PPNet: Identifying Functional Association Networks by Phylogenetic Profiling of Prokaryotic Genomes.

Identification of microbial functional association networks allows interpretation of biological phenomena and a greater understanding of the molecular basis of pathogenicity and also underpins the formulation of control measures. Here, we describe PPNet, a tool that uses genome information and analysis of phylogenetic profiles with binary similarity and distance measures to derive large-scale bacterial gene association networks of a single species. As an exemplar, we have derived a functional association network in the pig pathogen Streptococcus suis using 81 binary similarity and dissimilarity measures which demonstrates excellent performance based on the area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC), the area under the precision-recall (AUPR), and a derived overall scoring method.

P38 MAPK pathway regulates the expression of resistin in porcine alveolar macrophages via Ets2 during Haemophilus parasuis stimulation.

Haemophilus parasuis is a widespread bacterial pathogen causing acute systemic inflammation and leading to the sudden death of piglets. Resistin, a multifunctional peptide hormone previously demonstrated to influence the inflammation in porcine, was extremely increased in H. parasuis-infected tissues.

Development of A Super-Sensitive Diagnostic Method for African Swine Fever Using CRISPR Techniques.

African swine fever (ASF) is an infectious disease caused by African swine fever virus (ASFV) with clinical symptoms of high fever, hemorrhages and high mortality rate, posing a threat to the global swine industry and food security. Quarantine and control of ASFV is crucial for preventing swine industry from ASFV infection. In this study, a recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA)-CRISPR-based nucleic acid detection method was developed for diagnosing ASF.

Isolation, identification and biological characteristics of Mycoplasma bovis in yaks.

Mycoplasma bovis (M. bovis) is one of the important pathogens which may cause bovine respiratory disease syndrome (BRDS), and results in huge economic losses for yaks (Bos gaurus) breeding industry. However, there is limited information about M.

P38 mitogen-activated protein kinase promotes Wnt/β-catenin signaling by impeding Dickkofp-1 expression during Haemophilus parasuis infection.

Haemophilus parasuis induces severe acute systemic infection in pigs, characterized by fibrinous polyserositis, polyarthritis and meningitis. Our previous study demonstrated that H. parasuis induced the activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, increasing the expression of proinflammatory genes and mediating H.

Genetic and Molecular Characterization of H9N2 Avian Influenza Viruses Isolated from Live Poultry Markets in Hubei Province, Central China, 2013-2017.

H9N2 subtype avian influenza virus (AIV) is an influenza A virus that is widely spread throughout Asia, where it jeopardizes the poultry industry and provides genetic material for emerging human pathogens. To better understand the epidemicity and genetics of H9 subtype AIVs, we conducted active surveillance in live poultry markets (LPMs) in Hubei Province from 2013 to 2017. A total of 4798 samples were collected from apparent healthy poultry and environment.

Pathogenicity and Molecular Typing of Fowl Adenovirus-Associated With Hepatitis/Hydropericardium Syndrome in Central China (2015-2018).

In central China, a large number of broiler and layer flocks have suffered from outbreaks of severe hepatitis/hydropericardium syndrome (HHS). This resulted in huge economic losses to the poultry industry, from 2015 to 2018. To identify the specific pathogen and study its pathogenicity, 195 samples from Hubei, Jiangxi, Anhui, Hunan, and Henan provinces in central China were collected.

Identification of an Integrase That Responsible for Precise Integration and Excision of Genomic Island.

is a Gram-negative, pathogenic bacterium, which is harmful to poultry. However, the genomic islands (GIs) in are not well-studied. In this study, a 10K genomic island was predicted by the bioinformatics analysis of ATCC 11845, which is widely found in other genomes.

Cas9 regulated gene expression and pathogenicity in Riemerella anatipestifer.

Riemerellosis, a Riemerella anatipestifer infection, can cause meningitis, pericarditis, parahepatitis, and airsacculitis in ducks, leading to serious economic losses in the duck meat industry. However, the molecular mechanism of the pathogenesis and virulence factors of this infection are poorly understood. In the present study, we created a mutant strain RA-YMΔCas9 using trans-conjugation.

The Impact of on the Gut Microbiota of Mice with DSS-Induced Colitis.

The pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is due in part to a loss of equilibrium among the gut microbiota, epithelial cells, and resident immune cells. The gut microbiota contains a large proportion of probiotic commensal species; some natural microbiota and probiotics confer protection against IBD. In this study, mice with colitis triggered by dextran sodium sulphate (DSS) were given orally.

Deletion of the Riemerella anatipestifer type IX secretion system gene sprA results in differential expression of outer membrane proteins and virulence.

Riemerella anatipestifer (RA), the causative agent of infectious serositis that targets ducklings and other poultry, secretes protein via the type IX secretion system (T9SS). The proteins transported by T9SS are located on the bacterial cell surface or secreted into the extracellular milieu. In this study, a sprA deletion mutant was constructed encoding a core protein of T9SS to investigate its influence on outer membrane protein expression and its role in virulence.

Functional characterization of duck TBK1 in IFN-β induction.

TRAF family member-associated NF-κB activator (TANK)-binding kinase 1 (TBK1) serves as hub molecule at the crossroad of multiple signaling pathways of type I interferon (IFN) induction. The importance of TBK1 in innate immunity has been demonstrated in mammalian, however the characterization and function of TBK1 in avian remains largely unknown. In this study, we cloned duck TBK1 (duTBK1) from duck embryo fibroblasts (DEFs) for the first time, which encoded 729 amino acids and had a high amino acid identity with goose and cormorant TBK1s.

Infection Disrupts Adherens Junctions and Initializes EMT Dependent on Canonical Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway.

In this study, animal experimentation verified that the canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway was activated under a reduced activity of p-β-catenin (Ser33/37/Thr41) and an increased accumulation of β-catenin in the lungs and kidneys of pigs infected with a highly virulent strain of . In PK-15 and NPTr cells, it was also confirmed that infection with a high-virulence strain of induced cytoplasmic accumulation and nuclear translocation of β-catenin. infection caused a sharp degradation of E-cadherin and an increase of the epithelial cell monolayer permeability, as well as a broken interaction between β-catenin and E-cadherin dependent on Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

Co-infection with porcine bocavirus and porcine circovirus 2 affects inflammatory cytokine production and tight junctions of IPEC-J2 cells.

Porcine bocavirus (PBoV) has a high prevalence in both healthy and diseased swine around the world. It was recently reported that PBoV and porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2)-which contribute to porcine diarrheal disease-have a high rate of co-infection. To clarify the pathogenesis of PBoV, we examined the co-infection rate and effects of these two pathogens in IPEC-J2 porcine intestinal enterocytes.

Relationship between CYP3A29 and pregnane X receptor in landrace pigs: Pig CYP3A29 has a similar mechanism of regulation to human CYP3A4.

The objective of this study was to provide evidence of the validity of utilizing pigs as a model to study the regulation of human CYP3A4, with special emphasis on drug-drug interactions. We determined the mRNA expression and distribution of CYP3A and metabolic nuclear receptors in different tissues isolated from landrace pigs. Our results showed that CYP3A and metabolic nuclear receptor mRNAs were most highly expressed in liver tissues.

Development of immunochromatographic test strips for rapid, quantitative detection of H9AIV antibodies.

To improve viral antibody detection and disease control, laboratories need faster and simpler methods for direct detection of H9AIV in clinical samples. In this study, test strips were developed for rapid detection of H9AIV antibodies in poultry serum by a sandwich method with double-line detection. The hemagglutinin protein was labeled with colloidal gold as a detection reagent and was blotted on the test lines, while goat anti-rabbit IgG was utilized on the control line of the nitrocellulose membrane.

Correction to: Development and application of lateral flow test strip technology for detection of infectious agents and chemical contaminants: a review.

The authors would like to call the reader's attention to the fact that unfortunately in the original article Steptococcus suis was introduced as gram-negative bacteria. Steptococcus suis is gram positive. The authors apologize for the mistake.

Type IX Secretion System Is Required for Virulence and Gelatinase Secretion.

(RA), a major causative agent of septicemia anserum exsudativa in domesticated ducklings, has a protein secretion system known as the type IX secretion system (T9SS). It is unknown whether the T9SS contributes to the virulence of RA through secretion of factors associated with pathogenesis. To answer this question, we constructed an RA mutant deficient in , which encodes a core protein of the T9SS.

Haemophilus parasuis infection activates NOD1/2-RIP2 signaling pathway in PK-15 cells.

Haemophilus parasuis, an important swine pathogen, was recently proven able to invade into endothelial or epithelial cell in vitro. NOD1/2 are specialized NLRs that participate in the recognition of pathogens able to invade intracellularly and therefore, we assessed that the contribution of NOD1/2 to inflammation responses during H. parasuis infection.

A meta-analysis of transcriptomic characterization revealed extracellular matrix pathway involved in the H5N1 and H7N9 infections.

Avian-origin H5N1 and H7N9 influenza A viruses are capable of causing lethal infection in humans, with serious lung pathology and leading to acute respiratory distress syndrome. The contribution of host response associated with the poor prognosis of H5N1 and H7N9 infections remains unclear. The aim of this study was to identify the host factors involved in the high pathogenicity of H5N1 and H7N9 by a systematical meta-analysis.

The Role of the Regulator Fur in Gene Regulation and Virulence of Assessed Using an Unmarked Gene Deletion System.

, an avian pathogen, has resulted in enormous economic losses to the duck industry globally. Notwithstanding, little is known regarding the physiological, pathogenic and virulence mechanisms of (RA) infection. However, the role of Ferric uptake regulator (Fur) in the virulence of has not, to date, been demonstrated.

Formation of amyloid fibrils from soy protein hydrolysate: Effects of selective proteolysis on β-conglycinin.

The soy protein hydrolysate subjected to selective proteolysis on β-conglycinin (referred to as DβH, contrast group) and a control soy protein isolate sample without addition of protease (referred to as CSPI, blank group) were adopted as experimental samples. By employing the "subtraction" mode of logical thinking, we aimed to compare the differences between CSPI and DβH on fibrillation at pH2.0 with heating at 95°C.

A Novel RAYM_RS09735/RAYM_RS09740 Two-Component Signaling System Regulates Gene Expression and Virulence in .

The Gram-negative bacterium is an important waterfowl pathogen, causing major economic losses to the duck-producing industry. However, little is known of the virulence factors that mediate pathogenesis during infection. In this study, RAYM_RS09735 and RAYM_RS09740 were predicted to form a two-component signaling system (TCS) through bioinformatics analysis.

HDRsEf1 Protects the Intestinal Epithelium and Attenuates ETEC-Induced IL-8 Secretion in Enterocytes.

The probiotic HDRsEf1 (Ef1) has been shown to have positive effects on piglet diarrhoea, but the mechanism has not yet been elucidated. In this study, using the IPEC-J2 cell line to mimic intestinal epithelial cells and enterotoxigenic (ETEC) K88ac as a representative intestinal pathogen, the mechanism underlying Ef1 protection against an enteropathogen was investigated. The results demonstrated that Ef1 was effective in displacing K88ac from the IPEC-J2 cell layer.