Abstract— Clones of two morphotypes corresponding to two species of pennate araphid diatoms, Ulnaria ulna and U. acus, were isolated from samples taken in Europe. Clonal cultures entered heterothallic sexual reproduction in combinations appropriate to their mating types. Following the concept of biological species, we tested reproductive compatibility between all representatives of geographically distant

Abstract Extracellular proteinase of the opportunistic Aspergillus fumigatus D-1 strain (molecular weight ~33 kDa, pI 4.6) was isolated. It was shown that proteinase hydrolyzes casein, fibrin, fibrinogen, albumin, and hemoglobin to varying degrees. However, proteolytic activity with respect to globular proteins of blood plasma was comparable to fibrinolytic activity. Proteinase did not coagulate human

Abstract Birds acquired endothermy and a four-chambered heart independently from mammals in the course of evolution. Though avian embryos are widely used in experiments, little is known about the adult avian heart. Recent studies have shown that, despite a large evolutionary distance, the set of repolarizing potassium currents in avian myocardium resembles that in mammalian heart as well as that in

Abstract Music with embedded binaural beats (BBs) is a promising noninvasive tool for insomnia treatment. This work tests the hypothesis of “entrainment” effect of that kind of music on human brainwaves as a physiological mechanism of sleep improvement. The spectrum of auditory steady state response has been compared in the group of 21 subjects during daytime sleep onset, with music embedded with BBs

Abstract Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are some of the most widely used drugs in existence. However, they can cause numerous side effects. Therefore, it is crucial to develop approaches to reducing the severity of their side effects. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of mexidol on the anti-inflammatory activity of NSAIDs, such as selective cyclooxygenase (COX)-2

Abstract— Highly sensitive, specific, rapid, and easy-to-use diagnostic methods for the detection of nucleic acids of pathogens are required for the diagnosis of many human, animal, and plant diseases and environmental monitoring. The approaches based on the use of the natural ability of bacterial CRISPR/Cas9 systems to recognize DNA sequences with a high specificity under isothermal conditions are

An Erratum to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.3103/S0096392521110018

Abstract The aim of the study was to analyze the association of a complex of anthropogenetic and environmental factors with the subcutaneous and visceral fat indices measured by local configurations of bioimpedance analysis in ethnic Altaians. This study involved 110 relatively healthy men (62) and women (48), representatives of the indigenous peoples of Altai, aged from 17 to 35 years. The study program

Abstract— Changes in the parameters of miniature endplate potential (MEPP) of mouse diaphragm caused by exogenous application of two classical endocannabinoids, 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) (1 μM) and anandamide (AEA) (30 μM), were compared. A slowly developing stable increase in the MEPP amplitude by 50%, without affecting the frequency of MEPPs, was caused by 2-AG. This effect was prevented by AM-251

Abstract The effect of low molecular weight chitosans with a molecular weight (MW) of 5, 6, 10, 25, and 45 kDa and a deacetylation degree (DD) of 85–99% obtained by chemical depolymerization and enzymatic hydrolysis on the cells of the epidermis of pea leaves was analyzed. Low molecular weight chitosans induced damage to guard cells' plasma membrane, which was estimated from the change in its permeability

Abstract— Intranasal administration of lysine- and arginine-containing peptides Lys-Lys-Arg-Arg-Pro-Gly-Pro and Lys-Arg-Arg-Lys-Pro-Gly-Pro was performed daily at a single dose of 100 µg/kg for 7 days on laboratory rats with experimental metabolic syndrome and endothelial dysfunction. Metabolic syndrome was modeled by a high-calorie diet maintained throughout the experimental period, while endothelial

Abstract— Among actinobacteria associated with ants Camponotus vagus, Formica cunicularia, and Lasius niger, their nests, and intact soils, cellulolytic activity was screened in medium with carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) using Congo Red dye. Assessment of culture fluids of tested strains on the CMC-plates and comparing them with solutions of the commercial cellulase preparation allowed for quantifying

Abstract Polyelectrolytes currently play an increasingly important role in antivirus therapy. Antiviral activity towards influenza virus, measles virus, herpes simplex virus type 1, and cytomegalovirus was demonstrated for the 6000 Da polyelectrolyte polyallylamine. A nontoxic polyallylamine concentration of 30 µM at which the compound retains its antiviral effect towards measles and influenza viruses

Abstract— Osteosarcoma is the most prevalent bone malignant tumor with a high mortality rate among children and adolescents (10–19 years of age). The Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor (AHR) is a ligand-dependent transcription factor associated with xenobiotic detoxification and carcinogenesis. It is known that some AHR ligands are included in the composition of drugs used in cancer therapy. However, there

Abstract Anabantoid fishes comprise a unique group, most of whose representatives are characterized by diverse forms of parental care. Evolutional reconstruction of the reproductive strategies of anabantoids is challenging, partly due to the lack of reliable evidence of parental care in a number of its representatives, the most famous of which is the climbing perch. Moreover, apparent contradictions

Abstract High irradiance of a habitat in arid areas is usually associated with high temperature and dry air, which can cause water deficiency in plants. The Tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) is a light-loving mesophytic species. This study showed that L. tulipifera forms shade or sun leaves depending on the light conditions. Some xeromorphic features were found in leaves of the trees in illuminated

Abstract The structure of Podocotyle atomon metacercariae cysts and their surrounding capsules in the second intermediate hosts Locustogammarus locustoides (Brandt, 1851) and Spinulogammarus ochotensis (Brandt, 1851) was assessed using light and transmission electron microscopy. A single, amorphous layer represents the cyst formed by the parasite. The capsules formed by the host consist of two layers:

Abstract On the surface of the nucleosome, there are many regions for interaction with chromatin proteins, but an acidic patch, a negatively charged region formed by the residues of the histone H2A/H2B dimer, is especially prominent. The acidic patch is a target for anticancer drugs and an interaction locus for various pathogens. For instance, it was shown that this region is the binding site of the

Abstract— The role of intermediate substrates represented by morphological structures or chemical compounds located between the information carrier (stimulus) and the dendrite receptor membrane of insect sense organs is considered an example of olfactory, visual, mechanical, hygro-, and thermoreceptors. Intermediate substrates in olfactory sensillae are represented by their cuticular regions, pores

Abstract— Exposure to β-lactam, fluoroquinolone, and aminoglycoside antibiotics caused an increase in the production of hydrogen peroxide and the expression of OxyR-regulon of the oxidative stress response in Escherichia coli cells. Under the conditions of microaeration, the attenuation of secondary oxidative stress due to the addition of the antioxidant thiourea influenced the antibacterial effect

Abstract— Neutrophils are the “first line” of defense against pathogens in the locus of inflammation, where they use effector functions such as phagocytosis, degranulation, and formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In 2004, Artuto Zychlinsky characterized one more neutrophil effector function—the release of neutrophil extracellular traps (or NETs). NETs are a modified chromatin “decorated” by

Abstract Bacterial strains ANT 17 and ANT 56, antagonistic to plant pathogenic fungi Bipolaris sorokiniana, were isolated from activated sludge. Physiological, biochemical, and culture morphological properties and analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence and composition of fatty acids of cell walls of strains ANT 17 and ANT 56 supported its classification as the species Pseudomonas laurentiana. It was

Abstract The Russian Segment of the International Space Station, as a closed habitat, is a favorable environment for the development of microorganisms. There are bacteria and fungi of various systematic groups, some of which can lead to infections. Thus, certain species of spore-forming bacteria of the genus Bacillus are dangerous. Seven strains of bacteria of this genus isolated from samples obtained

Abstract— The toxicity of chemical substances depends not only on their concentration but also on the hydrochemical composition of water (concentration of calcium and magnesium, humic substances, etc.), which is important to consider when extrapolating the results of bioassay to environmental conditions. A study into the acute toxicity of aluminum chloride was carried out on 1-day-old Daphnia magna

Abstract— The nongenomic effects of thyroid hormones (THs) develop within minutes or hours and do not depend on the binding of the hormone to the transcriptionally active nuclear receptors TRα and TRβ. These effects are characterized by a variety of receptors and signaling pathways involved, which may be distinct in different cell types. Thyroxin (T3) or triiodthyronine (T4) can induce a nongenomic

Abstract The point of view of the author of this article, who participates in the work of several scientific journals, on the current situation with publishing articles by scientists of various specialties is presented. Two approaches to this problem are considered: “informal” (focused only on the quality of published manuscripts) and “formal” (taking into account mainly the scientometric indicators

Abstract One of the most frequently used model objects in gerontology is yeast, primarily Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Ample data indicating that the lesions in yeast undergoing chronological or stationary phase aging are similar to the age-related lesions in metazoan cells have been accumulated. However, yeast, similarly to any other study objects, also has drawbacks; in particular, although yeast cells

Abstract— Gossypol is a highly active compound with antiviral, antioxidant, antimicrobial, antimalarial, and antitumor properties. It is known that the antitumor effect of gossypol is associated with genotoxicity; however, gossypol interaction with chromatin was not studied. In this work, using the method of single particle microscopy based on the Förster resonant energy transfer, it was found that

Abstract The effects of the photoperiodic conditions in northwestn Russia (Republic of Karelia, Petrozavodsk) and exogenous melatonin on the body weight and the physiological and biochemical parameters of blood serum in males and females of the Syrian hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) were studied. The animals were divided into two groups: control (LD: 12 h light/12 h darkness) and experimental (NL: decrease

Abstract Abundance and biomass of small photosynthetic flagellates (SPF; 3–10 µm), chlorophyll a concentration, and the contribution of SPF to total phytoplankton biomass at different stages of seasonal succession in ice and in surface water were studied in Kandalaksha Bay of the White Sea in September 2016 and February and July 2017. In summer, SPF biomass in the photic layer averaged 38.36 ± 9.77

Abstract Gibberellin signaling pathway genes encoding the DELLA protein and gibberellin receptor GID1 were sequenced in several varieties (Alpha, Valdai, Orlovskaya 9, Pracha) and one line of rye (EM-1) using next generation methods. The revealed multiple alleles of these genes differ mainly in single-nucleotide polymorphisms and less frequently in insertions and deletions. Most of the detected mutations

Abstract— Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is a severe hereditary immunodeficiency associated with recurrent bacterial and fungal infections as well as aberrant inflammatory processes. The CGD phenotype depends on the deficiency of phagocytic NADPH oxidase causing the inability of phagocytes to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS). Such phagocytes have a limited ability to execute phagocytosis

Abstract— A complex of proteolytic enzymes with a specific plasmin-like activity of at least 890 EpNA/mg and a specific protein C activator activity of at least 130 EpNA/mg was isolated from the culture fluid of micromycete Aspergillus ochraceus L-1 by salting out with ammonium sulfate followed by dialysis and depigmentation to phenol-aniline formaldehyde resin at a pH of 8.2. Comparison of the obtained

Abstract Fifty samples of bottom sediments were taken in 2016–2017 in the Kandalaksha Bay of the White Sea from the depth of 1.5–15.0 m, and 1419 colonies of mycelial fungi were obtained. Based on morphological and cultural features, a total of 136 morphotypes were classified, and 81 of these were identified down to the species level. Thirteen species were new to the White Sea. The most common species

Abstract The paper revises data on the identification of peptidases groups involved in the growth of fungi and inhibitors of these peptidases. The available data on the diversity, significance, representation, and characteristics of proteolytic enzymes in representatives of the Aspergillus, Penicillium, Trichoderma, and Alternaria genera are considered. It was concluded that serine, metal, and glutamine

Abstract Interspecific variations of legs’ morphometric signs have been investigated on 2885 individuals from 65 species of 22 genera of the family Dolichopodidae. Nine morphometric signs of legs, including lengths of femora, tibia, and first segment of tarsi have been measured, and the data on 12 relative signs have been obtained. The results of analysis of variance showed significant differences

Abstract Early detection and repair of damaged DNA is important for cell functioning and survival. The recently proposed mechanism of intranucleosomal loop formation suggests the relaxation of DNA supercoiling accumulated during transcription through damaged chromatin. The degree of DNA relaxation is affected by the mechanical properties and structure of the double helix. In this work, the consequences

AbstractThe feasibility of applying higher plant biotechnology methods and approaches to conservation and propagation of Lilium pensylvanicum is demonstrated. Using seeds as the primary explants enables one to introduce this species into an in vitro culture while not causing harm to mother plants. Subculturing aseptic bulbs on a Humburg medium with halved composition of salts of macro- and microelements

AbstractGastrointestinal diseases and eating disorders are among the most common pathologies in the world. One of the most widespread and dangerous consequence of many eating disorders is an uncontrolled weight gain that often leads to obesity. This review focuses on the 15-year-long studies of obestatin, one of the potential regulators of eating behavior. This peptide contains 23 amino-acids and appears

AbstractBoth male and female Wistar rats with an experimental model of autism spectrum disorders induced by prenatal administration of valproate sodium at a dose of 500 mg/kg have behavioral abnormalities similar to people with these disorders, including the abnormalities of social interaction; locomotor, orientation, and exploratory behavior; coordination of movement; spatial exploration behavior;

AbstractThe collection fund of the Laboratory of Ornamental Plants of the Main Botanical Garden, Russian Academy of Sciences, was established in 1947. Today it includes 1055 plant species and varieties as well as 4995 cultivars and garden forms of cultivated plants. The current policy of a collection formation is aimed at the creation of unique collections. Such generic complexes as Paeonia, Rosa,

AbstractGround elder (Aegopodium podagraria L.) has a number of economically important properties (as food, an excellent honey plant, and a valuable fodder) and also exhibits antirheumatic, diuretic, nervine, and wound-healing effects. A. podagraria plants are used for cytogenetic studies. To gather a collection of A. podagraria plants, an expedition into different regions of Russia was carried out

AbstractThe diaphragm is a unique skeletal muscle; it is active throughout the lifetime and, therefore, differs from locomotor muscles in the properties of muscle fibers and the mechanisms of blood supply control. The aim of this review was to survey the structural characteristics of diaphragm muscle tissue, which provide its integral contractile properties; to compare the activity of vascular tone

AbstractMolecular analysis of new isolates of the plum pox virus (PPV) found in the gene pool collections of peach, apricot, and plum from the Nikitsky Botanical Garden (National Science Center, Russian Academy of Sciences), as well as on wild cherry plum trees in the surrounding area, has been carried out. Using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction

AbstractTrends in body size in young men and women in the early 21st century were analyzed based on the results of anthropometric examination of more than 6300 undergraduate students of various departments of Moscow State University that were obtained in 2000–2018. The retrospective analysis was conducted by comparing data of total body dimensions collected based on a sample of Moscow youth examined

AbstractThis is a brief review of the latest changes in the editorial policy and content of the Vestnik Moskovskogo Universiteta, Seriya 16: Biologiya journal with special emphasis on the situation with its English-language version Moscow University Biological Sciences Bulletin. The current strategy of the editorial board for evaluation of submitted manuscripts, their rejection, peer reviewing and

AbstractOne of the current problems in regenerative medicine is the search for new approaches for skin restoration. A promising area is the use of biocompatible materials. Such constructs can serve as the basis for biomedical products designed to replace damaged tissue or function as wound dressings. In this work, photopolymerized films based on silk fibroin and methacrylated gelatin (F-MG) were created

AbstractProteolytic activity of 8 strains of micromycetes (belonging to different ecological and trophic groups: phyto-, nemato-, myco-, and entomopathogens as well as human pathogens) toward the hemostatic system proteins has been assayed by using the chromogenic peptide substrates. The investigated micromycetes are shown to secrete proteases with a broad substrate specificity. However, there are

AbstractMicroRNA is a small, single-stranded nucleotide sequence, which can regulate gene expression at the posttranscriptional level. To date, it is known that some microRNAs play an important role in physiology and pathophysiology of the cardio-vascular system. The effects of lipotransfection with microRNAs, such as miR-1-3p, miR-153-3p, or miR-133-3p, on the electrophysiological indices of the myocardium

AbstractSea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) is a perennial dioecious shrub or tree whose juvenile period lasts from 3 to 5 years. Sea buckthorn grows in many European and Asian countries and is widely used in cosmetology, biotechnology, pharmacology, and agriculture. This crop is a source of valuable vitamins, minerals, carotenoids, and flavonoids. Its phenotypic description does not provide accurate

AbstractFluorescent nanoparticles are currently considered as promising enhancers of photodynamic activity of traditional photosensitizers in procedures for photodynamic therapy of cancer and inactivation of pathogens. On the one hand, such nanoparticles act as a nanoplatform for target delivery of dye molecules to cells; on the other hand, they act as light-harvesting antennas that increase the effective

AbstractLong-distance interaction plays an important role in the regulation of eukaryotic genes. Chromatin structure is involved in the process, but the role of histone modifications has not been studied. In the present work, the role of acetylation Н4K16 (Н4K16-Ac) to enhancer-promoter communication (EPC) was analyzed. This modification is associated with euchromatin and is involved in the decompaction

AbstractThe effect of the surface of Ti-Zr-Nb (TZN) shape memory alloys (SMA) on adhesion, proliferation, viability, and organization of the actin cytoskeleton of osteoblast-like MG-63 cells has been studied. The studied SMA have a unique combination of mechanical properties, making them promising in fabrication of bone implants with high biomechanical compatibility (due to low Young’s modulus and

Abstract—Currently, biological scaffolds composed of extracellular matrix (ECM) are being actively examined for the needs of regenerative medicine. ECM substrates are prepared by decellularization and used to deliver cells to damaged tissue. Native scaffolds of ECM have an advantage over bioengineered ones because ECM retains natural biologic cues that provide efficient reparative cell functions. Mesenchymal

AbstractThis is a short review concerning the problem of germ line “immortality,” which was already formulated by A. Weismann at the end of the 19th century. Over the following years, it attracted the attention of many gerontologists, who tried to understand the mechanisms of infinite transfer of genetic information from generation to generation with the help of germ cells, which, in contrast to somatic

AbstractThe study of all factors that contribute to the carbon balance in the biosphere is of paramount importance due to the current increase in carbon dioxide content in the atmosphere. This article presents data on the carbon dioxide exchange for the needles of common spruce (Picea abies L.) and Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii L.) in an urban environment (based on the example of Moscow). It is

Abstract―The spatial distribution of picocyanobacteria at the arctic longitude section passing through the shelf of the Kara, Laptev, and East Siberian seas from 58° to 168° E was studied. The average abundance of picocyanobacteria was 0.48 ± 1.2 × 109 cells/m3 in the Kara Sea, 0.16 ± 0.24 × 109 cells/m3 in the Laptev Sea, and 0.25 ± 0.43 × 109 cells/m3 in the East Siberian Sea. The fluctuations of

AbstractAging organisms die out in accordance with the “Gompertz law,” i.e., the probability of their death increases with age. Survival curve construction is the main tool for gerontologists to study aging and test antiaging drugs. The analysis of survival curves includes obtaining some indices characterizing aging of the population, for example, the average and maximum lifespan, the mortality rate

Abstract—The first data on the species diversity of testate amoebae of the Coco River in the provinces of Quang Nam and Da Nang (Vietnam) are presented. A total of 55 species and subspecies of testate amoebae belonging to nine genera and six families have been identified in 28 samples. Species diversity of testate amoebae in plankton is higher than in benthic samples. Centropyxis aculeata (64.3%),

AbstractThe universal response of Escherichia coli to stress is enhancing the synthesis of specific histone-like Dps proteins that bind bacterial DNA. As a result, two-dimensional and three-dimensional crystalline arrays can be observed in the cytoplasm of starving bacteria. Conditions for obtaining in vitro co-crystals of DNA-Dps were selected, and their elemental composition was studied using analytical