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Four potentially immunoactive peptide fragments of the NspA protein from the outer membrane of the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis were synthesized in order to create a synthetic vaccine against the meningococcal infection by the serogroup B bacterium. Mice of various lines were immunized with the free peptides nonconjugated with a protein carrier. All the synthetic peptides were shown to induce the production of the antipeptide antibodies in mice. A peptide capable of inducing a decrease in the number of bacteria in blood and the protection of infected animals from death was found in the experiments on the protection of the animals infected with two strains of the Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B. The English version of the paper: Russian Journal of Bioorganic Chemistry, 2002, vol. 28, no. 4; see also http://www.maik.ru.

Evoked neuron activity in slices of the medial septal area and its modulation by neuropeptides and monoamines was studied in two groups of ground squirrels--hibernating and awake animals. Electrical stimulation of the medial forebrain bundle evoked predominantly inhibitory effects of different durations. In addition, responses were seen consisting of resetting of the phase of background volleys to the stimulus after initial inhibition: there were also small numbers of short-latency single-spike responses. All the neuropeptides tested. which had been identified from the brains of hibernating animals, induced differentiated reversible effects consisting of modulation of responses; changes in evoked activity were seen significantly more often than shifts in spontaneous activity. The effects depended on the state of the animal. Thus. peptide TSKYR increased the duration of inhibition in hibernating ground squirrels but shortened inhibition in awake animals. Peptide TSKY. which had little effect in hibernating animals, increased the duration of inhibition in awake animals. Dipeptide DY. which decreased the duration of inhibition and increased the amplitude of the activatory components of responses in hibernating ground squirrels. had little effect in awake animals. The effects of noradrenaline and serotonin correlated to a large extent with their effects on spontaneous activity. It is suggested that endogenous substances are involved in creating the conditions required for increasing the latent excitability and reactivity of septal neurons during hibernation. This allows the medial septal area to function as a "sentry post," allowing the receipt of signals and urgent arousal during hibernation.

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