[Local administrative measures for outbreak of H1N1 influenza--Chiba prefecture].

Since the onset of 2009 H1N1 influenza outbreak, Chiba prefecture had been taking several measures to mitigate its impact, including phone counseling, supporting outpatient clinics, and coordinating hospitals to prevent the overflow of patients. These measures seem to contribute to the very low mortality caused by pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus infection during the pandemic in Chiba prefecture. At the same time, it gave us several lessons to prepare for the next--possibly more serious--pandemic.

Adenovirus type 5 substituted with type 11 or 35 fiber structure increases its infectivity to human cells enabling dual gene transfer in CD46-dependent and -independent manners.

Infectivity of adenovirus type 5 (Ad5) to cells depends primarily on its fiber-mediated binding to the coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor (CAR) on target cells. Down-regulated CAR expression, often found in human tumors, hampered Ad5-mediated gene transfer. Ad 11 and Ad 35, belonging to a subtype B group, use CD46 as their cellular receptors; accordingly, chimeric Ad5 whose fiber structure was substituted with that of the type 11 or 35 (Ad5/11 or Ad5/35) could infect human cells in a different manner from Ad5.

Genetic variability in the sapovirus capsid protein.

Sapovirus (SV), which causes gastroenteritis in humans, is composed of genetically divergent viruses classified into 5 genogroups. In this study, 2.2-kb nucleotide sequences of the 3' terminus of the genome of 15 SV strains detected in Japan were determined.

Genetic analysis of noroviruses in Chiba Prefecture, Japan, between 1999 and 2004.

Noroviruses (NVs) are common pathogens that consist of genetically divergent viruses that induce gastroenteritis in humans and animals. Between September 1999 and June 2004, 1,898 samples obtained from patients showing sporadic or outbreak gastroenteritis in Chiba Prefecture, Japan, were tested for NVs by reverse transcription-PCR. NVs were detected in 603 samples.

Broad-spectrum detection of papillomaviruses in bovine teat papillomas and healthy teat skin.

To investigate the prevalence of bovine papillomavirus (BPV) in bovine papilloma and healthy skin, DNA extracted from teat papillomas and healthy teat skin swabs was analysed by PCR using the primer pairs FAP59/FAP64 and MY09/MY11. Papillomavirus (PV) DNA was detected in all 15 papilloma specimens using FAP59/FAP64 and in 8 of the 15 papilloma specimens using MY09/MY11. In swab samples, 21 and 8 of the 122 samples were PV DNA positive using FAP59/FAP64 and MY09/MY11, respectively.