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Introduction. Listeria monocytogenes is an important human pathogen causing various forms of listeriosis, including foodborne infections, meningitis, neonatal sepsis, and abortion. Listeria are common all over the world.The purpose of the study was to conduct microbiological monitoring of L. monocytogenes in water reservoirs near livestock premises in the Vologda district of the Vologda region.Materials and methods. Bacterial cultures were isolated using two methods, titration and filtration, followed by analysis using methods of conventional bacteriology, serotyping, and species identification by instrumental procedures such as whole genome sequencing, and bioinformatic analysis.Results. Three isolates of L. monocytogenes and one isolate of Listeria innocua were isolated from 12 analyzed water samples (wastewater — 6, river water — 4, and storm water — 2 samples). whole genome sequencing of three L. monocytogenes strains attributed them to the evolutionary line II, and to three sequence types and two serogroups ST425(1/2a-3a), ST20(1/2a-3a), ST7 (4a-4c). The strains are shown to belong to multiple drug resistant ones conferring resistance to three functional groups of antibacterials such as tetracyclines, macrolides, and sulfonamides. Antibiotic resistance genes (fox, psp-like, lin,norB,sul), virulence Islands LIPI-1 and LIPI-2, and virulence genes inlABCJ, oatA, ami, gtcA, vip, and lisK in genomes of the strain were identified. Stress tolerance Island SSI-1 was identified in one strain.Conclusions. The data obtained indicate contamination of water sources near the livestock premises with L. monocytogenes strains possessing high pathogenic potentiality for outbreaks of listeriosis in humans. This shows the necessity of careful monitoring of water sources for the presence of the causative agent of listeriosis as well as the implementing of anti-epidemic measures.

The significant increase in the number of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms observed in recent years is a public health problem worldwide. One of the molecular mechanisms for the formation of antimicrobial resistance in bacteria is the presence of efflux pumps. The review presents an analysis of experimental studies related to the study of efflux pumps in clinical strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, one of the representatives of hospital pathogens of the ESKAPE group. This review is intended for specialists developing new types of drugs against antibiotic-resistant strains, as well as researchers studying the mechanisms of bacterial resistance to antibiotics, heavy metals, biocides and other antimicrobial factors.

For the local health service, Elizabethkingia meningoseptica remains a relatively new and little-known pathogen, whereas in many countries of Europe, Asia and other continents it is considered as a potential causative agent of nosocomial infections, especially in premature infants and immunocompromised patients. An analysis of the literature data, as well as our results indicate that E. meningoseptica should be considered as a potential pathogen, which is characterized by a unique profile of susceptibility to antimicrobial agents (AMP) and disinfectants. This article presents the results of a study of susceptibility to AMP and disinfectants of three isolates of E. meningoseptica, isolated during an investigation of an outbreak in one of the perinatal centers of the Russian Federation, where three cases of sepsis with a fatal outcome in premature infants caused by co-infection with Acinetobacter baumannii and E. meningoseptica were recorded between January and February 2016.

Objective Microbiological and molecular genetic characterization resistance profiles of Escherichia coli strains isolated in a pilot single-center clinical study from patients of the urological department in Yaroslavl in 2016-2017. Materials and methods Clinical strains of E. coli (n=18) were isolated from the urine of women aged 23-84 years. The mobility of bacteria, colicinogenicity, and sensitivity to lactobacilli antagonism, biofilm formation, and susceptibility to antimicrobials were evaluated. The antibiotic resistance genes were identified. Results The E. coli strains had a wide heterogeneity in mobility, colicinogenicity, and biofilm formation. They were sensitive to Lactobacillus acidophilus antagonism, as well as to nitrofurantoin, meropenem, fosfomycin and the main functional classes of disinfectants and antiseptics, but are resistant to beta-lactams, fluoroquinolones and aminoglycosides. The mcr-1 gene providing resistance to colistin was identified in two strains. Conclusions Analysis of genetic antibiotic resistance determinants revealed the genetic diversity of clinical E. coli strains. The obtained data on the strain sensitivity to antibacterials and disinfectants can be used by clinicians in choosing the optimal antibiotic therapy and treatment of abiotic surfaces in urological departments.

The study is devoted to the study of the antimicrobial activity of the antioxidant dioxidin and the complex dioxin-containing preparation Nosolin-ultra, nasal drops against planktonic and biofilm cultures of pathogens of ENT infections, the dynamics of the formation of microbial resistance to dioxidine. 11 reference strains and 9 clinical strains of microorganisms were used in the study: Streptococcus spp., Staphylococcus spp., Micrococcus luteus, Haemophilus influenzae, Acinetobacter pittii, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Moraxella catarrhalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The antimicrobial activity of preparations against planktonic cultures was determined by serial dilution in broth and spot method on solid nutrient media, against biofilms by the applicator method. The dynamics of dioxidine resistance formation was studied by passaging cultures in a liquid nutrient medium with increasing concentrations of antiseptic. Based on the study, it was found that Dioxidin showed antimicrobial activity against plankton cells of all strains (MBC=0.08-5 mg/ml), except S. pyogenes SN345 (MBC>5 mg/ml), inhibited the growth of formed biofilms (MBC=0.08-2.5 mg/ml) of all strains except S. pyogenes SN345 (MBC>5 mg/ml). The drug «Nosolin-ultra, nasal drops» was highly active against plankton cells (MBC=0.04-0.63 mg/ml) and biofilms (MBC=0.02-0.31 mg/ml) of gram-negative bacteria, except A. pittii (MBC>2.5 mg/ml), less active against plankton cells (MBC=1.25-2.5 mg/ml) and biofilms (MBC=0.02-0.31 mg/ml) of gram-positive bacteria and C. albicans. One strain (S. aureus) formed a variant resistant to dioxidine at a concentration of 20 mg/ml, which exceeded the concentration of dioxidine in the complex preparation; other strains (P. aeruginosa, K. pneumoniae, C. albicans) did not form such variants. The data obtained indicate that the drug «Nosolin-ultra, nasal drops» can be effectively used against most pathogens of ENT infections. It is worth noting that with prolonged use of the drug for some types of ENT pathogens in the future, a slight decrease in effectiveness may be noted.

Antimicrobial resistance is a global public health problem. In recent years, increasing of multi-drug resistant bacteria has been noted, which are resistant to different antimicrobial groups simultaneously, including beta-lactams. The main mechanism of anti-beta-lactam resistance in gram-negative bacteria is synthesis of various beta-lactamases that hydrolyze the antibiotics. The review is devoted to the analysis of data on the expression of beta-lactamase genes by multi-drug resistant bacteria and molecular genetic methods for their determination in RNA transcripts. Key words: antibiotic resistance, transcriptome, molecular genetic methods, beta-lactamases

The review article contains information on the clinical significance of microbial biofilms and the main modern molecular genetic methods used to study microbial biofilms: comparative study of genome, transcriptome and proteome of planktonic cells and biofilms; genetic control of biofilm extracellular matrix production; analysis of the contribution of individual genes and gene clusters to the formation of the biofilm phenotype; identification of microorganism species in polymicrobial biofilms. Key words: microbial biofilms, molecular genetic methods, genome, transcriptome, proteome, microbial species identification

Shiga-toxin producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strains cause serious and life-threatening diseases, hemorrhagic colitis (HC) and associated hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Antibacterial etiotropic therapy against these diseases are not recommended. There are no vaccines against human HA and HUS. The review provides materials on the design of various types of candidate vaccines against STEC strains and assessment of their immunogenic and protective properties in experiments on laboratory and farm animals. The prospects for the use of inactivated corpuscular and live (vector) vaccines, lipopolysaccharide vaccines, DNA vaccines and nanovaccines, vaccines based on bacterial cell membranes (ghost), as well as vaccines created by reverse vaccinology methods in practice are considered. Key words: STEC, hemorrhagic colitis, immunodominant antigens, shiga toxins, EspA, EspB, Tir, intimine, IgG, sIgA

Prevention and treatment of hemorrhagic colitis (HC) and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) caused by Shiga-toxin producing Escherichia coli (STEC) continues to be a public health concern. The main reason for the problem is the lack of vaccines and lack of evidence for using of antibacterial etiotropic drugs to treat this infection. A promising scientific approach to create specific agents against STEC infection is the development of subunit recombinant vaccines. The analysis of experimental studies presented in this review shows that effective subunit vaccines against STEC infection can be created on the basis of known immunogenic determinants of HC and HUS causative agents – EspA, EspB, and Tir proteins, intimin, as well as H7 antigen of E. coli O157:H7 and nontoxic proteins of Shiga toxins Stx1 and Stx2 A and B subunits. Using these epitopes, three types of subunit vaccines are designed: antibacterial vaccine, vaccine protecting the macroorganism from systemic intoxication caused by Shiga toxins, and vaccines that simultaneously induce the antibacterial and antitoxic immunity. Since the epitopes listed above are weak immunogenic, to increase their immunogenicity, complex chimeric antigenic structures containing protein inducers are constructed that significantly increase the immune response to target specific epitopes. Mineral adjuvants are also widely used to increase the immunogenicity of STEC epitopes. All three types of created candidate subunit vaccines, at subcutaneous, intramuscular and intranasal application induce production of specific IgG and secretory IgA antibodies in animals and protect them from the infection caused by the STEC strains. Key words: STEC, hemorrhagic colitis, immunodominant antigens, Shiga toxins, EspA, EspB, Tir, intimine, IgG, sIgA

The in vitro antibacterial activity of 11 commercial disinfectant preparations and 8 antiseptics against 10 strains of the bacteria Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, Enterobacter cloaceae and Providencia stuartii obtained from international collections and isolated from neuroresuscitation patients in Moscow in 2018 was studied. The sensitivity of planktonic cultures to the preparations was determined by the method of serial dilutions in broth and the spot method on solid nutrient media, the sensitivity of biofilms by the applicator method. A general pattern was revealed: the level of sensitivity to tested disinfectants in clinical strains was lower than in reference strains. It was found that the disinfectants «Mikrobak-Forte», «SAT-22», «Neobak-Oksi» at the concentrations recommended by the manufacturers were effective against bacteria of all test strains, both in the plankton state and in the form of biofilms. On the contrary, the disinfectant preparations «Biodez-Optima», «Biodez-Extra DVU», «Novodez-Aktiv», «Triosept-Oksi», «Tristel Fusion for Surfaces», «Effect-Forte Plus», «Lactic-Oxy» did not have sufficient effectiveness in the concentrations recommended by the manufacturers, therefore it is proposed to use these drugs in higher concentrations. It was found that the disinfectant «Biodez-Extra DVU» is able to inhibit the growth of biofilms of bacteria of the species K. pneumoniae. The ability to suppress the growth of bacterial biofilms of K. pneumoniae, A. baumannii, P. aeruginosa was revealed for the «Triestel Fusion for surfaces disinfectant». The bacteria of all used test strains in the planktonic state were sensitive to all tested antiseptic preparations. However, the biofilms of the clinical strains of P. aeruginosa and P. stuartii. possessed resistance to the antiseptics «Octenidol», «Octenisept», «Miramistin», «Hexoral». Our studies indicate the need for sensitivity analysis of antibacterial drugs in representatives of hospital pathogens, including the modeling of bacterial biofilms, which is a very relevant and important scientific direction, necessary to improve the control of nosocomial infections in the Russian Federation.

Microbiological and molecular genetic characterization resistance profiles of Escherichia coli strains isolated in a pilot single-center clinical study from patients of the urological department in Yaroslavl in 2016-2017.Clinical strains of E. coli (n=18) were isolated from the urine of women aged 23-84 years. The mobility of bacteria, colicinogenicity, and sensitivity to lactobacilli antagonism, biofilm formation, and susceptibility to antimicrobials were evaluated. The antibiotic resistance genes were identified.The E. coli strains had a wide heterogeneity in mobility, colicinogenicity, and biofilm formation. They were sensitive to Lactobacillus acidophilus antagonism, as well as to nitrofurantoin, meropenem, fosfomycin and the main functional classes of disinfectants and antiseptics, but are resistant to beta-lactams, fluoroquinolones and aminoglycosides. The mcr-1 gene providing resistance to colistin was identified in two strains.Analysis of genetic antibiotic resistance determinants revealed the genetic diversity of clinical E. coli strains. The obtained data on the strain sensitivity to antibacterials and disinfectants can be used by clinicians in choosing the optimal antibiotic therapy and treatment of abiotic surfaces in urological departments.

The study is devoted to the study of the antimicrobial activity of the antioxidant dioxidin and the complex dioxin-containing preparation Nosolin-ultra, nasal drops against planktonic and biofilm cultures of pathogens of ENT infections, the dynamics of the formation of microbial resistance to dioxidine. 11 reference strains and 9 clinical strains of microorganisms were used in the study: Streptococcus spp., Staphylococcus spp., Micrococcus luteus, Haemophilus influenzae, Acinetobacter pittii, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Moraxella catarrhalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The antimicrobial activity of preparations against planktonic cultures was determined by serial dilution in broth and spot method on solid nutrient media, against biofilms by the applicator method. The dynamics of dioxidine resistance formation was studied by passaging cultures in a liquid nutrient medium with increasing concentrations of antiseptic. Based on the study, it was found that Dioxidin showed antimicrobial activity against plankton cells of all strains (MBC=0.08-5 mg/ml), except S. pyogenes SN345 (MBC5 mg/ml), inhibited the growth of formed biofilms (MBC=0.08-2.5 mg/ml) of all strains except S. pyogenes SN345 (MBC5 mg/ml). The drug «Nosolin-ultra, nasal drops» was highly active against plankton cells (MBC=0.04-0.63 mg/ml) and biofilms (MBC=0.02-0.31 mg/ml) of gram-negative bacteria, except A. pittii (MBC2.5 mg/ml), less active against plankton cells (MBC=1.25-2.5 mg/ml) and biofilms (MBC=0.02-0.31 mg/ml) of gram-positive bacteria and C. albicans. One strain (S. aureus) formed a variant resistant to dioxidine at a concentration of 20 mg/ml, which exceeded the concentration of dioxidine in the complex preparation; other strains (P. aeruginosa, K. pneumoniae, C. albicans) did not form such variants. The data obtained indicate that the drug «Nosolin-ultra, nasal drops» can be effectively used against most pathogens of ENT infections. It is worth noting that with prolonged use of the drug for some types of ENT pathogens in the future, a slight decrease in effectiveness may be noted.

The results of the comparative tests of the «Agar Muller-Hinton II - Obolensk» nutrient medium developed in SRCAMB, Obolensk, and the control nutrient medium imported «Mueller Hinton II Agar» are presented in the study. The susceptibility of bacterial clinical strains to antimicrobial agents (AMP) was determined by the disc diffusion method and the method of gradient diffusion (E-test). The carbapenemase activity of the strains carrying the carbapenemase genes was determined by CIM-test. Total 173 characterized bacterial strains of species Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, Proteus mirabilis, Serratia marcescens, Enterobacter aerogenes, Escherichia coli; Photorhabdus spp., Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus spp. were used in the study, including producers of OXA- and NDM-types carbapenemases for gram negative bacteria. A high degree of coincidence of the results obtained on both nutrient media was shown. The consistency index of the strain sensitivity categories to AMPs (S, I, and R) was 98.2% for the disc diffusion method, and 94.4-100% - for E-test and CIM-test methods. Thus, within the framework of the Import Substitution Program, the domestic nutrient medium «MHA II-Obolensk» has been successfully developed. The nutrient medium meets the requirements of GOST R ISO 20776-2-2010 «Clinical laboratory testing and in vitro diagnostic test systems - Susceptibility testing of infectious agents and evaluation of performance of antimicrobial susceptibility test devices».

Bioactive manganese (Mn)-doped ceramic coatings for intraosseous titanium (Ti) implants are developed. Arc plasma deposition procedure is used for coatings preparation. X-ray Diffraction, Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy, and Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) methods are applied for coatings characterization. The coatings are homogeneous, composed of the main phase &alpha, tricalcium phosphate (&alpha, TCP) (about 67%) and the minor phase hydroxyapatite (about 33%), and the Mn content is 2.3 wt%. EPR spectroscopy demonstrates that the Mn ions are incorporated in the TCP structure and are present in the coating in Mn2+ and Mn3+ oxidation states, being aggregated in clusters. The wetting contact angle of the deposited coatings is suitable for cells&rsquo, adhesion and proliferation. In vitro soaking in physiological solution for 90 days leads to a drastic change in phase composition, the transformation into calcium carbonate and octacalcium phosphate takes place, and no more Mn is present. The absence of antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria strains is observed. A study of the metabolic activity of mouse fibroblasts of the NCTC L929 cell line on the coatings using the MTT (dye compound 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) test demonstrates that there is no toxic effect on the cell culture. Moreover, the coating material supports the adhesion and proliferation of the cells. A good adhesion, spreading, and proliferative activity of the human tooth postnatal dental pulp stem cells (DPSC) is demonstrated. The developed coatings are promising for implant application in orthopedics and dentistry.

The Central Asia Outbreak (CAO) clade is a growing public health problem for Central Asian countries. Members of the clade belong to the narrow branch of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis Beijing genotype and are characterized by multidrug resistance and increased transmissibility. The Rostov strain of M. tuberculosis isolated in Russia and attributed to the CAO clade based on PCR-assay and whole genome sequencing and the laboratory strain H37Rv were selected to evaluate the virulence on C57Bl/6 mice models by intravenous injection. All mice infected with the Rostov strain succumbed to death within a 48-day period, while more than half of the mice infected by the H37Rv strain survived within a 90-day period. Mice weight analysis revealed irreversible and severe depletion of animals infected with the Rostov strain compared to H37Rv. The histological investigation of lung and liver tissues of mice on the 30th day after injection of mycobacterial bacilli showed that the pattern of pathological changes generated by two strains were different. Moreover, bacterial load in the liver and lungs was higher for the Rostov strain infection. In conclusion, our data demonstrate that the drug-resistant Rostov strain exhibits a highly virulent phenotype which can be partly explained by the CAO-specific mutations.

We report here the genome sequences of 10 Klebsiella pneumoniae strains of capsular type K2 isolated in Russia from patients in an infectious clinical hospital and neurosurgical intensive care unit. The draft genome sizes range from 5.34 to 5.87 Mb and include 5,448 to 6,137 protein-coding sequences.

The diarrheagenic bacteria coli take a significant place among agents of acute intestinal infections in children aged under 5 years. The main danger among these pathogens is represented by both enterotoxigenic E. coli causing enteritis and enterocolitis accompanied by acute dehydration diarrhea and Escherichia producing shiga-toxin being agents of hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome. The fast and proper identification of agents of these two groups of pathogens is an important task of bacteriologists to be resolved for successful treatment of patient because tactics of therapy of enterotoxigenic diarrhea and hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome significantly differ. The high capacity of Escherichia coli to form populations resistant to anti-microbial medications, including pan-resistant ones, also is a serious problem for science and public health. The object of study was a collection of isolates of E. coli (n = 112), separated from 112 children aged under 5 years with clinical manifestations of acute intestinal infection, food toxic infection hemocolitis and diarrhea of obscure etiology in Yaroslavl in 2015-2017. Initially, the strains of E. coli were tested using diagnostic agglutinating coli-serums and then using reagents' kit «AmpliSens®Escherichiosis-FL» for detection and differentiation DNAof diarrheagenic bacteria coli and also with specific oligonucleotide primers to genes of virulence and O-serum group belonging. The obtained data permitted to determine belonging of analyzed strains of E. coli to four sub-groups: ЕНЕС (n = 9), EPEC (n = 17), ETEC (n = 1) и EAgEС (n = 1). All of them were agents of genes of pathogenicity specific for every pathogroup. The most numerous group EPEC was represented by strains of five serogroups with dominating among them serogroup O26 (9 strains). Therefore, studying collection of strains of diarrheagenic Escherichia isolated during 2015-1017 in Yaroslavl from children aged under 5 years with acute intestinal infections permitted to demonstrate efficiency of application of molecular genetic methods of analysis for characterizing E. coli i.e. establishment their serogroups, detection of genes of virulence and attributing to pathogroups.

The article presents the results of studying molecular genetic mechanisms of development of resistance to antiseptic Triclosan in strain Staphylococcus aureus АТСС25923. The modifcations of strain S. aureus АТСС25923 (Tr1, Tr2, Tr1С и Tr2С) are obtained resistant to 64 mg/l of Triclosan and stably preserving the given characteristic under cultivation in absence of selective pressure. The strain S. aureus Tr1was characterized by slightly delayed growth and the strain S. aureus Tr2 was characterized by growth velocity comparable with initial strain. In the Triclosan-resistant strains a mutation C284T in gene fabI was detected resulting in amino-acid replacement A95V in enzyme enoyl-acyl protein reductase FabI, triclosan target. Besides, in these strains a stably inheriting mutation was detected in genes associated with transport of substances in cell: hypothetical transport protein HlyC/CorC family transporter, protein-transporter of ions of Na+, K+, Li+ and alkali of Na+/H+ antiporter subunit F, membrane hypothetical protein and ATP-binding protein. It is demonstrated that resistance to triclosan in staphylococci is associated with acquirement of point mutations in genes of enoyl-acyl protein reductase and also in other genes related to transport of substances in bacterial cell.

The algorithm of the identification of the bla(CTX-M) genes coding CTX-M-type beta-lactamases providing resistance to cephalosporins III-IV was developed. This algorithm provides identification of 49 genes of 96 genes presented in the GenBank database so far. Remaining 47 genes can be identified as consisting of small sub-groups composed of 2-6 genes with the exception of sub-group of the bla(CTX-M-14)-like genes composed of 13 genes. The identification of the bla(CTX-M) genes is based on two-step restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of 544 bp PCR-product (PCR-RFLP). In the first step, determination of subtype (cluster) of the bla(CTX-M) gene occurred using the restriction nuclease Alu I: cluster 1, -2, -8, -9 or -25. Moreover, four genes can be identified just at this step: bla(CTX-M)-59, (cluster 2); bla(CTX-M-63) (cluster 8), bla(CTX-M-45) (cluster 9), and bla(CTX-M-78) (hybrid gene between cluster 2 and cluster 25). At the second step gene identification goes on inside of each cluster separately using a set of 26 restriction nucleases. As a result of the PCR-RFLP-analysis, 23 bla(CTX-M) genes can be identified at the cluster 1, 11 genes--at the cluster 2, 4 genes--at the cluster 8, 9 genes--at the cluster 9, 1 gene--at the cluster 25, and 2 hybrid genes: bla(CTX-M-78) (between clusters 2 and 25), and bla(CTX-M-64) (between clusters 1 and 9). The described algorithm was used for identification of the blac(CTX-M) genes (n = 585) detected in Enterobacteriaceae nosocomial isolates (n = 877), collected from Russial hospitals in 2003-2007. It was shown that major genes belonged to cluster 1 (n = 543), namely--bla(CTX-M-15) gene (n = 515), bla(CTX-M-3) (n = 25), bla(CTX-M-22) (n = 1), bla(CTX-M-23) (n = 1), and bla(CTM-34) (n = 1). Moreover, the genes atributed to cluster 2 were identified: bla(CTX-M-2) (n = 1), and bla(CTX-M-5) (n = 4); and genes belonged to cluster 9: bla(CTX-M-9) (n = 2), and bla(CTX-M-14) (n = 35).

Antimicrobial activity of bacteriocin S760 (enterocin) produced by Enterococcusfaecium strain LWP760 was studied. Bacteriocin S760 is a cationic, hydrophobic, and heat stable peptide with the molecular weight of 5.5 kDa and pl of 9.8. Enterocin S760 is shown to inhibit in vitro the growth both of sensitive and resistant to antibacterials gramnegative and grampositive bacteria of 25 species. MICs of the bacteriocin S760 vary between 0.05-1.6 mg/l for Escherichia coli 0157:H117, Salmonella typhimurium, Salmonella enteritidis, Campylobacter jejuni, Yersinia enterocolitica, Yersinia pseudotuberculosis, Listeria monocytogenes and Clostridium perfringens, that are main food-borne pathogens, and from 0.4-1.6 mg/l for Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Corynebacterium diphteriae. It is also active against antibioticresistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter cloacae, Acinetobacter baumannii (with MICs of 0.05-3 mg/l), Klebsiella pneumoniae (with MICs of 6 mg/l), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (with MICs of 0.4-25 mg/1), as well against fungi belonging to species of Candida albicans, Candida krusei and Aspergillus niger (with MICs of 0.1-0.2 mg/l). Enterocin S760 is a novel antimicrobial agents useful in medicine, veterinary and food industry.

The study showed that bla(CTX-M) genes were present in the genomes of 71% of cephalosporin resistant Enterobacteriaceae nosocomial isolates (n=833) collected in Russian hospitals within 2003-2007, including 91% of E.coli, 90% of Klebsiella spp., 38% of Enterobacter spp., 31% of Citrobacter spp. (n=9), and 36% of the other Enterobacteriaceae species. The genes belonging to the following subtypes (clusters) were identified: bla(CTX-M-1) (529 bla(CTX-M-15) genes; 25 bla(CTX-M-3) genes; 1 bla(CTX-M-22) gene, 1 bla(CTX-M-23) gene, and 1 bla(CTX-M-34) gene); bla(CTX-M-2) (1 bla(CTX-M-2) gene, and 4 bla(CTX-M-5) genes), and bla(CTX-M-9) (2 bla(CTX-M-9) genes, and 28 bla(CTX-M-14) genes). It was shown that bla(CTX-M) genes were located on high-molecular weight (60-160 bp) conjugative plasmids belonging mainly to the incompatibility groups IncF, IncL/M and IncA/C (bla(CTX-M-15) gene); IncL/M(bla(CTX-M-3) gene); and IncF, IncL/Mand IncI1-ly (CTX-M-14 gene). The gene environments of bla(CTX-M) genes were shown specific for the subtype of the genes. A mobile genetic element ISEcp1 (in some cases deleted or inserted by IS26, IS1, IS10, resTn2, or resTn3 sequences, in direct or reverse position) were detected upstream of bla(CTX-M-3), bla(CTX-M-14), and bla(CTX-M-15) genes. A special characteristic was the sequence between ISEcp1 and bla(CTX-M) gene: 48 bp for bla(CTX-M-15) (except 1 E.coli isolate having such a sequence deleted by 3 bp); 127 bp for bla(CTX-M-3); 42 bp for bla(CTX-M-14). Downstream of bla(CTX-M) and bla(CTX-M-15) genes in the major bacterial isolates orf477 mucA and Delta orf477-Delta mucA sequences were detected respectively. Two isolates had additional Delta orf3 insertion inside of Delta orf477-Delta mucA sequence. Insertion sequence IS903 (intact or deleted) was detected downstream of bla(CTX-M-14) gene. Unlike the others, bla(CTX-M-2) and bla(CTX-M-9) genes were located inside of ISCR1 mobile element, downstream of class 1 integron and orf513 sequence.

The review deals with the world history and the current status of typhoid fever vaccination. It analyzes parenteral and oral killed cellular, oral live attenuated, molecular vaccines are analyzed. The results of field trials of parenteral and oral vaccines in the areas showing different epidemiology and incidence are analyzed. The problems in the designing of molecular typhi vaccines are considered. The results of designing the new generation vaccines S. typhi strains attenuated by means of site-specific mutagenesis and Vi-polysaccharide-protein conjugates are presented.

The study was undertaken to study the specific features of transformation of E. coli strains having different R-chemotypes, Y. pestis, S. minnesota R595, and S. typhi Ty21a by plasmids carrying Yersinia pestis Fra-operon which controls the formation of a plague microbe capsular F1 antigen in this microorganism. Calcium transformation was shown to be rather effective for the plasmids constructed on the basis of a cosmid vector (pFS1), rather than those designed by using the Y. pestis plasmid pPst I (pFSK3, pP3). The level of plasmid stability varied and failed to correlate with taxonomy fitting and the chemotype of a recipient strain. The cells of all recombinant strains produced F1 antigen, secreted it into the environment; the synthesis was temperature-regulated. F1 was identified both in the diffuse precipitation and serological tests. The levels of F1 antigen synthesis decreased whereas nutritious requirements for the maintenance of protein synthesis increased for bacterial strains with higher levels of LPS reduction.

Electrokinetic potentials (EKP) of the cells of R mutants of Escherichia coli and Salmonella minnesota and cells of Yersinia pestis strains EV (line NIIEG), 358/12 P-, TWJ, Java, and 231 (708) were determined, as well as EKP of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) preparations isolated from these bacteria. The electric characteristics of the cell surfaces of the strains under investigation were demonstrated to correlate with the LPS charge and the reduction extent of their molecules. Acidic hydrolysis of LPS on the cell surface resulted in the leveling of the distinctions in EKP values (their reduction to the same level). EKP values and the size of LPS micelles of the studied Y. pestis strains corresponded to those of the deep R mutants of enterobacteria, while the aggregation extent of the molecules was higher for Y. pestis.

The dependence of the amount of electrokinetic potential in cells of Escherichia coli and Yersinia pestis, which differ in the rate of reduction of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), on the presence or absence of typical and atypical capsules of Y. pestis, encoded by intact and mutant fra operons, respectively, was studied. The ycaA+ycaF+(caf1 M+caf1+) genotype was shown to be expressed in serological stability of a classical capsular antigen, irrespective of the producer strain, and a decrease in the negative charge of microbial cells compared to their noncapsular variants. Blocking of the synthesis of the product of the ycaA gene of the fra operon resulted in formation of encapsulated bacteria, whose surface electricity and serological characters varied in dependence on the LPS structure. Data obtained support the assumption that a product of the ycA gene stabilizes the conformation of the typical capsule of the plague-causing agent, which was formed from YcaF (Caf1) monomers.