Rita KUKAINE

Professor Rita KUKAINE Professor August Kirchenstein Institute of Microbiology and Virology Ratsupites iela 1 Riga, LV 1067 Latvia Phone: + 371 7427924, + 371 9611692 Fax: + 371 7428036 E-mail: kukaine22@inbox.lv

Born: November 9, 1922, Leningrad, Russia

Interests:

• Oncovirology
• Immunology
• Virus Infections

Languages: English, Russian, Latvian

Education

• University of Latvia (Faculty of Medicine) cum laude, 1946
• Dr. med. (Candidate of Science in former USSR, Ph.D. in Western countries), University of Latvia, 1951
• Dr. habil. med. (Doctor of Science in former USSR), Medical Academy of Latvia, 1961

• Senior Researcher, Latvian Research Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedics, 1950- 1952
• Vice-Director, Institute of Microbiology, Latvian Academy of Sciences, 1952-1962
• Director, August Kirchenstein Institute of Microbiology and Virology, Latvian Academy of Sciences, 1962-1992
• Professor, Head of the Laboratory of Immunology and Viral Infections, August Kirchenstein Institute of Microbiology and Virology, 1992 - 1996
• Academician-Secretary, Division of Chemical and Biological Sciences, Latvian Academy of Sciences, 1984-1990

Honours and Awards

• Corresponding Member, Latvian Academy of Sciences, 1968
• Full Member, Latvian Academy of Sciences,1971
• Honorary Doctoral Degree, Dr.h.c. (Biology), University of Latvia, 1989
• Latvian State Emeritus scientist, 1996
• Pasteur Medal, 1972
• S. Vavilov Medal (“Nauka”, USSR), 1975
• USSR State Prize, 1975
• The Latvian Academy of Sciences A. Kirchensteins Prize, 1973
• The Latvian Academy of Sciences Presidium First Award, 1981, 1984

Professional Activities and Memberships

• Member of Presidium, Latvian Academy of Sciences, 1981-1992
• Chair of Scientific Council, Institute of Microbiology, Latvian Academy of  Sciences, 1962- 1992
• Member of Scientific Council, Institute of Microbiology and Virology, 1992-
• Member, Latvian Council of Sciences Expert Committee for Molecular Biology, Biotechnology, Microbiology and Virology, 1991-1996
• Member of Editorial Advisory Board for

    Proceedings of Latvian Academy of Sciences, 1984 - 1989
    USSR Academy of Medical Sciences journal Voprosi Virusologii, 1972 -1992
    Ukrainian Academy of Sciences journal Experimental Oncology, 1979 -
    USSR Department of Health journal Molecular Genetics, Microbiology and Virology, 1983 -1991

• Member, American Association of Microbiology, 1975 -
• Member, European Society for Veterinary Virology, 1993-
• Member, International Union Against Cancer, 1996-

Recent/ Representative Publications

• R. Kukaine, L. Nagayeva, A. Dyachenko, S. Chpenko, T. Ilyinskaya, O. Bratsslavskaya, G. Koudeleva, V.Tsibinogin. L.Yakovleva, B. Lapin. BLV-LB Virus-specific sequences in cattle with spontaneous and experimentally induced leukemia. - Archiv für Geshwulstforschung, 1979, Band 49, Heft 1. S. 1-5.
• R. Kukaine, L. Nagayeva, V. Lozha. Bovine Leukemia Virus, 1982, Riga: Zinatne Press, 173 pp.( in Russian ).
• A. Tsimanis, V. Bichko, D. Dreilina, J. Meldrais, R. Kukaine, E. Gren. The structure of cloned 3'-terminal RNA regions of bovine leukemia virus (BLV), 1983, vol. 11., N 17, pp. 6079-6087.
• R. Kukaine, L. Nagayeva, I. Millere, M. Murovska, V. Konicheva, Z. Karklina. Serological examination of hemoblasic patients for the presence of antibodies to HTLV-I in the north-western region of the USSR. - Experimental Oncology (Ukrainian Academy of Science), 1991, vol. 13, N 3, pp. 26-28 (in Russian).
• H.Taguchi, Y. Iwahara, T. Sawada, M. Murovska, R. Kukaine, I. Miyoshi. Antibodies to HTLV-I among blood donors in Latvia. - Int. J. Cancer, 1991, N 1, pp. 158-159.
• R. Kukaine, S. Chapenko, T. Ilynskaya, L. Vitolina, O. Bratsslavskaya. Specific immuno profilaxis of bovine leukemia. - International Conference of Medical Biotechnology, Immunization and AIDS, June 12-18, 1991, Leningrad pp. 5-7.

• R. Kukaine, L. Nagayeva, S. Chapenko, T. Iljinskaya, et al. Protection against bovine leukemia virus infection in two breeds of cattle. - Comp. Immun. Microbiol. Infect. Dis., 1993. vol. 16, N 1, pp. 63-79.

• R.Kukaine, A.Dremucheva, M.Augstkalne, O.Bratsslavskaja. Immune response to BLV infection by immunization with anti-idiotypic antibodies to BLV gp51. – Proc. 14th International Symposium “Vaccines and Control of Infectious Diseases: the Way Forward”, July 3-5, 1996, p. 103.
• R.Kukaine, A.Dremucheva, M.Augstkalne, O.Bratsslavskaja. Immune response to BLV by anti-idiotypic antibodies. – Proc. 10th International Congress of Virology, Jerusalem, August 11-16, 1996, p. 258.
• A.Millers, M.Metra, L.Licitis, R.Kukaine. Lymphocyte subsets and their lymphokine secreting potentials in multiple sclerosis patients under corticosteroid treatment. – J. Neurological Sciences. Abstracts of the 16th World Congress of Neurology, Buenos-Aires – Argentina, September 14-19, 1997, p. 251.
• R.Kukaine, A.Millers, M.Metra, M.Mastina, l.Engele, M.Augstkalne, V.Tomsone, S.Chapenko. Th-1/Th-2 cytokine-producing phenotype subsets response and HHV-7 infection in multiple sclerosis. – Abstracts of International Meeting “ Blood Borne Virus Infections”, honouring the 40^th anniversary of virology in Latvia, Riga (Latvia), May 26-27, 1998, pp. 13-14.
• A.Millers, M.Metra, M.Mastina, A.Platkajis, R.Kukaine. Correlation of soluble adhesion molecules with magnetic resonance imaging findings and clinical activity in multiple sclerosis. - Seminars in Neurology, 2001, N 1-2, pp. 85-88 (ISSN1392-3064).
• A.Millers, M.Metra, M.Mastina, A.Platkajis, R.Kukaine. Serum levels of tumour necrosis factor-alpha and soluble adhesion molecules in relation to magnetic resonance imaging results and clinical activity in multiple sclerosis. - Proc. Latvian Acad. Sci., 2001, vol. 55, N 4, pp. 160-163.
• S.Chapenko, A.Millers, Z.Nora, I.Logina, R.Kukaine, M.Murovska. Correlation between HHV-6 reactivation and multiple sclerosis disease activity. - J. Med. Virology, 2003, vol. 69, pp. 111-117.

• R. Kukaine (Head of Project) . Anti - BLV Vaccine and Preventive Measures in Cattle Leukemia in Latvia. Latvian Council of Science (1990 - 1993).
• R. Kukaine (Head of Project) . BLV Infection. The Role of Antiidiotypic Antibodies in the Development of Immunity to BLV Infection. Latvian Council of Science ( 1993 - 1995).
• R. Kukaine (Head of Project) . Etiopathogenesis of Multiple Sclerosis. Latvian Council of Science ( 1996 -1999)

Last update 06.01.2004