Laboratory Lead — Andrey V. Vasin, PhD
Phone: +7 (812) 499–15–24
E-mail: andrey.vasin@influenza.spb.ru
Organized in 2010 out of two existing laboratories, the lab is involved in integration into laboratory and clinical practice of contemporary experimental and theoretical techniques of functional and structural proteomics to determine the role of viral proteins in viral infection pathogenesis, analyze protein-protein interactions and develop new means of influenza diagnosis and treatment. The lab consists of 20 full and part-time researchers, 6 of whom hold PhD and 1 holds SciD.
Biochips: In the framework of " Improvement of Production and Application Methods of Diagnostic Biochips Research Program" (2007–2009), an infrastructure for conducting biochip assays and designing new methods for analysis with the help of protein and DNA biochips was developed. Lab samples of oligonucleotid biochips for human A/H5N1 detection, identification of gene expression of cytokines IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, IFNg and TNF of human and mice were produced. Comparative tests of surfaces for protein immobilization were conducted. The lab designed RPA biochip for detection of human and mice IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, IFNg and TNF.
Studies of mechanism of action of antivirals in animals and cell cultures: With the help of electron microscopy it was demonstrated that Cycloferon, a common Russian antiviral, blocks DNA encapsidation of herpes virus.
Nanotechnology application in biology and medicine: Our scientists conducted research of the mechanism of interaction between PVP-C60 and influenza virions.
Protein-protein interactions: With the help of computer modeling and in vitro experiments, peptides with controlled oligomerization were developed; techniques for predicting potential protein-protein interaction sites, utilizing computer processing of protein primary structure; methods of complex research of interaction small molecules-potential inhibitors of protein-protein interactions.
RNA structure studies: Techniques of dimensional RNA structure analysis, combining computer processing and traditional biochemical techniques.
Laboratory scientists use electron microscopy, microarray analysis, HPLC, Centrifugation, spectrophotometry, spectrofluometry, Western Blotting, 1D and 2D electrophoresis, mass-spectrometry; dynamic light scattering, in silico modeling of polypeptide dimensional structure and creation of protein complexes, analysis of primary protein and nucleotide sequences and secondary DNA structure; phylogenetic analysis, nucleotide sequencing and amplification; RNA hybridization, Southern Blotting.
JEM-1011 and JEM-100S TEMs; Reichert-Jung, Leica-UC7 and LKB-III ultramicrotromes, SpotBot 3 microarrayer, ScanArrayExpress, vacuum concentrator (Eppendorf), spectrophotometer (Nanodrop), Thermomixer Comfort, lab centrifuges (Eppendorf), LKS-3 laser correlational spectrometer, spectrofluorimeter (Avantes), system for horizontal and vertical electrophoresis(Bio-Rad).
The lab organizes theoretical and practical classes for resident doctors and students taking RII virology courses. A lot of postgraduate students from St. Petersburg State Polytechnical University, St. Petersburg State University and St. Petersburg State Institute of Technology conduct their PhD research studies at the lab. An educational center on Molecular Virology was organized by the lab and the Biophysics Faculty of St. Petersburg State University.
