Hovhannes Baroyan - outstanding domestic epidemiologist with a worldwide reputation. He participated in the liquidation of outbreaks of dangerous infections in different parts of the planet. In addition to traditional areas of research Academician Baroyan paid great attention to new trends in the development of Epidemiology, on non-infectious epidemiology (epidemiology of cancer, cardiovascular disease, famine) and methodological level of research, bringing all the latest achievements of microbiology, immunology, genetics, molecular biology in the service epidemiology. He was an excellent lecturer, promoter of all new in epidemiology and related disciplines, an active promoter of science. World famous scientist brought him new and original approaches to the understanding of the epidemiology of the infection process, based on the invaluable personal experience, gained in the course of expeditions to eliminate outbreaks of dangerous infections in different parts of the planet. He always tried to understand the complex problems of the spread of infectious diseases globally, from the standpoint of «ecological wisdom »Key words of nature. In addition to traditional areas of research paid great attention to new trends in the development of Epidemiology, on non-infectious epidemiology (epidemiology of cancer, cardiovascular disease, famine) and methodological level of research, bringing all the latest achievements of microbiology, immunology, genetics, molecular biology to epidemiology service. He was an excellent lecturer, promoter of all new in epidemiology and related disciplines, an active promoter of science.

Existing influenza surveillance system is constantly improved to obtain comprehensive information for understanding of continuously changing situation with the influenza, which is a consequence of the highest variability of the pathogen, its ability to reassortment and the imminence of emergence a new shift-variants of the virus that could cause the next pandemic events. For this purpose, since the 2010 - 2011 epidemic season, in addition to the traditional surveillance system (TS) a new well standardized sentinel surveillance system (SS) for rapid clinical and epidemiological data obtaining was introduced in Russia. A total 7812 hospitalized patients with severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) and 9854 outpatients with influenza-like illness and acute respiratory infection (ILI/ARI) were investigated during the 6-year period in SS. Percent of SARI among all hospitalized patients ranged from 1.7 to 3.1%; about 5.3 - 7.5% SARI patients were placed in the Intensive Care Unit. Etiological monitoring using PCR showed influenza spread trends in SS similar to those registered in the TS: a clear predominance of influenza A (H1N1) pdm09 among SARI and ILI/ARI in 2010 - 2011 and 2015 - 2016 epidemic seasons, influenza A (H3N2) in the epidemic seasons 2011 - 2012 and 2014 - 2015, the co-circulation of these pathogens in 2012 - 2013, 2013 - 2014 seasons in Russia. SARI caused by influenza B virus were detected less frequently than influenza A but increased influenza B activity was registered in the epidemic of 2014 -2015, when Yamagata lineage changed suddenly for the Victorian one. The average frequency of influenza diagnosis among SARI between the seasons varied in the range 12.5 - 27.1%, at the peak of the epidemic it reached 44.8 - 73.5% and was the highest during the season with active circulation of influenza A (H1N1) pdm09 virus. The rate of influenza diagnosis among ILI/ARI has always been lower than that among SARI. Studies have also shown the importance of rhinovirus, RS-virus and parainfluenza infections in SARI development. The frequency of registration of coronaviruses, metapneumovirus and bocavirus infection was very low in SARI and ILI/ARI. It was found that in all studied seasons most of SARI patients with influenza have not been vaccinated. Among ILI/ARI outpatients with influenza, the frequency of vaccinated individuals for the entire period of the study was estimated as 10.1%, which was 4.2 times higher than that in SARI, where only 2.4% of patients were vaccinated. In addition, it was found that for all six seasons the SARI patients with influenza were treated with antivirals drugs 2 times less often compared to outpatients. Analysis of data on concomitant diseases and conditions in SARI patients with influenza confirmed the leading role of pregnancy as a risk factor for hospitalization in all influenza epidemics, irrespective of their etiology. In addition, diabetes and cardiovascular disease were recognized as risk factors for influenza associated SARI development.

Tularemia natural foci were investigated in the 15 districts of the Voronezh region. 1533 small mammals of 11 species were captured in 2011, 2014 and 2015 to identify antigen and/or DNA of tularemia pathogen. In all the studied areas there are continuous epizootic of tularemia among small mammals. In the region there are permanent natural meadow-field, floodplain- swamp and forest foci. We can assume the existence of another focus, it is a steppe type. The most active foci observed in Kashirsky, Novokhopyorsky, Petropavlosky and Ramonsky districts. The stability and activity of natural foci is maintained by alternating different biocenoses with different animals and complex pathogen exchange between foci. The most active is meadow-field and floodplain-swamp foci. Common vole is the primary carrier of the infection in the meadow-field foci during the year. In the near-water habitats of the epizootic process in strong support of field mouse and common voles. Varied species composition of small mammals provides a long time functioning and epizootic activity of natural tularemia foci. The epidemiological situation is rather calm and stable for tularemia natural foci in the Voronezh region. In the region registered a low incidence of tularemia population. There has been an increase in the incidence of the urban population. Permanent vaccination and revaccination of the population remains the main preventive anti-epidemic measures against tularemia. The results indicate the functioning and epizootic activity of tularemia natural foci in Voronezh region. It requires constant monitoring of the territory and preventive interventions, primarily vaccination of people live tularemia vaccine.

The aim of the study was to determine the ecology features of tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) of European subtype circulating in Siberia. The strains of European subtype TBEV from Siberia were isolated in areas with different terrain types - from the plains to the midlands. The strains isolation areas differed in variety of landscapes, flora and fauna and were characterized by the presence of sharp-continental, or in some places - quite harsh climate. The composition of the main vectors and reservoir hosts of TBEV of European subtype in Siberia has its own features and is significantly different from that one in Europe. However, in spite of this, the homology of TBEV strains of European subtype isolated in different parts of habitat range of the virus from the Scandinavian countries in the West to its Eastern borders is much higher than the homology level degree of TBEV strains of FarEastern and Siberian subtypes.

This paper presents a new ecological and epidemiological data on the distribution and the epidemic manifestation of natural foci of tick-borne infections in the Kemerovo region, taking into account the study of their combination with the use of modern molecular biology methods.

Background. The spirochete Borrelia miyamotoi belongs to the group of borrelia causing tick-borne relapsing fevers. It is transmitted by the same tick species as Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and is widespread in temperate climate zones of Eurasia and North America. Previously we have shown by PCR that clinical cases presented as systemic febrile illness and diagnosed usually as «Ixodes tick-borne borreliosis without erythema migrans» were caused by B. miyamotoi. According to recent estimation in Russia there are several thousands human cases of B. miyamotoi infection annually. The investigation of this emerging human pathogen was hampered because the attempts to culture this bacterium directly from human blood failed. Results and conclusion: We here describe protocol - avoiding the inhibitory effects of anticoagulants on B. miyamotoi growth - enabling successful B. miyamotoi isolation from blood of Russian patients.

The data, describing epizootical and epidemical activity of the Gorno-Altai natural plague focus in 2012 - 2016 are shown. The wide dissemination of the major Yersinia pestis subtype in Marmota baibacina’s settlements led to the focus epidemical potential growth and became the reason of epidemical complications in Kosh-Agatch district of the Republic of Altai in 2012 - 2016.

In this study, we report the phylogenetic relationship of RABV circulating in Russia. A total of 81 new isolates obtained from different regions of Russia in 2008 - 2016 were partially sequenced. Evolutionary analysis based on 100 representative sequences of rabies virus N-gene fragments (1110 nt) with sample time span ranging from 1977 to 2016 was made by the Bayesian coalescent analysis. Temporal estimates for major evolutionary events were done. The division of steppe rabies virus group C to discrete subgroups was revealed. According to our data, this most widespread in the Russian Federation group emerged in the beginning of the 1940th. The presence of steppe rabies virus was detected in the Far East (Primorsky Krai). The most likely cause of this event is anthropogenic introduction.. For the first time, representatives of arctic rabies subgroup A2 were isolated in the north of European Russia and FranzJosef Land. Evolutionary analysis suggested relatively recent emergence of all rabies virus groups currently circulating in the territory of the Russian Federation.

The paper presents the literature data analysis and statistical reports on the population morbidity of larval helminthiases in Russian Federation over the past 20 years. Epidemiological aspects of larval helminthiases in areas with different climatic, geographic and socio-economic conditions were determined.

At the end of 2016 at the Scientific Center of Children's Health of the Ministry of Healthcare Russian Federation held a regular meeting of the interdisciplinary advisory council on the study of pneumococcal disease and vaccination in Russia, dedicated to several key issues: analysis of interim results in the introduction of Russia in 2014, mass vaccination of children of the first years of life against pneumococcal disease as part of the National Immunization Schedule (NIS); analysis of the practical aspects of the implementation of an improved scheme of vaccination; options for optimization and further development of mass immunization programs within NIS; ways to counter the spread of antivaktsinalnyh views, both among the public and health professional community.

Influenza and ARVI - the main nosological form in structure of all infectious diseases. Influenza is especially dangerous to pregnant women. Purpose: to estimate commitment of pregnant women and health workers to vaccination against influenza. Materials and methods: form No. 5, form of the statistical account No. 1 - influenza the section 1, information from the official site of Federal State Budgetary Institution Scientific Research Institute of influenza of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation; materials of various conferences and the congresses on a influenza problem, information and analytical reference of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation. There were asked 1126 pregnant women on various durations of gestation and 447 health workers in various territories of the Russian Federation. Statistical processing was carried out with use of the Microsoft Excel 2010 and IBM SPSS Statistics 20.0 programs. Results and discussion: Among the interviewed pregnant women planned or were already vaccinated against influenza only 8% of women. The most frequent causes of failure from vaccination against influenza during pregnancy: doubt in safety (41.8%), ignorance about possibilities of vaccination (21,1%), lack of need for vaccination (18,7%). Only 25% of respondents knew about entering vaccination against influenza during pregnancy into a national calendar. At the same time only in 15% of health workers suggested pregnant women to be vaccinated from influenza. 73% of the interviewed health workers didn't recommend vaccination against influenza to pregnant women because they consider undesirable an intervention in immunity of the pregnant woman, 33% doubt in safety of vaccination, 13% don't know about a possibility of vaccination of pregnant women at all, 6% have personal negative experience of vaccination, and 4% don't see need for vaccination from influenza. Conclusion: the received materials showed need of development of knowledge at health workers of a vaccinal prevention of infectious diseases, including also vaccination against influenza during pregnancy, and also to carry out broad and active information work with the population, attracting mass media.

Researches and presents comparative characteristics of protective properties of vaccines EC domestic and foreign production by immunization line BALB/c mice in a standard experiment for estimating the immunogenic activity against virulent strains of TBE virus three genotypes: genotype 1 - the strain «Sof'in», genotype 2 - strain «Absettarov», genotype 3 - strain «Lesopark». The results are of considerable interest in the evaluation of the efficiency and interchangeability of vaccines for the prevention of TBE in areas of natural foci of the disease in Russia. Currently, the circulation of the pathogen in the Russian Federation dominated by the TBE virus strains Siberian subtype (genotype) -more than 70% of virulent strains of TBE virus released into the natural foci of the Urals, Siberia, the Trans-Baikal. In studies on mice of BALB/c did not reveal significant differences in terms of protection (MID50 and DT50) against virulent strains of TBE virus three genotypes - the Far East, Europe and Siberia for three vaccines: «The vaccine encephalitis culture purified concentrated dry» (production Mikhail Chumakov Federal Research Centre for Research and Development of Immunobiological Preparations, Moscow), EntseVir (production Federal State Unitary Enterprise «Scientific and Production Association «Microgen»), FSME-Immun (Baxter AG production, Austria). Vaccines have shown good protection (protective) properties against 3 genotypes of TBE virus. Revealed a lower protective activity of vaccines Entsepur (manufactured by Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics GmbH & Co. KG, Germany) strains of TBE 1 and 3 genotypes. These results confirm earlier studies to study the humoral response in mice BALB/c in the experiments with double and triple immunization.

The aim of this study was to design promising variants of recombinant proteins based on NS4A antigen of hepatitis C virus (HCV) for subsequent work on the creation of a mosaic recombinant vaccine against hepatitis C. Methods. The recombinant proteins, containing different fragments of NS4A (belong to HCV subtype 1b) and murine interleukin-2, were prepared by genetic engineering approaches, using vectors pQE30 and pQE60 for E. coli. The size of the recombinant protein particles were evaluated by atomic force microscopy. Immunogenicity of these recombinant proteins was tested for Balb/c mice. The murine sera were analyzed by enzyme immunoassay. The recombinant proteins were also tested by immunoblotting with human sera specific to HCV antigens. Results. Six variants of recombinant genetic engineering constructions based on NS4A antigen of hepatitis C virus were designed. In the first variant amino acid sequence of NS4A was inserted using vector pQE60 into the immunodominant loop of HBc protein (core protein of hepatitis B virus). However, further analysis of the product showed the absence of virus-like particles in it. The following three constructs (with glycine linker 19s), without it and N-truncated NS4A) were done using vector pQE30. Only N-truncated NS4а product had a high expression level. Then new protein, consisted of NS4A and N-truncated murine interleukin-2 (IL-2), was obtained to enhance immunogenicity. It is known that IL-2 has adjuvant property. The new product (NS4a-IL-2) is well expressed, but it is accumulated in inclusion bodies. It was extracted with 7M guanidine chloride, purified on a Ni-sorbent and dialyzed in PBS. A shortened version of NS4A (ANS4a-IL-2) was also obtained with a high expression level. Taking in account that increasing the repetition of antigenic regions in recombinant constructs can enhance their immunogenicity, we obtained a recombinant protein comprising three repeat of NS4A. But its efficiency of expression was low. The construction NS4a had very poor immunogenicity, but NS4a-IL-2 (which contains the full length NS4A) displayed the best one for Balb/c mice. As it was shown earlier the immunogenicity of the protein preparation is dependent on the presence of aggregates, so we investigated our recombinant proteins for the presence of protein aggregates by atomic force microscopy.The presence of the particles with size of 6 - 8 nm was revealed in solution of NS4a-IL-2. Conclution. Only ANS4a-IL-2 and ANS4a-IL-2 of the six constructs had high expression and antigenic properties. And only NS4a-IL-2 possessed the high immunogenic property. So, this construction can be used for subsequent work on the creation of a mosaic recombinant vaccine against hepatitis C.

Recommendations highlighted features vaccination children with hemoblastosis. It is shown how the immunization scheme may be changed according to the pathology and the age of the child.