[Microbial composition of the activated sludges of the Moscow wastewater treatment plants].

The contribution of the major technologically important microbial groups (ammonium- and nitrite-oxidizing, phosphate-accumulating, foam-inducing, and anammox bacteria, as well as planctomycetes and methanogenic archaea) was characterized for the aeration tanks of the Moscow wastewater treatment facilities. FISH investigation revealed that aerobic sludges were eubacterial communities; the metabolically active archaea contributed insignificantly. Stage II nitrifying microorganisms and planctomycetes were significant constituents of the bacterial component of activated sludge, with Nitrobacter spp. being the dominant nitrifier. No metabolically active anammox bacteria were revealed in the sludge from aeration tanks. The sludge from the aeration tanks using different wastewater treatment technologies were found to differ in characteristics. Abundance of the nitrifying and phosphate-accumulating bacteria in the sludges generally correlated with microbial activity, in microcosms and with efficiency of nitrogen and phosphorus removal from wastewater. The highest microbial numbers and activity were found in the sludges of the tanks operating according to the technologies developed in the universities of Hanover and Cape Town. The activated sludge from the Novokur yanovo facilities, where abundant growth of filamentous bacteria resulted in foam formation, exhibited the lowest activity The group of foaming bacteria included Gordonia spp. and Acinetobacter spp., utilizing petroleum and motor oils, Sphaerotilus spp. utilizing unsaturated fatty acids, and Candidatus 'Microthrix parvicella'. Thus, the data on abundance and composition of metabolically active microorganisms obtained by FISH may be used for the technological control of wastewater treatment.

[Lipid composition of activated sludge in a pilot plant for anaerobic ammonium oxidation].

The lipid composition of the microbial community inhabiting activated sludge in a pilot reactor for the anaerobic oxidation of ammonium (anammox) at the Kur'yanovo Treatment Plant (Moscow) has been studied. The fatty acid composition is mostly based on common fatty acids C14-C18 (95%) with both normal and isomeric structures. The biomass of activated sludge was found to contain lipids with the so-called ladderane substances (ladder alcohols and fatty acids) that are common for anammox bacteria: C20-[3]-ladderane and C20-[5]-ladderane alcohols and C18-and C20-[3]-ladderane and C18- and C20-[5]-ladderane acids. In addition, the native extract contained both simple and compound ethers of the above-mentioned substances with residues of phosphocholine, phosphoethanolamine, and phosphoglycerine. The spectra of the electron impact and tandem mass spectrometry of certain substances have been obtained and published for the first time.

[A novel bacterium carrying out anaerobic ammonium oxidation in a reactor for biological treatment of the filtrate of wastewater fermented residue].

A new genus and species of bacteria capable of ammonium oxidation under anaerobic conditions in the presence of nitrite is described. The enrichment culture was obtained from the Moscow River silt by sequential cultivation in reactors with selective conditions for anaerobic ammonium oxidation. Bacterial cells were coccoid, -0.4 x 0.7 mm, with the intracellular membrane structures typical of bacteria capable of anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammoxosome and paryphoplasm). The cells formed aggregates 5-25 µm in diameter (10 µm on average). They were readily adhered to solid surfaces. The cells were morphologically labile, they easily lost their content and changed their morphology during fixation for electron microscopy. The organism was capable of ammonium oxidation with nitrite. The semisaturation constants Ks for nitrite and ammonium were 0.38 mg N-NO2/L and 0.41 mg N-NH4/L, respectively. The maximal nitrite concentrations for growth were 90 and 75 mg N-NO2/L for single and continuous application, respectively. The doubling time was 32 days, µ(max) = 0.022 day(-1), the optimal temperature and pH were 20 degrees C and 7.8-8.3, respectively. According to the 16S rRNA gene sequencing, the bacterium was assigned to a new genus and species within the phylum Planctomycetes. The proposed name for the new bacterium is Candidatus Anammoximicrobium moscowii gen. nov., sp. nov. (a microorganisms carrying out anaerobia ammonium oxidation, isolated in the Moscow region).

[Regional features of present-day polymorbidity of internal diseases].

Analysis of transnosological and trans-systemic polymorbidity for 2003-2011 in a general therapy clinic included 23310 patients (9111 men and 14199 women). It was supplemented by comparative analysis of morbidity in southern West Siberia and Yakutiya. The assessment was performed for three age groups (16-39, 40-59, over 60 years). The mean number of nosological forms (transnosological morbidity) and affected systems of organs (trans-systemic morbidity) averaged 5.19 +/- 0.01 and 4.09 +/- 0.01 per patient respectively (4.93 +/- 0.02 and 3.92 +/- 0.02 in men, 5.36 +/- 0.02 and 4.19 +/- 0.01 in women). The prevalence of polymorbidity was significantly higher in women than in men and in Yakutia higher than in West Siberia. The differences tend to be smoothed in recent years. Transnosological morbidity coefficients in male and female residents of Novosibirsk region increased from 4.14 +/- 0.03 and 4.60 +/- 0.04 respectively in 2003-2005 to 5.48 +/- 0.05 and 6.70 +/- 0.06 in 2009-2011 (p < 0.0001). In Yakutiya this growth in men was less pronounced than in a more temperate climate and was practically inapparent in women.

[The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in an organized population].

Triple screening of industrial employees (city of Mirny, West Yakutia) was carried out in 1991-2007 in conformity with the WHO/CINDI protocol designed to elucidate risk factors of chronic non-infectious diseases. The study included 2221 subjects. Metabolic syndrome (MS) was diagnosed based on criteria of NCEP-ATP III Program modified in 2005. The prevalence of MS increased during 17 years more than three-fold in both men and women (from 6 3 to 23.0% and from 9.2 to 32.4% respectively). In other words, it grows continuously. The commonest components in the structure of MS in men and women were arterial hypertension, abdominal obesity, hyperglycemia in 1991 and arterial hypertension, low HDLP cholesterol level, abdominal obesity in 2000 and 2007 (additionally, hypertriglyceridemia in men).

[Clinical, metabolic, age-related, and biorhythmologic aspects of daily arterial pressure profiles in patients with arterial hypertension].

The work was designed to study daily arterial pressure (AP) profile in 103 patients aged 20-70 (48.6 +/- 12.) years with grade I-II arterial hypertension and its relation to selected metabolic parameters, heliogeophysical factors and age. The patients underwent 24-hr AP monitoring, calculation of body mass index, measurement of blood glucose and cholesterol levels. Non-dippers showed higher mean nocturnal AP values than dippers probably due to higher BMI, glucose and cholesterol levels. These patients were more sensitive to heliophysical factors. Patients above 60 years displayed higher AP values in morning hours compared with 21-40 year-old ones. These data can be used in the development of primary and secondary prophylaxis of arterial hypertension.

[Effect of chemical chaperones on properties of lysozyme and the reaction center protein from Rhodobacter sphaeroides].

The influence of three chemical chaperones: glycerol, 4-hexylresorcinol, and 5-methylresorcinol on the structure, equilibrium fluctuations, and the functional activity of the hydrophilic enzyme lysozyme and the transmembrane reaction center (RC) protein from Rb. sphaeroides in a broad range of concentrations has been studied. Selected chemical chaperones are strongly different by the structure and action on hydrophilic and membrane proteins. The influence of the chemical chaperones (except methylresorcinol) on the structure, dynamics, and functional properties of lysozyme and RC protein are well described within the frames of extended models of preferential hydration and preferential interaction of protein with a chemical chaperone. A molecule of hexylresorcinol consists of a hydrophobic (alkyl radical) and a hydrophilic (aromatic nuclus) moieties. This fact provides additional regulation of functional activity of lysozyme and RC by hexylresorcinol. The influence of methylresorcinol on proteins differs from that of glycerol and hexylresorcinol. Methylresorcinol interacts with the surface of lysozyme directly, not via water hydrogen bonds. This leads to a decrease in denaturation temperature T(d), and an increase in the amplitude of equilibrium fluctuation, which allows him to be a powerful activator. Methylresorcinol interacts with the membrane RC protein only by the condensation of hydration water, which is negligible in the case of methylresorcinol. Therefore, methylresorcinol does not effect the functional properties of the RC protein. It was concluded that various chaperones at one and the same concentration and chaperones at different concentrations form diverse 3D structures of proteins, which differ by dynamic and functional characteristics.

[Serum hormonal levels in diamond-extracting industry workers of Yakutia, with surface and underground type of work].

The authors studied influence of work type (surface or underground) on serum hormonal levels in male workers of "International" mine within diamond-extracting complex of Yakutia-Sakha Republic. The results obtained show compensation and adaptation changes of endocrine system in males engaged into underground work vs. those of surface work.

[Antimicrobic features of phenolic lipids].

The connection between the efficiency of phenolic lipids (PL) and their hydrophobic property (solubility) and hydrophobic property of microorganisms' cell structure is shown. The mixture of amphiphilic di(oxiphenil)-phenil-methanes, which act bacteriostatically under 15 mg/l, possesses maximal efficiency against Staphylococcus aureus. Against Mycobacterium smegmatis with hydrophobic cell wall, hydrophobic 2,4-dialkylocibenzol 70 mg/l was the most effective. Hexylresorcin (HR) stops the development of gram-positive bacteria in concentrations 20-50 mg/l, that of gram-negative bacteria in concentration 65 mg/l, that of M. smegmatis at 70 mg/l, and that of yeast and fungi at 300 mg/l. HR prevails bacteria spores germination in the concentration 25-100 mg/l. The dependence of antibacterial action of isomers and homologues of alkylresorcins on their structure--number, position, and length of alkyl substituents--is studied.

[Heart rate variability in migrants to the North with hypertension comorbid with biliary diseases].

AIM: To study heart rate variability (HRV) in patients with biliary problems and hypertension depending on duration of their life in the North. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A standardized screening of 1014 workers living in Mirny (Yakutia) according to the WHO/CINDI Euro regional committee program was performed. CONCLUSION: With an increase of duration of living in the North patients with biliary diseases combined with arterial hypertension develop disorders of humoral-metabolic regulation mechanisms, increased parasympathetic activity, imbalance of the autonomic nervous system.

[Effect of a synthetic analogue of bacterial anabiosis autoinducers hexylresorcinol on the stability of membrane structures].

The effect of hexylresorcinol (HR), a chemical analogue of microbial anabiosis autoinducers of the alkylhydroxybenzene (AHB) group, on the stability of biological membranes and monolamellar liposomes formed of egg phosphatidylcholine (ePC) was studied. According to spectrophotometry and electron microscopy studying of HR-loaded liposomes in the presence of a surface-active agent Tween 20, the critical ratio between HR and ePC for liposome preservation was found to be close to equimolar. The trends in HR influence on membrane structural organization and stability confirmed in experiments on liposomes were also reproduced on intact bacterial cells explaining non-species-specific effect of AHBs. The demonstrated high efficiency of AHB biocides may be used in material and equipment protection against biocorrosion.

[Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: age peculiarities, breakthrough in pathogenetic therapy].

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, including non-alcoholic steatohepatosis (NSH) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is considered to be a wide spread disease. Such reasons as metabolic, toxic, infections, alimentary and cryptogenic cause this disease. Pathogenesis of the disease is complex. If the necessary medical preventive measures are absent the disease develops as follows, first steatosis, then steatohepatitis, fibrosis, liver cirrhosis, hepatocarcinoma. The aim of the investigation was to study influence of Metadoxil in patients with NSH and NASH. The conducted investigation have shown high efficiency of the drug at combined treatment of a patient.

[Regulatory effect of microbial alkyloxybenzenes of different structure on the stress response of yeast].

The effect of alkyloxybenzenes (AHBs) belonging to the class of alkylresorcinols differing in the degree of hydrophobicity--C7-AHB and more hydrophobic Cl12-AHB--on the resistance of Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells to heat shock and oxidative stress of lethal intensity was studied. Depending on structure and concentration, AHB added 2 h before exposure to stress had either an antistress or stress-potentiating effect on yeast cells in the mid-logarithmic growth phase. C7-AHB at concentrations 0.25-0.5 g/l caused a two- to fivefold increase in the resistance of yeast cells to hydrogen peroxide (30-150 mM), whereas Cl2-AHB reduced it at all concentrations. C7-AHB and Cl2-AHB had a similar effect on yeast subjected to heat shock (45 degrees C, 30 min). It was found that the degree of the protective effect of C7-AHB and potentiating effect of Cl2-AHB depended on the nature of the stressor, being more pronounced in heat shock. The environmental significance of the antistress and stress-potentiating effects of microbial AHBs is discussed.

[Changes in physicochemical properties of proteins, caused by modification with alkylhydroxybenzenes].

Kinetic characteristics of model enzymes and physicochemical properties of globular proteins modified by chemical analogues of low-molecular-weight microbial autoregulators (alkylhydroxybenzenes, AHBs) have been studied. C7 and C12 AHB homologues were used, differing in the length of the alkyl radical and the capacity for weak physicochemical interactions. Both homologues affected the degree of protein swelling, viscosity, and the degree of hydrophobicity. The effects depended on the structure of AHBs, their concentration, and pH of the solution, which likely reflects changes in the charge of the protein globule and its solvate cover. Variations of hydrophobicity indices of AHB-modified enzymes (trypsin and lysozyme) were coupled to changes in the catalytic activity. The values of K(M), measured for the enzymes within both AHB complexes, did not change, whereas V(max) increased (in the case of C7 complexes) or decreased (C12 complexes). Possible molecular mechanisms of changes in the physicochemical and catalytic parameters of enzymatically active proteins, induced by modification with structurally distinct AHBs, are described, with emphasis on targeted regulation of functional activity.

[Effect of bacterial satellites on Chlamydomonas reinhardtii growth in an algo-bacterial community].

The growth characteristics of an algo-bacterial community (Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and bacterial satellites) were studied, as well as the mechanism and patterns of bacterial effect on algae. Four strains of predominant bacteria were isolated and partially characterized. They were assigned to the following taxa: Rhodococcus terrea, Micrococcus roseus, and Bacillus spp. A pure culture of the alga under study was obtained by plating serial dilutions on agarized media with ampicillin. Within the algo-bacterial association, the alga had a higher growth rate (0.76 day(-1)) and yield (60 microg chlorophyll/ml culture) than in pure cultures (0.4 day(-1) and 10 microg chlorophyll/ml culture, respectively). The viability of the algal cells within the association was retained longer than in pure culture. Among the isolated bacterial satellites, strains B1 and Y1, assigned to the species Rhodococcus terrae, had the highest stimulatory effect on algal growth. The culture liquid of bacteria incubated under the conditions not permitting growth stimulated algal growth; the culture liquid of actively growing bacteria had an opposite effect.

[Biofilm--"City of microbes" or an analogue of multicellular organisms?].

The definition of the term "biofilm" and the validity of the analogy between these structured microbial communities and multicellular organisms are discussed in the review. The mechanisms of biofilm formation, the types of interrelations of the components of biofilms, and the reasons for biofilm resistance to biocides and stress factors are considered in detail. The role of biofilms in microbial ecology and in biotechnology is discussed.

[Research on the early stages of spore germination in Bacillus subtilis using dynamic phase microscopy].

The changes in the state of Bacillus subtilis spores that occur during germination were analyzed using dynamic phase microscopy (DPM). DPM is based on monitoring and analyzing the interference image of a specimen in a coherent laser beam. The optical path difference (the phase thickness of the specimen, PT) depends on the geometrical height of the specimen and its refractive index. We demonstrated that the maximum PT value is a convenient criterion of the physiological state of the organism involved: PT is > or = 80 nm, 40-50 nm, and < or = 0 in dormant, developing (initiated), and heat-killed spores, respectively. We established that (i) heating a spore suspension to 40 degrees C results in a reversible twofold decrease (from 80 to 40 nm) in their PT under conditions that do not promote the development of the bacteria; this decrease is irreversible under growth-promoting conditions; (ii) the PT values of germinating spores oscillate with a considerable fluctuation amplitude (up to 7 nm), in contrast to the limited fluctuation amplitude (within 1 nm) in dormant spores; (iii) activated spores were heterogenous with respect to the PT pattern: a majority of the spores exhibited a usual spatial profile (with a maximum thickness in the center), whereas a minor fraction of them were characterized by an erythrocyte-like profile with a concave center; this implies that the central zone of the spore was more rapidly hydrated (with a decrease in refractive index) than the peripheral zone.

[Influence of chemical analogue of extracellular microbial autoregulators on antilysozyme activity of bacteria].

Modifying action of C7-alkyloxybenzol (methylresorcin) on the antilysozyme activity (ALA) of opportunistic microorganisms (Bacillus cereus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Escherichia coli) was studied. C7-alkyloxybenzol (C7-AOB, methylrezorcin), which was used as chemical analogue of microbial autoregulators, was added to growth medium containing microorganisms, which were cultivated until entered stationary phase. Isolation of clones was performed by seeding of 24-hours broth culture on solid growth medium, and then ALA was measured using photometric method. Modifying action of C7-AOB on ALA characteristic-based population structure of B.cereus, K. pneumoniae, and E. coli was revealed. Maximal effect was detected when the concentration of C7-AOB was in range 1-10 mcg/ml. Decrease of mean ALA level caused by C7-AOB was linked to decrease of proportion of clones with high and intermediate ALA level, increase of proportion of clones with low level of lysozyme inhibitor, and emergence of clones lacking ALA in the population.