[Molecular epidemiological analysis of hiv infection in northern seaports of Russia].

The results of the molecular-epidemiological analysis of HIV-1 variants circulating in Arkhangelsk and Murmansk - northern seaports of Russia - were presented. In these seaports the HIV-1 variants belonging to subtype A1 were predominant (93% in Murmansk, 83% in Arkhangelsk). In addition to these variants, viruses of other subtypes such as B, C, D and recombinant forms CRF02_AG and CRF03_AB were identifed. The heterogeneity of circulating HIV-1 variants was higher in Arkhangelsk than in Murmansk. According to the results of phylogenetic analysis, subtype A1 sequences formed the common branch with nucleotide sequences of IDU-A strains found in other regions of Russia. HIV-1 variants of subtype B sub-clustered with sequences of East European B-variants. The recombinant strains CRF02_AG formed the common branch with HIV-1 sequences from Central Asia republics of the former USSR. Among 124 therapy-naive patients from Arkhangelsk and Murmansk (n = 124) the transmitted resistance was less than 5%.

[Newcastle disease virus in the populations of wild birds in the south of the Primorye Territory in the period of autumn migrations in 2001-2004].

The paper presents the results of molecular virological monitoring of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) by reverse-polymerase chain reaction (followed by sequence of F-gene fragment 374 p.n.) and chick embryo isolation of samples from the avian cloacal swabs collected in the south of the Primorye Territory in September-October 2001-2004. It shows that before 2004, there were only slightly pathogenic variants of NDV of genotype 1 in this region and in 2004 they were added by highly pathogenic variants of subtypes 3a and 5b. The impact of landscaping features of the south of the Primorye Territory on the environment of NDV is discussed.

[Ecology and evolution of influenza viruses in Russia (1979-2002)]. / Ekologiia i évoliutsiia virusov grippa v Rossii (1979-2002 gg.).

The research results on ecology and evolution of influenza A viruses, which has been conducted by the Center of Ecology and Evolution of influenza Viruses of Ivanovsky's Institute of Virology, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, for more than 30 years, are summarized in the paper. A gene pool of influenza A viruses circulating in Russia's territory was defined. Foci of influenza A viruses were detected in natural biocenosis. Issues conditioned by the population interrelations of influenza viruses, i.e. between the populations of wild and home animals and the populations of people, are also under discussion.

[Phenotypic and genetic analysis of a variant of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) subtype B, isolated in Russia]. / Fenotipicheskii i geneticheskii analiz varianta virusa immunodefitsita cheloveka (VICh-1) subtipa B, vydelennogo v Rossii.

Human immunodeficiency type 1 virus env subtype B 95RU25B isolated from a Russian citizen is studied. The time course of clinical changes and immunological parameters over 5.5 years is presented. Phenotypical characteristics of the isolate were assessed by culturing in different sensitive cell cultures. Genotyping by the heteroduplex analysis and env gene sequencing were carried out. 95RU25B variant is capable of infecting a wide spectrum of cell cultures and by the type of replication can be classified with the S/L.3 group. The phenotypical properties of the isolate apparently determine the characteristic features in the primary structure of V3 loop.

[Presence of HTLV-I antibodies in patients with sexually transmitted diseases]. / Nalichie antitel k HTLV-I u patsientov s zabolevaniiami, peredaiushchimisia polovym putem.

The prevalence of human T-lymphotropic type I virus (HTLV-I) among patients with sexually-transmitted diseases is studied in Russia. Primary screening of antibodies to HTLV-I in the sera was carried out by enzyme immunoassay with recombinant gag and env HTLV-I-specific antigens synthesized in Escherichia coli. For secondary screening, Serodia HTLV-I and Vironostika Microelisa System kits were used. None of the 1271 serum samples collected in the towns of Perm and Ekaterinburg was HTLV-I-positive. This indicates a lower, in comparison with other European countries, level of infection with this virus, at least in this region of Russia. Testing of sera from 79 HIV-infected patients revealed none infected with HTLV-I.

[Expression of the gene for the gp46 surface glycoprotein from the human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I) in bacteria]. / Ekspressiia gena poverkhnostnogo glikoproeida gp46 virusa T-kletochnogo leikoza cheloveka tipa I (HTLV-I) v bakteriiakh.

A set of recombinant plasmids containing different fragments of HTLV-I env gene has been constructed on the basis of pUR290-pUR292 vectors. The hybrid proteins containing different fragments of ENV predecessor in the C-terminal of beta-galactosidase differed in stability in Escherichia coli cells. The presence of N-terminal of ENV predecessor in recombinant proteins considerably decreases their resistance to proteases of the bacterial cell. Elimination of this fragment led to obtaining of the recombinant plasmid pESG coding for the high level of synthesis of the env-specific hybrid polypeptide (up to 30% of the total cellular protein). This 134 Kda protein is able to interact efficiently with the HTLV-I positive sera and may be used in the diagnostic test-systems for identification of the HTLV-I infected patients.

[Expression of the gag-precursor of the human T-cell leukemia virus type I in Escherichia coli: study of the stability and antigenic properties of virus-specific hybrid proteins]. / Ekspressiia gag-predshestvennika virusa T-kletochnogo leikoza cheloveka tipa I v kletkakh Escherichia coli: izuchenie stabil'nosti i antigennykh svoistv virusspetsificheskikh gibridnykh belkov.

A set of recombinant plasmids containing sequences of HTLV-I viral gag-gene has been constructed on the basis of pUR290-pUR292 vector plasmids. The resulting hybrid proteins containing different fragments of GAG-precursor in the C-end of beta-galactosidase differed to a large extent in stability in Escherichia coli cells. The presence of an N-end fragment of GAG-precursor in the recombinants decreases drastically their resistance to bacterial proteases. Elimination of the fragment resulted in obtaining the recombinant plasmid pGdN coding for high rate synthesis (up to 30% of total cellular protein) of gag-specific hybrid polypeptide in Escherichia coli HB101 cells. This 145 kDa protein efficiently interacts with HTLV-I positive sera. It can be used in diagnostic test-systems for indicating HTLV-I infected persons.