The review is devoted to the relations between human microbiome and physiologic and pathologic processes an aging organism. Last years, there were obtained many convincing evidences of the huge microbiome influence on different processes of the human organism functioning, including behavior and brain biochemistry. Basing on these data, specialists consider the microbiome as an additional human organ that actively participates in digestion, management of metabolic processes, maintenance of epithelial barrier integrity, development and strengthening the immune system and a number of other physiologic functions. Therefore, it optimizes conditions for the normal vital activity of the human organism on the whole. Many scientists consider aging as a chronic inflammatory process that is accompanied by unfavorable changes of the microbiome structure and functional activity. In most cases, age-related microbiome changes have negative influence on the health state, since they result in disorders of functional activity of microbe communities and failures of the metabolic chains that play the important role in functioning of many organs. It is well known that in elderly age, multiform interactions between the human organism and associated microbe communities undergo complicated changes, which may lead to strong phenotypic consequences, including dysbiosis, infections, psychosomatic diseases and general worsening of the organism functional state. It is assumed that an in-depth study of these processes with the development of age-related pathologies may facilitate the solution of many geriatrics problems. In the review, modern information is generalized that concerns composition and functional activity of the microbiota in aged people as well as the impact of the changed microbiome on disease development. There were analyzed research aimed at using some means of microbiome improvement at different age-related pathology. In the judgment of specialists, prevention of microbiome disturbances, beginning from young age, is one of most important protective measures for improving quality of life of the older population. In particular, there have been carried out many researches and their results confirm the reasonability of using probiotics for improving the state of health in elderly age. Probiotics were shown to beneficially influence the microbiome, general physical and mental state and immune status in elderly people. It is believed that regular using of probiotics favours maintaining homeostatic state of gut mucous membrane and microbiota, which is a critical component of mode of life aimed at longevity. Besides probiotics, perspective means for improving microbiome of elderly people are prebiotics, products of functional nutrition and enterosorbents. “Rejuvenation” of microbiome by virtue of wide using modern health-improving means might be one of means for prevention diseases, premature aging and an immense improvement of quality of life in advanced age. Key words: microbiome, aging, metabolites, inflammation, dysbiosis, immunity, probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, enterosorbents. For citation: Shyrobokov VP, Yankovskyi DS, Dyment HS. Microbiome and human aging (literature review). Journal of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine. 2019;25(4):463-75.

Bacteriophages against methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains. Poniatovskyi V.A., Bondarchuk O.L., Prystupiuk M.O., Smikodub O.O., Shyrobokov V.P.Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most common opportunistic pathogens that causes a variety of diseases, from minor skin infections to life-threatening sepsis, meningitis, pneumonia and a number of other diseases. Particular attention was paid to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains with multiple drug resistance. The purpose of this study is investigation of the sensitivity of clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus, including methicillin-resistant strains, to bacteriophage drugs and determination of possibility of using this agent for the treatment of staphylococcal infections. A number of classical and modern microbiological methods for the isolation and identification of Staphylococcus aureus: an indication of genes, responsible for antibiotic resistance (PCR analysis), determination of sensitivity to antibiotics (disc diffusion method) and bacteriophages (spot test, Gracia method, Appelman method) were used in the study. The susceptibility analysis of Staphylococcus aureus with presence and absence of mecA gene to the commercial bacteriophage product -"PYOFAG ® BACTERIOPHAGE POLYVALENT" was performed. The results of the study showed that the total number of susceptible strains of bacteria was 95±0,2%. The use of investigational Bacteriophage drug for the treatment of furunculosis caused by MRSA has shown positive results. After one week of using the bacteriophage as monotherapy, the patient experienced regression of the clinical symptoms. For the period of use no adverse effects have been detected. Thus, the phage drugs using can become an important tool in the control of antibiotic-resistant strains, which cause a variety of infections in humans. Реферат. Бактеріофаги проти метицилін-резистентних штамів Staphylococcus aureus. Понятовський В.А., Бондарчук О.Л., Приступюк М.О., Смікодуб О.О., Широбоков В.П. Staphylococcus aureus є одним із найпоширеніших опортуністичних патогенів, що здатні викликати різноманітні захворювання: від незначних шкірних інфекцій до небезпечного для життя сепсису, менінгіту, пневмонії та ряду інших захворювань. Особлива увага приділяється метицилін-резистентним штамам Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) зі стійкістю до багатьох лікарських засобів. Метою цього дослідження є вивчення чутливості клінічних ізолятів золотистого стафілокока, у тому числі метицилін-резистентних штамів, до бактеріофагового препарату та встановлення можливості використання цього засобу для лікування стафілококових інфекцій. У роботі використано ряд класичних і сучасних мікробіологічних методів виділення та ідентифікації мікроорганізмів,

Introduction: The research of biological properties of enteroviruses associated with ischemic stroke (IS) allows us to identify their intratypic differences. The aim: to identify genetic markers of strains of enteroviruses associated with IS. Materials and methods: 11 strains of enteroviruses isolated from the serum of patients with IS were identified in the virus neutralization test. Genetic markers of isolated strains (Abent, marker S, marker rct40) were determined. Results: Eleven strains of enteroviruses were isolated from the serum of patients with IS. Eight viruses: Coxsackie B viruses (serotypes 2, 3, 4) and ECHO viruses (serotypes 6, 9, 27 (two strains), 29) were identified in these strains. Other three strains of enteroviruses were unidentified. Different combinations of genetic markers were found. Seven strains of enteroviruses (Coxsackie B2, B3, ECHO 6, ECHO 9, ECHO 27 (two strains) and one unidentified virus) had virulence markers: Abent–, rct40+ and S−. Three strains (Coxsackie B4, ECHO 29, one unidentified virus) had markers: Abent–, rct40+, S+. Another one unidentified virus had markers: Abent+, rct40+, S –. Conclusions: All 11 isolates of enteroviruses associated with IS had rct40+ marker, 10 of the 11 isolates had marker Abent– and 8 of 11 isolates had marker S–. The research of genetic markers allows to perform typic and intratypic differentiation of strains of enteroviruses associated with the IS.

белых лабораторных мышах (линия BALB/c) была проведена оценка влияния пожизненного приема натриевой формы геля бентонита на их некоторые физиологические показатели (масса тела, потребление корма и воды, общее состояние, изменение координации движений, состояние шерсти, фертильность и смертность). Экспериментальное исследование осуществлено в двух повторах. Для реализации данной задачи лабораторные мыши были разделены на две группы: контрольная -животные находились на стандартном режиме питания и исследуемая -употребляли воду с добавлением натриевой формы геля бентонита (0,5-1%). Было установлено, что длительное поступление в организм лабораторных животных геля бентонита не влечёт за собой чрезмерное увеличение их веса (прирост массы тела исследуемой группы статистически значимо не отличался от показателей контрольной группы, p≤0.05), а также не вызывает острой или хронической интоксикации. Показано также, что постоянное употребление бентонита имеет положительное влияние на организм исследуемых мышей, выражается в уменьшении смертности животных, увеличении продолжительности их жизни и выраженном положительном влиянии на фертильные функции (увеличение количества потомства). На основе полученных данных можно предположить, что постоянное поступление бентонита в организм животных является одним из факторов оздоровления их микробиома, что влияет на множество физиологических функций, в том числе на репродуктивность животных. Не исключено, что смектитные сорбенты также обогащают организм мышей отдельными эссенциальными минеральными элементами (кремнием и др.) и обладают цитомукопротекторными свойствами по отношению к слизистым оболочкам макроорганизма.

Relevance. Numerous virological studies prove the importance of enteroviruses in human somatic pathology. However, the etiopathogenetic role of enterovirus infection in patients with acute cerebrovascular disorder (GVMK) is not sufficiently highlighted. Objective: to establish the value of enterovirus infection as a trigger factor in the pathogenesis of acute stroke. Materials and methods. The pear blood serum of 72 patients with acute stroke (main group) and 35 patients with neurological pathology without vascular pathology (group of comparison) were screened for presence of enteroviruses using the virological method, detection of enterovirus genomes using a polymerase chain reaction and the presence of specific Ig M and Ig G to enteroviruses in the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results. The enterovirus genomes were isolated from blood serum in 23,6±5,9 % of patients with acute stroke, that is significantly higher than in patients of the comparison group – 2,9±2,8 % (p <0,05). The enteroviruses were isolated in 11 cases of 17 PCR-positive blood serum samples of the main group. These viruses were identified as Coxsackie B viruses (serotypes 2, 3, 4) and ECHO viruses (serotypes 6, 9, 27 (two strains), 29), three strains of viruses could not be identified. The presence of specific Ig M and Ig G in blood serum of 4 patients with HPMC, as well as enterovirus genomes, has been established. It suggest that they have a recent enterovirus infection, or can indicate a recent enterovirus infection or exacerbation of chronic enterovirus infection. Only specific Ig G in the absence of Ig M were detected in blood serum of 4 PCR positive patients, that can indicate chronic enterovirus infection. Only Ig M in the absence of Ig G was detected in blood serum of 6 PCR-positive patients, that can indicate acute enterovirus infection. No Ig M or Ig G in serum from three PCR-positive patients were detected, possibly due to the presence of latent enterovirus infection. Conclusions. Acute and chronic persistent enterovirus infection plays a possible trigger role in the development of acute stroke.  The combination of PCR to detect genomes of enteroviruses, virological for the isolation and identification of viruses, and ELISA for the detection of specific Ig M and Ig G to enteroviruses should be recommended for the diagnosis of persistent enterovirus infection in patients with acute stroke.