USP9X expression is functionally related to laryngeal cancer.

An increasing number of studies have shown that USP9X is closely related to cancer. However, its role in carcinogenesis and progression of laryngeal cancer has not yet been investigated. In this study, we found that USP9X was upregulated in laryngeal cancer tissues.

Identification of SARS-CoV-2 Variants and Their Clinical Significance in Hefei, China.

The ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic represents one of the most exigent threats of our lifetime to global public health and economy. As part of the pandemic, from January 10 to March 10, 2020, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) began to spread in Hefei (Anhui Province, China) with a total of 174 confirmed cases of COVID-19. During this period, we were able to gather critical information on the transmission and evolution of pathogens through genomic surveillance.

Long Non-coding RNA H19 Suppression Protects the Endothelium Against Hyperglycemic-Induced Inflammation via Inhibiting Expression of Target Gene Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor a Through Activation of the Protein Kinase B/Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase Pathway.

It has been shown that non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) play an important regulatory role in pathophysiological processes involving inflammation. The vascular endothelial growth factor A () gene also participates in the inflammatory process. However, the relationships between ncRNAs and VEGFA are currently unclear.

Proteomic analysis of the Heliothis virescens ascovirus 3i (HvAV-3i) virion.

Ascoviruses are enveloped, circular, double-stranded DNA viruses that can effectively control the appetite of lepidopteran larvae, thereby reducing the consequent damage and economic losses to crops. In this study, the virion of a sequenced Heliothis virescens ascovirus 3i (HvAV-3i) strain was used to perform proteomic analysis using both in-gel and in-solution digestion. A total of 81 viral proteins, of which 67 were associated with the virions, were identified in the proteome of HvAV-3i virions.

Expression- and genomic-level changes during passage of four baculoviruses derived from bacmids in permissive insect cell lines.

The baculovirus-based bacmid expression vector system has been widely used for protein production in basic research and biotechnological laboratories. Since the first construction of the Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus bacmid (AcBacmid), three more bacmids have been created from Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmBacmid), Spodoptera exigua nucleopolyhedrovirus (SeBacmid) and Helicoverpa armigera nucleopolyhedrovirus (HaBacmid). Each of these bacmid-derived viruses replicates efficiently in a range of specific and permissive cell types.

Genomic analysis of a novel isolate Heliothis virescens ascovirus 3i (HvAV-3i) and identification of ascoviral repeat ORFs (aros).

Ascoviruses are circular double-stranded DNA viruses that infect insects. Herein we sequenced and analyzed the genome of the previously unrecorded ascovirus isolate Heliothis virescens ascovirus 3i (HvAV-3i). The genome size is 185,650 bp with 181 hypothetical open reading frames (ORFs).

Complete Genome Sequence of a Renamed Isolate, Trichoplusia ni Ascovirus 6b, from the United States.

The complete genome of Trichoplusia ni ascovirus 6b (TnAV-6b) was sequenced for the first time. The TnAV-6b isolate, which has its closest phylogenetic relationship with the TnAV-6a isolate, has a circular genome of 185,664 bp, with a G+C content of 46.0% and 178 predicted open reading frames.

MicroRNA‑126 inhibits endothelial permeability and apoptosis in apolipoprotein E‑knockout mice fed a high‑fat diet.

Endothelial dysfunction and apoptosis have key roles in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis (AS). AS has been demonstrated to be associated with a high‑fat diet, which may increase endothelial permeability and apoptosis; however, the exact mechanisms underlying the development of AS remain poorly understood. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are vital for the regulation of cardiovascular disease, and dysregulated miRNAs have been implicated in AS.

Improved pFastBac™ donor plasmid vectors for higher protein production using the Bac-to-Bac® baculovirus expression vector system.

The Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV)-based Bac-to-Bac expression system consists of a bacmid and five pFastBac™ donor transfer vectors. It has been widely used for eukaryotic gene expression in insect cells to elucidate gene function in biotechnology laboratories. The pFastBac™ vectors contain a 50bp AcMNPV polyhedrin (polh) promoter and a 127bp SV40 polyadenylation (pA) signal for cloning a gene of interest into the bacmid, resulting in unsolved lower gene expression levels than the wild type (wt) AcMNPV in insect cells.

Genome analysis of Heliothis virescens ascovirus 3h isolated from China.

No ascovirus isolated from China has been sequenced so far. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to sequence the genome of Heliothis virescens ascovirus 3h (HvAV-3h) using the 454 pyrosequencing technology. The genome was found to be 190,519-bp long with a G+C content of 45.

ICTV Virus Taxonomy Profile: Ascoviridae.

The family Ascoviridae includes viruses with circular dsDNA genomes of 100-200 kbp characterized by oblong enveloped virions of 200-400 nm in length. Ascoviruses mainly infect lepidopteran larvae and are mechanically transmitted by parasitoid wasps in which they may also replicate. Most known members belong to the genus Ascovirus, except one virus, that of the genus Toursvirus, which replicates in both its lepidopteran and parasitoid vector hosts.

Baculovirus FP25K Localization: Role of the Coiled-Coil Domain.

Unlabelled: Two types of viruses are produced during the baculovirus life cycle: budded virus (BV) and occlusion-derived virus (ODV). A particular baculovirus protein, FP25K, is involved in the switch from BV to ODV production. Previously, FP25K from the model alphabaculovirus Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) was shown to traffic ODV envelope proteins.

The Influence of SV40 polyA on Gene Expression of Baculovirus Expression Vector Systems.

The simian virus 40 polyadenylation signal (SV40 polyA) has been routinely inserted downstream of the polyhedrin promoter in many baculovirus expression vector systems (BEVS). In the baculovirus prototype Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV), the polyhedrin promoter (very late promoter) transcribes its gene by a viral RNA polymerase therefore there is no supporting evidence that SV40 polyA is required for the proper gene expression under the polyhedrin promoter. Moreover, the effect of the SV40 polyA sequence on the polyhedrin promoter activity has not been tested either at its natural polyhedrin locus or in other loci in the viral genome.

Genome sequence and organization analysis of Heliothis virescens ascovirus 3f isolated from a Helicoverpa zea larva.

The complete genome sequence of Heliothis virescens ascovirus 3f (HvAV-3f) was obtained. The HvAV-3f genome has a circular genome of 198,157bp with a G+C content of 46.0%, and encodes 190 open reading frames (ORFs) longer than 69 amino acids.

Forecasting influenza epidemics from multi-stream surveillance data in a subtropical city of China.

Background: Influenza has been associated with heavy burden of mortality and morbidity in subtropical regions. However, timely forecast of influenza epidemic in these regions has been hindered by unclear seasonality of influenza viruses. In this study, we developed a forecasting model by integrating multiple sentinel surveillance data to predict influenza epidemics in a subtropical city Shenzhen, China.

Comparative analysis of error-prone replication mononucleotide repeats across baculovirus genomes.

Genome replication by the baculovirus DNA polymerase often generates errors in mononucleotide repeat (MNR) sequences due to replication slippage. This results in the inactivation of genes that affects different stages of the cell infection cycle. Here we mapped these MNRs in the 59 baculovirus genomes.

"Megavirales", a proposed new order for eukaryotic nucleocytoplasmic large DNA viruses.

The nucleocytoplasmic large DNA viruses (NCLDVs) comprise a monophyletic group of viruses that infect animals and diverse unicellular eukaryotes. The NCLDV group includes the families Poxviridae, Asfarviridae, Iridoviridae, Ascoviridae, Phycodnaviridae, Mimiviridae and the proposed family "Marseilleviridae". The family Mimiviridae includes the largest known viruses, with genomes in excess of one megabase, whereas the genome size in the other NCLDV families varies from 100 to 400 kilobase pairs.

[Applicability of a sensitive duplex real-time PCR assay for identifying B/Yamagata and B/Victoria lineages of influenza virus].

Objective: To develop a novel sensitive duplex real-time PCR assay for accurately identifying B/Yamagata and B/Victoria lineages of influenza virus type B.

Methods: 50 HA (hemagglutinin) gene sequences coding for B/Yamagata and B/Victoria lineage, respectively, were randomly downloaded for GenBank and analyzed by software MEGA. Primers and probes specific for HA gene of B/Yamagata and B/Victoria lineages were designed by Primer Primer and then applied in the duplex real-time RT-PCR method that was followed developed.

Cross sectional survey of influenza antibodies before and during the 2009 pandemic in Shenzhen, China.

Much information is available for the 2009 H1N1 influenza immunity response, but little is known about the antibody change in seasonal influenza before and during the novel influenza A pandemic. In this study, we conducted a cross-sectional serological survey of 4 types of major seasonal influenza in March and September 2009 on a full range of age groups, to investigate seasonal influenza immunity response before and during the outbreak of the sH1N1 influenza in Shenzhen - the largest migration city in China. We found that the 0-5 age group had an increased antibody level for all types of seasonal influenza during the pandemic compared to the pre-outbreak level, in contrast with almost all other age groups, in which the antibody level decreased.

Genomic sequence of Heliothis virescens ascovirus 3g isolated from Spodoptera exigua.

Heliothis virescens ascovirus 3a (HvAV-3a), a member of the family Ascoviridae, has the highest diversity among ascovirus species that have been reported in Australia, Indonesia, China, and the United States. To understand the diversity and origin of this important ascovirus, the complete genome of the HvAV Indonesia strain (HvAV-3g), isolated from Spodoptera exigua, was determined to be 199,721 bp, with a G+C content of 45.9%.

Genome of Thysanoplusia orichalcea multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus lacks the superoxide dismutase gene.

Thysanoplusia orichalcea multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (ThorMNPV) has high virulence to Trichoplusia ni and Pseudoplusia includens larvae, with a potential for biological control of insect pests. The genome of ThorMNPV was sequenced and found to be 132,978 bp, with a G+C content of 37.9%.

Genome of a Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus strain isolated from India.

Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV), a member of the Baculoviridae, is a major pathogen of silkworm and has also been recently developed as an expression vector for heterologous gene expression in the silkworm larvae and pupae. To better understand the diversity of this important baculovirus, we sequenced the complete genome of the BmNPV strain isolated from India, where its host is available throughout the year due to its tropical climate. The genome of the Indian strain consists of 127,879 nucleotides, with a G+C content of 40.

Reduction of polyhedrin mRNA and protein expression levels in Sf9 and Hi5 cell lines, but not in Sf21 cells, infected with Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus fp25k mutants.

During cell infection, the fp25k gene of baculoviruses frequently mutates, producing the few polyhedra (FP) per cell phenotype with reduced polyhedrin (polh) expression levels compared with wild-type baculoviruses. Here we report that the fp25k gene of the model baculovirus, Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV), contains two hypermutable seven-adenine (A7) mononucleotide repeats (MNRs) that were mutated to A8 MNRs and a TTAA site that had host DNA insertions, producing fp25k mutants during Sf21 cell infection. The FP phenotype in Sf9 and Hi5 cells was more pronounced than in Sf21 cells.

Cell-dependent production of polyhedra and virion occlusion of Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus fp25k mutants in vitro and in vivo.

Members of the family Baculoviridae are insect-specific dsDNA viruses that have been used for biological control of insect pests in agriculture and forestry, as well as in research and pharmaceutical protein expression in insect cells and larvae. Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) is the type species of the family Baculoviridae. During infection of AcMNPV in permissive cells, fp25k mutants are positively selected, leading to the formation of the few polyhedra (FP) phenotype with reduced yield of polyhedra and reduced virion occlusion efficiency, which leads to decreased oral infectivity for insects.

Phylogenetic position and replication kinetics of Heliothis virescens ascovirus 3h (HvAV-3h) isolated from Spodoptera exigua.

Insect-specific ascoviruses with a circular genome are distributed in the USA, France, Australia and Indonesia. Here, we report the first ascovirus isolation from Spodoptera exigua in Hunan, China. DNA-DNA hybridization to published ascoviruses demonstrated that the new China ascovirus isolate is a variant of Heliothis virescens ascovirus 3a (HvAV-3a), thus named HvAV-3h.