Study of the adjuvant properties of preparations containing recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor

The relevance of the search for new vaccine adjuvants is growing along with the increase in the number of current vaccine preparations, especially those developed on the basis of proteins. Some cytokines are known to exert adjuvant properties. The present work is devoted to the study of adjuvant activity of recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (rhGM-CSF) and constructs based on it. Earlier, we developed a technology for isolation and purification of GM-CSF from the E. coli SG20050/p280_2GM producer strain, as well as a technology for conjugating polyglucin:spermidine complexes with rhGM-CSF. Double-stranded RNA was used to obtain molecular constructs on the basis of rhGM-CSF conjugate. To assemble constructs, the ratio of the components was calculated for one dose of the preparation to contain 5-40 mg of rhGM-CSF and 100 mg of double-stranded RNA. The effectiveness of the formation of molecular constructs was evaluated by dsRNA electrophoretic mobility shift in a 1% agarose gel. The effectiveness of the resulting adjuvants was determined in ELISA assays by measuring the titers of specific antibodies in mouse sera against ovalbumin or recombinant receptor-binding domain of the surface S protein of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (Delta variant (B.1.617.2). The experiments were carried out in 100 male BALB/c mice weighing 16-18 g. Mice were immunized twice, with a 14-day interval, by intramuscular injection of 200 mL per animal. Recombinant receptor-binding domain of the surface protein of SARS-CoV-2 was administered at a dose of 50 mg/animal, ovalbumin – at two doses – 1 mg or 5 mg/animal. Corresponding antigen was used as a positive control, a saline solution – as a negative control. It was shown that the maximum effect was achieved by immunization with a construct based on double-stranded RNA and rhGM-CSF conjugated to polyglucin-spermidine. The use of a conjugate without double-stranded RNA as an adjuvant also improved humoral response. The use of native rhGM-CSF did not increase the titers of specific antibodies. Thus, it was found that rhGM-CSF being a part of a polysaccharide conjugate or a molecular construct exerted an ability to enhance the humoral immune response to protein antigens

CARDIOVASCULAR RISK FACTORS AND SELECTED PARAMETERS OF ECG DISPERSION MAPPING IN MEDICAL STUDENTS

Aim. To investigate the association between the risk factors (RFs) of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and selected parameters of ECG dispersion mapping in medical students, in order to facilitate preclinical diagnostics and timely risk management.Material and methods. The study included 72 students of the Internal Disease and Paediatrics Faculties of the N. N. Burdenko Voronezh State Medical Academy, aged 21–26 years (mean age 21,9±0,1 years; 18 men and 54 women). The examination included a questionnaire survey on CVD RFs, a clinical assessment, and the measurement of hemodynamic parameters. ECG parameters, including such integral characteristics as “Myocardium”, “Rhythm”, and “Detail Code”, were assessed both at rest and during the physical stress test, using the Cardiovisor 6C device.Results. All participants were divided into two groups. In the group with multiple CVD RFs, the distribution of these factors was as follows: 40% smoked (n=6), 53% consumed 2–3 drinks of alcohol per occasion (n=8), 40% had high normal blood pressure (BP) or Stage 1 elevation of BP, based on the office measurement data (n=6). Three (20%) and 4 (27%) students were overweight (OW) and obese (O; Stage I), respectively. Low physical activity (PA) was reported by 14 students (93%), and moderate to high levels of stress by 67% (n=10) and 33% (n=5), respectively. Immediately after the physical stress test and 2 minutes later, the “Myocardium” parameter was ≥17%, being significantly different from the values observed in students without multiple RFs. Abnormal values of the integral parameters of ventricular depolarisation and left ventricular repolarisation suggest the myocardial electrical heterogeneity among students with multiple CVD RFs.Conclusion. Students with multiple CVD RFs, such as smoking, alcohol, elevated BP, OW, Stage I O, moderate to high stress levels, and low PA, also demonstrated the myocardial electrical heterogeneity during the physical stress test

THE PROBLEMS OF DISTANCE LEARNING EDUCATION WHILE TEACHING FOREIGN LANGUAGES AT THE NON-LINGUISTIC HIGHER SCHOOL

The global development of technologies and their penetration into various areas of common life has a direct impact on the formation of a modern educational sphere. Traditional forms of teaching no longer satisfy the current needs of modern students. The accelerated pace of modern life and the constant lack of time dictate the search for other ways of learning. The article deals with some problems of distance learning education while teaching foreign languages at the non-linguistic higher school. These problems are analyzed in detail and their possible solutions are described from the point of view of teaching modern students in the classroom, in particular, teaching them to the English language. For example, one of the serious problems in teaching English to students in a group (which is typical for all universities in Russia) is the inability of individual students to master new material in the presence of other learners. At first glance, the solution in this situation seems obvious: a teacher needs to devote a part of his time to individual work with each of these students separately. However, if we examine this case thoroughly, such an implementation of individual work can take time from other students who master the learning materials more rapidly. Modern pedagogics offers the following solutions to this series of problems. Students and teachers can use capabilities of the newest information technologies, for instance distance learning education, when teachers and students are separated by space and, sometimes, time. Besides there are a number of other problems, the solution of which is also the involvement of distance learning using digital technologies. The authors emphasise the correct organization of the process of distance learning, which itself is ambiguous and has its own characteristics. No doubt, that in most Russian universities distance learning education is not a very common teaching method. The arrangement and management of the educational process often challenge the level of knowledge and competence of teachers in teaching foreign languages. The authors claim that the greatest difficulty is that this process has a dual structure. The teacher must not only correctly submit material on a foreign language, but also make sure how deeply the students were able to assimilate it. The authors describe in detail the advantages of such teaching and they consistently justify the need to use all types of speech activity. The authors suggest possible exercises for a particular type of activity. The system of control and monitoring of language learning for all types of speech activity is exemplified in detail, emphasizing the nature of distance learning education. The usage of electronic textbooks, platforms, case technologies is also described in the article. Audio and teleconferencing are involved in the process of teaching as well. This way undoubtedly makes distance teaching a competitive form of education. This method can be applied to a foreign language acquisition and English in particular

MODERN TECHNOLOGIES IN TEACHING FOREIGN LANGUAGES TO STUDENTS OF THE DIGITAL GENERATION

This article is devoted to modern technologies and their use in language teaching of the students of digital generation. The authors note the factors contributing to the introduction of new technologies, consider the psychological characteristics of modern students and suggest ways to take these features into account choosing types of technologies for teaching foreign languages. The authors emphasize that the quality of teaching foreign languages in higher education at the present stage directly depends on the introduction of modern information and communication technologies and the use of their potential in the educational process, which is the trend of the development of society at the present stage. Modern technologies of education include the whole range of the latest information technologies, which occupies an ever-increasing place in our daily life and becomes an integral part of modern culture, including in the field of education. Thanks to modern technologies, students get interested in the subject, their mental activity is activated, motivation for learning increases. The term "learning technologies" refers to a combination of the teacher's working methods that ensure the achievement of the set learning goals with the greatest efficiency in the shortest period possible. The most important characteristics of learning technologies are the following: a) performance effectiveness (a high level of achievement of the set educational goal for each student); b) productivity economic efficiency(a larger amount of educational material is assimilated with the less expenditure of effort on mastering the material per unit of time; c) ergonomics (learning process takes place in an atmosphere of cooperation, positive emotional microclimate, in the absence of overload and overwork); d) high motivation in the study of the subject, which contributes to an increase in interest in classes and allows teachers to improve the students' best personal qualities, to reveal their reserve capabilities. The authors also refer to the training of students in the classroom using mobile devices, which activate the skills of the 21st century, namely 4 Cs (creativity, critical thinking, communication, collaboration) and can develop with a student-oriented, dynamic and motivating way. The authors particularly highlight the mobile application efficiency in the classroom. Digital narration, clips, podcasts, web quests, trailers are created using a video camera of any mobile device with direct access to the Internet and can be available to any student, at any time and in any place convenient for him. In this article, the authors give a variety of exercises using mobile devices, which causes a lively response from both teachers and students and has already shown itself as a current trend in the field of teaching foreign languages using digital technologies

ASSESSMENT OF ASSIMILATIVE CAPACITY OF THE LICENSE AREA “NORTH CASPIAN AREA” IN RELATION TO HYDROCARBONS USING THE NEW "SYNOPTIC" METHOD

The article presents the assessment of assimilative capacity of the license area “North Caspian area” in relation to petroleum products and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, implemented using the new "synoptic" method

Features of the Intestinal Microbiota in Patients with Inflammatory Intestinal Diseases

Introduction. Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) occupy a leading position in the structure of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), as they are a progressive chronic pathology with an autoimmune type of inflammation. Changes in the composition of the gut microbiota can determine morphological changes at the latent stage of the disease. Aim of the study. To assess the genus-­species biodiversity of the microbiota in patients with IBD. Patients and methods. 16S rRNA sequencing of the intestinal microbiota was performed in 15 patients with confirmed ulcerative colitis (UC) and 20 healthy controls. The parameters of the full blood count and the serum level of C-reactive protein (CRP) were analyzed. The analysis of the obtained data was carried out using Microsoft Excel and Statistica software. Results. Among the studied laboratory parameters in patients with IBD, there was a significant increase in CRP, leukocyte and neutrophil counts compared to the control group. Sequencing of the gut microbiota showed a decrease in the normobiota, as well as an increase in the representatives of the pathogenic cluster. Conclusion. In the present study, we demonstrated a decrease in the biodiversity of the gut microbiota in patients with IBD compared to the control group, a significant change in the pathogenic cluster, and an imbalance between the representatives of Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes