[Registration rate of IgG antibodies produced against antigens of virus hepatitis G in patients with HIV infection].

201 HIV infected and 200 non HIV infected patients have been observed to detect antibodies to virus hepatitis G. It was established that IgG antibodies are detected more often in HIV infected than in non-HIV-infected persons (24,9% of cases). The highest number of hepatitis G-infected patients is observed among HIV patients at before-HIV clinically apparent stage and HIV clinical stage as well as in patients infected by HIV virus during parenteral infusion.

Myocardial tissue damage in rabbits injected with group A streptococci, types M1 and M22. Role of bacterial immunoglobulin G-binding surface proteins.

Acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis (APSGN), two important sequelae of streptococcal throat or skin infections, according to current concepts may be elicited by autoimmune mechanisms due to molecular mimicry between group A streptococci (GAS) and human tissue. In the case of APSGN, however, our experimental data have indicated that GAS immunoglobulin-binding surface proteins (IgG BPs) might be of pathogenic significance by triggering anti-IgG production and immune complex formation leading to renal damage. Thus, rabbits injected with IgG-binding, as opposed to non-binding, GAS strains were found to develop renal deposition of IgG and complement factor C3 and inflammatory and degenerative glomerular changes resembling the picture seen in APSGN. In the present study, cardiac tissue material from rabbits injected with GAS was investigated. After 8 or more weeks of intravenous (i.v.) injections, minimal changes were seen in those animals receiving an IgG non-binding GAS strain, type T27, whereas those animals receiving either of two IgG-binding GAS strains, types M1 or M22, developed strong inflammatory and degenerative myocardial changes accompanied by deposition of IgG and C3. Furthermore, on injecting rabbits with defined mutants of a type M22 strain, the development of myocardial tissue damage proved to be dependent on the presence of streptococcal IgG-binding activity. Our results demonstrate that myocardial tissue changes may be induced in the rabbit by i.v. injection of whole heat-killed GAS of at least two M serotypes. Conceivably, induction of immune complexes by bacterial IgG BPs may lead to myocardial deposition of IgG, in turn triggering a series of events, involving the complement system and proinflammatory cytokines, with resulting tissue damage. Though many virulence factors may be involved in the development of ARF and APSGN, and a given GAS strain will never cause both, our results may suggest a new pathogenetic mechanism common to these two major non-suppurative complications.

[The immune system, atherosclerosis and persisting infection]. / Immunnaia sistema, ateroskleroz i persistiruiushchaia infektsiia.

The paper demonstrates that lymph nodes situated in the vicinity of magistral blood vessels are the source of immune and inflammatory response to LDL as the main pathogenetic factor in atherosclerosis. The activation of T-cell-mediated immunity takes place in them at the very early stages of the disease, resulting in forming of CD4+T-lymphocytes, activated mononuclear cells and immunostabilizing B-lymphocytes. The cell changes in lymph nodes correlate with the severity of atherosclerotic lesions in the vessel intima and closely reflect the peculiarities of immune inflammation development in fatty streaks and atherosclerotic plaques in human atherogenesis. A paradoxical reaction was observed in cases with Chlamydia pneumoniae found in the wall of aorta and paraaortal lymph nodes. No evident immune response on the part of immunocompetent cells took place, but, on the contrary, the function of mononuclear cells, including T-lymphocytes, was suppressed. This phenomenon may be explained by the fact that intracellular localization of Chlamydia pneumoniae hides it from immune system control or by the possible microorganism capability of direct immunosuppressive influence on lymphoid cells both in the blood vessel wall and in regional lymph nodes.

Triggering of renal tissue damage in the rabbit by IgG Fc-receptor-positive group A streptococci.

Our previous studies have shown that streptococcal IgG Fc receptors (FcR) act to elicit circulating anti-IgG as well as renal glomerular deposition of IgG in rabbits immunized with group A streptococci (GAS). In order to study if other FcR-positive bacteria might have similar effects, rabbits were immunized with either group G streptococci (GGS; strain G148) or Staphylococcus aureus (strain Cowan I) for two periods of 8 and 6 weeks, respectively. At the end of immunization, circulating anti-IgG was found in 6 of 20 (30%) and 4 of 19 (21%) animals receiving G148 and Cowan I, respectively, compared to all 28 receiving FcR-positive GAS strains of types M1, M4, M15 or M22 (p < 0.05 for both comparisons); furthermore, anti-IgG appeared earlier and at higher levels in the GAS groups. Weak glomerular IgG deposits occurred in 5 out of 10 (50%) and 2 out of 8 (25%) animals immunized with G148 and Cowan I, respectively. In contrast, all 11 rabbits examined, given GAS of types M1 or M15, displayed heavy deposits. None of four control animals immunized with either of two FcR-negative strains, GAS type T27 or group B streptococci (GBS) type Ia, exhibited any renal IgG deposits or circulating anti-IgG. Renal tissue materials from rabbits immunized with any of the four FcR-positive GAS strains showed strong inflammatory and degenerative glomerular changes, compatible with the picture seen in acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis (APSGN). Only transient renal changes were found in those rabbits immunized with G148 or Cowan I, or the controls injected with the FcR-negative strains, GAS type T27 or GBS. Thus, only the FcR-positive GAS strains showed capacity to induce high levels of anti-IgG, pronounced tissue deposition of IgG as well as irreversible glomerular changes. Our experimental data suggest that streptococcal IgG FcR activity might play an important role in triggering APSGN.

[The ultrastructural changes in the sympatheic ganglion in experimental hypercholesterolemia]. / Ul'trastrukturnye izmeneniia v simpaticheskom ganglii pri éksperimental'noi giperkholesterinemii.

In conditions of experimental atherisclerosis mature Chinchilla rabbits acquire dystrophic changes of different severeness in neurons, synapses, nervous fibres, perineurium and blood vessel endothelium of the superior cervical sympathetic ga (SCSG) during one month. It is suggested that B-lipoproteins penetrate easily th of SCSG capillaries (of sinusoidal type) and the diffuse neurotissue barrier (pe which leads to structural changes in neuron bodies, axons and synapses. SCSG neurons++ with CNS is disturbed as well as axonal catecholamine transport and neurotrophic of innervated magistral vessels (carotid arteries, aortal arch etc.).

[Development of adrenal chromaffin tissue]. / Razvitie khromaffinnoi tkani nadpochechnika.

The purpose of the present investigation was to study the morphological peculiarities of chromaffinoblasts and to determine their interrelations with the surrounding cellular elements of the fetal cortex at the early stages (embryonic weeks 4-7) of their migration into the developing adrenal gland of a pig. At week 5 neuro-cellular cords, consisting of so-called "naked" axons, neuroblasts, lemmoblasts, undifferentiated cells, chromaffinoblast clusters and chromaffinocytes, grow into the fetal cortex from side of abdominal aorta. In fetal cortex parenchyma chromaffin elements form cords, lobes, "medullary globes", which are enveloped by a basal membrane, which is a derivative of satellitocytes. Chromaffinocytes are stained with Wood's stain, potassium bichromate and, judging by the presence of secretory granules in their cytoplasm, are capable to synthesize summary catecholamines and to release them into the blood at the early stages of development. "Medullary globes" are the centers of proliferation and differentiation of the chromaffin cells in the adrenal medulla. The problem of chromaffin tissue stem cells is discussed.

[Detection of cationic proteins and peroxidase in semithin sections]. / Vyiavlenie kationnykh belkov i peroksidazy na polutonkikh srezakh.

A method of histochemical identification of cationic proteins, peroxidase, viable and killed bacteria in semithin sections of biopsy samples is suggested. The method is based on dying of araldite-embedded semithin sections with a buffered alcohol solution of fast green (pH 8.15) and on peroxidase identification with O-dianisidine. The method suggested can be used for distinguishing occult forms of infectious gastritis, evaluation of secretory and barrier function of gastric epithelium, selective dying of leucocytes in tissues, revealing of viable and non-viable bacteria in the infective foci.

[Method of staining for lysosomal cationic proteins in histological paraffin sections of biopsies]. / Metodika okraski lizosomnykh kationnykh belkov v gistologicheskikh parafinovykh srezakh bioptatov.

A method is suggested for a histochemical and immunofluorescent detection of lysosome cation proteins in the histologic paraffin sections of biopsies. The method is based on the staining of histologic sections obtained from the material fixed in glutaraldehyde buffered with an alcohol solution of a fast green (pH 8.1-8.2) and on the detection myeloperoxidase and lactoferrine by means immune serum by Coons's method. 0.25% solution of azur A (B, C) is used for staining the cell nuclei and viable bacteria.

[Interaction of cholera vibrios and escherichiae with the intestinal epithelium (histologic and electron microscopic study)]. / Vzainodistvie kholernykh vibrionov i ésherikhiu s kishechmym épiteliem (gistologicheskoe i élektronno-mikroskopicheskoe essledovanis)

Histological and electron-microscopic investigations were carried out of ligated small intestinal loops of 147 rabbits within 24 hours after challenge with cholera vibrios El Tor, different enterotoxigenic E. coli, choleragen and E. coli enterotoxins. These ogranisms attached themselves to enterocytes and multiplied on the surface of the unaltered intestinal epithelium. Thereafter, a greatly pronounced secretion of enterocytes, rather than inflammation, developed, like after the exposure to sterile enterotoxins of E. coli and choleragen, the lumen of isolated rabbit gut loops was overfilled with great amount of fluid discharged. At later period dystrophic alterations in enterocytes also appeared. They were partly associated with excessive secretion, but the severest of them (including even necrotic foci) were caused by the compression of the isolated gut loops epithelium with fluid. The first and obligatory stage of pathogenesis of cholera and cholera-like escherichioses was apparently the attachment of the causative agent to enterocytes and its multiplication on the intestinal epithelium surface, followed by hypersecretion induced by enterotoxin effect.

[Enteric dysentery vaccines and their effectiveness in a rabbit intestinal loop model. I. The residual virulence of attenuated vaccinal strains of Shigella administered into the intestinal loops]. / Izuchenie énteral'nykh dizenteriinykh vaktsin i ikh éffektivnosti na modeli kishechnykh petel' krolika. Soobshchenie I. Ostatochnaia virulentnost' attenuirovannykh vaktsinnykh shtammov shigell pri vvedenii v kishechnye petli.

Virulent Sh. flexneri strain 2a, Sh. sonnei strain, attenuated Sh. flexneri vaccine strain 2a 516M, and Sh. sonnei vaccine strain 6S (isolated by Yu. A. Belaya), as well as streptomycin-dependent Sh. flexneri strain 2a 1605/3 (isolated by V. V. Sergeev) were introduced into the ligated loops of the rabbit ileum. The use of light and immunofluorescent microscopy, the measurement of the volume of the fluid in the intestinal loops and the quantitative inoculation of their contents resulted in revealing the differences in the properties of the virulent and vaccine strains. The vaccine strains, in contrast to the virulent strains, did not proliferate in the lumen and did not cause the accumulation of fluid in the intestinal loops. They retained sharply limited, especially in the streptomycin-dependent bacteria, ability to penetrate into enterocytes and, via their cytoplasm, into the basement membrane, but lost their ability to proliferate in the cytoplasm of enterocytes (and probably even deteriorated there) and to cause plurulent ulcerous inflammation. This indicates that vaccine strains have insignificant residual virulence and suggests that the intestinal loop models, together with other models, may be used for testing the safety of vaccines prepared from Shigella strains.

[Shigella interaction with immune enterocytes]. / Vzaimodeistie shigell s immunnymi énterotsitami.

The immunity induced in rabbits by oral immunization with Boivin Shigella polyantigen results in activation of enterocytes: hypertrophy and dilatation of the Golgi apparatus and endoplasmic reticulum, increase in the number of sizes of primary and secondary lysosomes. Resistance of the immune enterocytes to Shigella is manifested in a decreased number of bacteria able to penetrate the cytoplasm, the absence of lysis of heterophagosome membrane surrounding the organisms, and the lack of fusion of the heterophagosomes with primary and secondary lysosomes. The bacteria are even destroyed in the immune enterocyte phagolysosomes. At the same time after the challenge of the rabbit gut loops with 10(9) Shigella some bacteria overcome the immunity, lyse the heterophagosome membranes and multiply directly in the enterocyte cytoplasm, as occurs in nonimmune control rabbits. As a result, ulcerative inflammation develops as in the controls, sometimes even accompanied by hypersensitivity reaction. Fluid accumulation in rabbit gut loops challenged seems to be associated with the effect of Shigella enterotoxin(s), both cytotoxic and cytotonic, as suggested by the peculiar manifestations of enterocyte hypersecretion and damage.

[Study of enteric dysentery vaccines and their efficacy on a rabbit intestinal loop model. II. Changes in the mucosa of rabbit small intestine after oral immunization with live and chemical vaccines]. / Izuchenie enteral'nykh dizenteriinykh vaktsin i ikh éffektivnosti na modeli kishechnykh petel' krolika. Soobschenie II. Izmeneniia alizistoi obolochki tonkoi kishki krolika posle peroral'noi immunizatsii zhivoi i khimicheskimi vaktsinami.

Ten days after oral immunization of 3 groups of rabbits with live vaccine prepared from the mixture of streptomycin-dependent mutants of Sh. flexneri 2a and Sh. sonnei, with Sh. flexneri and Sh. sonnei tryptic lysate, or with Boivin's extract of 6 Sh. flexneri and Sh. sonnei serotypes, a pronounced activation of the secretory and lysosomal apparatus was observed in ileac enterocytes. Deteriorating bacteria or their antigenic material was observed in ileac enterocytes. Deteriorating bacteria of their antigenic material was detected in phagolysosomas. An increased number of interepithelial lymphocytes, and mucous membrane lymphocytes (plasmoblasts and plasmocytes) was observed. The surface of the contact of lymphocytic cell membranes with enterocytes was also increased. It is suggested that special enterocytes with high pinocytic activity play an important role in the uptake and transport of antigenic material. The importance of the fact, previously unknown, that attenuated Shigella organisms are destroyed in enterocytic phagolysosomas is emphasized.

[Oral intestinal vaccines and their effectiveness in the rabbit intestinal loop model. III. Effectiveness of oral immunization with live and chemical vaccines]. / Izuchenie énteral'nykh dizenteriinykh vaktsin i ikh éffektivnosti na modeli kishechnykh petel' krolika. Soobshchenie III. Izuchenie éffektivnosti peroral'noi immunizatsii zhivoi i khimicheskimi vaktsinami.

The effectiveness of the oral immunization of rabbits was manifested by a decrease in the number of virulent Shigella penetrating enterocytes, by the limited proliferation of bacteria in the epithelium and by the less pronounced ulcerous inflammation of the mucous membrane in the intestinal loops even after infection with large doses (10(9) bacteria). In electron microscopy this was manifested by the destruction of Shigella cells in heterophagosomes formed in enterocytes. The degree of fluid accumulation in the injected intestinal loops of immunized animals did not correlate either with the manifest morphological changes, or with the level of serum antibodies. The effectiveness of immunization was more pronounced after the introduction of smaller doses of virulent Shigella (10(7)-10(8) bacteria), when even Boivin's vaccine, though less effective, led to a decrease in the number of Shigella cells penetrating enterocytes, prevented their proliferation in the epithelium, its destruction and the development of inflammation.

[Evaluation of the adhesion, colonization and enterotoxigenicity of Vibrio cholerae in the enteral infection of intact and passively immunized newborn animals]. / Ostenka adgezii, kolonizatsii i énterotoksigennosti kholernykh vibrionov pri énteral'nom zarazhenii intaktnykh i passivno immunizirovannykh novorozhdennykh zhivotnykh.

V. eltor were introduced into 323 suckling rabbits through a gastro-duodenal tube and into 629 suckling mice either by the same method, or per annum by a new specially developed technique. Passive immunization was achieved in suckling mice by the preliminary introduction of antibacterial sera into the small intestine or by feeding them with the milk of female mice immunized at the end of pregnancy, and in suckling rabbits by feeding them with the milk of goats immunized by introducing vibrios through the tests of the udder. To evaluate the results, the accumulation of liquid in the intestine and the development of diarrhea were taken into account, quantitative inoculation of homogenized intestinal matter was made; vibrios on the epithelium of the villi in the small intestine were counted and the changes of enterocytes and the lamina propria, observed in light and electron microscopy, were considered. The results of the complex quantitative evaluation in intact suckling animals revealed that the enterotoxigenicity of vibrios was manifested after their adhesion to and later colonization on the intestinal epithelium. Passive antibacterial immunization suppressed their adhesion and colonization, which resulted in protection from the enterotoxigenic effect of vibrios and their elimination from the intestine.

[Chlamydia pneumoniae as a pathogenetic risk factor in the development of arteriosclerosis and its complications]. / Chlamydia pneumoniae kak patolgeneticheskii faktor riska v razvitii ateroskleroza i ego oslozhnenii.

The literature data and the results of the authors' experiments allow one to consider Chlamydia pneumoniae as one of the leading risk factor of development of atherosclerosis and ischemic heart disease. Features of atherosclerosis morphogenesis in the presence of Chlamydia are described. Data, showing similarity of cell reactions, characterizing immune inflammation in mLDL deposit in arterial wall and obligate parasites are described. Synergism in the action of mLDL and chlamydial infection may induce a "malignant" course of atherogenesis promoting thrombosis and ischemic heart disease excerbation.

[Interaction of Toxoplasma gondii endozoites with the omental cells of the white mouse in acute experimental infestation. An electron microscopic study]. / Vzaimodeistvie éndozoitov Toxoplasma gondii s kletkami sal'nika beloi myshi priostroi éksperimental'noi invazii. Elektronno-mikroskopicheskoe issledovanie.

The omentum of 8 white mice was examined 24--96 hours after the intraperitoneal infection. Endozoites are capable of intensive intrusion not only into phagocytizing cells (hystocytes, peritoneal macrophages) but also into the cells which are not phagocytes (mesothelium). Just after the intrusion metabolism of the host-cell intensifies and in it are formed special structures which facilitate metabolic processes between the cell and the parasite (microvilli on the membrane of the parasitophore vacuole). At the final stage of the interaction with the cell endozoites cause the lysis of the membrane of the parasitophore vacuole that facilitates their transition into new cells. The ability to intrude into the cells, which are not phagocytes, and to cause the lysis of parasitophores vacuole is a factor of pathogenicity of virulent strains of toxoplasms which determines the generalized character of the infection caused by them.

[Splenic lesions in white mice due to Toxoplasma gondii endozoites in acute experimental infestation. A histological, immunoluminescent and electron microscopic study]. / Porazheniia selezenki belykh myshei, vyzvannye éndozoitami Toxoplasma gondii pri ostroi éksperimental'noi invazii. Gistologicheskoe, immunoliuminestsentnoe i élektronnomikroskopicheskoe issledovanie.

The spleen of 73 white mice was studied (15 mice were studied by electron microscopy) from 24 to 120 hours after intraperitoneal infection. The successive stages of interaction of parasites with cells of mononuclear phagocytes system were observed. At the early stages of the infection the activation of these cells takes place. During the dissemination of endozoites over the host organism they penetrate the activated mononuclear phagocytes. Activation, however, is not effective enough since in these cells the parasites preserve the ability to hinder the fusion of lysosomes with phagosomes containing endozoites and at later stages of the infection of lyse the membrane of parasitophore vacuole. The ability to reproduce in activated mononuclear phagocytes and to lyse the membrane of parasitophore vacuole is regarded as a factor of the virulence of endozoites of RH strain toxoplasms.

[The trend in the spread of HIV infection among the children born to HIV-infected mothers in Donets'k Province]. / Tendentsiia rasprostraneniia VICh-infektsii sredi detei, rozhdennykh ot VICh-infitsirovannykh materei, v Donetskoi oblasti.

Recordable in Donets'k Province since the end of 1995 is an epidemic rise in incidence rates of HIV infection, with 3 to 3.5-fold annual increase in the number of children born to HIV-infected mothers. In 96.5 percent of the above children antibodies to HIV are detected at the time of birth, as evidenced by laboratory tests. 100 percent preservation of maternal antibodies to HIV has been found to be the case in babies 3 months old, which fact suggests that children born to HIV-infected mothers require repeated examinations beginning at the age of six months. In Donets'k Province, the probability for the HIV infection to pass from the infected mother to the fetus (newborn) is at the present time estimated to be on an average 42.8 to 50%.