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The paper presents the results of monitoring the markers of herpes simplex viruses types 1 and 2, cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, and human herpesvirus type 6 in the blood and bone marrow of patients with acute leukemias during induction multidrug therapy. Whether it is expedient to diagnose herpesvirus markers in patients with acute leukemias in the period of remission induction is discussed.

Soil samples taken from the natural focus of pseudotuberculosis, characterized by the persistent presence of Y. pseudotuberculosis, were studied. Bacteria were detected by means of polymerase chain reaction with the use of 2 test systems; one of them was specific to the chromosomal invasiveness gene (inv) and the other, to gene yopA, localized on plasmid pCad. In 10 out of 24 sample of genetic material of the total soil microflora, Y. pseudotuberculosis gene inv was detected, two of these samples being also containing gene yopA. The calculated concentration of Y. pseudotuberculosis varied 10(2)-10(4) microbial cells per 1 g of soil. Bacteriological studies yielded negative results, which is indicative of the existence of Y. pseudotuberculosis in the soil of the natural focus in the nonculturable form.

The possibility for Listeria monocytogenes to penetrate into plants from the soil via the root system was experimentally proved. Listeria were shown to continuously persist for 30 days (the term of observation) in the vegetative organs of wheat (roots, stems and leaves). The concentration of Listeria was 10(9) CFU/g in the environment (soil extract) and the roots of wheat, 10(6)-10(7) CFU/g in stems, 10(8)-10(9) CFU/g in leaves. Six days later the dissociation of colonies in the S-form into small (up to 1 mm) and large (3-4 mm) was observed; in contrast to Listeria in large colonies, those in small colonies had high catalase activity and pronounced cytopathogenic action. The problem of the possible role of plants as the natural reservoir of bacteria, pathogenic for humans and animals, is discussed.