Considered in the article are current trends of perfection of laboratory diagnostics of particularly dangerous infectious diseases. They are as follows: development and practical introduction of laboratory diagnostics methods based on the modern diagnostic techniques, standardization of the laboratory investigations, accreditation of the laboratories carrying out laboratory diagnostics of particularly dangerous infectious diseases, perfection of the system of external control of the laboratory investigations quality, staff training.

A short-term prognosis of plague epizootic activity in 11 natural foci in the Russian Federation for 2009 is substantiated by the authors. The present situation with the numbers of the main carriers and vectors of plague infection in diverse types of natural foci was analyzed. Some modern tendencies were noted in the dynamics of epizootic activity of the natural plague foci varying in their biocenotic structures.

In order to improve epidemiological surveillance of anthrax distribution substantiated was the necessity to elaborate uniform informational and analytical program based on the GIS-technology. The program is aimed for creation of wide spectrum of epidemiological and epizootiological prognoses that permit to substantiate modern strategy of focal territories monitoring.

Investigation of the fauna of Ixodidae ticks in the territory of the Rostov Region resulted in identification of the seven species belonging to five genera – Hyalomma, Dermacentor, Rhipicephalus, Ixodes, Haemaphysalis: H. m. marginatum, H. scupense, D. marginatus, R. rossicus, I. ricinus, I. laguri and Haem. punctata. Continuous expansion of H. m. marginatum to the northern part of the region was observed. Analysis of spatial distribution of H. m. marginatum as well as D. marginatus, R. rossicus, I. ricinusand other ticks using average indices of their long-term abundance permitted to identify groups of areas with low, increased and high indices of tick abundance. This allowed to determine potential risk areas, with the presence of vectors and a reservoir of tick-borne infections as Crimean hemorrhagic fever, Q fever and tick-borne borrelioses. The results obtained in the investigation could serve as a basis for carrying out epizootic surveys and implementation of specified preventive measures.

Investigation of the spatial-temporal variability of characteristics with alternative variation in females of taiga tick from three district of the Irkutsk Region showed all samplings to be phenotypically heterogenous. Based on these results estimated was L.A.Zhivotovsky criterion of identity between separate imago collections. Similarity index for geographically remote populations was about 0.9. This index was higher in intrapopulational groups collected from one territory in different seasons. The elucidated variability creates the basis for selection of morphologic tags of vector transmitting capacity and ticks life cycle duration and other questions of their biology investigation which includes usage of collection materials accumulated previously.

Biofilm formation by Yersinia pestis strains of the main and non-main subspecies and Yersinia pseudotuberculosis was studied on the model of Caernorabditis elegans. It was shown that plague agent strains that did not form pigmented colonies on a medium with Congo red (Pgm^-) did not produce biofilm at the head and neck surfaces of nematode. Pgm⁺ strains of the main and non-main subspecies of plague microbe are able to form biofilm at cuticle of nematode C. elegans, the expression of this feature being unequal in various strains.

The review presents description of some methods of phylogenetic trees construction used in evaluation of different organisms evolutionary relations. Described are advantages and disadvantages of different groups of methods applicable for dendrograms construction.

Considered are modern principles of prokaryotes classification, definition and limits of prokaryotic species as classification and identification unit, criteria of validity of scientific names of the microorganisms. Traced are main alterations in classification of some pathogenic representatives of the Bacillus, Brucella, Burkholderia, Francisella, Vibrio, Yersinia genera, first of all - of I-II groups pathogens, after Validation Lists of Bacterial Names were issued in 1980. Prospects of development and refinement of prokaryotic classification based on 16S rRNA phylogeny are discussed.

The isogenic set of Yersinia pestis strains including wild-type strain 231 and its mutants with deletions of the structural genes, wabD, waaL, waaQ, waaE, and hldE, responsible for core oligosaccharide synthesis was generated using site directed mutagenesis. It was shown that gradual decrease of the core-oligosaccharide length was accompanied by reduction of mutants' virulence in subcutaneously infected mice and guinea pigs.

Demonstrated was variability of the aspA gene nucleotide sequence in Yersinia pestis strains of the main and non-main subspecies isolated in the Russian Federation and neighboring countries. Strains of altaica and hissarica subspecies, just as Yersinia pseudotuberculosis, possess valine in position 363 of the AspA protein. Strains of caucasica and ulegeica subspecies carry serine in this position, while strains of the main subspecies carry leucine. The aspA gene variability is thought to be applicable for genotyping of plague agent strains.

Described is dynamics of alteration of the level of activity of catalase and superoxide dismutase of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa under the action of electromagnetic radiation at a frequency of molecular absorption spectrum and atmosphere oxygen emission. Increase of the named enzymes activity in strains under research was determined, most pronounced at 45 min exposition.

The purpose of the study was to investigate the pathogenetic interrelation between the intensity of lipoperoxidation and pathomorphological changes in organs that are responsible for toxin inactivation and elimination (liver, kidneys, bowels) in dynamics of intoxication caused by Yersinia pestis lipopolysaccharide (LPS). We have demonstrated that distrophic and necrobiotic changes as well as microcirculation disturbances in the organs progressed as lipoperoxidation products in homogenates and blood accumulated. Noted abnormalities correlated with severity of clinical manifestations of the pathology. The results obtained in this study allow to suppose that activation of free radical oxidation in dynamics of plague intoxication is an efferent segment of cytopathogenic effects of Y. pestis LPS.

Analyzed were the results of specific safety control of the live tularemia dry vaccine used for tularemia prophylaxis. During the period of 1997-2006 this index was shown to be unstable. Specific safety of the vaccine is one of the main parameters of its quality, and in cases it does not meet the requirements of the normative documentation (ND) the vaccine is rejected during the control. It was proposed to introduce amendments in ND and to use for vaccine control standard animals, the conditions of their keeping being strictly observed.

Applicability of modern immunomodulator Polyoxidonium for plague treatment was investigated. Inclusion of Polyoxidonium in the therapeutic scheme increased efficiency of treatment with antibiotics of experimental generalized plague in mice challenged with Yersinia pestis strain 231, the latter being typical representative of continental variant of plague microbe. Life duration enhancement and increase of the number of survived animals challenged with plague agent were registered after prophylactic or emergency injection of Polyoxidonium against the background of treatment with antibiotic.

Carried out was comprehensive immunochemical and immunobiological analysis of plague microbe species-specific capsule F1 protein, and glycoproteid main somatic antigen (MSA) the latter being common in specificity in closely related plague and pseudotuberculosis agents. Both preparations isolated from Yersinia pestis cells using standard techniques were examined in the test of accelerated ageing (exposure at 37 °C for 4 weeks) and in stress conditions (exposure at 60 °C for 24 hours). They were shown to preserve their main features that characterized their authenticity and specific activity (visual appearance, solubility, chemical content, immunochemical homogeneity and immunobiological activity) as compared with preparations stored in refrigerator at 4-8 °C.