[Analysis of the Complete Tomato Aspermy Virus Genomes Suggests Reassortment in Russian Isolates from Chrysanthemum].

Tomato aspermy virus (TAV, genus Cucumovirus from the family Bromoviridae) is one of the most common and harmful chrysanthemum viruses, causing severe flower distortion, size reduction, and color breaking. Metatranscriptome sequencing of chrysanthemum plants of the Ribonette and Golden Standard cultivars from the collection of the Nikita Botanical Garden (Yalta, Republic of Crimea) generated TAV-related RNA reads. The complete genomes of two Russian isolates of the virus were assembled from the reads. This is the first report of full-length TAV genomes from Russia. Typically of cucumoviruses, the segmented TAV genome is represented by three single-stranded positive-sense linear RNA molecules of 3412 (RNA1), 3097 (RNA2) and 2219 (RNA3) nucleotides. Five open reading frames (ORF) have been identified that encode replicase (ORF1), RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (ORF2a), silencing suppressor protein (OFR2b), movement protein (OFR3a) and the coat protein (ORF3b). The identity of TAV genomes from the two chrysanthemum cultivars was 99.8% for all three viral RNAs; with other TAV isolates from GenBank it was 97.5-99.7% (RNA1), 93.8-99.8% (RNA2), and 89.3-99.3% (RNA3). Phylogenetic analysis showed that RNA1 and RNA3 of the Russian isolates were assigned to heterogeneous groups of TAV isolates found on various plant species in different regions of the world. At the same time, RNA2 clearly clustered with tomato isolates SKO20ST2 from Slovenia and PV-0220 from Bulgaria and, to a lesser extent, with the Iranian isolate Ker.Mah.P from petunia and the Chinese isolate Henan from chrysanthemum. The incongruence of phylogenetic trees reconstructed from different genome segments suggests pseudo-recombination (reassortment) in the Russian TAV isolates.

Interaction of plum pox virus with specific colloidal gold-labeled antibodies and development of immunochromatographic assay of the virus.

Two monoclonal antibodies (mABs) raised against plum pox virus (PPV) were shown to recognize its D, M, and C strains. Conjugates of the antibodies with colloidal gold (CG) nanoparticles averaging 26 nm in diameter were synthesized. The binding constants of PPV with both the native and conjugated mABs were determined using a Biacore X device. The complexes between the CG-mAB conjugates and plum pox virions were examined by means of transmission electron and atomic force microscopy. Using the conjugates with optimal component ratio, an express immunochromatographic assay of PPV was developed with a detection limit of 3 ng/ml and duration of 10 min. The assay was tested for PPV detection in samples of stone fruit tree leaves and demonstrated a good compatibility with the data obtained by "sandwich"-ELISA. The developed assay can be used in the field and applied for monitoring viral infection and for quarantine purposes.

[Development of immunochromatographic test systems for express detection of plant viruses].

Express immunochromatographic test-strip assays were developed for detection of five plant viruses varying in shape and size of virions: spherical carnation mottle virus, bean mild mosaic virus, rod-shaped tobacco mosaic virus, and filamentous potato viruses X and Y. Multimembrane composites (test strips) with immobilized polyclonal antibodies against viruses and colloidal gold-conjugated antibodies were used for the analysis. The immunochromatographic test strips were shown to enable the detection of viruses both in purified preparations and in leaf extracts of infected plants with a sensitivity from 0.08 to 0.5 microg/ml for 10 min. The test strips may be used for express diagnostics of plant virus diseases in field conditions.

[Effect of the molecular weight of chitosan on its antiviral activity in plants].

The effect of the molecular weight of chitosan on its ability to suppress systemic infection of bean mild mosaic virus in bean (Phasoleus vulgaris L.) plants was studied. The enzymatic hydrolysate of low-molecular-weight chitosan was successively fractionated by ultrafiltration through membranes with decreasing pore size. In total, four chitosan fractions with a weight-average molecular weight varying from 1.2 to 40.4 kDa were obtained. It was shown that the treatments of bean plants with these fractions (chitosan concentration, 10 or 100 microg/ml) inhibited virus accumulation and systemic propagation. The degree of chitosan-induced antiviral resistance increased as the molecular weight of chitosan decreased. The monomers comprising the chitosan molecule-glucosamine and N-acetylglucosamine--exhibited no antiviral activity.

[The antiviral activity of chitosan (review)]. / Protivovirusnaia aktivnost' khitozana. (Obzor)

Data on the inhibitory effect of chitosan on viral infections in animals, plants, and microorganisms are reviewed. The effects of the physicochemical parameters and structure of chitosan on its antiviral activity are analyzed. Possible mechanisms of the inhibitory effect of chitosan on viral infections are discussed.

[Effect of chitosan oligomer on phage particles and reproduction of phage 1-97A in Bacillus thuringiensis culture]. / Vliianie oligomera khitozana na fagovye chastitsy i reproduktsiiu faga 1-97A v kul'ture Bacillus thuringiensis.

The causes of bacteriophage 1-97A inactivation by the chitosan oligomer with a polymerization degree of 15 and the influence of the oligomer on the phage reproduction in the culture of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. galleriae, strain 1-97, were studied. The study of the inactivation kinetics showed that, in 1 h, virtually all chitosan was bound to the phage particles, causing, as evidenced by electron microscopy, DNA release from the phage head, destruction of the phage particles, and agglutination of the phage particles or of their tails in the region of the endplate. High-polymeric chitosan caused more pronounced destruction of the phage particles than the oligomer. It was established that chitosan prevented the production of complete phage particles. One of the mechanisms of such an influence may be the production in the presence of chitosan of phage particles devoid of DNA.

[Coliphages inactivation using chitosan derivatives]. / Inaktivatsiia kolifagov proizvodnymi khitozana.

The effect of chitosan fragments with different degrees of polymerization and the chemical derivatives of chitosan differing in the number of amino groups and total molecule charge on phages T2, T4, and T7 was studied. The interaction of chitosan with bacteriophage particles inactivated them to the extent dependent on the chemical properties of chitosan and its concentration. Phage T2 was found to be most susceptible to inactivation by chitosan. The polycationic nature of chitosan plays an important role in the inactivation of phages. It is assumed that the abnormal rearrangement of the basal plate of phages, the loss of long tail fibers, and probably, modification of the receptor-recognizing phage proteins may be responsible for the inactivation of coliphages by chitosan.

[Effect of chitosan derivatives on the development of phage infection in cultured Bacillus thuringiensis]. / Vliianie proizvodnykh khitozana na razvitie fagovoi infektsii v kul'ture Bacillus Thuringiensis.

The influence of chitosan fragments with different degrees of polymerization and some chemical chitosan derivatives on the infection of Bacillus thuringiensis by phage 1-97A was studied. It was shown that chitosan inhibits phage infection and inactivates phage particles. The extent of inhibition of phage infection inversely depended on the degree of polymerization of chitosan fragments. On the contrary, the extent of inactivation of phage virulence was proportional to the degree of polymerization. Chitosan derivatives did not inhibit the growth of bacilli. Deaminated chitosan derivatives at a concentration of 100 mg/ml efficiently inhibited phage reproduction, exhibiting no correlation between the degree of deamination and antiviral activity. The anionic derivative chitosan sulfate and N-succinate-6-O-sulfate did not inactivate phage, did not influence bacterial growth, and did not inhibit the process of viral infection.

[Effect of chitosan derivatives on the reproduction of Coliphages T2 and T7]. / Vliianie proizvodnykh khitozana na reproduktsiiu kolifagov T2 i T7.

The effect of chitosan derivatives with different degrees of polymerization and deamination, as well as of chitosan 6-O-sulfate and chitosan N-succinate-6-O-sulfate, on the reproduction of coliphages T2 and T7 in Escherichia coli and on the growth of this bacterium was studied. Chitosan derivatives decreased the yield of coliphages and exhibited bactericidal activity. The efficiency of inhibition of viral infection and the bactericidal activity of chitosan were found to be dependent on the degree of its polymerization. At the same time, there was no correlation between the degree of chitosan deamination and the extent of inhibition of viral infection. Anionic chitosan derivatives virtually did not possess antiviral or bactericidal activity. It is assumed that chitosan blocks some stages of phage reproduction. The decrease in the phage-producing ability of E. coli may also be due to the bactericidal effect of chitosan.

[Characterization of a new strain of Bacillus thuringiensis, a producer of an endotoxin against coleoptera]. / Kharakteristika novogo shtamma Bacillus thuringiensis, produtsenta éndotoksina protiv zhestkokrylykh.

A new strain of Bacillus thuringiensis 2-7 was found to belong to the serotype H8. Cells of this strain contained irregular and flat crystalline inclusions and two large plasmids. The gene responsible for crystal formation is most likely located on the large plasmid greater than 105 MDa in size. Comparison of the cry gene of B. thuringiensis 2-7 and the cryIIIA gene of B. thuringiensis subsp. tenebrionis showed that their nucleotide sequences are identical.

[A comparative evaluation of the antianginal action of commercially and noncommercially produced validol in neurocirculatory dystonia and stenocardia]. / Sravnitel'naia otsenka antianginal'nogo deistviia validola promyshlennogo i nepromyshlennogo izgotovleniia pri neirotsirkuliatornoi distonii i stenokardii.

As many as 20 patients with neurocirculatory dystonia (NCD) and 10 IHD patients presenting with stable exertional angina were evaluated for an effectiveness of antianginal action of validol tablets commercially- and noncommercially produced, the above tablets being of the changed composition in the latter case. Validol of both changed and unchanged composition had a similar transient antianginal effect which was higher in NCD than it was in angina pectoris. Economical as well as clinical effects of validol of the changed make up warrant it to be commercially produced.

[Inhibition of phagolysis in a Bacillus thuringiensis culture by chitosan]. / Ingibirovanie khitozanom fagolizisa kul'tury Bacillus thuringiensis.

The ability of chitosan (poly-D-glucosamine) and two chitosan salts to prevent the phagolysis of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. galleriae strain 1-97 was studied. Chitosan and its salts inhibited the productive infection caused by two nonrelated bacteriophages 1-97A and 1-97B and suppressed the culture lysis upon spontaneous prophage induction. The efficiency of inhibition depended on the chitosan concentration, medium composition, and bacteriophage type.

[Inhibition by chitosan of productive infection of T-series bacteriophages in the Escherichia coli culture]. / Ingibirovanie khitozanom produktivnoi infektsii bakteriofagov T-serii v kul'ture Escherichia coli.

The possibility of the use of chitosan aminopolysaccharide (poly-D-glucosamine) and its two salts--acetate and hydrochloride--to prevent phase infection of the Escherichia coli culture, strain B1, was studied. It was shown that chitosan inhibited productive infection caused by the bacteriophages T2 and T7, the efficiency of inhibition of both bacteriophages depending directly on the final concentration of chitosan in a medium. Neither chitosan nor its salts significantly prevented the growth of the bacterial culture.

[Ultraviolet irradiation of the blood in the treatment of patients with stable stenocardia]. / Ul'trafioletovoe obluchenie krovi v lechenii bol'nykh stabil'noi stenokardiei.

The authors established essential efficacy of monotherapy using ultraviolet irradiation of the blood in stable stenocardia of functional class II. It was also established that this method increased tolerance to physical load, correction of the hemodynamics and microcirculation.

Characterization of bean mild mosaic virus: particle morphology, composition and RNA cell-free translation.

Virions of bean mild mosaic virus (BMMV) are built of 180 subunits of a single protein species of MW 40 x 10(3) [coat protein CP], packed into a T = 3 surface lattice. The capsomers on the five-fold symmetry axes protrude 2-3 nm from the particle surface. The virions encapsidate genome-size [approximately 4,200 nucleotides (nt)] as well as some heterogeneous RNAs of subgenomic size approximately 1,000-2,000 nt. In cell-free systems from Krebs-2 ascites cell extracts and rabbit reticulocyte lysates, genome-size RNA directed the synthesis predominantly of two polypeptides of MW 27 x 10(3) and 79 x 10(3) while the third major BMMV-specific polypeptide (MW 40 x 10(3), putative CP) seemed to be encoded by a shorter messenger RNA. The 'cap' analogue, m7GDP, partially inhibited BMMV RNA in vitro translation, suggesting that at least part of the BMMV-specific RNAs are capped. Oligo (dT)-cellulose column chromatography data suggested that poly(A)-tracts are absent from the BMMV genome. The data obtained confirm the previous classification of BMMV within the carmovirus group.

[Use of the hypotensive drug guanfacine in the treatment of patients with hypertension]. / Primenenie guanfatsina - gipotenzivnogo preparata dlia lecheniia bol'nykh gipertonicheskoi bolezn'iu.

The hypotensive effect of guanfacin was evaluated in 39 essentially hypertensive patients aged 18 to 64 years and treated for 2 months. Their central, and peripheral hemodynamics, intracardiac kinetics and some humoral factors responsible for vascular tonicity control were also examined. The drug can be effective in patients with second- and third-stage essential hypertension, with a good hypotensive effect being obvious within 3-5 days of treatment (3 mg daily was the highest dose). In the course of treatment, general left-ventricular pump function returned to normal in 20 patients exhibiting a good hypotensive effect. Within 2 months of treatment, originally high plasma renin activity returned to normal, and the activity of angiotensin-converting enzyme declined.