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Vol 8, No 6 (2018)

Article

Soil as a Biological System and Its New Category—Health

Semenov A.M., Semenova E.V.

Abstract

It is proposed that soil should be considered a biological system with the following notions: “soil ecosystem” or “ecosystem of soil.” A new, integral characteristic of the soil ecosystem—soil health—is addressed. Parameters and methods essential to define soil health and characterize this new category are provided. Natural soil ecosystems and agroecosystems are discussed and compared. Conventional and organic land use systems are addressed in relation to agroecosystems. The need to determine and assess the health of soil ecosystems with respect to the land-use type is highlighted. Activities and methods required to preserve and protect the health of soil ecosystems, the significance of “activity suppression” in soil ecosystems, and means to diagnose soil health and to use therapy in modern agroecosystems are discussed.

Biology Bulletin Reviews. 2018;8(6):463-471
pages 463-471 views

Molecular Markers of Caspase-Dependent and Mitochondrial Apoptosis: Role in the Development of Pathology and Cellular Senescence

Diatlova A.S., Dudkov A.V., Linkova N.S., Khavinson V.K.

Abstract

The data on the molecular mechanisms of normal and pathological apoptosis are summarized. Three phases of apoptosis are distinguished: signal, effector, and degradation. The signal phase includes the extrinsic (caspase-dependent) and extrinsic (mitochondrial) pathways. Molecular markers of extrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic pathways play an important role in the diagnostics and treatment of immune, bronchopulmonary, excretory, and cardiovascular system pathologies, oncology, and senescence. This review considers the initiator caspases-8 and -9 and the effector caspase-3 as the molecular markers of the caspase-dependent apoptosis. The main molecular markers of the mitochondrial (or caspase-independent) apoptosis are p53, p21, and p16 proteins, which respond to DNA damage and are involved in cellular senescence, as well as chaperon prohibitin and flavoprotein apoptosis-inducing factor.

Biology Bulletin Reviews. 2018;8(6):472-481
pages 472-481 views

Immunomodulating Effects of Cold Stress

Gein S.V., Sharav’eva I.L.

Abstract

Cold stress is an indispensable environmental factor that exerts effects on various functions of organisms, including immune regulation. The paper provides integral data on the effects of cold stress on indices of innate and adaptive immunity.

Biology Bulletin Reviews. 2018;8(6):482-488
pages 482-488 views

The Adaptation Role of Serine/Threonine Kinase Akt1 in Anabolism of Muscular Tissue

Sukhorukov V.S., Baranich T.I., Atochin D.N., Glinkina V.V.

Abstract

The article reviews the particular qualities of the key signal component of anabolic pathways (serine/threonine kinase Akt1) in the regulation of skeletal muscle functioning, both under normal conditions and in the dystrophic process, including Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy. The current data confirm the participation of the Akt1 signal pathway in the processes of skeletal muscle regeneration, as well as in the mechanism of angiogenesis amplification, which demonstrates the great therapeutic potential of Akt1 as a target for the treatment of a wide range of hereditary and acquired neuromuscular diseases.

Biology Bulletin Reviews. 2018;8(6):489-496
pages 489-496 views

HIF-1 as a Marker of Age-Related Diseases Associated with Tissue Hypoxia

Popravka E.S., Linkova N.S., Trofimova S.V., Khavinson V.K.

Abstract

The data on the role of hypoxia-inducible factor, HIF-1, in the development of immunopathology (infectious, inflammatory, and autoimmune diseases), cancer (of the lung, brain, female reproductive system, urinary bladder, and pancreas), diabetes mellitus, and Alzheimer’s disease are analyzed. The data on the genes involving cell differentiation, apoptosis, and proliferation, the expression of which is regulated by HIF-1, are described. HIF-1 activates the expression of the telomerase gene and increases the replicative lifetime of human lung fibroblasts under hypoxic conditions. HIF-1 may be a molecular marker of cell aging and metabolism, as well as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of age-related diseases.

Biology Bulletin Reviews. 2018;8(6):497-508
pages 497-508 views

Wolbachia Bacteria and Filarial Nematodes: Mutual Benefit and the Parasite’s Achilles’ Heel

Shaikevich E.V., Ganushkina L.A.

Abstract

The current information on symbiotic interrelations of the intracellular bacterium Wolbachia and filariae (parasites of human and animals), as well as evidence of the joint evolution of the symbiont and hosts, are discussed. Data on the absence of the joint distribution of this bacterium with its host in some Wolbachia supergroups are also presented. The results of morphological, genome, and transcriptomiс analyses obtained in the last ten years are provided. Insight into the biology and evolution of Wolbachia endosymbionts in the filarial organism, which were obtained by cytological, biochemical, and molecular methods, makes it possible to use the bacterium, which is obligate for filariae, in the treatment of human diseases.

Biology Bulletin Reviews. 2018;8(6):509-517
pages 509-517 views

In vitro Callus as a Model System for the Study of Plant Stress-Resistance to Abiotic Factors (on the Example of Cereals)

Kruglova N.N., Seldimirova O.A., Zinatullina A.E.

Abstract

The data on various aspects of the use of cereals callus cultures in vitro as model systems for the study of the plant stress-resistance to abiotic factors are presented. The focus is on studies of in vitro calli for the assessment of plant stress-resistance to drought stress. The advantages and limitations of callus cultures in vitro are considered as experimental methods to obtain stress-resistant regenerants. The issue of studying anti-stress effects in callus cultures in vitro is analyzed. The prospects of studying the mechanisms of the action of abiotic stressors and their resistance in plants at the cellular and tissue levels in the model conditions of in vitro callus culture are shown. It is emphasized that the basis for the use of calli as model systems is both the important role of the cell in all of the morphogenetic events of the plant organism in vivo and in vitro and the similarity of responses of plants in vivo, calli in vitro, and calli regenerants in vitro and ex vitro.

Biology Bulletin Reviews. 2018;8(6):518-526
pages 518-526 views

Estuarine Ecosystems and Their Place in Natural River Mouth Complexes of the Arctic: A Case Study of the Yenisei Mouth Area

Khlebovich V.V., Ivanov V.V.

Abstract

The estuarine ecosystem is characterized by the mixing of seawater and freshwater with a resulting salinity of 0.5 to 22–26‰, which is preserved for no less than 2–3 weeks, and by the presence of specific brackish water species. The distinguishing features of Arctic estuarine ecosystems are a sharp thermohaline stratification of the waters and, as a consequence, a difference in the boundaries of the brackish water biota distribution near the bottom and in the pelagic zone. Note that only the bottom estuarine biocenoses are characteristic of the river mouth area. The most important factor in the Arctic estuarine ecosystems is the longitudinal migrations of the halocline, especially seasonal ones. The coincidence of the borders of distribution of the true brackish water species with the borders of hydrological and morphological regions of the Yenisei River estuary defined according to long-term observations is noteworthy. Given the relative similarity of the Arctic estuarine ecosystems in their physical, chemical, and biotic components associated with the latitudinal uniformity of the mouths, we assume the presence of this correlation in other estuarine areas as well. In this case, a single survey of the benthos may give the same result as multiyear series of hydrological observations in the regionalization of an estuarine ecosystem.

Biology Bulletin Reviews. 2018;8(6):527-532
pages 527-532 views

Specific Features of Organic Waste Bioconversion by Hermetia illucens Fly Larvae (Diptera: Stratiomyidae, Linnaeus, 1758)

Ushakova N.A., Bastrakov A.I., Karagodin V.P., Pavlov D.S.

Abstract

The data from our work and the literature data are summarized, and some regularities of bioconversion of the studied organic waste by Hermetia illucens larvae are elucidated. Waste is both an environmental and feed substrate for an insect. The following stages of waste bioconversion were identified based on the temperature change of the organic substrate: (1) delay in the temperature change (lag-phase); (2) temperature increase (heating); (3) stationary conversion at elevated temperature; and (4) sharp temperature drop to the level of ambient air temperature (cooling, or final stage). This indicates that two processes occur simultaneously during larval development in the substrate: microbial aerobic compositing of the substrate and larval digestive activity. A limiting factor of larval development is a fiber content in the substrate exceeding 7%. The type of fodder affects the mass fraction of protein and fat in the larvae; furthermore, an elevated starch content in the substrate (above 500 g/kg of substrate) facilitates fat accumulation in the insect body.

Biology Bulletin Reviews. 2018;8(6):533-541
pages 533-541 views

The Relation between the Species Diversity Index and Characteristics of Organism Communities in Waterbodies

Alimov A.F.

Abstract

Based on literature data and our own, changes in the Shannon diversity index for the communities of organisms under changing environmental factors are considered. The eutrophication and pollution of waterbodies are shown to reduce the diversity of the communities; they become simpler, and the ratio of steno- to eurybiotic species decreases.

Biology Bulletin Reviews. 2018;8(6):542-545
pages 542-545 views