Background. Adalia decempunctata L. (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) ten-spot ladybird beetle, widespread morphologically variable Palearctic species.
 Materials and methods. DNA polymorphism and infection with Wolbachia, Spiroplasma and Rickettsia symbiotic bacteria were investigated.
 Results. Eight different haplotypes of the mitochondrial COI gene, seven of which were previously unknown, were found in 92 A. decempunctata individuals from nine European collection places: Prague, Rome, Florence, Hamburg, Paris, Stockholm, Moscow, Feodosia and Yalta. A. decempunctata is less variable in mtDNA compared to A. bipunctata. Symbiotic bacteria Wolbachia and Spiroplasma were not detected. Only Rickettsia infestation was found in A. decempunctata specimens, gathered in Stockholm and Feodosia. Rickettsia from A. decempunctata from Feodosia and Stockholm differ by 0.5% in gltA gene. Rickettsia from A. decempunctata from Feodosia is clustered with Rickettsia from A. bipunctata and Coccinella sp. based on the analysis of the gltA gene.
 Conclusion: Three of the eight mtDNA haplotypes are present in the A. decempunctata gene pool from geographically distant habitats. A small amount of nucleotide substitutions between Rickettsia from A. decempunctata and A. bipunctata suggests a single origin of the symbiont in the ladybirds of the genus Adalia, the results do not exclude subsequent horizontal transfers between individuals of both species.

The review provides information on environmental factors affecting the level of miR-638 in humans, potential target genes of this micro-RNA (according to TargetScanHuman), diseases and metabolic pathways which potentially regulated miR-638, as well as clinical and experimental data confirming the involvement of miR-638 in the developing a wide range of multifactorial diseases. The data presented in the review expand the understanding of the pathogenesis of various diseases of a multifactorial nature and determine new strategies for studying gene-environment interactions that are important for the formation of health.

Background. Communities of bacteria with specific enzymes are formed in the soil with long-term organochlorine contamination.
 The aim of this study was to analyze the diversity of the benA gene encoding the -subunit of the benzoate 1,2-dioxygenase in aerobic bacterial associations isolated from the soils of the Chapayevsk-city (Samara region, Russia).
 Materials and methods. The soil samples were taken on the territory, contaminated with organochlorine compounds for a long time. As a selection factor in the enrichment cultures were used 4-chlorobenzoic acid and chlorobenzene, in the pure cultures benzoic acid. The isolation of total DNA from bacterial associations was performed using a commercial FastDNA Spin Kit for Soil kit (USA). Amplification was performed on a MyCycler instrument (USA). Determination of the nucleotide sequence was performed on an automatic sequencer Genetic Analyzer 3500XL (USA). The search and analysis for benA gene homologs was carried out using international GenBank databases and BLAST system (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov).
 Results. As a result of selection, 12 associations of aerobic bacteria were obtained. Fragments of the benA gene (-subunit of benzoate dioxygenase) were obtained with the total DNA of six bacterial associations selected on chlorobenzene and with the total DNA of three bacterial associations selected on 4-chlorobenzoate. Pure cultures of aerobic bacterial strains using benzoic acid as a carbon source were isolated from benA-positive associations. It was established that the amplified fragments with the DNA of the A1, A4, A5, B1, B2, B3, B4 and B6 association strains form a single phylogenetic cluster with the -subunit gene of the benzoate dioxygenase of the Pseudomonas putida strain KT2440 (level of similarity is 9698%). The amplified fragment with the DNA of strain B5-170 (association B5) forms a cluster with the gene of the -subunit of the benzoate dioxygenase of the strain Pseudomonas sp. VLB120 (93% similarity).

Animal and fungal heterotrimeric G-proteins are among the well-known regulators of signaling pathways. Plant studies have shown that G-proteins may also be involved in the regulation of many processes. G-proteins are involved in hormonal regulation, control of cell proliferation, response to abiotic factors, control of biotic interactions and many others. It turned out that with a smaller variety of subunits, G-proteins of plants can have a greater variety of mechanisms for activating and transmitting signals. However, for most processes in plants the mechanisms of operation of heterotrimeric G-proteins remain poorly understood. This review is devoted to the analysis of modern ideas about the structure and functioning of heterotrimeric plant G proteins.

Teucrium polium (T. polium) and Rumex crispus (R. crispus) are plant species that grow widely in Anatolia and are thought to have healing effects for many diseases. In this study plant extracts are suggested as alternative agents in repairing cellular damage by using sister chromatid exchange (SCE), micronucleus (MN), mitotic index (MI), replication index (RI) and nuclear abnormalities (NAs), against the genotoxicity of cyclophosphamide (CP) in the human lymphocyte cells. 8 experimental groups were formed in the study. The cell culture medium was supplemented with 0.16 g/ml CP and the cells were treated with 50, 100 and 250 M T. polium and R. crispus extracts in the presence and absence of CP. As a result, CP significantly decreased MI frequency while increasing SCE, MN and NAs frequencies in cells. 100 M T. polium plus CP decreased SCEs when compared with CP alone. In addition, MN frequency was significantly decreased in 100 M T. poliumplus CP and 250 M R. crispus plus CP combine groups. Our results suggest that these plant extracts are not genetically damaging and have improving effects at these doses.

Background. Natural aquatic ecosystems are the habitat of many organisms, a source of drinking water, a resource for human activities and are subjected to anthropogenic pressure. In this regard, interest in studying the genotoxicity and mutagenicity of surface waters has increased significantly. The aim of this study is to investigate the cytotoxic, genotoxic and mutagenic effects of the surface waters of the suburban area of Almaty.
 Material and methods. The research materials were water samples of the rivers Esik, Turgen and Lake Esik. The atomic absorption method, lux-test, cytogenetic tests (Hordeum vulgare L.), phytotoxicity test (Allium cepa L.) and embryotoxicity (Danio rerio H.) were used.
 Results. Physico-chemical water analysis revealed an excess of MPC for Mn, Pb, Cd, Zn. Using the lux-test on E. coli KatG strains, the pro-oxidant activity of Esik R. water. On the plant test objects revealed toxicity and mutagenicity of water samples. The results of bio-testing of natural waters with D. rerio revealed their high toxicity and teratogenicity for embryos at all stages of development.
 Conclusion. The results of this study obtained on various test-systems and test-objects indicate that surface waters are contaminated by environmentally dangerous factors that pose a threat to biota and human health.

The estimation of nodulation competitiveness of industrial strains against the native nodule bacteria and also the analyses of distribution of strains genotypes which formed nodules on roots of 4 plant species was the purpose of this work. The objects of the research were rhizobium strains which formed nodules on roots of plant (the nodule-forming units NFU), obtained in field experiment with application of preseeding processing of seeds of pea (Pisum satіvum L.), fava beans (Vicia faba L.), lathyrus (Lathyrus sativus L.) and lentil (Lens culinaris L.). The mixture of the collection strains allocated from nodules of peas and beans, and having various combinations of chromosomal and symbiotic genotypes was used for inoculation of seeds. Identification of NFU was carried out with the use of the analysis of the emitted nodule total DNA on several chromosomal markers: the rpoB gene and the hin-region, and the plasmid marker nodD gene. It is established that only about 50% of nodules were formed by the strains used at inoculation of seeds. Besides, the combinations of chromosomal and symbiotic genotypes specific for a rhizobium symbionts of concrete host plants have been established: IA genotype with sym-2 for P. sativum; IB genotype with sym-4 for V. faba. The results of this study create prerequisites for selection of couples: macro- and microsymbiont for the purpose of increasing efficiency of plant-microbial systems, in which the nature of symbiotic interaction defines efficiency of partners.

Background. Yeast Pichia pastoris is successfully used in biotechnology, with their help synthesized various compounds. Promoters are a key factor in the productivity of an expression system, since they determine the expression level of a heterologous gene.
 The aim of our work was to study the promoter regions of the PpKAR2 and PpPDI1 genes and to evaluate their use for effective expression of heterologous genes.
 Materials and Methods. To evaluate the activity of promoters, we used a reporter system based on the structural gene of acid phosphatase of yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae PHO5. To determine the effect of overproduction of native and heterologous protein on the activity of the promoters under study, we used the producer strains of P. pastoris protein disulfide isomerase and maize delta-zein. To evaluate the effectiveness of the use of the promoters under study for the expression of heterologous genes, we have expressed under their control a gene encoding human interferon-alpha16.
 Results. The promoters of the yeast genes PpKAR2 and PpPDI1 were cloned. Their activity was compared with the promoter of the PpAOX1 gene in the native strains, as well as in strains with overproduction of native and heterologous proteins. Under the control of these promoters, the gene encoding human interferon-alpha 16 is expressed.
 Conclusion. The promoters studied were weaker than the promoter of the AOX1 gene, but increase their activity in response to the production of heterologous proteins and can be used to express heterologous genes.

Background. Ceftaroline is one of the first cephalosporins with activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), it effectively binds to and inhibits penicillin-binding protein 2a (PBP2a). However, isolates with decreased susceptibility to ceftaroline were reported before the commercial release of the antibiotic.
 The aim of this study was to provide an overview of the proteome changes occurring in MRSA isolates resistant to ceftaroline in response to sub-inhibitory concentrations of cell-wall active antibiotics.
 Materials and methods. Ceftaroline-resistant mutants were generated from two MRSA SA0077 and SA0422 isolates belonging to ST8-t008-SCCmec IV genetic lineage (sequence type 8, spa type t008, staphylococcal chromosomal cassette mec type IV) and one MRSA isolate SA0085 belonging to ST239-t631-SCCmec III genetic lineage (sequence type 239, spa type t631, staphylococcal chromosomal cassette mec type III). Proteome response of parental and mutant strains to sub-inhibitory concentration of beta-lactams and vancomycin was analyzed.
 Results. The protein patterns revealed significant increase of 30 кDа band in mutant strains under induction by meropenem, no changes were observed in parental strains or under induction with other antibiotics. According to MS analysis, three proteins represented the band of the mutant strain in absence of meropenem induction. However, under meropenem induction additional protein was detected (BlaZ).
 Conclusion. The cross talk between two systems with overlapping functions involved in transcription control of PBP2a and BlaZ ensure ceftaroline resistant phenotype.

A review of features of polymorphism of lipid and carbohydrate metabolism genes in aboriginal populations of Siberia is presented. The most significant genetic changes in aboriginal populations of Northeast Asia (Eskimos, Chukchi and Koryaks) are described, related to long-term adaptation to extreme conditions of the natural environment and dietary characteristics. Part of the genetic variability of aboriginal populations of this region is represented by polymorphisms associated with metabolic disorders (deficiency of carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A, pancreatic amylase, sucrase-isomaltase, trehalase) caused by the change of the traditional protein-lipid diet to European carbohydrate one. In modern conditions, it is extremely important to perform large-scale genetic testing of aboriginal populations of the Far North.