Development of an original computer program FISHMet: use for molecular cytogenetic diagnosis and genome mapping by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH)

Original software FISHMet has been developed and tried for improving the efficiency of diagnosis of hereditary diseases caused by chromosome aberrations and for chromosome mapping by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) method. The program allows creation and analysis of pseudocolor chromosome images and hybridization signals in the Windows 95 system, allows computer analysis and editing of the results of pseudocolor hybridization in situ, including successive imposition of initial black-and-white images created using fluorescent filters (blue, green, and red), and editing of each image individually or of a summary pseudocolor image in BMP, TIFF, and JPEG formats. Components of image computer analysis system (LOMO, Leitz Ortoplan, and Axioplan fluorescent microscopes, COHU 4910 and Sanyo VCB-3512P CCD cameras, Miro-Video, Scion LG-3 and VG-5 image capture maps, and Pentium 100 and Pentium 200 computers) and specialized software for image capture and visualization (Scion Image PC and Video-Cup) have been used with good results in the study.     

Molecular genetics of the human brain]

The review discusses the contribution of molecular genetic studies to the understanding of human brain performance and defines three genetic objectives: 1) to reveal structural or functional features of brain genes specific merely to man; 2) to outline the complete spectrum of genes involved in brain activity and their regulation; 3) to search for genes and genetic defects resulting in common mental disorders. The plasticity and great variety of brain functions are shown to be based on the unique diversity of genes actively transcribing in the brain and the molecular mechanisms of various genetic products of the same gene: alternative splicing, "antiparallel" coding, regulation of gene activity by signal DNA sequences. Gene search policies are described for common mental disorders such as schizophrenia, manic-depressive psychosis, Alzheimer's disease. The attempts to map defective genes by "reverse" genetics have proved that there is a genetic heterogeneity of these diseases. The novel directions in the study of the brain molecular genetic apparatus can be examinations of chromosomal behavior in the cells in various brain regions and genome imprinting.     

Molecular cytogenetic pre- and postnatal diagnosis of chromosomal abnormalities

Molecular cytogenetic studies in the prenatal and postnatal identification of chromosomal anomalies in children with mental retardation and congenital developmental malformations are discussed. Molecular cytogenetic techniques, such as fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) are employed after the use of classic cytogenetic studies. FISH diagnosis is recommended to apply in the cases when classic cytogenetic methods are not beneficial: post- and prenatal autosomal trisomies; gonosomal aneuploidies, including mosaic forms; marker chromosomes; structural chromosomal anomalies, including fragile X syndrome. The authors' experience showed that (1) FISH should be utilized only as an adjunctive test for classical cytogenetic studies when banding techniques are ineffective; (2) FISH confirms a cytogenetic diagnosis; (3) multicolored probe detection gives an additional possibility in the FISH analysis. The findings demonstrate that molecular cytogenetic methods provide a rapid accurate approach to investigating and diagnosing chromosomal anomalies. Molecular cytogenetic diagnosis allows a more correct correlation of chromosomal abnormalities to be shown with a clinical picture and assists in identifying new chromosomal syndromes in children with undifferentiated forms of mental retardation and congenital malformations.     

Adenovirus KR95, isolated from chickens during an outbreak of hydropericarditis, is the pathogen of this disease

Virus agent KR95 was isolated from the liver of dieoff chickens during an outbreak of hydropericarditis syndrome at a poultry farm in Russia. Electron microscopic examination of the virus morphology, comparative restriction cleavage map construction, DNA-DNA hybridization, and analysis of structural proteins from purified and disrupted virions showed that the agent is to be classified as type 1 avian adenovirus.