[Immunogenic properties of experimental production series of Staphylovac-2 vaccine].

AIM: Study experimental production series of Staphylovac-2 by accumulation of specific IgG and safety. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Experimental production samples of staphylococci vaccines were studied by the accumulation of specific IgG in sera of immunized BALB/c line mice in EIA. Safety was evaluated in tests of acute and chronic toxicity including pathomorphologic and histologic, hematologic and biochemical studies, studies of the effect on central nervous system. RESULTS: A statistically significant (2.6 - 3.0 times) increase of IgG levels in sera of immunized mice compared with control was noted. In the experiments studying acute and chronic toxicity the increase in body mass and mass of internal organs differed from data obtained from control animals at no observation periods. None of the studied methods of safety evaluation showed differences of the studied vaccine series from the control. CONCLUSION: The recommended dose for subcutaneous administration into human of 200 µg is experimentally justified and could be the basis for carrying out clinical studies of staphylococci vaccines in humans.

[Influence of Staphylococcus vaccine on functional activity of antigen-presenting cells].

AIM: Study the influence of staphylococcus vaccine on functional activity of antigen-presenting cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mice intraperitoneally received 500 µg of "Staphylovac" vaccine. Phagocytic activity of peritoneal macrophages against Staphylococcus aureus 1991 was determined in animals at various time intervals. Phagocytic index (PI) and phagocytic number (PN) in smears made at 30 and 60 minutes of incubation were calculated. Dendritic cells (DC) were obtained from bone marrow precursors during cultivation with 20 ng/ml GM-CSF and 20 ng/ml IL-4 (BioSource International Inc., Belgium). At day 6 of incubation staphylococcus vaccine (50 µg/ml) was added to immature cells for induction pf DC maturation. DC phenotype evaluation was carried out by flow cytometry using monoclonal antibodies against cell antigens (Beckman Culter, USA). RESULTS: PI at 30 and 60 minutes of incubation increased by 0.12 - 1.4 times and 1.11 - 1.52 times, respectively, compared with control. PN at 30 minutes of incubation of cells with microbial suspension increased from 8.6 to 11.4% against 5.9% in control, at 60 minutes of incubation--from 7.7 to 8.1% against 5.1% in control. In DC culture during their incubation with the vaccine, content of cells with expression of intercellular adhesion marker CD38, antigen presenting marker MHCII and DC terminal differentiation marker CD83 increased. Expression of CD34 and CD14 was also noted, that may give evidence on partial direction of cell differentiation to macrophages. CONCLUSION: "Staphylovac" vaccine during intraperitoneal administrationt to mice had activating influence on functional activity of antigen-presenting cells and peritoneal macrophages.

[Study of protective activivty of "Staphylovac-2" vaccine].

AIM: Study the protective properties of "Staphylovac-2" vaccinie. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Samples of the vaccine manufactured by SPA "Microgen" based on the developed technology were studied in balb/c mice during 3- and 6-fold immunization schemes. Protective activity of the preparation was determined in experiments with active and passive protection during intraperitoneal infection, seeding of the causative agent from spleen and kidneys during intravenous infection, of animals. RESULTS: In experiments with active protection of mice for both 3- and 6-fold immunization schemes, a significant protective activity of the studied series was determined, compared with the control group of mice. Sera obtained after animal immunization (rabbits, mice) by staphylococcus vaccine had protective properties. A reduction of spleen and kidneys seeding by Staphylococcus aureus in immunized mice compared with the control group was detected in the model of generalized staphylococci infection. CONCLUSION: The preclinical studies carried out with the "Staphylovac-2" vaccine, developed baed on the complex of protective staplylococci antigens, have confirmed the high protective activity of the preparation.

[Analysis of extracellular proteome of Staphylococcus aureus 6 at the end of exponential growth phase].

AIM: Determine protein specter that Staphylococcus aureus synthesizes and secretes at early growth phase--the exponential phase. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Proteins secreted by S. aureus strain 6 into cultivation medium at the end of exponential growth phase (4.5 hours) were studied. 11 proteins were identified by liquid chromatography--mass-spectrometry method. RESULTS: Only in 3 of these proteins the presence of signal peptides was predicted, which indicates their extracellular localization; the rest of the proteins were localized predominantly in bacterial cytoplasm. 5 of 11 proteins function as enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism. Other extracellular proteins that could indicate its contamination with proteins from disrupted bacterial cells were not detected in S. aureus cultural liquid filtrate. It has been suggested that enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism can provide bacterial cells with energy necessary for passage from lag-phase into exponential growth phase. Superoxide dismutase enzyme probably provides the course of oxidation-reduction processes. Synthesis of other proteolytic enzymes and toxins is carried out at later stages of development of bacterial population. Immunization of mice with a mixture of 11 identified proteins showed their protective properties after infection by S. aureus 6 strain. CONCLUSION: Based on the above-mentioned, the complex of isolated proteins may be perspective in development of a new strategy of prophylaxis and therapy of staphylococcus infections.

[Characteristics of antigenic complexes of Staphylococcus aureus vaccine strains obtained in different cultivation conditions].

AIM: Assessment of characteristics of antigenic complexes of Staphylococcus aureus vaccine strains in different cultivation conditions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: S. aureus vaccine strains (No. 5, 9, 1986, 1991) were grown in liquid nutrient media--full value and semi-synthetic--as well as on solid medium. Reactor cultivation was performed in the fermenter ANKUM-2M. Complex of antigens were obtained by water extraction method applied to staphylococcal biomass inactivated with acetone and assessed by common methods on protein and carbohydrate content; specific activity was assessed by minimal inhibitory dose in passive hemagglutination inhibition assay. Study of acute toxicity was performed on outbred mice. RESULTS: Using strain no. 1991, model of reactor cultivation in full value medium with separation of biomass by microfiltration was validated on the basis of biomass and semiproduct of antigenic complex (acetone powder) yield as well as productivity of biomass cumulation. Study of antigenic complexes obtained from biomass of 4 strains during reactor cultivation compared with complexes extracted from cultures grown on solid medium revealed increased protein and decreased carbohydrate content but similar specific activity. It was demonstrated that complex of antigens obtained from cultures grown either by reactor cultivation or on solid medium were non-toxic. CONCLUSION: New technology for manufacturing staphylococcal complex of antigens with reactor cultivation of vaccine strains in full value medium with subsequent purification of antigenic complex from the biomass by microfiltration was developed. Results of the study demonstrated the usefulness of the developed technology for both further studies on a cellular staphylococcal vaccine and manufacture of staphylococcal component of "Immunovac" vaccine.

[Microbial contamination of Moscow dwelling rooms].

The rise of allergic diseases warrants an investigation of various environmental factors that are able to influence man negatively. By interacting with the human organism, bacteria and their decomposition products are well-known to stimulate different immunological reactions. The 24-month study has indicated that the total bacterial contamination of dust and the typical diversity of microbes depend on the season. In winter the occurrence ofgram-negative bacteria is high. The latter is indicative of that the dust of flats may contain high levels of endotoxin and thus the less comfort of life in the individuals who are genetically predisposed to hypersensitivity.

[Growth medium for Neisseria meningitidis isolation].

Growth medium for isolation of N. meningitidis, which do not require addition of serum and based on previously developed medium for cultivation of bacteria from Haemophilus genus (without growth factors V and X) was constructed. Selective properties of the medium in relation to meningococci were determined by addition of vancomycin and colistin--antibacterial supplement inhibiting growth of nonpathogenic Neisseria and outside microflora. Developed medium was successfully approved during examination of children for nasopharyngeal carriage of meningococci.

[Protective effect of the aerosol immunization of mice with the polycomponent vaccine Immunovac VP-4 after the challenge of the animals with Klebsiella pneumoniae virulent strain].

Used four schemes of the administration of the preparation with different time of the exposition of the animals in an aerosol chamber were tested with their subsequent intraperitoneal challenge with K. pneumoniae virulent strain K16. Irrespective of the number of immunization courses, the administration of the preparation made at intervals of 1 day, or daily, did not ensure any protective effect, but only led to an insignificant increase in their survival time in comparison with nonimmunized animals. After intervals between immunizations were increased to 3 days the protective effect of aerosol immumization was obtained (the survival rate was 65-80 % and considerably differed from that of the controls). The protective effect of aerosol immunization thus obtained was comparable with the effectiveness immunization made in a single subcutaneous injection. Aerosol immunization resulted in low antibody titers to the antigens contained in the vaccine, while after a single subcutaneous injection high antibody titers to Klebsiella and Proteus antigens were detected. The antigen-stimulated blast transformation of spleen lymphocytes in mice subjected to aerosol immunizations in 5 exposures was high. After subcutaneous immunization significant changes in such characteristics were detected on day 15. The data thus obtained were indicative of good prospects in the development Immunovac VP-4 as the medicinal form intended for use in aerosols.

[Significance of adrenal hormones in brain energy metabolism]. / Nekotorye svedeniia o znachenii formonov nadpochechnikov v energeticheskom obmene mozga.

Intensity of glycolysis was studied under conditions of immobilization stress and adrenalectomy as well as with administration of adrenaline and hydrocortisone. The processes of aerobic glycolysis, activity of enzymes of the tricarboxylic acid cycle and mitochondria respiratory chain, content of total, free and protein-bound glycogen, glucose-I-phosphate, glucose-6-phosphate, pyruvate, alpha-ketoglutarate, cytrate and macroergs in the brain are shown to depend on the level of adrenal hormones producing a multilateral effect on a series of energy metabolism links.