Carried out is the assessment of epizootic activity of natural plague foci in the Russian Federation and in the Republic of Kazakhstan during the period of 2000-2010. It is specified that 38 plague microbe strains have been isolated in the territory of the Russian Federation, the total area of epizooties being 882,5 km². Plague microbe strains are isolated in the territory of East-Caucasian high-mountain and Altai mountain natural foci. Identified are the reasons of low epizootic activity of plain and low-mountain natural plague foci in the Russian Federation. Outlined is the role of climatic factors in the development of current intense depression in numbers of carriers and vectors of plague. Put forward is the prognosis on the low epizootic activity of the natural plague foci in the Russian Federation in 2012. It is substantiated that the emergence of local epizooties in 2012 is to take place in the territory of Altai mountain, Tuvin mountain and East-Caucasian high-mountain natural plague foci.

The prognosis for cholera on 2011 proved true: the tendency of morbidity growth remained in the last decade (2002-2011) worldwide. Imported cholera cases caused large outbreaks and epidemics in the Caribbean countries and Asia. Formation of endemic foci in a number of countries of Asia and Africa took place, where favorable conditions for epidemics development (environmental and social conditions, military conflicts, economical and political instability) existed. Wide spread of genetically altered V. cholerae eltor and V. cholerae O139 variants with epidemic and pandemic potential was observed. All the events mentioned above predetermine the unfavorable prognosis for cholera on a global level.

Presented is characteristic of West Nile Fever (WNF) epidemiologic situation in the Russian Federation in 2011. Expansion of the territories involved in the epidemic process and formation of the new WNF foci are observed. Data on WNF morbidity in June-October 2011 in ten regions of Russia are presented. Described are clinical and epidemiologic peculiarities of WNF morbidity in 2011. WNF agent markers are detected in the territory of 38 regions of Russia, suggesting its circulation on the vast areas of the country. Prognosis on WNF epidemic situation in the Russian Federation is considered to be dependent on many factors, climate warming being the most global one. Natural foci emergence and WNF cases registration are expected in the near future in the central regions of European part of Russia and forest-steppe area of Southern Siberia. WNF diagnostics improvement is thought to confer for better registration of the cases and detection of further enlargement of endemic territories.

Outlined is the analysis of epidemiological and epizootiological situation on Crimean hemorrhagic fever (CHF) in the south of the Russian Federation in 2011. Discussed are the causes of nosocomial outbreak of CHF at the Salsk district central hospital, the Rostov Region. Prognostication on CHF situation for 2012 is made based on the epizootiological monitoring.

Presented is the analysis of brucellosis morbidity, both in humans and animals, in the Russian Federation in 2007-2011. Evaluated is epizootic and epidemic situation on the disease. Epidemiological situation on brucellosis in the Russian Federation remains unfavorable and has a tendency to deterioration. Moreover, it is expected that the incidence of brucellosis in humans will rise in 2012.

Analysis of the epidemiological situation on the tick-borne viral encephalitis in the territory of the Russian Federation with due consideration to weekly epidemiological monitoring data (2009-2011), conducted by Rospotrebnadzor organizations in the corresponding constituent entities, testifies of the fact that continuous decrease in morbidity, characteristic of the early XXI century, has given way to a slight increase within the past three years. Given that there are no spring or early-summer weather anomalies or forest fires, morbidity rates among the population of the Russian Federation in 2012 can tend to exceed 2011 rates. Comprehensive set of measures applied for the disease control and prevention in the majority of endemic territories is quite effective in view of averting sharp upturn of morbidity rates, but nevertheless is not sufficient in view of the suppression of epidemiological situation.

Presented is a piece of information about the situation in natural tularemia foci and human morbidity in the territory of Siberia and Far East in 2011. Outlined is the prognosis of epizootic situation for 2012. In 2011, sporadic morbidity was registered in the Novosibirsk, Tomsk, Kemerovo, and Omsk Regions. Isolated cases of the disease were identified in the Altai Territory, in the Khanty-Mansiisk autonomous district, and the Sakhalin Region. Specified is the fact that in 2011 epizooties were of a local scale, and the situation on tularemia on the whole was favorable. Nevertheless, the possibility of aggravation of the situation in some territories in 2012 is not ruled out completely.

Carried out is the analysis of epidemiological situation on anthrax in 2011, both in the Russian Federation and around the world. The results of the analysis bear evidence of the fact that in the constituent units of the federal districts of Southern Russia and Siberia anthrax morbidity in humans will be retained at the annual average level (characteristic of the recent decade) - ranging from 1 to 20 cases of the disease.

Put forward is the method of evaluation of external and internal biosafety hazards at the level of constituent entity of the Russian Federation. It makes integration of the whole mass of medical and geographical information possible, and helps to stratify the territory depending upon the biohazard degree.

The results of modeling showed the dependence of epizootic activity in Tuvinian natural plague focus on climatic conditions (average monthly amount of precipitations in the current year and the preceding four years and temperatures in the current and the preceding three years). The multiple linear regression models were used to predict the activity of zoonosis development within a year. The models obtained by means of stepwise regression were most approximated to the natural zoonotic process. The amount of precipitations in winter months and temperature in spring and summer were of the greatest significance for epizootic activity.

Characterized in brief are the results of natural plague foci passportization carried out in the late XX century. Evaluation of the principle of formalized spatial differentiation between enzootic territories is made. The principle can guarantee high degree of data ordering, obtained in the process of epizootiological surveillance. Therefore, prospects of a new stage of plague foci passportization based on GIS-technologies are viewed, the strategy is determined, and methodological approaches for its realization are put forward. Large-scale implementation of digital topographic maps and global positioning system into the work of plague control organizations is accentuated.

Investigated was ethidium bromide interaction with the cells of avirulent Y. pestis and Y. pseudotuberculosis strains in lyophilized/rehydrated preparations. The population heterogeneity regarding particle size and concentration of nucleic acid was identified by flow cytofluorimetry and registration of total fluorescence intensity. Shown was the correlation between concentration of colony-forming units (CFU) and fluorescence increase after supplementing suspension with cetyltrimethylammoniumbromide. This approach was suggested as the express method to estimate viable cell count in lyophilized/rehydrated preparations and to control the process of preparing and storage of collection strains, dry live vaccine and probiotic preparations of gramnegative bacteria.

Determined is cholera toxin production by altered Vibrio cholerae O1 eltor strains, isolated on the territory of Russia in 1993-2010, which contain classical type ctxB gene. Studied are their genetic characteristics related to the production of this virulence factor. Determined is that altered eltor variants yield 10 to 20 times more cholera toxin than typical eltor strains. Changes in promotor region of ctxAB operon are not detected but elucidated is that 90 % of studied altered strains contain two copies of CTXϕ prophage in their genome whereas typical strains carry one copy of CTXϕ prophage. Despite the higher copy number of CTXϕ prophage, the identified differences in production of cholera toxin can be associated mostly with a change of transcriptional activity of regulatory genes. That causes the active production of cholera toxin by the altered variants of Vibrio cholerae eltor in non typical environment.

Studied were morphological, physiological and ultrastructural changes in the cell culture L-929 and in the intestine of suckling mice in the presence of Cef (CHO cell elongating factor) of Vibrio cholerae. Registered were cellular elongation, cytoplasm vacuolization, an increase in the number of lysosomes, retraction and nuclei deformation in the L-929 cell culture. Statistical significance test confirmed that in vivo Cef caused the accumulation of fluid in suckling mice. Electron microscopy of the epithelial cells of small intestine revealed vacuolization and myelin-like structures formation in cytoplasm and nuclei, swelling of mitochondria, clarification of their matrix and destruction of cristae. Cristae were filled with mucus. The involvement of mast cells caused the increasing of capillary permeability which enhanced dehydration. These changes confirmed Cef participation in manifestation of Vibrio cholerae pathogenic properties.

Studied are phenotypic and genetic properties of anthrax agent strains, isolated from earthworms retained in infected soil for a period of 20 and 30 days. Discovered is the fact that the presence of worms in the biotope reduces the number of Bacillus anthracis spores by 30-50 %. However, the rest of the spores preserve original properties, and biological and genetic virulence dominants.

Coccidioidomycosis is a systemic disease induced by dimorphic fungi Coccidioides and C. posadasii. Its causative agents - primary pathogens - are endemic for American states. However introduced cases of the disease can be traced in some other world regions too. This paper contains summarized foreign literature data on the issue. Presented are the results of our own investigations on the problem of Coccidioidomycosis diagnostics. Discussed are also problems and prospective of the development of a diagnostic preparations designed to detect and identify Coccidioides spp.

50 strains of spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsiae and 36 lyssaviruses strains from the collection of Omsk Research Institute of Natural Focus Infections were identified and typed using the approaches of molecular biology, epidemiology and bioinformatics. The taxonomic status of the studied cultures of SFG rickettsiae was identified. Zonation of the Russian Federation territories according to the spread of SFG pathogenic rickettsiae in their hosts - ixodic ticks was carried out. Lyssaviruses distribution in the territory of Siberia was considered.

Presented are the modern data about factors modulating the mechanisms of immune protection of lungs during pneumonia. Considered is the role of protein A (SP-A) in provision of lungs resistance to infectious disease. The negative impact on protein A (SP-A) by ozone is shown. Noted is the existence of the gender particularities in pneumonia morbidity and sensitivity to ozone.

Assessment of immunogenicity and biological safety of protective antigen preparation obtained from asporogenic recombinant producer, B. anthracis 55ΔTPA-1(Spo^-), is made on the mice (BALB/c species) and Guiney pigs models. It is shown that the development of adaptive immunity in the inoculated with purified protein laboratory animals is characterized by high titers of specific antibodies. Double immunization of biological models with antigen preparation confers protection from B. anthracis infection, commensurable with protective capacity of the live anthrax vaccine. Obtained are the data confirming the possibility to reduce the injected doze of the vaccine strain in case of subsequent single immunization with protective antigen. It is determined that recombinant protective antigen shows no sign of reactogenicity and does not damage thymocytes and splenocytes in laboratory animals when administered for immunization.

Studied is the sensitivity of different animal species (white mice, rabbits, mini-pigs, and marmots) to Monkeypox virus (MPXV). Determined is the fact that MPXV-sensitive are groundhogs (ID₅₀ and LD₅₀ <2,2 lg of PFU in case of subcutaneous inoculation) and mice (ID₅₀ = 4,8 lg and LD₅₀ >5 lg of PFU in case of intranasal inoculation). The most pronounced clinical signs of the disease such as varioliform eruption all over body and mucous linings, purulent discharges out of nasal cavity, lymphadenitis, loss of coordination, tremor of extremities, fever, hyper-aggressiveness, disheveled hair have been registered in groundhogs. The highest viral loads in the majority of fallen marmots have been observed in nasal mucosa, trachea, lungs, and pock-marked skin (>6,0 lg PFU/g). The symptomatology of the disease in mice as compared to groundhogs is a bit milder: purulent conjunctivitis, blepharitis, and disheveled hair. As for mini-pigs and rabbits, no visual signs of the disease have been observed in them.

Lethal combination of lypoplyssacharide and mouse Y. pestis toxin is decreased by the use of effective preparation - Cytoflavinum, the antihypoxant of substrate and regulatory activity. The positive resolving impact to the lethal activity of toxins of plague microbe provides also Emoxipinum, the synthetic preparation, the effect of which is enhanced by the use of Contrykal, Klexan, hemodez.

Presented are data on the second republican competition of sanitary and epidemiological reconnaissance groups from the Center of Hygiene and Epidemiology in the Republic of Mordovia. The competition was held in conditions that imitated emergency situations of different origin. All stages of the competition were more complicated than those of the first one, two new stages were included in the program, radio transceivers were used to provide interactions in the group.

Developed are the methodical approaches for design and implementation of quality management system(QMS) in the production of preventive and diagnostic medical immunobiological preparations manufactured at the Russian Research Anti-Plague Institute Microbe. Analyzed and generalized is the current legislative-normative framework of Russian Federation in the sphere of quality control and quality assurance. Factors influencing the quality management system are revealed. QMS is certified in conformity with the requirements of international standard ISO 9001.

In June, 2008, in the Irkutsk suburban zone, a man was beaten by a tick of an unknown in this area species. According to its morphological characteristics this tick was classified as Amblyomma americanum L., 1758 species, which is the endemic one in the North, Central, and South America. In this respect, the discovery of the unknown previously in this region and in the Russian Federation species of the ixodic tick is not only of a great scientific importance, but presents specific practical interest, as the ticks of this species are the carriers of a wide range of infectious diseases. Probable scenarios of importation of the new species of ticks in the territory of the Russian Federation are under discussion now and the risks, related to this problem, are being assessed.

Developed is the PCR assay for the detection of the structural genes of toxin co-regulated adhesion piluses - tcpA of different types. Determined are the universal primers, the usage of which provides for the detection of the stated above genes in V. cholerae of various serogroups. With the help of this PCR assay identified is a new variant of tcpA gene in toxigenic cholera vibrio of non-O1/non-O139 serogroup.