Self-assembled nanoparticle with E protein domain III of DTMUV based on ferritin as carrier can induce a more comprehensive immune response and against DTMUV challenge in duck.

Duck Tembusu virus (DTMUV) causes severe reduction in egg production and neurological symptoms in ducklings. Vaccination is the primary measure used to prevent DTMUV infections. In this study, self-assembled nanoparticles with the E protein domain III of DTMUV, using ferritin as a carrier (EDⅢ-RFNp), were prepared using a prokaryotic expression system.

Self-Assembled Nanoparticles with E Protein Domains I and II of Duck Tembusu Virus Can Induce a More Comprehensive Immune Response Against the Duck Tembusu Virus Challenge.

Duck Tembusu virus (DTMUV) is a pathogenic flavivirus that causes a substantial drop in egg production and severe neurological disorders in domestic waterfowl. Self-assembled ferritin nanoparticles with E protein domains I and II (EDI-II) of DTMUV (EDI-II-RFNp) were prepared, and its morphology was observed. Two independent experiments were conducted.

Evolutionary analysis of 3 isolates of Seneca Valley virus from a single pig farm.

Vesicular disease caused by Seneca Valley virus (SVV) has recently emerged throughout China and caused certain industry losses. We used immunofluorescence and western blotting to confirm that 3 new SVV strains (CH-GDSG-2018-1, CH-GDSG-2018-2, and CH-GDSG-2018-3) were from 1 pig farm. Phylogenetic analysis revealed the following: i) all 3 strains belong to USA-GBI29-2015-like clades, ii) CH-GDSG-2018-3 might have diverged from CH-GDSG-2018-1 and CH-GDSG-2018-2, and iii) CH-GDSG-2018-3 is a recombinant of the CHhb17 and HeNKF-1 strains.

Emergence of a novel recombinant USA/GBI29/2015-like strain of Seneca Valley virus in Guangdong Province, 2018.

Since June 2017, several outbreaks of a Seneca Valley virus (SVV) USA/GBI29/2015-like strain have emerged in pigs in China. In our study, we successfully isolated the SVV strain CH-GDZQ-2018, confirmed by immunofluorescence and Western blot assays. Phylogenetic and recombinant analyses showed that the USA/GBI29/2015-like CH-GDZQ-2018 strain was the result of recombination between epidemic strains local to Guangdong, showing that SVV has undergone evolution in China.

De novo transcriptome sequencing and comparative profiling of the ovary in partially engorged and fully engorged Haemaphysalis flava ticks.

Haemaphysalis flava is the vector of several pathogens and has medical and veterinary importance. Transcriptome information of the ovary of H. flava is unavailable and limits understanding of its molecular basis of reproduction.

Hypermutations in porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome virus.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS), which is caused by the PRRS virus (PRRSV), has resulted in large economic losses for the swine industry. The virus has shown remarkable genetic diversity since its discovery. In our study, we investigated mutation types in the evolution of PRRSV for both and passaging of the virus.

The ecological risk assessment and suggestions on heavy metals in river sediments of Jinan.

The concentrations of eight heavy metals (Cr, Hg, As, Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn, Ni) in six river sediment samples were collected for evaluation of the degree of the heavy metals pollution distribution and ecological risk of three main rivers' sediments in Jinan. Multivariate statistical techniques were used to determine the most common pollution sources. The results illustrated that all of the metals in Damatou and Xinfengzhuang sections of the Xiaoqing River were much higher than the background value, and the level of potential ecological risk index was very high.

Pollution characteristics and potential ecological risk assessment of metals in the sediments of Xiaoqing River, Jinan.

The spatial-temporal changing characteristics and potential ecological risk combined with local policies and industrial status were analyzed. The metal contamination was studied by sediment quality guidelines (SQGs), potential ecological risk index (PERI), and geoaccumulation index (I ) of metals (Hg, Cr, Cd, As, Pb, and Cu) in the sediments of Xiaoqing River in Jinan from 1996 to 2014. Results showed that the concentrations of metals were in fluctuation and had a decreasing trend in the past 19 years, which was influenced by industry and policy.

Detection of piroplasms infection in sheep, dogs and hedgehogs in Central China.

Background: Piroplasms are kinds of tick-borne parasitic apicomplexan protozoa, which are detrimental to humans and animals in tropical and subtropical areas around the world. Up until now, there has been a limited amount of reliable information available about the prevalence of piroplasms infections in wild animals in China. Therefore, we have investigated the infections of Babesia and Theileria species in both domestic and wild animals in Xinyang city, Henan province, where tick-borne diseases have recently been reported.