Evaluation and comparison of three virucidal agents on inactivation of Nipah virus.

Modern human activity is profoundly changing our relationship with microorganisms with the startling rise in the rate of emerging infectious diseases. Nipah virus together with Ebola virus and SARS-CoV-2 are prominent examples. Since COVID-19 and the West African Ebola virus disease outbreak, different chemical disinfectants have been developed for preventing the direct spread of viruses and their efficacy has also been evaluated.

Evaluating the virucidal activity of four disinfectants against SARS-CoV-2.

Background: The recent COVID-19 pandemic highlights the need for efficacious virucidal products to limit the spread of SARS-CoV-2. Several studies have suggested that alcohol-based sanitizers and some disinfectants are effective. While virucidal activity data of low-level disinfectants are lacking and some conclusions are not clear yet.

A human antibody of potent efficacy against SARS-CoV-2 in rhesus macaques showed strong blocking activity to B.1.351.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), which causes coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), interacts with the host cell receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE2) via its spike 1 protein during infection. After the virus sequence was published, we identified two potent antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain (RBD) from antibody libraries using a phage-to-yeast (PtY) display platform in only 10 days. Our lead antibody JMB2002, now in a Phase 1 clinical trial (ChiCTR2100042150), showed broad-spectrum blocking activity against hACE2 binding to the RBD of multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants, including B.

Biosafety Level 4 Laboratory User Training Program, China.

Experienced, qualified personnel certified to work in high-level biocontainment laboratories contribute to the safe operation of these facilities. China began a training program for laboratory users after establishing its first Biosafety Level 4 laboratory, the Wuhan National Biosafety Laboratory (Level 4) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. We provide an overview of the content of this training program, which can serve as a reference for developing national norms for high-containment laboratory training.

Nucleoprotein-based indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (indirect ELISA) for detecting antibodies specific to Ebola virus and Marbug virus.

Full-length nucleoproteins from Ebola and Marburg viruses were expressed as His-tagged recombinant proteins in Escherichia coli and nucleoprotein-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) were established for the detection of antibodies specific to Ebola and Marburg viruses. The ELISAs were evaluated by testing antisera collected from rabbit immunized with Ebola and Marburg virus nucleoproteins. Although little cross-reactivity of antibodies was observed in anti-Ebola virus nucleoprotein rabbit antisera, the highest reactions to immunoglobulin G (IgG) were uniformly detected against the nucleoprotein antigens of homologous viruses.

Compound ion salt, a novel low-sodium salt substitute: from animal study to community-based population trial.

Background: Salt restriction, an important approach for primary and secondary prevention of hypertension, is undermined by unsatisfactory adherence. A salt-restriction study tested the efficacy and safety of a compound ion salt (CISalt) with low sodium content in an animal model and in a community-based population.

Methods: In part 1, 8-week-old male spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) were fed 1% CISalt in the study group and 8% or 1% normal salt (NSalt) in controls (n = 10 each) for 12 weeks.

[Study on the properties of methyl parathion hydrolase from Pseudomonas sp. WBC-3].

A methyl parathion degradation enzyme, or methyl parathion hydrolase (MPH, EC 3.1.8.

Cloning and sequence analysis of the phytoene synthase gene from a unicellular chlorophyte, Dunaliella salina.

Phytoene synthase (Psy) catalyzing the dimerization of two molecules of geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (GGPP) to phytoene may be rate limiting for the synthesis of beta-carotene in Dunaliella salina. To elucidate the carotenogenic pathway in D. salina, the complete Psy gene was first isolated by genome walking technology and suppression PCR.

[Mitochondrial myopathy and mitochondrial encephalomyopathy].

Objective: To investigate the symptomatic, biochemical, and pathological characteristics of mitochondrial myopathy and mitochondrial encephalomyopathy.

Methods: Physical examination, electromyography, electroencephalography, cranial CT or MRI, serum enzymological examination, and light microscopy and electron microscopy of muscle biopsy specimens were made among twenty-one in-patients with the diagnosis of mitochondrial myopathy and mitochondrial encephalopathy. All the patients were followed up for more than 5 years.