Analysis of complex measures to ensure epidemiological safety during the period of preparation and carrying out the Olympic Games abroad is presented. The main directions of the anti-epidemic work during preparation for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games are suggested based upon available experience. It has been noted that syndromic surveillance, GIS technologies, automated stations for control of atmospheric air and other new technologies ensuring biological safety should be added to traditional epidemiological surveillance of infections.

Many-years observations demonstrate that six species of the ticks inhabit semi-desert zone of Saratov Trans-Volga Region. Nine flea species are registered at small mammalians in the near-water biotopes. The dominating ectoparasite species can be of significance at present as dangerous infectious diseases vectors. They are 2 ticks species and 3 flea species. Epizootiologic monitoring to be carried out is associated with control of abundance of ectoparasite species conventional for this territory, and with detection of new species possessing condition to inhabit it.

Long-term dynamics of epizootic activity (1961-2009) and the abundance (1980-2009) of Mongolian pika - the main agent carrier - was traced in Altai mountain plague natural focus. Cyclic fluctuations of Mongolian pika abundance with near eight-year period are observed on the background of its long-term directional rise. Regular variations of focus epizootic activity are connected with the abundance cycles. The increase of epizootic activity occurs in the phase of Mongolian pika abundance rise. The peak of epizootic activity, estimated by the amount of cultures isolated, coincides with the animal's numbers peak or falls on the next year that is on the beginning of recession phase. The activity of the focus is minimal during depression of the pika's abundance and in the initial stage of its growth.

104 cases of Crimean hemorrhagic fever (CHF), including 9 lethal (8.6 %) were registered in the Volgograd Region in 2000-2009. Dynamics of human incidence and its association with the level of infection in the main carrier and vector - H. marginatum tick were demonstrated. The expansion of this species habitat resulted in the natural focus borders extension. The data presented in the article allowed to make a conclusion that persistent actively functioning natural focus of CHF had been formed in the territory of the Volgograd Region. The epicenter of this focus is situated in 2 South-Western regions - Kotelnikovsky and Oktyabrsky, - and with neighboring administrative territories and green belt of the Volgograd Southern regions being actively involved in the epidemic process.

At present, in compliance with sanitary and epidemiologic regulations in force, equipping of microbiological laboratory with modern engineering and technical systems and equipment is considered to be the important condition ensuring adherence with the biological safety requirements. The abovementioned systems and equipment, together with the rules and techniques of the safe work with pathogenic microorganisms, should provide the set of biological safety measures for the laboratory personnel. Biological safety cabinets of the second and the third classes serve as additional protection means. Considered are peculiarities of the design and benefits of different biosafety cabinets used in BSL 2-3 laboratories, and some of their shortcomings are determined.

Plague microbe strains were typed using subtracted restriction fingerprinting (SRF). Intra-species differentiation and determination of the focal belonging of the studied plague microbe strains was demonstrated. Strains with different SRF patterns circulate in some foci suggesting the possibility to use this genetic typing method for local outbreaks investigation.

Full-size genes coding matrix proteins VP40 of Ebola virus (VE) and Marburg virus (VM) and nucleoprotein (NP) of VE were cloned. These genes expression in Escherichia coli and purification of their products by affinity chromatography using Ni-NTA agarose permitted to obtain full-size recombinant VP40 and NP proteins of filoviruses. Immunological studies showed the recombinant polypeptides to possess antigenic properties similar to those of the native viral proteins. These proteins can be used for constructing of experimental vaccines against filoviruses and improving immunodiagnostic tests against filoviral infections.

Demostrated is the possibility to differentiate virulent strains of melioidosis and glanders etiological agents from avirulent ones and closely related microorganisms according to the presence of the antigenic complex 8, using rocket immunoelectrophoresis with the serum containing antibodies to this complex.

Among 15 Vibrio cholerae El Tor O1 virulent strains of Inaba and Ogawa serovars grown in sterile river water, 6 strains were found to lose spontaneously the core region of CTXφ prophage including structural genes (ctxAB) of cholera toxin. It was determined that the obtained ctxA^- mutants did not produce cholera toxin and did not cause specific choleragenic reaction in the intra-intestinally inoculated suckling rabbits suggesting that they belonged to the III^d pathogenicity group. Analysis of the population structure of two selected non-toxigenic strains M569A and 5/65A revealed clones with high level of O1 antigen of Inaba and Ogawa serovars production. The obtained avirulent strains can be used as producers of above-noted protective antigens both in production of chemical cholera vaccine and in constructing of diagnostic immunoenzyme test-systems.

Carried out was morphometric analysis of cells' reaction of APUD system (neuroendocrinal cells) of guinea pigs immunized with live plague vaccine by aerogenic method. The results of investigations were compared with characteristics of the state of biomodel's internal organs. Elucidated was that the changes of morphofunctional state of neuroendocrinal cells in lungs and organs of immunity were of phase character suggesting the involvement of APUD system elements in the inhalant method of antigenic material intake. Assessment of APUD-system cell's reaction enables to estimate indirectly the nature of adaptive and compensatory processes in biomodel in the course of anti-plague vaccination.

The review presents data on history and current status of the problem of chemical plague vaccine development Literature data about protective activity of some Yersinia pestis monoantigens as well as immunogenic properties of complex antigen preparations are summarized. The possibility and expediency of development of the appropriate vaccine preparations are evaluated, including their potential role and significance for the specific plague prophylaxis as the anti-epidemic measure.

Analysis of molecular-biological mechanisms of patho-, immuno- and morphogenesis allowed to determine the role of bactericidal mechanisms (oxygen-, nitroxide-related and oxygen-free) of tularemia microbe phagocytosis by immunophagocytic system cells. Using PCR with primers pdpD-1F, pdpD-1R, pdpA 1, pdpA2 it was shown that the structure of pathogenicity islands (FPI) in F. tularensis strains of different subspecies depended upon what subspecies the strain belonged to, and was probably associated with tularemia microbe virulence. The macroorganism reaction to the introduction of tularemia microbe of different subspecies was evaluated. The obtained data were of prognostic significance for characterization of infectious process course and for the development of criteria for lymphoid organs response in pathologic and adaptive processes.

Presented are the data of analysis of molecular parameters of heterologous immunoglobulin produced by the Russian Research Anti-Plague Institute "Microbe". It is noted that the optimal system of rectification enables to obtain a preparation composed of 100 % fraction of monomers. The fraction of fragments appears in the process of immunoglobulin storage, however its content is insignificant. The fraction of aggregates is not registered at the date of preparation delivery nor after its storage during 5 years. Lyophilized preparation is determined to be advantageous in comparison with the liquid one as regards molecular parameters integrity.

Manufacturing process of ovine hyperimmune sera against Pokrovskaya plague bacteriophage was worked out. Their stability in the process of storage was studied. Sera received were used as raw material to produce three experimental series of diagnostic plague antiphage ovine dry serum. Physicochemical properties, specific activity and specificity of the developed preparation were evaluated in comparison with similar commercial preparation produced from the equine serum. Similarity of all test parameters was revealed that enabled to recommend diagnostic plague antiphage ovine serum for application.

Presented are the results of experiments on the construction of Escherichia coli Top10 (pTrcSuB) strain, perspective for the development of recombinant cholera vaccine for peroral use. The obtained strain possesses inducible expression of cholera toxin B subunit. Peculiarities of cloned gene expression in strain-producer and the conditions of its maintaining were studied. The proposed approach will allow to obtain effective and safe cholera vaccines.

Studied were the peculiarities of interrelations of plague microbe from Hentei natural focus of Mongolia and fleas Citellophilus tesquorum of three geographic populations (Zabaikalskaya and Tuvinskaya from the natural plague foci and Olkhonskaya from plague-free territory. The functional contacts (etiological agent - vector) between the plague microbe and fleas from geographically separated populations from the focal territory were shown to be possible. Plague microbe that circulates in the territory of Hentei natural focus in Mongolia can form the proventriculus block in C. tesquorum from Trans-Baikal and Tuva. The infected insects can transfer the agent to animals that subsequently suffer from generalized infectious process. These data assume the possibility of C. tesquorum-mediated circulation of plague microbe from Mongolia in case of its import to the Trans-Baikal Region and to Tuva.

The results of analysis of case records of patients with type A flu, caused by A(H1N1) 2009 virus are presented. The greatest susceptibility to the disease is registered among young people of 16-20 years old. Dry paroxysmal cough and intoxication are shown to be the main symptoms of A(H1N1) 2009 flu. Severe course of the disease with complications is registered in the 24-44-year-old age group. The risk group includes pregnant women and patients with metabolic syndrome.