On August 14th,2018,a Beijing resident living in Xicheng District found a female H.longicornis tick attached to the skin at the front of his upper shin.On examination,the patient was afebrile and appeared well.The spe...On August 14th,2018,a Beijing resident living in Xicheng District found a female H.longicornis tick attached to the skin at the front of his upper shin.On examination,the patient was afebrile and appeared well.The species of the tick was identified through morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analysis based on cytochrome C oxidase subunit I.This H.longicornis tick was screened for tick-borne pathogens such as viruses,bacteria and parasites.RNA pathogens were screened by PCR and sequencing,while DNA pathogens were screened by metagenomic analyses.It was found that the tick was positive for the DNA sequences of zoonotic and animal pathogens such as A phagocytophilum,Ehrlichia minasensis and C.burnetii.Considering the good health condition of the patient,we hypothesized that the pathogens originated from the tick specimen itself rather than host blood meal.For the first time,our study reveals the possible risk of transmission of tick-borne pathogens to human beings through tick bit in downtown Beijing.Further research is needed to screen for tick-borne pathogens among unfed ticks collected from central Beijing.展开更多
Pathogens like bacteria and protozoa,which affect human and animal health worldwide,can be transmitted by vectors like ticks.To investigate the epidemiology and genetic diversity of bacteria and protozoans carried by ...Pathogens like bacteria and protozoa,which affect human and animal health worldwide,can be transmitted by vectors like ticks.To investigate the epidemiology and genetic diversity of bacteria and protozoans carried by ticks in Chengmai county of Hainan province,China,285 adult hard ticks belonging to two species[Rhipicephalus sanguineus(sensu lato):183,64.21%and Rhipicephalus microplus:102,35.79%]from dogs,cattle,and goats were collected.Microbial families were identified in these ticks by amplifying the 18 S r RNA,16 S r RNA(rrs),citrate synthase(glt A),and heat shock protein(gro EL)genes.Our data revealed the presence of four recognized species and two Candidatus spp.of Anaplasmataceae and Coxiellaceae.In sum,these data reveal an extensive diversity of Anaplasmataceae bacteria,Coxiellaceae bacteria,Babesiidae,and Hepatozoidae in ticks from Hainan Island,highlighting the need to understand the tickborne pathogen infection in local animals and humans.展开更多
Objective: To determine the prevalence of zoonotic tick-borne bacteria in feeding ticks removed from hunted wild animals. Methods: PCR was executed on DNA extracted from 77 tick pools to detect Anaplasma phagocytophil...Objective: To determine the prevalence of zoonotic tick-borne bacteria in feeding ticks removed from hunted wild animals. Methods: PCR was executed on DNA extracted from 77 tick pools to detect Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Bartonella spp., Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Coxiella burnetii and Rickettsia spp. Results: A total of 432 ticks were collected: 30(6.94%) Haemaphysalis punctata, 72(16.7%) Dermacentor marginatus and 330(76.38%) Ixodes ricinus. For each animal one or two pools of 3 ticks of the same species was constituted. Seventy-seven tick pools were examined by PCR: 58(75.32%) resulted infected and among them 14(18.18%) showed co-infections. In particular, 29(37.66%) pools were positive for Bartonella spp., 23(29.87%) for Anaplasma phagocytophilum, 16(20.78%) for Rickettsia spp., and 5(6.49%) for Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. All samples were negative for Coxiella burnetii. Conclusions: The results demonstrate the presence of several zoonotic tick-borne pathogens in the studied area, and underline the risk of exposure to infections for hunters not only during the outdoor activity, but also when they manipulate hunted animals infested by infected ticks.展开更多
Objective:Different studies have been performed on the prevalence of tick-borne pathogens in different areas of Iran;however,as far as our knowledge,there is no regional meta-analysis available for consideration and e...Objective:Different studies have been performed on the prevalence of tick-borne pathogens in different areas of Iran;however,as far as our knowledge,there is no regional meta-analysis available for consideration and estimation of tick species infected with different pathogens in Iran.Methods:In this review,among different databases,a total of 95 publications were included,and the infection of different tick species to different tick-borne pathogens was determined;furthermore,presence of pathogens(with 95%confidence intervals)in tick vectors was calculated separately for each province,using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis version 2(Biostat,USA).Results:Totally,among all 95 studies,5673 out of 33521 investigated ticks were positive according to different detection methods.Overall estimated presence of pathogens in tick vectors in Iran was 8.6%(95%CI 7.0%-10.6%,P<0.001).Of all 46 species of ticks in 10 genera in Iran,28 species in 9 genera,including Alveonasus,Argas,Boophilus,Dermacentor,Haemaphysalis,Hyalomma,Ixodes,Ornithodoros,and Rhipicephalus were infected with at least 20 pathogens in 10 genera including Aegyptianella,Anaplasma,Babesia,Borrelia,Brucella,Orthonairovirus[CrimeanCongo hemorrhagic fever virus(CCHFV)],Coxiella,Ehrlichia,Rickettsia and Theileria in 26 provinces of Iran.The presence of pathogens in ticks collected in western Iran was more than other regions.Hyalomma anatolicum(20.35%),Rhipicephalus sanguineus(15.00%),and Rhipicephalus bursa(14.08%)were the most prevalent infected ticks for different pathogens.In addition,most literatures were related to CCHFV and Theileria/Babesia spp.Conclusions:Public health and veterinary professionals should be aware of diagnosing possible diseases or outbreaks in vertebrates.展开更多
Background:A wide variety of pathogens could be maintained and transmitted by Haemaphysalis longicornis.The aim of this study is to systematically examine the variety of pathogens carried by Haemaphysalis longicornis,...Background:A wide variety of pathogens could be maintained and transmitted by Haemaphysalis longicornis.The aim of this study is to systematically examine the variety of pathogens carried by Haemaphysalis longicornis,an importnatn vector,in tick-borne diseases epidemic area,and to estimate the risk of human infection imposed by tick bites.Methods:Adult questing ticks were collected in Xinyang,central China.Genomic DNA and RNA were extracted from 144 H.longicornis ticks individually,and sequenced respectively as the templates for high-throughput sequencing.Clean reads were compared against the database of NCBI nucleotide collection and specific PCR was performed to confirm the presence of pathogen.Phylogenetic analysis was performed to explore the evolutionary status of pathogens.Results:The assignment of reads to taxa based on BLASTN results revealed the existence of several potential pathogens,including Anaplasma spp.,Rickettsia spp.,Babesia sp.,as well as severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome bunyavirus(SFTSV).Comfirmantory PCR assays revealed the existence of Anaplasma bovis(13/144,9.03%),Anaplasma centrale(2/144,1.39%),Rickettsia heilongjiangensis(3/144,2.08%),Rickettsia sp.LON-13(1/144,0.69%),Rickettsia raoultii(5/144,3.47%),Babesia sp.(1/144,0.69%).SFTSV accounted for the highest detected pathogen with a positive rate of 18.75%(27/144).Three of the ticks(2.08%)were co-infected with SFTSV and A.bovis.Conclusion:Our study provided a broadened list of microorganism that harbored by H.longicornis.In previously unrecognized endemic regions,prokaryotic and eukaryotic infection including Anaplasma spp.,Rickettsiae spp.,and Babesia spp.should be considered,along with the well-known SFTSV for patients with tick bites history.A novel Babesia species was identified in local natural foci,which needs further investigation in the future.展开更多
Background and Objective: Tick-borne hemoparasitic illnesses pose a serious threat to the well-being and productivity of cattle. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of tick-borne hemoparasites in Cameroon, ...Background and Objective: Tick-borne hemoparasitic illnesses pose a serious threat to the well-being and productivity of cattle. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of tick-borne hemoparasites in Cameroon, with a specific focus on the Noun and Nde Divisions of the West Region. Methodology: A total of 423 cattle from 10 villages in both divisions were included in the study. Blood smears were prepared and subjected to microscopic screening for Babesia and Anaplasma parasites. Results: The prevalence of Anaplasma was found to be 23.4%, while Babesia exhibited a seroprevalence of 17.3%. Samples from Institute of Agricultural Research for Development (IRAD) and Koupa Ngangnou demonstrated significantly higher prevalence rates, potentially influenced by climate variations affecting tick populations. Additionally, 17.3% of the animals exhibited low hematocrit levels, indicative of anemia. No significant associations were observed between the presence of hemoparasite infection and cattle characteristics. Conclusion: This study provides fundamental data on the extensive distribution and impact of tick-borne hemoparasites in a significant cattle-producing region of Cameroon.展开更多
The dangerous Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus(CCHFV),an encapsulated negative-sense RNA virus of the family Nairoviridae,is transmitted from person to person via ticks.With a case fatality rate between 10%to 40%...The dangerous Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus(CCHFV),an encapsulated negative-sense RNA virus of the family Nairoviridae,is transmitted from person to person via ticks.With a case fatality rate between 10%to 40%,the most common ways that the disease may spread to humans are via tick bites or coming into touch with infected animals'blood or tissues.Furthermore,the transfer of bodily fluids between individuals is another potential route of infection.There is a wide range of symptoms experienced by patients throughout each stage,from myalgia and fever to extreme bruising and excess bleeding.Tick management measures include minimising the spread of ticks from one species to another and from people to animals via the use of protective clothing,repellents,and proper animal handling.In order to prevent the spread of illness,healthcare workers must adhere to stringent protocols.Despite the lack of an authorised vaccine,the main components of treatment now consist of preventative measures and supportive care,which may include the antiviral medicine ribavirin.We still don't know very much about the virus's mechanisms,even though advances in molecular virology and animal models have improved our understanding of the pathogenesis of CCHFV.A critical need for vaccination that is both safe and effective,as well as for quick diagnosis and efficient treatments to lessen the disease's impact in areas where it is most prevalent.Important steps towards lowering Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever mortality and morbidity rates were to anticipatethe future availability of immunoglobulin products.展开更多
Major facilitator superfamily(MFS)transporters are secondary active membrane transporters that play an important role in solute interchange and energy metabolism.Peronophythora litchii causes the most destructive dise...Major facilitator superfamily(MFS)transporters are secondary active membrane transporters that play an important role in solute interchange and energy metabolism.Peronophythora litchii causes the most destructive disease on lichi,litchi downy blight.PlM90 was reported as a key oosporogenesis regulator.Here,we identified an MFS transporter gene PlMFS1,which is up-regulated during oospore formation at the late infection stage,while down-regulated in the PlM90 mutant.To investigate PlMFS1 function,we generated PlMFS1knockout mutants using CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing technology.Compared with the wild-type strain SHS3,PlMFS1 deletion impaired mycelium growth,zoospore release,oospore production and pathogenicity.Furthermore,PlMFS1 deletion significantly affected P.litchii utilization of fructose,lactose and maltose,and may be the PlMFS1 mechanism involved in mycelial growth.PlMFS1 gene deletion also led to deceased laccase activity,laccase-encoding gene downregulation and impaired P.litchii pathogenicity.To our knowledge,this is the first report of an MFS transporter involved in sugar utilization,sexual reproduction,asexual reproduction and pathogenesis in oomycetes.展开更多
Insect-bacteria associations can influence vector competence in multiple ways. Chromobacterium anophelis, a bacterium known to be pathogenic to mosquitoes, may also act as an anti-pathogen by inhibiting the developmen...Insect-bacteria associations can influence vector competence in multiple ways. Chromobacterium anophelis, a bacterium known to be pathogenic to mosquitoes, may also act as an anti-pathogen by inhibiting the development of other pathogens within mosquitoes. The mechanism behind this inhibition remains unclear, with two hypotheses: the bacterium either boosts the mosquito’s immunity or directly targets other pathogens within the mosquito. The objective of this study is to elucidate the mechanism behind this pathogen-inhibition effect in mosquitoes. Bioassays (assessing longevity, fecundity, and fertility) were conducted on mosquitoes infected with the bacterium and an entomopathogenic fungus, Metarhizium pingshaense, whose hyphae grow on mosquitoes after killing them. The prevalence of hyphal growth was evaluated. The longevity of mosquitoes co-infected with Chromobacterium anophelis and Metarhizium pingshaense was significantly higher than those infected solely with the more virulent microorganism, which was Chromobacterium anophelis. Hyphae were observed on 100% of mosquitoes infected only with the fungus, whereas mosquitoes co-infected with the bacterium exhibited a lower prevalence of fungal hyphal growth. The number of eggs laid by infected mosquitoes was approximately the same, within the typical range (50 - 150). However, the number of larvae observed from co-infected mosquitoes was significantly higher than those produced by mosquitoes exposed to the microorganism that most reduced egg hatch rates. These results align with the hypothesis that Chromobacterium anophelis inhibits the development of other pathogens within mosquitoes by directly targeting them.展开更多
Tick-borne diseases(TBDs) are a major public health concern that has increased in the past three decades. Nevertheless, emerging or reemerging TBDs may be still misdiagnosed. Molecular biology techniques for the scree...Tick-borne diseases(TBDs) are a major public health concern that has increased in the past three decades. Nevertheless, emerging or reemerging TBDs may be still misdiagnosed. Molecular biology techniques for the screening of ticks, use of "Omics" approaches and the incorporation of analytical methods such as mass spectrometry or nuclear magnetic resonance, to the study of ticks and their associated pathogens or potential pathogens are promising tools for a more accurate differential diagnosis of TBDs. However, this huge amount of data needs to be carefully interpreted before being incorporated to the routine of clinical practice. In the meantime, a clinical approach and high level of suspicion keep being essential for the diagnosis and proper handling of TBDs.展开更多
Tick-borne encephalitis is an infection of central nervous system caused by tick-borne encephalitis virus transmitted to humans predominantly by tick bites. During the last few decades the incidence of the disease has...Tick-borne encephalitis is an infection of central nervous system caused by tick-borne encephalitis virus transmitted to humans predominantly by tick bites. During the last few decades the incidence of the disease has been increasing and poses a growing health problem in almost all endemic European and Asian countries. Most cases occur during the highest period of tick activity, in Central Europe mainly from April to November. Tickborne encephalitis is more common in adults than in children. Clinical spectrum of the disease ranges from mild meningitis to severe meningoencephalitis with or without paralysis. Rare clinical manifestations are an abortive form of the disease and a chronic progressive form. A post-encephalitic syndrome, causing long-lasting morbidity that often affects the quality of life develops in up to 50% of patients after acute tick-borne encephalitis. Clinical course and outcome vary by subtype of tick-borne encephalitis virus(the disease caused by the European subtype has milder course and better outcome than the disease caused by Siberian and Far-Easter subtypes), age of patients(increasing age is associated with less favorable outcome), and host genetic factors. Since clinical features and laboratory results of blood and cerebrospinal fluid are nonspecific, the diagnosis must be confirmed by microbiologic findings. The routine laboratory confirmation of the tick-borne encephalitis virus infection is based mainly on the detection of specific Ig M and Ig G antibodies in serum(and cerebrospinal fluid), usually by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. There is no specific antiviral treatment for tick-borne encephalitis. Vaccination can effectively prevent the disease and is indicated for persons living in or visiting tick-borne encephalitis endemic areas.展开更多
Recently,there has been a continuous stream of reports on emerging tick-borne pathogens affecting humans.Qinghai Province,located in the northweastern region,is one of China’s major pastoral areas,providing a suitabl...Recently,there has been a continuous stream of reports on emerging tick-borne pathogens affecting humans.Qinghai Province,located in the northweastern region,is one of China’s major pastoral areas,providing a suitable environment for ticks''survival and transmitting tick-borne pathogens.Here,we collected 560 free-living and parasitic ticks from 11 locations in Qinghai Province using the flag-drag method or tweezers,identifying them as belonging to 4 species of ticks.The overall positivity rate for tick-borne pathogens was 51.61%,comprisingRickettsia(34.64%),Anaplasma(5.00%),Ehrlichia(2.14%),Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato(BBSL)(7.50%),Babesia(0.18%),andTheileria(5.89%).Sequencing revealed the presence of 7 species ofRickettsia,4 species ofAnaplasma,2 species ofEhrlichia,2 species of BBSL,1 species ofBabesia,and 3 species ofTheileria.Among the ticks,6.43%were co-infected with 2 pathogens,while 0.36%exhibited co-infection with 3 pathogens.Significant correlations(P<0.05)were observed between the prevalence of tick-borne pathogens and factors including tick species,sex,developmental stages,parasitic status,and blood-feeding status.The results highlight the diverse distribution of tick-borne pathogens in Qinghai Province,posing a significant threat to both local animal husbandry and human health.It underscores the need to enhance systematic monitoring of tick-borne pathogens in the local population and livestock.展开更多
In Scandinavia, tick-borne infections affecting humans include Lyme borreliosis (LB), tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) and human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA). Each of these infections can present with unspecific sympt...In Scandinavia, tick-borne infections affecting humans include Lyme borreliosis (LB), tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) and human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA). Each of these infections can present with unspecific symptoms. In this prospective clinical study, we recruited patients based on two independent inclusion criteria;1) patients with unspecific symptoms, i.e. fever (≥38.0℃) or a history of feverishness and/or any combination of headache, myalgia or arthralgia and 2) patients with erythema migrans (EM), following an observed tick bite or tick exposure within one month prior to onset of symptoms. A total of 206 patients fulfilled the study. Among these, we could identify 186 cases of LB (174 with EM), 18 confirmed and two probable cases of HGA and two cases of TBE. Thirteen of the HGA cases presented without fever. Furthermore, 22 of the EM patients had a sub-clinical co-infection with Anaplasma phagocytophilum, based on serology. Both TBE cases had co-infections, one with Borrelia burgdorferi and one with Anaplasma phagocytophilum. We conclude that it is important to consider several causative agents and possible co-infections in the clinical management of infectious diseases where ticks may be suspected as vectors.展开更多
The stamping-out strategy has been used to control highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses in many countries,driven by the belief that vaccination would not be successful against such viruses and fears that avian in...The stamping-out strategy has been used to control highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses in many countries,driven by the belief that vaccination would not be successful against such viruses and fears that avian influenza virus in vaccinated birds would evolve more rapidly and pose a greater risk to humans.In this review,we summarize the successes in controlling highly pathogenic avian influenza in China and make suggestions regarding the requirements for vaccine selection and effectiveness.In addition,we present evidence that vaccination of poultry not only eliminates human infection with avian influenza virus,but also significantly reduces and abolishes some harmful characteristics of avian influenza virus.展开更多
Litchi downy blight,caused by the plant pathogenic oomycete Peronophythora litchii,is one of the most devastating diseases on litchi and resulted in huge economic losses.Autophagy plays an essential role in the develo...Litchi downy blight,caused by the plant pathogenic oomycete Peronophythora litchii,is one of the most devastating diseases on litchi and resulted in huge economic losses.Autophagy plays an essential role in the development and pathogenicity of the filamentous fungi.However,the function of autophagy in oomycetes remain elusive.Here,an autophagy-related protein Atg3 homolog PlAtg3 was identified and characterized in P.litchii.The absence of PlATG3 through the CRISPR/Cas9 gene replacement strategy compromised vegetative growth and sexual/asexual development.Cytological analyses revealed that the deletion of PlATG3 impaired autophagosome formation with monodansylcadaverine(MDC)staining and significantly disrupted zoospore release due to defects of sporangial cleavage with FM4-64 staining.Atg8 is considered to be an autophagy marker protein in various species.Western blot analysis indicated that PlAtg3 is involved in degradation of PlAtg8-PE.Interestingly,PlAtg3 was unable to interact with PlAtg8 in yeast two hybrid(Y2H)assays,possibly due to the absence of the Atg8 family interacting motif(AIM)in PlAtg3.Furthermore,pathogenicity assays revealed that the deletion of PlATG3 considerably reduced the virulence of P.litchii.Taken together,our data reveal that PlAtg3 plays an important role in radial growth,asexual/sexual development,sporangial cleavage and zoospore release,autophagosome formation,and pathogenicity in P.litchii.This study contributes to a better understanding of the pathogenicity mechanisms of P.litchii and provides insights for the development of more effective strategies to control oomycete diseases.展开更多
Bordetella bronchiseptica(Bb)is recognized as a leading cause of respiratory diseases in dogs and cats.However,epidemiological data on Bb in dogs and cats in China are still limited,and there is no commercially availa...Bordetella bronchiseptica(Bb)is recognized as a leading cause of respiratory diseases in dogs and cats.However,epidemiological data on Bb in dogs and cats in China are still limited,and there is no commercially available vaccine.Live vaccines containing Bb that are widely used abroad are generally efective but can establish latency and potentially reactivate to cause illness in some immunodefcient vaccinated recipients,raising safety concerns.In this study,34 canine-derived and two feline-derived Bb strains were isolated from 1809 canine and 113 feline nasopharyngeal swab samples collected from eight provinces in China from 2021 to 2023.The PCR results showed that the percentage of positive Bb was 22.94%(441/1922),and more than 90%of the Bb isolates had four virulence factor-encoding genes(VFGs),namely,fhaB,prn,betA and dnt.All the isolated strains displayed a multidrug-resistant phenotype.The virulence of 10 Bb strains isolated from dogs with respiratory symptoms was tested in mice,and we found that eight isolates were highly virulent.Furthermore,the eight Bb isolates with high virulence were inactivated and intramuscularly injected into mice,and three Bb strains(WH1218,WH1203 and WH1224)with the best protective efcacy were selected.Dogs immunized with these three strains exhibited strong protection against challenge with the Bb feld strain WH1218.Ultimately,the WH1218 strain with the greatest protection in dogs was selected as the vaccine candidate.Dogs and cats that received a vaccine containing 109 CFU of the inactivated WH1218 strain showed complete protection against challenge with the Bb feld strain WH1218.This study revealed that Bb is an important pathogen that causes respiratory diseases in domestic dogs and cats in China,and all the isolates exhibited multidrug resistance.The present work contributes to the current understanding of the prevalence,antimicrobial resistance,and virulence genes of Bb in domestic dogs and cats.Additionally,our results suggest that the WH1218 strain is a promising candidate safe and efcacious inactivated Bb vaccine.展开更多
Several fungal pathogens cause root rot of common bean,among which Fusarium spp.are the most common pathogens causing Fusarium root rot(FRR)worldwide.FRR has been becoming an increasingly severe disease of common bean...Several fungal pathogens cause root rot of common bean,among which Fusarium spp.are the most common pathogens causing Fusarium root rot(FRR)worldwide.FRR has been becoming an increasingly severe disease of common bean in China,but the species of Fusarium spp.have remained unclear.Thus,this study was performed to identify the pathogen causing common bean root rot in Liangcheng County,Inner Mongolia,China.Nineteen Fusarium-like isolates were obtained after pathogen isolation and purification.The pathogenicity test indicated that eight isolates caused severe disease symptoms on common bean,while 11 other isolates were not pathogenic.The eight pathogenic isolates,FCL1–FCL8,were identified as Fusarium cuneirostrum by morphological characterization and phylogenetic analysis using partial sequences of EF-1α,ITS,28S,and IGS regions.Host range test showed that the representative F.cuneirostrum isolate FCL3 was also pathogenic to mung bean,while not pathogenic to adzuki bean,chickpea,cowpea,faba bean,pea,and soybean.Moreover,50 common bean and 50 mung bean cultivars were screened for resistance to FRR,and seven highly resistant or resistant cultivars of common bean were identified,while no resistant cultivars of mung bean were screened.This study revealed that F.cuneirostrum was one of common bean FRR pathogens in Inner Mongolia and it could induce mung bean root rot as well.To our knowledge,this is the first report of F.cuneirostrum causing FRR of common bean in China.展开更多
Pathogenic microorganisms produce numerous metabolites,including volatile organic compounds(VOCs).Monitoring these metabolites in biological matrices(e.g.,urine,blood,or breath)can reveal the presence of specific micr...Pathogenic microorganisms produce numerous metabolites,including volatile organic compounds(VOCs).Monitoring these metabolites in biological matrices(e.g.,urine,blood,or breath)can reveal the presence of specific microorganisms,enabling the early diagnosis of infections and the timely implementation of tar-geted therapy.However,complex matrices only contain trace levels of VOCs,and their constituent com-ponents can hinder determination of these compounds.Therefore,modern analytical techniques enabling the non-invasive identification and precise quantification of microbial VOCs are needed.In this paper,we discuss bacterial VOC analysis under in vitro conditions,in animal models and disease diagnosis in humans,including techniques for offline and online analysis in clinical settings.We also consider the advantages and limitations of novel microextraction techniques used to prepare biological samples for VOC analysis,in addition to reviewing current clinical studies on bacterial volatilomes that address inter-species in-teractions,the kinetics of VOC metabolism,and species-and drug-resistance specificity.展开更多
The aim of our study was to use a biosurfactant produced by Bacillus and Lactobacillus isolates as an antiseptic in the formulation of local soap. A total of 60 isolates were characterized by microbiological technique...The aim of our study was to use a biosurfactant produced by Bacillus and Lactobacillus isolates as an antiseptic in the formulation of local soap. A total of 60 isolates were characterized by microbiological techniques (30 Bacillus and 30 Lactobacillus) and the ability to produce biosurfactants was demonstrated by a hydrocarbon emulsification index (E24). The emulsification indexes (E24) varied from 9% to 100% for Bacillus and from 33% to 100% for Lactobacillus as well. The antagonistic assay showed that biosurfactants were able to inhibit the formation of biofilms and growth of pathogens such as Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Salmonella typhirium, Shigella boydii and Proteus mirabilis. The biosurfactant consortium (BioC) from Bacillus consortium and from Lactobacillus was able to inhibit biofilm formation and the pathogens growth. The BioC was stable to alkaline pH and the temperatures stability of Biosurfactant was ranging from 50°C to 90°C. The soap was made by the cold saponification process using one biosurfactant consortium formulated. This soap has a pH of 10 and showed good cleaning power and good foam stability. Similarly, the soap showed good antiseptic power and disinfection power against all pathogens tested. Handwashing is critical to preventing disease transmission. The persistence of pathogens in waste water was evaluated. The BioS produced showed good disinfection power against all pathogens tested. The valor of reduction on the hands and in the waste water was significantly more than compared to the control soaps used. This soap could be used in the prevention, fighting, and treatment of bacterial and viral infections.展开更多
Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli(APEC)belonging to extraintestinal pathogenic E.coli(ExPEC)can cause severe infections in extraintestinal tissues in birds and humans,such as the lungs and blood.MprA(microcin producti...Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli(APEC)belonging to extraintestinal pathogenic E.coli(ExPEC)can cause severe infections in extraintestinal tissues in birds and humans,such as the lungs and blood.MprA(microcin production regulation,locus A,herein renamed AbsR,a blood survival regulator),a member of the MarR(multiple antibiotic resistance regulator)transcriptional regulator family,governs the expression of capsule biosynthetic genes in human ExPEC and represents a promising druggable target for antimicrobials.However,a deep understanding of the AbsR regulatory mechanism as well as its regulon is lacking.In this study,we present a systems-level analysis of the APEC AbsR regulon using ChIP-Seq(chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing)and RNA-Seq(RNA sequencing)methods.We found that AbsR directly regulates 99 genes and indirectly regulates 667 genes.Furthermore,we showed that:1)AbsR contributes to antiphagocytotic effects by macrophages and virulence in a mouse model for systemic infection by directly activating the capsular gene cluster;2)AbsR positively impacts biofilm formation via direct regulation of the T2SS(type II secretion system)but plays a marginal role in virulence;and 3)AbsR directly upregulates the acid tolerance signaling system EvgAS to withstand acid stress but is dispensable in ExPEC virulence.Finally,our data indicate that the role of AbsR in virulence gene regulation is relatively conserved in ExPEC strains.Altogether,this study provides a comprehensive analysis of the AbsR regulon and regulatory mechanism,and our data suggest that AbsR likely influences virulence primarily through the control of capsule production.Interestingly,we found that AbsR severely represses the expression of the type I-F CRISPR(clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats)-Cas(CRISPR associated)systems,which could have implications in CRISPR biology and application.展开更多
基金This study was funded by the national key research and development programs of China(No.2017YFD0501803 and 2016YFD0501100)the Young Talents Program of the Chinese Academy of Inspection and Quarantine.
文摘On August 14th,2018,a Beijing resident living in Xicheng District found a female H.longicornis tick attached to the skin at the front of his upper shin.On examination,the patient was afebrile and appeared well.The species of the tick was identified through morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analysis based on cytochrome C oxidase subunit I.This H.longicornis tick was screened for tick-borne pathogens such as viruses,bacteria and parasites.RNA pathogens were screened by PCR and sequencing,while DNA pathogens were screened by metagenomic analyses.It was found that the tick was positive for the DNA sequences of zoonotic and animal pathogens such as A phagocytophilum,Ehrlichia minasensis and C.burnetii.Considering the good health condition of the patient,we hypothesized that the pathogens originated from the tick specimen itself rather than host blood meal.For the first time,our study reveals the possible risk of transmission of tick-borne pathogens to human beings through tick bit in downtown Beijing.Further research is needed to screen for tick-borne pathogens among unfed ticks collected from central Beijing.
基金The National Science and Technology Major Project of China[No.2018ZX10101002-002]the National Natural Science Foundation of China[grants 81702016]the National Science and Technology Major Project of China[2018ZX10712001-006-002 and 2018ZX10305409-003-005]。
文摘Pathogens like bacteria and protozoa,which affect human and animal health worldwide,can be transmitted by vectors like ticks.To investigate the epidemiology and genetic diversity of bacteria and protozoans carried by ticks in Chengmai county of Hainan province,China,285 adult hard ticks belonging to two species[Rhipicephalus sanguineus(sensu lato):183,64.21%and Rhipicephalus microplus:102,35.79%]from dogs,cattle,and goats were collected.Microbial families were identified in these ticks by amplifying the 18 S r RNA,16 S r RNA(rrs),citrate synthase(glt A),and heat shock protein(gro EL)genes.Our data revealed the presence of four recognized species and two Candidatus spp.of Anaplasmataceae and Coxiellaceae.In sum,these data reveal an extensive diversity of Anaplasmataceae bacteria,Coxiellaceae bacteria,Babesiidae,and Hepatozoidae in ticks from Hainan Island,highlighting the need to understand the tickborne pathogen infection in local animals and humans.
文摘Objective: To determine the prevalence of zoonotic tick-borne bacteria in feeding ticks removed from hunted wild animals. Methods: PCR was executed on DNA extracted from 77 tick pools to detect Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Bartonella spp., Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Coxiella burnetii and Rickettsia spp. Results: A total of 432 ticks were collected: 30(6.94%) Haemaphysalis punctata, 72(16.7%) Dermacentor marginatus and 330(76.38%) Ixodes ricinus. For each animal one or two pools of 3 ticks of the same species was constituted. Seventy-seven tick pools were examined by PCR: 58(75.32%) resulted infected and among them 14(18.18%) showed co-infections. In particular, 29(37.66%) pools were positive for Bartonella spp., 23(29.87%) for Anaplasma phagocytophilum, 16(20.78%) for Rickettsia spp., and 5(6.49%) for Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. All samples were negative for Coxiella burnetii. Conclusions: The results demonstrate the presence of several zoonotic tick-borne pathogens in the studied area, and underline the risk of exposure to infections for hunters not only during the outdoor activity, but also when they manipulate hunted animals infested by infected ticks.
文摘Objective:Different studies have been performed on the prevalence of tick-borne pathogens in different areas of Iran;however,as far as our knowledge,there is no regional meta-analysis available for consideration and estimation of tick species infected with different pathogens in Iran.Methods:In this review,among different databases,a total of 95 publications were included,and the infection of different tick species to different tick-borne pathogens was determined;furthermore,presence of pathogens(with 95%confidence intervals)in tick vectors was calculated separately for each province,using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis version 2(Biostat,USA).Results:Totally,among all 95 studies,5673 out of 33521 investigated ticks were positive according to different detection methods.Overall estimated presence of pathogens in tick vectors in Iran was 8.6%(95%CI 7.0%-10.6%,P<0.001).Of all 46 species of ticks in 10 genera in Iran,28 species in 9 genera,including Alveonasus,Argas,Boophilus,Dermacentor,Haemaphysalis,Hyalomma,Ixodes,Ornithodoros,and Rhipicephalus were infected with at least 20 pathogens in 10 genera including Aegyptianella,Anaplasma,Babesia,Borrelia,Brucella,Orthonairovirus[CrimeanCongo hemorrhagic fever virus(CCHFV)],Coxiella,Ehrlichia,Rickettsia and Theileria in 26 provinces of Iran.The presence of pathogens in ticks collected in western Iran was more than other regions.Hyalomma anatolicum(20.35%),Rhipicephalus sanguineus(15.00%),and Rhipicephalus bursa(14.08%)were the most prevalent infected ticks for different pathogens.In addition,most literatures were related to CCHFV and Theileria/Babesia spp.Conclusions:Public health and veterinary professionals should be aware of diagnosing possible diseases or outbreaks in vertebrates.
基金This study was funded by the Natural Science Foundation of China(81621005,81472005,81473023).
文摘Background:A wide variety of pathogens could be maintained and transmitted by Haemaphysalis longicornis.The aim of this study is to systematically examine the variety of pathogens carried by Haemaphysalis longicornis,an importnatn vector,in tick-borne diseases epidemic area,and to estimate the risk of human infection imposed by tick bites.Methods:Adult questing ticks were collected in Xinyang,central China.Genomic DNA and RNA were extracted from 144 H.longicornis ticks individually,and sequenced respectively as the templates for high-throughput sequencing.Clean reads were compared against the database of NCBI nucleotide collection and specific PCR was performed to confirm the presence of pathogen.Phylogenetic analysis was performed to explore the evolutionary status of pathogens.Results:The assignment of reads to taxa based on BLASTN results revealed the existence of several potential pathogens,including Anaplasma spp.,Rickettsia spp.,Babesia sp.,as well as severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome bunyavirus(SFTSV).Comfirmantory PCR assays revealed the existence of Anaplasma bovis(13/144,9.03%),Anaplasma centrale(2/144,1.39%),Rickettsia heilongjiangensis(3/144,2.08%),Rickettsia sp.LON-13(1/144,0.69%),Rickettsia raoultii(5/144,3.47%),Babesia sp.(1/144,0.69%).SFTSV accounted for the highest detected pathogen with a positive rate of 18.75%(27/144).Three of the ticks(2.08%)were co-infected with SFTSV and A.bovis.Conclusion:Our study provided a broadened list of microorganism that harbored by H.longicornis.In previously unrecognized endemic regions,prokaryotic and eukaryotic infection including Anaplasma spp.,Rickettsiae spp.,and Babesia spp.should be considered,along with the well-known SFTSV for patients with tick bites history.A novel Babesia species was identified in local natural foci,which needs further investigation in the future.
文摘Background and Objective: Tick-borne hemoparasitic illnesses pose a serious threat to the well-being and productivity of cattle. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of tick-borne hemoparasites in Cameroon, with a specific focus on the Noun and Nde Divisions of the West Region. Methodology: A total of 423 cattle from 10 villages in both divisions were included in the study. Blood smears were prepared and subjected to microscopic screening for Babesia and Anaplasma parasites. Results: The prevalence of Anaplasma was found to be 23.4%, while Babesia exhibited a seroprevalence of 17.3%. Samples from Institute of Agricultural Research for Development (IRAD) and Koupa Ngangnou demonstrated significantly higher prevalence rates, potentially influenced by climate variations affecting tick populations. Additionally, 17.3% of the animals exhibited low hematocrit levels, indicative of anemia. No significant associations were observed between the presence of hemoparasite infection and cattle characteristics. Conclusion: This study provides fundamental data on the extensive distribution and impact of tick-borne hemoparasites in a significant cattle-producing region of Cameroon.
文摘The dangerous Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus(CCHFV),an encapsulated negative-sense RNA virus of the family Nairoviridae,is transmitted from person to person via ticks.With a case fatality rate between 10%to 40%,the most common ways that the disease may spread to humans are via tick bites or coming into touch with infected animals'blood or tissues.Furthermore,the transfer of bodily fluids between individuals is another potential route of infection.There is a wide range of symptoms experienced by patients throughout each stage,from myalgia and fever to extreme bruising and excess bleeding.Tick management measures include minimising the spread of ticks from one species to another and from people to animals via the use of protective clothing,repellents,and proper animal handling.In order to prevent the spread of illness,healthcare workers must adhere to stringent protocols.Despite the lack of an authorised vaccine,the main components of treatment now consist of preventative measures and supportive care,which may include the antiviral medicine ribavirin.We still don't know very much about the virus's mechanisms,even though advances in molecular virology and animal models have improved our understanding of the pathogenesis of CCHFV.A critical need for vaccination that is both safe and effective,as well as for quick diagnosis and efficient treatments to lessen the disease's impact in areas where it is most prevalent.Important steps towards lowering Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever mortality and morbidity rates were to anticipatethe future availability of immunoglobulin products.
基金funded by the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province,China(Grant Nos.2023A1515012617,2022A1515010458 and 2023A1515030267)Guangzhou Science&Technology Program(Grant No.202201010410)the earmarked fund for CARS-32。
文摘Major facilitator superfamily(MFS)transporters are secondary active membrane transporters that play an important role in solute interchange and energy metabolism.Peronophythora litchii causes the most destructive disease on lichi,litchi downy blight.PlM90 was reported as a key oosporogenesis regulator.Here,we identified an MFS transporter gene PlMFS1,which is up-regulated during oospore formation at the late infection stage,while down-regulated in the PlM90 mutant.To investigate PlMFS1 function,we generated PlMFS1knockout mutants using CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing technology.Compared with the wild-type strain SHS3,PlMFS1 deletion impaired mycelium growth,zoospore release,oospore production and pathogenicity.Furthermore,PlMFS1 deletion significantly affected P.litchii utilization of fructose,lactose and maltose,and may be the PlMFS1 mechanism involved in mycelial growth.PlMFS1 gene deletion also led to deceased laccase activity,laccase-encoding gene downregulation and impaired P.litchii pathogenicity.To our knowledge,this is the first report of an MFS transporter involved in sugar utilization,sexual reproduction,asexual reproduction and pathogenesis in oomycetes.
文摘Insect-bacteria associations can influence vector competence in multiple ways. Chromobacterium anophelis, a bacterium known to be pathogenic to mosquitoes, may also act as an anti-pathogen by inhibiting the development of other pathogens within mosquitoes. The mechanism behind this inhibition remains unclear, with two hypotheses: the bacterium either boosts the mosquito’s immunity or directly targets other pathogens within the mosquito. The objective of this study is to elucidate the mechanism behind this pathogen-inhibition effect in mosquitoes. Bioassays (assessing longevity, fecundity, and fertility) were conducted on mosquitoes infected with the bacterium and an entomopathogenic fungus, Metarhizium pingshaense, whose hyphae grow on mosquitoes after killing them. The prevalence of hyphal growth was evaluated. The longevity of mosquitoes co-infected with Chromobacterium anophelis and Metarhizium pingshaense was significantly higher than those infected solely with the more virulent microorganism, which was Chromobacterium anophelis. Hyphae were observed on 100% of mosquitoes infected only with the fungus, whereas mosquitoes co-infected with the bacterium exhibited a lower prevalence of fungal hyphal growth. The number of eggs laid by infected mosquitoes was approximately the same, within the typical range (50 - 150). However, the number of larvae observed from co-infected mosquitoes was significantly higher than those produced by mosquitoes exposed to the microorganism that most reduced egg hatch rates. These results align with the hypothesis that Chromobacterium anophelis inhibits the development of other pathogens within mosquitoes by directly targeting them.
文摘Tick-borne diseases(TBDs) are a major public health concern that has increased in the past three decades. Nevertheless, emerging or reemerging TBDs may be still misdiagnosed. Molecular biology techniques for the screening of ticks, use of "Omics" approaches and the incorporation of analytical methods such as mass spectrometry or nuclear magnetic resonance, to the study of ticks and their associated pathogens or potential pathogens are promising tools for a more accurate differential diagnosis of TBDs. However, this huge amount of data needs to be carefully interpreted before being incorporated to the routine of clinical practice. In the meantime, a clinical approach and high level of suspicion keep being essential for the diagnosis and proper handling of TBDs.
文摘Tick-borne encephalitis is an infection of central nervous system caused by tick-borne encephalitis virus transmitted to humans predominantly by tick bites. During the last few decades the incidence of the disease has been increasing and poses a growing health problem in almost all endemic European and Asian countries. Most cases occur during the highest period of tick activity, in Central Europe mainly from April to November. Tickborne encephalitis is more common in adults than in children. Clinical spectrum of the disease ranges from mild meningitis to severe meningoencephalitis with or without paralysis. Rare clinical manifestations are an abortive form of the disease and a chronic progressive form. A post-encephalitic syndrome, causing long-lasting morbidity that often affects the quality of life develops in up to 50% of patients after acute tick-borne encephalitis. Clinical course and outcome vary by subtype of tick-borne encephalitis virus(the disease caused by the European subtype has milder course and better outcome than the disease caused by Siberian and Far-Easter subtypes), age of patients(increasing age is associated with less favorable outcome), and host genetic factors. Since clinical features and laboratory results of blood and cerebrospinal fluid are nonspecific, the diagnosis must be confirmed by microbiologic findings. The routine laboratory confirmation of the tick-borne encephalitis virus infection is based mainly on the detection of specific Ig M and Ig G antibodies in serum(and cerebrospinal fluid), usually by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. There is no specific antiviral treatment for tick-borne encephalitis. Vaccination can effectively prevent the disease and is indicated for persons living in or visiting tick-borne encephalitis endemic areas.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(U2002219)The datasets generated or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable requestAll the nucleotide sequences obtained in this study are available in the GenBank of National Center for Biotechnology Information with accession numbers OR805110-OR805127,OR792783-OR792797,OR793990-OR793998,and OR813910-OR813915.
文摘Recently,there has been a continuous stream of reports on emerging tick-borne pathogens affecting humans.Qinghai Province,located in the northweastern region,is one of China’s major pastoral areas,providing a suitable environment for ticks''survival and transmitting tick-borne pathogens.Here,we collected 560 free-living and parasitic ticks from 11 locations in Qinghai Province using the flag-drag method or tweezers,identifying them as belonging to 4 species of ticks.The overall positivity rate for tick-borne pathogens was 51.61%,comprisingRickettsia(34.64%),Anaplasma(5.00%),Ehrlichia(2.14%),Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato(BBSL)(7.50%),Babesia(0.18%),andTheileria(5.89%).Sequencing revealed the presence of 7 species ofRickettsia,4 species ofAnaplasma,2 species ofEhrlichia,2 species of BBSL,1 species ofBabesia,and 3 species ofTheileria.Among the ticks,6.43%were co-infected with 2 pathogens,while 0.36%exhibited co-infection with 3 pathogens.Significant correlations(P<0.05)were observed between the prevalence of tick-borne pathogens and factors including tick species,sex,developmental stages,parasitic status,and blood-feeding status.The results highlight the diverse distribution of tick-borne pathogens in Qinghai Province,posing a significant threat to both local animal husbandry and human health.It underscores the need to enhance systematic monitoring of tick-borne pathogens in the local population and livestock.
基金FORSS—The Health Research Council in the Southeast of Sweden(Grant No 2000-320, 2001-332, 2002-335)research funds from the Ostergotland County Council (Grant No 2000-027, 2001-015, 2002-031)the Ostergotland County Council
文摘In Scandinavia, tick-borne infections affecting humans include Lyme borreliosis (LB), tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) and human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA). Each of these infections can present with unspecific symptoms. In this prospective clinical study, we recruited patients based on two independent inclusion criteria;1) patients with unspecific symptoms, i.e. fever (≥38.0℃) or a history of feverishness and/or any combination of headache, myalgia or arthralgia and 2) patients with erythema migrans (EM), following an observed tick bite or tick exposure within one month prior to onset of symptoms. A total of 206 patients fulfilled the study. Among these, we could identify 186 cases of LB (174 with EM), 18 confirmed and two probable cases of HGA and two cases of TBE. Thirteen of the HGA cases presented without fever. Furthermore, 22 of the EM patients had a sub-clinical co-infection with Anaplasma phagocytophilum, based on serology. Both TBE cases had co-infections, one with Borrelia burgdorferi and one with Anaplasma phagocytophilum. We conclude that it is important to consider several causative agents and possible co-infections in the clinical management of infectious diseases where ticks may be suspected as vectors.
基金This work was supported by the National Key Research andDevelopment Programof China(2021YFD1800200 and2021YFC2301700).
文摘The stamping-out strategy has been used to control highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses in many countries,driven by the belief that vaccination would not be successful against such viruses and fears that avian influenza virus in vaccinated birds would evolve more rapidly and pose a greater risk to humans.In this review,we summarize the successes in controlling highly pathogenic avian influenza in China and make suggestions regarding the requirements for vaccine selection and effectiveness.In addition,we present evidence that vaccination of poultry not only eliminates human infection with avian influenza virus,but also significantly reduces and abolishes some harmful characteristics of avian influenza virus.
基金supported by the grants from the Hainan Provincial Natural Science Foundation,China(321QN190 and 321CXTD437)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32202246 and 32160614)+1 种基金the Open Project Program of Fujian Key Laboratory for Monitoring and Integrated Management of Crop Pests,China(MIMCP-202102)the Scientific Research Foundation of Hainan University,China(KYQD(ZR)-21042 and KYQD(ZR)-20080)。
文摘Litchi downy blight,caused by the plant pathogenic oomycete Peronophythora litchii,is one of the most devastating diseases on litchi and resulted in huge economic losses.Autophagy plays an essential role in the development and pathogenicity of the filamentous fungi.However,the function of autophagy in oomycetes remain elusive.Here,an autophagy-related protein Atg3 homolog PlAtg3 was identified and characterized in P.litchii.The absence of PlATG3 through the CRISPR/Cas9 gene replacement strategy compromised vegetative growth and sexual/asexual development.Cytological analyses revealed that the deletion of PlATG3 impaired autophagosome formation with monodansylcadaverine(MDC)staining and significantly disrupted zoospore release due to defects of sporangial cleavage with FM4-64 staining.Atg8 is considered to be an autophagy marker protein in various species.Western blot analysis indicated that PlAtg3 is involved in degradation of PlAtg8-PE.Interestingly,PlAtg3 was unable to interact with PlAtg8 in yeast two hybrid(Y2H)assays,possibly due to the absence of the Atg8 family interacting motif(AIM)in PlAtg3.Furthermore,pathogenicity assays revealed that the deletion of PlATG3 considerably reduced the virulence of P.litchii.Taken together,our data reveal that PlAtg3 plays an important role in radial growth,asexual/sexual development,sporangial cleavage and zoospore release,autophagosome formation,and pathogenicity in P.litchii.This study contributes to a better understanding of the pathogenicity mechanisms of P.litchii and provides insights for the development of more effective strategies to control oomycete diseases.
基金the Guangdong Major Project of Basic and Applied Basic Research(2020B0301030007).
文摘Bordetella bronchiseptica(Bb)is recognized as a leading cause of respiratory diseases in dogs and cats.However,epidemiological data on Bb in dogs and cats in China are still limited,and there is no commercially available vaccine.Live vaccines containing Bb that are widely used abroad are generally efective but can establish latency and potentially reactivate to cause illness in some immunodefcient vaccinated recipients,raising safety concerns.In this study,34 canine-derived and two feline-derived Bb strains were isolated from 1809 canine and 113 feline nasopharyngeal swab samples collected from eight provinces in China from 2021 to 2023.The PCR results showed that the percentage of positive Bb was 22.94%(441/1922),and more than 90%of the Bb isolates had four virulence factor-encoding genes(VFGs),namely,fhaB,prn,betA and dnt.All the isolated strains displayed a multidrug-resistant phenotype.The virulence of 10 Bb strains isolated from dogs with respiratory symptoms was tested in mice,and we found that eight isolates were highly virulent.Furthermore,the eight Bb isolates with high virulence were inactivated and intramuscularly injected into mice,and three Bb strains(WH1218,WH1203 and WH1224)with the best protective efcacy were selected.Dogs immunized with these three strains exhibited strong protection against challenge with the Bb feld strain WH1218.Ultimately,the WH1218 strain with the greatest protection in dogs was selected as the vaccine candidate.Dogs and cats that received a vaccine containing 109 CFU of the inactivated WH1218 strain showed complete protection against challenge with the Bb feld strain WH1218.This study revealed that Bb is an important pathogen that causes respiratory diseases in domestic dogs and cats in China,and all the isolates exhibited multidrug resistance.The present work contributes to the current understanding of the prevalence,antimicrobial resistance,and virulence genes of Bb in domestic dogs and cats.Additionally,our results suggest that the WH1218 strain is a promising candidate safe and efcacious inactivated Bb vaccine.
基金supported by the China Agriculture Research System of MOF and MARA(CARS-08)the Scientific Innovation Program of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences。
文摘Several fungal pathogens cause root rot of common bean,among which Fusarium spp.are the most common pathogens causing Fusarium root rot(FRR)worldwide.FRR has been becoming an increasingly severe disease of common bean in China,but the species of Fusarium spp.have remained unclear.Thus,this study was performed to identify the pathogen causing common bean root rot in Liangcheng County,Inner Mongolia,China.Nineteen Fusarium-like isolates were obtained after pathogen isolation and purification.The pathogenicity test indicated that eight isolates caused severe disease symptoms on common bean,while 11 other isolates were not pathogenic.The eight pathogenic isolates,FCL1–FCL8,were identified as Fusarium cuneirostrum by morphological characterization and phylogenetic analysis using partial sequences of EF-1α,ITS,28S,and IGS regions.Host range test showed that the representative F.cuneirostrum isolate FCL3 was also pathogenic to mung bean,while not pathogenic to adzuki bean,chickpea,cowpea,faba bean,pea,and soybean.Moreover,50 common bean and 50 mung bean cultivars were screened for resistance to FRR,and seven highly resistant or resistant cultivars of common bean were identified,while no resistant cultivars of mung bean were screened.This study revealed that F.cuneirostrum was one of common bean FRR pathogens in Inner Mongolia and it could induce mung bean root rot as well.To our knowledge,this is the first report of F.cuneirostrum causing FRR of common bean in China.
基金funded by the National Science Centre,Poland(Project No.:2017/26/D/NZ6/00136).
文摘Pathogenic microorganisms produce numerous metabolites,including volatile organic compounds(VOCs).Monitoring these metabolites in biological matrices(e.g.,urine,blood,or breath)can reveal the presence of specific microorganisms,enabling the early diagnosis of infections and the timely implementation of tar-geted therapy.However,complex matrices only contain trace levels of VOCs,and their constituent com-ponents can hinder determination of these compounds.Therefore,modern analytical techniques enabling the non-invasive identification and precise quantification of microbial VOCs are needed.In this paper,we discuss bacterial VOC analysis under in vitro conditions,in animal models and disease diagnosis in humans,including techniques for offline and online analysis in clinical settings.We also consider the advantages and limitations of novel microextraction techniques used to prepare biological samples for VOC analysis,in addition to reviewing current clinical studies on bacterial volatilomes that address inter-species in-teractions,the kinetics of VOC metabolism,and species-and drug-resistance specificity.
文摘The aim of our study was to use a biosurfactant produced by Bacillus and Lactobacillus isolates as an antiseptic in the formulation of local soap. A total of 60 isolates were characterized by microbiological techniques (30 Bacillus and 30 Lactobacillus) and the ability to produce biosurfactants was demonstrated by a hydrocarbon emulsification index (E24). The emulsification indexes (E24) varied from 9% to 100% for Bacillus and from 33% to 100% for Lactobacillus as well. The antagonistic assay showed that biosurfactants were able to inhibit the formation of biofilms and growth of pathogens such as Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Salmonella typhirium, Shigella boydii and Proteus mirabilis. The biosurfactant consortium (BioC) from Bacillus consortium and from Lactobacillus was able to inhibit biofilm formation and the pathogens growth. The BioC was stable to alkaline pH and the temperatures stability of Biosurfactant was ranging from 50°C to 90°C. The soap was made by the cold saponification process using one biosurfactant consortium formulated. This soap has a pH of 10 and showed good cleaning power and good foam stability. Similarly, the soap showed good antiseptic power and disinfection power against all pathogens tested. Handwashing is critical to preventing disease transmission. The persistence of pathogens in waste water was evaluated. The BioS produced showed good disinfection power against all pathogens tested. The valor of reduction on the hands and in the waste water was significantly more than compared to the control soaps used. This soap could be used in the prevention, fighting, and treatment of bacterial and viral infections.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China Young Scholars Project(31902242)the Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Program(ASTIP)of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences(2017–2020)。
文摘Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli(APEC)belonging to extraintestinal pathogenic E.coli(ExPEC)can cause severe infections in extraintestinal tissues in birds and humans,such as the lungs and blood.MprA(microcin production regulation,locus A,herein renamed AbsR,a blood survival regulator),a member of the MarR(multiple antibiotic resistance regulator)transcriptional regulator family,governs the expression of capsule biosynthetic genes in human ExPEC and represents a promising druggable target for antimicrobials.However,a deep understanding of the AbsR regulatory mechanism as well as its regulon is lacking.In this study,we present a systems-level analysis of the APEC AbsR regulon using ChIP-Seq(chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing)and RNA-Seq(RNA sequencing)methods.We found that AbsR directly regulates 99 genes and indirectly regulates 667 genes.Furthermore,we showed that:1)AbsR contributes to antiphagocytotic effects by macrophages and virulence in a mouse model for systemic infection by directly activating the capsular gene cluster;2)AbsR positively impacts biofilm formation via direct regulation of the T2SS(type II secretion system)but plays a marginal role in virulence;and 3)AbsR directly upregulates the acid tolerance signaling system EvgAS to withstand acid stress but is dispensable in ExPEC virulence.Finally,our data indicate that the role of AbsR in virulence gene regulation is relatively conserved in ExPEC strains.Altogether,this study provides a comprehensive analysis of the AbsR regulon and regulatory mechanism,and our data suggest that AbsR likely influences virulence primarily through the control of capsule production.Interestingly,we found that AbsR severely represses the expression of the type I-F CRISPR(clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats)-Cas(CRISPR associated)systems,which could have implications in CRISPR biology and application.
