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editorial
. 2023 Oct 13;15(5):801–805. doi: 10.1007/s12551-023-01164-4

VII Congress of Russian Biophysicists—2023, Krasnodar, Russia

Anastasia A Anashkina 1,2,✉, Andrey B Rubin 3, Nikita B Gudimchuk 3,4, Anatoly F Vanin 5, Anatoly A Tsygankov 6, Yuriy L Orlov 2
PMCID: PMC10643460  PMID: 37975012

Abstract

This special issue of Biophysical Reviews contains the materials presented at the VII Congress of Biophysicists of Russia, held from 17 to 23 April in Krasnodar. We believe that we have managed to prepare a selection of articles that well reflects the current state of biophysical science in Russia and its place in the world science. The VII Russian Congress on Biophysics was held in Krasnodar in April 2023, continuing the tradition of the series of biophysics conferences held every 4 years. The congress discussed physical principles and mechanisms of biological processes occurring at different life levels—from molecular to cellular and population levels. The results of fundamental and applied research in molecular biophysics, cell biophysics, and biophysics of complex systems were presented at plenary, sectional, and poster sessions. The works in the field of medical biophysics and neurobiology were especially widely presented. The structure and dynamics of biopolymers and fundamental mechanisms underlying the effects of physicochemical factors on biological systems, membrane, and transport processes were actively discussed. Much attention was paid to new experimental methods of biophysical research, methods of bioinformatics, computer, and mathematical modeling as necessary tools of the research at all levels of living systems. Along with fundamental problems of studying biophysical mechanisms of regulation of processes at the molecular, subcellular, and cellular levels, much attention was paid to applied research in the field of biotechnology and environmental monitoring. The Congress has formed the National Committee of Russian biophysicists.

Keywords: VII Congress of Russian Biophysicists, Biophysical conference, Molecular biophysics, Cell biophysics, Photobiology, Bioinformatics

In accordance with the Open call for contributions to Biophysical Reviews [Anashkina et al. 2022] this Special Issue presents reviews from scientists participating in VII Congress of Russian Biophysicists [Russian Congress VII 2023; Proceedings Russian Congress VII 2023]. The VII Congress of Russian Biophysicists was held in Krasnodar from 17 to 23 April 2023 [2]. Krasnodar is a beautiful city in southern Russia, a major economic and cultural center of the North Caucasus, and the center of the historical and geographical region of Kuban. Krasnodar is one of the largest economic centers of Russia and is ninth in the ranking of the fastest-growing cities in Europe. Kuban State Technological University, which hosted the Congress, is the oldest higher education institution in Kuban and the North Caucasus, founded on 16 June 1918.

The VII Congress of Russian Biophysicists was attended by 885 biophysicists from 386 research institutes and universities from 41 regions of Russia and guests from 12 countries. About half of the reports were presented in person at plenary and breakout sessions, poster sessions, and round tables in the auditoriums of Kuban State Technological University Fig. 1.

Fig. 1.

Fig. 1

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Group photo of the Congress participants, 23 April 2023, Kuban State Technological University, Krasnodar, Russia

The plenary lectures presented reviews of recent advances in the experimental and theoretical study of processes in living systems, as well as the results of applied research. The results of studying specific biological objects were presented in more detail at the corresponding sections of the Congress. The section of medical biophysics was the most numerous at the VII Congress of Russian Biophysicists, which reflects the demand for the results of biophysical research in this area closest to humans.

The Congress demonstrated the achievements of modern biophysics in the field of understanding the mechanisms of processes in living systems. The reports presented at the Congress show great progress in the development of experimental, primarily optical methods. Optogenetics, laser tweezers, and TG spectroscopy allow us to study not only structural features but also spatial and temporal dynamics of processes in the living systems at the molecular and cellular level. In this respect, the value of both system-dynamic and agent-based models, including molecular models, which can, thanks to the use of modern information technologies, adequately reproduce processes in a living cell. Another characteristic feature of the Congress is a large number of high-level papers on the use of the results of biophysical research in medicine, biophysical research in medicine, biotechnology, fuel cell development, and environmental monitoring.

Within the framework of the VII Congress of Russian Biophysicists, a competition of Young Scientists was held. The condition of the competition was to submit a publication to the journal Biophysics of the publication and participation in the work of the Congress. The competition committee, having considered and evaluated the submitted publications, made the following decision. The first prize was awarded to Galina A. Oleynik for her work “Structure of the ice-binding protein from Myoxocephalus octodecemspinosus, obtained by molecular dynamics and circular dichroism spectra.” She presented this work and her career in science in the in the commentary “The life motto of a young researcher: follow your dreams” [Oleinik 2023] published in this issue. The second prize was awarded to Ivan V. Krasnyakov for his work “Mathematical modeling of tissue growth in the pores of a solid scaffold.” He describes his way in science in “How a Physicist Became a Biophysicist” [Krasnyakov 2023]. The third prize was awarded to Leonid A. Romodin for his work “Spectrophotometric determination of sodium-copper chlorophyllin entry into lymphocytes.” He concludes the winners’ introduction in the commentary “About work of a young member of the Radiobiological Society of the Russian Academy of Sciences” [Romodin 2023]. The winners of the poster competition were also determined. The first prize was awarded to Petr B. Yermolinsky for his poster S11.02 “The role of fibrinogen in the interaction of erythrocytes and endothelium at the cell level: in vitro measurements using laser tweezers on healthy donors’ blood.” Second place was awarded to Zaret G. Denieva for the poster S2.04 “Membrane activity of protein E of coronavirus SARS-CoV-2” [Denieva 2023]. We congratulate the winners and wish them new scientific achievements! The Commentary “Biophysics Education Section at VII Congress of Russian Biophysicists” [Turkina et al. 2023] by Vasilisa Turkina and colleagues closes the topical front section part of this special journal issue.

Since the very first event (Congress I) the format has been changed to better reflect the traditions of Russian biophysics by gathering life science scientists, teachers and students, and professionals in medicine and biotechnology. The main organizer of the Congress is the National Committee of Russian Biophysicists which acts with the support of the Russian Academy of Sciences and several leading Russian universities. Due to the particular name of the “Russian Biophysicists Society” the preferred name of the meeting is the Congress of Russian Biophysicists rather than just Biophysics Congress. Following Congress I, after a long intervening period, Congress II was organized in 1999 in Moscow. Congress III was held in Voronezh in 2004 and this started the preference for the hosting of meetings in various local Russian regions. Nizhny Novgorod hosted the Congress IV in 2012, and then Rostov-on-Don hosted Congress V in 2015. Congress VI (VI Congress of Russian Biophysicists) was held in 2019 at Sochi at the new Sirius University [Russian Congress VI 2019; Proceedings Russian Congress VI 2019]. The next meeting, Congress VIII (VIII Congress of Russian Biophysicists) is planned to be held in 2027 at St. Petersburg, within Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University.

In this Special Issue, we have collected review articles from the leading biophysicists of Russia, including papers on the study of water in biological systems, energy transfer and photosynthesis [Lobyshev 2023; Penkov 2023]. Starting from the basic molecular processes the papers are arranged by increasing complexity from molecules to cell membranes, to living cells, to organs, and then to the physiology of whole organisms. Energy process in cells, mitochondria and ATP synthesis are discussed [Samartsev et al. 2023; Nesterov and Yaguzhinsky 2023]. Lyamzaev and co-authors reviewed mitochondrial lipid peroxidation in ferroptosis [Lyamzaev et al. 2023]. Topics in photonics and photosynthesis were widely discussed at the Congress and are discussed in reviews submitted by [Vechtomova et al. 2023; Doronin et al. 2023; Fufina and Vasilieva 2023; Solovchenko et al. 2023]. Topics in bioluminescence are discussed in reviews by [Mashukova et al. 2023; Lomakina and Ugarova 2023; Zvereva and Zhmurova 2023]. Photodynamic therapy problems are discussed in the following reviews [Shilyagina et al. 2023; Bunin et al. 2023]. V.Koltover (2023) reviewed magnetic isotope effects and nuclear spin catalysis [Koltover 2023].

The next group of review articles include discussions of protein-DNA recognition [Anashkina 2023; Dubrovin 2023] and DNA architecture [Krupyanskii 2023; Zubova et al. 2023]. Protein structure and function were also reviewed [Vetoshkina and Borisova-Mubarakshina 2023; Gudimchuk et al. 2023; Zuev et al. 2023; Holyavka et al. 2023; Deryusheva et al. 2023; Mirzoev 2023]. Kosenko et al. reviewed SARS-CoV-2 proteins structural studies [Kosenko et al. 2023]. Membrane permeability and receptor activity were highlighted in [Minasbekyan and Badalyan 2023; Generalov and Yakovenko 2023] as well as spermatozoa cryopreservation [Ivanova et al. 2023]. Biophysicals studies discussing blood [Belyaev and Fedotova 2023; Nakvasina et al. 2023; Lavrinenko et al. 2023; Kalyuzhnaya et al. 2023; Kuyanova et al. 2023] and brain [Brazhe 2023; Kopylova et al. 2023; Karikari and Koshechkin 2023] are also included.

The final section of included review articles are concerned with virus transmission models [Onkhonova et al. 2023] and sequence complexity analysis [Orlov and Orlova 2023]. This latter paper provides some news on a new conference on bioinformatics, systems biology and biophysics problems—BGRS-2024 in Russia [BGRS 2024; Orlov et al. 2023]. This BGRS\SB (Bioinformatics of Genome Regulation and Structure\Systems Biology) international conference series goes in parallel to the Russian Biophysicists meetings and presents systems biology approaches, as discussed in special issue “25th Anniversary of Bioinformatics of Genome Regulation and Structure Conference Series” [BGRS/CS 2024].

Acknowledgements

The authors and congress participants thank the organizers from Kuban State Technological University and the Congress Committee for the organization of this large-scale international event. We are grateful to all the reviewers who helped review this manuscript collection.

Author contribution

AAA, AFV, NBG, AAT, ABR, and YLO wrote this editorial.

Funding

None.

Data availability

All articles of the special issue can be found on the Biophysical Reviews website https://www.springer.com/journal/12551.

Declarations

Ethical approval

Not applicable.

Consent to participate

Not applicable.

Consent for publication

All the authors read and approved this publication.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no competing interests.

Footnotes

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

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