Kairat Tabynov

Understanding the historical assessment of plague in Kazakhstan is essential for early warning and decision support for effective health disaster management. For this purpose, this study evaluated historical data on plague from 1926 to 2003 in Kazakhstan using descriptive-analytical methods. The results of the study showed that between 1926 and 2003, there were 565 human plague cases in 82 different outbreaks. Cases that occurred in different regions include Almaty (32.22%), Aktobe (1.59%), Atyrau (4.42%), Mangistau (21.24%), Kyzylorda (40.53%) oblasts. The study showed that a higher percentage of cases were recorded before public health in Kazakhstan began using antibiotics and prophylactic measures against plague (1947-1948). Large outbreaks were found to have occurred in 1926, 1929, 1945, 1947 and 1948, accounting for about 80.7% of human-to-human transmission. Other forms of plague transmission include flea bites, cutting and skinning camels, wild animals, aerosolization, and rodent bites. The study also showed that the age range of patients affected by plague ranged from 0 to 86 years and was divided into two genders, including 49.9% males and 50.1% females, respectively. During the study period, there were bubonic (12.57%), bubonic septicemia (5.84%), bubonic pneumonia (1.06%), pulmonary (72.4%), secondary pneumonia (0.35%), septic (2.83%), cutaneous (0.18%), cutaneous bubonic (0.88%), tonsillar (0.35%), tonsillar bubonic (0.18%) forms and no clinical form (3.36%) data cases. There were cases of plague infection from person to person. The incidence was 0.29 per 10,000 people. The risk of human infection with plague is likely to increase with the expansion of anthropogenic areas in areas where plague foci exist in Kazakhstan. Increased awareness is needed for rapid diagnosis and treatment.

The study of the mechanisms of allergic inflammation and airway hyper-responsiveness underlying bronchial asthma in animal experiments allows a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of these processes in humans. Therefore, experimental animals are widely used to study the physiology and pathophysiology of the respiratory tract, as well as research on the search for improved methods of treatment. In connection with this, today the relevance of this kind of work increases again due to the need to find pathogenetically justified methods of treatment of bronchial asthma. In order to work on the development of a new formulation of allergy vaccine for subcutaneous allergen-specific immunotherapy, it is necessary to correctly determine the type of animal to model experimental bronchial asthma. For this purpose, a systematic search of scientific information was carried out about the specifics of modeling experimental bronchial asthma on different types of laboratory animals. To compile this review, a comprehensive search was conducted for publications in electronic databases: Pubmed, Scopus, Google Scholar, eLibrary. A number of experimental models of asthma in animals are described in the literature, which are used to study various aspects of pathogenesis and to test new ways of treating bronchial asthma. At the same time, each model has certain features that limit the scope of its use. Among large animals, rabbits, rhesus macaques, cats, dogs, horses, and sheep have been used to study allergies, since they are predisposed to develop allergic responses to antigens clinically relevant to humans. But most often mice and rats are used in modeling of the bronchial asthma. But every model has their own specific applications. This article describes the features of using different types of laboratory animals in modeling bronchial asthma. Аллергиялық қабыну механизмдерін және бронхиалды демікпе негізіндегі тыныс алу жолдарының гиперреактивтілігін жануарларда жүргізілген экспериментте зерттеу арқылы адамдардағы осы процестердің механизмдерін тереңірек түсінуге мүмкіндік береді. Сондықтан да эксперименталды жануарлар тыныс алу жолдарының физиологиясы мен патофизиологиясын зерттеу үшін, сондай-ақ жетілдірілген емдеу әдістерін іздеу үшін кеңінен қолданылады. Ірі жануарлардың арасында аллергияны зерттеу үшін қояндар, резус макакалары, мысықтар, иттер, жылқылар мен қойлар пайдаланылды, өйткені олар адамдар үшін клиникалық маңызды антигендерге аллергиялық реакциялардың дамуына бейім. Бірақ көбінесе бронх демікпесін модельдеу кезінде тышқандар мен егеуқұйрықтар қолданылады. Бірақ әрбір лабораторлық жануардың бронх демікпесін модельдеуде өз қолдану ерекшеліктері де бар. Бұл мақалада бронхиалды демікпені модельдеу кезіндегі зертханалық жануарлардың әртүрлі түрлерін қолдану ерекшеліктері сипатталған. Изучение механизмов аллергического воспаления и гиперреактивности дыхательных путей, лежащих в основе бронхиальной астмы, в эксперименте на животных позволяет глубже понять механизмы этих процессов у человека. Поэтому экспериментальные животные широко используются для изучения физиологии и патофизиологии дыхательных путей, а также исследование по поиску усовершенственных методов лечения. Связи с этим, на сегодняшний день актуальность такого рода работ вновь возрастает в связи с необходимостью поиска патогенетически обоснованных методов лечения бронхиальной астмы. Среди крупных животных для изучения аллергии использовались кролики, резус-макаки, кошки, собаки, лошади и овцы, так как они имеют предрасположенность к развитию аллергических ответов на антигены, клинически значимые для человека. Но чаще всего при моделировании бронхиальной астмы используются мыши и крысы. Важно помнить, что каждая модель имеет свои особенности применения при моделировании бронхиальной астмы. В данной статье описаны особенности использования разных видов лабораторных животных при моделировании бронхиальной астмы.

Relevance. The prevalence of IgE-mediated allergic diseases among the population of industrially developed countries has reached 35%, and experts estimate that it will increase further in the next decade. Allergen-specific immunotherapy (SIT) is the only therapeutic approach capable of changing the natural course of the allergic process. Global prevalence of allergic diseases and several disadvantages of commercially available SIT products, made us start the search for new and improved specific treatment of allergies, which in turn requires the proper modeling of allergic diseases using laboratory animals. Aim. Modeling of IgE-mediated bronchial asthma and allergic rhinitis in mice for future development of a new vaccine for allergen-specific immunotherapy. Materials and Methods. Study design – experimental preclinical prospective cohort study. The entire cycle of work with laboratory animals was carried out at M. Aikimbayev National Research Center for Especially Dangerous Infections of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan from September 2020 to January 2021. To model IgE-mediated bronchial asthma 8-12 week old SPF Balb/c female mice were used. Mice were sensitized by intranasal (IN) and intraperitoneal (IP) ways with 3 different extracts: bitter wormwood, common wormwood and their mix. Our choice of these particular allergens is determined by their significance in the ethiology of seasonal pollinosis in Kazakhstan. When assessing the level of sensitization of mice, a comprehensive approach was used, which included the analysis of antibody and cytokine levels, cellular immune responses, clinical signs and histological analysis of the lungs. Generally accepted methods of statistical processing of experimentally obtained samples of varying variables were used. The mean value of the sample (X) and the standard error (m) were determined. The reliability of the differences between the indicators and the groups was determined using the Graph Pad Prism 8 statistical program (Graph Pad Software, Inc., La Jolla, CA, USA). Novelty: Modeling of allergic rhinitis and bronchial asthma with IN and IP regimes of sensitization with the use of bitter wormwood and common wormwood extracts and their mix in mice was tested for the first time. Results: Among the allergens tested, common wormwood extract in the intraperitoneal sensitization had shown the most potent sensitizing effect: high values of total and antigen-specific IgE antibodies; pronounced polarization of immune response toward Th2 by the ratio of IgG1/IgG2a antibodies; positive reaction in the allergy ear swelling test; induced perivascular and eosinophilic inflammation in the lungs with expression of the allergic proinflammatory cytokine IL-5. Conclusions: In modeling of IgE-mediated bronchial asthma in mice, common wormwood extract with intraperitoneal sensitization has the most potent sensitizing effect. Актуальность. Распространенность IgE-опосредованных аллергических заболеваний среди населения промышленно развитых стран достигло 35%, и, по оценкам экспертов прогнозируется их дальнейшее увеличение уже в следующем десятилетии. Единственным терапевтическим подходом способным изменить естественное течение аллергического процесса является АСИТ. Глобальная превалентность аллергических заболеваний и не совершенность коммерчески доступных АСИТ, обуславливает необходимость поиска новых или усовершенствование существующих способов специфической терапии аллергии, который в свою очередь, требует правильное моделирование аллергических заболеваний на лабораторных животных. Цель. Моделирование IgE-опосредованной бронхиальной астмы и аллергического ринита у мышей для будущей разработки новой вакцины для аллерген-специфической иммунотерапии. Материалы и методы. Дизайн исследования: экспериментальное-доклиническое проспективное когортное исследование. Весь цикл работ с лабораторными животными выполнялся в Национальном научном центре особо опасных инфекции им. М. Айкимбаева МЗ РК с сентября 2020 по январь 2021 года. Для моделирования IgE-опосредованной бронхиальной астмы были использованы 8-12 недельные SPF Balb/c мыши - самки, которые были сенситизированы интраназальным (ИН) и интраперитонеальным (ИП) путем экстрактами полыни горькой и обыкновенной, а также их миксом. Выбор данных аллергенов обуславливается их значимостью в наибольших случаях сезонного поллиноза в Казахстане. При оценке уровня аллергизации мышей был использован комплексный подход, который включал изучение антительного, цитокинового, клеточного иммунного ответов, клинических...

The current COVID-19 pandemic demonstrates the need for urgent and on-demand solutions to provide diagnostics, treatment and preventative measures for infectious disease outbreaks. Once solutions are developed, meeting capacities depends on the ability to mitigate technical, logistical and production issues. While it is difficult to predict the next outbreak, augmenting investments in preparedness, such as infectious disease surveillance, is far more effective than mustering last-minute response funds. Bringing research outputs into practice sooner rather than later is part of an agile approach to pivot and deliver solutions. Cooperative multi- country research programs, especially those funded by global biosecurity programs, develop capacity that can be applied to infectious disease surveillance and research that enhances detection, identification, and response to emerging and re-emerging pathogens with epidemic or pandemic potential. Moreover, these programs enhance trust building among partners, which is essential because setting expectation and commitment are required for successful research and training. Measuring research outputs, evaluating outcomes and justifying continual investments are essential but not straightforward. Lessons learned include those related to reducing biological threats and maturing capabilities for national laboratory diagnostics strategy and related health systems. Challenges, such as growing networks, promoting scientific transparency, data and material sharing, sustaining funds and developing research strategies remain to be fully resolved. Here, experiences from several programs highlight successful partnerships that provide ways forward to address the next outbreak.

Camelpox is an infectious viral disease of camels reported in all the camel-breeding areas of Africa, north of the equator, the Middle East and Asia. It causes huge economic loss to the camel industry. We developed a live camelpox virus vaccine candidate using an attenuated strain and evaluated its safety, immunogenicity and protective efficacy in camels. The attenuated virus strain was generated from the camelpox wild-type strain M-96 by 40 consecutive passages on the chorioallantoic membrane of 11-day-old embryonated chicken eggs, henceforth called KM-40 strain. Reversion to virulence of the KM-40 strain was evaluated in camels by three serial passages, confirmed its inability to revert to virulence and its overdose administration was also found safe. Studies of immunogenicity and protective efficacy of the candidate vaccine KM-40 strain in camels was carried out using the dose of 5 x 10^4.0 EID₅₀. Our data showed complete protection against the challenge infection using the virulent wild-type camelpox virus strain M-96 (dose of 10^5.0 EID₅₀) which was evaluated at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months post vaccination. In summary, our candidate live attenuated egg-based camelpox vaccine strain KM-40 was found safe, protective, and thus has the potential to use safely in field conditions.

Kazakhstan and the United States have partnered since 2003 to counter the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. The US Department of Defense (US DoD) has funded threat reduction programs to eliminate biological weapons, secure material in repositories that could be targeted for theft, and enhance surveillance systems to monitor infectious disease outbreaks that would affect national security. The cooperative biological research (CBR) program of the US DoD’s Biological Threat Reduction Program has provided financing, mentorship, infrastructure, and biologic research support to Kazakhstani scientists and research institutes since 2005. The objective of this paper is to provide a historical perspective for the CBR involvement in Kazakhstan, including project chronology, successes and challenges to allow lessons learned to be applied to future CBR endeavors. A project compendium from open source data and interviews with partner country Kazakhstani participants, project collaborators, and stakeholders was developed utilizing studies from 2004 to the present. An earlier project map was used as a basis to determine project linkages and continuations during the evolution of the CBR program. It was determined that consistent and effective networking increases the chances to collaborate especially for competitive funding opportunities. Overall, the CBR program has increased scientific capabilities in Kazakhstan while reducing their risk of biological threats. However, there is still need for increased scientific transparency and an overall strategy to develop a capability-based model to better enhance and sustain future research. Finally, we offer a living perspective that can be applied to further link related studies especially those related to One Health and zoonoses and the assessment of similar capability-building programs.

This report describes the first isolation and characterization of porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2) in the Republic of Kazakhstan. The virus was isolated from a dead piglet that did not exhibit any typical clinical symptoms of porcine circovirus disease at a pig factory in North Kazakhstan oblast (region). The isolated virus belongs to genotype 2 (PCV2) and shares 96.6% sequence homology with one isolate and two strains from China and two French strains in group 1, cluster 1ab and 96.4% homology with two strains isolated in China and one strain from Hungary. Electron microscopy revealed the isolated virus had the typical morphological structure of PCV. This is the evidence of occurrence of porcine circovirus 2 isolation and characterization in Kazakhstan.