PCR Detection of Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Lato, Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus, and the Human Granulocytic Ehrlichiosis Agent in Ixodes persulcatus Ticks from Western Siberia, Russia

PCR assays were used to test adult Ixodes persulcatus ticks from Western Siberia, Russia, for Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), and the human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE) agent. Of the 150 ticks that were studied, 38% were infected with B. burgdorferi, 46% were infected with TBEV, and 8% were infected with the HGE agent. These three pathogens were distributed in the ticks independently of one another

High Pressure Brillouin Spectroscopy and X-ray Diffraction of Cerium Dioxide

Simultaneous high-pressure Brillouin spectroscopy and powder X-ray diffraction of cerium dioxide powders are presented at room temperature to a pressure of 45 GPa. Micro- and nanocrystalline powders are studied and the density, acoustic velocities and elastic moduli determined. In contrast to recent reports of anomalous compressibility and strength in nanocrystalline cerium dioxide, the acoustic velocities are found to be insensitive to grain size and enhanced strength is not observed in nanocrystalline CeO2. Discrepancies in the bulk moduli derived from Brillouin and powder X-ray diffraction studies suggest that the properties of CeO2 are sensitive to the hydrostaticity of its environment. Our Brillouin data give the shear modulus, G0 = 63 (3) GPa, and adiabatic bulk modulus, KS0 = 142 (9) GPa, which is considerably lower than the isothermal bulk modulus, KT0∼ 230 GPa, determined by high-pressure X-ray diffraction experiments

Volatile Pd–Pb and Cu–Pb heterometallic complexes: structure, properties, and <i>trans</i>-to-<i>cis</i> isomerization under cocrystallization of Pd and Cu β-diketonates with Pb hexafluoroacetylacetonate

<div><p>Preparation of volatile heterometallic precursors is a significant step on the way to advanced multicomponent materials. Study of molecular transformations in solution upon precursor synthesis is of importance to optimize the preparation of the stable solid product of desired composition. Two new volatile heterobimetallic complexes, <i>cis</i>-PdL₂*Pb(hfa)₂ and <i>cis</i>-CuL₂*Pb(hfa)₂, were obtained (L = 2-methoxy-2,6,6-trimethylheptane-3,5-dionate, hfa = 1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoropentane-2,4-dionate) under cocrystallization of <i>trans</i>-bis-beta-diketonates of Pd(II) and Cu(II) with Pb(hfa)₂ from organic solvents. Crystals of these compounds are built of discrete bimetallic molecules where transition metal complex isomerized from <i>trans</i>-to-<i>cis</i> form. Complexation followed by isomerization was studied by solution NMR. The bimetallic molecular species were formed early in solution. Enthalpy and activation energy of isomerization were estimated to be 49 and 93 kJ mol⁻¹, respectively. A new synthesis technique of Pd(II) beta-diketonates which is distinguished by simplicity and selectivity as well as the crystal structure of <i>trans</i>-PdL₂ is described. Volatility of all obtained compounds was confirmed by thermogravimetric analysis and fractional sublimation in vacuum; Pd-containing heterobimetallic complex appeared to be more volatile than both the initial monometallic complexes and Cu-containing complex.</p></div

The phylodynamics of the rabies virus in the Russian Federation

<div><p>Near complete rabies virus N gene sequences (1,110 nt) were determined for 82 isolates obtained from different regions of Russia between 2008 and 2016. These sequences were analyzed together with 108 representative GenBank sequences from 1977–2016 using the Bayesian coalescent approach. The timing of the major evolutionary events was estimated. Most of the isolates represented the steppe rabies virus group C, which was found over a vast geographic region from Central Russia to Mongolia and split into three groups (C0-C2) with discrete geographic prevalence. A single strain of the steppe rabies virus lineage was isolated in the far eastern part of Russia (Primorsky Krai), likely as a result of a recent anthropogenic introduction. For the first time the polar rabies virus group A2, previously reported in Alaska, was described in the northern part of European Russia and at the Franz Josef Land. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that all currently circulating rabies virus groups in the Russian Federation were introduced within the few last centuries, with most of the groups spreading in the 20^th century. The dating of evolutionary events was highly concordant with the historical epidemiological data.</p></div

Bayesian phylogenetic analysis of near-complete N-gene sequences of the rabies virus strains circulating in the Russian Federation.

<p>Scale bar shows time in years. Branches are color-coded according to described groups. Node posterior probabilities above 95% are shown by black squares at the relevant nodes. Posterior probabilities between 80–95% are indicated by numbers. Posterior probabilities below 80% are not indicated. Sequences obtained in the current study are shown in bold.</p