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Objective. To develop the method for determining the viability of M. leprae using polymerase chain reaction to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment. Materials and Methods. 54 scarifications and 10 biopsies of the skin of patients with leprosy were studied. Ribosomal 16S rRNA genes were used as a target. Results. The high sensitivity and specificity of the developed real-time reverse transcription PCR method was established. M. leprae were detected on average 2 times more often by RT-PCR compared with the bacterioscopy method both before treatment and after its six-month course (p < 0.05). Conclusions. The developed method for determining the viability of M.leprae using reverse transcription PCR allows using a personalized approach to evaluating the effectiveness of antimycobacterial treatment in patients with leprosy.

The indigenous populations of inner Eurasia-a huge geographic region covering the central Eurasian steppe and the northern Eurasian taiga and tundra-harbour tremendous diversity in their genes, cultures and languages. In this study, we report novel genome-wide data for 763 individuals from Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Mongolia, Russia, Tajikistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. We furthermore report additional damage-reduced genome-wide data of two previously published individuals from the Eneolithic Botai culture in Kazakhstan (~5,400 BP). We find that present-day inner Eurasian populations are structured into three distinct admixture clines stretching between various western and eastern Eurasian ancestries, mirroring geography. The Botai and more recent ancient genomes from Siberia show a decrease in contributions from so-called 'ancient North Eurasian' ancestry over time, which is detectable only in the northern-most 'forest-tundra' cline. The intermediate 'steppe-forest' cline descends from the Late Bronze Age steppe ancestries, while the 'southern steppe' cline further to the south shows a strong West/South Asian influence. Ancient genomes suggest a northward spread of the southern steppe cline in Central Asia during the first millennium BC. Finally, the genetic structure of Caucasus populations highlights a role of the Caucasus Mountains as a barrier to gene flow and suggests a post-Neolithic gene flow into North Caucasus populations from the steppe.

The purpose of study is to develop techniques of laboratory diagnostic of leprosy on the basis of polymerase chain reaction. The techniques were worked through such as extraction of DNA from various clinical material (bioptates and scarifcate of skin, scrapes from mucous surface of nose and trophic ulcers, blood serum). The systems of oligonucleotides were constructed to 16S pRNA and probe for identifcation of Mycobacterium leprae in real-time format for amplifer DT-96 ("The DNA-Technology", Russia). The optimal regimen of amplifcation was worked out. To control polymerase chain reaction processing a system of internal control was introduced. The evaluation of specifcity of test-system was implemented using 17 strains of various types of mycobacteria and clinical samples from 32 patients with leprosy and 15 healthy individuals being in family contact with patients with leprosy. The 100% sensitivity was established concerning detection of Mycobacterium leprae in bioptates of skin using polymerase chain reaction technique as compared with standard bacterioscopic technique (88.9%). In all other clinical samples, a higher sensitivity of developed test-system on the basis of polymerase chain reaction was detected too. The proposed test-system has higher sensitivity and specifcity that permits to resolve an issue of fast identifcation of Mycobacterium leprae. It can be applied in epidemiological studies at investigation of prevalence of agent of disease., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

We have analyzed Y-chromosomal variation in populations from Transoxiana, a historical region covering the southwestern part of Central Asia. We studied 780 samples from 10 regional populations of Kazakhs, Uzbeks, Turkmens, Dungans, and Karakalpaks using 35 SNP and 17 STR markers. Analysis of haplogroup frequencies using multidimensional scaling and principal component plots, supported by an analysis of molecular variance, showed that the geographic landscape of Transoxiana, despite its distinctiveness and diversity (deserts, fertile river basins, foothills and plains) had no strong influence on the genetic landscape. The main factor structuring the gene pool was the mode of subsistence: settled agriculture or nomadic pastoralism. Investigation of STR-based clusters of haplotypes and their ages revealed that cultural and demic expansions of Transoxiana were not closely connected with each other. The Arab cultural expansion introduced Islam to the region but did not leave a significant mark on the pool of paternal lineages. The Mongol expansion, in contrast, had enormous demic success, but did not impact cultural elements like language and religion. The genealogy of Muslim missionaries within the settled agricultural communities of Transoxiana was based on spiritual succession passed from teacher to disciple. However, among Transoxianan nomads, spiritual and biological succession became merged.