Anthrax is a recurrent zoonosis in the Ukraine with outbreaks occurring repeatedly in certain areas. For determining whether several Bacillus anthracis genotypes are circulating in this region, four strains from various sources isolated from different regions of the Ukraine were investigated. By combining long- and short-read next-generation sequencing techniques, highly accurate genomes were reconstructed, enabling detailed in silico genotyping. Thus, the strains could be assigned to the Tsiankovskii subgroup of the “TransEurAsia” clade, which is commonly found in this region. Their high genetic similarity suggests that the four strains are members of the endemic population whose progenitor was once introduced in the Ukraine and bordering regions. This study provides information on B. anthracis strains from a region where there is little knowledge of the local population, thereby adding to the picture of global B. anthracis genotype distribution. We also emphasize the importance of surveillance and prevention methods regarding anthrax outbreaks, as other studies predicted a higher number of cases in the future due to global warming.

The development of a DNA-vaccine against classical swine fever (CSF) is a perspective direction, because it gives an opportunity to develop a marker vaccine due to use of a part of protective antigen molecule, and to induce effectively both cellular and humoral immune response. In this study a recombinant plasmid, containing the fragment of E2 gene of CFS virus (CSFV) in eukaryotic expression vector, has been developed. It has been demonstrated that the fragment of E2 protein of CSFV is expressed in CHO-K1 cells from the developed recombinant plasmid pTR-BKneo -, and we suggest that the protein possesses the post-translational modifications. The data obtained are in favor of the created model DNA-vaccine able to induce humoral immune response to fragment of E2 protein of CSFV.

Aim. Search for compounds with antibacterial and antiviral properties among N-arylamides of 9-substituted phenazine-1-carboxylic acids (PCA), inhibitors of the RNA synthesis. Methods. Influence of N-aryl-amides on the RNA synthesis was tested in vitro in the model system of the DNA-dependent RNA polymerase of phage T7 (T7 RNAP). Antimicrobial activities of the N-arylamides against bacteria Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae VR-2 var. IVM, Klebsiella spp. and Escherichia coli ATCC25922 were investigated by the method of two-fold dilution in a liquid medium. Antiviral effects against Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (BVDV) and cytotoxicity of the N-arylamides were evaluated using Madin-Darby bovine kidney (MDBK) cells. Results. Twenty N-arylamides appeared to be efficacious inhibitors of the RNA synthesis at concent- rations of 0.48–61 µМ. The compound 16 proved to be the most effective inhibitor of T7 RNAP with the IC50 value being 0.48 µМ. Fourteen N-arylamides demonstrated antibacterial properties against gram positive and gram negative bacteria at the 0.1–10 µg/ml concentrations. A number of the N-arylamides revealed a multiplicity of their antimicrobial actions: 7 compounds against two bacteria and two compounds, 2 and 3, against three bacteria investigated. N-arylamides 16 and 26 showed high inhibitory activity as to BVDV with the IC50 values 0.43 and 0.88 µg/ml and SI values 160 and 10 correspondingly. Conclusions. The obtained data evidence that the most likely targets of the N-arylamides 9-substituted PCA in bacteria and viruses are their RNA synthesizing complexes

The antiviral activity of the complex phytopreparation (alcohol tincture of Filipendula vulgaris, Petroselinum crispum, Apium graveolens radices; Galium verum, Linaria vulgaris herbs; Calendula officinalis flowers) was evaluated on the in vitro models of current uncontrolled viral infections: human alphaherpesvirus 2, hepatitis C (surrogate bovine diarrhea virus) and coronavirus of transmissive porcine gastroenteritis (TGEV) and demonstrated its high antiviral activity to all tested viruses. The phytopreparation solution is an active inhibitor of human alphaherpesvirus 2, hepatitis C surrogate virus (BVDV), and TGEV coronavirus reproduction with a selectivity index of 80, 320, and 320, respectively. In the guinea pig genital herpes in vivo experimental model, it was shown that phytopreparation solution (dilution of 1:100) in case of a combined treatment regimen (per os + application) delayed the onset of the infection's first symptoms and reduced the time of disease duration. The index of phytopreparation therapeutic action was at the same level as the Acyclovir (reference antiherpetic drug). The investigation of phytopreparation's mechanism of antiviral action allowed supposing that it could be realized via the induction of αIFN, inhibition of RNA, and DNA synthesis.

Для виявлення методом обернено-транскриптазної полімеразної ланцюгової реакції геномної РНК вірусу класичної чуми свиней (КЧС) у патматеріалах, отриманих від тварин з різним клінічним проявом та перебігом захворювання КЧС, було використано олігонуклеотидні затравки, що фланкують фрагмент (846 п. н.) гена структурного білка гп51-55 цього вірусу. Обговорюються можливості використання розроблених праймерів для диференціації високо-та низьковірулентних ізолятів вірусу КЧС та в проведенні молекулярно-епізоотичних досліджень.