Yeasts affect tolerance of Drosophila melanogaster to food substrate with high NaCl concentration.

The ability of model animal species, such as Drosophila melanogaster, to adapt quickly to various adverse conditions has been shown in many experimental evolution studies. It is usually assumed by default that such adaptation is due to changes in the gene pool of the studied population of macroorganisms. At the same time, it is known that microbiome can influence biological processes in macroorganisms. In order to assess the possible impact of microbiome on adaptation, we performed an evolutionary experiment in which some D. melanogaster lines were reared on a food substrate with high NaCl concentration while the others were reared on the standard (favourable) substrate. We evaluated the reproductive efficiency of experimental lines on the high salt substrate three years after the experiment started. Our tests confirmed that the lines reared on the salty substrate became more tolerant to high NaCl concentration. Moreover, we found that pre-inoculation of the high salt medium with homogenized salt-tolerant flies tended to improve reproductive efficiency of naïve flies on this medium (compared to pre-inoculation with homogenized control flies). The analysis of yeast microbiome in fly homogenates revealed significant differences in number and species richness of yeasts between salt-tolerant and control lines. We also found that some individual yeast lines extracted from the salt-tolerant flies improved reproductive efficiency of naïve flies on salty substrate (compared to baker's yeast and no yeast controls), whereas the effect of the yeast lines extracted from the control flies tended to be smaller. The yeast Starmerella bacillaris extracted from the salt-tolerant flies showed the strongest positive effect. This yeast is abundant in all salt-tolerant lines, and very rare or absent in all control lines. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that some components of the yeast microbiome of D. melanogaster contribute to to flies' tolerance to food substrate with high NaCl concentration.

Yeasts in Hevea brasiliensis Latex.

Yeast abundance and species diversity in the latex of caoutchouc tree Hevea brasiliensis (Willd. ex Juss.) M611. Arg., on its green leaves, and in soil below the plant Was studied. The yeasts present in the fresh latex in concentrations of up to 5.5 log(CFU/g) were almost exclusively represented by the species Candida heveicola, which was previously isolated from Hevea latex in China. In the course of natural modification of the latex yeast diversity increased, while yeast abundance decreased. The yeasts of thickened and solidified latex were represented by typical epiphytic and ubiquitous species: Kodamea ohmeri, Debaryomyces hansenii, Rhodotorula mucilaginosa, and synanthropic species Candida parapsilosis and Cutaneotrichosporon arbori- formis. The role of yeasts in latex modification at the initial stages of succession and their probable role in de- velopment of antifungal activity in the latex are discussed.

[INVESTIGATION OF IRON, ZINC, STABLE STRONTIUM AND LITHIUM CONTENT IN BIOLOGICAL FLUIDS AND TISSUES DURING EXPERIMENTAL SPACE FLIGHT SIMULATION].

In an experiment with space flight simulation, atomic emission spectral analysis with inductively coupled argon plasma was employed to measure iron, zinc, stable strontium and lithium in blood serum and its ultrafiltered fraction, and excretion with daily urine and hair. Monitoring of serum iron and its ultraviolet fraction showed good balance of these parameters in all periods of the experiment. Blood serum was found to contain exclusively iron bound with protein carriers. In the experiment, serum zinc was distinctively dependent on the nutrient status. Stable strontium excretion with daily urine can be a biological indicator of its homeostasis. The experiment factors had no effect on the lithium form in serum, i.e. lithium was invariably present in the ionized form and in quantities equal to ultrafiltered lithium in all blood samples in all periods of the experiment.

[The evaluation of prognostic value of biomarkers in patients with chronic cardiac insufficiency].

Nowadays, the laboratory markers of myocardial dysfunction (cerebral natriuretic peptide - NT-proBNP); instability of atherosclerotic plaque (highly sensitive C-reactive protein - hsCRP); damages of cardiac muscle (highly sensitive cardiac tropine I - hs-cTnl) play a key role in diagnostic, course prognostics and verification of risk of unfavorable outcomes in patients with chronic cardiac insufficiency. The article presents the results of study of dynamics of levels of NT-proBNP, hsCRP, hs-cTnl in 71 patients with chronic cardiac insufficiency of II and III functional class (according classification of New-York association of cardiologists - NYHA). The comparison was made concerning analyzed laboratory markers with fraction of output of left ventricle of heart and index of body mass relatively to their prognostic role inpatients with chronic cardiac insufficiency with different clinical conditions and various outcomes of disease. It is demonstrated that level of hs-cTnl is the most valuable in respect to unfavorable prognosis of course of chronic cardiac insufficiency and risk of lethal outcome. The level of NT-proBNP has invert correlation relationship with fraction of output of left ventricle of heart and can be considered as a laboratory indicator of functional condition of myocardium in patients with chronic cardiac insufficiency.

[Age and gender characteristics of the content of macro- and trace elements in the organisms of the children from the European North].

By means of the nuclear-emission spectral analysis with inductively connected argon plasma were studied the contents of 28 macro- and trace elements (Al, Ag, Li, Ba, Bi, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ga, In, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Mo, P, Zn, Se, Tl, Pb, Sr, S, Si) in the hair of children and teenagers living in the European North of the Russian Federation (Arkhangelsk region). There were revealed both: decrease and increase of some elements' contents. Also were revealed the dynamics of mentioned elements contents in the hair of the same children in different years. Significant individual variability of the macro and trace elements' status of children-northerners and some gender dependence were revealed.

[Investigation of the copper content in blood serum and its ultrafiltrate in the conditions of experimental space flight simulation].

In experiment MARS-500 on remote space flight simulation, atomic emission spectral analysis with inductively coupled argon plasma was used to measure serum copper and its ultrafiltration fraction. It was shown that, in contrast to baseline data, the Cu serum level varied within the normal physiological boundaries throughout the entire simulation experiment. These variations were sync in all the serum samples. In several periods in the experiment reductions in serum Cu within the baseline range were equivalent to simultaneous reductions in ceruloplasmin. Amount of the free Cu (ultrafiltration) fraction, i.e. not bound to proteins in blood serum, was constant at all times. Since the simulation experiment is not a perfect analogy of space flight because of nonreproducibility of some factors, ionizing radiation specifically, we should take into consideration shifts in the serum copper balance caused by the action of space radiation on human organism. Radiation-induced imbalance is not only a marker of disturbed oxidase function of blood but also points to a mechanism of potential pathological outcome of toxic excessive copper accumulated in the brain, liver and kidney.

[Magnesium level in human organism during 105-day isolation].

Total and ionized magnesium in blood serum and in daily urine were determined before (baseline values) and on days 30, 60 and 105 of the experiment with 105-d isolation and confinement (Mars-105)/ Magnesium in hair was investigated before (baseline values) and on day-105 of the experiment. The investigations were performed using atomic emission spectrometry with inductively coupled argon plasma. Changes in magnesium were most significant over the initial 30 days in the experiment. Reduction of serum magnesium was accounted for by the fall in the ionized fraction. In organism magnesium is controlled by the ion-regulatory function of the kidney and varies with individuals. Levels of ionized magnesium in blood serum and excreted with daily urine can serve as indicators of stress resistivity .

[Spacial structure of epiphytic yeast communities on fruits of Sorbus aucuparia L].

The subject of this research is epiphytic yeast communities that form on the surface of Sorbus aucuparia. The object is to make quantitative assessment of the yeast communities' differentiation of the same but distant substratum. Results of the factor variance nidicolous analysis demonstrated that with increase in distances, there are increases in the variation of total number and relative abundance of the dominant yeast communities. The average similarity between groups of single fruits (Sorensen's Quotient of Similarity) regularly decreased with distance. The results demonstrate that the number and structure of separate yeast groups depend not only on ecological factors but also on proximity to other communities. Such aggregation in the distribution of the microorganisms' species caused by migration and colonial resettlement should be taken into account when analyzing their diversity in natural habitats.

[Macro- and micro-element balance in tissue of different organs of experimental animals during their physiological and accelerated (radiation) aging].

By the method of atom-emission spectral analysis with inductive combined argon plasma we researched the containing of Al, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Mo, P, Pb, S, Zn in lungs, liver, kidneys, spleen and hemispheres of brain of female mice CBA line, aged 26 month and 14 months, and on the accelerated radiation aging model composed of mice of the same age and gender. The process of accelerated radiation aging stimulates accumulation of Al in liver and in kidneys; decreasing of containing Cd in lungs and spleen and increasing it in liver; decreasing of containing Co in lungs and spleen and increasing it in kidneys; decreasing of containing Cu in spleen; decreasing of containing Fe in lungs; decreasing of containing Mg in liver; decreasing of containing Mn in lungs and spleen; decreasing of containing Mo in lungs and spleen and increasing of it in liver and kidneys; the containing of Pb is decreased in lungs and increased in liver; the containing of S is decreased in liver and kidneys, the containing of Zn is decreased in liver and spleen (p < 0.05). The disbalance in macro- and microelements homeostasis relates to the system mechanic of aging process, as it is one of the links of interrelated dysfunction of vital functions both separated molecules and regulation systems of organism. We admitted that part of the changing in the system of macro- and microelements balance is connected with possible function of extra factors (toxic microelements), other part (essential macro- and microelements) is consequence of ontogenetic programs of an organism.

[Pigmented basidiomycete yeasts are a promising source of carotenoids and ubiquinone Q10].

Strains of basidiomycete yeasts isolated from different sources were studied in order to determine the content of carotenoid pigments and ubiquinone Q10 for subsequent selection work to obtain producers of these substances. High specific productivity of carotenoids (600-700 mg/g) was revealed in the representatives of the following species: Cystofilobasidium capitatum. Rhodosporidium diobovatum, R. sphaerocarpum. Rhodotorula glutinis, Rh. minuta, and Sporobolomyces roseus. The ratio of the major pigments (torulene, torularhodine, and beta-carotene) in the representatives of different species was studied. Certain specific features of pigment formation in relation to the taxonomic position of the yeasts were determined. Eurybiont species with substantial ecological lability are the most active producers of carotenoids and ubiquinone Q10 among the epiphytes. It is the first time a comparative analysis of the coenzyme Q10 content in different taxa has been performed using several strains of the same species. The maximal coenzyme Q10 production (1.84 mg/g of dry biomass) was found in the yeast species R. sphaerocarpum.

Characteristics of the formation of systems activity in the brain and autonomic functions in children in conditions of the European North (discussion paper).

Results obtained from complex medical-physiological investigations performed during 10 scientific expeditions in the Arkhangel'sk Region in 2003-2005 are presented. The effects of climatological-geographic, biogeochemical, and social conditions of the conditions obtaining in the Far North region of Russia on sexual maturation, formation of the structural-functional organization of the brain, autonomic functions, and immunological and biochemical status of schoolchildren were studied using state-of-the-art neurophysiological methods (computerized electroencephalography, computerized rheoencephalography, computerized electric dipole origin tomography, etc.), psychophysiological and psychometric methods (assessment of the state of cognitive and memory functions, Wechsler intellectual scale), along with biochemical assay of monoamine oxidase (MAO, the key enzyme in adrenergic neurotransmitter metabolism) and the liver enzyme butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) and physicochemical analysis of the levels of macroelements and trace elements in the body.