Tsimanis Aleksandr (1946, Gulbene, Latvia) — chemical scientist and molecular biologist. In 1969 he completed the chemistry faculty of the Riga Polytechnic Institute; in 1978 he defended his dissertation and received the academic degree of Candidate of Chemical Sciences, and in 1993 — Doctor of Biological Sciences in the specialty “molecular biology.” From 1969 his scientific activity began at the Institute of Organic Synthesis of the Academy of Sciences of the Latvian SSR, initially in the field of organic chemistry, and from 1974 — in the field of molecular biology. From 1983 — senior research associate; from 1988 — head of the genetic engineering laboratory of the molecular biology department of the Institute of Organic Synthesis of the Academy of Sciences of the Latvian SSR. From 1990 — head of a laboratory at the Institute of Molecular Biology of the Academy of Sciences of the Latvian SSR; from 1993 — professor at the Biomedical Research Center of the University of Latvia.
In the field of chemistry he developed a new method for the synthesis of alpha-keto acids and aldehydes. His most important research is in the field of genetic engineering and molecular biology. In collaboration with other scientists he laid the foundations for the development of these fields in Latvia. For the first time in the world, the LTR and X gene of bovine leukemia virus (BLV), the RNA-containing bacteriophage fr, and the human interferon-αN gene were cloned. The synthesis of recombinant human interleukin-2, a promising anti-tumor preparation, was carried out.
In 1996 he moved to Israel and continued research work at the Kaplan Medical Center (Rehovot). He was the first to detect the soluble chemokine receptor CCR5, which opens up possibilities for constructing new types of vaccines against HIV infection, as well as for the search for pharmaceutical agents — CCR5 antagonists. In the field of molecular oncology, over-expression of the interleukin-1 gene on leukemic (B-CLL) and myeloma cells was detected. From 2000 — head of the laboratory of cellular and molecular biology at the biotechnology companies “Zetiq Ltd.” and “Bioactivity Ltd.” (Rehovot).
Laureate of the D.I. Mendeleev Prize of the All-Union Chemical Society (1972) and the Presidium of the Latvian Academy of Sciences Prize (1988). He was awarded the gold and bronze medals of the Exhibition of Achievements of the National Economy of the USSR (1988, 1989) and the D.Kh. Grindel Medal for contributions to the development of genetic engineering in Latvia (2001).
Works: Tsimanis A., Bichko V., Dreilina D., Meldrais J., Lozha V., Kukaine R., Gren E. The structure of cloned 3'-terminal RNA region of bovine leukemia virus (BLV). Nucleic Acids Research. 1983. Vol. 11 (17). Pp. 6079—6087; Berzin V., Avots A., Jansone I., Gintnere L., Tsimanis A. Sequence of the genes coding for the A-protein and coat protein of bacteriophage fr. Nucleic Acids Research. 1987. Vol. 15 (16). Pp. 6741; Avot A.J., Bundulis Yu.P., Ose V.J., Romantchikova N.V., Skrivelis V.A., Jankevics E.J., Tsimanis A.Yu., Gren E.J. Expression of the human interleukin-2 gene in E.coli cells. Dokl. Akad. Nauk SSSR. 1990. Vol. 315 (4). Pp. 994—996. (In Russian); Tsimanis A., Shvidel L., Klepfish A., Shtalrid M., Kalinkovich A., Berrebi A. Over-expression of the Functional Interleukin-11α Receptor in the Development of B-cell Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. Leukemia& Lymphoma. 2001. Vol. 42 (1—2). P. 195—205; Tsimanis A., Kalinkovich A., Bentwich Z. Soluble chemokine CCR5 receptor is present in human plasma. Immunology Letters. 2005. Vol. 96. P. 55—61.
Lit.: Millenium. Skats uz Latviju. Valters un Rapa, 1999. Lpp. 118—141; Dribins L., Gūtmanis A., Vestermanis M. Latvian Jewish community: history, tragedy, revival: http://www.mfa.gov.lv/en/ministry/4265/4299/; Grens E. Pirmie soli molekulārajā bioloģijā: cilvēki, idejas, risinājumi, perspektīvas. Grāmata: Latvijas organiskās sintēzes institūts. 50. Pirmais pusgadsimts un nākotnes meti, J. Stradina un O. Pugovica redakcijā. Zvaigzne, 2007. Lpp.137—146.