[EBOLA FEVER].

Problems of etiology, taxonomy and nomenclature offiloviruses, epidemiology, morbidity with a little-known by Russian medics especially dangerous exotic infectious disease - Ebola fever are examined. Significant distinguishing features of 2013 - 2015 epidemic in West Africa were de- tected - along with its unprecedented length, a decline did not take place as in previous outbreaks, neither causative agent virulence, nor infectivity of the infection during multiple generations from human to human. Literature data analysis allowed to assume that in the process of epidemic focus formation Ebola virus changes its properties and cyclically passes through several successive in- terconnected phases: an initial reservation phase in unknown ecosystems - animals, either plant, soil or water; intermediate phase of epidemic spread with primary acquisition of high virulence for humans, and then its decline; final stage of hidden circulation of causative agent that is ap- athogenic for humans. This hypothetical chain of natural phases' transitions of Ebola virus allows to explain and link together phenomenology of this causative agent - rapid fall of virulence and infectivity for humans in foci in dynamics of epidemic outbreaks, quite a high population immunity in nosoareal of the causative agent in Africa, that contradicts the established understanding of its high lethality for humans.

[Promising approaches of antiviral therapy of hemorrhagic fevers].

Acceptable means of therapy and prophylaxis for most of the especially dangerous viral hemorrhagic fevers to present date are lacking. Analysis of the state of this problem shows that creation of a new generation of etiotropic preparations requires selection of additional targets for their effect that may be based on the use of molecular-biological features of pathogenesis of these infections. Literature data analysis has shown that during filovirus infection non-structural and structural proteins of the causative agents serve as pathogens during direct damaging effect of the virus and secondary immune reactions that in general pervert cell and humoral components of immunity converting its destructive effect on cells and tissues of the macro organism. Selection of promising approaches of antiviral therapy is possible based on molecular-biological analysis of interaction of micro- and macro organism with isolation of the most vulnerable for the effect of causative agent aggression factors.

[Bolivian hemorrhagic fever].

Analysis of data of the available literature on epidemiology of Bolivian hemorrhagic fever, manifestations of human disease, biological properties of the causative agent and development carried out abroad of means and methods of diagnostics, prophylaxis and therapy of this infection that presents a potential threat for the population and economy of the Russian Federation in case of introduction of the causative agent is presented.

[Optimization of conditions of quantitative evaluation of argentine hemorrhagic fever causative agent].

AIM: Optimization of conditions of quantitative evaluation of Argentine hemorrhagic fever causative agent. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Junin virus (XJ P37 strain) was obtained from National collection of viral hemorrhagic fever causative agents of the 1st pathogenicity group of the 33rd Central Research Testing Institute. Junin virus (XJ P37 strain) culture with biological activity of 5.2 lg PFUxm(-1) was used in the experiments. Vero B, 6619-1(D) and GMK-AH-1(D) were obtained from collection of cell culture of the Research Scientific Centre of the 33rd Central Research Testing Institute. Calculation of biological activity of Junin virus during titration in cell cultures was carried out by Kerber method with modification by I.P. Ashmarin. RESULTS: During incubation for 4 - 7 days after the infection of cell monolayer the determined biological activity was 4.4 - 6.4 lg PFUxml(-1); the size of the formed negative colonies--(1.5 +/- 0.5) mm. CONCLUSION: The conditions of quantitative evaluation of Argentine hemorrhagic fever were optimized by negative colonies method (using 5 - 7 day Vero B cell culture monolayer with staining of monolayer on day 5 of secondary incubation, recording of results at day 7 after the infection).

[Rift valley fever].

In the last quarter of century virus of Rift valley fever (RVF) sharply extended its distribution by moving from Africa to Asia and evolving from low- to high pathogenic for humans causing severe hemorrhagic disease, practically equaling in this respect with some members ofa group of extremely dangerous pathogens. Morbidity and epidemics of RVF are analyzed. Evolution of epidemic development of the infection is examined. Necessity of development of means and methods for diagnostics, prophylaxis and therapy of RVF is underlined.

[Development of methodology for predictably significant evaluation of the protective efficacy of antiviral agents].

The paper provides a theoretical analysis for determining whether the antiviral nonspecific drugs being tested are promising to solve biosafety problems in the treatment of exotic viral infections. The essence of the proposed concept of evaluation of protective effectiveness is to analyze the effect of a test drug on the pathogenesis of experimental infection from the fact that it is effective in adequately eliminating the animal-simulated leading syndrome of human disease. The given approaches to using adequacy criteria to select the species of animals meeting the goals of tests in terms of pathogenetic and pharmacological parameters determine a new methodology for evaluating the efficacy of protective agents. Basic requirements for a testing procedure are presented. The prognostic value of evaluation of the protective efficacy of antiviral agents for man will depend on the approximation of the pathogenetic features and external manifestation of disease in the selected animal species to human Infection. The paper also covers the comparative characteristics of the course of Ebola fever and Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis in man and some species of monkey.

[Argentine hemorrhagic fever].

Features of the Argentine hemorrhagic fever are described in the review. Epidemiology, etiology, clinical presentation and pathogenesis of the disease are examined. Special consideration is given to the features of the pathological agent of Argentine hemorrhagic fever--the Junin virus. Features of the disease diagnostics are indicated--virological and serological studies, immunochemical and molecular-biological methods of identification of the pathological agent and antibodies against it. Approaches to etiotropic therapy of this disease and vaccination are examined. Based on the foreign experience perspective guidance for the creation of the system of protection of the population of the Russian Federation against Argentine hemorrhagic fever are presented.

[Estimation of the minimum infective doses of HIV in the prevalence of its infection].

Estimation of the minimum human infective doses of HIV is essential to the prediction of its infection prevalence, including in bioterrorism. Information on the epidemiology and pathogenesis of HIV infection and on the biological properties of the pathogen may serve as reference data for the theoretical determination of a rough infective dose of HIV. The most common route of virus infection is parenteral transmission. The likelihood of HIV transmission through blood depends on the frequency of transfusions, the stage of HIV infection in a donor and the amount of blood given to a recipient. The author has analyzed the data available in the literature on the epidemiology and pathogenesis of the infection, on the properties of the pathogen, and on the risks of HIV infection in different groups and summarized information on the infection among injecting drug users, which could roughly estimate the level of sensitivity in man as a biological species to this virus.

[Hantapulmonary syndrome].

Features of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome are considered in the review - zoonosis natural focal polyetiological viral infection, that is characterized by lung injury. Etiology of the disease, main characteristics of the agents, epidemiology, contagiousness, pathogenesis, clinical presentation of this pathology are examined. Laboratory diagnostics, therapy and prophylaxis ofhantavirus pulmonary syndrome are described.

[Methodology for pathogen collection].

Provision of investigations with collection pathogen cultures must ensure the adequacy of the properties of museum cultures to the characteristics of their natural prototypes. The standard preparation of collection cultures by the protocols that is optimal to preserve the original properties of a natural pathogen population, all other things being equal, assures the compatibility of the results of studies irrespective of the place and time of their performance, i.e. their continuity. The original biological properties of microorganisms can be preserved under laboratory conditions when the minimum number of enrichment and restorative culture passages is made using the biological objects that have a minimum impact on the geno- and phenotype of specific culture strains. To unifying approaches to identifying stored and incoming pathogens, to standardize the principles of identification, passport issuing, long-term preservation of the original biological properties of the reference cultures of strains, and to set up a system for the interdepartmental information support of collection tasks are problem areas for the creation of a common federal collection of microorganisms.

[Collections of pathogenic viruses for addressing general biologic problems].

Development of the theory and practice of building and maintenance of collections of reference cultures of pathogens strains is actual in conservation of a biodiversity, and as for maintenance with standardized superfine starting materials fundamental and applied researches in fields of microbiology, an immunology, biotechnology, ecology, and biosafety. Various approaches to taxonomy of viruses, and also definition of concepts "strain" and "species" are discussed in the article. Formulations of the concepts most conforming to museum collections activity are given. The methodology of collecting pathogens, including fifteen-year experience of maintenance of the National collection of hemorrhagic fever viruses belonging to group I of pathogenicity, is summarized. The systemic approach is suggested as a basis of methodology of collecting. Selection of pathogen species and their specific strains according to purpose and on the basis of complex study of their biological and other characteristics, as well as standardization and unification of methods of pathogens maintenance and preparing on their basis working materials, diagnostic kits and other preparations, create a real basis of optimization, unification and continuity of the subsequent applied researches. The offer about formation at the state level of a new independent direction--pathogens collecting with establishment of federal centers based on pathogens' classes has been made.

[Hemorrhagic (Marburg, Ebola, Lassa, and Bolivian) fevers: epidemiology, clinical pictures, and treatment].

The evaluation of the biological and epidemiological properties of Ebola, Marburg, Lassa, and Machupo viruses suggests that they are of social importance for health care authorities. The studies have created prerequisites to the development of reliable biosafety means against these pathogens. Particular emphasis is laid on the methods for infection diagnosis and on the studies to design specific protective agents--immunoglobulins and inactivated vaccines.

[Viral haemorrhagic fevers--evolution of the epidemic potential]. / Virusnye gemorragicheskie likhoradki--évoliutsiia épidemicheskogo potentsiala.

In this review modern data on dangerous and particularly dangerous viral haemorrhagic fevers caused by a group of viruses belonging to the families of phylo-, arena-, flavi-, bunya- and togaviruses are presented. Morbidity rates and epidemics caused by Marburg virus, Ebola fever virus, Lassa fever virus, Argentinian and Bolivian haemorrhagic fever viruses, dengue haemorrhagic fever virus, Crimean haemorrhagic fever virus, Hantaviruses are analyzed. Mechanisms of the evolution of the epidemic manifestation of these infections are considered. The importance of the development of tools and methods of diagnosis, rapid prevention and treatment of exotic haemorrhagic fevers is emphasized.

[Nonspecific antiviral preparations: hopes and realities (a review of the literature)]. / Nespetsificheskie protivovirusnye preparaty: nadezhdy i realii (obzor literatury).

The review of the literature presents the information about the properties of antiviral drugs, spectrum of action and theoretical bases of their development. It is shown that unspecific drugs surpass the traditional vaccinal and serous agents that are of importance in terms of military medicine. The conclusion is made that it is reasonable to direct the development of therapeutic strategy and tactics in virus infections to the search of optimal combinations of unspecific and immunobiological drugs with pathognomic and symptomatic medicaments.

[A hypothetical model of the biomechanical interaction of the teeth and the abutment tissues of the jaws during masticatory loading of different values]. / Gipoteticheskaia model' biomekhanicheskogo vzaimodeistviia zubov i opornykh tkanei cheliusti pri razlichnykh znacheniiakh zhevatel'noi nagruzki.

Biomechanical model "tooth-jaw" in considered. This biomechanical model takes into account local nonhomogeneous mechanical constructions tooth-jaw, its special geometry, physical properties of firm tissues of tooth, periodontium and jaw. Using mathematical methods, determination of supporting jaw tissues depending by computer tomograms was grounded. The system SPLEN-K has calculated tension-deformed condition of dental tissues in area of a group of chew teeth.

[Use of serologic methods for identifying and classifying some alpha-viruses]. / Ispol'zovanie serologicheskikh metodov dlia identifikatsii i sistematizatsii nekotorykh al'fa-virusov.

Sindbis group viruses can be indirectly identified and classified. Three antigenic subtypes were distinguished by solid-phase enzyme immunoassay (SPEIA): African, West-Asian, and North-European. The negative plaque suppression test is recommended for identification of new Alphavirus strains for detecting species-specific antigenic determinants, and SPEIA for classification by appurtenance to antigenic subtypes.