Shift in dominant genotypes of Japanese encephalitis virus and its impact on current vaccination strategies.

Japanese encephalitis (JE) is a zoonotic ailment from the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV). JEV belongs to the flavivirus genus and is categorized into a solitary serotype consisting of five genetically diverse genotypes (I, II, III, IV, and V). The JEV genotype III (GIII) was the prevailing strain responsible for multiple outbreaks in countries endemic to JEV until 1990.

B602L-Fc fusion protein enhances the immunogenicity of the B602L protein of the African swine fever virus.

African swine fever (ASF) is an acute, highly contagious, and deadly infectious disease caused by the African swine fever virus (ASFV) and has a huge impact on the pig industry. A lack of vaccines and effective therapeutic drugs has brought great challenges to the prevention and control of ASF. In this study, insect baculovirus expression system was used to express ASFV B602L protein (B602L) alone and the IgG FC-fused B602L protein (B602L-Fc), and evaluate the immune effect of B602L-Fc in mice model.

Palmitoylation at Residue C221 of Japanese Encephalitis Virus NS2A Protein Contributes to Viral Replication Efficiency and Virulence.

Palmitoylation of viral proteins is crucial for host-virus interactions. In this study, we examined the palmitoylation of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) nonstructural protein 2A (NS2A) and observed that NS2A was palmitoylated at the C221 residue of NS2A. Blocking NS2A palmitoylation by introducing a cysteine-to-serine mutation at C221 (NS2A/C221S) impaired JEV replication and attenuated the virulence of JEV in mice.

Construction of a Recombinant Japanese Encephalitis Virus with a Hemagglutinin-Tagged NS2A: A Model for an Analysis of Biological Characteristics and Functions of NS2A during Viral Infection.

Nonstructural protein 2A (NS2A) of the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) contributes to viral replication and pathogenesis; however, a lack of NS2A-specific antibodies restricts studies on the underlying mechanisms. In this study, we constructed a recombinant JEV with a hemagglutinin (HA)-tagged NS2A (JEV-HA/NS2A/∆NS1') to overcome this challenge. An HA-tag was fused to the N-terminus of NS2A (HA-NS2A) at the intergenic junction between NS1 and NS2A.

Mosquito defensin facilitates Japanese encephalitis virus infection by downregulating the C6/36 cell-surface antiviral protein HSC70B.

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is a viral zoonosis that can cause viral encephalitis, death and disability whose primary vector is the Culex mosquito. Viral infection induces a series of antimicrobial peptide responses in mosquitoes, and the effector defensin enhances JEV replication in mosquitoes. However, the underlying mechanisms by which defensin enhances JEV are not fully understood.

NS5-V372A and NS5-H386Y variations are responsible for differences in interferon α/β induction and co-contribute to the replication advantage of Japanese encephalitis virus genotype I over genotype III in ducklings.

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) genotype I (GI) replicates more efficiently than genotype III (GIII) in birds, and this difference is considered to be one of the reasons for the JEV genotype shift. In this study, we utilized duck embryo fibroblasts and domestic ducklings as in vitro and in vivo models of a JEV amplifying avian host to identify the viral determinants of the differing replication efficiency between the GI and GIII strains in birds. GI strains induced significantly lower levels of interferon (IFN)-α and β production than GIII strains, an effect orrelated with the enhanced replication efficiency of GI strains over GIII strains.

Association among biofilm formation, virulence gene expression, and antibiotic resistance in Proteus mirabilis isolates from diarrhetic animals in Northeast China.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the association among biofilm formation, virulence gene expression, and antibiotic resistance in P. mirabilis isolates collected from diarrhetic animals (n = 176) in northeast China between September 2014 and October 2016.

Results: Approximately 92.

Experimental Infection of Newly Hatched Domestic Ducklings via Japanese Encephalitis Virus-Infected Mosquitoes.

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is a zoonotic pathogen that is maintained by mosquito vectors and vertebrate hosts including birds in a natural transmission cycle. Domestic ducklings are sensitive to JEV infection, but the clinical responses of domestic ducklings to natural JEV infection are unknown. In this study, we simulated the natural JEV infection of domestic ducklings via JEV-infected mosquito bites to evaluate the pathogenicity of JEV in domestic ducklings.

Duck karyopherin α4 (duKPNA4) is involved in type I interferon expression and the antiviral response against Japanese encephalitis virus.

Karyopherin α4 (KPNA4) is an adaptor molecule that mediates type I interferon (IFN) production by facilitating the nuclear translocation of IFN transcription factors. Here, we cloned the duck KPNA4 (duKPNA4) gene and analyzed its involvement in type I IFN expression as well as antiviral response against Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV). The full-length duKPNA4 gene encoded a 520-amino acid protein that shared 97.