Comprehensive pan-cancer analysis of STAT3 as a prognostic and immunological biomarker.

Numerous studies have indicated that STAT3 plays a key role in promoting oncogenesis and it is considered a potential therapeutic target for cancer treatment; however, there are no reports on STAT3 using pan-cancer analysis. Therefore, it is important to investigate the role of STAT3 in different types of tumors using pan-cancer analysis. In the present study, we used multiple databases to comprehensively analyze the relationship between STAT3 expression and prognosis, different stages of patients with cancer, investigate the clinical value of STAT3 in predicting prognosis, and the relationship between STAT3 genetic alteration and prognosis, drug sensitivity, and STAT3 expression, to determine whether STAT3 participates in tumor immunity, to provide a rationale for STAT3 as a treatment target for a broad-spectrum malignancies.

Characterization of Salmonella isolated from donkeys during an abortion storm in China.

In China, abortions of donkeys caused by Salmonella have dramatically stifled the growth of the donkey industry. However, pathogenicity of Salmonella linked to abortions in donkeys has not been previously described. Bacteria were isolated and identified from 45 donkeys that experienced abortions, and antibiograms were conducted.

Genetic, pathogenic and antigenic diversity of Newcastle disease viruses in Shandong Province, China.

Thirty-one Newcastle disease viruses (NDVs) isolated from domestic and wild birds in Shandong Province, China (2006-2014) were characterized genetically, pathogenically and antigenically. Phylogenetic analysis classified the viruses into a single genotype under Class I, and four genotypes under Class II. The nineteen viruses classified in genotype VII of Class II were velogenic, while the other viruses were either mesogenic or lentogenic to chickens.

Downregulation of cellular prion protein inhibited the proliferation and invasion and induced apoptosis of Marek's disease virus-transformed avian T cells.

Cellular prion protein (PrP(C)) is ubiquitously expressed in the cytomembrane of a considerable number of eukaryotic cells. Although several studies have investigated the functions of PrP(C) in cell proliferation, cell apoptosis, and tumorigenesis of mammals, the correlated functions of chicken PrP(C) (chPrP(C)) remain unknown. In this study, stable chPrP(C)-downregulated Marek's disease (MD) virus-transformed avian T cells (MSB1-SiRNA-3) were established by introducing short interfering RNA (SiRNA) targeting chicken prion protein genes.