Assessment of the Epidemiological Effectiveness of the Temporary Transfer of Schoolchildren to Distance Learning during the Spread of COVID‑19 by the Example of the Saratov Region

Temporary closure of schools is an effective anti-epidemic measure during periods of rising incidence of acute respiratory viral infections and influenza, which is confirmed by the results of a large number of scientific works. In particular, the effectiveness of this measure consists in reducing the incidence among students. In the context of the spread of COVID‑19 in the Russian Federation, like in many other countries, the temporary transfer of schoolchildren to distance learning has also been repeatedly introduced; however, it remains unclear whether the measure under consideration is effective in relation to the new coronavirus infection.The aim of the study was to assess the epidemiological effectiveness of the temporary transfer of students to distance learning during the spread of COVID‑19 in the Saratov Region.Materials and methods. The analysis was carried out on the basis of statistical data of the Rospotrebnadzor Administration in the Saratov Region on the incidence of COVID‑19 for the period of 2020–2022, as well as materials from published scientific papers.Results and discussion. Analysis of the data on the school closure in 2020 has revealed a decrease in the incidence among schoolchildren (–42.9 %) and an increase in the incidence among people aged 65 years and older (+7.2 %); in 2021, there was a decrease in the incidence among schoolchildren (–15.6 %) and an increase in the indicator value as regards the elderly (+17.8 %); in 2022, another school closure led to an increase in the incidence of COVID‑19 among schoolchildren (+7.8 %) and people over 65 years old (+44.2 %). Based on the results obtained, one can conclude that the measure under consideration is inexpedient due to the fact that the most vulnerable category of the population (persons aged 65 years and older) is actively involved in the epidemic process, which in turn leads to a significant deterioration of the epidemic situation

Current State of Dengue Fever Laboratory Diagnostics (Scientific Review)

The paper contains the data on the distribution, morphology and classification of Dengue viruses as well as laboratory diagnostics of the diseases caused by them using conventional and modern virology methods. Discussed is the possibility of application of various laboratory techniques at different stages from the onset of the disease. In addition, up to date cases of Dengue fever importation into the territory of the Russian Federation are becoming more frequent which testifies to the need of the development of domestically produced test-system, as well as introduction of modern technologies of virus isolation on the biological model or cell culture into the practice of plague control institutions

Synthesis of Fatty-Acid Ethanolamides from Linum catharticum Oils and Cololabis saira Fats

Ethanolamides of polyunsaturated fatty acids (9Z,12Z,15Z-octadecatrienoic; 5Z,8Z,11Z,14Z,17Z-eicosapentaenoic; and 4Z,7Z,10Z,13Z,16Z,19Z-docosahexaenoic) and mixtures of ethanolamides of fatty acids from natural fats (oils) were synthesized. It was found that the polyunsaturated fatty acids did not isomerize under the proposed conditions for aminolysis of the ester bond. Conditions for analyzing the complicated mixtures of ethanolamides of fatty acids by HPLC-MS were determined.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/41528/1/10600_2004_Article_495514.pd

Application of Automated Microorganism Identification Systems for Verification of Taxonomic Appurtenance of the Collection Strains of Pathogenic Bacteria

Objective of the study is to optimize the algorithm for authenticity specification of pathogenic bacteria strains and to evaluate its efficacy for nomenclature examination of the isolates, Bacillus genus, from the State Collection of Pathogenic Bacteria functioning at the premises of RusRAPI “Microbe”, the authenticity of which bore scrutiny. Materials and methods. Methodological approach is based on application of automated microorganism identification systems: bacteriological analyzer Vitek 2, automatic ribotyping station DuPont Qualicon RiboPrinter System, and mass-spectrometer MicroFlex MALDI Biotyper, followed by complex assessment of the results obtained, using BioNumerics 7.1 software product. Results and conclusions. It is established that automated analyzers perform reasonably accurate identification of the investigated microorganisms in reference to their specie appurtenance. Vitek 2 shows the best efficiency. Unlike other analyzers, it allows for differentiation of B. anthracis STI-1 strain from a group of bacilli, B. cereus specie. It is of note that different systems range B. megaterium 5 strain in different ways. Carried out complex analysis of the results, obtained from all the three automated devices, using BioNumerics 7.1 software, relegates B. megaterium 5 to B. licheniformis with a high degree probability. Thus, it is necessary to include in the algorithm several techniques with subsequent complex analysis of the data obtained to specify authenticity and taxonomic appurtenance of the collection strains under nomenclature examination

Advanced Approaches to Assessment of Risk of Infectious Disease Importation onto the Territory of the Russian Federation

The risk of importation of infectious diseases is an urgent threat to sanitary and epidemiological well-being of the population, both at the level of individual countries and interstate associations, and globally. The territory of any country has a backdrop of hazards; therefore, the aim of the work was a comprehensive assessment of risk of infectious disease importation onto the territory of Russia for early and effective response to emerging biological threats. Materials and methods. We used information on the structure of passenger traffic and the number of persons arriving in Russia according to the portal of the Unified Interagency Information and Statistics System. The data on the incidence of infectious diseases which require measures on sanitary protection of the territory of Russia is provided according to the official regional websites of WHO, regional Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Ministries of Health of the respective countries. The risk of importation of infectious diseases was estimated in points in compliance with an original methodology developed with the participation of the authors. Results and discussion. We have determined the structure of the passenger traffic across the borders of Russia and the most relevant infectious diseases that pose a risk of importation, as well as the countries, from where the importation of infections is most likely to occur. It is outlined that importation of dengue fever and cholera from the Southeast Asian region, dengue from the Western Pacific region, cholera and malaria from the Eastern Mediterranean region, cholera, malaria and dengue from the American and African regions is most probable

Verification of Mathematical Models of Plague

Mathematic modeling and prognostication of infectious diseases epidemic process is a promising trend of epidemiologic investigations. The complex of mathematic models (SEIRF type) of plague epidemic process was developed for this purpose by the Russian Research Anti-Plague Institute “Microbe” and laboratory of epidemiologic cybernetics of N.F.Gamaleya Institute for Epidemiology and Microbiology. The data on the plague outbreak in 1945 in the rural settlement Avan’ (Aral region of Kzyl-Orda district of Kazakh SSR) were used to test working efficiency of this complex. The data analysis permitted to obtain the starting and boundary conditions for epidemic process modeling. In the process of modeling the mathematical models of epidemic process of plague with various ways of infection transmission for each epidemic focus in regard with historical data were used. The data were processed by the analytical platform Deductor 5.1. Identified was strong positive correlation between estimated and historical data – r = +0,71. The results received testify that mathematic models are effective and give high degree of confidence. They can be used to receive quantitative characteristics of prognosis for plague epidemic process development with different transmission routes considering that anti-epidemic measures have been taken

Application of MALDI Mass-Spectrometry for Diagnostics of Particularly Dangerous Infectious Diseases: Current State of Affairs and Prospects

Mass spectrometry is a modern physical-chemical analytical method that provides for qualitative and quantitative assessment of the substance composition. It is based on pre-ionization of the atoms and molecules included into it. One of the advanced methods of ionization, due to which mass-spectrometry investigation of macromolecules has become a frequent practice, is matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI). The essence of it is the pulsed laser irradiation of the matter under study, mixed with the matrix. The review discusses current data on MALDI mass-spectrometry application for the performance of species-specific and genus-specific identification of microorganisms at the premises of diagnostic laboratories. Considered are the basic advantages of MALDI-TOF identification as compared to bacteriologic, immunologic, and molecular-genetic methods of assessment. Allocated is the mass-spectrometry position in the system of laboratory diagnostics of infectious diseases, including particularly dangerous ones, in the territory of the Russian Federation

Non-Specific Indication of Microorganisms in Environmental Samples

The review presents an analysis of modern methods and instruments for performing nonspecific detection of pathogenic biological agents in environmental objects. Discussed are technological characteristics of application of these methods for the detection of biological substances of protein nature in samples. The spectrum of means for non-specific PBA detection includes home-produced and foreign field devices based on protein contamination indication using various colorimetry variants. Technologies for remote and direct monitoring of environment for the presence of aerosols of biological nature are represented by hybrid lidar systems (biolidars) and biodetectors. For PBA nucleic acids tracing, the complexes based on DNA molecule binding with fluorophore with further fluorescence detection are described. Given are the examples of chemiluminescent analysis application in the developed automatic impurity detectors, as well as systems using bioluminescence. Based on the literature data analysis, put forward is a possible algorithm for indication of pathogenic biological agents when carrying out monitoring of the environment in zones of possible emergency situation occurrence and mass events holding

MALDI-TOF Mass-Spectrometry Analysis of Plague Agent Strains

Objective of the study was to demonstrate practicability of data base creation, containing reference mass-spectra of agents of particularly dangerous infections, using MALDI-TOF mass-spectrometry, by the example of plague agent strains. Materials and methods. MALDI-TOF mass-spectrometry was deployed for the obtainment of mass-spectra of ribosomal proteins from the microorganisms under investigation with the help of mass-spectrometers - Microflex LT. Results and conclusions. Carried out was comparative analysis of the obtained mass-spectra of 10 Y. pestis strains and reference spectra of Y. tuberculosis , contained in commercial data base of MALDI Biotyper 3.1 (Bruker Daltonics, Germany). Developed data base was validated in the process of identification of plague microbe strains, isolated in the territory of natural plague foci of the Russian Federation. That data base provided for correct identification of Y. pestis strains up to a species

Improvement of Diagnostic System in a Real-Time RT-PCR “AmpliSens EBOV (ZAIRE)-FL” Format for Zaire ebolavirus RNA Detection

Taking into consideration experience in utilization of “AmpliSens EBOV (ZAIRE)-FL” in the setting of SAET mobile laboratory complex, carried out has been the improvement of the panel with a view to elapsed time reduction and analytical sensitivity enhancement. It provides for the analytical sensitivity increase up to 200 copies per ml, which is 10 times higher than the previous measurement, that accounted for 2·103 copies per ml. The timing of the assay has been reduced up to 1 h 25 min, which is 25 % less than the time needed for the standard study. Modification of “AmpliSens EBOV (ZAIRE)-FL” panel benefits to the enhancement of epidemiological surveillance activities intended to stop the spread of Zaire ebolavirus in West Africa and prevent its importation into the Russian Federation