Ciprofloxacin enhances the biofilm formation of via an -dependent mechanism.

readily forms biofilms on host tissues and medical devices, enabling its persistence in chronic infections and resistance to antibiotic therapy. The accessory gene regulator (Agr) quorum sensing system plays a key role in regulating biofilm formation. This study reveals the widely used fluoroquinolone antibiotic, ciprofloxacin, strongly stimulates biofilm formation in methicillin-resistant , methicillin-sensitive , and clinical isolates with diverse genetic backgrounds.

Metagenomic next-generation sequencing for the identification of infections caused by Gram-negative pathogens and the prediction of antimicrobial resistance.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) for the identification of Gram-negative bacteria (GNB) infections and the prediction of antimicrobial resistance.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 182 patients with diagnosis of GNB infections who underwent mNGS and conventional microbiological tests (CMTs).

Results: The detection rate of mNGS was 96.

[Soil Olsen-P content changing trend and its relationship with phosphorus surplus and crop yield under long-term fertilization in loessial soil region on the Loess Plateau, China].

The changing trend of soil available phosphorus (Olsen-P) content in soil and its relationship with soil phosphorus surplus and crop yield are fundamental when making appropriate phosphate fertilizer recommendations. In this paper, the influences of long-term fertilization on crops phosphorus uptake, soil phosphorus surplus, changing trend of soil available phosphorus content and relationships of soil available phosphorus content with soil phosphorus surplus and crop yield were investigated through 34 years (1981-2015) long-term trial in loessial soil region on the Loess Plateau. The experiment had a completely-randomized-block split-plot design in triplicate.

[Effects of long-term fertilization on nitrogen fertilizer use efficiency in loessial soil region on the Loess Plateau, Northwest China].

Nitrogen fertilizer use efficiency is a key parameter to determine recommended nitrogen fertilizer amount and evaluate the effects of nitrogen fertilizer application. The effects of long-term fertilization on annual and accumulated nitrogen fertilizer use efficiency and the relationship between them were studied using a 34-year fertilization experiment (1981-2015) in loessial soil region. The results showed that fertilization had significant influence on annual and accumulated nitrogen ferti-lizer use efficiency of wheat, rape and flax in the period of 1983-2015.

Host genetic background determines whether IL-18 deficiency results in increased susceptibility or resistance to murine Leishmania major infection.

Interleukin-18 (IL-18) plays an important role in innate and acquired immunity. IL-18 gene deficient (IL-18-/-) mice of the 129 x CD1 strain were reported to be more susceptible to Leishmania major infection than the wild-type mice. In contrast IL-18-/- mice of the C57BL/6 background were found to be as resistant as the wild-type (WT) mice.

Clinicopathological study on TTV infection in hepatitis of unknown etiology.

Aim: To investigate the state of infection, replication site, pathogenicity and clinical significance of transfusion transmitted virus (TTV) in patients with hepatitis, especially in patients of unknown etiology.

Methods: Liver tissues taken from 136 cases of non-A non-G hepatitis were tested for TT virus antigen and nucleic acid by in situ hybridization (ISH) and nested-polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Among them, TT virus genome and its complemental strand were also detected in 24 cases of autopsy liver and extrahepatic tissues with ISH.