Laboratory for Immunology and Cell Biotechnology

Elena G. Fomina

Head of the laboratory

Ph.D. in Biological Sciences

Phone.: + 375-172 68 04 14

E-mail: feg1@tut.by

E.G. Fomina defended her dissertation work: "Recombinant technologies: a safe biotechnological platform for obtaining immunobiological preparations for diagnostics of especially dangerous, dangerous and emerging infections" specialisation 03.00.06. - virology for the degree of Doctor of Sciences.

The results of the research work are published in more than 130 scientific papers in Belarusian and foreign editions. Author of the patent: "Recombinant plasmid DNA for producing hepatitis C virus antigen", patent registration notice from November 27, 2008, registration number 11618.

Participates in training of highly qualified personnel. She is the scientific secretary of the D.03.02.01 Dissertation Council at the Republican Research and Practical Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology (specialty: 03.02.02 - Virology (medical and biological sciences), 14.02.02 - Epidemiology (medical sciences)).

She is the recipient of the grant of the President of the Republic of Belarus (Order of the President of the Republic of Belarus of March 1, 2022 № 45rp "On granting grants of the President of the Republic of Belarus for the year 2022").

E.G. Fomina participated in the development of a safe biotechnological platform for obtaining immunobiological preparations for diagnosing especially dangerous, dangerous and emerging viral infections. The platform includes:

optimization of antigen design;

efficient expression in a prokaryotic system;

improvement of purification and immobilization on polystyrene surface;

method of biological synthesis of the target gene matrix RNA within recombinant retroviral particles.

Taken together, the results obtained contribute significantly to solving an important problem in the field of virology - the improvement of serological and molecular-genetic diagnosis of viral infections. Received knowledge and successful experience can be used to develop a biotechnological platform for gene delivery and expression based on lentiviral vectors in the eukaryotic system to obtain proteins with post-translational modifications and their use in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of viral infections.

Participates in production of the drug "Vaccine for preventing SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus infection, whole-virion inactivated" of national production.

Areas of scientific activity: molecular-genetic and immunological diagnostics of viral and protozoal infections; gene delivery and expression systems in pro- and eukaryotes; recombinant technologies for production of antigens, allergens and antibody fragments; cell biotechnology, immunology.

She was awarded the Certificate of Honour of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Belarus in 2012 and the mark " Excellent person of health care" in 2013.

GRIGORIEVA E. ELENA, principal scientist, PhD

IRYNA V. RAMANAVA, Researcher, PhD

SIARHEI V. KORAN, Researcher

JULIANNA A. KABANOVA, Researcher

OLGA Y. PARKHOMCHUK, Junior researcher 

VERANIKA V. ZVIARKO, Junior researcher

RUSINA V. VICTOROVNA, Junior research associate

1. Romanova, I.V. The Basophil activation test: technology of the method and application for clinical practice / Romanova I.V. Goncharov A.E. // Immunopathology, allergology, infectology 2018; 1:26-34.
2. Regional anesthesia and the immune component stress response in oncosurgery / G.V. Ilukevich, L.R. Kaloshka, A.Y. Hancharou, I.V. Permyakov // Medical Journal – 2018. – № 2. – P. 7-12.
3. Ramanava, I. U. Application of basophil activation and degranulation markers for diagnosis of pollen allergy / I. U. Ramanava, A. Y. Hancharou, N. I. Dudarava // Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, Medical series – 2018. – Т. 15, № 4. – P. 405-413.
4. Symanovich, V. U. Experimental models of atopic dermatitis / V. U. Symanovich , A. Y. Hancharou, L.  A. Khvatova // Military medicine. – 2018. – № 2. – P. 113-117.
5. Hancharou, A. Novel Basophil Activation and Degranulation Markers for the Basophil Activation Test / A. Hancharou, I. Ramanava, L. M. Dubuske // J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. – 2018. – Vol. 141, Issue 2, Suppl. – P. AB122. https://aaaai.confex.com/aaaai/wao18/webprogram/Paper34376.html.
6. Human Olfactory Mucosa-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Suppress Cytotoxic Functions of CD8+ T-Lymphocytes and Natural Killer Cells / A. Hancharou, N. Antonevich, O. Buschik, A. Rydna, V. Chekan, E. Strinkevich, L. M. Dubuske // J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. – 2018. – Vol. 141, Issue 2, Suppl. – P. AB228. https://aaaai.confex.com/aaaai/wao18/webprogram/Paper34369.html.
7. Assessment of safety and tolerability of dendritic cell immunotherapy in patients with pancreatic cancer / A.Y. Hancharou, A.V. Prokhorov, O.V. Buschik, S.E. Romanoyskaya, L.M. Dubuske // Allergy. – 2018. – Vol. 73, Suppl. 105. – P.
8. Association of memory T-cells subsets with osteoarthritis inflammatory activity / O.V. Degtereva, A.Y. Hancharou, E.V. Duzh, I.U. Ramanava, L.M. Dubuske // Allergy. –2018. – Vol. 73, Suppl. 105. – P. A15.
9. Hancharou, A. Y. Effects of 3 different mushrooms, Ganoderma Lucidum, Lentinula Edodes and Boletus Edulis on T-cell and dendritic cell function / A.V. Duzh, A. Y. Hancharou, L. M. Dubuske // Allergy. –2018. – Vol. 73, Suppl. 104. – P.
10. The clinical utility of basophil activation markers in the diagnosis of pollen allergy / Ramanava I. U., Hancharou A. Y., Osipova A. V., Dudareva N. I., Dubuske L. M. // Allergy. –2018. – Vol. 73, Suppl. 104– P.
11. Antonevich, N. H. Modulation of cytotoxic activity of CD8+ lymphocytes and natural killer cells by human olfactory mucosa-derived mesenchymal stem cells / N. H. Antonevich, A. Y. Hancharou, L. M. Dubuske // European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology Congress 2018, Munich, Germany, 26–30 May 2018 : abstr. [Publ. in] Allergy. – 2018 – Vol. 73, suppl. 104 – P. 276, # 479.
12. Comparative Analysis Of The Co-Inhibitory Molecules Expression By The Mesenchymal Stem Cells Of Different Origin / A.Hancharou, N.Antonevich, A.Rynda, V. Kastsiunina, N. Petyovka, L.DuBuske // American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI) 2018 Annual Scientific Meeting, Seattle, USA, 15–19 November, 2018 : abstr. [Publ. in] Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. – 2018. – Vol. 121, № 5, suppl. – Р. S49.
13. Mesenchymal Stem Cell Induce Tolerogenic Dendritic cells which Inhibit Proliferation of Autologous T-cells / A.Y. Hancharou, N.H. Antonevich, L. M. DuBuske // J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. - 2017. - Vol. 139, Issue 2, Suppl. - P. AB269.
14. Immunophenotype and Subsets of Synoviocytes in Patients with Osteoarthritis / O.V. Degtereva, A. Y. Hancharou, I.U. Ramanava, A.V. Duzh, L. M. DuBuske // J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. - 2017. - Vol. 139, Issue 2, Suppl. - P. AB210.
15. Assessment of changes in expression of immune system biomarkers to assist the differential diagnosis of acute bacterial infections / A. Hancharou, L. Du Buske // Allergy. 2017. Vol. 72. Suppl. 103. P. 191.
16.  Olfactory epithelium-derived mesenchymal stem cells impact antigen-presenting cells when co-cultured ex vivo / N. Antonevich, A. Hancharou, L. Du Buske // Allergy. 2017. Vol. 72. Suppl. 103. P. 477-478. 
17. The influence of the east asian mushrooms ganoderma lucidum and lentinula edodes and the belarussian mushroom boletus edulis on immune cell function / A. Duzh, A. Hancharou, L. Du Buske // Allergy. 2017. Vol. 72. Suppl. 103. P. 753. 
18. Decline in serum cytidine deaminaseactivity in patients with Hepatitis C infection / K. Pavlov, L. Titov, L. Du Buske // Allergy. 2017. Vol. 72. Suppl. 103. P. 495.
19. Exhausted T-Cells and Memory T-Cell Subsets in Adult Varicella-Zoster Patients / L.M. DuBuske, A.Y. Hancharou, G.M. Davidovich // J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. 2016. Vol. 137, Issue 2, Supplement p1A, P.AB115
20. Expression of CCR5 and CXCR4 on CD4+T-Lymphocytes in HIV-Positive Patients in Dependence on HIV-1 Subtype A Tropism / N. Matsiyeuskaya, I. Tokunova, D. Kireev, A. Hancharou // The 29th International Conference on Antiviral Re-search (ICAR): сб. науч. тр. Ла-Холья, США, 2016. С. 85.
21. Comparative profile of surface and intracellular molecule expression in 10 immortalized human T cell lines to be considered for immunomodulatory drug evaluations / Hancharou A.Y., Duzh E.V., DuBuske L.M. // Allergy. 2016. Vol. 71. Suppl. 102. P.187.
22. A Combined Method for Screening Novel Compounds for Immunomodulatory Activity / A. Duzh, A. Hancharou, L. DuBuske // Ann. Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2016. Vol. 117, N 5 (suppl.). P. S90–91.
23. Serum cytidine deaminase activity in patients with viral infections / K. Pavlov, L. Titov, L. DuBuske // Ann. Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2016. Vol. 117, N 5 (suppl.). P. S117.

Main directions of scientific activity

1. conducting a wide range of fundamental and applied research in immunology, allergology and molecular biology;

2. fundamental and applied research into gene expression and delivery into a wide range of eukaryotic cells, including professional antigen-presenting dendritic cells for use in immunotherapy of viral diseases;

3. development of virus pseudotyping technology to study cellular targets, natural hosts and virus tropism; to analyze the effectiveness of drugs that block virus entry into the cell; to find new targets for antiviral therapy; to evaluate the neutralizing activity of specific antibodies, their titer and the dynamics of their appearance;

4. development of an algorithm for authentication of human and animal cell lines based on DNA profiling and molecular-genetic methods to detect contaminant organisms;

5. maintenance and expansion of the cryobank of certified human and animal cell lines for use in virology, immunology, pharmacology, immunopharmacology, and cell biotechnology;

6. development of a technology for producing recombinant allergens using genetic engineering methods and their use in the immunotherapy of allergic diseases;

7. study of genetic variability genes of the immune system as predictors of the development of allergic diseases;

8. determination of patients' immune status based on immunophenotyping of blood lymphocytes using monoclonal antibodies to surface antigens by flow cytometry.

The following research assignments are in progress in 2022:

1) 02.15 "To develop and implement a diagnostic test system to detect different gene variants ("wild", mutant nvct, without plasmids) of chlamydia trachomatis, by real-time PCR" Government scientific and technical program "New methods of medical care", 2016 - 2020, subprogram "Infections and biological safety". Implementation deadline: 01.07.2019 - 30.06.2022.

2) Task 02.19 "Develop and implement an algorithm for authentication of human and animal cell lines based on DNA profiling and molecular genetic methods of detecting contaminant organisms" of the State Scientific and Technical Program "Genomic Technologies and Infection Safety", 2021 - 2025, subprogram "Scientific and Technical Support for Quality and Accessibility of Medical Services". Scope of work: July 1, 2021 - June 30, 2024. 

3) Task 02.18. to develop an algorithm for predicting the adverse course of sepsis in children, based on a comprehensive assessment of immunological, biochemical and molecular-genetic markers of the State Scientific and Technical Program "Scientific and Technical Quality Assurance and Availability of Medical Services", 2021 - 2025, subprogram "Genomic Technologies and Infection Protection". Implementation Timeline: 01.07.2021 - 30.06.2024. 

4) Task M21KOVID-028 "Creation of pseudotyped retroviral particles for safe study of tropism of the highly pathogenic SARS-CoV-2 virus", BRFFI. Timeframe: 01.02.2021 - 31.01.2023. 

5) The task "To develop and implement a sensitive and safe method of determining the neutralizing activity of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2, using the technology of virus pseudotyping" of the State Program "Science-intensive Technologies and Engineering", 2021 - 2025, subprogram "Innovative Biotechnology" (task 5). Timeline: 31.01. 2022 - 31.12.2025. 

6) Task 2.20 “Conducting the research as part of the development of the first domestic inactivated whole virus vaccine for the prevention of Covid-19” of the State Scientific Research Program "Translational medicine", 2021 - 2025, subprogram "Fundamental aspects of medical science". Implementation deadline: 01.07.2019 - 30.06.2022.

Perspective research:

The development of the domestic technology of production of a system for genes introduction and expression based on lentiviral vectors is a promising field of research due to the rapid development of cell technologies in the Republic of Belarus, an increase in the level of knowledge in the field of the occurrence and correction of genetic diseases, as well as prospects for the development of vaccine technology and gene therapy. The development of this technology in the future makes it possible to use it for gene therapy of somatic diseases; for delivery to professional antigen presenting cells of polyvalent mosaic immunogens for immunotherapy of viral diseases; to obtain on its basis a safe viral model with altered surface glycoproteins (pseudotyped retroviral particles).

An equally promising direction is the production of recombinant allergens in a prokaryotic expression system for use in diagnostics and allergen-specific immunotherapy, as well as the study of allelic gene polymorphisms as predictors of pollinosis. To implement this direction, it is planned to carry out the following scientific projects:

1. To study the expression of recombinant birch pollen allergens (Bet v 1 and Bet v 2) in the Escherichia coli system under the control of various promoters for further use in diagnostics and allergen-specific immunotherapy.

2. To study allelic polymorphisms of genes associated with the development of pollinosis.

Main fields of Scientific and Practical Activity

1. Development of the algorithm for authentication of human and animal cell lines based on DNA profiling and molecular genetic methods for detecting of contaminants makes it possible to introduce the recommended by world standards molecular genetic methods into the quality control system of the Human and Animal Cell Cultures Collection of the Republican Scientific and Practical Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, which cell lines are widely used in practical health care and scientific research. These studies are carried out as part of the project: “Development and implementation of an authentication algorithm for human and animal cell lines based on DNA profiling and molecular genetic methods for identifying the contaminants” of the SSTP “Genomic Technologies and Infection Safety”.
2. The relevance of the search for markers of sepsis, which would allow diagnosing the disease at the earliest stages, assessing its severity, monitoring during treatment and predicting the outcome, has not lost its significance today. The search for prognostic, including immunological, markers which can be crucial for identifying patients with a high risk of septic complications development, is relevant. A number of studies of the last decade provide evidence of the influence of the genome on the probability of an unfavorable outcome of sepsis, so the study of genetic polymorphism of immune response genes can be useful for assessing the risks of the pathological process. These tasks are planned to be solved during the implementation of the project together with the Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases of the Belarusian State Medical University under the guidance of Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor O.N. Romanova.
3. The development of a technology of pseudotyped retroviral particles production for the safe study of the tropism of the highly pathogenic SARS-CoV-2 virus in the future can be used to conduct investigations devoted to the study of cellular targets, natural hosts and tropism of viruses, including especially dangerous, dangerous and newly appearing or mutated ones; effectiveness of drugs that block the penetration of the virus into the cell at the stage of their development and implementation; during the search for new targets for antiviral therapy; for assessment of the neutralizing activity of specific antibodies, their titer and dynamics of appearance. During the implementation of these studies a sensitive and safe method for determining the neutralizing activity of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 will be developed and implemented.
4. Conducting the research as part of the development of the first domestic inactivated whole virus vaccine for the prevention of Covid-19.
5. In-process control of samples during the production of a combined vector vaccine for the prevention of coronavirus infection caused by the SARS-СoV-2 virus is carried out in terms of authenticity, residual cell culture DNA, the presence of mycoplasmas, the residual content of recombinant adenovirus 26/5 serotype in wastewater and washings from work surfaces, the presence of foreign agents in the HEK 293 cell culture, etc.
6. A comprehensive study of the immune status in patients with infectious, oncological and autoimmune diseases is carried out.

Products manufactured by the Laboratory of Immunology and Cell Biotechnology:

Mediums and solutions:

1.         Hanks' solution (No. IM-7.93272/1211);

2.         Versene solution (No. IM-7.93273/1211 );

3.         Bovine embryo serum (No. IM-7.95291/1011);

4.         Medium RPMI-1640 (No. IM-7.93271/1211);

5.         Medium MEM (No. IM-7.93269/1211);

6.         Medium Dulbeko DMEM (No. IM-7.93268/1211);

7.         Medium 199 (№ IM-7.93270/1211).

The collection of passported human and animal cell cultures for use in virology, immunology, pharmacology, and cell biotechnology includes:

1          46-47                          Vervet monkey kidney          

2          A-172                         Human glioblastoma  

3          BGM                          African green monkey kidney

4          C6                               Rat glial tumour        

5          C8166                         Human T cell leukemia         

6          CaCo-2                       Human colon adenocarcinoma         

7          CCRF-SB                   Human acute lymphoblastic leukemia          

8          CEM.NKR                 Human lymphoblastic leukemia

9          CEM-SS *                  Human T acute lymphoblastic leukemia      

10        Daudi                          Human Burkitt's lymphoma  

11        EL-4                           Mouse T cell lymphoblastic lymphoma       

12        FL                               Human amnion          

13        FRhK-4                      Rhesus monkey fetal kidney

14        HaCaT                         Human immortalized keratinocytes  

15        HEK-293 *                 Human embryo kidney         

16        Hela M                        Human cervix epitheloid carcinoma

17        HEP-2                         Human epidermoid larynx carcinoma          

18        HL-60 *                      Human promyelocytic leukemia       

19        HuTu 80                     Human duodenum adenocarcinoma

20        IM-9                           Human B lymphocyte

21        IMR-32                       Human neuroblastoma          

22        Jurkat                          Human leukemic T cell lymphoblast

23        Jurkat-tat                    Human leukemic T cell lymphoblast

24        KG-1 *                        Human bone marrow myelogenous leukemia          

25        L929                           Mouse C3H/An connective tissue    

26        L1210                         Mouse DBA/2 lymphocytic leukemia

27        Ma-104                       African green monkey kidney          

28        McCoy B                    Mouse fibroblast       

29        MDCK                       Canine kidney

30        Molt-3                         Human acute T lymphoblastic leukemia      

31        Molt-4                         Human acute T lymphoblastic leukemia      

32        Molt-4 clone 8            Human acute T lymphoblastic leukemia, clone 8    

33        MT-2                           Human T cell leukemia         

34        MT-4 *                       Human T cell leukemia         

35        NFS-60 *                    Mouse myelogenous leukemia          

36        OKP-GS                     Human renal cell carcinoma  

37        P388D1                      Mouse lymphoid macrophage           

38        P3Х63Ag8.653          Mouse BALB/c myeloma, clone of the line P3Х63Ag8     

39        PA-1                           Human ovary teratocarcinoma          

40        Raji                             Human Burkitt's lymphoma  

41        RD                              Human embryo rhabdomyosarcoma

42        RPMI-1788                Human peripheral blood lymphocyte           

43        T24                             Human bladder carcinoma    

44        U-2 OS                       Human osteosarcoma

45        U-251                         Human glioblastoma astrocytoma    

46        U-937                         Human histiocytic lymphoma           

47        Vero                            African green monkey kidney          

48        Vero (V)                     African green monkey kidney, Vero subline

49        ZR-75-1                      Human breast carcinoma       

50        SPEV                          Pig fetal kidney         

51        CV-1                           African green monkey kidney fibroblast     

52        THP-1 *                      Human monocytic leukemia

53        MDBK (NBL-1)        Bovine kidney

54        А-549                          Human lung carcinoma

55       ВТ 474                        Human ductal breast carcinoma

56       М-21                           Human melanoma

57       RK-13                         Rabbit kidney

58      Vero E-6                      African green monkey kidney, clone Vero 76

Information resource "Belarusian collection of human and animal cell cultures" was registered, registration certificate № 1761303424 was obtained from 15.04.2013. Information about the Collection is included in the consolidated catalog of the Russian Collection of Cell Cultures (Institute of Cytology, Russian Academy of Sciences).