On October 26 - November 7, 2025, Alim Bidzhiev and Nikita Goncharov, junior researchers at the medical bacteriology laboratory, conducted joint scientific research at the Russian-Guinean Center (Conakry, Republic of Guinea) on "Improving Laboratory Diagnostics of Diphtheria in the Republic of Guinea".
During the visit, 214 blood serum samples, obtained from patients suspected of having diphtheria, were tested using the ELISA method for the presence of class G antibodies to Corynebacterium diphtheria. The following results were obtained: 67% of patients had a protective level of antibodies (IgG >= 0.1 IU/ml); 33% of patients had a minimal degree of protection against diphtheria, or were susceptible (IgG <= 0.1 IU/ml). 138 throat swab samples were tested using the PCR method for the presence of Corynebacterium diphtheria DNA. DNA was detected in two swabs (1%), but the tox gene was not detected. Due to the small sample size of the material studied, it was suggested to continue collecting blood serum and throat swab samples from patients suspected of having diphtheria.
