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Changes of the immune status are decisive in the pathogenesis of cytomegalovirus infection, which is a cause for the intrauterine infection. Therefore, complex immunological and virological examinations are advisable to make in pregnant women with compromised obstetrics history, pathological pregnancy course and with indirect signs of intrauterine fetus infection for the sake of choosing an optimal tactics of observation and treatment.

Eighty eight autopsy specimens obtained from 30 fetuses, still-borns and infants died during the first year of life, all suspected for congenital virus infection at postmortem examination, were studied. The specimens were analyzed by 3 techniques: rapid culture method (RCM) for detection of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infectious activity, the immunocytochemical method for detection of CMV antigen in prints of organs and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for detection CMV DNA. CMV was detected in 16 out of 26 specimens (61.5%) by PCR, in 43 out of 88 specimens (49%) by RCM and in 15 out of 64 specimens (23%) in prints. The comparison of immune reagents revealed that monoclonal antibodies (McAb) were more specific than polyclonal serum antibodies, as the latter yielded the positive reaction in 10 out of 26 cases (38%), found to be negative in PCR. The data thus obtained indicate that complex techniques, including PCR and RCM in combination with McAb, should be used for evaluation of CMV infection role in child mortality.

Many in vitro and in vivo experiments using contemporary methods supported safety and efficiency of "VITA" device protecting humans and living beings from electromagnetic fields. Therefore, bioenergetic safety device "VITA" is advisable for use.

A variant of Vero cell line has been obtained, adapted to the Russian Eagle's medium with 8% fetal calf serum. The variant is characterized by intensive cell proliferation, possesses a different content of chromosomes, contains no oncogens and contaminants, specifically, Mycoplasma. The strain was characterized and certified in accordance with the WHO requirements. Inoculation (110 ampules) and working (100 ampules) stocks at the levels of the 170th and 178th passages were placed for storage in liquid nitrogen. Vero (B) cell line is sensitive to herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2, CMV, hepatitis A virus, recombinant variolovaccinia strain expressing HbS antigen, etc. The line retains its biological properties from passage 178 to passage 200 and is recommended for control and preparation of various biomedical agents, including antiviral vaccines.

Hepatitis A virus (HAV) was adapted to nonprimate BHK-21 cell line (Syrian hamster kidney). Enzyme immunoassay, immunoblotting, and slot hybridization demonstrated the capacity of HM175 culture strain to stable reproduction in this cell line. More than 50 passages of adapted HAV were carried out, which showed no changes in the basic cultural characteristics of the virus. The data permit a conclusion on the possibility of HAV reproduction in nonprimate cells.

In transformation by Epstein-Barr virus of lymphocytes derived from patients with acute hepatitis B, continuous cell cultures were obtained which produced anti-HBc IgM antibodies. These cell lines underwent from 50 to 150 passages. The level of the specific immunoglobulin production was shown to have a trend to decline; however, after cloning the antibody production became more stable. The antibodies produced by the cloned lymphocyte culture could not neutralize the antigen (unlike polyclonal antibodies) which indicated a high efficacy of cloning. When the solid phase was sensitized with produced immunoglobulins, specific activity of binding of HBc antigen detectable by anti-HBc conjugate with horseradish peroxidase was demonstrated. The study of sedimentation properties of antibodies produced by transformed lymphocytes showed their sedimentation constant to be 19S.

Using the MBB/11/5 strain originally adapted to the PLC/PRF/5 cell line, reproduction of the virus in diploid cells of human embryo fibroblasts, continuous primate lines (RAMT, FRhK-4) and human urinary bladder tumor (T-24) lines was studied. We obtained HAV DNA sequences (about 99% from vRNA) for the MBB/11/5 strain which were used as a probe for demonstration of vRNA synthesis in the infected cells.

The vaccine L-IVP strain of vaccinia virus (VV) was used to construct the recombinant viral clones containing the influenza A hemagglutinin gene. The recombinant T plasmid was obtained with HA gene inserted in the vector pGS-20 (B. Moss) under the 7.5 K promoter of VV. A homologous recombination technique was used to insert the gene with the flanking TK sequences into vaccinia virus genome. The recombinant clones were selected by dot-hybridization with [32P]-labeled HA-probe. These recombinants were analysed for HA gene expression by the indirect immunoperoxidase method in situ using the peroxidase conjugate of the staphylococcal A-protein. This technique allows to obtain stable stained preparation and analyse the protein behavior at the ultrastructural level.

Subcutaneous injection to albino rats (100-120 g) of lived fixed rabies virus was accompanied by a brief marked decrease in the content of gamma-aminobutryic acid in the animals' brain. There was also an increase in the activity of gamma-aminobutyric acid alpha-ketoglutaric acid transaminase in the brain tissue of animals vaccinated with live fixed rabies virus.

A single oral administration to albino mice weighing from 12 to 14 g of live poliomyelitis vaccine of the immunological type II was accompanied by an increase in the content of free sialic acids from the 5th to the 20th day and of bound sialic acids from the 20th to the 45th day from the beginning of the immunization, in the small intestine of the vaccinated animals.

The authors describe human cancer strains established from 6 cell lines transplanted to nude mice and rats: cancer of the liver, colon, lung, bladder and Burkitt's lymphoma. In spite of a long history (for several years) of cell line transfers in vitro, on transplantation of tumor cells, nude animals established tumors histologically identical to the primary cancer.

Of 20 suckling rabbits, 4-5-days old, inoculated with live smallpox vaccine intradermally 6 displayed symptoms of generalized pox virus and neuroparalysis complications. Intensive accumulation of specific antigen in the brain, lungs, spleen, and the lymph glands was revealed by immunofluorescent method. The smallpox vaccine virus was isolated from these organs. Prolonged persistance of the attenuated smallpox virus was observed in the brain, spinal cord, lungs, spleen, and the lymph glands of 14 suckling rabbits showing no signs of any disease; specific antigen was revealed by immunofluorescent test. Vascular disturbances and slight cell changes were observed in the brain tissue of the inoculated animals. These changes were more severe in the sick animals.

Immunological methods (complement fixation test, immunofluorescence) demonstrated that the antigen associated with cytomegalovirus can be detected in some malignant and benign tumors and lymphoid cells in human leukemia. No antigen of the same specificity was found in tissues from the same patients and in normal donor lymphocytes.

Sequences capable of hybridization with cloned fragments of herpes simplex virus type I (HSVI) DNA were found in genome DNA of Syrian hamster fibroblast lines transformed either by intact HSVI genome (cell line 14.012.81) or this virus DNA fragments (cell line EH/A44). The method of pinpoint hybridization demonstrated the presence in DNA of the cell lines under study of sequences capable of hybridization both with unique areas and with HSVI genome replicas. A correlation was established between the tumorigenic properties of the transformed lines and the number of HSVI sequences present in genomes of these lines. The genome of mouse cell line BaLB/3T3 was found to contain sequences homologous to HSVI replica areas, their number exceeding that of virus sequences present in the genome of nontransformed hamster cells (BHK/21 line).

A panel of 6 hybridomas "XEJIMA" producing monoclonal antibodies specific to HeLa cells is prepared. Monoclonal antibodies do not bind to antigens of human diploid fibroblasts, human continuous B- and T-lymphocytes and animal cell lines. The specificity of monoclonal antibodies to cellular antigens of 5 HeLa-like cell lines and 6 human tumour cells lines, not contaminated with HeLa cells, is determined. Antibody containing ascitic fluid and culture media of hybridomas XEJIMA-3, -12, -13, and -22 significantly decrease the attachment of HeLa cells to the surface of culture flasks. Monoclonal antibodies XEJIMA-11, -12 and -13 block the multiplication of HeLa cells. The effect depends on serum concentration in the nutrient medium.

The paper deals with the mechanism of emergence of early virus-induced antigens in animal tumors and their association with carcinogenesis. Problems of the specificity of the antigens of tumors induced by herpes simplex virus in different animal species and their immunogenicity for the tumor carriers are discussed.