The analysis of epidemiologic situation on hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome, tick borne borreliosis, tick-borne encephalitis, leptospirosis, tularemia, brucellosis, anthrax, rabies in 2000-2009 in Privolhzskiy Federal District (PFD) was carried out. 94746 patients were registered in that period, hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome, tick borne borreliosis and tick-borne encephalitis account for 96.5 % of them. The prognosis of epidemiologic situation of stated infections in PFD in 2010 was made.

Epidemiologic situation on cholera in the world, CIS countries and Russia has been evaluated for the period of 2000-2009. The last decade (2000-2009) is characterized by the on-going large epidemics and outbreaks of cholera in the countries of Africa and Asia. Unfavorable epidemiologic situation in the world is worsened by intercontinental, inter- and intrastate importation of the infection. Since 2000 more than 960 imported cases of cholera have been registered in the world including 222 cases in the European countries. Epidemiologic situation in CIS countries and Russia is evaluated as unstable due to the registered imported cases and annual isolation of Vibrio cholerae O1 and O139 from the environment. The cholera prognosis for Russia remains unfavorable.

Results of retrospective epidemiologic analysis of population morbidity in different regions of the Russian Federation and epidemic situation of West Nile fever in the territory of Russia are presented. Analysis was based on the reports of Rospotrebnadzor Administrations in the subjects of the Russian Federation and general publications of research institutes which carried out investigations of West Nile fever. Epidemic manifestations of this infection are identified in the Astrakhan, Volgograd, Rostov and Ulyanovsk regions. Circulation of West Nile virus is registered in 22 territories of Russia. The average seroprevalence of West Nile virus antibodies in population of different regions varies (1% in the West Siberia, 3% in the Rostov region and 10% in the Astrakhan, Volgograd regions and the Republic of Adygeya). The prognosis of epidemic development in near future demonstrated that spread of West Nile fever to the North territories of Russia would continue. The outbreaks of infection are possible in the territories where epidemic manifestations have not been noticed previously but virus circulation is identified in nature. The necessity of monitoring of West Nile virus in all territories of Russia is proved.

Presented are the results of examination of a current condition of the Aral Sea and the adjacent postaqual territory as potential plague focus. Study and comparison of the new territories with the existing natural plague foci in the adjacent territory of Kyzyl-Kum and Ustyurt revealed the presence of similar natural conditions, set of carriers and vectors as well as identical microbiological properties of the agent strains. The emergence of new epizootic plague foci on the shallowed territory of the Aral Sea was shown to be possible and obligatory.

Retrospective analysis of cholera spread in the early period of the seventh pandemic in Russia (1970-1973) has been carried out. It was elucidated that importation and further spread of cholera in the Astrakhan region in 1970 had been realized through the water way. The development of a large cholera focus in the territory of this region determined the unfavorable situation as regards this infection in the whole country in the period of 1970-1972. Water transport was shown to play the main role in cholera spread. The risk cohorts were the population of the Astrakhan region, shipboard personnel of the Volga steamship company, fishermen, persons without permanent residence. Molecular-genetic analysis of cholera agent strains isolated from the patients (vibriocarriers) and the environment showed that they belonged to one clone, thus the common origin of cholera cases in the basin of the Volga was confirmed.

Presented are the results of examination of Argentine and Bolivian hemorrhagic fevers in accordance with previously proposed categories, signs and criteria of particularly dangerous viral infections (PDVI), actual for sanitary protection of the territory. Argentine and Bolivian hemorrhagic fevers are contagious PDVI of pathogenicity group I, capable of epidemic spread. Anti-epidemic measures are necessary in case of Argentine and Bolivian hemorrhagic fevers importation onto non-endemic territory to prevent the epidemiologic complications.

Scientifically based typing of HFRS foci, ecological-epizootiological monitoring and a number of sanitary-and-hygiene, sanitary-and-technical, agrotechnical, forestry as well as deratization and disinfection measures were carried out. In addition, information-explanatory work among the population was done. That enabled to eliminate group diseases in Ufa, lower to single cases the risk of HFRS infection of the population in woodland territory and reduce average annual morbidity in the city from high to middle level.

Retrospective epidemiological analysis as regards infectious and parasitic diseases in the Astrakhan Region was carried out using the methods of complex multi-dimensional data analysis - OLAP. It was elucidated that application of the OLAP cube technologies enabled to facilitate complex retrospective analysis of epidemiological data in the context of different groups of infectious and parasitic diseases. It became possible by means of automation of calculations and use of qualitatively new methods in formation of database profiles. Enterobiasis and acute enteric infections of unidentified etiology were shown to be the most significant in epidemiological and social relation among the enteric group diseases.

Biological and physical-chemical properties of the pseudotuberculosis agent cultures were shown to be diverse in the process of submerged cultivation at various temperatures. The microbe cultivation at the increased temperature (37°C) was characterized by fast development and death of the population. Decelerated lag phase and extended exponential phase were observed under the conditions of cultivation at low temperature. The culture grown at 27 °C was found to get an intermediate position between those grown at 10 and 37 °C.

The set of Bacillus anthracis strains and their derivatives with distinct virulence was selected. The strains were characterized as regards phenotypic properties, VNTR-, SNP- and SNR-loci, plasmid composition, genes of toxin and capsule production, and some pathogenecity-related loci. Correlation between certain MLVA-genotype and a set of phenotypic properties indicative of the strains with altered virulence was revealed.

Variability of the nucleotide sequences of the napA, rhaS, zwf and tcaB genes was elucidated in natural Yersinia pestis strains of the main and non-main subspecies from different natural plague foci. Use of variable loci of these genes enables to carry out intra-species differentiation of plague microbe strains and attribute the studied strain to certain subspecies or biovar.

Data on VNTR typing of anthrax strains from SRC AMB collection are presented. 25 Bacillus anthracis strains of different origin and isolated in different territories have been analyzed. Application of the typing scheme of P.Keim et al. enabled to correlate Russian strains with strains of other collections. 4 new alleles: Dakkar-VrrA(296), 157-VrrB2(180), Dakkar-VrrC2(478) and M-29-pXO1(138) were determined. Major part of the strains refers to the A group (the size of VrrB1 fragment is 229 b.p.) and only two strains (1051 and 157) possess VrrB1 fragment of 229 b.p. The following strains of SRC AMB collection: 1 Kolomna, Ch-7, 15, M-29, 34, 81/1, 157, 228, 1051 and Dakkar do not go in any of 89 genotypes described by P.Keim et al. Genetic diversity of the anthrax strains isolated from different sources and presented in SRC AMB collection is shown.

The industrial basis was developed and licensed to produce effective pelleted oral smallpox vaccine TEOVak in the Virologic Centre. Several series of TEOVak preparation were produced in accordance with the industrial technology on a built-in processing line consisting of blocks and modules. Certification and evaluation of preparation's quality indices in the process of storage were carried out. Results of the evaluation proved the conformity of vaccine's characteristics with the requirements of the normative technologic documentation.

Comparison of clinical and morphological analysis data and the results of morphometric assessment of changes in suckling rabbits infected intra-intestinally with cholera vibrios with different set of virulence determinants proved the presence of ctxA gene in Vibrio cholerae genome to be the necessary condition for the development of choleragen reaction. Experimental infection in this case is followed by the excess of the considered morphometric parameters in kidneys and liver in comparison with those of the intact animals. Changes in suckling rabbits infected with ctxA^- strains are mainly of the adaptive and compensatory character and are determined by ZOT and ACE toxins of Vibrio cholerae to some extent. The reaction of the suckling rabbits` intestinal apudocytes depends on the genotype of V. cholerae strains used for challenge and correlates with the intensity of morphological changes in the intestine and internal organs of experimental animals.

Cited are literary data related to the development of DNA vaccines against rabies virus. Research results regarding gene vaccination of different models of laboratory animals and different ways of vaccine introduction are presented. Possibility to potentiate immunogenicity of DNA vaccines using adjuvants and cytokines is considered. Ways of improving of polynucleotide vaccines are discussed.