Nora Shvinka

Professor Nora SHVINKA Institute of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Latvia O.Vaciesa iela 4 Riga, LV-1004 Latvia Phone: +371 67612038 Fax: +371 67612038 E-mail: mbrazma@latnet.lv

Born: May 9, 1936, Riga, Latvia

Main interests:

• Cellular Physiology
• Membrane Biophysics, especially Ion Transport in Biological Membranes and related phenomena

Languages: Latvian, German, English, Russian

Education

• State University of Leningrad (Faculty of Biology), Russia, 1959

• Institute of Cytology, Leningrad, Ph.D.student, 1960-1963

• Dr.biol. (Biophysics) (Candidate of Science in former UUSR, Ph.D. in Western countries), Institute of Cytology, Leningrad, 1976

Thesis: “Effect of UV-light on electrical characteristics of Ranvje node".

• Dr.habil.biol.(Physiology), Inst. of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Riga, 1995

Thesis: “Effects of channel-forming antibiotics and dihydropyridines on ion transport in muscle cell membrane”.

Experience

• Researcher, Institute of Cytology, Leningrad (Sankt-Petersburg), Russia, 1964 - 1995

• Principal Investigator, Economical Interrelations Council, Berlin, East Germany, 1975-1989

• Principal Investigator, Inst. of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Riga, 1995 -

• Professor (in Physiology), Inst. of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Riga, 1996-

Honours and Awards

• State Emeritus Scientist, 2005

Professional Activities and Memberships

• Member of Habilitation and Promotion Council, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, 1995-1998

• Member of Habilitation and Promotion Council (in Physiology and Medicine), University of Latvia, 1998

• Member of the Board, Latvian Physiologists’ Society, 1995-

• Member, New York Academy of Sciences, 1996-

Courses

• Biophysics (State University of Leningrad), 1981 –1985

• Physiology of Invertebrates (Riga Technical University), 1992 -

• Physiology (University of Latvia), 1995-

• Pathology of Biological Membranes (University of Latvia), 1999-

• Organisation and Regulation of Biosystems (University pf Latvia), 2003 -

Academic publications

105 scientific publications, among them 41 published in international peer reviewed journals.

    Recent/Representative Publications:

• N.E.Shvinka. Effect of glycerol treatment on sodium and potassium in isolated muscle fibres of the frog.- Experientia, 1980, vol. 36, pp. 433-434.

• N.Shvinka, G.Caffier. Cation conductance and efflux induced by polyene antibiotics in the membrane of skeletal muscle fiber. - Biophysical Journal, 1994, vol. 67, pp. 143-152.

• N.E.Shvinka, G.Caffier, T.A.Vinogradova.. The effect of amphotericin B alkyl derivatives on the cation effluxes and conductance in the muscle fibre membrane. - Membr. and Cell Biol., 1995, vol. 8, pp. 555-564.

• N.E.Shvinka, G.Caffier. Nystatin-, mycoheptin- and levorin-induced conductance in the membrane of frog skeletal muscle fibres. - Eur. Biophys .J., 1995, vol. 24, pp. 23-30.

• F.Kössler, G.A.Nasledov, N.Shvinka. The effects of calcium channel modulators on contraction of tonic muscle fibres. - Gen. Physiol. Biophys., 1996, vol. 15, pp. 37-50.

• N.Shvinka. The effect of dihydropyridines on potassium contractures in rat aortic smooth muscle. – Proc. Latv. Acad. Sci., 1999, vol. 53, pp. 279-283.

• N.Shvinka. 1,4-Dihydropyridines: effect on cation transport in frog skeletal muscle -  Proc. Latv. Acad. Sci., 2000, vol. 54, pp. 40-45

• N.Shvinka. Pathology of Cell Membranes, 2001, Riga: University of Latvia. Department of Medicine, 80 pp.

• N.Shvinka. Channel-formation in muscle fibre membrane compared to artificial bilayer membranes (BLM). -  Proc. Latv. Acad. Sci., 2001, vol.56, pp.57-60.

• N.Shvinka. Effects of levorin and mycoheptin on cation fluxes and conductance in frog muscle fibre membrane. - Eur. Biophys. J., 2003, vol. 32, p.289.

• N.Svinka. Kustibu regulacija (Regulation of Motility and Movement), 2004, Riga: LU Akademiskais Apgads, 140 pp. 

• Nora Shvinka “Investigation of ion selectivity in the membrane of muscle cells”. Acta Universitatis Latviensis, 2007, vol. 723, Biology, pp.21–26.
  
• Nora Shvinka “Thallium partially blocks potassium conductance in gramicidin channels incorporated into muscle membranes”. - Proc. Latv. Acad. Sci., Sect. B, 2007, vol. 61, N 3/4, pp. 20–30.

Present international collaboration

Russia:
        - Prof. A.Vereninov (St-Petersburg, Institute of Cytology) - cell physiology

Germany:
        - Dr.habil.med. G.Caffier (Berline, Institute of Occupation Medicine) - voltage-clamp experiments

Recent Research Projects

• N.Shvinka (Head of Project). Fatigue: physiological mechanisms and changes caused by ageing. Latvian Council of Science (1996-2000).
• N.Shvinka (Head of Project). Normalization of ion transport in muscle pathologies using membrane active substances . Latvian Council of Science (2001 - 2004).
• N.Shvinka (Head of Project).  Study and reparation of membrane proteins in regulation of pathological skeletal muscle contractility.   Latvian Council of Science (2005 - 2008).

Last update 31.03.2008