Integrated are the data on the number of major carriers and vectors as well as the epizootic activity of natural foci of plague of different types in the territory of Russia in 2012. Submitted is the short-term forecast of epizootic situation for 2013. Analyzed are the reasons of current low epizootic activity of plain natural foci of plague. The role of climatic factors in the development of long inter-epizootic periods in plague natural foci in the Pre-Caucasus, Pre-Caspian regions and Siberia is discussed. Assessed is the change of potential epidemiologic hazard of plague-enzootic territories under the current warming of climate. The long-term forecast of epizootic activity of natural plague foci for the period of up to 2020 is substantiated.

Within the last decade increase in cholera morbidity rate in the world has been revealed (with due consideration to linear trend). For 2013 maintenance of the tendency is forecasted. Epidemics, outbreaks and importations of the infection have occurred in 109 countries around Asia, Africa, America, Europe, Australia and Oceania. Nosoarea has been expanding owing to inclusion of new administrative territories and countries into the epidemic process, some cases being registered for the first time during the seventh pandemic. Apart from the endemic territories in India and Bangladesh, formation of endemic foci in twelve African countries has been exposed, as well as continued dissemination of epidemic cholera, consecutive in time and spatially stepwise. These facts testify of the follow-up of the seventh pandemic. Moreover,
V. cholerae O1 El Tor strains with classical ctx-B allele have been spreading worldwide, which coupled with factors mentioned above predetermines unfavorable cholera forecast on the global level.

Evaluated are epidemiological and epizootiological situations on anthrax in the Russian Federation and around the world in 2012. Displayed is the morbidity rate prognosis for 2013.

Displayed is the analysis of epizootic and epidemic situation on brucellosis in the Russian Federation in 2012. Demonstrated is the fact that epizootic condition still remains tense. It specifies the character of epidemic manifestations. For 2013 leveling of the brucellosis incidence rate among the population of the Russian Federation is forecasted.

During the epidemic season of 2012 453 cases of West Nile fever (WNF) were registered in the territory of the 21 constituent entities of the Russian Federation. Epidemic process is spreading itself towards the northern regions of Russia. The presence of markers of West Nile fever virus in carriers and vectors of the disease as well as acquired immunity among the population against the West Nile virus (WNV) have been identified in the territory of 53 constituent entities of the Russian Federation. The epidemic process is characterized by a number of peculiarities concerning both its epidemiological and clinical aspects. With the intensification of diagnostic works among the patients with clinical symptomatology similar to WNF, first and foremost in the territories where WNV markers have been detected, prognosticated is the registration of WNF incidence among the population extending over a large area of the Russian Federation.

Represented is epidemiological evaluation of the morbidity rate as regards Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) in Russia in 2012. Summarized are the results of epizootiological surveillance over the territory of CHF natural focus in the South of European part of Russia. Forecast of CCHF epidemiological situation development for 2013 is made based on the epizootiological monitoring data.

Analyzed are the epidemiological situation and preventive measures against tick-borne encephalitis in the territory of the Russian Federation in 2012. Short-term forecast for 2013 is made based on the population morbidity rate in the federal districts of Russia in 2007–2012.

Analyzed is the incidence rate as regards natural focal infections of bacterial and viral etiology. Displayed is the data on the performed laboratory diagnostics of these infections in the territory of Siberia and Far East in 2012 and forecast of the epidemiological situation development in 2013. Analysis is carried out based on the data received by the Reference Center for surveillance over natural focal infections at the Irkutsk Research Anti-Plague Institute, from Rospotrebnadzor Institutions of Siberian, Far-Eastern and Ural Federal districts, as well as reviews and prognoses on the current state of natural foci of infections available from Altay, Tuva, Chita, Khabarovsk and Primorsk plague control stations.

Avian flu is an infectious viral disease in birds that still retains its positions in some parts of Asia and Africa. This review contains summarization and analysis of facts regarding the current situation on highly pathogenic avian flu A-type subtype H5N1 among people and animals for the period of the past four years. Excess incidence rate in 2009 in Egypt, as well as cluster cases of the disease in humans, closely related in time and space, virus mutations as it spreads all over the world and diversification of the host specter, testify of the fact that this agent possesses significant pandemic potential and requires continuous close attention to provide for the well-timed detection of the occurring epidemiological, clinical and virological changes.

Sustainable growth of touristic economy sector in the Republic of Dagestan exposes the need for well-timed and adequate response to epidemic and ecological hazards. In this connection investigated have been several peculiarities specific to economic activity and medical services of the republic, which precondition a threat to epidemiological welfare of the population and make possible dissemination of infections over the boundaries of republic’s natural foci.

Presented are the results of assessment of the national regulatory framework in the field of pathogenic biological agents handling in comparison with the same foreign one and WHO recommendations. Shown is the necessity of timely introduction of amendments or revision of the national regulatory documents. The topical issues requiring decision are specified. The proposals on improvement of normative legal regulations are submitted. The development of the common regulatory document integrating the issues of biological safety provision seems to be advisable.

Performed is a complex microbiological, molecular-genetic and mass-spectrometric identification of
Yersinia pestis main ssp. strain, which was isolated for the first time in the history of surveillance over the Altai mountain natural plague focus in June, 2012. Determined is its high universal virulence. Plasmid screening, multi-locus VNTR- and mass-spectrometric analyses have revealed the strain to be more closely related to the plague agent variant, circulating in the territory of the natural focus Khuukh-Serkh-Munkh-Khairkhan, Bayan-Ul’giisk aimak, Mongolia.

Within the frames of activities attributed to the Reference Center for tularemia monitoring at SRC AMB, genetically identified are 4 isolates of Francisella tularensis , isolated in 2011 in the Altai Territory. These bacteria prove to be virulent for BALB/c mice, DCL being lower than 10 CFU. Using single-primer PCR-typing and MLVA assay distinguished have been the subspecies of the isolates. Three of them refer to the Central Asian subspecies, one – to the Holarctic, the former being isolated in the territory of the Russian Federation for the first time ever.

Set-up is database containing characteristics of variable tandem repeats, oligo-nucleotide primers and probes of the genomes of the strains bacterial and viral infections agents of the I-II pathogenicity groups. It allows for accumulation of information on genome regions. Using the incorporated VBA one can rapidly analyze the data and carry out substantiated calculation of gene-diagnostic preparations based on various PCR frameworks.

Designed is immuno-enzyme test-system for the detection of antibodies to Yersinia pestis capsular antigen F1 – “ELISA-Ab-F1
Yersinia pestis”. On the model of laboratory mice it is demonstrated that this test-system is highly specific, its diagnostic titer being 1/320.Diagnostic value of the test-system is 83.3–88.9 % as revealed through investigations of sera and blood suspension samples, swabs of thoracic organs of animals, inoculated with live plague vaccine, strains of plague microbe, containing and deprived of pFra, as well as with heterologous bacteria.

Immuno-chromatographic test systems are shown to be applicable for rapid detection of tularemia microbe lipopolysaccharide for identification of
Francisella tularensis strains isolated in natural foci, and in epizootiologic survey – for the analysis of suspensions of ixodic ticks and internal organs of dead animals.

Designed is a multiplex PCR-RT test-system for the detection of anthrax causative agent using hybridization fluorescence detection – “
Bacillus anthracis multiplex 3 FRT”. This test-system contains enclosed reference sample for carrying out control procedure in the phase of DNA purification, primers and probes to specific DNA target sequences of the two plasmid and one chromosomal
B. anthracis genes. It allows for identification
B. anthracis strains both possessing plasmids (one or two) and plasmidless, revealing their genetic pathogenicity potential, and for differentiation between anthrax agent strains and closely related saprophytes belonging to
Bacillus species.

Determined are the key bio-kinetic indexes of submerged cultivation of
Vibrio cholerae non-toxigenic strains, producers of O-antigens. Evaluated is the technology of O-antigen concentration using tangential ultrafiltration technique. The results suggest the principal possibility of using these strains for biologically safe production of chemical cholera vaccines.

Presented is the principal scheme for preparation of experimental medium for Legionella cultivation on the basis of fermentative hydrolysate of pig lung. Shown is that the culture medium has good growth properties and meets the requirements of regulatory documentation for culture medium used for isolation and cultivation of the causative agent of legionellosis.

Developed is the system of differential equations that characterize kinetics of biomass growth, glucose utilization and O-antigen accumulation in the process of submerged cultivation of
V. cholerae strain M-41 Ogawa. The parameters of the mathematic model are identified. Using the developed software in Mathcad 15.0 determined are kinetic constants and coefficients. The mathematical model is demonstrated to describe adequately O-antigen biosynthesis process. The received data can be used in large-scale technology of
V. cholerae strain M-41 submerged cultivation.