Background: The Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology named after G.P. Somov (1917–2009), D.M.Sc., Professor, Academician of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, an outstanding Soviet and Russian epidemiologist and microbiologist, was founded in May 1941. Over the past 80 years, the institute has played an important role in the socio-economic development of Primorye by ensuring biological safety in the south of the Far East known for its Russian largest foci of natural focal infections. The purpose of this review is to describe the milestones of the development and eighty years of activities of Somov Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Vladivostok, intertwining with the history of Russian health care and medical science. A new stage in the development of the institute began in September 2020 when, by Order of the Russian Government No. 2276-r of September 7, 2020, the Institute was included in the structure of the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing (Rospotrebnadzor). Materials and methods: We have searched for appropriate data for 1928–2020 in the archives of the Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, State Archives of the Primorsky Krai and the city of Vladivostok, as well as Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, Elsevier, Springer, and Google Scholar databases. We have also made use of plans and reports of research work, minutes of the Academic Council, orders, and records of the Personnel Department. Results: The article describes the role of the Institute in the development of domestic epidemiology, its cooperation with the sanitary and epidemiological service of the Primorsky Krai, and the main achievements of fundamental and applied studies conducted in order to ensure sanitary and epidemiological welfare of the population in the Russian Federation. It also presents biographical information about leading scientists of the Institute, their participation in the development of theoretical and practical aspects of epidemiology, microbiology, and immunology. The article reflects the main short and long-term trends in the development of the Institute including its restructuring and appropriate adjustment of research plans. Conclusions: Entering a new phase of its development with a solid baggage of knowledge and experience, the Institute plans to develop promising research appropriate to the goals of the Concept of Scientific Support for Rospotrebnadzor Bodies and Organizations until 2025 within the framework of the new sectoral program “Scientific Support for Epidemiological Surveillance and Sanitary Protection of the Territory of the Russian Federation”. The tasks set by the Institute are aimed at strengthening its position as one of the key elements of scientific support for biological security in the south of the Russian Far East.

Introduction: The article analyzes the course of scientific research that led to the discovery of tick-borne (Amarillovirales: Flaviviridae, Flavivirus) and Japanese (Amarillovirales: Flaviviridae, Flavivirus) encephalitis viruses and further formulation of the basic principles of functioning of natural foci of vector-borne infections. Materials and methods: We did a literature search in the State Archive of the Primorsky Krai, the Vladivostok City Archive, the Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, Elsevier, Springer, and Google Scholar databases. Results: In the late 1930s, the Ussuri taiga became a “cradle” of the concept of natural focality first formulated by Academician Yevgeny N. Pavlovsky in 1939. Originally encompassing vector-borne infectious diseases this concept was later expanded to include non-vector-borne infections and sapronoses. A great contribution to the meaningful evolution of the theory of sapronoses was made by Academician Georgy P. Somov (Vladivostok). Conclusion: Establishment in May 1941 of a predecessor of the modern Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology named after G.P. Somovbelonging to the Russian Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing became one of the elements of consistent strengthening of the biological security of the country in the Far East.

Background: The discovery of a new viral disease called tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) in the Far East in 1937 triggered the thematic virology research on the Eurasian continent. The purpose of our study was to conduct a virological and epidemiological monitoring of tick-borne viral infections in the Primorsky Krai over an 80-year period. Materials and methods: Several hundreds of strains belonging to the viruses of the TBE complex (Flaviviridae family) and other families have been isolated; their biological, antigenic and molecular genetic characteristics have been studied. Results: The most complete picture of the Far Eastern population of the TBE virus was obtained in the 1990s based on whole genome sequencing of 50 TBEV strains isolated from patients with different clinical manifestations of the disease and from ixodid ticks. It was established that all the strains belong to the same Far Eastern subtype of TBEV with three clusters (Oshima-, Sofjin-, and Senzhang-). In 1972, the Powassan virus was first isolated from Haemaphisalis longicornis ticks on the Eurasian continent. Phylogenetic analysis based on the whole genome characteristics of the Spassk-9, Nadezdinsk-1991 and Partizansk-2006 strains, as well as the characteristics of five fragments of other Powassan virus strains, indicated that they all belong to the Powassan virus lineage I. The first comparative description of three strains Primorye-155-77, Primorye-20-79 and Primorye-185-91 of the Louping ill virus was given. A comprehensive study of the isolated Ozernoe strain of a deceased female patient enabled identification of the first clinical case of the lyssavirus disease in the Asian part of Russia. This strain is genetically close and has a common ancestor with the Irkut strain and is attributed to pathogens of the genus Lyssavirus, family Rhabdoviridae. Conclusion: Isolation of a highly pathogenic lyssavirus and several viruses of the TBE complex indicates the importance of such virology surveillance and proves the necessity of its continuation.

Background: Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) is a viral, natural focal infection that is currently relevant for many countries of the world and ranks high among zoonotic viral infections in the Russian Federation. The purpose of our work was to present the main stages of the discovery and study of HFRS: from registration of the first clinical cases of the disease by military doctors in the east of our country to the current level of research. Materials and methods: We analyzed scientific literature devoted to the discovery of HFRS and further studies of this natural focal disease. Results: The discovery of many natural focal infections that are still relevant today in the Russian Federation coincided with the beginning of the rapid exploration and development of the Far East in the 1930s. Long-term studies of Soviet and foreign scientists helped systematize knowledge about viral etiology, clinical picture, pathophysiology, and pathomorphology of hemorrhagic nephrosonephritis and isolate the Hantaan virus, the etiological agent of HFRS (Lee HW, 1978). World famous Soviet virologists A.A. Smorodintsev and M.P. Chumakov, local scientists, doctors, and employees of the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing made a significant contribution to the research into etiology, terminological consistency, epidemiology, and epizootology of HFRS. Conclusion: At present, the study of various aspects of hantavirus infections is one of the main tasks of the Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology named after G.P. Somov. The research continues to establish the mechanisms of functioning of the natural foci of orthohantaviruses at different phases of the population cycles of their main carriers and in different landscape zones of the Russian Far East. A search for new species of orthohantaviruses, their natural reservoirs, and novel antiviral biologically active substances of natural and synthetic origin against orthohantaviruses is going on.

Introduction: Until 1950s, pseudotuberculosis in humans was known in the world as a sporadic disease with appendicular syndrome. In 1959, the first outbreak of a previously unknown disease called Far Eastern scarlet-like fever (FESLF) was registered in Vladivostok. The purpose of this article is to review priority achievements of the Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology named after G.P. Somov in the field of studying FESLF as a specific clinical and epidemic manifestation of pseudotuberculosis in Russia. Materials and methods: The priority data were obtained based on microbiological, epidemiological, molecular genetic, as well as pathomorphological and electron microscopic studies of biological samples from human FESLF cases and experimental animals infected with Yersinia pseudotuberculosis strains with different plasmid characteristics. Results: It has been proven that the FESLF pathogen is a specific clone of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis having a certain plasmid profile pVM82, pYV 48 MDa, sequence type (2ST) and the first allele of the yadA gene. The causative agent of FESLF is characterized by the phenomenon of psychrophilicity, which consists in its ability to multiply in the environment with its biologically low and changing temperature (4–12 °C), at which the pathogen multiplies and accumulates while preserving or increasing its virulence, thus inducing the epidemic process. The article describes the main genetic and biochemical mechanisms of Y. pseudotuberculosis adaptation to changing environmental conditions, reveals morphological manifestations of the adaptive variability of these bacteria under different conditions of their habitat, and presents the main features of the pathogenesis and morphogenesis of FESLF, including those associated with plasmid characteristics and toxigenicity of Y. pseudotuberculosis. Conclusion: Currently, the epidemic process of pseudotuberculosis/FESLF is characterized by a decrease in the proportion of outbreaks and predominance of sporadic cases. The relevance of further research is associated with the study of the dormant forms of Y. pseudotuberculosis and the formation of ideas about pseudotuberculosis as a persistent infectious disease.

Introduction: After a long period of non-recognition, sapronoses and saprozoonoses have taken their rightful place in the classification of infectious diseases, while the evolutionary features of these infections remain unclear. New facts related to the specifics of their circulation both in the external environment and in warm-blooded animals are revealed and the possibilities of their existence in hydrobionts and plants, as well as formation of uncultivated forms, etc., are being studied. However, recent studies have demonstrated the possibility of microorganisms to co­exist in certain consortia, interacting with other types of microorganisms of other species. In this regard, research on the issue of sapronosis remains sparse. Our objective was to evaluate the ability of saprotrophic bacteria isolated from soil and marine environment to form multicultural biofilms with Listeria monocytogenes, related to sapronoses, and to determine the nature of their interaction in model experiments. Materials and methods: The research was carried out in 2017–2019 using museum strains of different variants of Listeria monocytogenes from the collection of the the Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology named after G.P. Somov and saprophytic bacteria isolated from marine environment and soil. Biofilms were analyzed by spectrophotometry, and the number of viable cells was determined by the number of colony­forming units in 1 ml (CFU/ml). The results showed that the bacteria of a mixed microbial community living in a biofilm could interact with each other through competition or cooperation. Conclusion: Cooperation between different strains of microorganisms in the soil or marine environment may contribute to a better adaptation and survival of L. monocytogenes, thus posing a potential hazard to the population. This fact highlights the epidemiological significance of the marine and soil environments.

Background: The south of the Russian Far East including the Amur Region, the Jewish Autonomous Region, the Khabarovsk and Primorsky Regions is a unique area in terms of richness of the parasite fauna. Historically, ideal conditions for the existence of various foci of parasitic infections have formed locally. The objective of our study was to provide a brief description of the history of parasitological studies conducted in the south of the Russian Far East since the first half of the 20^th century and to demonstrate their relevance. Materials and methods: We analyzed appropriate literary sources found in the Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, Elsevier, Springer, and Google Scholar databases. Results: We established that the species diversity of trematodes was studied better than that of cestodes, nematodes, higher and lower monogeneans. The accumulated knowledge is fundamental for understanding distribution and pathogenicity of helminths. However, contemporary parasitological research is characterized by a high level of interdisciplinarity and integration. A simple systematization of parasites is no longer enough; it is necessary to characterize molecular mechanisms underlying pathogenesis, antigenic variability, and drug resistance. The article discusses perspectives of future parasitological research of the biology of endo- and ectoparasites, host–parasite interactions and links at different levels of organization: biocenotic, population and organismic, complementing theoretical data on the processes of microevolution and coevolution of the pathogen and the host. Conclusion: Existing problems can be solved using proteomic, genomic, transcriptomic, and bioinformatics approaches that contribute to a better understanding of the biology of objects and are promising for identification of clinically important biological characteristics of parasitic organisms.

Introduction: Salmonella infection occupies a leading position in the structure of acute intestinal infections caused by bacterial pathogens. In recent years, with the development of molecular genetic methods and introduction of techniques of computerized data processing, the improvement of the epidemiological surveillance system in the light of the world scientific achievements has become of particular importance. This review is aimed at presenting the history of developing molecular genetic methods and computer technologies in the study of Salmonella infection, and the update on the issue in the Russian Federation based on recent findings of the Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology named after G.P. Somov, one of the leading Russian centers for the study of Salmonella. Materials and methods: We used databases of the Laboratory of Molecular Epidemiology of Somov Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, and did a literature search in the Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, Elsevier, Springer, and Google Scholar. Results: Since the second half of the 1980s, the method of plasmid DNA analysis of bacteria of the Salmonella genus has been put into practice. Since 1990, this method has been the basis for microbiological molecular genetic monitoring of the pathogen. The geography of the studied strains, restricted to Primorsky Krai in the 1990s, already in the 2000s encompassed the Far Eastern and Siberian Federal Districts of the Russian Federation. The studies conducted by the Laboratory of Molecular Epidemiology helped improve the system of epidemiological surveillance of the causative agent of salmonellosis in the Far East and revealed the structure of the Salmonella population based on the analysis of plasmids contained in Salmonella strains. Conclusion: Several issues related to microbiology, epidemiology, clinical picture, and prevention of Salmonella infection were resolved during the comprehensive research. We discuss prospects for the development of molecular genetic methods and computer technologies in the study of Salmonella infection in the epidemiological surveillance system in the Russian Federation and emphasize the importance of whole-genome sequencing as a new “gold standard” in molecular epidemiology.

Introduction: The emergence and growth of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial strains in recent decades is associated with the widespread and uncontrolled use of antibiotics, as well as a decrease in the number of effective studies and discoveries of new classes of antibacterial drugs. These alarming trends are recognized as a major threat to global public health. They stimulate and increase the relevance of a large-scale search and study of new antimicrobial strategies, alternative to traditional antibiotic therapy. The purpose of the review is a critical analysis of advantages and limitations of modern antimicrobial platforms with an emphasis on innovative techniques of using nanoparticles for a direct or indirect effect on pathogenic bacteria, including the MDR ones. Materials and methods: The search for literary sources published in 2017–2021 was carried out in the resources of the Cochrane Library (Wiley Online Library directory), EMBASE (EMBASE.com), CINAHL, and Web of Science. Results: Most positive therapeutic effects for the diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases were obtained by implementing fundamentally new mechanisms of antimicrobial activity of nanosized particles and other nanomaterials. When assessing future prospects of nanotechnology as the most dynamically and actively developing and promising recent antimicrobial strategy, it should be concluded that these innovative platforms certainly merit attention and further study as alternative means of preventing and treating bacterial infections. The main limitation for the clinical use of modern nanomaterials is the need for further assessment of their safety and cytotoxicity. Conclusions: Tackling antibiotic resistance requires the concerted action of community and government institutions. The development of safe and effective antibacterial technologies should be accompanied by adoption of an international program of strict regulation and tough measures of control over validity and rational use of antibiotics and other antibacterial drugs in medicine, cosmetology, and agriculture.

Introduction: Since 1970s, a school of thought on management of innate and acquired immunity systems using biologically active substances of the Far East marine origin has been developed by the Immunology Laboratory of Somov Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology of the Russian Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing (Rospotrebnadzor). Biopolymers, which constitute the structural basis of live marine organisms and sustain numerous vital processes, draw special attention as potential candidates for pharmaceutical forms. The objective of our study was to summarize the results of long-term research on biologically active substances (BAS) from marine aquatic organisms (hydrobionts) of the Pacific Ocean as the basis for developing medicinal preparations for infectious disease prevention and treatment and dietary supplements for food and functional food products. Methods: We have selected and analyzed 46 principal published works of the researchers of the Institute found in electronic databases (Web of Science, PubMed, and eLibrary) using appropriate keywords. Results: We established that over 500 substances from various hydrobionts of the Pacific Ocean including invertebrates, fish, algae, marine bacteria (polycationic and polyanionic polysaccharides of brown and red algae), pectins (colloidal carbohydrates of high molecular weight and complex structure), lipopolysaccharides and polysaccharides from marine proteobacteria, glycoproteins, proteoglycans, glycolipids, low-molecular compounds of marine origin (sulfated polyoxysteroids, peptides, beta-glucans, nucleic acids, amino acid complexes, naphthoquinones and spinochromes of sea urchins) had been studied for their biological properties over the past almost half a century. The studies produced abundant new data on immunomodulatory, antibacterial, antiviral, antitumor, anti-adhesive, anti-endotoxic, pro-apoptotic, hepatoprotective, and hypolipidemic properties of biologically active substances, substantiated feasibility of designing innovative BAS-based medicines, and developed environmentally safe functional food products and dietary supplements. Conclusions: Biologically active substances from marine hydrobionts are a promising source for the development of novel domestic pharmaceuticals.