structural probe on account of low structural dependence of delta A630 and pH-limitation of lambda max used. The maximal absorption delta Amax = Amax - A660 and its structural independence were obtained in the region of 70-100% occupation of the dye-binding centers of the protein. It is the optimal conditions for the quantitative determination of protein. After maximal dye binding (15-16 molecules of BPB per 1 molecule of albumin) the aggregation and precipitation of the complexes occurred.     

Characteristics of the action of the influenza virus on the microcirculatory vessels in an experiment

The dynamic light-optic and electron microscopic examination of the organs of experimental animals with the influenza infection have revealed the most pronounced pathology in vessels of the lung and brain microcirculation. The early developing perivascular edema around capillaries which is induced by an increase in the transcellular transport without a disturbance of the dense contact integrity is observed in the brain tissue. Variations in the lung microvessels manifested in a rise of the pinocytosis activity of endothelial cells, in a change of the luminal surface profile and damage of the supermembrane layer. A reversible aggregation of plate and erythrocytes was observed in the lung and brain microvessel lumen at early periods. The revealed changes, including the main of them--microvessel permeability disturbance, are associated with the dynamics of the concentration of the influenza virus and its complexes with antibodies in the organs under study.     

Morphometric findings in the microcirculatory bed of the sigmoid serosa during the fetal period in man

During fetal life, formation and arrangement of the microcirculatory bed in the serous membrane of the sigmoid colon correspond to the growth and functioning of the latter at different stages of ontogenesis. Two periods in the development of the microcirculatory bed of the serous membrane of the sigmoid colon are revealed: the first period coincides with the first half of the fetal development when capillary growth is considerable, i.e. with the growth of metabolic part in the microcirculatory bed; the second period coincides with the second half of the fetal development when intensified growth of the sigmoid portion of the large intenstine and its transport sections in the microcirculatory bed (arterioles, precapillaries, postcapillaries, venules) are observed.     

New methodical approach to the study of platelet aggregation in vitro

A new approach to the investigation of the kinetics of platelet aggregation is described. The method is based on the analysis of light transmission fluctuations produced on the changes in the number of platelets in optical channel. The relative dispersion of the fluctuations of transmitted light intensity was used as a parameter to estimate the degree of platelet aggregation. Application of this method for the analysis of platelet aggregation permits to get new information about this process.     

中国西北沙漠夜间活动的东鳖甲属昆虫二新种(鞘翅目:拟步甲科:漠甲亚科)

记述中国西北地区东鳖甲属2新种:巴丹东鳖甲A.badainica Ba,Ren&Liu sp.nov.和古尔班东鳖甲A.gurbantunggutica Ba&Ren sp.nov.,提供了主要鉴别特征和形态图,并简要讨论了其昼夜活动规律.     

Haemosporidian Parasites of Antelopes and Other Vertebrates from Gabon,Central Africa

Re-examination, using molecular tools, of the diversity of haemosporidian parasites (among which the agents of human malaria are the best known) has generally led to rearrangements of traditional classifications. In this study, we explored the diversity of haemosporidian parasites infecting vertebrate species (particularly mammals, birds and reptiles) living in the forests of Gabon (Central Africa), by analyzing a collection of 492 bushmeat samples. We found that samples from five mammalian species (four duiker and one pangolin species), one bird and one turtle species were infected by haemosporidian parasites. In duikers (from which most of the infected specimens were obtained), we demonstrated the existence of at least two distinct parasite lineages related to Polychromophilus species (i.e., bat haemosporidian parasites) and to sauropsid Plasmodium (from birds and lizards). Molecular screening of sylvatic mosquitoes captured during a longitudinal survey revealed the presence of these haemosporidian parasite lineages also in several Anopheles species, suggesting a potential role in their transmission. Our results show that, differently from what was previously thought, several independent clades of haemosporidian parasites (family Plasmodiidae) infect mammals and are transmitted by anopheline mosquitoes.