Ssc-miR-7139-3p suppresses foot-and-mouth disease virus replication by promoting degradation of 3C through targeting apoptosis-negative regulatory gene Bcl-2.

Foot-and-mouth disease is a highly contagious and infectious disease affecting cloven-hoofed animals. Disease control is complicated by its highly contagious nature and antigenic diversity. Host microRNAs (miRNAs) are post-transcriptional regulators that either promote or repress viral replications in virus infection.

Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth in Patients with Gallbladder Polyps: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Purpose: There is probably a high prevalence of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) in patients with gallbladder polyps (GBPs). To date, no study has evaluated the occurrence of SIBO in patients with GBPs. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of SIBO in patients with GBPs and explore the possible association between these two conditions.

Association between Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth and Subclinical Atheromatous Plaques.

Background: Several recent studies have reported the relationship between atherosclerosis and gut microbial imbalance. Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is one of the most common forms of gut microbiota imbalance, and studies have shown that SIBO plays an important role in human health. However, the relationship between SIBO and subclinical atheromatous plaques remains unclear.

Screening of host genes regulated by ID1 and ID3 proteins during foot-and-mouth disease virus infection.

Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) is an important pathogen that harms cloven-hoofed animals and has caused serious losses to livestock production since its discovery. Furthermore, inhibitor of DNA binding (ID) proteins have been thoroughly studied in tumorigenesis, differentiation and metastasis, but its role in viral infection is rarely known. In this study, three gene knockout cell lines ID1 KO, ID3 KO, ID1/3 KO were obtained based on BHK-21 cells.

Comparison of the sensitivity of three cell cultures to ORFV.

Background: Contagious ecthyma (CE) appears in the countries and regions containing goat and sheep farms, and it is considered a global epidemic. CE not only severely endangers the healthy development of the sheep and goat industries but also threatens human health. For viral infectious diseases, fast and effective isolation and culture of the pathogen is critical for CE diagnosis, and for disease prevention and control.

Identifying Novel B Cell Epitopes within Toxoplasma gondii GRA6.

The study of antigenic epitopes from Toxoplasma gondii has not only enhanced our understanding of the structure and function of antigens, the reactions between antigens and antibodies, and many other aspects of immunology, but it also plays a significant role in the development of new diagnostic reagents and vaccines. In the present study, T. gondii GRA6 epitopes were identified using bioinformatics tools and a synthetic peptide technique.

Development of an isothermoal amplification-based assay for rapid visual detection of an Orf virus.

Background: Orf virus (ORFV) is the causative agent of a severe infectious skin disease (also known as contagious ecthyma) in goats, sheep and other small ruminants. Importantly, ORFV also infect humans which causes a public health concern in the context of changing environment and increase in human populations. The rapid detection is critical in effective control of the disease and urgently needed.

Development of a fluorescent probe-based recombinase polymerase amplification assay for rapid detection of Orf virus.

Background: Orf virus (ORFV) is the causative agent of Orf (also known as contagious ecthyma or contagious papular dermatitis), a severe infectious skin disease in goats, sheep and other ruminants. The rapid detection of ORFV is of great importance in disease control and highly needed. A isothermal molecular diagnostic approach, termed recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA), is considered as an novel and rapid alternative techonology to PCR assay.

Review on the identification and role of Toxoplasma gondii antigenic epitopes.

Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite with a broad range of hosts, and it causes severe toxoplasmasis in both humans and animals. It is well known that the progression and severity of a disease depend on the immunological status of the host. Immunological studies on antigens indicate that antigens do not exert their functions through the entire protein molecule, but instead, specific epitopes are responsible for the immune response.

How foot-and-mouth disease virus receptor mediates foot-and-mouth disease virus infection.

This study reviews the FMDV receptor-binding domain, integrin receptors, and heparan sulfate receptors to provide references for studies regarding the mechanisms underlying FMDV infection.

Analyzing and identifying novel B cell epitopes within Toxoplasma gondii GRA4.

Background: The identification of specific epitopes targeted by the host antibody response is important for understanding the natural response to infection and for the development of epitope-based marker vaccines and diagnostic tools for toxoplasmosis. In this study, Toxoplasma gondii GRA4 epitopes were identified using software-based prediction and a synthetic peptide technique.

Methods: The complete GRA4 gene sequence was obtained from T.

Detection of acute toxoplasmosis in pigs using loop-mediated isothermal amplification and quantitative PCR.

A loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay allows rapid diagnosis of Toxoplasma gondii infection. In the present study, the LAMP assay was evaluated using blood from both naturally and experimentally infected pigs. The sensitivity of the LAMP assay was compared with that of Q-PCR.

Identification of novel B cell epitopes within Toxoplasma gondii GRA1.

Newly synthesized epitopes are one of the most promising antigens for the development of diagnostic kits and peptide vaccines. Very little is known about the B cell epitopes on GRA1 of Toxoplasma gondii, which are recognized by the humoral immune response in pigs. In this study, epitopes derived from GRA1 of T.

Immunization with excreted-secreted antigens reduces tissue cyst formation in pigs.

It has been demonstrated that tachyzoite-pooled excreted-secreted antigens (ESAs) of Toxoplasma gondii are highly immunogenic and can be used in vaccine development. However, most of the information regarding protective immunity induced by immunization with ESAs is derived from studies using mouse model systems. These results cannot be extrapolated to pigs due to important differences in the susceptibility and immune response mechanisms between pigs and mice.

Comparison of a loop-mediated isothermal amplification for orf virus with quantitative real-time PCR.

Background: Orf virus (ORFV) causes orf (also known as contagious ecthyma or contagious papular dermatitis), a severe infectious skin disease in goats, sheep and other ruminants. Therefore, a rapid, highly specific and accurate method for the diagnosis of ORFV infections is essential to ensure that the appropriate treatments are administered and to reduce economic losses.

Methods: A loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay based on the identification of the F1L gene was developed for the specific detection of ORFV infections.

Screening and identification of novel B cell epitopes of Toxoplasma gondii SAG1.

Background: The identification of protein epitopes is useful for diagnostic purposes and for the development of peptide vaccines. In this study, the epitopes of Toxoplasma gondii SAG1 were identified using synthetic peptide techniques with the aid of bioinformatics.

Findings: Eleven peptides derived from T.

Comparative analysis of cloned cDNAs encoding Chinese yellow cattle and Gansu black swine integrin receptors for foot-and-mouth disease virus.

To analyze foot-and-mouth disease virus tropism and host range with respect to the integrin receptor, we cloned cDNAs encoding the integrin αν, β1, β3, β6 and β8 subunits from Chinese yellow cattle and Gansu black swine and carried out comparative analysis of their molecular characteristics. The lengths of the mature proteins and the functional domains of the four integrin β subunits were the same between bovine and swine; however, the number of putative N-linked glycosylation sites and cysteine residues and their arrangement varied. Homology analysis of the nucleotide and amino acid sequences showed that FMDV integrin receptors of Chinese yellow cattle and Gansu black swine are highly conserved.

Pathogenic characteristics of three genotype II porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome viruses isolated from China.

Background: We examined differences in pathogenicity in pigs from China that had been experimentally infected with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV).

Methods: We compared pathogenic characteristics of a field isolate (GX-1/2008F), two PRRSV isolates (HN-1/2008, YN-1/2008) propagated in cells, and GX-1/2008F that had been propagated in cells (GX-1/2008). The clinical courses, along with humoral and cell-mediated responses, were monitored for 21 days post-infection (DPI).

Molecular epidemiological investigation of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus in Northwest China from 2007 to 2010.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is an economically important swine disease affecting swine worldwide. Northwest China has a sparse pig population and there is no comprehensive information currently available on PRRSV infection. In this study, we analyzed the epidemiological features and genetic diversity of PRRSV from this region.

Increased survival time in mice vaccinated with a branched lysine multiple antigenic peptide containing B- and T-cell epitopes from T. gondii antigens.

To develop a multiple antigenic peptide (MAP) vaccine against toxoplasmosis, tri-epitope MAP constructs were made in dimeric fashion. The constructs included one B-cell and two T-cell epitopes derived from Toxoplasma gondii antigens (SAG1, GRA4 and GRA1) situated in tandem through the GGG spacer sequence, with the latter positioned adjacent to a polylysine core. Immunization of BALB/c and Kunming mice with the MAP construct in Freund's adjuvant induced not only humoral immunes response but cellular responses.

Validated hydrophilic interaction LC-MS/MS method for determination of 2-pyrrolidinone residue: applied to a depletion study of 2-pyrrolidinone in swine liver.

A hydrophilic interaction high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for determination of 2-pyrrolidinone in swine liver was developed and validated. After the fortification of 2-pyrrolidinone-d(6) as the internal standard, 2-pyrrolidinone in swine liver was extracted by acetonitrile, and the supernatant was led through a C18 + WAX mixed-mode solid phase extraction (SPE) cartridge. Furthermore, the eluate was adjusted to pH 5.

Development of an immunochromatographic strip for the rapid detection of Toxoplasma gondii circulating antigens.

We developed a rapid immunochromatographic strip (ICS) procedure that can detect circulating antigens in the blood of animals during the acute stage of toxoplasmosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate this test using sera from field samples and from experimentally infected animals. The sensitivity and specificity of the ICS were compared with those of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Validated hydrophilic interaction LC-MS/MS method for determination of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone residue: Applied to a depletion study of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone in swine liver following intramuscular administration of drug N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone formulation.

A hydrophilic interaction high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry method for determination of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone in swine liver was developed and validated. After the fortification of N-methyl-d(3)-2-pyrrolidinone-d(6) as the deuterium-labeled internal standard, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone in swine liver was extracted by acetonitrile and the supernatant was led through a C18+WAX mixed-mode SPE cartridge for removal of the matrix interferences. The final eluate was acidified by formic acid and then injected onto a 3μm 15cm×2.

Diagnosis and phylogenetic analysis of Orf virus from goats in China: a case report.

Background: Orf virus (ORFV) is the etiological agent of contagious pustular dermatitis and is the prototype of the genus Parapoxvirus (PPV). It causes a severe exanthematous dermatitis that afflicts domestic and wild small ruminants.

Case Presentation: In the present study, an outbreak of proliferative dermatitis in farmed goats.

Recovery of infectious foot-and-mouth disease virus from full-length genomic cDNA clones using an RNA polymerase I system.

The prototypic foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) was shown more than a century ago to be the first filterable agent capable of causing FMD, and it has served as an important model for studying basic principles of Aphthovirus molecular biology. However, the complex structure and antigenic diversity of FMDV have posed a major obstacle to the attempts at manipulating the infectious virus by reverse genetic techniques. Here, we report the recovery of infectious FMDV from cDNAs based on an efficient in vivo RNA polymerase I (polI) transcription system.