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<article xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:ali="http://www.niso.org/schemas/ali/1.0/" article-type="research-article" dtd-version="1.2" xml:lang="en"><front><journal-meta><journal-id journal-id-type="publisher-id">Journal of microbiology, epidemiology and immunobiology</journal-id><journal-title-group><journal-title xml:lang="en">Journal of microbiology, epidemiology and immunobiology</journal-title><trans-title-group xml:lang="ru"><trans-title>Журнал микробиологии, эпидемиологии и иммунобиологии</trans-title></trans-title-group></journal-title-group><issn publication-format="print">0372-9311</issn><issn publication-format="electronic">2686-7613</issn><publisher><publisher-name xml:lang="en">Central Research Institute for Epidemiology</publisher-name></publisher></journal-meta><article-meta><article-id pub-id-type="publisher-id">19054</article-id><article-id pub-id-type="doi">10.36233/0372-9311-814</article-id><article-id pub-id-type="edn">ZJJEBW</article-id><article-categories><subj-group subj-group-type="toc-heading" xml:lang="en"><subject>SCIENCE AND PRACTICE</subject></subj-group><subj-group subj-group-type="toc-heading" xml:lang="ru"><subject>НАУКА И ПРАКТИКА</subject></subj-group><subj-group subj-group-type="article-type"><subject>Research Article</subject></subj-group></article-categories><title-group><article-title xml:lang="en">Step-by-step protocol for chromogenic immunohistochemical staining of paraffin sections of animal organs in viral infections, using the example of SARS-CoV-2</article-title><trans-title-group xml:lang="ru"><trans-title>Пошаговый протокол для хромогенного иммуногистохимического окрашивания парафиновых срезов органов животных при вирусных инфекциях (на примере SARS-CoV-2)</trans-title></trans-title-group></title-group><contrib-group><contrib contrib-type="author"><contrib-id contrib-id-type="orcid">https://orcid.org/0009-0003-5165-5357</contrib-id><name-alternatives><name xml:lang="en"><surname>Emtsova</surname><given-names>Ksenia F.</given-names></name><name xml:lang="ru"><surname>Емцова</surname><given-names>Ксения Федоровна</given-names></name></name-alternatives><address><country country="RU">Russian Federation</country></address><bio xml:lang="en"><p>research intern, Microscopic research department</p></bio><bio xml:lang="ru"><p>стажер-исследователь отд. микроскопических исследований</p></bio><email>k.emtsova@g.nsu.ru</email><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1"/></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author"><contrib-id contrib-id-type="orcid">https://orcid.org/0009-0006-8655-6713</contrib-id><name-alternatives><name xml:lang="en"><surname>Spiridonova</surname><given-names>Ekaterina V.</given-names></name><name xml:lang="ru"><surname>Спиридонова</surname><given-names>Екатерина Викторовна</given-names></name></name-alternatives><address><country country="RU">Russian Federation</country></address><bio xml:lang="en"><p>research intern, Microscopic research department</p></bio><bio xml:lang="ru"><p>стажер-исследователь отд. микроскопических исследований</p></bio><email>spiridonova_ev@vector.nsc.ru</email><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1"/></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author"><contrib-id contrib-id-type="orcid">https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2028-6099</contrib-id><name-alternatives><name xml:lang="en"><surname>Omigov</surname><given-names>Vladimir V.</given-names></name><name xml:lang="ru"><surname>Омигов</surname><given-names>Владимир Вилорьевич</given-names></name></name-alternatives><address><country country="RU">Russian Federation</country></address><bio xml:lang="en"><p>Cand. Sci. (Med.), leading researcher, Microscopic research department</p></bio><bio xml:lang="ru"><p>канд. мед. наук, в. н. с. отд. микроскопических исследований</p></bio><email>omigov_vv@vector.nsc.ru</email><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1"/></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author"><contrib-id contrib-id-type="orcid">https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6952-6412</contrib-id><name-alternatives><name xml:lang="en"><surname>Gudymo</surname><given-names>Andrey S.</given-names></name><name xml:lang="ru"><surname>Гудымо</surname><given-names>Андрей Сергеевич</given-names></name></name-alternatives><address><country country="RU">Russian Federation</country></address><bio xml:lang="en"><p>researcher, Department of zoonotic infections and influenz</p></bio><bio xml:lang="ru"><p>н. с. отд. зоонозных инфекций и гриппа</p></bio><email>gudymo_as@vector.nsc.ru</email><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1"/></contrib></contrib-group><aff-alternatives id="aff1"><aff><institution xml:lang="en">State Scientific Center for Virology and Biotechnology “Vector”</institution></aff><aff><institution xml:lang="ru">ФБУН «Государственный научный центр вирусологии и биотехнологии «Вектор» Роспотребнадзора</institution></aff></aff-alternatives><pub-date date-type="pub" iso-8601-date="2026-07-12" publication-format="electronic"><day>12</day><month>07</month><year>2026</year></pub-date><volume>103</volume><issue>3</issue><issue-title xml:lang="en"/><issue-title xml:lang="ru"/><fpage>410</fpage><lpage>419</lpage><history><date date-type="received" iso-8601-date="2026-02-17"><day>17</day><month>02</month><year>2026</year></date></history><permissions><copyright-statement xml:lang="en">Copyright ©; 2026, Emtsova K.F., Spiridonova E.V., Omigov V.V., Gudymo A.S.</copyright-statement><copyright-statement xml:lang="ru">Copyright ©; 2026, Емцова К.Ф., Спиридонова Е.В., Омигов В.В., Гудымо А.С.</copyright-statement><copyright-year>2026</copyright-year><copyright-holder xml:lang="en">Emtsova K.F., Spiridonova E.V., Omigov V.V., Gudymo A.S.</copyright-holder><copyright-holder xml:lang="ru">Емцова К.Ф., Спиридонова Е.В., Омигов В.В., Гудымо А.С.</copyright-holder><ali:free_to_read xmlns:ali="http://www.niso.org/schemas/ali/1.0/"/><license><ali:license_ref xmlns:ali="http://www.niso.org/schemas/ali/1.0/">https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0</ali:license_ref></license></permissions><self-uri xlink:href="https://microbiol.crie.ru/jour/article/view/19054">https://microbiol.crie.ru/jour/article/view/19054</self-uri><abstract xml:lang="en"><p><bold>Introduction.</bold> Immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis is one of the main methods for detecting and visualizing the protein determinants of the virus in organs. The nanoscale structures of viruses complicate the visualization of particle topography, which prevents a more detailed understanding of the pathogenesis of viral infections. Unfortunately, general IHC protocols are not universal and often their application in special cases is impossible. Optimizing the coloring methodology can significantly save research time. Based on this, this paper describes a step-by-step methodology for IHC staining of paraffin sections of animal organs infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus.</p> <p><bold>The purpose of the study. </bold>Optimization of the chromogenic IHC staining protocol when working with infected material, using the example of SARS-CoV-2.</p> <p><bold>Materials and methods.</bold> IHC analysis was performed on paraffin sections of lung tissue of ferrets (<italic>Mustela putorius furo</italic>) infected with Omicron and Delta strains of SARS-CoV-2.</p> <p><bold>Results.</bold> During the study, it was demonstrated that the optimal exposure time for samples with hydrogen peroxide was at least 30 minutes. The use of BSA before the application of primary antibodies also contributed to a decrease in background staining, while the optimal concentration of the reagent was at least 1%. It is noteworthy that the addition of BSA to the primary antibody solution also contributed to a decrease in the non-specific signal. In the context of the current work, dilution of antibodies applied to S-protein by 1000 times was optimal to minimize the proportion of non-specific tissue staining.</p> <p><bold>Conclusion<italic>.</italic></bold> In the work on optimizing the IHC protocol for paraffin sections, the main aspects affecting the staining quality were demonstrated and described. When working with material containing SARS-CoV-2, options for eliminating methodological mistakes were proposed.</p></abstract><trans-abstract xml:lang="ru"><p><bold>Введение. </bold>Иммуногистохимический (ИГХ) анализ является одним из основных методов обнаружения и визуализации белковых детерминантов вируса в органах. Наноразмерные структуры вирусов усложняют визуализацию топографии частиц, что препятствует более детальному пониманию патогенеза вирусных инфекций. К сожалению, общие протоколы ИГХ-окрашивания не являются универсальными, и зачастую их применение в частных случаях невозможно. Оптимизация методологии окрашивания может существенно сэкономить время исследований. В работе описана пошаговая методология хромогенного ИГХ-окрашивания парафиновых срезов органов животных, инфицированных вирусом SARS-CoV-2.</p> <p><bold>Цель </bold>работы — оптимизация протокола хромогенного ИГХ-окрашивания при работе с инфицированным материалом на примере SARS-CoV-2.</p> <p><bold>Материалы и методы. </bold>ИГХ-анализ проводили на парафиновых срезах лёгочной ткани хорьков (<italic>Mustela putorius furo</italic>) при инфицировании штаммами Omicron и Delta SARS-CoV-2.</p> <p><bold>Результаты. </bold>Оптимальное время экспозиции образцов с Н<sub>2</sub>О<sub>2</sub> составляет не менее 30 мин. Снижению фонового окрашивания способствовало применение бычьего сывороточного альбумина (БСA) перед нанесением первичных антител, при этом оптимальная концентрация реагента составляла не менее 1%. Примечательно, что добавление БСA к раствору первичных антител также способствовало снижению фонового сигнала. В контексте текущей работы разведение в 1000 раз применяемых к S-белку антител являлось оптимальным для минимизации доли фонового окрашивания тканей.</p> <p><bold>Заключение.</bold> В работе по оптимизации протокола ИГХ-окрашивания парафиновых срезов были продемонстрированы и описаны основные аспекты, влияющие на качество окрашивания. При работе с материалом, содержащим SARS-CoV-2, были предложены варианты устранения методических ошибок.</p></trans-abstract><kwd-group xml:lang="en"><kwd>immunohistochemical staining</kwd><kwd>SARS-CoV-2</kwd><kwd>S-protein</kwd></kwd-group><kwd-group xml:lang="ru"><kwd>иммуногистохимическое окрашивание</kwd><kwd>SARS-CoV-2</kwd><kwd>S-белок</kwd></kwd-group><funding-group/></article-meta></front><body></body><back><ref-list><ref id="B1"><label>1.</label><mixed-citation>Oumarou Hama H., Aboudharam G., Barbieri R., et al. Immunohistochemical diagnosis of human infectious diseases: a review. Diagn. Pathol. 2022;17(1):17. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13000-022-01197-5 EDN: https://elibrary.ru/jfjmbz</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="B2"><label>2.</label><mixed-citation>Hussaini H.M., Seo B., Rich A.M. Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence. Methods Mol. Biol. 2023;2588:439–50. 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