Complete Genome Characterization of the 2017 Dengue Outbreak in Xishuangbanna, a Border City of China, Burma and Laos

A dengue outbreak abruptly occurred at the border of China, Myanmar, and Laos in June 2017. By November 3rd 2017, 1184 infected individuals were confirmed as NS1-positivein Xishuangbanna, a city located at the border. To verify the causative agent, complete genome information was obtained through PCR and sequencing based on the viral RNAs extracted from patient samples. Phylogenetic trees were constructed by the maximum likelihood method (MEGA 6.0). Nucleotide and amino acid substitutions were analyzed by BioEdit, followed by RNA secondary structure prediction of untranslated regions (UTRs) and protein secondary structure prediction in coding sequences (CDSs). Strains YN2, YN17741, and YN176272 were isolated from local residents. Stains MY21 and MY22 were isolated from Burmese travelers. The complete genome sequences of the five isolates were 10,735 nucleotides in length. Phylogenetic analysis classified all five isolates as genotype I of DENV-1, while isolates of local residents and Burmese travelers belonged to different branches. The three locally isolates were most similar to the Dongguan strain in 2011, and the other two isolates from Burmese travelers were most similar to the Laos strain in 2008. Twenty-four amino acid substitutions were important in eight evolutionary tree branches. Comparison with DENV-1SS revealed 658 base substitutions in the local isolates, except for two mutations exclusive to YN17741, resulting in 87 synonymous mutations. Compared with the local isolates, 52 amino acid mutations occurred in the CDS of two isolates from Burmese travelers. Comparing MY21 with MY22, 17 amino acid mutations were observed, all these mutations occurred in the CDS of non-structured proteins (two in NS1, 10 in NS2, two in NS3, three in NS5). Secondary structure prediction revealed 46 changes in the potential nucleotide and protein binding sites of the CDSs in local isolates. RNA secondary structure prediction also showed base changes in the 3′UTR of local isolates, leading to two significant changes in the RNA secondary structure. To our knowledge, this study is the first complete genome analysis of isolates from the 2017 dengue outbreak that occurred at the border areas of China, Burma, and Laos

Molecular characterization of the viral structural gene of the first dengue virus type 1 outbreak in Xishuangbanna: A border area of China, Burma and Laos

Background: Xishuangbanna, a border area of China, Burma and Laos, had its first major DENV-1 outbreak in 2017. This study aims to explore the genetic characterization, potential source and evolution of the viruses in outbreak. Methods: The structural protein C/prM/E genes of viruses isolated from local residents or Burmese travelers were sequenced followed by mutation, phylogenetic, homologous recombination, molecular clock and demographic reconstruction analysis. Results: Phylogenetic analysis revealed that all of the strains were classified as three cluster of DENV-1. Cluster 1, 2 and 3 were most similar to China Guangzhou 2011, China Hubei 2014 and Laos 2008 strain, respectively. Among 236 base mutations, 31 caused nonsynonymous mutations when compared with the DENV-1SS. No homologous recombination signal was discovered. The structural protein of these strains had similar three-dimensional structure. Only site 434 showed differences among five predicted protein binding sites. Molecular clock phylogenetic and demographic reconstruction analysis showed that DENV-1 became highly diversified in 1972 followed by a slightly decreased period until 2017. Conclusions: Dengue isolated strains show diversification between Burma and China. Amino acid substitution (I440T) may lead to weakened virulence of the epidemic strains. DENV-1 became highly diversified in 1972 followed by a slightly decreased period. Keywords: Dengue virus type 1, Xishuangbanna, Molecular characterization, Structural gen

Investigation on Risk Factors and Main Symptoms of Long COVID and Their Influences on the Follow-up Research

Background Long COVID is a common problem in the recovery period of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The prevention and treatment of long COVID has become the focus of the medical fields of COVID-19. It is important to clarify the situation of long COVID in China and find out the follow-up research route, thus providing evidence-based evidence for clinical practice. Objective To explore the characteristics of long COVID in China, aiming to provide references for the follow-up research. Methods From January 2023 to August 2023, a self-made survey questionnaire was used to investigate the current situation of long COVID in China. The questionnaire included general information, such as gender and age, treatment expectations, symptoms and signs in acute and recovery period, etc. Results A total of 1 001 questionnaires were collected, including 901 people infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), and 585 (64.9%) people with long COVID. Binary Logistic regression analysis showed that female (OR=2.000, 95%CI=1.477-2.705, P<0.05), history of cancer (OR=4.424, 95%CI=1.316-14.868, P<0.05), and retirement (OR=1.527, 95%CI=1.048-2.224, P<0.05) were risk factors for long COVID. Among the 19 symptoms and signs of long COVID, the top three were fatigue (341 people), decrease of memory, comprehension and attention (274 people), and insomnia (217 people). Low back pain was the leading pain symptom (201 people). Hair loss was the number one sign to be difficult to self-healing (58.57%). Acupuncture (55.73%) was the top 1 willingness of treatment, followed by Chinese herbal decoction (53.68%), Chinese traditional patent medicine (47.01%), Western medicine (24.79%), intravenous drip (12.14%), and hospitalization (11.97%) . Conclusion The incidence of long COVID is relatively high in China. Acupuncture therapy enjoys a widespread favor among patients. It is recommended to carry out targeted research to enhance the clinical evidence for the prevention and treatment of acupuncture therapy. Women, cancer patients, and retired individuals (elderly people) are high-risk groups for long COVID, and low immune function is a common feature among them. It is suggested to establish a database incorporating these populations and conduct cohort studies on the prevention of long COVID through acupuncture. Fatigue, insomnia, and low back pain are more representative symptoms of long COVID, and randomized controlled studies on acupuncture treatment for these three symptoms at first are recommended

Image_3_Complete Genome Characterization of the 2017 Dengue Outbreak in Xishuangbanna, a Border City of China, Burma and Laos.PDF

<p>A dengue outbreak abruptly occurred at the border of China, Myanmar, and Laos in June 2017. By November 3rd 2017, 1184 infected individuals were confirmed as NS1-positivein Xishuangbanna, a city located at the border. To verify the causative agent, complete genome information was obtained through PCR and sequencing based on the viral RNAs extracted from patient samples. Phylogenetic trees were constructed by the maximum likelihood method (MEGA 6.0). Nucleotide and amino acid substitutions were analyzed by BioEdit, followed by RNA secondary structure prediction of untranslated regions (UTRs) and protein secondary structure prediction in coding sequences (CDSs). Strains YN2, YN17741, and YN176272 were isolated from local residents. Stains MY21 and MY22 were isolated from Burmese travelers. The complete genome sequences of the five isolates were 10,735 nucleotides in length. Phylogenetic analysis classified all five isolates as genotype I of DENV-1, while isolates of local residents and Burmese travelers belonged to different branches. The three locally isolates were most similar to the Dongguan strain in 2011, and the other two isolates from Burmese travelers were most similar to the Laos strain in 2008. Twenty-four amino acid substitutions were important in eight evolutionary tree branches. Comparison with DENV-1SS revealed 658 base substitutions in the local isolates, except for two mutations exclusive to YN17741, resulting in 87 synonymous mutations. Compared with the local isolates, 52 amino acid mutations occurred in the CDS of two isolates from Burmese travelers. Comparing MY21 with MY22, 17 amino acid mutations were observed, all these mutations occurred in the CDS of non-structured proteins (two in NS1, 10 in NS2, two in NS3, three in NS5). Secondary structure prediction revealed 46 changes in the potential nucleotide and protein binding sites of the CDSs in local isolates. RNA secondary structure prediction also showed base changes in the 3′UTR of local isolates, leading to two significant changes in the RNA secondary structure. To our knowledge, this study is the first complete genome analysis of isolates from the 2017 dengue outbreak that occurred at the border areas of China, Burma, and Laos.</p

Image_2_Complete Genome Characterization of the 2017 Dengue Outbreak in Xishuangbanna, a Border City of China, Burma and Laos.PDF

<p>A dengue outbreak abruptly occurred at the border of China, Myanmar, and Laos in June 2017. By November 3rd 2017, 1184 infected individuals were confirmed as NS1-positivein Xishuangbanna, a city located at the border. To verify the causative agent, complete genome information was obtained through PCR and sequencing based on the viral RNAs extracted from patient samples. Phylogenetic trees were constructed by the maximum likelihood method (MEGA 6.0). Nucleotide and amino acid substitutions were analyzed by BioEdit, followed by RNA secondary structure prediction of untranslated regions (UTRs) and protein secondary structure prediction in coding sequences (CDSs). Strains YN2, YN17741, and YN176272 were isolated from local residents. Stains MY21 and MY22 were isolated from Burmese travelers. The complete genome sequences of the five isolates were 10,735 nucleotides in length. Phylogenetic analysis classified all five isolates as genotype I of DENV-1, while isolates of local residents and Burmese travelers belonged to different branches. The three locally isolates were most similar to the Dongguan strain in 2011, and the other two isolates from Burmese travelers were most similar to the Laos strain in 2008. Twenty-four amino acid substitutions were important in eight evolutionary tree branches. Comparison with DENV-1SS revealed 658 base substitutions in the local isolates, except for two mutations exclusive to YN17741, resulting in 87 synonymous mutations. Compared with the local isolates, 52 amino acid mutations occurred in the CDS of two isolates from Burmese travelers. Comparing MY21 with MY22, 17 amino acid mutations were observed, all these mutations occurred in the CDS of non-structured proteins (two in NS1, 10 in NS2, two in NS3, three in NS5). Secondary structure prediction revealed 46 changes in the potential nucleotide and protein binding sites of the CDSs in local isolates. RNA secondary structure prediction also showed base changes in the 3′UTR of local isolates, leading to two significant changes in the RNA secondary structure. To our knowledge, this study is the first complete genome analysis of isolates from the 2017 dengue outbreak that occurred at the border areas of China, Burma, and Laos.</p

Table_1_Complete Genome Characterization of the 2017 Dengue Outbreak in Xishuangbanna, a Border City of China, Burma and Laos.PDF

<p>A dengue outbreak abruptly occurred at the border of China, Myanmar, and Laos in June 2017. By November 3rd 2017, 1184 infected individuals were confirmed as NS1-positivein Xishuangbanna, a city located at the border. To verify the causative agent, complete genome information was obtained through PCR and sequencing based on the viral RNAs extracted from patient samples. Phylogenetic trees were constructed by the maximum likelihood method (MEGA 6.0). Nucleotide and amino acid substitutions were analyzed by BioEdit, followed by RNA secondary structure prediction of untranslated regions (UTRs) and protein secondary structure prediction in coding sequences (CDSs). Strains YN2, YN17741, and YN176272 were isolated from local residents. Stains MY21 and MY22 were isolated from Burmese travelers. The complete genome sequences of the five isolates were 10,735 nucleotides in length. Phylogenetic analysis classified all five isolates as genotype I of DENV-1, while isolates of local residents and Burmese travelers belonged to different branches. The three locally isolates were most similar to the Dongguan strain in 2011, and the other two isolates from Burmese travelers were most similar to the Laos strain in 2008. Twenty-four amino acid substitutions were important in eight evolutionary tree branches. Comparison with DENV-1SS revealed 658 base substitutions in the local isolates, except for two mutations exclusive to YN17741, resulting in 87 synonymous mutations. Compared with the local isolates, 52 amino acid mutations occurred in the CDS of two isolates from Burmese travelers. Comparing MY21 with MY22, 17 amino acid mutations were observed, all these mutations occurred in the CDS of non-structured proteins (two in NS1, 10 in NS2, two in NS3, three in NS5). Secondary structure prediction revealed 46 changes in the potential nucleotide and protein binding sites of the CDSs in local isolates. RNA secondary structure prediction also showed base changes in the 3′UTR of local isolates, leading to two significant changes in the RNA secondary structure. To our knowledge, this study is the first complete genome analysis of isolates from the 2017 dengue outbreak that occurred at the border areas of China, Burma, and Laos.</p

Image_1_Complete Genome Characterization of the 2017 Dengue Outbreak in Xishuangbanna, a Border City of China, Burma and Laos.PDF

<p>A dengue outbreak abruptly occurred at the border of China, Myanmar, and Laos in June 2017. By November 3rd 2017, 1184 infected individuals were confirmed as NS1-positivein Xishuangbanna, a city located at the border. To verify the causative agent, complete genome information was obtained through PCR and sequencing based on the viral RNAs extracted from patient samples. Phylogenetic trees were constructed by the maximum likelihood method (MEGA 6.0). Nucleotide and amino acid substitutions were analyzed by BioEdit, followed by RNA secondary structure prediction of untranslated regions (UTRs) and protein secondary structure prediction in coding sequences (CDSs). Strains YN2, YN17741, and YN176272 were isolated from local residents. Stains MY21 and MY22 were isolated from Burmese travelers. The complete genome sequences of the five isolates were 10,735 nucleotides in length. Phylogenetic analysis classified all five isolates as genotype I of DENV-1, while isolates of local residents and Burmese travelers belonged to different branches. The three locally isolates were most similar to the Dongguan strain in 2011, and the other two isolates from Burmese travelers were most similar to the Laos strain in 2008. Twenty-four amino acid substitutions were important in eight evolutionary tree branches. Comparison with DENV-1SS revealed 658 base substitutions in the local isolates, except for two mutations exclusive to YN17741, resulting in 87 synonymous mutations. Compared with the local isolates, 52 amino acid mutations occurred in the CDS of two isolates from Burmese travelers. Comparing MY21 with MY22, 17 amino acid mutations were observed, all these mutations occurred in the CDS of non-structured proteins (two in NS1, 10 in NS2, two in NS3, three in NS5). Secondary structure prediction revealed 46 changes in the potential nucleotide and protein binding sites of the CDSs in local isolates. RNA secondary structure prediction also showed base changes in the 3′UTR of local isolates, leading to two significant changes in the RNA secondary structure. To our knowledge, this study is the first complete genome analysis of isolates from the 2017 dengue outbreak that occurred at the border areas of China, Burma, and Laos.</p

Table_2_Complete Genome Characterization of the 2017 Dengue Outbreak in Xishuangbanna, a Border City of China, Burma and Laos.pdf

<p>A dengue outbreak abruptly occurred at the border of China, Myanmar, and Laos in June 2017. By November 3rd 2017, 1184 infected individuals were confirmed as NS1-positivein Xishuangbanna, a city located at the border. To verify the causative agent, complete genome information was obtained through PCR and sequencing based on the viral RNAs extracted from patient samples. Phylogenetic trees were constructed by the maximum likelihood method (MEGA 6.0). Nucleotide and amino acid substitutions were analyzed by BioEdit, followed by RNA secondary structure prediction of untranslated regions (UTRs) and protein secondary structure prediction in coding sequences (CDSs). Strains YN2, YN17741, and YN176272 were isolated from local residents. Stains MY21 and MY22 were isolated from Burmese travelers. The complete genome sequences of the five isolates were 10,735 nucleotides in length. Phylogenetic analysis classified all five isolates as genotype I of DENV-1, while isolates of local residents and Burmese travelers belonged to different branches. The three locally isolates were most similar to the Dongguan strain in 2011, and the other two isolates from Burmese travelers were most similar to the Laos strain in 2008. Twenty-four amino acid substitutions were important in eight evolutionary tree branches. Comparison with DENV-1SS revealed 658 base substitutions in the local isolates, except for two mutations exclusive to YN17741, resulting in 87 synonymous mutations. Compared with the local isolates, 52 amino acid mutations occurred in the CDS of two isolates from Burmese travelers. Comparing MY21 with MY22, 17 amino acid mutations were observed, all these mutations occurred in the CDS of non-structured proteins (two in NS1, 10 in NS2, two in NS3, three in NS5). Secondary structure prediction revealed 46 changes in the potential nucleotide and protein binding sites of the CDSs in local isolates. RNA secondary structure prediction also showed base changes in the 3′UTR of local isolates, leading to two significant changes in the RNA secondary structure. To our knowledge, this study is the first complete genome analysis of isolates from the 2017 dengue outbreak that occurred at the border areas of China, Burma, and Laos.</p