Discoveries in the world of science and technology. Scientific news
An international team of physicists has discovered why beta decays in atomic nuclei occur more slowly than in free neutrons. Scientists have been struggling to solve this mystery for 50 years, according to a press release on Phys.org. Researchers studied the transformation of the isotope tin-100 into indium-100. These two elements have the same...
2019-03-12 214 0 Scientific discoveries
Physicists from the USA and China have for the first time calculated the contributions to the proton mass associated with various effects. For calculations performed within the framework of lattice QCD, scientists used the Titan supercomputer with a performance of about 27 petaflops. As a result, the researchers found that the quark condensate provides about..
2019-02-26 274 0 Scientific discoveries
Physicists from Germany proposed using electromagnetic waves with azimuthal polarization to overcome the diffraction limit and accurately measure the position of a nanoparticle on a glass substrate. By observing the scattering of such waves on a spherical particle, scientists were able to record a displacement of just...
2019-02-26 210 0 Scientific discoveries
The Wendelstein 7-X stellarator proved its performance in a series of experiments conducted in 2016-2017 - the plasma-destabilizing booster current was reduced by almost four times, and the plasma confinement time was increased to 160 milliseconds. This is currently the best result among stellarators. ..
2018-06-04 22052 0 Scientific discoveries
Physicists at the University of Maryland have discovered an exotic superconductor, YPtBi, inside which electrons interact with each other to form high-spin quasiparticles. This was reported in the journal Science Advances. Scientists analyzed the electronic structure of a material made from yttrium, platinum..
2018-04-10 7137 0 Scientific discoveries
Physicists from Stanford University and the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory have identified the mechanism of operation of the anomalous superconductor strontium titanate, which is capable of conducting electricity without resistance despite the fact that it is not a metal. Science Alert reports this. Strontium titanate is an oxide, however...
2018-03-27 5168 0 Scientific discoveries
Mathematicians from the University of California at Berkeley have found a condition for the existence of naked singularities in black holes, in which the laws of physics are violated. This conclusion calls into question the strong principle of cosmic censorship, when a naked singularity should be unattainable for any...
2018-03-06 5893 0 Scientific discoveries
Neurologists from the Charite University Hospital in Berlin have revealed the processes occurring in the human brain during the dying process. It turned out that the “brain tsunami” - a wave of depolarization of nerve cells that spreads uncontrollably across the cerebral cortex and causes the death of neurons - can be blocked. ..
2018-03-06 5831 0 Scientific discoveries
American physicists were the first to experimentally register bound states of three photons. The formation of trimers, unusual for photons, occurs when a laser beam passes through a cloud of cooled rubidium atoms due to the formation of intermediate polariton states, scientists write in Science. In contrast..
2018-02-18 4333 0 Scientific discoveries
Scientists at Northwestern University in the US have found that terminally ill people suffering from Huntington's chorea have an 80 percent reduced risk of cancer. It turned out that tumor cells are sensitive to a defective form of the huntingtin protein, which also causes the death of nerve cells. This is reported...
2018-02-14 5146 0 Scientific discoveries
Biologists from Moscow State University have discovered a “molecular timer” - a special mechanism for regulating protein synthesis that prevents the formation of abnormal molecules through stuck ribosomes. According to scientists, the discovery will help create therapeutic methods to combat cancer. This was reported in a press release...
2018-02-05 4641 0 Scientific discoveries
Scientists at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg have deciphered the genome of one of the simplest multicellular life forms - the green algae Tetrabaena socialis, consisting of four cells. This made it possible to identify the genetic mechanisms that contributed to the emergence of multicellularity. An article by biologists was published in the journal..
2018-02-05 4005 0 Scientific discoveries
Hypothetical magnetic monopoles could be created in collisions of heavy ions or in the strong magnetic fields of neutron stars. Physicists from Imperial College London theoretically examined these processes and calculated the lower limit for the possible mass of monopoles - it turned out to be slightly less than the mass..
2017-12-14 3536 0 Scientific discoveries
Physicists have developed a shell that, due to magnetohydrodynamic effects, makes it possible to completely suppress all disturbances in the flow of water around moving objects. In a paper published in Physical Review E, the scientists also proposed a way to create such a device that could...
2017-12-12 3402 0 Scientific discoveries
For the first time, physicists have experimentally measured the force of attraction that acts on individual cesium atoms from a black body. This force turned out to be several times greater than the gravitational force and the pressure force of electromagnetic radiation, write the authors of the work published in Nature Physics. Effect..
2017-12-11 3118 0 Scientific discoveries
An international team of researchers has proven the existence of a new form of matter - excitonium. It is a condensate of excitons—electrons and “holes” bound together. This state of matter was first predicted almost 50 years ago. The scientists' article was published in the journal Science. About it..
2017-12-11 3872 0 Scientific discoveries
An international team of physicists has managed to reverse the passage of time for a pair of interconnected particles. Researchers have proven that for quantum interconnected qubits (quantum bits) the second law of thermodynamics is spontaneously violated, according to which in isolated systems all processes proceed only in the direction of increasing...
2017-12-05 2954 0 Scientific discoveries
An extended version of the main physical theory, the Standard Model, predicts that charged particles can polarize the vacuum and emit photons. The Brazilian theoretical physicist studied this effect, known as vacuum Cherenkov radiation, and used it to set limits on certain parameters.
2017-11-30 2671 0 Scientific discoveries
Professor of the Nizhny Novgorod State University named after Nikolai Lobachevsky, Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences Yaroslav Sergeev, in an interview with TASS, announced the solution to two Hilbert problems. The research was published in the journal of the European Mathematical Society EMS Surveys in Mathematical Sciences. The first problem, about the solution..
2017-11-28 3322 0 Scientific discoveries
Spanish scientists have for the first time transmitted quantum states between a cloud of cold rubidium-87 atoms and a Pr3+:Y2SiO5 crystal using photons. The article was published in Nature. To build a quantum network, it is necessary not only to store quantum states over time, but also to transmit...
2016 was rich in high-profile scientific discoveries and spectacular technical achievements. The discoveries are widely covered in the media, and the most interesting new gadgets were demonstrated at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). For 50 years now it has been a launching pad for innovation and hi-end technologies.
December has arrived and it's time to sum it up the most interesting results of 2016 in science and technology.
10. Multicellular life is the result of genetic mutation
The GK-PID molecule allows cells to divide, avoiding malignant formations. At the same time, the ancient gene, an analogue of GK-PID, was a building enzyme necessary for the creation of DNA. Scientists have suggested that in some ancient single-celled organism 800 million years ago the GK gene was duplicated, one of the copies of which then mutated. This caused the appearance of the GK-PID molecule, which allowed cells to divide correctly. This is how multicellular organisms appeared
9. New prime number
It became 2^74,207,281 – 1. The discovery is useful for cryptography problems where both very complex and simple Mersenne numbers are used (49 of them were discovered in total).
8. Planet Nine
Scientists from the California Institute of Technology have provided evidence that there is a ninth planet in the solar system. Its orbital period is 15,000 years. However, due to its colossal orbit, not a single astronomer was able to see this planet.
7. Eternal data storage
This 2016 invention was made possible thanks to nanostructured glass, on which information is recorded using ultra-high-speed short and laser pulses. The glass disk holds up to 360 TB of data and can withstand temperatures up to a thousand degrees.
6. Relationship between the blind eye and four-toed vertebrates
A fish called the Taiwan blind eye, which can crawl along walls, has been found to have anatomical abilities similar to amphibians or reptiles. This discovery will allow biologists to better study how the process of transformation of prehistoric fish into terrestrial tetrapods took place.
5. Vertical landing of a space rocket
Typically, spent rocket stages either fall into the ocean or burn up in the atmosphere. Now they can be used for subsequent projects. The launch process will be significantly faster and cheaper, and the time between launches will be reduced.
4. Cybernetic implant
A special chip implanted into the brain of a completely paralyzed man has restored his ability to move his fingers. It sends signals to a glove worn on the subject's hand, which contains electrical wires that stimulate certain muscles and cause the fingers to move.
3. Stem cells will help people after a stroke
Scientists at Stanford University School of Medicine injected human stem cells into the brains of 18 volunteers who had suffered a stroke. All subjects showed improvement in mobility and general well-being.
2. Carbon dioxide stones
Icelandic scientists pumped carbon dioxide into volcanic rock. Thanks to this, the process of transforming basalt into carbonate minerals (later becoming limestone) took only 2 years, instead of hundreds and thousands of years. This discovery will make it possible to store carbon dioxide underground or use it for construction needs without releasing it into the atmosphere.
1. Another Moon
NASA has discovered an asteroid that was captured by Earth's gravity. Now it is in its orbit, in fact being the second natural satellite of the planet.
List of unusual new gadgets of 2016 (CES)
10. Casio WSD-F10 smart watch
This waterproof and very durable gadget works at a depth of up to 50 meters. The “brain” of the watch is the Android Wear OS. can synchronize with Android and iOS devices.
9. Spherical drone
The drone's blades may injure the owner or bystanders. To deal with this problem, FLEYE created a drone with a spherical design. Its blades are hidden, which means they are completely safe.
8. Arke 3D printer
Mcor has introduced a desktop device that allows you to print color 3D models using regular office paper. Print resolution is 4800x2400DPI.
7. Garmin Augmented Reality Device
Varia Vision is a special display for cyclists placed on sunglasses. It not only informs you about your heart rate and blood pressure, but also helps you plan the optimal route.
6. Origami drone
The new paper product from POWERUP is controlled via Wi-Fi and can be equipped with an augmented reality helmet.
5. Virtual reality helmet from HTC
The HTC Vive Pre helmet allows you to physically move around objects in virtual space. The device claims: improved display brightness with greater detail and a built-in camera that allows the gadget to work in augmented reality mode.
4. LG SIGNATURE G6V Super Slim OLED TV
LG engineers integrated the OLED screen of the 65-inch TV model into 2.57 mm thick glass. Thanks to the stated color depth of 10 bits, the TV can display fantastically colorful images.
3. Solar Grill
The GoSun grill has a unique design that directs sunlight towards a cylinder that can heat up to 290 degrees in 10 or 20 minutes (depending on model).
2. Passenger drone EHang 184
The stylish new technology of 2016 will be able to carry one passenger for 23 minutes at a speed of 100 km/h. The destination is indicated on the tablet.
1. Flexible screen for a smartphone from LG Display
In the first position of the top 10 is a prototype of an 18-inch screen that can be folded like a sheet of paper. This type of futuristic display is promising for use in smartphones, TVs and tablets.
The CES 2016 event is widely known all over the world. All the innovations in technology, electronics and gadgets of various kinds are presented here. This exhibition attracts thousands of people. Everyone should look at the amazing exhibits! All new products from world leaders in production and progressive companies deserve attention. We've collected 25 of the most popular gadgets this year.
1. Rumors about fully flexible smartphones have long been in the news. LG has realized the idea of science fiction writers: an 18-inch OLED panel easily rolls up into a tube.
2. The EHANG passenger drone was also presented in Las Vegas. The ergonomics of the model impresses even non-professionals.
3. Grill from GOSUN. Powered by solar energy, heats up to 550 degrees in 15 minutes.
4. LG TV with a 2.57 mm screen. All electronics were transferred to the block stand.
5. A virtual reality headset was waiting for HTC lovers.
6. POWERUP presented an “origami” drone. The paper FPV drone is controlled via Wi-Fi and can be equipped with an augmented reality helmet.
7. LG smartphones on the Android platform from the K-line are budget multifunctional gadgets. A distinctive feature is a great camera.
8. Varia Vision from GARMIN is an augmented reality device for cycling enthusiasts. Displays an image on glasses, presenting data on heart rate, pressure, and plotting a route. The demonstration can be seen in this YouTube video:
9. Arke 3D printer from MCOR. Creates colored paper models.
10. Manufacturer FLEYE created a spherical drone with hidden blades for the safety of others.
11. The new products at CES 2016 included a CASIO smart watch with insulation from moisture, temperature changes and pressure when diving to a depth of 50 meters.
12. NIMA from 6 Sensor Labs. Provides rapid testing for the presence of gluten in food.
13. Prototype from PANASONIC - the first Blu-ray player for 4K format.
14. The DIGITSTOLE brand presented “smart shoes” with Bluetooth, heating, a system for calculating steps and calories “burned” while walking.
15. A camera with 4K image from SONY is the first gadget of its kind available to the average consumer. The highest quality, the ability to shoot in dim light and record deep, realistic sound - that's what it's all about!
16. The CANON brand pleased us with 5 models from the PowerShot line. Innovations include additional functions, higher resolution, zoom, and color rendition.
17. Interactive Hyundai application for getting to know the car through a smartphone. Demonstrates the functions and capabilities of the machine.
18. Family Hub – a refrigerator with a 21.5-inch touch screen from SAMSUNG.
19. Automaker BMW demonstrated the AirTouch system for controlling car functions using gestures.
20. PC ROG GT51 from ASUS is a desktop gaming gadget that is small in size. The functionality and design are tailored to gamers: everything is aggressive, fast and powerful.
21. Personal Robot from ROBOTBASE - personal artificial intelligence. The robot recognizes faces, speech, performs a lot of functions and can move.
22. INTEL presented a mini-computer to the public. What's most interesting is that its size does not exceed a button. At the same time, the functionality is very diverse!
23. The exhibition review also included OSVR, a universal augmented reality helmet from RAZER. They promise to leave the software and hardware in the public domain.
24. The SONY Life Space UX line will clearly replace TVs, because this year it was replenished with a home mini-projector for displaying images on the wall.
25. RAZER Blade Stealth – an ultra-thin gaming laptop that will be available at an extremely low price.
This year's electronics exhibition was literally a science fiction writer's dream. The companies demonstrated both models ready for mass production and prototypes. These include tablets, mobile gadgets, and media players.
The automotive industry stood out separately. Various machines and their components were presented in abundance. Fundamentally new technologies also created excitement. In particular, hydrogen fuel cars. In general, among hundreds of exhibits it is difficult to single out a clear favorite! You can see some of the things on the video from YouTube:
Behind modern technologies lies the future development of civilization. New devices, technologies and methods are all actively promoted now. Innovative models of the future are truly worthy of attention! Looking for equipment for yourself? Pay attention to the new products, the same cameras and household appliances. They are becoming more diversified and budget-friendly. Just like laptops, PCs, phones.
Please rate this post! Write in the comments your opinion about the results of the companies’ work and your favorite models. And be sure to share the innovations from CES 2016 with your friends! And also read about, which you can buy now in our online stores!
In the world of high technology, more and more attention is being paid to robots and their ability to significantly improve human life. In addition to robot assistants, transport plays an important role in our lives. This fall, automotive giants presented concepts that could once and for all solve the issue of urban road congestion and reduce the risk of accidents. We have selected five high-tech new products worthy of your attention.
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Although it seems that scientists around the world are focused solely on creating the latest mobile phones, technology development in other areas is also in full swing. Our top 5 again includes the innovation of Elon Musk, whose name appears every now and then in the news about the achievements of researchers. In addition to his plans to build an advanced metro, we will also tell you about other amazing inventions. And we will start with the most important thing - with a device that can save lives.
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Although February was not marked by such a variety of events in the world of innovation as January, scientists have prepared many interesting innovations for us this month. We will tell you about 5 original inventions: from a space rocket to translator headphones!
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The progressive future has already arrived, corporations are releasing the most powerful computers and smartphones, Elon Musk is once again surprising everyone around him, and new technologies can literally save the lives of millions of people. Read more in our selection of hot technology news for October 2017.
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Many people remember the statement that necessity is the mother of invention, but what then can be called its father? The ability to notice things and phenomena around oneself is precisely the characteristic that allows attentive people to turn an important invention out of a trifle that is inconspicuous to others. 10 of the most amazing inventions, born partly by chance, but also not without the manifestation of commendable ingenuity of the inventors.
Money goes to work. The Russian Science Foundation selects world-class socially significant works for supportAt the Institute of Organic Chemistry named after. N.D. Zelinsky RAS, Poisk journalists come often. The reason for this meeting was the victory of Iokhovo residents in the recently completed competition of the Russian Science Foundation to support projects implemented in world-class laboratories. The Russian Science Foundation recognized 49 structures as such, one of which - the laboratory of glycoconjugate chemistry - is headed by our author, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences Nikolai NIFANTYEV, who came to work at the Institute of Organic Chemistry immediately after graduating from Moscow State University almost 40 years ago. When he has time, he gladly tells the history of this institute; he will certainly mention that half of the lobby is decorated with marble from the destroyed Cathedral of Christ the Savior, and how many talents worked here. As we walk to his office, I notice that it would be nice to invest at least part of the funds from the grants won into maintaining the historical appearance of the building. No, spending money on repairs is not allowed by the rules of the funds,” Nikolai Eduardovich responds. – And the scientific reputation of the institute is not judged by the varnish of the doors, but by the quality of the research. There are big problems with the maintenance of the IOC buildings due to the change of ownership of the RAS property. With the creation and liquidation of FANO, the institute receives extremely small repair resources. We hope that the Ministry of Science and Higher Education (MES), which is now responsible for the institutes, will take this seriously. What problem does the money from the Russian Science Foundation help you solve, because it’s quite a lot? The main expense items are researchers' salaries, the purchase of new instruments and reagents, and business trips to conferences. Thanks to grants from the Russian Science Foundation, we were able to update and significantly expand our equipment fleet in the interests of advanced research areas. But in 2019, a serious problem arose. Previously, RSF funds, unlike budget funding, were not burdened with labor-intensive procedures. It was enough to order the necessary equipment and wait for delivery, although the selection of devices in the required configuration already takes a lot of time, but is carried out by the authors of the project themselves, since only they know what equipment and when to buy. In 2019, the situation changed dramatically for the worse. The Ministry of Education and Science, which now manages academic institutions, for some reason abruptly intervened in the rules for using grants. The procurement regulations assigned by the ministry were developed by it for the expenditure of budget funds under 44-FZ. RSF funds are extra-budgetary, and their spending is regulated by Federal Law 223, which allows grant holders to choose what they need and its supplier. The Ministry of Education and Science's procurement regulations require purchasing equipment through electronic platforms, effectively equating extra-budgetary funds with budget funds. This complicates and lengthens the process of obtaining equipment and reagents, which are always urgently needed for research. Because price plays a key role in choosing the winning bidder, the door opens for unscrupulous suppliers and, as a result, a decrease in the efficiency of research and the expenditure of grants. Such sad examples have already happened. This categorically does not meet the needs of a modern, dynamically developing scientific institution and negates the convenient funding conditions from the Russian Science Foundation. Does the Russian Science Foundation really not check what grants are spent on? Checks, but within reasonable limits. The Russian Science Foundation professionally and without unnecessary formalities monitors the implementation of projects in detail and controls the correctness of spending. To do this, it conducts on-site inspections with its teams, which work quickly and efficiently, since their teams include specialists from various fields. The Russian Science Foundation, it must be admitted, has an enviable reputation. Undoubtedly! By the way, the fund has been in existence for six years, and interim results can already be summed up. I believe that the Russian Science Foundation is very successfully fulfilling the tasks that were assigned to it during its creation. The foundation's grants gave a powerful impetus to the development of scientific work: we received large funds for advanced research, which, having completed, created the basis for moving on to the next, even more complex projects. For example, planning our new RSF project became possible after we created a biochemical research module using funds from a previous “institutional” RSF mega-grant. Note, at the Institute of Organic Chemistry. The first stage has been launched, we are preparing the second, and this is already yielding results of a fundamentally higher level. It really turned out that money was put into business, like feed for a horse. Please tell us about your new RSF project. In short, his task is to develop fundamental approaches for creating third-generation vaccines and enzyme-linked immunosorbent sandwich diagnostics based on carbohydrate ligands. And if it’s simpler about the same thing, as they now say, in their own words... Such products are necessary for the detection and prevention of clinically significant bacterial and fungal infections. But let's start with carbohydrate ligands. Everyone has heard of genomic and proteomic research. For many years they determined important directions in the sciences of living systems, but recently glycomics have been actively developing (the prefix “glyco” denotes that they belong to compounds with a glycosidic bond, i.e. carbohydrates). They are aimed at studying the biosynthesis and functioning of carbohydrate structures of cells - oligo- and polysaccharides, glycolipids, glycoproteins, etc. The priority in the study of such compounds explains the fact that they play a key role in the development of serious diseases, including cancer, inflammation, infectious lesions, immune and hormonal disorders and others. Therefore, glycol medicines, vaccines and diagnostics form very important segments of the global pharmaceutical market. Let me give you an illustrative example: carbohydrate vaccines in value terms account for up to half of the national calendars of preventive vaccinations in many countries, including the Russian Federation. Unfortunately, such products are imported; we do not have our own full-cycle production of carbohydrate conjugate vaccines. That is, the implementation of your project will serve to fill this significant gap? Certainly. Our area of research is a priority now; we are the first to synthesize many antigens in the world and are the first to get our hands on the tools to create the vaccines and diagnostics that are in demand today. And this despite the fact that in the USA, developed EU countries, Japan, and China there are specialized national programs on glycosciences, the study of the synthesis and biology of carbohydrate compounds and the creation of promising products based on them. The goal is to increase the length and quality of human life. A priority program in glycosciences is urgently needed in Russia, otherwise we will find ourselves outsiders of scientific progress. It is worth noting that brain research and many innovative medical technologies, especially cellular, genomic and post-genomic, which are now so much talked about, are either directly related to biologically significant carbohydrate compounds and rely on glycotechnologies, or have as their task to influence the processes that determine carbohydrate molecules in target cells. Yes, the situation is extraordinary, especially since this area of research meets the objectives of the Strategy for Scientific and Technological Development. Is your project also related to countering biogenic threats? We have chosen very complex objects for ourselves: we are working on the creation of first-in-class vaccines against bacteria included in the ESCAPE list, which, according to WHO, pose a special threat to humanity. In addition, we are developing a third generation Haemophilus influenzae vaccine. For now, to prevent hemophilus influenzae infection, the Russian vaccination calendar for children at risk includes the second generation French vaccine. It has many shortcomings, but we don’t have a better one yet. And from 2020, all children in Russia must be vaccinated against hemophilus influenzae. I would like to note that in order to obtain a hemophilus influenzae vaccine, in addition to the carbohydrate ligand, a special carrier protein is required, which was specially produced for us at Microgen JSC (part of the Rostec Group of Companies). Let's get back to fungal infections. How scary are they? Very! In everyday language, they kill several million people a year, about as many as tuberculosis and malaria. Effective control of fungal pathogens is difficult due to their incredible diversity and antibiotic resistance. Therefore, the development of antifungal carbohydrate vaccines is so urgent. It began in the world recently, and here we have a good position, cooperation has been established with leading foreign and domestic mycological laboratories. Combining research competencies is very important to speed up the delivery of the target product. Conidia (spores) of Aspergillus fumigatus (black mold) - a fungal pathogen that causes the most dangerous disease - invasive aspergillosis. You speak so optimistically, as if there are no decades between basic research and medicines. The grant is given to you for four years, and if you work well, they will extend it for another three. Maximum - seven. Not enough? Not enough to finally create a vaccine. But the RSF grant is designed to solve problems at the research stage, and clinical trials are supported in a different way. Another thing is that the research program we have chosen is very intense and intense, but we are reasonably aimed at positive results. Why, in addition to vaccines, are you also developing diagnostics? Because vaccines and diagnostics are related products, because It is difficult to develop vaccines without effective methods of infection control and treatment. We develop immunoenzyme sandwich diagnostics in various formats - from individual immunochromatographic strips (as in pregnancy detection kits) to laboratory tablets and robotic systems. If things are tolerable with bacterial diagnosticums, then with mycodiagnosticums it is a disaster: there are no registered immunoenzyme diagnosticums in the Russian Federation - neither domestic nor imported. Therefore, in our project, special attention is paid specifically to diagnostic kits for detecting the main types of invasive mycoses. A lot of new drugs are needed, but who will decide which ones first? To keep abreast of priorities, I communicate a lot with mycologists and go to major infectious disease conferences. In April, for example, I will be in Amsterdam at the European Symposium on Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. The last forum brought together 15 thousand participants, every tenth from the USA. From us, if there were a dozen specialists, that would be good. Doctors come together to exchange results and catch new trends. In particular, last year there were two sessions on the relationship between influenza and fungal infections. It was found that those who died from influenza often died not from it, but from invasive aspergillosis. Every day we inhale hundreds of spores of Aspergillus - mold fungi, there are three hundred species of them, living on all continents in any climate. For people with strong immunity, aspergillus is not dangerous, but as a result of influenza, serious operations, or oncology treatment, the immune system becomes suppressed, so the mold “grabs” into the bronchi and lungs, injuring the skin, visual apparatus, and central nervous system. And quite quickly leads the patient to death. But we do not have a diagnostic tool to detect a marker of invasive aspergillosis, so we are working especially intensively on its creation. Can you compare your products, even future ones, with imported analogues? This topic deserves a separate discussion. In recent years, thanks to major support from the Russian Science Foundation, we have been able to develop new chemical approaches and study reaction mechanisms, including using computer methods. This made it possible to synthesize a very wide range of oligosaccharides, reflecting key fragments of polysaccharides from the fungal cell wall. Using these unique libraries of carbohydrate ligands, we were able to study the specificity of antibodies used in enzyme immunoassay kits from a leading international diagnostic concern, and were surprised to discover that the specificity of the antibodies was not at all the same as declared by the manufacturer. This causes false positive results and, consequently, errors with prescribed medications. We recently published an article in a specialized international journal (from Q1) about the antibodies used in the invasive aspergillosis detection kit. That is, the international expert community agreed with our conclusions. Now we are writing an article about antibodies that are mistakenly used in a kit to detect invasive and other types of candidiasis. In general, fungal pathogens are a Klondike for researchers. There are hundreds of mycopathogens, many of them dangerous, but often just beginning to be studied. Now, for example, the hit of the season is Candida auris, which causes invasive infections with a mortality rate reaching 60%. What about cryptococci? They also “fall” on patients with viral infections. We work very intensively against all these “creatures”. Are there any special features of RSF grants for world-class laboratories? Yes. First, we need to hold a school for young researchers every year. The second requirement is unusual: on the subject of the project, an agreement must be concluded with an industrial partner who will co-finance the work or, together with us, conduct research on the subject of the project to create the final product. Our partner is one of the largest domestic companies - R-Pharm JSC, which today is already an international company. She is actively involved in the vaccine research consortium that we created several years ago. And not only with its resources, but also by providing expert support, which is very valuable to us. The joint project that we will carry out with R-Pharm is aimed at developing a first-in-class vaccine against a bacterial pathogen from the ESCAPE group. Nikolai Eduardovich, are young people interested in your project? Young researchers, starting with the responsible executor, Candidate of Chemical Sciences Vadim Krylov, who is 33 years old, are the main part of our team. This, by the way, is a requirement for all RSF competitions. Due to the interdisciplinary nature of the project, we also invited young colleagues from the Institute of Vaccines and Serums. I.I. Mechnikov, Hematological Research Center of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Research Institute of Medical Mycology named after. P.N. Kashkin, Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine SB RAS, State Research Institute of Genetics National Research Center "Kurchatov Institute" and other organizations. They have the biomedical base required for research. But the core of the project is our laboratory at the Institute of Organic Chemistry, and links from it extend to different institutes, where world-class research will also be conducted. Apparently, it is world-class not only in the quality of science, but also in its significance for humanity. Interviewed by Elizaveta Ponarina
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