Effects of the Linear Fragments of Beta-(1→3)-Glucans on Cytokine Production in vitro.

Beta-glucans, homopolysaccharides composed of 3,6-branching ß-(1→3)-D-glucan chains, attract great interest as inducers of cytokine synthesis. In this work, we studied the ability of linear fragments of beta-glucan chains to activate cytokine synthesis. Synthetic nona-ß-(1→3)-D-glucoside (SO) representing a linear fragment of beta-glucan chain, endotoxin (ED), and natural ß-(1→3)-D-glucan (GL) were tested for their role as inducers of cytokines in whole peripheral blood cultures collected from 17 individuals. The concentrations of IL-12p70, IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-10, IL-8, IL-6, IL-4, IL-5, IL-1ß, TNF-α, and TNF-ß were measured in the supernatants after 2, 24, and 48 h of cell culturing. SO, ED, and GL stimulated production of pro-inflammatory IFN-γ, IL-1ß, IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α and anti-inflammatory IL-10. The highest levels of biosynthesis after stimulation with SO were registered for IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α. SO stimulated production of all cytokines (except IFN-γ) to a lesser extent than ED and GL. The IFN-γ/IL-10 (Th1/Th2) ratios after 24 and 48 h of culturing were 3.1 and 7.5 for SO; 0.03 and 0.1 for GL; and 0.06 and 0.2 for ED, respectively. The results indicate that linear fragments of beta-glucans cause a more pronounced shift of immune response towards the pro-inflammatory (Th1) type than beta-glucan itself.

[Polysaccharide compounds of mycelial fungi in dust of living quarters].

AIM: Detection of correlation between quantity of fungi and concentration of polysaccharides in dust of living quarters in Moscow. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Micromycetes from home dust were isolated by dilution method (1:1000). Polysaccharide concentration in home dust was evaluated by using gel-thromb test (Lal-test, Associates of Cape Cod Inc.). RESULTS: Correlation between quantity of fungi and concentration of polysaccharide in home dust was not detected. CONCLUSION: For pyrogenic load evaluation in quarters besides detection of quantity of micromycetes and exposition of microgenic allergens, consideration of concentration of polysaccharide compounds is also actual.

[Methods of assessment and control of house dust mites population and mite allergen exposure].

The work is devoted to analysis of various methods of assessment and control of house dust mites population and mite allergens in city dwellings using own results and the literature data. Data about in-house dust mites biology and ecology, mechanisms of their migration and circulation in modern city conditions are presented. The comparison of several methods of mites number assessment and mite allergens exposure (classical acarological analysis, colorimetric method of guanine detection in house dust, immunochemical methods) has been performed and their advantages and disadvantages analyzed. As choice of adequate avoidance measures is one of the key question, various such measures (mechanical, physical and chemical) have been compared.

[Domestic dust mites in the dwellings of Penza].

Twenty-seven mite species belonging to 23 genera, 13 families, and 2 orders were identified. The mites of the family Pyroglyphidae, amounting to 91.1% of the total number of mites, were found to dominate in the acarocomplex of Penza dwellings. Pyroglyphid mites were represented by 3 species with Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Dermatophagoides farinae absolutely prevailing in both their abundance (20.0 and 68.5%) and frequency (39 and 75%). The maximum number of D. pteronyssinus and D. farinae reached 2.867 and 3.400 mites per g of dust, respectively. Mites of the families Acaridae and Glycyphagidae were registered in 27 and 15% of the apartments, respectively; and their abundance was about 4%. G. destructor is most frequently encountered. The specific abundance and detection rate of other mites were not high. The influence of various socioeconomic factors on the number of D. pteronyssinus and D. farinae was analyzed using statistical methods. A significant correlation was found between the number of mites, the air moisture of a premise, the building material used for the construction of a house, the type of a housing estate (a private or tenement house) and heating (central or self-contained). No significant relationship was established between the number of mites, the ventilation of premises, the presence of domestic animals and plants or flowers, and the number of dwellers. Out of 81 patients with allergic diseases (allergic rhinitis (73%), bronchial asthma (4%), and allergic rhinitis concurrent with asthma (23%)), 44 and 25% patients had positive skin tests for D. pteronyssinus and allergens of D. farinae, respectively. There was no positive correlation between the number of pyroglyphid mites, positive skin tests, and the diagnosis.

[House-dust mites and mold fungi as a source of indoor allergens]. / Kleshchi domashnei pyli i plesnevye griby--istochnik bytovykh allergenov.

In this work information on the biology and ecology of synanthropic mites and mold fungi, proved to be the sources of indoor allergens in different premises, is presented. The authors propose the algorithm of the ecological monitoring of dwellings, developed on the basis their investigations. The types of dwellings, the time and situations when ecological monitoring should be carried out are analyzed. Grounds for the necessity of controlling the number of mites and the concentration of Micromyces spores, as well as their elimination from the environment, are given.

[Report of Quambalaria cyanescens associated with birch].

Long-term microbiological investigation of the pollen of silver birch (Betula pendula) in the Mos- cow, and Moscow region areas revealed that: almost one-third of the analyzed samples, contained the fungus identified by morphological, cultural, and molecular genetic techniques as Quambalaria cyanescens (de Hoog & G. A. de Vries) Z.W. de Beer, Begerow & R. Bauer. This species was previously known mostly as a syrmbiont of tropical plants of the generaEucalyptus and Cortyminbia and has not been isolated in Russia. We revealed a close association between Quambalaria cyanescens and silver birch. The micromycete was regulaly detected in pollen samples, as well as on the.inside and outside of the aments, on the surface of leaves and branches. It was never isolated from other plant species in the investigated area. The data on the morphological and cultural characteristics of the fungus, its cell ultrastructure, and occurrence are presented, as well as the phylogenetic analysis of the isolated strains.