[Substances from pyrolised tissues of reptile carcases differently modulate immunity of mammals of both sexes].

Substances with gender action on immunity were detected in water soluble hydrolised matter from reptile carcases. The gender action was shown on isolated blood neutrophils, whole blood and in vivo by the antiviral activity on experimental animals, contaminated with three types of viruses: Herpes simplex type 1, the virus of encephalomyocarditis and the virus of hepatitis of mice. The possible mechanism of the inhibitory action on the male immunity was associated with the protein kinase cascade, including protein kinase C, activated by phorbolmyristate in the cells of the immune system.

[Stimforte action on the main inflammation characteristics in experimental animals contaminated by Herpes simplex-1].

In the brain and lungs of the experimental animals contaminated by Herpes simplex-1 there were detected much higher levels of the thiobarbituric acid-stained lipid oxidation products and proteolytic activity, evident of the inflammation process. Stimforte lowered the inflammation indices to the level, close to that in the brain of the noninfected animals. Yet the drug provided lower titers of the virus in the brain, lungs and serum in the contaminated animals and arrested the infection process by stimulation of the immune system. The mechanism of the inflammation suppression is discussed.

[Effect of Stimforte in combination with Virazole on infection induced by hepatitis C virus in mice].

Twenty-four hours after intramuscular injection of Stimforte in a dose of 25 microg in mice weighing 18-20 g, chronically infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV), viral infection was shown to be at the most suppressed viral replication, as suggested by the data of the infectious and antigenic activities of HCV. Following 72 hours of its administration, the quantity of viral antigen and the infectious activity restored. Readministration of the agent considerably suppressed HCV replication. When given in a dose of 12.5 microg/kg, the agent reduced HCV titers by 2.0-2.5 log10 TCID50; when used in a dose of 25 microg/kg, it diminished the infectious activity of HCV by 3.2 log. The similar data were obtained in the study of the antigenic activity of HCV in infected animals. The effect of Virazole in combination with Stimforte in reducing the replication of infectious HCV and the accumulation of antigens in HCV-infected mice was additive or synergic, suggesting that it is expedient to use them concurrently.

[Induction of oxidative stress and SOS response in Escherichia coli by plant extracts: the role of hydroperoxides and the synergistic effect of simultaneous treatment with cisplatinum].

Plasmids containing a transcription fusion of Escherichia coli katG, soxS, and resA promoters to the Photorhabdus luminescens lux operon (luxCDABE) were constructed. The bioluminescence method of assessing oxidative stress and SOS response in E. coli cells was applied to test the genotoxicity of cisplatinum and vegetable extracts. Strains MG1655 (pKatG-lux) and MG1655 (pSoxS-lux) were used in the oxidative stress procedure. Strain MG1655(pRecA-lux) was used to test the genotoxicity of the chemicals. All vegetable extracts induced oxidative stress and SOS response. A marked synergistic response was observed when MG1655 (pRecA-lux) cells were exposed to both cisplatinum and vegetable extracts; the level of luminescence measured in the presence of both inducers was much higher than the sum of the levels of luminescence observed with vegetable extracts or cisplatinum alone. The hydroperoxide content in vegetable extracts and in X63-Ag8.6.5.3 myeloma cells was determined. Vegetable extracts were shown to inhibit the HeLa cell growth.