Effect of a polyoxydonium immunoregulator on the biological properties of microorganisms

The effect of the synthetic immunomodulator polyoxydonium (PO) on some biological properties of pathogenic bacteria (Shigella flexneri, Salmonella enteritidis), opportunistic bacteria (Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacteroides fragilis, Peptostreptococcus anaerobius, Prevotella melaninogenica, Propionibacterium propionicum, Clostridium difficile) and fungi (Candida albicans), isolated during enteric infections, enteric dysbiosis, pyoinflammatory diseases, was evaluated in a number of in vitro experiments. The study revealed that the recommended therapeutic concentration of PO decreased antilysozyme activity (ALA) and the anticomplement activity in Klebsiella, Shigella, Propionibacterium, Clostridium, bacteroids, fungi of the genus Candida, but increased ALA in nonhemolytic Escherichia. Under the action of PO an increased sensitivity of the microorganisms under study to definite antibiotics of the lincosamide, fluoroquinolon, carbapenem and cephalosporin groups was noted. The data obtained in this study reveal one of the possible mechanisms of the corrective action of PO on the microbiocenosis of the intestine in dysbiosis, enteric infections and pyoinflammatory diseases.     

Effect of medicinal plants on the antilysozyme activity of microorganisms]

Medicinal plants effect on antilysozyme activity of E. coli, Klebsiella, S. aureus, Candida, Bifidobacterium, Bacteroides, Clostridium was evaluated in vitro. It was demonstrated that the effects differed substancially according to the microorganism taxonomy. The experimental data on the plants inhibitory activity may be used for elaboration of effective regimes of infections and disbiosis treatment.     

Replication slippage may cause parallel evolution in the secondary structures of mitochondrial transfer RNAs

Presence of the dihydrouridine (D) stem in the mitochondrial cysteine tRNA is unusually variable among lepidosaurian reptiles. Phylogenetic and comparative analyses of cysteine tRNA gene sequences identify eight parallel losses of the D-stem, resulting in D-arm replacement loops. Sampling within the monophyletic Acrodonta provides no evidence for reversal. Slipped-strand mispairing of noncontiguous repeated sequences during replication or direct replication slippage can explain repeats observed within cysteine tRNAs that contain a D-arm replacement loop. These two mechanisms involving replication slippage can account for the loss of the cysteine tRNA D-stem in several lepidosaurian lineages, and may represent general mechanisms by which the secondary structures of mitochondrial tRNAs are altered.      

cDNA cloning of a developmentally regulated hemocyanin subunit in the crustacean Cancer magister and phylogenetic analysis of the hemocyanin gene family

The complete cDNA sequence and protein reading frame of a developmentally regulated hemocyanin subunit in the Dungeness crab (Cancer magister) is presented. The protein sequence is aligned with 18 potentially homologous hemocyanin-type proteins displaying apparent sequence similarities. Functional domains are identified, and a comparison of predicted hydrophilicities, surface probabilities, and regional backbone flexibilities provides evidence for a remarkable degree of structural conservation among the proteins surveyed. Parsimony analysis of the protein sequence alignment identifies four monophyletic groups on the arthropodan branch of the hemocyanin gene tree: crustacean hemocyanins, insect hexamerins, chelicerate hemocyanins, and arthropodan prophenoloxidases. They form a monophyletic group relative to molluscan hemocyanins and nonarthropodan tyrosinases. Arthropodan prophenoloxidases, although functionally similar to tyrosinases, appear to belong to the arthropodan hexamer- type hemolymph proteins as opposed to molluscan hemocyanins and tyrosinases.      

Characteristics of associated microflora of ejaculate from males with gonococcal infections

Species composition and biological properties of aerobic and anaerobic microflora from an ejaculate from males with acute and chronic gonococcal infection and from healthy men were studied. Patients with gonococcal infection were shown to present quantitative and qualitative changes in microbiocenosis of the reproductive tract. Patients with acute gonorrhea displayed decreased species diversity in contrast to healthy persons, while different species of associated with gonococci microbes with high persistent potential, were cultured in patients suffering from a chronic form of infection. The role of revealed pathological biocenosis patterns in developing chronic infection as well as postgonorrheal gonococci-free urethritis is discussed.