CRISPR/Cas13a-based single-nucleotide polymorphism detection for reliable determination of ABO blood group genotypes.

The ABO blood group plays an important role in blood transfusion, linkage analysis, individual identification, . Serologic methods of blood typing are gold standards for the time being, which require stable typing antisera and fresh blood samples and are labor intensive. At present, reliable determination of ABO blood group genotypes based on single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) among A, B, and O alleles remains necessary.

Correlation analysis of hepatitis C virus core antigen and low viral loads: Can core antigen replace nucleic acid test?

Value of hepatitis C virus (HCV) core antigen (cAg) test has been controversy in patients with low HCV loads for its lower sensitivity. We assessed correlation between HCV-cAg and HCV RNA in serum samples with low viral loads and analyzed the performance of HCV-cAg assay in determining diagnosis and treatment outcomes in chronic hepatitis C patients. Both HCV RNA and HCV-cAg were detected for 2298 serum samples.

Direct antiviral agents upregulate natural killer cell potential activity in chronic hepatitis C patients.

Direct antiviral agents (DAAs) can eliminate hepatitis C virus rapidly and make chronic hepatitis C (CHC) curable. The changes in the innate immune system during treatment with DAAs are still in dispute. To investigate how the functions of natural killer (NK) cells change during and after treatment with DAAs in each NK cell subset.

Recovery of natural killer cells is mainly in post-treatment period in chronic hepatitis C patients treated with sofosbuvir plus ledipasvir.

Aim: To investigate how natural killer (NK) cells are affected in the elimination of hepatitis C virus (HCV) by sofosbuvir/ledipasvir, two highly effective direct-acting antivirals (DAAs).

Methods: Thirteen treatment-naïve and treatment-experienced chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients were treated with sofosbuvir/ledipasvir, and NK cells were detected at baseline, weeks 2, 4, 8 and 12 during therapy, and week post of treatment (Pt)-12 and 24 after the end of therapy by multicolor flow cytometry and compared with those from 13 healthy controls.

Results: All patients achieved sustained virological response.

Optimization, purification and structural characterization of a dextran produced by L. mesenteroides isolated from Chinese sauerkraut.

A higher yield of dextran strain Leuconstoc mesenteroides TDS2-19 was isolated from Chinese sauerkraut juice. Effects of the three main factors on exopolysaccharide (EPS) yield were investigated by central composite design (CCD) and the optimum composition was sucrose 117.48g/L, sodium acetate 4.