Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) causes human epidemics across Eurasia. Clinical manifestations range from inapparent infections and fevers to fatal encephalitis but the factors that determine disease severity are currently undefined. TBEV is characteristically a hemagglutinating (HA) virus; the ability to agglutinate erythrocytes tentatively reflects virion receptor/fusion activity. However, for the past few years many atypical HA-deficient strains have been isolated from patients and also from the natural European host tick, Ixodes persulcatus. By analysing the sequences of HA-deficient strains we have identified 3 unique amino acid substitutions (D67G, E122G or D277A) in the envelope protein, each of which increases the net charge and hydrophobicity of the virion surface. Therefore, we genetically engineered virus mutants each containing one of these 3 substitutions; they all exhibited HA-deficiency. Unexpectedly, each genetically modified non-HA virus demonstrated increased TBEV reproduction in feeding Ixodes ricinus, not the recognised tick host for these strains. Moreover, virus transmission efficiency between infected and uninfected ticks co-feeding on mice was also intensified by each substitution. Retrospectively, the mutation D67G was identified in viruses isolated from patients with encephalitis. We propose that the emergence of atypical Siberian HA-deficient TBEV strains in Europe is linked to their molecular adaptation to local ticks. This process appears to be driven by the selection of single mutations that change the virion surface thus enhancing receptor/fusion function essential for TBEV entry into the unfamiliar tick species. As the consequence of this adaptive mutagenesis, some of these mutations also appear to enhance the ability of TBEV to cross the human blood-brain barrier, a likely explanation for fatal encephalitis. Future research will reveal if these emerging Siberian TBEV strains continue to disperse westwards across Europe by adaptation to the indigenous tick species and if they are associated with severe forms of TBE.

Relevance.Modern inactivated culture vaccines against tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) with at least 70% of the population living in the  natural foci of the FE give a high epidemiological effect. Unresolved  issues are the simplification of the cumbersome vaccination scheme,  the optimal number of revaccinations, the protective titer of  antibodies against the Siberian subtype of the TBE virus dominant in Russia.Goalof this work is to study the state of postvaccinal immunity in the population of the highly endemic area of the Trans-Urals.Materials and methods. 1381 blood serum of the population vaccinated from 3 to 13 times with vaccines was studied: unconcentrated culture inactivated from strain No. 205 of the TBE  virus produced by «Virion», Tomsk, «EnceVir» produced by  «Microgen», Tomsk, produced by Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immuneand-Biological Products of  Russian.To identify specific antibodies – IgG, IgM, antigen of TBE  virus, sets of reagents of ELISA from «Vector-Best» were used.  Neutralizing activity of sera was determined by the index of  neutralization index with 4 strains of the Siberian subtype of TBE  virus.Results.The immune layer among the vaccinated population in 10 districts of the Kurgan region, which differ in epidemiological tension, ranges from 69.9% to 94.6%. The intensity of humoral immunity  varied according to IgG titers in ELISA from 1: 100 – 1: 200 to 1:  3200 (rarely 1: 6400). The duration and intensity of immunity  depends on the number of vaccinations and the number of missed  remote revaccinations. Preservation and intensity of immunity with  reliability P = 95%, higher in persons vaccinated 6–10 times  compared with the group of vaccinated 3 times. In persons who had 4–8 booster dose of vaccine, the immunity persisted for 15–19–36 years with an IgG titer of not more than 1: 100. The neutralizing  activity of the sera of vaccinated individuals with antibody titers from 1:100 to 1: 6400 was studied for the Siberian subtype of BCE. The  degree of protection of the vaccinated population against the doses  of the virus found in individual mites is determined. From the doses  of the virus, 57% of the vaccinated population are most often found  in mites, and from the dose of 105– 8%. Recommendations are  proposed on the tactics of revaccination of the population, depending on the level of immunity.

Lethal cases of tick-borne encephalitis in previously vaccinated patients have not been described. Modern inactivated vaccines against Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) are high effective. The TBE cases, preference unfocal forms, are developed in persons with incomplete irregular vaccination. First case of lethal TBE after plural vaccination was described in the Kurgan region, the second case - in the Chelyabinsk region. These very rare unusual cases were studied. Being dominant the Siberian subtype of TBE virus is related with lethal TBE cases in the Chelyabinsk region. Unusual TBE case was developed in patient who had been vaccinated 8 limes with vaccines produced from strains of Far-Eastern TBE subtype («Virion», Tomsk, Chumakov institute, Moscow) and European TBE subtype (Encepur; FSME-Immun). Two years after the last vaccination a focal form of TBE was developed with lethal outcome at 9 th day. Specific antibodies IgM and IgG seroconversion were detected. The TBE virus antigen was detected in brain neurons by immunofluorescent test. Destructed neurons and gliocyles were shown by hystological study in cerebral hemispheres and cerebellum. The Purkinje cells were destructed. Possible reasons of surmounting vaccinal immunity including a genetic difference of vaccine and infection virus strains are discussed.

In the Yaroslavl region (Central Federal District of Russia), endemic of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE), the features of epidemiology of this infection were studied during 1992-2012. Cyclical fluctuations in the incidence of TBE, the lack of the trend to decrease of the incidence were observed, the average annual incidence was 1,6 ± 0,32 per 100 thousand ofpopulation. The prevalence offebrile forms of disease was 62,2%, meningeal forms - 16,3%, the total percentage offocal forms was 13,9%. Manifestations of evolution of TBE were: the increase of the epidemiological significance of anthropogenically transformed natural foci, anthropurgical foci of TBE, until 81% of TBE cases were unvaccinated citizens, the high lethality of 4% and the high frequency of cases of alimentary infection of TBE of 7,8% with lethality of 10,8%. The aethiological agent of 10 lethal cases was Siberian subtype of TBE virus.