[Immunization with cellulose-immobilized antigens. The development of A. E. Gurvitch concept].

A highly purified TUL4-CBD chimeric protein was obtained by one stage purification method. TUL4-CBD protein consists of TUL4 Francisella tularensis mature peptide sequence, Gly-Ser spacer and cellulose binding domain (CBD) of Anaerocellum thermophilum. The TUL4-CBD protein was shown to induce production of specific antibodies to TUL4 protein in laboratory animals.

[The flower and blossom morphology of Asteraceae correlates with composition of their pollinators]. / Sviaz' mezhdu stroeniem tsvetkov i sotsvetii slozhnotsvetnykh (Asteraceae) i sostavom ikh opylitelei.

The correlation between flower morphology and share of different insect groups visiting them was studied for 15 Asteraceae species. We measured length and width of corolla tube of 100 flowers of each plant species and determined proportions of main groups of anthophilous insects during all blooming period. According to corolla length species under study ranged more or less uniformly from 2.16 mm (Tripleurospermum inodorum) up to 21.06 mm (Cirsium heterophyllum). The correlation between share of long-tongued bees (mainly bumblebees) among all visitors of inflorescens and corolla length was positive (r = 0.737, P < 0.01) while for short-tongued flies (Syrphidae, Muscidae, Calliphoridae) it was negative (r = -0.869, P < 0.01). It is interesting, that the point of crossing of regression lines (12 mm) approximately coincides with change in inflorescences coloration. Plants with corolla length less than 10 mm have yellow or white inflorescences that are visited primarily by flies, while the plants with longer corolla have violet or dark blue inflorescences, by bumblebees. The dependence of proportion of short-tongued solitary bees (Andrenidae, Halictidae) on a corolla length was non-linear. It increased with increase in corolla length in an interval of 2.16-6.26 mm (r = 0.930, P < 0.1), but decreased for longer corollas (r = -0.680, P < 0.05). The correlation between corolla length and proportions of beetles and butterflies were insignificant.

[Structure of coadaptive complex of forest entomophylous plants with broad spectrum of pollinators]. / Struktura koadaptivnogo kompleksa lesnykh éntomofil'nykh rastenii s shirokim krugom opylitelei.

Pollinators of common forest entomophylous plants were studied at 1982-1985 near Zvenigorod biological station (Moscow region) and at 1989-1993 near Torma (Jogeva maakond, Estonia). The comparative analysis of spectra of pollinators has allowed to distinguish five groups (subcomplexes) of plants characterized by dominance of different groups of pollinators: myiophylous (flies from superfamily Muscoidea dominate), syrphidophylous (flies from family Syrphidae dominate), nonspecialized melittophylous (Apoidea, mainly bumblebees, dominate), psychophylous (butterflies dominate), and cantharophylous (beetles dominate). The belonging of plants to concrete subcomplex is determined by the morphology of flowers and influorescences, but in some cases habitat and time of blooming are also important. From year to year the composition of pollinators of the same plant species varies because of change in abundance of different groups of pollinators. However for long term these fluctuations are leveled off. External reproductive isolation of plants of myiophylous subcomplex is achieved mainly by spatial (ecological) and time (different time of flowering) isolations. However when two species of the same subcomplex grow together and their flowering time strongly overlap, there are some distinction in their pollinators reducing competition for pollinators.

[Comparison of imaginal diets of various Syrphidae (Diptera) species]. / Sravnenie imaginal'nogo pitaniia nekotorykh vidov zhurchalok (Diptera, Syrphidae)

The full amount and species composition of pollen from intestines of 11 species of Syrphidae (Arctophila fulva, Eristalis arbustorum, E. nemorum, E. pertinax, Helophilus pendulus, Myiatropa florea, Rhingia campestris, Sericomyia silentis, Syrphus baltheatus, S. ribessii and S. vitripennis), collected at the some place (Torma, Jogeva distr., Estonia) and at the some time (18-20 July 1989) have been studied. Maximum number of pollen grains is different fly species varied from 67,800 (Rh. campestris) up to 240,700 (S. silentis) grains, and average number from 25,560 (Rh. campestris) up to 115,880 (E. pertinax) grains. Maximum volume of pollen in different fly species varied from 1.5 (S. ribesii) up to 23.6 (S. baltheatus) mm3, and average volume from 0.36 up to 7.0 mm3 (the same species). The difference in a imaginal diets of Syrphidae are found, and the degree of difference does not correlate with a degree taxonomic affinity of species. The difference in strategy of a feeding behavior of two Syrphus species, that have similar diet, are marked: in intestines of 80% specimens of S. ribesii we found pollen grains of less that 7 plant species, whereas intestines of more than 88% specimens of S. vitripennis contained more than 8 species of grains. Distinction in alimentary preferences of different species of files can not be explained neither particularities of their morphology, nor their color preferences.

[The mechanisms of the restriction of pollinator range in the fireweed (Chamaenerion angustifolium) and 2 species of geranium (Geranium palustre) and G. pratense)]. / Mekhanizmy ogranicheniia kruga opylitelei u ivan-chaia (Chamaenerion angustifolium) i dvukh vidov geranei (Geranium palustre i G. pratense).

Flowers of Chamaenerion angustifolium, Geranium palustre and G. pratense are visited by more than 100 insect species. For all plants the spectrum of visitors is similar. However the role of insects species in pollination is different and depends on the stamen and stigma length, flexibility of pedicle and feeding behaviour of insect inside flower. The possibility to take and to transport pollen grains usually increase with the size of insect. The nature of this correlation is determined by stamen and stigma length. Pollinators of G. palustre with short stamens and stigmas are smaller than those of Ch. angustifolium and G. pratense. On the other hand, more flexible pedicle of G. palustre prevent the flowers from visits of big insects. Three plants studied by the authors are not equally attractive for different insect groups. Dense in fluorescence of Ch. angustifolium and G. pratense that usually are lifter under the grass are very attractive for foraging social insects (honey bee, bumblebee). Flies avoid long distance travelling and prefer single flowers located not far from each other. For instance G. palustre is more attractive for flies not for social bees. It is pollinated mainly by flies and solitary bees with average weight of 10-70 mg. The main pollinators of Ch. angustifolium and G. pratense are honey bees, bumblebees and wasps with average mass exceeding 70 mg.

[Immunochemical determination of human lactoferrin]. / Immunokhimicheskoe opredelenie laktoferrina cheloveka.

The immunochemically pure preparation of lactoferrin was isolated from human colostrum and used for the immunization of animals with a view of obtaining antiserum, and also as a reference preparation for the determination of the content of lactoferrin in the standard. The monospecific antiserum to lactoferrin, obtained as the result of this procedure, was used for the determination of the content of lactoferrin in samples of human milk by the method of radial immunodiffusion. Through the content of lactoferrin in human milk showed considerable fluctuations, its level essentially decreased on the second week of lactation. In cases of the microbial contamination of milk the tendency towards an increase in the content of lactoferrin was observed irrespective of the time of lactation.