Practices of Protest in the Conditions of the Developing Academic Capitalism

The article focuses on the problem of professional motivation of University teaching staff in the context of developing “academic capitalism” and presents the results of the empirical study carried out by the authors at the North-Western Institute of management of RANEPA in March–June 2020. Based on the data obtained, it is revealed that teachers, experiencing deep deprivation of their social needs – the needs for respect, recognition and honor, are trying to find their place in the modern system, get out of the grip of double pressure, on the one hand, from the administration, which purposefully imposes rating systems and effective contracts, increasing competition between teachers, and on the other hand – students, who are now positioned as clients of universities. In the context of developing academic capitalism, teachers choose one of two adaptation strategies: 1) conformism as an opportunity to integrate into a constantly changing situation; 2) the practice of quiet protest as an opportunity to demonstrate the inefficiency of the entrepreneurial model of higher education, at least in its current version, and 3) neutral position to protect the classical values of the academic community

Protecting Mice from H7 Avian Influenza Virus by Immunisation with a Recombinant Adenovirus Encoding Influenza A Virus Conserved Antigens

Influenza is a highly contagious disease that causes annual epidemics and occasional pandemics. Birds are believed to be the source of newly emerging pandemic strains, including highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses of the subtype H7. The aim of the study: to evaluate the ability of the recombinant human adenovirus, serotype 5, which expresses genes of influenza A highly conserved antigens (ion channel M2 and nucleoprotein NP), to provide protection to laboratory mice against infection with a lethal dose of avian influenza virus, subtype H7. To achieve this goal, it was necessary to adapt influenza A virus, subtype H7 for reproduction in the lungs of mice, to characterise it, and to use it for evaluation of the protective properties of the recombinant adenovirus. Materials and methods: avian influenza virus A/Chicken/NJ/294508-12/2004 (H7N2) was adapted for reproduction in the lungs of mice by repeated passages. The adapted strain was sequenced and assessed using hemagglutination test, EID50 and LD50 for laboratory mice. BALB/c mice were immunised once with Ad5-tet-M2NP adenovirus intranasally, and 21 days after the immunisation they were infected with a lethal dose (5 LD50) of influenza virus A/Chicken/NJ/294508-12/2004 (H7N2) in order to assess the protective properties of the recombinant adenovirus. The level of viral shedding from the lungs of the infected mice was evaluated by titration of the lung homogenates in MDCK cell culture on days 3 and 6 after infection. The level of specific antibodies to H7 avian influenza virus was determined by indirect enzyme immunoassay. Results: the use of Ad5-tet-M2NP adenovirus for immunisation of the mice ensured 100% survival of the animals that had disease symptoms (weight loss) after their infection with the lethal dose (5 LD50) of H7 avian influenza virus. The study demonstrated a high post-vaccination level of humoral immune response to H7 avian influenza virus. The virus titer decreased significantly by day 6 in the lungs of mice that had been immunised with Ad5-tet-M2NP compared to the control group. Conclusion: the Ad5-tetM2NP recombinant adenovirus can be used to create a candidate pandemic influenza vaccine that would protect against avian influenza viruses, subtype H7, in particular

Мутации в геноме вирусов гриппа птиц подтипов Н1 и Н5, ответственные за адаптацию к млекопитающим

Avian influenza viruses of H1 and H5 subtypes were involved in the formation of highly pathogenic viruses that caused pandemics and panzootics in the 20th–21st centuries. In order to assess the zoonotic potential of viruses of these subtypes, two viruses of H1N1 and H5N3 have been isolated from wild ducks in Moscow and adapted to growth in mouse lungs. Their phenotypic properties were studied, and the genetic changes that occurred during adaptation were identified. The original A/duck/Moscow/4970/2013 (H1N1) and A/duck/Moscow/4182-C/2010 (H5N3) viruses were apathogenic for mice but became pathogenic after 7–10 passages in mouse lungs. Complete genome sequencing revealed 2 amino acid substitutions in the proteins of the H1N1 mouse-adapted variant (Glu627Lys in PB2 and Asp35Asn in hemagglutinin (HA) – numbering according to H3) and 6 mutations in the proteins of H5N3 virus (Glu627lys in PB2, Val113Ala in PB1, Ser82Pro in PB1-F2, Lys52Arg in HA2, Arg65Lys in NP, and Ser59Ile in NA). The increase in virulence is most likely due to a common substitution in the protein PB2 Glu627Lys as revealed in both viruses. The replacement of Asp35Asn in HA of the mouse-adapted H1N1 virus is associated with an increase in the pH value of the HA transition from 5.0 for 5.5 in comparison to the HA of parent virus. The found mutations in HA, NA, and PB1-F2 proteins of the adapted H5N3 variant are unique. The mutations Glu627Lys in PB2, Arg65Lys in NP, and Val113Ala in PB1 are most likely host adaptive.Вирусы гриппа птиц подтипов Н1 и Н5 участвовали в формировании высокопатогенных вариантов вирусов, вызвавших пандемии и  панзоотии в  XX–XXI  веках. С  целью оценки зоонозного потенциала вирусов этих подтипов, выделенных от диких уток в черте Москвы, была проведена адаптация вирусов к размножению в легких мышей, изучены их фенотипические свойства и идентифицированы генетические изменения, возникшие при адаптации. Изначально апатогенные для мышей вирусы A/duck/Moscow/4970/2013 (H1N1) и A/duck/Moscow/4182‑C/2010 (H5N3) после 7–10 пассажей через легкие мышей изменили фенотип на патогенный. Полногеномное секвенирование выявило в адаптированных к мышам вирусах 2 аминокислотные замены в вирусе гриппа H1N1 (Glu627Lys в белке PB2 и Asp35Asn в гемагглютинине (HA) — нумерация по H3) и 6 мутаций в белках вируса H5N3 (Glu627Lys в PB2, Val113Ala в PB1, Ser82Pro в PB1‑F2, Lys52Arg в HA2, Arg65Lys в NP и Ser59Ile в NA). Возрастание вирулентности для мышей, скорее всего, обусловлено общей для обоих вирусов заменой – Glu627Lys в  белке PB2. Замена Asp35Asn в  HA адаптированного к  мышам вируса гриппа H1N1  ассоциирована с возрастанием значения рН конформационного перехода HA с 5.0 до 5.5 относительно HA дикого вируса. Обнаруженные в адаптированном варианте H5N3 мутации в белках НА, NA и PB1‑F2 — уникальные. Мутации Glu627Lys в PB2, Arg65Lys в NP и Val113Ala в PB1, скорее всего, носят адаптационный характер

Защита мышей от заражения вирусом гриппа птиц субтипа H7 с помощью иммунизации рекомбинантным аденовирусом, кодирующим консервативные антигены вируса гриппа А

Influenza is a highly contagious disease that causes annual epidemics and occasional pandemics. Birds are believed to be the source of newly emerging pandemic strains, including highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses of the subtype H7. The aim of the study: to evaluate the ability of the recombinant human adenovirus, serotype 5, which expresses genes of influenza A highly conserved antigens (ion channel M2 and nucleoprotein NP), to provide protection to laboratory mice against infection with a lethal dose of avian influenza virus, subtype H7. To achieve this goal, it was necessary to adapt influenza A virus, subtype H7 for reproduction in the lungs of mice, to characterise it, and to use it for evaluation of the protective properties of the recombinant adenovirus. Materials and methods: avian influenza virus A/Chicken/NJ/294508-12/2004 (H7N2) was adapted for reproduction in the lungs of mice by repeated passages. The adapted strain was sequenced and assessed using hemagglutination test, EID50 and LD50 for laboratory mice. BALB/c mice were immunised once with Ad5-tet-M2NP adenovirus intranasally, and 21 days after the immunisation they were infected with a lethal dose (5 LD50) of influenza virus A/Chicken/NJ/294508-12/2004 (H7N2) in order to assess the protective properties of the recombinant adenovirus. The level of viral shedding from the lungs of the infected mice was evaluated by titration of the lung homogenates in MDCK cell culture on days 3 and 6 after infection. The level of specific antibodies to H7 avian influenza virus was determined by indirect enzyme immunoassay. Results: the use of Ad5-tet-M2NP adenovirus for immunisation of the mice ensured 100% survival of the animals that had disease symptoms (weight loss) after their infection with the lethal dose (5 LD50) of H7 avian influenza virus. The study demonstrated a high post-vaccination level of humoral immune response to H7 avian influenza virus. The virus titer decreased significantly by day 6 in the lungs of mice that had been immunised with Ad5-tet-M2NP compared to the control group. Conclusion: the Ad5-tetM2NP recombinant adenovirus can be used to create a candidate pandemic influenza vaccine that would protect against avian influenza viruses, subtype H7, in particular.Грипп – высококонтагиозное заболевание, вызывающее ежегодные эпидемии и через неравные интервалы времени – пандемии. Источником вновь возникающих пандемичных штаммов, как правило, являются птицы, а наибольшее беспокойство в настоящее время вызывают высокопатогенные вирусы гриппа птиц субтипа H7. Цель работы: оценить способность рекомбинантного аденовируса человека пятого серотипа, экспрессирующего гены высококонсервативных антигенов вируса гриппа А (ионного канала М2 и нуклеопротеина NP), обеспечивать защиту от заражения лабораторных мышей летальной дозой вируса гриппа птиц субтипа H7. Для достижения цели необходимо было адаптировать для размножения в легких мышей вирус гриппа А субтипа Н7, охарактеризовать и с его помощью оценить защитные свойства рекомбинантного аденовируса. Материалы и методы: вирус гриппа птиц A/Chicken/NJ/294508-12/2004 (H7N2) был адаптирован для размножения в легких мышей путем многократного пассирования. Этот штамм был секвенирован и охарактеризован в реакции гемагглютинации, установлены его ЭИД50 и ЛД50 для лабораторных мышей. Для изучения защитных свойств рекомбинантного аденовируса мыши линии BALB/c были иммунизированы аденовирусом Ad5-tet-M2NP однократно интраназально и через 21 сутки после иммунизации заражены летальной дозой (5 ЛД50) вируса гриппа птиц A/Chicken/NJ/294508-12/2004 (H7N2). Уровень вирусовыделения из легких мышей был оценен на 3 и 6 сутки после заражения с помощью титрования гомогенатов легких на культуре клеток MDCK. Уровень специфических антител к вирусу гриппа птиц субтипа Н7 определяли методом непрямого иммуноферментного анализа. Результаты: иммунизация мышей аденовирусом Ad5-tet-M2NP при наличии симптомов заболевания (снижение массы тела) обеспечила 100% выживаемость животных после заражения летальной дозой (5 ЛД50) вируса гриппа птиц субтипа H7. Продемонстрирован высокий поствакцинальный уровень гуморального иммунного ответа к вирусу гриппа птиц субтипа H7. Показано, что в легких мышей из группы, иммунизированной Ad5-tet-M2NP, уже к 6 суткам наблюдалось существенное снижение титра вируса гриппа птиц субтипа H7 по сравнению с контрольной группой. Заключение: рекомбинантный аденовирус Ad5-tet-M2NP может быть использован для создания потенциальной пандемичной противогриппозной вакцины, в том числе и от вирусов гриппа птиц субтипа H7

The Features of The Hyperbolic Slab Waveguide

The dispersion relation determining guided TE and TM modes are found for the slab hyperbolic waveguide. The waveguide is consisting of an isotropic dielectric slab bounded by hyperbolic media. Some differences between the features of the waveguide under consideration and conventional ones are obtained. In particular, in the case of hyperbolic waveguide TM modes have two cutoff frequencies. As a result the number of modes is limited. Both TE and TM modes have nonzero cutoff frequencies, even though waveguide is symmetric one. For the TE and TM modes the Poynting vector component along the wave’s propagation axis could be equal to zero

The Features of The Hyperbolic Slab Waveguide

The dispersion relation determining guided TE and TM modes are found for the slab hyperbolic waveguide. The waveguide is consisting of an isotropic dielectric slab bounded by hyperbolic media. Some differences between the features of the waveguide under consideration and conventional ones are obtained. In particular, in the case of hyperbolic waveguide TM modes have two cutoff frequencies. As a result the number of modes is limited. Both TE and TM modes have nonzero cutoff frequencies, even though waveguide is symmetric one. For the TE and TM modes the Poynting vector component along the wave’s propagation axis could be equal to zero