[The biosynthesis of low-molecular-weight nitrogen-containing secondary metabolite-alkaloids by the resident strains of Penicillium chrysogenum and Penicillium expansum isolated on the board of the Mir space station ]. / Biosintez nizkomolekuliarnykh azotsoderzhashchikh vtorichnykh metabolitov-alkaloidov shtammami-rezidentami gribov vidov Penicillium chrysogenum i Penicillium expansum, vydelennykh na orbital'noi stantsii "Mir".

The analysis of the absorption spectra of the low-molecular-weight nitrogen-containing secondary metabolites--alkaloids--of 4 Penicillium chrysogenum strains and 6 Penicillium expansum strains isolated on board the Mir space station showed that all these strains synthesize metabolites of alkaloid origin (roquefortine, 3,12-dihydroroquefortine, meleagrin, viridicatin, viridicatol, isorugulosuvin, rugulosuvin B, N-acetyl-tryptamine, and a "yellow metabolite" containing the benzoquinone chromophore).

[Problems of environmental compatibility of the Russian and US segment of the International space station]. / Problemy sovmestimosti sredy obitaniia rossiiskogo i amerikanskogo segmentov Mezhdunarodnoi kosmicheskoi stantsii.

The problem of environmental compatibility of the ISS Russian and U.S. segments arises from chemical and biological inequality of their atmospheres and is attested by the data of observations during operation of Russian orbital stations Salyut and Mir. Efforts must be made to develop unified limits, and common procedures and requirements for evaluation of ISS materials and equipment by experts of the international partners.

Biological induced corrosion of materials II: new test methods and experiences from MIR station.

During previous long-term manned missions, more than 100 species of microorganisms have been identified on surfaces of materials (bacteria and fungi). Among them were potentially pathogenic ones (saprophytes) which are capable of active growth on artificial substrates, as well as technophilic bacteria and fungi causing damages (destruction and degradation) to various materials (metals and polymers), resulting in failures and disruptions in the functioning of equipment and hardware. Aboard a space vehicle some microclimatic parameters are optimal for microorganism growth: the atmospheric fluid condensate with its specific composition, chemical and/or anthropogenic contaminants (human metabolic products, etc.) all are stimulating factors for the development of bacteria and mould fungi on materials of the interior and equipment of an orbital station during its operational phase(s). Especially Russian long-term missions (SALYUT, MIR) [correction of SALJUT] have demonstrated that uncontrolled interactions of microorganisms with materials will ultimately lead to the appearance of technological and medical risks, significantly influencing safety and reliability characteristics of individual as well as whole systems and/or subsystems. For a first conclusion, it could be summarized, that countermeasures and anti-strategies focusing on Microbial Contamination Management (MCM) for the International Space Station (ISS, next long-term manned mission) at least require a new materials test approach. Our respective concept includes a combined aging/biocorrosion test sequence. It is represented here, as well as current status of MCM program, e.g. continuous monitoring (microbiological analyses), long-term disinfection, frequent cleaning methods, mathematical modeling of ISS, etc.

[The study of biocide effectiveness of ultraviolet treatment in media stimulating space station environment]. / Izuchenie biotsidnoi éffektivnosti ul'trafioletovoi obrabotki sred, modeliruiushchikh ob''ekty kosmicheskikh stantsii.

An experiment was performed to study the biocide effect of ultraviolet treatment of simulated space station milieu. UV generated by low and moderately power-intensive sources (from 10 W to 1 kW) showed a good promise for decontaminating, within the reach, solid structural materials, and the air and water in the cabin. For instance, within 10 minutes of the UV-treatment aerial bacteria in 20 m3 were reduced in 12 to 30 times while fungal microflora was fully suppressed. Water containing spores and vegetative cells of both pathogenic and nonpathogenic microorganisms became essentially sterile after 4 to 10 minutes of treatment with low UV (in the order of 0.01 W/cm2). Different UV modalities can lay the basis for development of specific technologies of microbial decontamination of various spacecraft.

[Comparative evaluation of microorganisms biological characteristics isolated in the orbital complex "Mir" on different phases of its operation]. / Sravnitel'naia otsenka biologicheskikh svoistv mikroorganizmov, vydelennykh v orbital'nom komplekse "Mir" v razlichnye sroki ékspluatatsii.

Colonizing and bio-destructive activities and pathogenetic potential of microorganisms isolated from the MIR environment at different phases of its operations were tested and evaluated in comparison with standard "museum" cultures of analogous species. Comparison of bacterial and fungal species revealed certain cultural, biochemical, and morphological distinctions of the "flight" strains. However, to assess the character and the risk associated with peculiar evolution of microflora in long-term space missions, more careful investigations should be followed with the use of the strain genetic labeling and other modern techniques.

[Model study of ozone microbial decontamination effectiveness of space station environment]. / Model'noe izuchenie éffektivnosti ozonirovaniia dlia mikrobnoi dekontaminatsii sred v kosmicheskikh stantsiiakh.

Modeling experiments were performed to evaluate bactericide and fungicide effects of small ozone concentrations (0.3 mg/l of water and 47 mg/m3 of air) that can be generated onboard spacecraft following one hour after treatment. Over the period of treatment, reduction in aquatic microorganisms made up, depending on biotest in use, hundred and more times; concentration of atmospheric microorganisms showed a 5- to 10-fold reduction. The demonstrated effectiveness of ozone shows that it may advantage sterilization and cleaning from microorganisms a number of life support systems aboard manned space vehicles and stations.

[Residential colonization of orbital complex "Mir" environment by penicillium chrysogenum and problem of ecological safety in long-term space flight]. / Rezidentnoe zaselenie sredy na orbital'nom komplekse "Mir" penicillium chrysogenum i problema ékologicheskoi bezopasnosti v dlitel'nom kosmicheskom polete.

Results of many years of the survey of highly specific evolution of quantitative and species composition of microflora of the MIR environment are reviewed. Analysis of the data enabled listing of microorganisms-declinous fungi with the ability of residential colonization of structural materials of the interior and equipment of habitable modules of the space station. Results of the studies of variability and level of similarity/affinity on the basis of DNA, polymorphism of strains isolated in space flight, convincingly confirmed this characteristic in the Penicillium chrysogenum cultures. In view of the common origin determined from the signs of genetic alliance, the P. chrysogenum strains isolated on MIR in 1995 can be considered descendants of the cultures found at the beginning of the MIR operation. This ecological expansion of P. chrysogenum in the space station environment gains in prominence due to the fact that representative of this particular species known for its active biodestructive nature were, as a rule, detected in the areas where structural materials of the SALYUT and MIR space stations incurred biological degradation.

[Results of integrated tests of the facility to disinfect gaseous environment of orbital stations]. / Rezul'taty kompleksnykh ispytanii ustanovki dlia obezzarazhivaniia gazovoi sredy orbital'nykh stantsii.

The microbiological safety control with the use of the Potok 150M facility aboard operational orbital station of Mir series is discussed. The test results indicated that the facility does not actually influence the content of harmful microscopic admixtures in a gaseous medium of the mock-up compartments of the Mir orbital station, elevates slightly the noise level during operation and provides the highly effective purification of gaseous medium from dust and microorganisms. It allows us to conclude that an application of the Potok 150M facility aboard operational station shows promise.

[Current problems of microbial safety of the interior environment of orbital stations after extended period of operation]. / Aktual'nye problemy mikrobiologicheskoi bezopasnosti sredy obitaniia orbital'nykh stantsii v usloviiakh mnogoletnei ékspluatatsii.

The authors give considerations to one of the core hygienic problems arising in the process of long-term operation of orbital stations, i.e. ensuring microbial health of the milieu interior. Data pertaining the origin, interactions, and transformation of the microbial risk factors are analyzed as applied to this class of spacecraft. A concept of microbial health of the milieu interior including both medical and technological aspects relating to the reliability of space hardware is proposed. Based on the result of investigations in space flight, the developed criteria and indices of microbial health can be turned to practical use. The currently central tasks to be solved within the context of the problem and in view of the construction of international space station ALPHA are listed.

[The cabin microflora of manned space vehicles and the problem of the biological destruction of the construction materials used in them]. / Mikroflora kabin pilotiruemykh kosmicheskikh ob''ektov i problema biopovrezhdenii ispol'zuemykh v nikh konstruktsionnykh materialov.

It is found that during operation of manned space objects there can occur the microbial growth on the structural materials of cabin interior and equipment which results in their biological destruction. The biodestructing processes can involve single parts of cabin interior, trainer linkages, connectors, cables, illuminators. Ninety four microbial species have been identified in spacecraft environment. The bacterial flora was presented by 19 genera pertaining to 11 families and involved 58 species. The mold and yeast-like fungi were presented by 12 genera and consisted of 36 species. The significant quantities of isolated microbial species were classified as potentially pathogenic microorganisms; many of them are known as biodestructers of polymeric materials. The isolated microbial cultures in space missions have become the basis of strain bank intended for further study and practical use in validating the construction materials.

[The biological properties of Bifidobacterium]. / O nekotorykh biologicheskikh svoistvakh bifidobakterii.

The possibility of the formation of exoenzymes, such as DNAase, RNAase and hemolysin, by bifidobacteria was studied in comparison with their acid-forming and adhesive activity. Bifidobacterium reference strains, originally isolated from healthy adults and children, were studied. The study involved altogether 73 strains of bifidobacteria, including 24 B. bifidum strains, 13 B. adolescentis strains, 7 B. infantis strains, 10 B. breve strains and 19 B. longum strains. The bifidobacteria under study were shown to differ not only in the presence and activity of properties useful for macroorganisms, but also in the presence of enzymes having depolymerizing activity (DNAase, hemolysin). Thus, out of 73 strains under study 9 proved to be DNAase-positive and 6, hemolysin positive. At the same time a specific feature of bifidobacteria was their high acid-forming activity with the complete absence of RNAase activity and insignificant DNAase- and hemolysin-forming activity.

[Microbiological aspects of the environment of deep sea habitats]. / Mikrobiologicheskie aspekty obitaemosti glubokovodnykh barokompleksov.

It is known that the hyperbaric environment facilitates selection of gram-negative microorganisms which acquire ecological predominance. From this point of view deep sea habitats can be regarded as a specific anthropotechnological niche for pathogenic microorganisms, particularly Pseudomonas aeruginosa A. aeruginosa colonization of the mucosa and skin of deep sea divers may result in infection manifestations which took place in chamber experiments when test subjects showed otitis externa and when virulent strains were isolated. It was demonstrated that the basic reservoir of P. aeruginosa was the water supply system. Hence, development of a reliable method for its disinfection should be of highest priority. One of the potential methods is SHF treatment. Another important approach is personal hygiene procedures preventing skin and mucosa contamination with potentially pathogenic microorganisms and procedures for increasing colonization resistance of divers with the aid of eubiotic therapy.

[Nuclease activity of microorganisms and control of auto-microflora state of operators in hermetically sealed environment]. / Nukleaznaia aktivnost' mikroorganizmov i problema kontrolia za sostoianiem automikroflory operatorov germetichno zamknutykh ob"ektov.

A study was performed to investigate biological properties of pathogenic microorganisms (Shigella, Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus) and potentially pathogenic microorganisms which were isolated from different people, i.e. clinically healthy people with normal microflora, somatically healthy patients with intestinal dysbacteriosis, and patients with acute intestinal diseases. The most important parameters of pathogenicity typical of the basic representatives of pathogenic microflora were DNA and/or RNA forming activity. The "critical" size of depolymerization zones of nucleic acids on dense nutrient media was found to be equal to 2 mm and greater from the colony edge. The critical size was shown to be significantly different in potentially pathogenic and normal intestinal microorganisms. Maximal microbial concentrations in the major biotopes of man were estimated to be: no more than 25%, 5% and 2% for nasal mucosa, back skin, and for the large intestine of the total amount of microorganism in the test. Verification of the method gave evidence that in can be applied for an alternative evaluation of automicroflora of the large intestine of operators in an enclosed environment. It is suggested that the normal parameters characteristic of clinically healthy people need to be verified and applied in space and undersea medicine.

[Fecal contamination with nuclease-positive bacteria as one of the indices of intestinal dysbacteriosis]. / Obsemenennost' isprazhenii nukleazopolozhitel'nymi bakteriiami kak odin iz pokazatelei disbakterioza kishechnika.

A comparative study of the levels of fecal contamination with opportunistic anaerobic nuclease-positive microorganisms was carried out in 114 normal subjects with normal intestinal microflora and in 82 somatic patients with disordered microflora in order to find new integral indicators of disturbed microflora of the intestine; along with routine methods, new techniques were employed. Integral assessment of the intestinal microflora was carried out by scintillation of the total count of facultative anaerobic microorganisms and the share of nuclease-positive bacteria, that yielded nucleic acid depolymerization areas 2 mm or higher from the border of the colonies.

[Condition of the human skin during a stay in a hermetically closed compartment]. / Sostoianie kozhi cheloveka vo vremia prebyvaniia v germetichno-zamknutom pomeshchenii.

The skin of healthy men kept in an enclosed environment was examined. It was found that exposure resulted in increases of the secretions of the sebaceous glands and sebum cutaneum, number and size of comedones, lipolytic activity of microorganisms, concentration of comedonogenic acids and skin irritating acids. It also caused a greater risk of papular and pustular rashes. Changes in lipid metabolism were consistent with the skin clinical state as well as with the subjective sensations of dirty skin, desquamation and itching. The severity of the above changes was correlated with the pretest physiological and hygienic status of the subjects.

[Sanitaro-microbiologic aspects of the concurrent residence of man and animals in hermetic quarters]. / Sanitarno-mikrobiologicheskie aspekty sovmestnogo prebyvanie liudei i zhivotnykh v germetichnom pomeshchenii.

Men and animals (dogs) shared an enclosed environment for 30 days. The microorganisms on their skin and in the air were examined. Specific attention was given to staphylococcal pathogens that are potential causal agents of infectious diseases in enclosed bio-objects. The data obtained suggest that conditional pathogens can be exchanged between men and animals sharing an environment and clarify the mechanism(s) of their transfer. The experimental results have been used to develop prophylactic measures against diseases caused by conditional pathogens among men and animals sharing an enclosed environment.

[Characteristics of microflora development on the structural materials used in hermetically sealed life support quarters]. / Osobennosti formirovaniia mikroflory na konstruktsionnykh materialakh, ispol'zuemykh v obitaemykh germetichno-zamknutykh pomeshcheniiakh.

The composition of microbial and fungal associations of non-metal materials used in the interior design and equipment of enclosures was investigated when they were inhabited by men. It was found that the microorganisms formed on the structure materials were influenced by such factors as men and their specific microflora, accumulated water and dust, as well as the chemical structure of the polymers used.

[Results of microbiological research conducted during the mission of the Saliut-6 orbital station]. / Rezul'taty mikrobiologicheskikh issledovanii, vypolnennykh v protsesse ékspluatatsii orbital'noi stantsii "Saliut-6".

This paper presents the results of microbiological examinations of the Salyut-6 crewmembers and environment. There were few cases of adverse changes in the automicroflora composition, i. e., propagation of staphylococci of a certain biotype among crewmembers. However, no over manifestations of infectious pathology were seen. This allows the conclusion that personal hygiene measures and general hygiene and antiepidemic measures taken before and during Salyut-6 missions were adequate and efficient.

[Health and hygiene characteristics of the manned environment of the Saliut-7 orbital station]. / Sanitarno-gigienicheskaia kharakteristika sredy obitaniia orbital'noi stantsii "Saliut-7".

The Salyut-7 cabin environment was investigated with respect to the chemical, biological and physical factors. The gas composition was measured qualitatively and quantitatively. This determination showed a higher content of acetone and acetaldehyde when the cosmonauts worked on various trainers and unloaded the Progress cargo vehicles. The time-course study of the toxic impurities indicated that the increase in their content was transient (no more than 4 h). The microbial content was lower than in the Salyut-6 cabin environment. The study did not show a correlation between the microbial content in the environment and the time the prime crew remained onboard. There was a correlation between the microbial content, temperature variations, and conduct of certain experiments. On the whole, the Salyut-7 cabin environment was normal for the life and work of the crewmembers.