[Identification of microorganisms based on the effect of giant Raman scattering].

AIM: Development and evaluation of express diagnostics of microorganisms for reduction of time spent on study execution. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Giant Raman scattering effect and proposed substrate with metallic nano-balls of silver were used for identification and indication of microorganisms. Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus haemolyticus, Staphylococcus saprophyticus, Candida albicans, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtillis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa were used as objects of study. All the microorganisms were cultivated in dense nutrient media and non-fluorescent microbiological membrane filters. RESULTS: Giant Raman scattering method on the substrates used increases sensitivity of indication and specificity of identification of microbes compared with other existing express methods and allows to see the signal from a single bacterium when exposed to laser light. The methodic proposed was also used to determine sensitivity of bacteria to antimicrobial preparations. CONCLUSION: The proposed hardware and method may be used for express diagnostics of processes of microbial nature.

[A role of human microbiota in the development of neurodegenerative diseases]. / Rol' mikrobioty cheloveka v razvitii neirodegenerativnykh zabolevanii.

Improving the quality of life in developed countries has contributed to an increase in its duration, which has led to an increase in the number of reported cases of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) in the world. Today, there are 26.6 million patients with AD in the world and it is suspected that by 2050 the number of such patients may increase four times. Additionally, PD in different countries is recorded among people above 60-65 years old at a level of 167 to 5703 per 100.000 population. The latest studies have made it possible to formulate the main mechanisms of the «microbiota-gut-brain¼ axis associated with the pathogenesis of some neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we summarize the currently available information on the possible role of the gut microbiota in the AD and PD development. It was shown that oxidative stress is one of the main pathogenetic mechanisms of the development of neurodegenerative diseases. In addition, the deposition of lipopolysaccharides of gram-negative bacteria and amyloid of microbial origin in the brain tissue of patients with impaired permeability of the intestinal barrier plays an important role in AD. In PD, the synthesis of α-synuclein produced by bacteria and neuroinflammation are of the greatest importance. Knowledge of these mechanisms will allow the development of psychobiotics, which will reduce the risk of neurodegeneration in AD and PD.

[The prospects for the use of drugs based on the phenomenon of RNA interference against HIV infection].

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is currently one of the most pressing global health problems. Since its discovery in 1978, HIV has claimed the lives of more than 35 million people, and the number of people infected today reaches 37 million. In the absence of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), HIV infection is characterized by a steady decrease in the number of CD4+ T-lymphocytes, but its manifestations can affect the central nervous, cardiovascular, digestive, endocrine and genitourinary systems. At the same time, complications induced by representatives of pathogenic and opportunistic microflora, which can lead to the development of bacterial, fungal and viral concomitant infections, are of particular danger. It should be borne in mind that an important problem is the emergence of viruses resistant to standard therapy, as well as the toxicity of the drugs themselves for the body. In the context of this review, of particular interest is the assessment of the prospects for the creation and clinical use of drugs based on small interfering RNAs aimed at suppressing the reproduction of HIV, taking into account the experience of similar studies conducted earlier. RNA interference is a cascade of regulatory reactions in eukaryotic cells, which results in the degradation of foreign messenger RNA. The development of drugs based on the mechanism of RNA interference will overcome the problem of viral resistance. Along with this, this technology makes it possible to quickly respond to outbreaks of new viral diseases.

[Comparative studies of microbial strains used in biotechnology for the elaboration of biosafety standards].

Comparative studies of different microbial strains used in biotechnology as potentially hazardous for human health agents demonstrated their ability to cause adverse effects such as toxicity, immunotropic action, sensitization, and alteration of normal intestinal microflora in rats. It was shown that certain microscopic fungi of genera Aspergillus, Penicillum, and Candida as well as some gram-negative bacteria can affect the immune system and disturb the balance of microflora in rat intestines. Actinomycetes were found to produce minimal adverse effects. These observations can be used to elaborate hygienic safety standards for the work with industrial microorganisms and thereby reduce or minimize the risk of occupational infection and immune disorders.

[Significance of evaluation of the antibiotic-resistant properties of bacterial producing strains in the hygienic standardization system].

The study was undertaken to evaluate the antibiotic sensitivity of microorganisms that were used in biotechnological production and belonged to different taxons: gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus licheniformis, and Bacillus thuringiensis) and gram-negative (Alcaligenes denitrificans and Pseudomonas caryophylii) bacteria and noncardioform actinomycetes (Rhodococcus erythropolis and Rhodococcus corallinus). The sensitivity of the strains to a range of antibiotics was determined by the agar diffuse method. Industrial strains responded differently to test antibiotics. Gram-positive spore-forming bacteria of the genus Bacillus are most sensitive to antibiotics; the representatives of the genus Rhodococcus are moderately sensitive and the gram-negative bacteria of the genera Pseudomonas and Alcaligenes are resistant to a large number of basic antibiotics and new-generation ones. The findings were made to serve as the basis for developing selective microbiological assays for environment quality control (the air of populated areas or a working zone), which were legally adopted.

[A study of the safety of probiotic bacilli].

The aim of the study was to evaluate the biological safety of a range of probiotic bacilli, ingredients of the commercial preparations biosporin, bactisubtil, and irilis; their biological effects were scrutinized in an animal experiment. The study demonstrated that the strains B. subtilis 3, 07, and B. licheniformis 31, 09, ingredients of biosporin and irilis, unlike B. cereus IP 5832, an ingredient of bactisubtil, were not toxic, toxigenic, or virulent, and did not impair the antitoxic hepatic function, which allows considering them to be safe.

[Pre-clinical trials of new spore probiotics].

The paper presents the results of a pre-clinical trial of Bacillus bacterial strains that are ingredients of biosporin, bisporin, and irilis, new Russian probiotic preparations. The study included determination of the cultural and biochemical properties of the probiotic strains, their antagonistic activity, adhesion ability, resistance to various biological liquids, and the length of their persistence in mouse alimentary tract. The listed properties were compared with those of foreign commercial preparations, bactisubtil and enterogermin. The study demonstrated high antagonistic activity of biosporin, bisporin, and irilis against many bacteria of different taxonomic groups, and Candidae. Besides this, the study showed that, unlike similar foreign preparations, the Russian ones were characterized by relatively low adhesive ability, short-term persistence, and absence of virulence factors. According to the results of the study, the most prospective probiotic strains for further clinical application are B. subtilis VKPM B-8611 and B. licheniformis VKPM B-8610, an irilis ingredient.

[Effects of chemical agents on the immunity status of workers at Novomoskovsk enterprises]. / Vliianie khimicheskikh agentov na immunnyi status rabochikh na predpriiatiiakh g. Novomoskovska.

A comprehensive study was made of the body's immunological and microbiological responses to industrial health hazards at chemical enterprises. For this, a total of 284 workers from the Novomoskovsk Bytchim and Orgsintez Production Associations were investigated by the conventional procedures. The workers were found to have immunological changes at the cellular and humoral levels as compared with the persons who were not engaged in chemical industry. There are also changes in the structure of the intestinal microflora at the expense of higher quantities of opportunistic microbes. The findings suggest that the workers of chemical enterprises experience great immunological influences of chemical compounds in their working places, despite the existing safety and protection measures. A number of proposals have been introduced to prevent immunological and microbiological changes in this group of persons.

[Microbiocenotic changes in the large intestine of patients with various diseases]. / Izmeneniia mikrobiotsenoza tolstoi kishki u bol'nykh razlichnymi zabolevaniiami.

The specific features of the components of human large bowel microbiocenosis were studied in healthy persons and patients with various pyo-inflammatory and other diseases in relation to the physiological status. The presence of a pathological process was demonstrated to be a powerful factor of intestinal microbiocenotic variations. No specific changes in the large bowel microflora were found in the abnormalities in question.

[Infections caused by non spore-forming anaerobic bacteria]. / Sostoianie problemy infektsii, vyzyvaemykh nesporoobrazuiushchimi anaérobnymi bakteriiami.

Pyo-inflammatory diseases continue to be one of the topical problems of modern medicine. Their etiological agents are opportunistic microorganisms among which non spore-forming anaerobes are prevalent in the normal microscopic flora. They cause a pathological process when the body's immunity is decreased. The authors consider the biological features of this group of bacteria, epidemiological and pathogenetic aspects, the problems of laboratory and clinical diagnosis of non clostridial anaerobic infection and outline immediate steps to be taken to solve the problems.

[Microecology of non spore-forming anaerobes in health and in disease]. / Mikroékologiia nesporoobrazuiushchikh anaérobov v norme i pri patologii.

The authors studied the species-specific and quantitative composition of the large intestinal microbiocenosis on exposures to various factors of endo- and exogenous etiologies: the presence of a pathological process and its specific features, dietary trace element composition, unfavorable environmental (chemical) factors, as well as the impact of coexistence in the same family and the factors of family variability (the individual genotype of the macro-organism). The microenvironment of non spore-forming anaerobes that colonize the large bowel was found to be influenced by a number of various factors, both exo- and endogenous. The magnitude of these changes is associated with the intensity and specificity of an influencing factor.

[Problem in the diagnosis of anaerobic infections and dysbacteriosis in clinical dentistry]. / Problema diagnostiki anaérobnoi infektsii i disbakterioza v klinicheskoi stomatologii.

The fluorescence technique was proposed for rapid diagnosis of anaerobic infection. It determines the microbiocenosis of a wound, the gastrointestinal tract, maxillofacial region, and other pathologically changed organs and tissues. The technique allows one to follow the time course of changes in the microflora and in the pathological process during the treatment and follow-up of a patient. An attempt was made to establish a rapid diagnosis of intestinal dysbacteriosis and to evaluate its severity. A real-time feed-back unit was developed for the diagnosis of anaerobic infection. An anaerobic microflora model in dental caries was used to work out criteria for the informative value of the proposed technique and it was clinically tested.

[Human microecology studies at Department of Microbiology with Virology and Immunology, I.M. Sechenov Moscow Medical Academy]. / Issledovanie po mikroékologii cheloveka na kafedre mikrobiologii s virusologiei i immunologiei.

Studies of human microflora in health and disease and during exposure to professional and ecological factors is a traditional problem solved for many years by staff members of Department of Microbiology with Virology and Immunology, I. M. Setchenov Moscow Medical Academy. The purpose of research is to develop methods and means for diagnosis and prevention of human microbiocenosis disorders. Fundamental and applied research in cooperation with prophylactic and clinical institutions and departments yielded data contributing to solution of many pressing problems in prevention and diagnosis of infectious diseases.

[The population genetic aspects of the intestinal microbiological phenotype in healthy humans]. / Populiatsionno-geneticheskie aspekty mikrobiologicheskogo fenotipa kishechnika zdorovogo cheloveka.

The principle of the formation of the microbiological phenotype in the intestine of healthy persons was studied by the method of the population-genetic analysis. The microbial composition of the intestinal flora of healthy members of 10 complete families (altogether 50 persons) was studied. The study revealed that practically in all cases the variability of the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of the phenotype under study on the levels of both genera and individual microbial species is formed mainly under the influence of environmental factors. The presence of indigenous bacteria in the intestinal microbiocenosis (including Escherichia coli with normal enzymatic properties) is strongly genetically determined.

[Comparative study of parietal and lumen microflor in the large intestine in experiments on mice]. / Sravnitel'noe izuchenie pristenochnoi i prosvetnoi mikroflory tolstoi kishki v éksperimente na myshakh.

The methodological aspects of the study of the microflora of the parietal mucous layer (parietal mucin) of the large intestine is discussed; the study is difficult because the mucin layer is thin closely associated with epithelium and the impossibility of the mechanical separation of this layer from the epithelium without damaging the latter is possible. The method of homogenization fails to determine of the composition of parietal mucin proper. Such possibility becomes real after the dissolution of mucin and obtaining the suspension of microbial cells. As experimentally shown in vitro, urea solution, reducing disulfide bonds, effectively depolymerized mucin and exhibited no antibacterial and cytolytic activity. With the use of urea treatment, microflora of parietal mucin of the large intestine was studied on 44 non-inbred mice. This newly developed method was shown to have higher resolution in comparison with the traditional one (homogenization). Some qualitative and quantitative characteristics of the microflora of parietal mucin were established. In the same group of mice the study of fecal microflora was made and compared with microflora of parietal mucin.

[The intestinal microflora of patients with inflammatory diseases of the maxillofacial area]. / Mikroflora kishechnika u bol'nykh vospalitel'nymi zabolevaniiami cheliustno-litsevoi oblasti.

The microflora of the large intestine in patients with odontogenic phlegmons of different localization were studied. 80.8% of such patients were found to have microecological disturbances, characterized by a decrease in the number of bacteria belonging to the genera Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, Enterococcus and Bacteroides and by an increase in the number of opportunistic microorganisms.

[Role of alimentary calcium in the prevention of intestinal microflora disorders during sensitization]. / Izuchenie roli alimentarnogo kaltsiia v profilaktike disbakterioza kishechnika v usloviiakh sensibilizatsii.

According to experimental data, shortage of calcium in diet of experimental animals in conditions of sensitization leads to disturbances in intestinal microflora. Consequently calcium is an important factor of organism adaptation to antigenic loading.

[A comprehensive study of the mechanisms of the development of chronic inflammation in periodontitis]. / Kompleksnoe izuchenie mekhanizmov razvitiia khronicheskogo vospaleniia pri parodontite.

Bacteriological and cytological analysis of the saliva, dental plaques, and gingival fluid was carried out in 48 patients with periodontitis and 25 donors. The concentrations of proinflammatory cytokines IL-1 and TNF-alpha were increased, the levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-4 and TFR beta-1 were decreased, and MIF production was suppressed in the patients in comparison with donors. Important theoretical and practical recommendations are offered.