Recombinants between Deformed wing virus and Varroa destructor virus-1 may prevail in Varroa destructor-infested honeybee colonies

We have used high-throughput Illumina sequencing to identify novel recombinants between deformed wing virus (DWV) and Varroa destructor virus-1 (VDV-1), which accumulate to higher levels than DWV in both honeybees and Varroa destructor mites. The recombinants, VDV-1VVD and VDV-1DVD, exhibit crossovers between the 5’-untranslated region (5’-UTR), and/or the regions encoding the structural (capsid) and non-structural viral proteins. This implies the genomes are modular and that each region may evolve independently, as demonstrated in human enteroviruses. Individual honeybee pupae were infected with a mixture of observed recombinants and DWV. The strong correlation between VDV-1DVD levels in honeybee pupae and the associated mites was observed, suggesting that this recombinant, with a DWV-derived 5’-UTR and non-structural protein region flanking VDV- 1-derived capsid encoding region, is better adapted to transmission between V. destructor and honeybees than the parental DWV or a recombinant bearing the VDV-1-derived 5’-UTR (VDV-1VVD)

Spin-gapless semiconductivity and half metallicity in Heusler alloys

In recent years, ever increasing interest in spin-based electronics (spintronics) has resulted in the search for a new class of materials that can provide a high degree of transport spin polarization. An ideal candidate would act like insulator for one spin channel and a conductor or semiconductor for the opposite spin channel (e.g. half metals (HM), spin gapless semiconductors (SGS)). In this work, we present results of our computational and theoretical study (Staten, et al., J. Appl. Phys. 117, 17D115 (2015)) of Heusler compounds with potential commercial applications in the field of spintronics. We show that naturally these materials are metallic, however they may become SGS or HM when 50% of Al is substituted with In or Sn. Detailed study of the structural, electronic, and magnetic properties of these materials is presented. These properties are in good agreement with our preliminary experimental results

Direct Visualization of Laser-Driven Focusing Shock Waves

Cylindrically or spherically focusing shock waves have been of keen interest for the past several decades. In addition to fundamental study of materials under extreme conditions, cavitation, and sonoluminescence, focusing shock waves enable myriad applications including hypervelocity launchers, synthesis of new materials, production of high-temperature and high-density plasma fields, and a variety of medical therapies. Applications in controlled thermonuclear fusion and in the study of the conditions reached in laser fusion are also of current interest. Here we report on a method for direct real-time visualization and measurement of laser-driven shock generation, propagation, and 2D focusing in a sample. The 2D focusing of the shock front is the consequence of spatial shaping of the laser shock generation pulse into a ring pattern. A substantial increase of the pressure at the convergence of the acoustic shock front is observed experimentally and simulated numerically. Single-shot acquisitions using a streak camera reveal that at the convergence of the shock wave in liquid water the supersonic speed reaches Mach 6, corresponding to the multiple gigapascal pressure range 30 GPa

Microevolution of tick-borne encephalitis virus in course of host alternation

AbstractTwo tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) virus variants were studied: mouse brain-adapted strain EK-328 and its derivate adapted to Hyalomma marginatum ticks. The tick-adapted virus exhibited small-plaque phenotype and slower replication in PEK cells, higher yield in ticks, decreased neuroinvasiveness in mice, increased binding to heparin-sepharose. A total of 15 nucleotide substitutions distinguished genomes of these variants, six substitutions resulted in protein sequence alterations, and two were in 5′NTR. Two amino acid substitutions in E protein were responsible for the observed phenotypic differences. Data obtained during reverse passaging of the tick-adapted virus in vivo and in vitro suggest that TBE virus exists as a heterogeneous population that contains virus variants most adapted to reproduction in either ticks or mammals. Host switch results in a change in the ratio of these variants in the population. Plaque purification of the tick-adapted virus resulted in the prompt emergence of new mutants with different virulence for mammals

Филиал НИИ общей реаниматологии им. В. А. Неговского в городе Новокузнецке: история, научные исследования, достижения

The review presents the history of establishing the Institute, studies and achievements of employees of the V. A. Negovsky Research Institute of General Reanimatology' former regional campus in the city Novokuznetsk.В обзоре представлены история создания, проведенные научные исследования и достижения сотрудников Филиала НИИ общей реаниматологии им. В. А. Неговского в городе Новокузнецке

Targeted Deletion of HIF-1α Gene in T Cells Prevents their Inhibition in Hypoxic Inflamed Tissues and Improves Septic Mice Survival

Sepsis patients may die either from an overwhelming systemic immune response and/or from an immunoparalysis-associated lack of anti-bacterial immune defence. We hypothesized that bacterial superantigen-activated T cells may be prevented from contribution into anti-bacterial response due to the inhibition of their effector functions by the hypoxia inducible transcription factor (HIF-1alpha) in inflamed and hypoxic areas.Using the Cre-lox-P-system we generated mice with a T-cell targeted deletion of the HIF-1alpha gene and analysed them in an in vivo model of bacterial sepsis. We show that deletion of the HIF-1alpha gene leads to higher levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, stronger anti-bacterial effects and much better survival of mice. These effects can be at least partially explained by significantly increased NF-kappaB activation in TCR activated HIF-1 alpha deficient T cells.T cells can be recruited to powerfully contribute to anti-bacterial response if they are relieved from inhibition by HIF-1alpha in inflamed and hypoxic areas. Our experiments uncovered the before unappreciated reserve of anti-bacterial capacity of T cells and suggest novel therapeutic anti-pathogen strategies based on targeted deletion or inhibition of HIF-1 alpha in T cells

Динамика содержания внесосудистой воды легких, внутричерепного и церебрального перфузионного давлений при острых нарушениях мозгового кровообращения

Objective: to study the time course of changes in extravascular lung water index (ELWI) and intracranial and cerebral perfusion pressures (ICP and CPP) and to determine their possible relationships in acute cerebral circulatory disorders (ACCD). Subject and methods. ELWI, pulmonary vascular permeability index (PVPI), ICP, CPP, and central hemodynamics were studied by transpulmonary thermodilution and current X-ray studies were conducted in 18 patients on days 1, 3, 5, and 7 of ACCD. Results. Examinations revealed a supratentorial dislocation of the brain in 6 persons; its subtento-rial dislocation was found in 1 case; supra- and subtentorial dislocations were seen in 6. In patients, ELWI and PVPI increased from days 1 and 5, respectively. The high baseline ICP increased over time. CPP remained unchanged. Preserved left ventricular contractility, enhanced myocardial one, a significant direct correlation between ELWI and PVPI, as well as their increase confirmed that the noncardiogenic genesis was responsible for increased ELWI. A direct significant correlation was found between ICP and ELWI, ICP and PVPI. Against this background, acute respiratory distress syndrome developed in 14 patients with pneumonia evolving in its presence in 7 patients. Conclusion. In ACCD, ELWI increases in the first 24 hours of the acute period. One of its causes is, along with others, primary and/or secondary damage to the brainstem structures with elevated ICP and progressive brain dislocation. The determination of ICP, unlike CPP, is crucial in the diagnosis and treatment of primary/secondary brain injuries and in prognosis. Key words: acute cerebral circulatory disorder, extravascular lung fluid, pulmonary vascular permeability, intracranial pressure, cerebral perfusion pressure, acute respiratory distress syndrome.Цель исследования — изучение динамики содержания внесосудистой жидкости легких (ELWI), внутричерепного и церебрального перфузионного давлений (ICP и CPP) и определение возможных взаимосвязей между ними при острых нарушениях мозгового кровообращения (ОНМК). Материал и методы. Исследование ELWI, индекса проницаемости сосудов легких (PVPI), ICP и CPP, состояния центральной гемодинамики методом транспульмональной термоди-люции и современные рентгенологические исследования проведены у 18 больных в 1, 3, 5 и 7-е сутки острого периода ОНМК. Результаты. При обследовании были выявлены супратенториальная дислокация головного мозга у 6 человек, субтенториальная — у 1, супра- и субтенториальная — у 6. У больных с 1-х суток повышался ELWI, а c 5-х — PVPI. Исходно высокое ICP в динамике возрастало, а CPP не изменялось. Сохранение сократительной способности левого желудочка, повышение сократительной способности миокарда, значимая прямая корреляционная связь между ELWI и PVPI, а также их увеличение подтверждали некардиогенный генез увеличения ELWI. Была выявлена прямая значимая корреляционная связь между ICP и ELWI, ICP и PVPI. Острый респираторный дистресс-синдром (ОРДС) развивался на этом фоне у 14 больных с развитием пневмонии на его фоне у 7-и. Заключение. При ОНМК содержание внесо-судистой жидкости легких увеличивается с первых суток острого периода. Одной из причин этого, наряду с другими, является первичное и/или вторичное повреждение стволовых структур на фоне повышения ICP и прогрессирования дислокации головного мозга. Определение ICP является ведущим в диагностике и лечении первичных/вторичных повреждений головного мозга, а также в прогностическом плане, в отличие от CPP. Ключевые слова: острое нарушение мозгового кровообращения, внесосудистая жидкость легких, проницаемость сосудов легких, внутричерепное давление, церебральное перфузионное давление, ОРДС

From ‘Hellstrom Paradox–to anti-adenosinergic cancer immunotherapy

Cancer therapy by endogenous or adoptively transferred anti-tumor T cells is considered complementary to conventional cancer treatment by surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy. However, the scope of promising immunotherapeutic protocols is currently limited because tumors can create a ‘hostile–immunosuppressive microenvironment that prevents their destruction by anti-tumor T cells. There is a possibility to develop better and more effective immunotherapies by inactivating mechanisms that inhibit anti-tumor T cells in the tumor microenvironment and thereby protect cancerous tissues from immune damage. This may be now possible because of the recent demonstration that genetic deletion of immunosuppressive A2A and A2B adenosine receptors (A2AR and A2BR) or their pharmacological inactivation can prevent the inhibition of anti-tumor T cells by the hypoxic tumor microenvironment and as a result facilitate full tumor rejection [Ohta A, Gorelik E, Prasad SJ et al (2006) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 103(35):13132–3137]. This approach is based on in vivo genetic evidence that A2AR play a critical role in the protection of normal tissues from overactive immune cells in acutely inflamed and hypoxic areas. The observations of much improved T-cell-mediated rejection of tumors in mice with inactivated A2AR strongly suggest that A2AR also protects hypoxic cancerous tissues and that A2AR should be inactivated in order to improve tumor rejection by anti-tumor T cells

Multiannual Analysis of Epidemiological Process Manifestations as Regards Enteroviral Infection in the Khabarovsk Territory, and the Key Factors that Predetermine Aggravation of Epidemiological Situation under the Terms of Flood

Carried out has been retrospective analysis of epidemiological process manifestations as regards enteroviral infection in the Khabarovsk Region over the period of 7 years, prior to rainfall floods in 2013. Revealed is the possibility of aggravation of epidemiological situation during hydrological emergency situation. The premises are as follows: persistent due to specific climate conditions prevalent in the Khabarovsk Territory (high air and surface water temperatures, and high humidity rates) unfavorable epidemiological situation on enteroviral infections, virus-carriage in “healthy” people and extensive dissemination of enteroviruses in the water bodies of ambient environment. Moreover, widespread circulation of different enterovirus genotypes, including the isolates with high genetic similarity to the strains identified earlier in the adjoining People’s Republic of China, takes place