Laboratory of Molecular Diagnostics Technologies

The Laboratory of Molecular Diagnostics Technologies focuses on studying the molecular mechanisms of drug resistance of microorganisms and viruses that cause various infectious diseases. The search for biomarkers associated with the development of autoimmune, neurodegenerative, and oncological pathologies, and the development of effective methods for their detection. Development and registration of reagent kits for identification of DNA and protein markers of socially significant diseases as medical devices for in vitro diagnostics. The mechanisms of formation of tuberculosis pathogen resistance to the latest anti-tuberculosis drugs, such as bedaquiline and linezolid, in patients with drug-resistant forms treated with these drugs have been established. The TB-TEST reagent kit, which has no global analogues, has been developed and introduced into medical practice. It identifies the causative agent of tuberculosis, simultaneously identifies the most common families of the pathogen and analyzes the genetic markers of resistance to all major drugs used today for the treatment of tuberculosis. A unique diagnostic test kit "BIOCHIP-A" reagents has been developed and is being registered as a medical device to determine the genetic markers of Alzheimer's disease risk. The first validation of the polygenic risk model for Alzheimer's disease in the Russian population showed that the values of the IV quartile of polygenic risk and the e4 allele of the apoliprotein E gene, determined on a biochip, are reliable markers of an increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. An NG-TEST reagent kit has been developed and is being registered as a medical device to detect the genetic determinants of N. gonorrhoeae resistance to ceftriaxone, the main drug for the treatment of gonococcal infection. Highly specific serum markers have been established – autoantibodies against type I interferons and interleukin-22, characterizing the development of an autoimmune orphan disease – type I autoimmune polyglandular syndrome.

Key scientific achievements • A unique diagnostic test kit "BIOCHIP-A" reagents has been developed and registered as a medical device to determine the genetic markers of the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. The first validation of the polygenic risk model for Alzheimer's disease in the Russian population showed that the values of the IV quartile of polygenic risk and the e4 allele of the apoliprotein E gene, determined on a biochip, are reliable markers of an increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. • New hydrogel biochips have been developed to identify genomic markers associated with the resistance of the tuberculosis pathogen to topical anti-tuberculosis drugs. • An original method of molecular typing of the causative agent of gonococcal infection Neisseria gonorrhoeae has been proposed, microevolutionary events in the genome of the pathogen characterizing the development of its resistance to antimicrobials have been identified. • The NG-TEST reagent kit has been developed and is being registered as a medical device to detect the genetic determinants of N. gonorrhoeae resistance to ceftriaxone, the main drug for the treatment of gonococcal infection. • For the global population of the causative agent of gonococcal infection, an association was found between a decrease in its sensitivity to antibiotics and the functionality of the gonococcal genetic island encoding the type IV DNA secretion system. • Highly specific serum markers have been identified – autoantibodies against type I interferons and interleukin-22, characterizing the development of an autoimmune orphan disease – type I autoimmune polyglandular syndrome.