No 4 (2023)

Physicochemical and sorption characteristics of the Black Soldier fly pupal cuticle have been studied. The qualitative and granulometric compositions of chitin material were determined, and the surface microrelief of chitin particles was studied by scanning microscopy. The sorption properties of the material were studied using the methylene blue dye. It was found that the sorption capacity of the material is 0.118 mmol/g, or about 38 mg/g. Mathematical processing of the sorption isotherm using the Langmuir, Freindlich, Dubinin-Radushkevich models showed that the process is best described by the Dubinin-Radushkevich model (R² = 0.8031), and the sorption process has a physical nature (E = 5.534 kJ/mol).

Fenbendazole (FBZ) is one of the most widely used drugs in veterinary medicine. Modification of its physicochemical properties, in particular the parameter of solubility, contributes to a change of its biological activity, that is shown on the model of trichinellosis of white mice. The analysis of methods of obtaining new preparations of fenbendazole is presented: solid dispersions of fenbendazole with polymers, as well as the combinations with polymers and succinic acid (SA) and mixed crystals of FBZ with SA. The concentration of the active substance, stability and effect on biological activity were studied.

Based on the analysis of 94 sequences of the mtDNA CO1 gene, the intrabreed diversity and evolutionary relationships of bees from Russia, Ukraine, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Poland were studied. We revealed two main haplotypes corresponding to the races A. m. carpathica and A. m. caucasica, common in the studied regions. However, in Armenia bees of the Caucasian race predominate, and in Poland – Carpathian. A. m. caucasica has higher haplotype diversity: one of its haplotypes is formed by samples of bees from the Crimean mountain breed, possibly an independent race A. m. taurica. There are 2 clusters on the phylogenetic tree: one cluster includes A. m. mellifera and A. m. iberica (evolutionary line M), the other (line C) ‒ A. m. ligustica, A. m. carpathica, A. m. caucasica. Haplotypes of A. m. caucasica have more substitutions per site, indicating their earlier origin compared to A. m. ligustica and A. m. carpathica. According to the time of divergence of A. mellifera and A. cerana at 6 Ma, the divergence of all races of line C is estimated from 1.3 to 0.6 Ma; races A. m. caucasica 0.35–0.25 million, A. m. carpathica – 0.2–0.04 million. When using universal primers with optimization of amplification conditions for the mtDNA CO1 gene region, a nonsynonymous G/A SNP was detected in position 4 (680 bp) which can be used to identify A. m. carpathica from A. m. ligustica.

The morphological and anatomical parameters of the vegetative and generative organs of plants Plantago maritima L. were studied in different biotopes of the littoral zone on the coast of the White Sea in the vicinity of the village Rastnavolok (Belomorsky district, Republic of Karelia). It has been established that plants have developed certain adaptations to conditions of the littoral zone: two biomorphs are formed (rosette and upper rosette with elongated upper internodes) as an adaptation to covering with soil during tides and storms. Within the littoral zone under different flooding conditions, plants differ in some anatomical features. The thickness of the water-strage parenchyma correlates directly with the thickness of the leaf, it varies within the littoral zone depending on the time the plants are flooded with salt water. Well-developed integumentary and mechanical tissues of the root and rosette shoots are an adaptive response to the mobility of the soil substrate and water mass during tidal surges. The development of aerenchyma in underground vegetative organs ensures gas exchange under flooding conditions. Significant differences of the studied anatomical and morphological parameters in biotopes of the littoral showed the wide adaptive capabilities of P. maritima, which ensure its dominance in the plant communities of the White Sea coast.

Using scanning electron microscopy, new data on the microstructure of the definitive coverling feathers of all four species of ground jays Podoces pleskei, P. panderi, Eupodoces hendersoni and E. biddulphi and eight other species of Corvidae were obtained: Ptilostomus afer, Garrulus glandarius, Perisoreus infaustus, Corvus cornix, Cyanopica cyana, Nucifraga caryocatactes, Pica pica and Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax. Comparative morphological analysis involving previously published data on the microstructure of the pen-feathers of these species, as well as Corvus monedula, C. frugilegus, C. corax, revealed a number of feather microstructures specific to ground jay species, as well as differences between Podoces and Eupodoces, which confirms their genus status, possible relationship with G. glandarius and Pt. afer, as well as the preservation of ancestral features in P. pleskei.

The effect of the physiological state on the lysozyme concentration in the liver, kidney, spleen and serum, as well as the total amount of the enzyme in the organs, was studied in male pike Esox lucius L., 1758 under different conditions of the annual cycle. Multidirectional intra-annual dynamics of organ somatic indices and quantitative parameters of lysozyme in fish tissues and organs, depending on the temperature regime of the water body, was found. Despite significant changes in liver size and lysozyme concentration, the total amount of the enzyme in the organ, the lysozymic index, remained constant. A similar result was found in the spleen. When the influence of the temperature factor at low temperatures was minimized, the liver parameters changed to the opposite ones, while those in the kidney remained unchanged. Such a temperature regime did not affect the spleen parameters and the concentration of the enzyme in the serum. With significant differences between the liver and spleen in the enzyme concentration and size, their lysozymic indices were indicators of the same level. Stages of gonad maturity affected the liver index and the amount of lysozyme in the kidney, but the correlation of the kidney enzyme with maturity was not significant. The kidney lysozyme and the spleen parameters correlated with body mass without organs, although fish weight and length were not influencing factors. The size of the kidney, unlike the spleen, did not affect the enzyme in fish tissues. The liver and kidney enzyme concentrations and kidney lysozymic index were inversely correlated with liver size. A complex nature of the enzyme relationships in organs was revealed, at which the amount of lysozyme in one organ could affect the amount of the enzyme in the other. The relationship between the concentration of serum lysozyme and the morphophysiological parameters of fish under stable low temperature conditions in the water body was not found.

The accumulation of iron in halophytic species Triglochin maritima L., Plantago maritima L., Aster tripolium L. and Zostera marina L. was studied in this research. Littoral soils are not contaminated with iron (6–16 g/kg). Seawater, on contrary, contains high concentrations of iron (0.04–0.32 mg/l). Halophytes accumulate iron to supervalues (6.49–71.63 г/кг), 93% of metal is found in rhyzomes. The reasons for this phenomenon are discussed. Halophytes of the White Sea littoral zone are involved in the biogeochemical iron cycle as the main fixation sites of iron in the system “coast–sea”. They have phytoremediation potential on the coastal territories.

The effect of ellagotannins on the activity of peptidases of the intestinal mucosa and chyme of trout was studied. Experimental groups of fish were fed with an additive based on ellagitannins (with an active substance content of 0.38, 0.76 and 1.14 g/kg of food). Sampling was carried out in 8 individuals from each group before the experiment, at 15, 30, 45 and 60 days. The study showed that ellagotannins, has a stimulating effect on the activity of peptidases. The maximum increase in the enzymatic activity in the experimental groups compared with the control group was recorded on day 45 of the experiment. A more significant increase in the activity of peptidases of the intestinal mucosa compared with chyme was established. It is concluded that ellagotannins stimulate the initial stage of cleavage of protein components of food.