НИИ биологии ЮФУ
Research Institute of Biology of
Southern Federal University
Adress: 344090, 194/1 Stachki ave., Rostov-on-Don, Russian Federation
Web adress: http://niib.sfedu.ru/
Contacts: e-mail niib@sfedu.ru
Director: Doctor of biological sciences, Prof. Tatiana P. Shkurat, e-mail: tshkurat@yandex.ru
Molecular
aspects of
genetic disease’s
pathogenesis
Genomic
technologies in
agriculture
Technology of
production of
probiotics
Research
Development of
methods for
monitoring,
evaluation and
remediation of
environment
contamination
The gene pool of
the Rostov
region
Monitoring of the
environment of
the Rostov region
The head of the laboratory:
Marina Sazykina, e-mail: samara@sfedu.ru
Research areas of interest and their summary:
Research of different mechanisms of oil
components microbial degradation and the role of
reactive oxygen species in this process: the
possibility of non-enzymatic oxidation of various oil
components with free-radical mechanism is shown.
Studies are being conducted to identify the nature of
ROS, their participation in oil transformation and the
mechanisms of free radical generation in the oildegrading microorganisms.
Investigation of the biological effects of newly
synthesized drugs: use of lux-based biosensors can
be used to evaluate the biological activity of newly
synthesized drugs - their toxicity, mechanisms of
action, adaptogenic properties, etc..
Monitoring of environmental pollution by bacterial lux-based biosensors: toxicity investigation is
conducted with the help of bacterial lux-based biosensors which can be natural or genetically engineered
strains. These are specific, highly sensitive express test systems for detection of various physical and
chemical factors. In genetically engineered bacterial biosensors lux-genes responsible for bioluminescence
are under the control of specific promotors. These test systems are useful for assessing toxicity of various
ecosystems with genotoxins, heavy metals, substances of oxidizing nature, etc.
Research Projects
“The study of mechanisms of action and extreme negative anthropogenic
environmental factors with cell biosensors“, 2012-2013; order of the Ministry of
Education and Science of the Russian Federation;
"Development of fundamental principles of biotechnology-based extremetolerant microorganisms“, 2012-2013; order of the Ministry of Education and
Science of the Russian Federation;
"Research of ecotoxicological parameters and bacterial contamination of
waste water in Rostov-on-Don and Munich“, 2012-2013; Federal Targeted
Programme;
«Study of adaptogenic effect of low molecular weight organic cations with
bacterial biosensors», 2012-2013; Russian Foundation for Fundamental Research;
"Research of ecotoxicological parameters and bacterial contamination of
waste water in Rostov-on-Don and Munich“, 2012-2013; Federal Target
Programme;
“Monitoring of environmental pollution by bacterial lux-based biosensors",
2009-2011; Analytical Departmental Target Programme;
«Research in the field of micro-and nanostructures based on oxide, organic
and biological materials, the development of production technologies of
promising sensor systems based on new physical principles in the center of
scientific equipment for collective use" High Technology», 2009-2010; Federal
Targeted Programme;
"The study of free-radical mechanisms of biodegradation of hydrocarbons",
2009-2011, Analytical Departmental Target Programme;
Collaborative laboratories:
Institute of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Max von Pettenkofer
Munich University LMU, Laboratory of Functional Genomics;
University of Kastamonu, Faculty of Fisheries, Turkey.
The head of the laboratory:
Vladimir Lysenko, e-mail: vs958@yandex.ru
Research areas of interest and their summary:
Preproject studies on ecological, geochemical
and geophysical characteristics and risks in the
fields of house building and industrial
engineering: the laboratory staff carry out
ecological monitoring, geological and
geochemical prospecting within Rostov,
Krasnodar and Stavropol regions designated for
house building and industrial engineering, that is
completed with the issue of necessary
sertificates. The laboratory have a variety of
equipment and instrumentation calibrated and
certified at the established order;
Carrying out lab works on plant physiology using resources
of laboratory of engineering ecology
Studies on light reactions of plant photosynthesis under normal environment and ecological
stress: arrangement of electron transport chain of thylakoids in normal and chlorophyll-deficient plant
tissues is studying using chlorophyll fluorescence and photoacoustic methods. Recently it has been
discovered in the laboratory that chloroplasts of stomata guard cells are possessed an unique,
previously unknown type of photosynthesis when cyclic electron transport simultaneously occurring
in guard cell thylakoids around photosystems I and II under blue light, whereas linear electron
transport is absent or insufficient.
Research Projects
State research contract "Studies on
distributional and developmental
patterns of Don river basin vegetation in
conditions of fragmentation and making
of a multilevel biomonitoring model”.
(Sci. Res. work 5.5676.2011 at 2012-2-13)
Collaborative laboratories:
Southern Scientific Centre of Russian Academy
of Sciences
The head of the laboratory:
Vladimir Chistyakov, e-mail: Vladimirchi@sfedu.ru
Research areas of interest and their summary:
Antimutagenic activity of antioxidants;
Geroprotectors;
Environmental genotoxicity
Substances that protect DNA against damage exhibit
the system adaptogenic effect. They can enhance
regeneration and stimulate the immune system, slow
the aging process. These types of activities are of
interest to pharmacology. Using of bacterial
biosensors makes measurement of genotoxicity
environment faster and more accurate.
First working conference of biomedical project
“Skulachev ions”, Moscow, 2007
Whipped cream
with probiotics
Research Projects
"Skulachev ions“, 2007-2010; Extra-budgetary funds;
«Research of the biological effects of UV radiation with 300-400 nm wavelength with the
help of bacterial lux-based biosensors", 2009-2011; Analytical Departmental Target Programm,
Project № 2.1.1/5628;
«Study of antioxidant properties of bacterial carotenoids“, 2009-2011; Analytical
Departmental Target Programm, Project № 2.1.1/5630;
"Development of laboratory technology of deinoxanthin production“, 2009-2010 ,
Foundation for Assistance to Small Innovative Enterprises in science and technology, the
program «UMNIK», Project № 8170/12632;
"Development of antioxidant complex to protect against UV radiation“, 2010-2011,
Foundation for Assistance to Small Innovative Enterprises in Science and Technology, the
programm «UMNIK», Project № 8694r/13153.
Collaborative laboratories:
Mitoengineering Centre of MSU, Russia;
Central Research Laboratory of Rostov State Medical University, Russia;
Laboratory of mutagenesis of Research Centre for Medical Genetics” of
Russian Academy of Medical Sciences (FSBI “RCMG”);
Institute of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Max von Pettenkofer
Munich University LMU, Laboratory of Functional Genomics;
University of Kastamonu, Faculty of Fisheries, Turkey.
The head of the laboratory:
Anzhela Aleksandrova, e-mail: aalexsandrova@sfedu.ru
Research areas of interest and their summary:
Physiology and pathophysiology of the human reproductive system: the
aim of many of our research projects is to characterize the dynamics of
hormones, growth factors and other members of a set of signaling pathways
involved in the development of the human reproductive system. As far as
many harsh genetic disorders are the etiologic cause of reproductive
disorders we perform not only postgenomic analyses, but also classical and
molecular cytogenetic tests. Moreover, our lab identifies regional reference
ranges for numerous biochemical markers and carries out reproductive
health screening programs in Rostov region.
Physiology and pathophysiology of human embryogenesis: many types of
pregnancy complications are within the scope of the lab, including early
pregnancy disorders, uterine cervical incompetence, pre-eclampsia, myomas,
fetal and neonatal hypo- and hypertrophy, placental insufficiency and
antenatal death. All the kinds of embryogenesis disorders are investigated
using pathway-oriented systemic approaches – from metabolome and to
epigenome. Additionallywe perform complex microbiological testing in
physiologic and complicated gestation cases, in both mothers and neonates.
Interactomics of human oxidative status: we created interactive oxidative
status interactome map (OSIM) - a manually curated multi-omics integrative
scheme of molecular interactions and expression control in pro- and
antioxidant systems of human cells. Our experimental work in this area is
aimed at both suggesting novel diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, and
revealing the molecular mechanisms of the oxidative status function.
Research Projects
“Analysis of polymorphisms and DNA methylation in genes involved in the trophoblast invasion and the
formation of the syncytium at different gestation terms and pregnancy conditions in humans”, DAAD;
“ Developing the technology for human reproductive function monitoring using novel genomic and
post-genomic markers”, Federal targeted program;
“Developing the system to monitor the health state in teachers and students of schools and universities
in Rostov region using molecular genetic and biochemical markers”, Analytical institutional program;
“Systemic bioinformatic analysis of the human cellular tissue-specific oxidative status interactome”,
Federal targeted program;
“Developing analytical approach for the individual assessment of the pregnancy/embryogenesis
progress”, Grant;
“The association of the mtDNA mutational load and carotid atherosclerosis in humans”
”Analyzing prognostic genomic and post-genomic markers in human embryogenesis”, Global work order;
“Investigating the molecular mechanisms of the biological effects of allantoin”, Global work order;
“Investigating the effects of the low intensity infrared laser radiation on animal somatic tissues in
oxidative stress conditions”, Global work order;
“Global project on the application of Skulachev ions”, Non-budgetary financing;
“Identifying season- and age-dependent regional reference ranges of prostate-specific antigen and
carbohydrate antigen CA 15-3”, Non-budgetary financing;
“Identifying season- and age-dependent regional reference ranges of mammary gland disease markers
M20 and M22 prostate-specific antigen and carbohydrate antigen CA 15-3”, Non-budgetary financing.
Collaborative laboratories:
Saarland University, Germany
Research Centre of Medical Genetics of the Russian Academy of Medical
Sciences, Russia
Russian research institute of atherosclerosis
The head of the laboratory:
Elena Mashkina, e-mail: lenmash@mail.ru
Research areas of interest and their summary:
Reproductive genetics: investigation of
candidate genes associated with pregnancy
loss on the early embryonic development; the
study of genetic factors associated with
sterility and disturbance of reproductive
function in men.
Population genetics: analysis of genetic
structure of Rostov region population;
association genetic factors with heart diseases
Research Projects
“Investigation of frequency polymorphisms MTHFR, MTRR genes in women with recurrent pregnancy
loss”, VBS;
“Cytological features blood cells of men and women with disturbance of reproductive function. Design of
test systems for predictive diagnostics of newborn”, Grant;
“Design of a screening system of reproductive health of boys in puberty based on genetic and biochemical
markers’, VBS;
“Molecular genetic analysis of cytokines genes and disturbance of reproductive function”, FCP;
“Molecular genetic analysis of gene repair and cell cycle control for miscarriage”, RFFI.
Collaborative laboratories:
Saarland University, Germany
Research Centre of Medical Genetics of the Russian Academy of Medical
Sciences
The head of the laboratory:
Tatiana Shkurat, e-mail: tshkurat@yandex.ru
Research areas of interest and their summary:
 Bioinformatic screening of the binding transcription sites in the
regulatory regions of genes: we focuse on bioinformatics search for
new regulatory structures in the non-coding DNA, located around the
patterns of gene expression levels changed significantly in response to
oxidative stress using supercomputers. Hypothesized that all of the
genes increase the expression in response to oxidative stress may have
the same motifs in non-coding DNA.
Structural and functional annotation of non-coding DNA: noncoding DNA sequences are considered to be a new challenge for
molecular genetics, genomics, transcriptomics and proteomics.
It is not yet fully understood how the regulatory information is
encoded in DNA in order to define the positions of enhancers, silencers
and other distantly operating regulatory elements. Systematic analysis
of the transcription profile provides us with the data on regulatory
mechanisms and screening for the linked scenario of coding and noncoding DNA interactions that are basically important for understanding
of system biology and molecular pathogenesis of a variety of human
diseases.
Evolutionary and phylogenetic analysis: comparative analysis of
growth hormones genes and intergenic regions features within the
genomes of different mammalian species.
Research Projects
“Development of bioinformatic technology of
search for the related scenarios in the
organization of non-coding DNA and proteincoding DNA within human and animal
genomes”, State contract № 14.740.11.0006;
"Development and testing of new FIAV
method for rapid identification of allelic gene
variants“, State contract № 02.740.11.5015
Collaborative laboratories:
Univerity of Aveiro, Portugal
Saarland University, Germany
Vavilov Institute of General Genetics, Russian Academy of Sciences,
Russia
The head of the laboratory:
Research areas of interest and their
summary:
The analytical research laboratory is
accredited on the right of the quantitative
chemical analysis of the environment: we
provide quantitative chemical analysis of
natural water, wastewater, soils, air of a
working zone, air of a sanitary protection
zone, industrial bursts, industrial wastes,
transformer oils.
The laboratory works on the basis of paid
service agreements.
Collaborative laboratories:
Department of environmental innovation
of Southern Federal University
Irina Sherstneva, e-mail: ailniib@mail.ru
The head of the laboratory:
Elena Shimanskaya, e-mail: shimamed@yandex.ru
Research areas of interest and their summary:
Development and introduction to practice of integrated methods of
assessment of surface air genotoxicity with bryo- and lichenoflora: The
method was tested with complex long-term monitoring of Rostov-on-Don,
the oil and gas complex of the Stavropol Region, Territories of
geomagnetic faults of the Main Caucasian Ridge and areas adjacent to the
Rostov nuclear power station;
Conducting of radiation and genetic monitoring of 30 km zone of
Volgodonsk nuclear power station and gas industry of the Stavropol
region: we investigate the impact of multi-component pollution on the
human genome using total genotoxic activity of air, water, soil samples
etc., conduct classical genetic experiments to assess gene and
chromosome mutations;
Monitoring of human impact on ecosystems and their components
using biogeocenotic methods. Development of human impact
bioindication methods using techniques of soil and zoological research on
biological biosensors, based on testing of microarthropods as subjects for
monitoring at the level of the complex species within anthropogenic
ecosystems. We study mechanisms for improving soil fertility by
stimulating chernozem soil interactions in the system: soil - crop herbivores - insecticides - activators of soil fertility - soil microflora - soil
animal population on biocenotic level, depending on soil and climatic
conditions.
Research Projects
“Research of genotype-environment
interaction pattern in natural and
anthropogenic ecosystems”, 2009-2011 , State
research contract № 01200951806;
“The study of the distribution and
development of vegetation in the Don basin in
fragmentation conditions and development of
multilevel biomonitoring model”, 2012-2014,
State research contract № 5.5676.2011.
Field work of the laboratory personnel,
Northern Caucasus region
The head of the laboratory:
Olga Demina, e-mail: demina@sfedu.ru
Research areas of interest and their summary:
Biodiversity;
phytosociology;
study of the natural flora;
palynology.
Our laboratory concentrates on the study of
vegetation of Don basin and the North-West
Caucasus at the organismal, populational and
phytocenotic levels of organization. We also
conduct aeropalynologic monitoring of Rostovon-Don and Rostov Region.
Research Projects
«Sustainable Integrated Land Use of Eurasian
Steppe», Project financed by EU;
 Pilot project "Virtual Encyclopedia of Key
Steppes" (Don basin steppes) of the Global
Thematic Group "Holarctic Steppes" of the
Commission on Ecosystem Management of the
International Union for Conservation of Nature
(IUCN / CEM), Project financed by EU;
“The study of the distribution and
development of vegetation in the Don basin in
fragmentation conditions and development of
multilevel biomonitoring model”, 2012-2014,
State research contract № 5.5676.2011;
"Landscape Mapping the territory of “Utrish "
State Nature Reserve”, State contract;
"Geobotanical mapping of Anapa district
forest area of “Utrish” State Nature Reserve”,
State contract;
"Supplement to the vascular flora of “Utrish”
State Nature Reserve” , State contract.
Every year more than 50 bachelor’s and master’s degree
students practice in the laboratories of the Research
institute
Adress: 344090, 194/1 Stachki ave., Rostov-on-Don, Russian Federation
Web adress: http://niib.sfedu.ru/
Contacts: e-mail niib@sfedu.ru
Director: Doctor of biological sciences, Prof. Tatiana P. Shkurat, e-mail: tshkurat@yandex.ru