Temperature dependence of Opisthorchis felineus infection in the first intermediate host snail, Bithynia troschelii

Opisthorchiasis is one of the most serious trematodiases in Russia, where the world's largest focus is located in the Ob basin. Temperature is an important factor affecting the metabolism of cold-blooded animals. It determines the development of the causative agent of opisthorchiasis, Opisthorchis felineus, and the success of infection of an intermediate host, the snail Bithynia troschelii. In the present study, the effect of water temperature on the development of the liver fluke O. felineus in the host snail was assessed, as was the temperature threshold at which B. troschelii hibernation initiates. Adult uninfected B. troschelii individuals collected from natural bodies of water were infected with O. felineus and maintained at different temperatures of water (18-30 °C, intervals of 3 °C) in the laboratory. Each snail was fed with embryonated uterine eggs of O. felineus at 24 °C. O. felineus infection in snails was detected using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using specific primers. The prevalence of O. felineus infection in B. troschelii depends on the water temperature in which the snails are maintained. The highest infection rate of 45.2 % ± 12.1 % was observed at 27 °C (p ≥ 0.1). The longest lifespan of infected and uninfected B. troschelii was recorded at water temperatures of 24 and 27 °C. The snails were more successfully infected at the beginning of the warm season. Among the infected individuals, the majority (up to 85 %) were large snails. Cercarial shedding was not detected in experimentally infected snails. Apparently, this is due to the natural physiological state of Bithynia snails during the autumn-winter diapause, when opisthorchiids development in snails stops. At 10 °C, complete hibernation of all B. troschelii snails was observed, and infection by the trematodes became impossible. The highest prevalence of infection was recorded at 27 °C, suggesting that during climate warming, an increase in opisthorchiid infection of snails may occur, which must be considered when epidemiological measures are planned.

The First Record of Omsk Hemorrhagic Fever Virus and Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus of Baltic Lineage from the Kemerovo Region of Russia

Objectives: Tick-borne encephalitis virus Siberian subtype (TBEV-Sib) and Omsk hemorrhagic fever virus (OHFV) are causative agents of natural focal infections in Western Siberia, Russia. The distribution of TBEV phylogenetic lineages and OHFV in the Kemerovo Region of Western Siberia remains poorly investigated. Methods: The phylogenetic analyses of fragment genome sequences 26 flaviviruses identified in 2019 were performed, and the amino acid variation was determined to reveal to which clusteron they belong. The age of Baltic and Asian lineages of the TBEV-Sib was calculated for Kemerovo District and Region, respectively. Results: Twenty-five isolates were members of three TBEV-Sib phylogenetic lineages: Baltic (48%), Asian (36%), and East Siberian (16%). The Baltic lineage's eastern boundary is commonly thought to be in the Novosibirsk Region, but our data suggest that it may reach further east. Analysis of the Baltic lineage clusteron structure showed that the isolates found are unique (6) or belong to clusteron-founder 3D (1) and derived clusteron 3O (5). Based on the age of 3O clusteron, Baltic lineage could have appeared in the Kemerovo Region by the late 1970s. One of the isolated viruses turned out to be the OHFV of the first subtype and not to belong to any known clusteron. This finding is the first known detection of the virus outside the endemic area of Russia. Given the recent discovery of OHFV in Kazakhstan, it can be assumed that the area of this virus distribution is much wider than previously thought. Conclusions: This report provides insights into the population structure of TBEV and OHFV, which may be helpful for epidemiological investigation and surveillance of the viruses.

Anaerobic methane oxidation is quantitatively important in deeper peat layers of boreal peatlands: Evidence from anaerobic incubations, in situ stable isotopes depth profiles, and microbial communities

Boreal peatlands store most of their carbon in layers deeper than 0.5 m under anaerobic conditions, where carbon dioxide and methane are produced as terminal products of organic matter degradation. Since the global warming potential of methane is much greater than that of carbon dioxide, the balance between the production rates of these gases is important for future climate predictions. Herein, we aimed to understand whether anaerobic methane oxidation (AMO) could explain the high CO2/CH4 anaerobic production ratios that are widely observed for the deeper peat layers of boreal peatlands. Furthermore, we quantified the metabolic pathways of methanogenesis to examine whether hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis is a dominant methane production pathway for the presumably recalcitrant deeper peat. To assess the CH4 cycling in deeper peat, we combined laboratory anaerobic incubations with a pathway-specific inhibitor, in situ depth patterns of stable isotopes in CH4, and 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing for three representative boreal peatlands in Western Siberia. We found up to a 69 % reduction in CH4 production due to AMO, which largely explained the high CO2/CH4 anaerobic production ratios and the in situ depth-related patterns of δ13C and δD in methane. The absence of acetate accumulation after inhibiting acetotrophic methanogenesis and the presence of sulfate- and nitrate-reducing anaerobic acetate oxidizers in the deeper peat indicated that these microorganisms use SO42- and NO3- as electron acceptors. Acetotrophic methanogenesis dominated net CH4 production in the deeper peat, accounting for 81 ± 13 %. Overall, anaerobic oxidation is quantitatively important for the methane cycle in the deeper layers of boreal peatlands, affecting both methane and its main precursor concentrations.

Collagen Contents of 13С and 15N Isotopes in Bones of Small Cave Bear Ursus (Spelaearctos) rossicus Borissiak, 1930 (Mammalia, Carnivora, Ursidae) from Western Siberia

The 13C and 15N isotope contents in collagen were determined in bones of the small cave bear Ursus (Spelaearctos) rossicus Borissiak, 1930 from three regions of Western Siberia. The bones dated back to marine isotope stage (MIS) 3 and belonged to mature males and females. Some of the samples differed only in δ15N. Bears of all samples were from the same trophic level. Trophic shifts were observed between females and males in one region and between males of two regions. The small cave bear of Western Siberia differed from the small cave bear of the Southern Urals in leading a much more predatory lifestyle. The extent of differences between the Ural and Siberian bears corresponded to different trophic levels.

The High-Low Arctic boundary: How is it determined and where is it located?

Geobotanical subdivision of landcover is a baseline for many studies. The High-Low Arctic boundary is considered to be of fundamental natural importance. The wide application of different delimitation schemes in various ecological studies and climatic scenarios raises the following questions: (i) What are the common criteria to define the High and Low Arctic? (ii) Could human impact significantly change the distribution of the delimitation criteria? (iii) Is the widely accepted temperature criterion still relevant given ongoing climate change? and (iv) Could we locate the High-Low Arctic boundary by mapping these criteria derived from modern open remote sensing and climatic data? Researchers rely on common criteria for geobotanical delimitation of the Arctic. Unified circumpolar criteria are based on the structure of vegetation cover and climate, while regional specifics are reflected in the floral composition. However, the published delimitation schemes vary greatly. The disagreement in the location of geobotanical boundaries across the studies manifests in poorly comparable results. While maintaining the common principles of geobotanical subdivision, we derived the boundary between the High and Low Arctic using the most up-to-date field data and modern techniques: species distribution modeling, radar, thermal and optical satellite imagery processing, and climatic data analysis. The position of the High-Low Arctic boundary in Western Siberia was clarified and mapped. The new boundary is located 50-100 km further north compared to all the previously presented ones. Long-term anthropogenic press contributes to a change in the vegetation structure but does not noticeably affect key species ranges. A previously specified climatic criterion for the High-Low Arctic boundary accepted in scientific literature has not coincided with the boundary in Western Siberia for over 70 years. The High-Low Arctic boundary is distinctly reflected in biodiversity distribution. The presented approach is appropriate for accurate mapping of the High-Low Arctic boundary in the circumpolar extent.

SSR Variability of Stem Rust Pathogen on Spring Bread Wheat in Russia

Wheat stem rust, caused by Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici, which used to be a harmful disease of winter wheat in the southern part of Russia, has been largely affecting the yield of spring bread wheat in the territories of the temperate climate zone since 2009. In total, 222 P. graminis f. sp. tritici isolates were obtained from samples of susceptible cultivars of spring bread wheat in Central and Volga regions and Omsk and Novosibirsk provinces in 2019. Genotyping of the isolates was carried out at 16 simple-sequence repeat (SSR) loci. Number of alleles, proportion of heterozygotes, and deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium were determined at each SSR locus. Based on genetic variability of SSR genotypes, it was shown that the P. graminis f. sp. tritici population is subdivided into two large clusters in the territory of the Russian temperate climate zone: the "European" population (the Central region) and the "Asian" one (the Volga region and two main wheat provinces of Western Siberia). Both of the P. graminis f. sp. tritici populations are characterized by a mixed mode of reproduction (sexual and clonal) but different sources of inoculum seem to shape a genotype structure within them. A group of P. graminis f. sp. tritici genotypes with high variability, the inbreeding coefficient closed to zero, and low observed heterozygosity was revealed among samples from Omsk. Moreover, two singular SSR genotypes identified among the Asian samples of P. graminis f. sp. tritici isolates should attract special attention in the monitoring of stem rust in order to disclose unexpected rapid changes of the pathogen in the corresponding regions and to prevent disease outbreak.

Detection and genetic characterization of a putative novel Borrelia genospecies in Ixodes apronophorus / Ixodes persulcatus / Ixodes trianguliceps sympatric areas in Western Siberia

Four genospecies from the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex were detected in Ixodes persulcatus and Ixodes pavlovskyi ticks from Siberia and genetically characterized. The presence of Borrelia spp. in Ixodes apronophorus and Ixodes trianguliceps ticks found in Asia has never been studied. In this study, genetic diversity of B. burgdorferi s.l. was investigated in three I. persulcatus / I. trianguliceps / I. apronophorus sympatric habitats in Western Siberia. Three groups of samples were examined: (i) ticks that were taken from rodents and molted in a laboratory; (ii) non-molted ticks collected from rodents; (iii) specimens from small mammals. Expectedly, Borrelia afzelii and Borrelia bavariensis were detected in I. persulcatus and in small mammals from the studied locations. Borrelia bavariensis was first found in molted I. apronophorus and I. trianguliceps. Identical genovariants of B. bavariensis were found in I. apronophorus, I. trianguliceps, and I. persulcatus. In addition, a new Borrelia genovariant was discovered in non-molted and molted I. apronophorus and non-molted I. persulcatus and I. trianguliceps, as well as in small mammals. This new genovariant was genetically characterized using MLST and single locus sequence analysis, which indicated that the new Borrelia genovariant significantly differs from all known Borrelia species. We propose the name "Candidatus Borrelia sibirica" for this putative new species.

Yugra State University Biological Collection (Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia): general and digitisation overview

BACKGROUND

The history of biological collections and digitisation initiatives in northern West Siberia is relatively new due to recent development of the region. The Center for Biodiversity Data Mobilization was established to promote the initiative, led by the Yugra State University. This organisation itself has a relatively young collection of biological specimens, which was, until recently, in a disintegrated state and only partly mobilised. The Yugra State University Biological Collection (YSU BC) currently includes three subdivisions differring by history and taxonomic groups, but also by details of management and storage conditions: the Fungarium, the Bryological collection and the Herbarium collection of YSU.The paper describes the general structure of the Yugra State University Biological Collection, its history, storage conditions, management practices, geographical, temporal and taxonomical coverage. The paper is underlined by three datasets of the collections databases published in GBIF, which are described in detail. The databases are managed in Specify 6 and 7 software and accessed through Specify Web Portal and through GBIF.

NEW INFORMATION

The Yugra State University Biological Collection made an active reorganisation of physical storage conditions and data management recently, providing the model for other collections in the region. This paper describes the history, general structure, management practices and data management of all three parts of this collection for the first time.Although one part of the collection (Fungarium YSU) was mobilised earlier, last year, we mobilised data of the Bryological and Vascular plants (Herbarium) collections. The three datasets of the corresponding collections in GBIF were increased by about 6000 georeferenced records during the last year.

Macrophyte diversity in rivers and streams of the Vologda Region and several other regions of Russia

BACKGROUND

The data paper contains the authors' materials on the diversity of macrophytes, macroscopic plants regardless of their taxonomic position, in rivers and streams of East European Russia and Western Siberia. These data, collected on 247 rivers and 32 streams in 13 administrative regions of the Russian Federation, were provided as an occurrence dataset presented in the form of GBIF-mediated data. The main portion of the data was obtained in water objects of the Vologda Region (5201 occurrences). In addition, occurrences from the Arkhangelsk Region (347 occurrences), Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug (159), Yaroslavl Region (132), Novgorod Region (97), Kostroma Region (41), Republic of Karelia (31), Sverdlovsk Region (29), Komi Republic (28), Orenburg Region (26), Chelyabinsk Region (22), Voronezh Region (22) and Tyumen Region (18) were given. The studies were carried out mainly in the southern and middle taiga and, to a lesser extent, in the northern taiga and the forest-steppe. The analysed watercourses belong to five drainage basins: the Azov Sea, the Baltic Sea, the White Sea, the Caspian Sea and the Kara Sea. The dataset contains materials on the diversity of Plantae (6094 occurrences) and Chromista (59 occurrences). This paper, in a standardised form, summarises mostly unpublished materials on the biodiversity of lotic ecosystems.

NEW INFORMATION

The paper summarises the data obtained in long-term studies of phytodiversity in a range of rivers and streams of East European Russia and, fragmentarily, Western Siberia. A total of 6153 occurrences were included in the dataset. According to the GBIF taxonomic backbone, the dataset comprises 292 taxa, including 280 lower-rank taxa (species, subspecies, varieties) and 12 taxa identified to the genus level. All the occurrences are published openly through the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) for the first time. Most of the data were stored in field diaries and, thus, by adding the data in GBIF, we believe that other researchers could benefit from it.

Perspectives of climate change: A comparison of scientific understanding and local interpretations by different Western Siberian communities

We present a study of social effects of climate change as experienced by local communities, based on field research and analysis in Western Siberia, from southern taiga to tundra. The results of field anthropological research reveal different attitudes of local residents to climate change. We compare the key trends of climate change with the perspectives of local residents, based on memories, subjective experiences, and local environmental knowledge. Our results highlight a significant divergence of the subjective assessments of residents from objective data on the dynamics of changes in certain environmental elements. We explore how the human subjective perception of natural processes, their consequences and impacts, are influenced by such factors as: type of settlement, age, gender, level of education and how collective stereotypes and judgments merge information in attitude formation. We also address the need to reconcile observed climate change impacts and perceptions to enable decision-makers to engage more constructively with the local population to develop and implement adaptation.

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N8) Virus Clade 2.3.4.4b, Western Siberia, Russia, 2020

Two variants of highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N8) virus were detected in dead poultry in Western Siberia, Russia, during August and September 2020. One variant was represented by viruses of clade 2.3.4.4b and the other by a novel reassortant between clade 2.3.4.4b and Eurasian low pathogenicity avian influenza viruses circulating in wild birds.

Clinical polymorphism in patients with Opisthorchis felineus infection in the Western Siberia

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Opisthorchiasis is the main helminthiasis of Western Siberia.

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The clinical picture of opisthorchiasis is non-specific.

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One of the key signs of opisthorchiasis is hypereosinophilia.

Clinical symptoms of chronic opisthorchiasis superinvasion the inhabitants of the Western Siberia, which is hyperendemic for this parasites, are presented. The polymorphism of manifestations from many organs and systems (liver, respiratory, immune, musculoskeletal, and digestive, etc.) with the development of eosinophilic hepatitis, according to histological studies, are shown. Manifestation of the latent course of the chronic phase of opisthorchiasis in case of repeated infection was accompanied by leukemoid eosinophilia, hyperleukocytosis and severe cholestasis, which determined the difficulties of the differential diagnostic search.

[Relationships between aging indicators, central hemodynamics and arterial stiffness in men in the European North of Russia.]

With age, the incidence of cardiovascular diseases is steadily increasing worldwide. Living in the harsh climatic and geographical conditions of the Arctic is associated with premature aging, earlier and more frequent development of age-associated diseases. Apparently, these processes are caused by functional changes in large vessels, the state of which has not yet been studied. Aim and methods: to identify correlations of aging and biological age indicators with the parameters of central hemodynamics and arterial stiffness measured using applanation tonometry by the «Sphygmocor» device in middle-aged men living in the European North of Russia. For the first time, positive associations of parameters of peripheral and central blood pressure, augmentation index, and negative correlation of the time of return of the reflected wave and pulse pressure amplification with indicators of aging were noted, which indicates an age-related decrease in arterial elasticity. There was also a negative association of the subendocardial viability ratio with the northern experience and biological age. Theoretically considered, the results demonstrate the potential involvement of blood vessels in the pathogenesis of premature aging. The practical significance of the work is related to the need to develop preventive measures aimed at controlling blood pressure, reducing arterial stiffness and cardiovascular risk in middle-aged northerners.

Food Sovereignty of the Indigenous Peoples in the Arctic Zone of Western Siberia: Response to COVID-19 Pandemic

This article presents the challenges facing reindeer herding as being both a profitable business and part of the traditional culture of the nomadic Indigenous peoples in the Arctic zone of Western Siberia which addresses substantial needs of the local population. Reindeer herding products are used as traditional nutrition, and as effective preventive means and remedies for adapting to the cold and geomagnetic activity in the High North. Export trends of traditional reindeer products have decreased local Indigenous peoples' access to venison and had a negative impact on their health. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is especially urgent for the Indigenous peoples to have sufficient access to traditional food and be involved in policy decision-making to maintain this traditional business. We aim to analyze the dependencies of Indigenous peoples on the reindeer produce-exporting "food value chain" and explore how (1) the independence of reindeer herders could be increased in these export chains and (2) how provision of their products to local communities could be secured. The study takes a multidisciplinary approach based on policy and socioeconomic analyses with input from medical research. Primary sources include data collected from interviews and surveys of Indigenous peoples during expeditions to the Nyda settlement, the Nydinskaya tundra, the Tazovsky settlement, the Tazovskaya tundra, the Nakhodka tundra, the Gyda and Gydansky settlements, the Yavai-Salinskaya tundra, the Seyakha settlement, the Seyakhinskaya and Tambeyskaya tundras located along the southern coast of the Ob Bay, the northeast coast of the Yamal Peninsula, the Tazovsky and Gydansky Peninsulas, and the Shuryshkarsky district. Data were collected during the summers and winters of 2014-2020.

Spatial and temporal variations in mire surface water chemistry as a function of geology, atmospheric circulation and zonal features in the south-eastern part of Western Siberia

This study analysed the chemistry of water samples collected from mires in the south-eastern part of Western Siberia. The aim was to determine spatial and temporal patterns in the hydrochemistry of mires in relation to the environmental conditions and geological history of the region. The results show that concentrations of Fe_total, Са²⁺, Mg²⁺, Na⁺, and HCO₃^- ions are higher than those obtained in other regions of Russia and Europe, which is consistent with the geological conditions of Western Siberia. High Fe_total concentrations are associated with the distribution of sedimentary ore in the region's largest iron ore basin, the Bakchar deposit, which is represented by strata of various Cretaceous sedimentsary rock at depths of 150-200 m. The Fe-rich rocks contribute to the high Fe concentrations in deep groundwater that feeds into the fens. The increase in Са²⁺, Mg²⁺, Na⁺, Cl^-, and HCO₃^- in the water resulted from a xerothermic period that occurred in the southern part of Western Siberia (4500-2500 years ago) that increased the carbonation and salinity of the rocks. A feature characteristic of the hydrochemical regime in raised bogs is the transformation of the chemical composition during the year, with a change in dominant anions from HCO₃^- to Cl^- or SO₄^2-. The water in transitional mires and rich fens were characterised by the predominance of HCO₃^- and Са²⁺. Studies have shown that the size and stage of development play leading roles in the formation of the water chemistry in the mires. Small bogs and transitional mires were characterised by a rich mineral nutrition; while, the chemical composition of fens was mainly determined by their geomorphologic position and proximity to large river systems. The results of this study provide a better understanding of the functions of peatland ecosystems in Western Siberia and improve water sampling strategies for future research.

Trace elements composition of surface snow in the polar zone of northwestern Siberia: the impact of urban and industrial emissions

In order to evaluate the level of atmospheric pollution in the north of Western Siberia, we studied the composition of urban snow in the vicinity of the Tazovsky settlement as well as in the area of Zapolyarnoye-the largest natural gas field in Russia in terms of a total extraction volume. Our results indicate that anthropogenic activities have caused an increase in electric conductivity and pH values of meltwaters. Concentrations of dissolved and particulate forms of trace elements (Fe, Mn, Ni, Cr, Cu, Pb, Zn, and Cd) were determined using atomic absorption spectroscopy. Dissolved forms of Cd, Zn, and Mn and particulate forms of Cu, Fe, and Ni prevailed in meltwaters of background territories. Human-affected territories were characterized by a predominance of particulate forms of trace elements (except Cd), which indicated increased dust deposition rates. For Cu, Mn, and Fe, mean values of contamination factor (CF) exceeded background levels by 4.4, 4.7, and 6.6 times, respectively. At some sampling sites, concentrations of trace elements exceeded background levels by 10-111 times. The concentration of Zn in our study area was higher than those in other oil and gas fields located in polar and boreal regions. The Cd concentration in the vicinity of the Tazovsky settlement was higher than those in other cities of Western Siberia. The data obtained in the present study on concentrations of soluble and particulate forms of trace elements in snow will be valuable for environmental protection in Russia's Arctic territory.

Comparison of Helminth Infection among the Native Populations of the Arctic and Subarctic Areas in Western Siberia Throughout History: Parasitological Researches on Contemporary and the Archaeological Resources

The aim of this parasitological study is examining contemporary (the late 20th century) specimens of the arctic or subarctic areas in Western Siberia and comparing them with the information acquired from archaeological samples from the same area. In the contemporary specimens, we observed the parasite eggs of 3 different species: Opisthochis felineus, Ascaris lumbricoides, and Enterobius vermicularis. Meanwhile, in archaeoparasitological results of Vesakoyakha, Kikki-Akki, and Nyamboyto I burial grounds, the eggs of Diphyllobothrium and Taenia spp. were found while no nematode (soil-transmitted) eggs were observed in the same samples. In this study, we concluded helminth infection pattern among the arctic and subarctic peoples of Western Siberia throughout history as follows: the raw fish-eating tradition did not undergo radical change in the area at least since the 18th century; and A. lumbricoides or E. vermicularis did not infect the inhabitants of this area before 20th century. With respect to the Western Siberia, we caught glimpse of the parasite infection pattern prevalent therein via investigations on contemporary and archaeoparasitological specimens.

Association of RS708272 (CETP Gene Variant) with Lipid Profile Parameters and the Risk of Myocardial Infarction in the White Population of Western Siberia

: The TaqI B (rs708272) single-nucleotide variant, i.e., the +279 G/A substitution in intron 1 of the CETP gene, is actively investigated as a risk factor of lipid metabolism disorders. The aim of this study was to analyze the association of rs708272 with lipid parameters and the risk of myocardial infarction in the population of Western Siberia (Russia). The study population was selected from a sample surveyed within the framework of the Health, Alcohol and Psychosocial Factors In Eastern Europe (HAPIEE) study (9360 participants, >90% white, aged 45-69 years, males: 50%). In total, 3132 randomly selected patients were included. Plasma lipid levels were determined by standard enzymatic assays. Rs708272 was analyzed by RT-PCR via TaqMan single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) Genotyping Assays (Thermo Fisher Scientific, USA). The frequencies of rs708272 genotypes AA (homozygote), AG (heterozygote), and GG were 0.21, 0.49, and 0.30, respectively, in this population. Allele A frequency was 0.46. We found an association of allele G with low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and a high index of atherogenicity in this population (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). Allele G was significantly associated with the risk of myocardial infarction among the male participants (odds ratio 1.96, 95% confidence interval 1.208-3.178, p = 0.008) and in the study population (odds ratio 1.465, 95% confidence interval 1.028-2.087, p = 0.036). Thus, rs708272 is associated with myocardial infarction in the white population of Western Siberia (Russia).

Genetic and morphological characterization of Ixodes apronophorus from Western Siberia, Russia

Genetic variability of I. apronophorus from Western Siberia, Russia was examined using the nuclear internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) and mitochondrial 16S rRNA and cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) genes and compared to those of Ixodes persulcatus and Ixodes trianguliceps from the same site. The I. apronophorus sequences demonstrated the highest nucleotide and haplotype diversity for both mitochondrial genes, whereas I. persulcatus was more variable in the nuclear ITS2. Phylogenetic analysis of the molecular sequence data showed that I. apronophorus differed from other Ixodes species, including Romanian I. apronophorus. The level of identity between 16S rRNA gene sequences of Siberian and Romanian I. apronophorus was only 91%; these sequences did not form a monophyletic group, indicating that I. apronophorus from Siberia and Romania could be different tick species. The analysis of morphological features of the Siberian I. apronophorus confirmed their consistency with those for the previously described I. apronophorus species. Based on the 16S rRNA and ITS2 sequences, Siberian I. apronophorus clustered together with Ixodes kazakstani and Ixodes scapularis, which are the recognized members of the Ixodes ricinus-I. persulcatus species complex within the subgenus Ixodes, and can be assigned to this complex.

Phylogenetic analysis of Bacillus anthracis strains from Western Siberia reveals a new genetic cluster in the global population of the species

Background

Anthrax is a zoonotic disease caused by the gram-positive bacterium Bacillus anthracis. The most anthrax-endemic regions of Russia are Siberia and North Caucasus. Previously, genotyping of Russian B.anthracis isolates was carried out using canSNP and MLVA data; these methods yield lower resolution results compared to whole genome SNP analysis (wgSNP). In this research, we have used wgSNP method for genotyping of 10 B.anthracis isolates, obtained during 1961–2016 in Russia on territory of Western Siberia.

Results

We have analyzed 185 B.anthracis genomes available in GenBank database and genomes of 10 isolates obtained in this study to determine the place of Russian isolates in the global phylogeny of B.anthracis. For the studied genomes we have detected 7203 SNPs, which were used for building a phylogenetic reconstruction with Maximum Likelihood Method. Results of the phylogenetic analysis indicate that Russian strains belong to three different genetic groups. Three strains belong to genetic group “Ames”, two strains – to “STI” group. Five strains belong to the main genetic line B, and four of them form a subcluster, described for the first time, which we have named “Siberia”.

Conclusions

In this study, the data on genetic diversity of B.anthracis strains on the territory of Western Siberia is presented for the first time. As a result of complex phylogenetic analysis, the place of these isolates was determined in the global phylogenetic structure of the B.anthracis population. We describe a new cluster in the main genetic line B for the first time.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12864-019-6060-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Microhabitat distribution of arboreal oribatid mites (Oribatida), associated with the Siberian pine (Pinus sibirica) of Western Siberia

The species composition of arboreal oribatid mites that live on Siberian pine trees (Pinus sibirica) in the forest-tundra of Western Siberia was examined, specifically of three Siberian pines from two distinct forest stands (six trees in total). Samples of litter were taken near the tree trunk, as well as samples of bark, branches and needles from the tree. In total 144 samples were taken, from which close to 5000 mites were extracted. From the arboreal samples, the mites were extract by heptane flotation. Three species of oribatid mites were recorded for the first time in Russia: Diapterobates brevidentatus, Eueremaeus trionus and Cultroribula berolina. The highest density and the highest dominance index of these species were recorded in arboreal microhabitats. Thirty-one species of oribatid mites were identified in total. No oribatid mites were recovered from the needles of Siberian pine. The density of oribatid mites did not significantly differ among various heights of the crown and trunk. The lowest density of mites was recorded on young branches without needles, whereas other branch hypothetical microhabitats did not significantly differ from each other in terms of oribatid density. The greatest Simpson diversity index was recorded in the plant litter near tree trunks. On trees, the diversity index decreased with the height of the trunk and with the distance of branch sections from the trunk. The dominant species and the degree of their dominance varied among microhabitats and forest stands. Additionally, a high level of dominance of a single oribatid species was observed on tree branches, as well as on the trunk bark located above the bole. In the two forest stands, these species were D. brevidentatus and Ameronothrus dubinini. Based on the analysis of oribatid communities, three microhabitats were identified in the first forest stand: the bole bark, the bark of the trunk above the bole, and the branches. In the second forest stand, bases of tree branches were identified as an additional microhabitat. Oribatids inhabit Siberian pine trees in the severe conditions of the forest-tundra. Arboreal oribatid communities of various microhabitats vary in their qualitative and quantitative characteristics. Also, arboreal and forest litter communities of oribatid mites vary significantly.

Analysis of Polymorphism rs1333049 (Located at 9P21.3) in the White Population of Western Siberia and Associations with Clinical and Biochemical Markers

The 9p21.3 chromosomal region is a marker of the risk of cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to analyze single-nucleotide polymorphism rs1333049 (chr9:22125504) in the population of Western Siberia (Russia) and possible associations with clinical and biochemical parameters. The population included in the analyses was selected from a sample surveyed within the framework of the Health, Alcohol and Psychosocial Factors In Eastern Europe (HAPIEE) study (9360 participants, >90% white, aged 45–69, males: 50%). In total, 2729 randomly selected patients were included. Plasma lipid levels were determined by standard enzymatic assays. Rs1333049 was analyzed by RT-PCR (BioLabMix, Russia). Frequencies of rs1333049 genotypes C/C (homozygote), C/G (heterozygote), and G/G were 0.22, 0.51, and 0.27 in this population. The Allele G frequency was 0.53. We found an association of allele G with total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels among male participants (p = 0.004 and p = 0.002, respectively). Allele C was significantly associated with the risk of myocardial infarction among the male participants (odds ratio 1.96, 95% confidence interval 1.14–3.38, p =  0.017) and the study population (odds ratio 1.83, 95% confidence interval 1.23–2.72, p  =  0.004). Thus, rs1333049 is associated with myocardial infarction in the white population of Western Siberia (Russia).

Ixodes persulcatus/pavlovskyi natural hybrids in Siberia: Occurrence in sympatric areas and infection by a wide range of tick-transmitted agents

Ixodes persulcatus and Ixodes pavlovskyi ticks, two closely related species of the I. ricinus - I. persulcatus group, are widely distributed in the southern part of Western Siberia. Recently, the existence of natural hybrids of I. persulcatus and I. pavlovskyi ticks has been demonstrated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the abundance of I. persulcatus/pavlovskyi hybrids in several locations with different ratios of parental tick species and to investigate the prevalence and genetic variability of a wide range of infectious agents in these hybrids compared to the parental tick species. Natural hybrids of I. persulcatus and I. pavlovskyi ticks were identified in all examined locations in Altai and Novosibirsk, Western Siberia, Russia. The abundance of hybrids varied from 7% to 40% in different locations and was maximal in a location with similar proportions of I. persulcatus and I. pavlovskyi ticks. For the first time, it was shown that hybrids can be infected with the same agents as their parental tick species: tick-borne encephalitis and Kemerovo viruses, Borrelia afzelii, Borrelia bavariensis, Borrelia garinii, Borrelia miyamotoi, Rickettsia helvetica, Rickettsia raoultii, Rickettsia sibirica, "Candidatus Rickettsia tarasevichiae", Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Ehrlichia muris, "Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis", and Babesia microti. The prevalence of most bacterial agents in hybrids was intermediate compared to their parental tick species. Most genetic variants of the identified agents have been previously found in the parental tick species. Wide distribution of I. persulcatus/pavlovskyi natural hybrids implies that I. persulcatus, I. pavlovskyi and their hybrids coexist in all I. persulcatus - I. pavlovskyi sympatric areas.

Urban soil geochemistry of an intensively developing Siberian city: A case study of Tyumen, Russia

Complex studies of soil cover within the urbanized areas represent one of the main research directions in environmental geochemistry. Urban soil geochemistry depends on a combination of natural and urbanization factors unique to each urban environment. Although Tyumen, in Western Siberia, is an intensively developing urban city, a detailed geochemical survey of its soils has never been performed. In this study, we conducted a systematic geochemical soil survey across the urbanized area of Tyumen, Russian Federation. Surface soil samples (0-10 cm) were collected from 241 sampling sites: 1 × 1 km regular grid for highly urbanized areas, and 4 × 4 km grid for peripheral parts of the city. The contents of V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Sr, and Pb were determined using XRF analysis. Data were interpreted using GIS and multivariate statistical analyses, including hierarchical cluster analysis and principal components analysis. The results showed a non-uniform spatial distribution of individual metals, associated with natural soil-lithological conditions and urban environment characteristics. Our data showed that variation in soil element content was origin dependent: V, Cr, and Co contents were related to their natural origin; As and Pb to their anthropogenic origin; and Ni, Cu, and Zn to their mixed origin. Elevated V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, and Zn contents correlated with proximity to motorway networks and machinery. Strong As and Pb anomalies were associated with the activity of battery enterprises. The spatial distribution of Sr was significantly different from other studied elements - anomalous content of this metal was confined to hydromorphic boggy landscapes of the city's northern part. In general, Tyumen territory was slightly polluted with metals. Zn and Pb contents were slightly lower than in most cities with similar population levels, while those of V and Co were higher. Other metal contents were comparable to those in large cities, with a long history of industrial development. Elevated Cr, Ni, Zn, Cu, As, Pb, and Co contents were observed in areas that developed during mid last century.

The role of Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) in the storage, emission and deposition of carbon in lakes and rivers of the River Ob flood plain, western Siberia

Several studies have reported significant emission of greenhouse gasses (GHG) from beaver dams, suggesting that ponds created by beavers are a net source of CO₂ and CH_4. However, most evidence come from studies conducted in North America (on Castor canadensis) without a parallel comparison with the Eurasian beaver's (Castor fiber) impacts and a critical consideration of the importance of the carbon deposition in dam sediments. The most abundant population of the Eurasian beaver lives in Russia, notably within the River Ob watershed in Western Siberia which is the second largest floodplain on Earth. Consequently, we assessed the holistic impact of Eurasian beavers on the multiple carbon pools in water and on other related biogeochemical parameters of the Ob's floodplain streams. We compared dammed and flowing streams in a floodplain of the middle course of the river. We found that beavers in western Siberia increase the stream emission of methane by about 15 times by building their dams. This is similar to what has been documented in North America. A new finding from the present study is that Siberian beavers facilitate 1) nutrient recycling by speeding up the nutrient release from particulate organic matter; and 2) carbon sequestration by increasing the amount of dissolved organic carbon. This carbon becomes in part recalcitrant when buried in sediments and is, therefore, removed from the short-term carbon cycle. These new results should be taken into consideration in river management and provide a further reason for the conservation and management of Eurasian Beavers.

Multilocus sequence analysis of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato isolates from Western Siberia, Russia and Northern Mongolia

Lyme borreliosis (LB) is the most frequently recorded tick-transmitted disease in Eurasia. Tomsk Province, Western Siberia in Russia and Selenge Aimag in Northern Mongolia are leading regions in the LB incidence rate in these countries. Spirochaetes of the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) complex isolated from Ixodes ticks from Tomsk Province (n = 56) and Ixodes persulcatus ticks from Selenge Aimag (n = 5) were genetically characterized using Multi Locus Sequence Typing (MLST), analysis of the 5S23S rRNA intergenic spacer (IGS) amplicons, and p83/100 gene sequencing. According to MLST, B. afzelii (n = 26), B. bavariensis (n = 23), B. garinii (n = 11), and B. valaisiana (n = 1) isolates were detected in Tomsk Province, while B. afzelii and B. bavariensis isolates were identified in Selenge Aimag. Of the 32 revealed sequence types (ST), 21 STs were new and 14 of the new STs belonged to B. afzelii. Several STs of B. afzelii, B. garinii and B. valaisiana identified in this study clustered with European STs found in I. ricinus ticks. Analysis of the 5S23S IGS demonstrated that the studied Borrelia strains showed RFLP pattern characteristic for the following 5S23S IGS types: VS461 (B. afselii), NT29 (B. bavariensis), 20047 (B. bavariensis and B. garinii), VS116 (B. valaisiana), and three new groups (B. afzelii and B. bavariensis). Notably, this is the first report of Asian B. bavariensis possessing a 5S23S IGS RFLP pattern identical to 20047, and analysis of the 5S23S IGS did not provide correct determination of Borrelia species occurring in Asia. Genotyping of Borrelia strains using the clpA, pepX, and p83/100 genes demonstrated the same result as genotyping based on MLST; and further investigations are required to confirm that these three genetic loci could be used for determination of bacterial species from the B. burgdorferi s.l. complex because data based on single loci may be misleading.

New genetic lineage within the Siberian subtype of tick-borne encephalitis virus found in Western Siberia, Russia

Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), a member of the Flaviviridae family, is a causative agent of a severe neurological disease. There are three main TBEV subtypes: the European (TBEV-Eu), Far Eastern (TBEV-FE), and Siberian (TBEV-Sib). Currently, three lineages within TBEV-Sib have been recorded. In this study, the genetic and biological characteristics of a new original strain, TBEV-2871, isolated in the Novosibirsk province of Western Siberia, Russia were investigated. The strain has low neuroinvasiveness in mice. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that TBEV-2871 belongs to TBEV-Sib, but does not cluster with any of the TBEV-Sib lineages. The TBEV-2871 strain has 88-89% nucleotide sequence identity with the other TBEV-Sib strains, 84-86% nucleotide sequence identity with the TBEV-FE and TBEV-Eu subtypes and is genetically close to the subtype division border. The TBEV-2871 polyprotein sequence includes 43 unique amino acid substitutions, 30 of which are recorded at positions that are conserved among all TBEV subtypes. Strain TBEV-2871 and two similar but not identical isolates found in Kemerovo province, Western Siberia are separated into a new lineage tentatively named Obskaya after the name of Ob riber, in the vicinity of which the TBEV-2871 was first found. A molecular evolution investigation demonstrated that within TBEV-Sib, the Obskaya lineage likely separated 1535years ago, which is even earlier than the Baltic lineage.

Soil carbon sequestration due to post-Soviet cropland abandonment: estimates from a large-scale soil organic carbon field inventory

The break-up of the Soviet Union in 1991 triggered cropland abandonment on a continental scale, which in turn led to carbon accumulation on abandoned land across Eurasia. Previous studies have estimated carbon accumulation rates across Russia based on large-scale modelling. Studies that assess carbon sequestration on abandoned land based on robust field sampling are rare. We investigated soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks using a randomized sampling design along a climatic gradient from forest steppe to Sub-Taiga in Western Siberia (Tyumen Province). In total, SOC contents were sampled on 470 plots across different soil and land-use types. The effect of land use on changes in SOC stock was evaluated, and carbon sequestration rates were calculated for different age stages of abandoned cropland. While land-use type had an effect on carbon accumulation in the topsoil (0-5 cm), no independent land-use effects were found for deeper SOC stocks. Topsoil carbon stocks of grasslands and forests were significantly higher than those of soils managed for crops and under abandoned cropland. SOC increased significantly with time since abandonment. The average carbon sequestration rate for soils of abandoned cropland was 0.66 Mg C ha^-1  yr^-1 (1-20 years old, 0-5 cm soil depth), which is at the lower end of published estimates for Russia and Siberia. There was a tendency towards SOC saturation on abandoned land as sequestration rates were much higher for recently abandoned (1-10 years old, 1.04 Mg C ha^-1  yr^-1 ) compared to earlier abandoned crop fields (11-20 years old, 0.26 Mg C ha^-1  yr^-1 ). Our study confirms the global significance of abandoned cropland in Russia for carbon sequestration. Our findings also suggest that robust regional surveys based on a large number of samples advance model-based continent-wide SOC prediction.

Detection and genetic characterization of a wide range of infectious agents in Ixodes pavlovskyi ticks in Western Siberia, Russia

BACKGROUND

The Ixodes pavlovskyi tick species, a member of the I. persulcatus/I. ricinus group, was discovered in the middle of the 20th century in the Russian Far East. Limited data have been reported on the detection of infectious agents in this tick species. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and genetic variability of a wide range of infectious agents in I. pavlovskyi ticks collected in their traditional and recently invaded habitats, the Altai Mountains and Novosibirsk Province, respectively, which are both located within the Western Siberian part of the I. pavlovskyi distribution area.

RESULTS

This study reports the novel discovery of Borrelia bavariensis, Rickettsia helvetica, R. heilongjiangensis, R. raoultii, "Candidatus Rickettsia tarasevichiae", Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Ehrlichia muris, "Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis" and Babesia microti in I. pavlovskyi ticks. In addition, we confirmed the previous identification of B. afzelii, B. garinii and B. miyamotoi, as well as tick-borne encephalitis and Kemerovo viruses in this tick species. The prevalence and some genetic characteristics of all of the tested agents were compared with those found in I. persulcatus ticks that were collected at the same time in the same locations, where these tick species occur in sympatry. It was shown that the prevalence and genotypes of many of the identified pathogens did not significantly differ between I. pavlovskyi and I. persulcatus ticks. However, I. pavlovskyi ticks were significantly more often infected by B. garinii and less often by B. bavariensis, B. afzelii, "Ca. R. tarasevichiae", and E. muris than I. persulcatus ticks in both studied regions. Moreover, new genetic variants of B. burgdorferi (sensu lato) and Rickettsia spp. as well as tick-borne encephalitis and Kemerovo viruses were found in both I. pavlovskyi and I. persulcatus ticks.

CONCLUSION

Almost all pathogens that were previously detected in I. persulcatus ticks were identified in I. pavlovskyi ticks; however, the distribution of species belonging to the B. burgdorferi (sensu lato) complex, the genus Rickettsia, and the family Anaplasmataceae was different between the two tick species. Several new genetic variants of viral and bacterial agents were identified in I. pavlovskyi and I. persulcatus ticks.

Neogene amphibians and reptiles (Caudata, Anura, Gekkota, Lacertilia, and Testudines) from the south of Western Siberia, Russia, and Northeastern Kazakhstan

Background

The present-day amphibian and reptile fauna of Western Siberia are the least diverse of the Palaearctic Realm, as a consequence of the unfavourable climatic conditions that predominate in this region. The origin and emergence of these herpetofaunal groups are poorly understood. Aside from the better-explored European Neogene localities yielding amphibian and reptile fossil remains, the Neogene herpetofauna of Western Asia is understudied. The few available data need critical reviews and new interpretations, taking into account the more recent records of the European herpetofauna. The comparison of this previous data with that of European fossil records would provide data on palaeobiogeographic affiliations of the region as well as on the origin and emergence of the present-day fauna of Western Siberia. An overview of the earliest occurrences of certain amphibian lineages is still needed. In addition, studies that address such knowledge gaps can be useful for molecular biologists in their calibration of molecular clocks.

Methods and Results

In this study, we considered critically reviewed available data from amphibian and reptile fauna from over 40 Western Siberian, Russian and Northeastern Kazakhstan localities, ranging from the Middle Miocene to Early Pleistocene. Herein, we provided new interpretations that arose from our assessment of the previously published and new data. More than 50 amphibians and reptile taxa were identified belonging to families Hynobiidae, Cryptobranchidae, Salamandridae, Palaeobatrachidae, Bombinatoridae, Pelobatidae, Hylidae, Bufonidae, Ranidae, Gekkonidae, Lacertidae, and Emydidae. Palaeobiogeographic analyses were performed for these groups and palaeoprecipitation values were estimated for 12 localities, using the bioclimatic analysis of herpetofaunal assemblages.

Conclusion

The Neogene assemblage of Western Siberia was found to be dominated by groups of European affinities, such as Palaeobatrachidae, Bombina, Hyla, Bufo bufo, and a small part of this assemblage included Eastern Palaearctic taxa (e.g. Salamandrella, Tylototriton, Bufotes viridis). For several taxa (e.g. Mioproteus, Hyla, Bombina, Rana temporaria), the Western Siberian occurrences represented their most eastern Eurasian records. The most diverse collection of fossil remains was found in the Middle Miocene. Less diversity has been registered towards the Early Pleistocene, potentially due to the progressive cooling of the climate in the Northern Hemisphere. The results of our study showed higher-amplitude changes of precipitation development in Western Siberia from the Early Miocene to the Pliocene, than previously assumed.

Stable and Variable Parts of Microbial Community in Siberian Deep Subsurface Thermal Aquifer System Revealed in a Long-Term Monitoring Study

The goal of this work was to study the diversity of microorganisms inhabiting a deep subsurface aquifer system in order to understand their functional roles and interspecies relations formed in the course of buried organic matter degradation. A microbial community of a deep subsurface thermal aquifer in the Tomsk Region, Western Siberia was monitored over the course of 5 years via a 2.7 km deep borehole 3P, drilled down to a Palaeozoic basement. The borehole water discharges with a temperature of ca. 50°C. Its chemical composition varies, but it steadily contains acetate, propionate, and traces of hydrocarbons and gives rise to microbial mats along the surface flow. Community analysis by PCR-DGGE 16S rRNA genes profiling, repeatedly performed within 5 years, revealed several dominating phylotypes consistently found in the borehole water, and highly variable diversity of prokaryotes, brought to the surface with the borehole outflow. The major planktonic components of the microbial community were Desulfovirgula thermocuniculi and Methanothermobacter spp. The composition of the minor part of the community was unstable, and molecular analysis did not reveal any regularity in its variations, except some predominance of uncultured Firmicutes. Batch cultures with complex organic substrates inoculated with water samples were set in order to enrich prokaryotes from the variable part of the community. PCR-DGGE analysis of these enrichments yielded uncultured Firmicutes, Chloroflexi, and Ignavibacteriae. A continuous-flow microaerophilic enrichment culture with a water sample amended with acetate contained Hydrogenophilus thermoluteolus, which was previously detected in the microbial mat developing at the outflow of the borehole. Cultivation results allowed us to assume that variable components of the 3P well community are hydrolytic organotrophs, degrading buried biopolymers, while the constant planktonic components of the community degrade dissolved fermentation products to methane and CO2, possibly via interspecies hydrogen transfer. Occasional washout of minor community components capable of oxygen respiration leads to the development of microbial mats at the outflow of the borehole where residual dissolved fermentation products are aerobically oxidized. Long-term community analysis with the combination of molecular and cultivation techniques allowed us to characterize stable and variable parts of the community and propose their environmental roles.

Opisthorchiasis in Western Siberia: Epidemiology and distribution in human, fish, snail, and animal populations

Opisthorchiasis is a widespread helminth infection in Russia. The largest opisthorchiasis endemic focus in the world is the Ob river watershed in Western Siberia. The main causative agent of this condition is the liver fluke, Opisthorchis felineus. In addition, another liver fluke species in the Opisthorchiidae family, Metorchis bilis, causes a symptomatically similar disease, metorchiasis. Despite a long research history going back to 1927, opisthorchiasis remains a serious problem in Russia, and numerous questions related to the epidemiology of these liver fluke infections and their patterns of distribution in Western Siberia, the causes of high prevalence in different populations, and the prognosis of the epidemiological situation remain to be answered. In this review, we first briefly describe the life cycle of O. felineus and then summarize the available published data on the epidemiological aspects of O. felineus infection among populations in Western Siberia. Additionally, the geographical distribution and rates of infection with the two major small liver flukes, O. felineus and M. bilis, in the intermediate (Bithyniidae snails and cyprinid fish) and definitive (humans, wild and domestic carnivorous animals and birds) hosts are described to assess their role in the transmission cycle. Moreover, species in the genus Opisthorchis and the genus Metorchis that have been reported in carnivorous mammals and birds in Western Siberia are listed and their potential to serve as the agents of opisthorchiasis transmission is discussed.

Traditional Living Habits of the Taz Tundra Population: A Paleoparasitological Study

An excavation of the Vesakoyakha II-IV and Nyamboyto I burial grounds was conducted during the 2014 field season, and soil samples from intact burials dating from the 19th and 20th centuries, respectively, were analyzed to determine interactions between parasites and host/vectors. Considering the discovery of Diphyllobothrium sp. and Taenia sp. eggs in soil samples from the pelvic region, diphyllobothriasis was the most frequent helminthic infection among the Taz Nenets. The Nyamboyto Nenets mainly consumed uncooked fish, while the Vesakoyakha Nenets had a bigger variety in food choices, including reindeer meat. Nenets children were given raw fish from early childhood. The paleoparasitological results corroborate rare ethnographic records about the consumption of uncooked reindeer cerebrum which led to beef tapeworm helminthiases. This is the first parasitological report of helminthic diseases among the Taz Nenets, and, as such, it provides insight into their subsistence activities and food patterns and broadens our understanding of their health condition.

A review of myrmecophilous mites of the family Microdispidae (Acari, Heterostigmatina) of Western Siberia

Five species of myrmecophilous microdispid mites (Acari: Microdispidae) are recorded from Western Siberia, Russia. Unguidispuslasii Kurosa, 1979, Unguidispusjaponicus Kurosa, 1979, Caesarodispusminutus (Sevastianov, 1981), and Caesarodispussamsinaki (Mahunka, 1967), comb. n. are reported from Russia for the first time. Unguidispuspolyctenus (Sevastianov, 1969) and Caesarodispussamsinaki are redescribed. The keys to species of the genera Unguidispus Mahunka, 1970 and Caesarodispus Mahunka, 1977 are provided.

Monitoring of influenza viruses in Western Siberia in 2008-2012

Western Siberia is of great importance in ecology and epidemiology of influenza. This territory is nesting area for great amount of bird species. Territorial relations of Western Siberian birds that are established during seasonal migration are extremely wide since this region is an intersection point of bird migration flows wintering in different regions of the world: Europe, Africa, Middle East, Central Asia, Hindustan, and South East Asia. Reassortant influenza viruses that can cause outbreak among population may emerge in Western Siberia with high probability. Thus, it is extremely important to carry out widespread study of circulated viruses, their molecular biological properties, phylogenetic links in this region, as well as herd immunity to influenza virus serotypes with epidemic potential.