Background. The ongoing pandemic of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) draws attention to the significance of molecular and genetic monitoring of the SARS-CoV-2 spread among the population of the Russian Federation. The aim of the study was to analyze the dynamics of circulation of SARS-CoV-2 genetic variants in Russia.Materials and methods. The analysis of the circulation dynamics for SARS-CoV-2 genetic variants in Russia was carried out, covering the period from 28/12/2020 to 26/6/2022. The analysis included the data from Rospotrebnadzor Report No. 970 "Information about Infectious Diseases in Individuals with Suspected Novel Coronavirus Infection" and the Virus Genome Aggregator of Russia (VGARus). The presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA was confirmed by the real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. The primer panels developed at the Central Research Institute of Epidemiology were used for amplification of genomic fragments and the subsequent sequencing.Results and discussion. Using the Russian VGARus platform developed by the Central Research Institute of Epidemiology, we received the data on mutational variability of SARS-CoV-2. By monitoring the circulation of SARS-CoV-2 genetic variants in Russia from 28/12/2020 to 26/6/2022, we found that Delta and Omicron genetic variants prevailed at different stages of the epidemic.Conclusion. The data of molecular and genetic studies are an essential component of epidemiological surveillance, being critically important for making executive decisions aimed at prevention of further spread of SARS-CoV-2 and laying the groundwork for creating new vaccines.

Background. The ongoing pandemic of a new coronavirus infection (COVID-19) determines the relevance of the analysis of epidemiological patterns of SARS-CoV-2 spread among the population of the Russian Federation.Aim — study of the manifestations of the epidemic process of COVID-19 in the Russian Federation in 2020–2022.Materials and methods. A retrospective epidemiological analysis of the incidence of COVID-19 in the Russian Federation was carried out from 03/30/2020 to 04/24/2022. The data from the Rospotrebnadzor report No. 970 “Information on cases of infectious diseases in persons with suspected new coronavirus infection”, information portal Stopcoronavirus.rf, etc. were used. The presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA was confirmed by real-time RT-PCR.Results and discussion. The analysis of the manifestations of the epidemic process of COVID-19 in the Russian Federation in 2020–2022 showed the presence of two stages which differed depending on the influence of the biological factor and the ongoing anti-epidemic measures. There was a pronounced trend in the development of the epidemic process, starting from megacities (Moscow, Moscow region and St. Petersburg), which are major transport hubs and centers of migration activity of the population, to the regions of the Russian Federation. The SARS-CoV-2 pathogenicity has been shown to decrease with each subsequent cycle of the rise in the incidence of COVID-19 against the background of the increased contagiousness of the virus.Conclusion. As a result of the study, risk areas (megacities) and risk groups were identified.

According to the temporary recommendations of the 2021 World Health Organization (WHO), in addition to whole-genome sequencing, laboratories in various countries can also screen for known mutations utilizing targeted RT-PCR-based mutation detection assays. The aim of this work was to generate a laboratory technique to differentiate the main circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants in 2021–2022, when a sharp increase in morbidity was observed with the appearance of the Omicron variant. Real-time PCR methodology is available for use in the majority of scientific and diagnostic institutions in Russia, which makes it possible to increase the coverage of monitoring of variants in the territories of all 85 regions in order to accumulate information for the Central Services and make epidemiological decisions. With the methodology developed by the Central Research Institute of Epidemiology of the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing (FSSCRP Human Wellbeing) (CRIE), more than 6000 biological samples have been typed, and 7% of samples with the Delta variant and 92% of samples with the Omicron variant have been identified as of 25 August 2022. Reagents for 140,000 definitions have been supplied to regional organizations.

Introduction. Hepatitis B retains the status of socially significant infection and remains a major health problem worldwide, including the Russian Federation. The improvement of the effectiveness of the current complex of preventive measures, especially vaccination, is an important task for public health. Although vaccination against hepatitis B is highly successful, 5% to 10% of individuals do not experience a response to vaccine with an adequate level of antibodies to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs). One of the key factors determining the absence or insufficiency of post-vaccination immunity against hepatitis B may be the single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that change gene sequences, including those that determine the mechanism of immunogenesis. Such genetic changes may affect the signaling pathways and result in significant decrease in antibody response to hepatitis B vaccine. Assessment of epidemiological significance of such SNPs is an important task, considering its possible associations with failure to respond adequately to vaccination.The aim of the study was to determine the effect of SNPs of IL1B (rs1143634, rs1143627), IL1RN (rs4251961, rs419598), IL6 (rs1800795), IL10 (rs1800896), TULP1 (rs9380516), TLR4 (rs4986790), MERTK (rs4374383) genes on the formation of post-vaccination immunity against hepatitis B.Materials and methods. Healthcare workers (n = 271) of the Treatment and Rehabilitation Center of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation with known vaccination history, data on age, work experience and department of the medical institution were included in this research. The presence and levels of anti-HBs and anti-HBcore IgG antibodies were determined by the ELISA method using the DS-ELISA-ANTI-HBs and DS-ELISA-ANTI-HBc kits, according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Genotyping was performed by real time polymerase chain reaction. Statistical analysis of data was carried out using the "Statistica 6.0" software.Results. Statistically significant differences in the frequencies of CC (rs9380516) genotypes (p = 0.034; OR 0.497; 95% CI 0.261–0.949) and CT (p = 0.044; OR 1.967; 95% CI 1.015–3.812) of the TULP1 gene in the group of individuals with anti-HBs concentrations of 10–100 IU/l were found in association with the intensity of the post-vaccination response against hepatitis B. Also, for this group, differences were found in the structure of the TT/CT genotype pair of IL-10/TULP1 genes (rs1800896/rs9380516) (p = 0.003; OR = 5.39; 95% CI 1.7–17.4) and for the combination of AA/TT SNP MERTK/IL1RN genotypes (rs4374383/rs4251961) (p = 0.003; OR = 7.96; 95% CI 1.7–37.6).Conclusion. Our study revealed that above variants of genotypes could play a role in predicting an increased risk of low (or absence) post-vaccination immune response against hepatitis B. It seems appropriate to use the relationship between the gene polymorphisms and a low concentration of post-vaccination anti-HBs antibodies in assessing scenarios for the development of the epidemic process of hepatitis B, since the identified associations allow to quantify the risks of poor herd immunity against this infection.