Trace Element Patterns in Shells of Mussels (Bivalvia) Allow to Distinguish between Fresh- and Brackish-Water Coastal Environments of the Subarctic and Boreal Zone

The accumulation of trace metals in the shells of bivalves allows quantitative assessments of environmental pollution and helps to reconstruct paleo aquatic environments. However, the understanding on how marine and freshwater mollusks control the level of trace elements in their shells remains very limited. Here, we compared the trace element composition of marine and freshwater bivalves from boreal and subarctic habitats, using examples of widely distributed species of marine (Mytilus edulis, M. trossulus) and freshwater (Anodonta anatina, Unio sp., Beringiana beringiana) mussels. Sizable differences in several trace element concentrations were detected between different species, depending on their environmental niches. A multiparametric statistical treatment of the shell’s elemental composition allowed to distinguish the impact of external factors (water and sediment chemical composition) from active metabolic (biological) control. In particular, the obtained results demonstrated that Ba:Ca and Pb:Ca ratios in mussels’ shells are closely related to the primary productivity of aquatic ecosystems. The Mn:Ca ratio allowed to constrain the environmental conditions of mussels’ species depending on the trophic state of inhabited waterbody. Overall, the marine mussels exhibited stronger biological control of trace element accumulation, whereas trace element pattern in shells of freshwater mussels was chiefly controlled by environmental factors. The obtained results might help to use the trace element composition of bivalves in distinguishing marine and freshwater habitats of mollusks in paleo environments

Development, production and characterization of SARS-CoV-2 virus-like particles (Coronaviridae: <i>Orthocoronavirinae: Betacoronavirus: Sarbecovirus</i>)

Introduction. The COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 has created serious health problems worldwide. The most effective way to prevent the occurrence of new epidemic outbreaks is vaccination. One of the modern and effective approaches to vaccine development is the use of virus-like particles (VLPs). The aim of the study is to develop a technology for production of VLP based on recombinant SARS-CoV-2 proteins (E, M, N and S) in insect cells. Materials and methods. Synthetic genes encoding coronavirus proteins E, M, N and S were used. VLP with various surface proteins of strains similar to the Wuhan virus, Delta, Alpha and Omicron were developed and cloned into the pFastBac plasmid. The proteins were synthesized in the baculovirus expression system and assembled into VLP in the portable Trichoplusia ni cell. The presence of insertion in the baculovirus genome was determined by PCR. ELISA and immunoblotting were used to study the antigenic activity of VLP. VLP purification was performed by ultracentrifugation using 20% sucrose. Morphology was assessed using electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering. Results. VLPs consisting of recombinant SARS-CoV-2 proteins (S, M, E and N) were obtained and characterized. The specific binding of antigenic determinants in synthesized VLPs with antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 proteins has been demonstrated. The immunogenic properties of VLPs have been studied. Conclusion. The production and purification of recombinant VLPs consisting of full-length SARS-CoV-2 proteins with a universal set of surface antigens have been developed and optimized. Self-assembling particles that mimic the coronavirus virion induce a specific immune response against SARS-CoV-2

Трансформация семьи в России и Китае: сравнительный анализ

Family is the principle institution in Russian as well as in Chinese society - on these premises the authors of the article conducted comparative socio-demographic analysis of the transformation that is happening to families in both Russia and China. The objective of this paper is to describe main directions of such changes in Russia and China and their place in the general context of the family transformation. Official Russian and Chinese statistics was used as a data source. For China, skewed sex ratio at birth is one of the most acute problems which in the paper is viewed from the standpoint of demographic policy of the 1980s. The authors draw a conclusion that in China there is a preponderance of men aged under 30 years, while in Russia women are overrepresented in the age group of 35 and older. Increasing prevalence of extra-marital unions and births in both countries is noted. In Russia, these phenomena are more clearly seen in the Far East and Siberia and are associated with a more active domestic migration in these regions. In China, premarital cohabitation is recorded in large cities, although to a much lesser extent than in Russia and in the Western countries; nevertheless, the spread of cohabitation is one of the main characteristic signs of the present time. Migration within China (first and foremost, from rural to urban areas) does not cause rupture in intergenerational and marital relations, while in Russia migration processes correlate with divorce trends and the prevalence of single-parent and other types of families. The authors outline common features and specific manifestations of ongoing family transformation in Russia and China (which generally speaking aligns with the Second Demographic Transition theory) and the role of continental peculiarities in demographic processes. Transformation patterns observed among the Chinese families make it possible to conclude that China belongs to the South-Asian family transformation model, while Russia - to the West-European model.При проведении сравнительного социологически-демографического анализа трансформация положения семьи в России и Китае авторы исходили из того, что семья - важнейший институт как в российском, так и в китайском обществе. Авторы подчеркивают, что сам институт семьи претерпевает существенные изменения. Цель статьи состоит в характеристике основных направлений таких изменений в России и Китае и их места в общем контексте трансформации семьи. В качестве источника данных использовались показатели официальной статистики России и Китая. Одна из наиболее острых проблем для Китая - соотношение полов новорожденных - рассматривается с позиций демографической политики 1980-х годов. Делается вывод о наличии в Китае мужского перевеса в возрастах до 30 лет, тогда как в России сложилась тенденция женского превышения, причем в возрастных группах старше 35 лет. Отмечается все большая распространенность в обеих странах таких явлений, как внебрачные союзы и рождения. В России эти явления более отчетливо проявляются в районах Дальнего Востока и Сибири и связаны с более активной внутрироссийской миграцией в этих регионах. В Китае добрачное сожительство фиксируется в крупных городах, причем в гораздо меньшей степени, чем в России (тем более, по сравнению с западными странами), однако тенденция распространения сожительства составляет одну из характерных примет настоящего времени. Миграция внутри Китая (прежде всего из села в город) не приводит к разрыву межпоколенных и брачных связей, тогда как в России миграционные процессы коррелируются с трендами, проявляющимися в отношении уровня распространенности разводимости и интенсивности формирования «неполных и прочих семей». Завершает статью обзор общих черт и специфических проявлений трансформации семьи в России и Китае, концептуально согласуемый с теорией второго демографического перехода и роли континентальных особенностей в демографических процессах. Делается вывод о большей близости трансформации семьи в Китае к восточноазиатской модели, а в России - к западноевропейской модели

INVESTIGATION OF SAFETY OF BOTTLED DRINKING WATER WITH USE OF ALIVE TEST - OBJECT – PLANARIA

The samples of drinking water in bottles were compared by organoleptic, chemical composition and safety. To determine safety the method of biotesting with Planaria (Dugesia tigrina) was used. The degree of planarian regeneration in different water samples was measured. The data obtained showed that this test object may be successfully used for assessment of safety of bottled drinking water with sufficient correlation with organoleptic properties and toxic elements content. The properties of water were shown to depend on the source and producer

YB-1 Synthesis Is Regulated by mTOR Signaling Pathway

<div><p>YB-1 is a eukaryotic protein with numerous intra- and extracellular functions based on its ability to interact with RNA, DNA, and many proteins. In spite of achievements in studying its functions, regulation of YB-1 synthesis in the cell remains poorly understood. In the current study Western and Northern blotting were used to determine the amounts of YB-1 and <em>YB-1</em> mRNA in rabbit organs and several cell lines. As found, in the majority of studied eukaryotic cells a considerable proportion of <em>YB-1</em> mRNA was stored in free mRNPs, i.e., was poorly translated. Also, we demonstrated that YB-1 synthesis depended on conditions that determined the rate of cell division. Specific suppression of YB-1 synthesis resulted from inhibition of the mTOR signaling pathway with inhibitor PP242, but not rapamycin. Experiments on reporter constructs showed that dependence of <em>YB-1</em> mRNA translation on activity of the mTOR signaling pathway was dictated by 5′ untranslated regions of this mRNA, irrelatively of the TOP-like sequences at the beginning of 5′ UTR.</p> </div

Dependence of YB-1 synthesis on cell confluence.

<p>NIH3T3 and HEK293 cells of various confluence were [³⁵S]-methionine-labeled for 1 h, harvested and lysed. Cell lysates were counterbalanced by radioactivity (A and C) and used for immunoprecipitation with anti-YB-1 antibody. Proteins bound to antibodies were resolved by acid-urea PAGE, and [³⁵S]-labeled proteins were detected by autoradiography (B and D). Relative radioactivity of the bands was determined using a Packard Cyclone Storage Phosphor System (Packard Instrument Company, Inc.).</p

Renewal of YB-1 amount and YB-1 synthesis after serum starvation release.

<p>3T3 (<b>A</b>) and HEK293(<b>B</b>) cells were serum starved (2 days). Cells were harvested at indicated time intervals after serum addition, lysed and used for Western blot analysis. 3T3(<b>C</b>) and HEK293(<b>D</b>) cells were serum starved (2 days). Control cells, serum starved cells and serum stimulated (6 h) cells were labeled with [³⁵S]-methionine for 2 h, harvested and lysed. Cell lysates were used for immunoprecipitation with anti-YB-1 antibody. Proteins bound to antibodies were resolved by acid-urea PAGE, and [³⁵S]-labeled proteins were detected by autoradiography. Relative radioactivity of the bands was determined using a Packard Cyclone Storage Phosphor System (Packard Instrument Company, Inc.). The level of YB-1 synthesis in cells without serum starvation was taken to be 100%.</p

Assessment of YB-1 synthesis in the cell. A

<p>. HeLa cells were labeled with [³⁵S]-methionine for 2 h, harvested and lysed. Cell lysate was used for immunoprecipitation with preimmune antibody or YB-1 antibody. Proteins bound to antibodies were resolved by acid-urea PAGE, stained with CBB G250, and the [³⁵S]-labeled proteins were detected by autoradiography. Protein with an electrophoretic mobility corresponding to the recombinant YB-1 was cut out from the gel and identified by mass-spectrometry as YB-1. <b>B,</b> Assessment of YB-1 synthesis in cells of various lines. Cells were labeled using [³⁵S]-methionine, harvested and lysed. Cell lysates were counterbalanced by radioactivity and used for immunoprecipitation with anti-YB-1 antibody. Proteins bound to antibodies were resolved by acid-urea PAGE, and the [³⁵S]-labeled proteins were detected by autoradiography.</p