SARS: Market, toilet, hospital, and laboratory

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Emerging infectious diseases in Hong Kong.

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Penicillium marneffei recombinant antigen Mp1p and penicilliosis marneffei in HIV and non-HIV patients

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Differential selection and mutation between dsDNA and ssDNA phages shape the evolution of their genomic AT percentage

Background: Bacterial genomes differ dramatically in AT%. We have developed a model to show that the genomic AT% in rapidly replicating bacterial species can be used as an index of the availability of nucleotides A and T for DNA replication in cellular medium. This index is then used to (1) study the evolution and adaptation of the bacteriophage genomic AT% in response to the differential nucleotide availability of the host and (2) test the prediction that double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) phage should exhibit better adaptation than single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) phage because the rate of spontaneous deamination, which leads to C→T or C→U mutations depending on whether C is methylated or not, is about 100-fold greater in ssDNA than in dsDNA. Results: We retrieved 79 dsDNA phage and 27 ssDNA phage genomes together with their host genomic sequences. The dsDNA phages have their genomic AT% better adapted to the host genomic AT% than ssDNA phage. The poorer adaptation of the ssDNA phage can be partially accounted for by the C→T(U) mutations mediated by the spontaneous deamination. For ssDNA phage, the genomic A% is more strongly correlated with their host genomic AT% than the genomic T%. Conclusion: A significant fraction of variation in the genomic AT% in the dsDNA phage, and that in the genomic A% and T% of the ssDNA phage, can be explained by the difference in selection and mutation between them. © 2005 Xia and Yuen; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.published_or_final_versio

Red imported fire ants in Hong Kong

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Influenza vaccination: Options and issues

Currently available vaccines have similar efficacy if they are matched to the most prevalent circulating strains. They also have comparable adverse effect profiles. The choice of a specific preparation of vaccine therefore requires consideration of cost, purity of the vaccine preparation in terms of the amount of egg protein and endotoxin, allergy to different constituents of the vaccine, reactogenicity profiles, as well as the preferred route of administration. Intradermal injection of the vaccine appears to be a viable alternative to the traditional intramuscular administration with the additional benefit of requiring a smaller volume of vaccine. Despite the documented benefits in various community and institutional settings, influenza vaccination has been underutilised by most target groups. A major obstacle to broader coverage of vaccination is the perceived ineffectiveness of the vaccine and the relatively benign nature of the illness in most patients. Uptake of vaccine among target populations, especially health care workers, needs to be improved through a concerted effort between frontline clinicians and health authorities.published_or_final_versio

Live recombinant Salmonella oral vaccine against avian influenza viruses

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