SCIENTIFIC AND METHODICAL APPROACHES TO INCREASE PROSPECTING EFFICIENCY OF THE RUSSIAN ARCTIC SHELF STATE GEOLOGICAL MAPPING

A rationale for the set of theoretical and methodological techniques of mapping and deep modeling in the Russian Arctic shelf and adjacent sedimentary basins in continental Russia is based on the materials for the Barents and Kara Seas region. This article provides the factual basis of the research and shows how to apply zonal-block model of the crust and generalized models of geodynamic settings in terms of the different geophysical data inconsistency. The necessity and approach for global and regional paleo-reconstructions are also discussed. It is shown that localization of the principal structural and compositional units of the lithosphere being a consequence of geodynamic processes at the boundaries of lithospheric plates, form at the basis of sedimentary cover and crystalline basement layered maps as well as cross-sections of the continental crust. The identified parameters of the deep structure and milestones of the regional tectonic history open new opportunities to explore the regularities of ore deposits distribution. The shown example of the forecast and metallogeny problems solution within Western Siberia and Khatanga-Vilyui petroleum provinces is made using the parameters of known industrial oil and gas fields for training the pattern recognition system

Analysis of Immunogenicity of Intracellular CTAR Fragments of Epstein—Barr Virus Latent Phase Protein LMP1

© 2017, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC. Intracellular fragments of latent phase protein LMP1 of Epstein—Barr virus, denoted as CTAR1/2/3, can trigger a variety of cell cascades and contribute to the transforming potential of the virus. Generation of recombinant proteins CTAR1/2/3 is expected to yield more ample data on functional and immunogenic characteristics of LMP1. We created genetic constructs for prokaryotic expression of LMP1 CTAR fragments and selected optimal conditions for their production and purification. Using a new library of LMP1 CTAR fragments, we carried out epitope mapping of a diagnostic anti-LMP1 antibody S12. Analysis of polyclonal serum antibodies from mice immunized with full-length LMP1 confirmed immunogenicity of CTAR elements comparable with that of full-length protein

Diagnostics of autoimmune neurodegeneration using fluorescent probing

© 2018, The Author(s). The discovery of antibody-mediated catalysis was a breakthrough that showed antibody function is not limited to specific binding interactions, and that immunoglobulins (Igs) may also chemically transform their target antigens. Recently, so-called “natural catalytic antibodies” have been intimately linked with several pathologies, where they either protect the organism or contribute to the development of autoimmune abnormalities. Previously, we showed that myelin-reactive autoantibodies from patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) exhibit the ability to recognize and hydrolyse distinct epitopes within myelin basic protein (MBP). Further, the antibody-mediated cleavage of encephalitogenic MBP peptide 81–103, flanked by two fluorescent proteins, can serve as a novel biomarker for MS. Here, we report the next generation of this biomarker, based on the antibody-mediated degradation of a novel chemically synthesized FRET substrate, comprising the fluorophore Cy5 and the quencher QXL680, interconnected by the MBP peptide 81–99: Cy5-MBP81–99-QXL680. This substrate is degraded upon incubation with either purified antibodies from MS patients but not healthy donors or purified antibodies and splenocytes from EAE but not from non-immunized mice. Data presented herein suggest the elaboration of potential specific, rapid, and sensitive diagnostic criteria of active progressive MS

Semiconducting Electronic Structure of the Ferromagnetic Spinel HgCr2Se4\mathbf{Hg}\mathbf{Cr}_2\mathbf{Se}_4 Revealed by Soft-X-Ray Angle-Resolved Photoemission Spectroscopy

We study the electronic structure of the ferromagnetic spinel $\mathrm{Hg}\mathrm{Cr}_2\mathrm{Se}_4$ by soft-x-ray angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (SX-ARPES) and first-principles calculations. While a theoretical study has predicted that this material is a magnetic Weyl semimetal, SX-ARPES measurements give direct evidence for a semiconducting state in the ferromagnetic phase. Band calculations based on the density functional theory with hybrid functionals reproduce the experimentally determined band gap value, and the calculated band dispersion matches well with ARPES experiments. We conclude that the theoretical prediction of a Weyl semimetal state in $\mathrm{Hg}\mathrm{Cr}_2\mathrm{Se}_4$ underestimates the band gap, and this material is a ferromagnetic semiconductor.Comment: 6+13 pages, 4+13 figure

Exposure to the Epstein-Barr viral antigen latent membrane protein 1 induces myelin-reactive antibodies in vivo

© 2017 Lomakin, Arapidi, Chernov, Ziganshin, Tcyganov, Lyadova, Butenko, Osetrova, Ponomarenko, Telegin, Govorun, Gabibov and Belogurov. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system (CNS). Cross-reactivity of neuronal proteins with exogenous antigens is considered one of the possible mechanisms of MS triggering. Previously, we showed that monoclonal myelin basic protein (MBP)-specific antibodies from MS patients cross-react with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1). In this study, we report that exposure of mice to LMP1 results in induction of myelin-reactive autoantibodies in vivo. We posit that chronic exposure or multiple acute exposures to viral antigen may redirect B cells from production of antiviral antibodies to antibodies, specific to myelin antigen. However, even in inbred animals, which are almost identical in terms of their genomes, such an effect is only observed in 20-50% of animals, indicating that this change occurs by chance, rather than systematically. Cross-immunoprecipitation analysis showed that only part of anti-MBP antibodies from LMP1-immunized mice might simultaneously bind LMP1. In contrast, the majority of anti-LMP1 antibodies from MBP-immunized mice bind MBP. De novo sequencing of anti-LMP1 and anti-MBP antibodies by mass spectrometry demonstrated enhanced clonal diversity in LMP1-immunized mice in comparison with MBP-immunized mice. We suggest that induction of MBP-reactive antibodies in LMP1-immunized mice may be caused by either Follicular dendritic cells (FDCs) or by T cells that are primed by myelin antigens directly in CNS. Our findings help to elucidate the still enigmatic link between EBV infection and MS development, suggesting that myelin-reactive antibodies raised as a response toward EBV protein LMP1 are not truly cross-reactive but are primarily caused by epitope spreading

The Kharkov X-ray Generator Facility NESTOR

WEPWA060 - ISBN 978-3-95450-122-9International audienceThe last few years the sources of the X-rays NESTOR based on a storage ring with low beam energy and Compton scattering of intense laser beam are under design and development in NSC KIPT. The main task of the project is to develop compact intense X-ray generator on the base of relatively cheap accelerator equipment and up-to-date laser technologies. The paper is devoted to description of the last results on construction and commissioning of the facility

Оценка эффективности применения комбинации силимарина и берберина в составе самоэмульгирующейся системы при экспериментальном поражении печени парацетамолом

The hepatoprotective properties of the silymarin and the plant alkaloid berberine combinationin experimental paracetamol-inducedliver damage were studied. Silymarin was obtained from milk thistle seeds. The conditions for extraction of flavonolignans (silymarin) were optimized. 70 % ethyl alcohol, ethyl acetate and water were used as extractants. It was shown that the optimal conditions for the extraction of flavonolignans in order to obtain the maximum yield of flavonolignans were alcohol extraction in a Soxhlet apparatus. The experiment showed that the combined of silymarin and berberine was greater than their individual actions, which most effectively permitted stabilization of hepatocyte membranes and prevented altering their integrity in paracetamol-induced toxic liver damage. The self-emulsifying system with silymarin and berberine to a greater extent a significant extent prevented dystrophic changes in hepatocytes and necrosis in liver tissue, reduced hyperfermentemia in rat blood serum, prevented disturbance in the activity of thioredoxin reductase and enzymes of the glutathione antioxidant system and there by more effectively prevented hepatocyte functional impairment.. Изучены гепатозащитные свойства комбинации силимарина и растительного алкалоида берберина при экспериментальном поражении печени парацетамолом. Силимарин получали из семян расторопши пятнистой. Проведена оптимизация условий экстракционного извлечения флаволигнанов (силимарина). В качестве экстрагентов использовали 70 %-ный этиловый спирт, этилацетат и воду. Показано, что оптимальными условиями экстракции флаволигнанов для получения их максимального выхода является спиртовая экстракция в аппарате Сокслета. Установлено, что сочетанное применение силимарина с берберином в большей степени по сравнению с их действием в отдельности стабилизирует мембраны гепатоцитов и предотвращает нарушение их целостности при токсическом поражении печени парацетамолом. Выявлено, что силимарин и берберин в составе разработанной самоэмульгирующейся системы в большей мере предотвращают дистрофические изменения гепатоцитов и некрозы в ткани печени, снижают степень выраженности гиперферментемии в сыворотке крови крыс, предотвращают нарушение активности тиоредоксинредуктазы и ферментов глутатионовой антиоксидантной системы и тем самым эффективнее предотвращают нарушение функциональных способностей гепатоцитов

SCIENTIFIC AND METHODICAL APPROACHES TO INCREASE PROSPECTING EFFICIENCY OF THE RUSSIAN ARCTIC SHELF STATE GEOLOGICAL MAPPING

A rationale for the set of theoretical and methodological techniques of mapping and deep modeling in the Russian Arctic shelf and adjacent sedimentary basins in continental Russia is based on the materials for the Barents and Kara Seas region. This article provides the factual basis of the research and shows how to apply zonal-block model of the crust and generalized models of geodynamic settings in terms of the different geophysical data inconsistency. The necessity and approach for global and regional paleo-reconstructions are also discussed. It is shown that localization of the principal structural and compositional units of the lithosphere being a consequence of geodynamic processes at the boundaries of lithospheric plates, form at the basis of sedimentary cover and crystalline basement layered maps as well as cross-sections of the continental crust. The identified parameters of the deep structure and milestones of the regional tectonic history open new opportunities to explore the regularities of ore deposits distribution. The shown example of the forecast and metallogeny problems solution within Western Siberia and Khatanga-Vilyui petroleum provinces is made using the parameters of known industrial oil and gas fields for training the pattern recognition system