Group Lead — Vladimir V. Zarubaev, PhD
Phone: +7 (812) 499–15–26
E-mail: vladimir.zarubaev@influenza.spb.ru
The laboratory was created in 1971 prof. V. I. Ilyenko being the first Head of the Lab. Since 1971 many anti-viral, immunomodulating and pathogenetic compounds have been studied, developed and introduced into clinical practice. Most of these drugs are now widely used for prophylaxis and treatment of influenza. To read more about laboratory’s achievements in the field of research and development of antivirals click here.
Testing of virus-inhibiting activity of compounds is carried out on cell cultures or chicken embryos. The set of model strains includes, but is not limited by influenza A H1N1, H2N2, H3N2, H5N2, H5N3, H1swlN1) and B, human adenoviruses of different serotypes, respiratory syncytial virus, parainfluenza virus, human herpesviruses type 1 and 2, and human cytomegalovirus.
Those compounds that demonstrate anti- viral activity in cell cultures, or that are biologically active agents of other mechanism of action, are further tested on animal models of viral infections in laboratory animals. These models include, but are not restricted with:
Schemes of experiments allow detailed study of several compounds in different doses and schemes of schedules of application as well as wide- scale screening of numerous compounds in in vitro and in vivo experiments.
Complex study of mechanisms of virus-inhibiting activity of compounds includes methods of virology, immunology in different modifications (IFA, ELISA, immunocyto- and immunohistochemical analysis,) biochemistry and morphological analysis by light and electron microscopy.
In a framework of collaborative projects, the laboratory interacts with many Russian and foreign organizations. Laboratory’s employees participate in numerous joint researches, among which the following are the most important:
At present, Head of the laboratory is V. V. Zarubaev, Ph. D. in Virology. Area of his scientific interests covers the search for new antivirals of synthetic or natural origin, synthesis of the chemical compounds with defined properties, creation of models of human viral pathologies in laboratory animals with characterization of the models and their use for testing of anti-viral activity of compounds.
