Influence of flow velocity, river size, a dam, and an urbanized area on biodiversity of lowland rivers

Biodiversity of aquatic organisms is formed under the influence of not only natural, but also anthropogenic factors. In this work, the influence of the flow velocity, river size, flow regulation and urbanization on various groups of aquatic organisms was studied in several lowland rivers. The study was conducted in 2013 on six tributaries of the Upper Sukhona River. Five sampling sites were in different parts of the Vologda River and five sites on small rivers, Losta, Lukhta, Komya, Chernyj Shingar, and Belyj Shingar (one site per river). Phytoplankton, zooplankton and zoobenthos were sampled six times, from April to October, and macrophytes were studied in August. In total, 469 species of aquatic organisms were found in the tributaries of the Upper Sukhona River, belonging to the following phyla: Cyanophyta (5 species), Chrysophyta (8), Bacillariophyta (62), Xanthophyta (1), Cryptophyta (10), Dinophyta (4), Euglenophyta (12), Chlorophyta (17), Streptophyta (1), Bryophyta (2), Marchantiophyta (3), Equisetophyta (1), Magnoliophyta (63), Rotifera (22), Cnidaria (1), Platyhelmintes (1), Annelida (29), Mollusca (33), Arthropoda (194). The maximum number of species was found in the Vologda River, the largest of all the tributaries. The number of zoobenthos species was similar at different sites in the Vologda River and in the small rivers. The number of species of other groups of aquatic organisms in the small rivers was lower than those registered in the Vologda River. The greatest number of macrophyte and zoobenthos species was recorded in the Upper Vologda River and Belyj Shingar River, where the flow is strong all the year round. The greatest number of phyto- and zooplankton species was found at the extra-city sites where current is almost absent. In the dam backwater, species richness was higher than that registered downstream of the dam. At the same time, the species richness of macrophytes and zoobenthos in the dam backwater was lower. The smallest number of species was found in the Vologda River, downstream of the city of Vologda. Decreases in the species richness and Shannon’s biodiversity index were witnessed in the Vologda River city site and in the small rivers, as they get closer to the city. Cluster analyses performed for the studied groups of aquatic organisms showed dissimilar results; however, the studied sites on the Vologda River having the highest anthropogenic load formed a cluster. Aquatic organisms of the Upper Sukhona tributaries experience both natural (flow velocity and size of the watercourse) and anthropogenic factors (proximity to the city and flow regulation)

Синдром системного воспаления в патогенезе респираторно-синцитиальной вирусной инфекции

The aim of the study was to obtain new biochemical data on the pathogenesis of respiratory syncytial viral infection (RSVI) in children.Object and methods: 60 children aged 1 month to 5 years, treated in the clinic of Pediatric Research and Clinical Center for Infectious Diseases, from which in 50 patients RNA RSV was isolated in smears from the oropharynx. The comparison group consisted of 10 children who failed to verify RSVI by laboratory methods. All children at admission and before discharge from the hospital (after-7-9 days) underwent a clinical blood test a Sysmex XP-300 hematology analyzer (Japan). Alpha-1-antitrypsin and alpha-2-macroglobulin were determined in blood serum by quantitative immunoturbidimetry on a biochemical analyzer CLIMA-15 (Spain) using Sentinel test systems (Italy). Determination of the amount of total protein, albumin and C-reactive protein in serum was carried out on an automatic analyzer Taurus (Instrumentation Laboratory, Italy) using reagents of the company «Vector-best» (Russia). The study of protein fractions in blood serum was carried out by capillary electrophoresis on the device Minicap company Sebia (France) with the help of test systems «Minicap Protein(e) 6» of the same manufacturer. The levels of cytokines (IL-6, IL-10) in serum were determined by ELISA on ELISA analyzer «INFINITI» (TECAN, Austria) using reagents firm «Vector-best» (Russia).Results: RSVI occurs with lesions of the lower respiratory tract in 42% of cases, with the development of complications in 44% of sick children. The study revealed a prolonged increase in serum alpha-2 fraction of globulins, immunoregulatory cytokines with pro-inflammatory (IL-6) and anti-inflammatory (IL-10) action and, which may indicate the presence of subacute inflammatory process associated with the persistence of RS-virus. Lower levels of gamma-globulin fraction, including the main specific and nonspecific immunoglobulins, in children with PCR-proven RSVI, both in the acute period and in the period of convalescence, probably can cause repeated RSV-diseases, as well as an increase in the risk of atopic diseases.Conclusion. The long-term increase in the level of subacute inflammation markers, established in the course of the study, even against the relieve of clinical picture of the disease, makes the question of developing an etiopathogenetic treatment of respiratory syncytial viral infection with the use of drugs with antiviral and anti-inflammatory action relevant.Цель: получение новых клинико-биохимических данных о патогенезе респираторно-синцитиальной вирусной инфекции у детей.Материалы и методы: 60 детей в возрасте от 1 месяца до 5 лет, получавших лечение в клинике Детского научно-клинического центра инфекционных болезней, из которых у 50 человек в мазках из ротоглотки выделена РНК РСВ. Группу сравнения составили 10 детей, у которых респираторно-синцитиальная вирусная инфекция не верифицирована лабораторными методами. Всем детям при поступлении и перед выпиской из стационара проведен клинический анализ крови на гематологическом анализаторе Sysmex XP-300 (Япония). В сыворотке крови методом количественной иммунотурбидиметрии на биохимическом анализаторе CLIMA-15 (Испания) с использованием тест-систем фирмы Sentinel (Италия) определяли альфа-1антитрипсин и альфа-2-макроглобулин. Определение количества общего белка, альбумина и С-реактивного белка в сыворотке крови проводили на автоматическом анализаторе Taurus (Instrumentation Laboratory, Италия) с применением реагентов фирмы «Вектор-Бест» (Россия). Исследование белковых фракций в сыворотке крови осуществляли методом капиллярного электрофореза на приборе Minicap фирмы Sebia (Франция) с помощью тест-систем «Minicap Protein(е) 6» той же фирмы-изготовителя. Уровень цитокинов (ИЛ-6, ИЛ-10) в сыворотке крови определяли методом твердофазного иммуноферментного анализа на иммуноферментном анализаторе «INFINITI» (TECAN, Австрия) с использованием реагентов фирмы «Вектор-Бест» (Россия). Результаты: респираторно-синцитиальная вирусная инфекция протекает с поражением нижних дыхательных путей в 42% случаев, с развитием осложнений – у 44% больных детей. Установлено пролонгированное увеличение в сыворотке крови альфа-2 фракции глобулинов, иммунорегуляторных цитокинов, обладающих провоспалительным (ИЛ-6) и противовоспалительным (ИЛ-10) действием, что может свидетельствовать о наличии подострого воспалительного процесса, ассоциированного с персистенцией РС-вируса. Более низкий уровень гамма-глобулиновой фракции, включающей основные специфические и неспецифические иммуноглобулины, у детей с доказанной методом ПЦР респираторно-синцитиальной вирусной инфекцией, как в остром периоде, так и в периоде реконвалесценции, вероятно, может обусловливать повторные заболевания респираторно-синцитиальной вирусной инфекцией, а также увеличение риска развития атопических заболеваний. Заключение. Установленное в ходе исследования длительное повышение уровня маркеров подострого воспаления даже на фоне купированной клинической картины заболевания делает актуальным вопрос разработки этипатогенетического лечения респираторно-синцитиальной вирусной инфекции с применением препаратов с противовирусным и противовоспалительным действием.

Identification of Pax6-Dependent Gene Regulatory Networks in the Mouse Lens

Lineage-specific DNA-binding transcription factors regulate development by activating and repressing particular set of genes required for the acquisition of a specific cell type. Pax6 is a paired domain and homeodomain-containing transcription factor essential for development of central nervous, olfactory and visual systems, as well as endocrine pancreas. Haploinsufficiency of Pax6 results in perturbed lens development and homeostasis. Loss-of-function of Pax6 is incompatible with lens lineage formation and results in abnormal telencephalic development. Using DNA microarrays, we have identified 559 genes expressed differentially between 1-day old mouse Pax6 heterozygous and wild type lenses. Of these, 178 (31.8%) were similarly increased and decreased in Pax6 homozygous embryonic telencephalon [Holm PC, Mader MT, Haubst N, Wizenmann A, Sigvardsson M, Götz M (2007) Loss- and gain-of-function analyses reveals targets of Pax6 in the developing mouse telencephalon. Mol Cell Neurosci 34: 99–119]. In contrast, 381 (68.2%) genes were differently regulated between the lens and embryonic telencephalon. Differential expression of nine genes implicated in lens development and homeostasis: Cspg2, Igfbp5, Mab21l2, Nrf2f, Olfm3, Spag5, Spock1, Spon1 and Tgfb2, was confirmed by quantitative RT-PCR, with five of these genes: Cspg2, Mab21l2, Olfm3, Spag5 and Tgfb2, identified as candidate direct Pax6 target genes by quantitative chromatin immunoprecipitation (qChIP). In Mab21l2 and Tgfb2 promoter regions, twelve putative individual Pax6-binding sites were tested by electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs) with recombinant Pax6 proteins. This led to the identification of two and three sites in the respective Mab21l2 and Tgfb2 promoter regions identified by qChIPs. Collectively, the present studies represent an integrative genome-wide approach to identify downstream networks controlled by Pax6 that control mouse lens and forebrain development

Local Suppression of T Cell Responses by Arginase-Induced L-Arginine Depletion in Nonhealing Leishmaniasis

The balance between T helper (Th) 1 and Th2 cell responses is a major determinant of the outcome of experimental leishmaniasis, but polarized Th1 or Th2 responses are not sufficient to account for healing or nonhealing. Here we show that high arginase activity, a hallmark of nonhealing disease, is primarily expressed locally at the site of pathology. The high arginase activity causes local depletion of L-arginine, which impairs the capacity of T cells in the lesion to proliferate and to produce interferon-γ, while T cells in the local draining lymph nodes respond normally. Healing, induced by chemotherapy, resulted in control of arginase activity and reversal of local immunosuppression. Moreover, competitive inhibition of arginase as well as supplementation with L-arginine restored T cell effector functions and reduced pathology and parasite growth at the site of lesions. These results demonstrate that in nonhealing leishmaniasis, arginase-induced L-arginine depletion results in impaired T cell responses. Our results identify a novel mechanism in leishmaniasis that contributes to the failure to heal persistent lesions and suggest new approaches to therapy

Biodiversity of macrophyte communities and associated aquatic organisms in lakes of the Vologda Region (north-western Russia)

This paper provides current data on the biodiversity of boreal lakes of the Vologda Region (north-western Russia), including macrophytes (vascular plants and macroscopic algae) and macrophyte inhabitants (invertebrates and microalgae). The raw data, given in two datasets (Sampling event dataset and an Occurrence dataset) and presented in the form of GBIF-mediated data, were collected from 139 lakes (macrophytes between 2005 and 2021, macrophyte inhabitants between 2014 and 2020). The dataset contains materials on the diversity of vascular plants (Tracheophyta, 3225 occurrences; Bryophyta, 155; Marchantiophyta, 16), macro- and microalgae (Ochrophyta, 546 occurrences; Chlorophyta, 193; Charophyta, 153; Cyanobacteria, 139; Cryptophyta, 86; Myzozoa, 33; Euglenozoa, 27; Rhodophyta, 8; Bigyra, 1) and aquatic invertebrates (Arthropoda, 1408 occurrences; Annelida, 487; Mollusca, 263; Platyhelminthes, 36; Cnidaria, 11). This paper summarises previously unpublished materials in a standardised form.The paper summarises the data collected during the long-term phytodiversity studies in a series of lakes of different types (Vologda Region, north-western Russia). Data on algae and invertebrates diversity were obtained in 60 different plant communities of aquatic, semi-aquatic and coastal plants or their combinations. A total of 6787 occurrences were included in the dataset, published in the global biodiversity database (GBIF) for the first time. According to the GBIF taxonomic backbone, the dataset comprised 837 taxa, including 711 lower-rank taxa (species, subspecies, varieties, forms). New records of 47 species rare and protected in the Vologda Region are given: 43 species of plants, three species of animals and one species of Cyanobacteria

EFFECT OF FUCOIDAN ON THE LEVEL AND DYNAMIC OF LIPID METABOLISM PARAMETERS IN P-407 INDUCED DYSLIPIDEMIA

Purpose: to study the effect of fucoidan (sulfated polysaccharide from brown algae) on the dynamics of lipid metabolism in the mice model of dyslipidemia induced poloxamer P-407. Materials and methods. We used fucoidan, extracted from brown algae Fucus evanescens with a molecular weight 160 kDa. Experimental studies were conducted on noninbred white mice. The model of dyslipidemia and atherosclerosis in animals was induced by intraperitoneal injection of poloxamer 407 (P-407). Results. We revealed the ability of per os administration of fucoidan to normalize the basic parameters of lipid metabolism in mice with dyslipidemia (serum levels of triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol). Conclusion. Revealed experimental results allow to consider the fucoidan as the basis for the development of new biological products with lipid corrective action and to recommend it for further study in experimental and clinical trials