The Emergence of Chromosomally Located blaCTX-M-55 in Salmonella From Foodborne Animals in China

The emergence and increase in prevalence of resistance to cephalosporins amongst isolates of Salmonella from food animals imposes a public health threat. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence and characteristics of CTX-M-producing Salmonella isolates from raw meat and food animals. 27 of 152 (17.76%) Salmonella isolates were ESBL-positive including 21/70 (30%) from food animals and 6/82 (7.32%) from raw meat. CTX-M-55 was the most prevalent ESBL type observed (12/27, 44.44%). 7 of 12 CTX-M-55-positive Salmonella isolates were Salmonella Indiana, 2 were Salmonella Typhimurium, 2 were Salmonella Chester, and the remaining isolate was not typeable. Eight CTX-M-55-positive Salmonella isolates were highly resistant to fluoroquinolones (MICCIP = 64 ug/mL) and co-harbored aac(6')-Ib-cr and oqxAB. Most of the CTX-M-55 positive isolates (11/12) carried blaCTX-M-55 genes on the chromosome, with the remaining isolate carrying this gene on a transferable 280 kb IncHI2 plasmid. A chromosomal blaCTX-M-55 gene from one isolate transferred onto a 250 kb IncHI2 plasmid which was subsequently conjugated into recipient strain J53. PFGE and MLST profiles showed a wide range of strain types were carrying blaCTX-M-55. Our study demonstrates the emergence and prevalence of foodborne Salmonella harboring a chromosomally located blaCTX-M-55 in China. The co-existence of PMQR genes with blaCTX-M-55 in Salmonella isolates suggests co-selection and dissemination of resistance to both fluoroquinolones and cephalosporins in Salmonella via the food chain in China represents a public health concern

Case report: Thoracolumbar spinal stenosis associated with alkaptonuria

BackgroundAlkaptonuria is a rare autosomal genetic disorder with an incidence of about 1 in 1 million per year. Spinal involvement often manifests in the later stages of the disease. However, this is the first report of the presentation of thoracolumbar spinal stenosis.Case presentationWe report the case of a 61-year-old female patient with significant thoracolumbar stenosis symptoms. The patient had obvious kyphosis with preoperative lower extremity muscle strength grade 2/5. Symptoms and imaging signs initially suggested ankylosing spondylitis. This patient was classified into motor incomplete injury (ASIA C). However, the patient was found to have melanin deposits on the sclera and skin, and the urine was darkened at rest. CT and MRI both suggested no bone bridge connection between vertebrae, which was the key difference between ankylosing spondylitis and alkaptonuria in imaging. Most importantly, urine specimen testing and intraoperative pathology demonstrated alkaptonuria. The patient underwent spinal decompression and vertebral body fixation. Postoperative recovery was good: the patient had significantly relieved pain and could stand and walk.ConclusionThis case is the first report of thoracolumbar spinal stenosis associated with alkaptonuria involving the spine

Effect of YiShenJianPi recipe on semen quality and sperm mitochondria in mice with oligoasthenozoospermia induced by tripterygium glycosides

Background：Kidney tonifying - spleen strengthening method being one of the modalities for treatment of astheno-oligozoospermia is currently commonly used in the clinical setting. To investigate the mechanism of YiShenJianPi (YSJP) Recipe, used in Traditional Chinese Medicine to benefit “the kidney” and strengthen “the spleen”.Materials and Methods: Oligoasthenozoospermia, male BALB/c mice were randomly divided into normal control, disease model, positive control, low-dosage and high-dosage groups. Oligoasthenozoospermia was induced by tripterygium glucosides intragastric administration before treatment started.Through using computer-aided sperm analysis to test the changes in sperm quality, utilizing flow cytometry to test the percentage of sperm with normal mitochondrial transmembrane potential (JC-1 + %), utilizing X-ray microscopy to observe epididymal sperm ultra-microstructure placing special emphasis and photographing the differences in mitochondria of the flagellum region.Results: Compared with DM, sperm quality of the treated mice was significantly better (P<0.05, respectively). Compared with PC, the LD group had significantly better quality sperms, while the parameters in the HD group were numerically better. Compared with NC, all other groups had significantly lower percentage of sperms with normal mitochondrial membrane potential. In PC, LD and HD groups, the percentage of sperms with normal mitochondrial membrane potential was significantly higher than that of D. The 9+9+2 mitochondrial sheath structure was complete in NC but damaged in DM. In the treatment groups, this structure was fairly clear.Conclusion: YSJP improved semen quality with oligoasthenozoospermia by improving sperm mitochondrial membrane potential and restoring sperm mitochondrial ultrastructure.Keywords: traditional Chinese medicine, oligoasthenozoospermia, semen quality, mitochondrial membrane potential, mitochondrial ultrastructur

Effects of In Vitro Maturation on Histone Acetylation in Metaphase II Oocytes and Early Cleavage Embryos

In vitro maturation (IVM) of oocyte is an effective procedure for avoiding ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome in patients with polycystic ovaries (PCOS) during in vitro fertilization (IVF). To investigate the influences of IVM on epigenetic reprogramming and to search for the possible reasons for the lower rates of fertilization and cleavage in IVM oocytes, we examined the expression of two enzymes controlling histone acetylation, histone acetyltransferase GCN5 (GCN5) and histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1), as well as their common target, acetyl-histone H3 (Ac-H3), in mouse metaphase II (MII) oocytes and preimplantation embryos. Results showed that IVM downregulated the protein expression of GCN5 in MII oocytes and two-cell embryos and changed the distribution of GCN5 in two-cell embryos. Expression of HDAC1 mRNA in MII oocytes and two-cell embryos decreased in the IVM group. However, none of these changes persisted after two-cell embryos. Levels of Ac-H3 in both oocytes and embryos remained unchanged after IVM. Our studies indicated that IVM could affect the protein and gene expression related to histone acetylation in oocytes and early cleavage embryos. By function of selection, parts of the changes could be recovered in late embryo development

Phylogenetic and morphological analyses of Coniochaeta isolates recovered from Inner Mongolia and Yunnan revealed three new endolichenic fungal species

Lichens are the result of a symbiotic interaction between fungi (mycobionts) and algae (phycobionts). Aside from mycobionts, lichen thalli can also contain non-lichenised fungal species, such as lichenicolous and endolichenic fungi. For this study, three surveys were conducted in China’s Yunnan Province and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region between 2017 and 2020. Several samples of four lichen species were collected during these surveys: Candelaria fibrosa, Flavoparmelia caperata, Flavopunctelia flaventior and Ramalina sinensis. Six isolates of Coniochaeta were recovered from these four lichen species. The phylogenetic and morphological analyses revealed that two of these isolates were previously identified species, Coniochaeta velutinosa and C. acaciae. Those remaining were from potentially unknown species. We used molecular and morphological data to describe these previously-unknown species as Coniochaeta fibrosae sp. nov., C. mongoliae sp. nov. and C. sinensis sp. nov. The findings of this study significantly improve our understanding of the variety and habitat preferences of Coniochaeta in China and globally.The National Natural Science Foundation of China.https://mycokeys.pensoft.netam2022BiochemistryForestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI)GeneticsMicrobiology and Plant Patholog

Enhanced immune reconstitution with albuvirtide in HIV-infected immunological non-responders

BackgroundIncomplete immune recovery in people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) remains an important clinical challenge with the lack of an effective strategy currently available to restore their T-cell immune response. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of Albuvirtide (ABT) on immune recovery in immunological non-responders (INRs) and attempted to explore potential mechanisms of ABT on the functionality of immune cells.MethodsIn this prospective, open-label, controlled clinical study, participants with incomplete immune reconstitution (continuous ART over 5 years and CD4+T lymphocyte absolute count of <500 cells/µl or ART for 2–5 years and CD4+T cell count of <200 cells/µl with undetectable viral load) were received intensive treatment with ABT or maintained on the original ART regimen at a ratio of 1:1. Immune response and safety were examined within 24 weeks. In the cytological study, T subsets, cell apoptosis and cell autophagy were analyzed using immunofluorescence staining and flow cytometry from 25 blood specimens.ResultsBoth groups (n=25 each) were comparable in age, gender, and ART duration. At week 12, CD4+T cell count increased significantly in the intensive ABT group compared with control group (the change from baseline in CD4+T cell count: 45 vs. -5 cells/µL, p<0.001). After ABT discontinuation, CD4+T cell counts remained significantly higher in the intensive ABT group at week 24 (55 vs. -5 cells/µL, p=0.012). In laboratory analysis, naïve CD4+ T cell amounts were lowest among participants with unsatisfactory immune response (uIR) to ABT (p=0.001). The proportion of caspase 3+CD45RA+CD31+CD4+ T cells was significantly lower in participants with satisfactory immune response (sIR) to ABT (p<0.05).ConclusionSignificant CD4+T cell count increase suggests ABT enhances immune function in INRs which may be attributed to its antiviral properties as well as its ability to increase thymic cell output and decrease cell apoptosis

Integrated Analysis of microRNA and mRNA Transcriptome Reveals the Molecular Mechanism of \u3ci\u3eSolanum lycopersicum\u3c/i\u3e Response to \u3ci\u3eBemisia tabaci\u3c/i\u3e and \u3ci\u3eTomato chlorosis virus\u3c/i\u3e

Tomato chlorosis virus (ToCV), is one of the most devastating cultivated tomato viruses, seriously threatened the growth of crops worldwide. As the vector of ToCV, the whitefly Bemisia tabaci Mediterranean (MED) is mainly responsible for the rapid spread of ToCV. The current understanding of tomato plant responses to this virus and B. tabaci is very limited. To understand the molecular mechanism of the interaction between tomato, ToCV and B. tabaci, we adopted a next-generation sequencing approach to decipher miRNAs and mRNAs that are differentially expressed under the infection of B. tabaci and ToCV in tomato plants. Our data revealed that 6199 mRNAs were significantly regulated, and the differentially expressed genes were most significantly associated with the plant-pathogen interaction, the MAPK signaling pathway, the glyoxylate, and the carbon fixation in photosynthetic organisms and photosynthesis related proteins. Concomitantly, 242 differentially expressed miRNAs were detected, including novel putative miRNAs. Sly-miR159, sly-miR9471b-3p, and sly-miR162 were the most expressed miRNAs in each sample compare to control group. Moreover, we compared the similarities and differences of gene expression in tomato plant caused by infection or co-infection of B. tabaci and ToCV. Taken together, the analysis reported in this article lays a solid foundation for further research on the interaction between tomato, ToCV and B. tabaci, and provide evidence for the identification of potential key genes that influences virus transmission in tomato plants

EFFECT OF YISHENJIANPI RECIPE ON SEMEN QUALITY AND SPERM MITOCHONDRIA IN MICE WITH OLIGOASTHENOZOOSPERMIA INDUCED BY TRIPTERYGIUM GLYCOSIDES

Background:Kidney tonifying - spleen strengthening method being one of the modalities for treatment of astheno-oligozoospermia is currently commonly used in the clinical setting. To investigate the mechanism of YiShenJianPi (YSJP) Recipe, used in Traditional Chinese Medicine to benefit “the kidney” and strengthen “the spleen”. Materials and Methods: Oligoasthenozoospermia, male BALB/c mice were randomly divided into normal control, disease model, positive control, low-dosage and high-dosage groups. Oligoasthenozoospermia was induced by tripterygium glucosides intragastric administration before treatment started.Through using computer-aided sperm analysis to test the changes in sperm quality, utilizing flow cytometry to test the percentage of sperm with normal mitochondrial transmembrane potential (JC-1 + %), utilizing X-ray microscopy to observe epididymal sperm ultra-microstructure placing special emphasis and photographing the differences in mitochondria of the flagellum region. Results: Compared with DM, sperm quality of the treated mice was significantly better (