Generation of genetically modified rat models via the CRISPR/Cas9 technology.

The RNA-guided CRISPR/Cas9 genomic editing system consists of a single guide RNA (sgRNA) and a Cas9 nuclease. The two components form a complex in cells and target the genomic loci complementary to the sgRNA. The Cas9 nuclease cleaves the target site creating a double stranded DNA break (DSB).

Differential freezing resistance and photoprotection in C3 and C4 eudicots and grasses.

Globally, C4 plants dominate hot, open environments, but this general pattern is underpinned by important differences in the biogeography of C4 lineages. In particular, the species richness of C4 Poaceae (grasses) increases strongly with increasing temperature, whereas that of the major C4 eudicot group Chenopodiaceae correlates positively with aridity. Freezing tolerance is a crucial determinant of biogeographical relationships with temperature and is mediated by photodamage and cellular disruption by desiccation, but little is known about differences between C4 families.

[Current status of schistosomiasis control knowledge and effect of interventions among primary school pupils in Anyi County].

Objective: To understand the status of schistosomiasis control knowledge and the effect of interventions among primary school pupils in the areas of schistosomiasis transmission interrupted.

Methods: Six kinds of information materials about schistosomiasis control, including the schistosomiasis health education teaching material, schistosomiasis health education box, schistosomiasis health education stationary kits, schistosomiasis health education ball-point pen, collections of wall charts about schistosomiasis control and schistosomiasis health education curriculum schedule, were used to spread the schistosomiasis control information in the experimental group, and then, the effect was evaluated.

Results: The awareness rates, correct rates of attitude, and persuasion rates of schistosomiasis control had no significant difference between the experimental group and control group before the intervention (P > 0.

[Surveillance and analysis on the pathogenic features of Salmonella in Guangdong province in 2010].

Objective: In order to better understand the nature of Salmonella infection in diarrheal patients in Guangdong province, the study analyzed the serum types, antibiotic resistance and molecular determinants of the isolated Salmonella strains.

Methods: In year 2010, 8405 diarrhea patients from 16 surveillant hospital in Guangzhou, Zhongshan, Dongguan, Zhuhai, Maoming, Yangjiang and Jiangmen cities in Guangdong province, were recruited in the study. A total of 8405 fecal specimen were collected and subjected to Salmonella isolation and culture.

[Surveillance program on and the distribution related to the virulence-associated genes of Vibrio cholerae in estuary of Pearl River].

Objective: To understand the distribution, molecular characteristics and virulence genes of the O1 and O139 Vibrio cholerae isolates from the Pearl River Estuary water.

Methods: Vibrio cholerae isolates collected from the Pearl River estuary waters from January 2009 to December 2010, were tested by PCR for eight virulence-related genes, including cholera toxin (ctxA), zonula occludens toxin (zot), accessory cholera enterotoxin (ace), hemolysin (hlyA), toxin-coregulated pilus (tcpA), outer membrane protein (ompU), and the regulatory protein genes (tcpI, toxR). Genetic relation was assessed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and the patterns were clustered by BioNumerics.

[Etiologic characteristics of Vibrio parahaemolyticus strains causing outbreaks and sporadic cases in Guangdong, 2009].

Objective: To study the serotypes, virulence features and molecular characteristics of Vibrio parahaemolyticus isolated in food poisoning cases and surveillance program on diarrhea patients in Guangdong, 2009.

Methods: 95 Vibrio parahaemolyticus strains from food poisoning cases and 15 strains from surveillance program on diarrhea patients were serotyped and detected for tdh (thermostable direct hemolysin, tdh) and trh (tdh-related hemolysin gene, trh) by PCR. 81 sero-variant Vibrio parahaemolyticus strains were selected through PFGE subtyping.

[Etiologic detection and epidemiological analysis of one suspected case of diphtheria in Guangdong province].

Objective: To clarify the diagnosis of one suspected case of diphtheria in Guangdong province by epidemiological analysis and etiologic detection.

Methods: On July 6th 2010, the corynebacterium diphtheria was detected from the nasal secretions of one nasopharyngeal carcinoma patient in a college-town hospital in Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province. The patient and the close contacts were asked to participate in the epidemiological survey; and their nasopharyngeal swabs (3 samples) and the nasal secretions of the patient (1 sample) were collected.

[Surveillance on Salmonella infection in Guangdong province, 2008 - 2009].

Objective: To understand the infection of Salmonella (S.) in patients with diarrhea and outbreaks caused by Salmonella to identify the serotypes, resistance to antibiotics and PFGE types of the strains from the surveillance program in Guangdong province.

Methods: S.

[Molecular characters of epidemic cerebrospinal W135 Neisseria meningitidis strain firstly isolated in Guangdong province].

Objective: To analyze the molecular characters of the W135 Neisseria meningitidis strain firstly isolated from patients in Guangdong province.

Methods: Biochemical profile by using the API NH system (bio-Merieux, France) was used for confirmation,and sero-grouping of the meningococcal isolates including one serogroup W135, one serogroup C and three serogroups of a Neisseria meningitidis isolated from patients in Guangdong province in recent two years were performed. The subtype was determined after amplifying porA and porB respectively from the genome DNA of Neisseria meningitidis.

Leaf cold acclimation and freezing injury in C3 and C4 grasses of the Mongolian Plateau.

The scarcity of C4 plants in cool climates is usually attributed to their lower photosynthetic efficiency than C3 species at low temperatures. However, a lower freezing resistance may also decrease the competitive advantage of C4 plants by reducing canopy duration, especially in continental steppe grasslands, where a short, hot growing season is bracketed by frost events. This paper reports an experimental test of the hypothesis that cold acclimation is negligible in C4 grasses, leading to greater frost damage than in C3 species.

[MLST typing of Streptococcus suis isolated from clinical patients in Guangdong Province in 2005].

Intensive surveillance of human S.suis infection was carried out in July and August of 2005 in Guangdong Province, which coincided with the Sichuan outbreak. Five isolated cases of human infections were identified during this period, from which 5 S.

A study of the relationships between angiotensin- converting enzyme gene, chymase gene polymorphisms, pharmacological treatment with ACE inhibitor and regression of left ventricular hypertrophy in essential hypertension patients treated with benazepril.

Background: About 15-37% of the adult population worldwide suffers from hypertension. Hypertension is responsible for one-third of all global deaths. Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is one of the most important characteristics of hypertension target organ damage and is also an independent risk factor for cardiovascular events.

[Association between angiotensin converting enzyme gene, chymase gene and regression of left ventricular hypertrophy in patients treated with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors].

Objective: To investigate the association between insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism of the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene and the A/B polymorphism of the chymase (CMA) gene with regression of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in patients with essential hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy. The study subjects had been participants in along-term trial of therapy with an ACE inhibitor.

Methods: Follow-up data of 157 patients with essential hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy were collected.