Laboratory of Enteric Viral Infections

Laboratory Staff

Name	Role	Telephone	E-mail
Итани Тарек Мохамедович	Заведующий лабораторией	+7 (343) 261-99-47, доб. 142	itani_tm@niivirom.ru
Чалапа Владислав Игоревич	Научный сотрудник	+7 (343) 261-99-47, доб. 142	chalapa_vi@niivirom.ru
Имангалиев Болат Сагатбекович	Младший научный сотрудник	+7 (343) 261-99-47, доб. 142	imangaliev_bs@niivirom.ru
Быков Роман Олегович	Младший научный сотрудник	+7 (343) 261-99-47, доб. 142	bykov_ro@niivirom.ru
Старикова Полина Константиновна	Младший научный сотрудник	+7 (343) 261-99-47, доб. 142	starikova_pk@niivirom.ru
Слаутин Василий Николаевич	Младший научный сотрудник	+7 (343) 261-99-47, доб. 142	slautin_vn@niivirom.ru
Кунгурцева Мария Сергеевна	Стажер-исследователь	+7 (343) 261-99-47, доб. 142	kungerceva_ms@niivirom.ru
Патрушева Анастасия Константиновна	Стажер-исследователь	+7 (343) 261-99-47, доб. 142	patrusheva_ak@niivirom.ru
Яркова Елена Антоновна	Стажер-исследователь	+7 (343) 261-99-47, доб. 142	–
Ворончихина Ирина Владимировна	Препаратор	+7 (343) 261-99-47, доб. 142	–

General Information

Since 2017, the Ural–Siberian Regional Scientific and Methodological Centre for the Study of Enteric Viral Infections has coordinated activities in 11 constituent entities of the Ural and Siberian Federal Districts of the Russian Federation.

Its area of responsibility covers all six constituent entities of the Ural Federal District—the Sverdlovsk, Chelyabinsk, Tyumen and Kurgan Regions, the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area and the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Area—as well as five constituent entities of the Siberian Federal District: the Omsk, Tomsk, Novosibirsk and Kemerovo Regions and the Altai Territory. The total population of these areas is approximately 23 million.

The laboratory’s activities focus on the molecular biology, virology and epidemiology of pathogens responsible for enteric viral infections, including non-polio enteroviruses, noroviruses, rotaviruses and other viruses.

A separate area of research concerns the aetiology of fatal viral infections in infants during their first year of life.

Main Objectives and Functions of the Laboratory

The laboratory organises and conducts applied research aimed at addressing current scientific challenges in accordance with its government assignment and the duly approved research plan.

Laboratory staff provide methodological and practical support to the territorial bodies and institutions of Rospotrebnadzor in the constituent entities of the Russian Federation assigned to the Centre. This support covers the organisation and implementation of epidemiological surveillance of enteric viral infections, including laboratory diagnosis and the implementation of anti-epidemic and preventive measures.

The laboratory contributes to preventing enterovirus infections and reducing their incidence by improving sanitary and epidemiological surveillance. Its researchers study the specific characteristics of epidemic processes and develop modern methods for the diagnosis and prevention of enteric viral infections.

Research Activities

The laboratory carries out the following research and development projects:

• “Application of High-Throughput Nucleic Acid Sequencing Methods in the Molecular Genetic Monitoring of Enterovirus Circulation in the Ural Federal District and Western Siberia” (Project No. 121041500041-1);
• “Monitoring the Circulation and Genetic Diversity of Norovirus Infection Pathogens” (Project No. 123051100045-0);
• “Genetic Characterisation of Pathogens Responsible for Fatal Generalised Viral Infections in Infants During Their First Year of Life” (Project No. 123051100044-3).

In December 2023, a delegation of researchers from the Federal Research Institute of Viral Infections “Virome” of Rospotrebnadzor visited the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

The purpose of the visit was to conclude a research cooperation agreement between medical and scientific organisations of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Federal Research Institute of Viral Infections “Virome” of Rospotrebnadzor.

During the visit, the delegation travelled to Ho Chi Minh City—also widely known as Saigon and the most populous city in Vietnam, with approximately 9.3 million inhabitants—Cần Thơ, a centrally governed municipality and the largest city in the Mekong Delta, and Nha Trang, the capital of Khánh Hòa Province in central Vietnam.

The main objectives of the visit included:

• discussing the composition of the joint working group;
• reviewing the research protocol;
• developing a strategy for collecting biological specimens from patients with acute intestinal infections, including norovirus and rotavirus infections;
• jointly preparing the work plan for 2024.

As part of the official visit, in-person meetings were held at the Pasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City and the Department of Health in Cần Thơ. The delegation also visited the “CDC Vietnam” research facility in Cần Thơ and the Pasteur Institute in Nha Trang.

Staff members of the Federal Research Institute of Viral Infections “Virome” of Rospotrebnadzor with Dr Thao of the Pasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City

Department of Health in Cần Thơ

Nha Trang Branch of the Pasteur Institute

Publications

Itani T.M., Chalapa V.I., Slautin V.N., et al. Non-Polio Enterovirus Surveillance in the Ural Federal District and Western Siberia, 2022: Is There a Need for a Vaccine? // Vaccines. Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, 2023. Vol. 11, No. 10. Article 1588.

Itani T., Chalapa V., Semenov A., et al. Laboratory Diagnosis of Nonpolio Enteroviruses: A Review of the Current Literature // Biosafety and Health. 2023. Vol. 5, No. 2. P. 112–119.

Bykov R.O., Skryabina S.V., Kilyachina A.S., et al. Molecular Genetic Characterisation and Phylogenetic Analysis of Human Norovirus Infection Pathogens in Selected Municipalities of the Sverdlovsk Region in 2022 // Journal of Microbiology, Epidemiology and Immunobiology. 2023. Vol. 100, No. 4. P. 306–313.

Chalapa V.I., Kosova A.A., Mashin T.I., et al. Norovirus Infection in the Sverdlovsk Region, 2009–2022: A Retrospective Epidemiological Analysis and the Results of Statistical Modelling // Public Health and Life Environment. 2023. Vol. 31, No. 10. P. 87–94.

Kosova A.A., Chalapa V.I., Itani T.M., et al. Epidemiological Characteristics of Norovirus Infection // Ural Medical Journal. 2022. Vol. 21, No. 3. P. 114–128.

Itani T.M., Khoury K.E., Zakharova Yu.A., Sarkis-Karam D.A. The Role of the Microbiota in the Development of Infantile Colic During the First Year of Life // Bacteriology. 2021. Vol. 6, No. 3. P. 34.

Chalapa V.I., Rezaikin A.V., Usoltseva P.S., et al. Enterovirus Infection in the Ural Federal District and Western Siberia: Results of Epidemiological Surveillance Using Molecular Genetic Methods // Medical Alphabet. Alfmed, 2020. No. 18. P. 38–43.

Kosova A.A., Bashkirova E.S., Mashin T.I., et al. Meta-Analysis of the Efficacy of a Live Oral Pentavalent Vaccine in Preventing Severe Rotavirus Gastroenteritis in Children // Russian Journal of Infection and Immunity. 2020. Vol. 10, No. 4.

Alimov A.V., Igonina E.P., Feldblum I.V., et al. Current State of the Problem of Healthcare-Associated Non-Polio Enterovirus Infections // Russian Journal of Infection and Immunity. 2020. Vol. 10, No. 3. P. 486–496.