The aim of this review is to analyze the existing approaches to the creation and the improvement of materials and fabrics based on metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), which can be the basis for developing a strategy for creating modular MOF materials for modern personal protective equipment (PPE) against toxic chemicals and pathogenic microorganisms. The review provides the details of the use of biomolecules for integration with MOF by pore encapsulation, surface attachment, covalent binding, in situ encapsulation of biomolecules in MOF, and the creation of bio-MOFs. The characteristics of biomolecules that can be included in MOFs are presented. Certain schemes for the inclusion of some biomolecules in MOFs are given. The main properties of MOFs, the main trends of their creation, as well as the most promising directions of application of biomolecules/MOF composites are discussed. The strategy of the creation of modular MOF materials with desired properties for modern PPE, that provide protection against various hazards of chemical, biological and physical nature, is presented. The main trends of the development of modern PPE based on modular MOF materials with desired properties are given. Particular schemes of the creation of separate modules in MOF structures, as well as the determination of their importance and significance for imparting universal protective properties to MOF materials are proposed.

The COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) pandemic revealed many «blank spots» in epidemiology at that very moment when humanity became confident that all epidemic disasters had remained in the distant past. The aim of this article is to study COVID-19 pandemic as an indicator of «blank spots» in epidemiology and infectious pathology. The article substantiates that the COVID-19 epidemic started much earlier than it was identified and recognized in China. The failure to establish the primary natural reservoir of SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) among vertebrates suggests an expansion of searches for invertebrates. The reasons for the global spread of SARS-CoV-2 may be the presence of numerous unidentified primary and secondary natural foci of the virus among animals living close to humans, the high transmissibility of the virus and its presymptomatic transmission. High transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2 is possible because: the binding energy of S1 protein of the virus with its receptor ACE2 is higher than that of viruses of closely related species; the virus penetrates into the endosomes of the cells more efficiently; because of the work of the replication-transcription complex, which counteracts the innate protective response of cells. The presymptomatic transmission of SARSCoV-2, which has become the main reason for the pandemic spread of SARS-CoV-2, is a consequence of the late detection of the virus by the innate immune system. Infected individual becomes contagious first, and then the specific symptoms of the disease appear. It is suggested in the article, that the COVID-19 pandemic is not an independent event caused by the emergence of a «new virus» (like one more flu pandemic), but a manifestation of a more complex and dangerous phenomenon, i.e. a change of the phase of the centuries-old global pandemic cycle, when, due to the increase in the density of immunodeficient populations weakened by various pathologies (chronic diseases, accumulation of genetic defects, aging, etc.) and aggravated social problems, non-cyclic pandemics and cyclical low-contagious epidemics are replaced by cyclical ones caused by highly contagious pathogens. SARS-CoV-2 is not the last in these events. The severe clinical course of COVID-19 is caused by such poorly understood phenomena as «imbalance» of renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system, cytokine storm, septic course of the disease, the patient`s genetic factors and immunopathology, developed during the infectious process (antibodydependent enhancement enhancement of infection, antigenic imprinting, antiphospholipid syndrome and other factors). Filling these «blank spots» will catalyze a research revolution in epidemiology and infectious pathology.

The Arctic zone is a priority area for the development and for ensuring the national security of the Russian Federation. At the same time, the region's rich natural resources create conditions for military conflicts and armed struggle of states for possession of these resources. Such conflicts might culminate with an exchange of nuclear strikes. The modern system of metrological support of military dosimetry equipment does not provide the necessary reliability of the verification and calibration procedure under low temperatures in the Arctic zone. The aim of this work is to ensure the effective functioning of gas-discharge counters, used in the military dose rate meters, in the Arctic Zone. It is established, that the reason for the low reliability of readings of military dosimeters can be the generation of false pulses due to a decrease in the suppressing ability of the counter. False impulses may appear soon after the completion of the verification. It is shown in the article, that in order to increase the reliability of measurements for devices on gasdischarge counters, it is necessary to introduce a diagnostic unit into their measuring circuit, which makes it possible to detect the presence of false pulses directly during the measurement. The implementation of the results obtained will increase the reliability of dosimetry equipment in the Far North and will also ensure greater safety of its metrological characteristics. In future, there are good reasons to conduct a study on transfer of dosimetry equipment to electronic control of gas-discharge counters in order to assess the increase in the durability of the counters and reduce the cost of their production.

In relation to the challenging epidemic situation in Russia caused by the spread of novel coronavirus infection, specialists from the Russian NBC Protection Troops were involved in the disinfection of different facilities and equipment in all regions of the country. The aim of this article was to summarize the experience of mobile Decontamination Operational Groups (DOGs) of the NBC Protection Troops in infection prevention and control for COVID-19 in Moscow and Moscow Region. The mobile DOGs for this region were formed on the basis of the Federal State Budgetary Establishment «27 Scientific Centre» of the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation. This center possessed vast experience in performing special tasks for ensuring radiation, chemical and biological safety of different objects. The DOGs were formed from highly qualified professionals with relevant experience in scientific research studies in radiation, chemical and biological protection issues. During the period March 30 to June 28, 2020, the mobile DOGs have performed cleaning and disinfection procedures for different objects at more than 120 addresses in Moscow City and Moscow Region. Thus, they have decontaminated 550 thousand sq. m of surfaces, 13491 units of automotive equipment, 67 passenger cars for personnel, 18 IL-76 aircrafts of the Russian Aerospace Forces and supportive machinery. Nevertheless, the experience of DOGs in infection prevention and control for COVID-19 in Moscow and Moscow Region demonstrated the need to improve the NBC protections means and disinfectant solutions. In general, the disinfection measures organized and carried out by the mobile DOGs have demonstrated high efficiency. There have not been a single case of COVID-19 among DOGs personnel throughout the entire period of performing cleaning and disinfection tasks in epidemic foci.