DENV-1 Infection of Macrophages Induces Pyroptosis and Causes Changes in MicroRNA Expression Profiles.

Background: Dengue virus (DENV) is the most widespread mosquito-borne virus, which can cause dengue fever with mild symptoms, or progress to fatal dengue hemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome. As the main target cells of DENV, macrophages are responsible for the innate immune response against the virus.

Methods: In this study, we investigated the role of pyroptosis in the pathogenic mechanism of dengue fever by examining the level of pyroptosis in DENV-1-infected macrophages and further screened differentially expressed microRNAs by high-throughput sequencing to predict microRNAs that could affect the pyroptosis of the macrophage.

Importation of a novel Indian Ocean lineage carrying E1-K211E and E2-V264A of Chikungunya Virus in Zhejiang Province, China, in 2019.

The chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is widespread. In Zhejiang province, China, CHIKV infection is often associated with travelers from tropical and subtropical countries. In the present study, three CHIKV isolates from serum samples of travelers in Zhejiang province in 2019 were sequenced, and phylogenetically analyzed to study their molecular characteristics.

Detecting the Neuraminidase R294K Mutation in Avian Influenza A (H7N9) Virus Using Reverse Transcription Droplet Digital PCR Method.

The R294K mutation in neuraminidase (NA) causes resistance to oseltamivir in the avian influenza virus H7N9. Reverse transcription droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (RT-dd PCR) is a novel technique for detecting single-nucleotide polymorphisms. This study aimed to develop an RT-dd PCR method for detecting the R294K mutation in H7N9.

Transcriptomic analysis reveals the inhibition mechanism of pulsed light on fungal growth and ochratoxin A biosynthesis in Aspergillus carbonarius.

Pulsed light (PL) technology has a good effect on the control of fungi in postharvest fruit. In this present work, PL inhibited the growth of Aspergillus carbonarius in a dose-dependent manner, the mycelial growth decreased by 4.83 %, 13.

An external quality assessment for the molecular testing of the SARS-CoV-2 virus genome in Zhejiang Province, China.

The COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated the rapid expansion of laboratories that conduct SARS-CoV-2 tests. A provincial external quality assessment (EQA) scheme on SARS-CoV-2 tests was organized by Zhejiang Provincial CDC to assess the accuracy of the tests in individual CDC municipal and county laboratories in Zhejiang Province, China. Three positive samples in high, medium, and low concentrations, respectively, were prepared using the serial dilutions from the culture with the viral titer concentration of 1×10 TCID50/mL, and one negative sample were included.

Molecular Characterization of Dengue Virus Type 1 in Zhejiang in 2019.

Dengue fever (DF) is a mosquito-borne viral disease caused by the dengue virus (DENV), which is considered one of the most important arboviruses in the world. This study aimed to determine the molecular, epidemiological, and phylogenetic characterization of 174 DENV-1 (132 indigenous cases and 42 imported cases) isolated from nine municipalities of Zhejiang province in 2019. The analyses of phylogenetics, haplotypes, and amino acid substitutions were conducted based on the full envelope (E) gene sequences.

Molecular epidemiologic characteristics of hemagglutinin from five waves of avian influenza A (H7N9) virus infection, from 2013 to 2017, in Zhejiang Province, China.

There have been five waves of influenza A (H7N9) epidemics in Zhejiang Province between 2013 and 2017. Although the epidemiological characteristics of the five waves have been reported, the molecular genetics aspects, including the phylogeny, evolution, and mutation of hemagglutinin (HA), have not been systematically investigated. A total of 154 H7N9 samples from Zhejiang Province were collected between 2013 and 2017 and sequenced using an Ion Torrent Personal Genome Machine.

Simultaneous Detection of Ebola Virus and Pathogens Associated With Hemorrhagic Fever by an Oligonucleotide Microarray.

Ebola virus infection causes severe hemorrhagic fever, and its mortality rates varied from 25 to 90% in the previous outbreaks. The highly infectious and lethal nature of this virus highlights the need for reliable and sensitive diagnostic methods to distinguish it from other diseases present with similar clinical symptoms. Based on multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and oligonucleotide microarray technology, a cost-effective, multipathogen and high-throughput method was developed for simultaneous detection of Ebola virus and other pathogens associated with hemorrhagic fever, including Marburg virus, Lassa fever virus, Junin virus, Machupo virus, Rift Valley fever virus, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus, malaria parasite, hantavirus, severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus, dengue virus, yellow fever virus, Chikungunya virus, influenza A virus, and influenza B virus.

Comparison and Analysis of Neutralizing Antibody Levels in Serum after Inoculating with SARS-CoV-2, MERS-CoV, or SARS-CoV Vaccines in Humans.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) pose a great threat to humanity. Every pandemic involving these coronaviruses has seriously affected human health and economic development. Currently, there are no approved therapeutic drugs against their infections.

Development of an inactivated vaccine candidate for SARS-CoV-2.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has resulted in an unprecedented public health crisis. Because of the novelty of the virus, there are currently no SARS-CoV-2-specific treatments or vaccines available. Therefore, rapid development of effective vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 are urgently needed.

Co-circulation of influenza A(H1N1), A(H3N2), B(Yamagata) and B(Victoria) during the 2017-2018 influenza season in Zhejiang Province, China.

Influenza is a major human respiratory pathogen. Due to the high levels of influenza-like illness (ILI) in Zhejiang, China, the control and prevention of influenza was challenging during the 2017-2018 season. To identify the clinical spectrum of illness related to influenza and characterise the circulating influenza virus strains during this period, the characteristics of ILI were studied.

Respiratory virus associated with surgery in children patients.

Background: Viral respiratory infection (VRI) is a common contraindication to elective surgery. Asymptomatic shedding among pediatric surgery patients (PSPs) could potentially lead to progression of symptomatic diseases and cause outbreaks of respiratory diseases. The aim of this study is to investigate the incidence of infection among mild symptomatic PSP group and asymptomatic PSP group after surgical procedure.

Metagenomic analysis of viral nucleic acid extraction methods in respiratory clinical samples.

Background: Numerous protocols for viral enrichment and genome amplification have been created. However, the direct identification of viral genomes from clinical specimens using next-generation sequencing (NGS) still has its challenges. As a selected viral nucleic acid extraction method may determine the sensitivity and reliability of NGS, it is still valuable to evaluate the extraction efficiency of different extraction kits using clinical specimens directly.

Epidemiological Characterization of the 2017 Dengue Outbreak in Zhejiang, China and Molecular Characterization of the Viruses.

Dengue, a mosquito-borne disease caused by the dengue virus (DV), has been recognized as a global public health threat. In 2017, an unexpected dengue outbreak occurred in Zhejiang, China. To clarify and characterize the causative agent of this outbreak, data on dengue fever cases were collected from the China Information System for Disease Control and Prevention in Zhejiang province for subsequent epidemiological analysis.

Clinical evaluation of a panel of multiplex quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assays for the detection of 16 respiratory viruses associated with community-acquired pneumonia.

We developed a panel of multiplex quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (mqRT-PCR) assay consisting of seven internally controlled qRT-PCR assays to detect 16 different respiratory viruses. We compared the new mqRT-PCR with a previously reported two-tube mRT-PCR assay using 363 clinical sputum specimens. The mqRT-PCR assay performed comparably with the two-tube assay for most viruses, offering the advantages of quantitative analysis, easier performance, lower susceptibility to contamination, and shorter turnaround time in laboratories equipped with conventional real-time PCR instrumentation, and it could therefore be a valuable tool for routine surveillance of respiratory virus infections in China.

Comparative genomic analysis of Lactobacillus plantarum ZJ316 reveals its genetic adaptation and potential probiotic profiles.

Objective: In previous studies, Lactobacillus plantarum ZJ316 showed probiotic properties, such as antimicrobial activity against various pathogens and the capacity to significantly improve pig growth and pork quality. The purpose of this study was to reveal the genes potentially related to its genetic adaptation and probiotic profiles based on comparative genomic analysis.

Methods: The genome sequence of L.

Living poultry markets in rural area: Human infection with H7N9 virus re-emerges in Zhejiang Province, China, in winter 2014.

Background: Avian influenza A H7N9 virus, previously undetected in humans, has caused infections in many areas in China since February 2013. Here we report the re-emergence of a case of H7N9 in rural Jiaxing city, Zhejiang Province, in the winter of 2014.

Objectives: To understand (1) the clinical syndrome, epidemiological and virological characteristics of this case; (2) the importance of controlling live poultry markets (LPMs) in rural areas.

A study of family clustering in two young girls with novel avian influenza A (H7N9) in Dongyang, Zhejiang Province, in 2014.

Background: The avian influenza A H7N9 virus, previously unknown in humans, has infected humans in many areas of China since February 2013. Here we report on a clustering case of H7N9 in two little girls in one family in Dongyang city, Jinhua area, Zhejiang Province.

Objectives: To determine (1) whether the infections were due to person-to-person transmission or to co-exposure to poultry and (2) the prevalence of this novel H7N9 virus in Dongyang inferred by this family clustering case.

Characterization of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome in rural regions of Zhejiang, China.

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) infections have recently been found in rural regions of Zhejiang. A severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) surveillance and sero-epidemiological investigation was conducted in the districts with outbreaks. During the study period of 2011-2014, a total of 51 SFTSV infection cases were identified and the case fatality rate was 12% (6/51).

Complete genome sequence of the probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum strain ZJ316.

Lactobacillus plantarum strain ZJ316, a probiotic strain with several functions, was isolated from healthy newborn infant fecal samples. Here we report the finished and annotated genome sequence of this organism.

Effects of lactobacillus plantarum ZJ316 on pig growth and pork quality.

Background: Lactobacillus plantarum is a plant-associated bacterial species but it has also been found in human, mouse and porcine gastrointestinal tracts. It can ferment a broad spectrum of plant carbohydrates; it is tolerant of bile salts and low pH, and it has antagonistic potential against intestinal pathogens. However, experiments reporting the use of L.