The provocation of the hydroacoustic communication interaction of Tursiops truncatus dolphins based on cognitive empathy showed that they use packets of ultrashort pulses (USPs) in the process of “dialogue”. The duration of bursts varies from 40 ms to 3000 ms with modulation of the interval between USPs from ~1 to ~120 ms and pauses between bursts. The interval modulation pattern is structured using various modulation laws. The communication signals were obtained in an experiment with theparticipation of three animals, who knew the main task of sequential acoustic differentiation of two objective stimuli. The impetus for hydroacoustic interaction is the resolution of uncertainty when teaching the respondent the inverse differentiation problem. This generates emotional empathy in observers and provokes vocalization between individuals. The advantages and disadvantages of methodological methods of provoking hydroacoustic interaction are considered in detail, starting the process of cognitive empathy. In the method under consideration, echolocation and communication signals are spaced apart in time and space, which allows them to be uniquely identified.

Fatty acids (FAs) represent an important class of metabolites, impacting on membrane building blocks and signaling compounds in cellular regulatory networks. In nature, prokaryotes are characterized with the most impressing FA structural diversity and the highest relative content of free fatty acids (FFAs). In this context, nitrogen-fixing bacteria (order Rhizobiales), the symbionts of legumes, are particularly interesting. Indeed, the FA profiles influence the structure of rhizobial nodulation factors, required for successful infection of plant root. Although FA patterns can be assessed by gas chromatography—(GC-) and liquid chromatography—mass spectrometry (LC-MS), sample preparation for these methods is time-consuming and quantification suffers from compromised sensitivity, low stability of derivatives and artifacts. In contrast, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) represents an excellent platform for high-efficient metabolite fingerprinting, also applicable to FFAs. Therefore, here we propose a simple and straightforward protocol for high-throughput relative quantification of FFAs in rhizobia by combination of Langmuir technology and MALDI-TOF-MS featuring a high sensitivity, accuracy and precision of quantification. We describe a step-by-step procedure comprising rhizobia culturing, pre-cleaning, extraction, sample preparation, mass spectrometric analysis, data processing and post-processing. As a case study, a comparison of the FFA metabolomes of two rhizobia species—Rhizobium leguminosarum and Sinorhizobium meliloti, demonstrates the analytical potential of the protocol.

New technologies for the digital recording of broadband complex signals have made it possible to develop and create laboratory autonomous multichannel equipment to record bioacoustic activity on a digital medium with low power consumption and the possibility of continuous recording for up to 4 h. The equipment operates under the control of a fit-PC computer with the Windows operating system and the PowerGraph program for digital recording in a frequency band of the analog path of up to 600 kHz. Equipment testing recorded paradoxical signals from toothed whales with a frequency band exceeding 200 kHz. Signals with an extended frequency band were recorded in a laboratory experiment in open water while solving the problem of target tracking and in an experiment with provocation of acoustic communication behavior.

The effect of cryopreservation conditions (concentration of dimethyl sulfoxide cryoprotector − DMSO, cooling rate in different temperature ranges) on phenotypic profile and immunomodulatory activity of rat fetal liver cells (FLC) of 14 days of gestation was investigated. The cells were frozen in two modes under the protection of 7.5; 10, and 12.5% DMSO. We evaluated the phenotypic profile of FLCs (CD34+CD38–, Sca-1+CD34-, Sca-1+CD34+, CD44-CD73+, CD44+CD73+), their cytomorphological indices, number and viability. The FLCs cryopreservation mode developed in this work ensured the preservation in a heterogeneous cell population with the immunomodulating activity, which was evaluated in the in vivo system on the model of experimental atopic dermatitis (EAD). The efficacy of using cryopreserved FLCs in mode 1 (1°С / min to –25°С; stabilization at –25°С for 5 min and plunging in liquid nitrogen) with 10% DMSO to restore blood parameters and reduce the intensity of skin inflammatory reactions in rats with induced EAD was experimentally established. Probl Cryobiol Cryomed 2019; 29(3): 266–276.

Aim. Study the functional properties of cationic antimicrobial peptides 0-defensins isolated from baboon Papio hamadryas blood leukocytes. Materials and methods. Baboon 0-defensins were extracted from leukocyte mass using ultrafiltration, preparative electrophoresis and reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography. The test microorganisms used were Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli, Gram-positive bacteria Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus, and fungi Candida albicans. Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined by testing serial dilutions of the test peptides by radial diffusion in agarose gel. Microbicidal action was evaluated by counting surviving colony forming units after incubation microorganisms with the peptides. The 0-defensins influence on E.coli membrane permeability was assessed using chromogenic markers o-nirofenil- β-D-galactopyranoside and nitrocefin. Results. The analysis of the 0-defensins antimicrobial properties showed that they produce antimicrobial activity against test microorganisms, exhibiting bactericidal and fungicidal effects at micromolar concentrations. We studied the influence of different environmental conditions (low and high ionic strength, blood serum in medium) for antimicrobial activity. It is shown that 0-defensins have the ability to increase the outer membran of E.coli permeability, however, in contrast to 0-defensins have no noticeable influence on the inner membrane permeability. Conclusion. Baboon 0-defensins isolated from blood leukocytes are effective antimicrobial agents with a broad spectrum of microbicidal action. 0-Defensins baboon unlike 0-defensins exhibit antimicrobial activity in environments with high ionic strength. 0-Defensins increase the outer membran of E.coli permeability but not the cytoplasmic membrane, suggesting that the mechanism of antimicrobial effect of these peptides other than 0-defensins.

Образующиеся в результате неферментативного взаимодействия белков с углеводами конечные продукты глубокого гликирования (Advanced Glycation End products, AGEs) представляют собой группу модифицированных аминокислотных остатков, которые могут медленно накапливаться в организме во время нормального процесса старения. Помимо эндогенных AGEs, в организме человека эти токсичные соединения появляются за счет потребления продуктов питания, прошедших термическую обработку или подвергавшихся длительному хранению, активного и пассивного курения. AGEs могут вызывать возникновение и прогрессирование не только осложнений диабета, но и являются основой патофизиологии многих других болезней, включая сердечно-сосудистые заболевания и нейродегенеративные болезни. И экзогенные, и эндогенные AGEs в организме человека играют существенную роль в развитии воспалительного ответа. В предлагаемом обзоре рассматриваются структура и функции основных рецепторов AGEs и активируемые ими сигнальные пути, а также некоторые биологические эффекты этой активации.

The review discusses the role of omnipresent transcription factors of the NF1 family in the development, establishment and regulation of tissue-specific gene expression in multicellular organisms with a different degree of complexity. The molecular mechanisms underlying the effect of these transcription factors on the development of tissues in the evolutionary lineage of multicellular animals are analyzed.

To understand the emergence and evolutionary selection of the efficient mechanisms of innate immunity it is necessary to accumulate knowledge about the structural and functional properties of antimicrobial peptides in different animal species. The cationic antimicrobial peptides, α-defensins, were isolated from leukocytic extracts of the lower narrow-nosed monkey, hamadryas baboon Papio hamadryas, using ultrafiltration, preparative electrophoresis and reverse-phase highperformance liquid chromatography. Analysis of the antimicrobial properties of α-defensins showed that they display a wide spectrum of antimicrobial activity, comparable with that of human α-defensin HNP1, and exert bactericidal and fungicidal effects at micromolar concentrations. A study of the influence of different medium conditions on antimicrobial activity of α-defensins revealed that a higher ionic strength or the presence of blood serum leads to a marked decrease in antimicrobial activity of α-defensins, while pH has no appreciable effect on it. We found that hamadryas baboon α-defensins are able to increase the permeability of the outer and inner membranes of E. coli, suggests that the bacterial membrane is one of the major targets of the antimicrobial effects of these peptides. The revealed differences in antimicrobial activity of α-defensins may result from their structural heterogeneity, which reflects different pathways of evolution of α-defensins in primates and underlies the selectivity of their antimicrobial effect.

Three antimicrobial peptides named PHD1-3 (Papio hamadryas defensin) have been isolated from hamadryas baboon blood leukocytes using preparative electrophoresis and reverse-phase HPLC. The primary structures of these peptides have been determined by automated Edman degradation and mass-spectrometry. The results suggest that the peptides belong to the α-defensin family. Structural homology analysis reveals that among α-defensins from other animal species, PHD3 is the most closely related to RMAD5 (rhesus macaque α-defensin) (90% homology) from rhesus macaque leukocytes and also highly similar to human α-defensin HD5 (60% homology), which is produced by intestinal Paneth cells. The homology of PHD3 with human neutrophil α-defensin HNP1 (human natural peptide) was 30%. The primary structures of PHD1 and PHD2 are most similar to RED1 (rhesus enteral defensin), one of six enteral α-defensins of rhesus monkeys. PHD1-3 have been shown to be active against the Gram-positive bacteria Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus, the Gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli, and the fungus Candida albicans, similarly to the human HNP1 defensin.

Из лейкоцитов крови обезьяны павиана гамадрила (Papio hamadryas) с помощью препаративного электрофореза и обращенно-фазовой высокоэффективной жидкостной хроматографии выделены три антимикробных пептида, названных PHD1—3 (Papio hamadryas defensin). Первичные структуры полученных пептидов, установленные методами автоматической деградации по Эдману и масс-спектрометрии, позволяют отнести их к семейству α-дефенсинов. Анализ степени структурной гомологии PHD1—3 с α-дефенсинами других видов млекопитающих, выявил, что PHD3 наиболее близок к RMAD5 (rhesus macaque а-defensin), α-дефенсину лейкоцитов макаки-резус (90% гомологии), в меньшей степени к HD5, а-дефенсину человека, продуцируемому клетками Панета тонкого кишечника (60% гомологии), и HNP1 (human natural peptide), α-дефенсину лейкоцитов человека (<30% гомологии). Первичные структуры PHD1,2 оказались наиболее схожи с RED1 (rhesus enteral defensin), одним из шести энтеральных α-дефенсинов макаки-резус. Показано, что PHD1—3 проявляют антибиотическое действие против грамположительных бактерий Listeria monocytogenes и Staphylococcus aureus, грамотрицательной Escherichia coli и низшего гриба Candida albicans сопоставимое с антимикробной активностью дефенсина человека HNP1.

We purified two new minidefensins (RTD-2 and RTD-3) from the bone marrow of rhesus monkeys. Both were circular octadecapeptides that contained three intramolecular disulfide bonds and were homologous to RTD-1, a circular (theta) defensin previously described by Tang et al. (Science, 286, 498-502, 1999). However, whereas the 18 residues of RTD-1 represent spliced nonapeptide fragments derived from two different demidefensin precursors, RTD-2 and -3 comprise tandem nonapeptide repeats derived from only one of the RTD-1 precursors. Thus, circular minidefensins are products of a novel posttranslational system that generates effector molecule diversity without commensurate genome expansion. A system wherein two demidefensin genes can produce three circular minidefensins might allow n such genes to produce (n/2)(n+1) peptides.