Vol 59, No 3 (2014)

Analytical review of modern methods of the laboratory detection of rabies and findings of our research indicate high sensitivity and specificity of methods for rapid identification of rabies agents, such as ELISA, reverse-transcriptase PCR for identification of the rabies virus genome, and rabies virus isolation in rat Gasserian ganglion neurinoma, as well as their potential to be included into the State Quality Standard for early detection of rabies in animals to reduce the infection risk among humans and animals.

Full-length genome of the Chim virus (CHiMV) (strain LEiV-858Uz) was sequenced using the next-generation sequencing approach (iD GenBank: KF801656). The CHiMV/LEiV-858Uz was isolated from the Ornithodoros tartakovskyi Olenev, 1931 ticks collected in the great gerbil (Rhombomys opimus Lichtenstein, 1823) burrow in Uzbekistan near Chim town (Kashkadarinsky region) in July of 1971. Later, four more CHiMV strains were isolated from the O. tartakovskyi, O. papillipes Birula, 1895, Rhipicephalus turanicus Pomerantsev, 1936 collected in the great gerbil burrows in Kashkadarinsky, Bukhara, and Syrdarya regions of Uzbekistan, and three strains - from the Hyalomma asiaticum Schulze et Schlottke, 1930 from the great gerbil burrows in Dzheskazgan region of Kazakhstan. The virus is a potential pathogen of humans and camels. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that the CHiMV is a novel member of the Nairovirus genus (Bunyaviridae) and closely related to the Qalyub virus (QYBV), which is prototype for the group of the same name. The amino acid homology between the CHiMV and QYBV is 87% for the RdRp catalytic center (L-segment) that is coincident with both QYBV and CHiMV associated with the Ornithodoros ticks and burrow of rodents as well. The CHiMV homologies with other nairoviruses are 30-40% for the amino acid sequences of precursor polyprotein GnGc (М-segment), whereas 50% - for the nucleocapsid N (S-segment). The data obtained permit to classify the CHiMV as a member of the QYBV group in the genus of Nairovirus (Bunyaviridae).

The results ofthe virological identification ofthe Chikungunya fever case in Moscow (September, 2013) in an Indonesian visitor are presented. The clinic, electron microscopy, and molecular genetic data are discussed. The Ghikungunya virus (CHIKV) strain CHIKV/LEIV-Moscow/1/2013 belonging to the Asian genotype (ID GenBank KF872195) was deposited into the Russian State Collection of viruses (GKV 1239; 18.11.2013).

The influenza virus possesses two modules: internal ribonucleoprotein (RNP) containing the viral genome RNA and external lipid envelope with transmembrane ionic channel protein M2 and embedded glycoproteins hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) forming surface spike ends. These modules are combined in a whole virion by the matrix protein M1. The effect of the acidic pH 4,2-4,5 on the influenza virus grown in MDCK-H cells was tested. The A/Aichi/68 (H3N2) virus synthesized in MDCK-H cells was shown to contain uncleaved HA0 (m.w. 78 kD) and provide low infectivity. This virus was resistant to acidic medium and non-permeable to the phosphotungsten acid (PTA) used in electron microscopy as a contrast stain, and did not reduce infectious potential after acidic treatment. The trypsin-activated virus containing cleaved HA1 (56 kD)+HA2 (22 kD) was sensitive to acidic exposition resulting in the appearance of permeability to PTA, reduction of infectivity, enhancement of the M1-RNP interlink. These data indicate that the structural form of the cleaved HA1+HA2 surface hemagglutinin coordinates a transmembrane interaction between surface and internal virus components.