Photodynamic Effect of some Phthalocyanines on Enveloped and Naked Viruses.

Activity of three photosensitizing phthalocyanine derivatives was tested for photodynamic inactivation towards two coated and two non-enveloped viruses - bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV), influenza virus A(H3N2), poliovirus type 1 (PV-1) and human adenovirus type 5 (HAdV5). In the case of coated viruses, a combination of virucidal and irradiation effects was registered by octa-methylpyridyloxy-substituted Ga phthalocyanine (Ga8) toward BVDV, whereas tetra-methylpyridyloxy-substituted Ga phthalocyanine (Ga4) revealed a marked photoinactivation only. No such effect was observed towards influenza A virus. In contrast, the photoinactivating potential of Ga4 and Ga8 marked very high values on naked viruses, especially on HAdV5, at which both the virucidal as well as the irradiation effects became combined.

[Morphological characteristics of peripheral blood erythrocytes in elderly, senile, and long-living persons (according to the data of a computer study)].

The paper presents the results of a study of the morphometry of peripheral blood erythrocytes in elderly, senile, and long-living persons on an ASPEK Russian computer cell image analyzer, by applying the programs to measure the sizes of the cells and their hemoglobin count. By examining large amounts of erythrocytes, the use of a current technology provides objective characteristics of not only cell sizes, but also fundamentally new information on hemoglobin count in an individual erythrocyte and on the structure of red blood cells in terms of this indicator. The average diameter and area of a red blood cell population were ascertained to correspond to the generally accepted adult upper normal ranges manually calculated. The composition of a red blood cell population was determined by the distribution of cells containing different hemoglobin levels. The use of the results of the investigation optimizes the detection of patients with impaired hemoglobin formation.

[Interferon induction in calves after experimental infection with bovine herpesvirus 1]. / Induktsiia na interferon u teleta sled eksperimentalno zaraziavane s bovidniia kherpesvirus 1.

A total of 9 calves were used to test the interferon-inducing activity of strain Vulchedrum of the bovid Herpes virus 1. The virus of stomatitis vesiculosa adapted to cell cultures of calf kidney was used as an indicator of interferon. The antiviral action of interferon was demonstrated in the serum and the nose discharge of calves. The dynamics of interferon production in calves varied, depending on the venous, muscular, and tracheal route of application of the virus. Highest interferon titer in the serum was established at the venous application. In the nose discharge highest titers were found following tracheal application. Additional criteria demonstrating the presence of interferon in the positive serum and discharge samples were the unchanged activity at pH 2 and 4 degrees C for 24 hours; the unchanged activity following heating at 56 degrees C for 30 min; the unchanged activity following treatment with ether; the lack of activity following heating at 25 degrees C for 30 min; and the lack of activity at incubation with trypsin. The positive samples showed also antiviral unspecificity--inhibited was not only the virus of stomatitis vesiculosa, but also M. parainfluenza-3.

[Adaptation of attenuated strain of P. parainfluenzae-3 in cultured swine kidney cells and analysis of its immunogenicity]. / Adaptirane na atenuiran shcham na P. parainfluenza-3 vurkhu kletuchni kulturi ot svinski bubrek i prouchvane na imunogennostta mu.

Strain Mihailovgrad of P. parainfluenza-3 was successfully adapted to cell cultures of pig kidney at its 15th passage. Its testing for innocuity was carried out through the inoculation of test calves with high amounts of the pathogen. No pathologic, temperature, and anaphylactic reactions were established. This confirmed the harmless character of the attenuated strain. Comparative testing for immunogenicity was performed with 8-month-old calves. Full coincidence with the antibody response was obtained with strain Mihailovgrad as a vaccinal strain. The use of the adapted strain for the production of a vaccine is to be preferred as there is no possibility of contamination with other bovine viruses.