Клинико-иммунологическая оценка эффективности Ронколейкина при микоплазменной и хламидийной пневмониях

The purpose of our investigation was clinical and immunological analysis of effectiveness of recombinant human interleukine-2 (Roncoleukin) in complex treatment of pneumonias caused by Mycoplasma and Chlamydia. There were 60 people under investigation, 44 of them had pneumonia caused by Mycoplasma and 16 had pneumonia caused by Chlamydia. They were divided into 2 groups. The patients received typical treatment (macrolides, detoxicating and antioxidant therapy, bronchodilators, mucolytics) and the 2-nd group patients also received immunity-modulating therapy: intravenous infusion of Roncoleukin 500 000 IU twice with the 72 h interval. The patients with pneumonias caused by Mycoplasma and Chlamydia were revealed to have T-cell immunity depression and compensatory activation of humoral response. The typical therapy resulted in stimulation of the T-cell response. The treatment with Roncoleukin led to the normalization of principal quantitative and functional parameters of T-cell immunity and stability of the humoral response. The elimination of the immunity disorders correlated with a considerable clinical effect.Целью исследования явилось клинико-иммунологическая оценка эффективности применения рекомбинантного интерлейкина-2 человека (Ронколейкина) в комплексном лечении микоплазменной и хламидийной пневмоний. В исследовании участвовали 60 пациентов: 44 с микоплазменной и 16 с хламидийной пневмониями. Обследуемые были разделены на 2 группы. Пациенты 1-й группы получали стандартную терапию (макролиды, дезинтоксикационную, антиоксидантную терапию, отхаркивающие средства); пациенты 2-й группы помимо стандартной получали иммуномодулирующую терапию Ронколейкином по 500 000 ME внутривенно, капельно, двухкратно, с интервалом в 72 ч. У больных микоплазменной и хламидийной пневмониями установлены угнетение Т-клеточного звена иммунитета, компенсаторная активация гуморального звена иммунитета. На фоне стандартной терапии происходило усугубление Т-клеточной депрессии. Комплексная терапия с включением Ронколейкина приводила к нормализации основных количественных и функциональных параметров Т-клеточного иммунитета, стабилизировала гуморальный иммунитет. Устранение иммунологических расстройств сопровождалось выраженным клиническим эффектом

Contrasting origin of B chromosomes in two cervids (Siberian roe deer and grey brocket deer) unravelled by chromosome-specific DNA sequencing

Abstract Background B chromosomes are dispensable and variable karyotypic elements found in some species of animals, plants and fungi. They often originate from duplications and translocations of host genomic regions or result from hybridization. In most species, little is known about their DNA content. Here we perform high-throughput sequencing and analysis of B chromosomes of roe deer and brocket deer, the only representatives of Cetartiodactyla known to have B chromosomes. Results In this study we developed an approach to identify genomic regions present on chromosomes by high-throughput sequencing of DNA generated from flow-sorted chromosomes using degenerate-oligonucleotide-primed PCR. Application of this method on small cattle autosomes revealed a previously described KIT gene region translocation associated with colour sidedness. Implementing this approach to B chromosomes from two cervid species, Siberian roe deer (Capreolus pygargus) and grey brocket deer (Mazama gouazoubira), revealed dramatically different genetic content: roe deer B chromosomes consisted of two duplicated genomic regions (a total of 1.42-1.98 Mbp) involving three genes, while grey brocket deer B chromosomes contained 26 duplicated regions (a total of 8.28-9.31 Mbp) with 34 complete and 21 partial genes, including KIT and RET protooncogenes, previously found on supernumerary chromosomes in canids. Sequence variation analysis of roe deer B chromosomes revealed a high frequency of mutations and increased heterozygosity due to either amplification within B chromosomes or divergence between different Bs. In contrast, grey brocket deer B chromosomes were found to be more homogeneous and resembled autosomes in patterns of sequence variation. Similar tendencies were observed in repetitive DNA composition. Conclusions Our data demonstrate independent origins of B chromosomes in the grey brocket and roe deer. We hypothesize that the B chromosomes of these two cervid species represent different stages of B chromosome sequences evolution: probably nascent and similar to autosomal copies in brocket deer, highly derived in roe deer. Based on the presence of the same orthologous protooncogenes in canids and brocket deer Bs we argue that genomic regions involved in B chromosome formation are not random. In addition, our approach is also applicable to the characterization of other evolutionary and clinical rearrangements

The Maximum Energy and Spectra of Cosmic Rays Accelerated in Active Galactic Nuclei

We computed the energy spectra of the incident (on an air shower array) ultrahigh-energy (E > 4x10^19 eV) cosmic rays (CRs) that were accelerated in nearby Seyfert nuclei at redshifts z<= 0.0092 and in BL Lac objects. For our calculations, we took the distribution of these sources over the sky from catalogs of active galactic nuclei. In accordance with the possible particle acceleration mechanisms, the initial CR spectrum was assumed to be monoenergetic for BL Lac's and a power law for Seyfert nuclei. The CR energy losses in intergalactic space were computed by the Monte Carlo method. The artificial proton statistic was 10^5 for each case considered. The computed spectra of the particles incident on an air shower array agree with the measurements, which indirectly confirms the adopted acceleration models. At energies E>=10^20 eV, the spectrum of the protons from nearby Seyfert nuclei that reached an air shower array closely matches the spectrum of the particles from BL Lac's. BL Lac's are, on average, several hundred Mpc away. Therefore, it is hard to tell whether a blackbody cutoff exists or not by analyzing the shape of the measured spectrum at E>= 5x10^19 eV.Comment: 14 pages, 5 fig. To be Published in Astronomy Letters, 2004, v.30, #1

Contrasting origin of B chromosomes in two cervids (Siberian roe deer and grey brocket deer) unravelled by chromosome-specific DNA sequencing.

BACKGROUND: B chromosomes are dispensable and variable karyotypic elements found in some species of animals, plants and fungi. They often originate from duplications and translocations of host genomic regions or result from hybridization. In most species, little is known about their DNA content. Here we perform high-throughput sequencing and analysis of B chromosomes of roe deer and brocket deer, the only representatives of Cetartiodactyla known to have B chromosomes. RESULTS: In this study we developed an approach to identify genomic regions present on chromosomes by high-throughput sequencing of DNA generated from flow-sorted chromosomes using degenerate-oligonucleotide-primed PCR. Application of this method on small cattle autosomes revealed a previously described KIT gene region translocation associated with colour sidedness. Implementing this approach to B chromosomes from two cervid species, Siberian roe deer (Capreolus pygargus) and grey brocket deer (Mazama gouazoubira), revealed dramatically different genetic content: roe deer B chromosomes consisted of two duplicated genomic regions (a total of 1.42-1.98 Mbp) involving three genes, while grey brocket deer B chromosomes contained 26 duplicated regions (a total of 8.28-9.31 Mbp) with 34 complete and 21 partial genes, including KIT and RET protooncogenes, previously found on supernumerary chromosomes in canids. Sequence variation analysis of roe deer B chromosomes revealed a high frequency of mutations and increased heterozygosity due to either amplification within B chromosomes or divergence between different Bs. In contrast, grey brocket deer B chromosomes were found to be more homogeneous and resembled autosomes in patterns of sequence variation. Similar tendencies were observed in repetitive DNA composition. CONCLUSIONS: Our data demonstrate independent origins of B chromosomes in the grey brocket and roe deer. We hypothesize that the B chromosomes of these two cervid species represent different stages of B chromosome sequences evolution: probably nascent and similar to autosomal copies in brocket deer, highly derived in roe deer. Based on the presence of the same orthologous protooncogenes in canids and brocket deer Bs we argue that genomic regions involved in B chromosome formation are not random. In addition, our approach is also applicable to the characterization of other evolutionary and clinical rearrangements

Genome of the Komodo dragon reveals adaptations in the cardiovascular and chemosensory systems of monitor lizards

Monitor lizards are unique among ectothermic reptiles in that they have high aerobic capacity and distinctive cardiovascular physiology resembling that of endothermic mammals. Here, we sequence the genome of the Komodo dragon Varanus komodoensis, the largest extant monitor lizard, and generate a high-resolution de novo chromosome-assigned genome assembly for V. komodoensis using a hybrid approach of long-range sequencing and single-molecule optical mapping. Comparing the genome of V. komodoensis with those of related species, we find evidence of positive selection in pathways related to energy metabolism, cardiovascular homoeostasis, and haemostasis. We also show species-specific expansions of a chemoreceptor gene family related to pheromone and kairomone sensing in V. komodoensis and other lizard lineages. Together, these evolutionary signatures of adaptation reveal the genetic underpinnings of the unique Komodo dragon sensory and cardiovascular systems, and suggest that selective pressure altered haemostasis genes to help Komodo dragons evade the anticoagulant effects of their own saliva. The Komodo dragon genome is an important resource for understanding the biology of monitor lizards and reptiles worldwide