Vol 54, No 1 (2009)

The gene composition of the viral population obtained via mixed infection of embryonated chick eggs with influenza viruses at a high multiplicity of infection was analyzed. In mixed infection caused by influenza A/WSN/33 (H1N1) and A/Duck/Czechoslovakia/56 (H4N6) viruses, the population showed a preponderance of the reassortants whose content of genomic segments originating from either of the parent virus deviated strongly from the random pattern: the hemagglutinin (HA) gene of A/WSN/33 (H1N1) virus and the NP gene of A/Duck/Czechoslovakia/56 (H4N6) virus were prevalent in the gene composition of the reassortants. The mixed infection produced by influenza A/Udorn/72 (H3N2) virus and the reassortant R8 containing the HA gene of A/Duck/Ho Chi Minh/014/78 (H5N3) virus, the population of reassortants contained mainly the HA gene of A/Udorn/72 (H3N2) virus and the NP gene of the reassortant R8. The findings are discussed due to the problem of specific recognition of gene segments when incorporated into the viral particles.

The antiherpetic properties of a fullerene derivative with aminocaproic acid (manufactured by Intelfarm Co. as Fullevir®) were studied in in vitro (in sensitive cell cultures) and in vivo (on a murine model of experimental herpetic encephalitis) experiments. Fullevir was found to protect tissue culture cells from the cytodestructive action of herpes simplex virus type 1. It was estimated that ED50 = 5.3 mg/ml and ED90 = 29.1 mg/ml. The agent was most effective when it was administered before and 30 minutes after cell culture infection. The in vivo study established that Fullevir® showed a significant protective effect in experimental herpetic encephalitis. The protection rates were 29.8% and 41.0% with the total doses of Fullevir® of 500 mg/kg (p < 0.007) and 1000 mg/kg (p < 0.004), respectively. Thus, the in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated the antiherpetic effect of a fullerene-aminocaproic acid complex (1-hydrofullereneaminocaproic acid, sodium salt) having the trade name Fullevir®.

Hyperimmune rabbit enterovirus-neutralizing diagnostic sera have a pronounced cytotoxic effect on the test tissue culture RD, HEp-2, and Vero cells and primary renal cells from African green monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops). The specific features of this developing toxic effect, such as reduced proliferative activity and partial cytolysis, were revealed. The time course of changes in the generation of serum cytotoxicity during an immune response to repeated antigenic stimulation of donor animals is described. There is experimental evidence for no association of serum toxicity with specific neutralizing antibodies and with antibodies to cell culture antigens. Affinity chromatography is one of the possible techniques for purification of cytotoxic sera.

The neuropathogenicity of Coxsackie B3, B1, and B5 virus strains was studied in experimentally infected suckling BALB/c mice and in contact animals from the same nest and litter infected due to the natural virus spread. The similar neurological disorders were found in both groups of animals. The data on pathological and morphological changes in the medulla oblongata as dystrophic and necrotic changes in the neurons with their lysis and deletion, brain tissue edema, and hemodynamic changes confirmed the neutrotropicity of the strains under study. The revealed pattern of brain lesions did not depend on the time of isolation of the viral strains being examined.

Comparative sequence of the structural part of genomes pf the original daf+ clone and two derived daf- mutant clones (101 and 103) was analyzed to map mutations responsible for the loss of affinity for the receptor glycoprotein DAF (CD55). The obtained nucleotide sequences (EU167520, EU167521, EU167522) were deposited in the GenBank. There were single point mutations causing amino acid changes in VP2 protein: S145 → N in clone 101 and G162 → E in clone 103.