Publications by authors named "Wu Chun Cao"
Background: Tick-borne infectious diseases caused by the spotted fever group Rickettsia (SFGR) have continuously emerging, with many previously unidentified SFGR species reported. The prevalence of SFGRs in northwestern China remains unclear. This study aimed to examine the prevalence of SFGRs and Anaplasma species by analyzing tick samples collected from the Ningxia region.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEmerging tick-borne orthonairovirus infections pose a growing global concern, with limited understanding of the viral ovarian tumor-like cysteine proteases (vOTUs) encoded by novel orthonairoviruses. These vOTUs, a group of deubiquinylases (DUBs), disrupt the innate immune response. Yezo virus (YEZV), a recently discovered pathogenic orthonairovirus, was first reported in Japan in 2021.
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- Yezo virus (YEZV) is a newly identified tick-borne illness first reported in Japan in 2021, with only one case previously documented in China. A recent study at a hospital in northeast China investigated patients who sought treatment after tick bites, focusing on their symptoms, lab findings, and viral genomics.
- The study identified 18 infected patients (average age 53), all presenting with fever and various other symptoms, including headache, dizziness, gastrointestinal, and neurological issues. Laboratory tests revealed high rates of leukopenia and elevated enzyme levels in the majority of patients.
- Out of 119 ticks tested, 7% were found to carry YEZV, and researchers successfully isolated three
Article Synopsis
- Ticks are significant carriers of diseases that can affect both humans and animals, posing a growing health risk.
- In a field survey conducted in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region of China, researchers collected over 10,000 ticks from nine different species, noting how environmental factors influenced their distribution.
- The findings indicate specific areas in Ningxia are more suitable for certain tick species, highlighting the importance of these results for managing tick populations and controlling tick-borne illnesses, while also suggesting that future studies should explore how reforestation efforts impact tick dynamics.
Genomic characterization of an emerging isolated from tick eggs in northwestern China.
Emerg Microbes Infect
December 2024
Article Synopsis
- The emergence of Rickettsia barbariae, a tick-borne disease, has raised global concern since it was first detected in humans in Italy in 2008 and later in northwestern China.
- Researchers isolated the bacteria for the first time from tick eggs in China and sequenced its whole genome, giving it a modified name according to international standards.
- The genome analysis showed that this strain is closely related to other harmful rickettsiae, revealing its potential to be pathogenic and underscoring the need for better monitoring of tick-borne diseases in humans.
Article Synopsis
- A study in Rwanda investigated the population's knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions towards COVID-19 vaccines using a survey of 370 participants conducted in February 2023.
- Results showed that a high percentage, 85%, had good knowledge and 84% maintained a positive attitude toward COVID-19 vaccines, influenced by demographics such as age, education level, and marital status.
- Key findings indicated that younger individuals, those with higher education, and single or vaccinated participants were more likely to have a positive perception of vaccines, with information from government sources significantly enhancing positive views.
Article Synopsis
- Rickettsial diseases are a global health threat, and this study focused on investigating various rickettsial organisms in Yunnan Province, China, from May 2011 to November 2020, examining small mammals, livestock, and ticks.
- Researchers collected 7,964 samples and found sixteen different rickettsial species, with a 14.72% prevalence overall; 11 of these species are known or potential pathogens for humans and livestock.
- Certain small mammals, particularly those from alpine regions, showed high infection rates, while different small mammal species carried specific rickettsial agents, indicating a complex relationship between hosts and pathogens.
Spotted fever group rickettsiae (SFGR) are obligate intracellular bacteria that cause spotted fever. The limitations of gene manipulation pose great challenges to studying the infection mechanisms of Rickettsia. By combining bioorthogonal metabolism and click chemistry, we developed a method to label R.
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- Scientists discovered new viruses called Restviruses in the lungs of patients who were sick with a type of coronavirus.
- These Restviruses are similar to another group of viruses known as Statoviruses, which were found in the stomachs of animals.
- Researchers think that studying these new viruses could help us understand how they affect people's health and where they come from.
Spillovers of viruses from animals to humans occur more frequently under warmer conditions, particularly arboviruses. The invasive tick species Haemaphysalis longicornis, the Asian longhorned tick, poses a significant public health threat due to its global expansion and its potential to carry a wide range of pathogens. We analyzed meta-transcriptomic data from 3595 adult H.
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- - Recent research has identified a SARS-CoV-2-related virus, PCoV-GX/P2V, in pangolins, raising concerns about its potential to infect humans.
- - PCoV-GX/P2V can effectively replicate in human cells and causes serious lung issues in mice, indicating its pathogenicity.
- - Current immunity from SARS-CoV-2 may not protect against PCoV-GX/P2V, emphasizing the need for close monitoring to prevent cross-species transmission.
Article Synopsis
- * Researchers obtained the genome from metagenomic sequencing of an infected goat in China, revealing it has the smallest genome of its genus and indicating lower pathogenicity compared to similar species.
- * The study found a high infection rate of 79.3% in goats and noted significant genetic diversity, providing foundational insights for future studies and potential prevention strategies against this pathogen.
Background: Haemaphysalis concinna, carrying multiple pathogens, has attracted increasing attention because of its expanded geographical range and significant role in disease transmission. This study aimed to identify the potential public health risks posed by H. concinna and H.
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- Haemaphysalis longicornis, a type of tick, is becoming a concern because it's spreading and may carry diseases.
- Researchers studied 136 groups of these ticks and found 508 different RNA viruses, with 22 that no one had seen before.
- The study showed that the genetic differences in the ticks are linked to their environment, which helps us understand how viruses might spread from ticks to animals and people.
The complete mitogenome of (Filippova, 1961) and its phylogenetic status in subgenus (Acari: Argasidae).
Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl
April 2024
Article Synopsis
- Soft ticks from the Argasidae family act as ectoparasites and are known to spread zoonotic diseases, but there’s limited knowledge about their subgenus in China, primarily focusing on occurrence data and single case reports.
- This study characterizes this tick subgenus through detailed mitochondrial sequencing and morphological analysis of adult specimens from Ningxia Hui Autonomous Regions in North China, aiming to fill knowledge gaps.
- The research produced a complete mitogenome of 14,479 bp, identified 37 genes, and showcased morphological features that differentiate these ticks, providing essential data for accurate species identification in the future.
We recently detected a HKU4-related coronavirus in subgenus Merbecovirus (named pangolin-CoV-HKU4-P251T) from a Malayan pangolin. Here we report isolation and characterization of pangolin-CoV-HKU4-P251T, the genome sequence of which is closest to that of a coronavirus from the greater bamboo bat (Tylonycteris robustula) in Yunnan Province, China, with a 94.3% nucleotide identity.
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- A type of tick from the Ixodidae family is mostly found in North Asia and can spread germs that make both people and animals sick.
- Researchers studied this tick by analyzing samples and found many different germs it carries, including bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens.
- The study suggests that this tick can threaten public health and farming, and more attention is needed to track its spread, especially since it might be found in more places than we realize.
Article Synopsis
- Malaria cases in Niger skyrocketed from over 592,000 in 2000 to over 3 million in 2010, prompting a major public health response with various interventions, although their effectiveness requires further examination.
- A study conducted from 2010 to 2019 analyzed malaria data, revealing a decrease in incidence rates regionally, but with an increase in mortality and case fatality ratios in certain age groups, especially among 10-24 year olds.
- While some malaria interventions effectively reduced incidence rates, challenges persist in controlling mortality rates, indicating a need for improved surveillance, diagnosis, treatment, and preventive measures like insecticide-treated bed nets in Niger.
Purpose: To characterize the cytokine profile of patients with severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) in relation to disease severity.
Patients And Methods: 60 laboratory-confirmed SFTS patients and 12 healthy individuals from multi-centers in Shandong Province of China were included, and all patients were divided into fatal patients (9) and recovered patients (51) due to their final outcomes. Multiplex-microbead immunoassays were conducted to estimate levels of 27 cytokines in the sera of patients and controls.
Article Synopsis
- A study analyzed the relationship between comorbidities and the risk of developing pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) using a case-control design from 2013 to 2017.
- Of the 4265 PTB cases studied, those with existing comorbidities had a significantly higher risk of developing PTB, especially those with two or more conditions.
- Three major comorbidity clusters were identified—respiratory, circulatory, and endocrine/metabolic—which vary in association with PTB based on factors like age and sex, highlighting the need for increased awareness and monitoring of these conditions.
There has been increasing global concern about the spillover transmission of pangolin-associated microbes. To assess the risk of these microbes for emergence as human pathogens, we integrated data from multiple sources to describe the distribution and spectrum of microbes harbored by pangolins. Wild and trafficked pangolins have been mainly recorded in Asia and Africa, while captive pangolins have been reported in European and North American countries.
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- * The systematic review created a detailed database capturing the pathogen's distribution, prevalence, and genetic diversity through phylogenetic analyses, with A. capra found in 18 countries across Asia, Europe, and Africa.
- * The research indicated that domestic ruminants, especially goats and sheep, are primary hosts, with certain ticks like Haemaphysalis longicornis being key carriers, while habitat modeling identified optimal regions for A. capra mainly in Asia and eastern Europe.
Article Synopsis
- Anaplasma capra is a new tickborne bacteria identified in 2015 in China, impacting both humans and a variety of animals globally.
- Researchers sequenced the genomes of two A. capra strains from infected goats, finding that this species has the smallest genome in its genus.
- The study revealed high prevalence in goats, with the strains showing genetic similarities to those previously found in Asia and highlighting the genetic diversity of A. capra.