Research of Certain Pathogenic Characteristics of Clinical Isolates of Staphylococci of Skin Biome

A serious problem in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) is the frequent attachment of a secondary skin infection. Among the microbes colonizing the skin of patients suffering from AD, S. aureus takes the lead. According to different authors, from the skin of 80–95 % of patients are sown Staphylococcus aureus. The survival of bacteria in a biotope is promoted by the persistent properties of microorganisms.Aim of the research: to determine the adhesive properties and antilysozyme activity of clinical strains of staphylococci isolated from the skin of patients with allergic dermatosis.The study included 50 patients with atopic dermatitis and 20 practically healthy individuals, from which 140 laboratory strains of staphylococci were isolated: 101 strains from patients with AD and 39 control strains. Bacteriological studies to isolate microorganisms and determine a number of pathogenic characteristics were carried out using the methods of classical bacteriology.The severity of antilysozyme activity (ALA) and adhesive properties of strains isolated from affected areas of the skin was significantly higher than in cultures isolated from intact skin areas, both qualitatively and quantitatively. The obtained data made it possible to assume a certain complicating role of these factors on the course of AD

The specifics of social work with victims of terrorism

The international situation in the modern world is characterized by instability, precariousness, and a high risk to the lives of people who may experience the negative consequences of emergencies arising from a variety of factors. Acts of terrorism belong to the phenomena of social emergencies of a criminal nature and currently represent one of the most widespread problems faced by 67% of modern developed and developing countries. Numerous terrorist acts compel heads of countries from around the world to come together and develop the most effective strategies to counter terrorism in their countries and the international community.

The specifics of social work with victims of terrorism

The international situation in the modern world is characterized by instability, precariousness, and a high risk to the lives of people who may experience the negative consequences of emergencies arising from a variety of factors. Acts of terrorism belong to the phenomena of social emergencies of a criminal nature and currently represent one of the most widespread problems faced by 67% of modern developed and developing countries. Numerous terrorist acts compel heads of countries from around the world to come together and develop the most effective strategies to counter terrorism in their countries and the international community.

The specifics of social work with victims of terrorism

The international situation in the modern world is characterized by instability, precariousness, and a high risk to the lives of people who may experience the negative consequences of emergencies arising from a variety of factors. Acts of terrorism belong to the phenomena of social emergencies of a criminal nature and currently represent one of the most widespread problems faced by 67% of modern developed and developing countries. Numerous terrorist acts compel heads of countries from around the world to come together and develop the most effective strategies to counter terrorism in their countries and the international community.

First molecular identification of canine Parvovirus type 2 (CPV2) in Chile reveals high occurrence of CPV2c antigenic variant

Canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV2) is one of the most important intestinal pathogens in dogs and puppies. CPV2 has been evolved into three genetic and antigenic variants (2a, 2b, and 2c), which are distributed worldwide. We reported the first study of genetic diversity of CPV2 in Chile. Sixty-five samples were collected from puppies presenting with severe gastroenteritis and different vaccination statuses. PCR, restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), and partial sequencing of the coding region of the structural viral protein VP2 was performed. Thirty of a total of 65 samples tested positive by PCR out of which 19 were further classified as CPV2c and one as CPV2a using RFLP and Sanger sequencing. The phylogeny was in concordance with the RFLP analysis. This is the first report of the genetic characterization of CPV2 in Chile and reveals a high occurrence of CPV2c

Flagellin delays spontaneous human neutrophil apoptosis

Neutrophils are short-lived cells that rapidly undergo apoptosis. However, their survival can be regulated by signals from the environment. Flagellin, the primary component of the bacterial flagella, is known to induce neutrophil activation. In this study we examined the ability of flagellin to modulate neutrophil apoptosis. Neutrophils cultured for 12 and 24 h in the presence of flagellin from Salmonella thyphimurim at concentrations found in pathological situations underwent a marked prevention of apoptosis. In contrast, Helicobacter pylori flagellin did not affect neutrophil survival, suggesting that Salmonella flagellin exerts the antiapoptotic effect by interacting with TLR5. The delaying in apoptosis mediated by Salmonella flagellin was coupled to higher expression levels of the antiapoptotic protein Mcl-1 and lower levels of activated caspase-3. Analysis of the signaling pathways indicated that Salmonella flagellin induced the activation of the p38 and ERK1/2 MAPK pathways as well as the PI3K/Akt pathway. Furthermore, it also stimulated IBα degradation and the phosphorylation of the p65 subunit, suggesting that Salmonella flagellin also triggers NF-B activation. Moreover, the pharmacological inhibition of ERK1/2 pathway and NF-B activation partially prevented the antiapoptotic effects exerted by flagellin. Finally, the apoptotic delaying effect exerted by flagellin was also evidenced when neutrophils were cultured with whole heat-killed S. thyphimurim. Both a wild-type and an aflagellate mutant S. thyphimurim strain promoted neutrophil survival; however, when cultured in low bacteria/neutrophil ratios, the flagellate bacteria showed a higher capacity to inhibit neutrophil apoptosis, although both strains showed a similar ability to induce neutrophil activation. Taken together, our results indicate that flagellin delays neutrophil apoptosis by a mechanism partially dependent on the activation of ERK1/2 MAPK and NF-B. The ability of flagellin to delay neutrophil apoptosis could contribute to perpetuate the inflammation during infections with flagellated bacteria.Facultad de Ciencias Exacta

Two years of experience in hospital surveillance for the severe influenza like illnesses in St. Petersburg: etiology, clinical characterization of diseases, antigenic and genetic properties of isolated influenza viruses

In this paper, we analyze the etiology of the diseases occurring during two consecutive influenza epidemic seasons in St. Petersburg, Russian Federation. The analysis is based on the results of the PCR diagnostics of the clinical samples collected from patients hospitalized in three St. Petersburg hospitals with influenza like illnesses (ILI). It was shown that the influenza virus A(H1N1)pdm09 was the dominant causative agent during the 2012-2013 epidemic season while, in the 2013-2014 season, A(H3N2) virus was predominant among adults and children. The influenza B virus activity was high in the 2012-2013 season and low in the 2013-2014 season. During both seasons, the main causative agent for the hospitalization of young children was respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), followed by rhinovirus and influenza virus. The rate of involvement of parainfluenza, adenovirus, metapneumovirus and coronavirus was low and was negligible for bocavirus. Children 0-2 and 3-6 years old formed the group of patients that was affected by acute respiratory infection agents the most. Children younger than 3 months old were the major group of the intensive care unit (ICUs) patients and only 27.5% of them were adults. RSV and rhinovirus were the leading cause of ILI among the children admitted to ICU. Among the adult patients admitted to the ICU, only influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, A(H3N2) and B viruses were detected during both influenza seasons.According to the results of the antigenic and genetic analysis, most influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 and A(H3N2) viruses circulating in St. Petersburg matched the vaccine strains recommended by the WHO for vaccine composition in the 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 seasons.In this paper, we analyze the etiology of the diseases occurring during two consecutive influenza epidemic seasons in St. Petersburg, Russian Federation. The analysis is based on the results of the PCR diagnostics of the clinical samples collected from patients hospitalized in three St. Petersburg hospitals with influenza like illnesses (ILI). It was shown that the influenza virus A(H1N1)pdm09 was the dominant causative agent during the 2012-2013 epidemic season while, in the 2013-2014 season, A(H3N2) virus was predominant among adults and children. The influenza B virus activity was high in the 2012-2013 season and low in the 2013-2014 season. During both seasons, the main causative agent for the hospitalization of young children was respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), followed by rhinovirus and influenza virus. The rate of involvement of parainfluenza, adenovirus, metapneumovirus and coronavirus was low and was negligible for bocavirus. Children 0-2 and 3-6 years old formed the group of patients that was affected by acute respiratory infection agents the most. Children younger than 3 months old were the major group of the intensive care unit (ICUs) patients and only 27.5% of them were adults. RSV and rhinovirus were the leading cause of ILI among the children admitted to ICU. Among the adult patients admitted to the ICU, only influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, A(H3N2) and B viruses were detected during both influenza seasons. According to the results of the antigenic and genetic analysis, most influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 and A(H3N2) viruses circulating in St. Petersburg matched the vaccine strains recommended by the WHO for vaccine composition in the 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 seasons

Redescripción del canto de anuncio de <i>Gastrotheca gracilis</i> Laurent, 1969 (Anura: Hemiphractidae) y primer registro para el Parque Nacional Campo de Los Alisos, Tucumán, Argentina

Gastrotheca gracilis es la especie con distribución más austral de la familia Hemiphractidae y es la rana marsupial de Argentina con mayor número de registros geográficos históricos, desde su localidad tipo en “La Banderita” en el límite entre las provincias de Tucumán y Catamarca (Laurent, 1967), hacia el norte en las serranías del oeste y noreste de Tucumán (Laurent et al., 1986). Las dos poblaciones redescubiertas se encuentran en la Reserva Provincial Los Sosa y en la localidad tipo (Akmentins et al., 2012), pero en ambas localidades esta especie carece de protección efectiva (obs. pers.).Asociación Herpetológica Argentina (AHA

Redescripción del canto de anuncio de <i>Gastrotheca gracilis</i> Laurent, 1969 (Anura: Hemiphractidae) y primer registro para el Parque Nacional Campo de Los Alisos, Tucumán, Argentina

Gastrotheca gracilis es la especie con distribución más austral de la familia Hemiphractidae y es la rana marsupial de Argentina con mayor número de registros geográficos históricos, desde su localidad tipo en “La Banderita” en el límite entre las provincias de Tucumán y Catamarca (Laurent, 1967), hacia el norte en las serranías del oeste y noreste de Tucumán (Laurent et al., 1986). Las dos poblaciones redescubiertas se encuentran en la Reserva Provincial Los Sosa y en la localidad tipo (Akmentins et al., 2012), pero en ambas localidades esta especie carece de protección efectiva (obs. pers.).Asociación Herpetológica Argentina (AHA