The modern period in the development of the world community and the Russian Federation in particular is characterized by the globalization of chemical danger. The increase of chemical hazards is determined by the growing potential of the chemical industry in developed countries, widespread use of highly toxic substances in industry, presence of not destroyed stockpiles of chemical weapons abroad, bolstering terrorist manifestations etc. In these circumstances one of the components of the concept of medical support for chemical safety is the existence of a scientifically based system for the development and application of medical technologies for the treatment and prophylaxis of chemical poisoning. The system of emergency specialized toxicological assistance that exists in the Russian Federation suggests the use of means of antidote therapy. However, the analysis of the reports of centers / departments of acute poisoning indicates the lack of significant means of specific pharmacotherapy there. Also there are no important antidotes to cyanides, irritants or alcohol substitutes on Russia's pharmaceutical market. After the analysis of the state of the scientific, technological and industrial base, as well as the analysis of the potential hazards of a chemical nature, it is necessary to underline, that the main directions for the optimization of the antidote therapy system in the Russian Federation should include experimental and clinical studies aimed at the development and creation of innovative antidotes (or adaptation and licensing of various pharmacopeial drugs). The short-term tasks of research, production and regulatory development of the antidote therapy system in the Russian Federation are connected with the completion of the development, registration and acceptance of domestic means of antidote therapy (antidotes to cyanides, combustion products, irritants, psychodisleptics), improvement of technical means of applying existing antidotes, legal regulations in the sphere of providing access to antidotes for medical units and organizations.

One of the main tasks of the NBC Protection Troops is accurate and rapid identification of infectious disease causative agents in case of establishing the fact of biological contamination. Different methods based on the analysis of nucleic acids are most preferred for this purpose. Most of them are based on DNA amplification by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The result is detected by electrophoretic separation of amplification products, as well as by registration of endpoint fluorescent signal (FLASH modification) or in real time (PCR-RT). Other methods of DNA amplification, such as ligase chain reaction (LCR) and isothermal amplification, are also applicable in practice. The article also describes some identification methods based on nucleic acid sequencing: multilocus sequence typing (MLST) method, sequencing of individual genes and complete genome sequencing. It is concluded that the choice of identification method should be based on the goals and objectives, laboratory facilities, availability of trained personnel and funding levels. Despite the fact that the most informative are methods based on sequencing nucleotide sequences, their implementation in the field is difficult so far due to technological requirements.

Botulism is dangerous toxic infection caused by a toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. The mortality rate from botulism can reach 70% of all cases of illness in case of untimely initiation of treatment. The pathogenesis of botulism involves the damage to the central nervous system by a toxin produced by C. botulinum. Currently there are seven recognized antigenic types of this toxin. Botulinum toxin is included into the group of biological agents and it is one of the most likely agents to be used in a biological attack. Since botulinum neurotoxin is a complex nucleoprotein complex and the traces of DNA can be detected even in purified toxin preparations, we have elaborated a technique for detecting and identifying DNA of toxigenic strains of Clostridium botulinum types A, B, E, that cause human botulism in most cases. This technique is based on the the detection of residual amounts of this DNA in botulinum toxin using multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay with fluorescent hybridization detection. The main obstacle to development of a technique for the detection and identification of DNA of toxigenic strains is the high variability of the genes responsible for the synthesis of botulinum toxin. We have established a region of the gene with the lowest homology in all strains. This requirement is met by a fragment of the bont gene that encodes a light chain of a neurotoxin and is highly conserved in the strains of C. botulinum producing one type of toxin. The paper represents the results of the definition of analytical sensitivity and specific activity of the developed method. The specificity of the determination is 100%, the analytical sensitivity – 1×10² mc./ml. The method can be used to analyze food, samples of clinical materials and environmental samples suspected of being contaminated with toxigenic strains of C. botulinum.

The object of the study is a preparation of ecotoxicant destructor based on bacterial strains of Pseudomonas fluorescens, Pseudomonas putida, Pseudomonas délhiensis and associations of nodule bacteria Rhizobium loti with Lotus corniculatus. It is established, that during the simultaneous use of the bacteria and the legume Lotus corniculatus the rate of oxidation of petroleum hydrocarbons increases three times in comparison with the degradation rate of the pollutant after the separate use of each bacterial strain. We have received the preparation of ecotoxicant destructor – dry heterogeneous mass consisting of viable microbial cells of strains of P. delhiensis and R. lotus, seeds of leguminous plant Lotus corniculatus and delignified sawdust. Oil destructive activity of the preparation is proved in the course of microfield experiments. The degradation of ecotoxicants is proved by capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with mass-selective detection. Bacteria of the strains, included in the preparation, are non-pathogenic for humans and animals, biocompatible, environmentally safe, stable, unpretentious to nutritional needs, technological, do not persist in environmental objects in the absence of a substrate for destruction. The technology of the production of the preparation is developed. The results of these studies demonstrate the possibility of practical use of the degradative potential of the preparation in the course of the implementation of the measures for soil reclamation, cleaning up ecotoxicants and restoring its ecological status.

Disinfection measures in the event of an outbreak of epidemics created by natural and artificial causes are connected with high consumption of disinfectants, especially in anthrax foci. This does not exclude the situation, when the stock of authorized disinfectants may turn out to be insufficient. So it will be necessary to use non-authorized disinfectants. The aim of this paper is to reveal among the disinfectants, registered in Russia, the most convenient to use by the NBC Protection Troops in epidemic emergencies. 770 such disinfectants have been analyzed. It is established, that the disinfectants of the group of cationic surfactants (CPAS) based on quaternary ammonium compounds, amines, polyguanidines and compositions of these active substances in various combinations have been introduced into practice of Russian medical institutions for almost two decades. The analysis of the scientific literature and the results of our own experiments show that the solutions of these disinfectants, recommended for high-level sterilization and disinfection of medical devices, do not have any sporicidal effect. Because of that, only disinfectants based on chlorine-containing and oxygen-containing active substances can be interesting for the NBC Protection Troops and may be used as non-authorized disinfectants. The solutions of such agents have a wide range of antimicrobial action and provide complete death of not only bacteria, viruses and fungi, but also spores of various bacilli, at temperatures below 0 ºС as well. The most convenient in use by the NBC Protection Troops are the products in the form of instant tablets based on sodium dichloroisocyanuric acid, as well as in the form of liquid concentrates based on hydrogen peroxide or peracetic acid. Because of that the above mentioned agents should be used by the NBC Protection Troops in cases of biological emergencies according to the regimes of standard approved disinfectants.

The disinfection of weapons, internal volumes of military equipment and facilities is an important element in protecting the population and military personnel from biological agents. In order to increase the likelihood of contact of the disinfectant with the object of disinfection, to increase the activity of the disinfectant per unit of its mass, to reduce its consumption and the processing time, the liquid disinfectant preparations should be transferred effectively by the generator to a spray aerosol with a particle size of 1–30 µm. For the creation of such an aerosol, we have elaborated a special device – a tank with a lid with four diffusors, fixed on it and connected by air pipes made of rubber reinforced hose. The compressed air is supplied to the diffusors through a nozzle, fixed on the lid. An intake tube supplies disinfectant to the sprayers. This tube allows the solution to be dispensed for dispersion due to the ejection that occurs when compressed air is supplied. There is a neck, covered with micromesh, in the upper part of the lid, through which the filling process is carried out. The mesh also prevents solids from entering the tank, because the nozzles may get clogged, and that may lead to the disruption of the disinfectant dispersion process. There is a handle on the neck for the convenience of carrying the whole installation. Three short bearers are welded to the bottom of the tank, allowing the device to be installed on any horizontal surface. The dimensions of the device are: diameter – 270 mm, height – 195 mm. The volume of the tank for disinfectant is 5 dm³. The article also deals with the main techniques of using technical means for aerosol disinfection of premises and with the factors, affecting the quality of disinfection. The paper underlines the need for a systematic approach to the choice of technical means, disinfectants and modes of disinfection by the method of aerosol disinfection.

In the historical perspective, the stages of formation and the main activities of the Scientific and Research Technical Bureau are considered. It is the profile organization of the Ministry of Defence, which dealt with the design of a laboratory and experimental base for the development and production of medical immunobiological preparations. Over the years (from 1958 to 2009), the organization has made a considerable contribution to the formation of scientific foundations for strengthening the biological security of our country. The technical ideas and solutions laid down by the collective of the bureau have been successfully used so far, and the scientific schools created in this period in the field of special safety equipment in the production of medical immunobiological preparations which determined the development of scientific thought in this field for decades. Specialists of the bureau have developed and launched standards that regulate the requirements for designing, building and equipping microbiological laboratory. The specialized division of the bureau carried out information and bibliographic work, regularly published analytical information and reviews on the status and trends of the development of biological protection systems abroad. One of the directions of the organization's work was contractual and legal support of international activities in the field of prohibition of biological weapons. The staff of the bureau carried out an analysis of scientific and technical information related to the implementation of the provisions of the Convention on the Prohibition of Biological and Toxin Weapons, created information databases on the problems of the BTWC.