Southwestern Siberia Research Articles

Classification of network social movements in the cities of Southwestern Siberia regions

The article presents the results of the study of urban Internet communities of a causal nature in the regions of Southwestern Siberia. Communities are analysed by variables: the degree of their development, the number of participants, the goals and objectives set, the forms of activity used. These communities were identified in social networks and messengers such as VKontakte, Facebook, Twitter, Odnoklassniki, Instagram, Telegram, as well as among YouTube channels and specialized sites. The informatisation of modern society provides citizens with more and more opportunities to participate in public life and establish horizontal communications. This is combined with the processes of raising the level of civic consciousness and the search for "workarounds" for participation in public politics. Both of these tendencies lead to more and more active involvement of citizens in the processes of self-organisation and participation in various associations. This leads to an increase in the number of urban problematic (causal) communities and in the number of their participants, the creation of new projects, and the massisation of their actions. There can be distinguished two main vectors for the development of such urban communities: urban protection and environmental. The first direction deals with the issues of arranging the living environment of citizens and creating "places of application" of causal civil activity, with problems of combining commercial, social, historical and cultural principles in the development of cities. The second one deals with the issues of protecting the natural environment, improving the living conditions of citizens, changing the consciousness and behaviour of people towards those more environmentally friendly. The set of methods used by all these communities is very wide: information campaigns in media and the Internet, filing petitions and appeals, organising of practical activities in the direction of their work, educating citizens, holding pickets and other public events, establishing contacts between civil society and government. It should be noted that there is no strict distinction between the communities of the two main problem areas, since the tasks they strive to solve (for example, the preservation of green areas in cities, the fight against landfills, etc.), as well as the composition of the participants, partially coincide.

Review on Lemon Balm Herb and its Evaluation

The development of drugs from medicinal herbs may be good to find novel therapeutic agents in the treatment of anxiety. Melissa officinalis L. (lemon balm) belongs to the Lamiaceae family and grows widely in the Mediterranean region, western Asia, southwestern Siberia, and northern Africa. Melissa officinalis L. has been used in traditional medicine to treat headaches, indigestion, colic, nervousness, cardiac failure and depression. In addition, it has been reported in several researches that lemon balm had many beneficial effects such as anti-inflammatory and ant nociceptive, Antioxidant. leaves contain several classes of constituents including polyphenolic compounds (rosmarinic acid, caffeic acid and protocatechuic acid), essential oils (geranial, neral, citronellal, geraniol, beta-pinene, alpha-pinene, beta-caryophyllene, germacrene D, and ocimene), monotherpenoid aldehydes, sesquiterpenes, flavonoids (luteolin) and tannins. The aims of this study were to evaluate the phytochemical screening of ethanolic extract of Melissa officinalis L. One study examined a chemically-validated essential oil derived from Melissa and found that Melissa inhibited binding of GABAA to receptor channel in the rat forebrain, but had no effect on or nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (Abuhamdah et al., 2008). They also found that Melissa elicited a significant dose-dependent reduction in both inhibitory and excitatory transmission.. The aromatic balm leaves are often used in beverages and as a seasoning in salads, dressings and sauces, as well as in cooked foods, e.g., in soups and stews. Some vernacular names are balm, common balm, blue balm, dropsy plant, honey plant, Herzkraut, citronelle, cytria, cedronella.

Research of spawning grounds sterlet Acipenser ruthenus in rivers of Novosibirsk, Tomsk and Omsk regions

Data on potential spawning grounds of the sterlet Acipenser ruthenus in the south of Western Siberia, in the Ob and Irtysh rivers (within Novosibirsk, Tomsk, and Omsk regions) are presented. There are 12 sites potentially suitable for natural reproduction of sterlet over a considerable length of the Ob, from 708 to 1135 km according to the Pilotage Map (PM). On 5 of them (in the area of the village Pochta, 761–759 km of the PM; Uspenka 782 km of the PM; Kireevsk 913.5–924 km of the PM; Oskino 937.5–950 km of the PM; the mouth of the Tom River 985–998 km PM) sterlet spawning was noted by the presence of early juveniles and (or) the presence of spawning growers. The total area of sites suitable for the natural reproduction of sterlet was 32.11 km². There are 14 sites potentially suitable for natural reproduction of sterlet over a considerable length of the Irtysh, from 2026 to 1310 km according to the PM. Their total area is 2.39 km². Identified areas in the Ob and Irtysh is characterized mainly by pebble soils (less often — sandy-pebble or rocky) and significant depths, from 3 to 16 m at the time of the survey. Thus, in the Ob and Irtysh despite hydroconstruction, extraction of sand-gravel mixture and other anthropogenic impact on the habitat, the conditions for the natural reproduction of sterlet have been preserved. The data obtained will serve as the basis for developing plans for the protection of sterlet in the region and making proposals for changes to the Fishing Rules for the West Siberian.

Bithyniid snails as hosts of Opisthorchiidae and Notocotylidae in the south of Western Siberia, Russia.

Opisthorchiasis and related infections are persistent and substantial public health burdens from eastern Europe to southeastern and northern Asia. Snails of the family Bithyniidae act as first intermediate hosts not only for the trematodes of the family Opisthorchiidae but also for those of the family Notocotylidae. There are certain morphological similarities between the aforementioned trematode cercariae. In order to find natural local foci of opisthorchiasis, which are established primarily according to the presence of infected bithyniid snails at the area under examination, it is crucial to correctly identify the rediae and cercariae of the trematodes. The aim of our investigation was to evaluate the role of bithyniid snails in the transmission of Opisthorchiidae and Notocotylidae in ecosystems in the south of Western Siberia. We have been studying the process of bithyniid snail dissemination in Western Siberia and examining their infection by trematodes from 1994 until now. A total of 16,213 bithyniid snails in 23 water bodies (in 28 localities) of four major basins situated in the Novosibirsk region were inspected for trematode infestation. Long-term research has been conducted in the Kargat river estuary and the Ob river floodplain for 15 and 25years, respectively. In both water bodies, the prevalence of notocotylid and opisthorchiid trematodes was positively correlated with the global land-ocean temperature index. Trematode parthenitae were identified if there were mature cercariae capable of leaving the shell of the host snail on their own. Identification to the species of opisthorchiid cercariae was verified using molecular genetic analysis methods targeting ITS2 locus. Opisthorchis felineus and Metorchis bilis, two opisthorchiid species that are potentially perilous to human health, were found in bithyniids in the Novosibirsk region. The mean prevalence of infection with notocotylid trematodes in bithyniid snails was higher than the corresponding prevalence of infection with opisthorchiid trematodes. The results of this study can be used to identify and predict natural foci of epidemiologically and/or epizootically dangerous diseases.

DISSEMINATION OF <i>MISGURNUS NIKOLSKYI </i>(COBITIDAE) IN THE SOUTH OF WESTERN SIBERIA

Data on new findings of the Nikolsky loach Misgurnus nikolskyi in the south of Western Siberia are presented. The maximum distance from the place of the first detection is about 200 km downstream of the Ob River. It has been suggested that the main method of dispersal of the Misgurnus nikolskyi in this region is deliberate introduction. It has been shown that the mtDNA haplotypes of the cyt b locus of the Misgurnus nikolskyi from the Ob River basin are identical to those described from the Lower Amur River basin.

The efficiency of the use of biological products in cultivation of spring wheat in Western Siberia

In an experiment on quasi-gleyed agrochernozem in the south of Western Siberia, it was found that biological preparations (biological fertilizers and growth stimulants) are effective when used for spring wheat by seed treatment method. With a yield of 2.41 t/ha in the control variant, the use of biological preparations contributed to the formation of 2.70-2.88 t/ha of grain. The greatest effect is obtained from the use of variants: azotovit + phosphatovit and azotovit + phosphatovit + potassium humate. The use of biofertilizers has a positive effect on the soil nitrate nitrogen and mobile phosphorus content. The use of stimulants did not significantly affect the fertility level. Biological fertilizers and growth stimulants had a positive effect on crop quality indicators. It was revealed that the sum of amino acids increases from 9.24% without fertilizers to the highest 9.81% in the variant with potassium humate.

Natronocalculus amylovorans gen. nov., sp. nov., and Natranaeroarchaeum aerophilus sp. nov., dominant culturable amylolytic natronoarchaea from hypersaline soda lakes in southwestern Siberia

Several pure cultures of alkaliphilic haloaloarchaea were enriched and isolated from hypersaline soda lakes in southwestern Siberia using amylopectin and fructans as substrates. Phylogenomic analysis placed the isolates into two distinct groups within the class Halobacteria. Four isolates forming group 1 were closely related to a recently described Natranaeroarchaeum sulfidigenes and the other three strains forming group 2 represent a novel genus-level phylogenetic lineage. All isolates are saccharolytic archaea growing with various starch-like alpha-glucans including soluble starch, amylopectin, dextrin, glycogen, pullulane and cyclodextrin. In addition, group 1 can use levan while group 2 – inulin (plant storage beta-fructans). Group 1 strains can also grow anaerobically with either glucose or maltose using elemental sulfur as the electron acceptor. Both groups are moderately alkaliphilic with a pH range for growth from 7.2 to 9.3 (optimum between 8.0–8.8) and low Mg-demanding extreme halophiles growing optimally at 4 M total Na+. The major respiratory menaquinone is MK-8:8 and the core biphytanyl lipids are dominated by archaeol (C20-C20) and a less abundant extended archaeol (C20-C25) with PG and PGP-Me as polar groups. The four isolates of group 1 are suggested to be classified into a new species as Natranaeroarchaeum aerophilus sp. nov. (type strain AArc-St1-1T = JCM 32519T). The three isolates of group 2 are proposed to form a new genus and species for which the name Natronocalculus amylovorans gen. nov., sp. nov. is suggested (type strain AArc-St2T = JCM 32475T).

New data on the problem of the origin of Griva and Lake landscapes in the south of Western Siberia

The characteristic of the upper part of the borehole 486 drilled in 1981 on the Tyumensky Peninsula, located in the center of the Chany Reaches agglomeration is given. The main feature of the section is the presence of a horizon of large frost cracks in the roof of clays of the Lower Pliocene Novostanichnaya Formation, on which the upper Quaternary cover of Griva deposits occurs. The nature of the filling of cracks by the sediments of the overlying layer indicates that they were constantly filled with ice, which had already melted under the influence of the Grosswald Flow. This horizon is important for the reconstruction of the paleoclimate and paleogeography of the region. For the first time, data of palynological study of sediments of a typical Griva in the south of Western Siberia on the example of a section on the Cape Kazantsevsky Peninsula (the northern part of Lake Chany) are presented. Sediments contain pollen of woody and herbaceous plants, single spores of mosses and ferns, as well as microphytoplankton. The presence of cells of colonial algae of the genus Pediastrum suggests the accumulation of sediments in lacustrine conditions.

Palynostratigraphy of the Oligocene and Neogene-Quaternary deposits of the Ishim and Irtysh Interfluve (by example of boreholes 3 and 6)

A biostratigraphic subdivision based on palynological data of Oligocene and Neogene-Quaternary deposits recovered by wells 3 and 6 in the south of Western Siberia on the border of the Tyumen and Omsk regions is presented. Eight spore and pollen assemblages are identified and compared with zonal assemblages of the West Siberia regional scale. Layers with dinocysts are identified in the Turtas Formation. To include them in the stratigraphic scheme of the new generation, it is proposed to consider the territory between the villages of Katai and Listvyagi as a stratotype area of this biostraton.

ВЕРОЯТНЫЕ ИЗМЕНЕНИЯ КЛИМАТА В XXI ВЕКЕ НА ТЕРРИТОРИИ РОССИИ ПО ДАННЫМ МОДЕЛИ КЛИМАТА INM-CM5-0

Possible climate changes in Russia during the 21st century are considered based on the INM-CM5-0 climate model. According to the SSP3-7.0 scenario, the warming by 5-8°C in winter and by 3-4.5°C in summer are expected in Russia at the end of the 21st century. Minimum annual temperatures will rise faster than winter mean ones. Maximum annual temperatures will rise faster that summer mean ones. An increase in precipitation will occur across Russia in winter, while its decrease is expected in southern and central European Russia and in the south of Western Siberia in summer. The contribution of light precipitation will decrease, while the contribution of heavy and very heavy precipitation will increase. An increase in annual mean river runoff and a decrease in upper soil moisture in summer are expected nearly everywhere in Russia.

Long-Term Studies of Biological Components of Atmospheric Aerosol: Trends and Variability

Background: Biological components of atmospheric aerosol affect the quality of atmospheric air. Long-term trends in changes of the concentrations of total protein (a universal marker of the biogenic component of atmospheric aerosol) and culturable microorganisms in the air are studied. Methods: Atmospheric air samples are taken at two locations in the south of Western Siberia and during airborne sounding of the atmosphere. Sample analysis is carried out in the laboratory using standard culture methods (culturable microorganisms) and the fluorescence method (total protein). Results: Negative trends in the average annual concentration of total protein and culturable microorganisms in the air are revealed over more than 20 years of observations. For the concentration of total protein and culturable microorganisms in the air, intra-annual dynamics is revealed. The ratio of the maximum and minimum values of these concentrations reaches an order of magnitude. The variability of concentrations does not exceed, as a rule, two times for total protein and three times for culturable microorganisms. At the same time, for the data obtained in the course of airborne sounding of the atmosphere, a high temporal stability of the vertical profiles of the studied concentrations was found. The detected biodiversity of culturable microorganisms in atmospheric air samples demonstrates a very high variability at all observation sites. Conclusions: The revealed long-term changes in the biological components of atmospheric aerosol result in a decrease in their contribution to the atmospheric air quality index.

West Nile Fever: Results of Monitoring over the Causative Agent in the Russian Federation in 2021, the Incidence Forecast for 2022

The epidemiological situation on West Nile fever (WNF) in Russia in 2021 was characterized by an increase in the incidence relative to 2020 (more than 6-fold increase). The peculiarities of the WNF epidemic process have been determined: the territorial distribution of cases (75 % – in the constituent entities of the Central Federal District), the expansion of the causative agent’s areal with the involvement of new territories (official registration of cases in Moscow and the Tula Region for the first time ever), the early end of the epidemic season. An increase in the proportion of neuroinvasive forms, an increase in the share of male patients and the age group of 30–39 years, a decrease in the proportion of the population in contact with the pathogen in natural places of mass recreation were observed in the incidence structure. According to the results of the monitoring studies carried out by the Reference Center, intensive circulation of the pathogen was established on the territory of the Central Federal District, Southern Federal District, and the North Caucasian Federal District. The low reported incidence was due to insufficient detection of WNF patients. The results of moleculargenetic study showed that in the European part of Russia, WNV lineage 2 circulated in both epizootic and epidemic cycles, lineage 2 in the south of Western Siberia (Omsk Region) and lineage 4 in the Volgograd Region – in the epizootic cycle only. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that strains isolated from the Astrakhan, Volgograd, Rostov, Voronezh Regions and the Republic of Dagestan in 2021 belong to the genovariant of WNV lineage 2 not registered in Russia previously. The topology of the phylogenetic tree indicates the possible African origin of the isolates, probably imported into Russia by migratory birds across the coast of the Caspian Sea. In the Volgograd Region, WNV of both the entrenched clade of lineage 2 (since 2007) and new genovariant circulated. The specialists of the Reference Center developed a forecast of WNF epidemiological situation development in the Volgograd Region in 2022 on the basis of the neural network modeling technique, according to which an increase in the incidence is expected, comparable to that in 2010 and 2012. Based on the climate projections, an increase in the incidence is possible in all Federal Districts of the European part of Russia, the southern territories of the Urals, Western Siberia, and the Far East.

Diversity and Metabolism of Microbial Communities in a Hypersaline Lake along a Geochemical Gradient.

Simple SummaryIn the south of western Siberia (Russia), there are many unique and unexplored lakes. This work focused on Lake Solenoe, a component of a poorly studied lake system in the south of western Siberia. The diversity of microorganisms of Lake Solenoe was evaluated in the floating community and in the bottom sediments. The aim was to assess the metabolic potential of this lake ecosystem and to describe the identified relations between the mineral and living components. This is the first detailed study on the microbial diversity, its metabolic potential, and their relations with a series of geochemical parameters in the lake ecosystem of Novosibirsk Oblast. In the south of western Siberia (Russia), there are many unique and unexplored soda, saline, and freshwater lakes. In this study, the results are presented on microbial diversity, its metabolic potential, and their relation with a set of geochemical parameters for a hypersaline lake ecosystem in the Novosibirsk region (Oblast). The metagenomic approach used in this work allowed us to determine the composition and structure of a floating microbial community, the upper layer of silt, and the strata of bottom sediments in a natural saline lake via two bioinformatic approaches, whose results are in good agreement with each other. In the floating microbial community and in the upper layers of the bottom sediment, bacteria of the Proteobacteria (Gammaproteobacteria), Cyanobacteria, and Bacteroidetes phyla were found to predominate. The lower layers were dominated by Proteobacteria (mainly Deltaproteobacteria), Gemmatimonadetes, Firmicutes, and Archaea. Metabolic pathways were reconstructed to investigate the metabolic potential of the microbial communities and other hypothetical roles of the microbial communities in the biogeochemical cycle. Relations between different taxa of microorganisms were identified, as was their potential role in biogeochemical transformations of C, N, and S in a comparative structural analysis that included various ecological niches.

The species composition of herbivorous acarofauna in the south of Western Siberia

The species composition of herbivorous acarofauna in the south of Western Siberia

Black Kites on a flyway between Western Siberia and the Indian Subcontinent

The Black Kite (Milvus migrans) is one of the most widespread raptors in the world. The Palaearctic is populated by two migrating subspecies, Milvus migrans migrans and Milvus migrans lineatus, in the western and eastern part of this realm, respectively. There is a large intergradation zone of M. m. migrans/M. m. lineatus in-between. Although the migration routes of M. m. migrans from Europe to Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East are well known, detailed information about migration routes of Black Kites from intergradation zone are missing. Using satellite telemetry we are able to fill this gap in our knowledge of these birds. We tagged with GPS/SMS/GPRS telemetry loggers 13 and 6 Black Kite pulli in lowland around Biysk (Altai Krai, Russia) and in mountains around Kosh-Agach (Altai Republic, Russia), respectively. After fledging, Black Kites from both subpopulations stayed in a small, non-overlapping areas and then migrated to southern Asia through narrow corridors. Black Kites originating from Biysk migrated through the Western Circum-Himalayan Corridor. Black Kites originating from Kosh-Agach used the Trans-Himalayan Corridor crossing the Himalayas in altitudes of up to 6256 m asl. The average total distance travelled of Black Kites from both subpopulations was 9166 km without any significant differences between these subpopulations. Timing of both spring and autumn migration did not vary along different age groups. Black Kites from both subpopulations wintered in low elevations of Pakistan and India. Birds wintered on average for 190 days, and the mean area of individual home ranges in winter was 4704 km2. During the breeding period, birds dwelled in south-western Siberia, where they spent on average 125 days with an average home range size 3537 km2. We found that ontogenetic shifts in migratory behaviour of Black Kites from Eastern Russia differ from those in population/subspecies in Europe. Black Kites crossing the Himalayas fly and, moreover, stay for hours resting at night in the environment of mountains at altitudes over 5000 m.

On the Possibility of Using Geoinformation Technologies to Study Economic Inequality (Based on the Materials of the Siberian Region of 1926-1927)

The article discusses the possibilities of using geoinformation technologies to study economic inequality. The methodology and technique of applying geospatial analysis in the study of wage inequality of employees of district cities of the Siberian Territory in 1926-1927 are shown. Statistical bulletins published in 1926-1929 in Novosibirsk were used as sources. Data were selected that characterize the salaries of employees of the district cities of Siberia for 8 quarters, covering almost 2 years – 1926 and 1927. During the development of GIS, a 1:3000000 scale map of the Siberian Region was digitized, on which there is a coordinate grid, the situation (hydrographic network and relief displayed by washing) and administrative division were plotted according to the zoning data of 1929. A series of maps was built reflecting the average salary level of employees in district cities, as well as the dynamics of wages based on quarterly statistics. The highest salary of employees is observed in Novosibirsk. It is noticeable that cities with low wages are concentrated in the south of Western Siberia. The growth rates of wages in cities show a greater variation than the average salary. The largest increase in wages is demonstrated by those cities in which its level was low or average. It can be stated that there are certain prospects in the use of geoinformation technologies to study economic inequality.

ПОЛЕВЫЕ ИССЛЕДОВАНИЯ ОТДЕЛА РЕЛИГИОВЕДЕНИЯ ИНСТИТУТА ЭТНОЛОГИЧЕСКИХ ИССЛЕДОВАНИЙ УФИМСКОГО ФЕДЕРАЛЬНОГО ИССЛЕДОВАТЕЛЬСКОГО ЦЕНТРА РАН

This article briefly examines the history of field research by the Department of Religious Studies of the Institute of Ethnological Research of the Ufa Federal Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The Department of Religious Studies has conducted and is currently successfully implementing studies of various aspects of the functioning of Muslim, Orthodox, Protestant and Catholic religious organizations located both in the Republic of Bashkortostan and in the South, Middle and Polar Urals and Western Siberia; ethno-demographic, doctrinal and ideological characteristics of believers are being studied. New empirical and theoretical propositions based on the results of the original field research of the department employees are introduced into the scientific circulation; new scientific problems are revealed, new methods of collection, processing and analysis of empirical materials are being developed. The Department of Religious Studies has achieved fruitful cooperation with the largest religious organizations of both the Republic of Bashkortostan and the Russian Federation.

Informal economic practices as a mechanism of adaptation of migrants in the south of Western Siberia in the late 19th — early 20th centuries

During the process of development of remote regions of Russian Empire, the state played the most important role, legislatively regulating the resettlement process and penal colonization. Despite the efforts of the state, in-formal economic practices became the means of adaptation of migrants to the new climatic and social circum-stances they were exposed to as a result of migration. The variety of the practices was most vividly manifested during the years of large-scale peasant resettlements to Siberia at the turn of the 19th — 20th c. This phenomenon was reflected in the reports, essays and travel diaries of officials, which supervised the land management matters of the resettlement, which made possible the comparison of informal economic practices in different climatic zones — the taiga and the steppe. The methodological basis of the study is the concept of the informal economy by T. Shanina, which considers the informal practices as a universal restorative mechanism that makes it possible to “soften” the most acute social and economic contradictions. That mechanism provides survival in such condi-tions when other social mechanisms fail. The resettlement households of the taiga regions were characterized by primitive methods of deforestation and felling for sale to the steppe districts, which prompted chances in the na-ture of urmans. As a consequence of the informal economic behavior of late settlers in the areas with abundant forests, the building density of homesteads became high, which resulted in that even newly formed settlements appeared as solid wooden walls. Such dense building development contradicted the directives of the resettlement officials, which appealed to the building statute regulations. In the southern steppe regions of Western Siberia, the settlers used land holdings on the basis of a seizure right using shifting cultivation system and seeding the fields mainly with wheat without applying crop rotation. In the settlements located at the bitter-salt lakes, hydraulic engi-neering works were carried out. However, the late settlers ignored such improvements; they denied the suitability of the filters, did not monitor their condition, and even contributed to the pollution of the water reservoirs arranged for drinking. The adaptive result of the informal practices is the increased stability of the peasant economy. De-pending on the yields, the new settlers was able to transfer the center of economic operations to and survive diffi-cult times. The development of promysels saved peasant families from hunger and financial collapse, yet contrib-uted to the spread of non-progressive, backward forms of land and resource use, which were based on extensive agriculture and a predatory attitude towards nature.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus of the A/H5N8 subtype, clade 2.3.4.4b, caused outbreaks in Kazakhstan in 2020.

BackgroundLarge poultry die-offs happened in Kazakhstan during autumn of 2020. The birds’ disease appeared to be avian influenza. Northern Kazakhstan was hit first and then the disease propagated across the country affecting eleven provinces. This study reports the results of full-genome sequencing of viruses collected during the outbreaks and investigation of their relationship to avian influenza virus isolates in the contemporary circulation in Eurasia.MethodsSamples were collected from diseased birds during the 2020 outbreaks in Kazakhstan. Initial virus detection and subtyping was done using RT-PCR. Ten samples collected during expeditions to Northern and Southern Kazakhstan were used for full-genome sequencing of avian influenza viruses. Phylogenetic analysis was used to compare viruses from Kazakhstan to viral isolates from other world regions.ResultsPhylogenetic trees for hemagglutinin and neuraminidase show that viruses from Kazakhstan belong to the A/H5N8 subtype and to the hemagglutinin H5 clade 2.3.4.4b. Deduced hemagglutinin amino acid sequences in all Kazakhstan’s viruses in this study contain the polybasic cleavage site (KRRKR-G) indicative of the highly pathogenic phenotype. Building phylogenetic trees with the Bayesian phylogenetics results in higher statistical support for clusters than using distance methods. The Kazakhstan’s viruses cluster with isolates from Southern Russia, the Russian Caucasus, the Ural region, and southwestern Siberia. Other closely related prototypes are from Eastern Europe. The Central Asia Migratory Flyway passes over Kazakhstan and birds have intermediate stops in Northern Kazakhstan. It is postulated that the A/H5N8 subtype was introduced with migrating birds.ConclusionThe findings confirm the introduction of the highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses of the A/Goose/Guangdong/96 (Gs/GD) H5 lineage in Kazakhstan. This virus poses a tangible threat to public health. Considering the results of this study, it looks justifiable to undertake measures in preparation, such as install sentinel surveillance for human cases of avian influenza in the largest pulmonary units, develop a human A/H5N8 vaccine and human diagnostics capable of HPAI discrimination.

Natronosporangium hydrolyticum gen. nov., sp. nov., a haloalkaliphilic polyhydrolytic actinobacterium from a soda solonchak soil in Central Asia

During a cultural diversity survey on hydrolytic bacteria in saline alkaline soils, a hydrolytic actinobacterium strain ACPA39T was enriched and isolated in pure culture from a soda solonchak soil in southwestern Siberia. It forms a substrate mycelium with rod-shaped sporangia containing 1–3 exospores. The isolate is obligately alkaliphilic, growing at pH 7.5–10.3 (optimum at 8.5–9.0) and moderately halophilic, tolerating up to 3 M total Na+ in the form of sodium carbonates. It is an obligately aerobic, organoheteroterophic, saccharolytic bacterium, utilizing various sugars and alpha/beta-glucans as growth substrates. According to the 16S rRNA gene-based phylogenetic analysis, strain ACPA39T forms a distinct branch within the family Micromonosporaceae, with the sequence identities below 94.5% with type strains of other genera. This is confirmed by phylogenomic analysis based on the 120 conserved single copy protein-based markers and genomic indexes (ANI, AAI). The cell-wall of ACPA39T contained meso-DAP, glycine, glutamic acid and alanine in a equimolar ratio, characteristic of the peptidoglycan type A1γ'. The whole-cell sugars include galactose and xylose. The major menaquinone is MK-10(H4). The identified polar lipids consist of phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylinositol. The polar lipid fatty acids were dominated by anteiso-C17:0, iso-C16:0, iso-C17:0, 10 Me-C18:0 and C18:1ω9. Based on the distinct phylogeny, the chemotaxonomy features and unique phenotypic properties, strain ACPA39T (DSM 106523T = VKM 2772T) is classified into a new genus and species in the family Micromonosporaceae for which the name Natronosporangium hydrolitycum gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed.