[Structural changes of the adrenal cortex in experimental genital herpes virus infection].

The reactive changes in the adrenal gland cortex were studied in mature female guinea pigs (n=5) in an experimental model of acute genital herpes virus infection. The methods of light and transmission electron microscopy were used. To confirm the presence of viral antigen in the corticosterocytes (CSC), the methods of immunfluorescence and electron microscopic immunocytochemistry were used. It was shown that at day 7 of an acute process, focal CSC reactive changes appeared in the glomerular zone - at the light microscopic level, CSC had intact nuclei and optically empty cytoplasm, while at the electron microscopic level, these CSC demonstrated the damaged membranous organelles, and various membranous structures which were not found in the normal cells. The aggregates of hypertrophied CSC were found in the fasciculate zone. The changes described were reversible, as they practically disappeared by the onset of spontaneous recovery (day 21 after inoculation). The regeneration of CSC of glomerular and fasciculate zones of the adrenal cortex involves both intracellular and cellular mechanisms.

[Multidirectional effect of MIF and sodium polyprenyl phosphate on the course of experimental flavivirus infection in mice].

AIM: Study of macrophage migration inhibiting factor (MIF) effect after intracerebral administration on the course of experimental infection induced in mice by tick borne encephalitis virus (TEV), and study of sodium polyprenyl phosphate (PPP) and/or antibodies against MIF on the course of this infection against the background of MIF administration. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Phosprenil preparation was used as a source of PPP. PPP was administered intracerebrally. MIF--human recombinant (R&D, USA), mice--Balb/c line. RESULTS: In the sera of mice infected with TEV, MIF production stimulation was detected at days 8 through 10 after the infection--against the background of clinical signs presentation of tick borne encephalitis (TE). Administration of PPP to infected mice, on the contrary, resulted in MIF production suppression at the specified period. After administration of 20 ng of MIF to mice, lethality increased by 40% and average life span decreased by 2.3 days. Thus, MIF at high doses caused an increase of infection course severity, induced by TEV in mice, and administration of 60 microg of PPP resulted in the protection from infection in 100% of cases. Intracerebral administrationto mice of antibodies against MIF resulted in a decrease of lethality indicator up to 26% as compared with control and an increase of averagelife span by 5.5 days. During simultaneous administration into the brain of infected mice of MIF, PPP and antibodies against MIF, prevention of MIF-induced increase of TE course severity was registered. CONCLUSION: The data obtained allow to conclude that MIF may serve as an indicator of TE course severity, and possible prognostic indicator of meningo-encephalitic form development in humans.

[Highly sensitive enzyme-linked assay based on monoclonal antibodies for detection of Brucella antigens].

Mice monoclonal antibodies against lypopolysaccharides (LPS) of Brucella abortus has been obtained and characterized. The antibodies detected LPS of B. abortus, B. melitensis and B. suis with high sensivity and specificity and did not react with LPS of Yersinia enterocolitica O:3, Y. enterocolitica O:9, Salmonella typhimurium, and Francisella tularensis. It has been shown that interaction of monoclonal antibodies and LPS of Brucella species can be critically dependent from buffer system. Obtained monoclonal antibodies allowed to develop highly sensitive assay which was able to detect antigens of Brucella species in concentrations 0.05 - 0.1 ng/ml. The assay can be used for detection and identification of Brucella species.

[Glycine amide ribonucleotide synthetase (EC 6.3.4.13)--is aminoimidazole ribonucleotide synthetase (EC 6.3.3.1) from Saccharomyces cerevisiae]. / Glitsinamidribonukleotid-sintetaza (KF 6.3.4.13)--aminoimidazolribonukleotid-sintetaza (KF 6.3.3.1) Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The bifunctional enzyme GAR-synthetase-AIR-synthetase (E2-E5) of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been studied. The yeast strain with overproduction of E2-E5 has been obtained. The enzyme from this strain, E2-E5, has been purified and characterized. The protein is a dimer composed of two subunits with M(r) of 87 kDa. The pH and temperature optima, pH stability and thermostability for E2 and E5 have been determined. The kinetic constants for E2 and E5 have been estimated. E2 and E5 are active only in the presence of Mg2+. E5 is a K(+)-dependent enzyme as is E5 from other sources. AMP is a competitive (to ATP) inhibitor for E5; hence, in yeast cells the purine nucleotide biosynthesis de novo is regulated at the first and fifth steps. Partial chymotryptic digestion of the purified protein gives rise to two fragments with M(r) of about 40 and 46 kDa; and E2 activity remains, while that of E5 disappears in the process.