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Laboratory of Molecular Virology

                                  Director             Andrey B. Komissarov

                                  Dir. telephone:   +7 (921) 927–37– 29

                                  Lab. telephone:   +7 (812) 499–15–20

                                  E-mail                 andrey.komissarov@influenza.spb.ru

Main activities

The Laboratory of Molecular Virology, as a part of the Russian Federal Influenza Center and the WHO-recognized National Influenza Center of the Russian Federation, is a component of the Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS). The laboratory performs PCR diagnostics of respiratory infections and conducts molecular genetic surveillance of influenza viruses as well as other acute respiratory viral pathogens (hRSV, adenovirus, human parainfluenza viruses).

The focus of research is the molecular evolution of influenza and other respiratory viruses in humans and animals, including birds and pigs. The laboratory develops PCR test systems for detecting respiratory pathogens. It also develops sequencing protocols (NGS, Illumina MiSeq, capillary) for circulating and re-emerging pathogens. Laboratory staff conduct training on sequencing and PCR, both theoretical and practical, at the Smorodintsev Institute of Influenza (div. Russian Ministry of Health) and on site.

Key projects

  • The laboratory is participating in the WHO Better Labs for Better Health (quality management implementation program) in preparation for accreditation according to the ISO15189 international standard.
  • "Molecular and epidemiological characteristics of modern influenza" (federal project)
  • “Maintenance of influenza surveillance capacity by national health authorities outside the United States” (cooperation with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
  • “Study of the role of influenza viruses in the development of severe acute viral respiratory infections in hospitalized patients” (project part of the Global Influenza Hospital Surveillance Network (GIHSN), the Foundation For Influenza Epidemiology)
  • WHO pilot project for the surveillance of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV pilot)

Achievements

  • As part of the Global Influenza Surveillance Network, the Laboratory of Molecular Virology annually analyzes about 5,000 respiratory samples from medical institutions in St. Petersburg and its associated locality (Leningrad Region). The laboratory also conducts sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of influenza viruses from samples obtained in various Russian regions. The data obtained are deposited in the EpiFlu GISAID database.
  • Laboratory staff have successfully introduced next generation sequencing technology into influenza surveillance practice (Komissarov et al., 2016).
  • Sequencing protocols have been developed for genes encoding the surface antigens of human respiratory syncytial viruses, adenoviruses, and parainfluenza viruses.


Selected publications

Komissarov A, Fadeev A, Sergeeva M, Petrov S, Sintsova K, Egorova A, Pisareva M, Buzitskaya Z, Musaeva T, Danilenko D, Konovalova N, Petrova P, Stolyarov K, Smorodintseva E, Burtseva E, Krasnoslobodtsev K, Kirillova E, Karpova L, Eropkin M, Sominina A, Grudinin M. Rapid spread of influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses with a new set of specific mutations in the internal genes in the beginning of 2015/2016 epidemic season in Moscow and Saint Petersburg (Russian Federation) // Influenza Other Respir Viruses. 2016 Jul;10(4):247-53. doi: 10.1111/irv.12389 

López-Labrador FX, Natividad-Sancho A, Pisareva M, Komissarov A, Salvatierra K, Fadeev A, Moya A, Grudinin M, Díez-Domingo J, Afanasieva O, Konovalova N, Sominina A, Puig-Barberà J. Genetic characterization of influenza viruses from influenza-related hospital admissions in the St. Petersburg and Valencia sites of the Global Influenza Hospital Surveillance Network during the 2013/14 influenza season // J Clin Virol. 2016 Nov;84:32-38. doi: 10.1016/j.jcv.2016.09.006.

Marchenko VY, Susloparov IM, Komissarov AB, Fadeev A, Goncharova NI, Shipovalov AV, Svyatchenko SV, Durymanov AG, Ilyicheva TN, Salchak LK, Svintitskaya EP, Mikheev VN, Ryzhikov AB. Reintroduction of highly pathogenic avian influenza A/H5N8 virus of clade 2.3.4.4. in Russia // Arch Virol. 2017 Jan 30. doi: 10.1007/s00705-017-3246-z

Puig-Barberà J, Natividad-Sancho A, Trushakova S, Sominina A, Pisareva M, Ciblak MA, Badur S, Yu H, Cowling BJ, El Guerche-Séblain C, Mira-Iglesias A, Kisteneva L, Stolyarov K, Yurtcu K, Feng L, López-Labrador X, Burtseva E; Global Influenza Hospital Surveillance Study Group (GIHSN). Epidemiology of Hospital Admissions with Influenza during the 2013/2014 Northern Hemisphere Influenza Season: Results from the Global Influenza Hospital Surveillance Network // PLoS One. 2016 May 19;11(5):e0154970. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0154970

Komissarov A., Fadeev A., Kosheleva A., Sintsova K., Grudinin M. Development of a real-time RT-PCR assay for the rapid detection of influenza A(H2) viruses. Mol. Cell Probes. 2017. 35: 57-63

Staff

Maria M. Pisareva, PhD

Veronika Eder, PhD

Artem V. Fadeev 

Anna A. Ivanova

Kseniya S. Komissarova

Tamila D. Musaeva

Mikhail I. Bakaev