Curator for Medical Faculty for International Students (in English) is Reman Sathurshan (tel. +375(25)765-22-21), Shanojaa Sukumar (tel. +375(25)760-87-28).
Since the establishment of the Department of Biology (20s - 30s of the last century) scientific researches of the staff were different and had no uniform direction.
The scientific interests of Full Professor A.S. Shchepot'ev included immunity problems as well as the study of 'microscopic physics of the sea bottom'.
Full Professor P.A.Mavrodiadi was engaged in studying the connection between chromosomes and heredity phenomena, processes of maturation and fertilization of eggs, research methods of soil microfauna.
During his leadership of the department, Full Professor I.G. Sobolev (1932-1937) began to study the impact of X-ray radiation on mammals, on blood patterns in rabbits, on offspring and breast cancer in rats.
At the department's establishment, Associate Professor E.G. Stankevich (1937-1955) studied some aspects of human brain development, age-related changes in nerve cells, changes in adrenal glands and other mammalian organs under developing C-avitaminosis, as well as the effect of temperature and UV on mammals and skin regeneration in a frog.
During the period of establishment of the Department of Associate Professor A.D. Bukhavtsova (1955 -1971), helminthological direction of research appeared and continued for many years. The topic of A.D. Bukhavtsova's PhD thesis was 'Development of human parasitic worm eggs under the influence of UV light' (scientific director - Academician K.I. Skryabin). There were researches in the issues of pathogenesis of parasitic disorders, activity of some enzymes at experimental trichinosis (O.-Ya.L. Bekish, A.D. Bukhavtsova), thiamine exchange at migratory ascariasis (L.I. Kaskevich), infestation of soils with helminth eggs in Minsk (A.A. Belyaeva). The assistant E.G. Purtova studied the ecology of rainworms in the Belarusian SSR. Work continued to study the impact of light and ionizing radiation on mammals - the development of the thyroid gland, testicles, ovaries and the body of mammals in the early postnatal period. Assistant V.S. Nikitin studied the restoration of tendon-muscular connections in reparative regeneration.
In the scientific research of Prof. R.G. Zaitz using a complex of immunochemical methods, human and swine ascaris tissues were studied. The established differences in their antigenic structure confirmed the independence of these species of ascaris. When studying the intensity of affection of skeletal muscles with the larvae of T. spiralis and the content of IgG, IgA, IgM in rat blood serum in the treatment with vermox and the use of immunosuppressant cyclophosphamide and immunostimulant - BCG vaccine it was found that vermox has a pronounced larvocid effect, but increases the host's sensitization. Immunosuppressors injected into experimental animals during larval migration reduce the content of immunoglobulins and increase the intensity of muscle invasion by the larvae. The reverse effect has immunostimulants. It was found that the use of an antigen with 0.18% theophylline solution significantly enhances the reaction of hypersensitivity of the delayed type and allows to diagnose trichinosis from the 7th day after infection.
In cooperation with the Department of Biology of the 1st Moscow Sechenov Medical Institution and the Laboratory of Helminthology of the USSR Academy of Sciences, I.V. Rachkovskaya studied the fine structure of nematodes (A. lumbricoides, T. canis) and tissues of their hosts (liver, small and blind intestines of chickens and cats) under the influence of antihelminthics of different chemical structure and mechanism of action. The data were obtained in a complex study of the parasite and host tissues using morphological (light and electron microscopy), histochemical and mathematical methods. Exposure to antihelminthic compounds reveals wide fluctuations of individual sensitivity in different structures in nematodes. Destructive changes are detected in the outer shells, digestive tube and reproductive system. The activity of succinate-dehydrogenase, the content of lipids and nucleic acids changes in nematodes under the influence of the investigated compounds. The fact of nematode egg structure disturbance is essential. The side effect of the studied antihelminthics is expressed in destructive changes in the tissues of chickens and cats, a decrease in the activity of succinate dehydrogenase, changes in the level of lipids and nucleic acids.
For the first time used in helminthology, the method of information analysis allows a more objective assessment of the response of biological systems to the action of pharmacological agents.
During the period of I.S. Guseva's chair establishment (from 1973 to 1987) the head herself and a group of employees of the chair began to develop a new scientific problem 04.01 - 08.02 - genetics - morphology 'Morphogenesis and genetics of scalloped human skin', which passed through the Problem Council on genetics and cytology of the Academy of Sciences of BSSR. Later this topic was called 'Onto- and phylogenesis of scallop skin in norm and pathology'.
Associate Professor V.M.Stambrovskaya studied scallop skin histochemistry. The assistant I.I.Zhigunova, associate professor L.S.Gladkaya and teacher N.M.Akhremchik studied scallop skin embryogenesis of fingers and palms.
I.S.Guseva's dissertation for the degree of Doctor of Biological Sciences is devoted to genetic problems in dermatoglyphics. As a result of the research it is shown that the development in phylogeny of scallop skin goes in parallel with the improvement of tactile reception in the analyzer and cortical links. The formation of scallop skin in ontogenesis occurs in the first half of the fruit period. The way papillary structures are formed is inherited as a specific histogenesis. Genes of the papillary relief have common action fields and the effect of their interaction represents a wide range of phenotypic variations. The set of genes providing the formation of the papillary relief is singled out. The hypothesis of inheritance of papillary patterns was tested on the phenetic, embryological and medical-genetic levels.
Helminthological studies were carried out within the framework of problem 11.037 'Epidemiology. Parasitic and infectious diseases'. In the period from 1986 to 2002, a number of studies were carried out on the model of experimental trichinosis in white rats. We studied changes in organs and tissues of infected animals and under the influence of a number of antihelminthic drugs, immunodepressants and immunostimulants (vermox, mebendazole and cyclosporine A). Blood, skeletal and heart muscles, diaphragm, liver, small intestine areas, tongue, thymus, spleen, adrenal glands, thyroid were taken from animals for study. The study of fat cells was conducted on the mesentery of rats. Morphological, morphometric and histochemical studies were performed by Prof. I.V. Rachkovskaya, doc. V.M. Stambrovskaya and assistants I.I. Zhigunova and E.I. Shepelevich, D.V. Kuzmenkov. Morphological, biochemical and kariometric research - postgraduate students of the Department V.E. Butvilovsky, V.V. Davydov and V.A. Tolstoy.
Micromorphological changes, which depended on the severity of the invasive process, were detected in all organs and tissues under study. The changes in the content of polysaccharides and nucleic acids were more pronounced at the average degree of invasion. Volumes of enterocyte nuclei at trichinellosis sharply increased, in comparison with control, at the beginning of the invasion, then their volumes decreased till the end of the experiment. Decrease in volumes of hepatocyte nuclei was characterized by a high degree of reliability. The reaction to trichinellosis invasion also included inner secretion glands. Their structure and functional activity were changed. Rat mesentery mesentery cells responded to the invasion with a slight decrease in the volume and number of cells (in the field of view of the microscope) and a marked increase in the percentage of mitotic dividing cells.
Similar effect on the volume of hepatocyte and enterocyte nuclei was provided by therapeutic doses of vermox and cyclosporine A in intact and sick animals. Similar changes in carriometric parameters of hepatocytes of chickens and cats at helminthosis and introduction of treatment doses of antihelminthics to intact animals were noted in studies of I.V. Rachkovskaya (materials of doctoral dissertation). Information analysis, introduced by Prof. I.V. Rachkovskaya for the first time in experimental helminthology, makes it possible to evaluate the results obtained at the subcellular level, allows to give quantitative characteristics of the processes occurring in the body, supplementing the classical methods of morphology. The indicator of relative entropy, or the information compression ratio, is different (relative to control), in intestinal helminths (chickens and cats) and in tissue helminths (white rats). Magnitudes of relative entropy for different antihelminthics indicate different mechanisms of their action in birds and mammals.
Results of many years of research on the problem 11.037 'Epidemiology. Parasitic and infectious diseases' are presented in the printed works of the department staff, numerous speeches at congresses and conferences, and in successfully defended dissertations: for the degree of Doctor of Biological Sciences, Associate Professor I.V. Rachkovskaya; for postgraduate students of the department: R.G. Zaitz and V.E. Butvilovsky - for the degree of Candidate of Medical Sciences, V.V. Butvilovsky. Davydov and V.A. Tolstoy - for the degree of Candidate of Biological Sciences.
In V.E.'s dissertation. Butvilovsky's dissertation on the topic: 'Activity (iso) of enzymes of creatine phosphokinase, lactate dehydrogenase, creatine content in blood serum and muscle tissue, permeability of erythrocytic membranes in trichinellosis of different severity (experimental study)' reflects the data of complex study of changes in the listed morphological and biochemical parameters in trichinellosis of different severity in different neuromotor units of skeletal muscles and myocardium. It is shown that changes in the studied parameters are proportional to the severity of the invasion process, and changes in enzyme activity depend on the stage of larvae encapsulation in skeletal muscles.
The determination of creatine content is recommended as an indicator of the degree of muscle tissue damage in the dynamics of trichinellosis invasion. Restoration of reduced osmotic resistance of erythrocytes allows talking about the development of compensatory processes in the invaded organism and can serve as an auxiliary method of disease diagnostics. To assess the compensatory processes of various neuromotor units of skeletal muscles and cardiac muscle, it is recommended to determine all the indicators under study.
Theme of V.V. dissertation. Davydov's thesis 'Influence of mebendazole, cyclosporine A and their combinations on morphophysiological and biochemical parameters in experimental trichinosis'. The aim of the study was to conduct a comparative analysis of the effectiveness of various treatment schemes for experimental trichinellosis with mebendazole and cyclosporine A. To deepen the understanding of the relationship between the parasite and host during invasion and treatment, we studied the survival rate of rats, the invasiveness of host muscle tissue, the osmoresistance of erythrocyte membranes, the structure of the parasitic granulema and the larval section area, the activity of enzymes creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase. These parameters were determined in the diaphragm, calf and quadruple muscles, serum and erythrocytes of rats invaded with trichinelles. The analysis of the research results led to the following main conclusions: the evaluation of the effectiveness of trichinecidal antihelminthics can be carried out on the morphometric indicators of the pathological focus; mebendazole has a pronounced trichinecidal effect, but it increases the mortality of invaded animals and disrupts the processes of energy supply to the host muscles; the most effective scheme of treatment of experimental trichinosis is the joint administration of mebendazole and cyclosporine A at the stage of encapsulated larvae. To reduce the host organism's sensitization in the specific therapy of trichinellosis, the author of the study recommends the use of cyclosporine A.
The work of V.A. Tolstoy, a postgraduate student, was devoted to studying the effectiveness of the complex use of mebendazole and vitamins-antioxidants AKβ (contains vitamins E, A, C and β-carotene) in experimental trichinosis. The number of eosinophils in blood samples and the degree of invasiveness of rat diaphragm larvae were determined by light microscopy methods. Biochemical methods were used for determination of osmotic resistance of erythrocyte membranes, content of products of lipid peroxidation in blood and liver of animals, activity of superoxide dismutase and catalase of erythrocytes. These studies deepen the understanding of relationships in the 'parasite host' system at the molecular, cellular tissue and organism levels in the development of trichinellosis and etiopathogenetic therapy. Experimental development of the combined method of deworming with mebendazole and antioxidant vitamin complex AKβ suggested by the author in trichinellosis is promising for clinical approbation.
The topic of A.P. Veremeichik's dissertation 'Influence of low-intensity laser radiation and vitamin e on lipid peroxidation processes and antioxidant system in allergic dermatosis'. The purpose of the study was to determine the effectiveness of low-intensity laser radiation and vitamin E for the treatment of experimental allergic dermatitis based on a comprehensive biochemical study (content of POL products, the activity of antioxidant enzymes) and morphological study of guinea pig skin, as well as to justify the feasibility of combining laser therapy with traditional treatment of atopic dermatitis and eczema. The obtained results showed that the development of allergic reactions in experimental allergic dermatitis and in patients with atopic dermatitis and eczema is accompanied by the activation of free-radical processes and violation of antioxidant protection in cells. The POL/AOS system is an important pathogenetic link in allergic dermatitis and the change in its condition is an indication for the use of low-intensity laser radiation in the treatment of atopic dermatitis and eczema. Laser therapy in experimental allergic dermatitis and in patients with atopic dermatitis and eczema normalizes the activity of antioxidant enzymes and the content of POL products, and increases the effectiveness of traditional treatment.
The topic of L.M. Sychik's dissertation is 'The biological factor in animal production and peculiarities of its influence on workers' health (hygienic research)'. The aim of the research was to scientifically substantiate and develop a set of measures to prevent adverse effects of the biological factor on the health of workers in modern industrial animal husbandry. Hygienic assessment was made and direct interrelations between the components of biological factor were revealed; the frequency and depth of immunity disorders, autoimmunization and allergization of organism to protein component of organic dust, which cause high prevalence of combined health disorders, were determined. It is shown that allergenic effect is the leading criterion of harmful effect on the organism, it is justified by MPCvrz dust of pig production by specific action. Criteria and leading mechanisms of harmful effect of biological production factor are established, approaches and methods of rationing of protein-containing aerosols are developed and tested, including the shortened scheme on the example of dust from pig production.
The topic of T.P.Novik's dissertation 'Biological properties of thermally treated mycobacteria'. Mycobacteria of tuberculosis were investigated in the work. It was found out that tubercle mycobacteria after autoclaving (1210C), including those in tuberculins, retain viable structures, which after incubation in a special stimulator, give growth on the medium of VCG in the form of non-pathogenic, non-acid resistant coccuses, sticks, sphero- and protoplasts that partially restore acid resistance, have a classic pathogen with 35-51% of common antigens and the same DNA sites that can persist in animals by inducing GZT to tuberculin. Thermostable forms of mycobacteria restored viability in SPF embryos as well as in 20-67.7% of cases in animals after injection of tuberculin in a diagnostic dose. Complete inactivation of tuberculin leads to 33-60% loss of allergic activity, despite the preservation of the initial concentration of tubercloproteins and serological activity of antigens. The ability of tuberculosis mycobacteria to form thermoresistant forms necessitates the development of new approaches to the process of inactivation of pathogenic strains used in the manufacture of tuberculins and neutralization of livestock products. The possibility of persistence of thermostable forms after tuberculin injection should be taken into account in bacteriological rapid diagnostics of tuberculosis.