Reassortant between Human-Like H3N2 and Avian H5 Subtype Influenza A Viruses in Pigs: A Potential Public Health Risk

Human-like H3N2 influenza viruses have repeatedly been transmitted to domestic pigs in different regions of the world, but it is still uncertain whether any of these variants could become established in pig populations. The fact that different subtypes of influenza viruses have been detected in pigs makes them an ideal candidate for the genesis of a possible reassortant virus with both human and avian origins. However, the determination of whether pigs can act as a “mixing vessel” for a possible future pandemic virus is still pending an answer. This prompted us to gather the epidemiological information and investigate the genetic evolution of swine influenza viruses in Jilin, China.Nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from pigs with respiratory illness in Jilin province, China from July 2007 to October 2008. All samples were screened for influenza A viruses. Three H3N2 swine influenza virus isolates were analyzed genetically and phylogenetically.Influenza surveillance of pigs in Jilin province, China revealed that H3N2 influenza viruses were regularly detected from domestic pigs during 2007 to 2008. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that two distinguishable groups of H3N2 influenza viruses were present in pigs: the wholly contemporary human-like H3N2 viruses (represented by the Moscow/10/99-like sublineage) and double-reassortant viruses containing genes from contemporary human H3N2 viruses and avian H5 viruses, both co-circulating in pig populations.The present study reports for the first time the coexistence of wholly human-like H3N2 viruses and double-reassortant viruses that have emerged in pigs in Jilin, China. It provides updated information on the role of pigs in interspecies transmission and genetic reassortment of influenza viruses

H5N1 avian influenza re-emergence of Lake Qinghai: phylogenetic and antigenic analyses of the newly isolated viruses and roles of migratory birds in virus circulation

Highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 virus has swept west across the globe and caused serious debates on the roles of migratory birds in virus circulation since the first large-scale outbreak in migratory birds of Lake Qinghai, 2005. In May 2006, another outbreak struck Lake Qinghai and six novel strains were isolated. To elucidate these QH06 viruses, the six isolates were subjected to whole-genome sequencing. Phylogenetic analyses show that QH06 viruses are derived from the lineages of Lake Qinghai, 2005. Five of the six novel isolates are adjacent to the strain A/Cygnus olor/Croatia/1/05, and the last one is related to the strain A/duck/Novosibirsk/02/05, an isolate of the flyway. Antigenic analyses suggest that QH06 and QH05 viruses are similar to each other. These findings implicate that QH06 viruses of Lake Qinghai may travel back via migratory birds, though not ruling out the possibility of local circulation of viruses of Lake Qinghai

Optical properties of 2D semiconductor WS2

2D semiconductor tungsten disulfide (WS2) attracts significant interest in both fundamental physics and many promising applications such as light emitters, photodetectors/sensors, valleytronics, and flexible nanoelectronics, due to its fascinating optical, electronic, and mechanical properties. Herein, basic exciton properties of monolayer WS2 are reviewed including neutral excitons, charged excitons, bounded excitons, biexcitons, and the effects of electrostatic gating, chemical doping, strain, magnetic field, circular polarized light, and substrate on these excitonic structures. Besides basic excitonic emission, single‐photon emission, exciton–polaritons, and stimulated emission in monolayer WS2 are also discussed. The understanding of these optical phenomena is critical for the development of potential optical applications in electronic and optoelectronic devices. Finally, a summary and future prospective of the challengers and developments regarding 2D semiconductor WS2 is presented.MOE (Min. of Education, S’pore

Microbiome Reveals the Effects of Biogas Fertilizer on Soil Microbial Community Structure and Diversity in Perennial Apple Orchards

Fruit trees are perennial crops that grow in one place for their whole lives, which leads to the deterioration of the soil as well as a decline in fruit quality and yield. Microbial diversity and community structure are important soil factors affecting stress resistance and the quality of fruit trees. Additionally, biogas fertilizer also plays an important role in improving fruit quality. Whether biogas fertilizer can improve continuous cropping barriers by affecting microbial diversity and community structure remains to be further investigated. Therefore, 7-year-old Fuji apples were used as material, and biogas fertilizer was applied continuously for three years. The results show that the contents of soil organic matter (SOM), available nitrogen (AN), available phosphorus (AP), and soil porosity (SP) increased by 0.712, 0.217, 1.089, and 0.401 after applying biogas fertilizer, respectively. The concentrations of vitamin C, titratable acid, and soluble solids also significantly increased. We also found that the relative abundance of dominant soil flora significantly increased, such as Sphingomonas (g_Sphingomonas), Chlamydomonas (g_Chlamydomonas), and Stachybotry (g_Stachybotry), while the relative abundance of inferior flora significantly decreased, such as Cryptococcus (g_Cryptococcus) and Alternaria (g_Alternaria). In summary, biogas fertilizer can improve the physicochemical properties of the soil as well as the structure and diversity of the microbial communities in rainfed orchards, resulting in higher fruit quality

Effect of Transplantation in Different Seedling Age on Growth and Yield of Spring Maize in Shanxi Early Mature Area

In order to explore a new mulch-free maize planting mode and the best seedling age for maize transplantation in Shanxi early mature area, a field experiment was carried out using completely randomized block design. Taking mulch based direct sowing as the control group, effects of transplantation in different seedling age on maize growing process, plant height, yield and composition factors of maize were analyzed. Results indicate that growing process of maize seedlings transplanted in different seedling age is slightly slower than the control group. Transplantation has effect of reducing plant height. Although the yield of transplanted maize in different seedling area is lower than the control group. Besides, with the growth of seedling age of transplantation, the gap is widening. However, through transplantation, it is expected to realize mulch-free maize planting in Shanxi early mature area. The yield of maize transplanted in two-leaf seedling age is not significantly different from the control group, and the yield is only 9% lower than the mulch-based direct sowing (CK). In conclusion, two-leaf period is the best seedling transplantation age for maize in Shanxi early mature area in this experiment condition

Development and Immunoprotection of Bacterium-like Particle Vaccine against Infectious Bronchitis in Chickens

Infectious bronchitis (IB) is a major threat to the global poultry industry. Despite the availability of commercial vaccines, the IB epidemic has not been effectively controlled. The exploration of novel IBV vaccines may provide a new way to prevent and control IB. In this study, BLP-S1, a bacterium-like particle displaying the S1 subunit of infectious bronchitis virus (IBV), was constructed using the GEM-PA surface display system. The immunoprotective efficacy results showed that BLP-S1 can effectively induce specific IgG and sIgA immune responses, providing a protection rate of 90% against IBV infection in 14-day-old commercial chickens. These results suggest that BLP-S1 has potential for the development of novel vaccines with good immunogenicity and immunoprotection

Influence of Transplantation in Different Stage on Growth and Yield of Spring Maize in Shanxi Early Mature Area

In order to explore a new mulch-free maize planting mode and the best seedling age for maize transplantation in Shanxi early mature area, a field experiment was carried out using completely randomized block design. Taking mulch-based direct sowing as the control group, effects of transplantation in different stage on maize growing process, plant height, three-ear leaf area in mature period, and yield and composition factors of maize. Results indicate that growing process of maize seedlings transplanted in every stage is slightly slower than the control group. Transplantation has effect of reducing plant height and three-ear leaf area in mature period. There was no significant difference between the yield of maize transplanted on May 1st and the control group, and the yield declined only by 7% compared with mulch-based direct sowing (CK). Damages to maize seedlings by the local late frost must be noticed when maize is planted by the method of mulch-free transplantation in early mature area. Transplanting the seedlings earlier after the late frost is deemed as an appropriate period in this area

The Production, Distribution and Fate of Yessotoxins, Taking the northern Yellow Sea of China for Example

Abstract Yessotoxins(YTXs) is a phycotoxin produced by phytoplankton that has been reported as cardiotoxic and have been detected in microalgae and/or bivalve molluscs in many countries. Their presence in shellfish was discovered due to their high acute toxicity in mice after i.p. injection of lipophilic extracts. YTXs in sediment, seawater, plankton and shellfish in the northern Yellow Sea of China were investigated. The least YTXs level and the lowest detection rate occurred in sediment, while a maximum level of 24.6ng/L appeared in the plankton; the change trend in seawater was similar to that in plankton. YTXs in mussel and Chlamys farreri were all higher than it in oyster. The three dinoflagellates which can produce YTXs, Protoceratium reticulatum, Lingulodinium polyedrum and Gonyaulax spinifera, have been all found. The abundance change of toxic dinoflagellates was consistent with YTXs in plankton, seawater and shellfishes. P. reticulatum is one of the main microalgae which can produce YTXs in the northern Yellow Sea coast; this P. reticulatum have been separated from seawater, and its ecological features of production YTXs have been studied. The distribution of YTXs in particulate matters, seawater, and shellfishes has also been studied by the experiments of feeding trial to Patinopecten yessoensis, Chlamys farreri and mussel. The more YTXs would distribute in particles and seawater, while in shellfishes there was the smallest proportion, only 1% around. According to the results in this paper, the ecological functions of the northern Yellow Sea coast as aquiculture area was still good, but the potential ecological risk of YTXs cannot be ignored