Oncolytic parvoviruses. A new approaches for cancer therapy

Parvoviruses such as parvovirus H-1 (H-1PV) may selectively infect and lysis cancer cells. The parvoviruses also induce an immune system to eliminate the tumor cells through the formation of anti-cancer immunity. One of the possible mechanisms of antitumor activity is associated with the direct induction of apoptosis by parvoviral proteins NS1 and 11 kDa. Parvovirus-based vectors are promising for gene therapy of oncological diseases and genetic disorders in humans. Parvoviruses were successfully used for the experimental treatment on animal models of human glioma, neuroblastomas, lymphomas, pancreatic carcinoma, carcinomas and breast tumors. ParvOryx is the first oncolytic preparation constructed on the base of H-1PV; its phase I/IIa clinical trials in patients with glioblastoma multiforme are in process.     

Novel variant of tickborne encephalitis virus, Russia

We isolated a novel strain of tickborne encephalitis virus (TBEV), Glubinnoe/2004, from a patient with a fatal case in Russia. We sequenced the strain, whose landmark features included 57 amino acid substitutions and 5 modified cleavage sites. Phylogenetically, Glubinnoe/2004 is a novel variant that belongs to the Eastern type of TBEV.     

Cases of West Nile fever in Novosibirsk region in 2004, and the genotyping of its viral pathogen

Three cases of West Nile fever were registered for the first time in Novosibirsk region in 2004. The diagnosis was confirmed by revealing IgG against West Nile virus (three cases) and viral RNA (two cases). Sequence analysis of fragments of E protein gene showed that the virus belonged to Ia genotype.     

The temporal dynamics of cognitive reappraisal: Cardiovascular consequences of downregulation of negative emotion and upregulation of positive emotion

This study examines the effects of cognitive reappraisal on the cardiovascular response to affective stimuli. Participants (N = 53) were shown affective images and were asked either to attend to the images, or to downregulate negative affect through reappraisal of negative images or upregulate positive affect through reappraisal of positive images while continuous measures of cardiovascular activity were recorded. Reappraisal of negative images was associated with lower total peripheral resistance and larger cardiac output in the prestimulus period, whereas reappraisal of positive images was associated with less pronounced decreases of heart rate, cardiac output, and mean blood pressure in the viewing period as compared to unregulated conditions. The results indicate that cognitive reappraisal engenders adaptive hemodynamic profiles both during anticipation and during viewing of affective images depending on their valence and the regulatory goal.     

A monoclonal antibody study of the receptor area of the Venezuelan encephalitis virus]

The receptor region for virus-cell interaction in Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis (VEE) and Eastern equine encephalomyelitis (EEE) viruses was studied using a panel of 17 monoclonal antibodies (MCA). They were able to block agglutination of goose erythrocytes. The dominant role of glycoprotein E2 in the formation of viral receptor for EEE and VEE viruses was demonstrated. Competitive radioimmunoassay identified three antigenic sites in this region. These sites were also responsible for virus neutralization. MCAs to these sites protected outbred mice against lethal infection. The presence of a highly conservative region in VEE (site E2-3) and EEE (site E2a) which produced cross-reacting antibodies blocking hemagglutination of Western equine encephalomyelitis, Semliki Forest, Sindbis, Getah, Aura, Chikungunya, and Pixuna viruses was established. A hypothesis is suggested concerning the existence of similar regions for the entire alphavirus genus, and the role of this region in virus-cell interaction.     

Detection of West Nile virus in birds in the territories of Baraba and Kulunda lowlands (West Siberian migration way) during summer-autumn of 2002

West Nile Virus (WNV) was discovered in 3 species of birds collected in summer-autumn, 2002, in the South of Western Siberia. WNV was identified by ELISA and RT-PCR. Three of 5 dead rooks (Corvus frugilegus), which were found in the territory of the Kulunda plain, were WNV-infected. WNV RNA was detected in 2% of samples of internal organs of aquatics birds, i.e. teal (Anas crecca) and garganey (Anas querquedula), caught in the Chany Lake (Baraba plain). Nucleotide sequencing of the 300-472 aa fragment of WNV protein E gene showed the maximum level of homology with strain WNV/LEIV-Vlg99-27889, which was isolated from a patient in Volgograd (1999). A high homology level of nucleotide sequencing denotes the relationship between the WNV circulating in the Northern Caspian Region and in the South of Western Siberia.