Proteinuria is a risk factor for chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression and associated complications. However, there is insufficient information on individual protein components in urine and the severity of CKD. We aimed to investigate urinary proteomics and its association with proteinuria and kidney function in early-stage CKD and in healthy individuals. A 24 h urine sample of 42 individuals (21-CKD and 21-healthy individuals) was used for mass spectrometry-based proteomics analysis. An exponentially modified protein abundance index (emPAI) was calculated for each protein. Data were analyzed by Mascot software using the SwissProt database and bioinformatics tools. Overall, 298 unique proteins were identified in the cohort; of them, 250 proteins belong to the control group with median (IQR) emPAI 39.1 (19–53) and 142 proteins belong to the CKD group with median (IQR) emPAI 67.8 (49–117). The level of 24 h proteinuria positively correlated with emPAI (r = 0.390, p = 0.011). The emPAI of some urinary proteomics had close positive (ALBU, ZA2G, IGKC) and negative (OSTP, CD59, UROM, KNG1, RNAS1, CD44, AMBP) correlations (r < 0.419, p < 0.001) with 24 h proteinuria levels. Additionally, a few proteins (VTDB, AACT, A1AG2, VTNC, and CD44) significantly correlated with kidney function. In this proteomics study, several urinary proteins correlated with proteinuria and kidney function. Pathway analysis identified subpathways potentially related to early proteinuric CKD, allowing the design of prospective studies that explore their response to therapy and their relationship to long-term outcomes.

Kazakhstan ranks among the countries with the highest number of MDR-TB patients per 100,000 population worldwide. The successful transmission of local MDR strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) poses a significant threat to disease control. In this study, we employed whole-genome sequencing to examine drug resistance, compensatory mutations, population structure, and transmission patterns in a sample of 24 clinical isolates of L2/Beijing Mtb collected in Astana, Kazakhstan between 2021 and 2022. The genotypic prediction of Mtb susceptibility to anti-TB agents was consistent with the phenotypic susceptibility, except for bedaquiline. An analysis of resistance-associated genes characterized most of the isolates as pre-extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (pre-XDR-TB) (n = 15; 62.5%). The phylogenetic analysis grouped the isolates into four transmission clusters; the dominant cluster was assigned to the “aggressive” Central Asia outbreak (CAO) clade of L2/Beijing (n = 15; 62.5%). Thirteen mutations with putative compensatory effects were observed exclusively in Mtb isolates containing the rpoB S450L mutation. The putative compensatory mutations had a stabilizing effect on RpoABC protein stability and dynamics. The high prevalence of the CAO clade in the population structure of Mtb may explain the rapid spread of MDR-TB in Kazakhstan.

Kazakhstan covers a vast territory, and it has always been a land of nomadic pastoralism, where domesticated horses and sheep were moved by nomadic people across the steppe. Previous reports suggest that sheep breeds from Kazakhstan have an intermediate genetic composition between Asian and European breeds; however, this data appears to be limited. Therefore, we studied the genetic diversity of ancient domestic sheep from two Late Bronze Age settlements, Toksanbai and Kent, located in the Pre-Caspian region of Kazakhstan and central Kazakhstan, respectively. We have applied ZooMS analysis for taxonomic identification of small ruminant remains to select ancient specimens of domestic sheep (Ovis aries). To assign sheep mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplogroups, the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from the control region were analyzed by real-time PCR and direct sequencing. Identical distribution of mtDNA haplogroups A (8/14; 57%), B (5/14; 36%), and C (1/14; 7%) was observed in the specimens from Toksanbai (n = 14) and Kent (n = 14). Ovine haplogroup A was predominant in both settlements. Both archeological sites had similar patterns of haplogroup distribution, indicating early sheep introduction into the region. These results are important to gain a better understanding of sheep migrations in the Eurasian steppe and highlight the importance of genomic analysis of earlier local lineages.

Gram-positive bacteria of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) are causative agents of tuberculosis disease. According to the report of the World Health Organization, tuberculosis is one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide. Moreover, epidemiological data shows that due to the COVID-19 pandemic tuberculosis mortality has risen in comparison with previous years. Drug resistance is another threatening issue when the resistance to antitubercular (anti-TB) drugs makes therapy less effective. Furthermore, drug resistance is often burdened with compensatory mechanisms that overcome fitness defects related to drug-resistant mutations. This review discusses the drug resistance and compensatory mutations in Mycobacterium tuberculosis and the current situation with anti-TB drug resistance in the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Background: Radon exposure is the second most important risk factor for lung cancer after tobacco smoking and represents a significant but often underestimated public health problem. Due to the absence of specific clinical manifestations at early stages, the identification of molecular biomarkers reflecting early radon-induced carcinogenic processes is of particular importance. The aim of this study was to identify protein biomarkers associated with radon exposure in lung cancer patients residing in settlements of the Akmola and North Kazakhstan regions of Kazakhstan. Methods: Indoor radon exposure was assessed using CR-39 detectors to measure radon concentrations in residential dwellings during summer and autumn periods. The study included 57 lung cancer patients and 73 control subjects residing in areas characterized by varying levels of radon exposure. Plasma samples were collected and analyzed using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) to identify differentially expressed proteins associated with lung cancer and radon exposure. Statistical analyses were performed to evaluate differences between groups and associations between radon exposure and molecular biomarkers. Results: Seasonal variability in indoor radon concentrations was observed, with several settlements demonstrating levels exceeding international reference values. Proteomic analysis identified multiple proteins differentially expressed between lung cancer patients and controls, as well as between radon-exposed and non-exposed lung cancer patients. Several proteins involved in inflammation, lipid metabolism, oxidative stress, and immune regulation pathways demonstrated significant differences in expression levels, suggesting potential associations with radon-induced carcinogenic mechanisms. LC–MS/MS proteomic profiling identified multiple differentially expressed proteins associated with lung cancer and radon exposure after false discovery rate correction. Proteins involved in inflammation, oxidative stress, immune regulation, and lipid metabolism, including ORM2, AZGP1, PRDX2, IRF7, and APOC3, demonstrated significant expression differences between radon-exposed and low-exposure groups. Conclusions: The identified protein biomarkers demonstrated significant associations with both radon exposure and lung cancer status, indicating their potential relevance for early detection and risk assessment of radon-induced lung cancer. The integration of environmental exposure assessment with proteomic profiling may provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms of radon-associated carcinogenesis and support the development of preventive strategies.

The high antibiotic resistance of Bacteroides fragilis and its ability to combine symbiosis with pathogenicity in the human body make this species a key model for studying the bacterial stress response. Outer membrane vesicles (OMVs), secreted by Gram-negative bacteria, play a key role in intercellular communication, pathogenesis, and adaptation to antibiotics. In this study, we performed a proteomic analysis of B. fragilis OMVs exposed to meropenem using LC-MS/MS and label-free quantification (LFQ). Nineteen differentially expressed proteins were identified, belonging to the main functional groups: enzymes of amino acid and carbohydrate metabolism, antioxidant defense proteins, replication and translation factors, and methyltransferases. Taken together, these changes reflect a redistribution of metabolic fluxes toward maintaining energy balance and antioxidant defense under antibiotic stress. Thus, the proteomic profile of B. fragilis OMVs demonstrates their significant role in the mechanisms of bacterial survival and resistance, and also highlights their potential involvement in pathogenesis.