Знання як фактор конкурентних переваг: перспективи України

Introduction. In recent decades, economic growth of the leading world countries have occurred on the basis of information and knowledge embodied in new products, production technologies and management at all stages of production and marketing. Due to the generation and commercialisation of knowledge competitive advantages of individual companies, institutions and national economies, leaders of economic growth are formed and advanced. Considering the current trends in the changing conditions of economic and political space of Ukraine and abroad, which will only intensify fast and efficient reorientation to new markets is relevant for the domestic producers. The purpose of the study is to investigate the role and place of knowledge as an element of intellectual capital of organisations to ensure their competitiveness in light of trends in the global economy; to assess the current position and to outline the problems and perspectives of fast and efficient innovation growth in Ukraine based on knowledge. Results. The role of knowledge in providing competitive advantages of organisations has been outlined. The place of knowledge relevant to intellectual capital of organisations is specified. It has been determined that knowledge as an element of intellectual capital has a dual nature: it can be regarded both as an intellectual resource and as a possibility to implement existing intellectual capital of organisations. The influence of knowledge in the global economy is investigated. Ukraine’s position in the world rankings, which reflects the level of economic development based on intellectual capital and innovation, as well as the status of its competitiveness, has been studied. From these positions, we have specified strengths and weaknesses of the national economy and outlined the prospects of economic growth based on knowledge as an element of intellectual capital.Окреслено роль знань у забезпеченні конкурентних переваг організацій. Уточнено місце знань в інтелектуальному капіталі організації. Визначено, що знання як елемент інтелектуального капіталу, мають дуалістичну природу: їх можна розглядати як інтелектуальний ресурс, а також як можливість реалізації наявного інтелектуального капіталу організації. Досліджено вплив знань на розвиток світової економіки. Досліджено позиції України у світових рейтингах, які відображають рівень економічного розвитку країн на основі інтелектуального капіталу та інновацій, а також стан їхньої конкурентоспроможності. Визначено сильні та слабкі сторони вітчизняної економіки, а також окреслено проблеми та перспективи її зростання на основі знань як елементу інтелектуального капіталу

Echinococcus multilocularis: molecular and immunochemical characterization of diagnostic antigen II/3-10

A recombinant Echinococcus multilocularis antigen (II/3-10), which had previously been shown to exhibit immunodiagnostic characteristics highly specific for human alveolar echinococcosis, and the corresponding native parasite antigen, were further characterized with immunochemical and molecular biological methods. Immunoblot analysis using a polyclonal antiserum raised in rabbits against the recombinant protein, and subsequent Northern hybridization analysis, revealed that the native antigen was expressed by E. multilocularis at the adult as well as at the metacestode stage. In metacestodes, the antigen was shown by using indirect immunofluorescence and the same antiserum to be localized within the germinal layer and membrane structures of developing protoscolices. Electrophoretic analyses revealed remarkable differences in the apparent molecular weight of the antigen under reducing and non-reducing conditions. In further immunoblot analyses, anti-II/3-10 antibodies identified the corresponding epitopes on bands with identical Mr in all E. multilocularis isolates investigated (European, Asian and North American). By Southern hybridization analyses of the respective gene, phylogenetically related sequences were shown to be present in other helminth species such as E. granulosus and several Taenia spp. In the same respect, immunoblotting revealed that anti-II/3-10 antibodies reacted with antigens of different Mr from various E. granulosus isolates and some other cestode species, indicating the presence of shared and thus potentially cross-reacting epitopes. The relevance of these findings for the immunodiagnostic performance of the recombinant antigen is discusse

Comparative analysis of full-length antigen II/3 from Echinococcus multilocularis and E. granulosus

The recombinant Echinococcus multilocularis antigen ll/3-10 is one of the most promising tools for immunodiagnosis of alveolar echinococcosis in human patients. Its nucleic acid sequence represents a part of the E. multilocularis gene encoding the metacestode antigen II/3, the former being basically present and expressed in both E. multilocularis and E. granulosus. Most (94%) patients with alveolar echinococcosis respond to infection with a marked anti-II/3-10 IgG synthesis; in contrast, most of the cystic echinococcosis patients do not, for some reason, recognize the recombinant antigen. We tackled this problem by generating cDNA derived from both E. granulosus and E. multilocularis full length II/3 genes, performed by reverse transcription and PCR amplification. Sequence analysis revealed a very high degree of conservation of the primary sequence of the antigen II/3 in both Echinococcus species. cDNA fragments were subcloned and expressed in E. coli as fusion proteins with Schistosoma japonicum glutathione S-transferase. Recombinant proteins were affinity purified and comparatively assessed by ELISA with respect to antibody-binding characteristics. Sera from patients suffering from cystic echinococcosis showed no significant differences in reactivity with the antigens derived from either E. multilocularis or E. granulosus. Therefore, parameters other than some minor differences in the primary sequence seem to be responsible for the lack of antigen II/3 recognition in cystic echinococcosis. Note Nucleotide sequence data reported in this paper have been submitted to the GenBank® data base with the accession numbers U05573 and U0557

A monoclonal antibody against Echinococcus multilocularis Em2 antigen

A monoclonal antibody (MAb G11) species-specific to the Em2 antigen of Echinococcus multilocularis was generated for (i) further biological characterization of the Em2 antigen, (ii) easy affinity-purification of Em2 antigen for immunodiagnostic and immunological investigations and (iii) development of a sandwich-ELISA for the detection of Em2 antigen in diagnostic samples and thus species-specific identification of E. multilocularis metacestode material. The MAb G11 was used in an antibody sandwich-ELISA to detect soluble Em2 antigen with a methodical sensitivity of 80 ng E. multilocularis antigen/ml of solution. MAb G11 specifically detected Em2 antigen in all of 15 E. multilocularis-isolates originating from various geographical areas and in none of other helminth isolates (e.g. Echinococcus granulosus, E. vogeli, and others). Further biological analysis by FITC-labelled MAb G11 demonstrated unique binding activity to the laminated layer of the metacestode. Also, oncospheres were binding FITC-labelled MAb G11 on an outer layer synthesized during cultivation in vitro for 13 days after hatching. Application of the MAb G11 antibody sandwich-ELISA for investigation of solubilized oncospheres confirmed the in vitro synthesis of Em2 antigen by oncospheres on day 13 p.i. Adult stages (somatic antigens) and freshly hatched oncospheres were always MAb G11 negative. Solid-phase MAb G11 was used for purification of the corresponding Em2 antigen by affinity chromatography. A preliminary serological evaluation of the Em2(G11) antigen by ELISA revealed identical immunodiagnostic characteristics, compared to Em2 obtained by classical means, thus suggesting the presented method for future isolation of large-scale Em2 antige

Echinococcus multilocularis metacestode metabolites contain a cysteine protease that digests eotaxin, a CC pro-inflammatory chemokine

In many helminthic infections, eotaxin, a CC-chemokine, triggers the mobilization of eosinophils, thus, contributing to an elevated blood and periparasitic eosinophil level. Following an experimental intraperitoneal infection of C57BL6 mice with Echinococcus multilocularis metacestodes, however, we observed the absence of eosinophils in the peritoneal cavity and a low number of such cells in the blood of infected animals. Therefore, we carried out an explorative study to address the question why eosinophilia did not occur especially in the peritoneal cavity of such secondarily AE-infected mice. In an in vitro assay, we showed that metacestode antigens (in vitro generated vesicle fluid and E/S products) were able to proteolytically digest eotaxin. This effect was confirmed with semiquantitative Western blotting, which demonstrated a decreasing intensity of remaining eotaxin signals. Proteolysis of eotaxin was, thus, dose-dependent and proportional to the time of incubation with the metacestode antigens. Using appropriate inhibitors, the respective protease was identified as a cysteine protease, which required the presence of Ca++ as co-enzyme. A chromatographic fractionation procedure by successive separation of VF molecules using a superpose column and subsequently a MonoQ column mounted on an FPLC system allowed to yield a fraction, referred to us as fraction 6; containing the enriched cysteine protease, this fraction will be used for further molecular studies. Eotaxin inactivation by VF and E/S products may contribute to explain the absence of eosinophils within the peritoneal cavity of AE-secondary infected mice. Absent eosinophils, thus, may be a part of a series of events that maintain a low level of inflammation displayed within the peritoneal cavity of experimentally infected mic

Triggering and modulation of the host-parasite interplay by Echinococcus multilocularis: a review

As more facts emerge regarding the ways in which E. multilocularis-derived molecules trigger the host immune response and modulate the host-parasite interplay, it becomes possible to envisage how the parasite can survive and proliferate in its intermediate host, while in other hosts it dies out. Through effects on cells of both the innate and adaptive arms of the immune response, E. multilocularis can orchestrate a range of outcomes that are beneficial not only to the parasite, in terms of facilitating its intrahepatic proliferation and maturation, and thus life cycle over all, but also to its intermediate host, in limiting pathology. The present review deals with the role of metacestode surface molecules as well as excretory/secretory (E/S) metabolic products of the parasite in the modulation of the host responses such as to optimize its own surviva

Adhesion and invasion of bovine endothelial cells by Neospora caninum

Neospora caninum is a recently identified coccidian parasite which was, until 1988, misdiagnosed as Toxoplasma gondii. It causes paralysis and death in dogs and neonatal mortality and abortion in cattle, sheep, goats and horses. The life-cycle of Neospora has not yet been elucidated. The only two stages identified so far are tissue cysts and intracellularly dividing tachyzoites. Very little is known about the biology of this species. We have set up a fluorescence-based adhesion/invasion assay in order to investigate the interaction of N. caninum tachyzoites with bovine aorta endothelial (BAE) cells in vitro. Treatment of both host cells and parasites with metabolic inhibitors determined the metabolic requirements for adhesion and invasion. Chemical and enzymatic modifications of parasite and endothelial cell surfaces were used in order to obtain information on the nature of cell surface components responsible for the interaction between parasite and host. Electron microscopical investigations defined the ultrastructural characteristics of the adhesion and invasion process, and provided information on the intracellular development of the parasite

Improved serodiagnosis of alveolar echinococcosis of humans using an in vitro-produced Echinococcus multilocularis antigen

Serology is an important tool for the diagnosis of alveolar echinococcosis (AE) in humans. In order to improve serodiagnostic performance, we have developed an in vitro-produced Echinococcus mulilocularis metacestode vesicle fluid (EmVF) antigen for application in an immunoblot assay. Immunoblot analysis of EmVF revealed an abundant immunoreactive band triplet of 20-22kDa, achieving a sensitivity of 100% based on the testing of sera from 62 pre-operative and pre-treatment cases of active and inactive AE. Thus, the EmVF-immunoblotting allowed the specific detection of cases seronegative by the Em2- and/or EmII/3-10-ELISA, usually attributable to abortive, inactive cases of AE. The specificity of the EmVF-immunoblotting did not allow discrimination between AE and cystic echinococcosis (CE) but was 100% with respect to non-Echinococcus parasitic infections or cancer malignancies. Based on the findings of this study, it is recommended that the current ELISA test combination (Em2- and II/3-10-ELISA) be complemented with EmVF-immunoblotting, allowing an improved diagnosis of both clinical and subclinical forms of AE, including those associated with E. multilocularis-specific antibody reactivities not detectable by ELIS