Bioinformatic Analysis of Immunodominant Peptides of Rabies Virus (<i>Rabies lyssavirus, Rhabdoviridae</i>)

There is a need to develop a new generation of anti-rabies vaccines that provide a protective level of antibodies after a single injection. Prospects for solving this problem are opened by the latest developments in the field of “reverse vaccinology”. The main parameter that determines the effectiveness of recombinant vaccines is the design of the antigen-coding sequence. In this regard, the aim of the work was to conduct a bioinformatic analysis of rabies virus (Rabies lyssavirus, Rhabdoviridae) peptides to identify immunogenic epitopes.Materials and methods. Analysis of 5 candidate protein sequences of more than 100 strains and epizootic isolates of the rabies virus was performed using standard in silico prediction methods using Immune Epitope Database (IEDB) (NIH, USA).Results and discussion. As a result of the analysis of primary amino acid sequences, carried out using the most commonly used bioinformatics tools, the number of immunogenic epitopes and the types of immune response detected (T- and B-cell epitopes, class I MHCbinding epitopes) were established for viral proteins: glycoprotein (G), nucleoprotein (N), phosphoprotein (P), matrix protein (M), RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (L). In the amino acid structure of these proteins, N- and O-glycosylation sites, signal peptides, and transmembrane domains were additionally identified. In order to predict the safety and efficacy of these proteins as components of recombinant vaccines, an in silico assessment of their physicochemical properties was carried out. Despite the fact that the predominant number of epitopes is concentrated in the structure of the glycoprotein, the epitopes of other proteins, ranging according to the level of antigenicity and conservatism, may also be of interest as components of preventive drugs or diagnostics. The presented data can be used in the design of the insert during the construction of a candidate virus-vector vaccine or control positive samples in diagnostic methods based on the indication of viral genome fragments

Case of lichen sclerosus affecting trunk and vulvar skin

The article discusses the historical aspect, terminology, classification, clinical signs, and therapy directions of lichen sclerosus; a clinical case presented.В статье рассмотрены исторический аспект, терминология, классификация, клинические признаки, направления терапии склероатрофического лихена; представлен клинический случай

The Outburst of the Blazar AO 0235+164 in 2006 December: Shock-in-Jet Interpretation

We present the results of polarimetric ($R$ band) and multicolor photometric ($BVRIJHK$) observations of the blazar AO 0235+16 during an outburst in 2006 December. The data reveal a short timescale of variability (several hours), which increases from optical to near-IR wavelengths; even shorter variations are detected in polarization. The flux density correlates with the degree of polarization, and at maximum degree of polarization the electric vector tends to align with the parsec-scale jet direction. We find that a variable component with a steady power-law spectral energy distribution and very high optical polarization (30-50%) is responsible for the variability. We interpret these properties of the blazar withina model of a transverse shock propagating down the jet. In this case a small change in the viewing angle of the jet, by $\lesssim 1^o$, and a decrease in the shocked plasma compression by a factor of $\sim$1.5 are sufficient to account for the variability.Comment: 22 pages, 8 figures, accepted for Ap

Extracellular vesicles derived from Acholeplasma laidlawii PG8

Extracellular vesicle production is believed to be a ubiquitous process in bacteria, but the data on such a process in Mollicutes are absent. We report the isolation of ultramicroforms - extracellular vesicles from supernatants of Acholeplasma laidlawii PG8 (ubiquitous mycoplasma; the main contaminant of cell culture). Considering sizes, morphology, and ultrastructural organization, the ultramicroforms of A. laidlawii PG8 are similar to membrane vesicles of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. We demonstrate that A. laidlawii PG8 vesicles contain genetic material and proteins, and are mutagenic to lymphocytes of human peripheral blood. We show that Mycoplasma gallisepticum S6, the other mycoplasma, also produce similar structures, which suggests that shedding of the vesicles might be the common phenomenon in Mollicutes. We found that the action of stress conditions results in the intensive formation of ultramicroforms in mycoplasmas. The role of vesicular formation in mycoplasmas remains to be studied. ©2011 with author. Published by TheScientificWorld

The effect of a substrate on the morphology of dipeptide (L-valyl-L-alanine) films before and after their interaction with pyridine vapor

The effect of a substrate on the morphology of a thin film of L-valyl-L-alanine dipeptide before and after its interaction with pyridine vapor was studied. For this purpose, images of a dipeptide film deposited on the surface of highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG), gold, and mica and images showing its surface after saturation with vaporous pyridine were obtained by atomic force microscopy. The morphology of the initial L-valyl-L-alanine film was found to be considerably dependent on the nature of the substrate used. Interaction with vaporous pyridine resulted in formation of nanostructures on its surface in the case in which HOPG or gold were used as a substrate. When mica was used as a substrate, nanostructures were present on the surface of the initial film and almost disappeared after interaction with pyridine. © 2013 Pleiades Publishing, Ltd

Formation of nanoislands on the surface of thin dipeptide films under the effect of vaporous organic compounds

Sorption properties of a thin L-alanyl-L-valine dipeptide film for vapors of organic compounds, i.e., methanol and toluene, were studied. Compositions of the inclusion compounds formed in the systems are determined using quartz microbalances. The surfaces morphology of of thin dipeptide films before and after the interaction with organic sorbate was studied with atomic force microscopy. The dipeptide was found to have a larger sorption capacity for methanol than for toluene. As a result of the interaction between a thin L-alanyl-Lvaline dipeptide layer with toluene vapor, nanoislets appear on the film surface, and the receptor ability of dipeptide inactivated. © Pleiades Publishing, Ltd., 2009

Another look at the BL Lacertae flux and spectral variability

The GLAST-AGILE Support Program (GASP) of the Whole Earth Blazar Telescope (WEBT) monitored BL Lacertae in 2008-2009 at radio, near-IR, and optical frequencies. During this period, high-energy observations were performed by XMM-Newton, Swift, and Fermi. We analyse these data with particular attention to the calibration of Swift UV data, and apply a helical jet model to interpret the source broad-band variability. The GASP-WEBT observations show an optical flare in 2008 February-March, and oscillations of several tenths of mag on a few-day time scale afterwards. The radio flux is only mildly variable. The UV data from both XMM-Newton and Swift seem to confirm a UV excess that is likely caused by thermal emission from the accretion disc. The X-ray data from XMM-Newton indicate a strongly concave spectrum, as well as moderate flux variability on an hour time scale. The Swift X-ray data reveal fast (interday) flux changes, not correlated with those observed at lower energies. We compare the spectral energy distribution (SED) corresponding to the 2008 low-brightness state, which was characterised by a synchrotron dominance, to the 1997 outburst state, where the inverse-Compton emission was prevailing. A fit with an inhomogeneous helical jet model suggests that two synchrotron components are at work with their self inverse-Compton emission. Most likely, they represent the radiation from two distinct emitting regions in the jet. We show that the difference between the source SEDs in 2008 and 1997 can be explained in terms of pure geometrical variations. The outburst state occurred when the jet-emitting regions were better aligned with the line of sight, producing an increase of the Doppler beaming factor. Our analysis demonstrates that the jet geometry can play an extremely important role in the BL Lacertae flux and spectral variability.Comment: 12 pages, 10 figures, accepted for publication in A&

Problems of forensic medical diagnosis of fatal poisoning drug «design»

The article considers methods of determining "designer" drugs in biological materials and issues of the legal status of methods. It is noted that there are methods of chemical-toxicological diagnosis, which allow to determine the presence of foreign chemicals in biological materials, potentially capable of causing psychotic reactions. However, there are certain legal conditions for the classification of chemical compounds as analogues of drugs or the inclusion in the list of drugs, which complicates the production of forensic medical examination.В статье рассматриваются методы определения «дизайнерских» наркотиков в биологических материалах и вопросы правового статуса методов. Отмечено, что существуют способы химико-токсикологической диагностики, которые позволяют определить в биологических материалах наличие посторонних химических веществ, потенциально способных вызывать психотические реакции. Однако, существуют определенные правовые условия для отнесения химических соединений к аналогам наркотических веществ или внесения в список наркотических средств, что затрудняет производство судебно-медицинской экспертизы

Аnalysis of lethal acute poisonings in Yekaterinburg and Sverdlovsk region

Importance of poisonings and problems of medicolegal diagnostics have been defined. The analysis of lethal poisonings indexes in Yekaterinburg (Sverdlovsk region) has been presented. Optimization of medical institutions has been concluded.Определено значение отравлений и проблемы судебно-медицинской диагностики, представлен анализ показателей смертельных отравлений в Свердловской области и г. Екатеринбурге, сделаны выводы по оптимизации работы медицинских организаци