Eurasian Journal of Applied Biotechnology

Biobanks as a way to conserve biodiversity in the context of the continuing decline in the species diversity of wild flora and fauna

A.K. Dairov — 2024-04-01

To date, human actions have significantly changed 75% of the Earth's surface. This has resulted in an unprecedented increase in the rate of biodiversity loss in human history. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, over the past 500 years, as a result of direct or indirect influence of the anthropogenic factor, 774 animal species and 123 plant species have become extinct. To prevent further loss of biodiversity, in the context of the ongoing «crisis of biodiversity», all over the world, including Kazakhstan, there is a need for reliable conservation of the available genetic resources of plants and animals, primarily rare and endangered species. In this regard, specialized biobanks of organized collections of living biomaterials are successfully used worldwide for the conservation and restoration of populations of rare and endangered species of flora and fauna. The article presents information about some of the largest biobanks and their importance in solving this global problem. The experience of scientific centers of Kazakhstan in the field of biobanking of biomaterials of wild flora and fauna, including rare and endangered species, is given, and the results of the National Center for Biotechnology in this area are summarized.

EVALUATION OF NORMALIZED DIFFERENCE VEGETATION INDEX IN WILD APPLE POPULATIONS GROWING IN SOUTHEAST MOUNTAIN REGIONS OF KAZAKHSTAN

A. Taskuzhina — 2024-04-03

NDVI is one of the most common vegetation indices for solving various problems of assessing the state of vegetation cover and its dynamics. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the state of wild Sievers apple trees in the territory of Phenological area, Genetic Reserve of Sievers, Tauturgen and Sievers apple reserve (Zhongar-Alatau and Ile-Alatau SNNP) using the NDVI index. The period of study was season’s autumn 2022 and spring 2023. Created interactive maps of the study area with multispectral reconstructions in NDVI formats let us was established the condition of the Sievers apple tree. Which was based on an analysis of the deviation of the NDVI of each tree in the study area from the average index value for the vegetation of the entire type of area. This allowed us to identify the territorial features of the state of the Sievers apple trees and identify degraded trees. The results obtained can be used for the rational management of environmental management by the Zhongar-Alatau SNNP and the Ile-Alatau SNNP.

MOLECULAR DETECTION OF FUSOBACTERIUM NUCLEATUM IN IN KAZAKHSTANY PATIENTS WITH COLORECTAL CANCER

B.A. Kurentay — 2024-04-03

Colorectal cancer is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Fusobacterium nucleatum is thought to play an important role in the development of colorectal cancer. F. nucleatum there are many studies that prove that has a great influence on the oncogenesis of colorectal cancer, but the participation of the bacterium in this process remains unclear. The goal of our study is to find out in colorectal cancer tissue F. nucleatum was the definition. Biomaterials from 43 colorectal cancer patients from the National scientific cancer center were analyzed. To detect bacteria, DNA was extracted from the biomaterial and culture inoculation was carried out in parallel. F. nucleatum detection was performed by two methods using Matrix activated laser microbiological desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) and quantitative real-time PCR detection. As a result, MALDI determined 14.58%, and qPCR detected 46.51% of bacteria. Thus, F. nucleatum can be a biomarker of colorectal cancer risk.

SEROLOGICAL SURVEY OF LYME BORRELIOSIS IN THE SOUTH REGION OF KAZAKHSTAN

A. Kuligin — 2024-04-04

Lyme borreliosis (LB) is an infectious disease caused by spirochetes of the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex. Transmission occurs through the bites of hard ticks within the genus Ixodes. Cases of fever of unknown origin are recorded in southern Kazakhstan, however, the prevalence of LB in this area remains unstudied. Almaty oblast is recognized as an endemic area for LB. Ixodid tick vectors also inhabit Jambyl oblast, where antibodies to LB agent were previously detected among residents, while it is classified as non-endemic. Turkistan oblast is also considered non-endemic for LB. The purpose of this study was to investigate the seroprevalence of IgG antibodies to B. burgdorferi s.l. among apparently healthy residents of Almaty city (Almaty oblast), Taraz city (Jambyl oblast), and Shymkent city (Turkistan oblast). A total of 465 human serum samples were collected from March 2022 to September 2023. Using the ELISA method, we detected the presence of IgG antibodies to the LB agent in 5.4% of the entire study group (24/465, 95% CI: 3.3-7.6%), and specifically in 9.3% of residents of Almaty city (11/118, 95% CI: 4.7-16.1%, p=0.03), 4.5% – Taraz city (11/242, 95% CI: 2.3-8.0%) and 1.9% – Shymkent city (2/105, 95% CI: 0.2-6.7%). The results of the study confirm the seroprevalence of IgG antibodies to B. burgdorferi s.l. among the population of Almaty city and Jambyl oblast, and also reveal seropositive samples in residents of Turkistan oblast, suggesting possible infection during travel to endemic regions. It is important to continue LB surveillance in endemic and emerging regions, as well as to raise awareness of the infection among healthcare workers and the general public in non-endemic areas.

SUPPRESSOR CELLS (MDSC) REGULATE THE T-CELL RESPONSE IN OLD MICE IMMUNIZED WITH THE WHOLE-VIRION SARS-CoV-2 VACCINE

Y.V. Perfilyeva — 2024-04-04

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are an immunosuppressive population involved in pathological processes associated with chronic inflammation. In recent years, the role of these cells in the regulation of a number of non-pathological processes, in particular, in the development of vaccine-induced immune response, has been actively discussed. This work was aimed at investigating the role of MDSC in the development of an immune response in old mice immunized with an inactivated whole virion SARS-CoV-2. Immunization of old animals induced an increase in the relative content of B cells and the production of specific antibodies to S1 and N proteins of SARS-CoV-2 in titers comparable to those of young animals. At the same time, elevated MDSC levels in aged animals negatively correlated with the level of CD8⁺ T cells. Splenic MDSCs in old animals were characterized by increased production of reactive oxygen species compared to young animals. In vitro experiments showed that MDSC depletion increased antigen-specific production of IFNγby CD4⁺T cells. The data obtained suggest a negative role for MDSC in regulating the T-cell vaccine-induced response to inactivated SARS-CoV-2 and encourage further studies in this direction, which may be a key to developing approaches to increase the efficacy of vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 in at-risk groups.

PRODUCTION OF RECOMBINANT MILK-CONVERTING ENZYME IN YEAST PICHIA PASTORIS

Zh. Akishev — 2024-04-04

Chymosin is the main enzyme with a high degree of specificity towards k-casein and is therefore used in the cheese industry. This work presents the results on the expression of the goat prochymosin gene in the yeast Pichia pastoris and the study of the milk-clotting activity of recombinant goat chymosin. The goat prochymosin gene was integrated into the chromosomal DNA of yeast and the secretion of prochymosin into yeast culture was carried out by methanol induction. After activation, chymosin was purified by sequential anion and cation exchange chromatography. A biochemical study showed that a decrease in the milk-clotting activity of the enzyme was observed with an increase in pH. The highest activity of recombinant goat chymosin was manifested at 60 °C and pH 4.5-5.0 and amounted to 7680 ± 0.32 and 8727 ± 0.39 for cow's and goat's milk, respectively. The total proteolytic activity of the enzyme was 7769.2±0.38 U/mg. The results obtained suggest that recombinant goat chymosin can be used in the cheese industry and has good prospects for practical application in the production of cheese from goat's milk.