Том 7, № 2 (2017)

The problems associated with characteristics of the organization and evolution of the ITS1–5.8S rDNA–ITS2 region of 35S rRNA genes in the plant genome are discussed. It was demonstrated that phylogenetic hypotheses about the relationship of species and genera constructed based on the comparison of this region sequences in the nucleus genomes usually look quite plausible and are mainly consistent with the ideas of “classical” taxonomists about the relationships of species, although the traditional ideas about the borders of tribes and subtribes are not always phylogenetically confirmed. In general, the divergence of thousands copies of the ITS1 and ITS2 sequences present in the plant nucleus mainly correlated with the direction and rates of morphological divergence of taxa.

More than one third of the global population are Mycobacterium tuberculosis carriers. Nevertheless, no adequate vaccine against tuberculosis has been developed. The article reviews the limitations of BCG, the only tuberculosis vaccine in current use, the main difficulties in the development of tuberculosis vaccines, and novel strategies in the development of next-generation vaccines. All types of new vaccines in the pipeline are considered. Special attention is paid to DNA- and protein subunit vaccines. The most efficient delivery methods for tuberculosis vaccines are discussed. Long-run prospects in designing novel tuberculosis vaccines are outlined.

A review of literature dedicated to the creation and development of concepts of the potential vegetation and ecosystem cover has been performed. The developmental stages of these concepts are presented in relation to changes in paradigms and the development of historical ecology as a science, allowing an estimation of the depth, intensity, and transformation mechanisms of the natural ecosystem cover. The modern synecological concepts of the structural–functional organization and dynamics of ecosystems have been integrated into a system enabling further development of the concepts of the potential vegetation and potential ecosystem cover at the current level of knowledge. The first results of model reconstructions of the potential forest cover in the European part of Russia have been summarized. The prospects for further development of the concept of potential ecosystem cover are outlined. They are essential for the accomplishment of theoretical and practical conservation objectives.

Data from the author and the literature on the morphology of glycocalyx in cestodes at all stages of their life cycle are summarized. Two basic modifications of glycocalyx corresponding to intestinal and tissue forms of cestodes have been distinguished. It has been demonstrated that tissue glycocalyx has the largest size and is characterized by higher morphological diversity as compared to that in intestinal forms, which may be explained by differences in the habitat conditions. Among the possible glycocalyx functions, protection is assumed to be of primary importance. This function includes a wide spectrum of mechanisms. The need for special studies on the histogenesis, structure, and functioning of glycocalyx in metacestodes is established.