Expert consensus for pertussis in children: new concepts in diagnosis and treatment.

Background: Pertussis resurgence has been reported worldwide in the past two decades. Pertussis is still endemic and difficult to control though with universal vaccination in children. The resurgence may be related to multiple variables, such as increased disease awareness and laboratory tests, waning of immunity following vaccination, and/or genetic mutations of Bordetella pertussis.

Establishment and Modification of Ninety-seven Pneumococcal Serotyping Assays Based on Quantitative Real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction.

Objective: To establish and modify quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR)-based serotyping assays to distinguish 97 pneumococcal serotypes.

Methods: A database of capsular polysaccharide ( ) loci sequences was generated, covering 97 pneumococcal serotypes. Bioinformatics analyses were performed to identify the loci structure and target genes related to different pneumococcal serotypes with specific SNPs.

Genetic Characteristics of Lipooligosaccharide and Capsular Polysaccharide of from Different Sources in China.

Objective: To determine the distribution of two important virulence factors [lipooligosaccharide (LOS) and capsular polysaccharide (CPS)] in ( ) isolated from different sources in China and to develop a rapid screening method for Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS)-associated strains.

Methods: Whole-genome sequencing was carried out for 494 strains. The OrthoMCL software was used to define the LOS/CPS gene clusters.

Serotype distribution and clinical characteristics associated with among Chinese children and adults with invasive pneumococcal disease: a multicenter observational study.

Few studies in China focused on serotypes of in patients with invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD). We aimed at investigating the serotype distribution for IPD-causing and vaccine coverage among Chinese children and adults. This was a multicenter, observational study to collect isolates from normal sterile sites and IPD-related clinical information among children and adults.

Comparison of the Pathogenicity of Isolates of Hyperinvasive Sequence Type 7 Belonging to Serogroups A, B, C, and X.

Objective: To compare the pathogenicity of isolates of sequence type 7 (ST-7) ( ) belonging to four different serogroups (A, B, C, and X).

Methods: Four ST-7 isolates serogrouped as A, B, C, and X and characterized by different capsule structures, were examined for their adhesion and invasion properties, and their ability to induce cytokine release and apoptosis in the host cell (the A549 cell line).

Results: Among the four ST-7 isolates, the serogroup A isolate possessed the strongest adhesion and invasion ability.

A Cross-sectional Survey Assessing Carriage of Streptococcus pneumoniae in a Healthy Population in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China.

The carriage rate and serotype distribution of Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) in a healthy population in China remains unclear. In this study, we collected the oropharyngeal swabs from 513 individuals in Xinjiang, China.

Molecular characteristics of Neisseria meningitidis isolated during an outbreak in a jail: association with the spread and distribution of ST-4821 complex serogroup C clone in China.

Objective: To characterize the meningococcal strains isolated from cases and close contacts with meningococcal disease associated with an outbreak in a jail in May 2010 by investigating the national distribution of hyperinvasive ST-4821 serogroup C clone associated with this outbreak.

Methods: The cases were described based on the clinical symptoms and laboratory results. Pharyngeal swabs were cultured for N.

[Comparison on the levels of human serum antibody against Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C measured using serum bactericidal assay and ELISA].

Objective: To analyze the levels of human serum antibody against Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C measured by serum bactericidal assay (SBA) and ELISA.

Methods: SBA and a modified ELISA were applied to measure the serum bactericidal titer and the specific concentration of immunoglobulin G (IgG) against meningococcal serogroup C in sera samples. Seventy-five sera were from healthy adults without undertaking vaccination while another 429 and 388 pre- and post-vaccinated sera were from 143 infants and 194 young children immunized with conjugate vaccine or polysaccharide vaccine, respectively.

[Contamination status and molecular biological characteristics of Legionella in cooling water samples from different places in Wuxi city].

Objective: To investigate the contamination state of Legionella in cooling water samples from different places in Wuxi city and reveal the molecular biological characteristics of Legionella strains.

Methods: 112 parallel water samples (500 ml each) were collected from 56 sites in Wuxi city during year 2009 - 2010. The samples were used for Legionella test and quantitative culture.

[Sequence-based typing of 82 strains of serotype I Legionella pneumophila isolated from 9 provinces in China].

Objective: To analyze the characteristics of Sequence-based Typing (SBT) of the Serotype 1 Legionella pneumophila (Lp1) isolated from environmental water in China, and then create a preliminary database.

Methods: A total of 82 strains of Lp1 isolated from environmental water in 9 provinces of China between 2005 and 2008 were genotyped by SBT method and Pulsed-field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) method. The results of the two different typing methods were then compared by cluster analysis, adopting BioNumerics version 5.

[Molecular typing of Legionella pneumophila isolates from China with pulsed field gel electrophoresis].

Objective: To analyze the molecular types of Legionella (L.) pneumophila strains isolated in China, and to develop the PulseNet-China Database of L. pneumophila.

[Molecular typing of Klebsiella pneumonia by pulse-field gel electrophoresis in combination with multilocus sequence typing].

Objective: To type Klebsiella pneumonia through methods including pulse-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) in combination with multilocus sequence typing.

Methods: Four selected different EPs, referring to the Standard Operating Procedure of PulseNet China, were used. The single colony of Klebsiella pneumonia was quantified after enriched culture.

[Genotypic variability and persistence of Legionella pulsed-field gel electrophoresis patterns in 16 cooling towers in Shanghai, China].

Objective: To investigate the genotypic characteristics and persistence of Legionella pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) patterns in 16 air-conditioner cooling towers in six different public sites of Shanghai.

Methods: From May to October, continuous sampling was operated once per month in 2007. Legionella strains isolated from the 16 cooling towers were confirmed by serological and latex agglutination.

[Study progress on serogroup B meningococcal vaccine].

Meningococcal disease, caused by Neisseria meningitidis (Nm), is still one serious threatening infectious disease with high mortality. Vaccination is available for prevention and control of such disease. Based on the chemical structure of capsule polysaccharide, Nm strains were classified into 13 serogroups.

[Establishment and application of PCR method in serotyping of Streptococcus pneumonia.].

Objective: To establish a method based on PCR for serotyping of Streptococcus pneumonia isolates. PCR serotyping method was applied for investigating the serotypes of S. pneumonia strains.

[Research on the relationship between variable number of tandem repeats sequences and serogrouping of Neisseria meningitis].

Objective: To research the relationship between variable number of tandem repeats sequences (VNTRs) in genome and serogrouping of Neisseria meningitides (N. meningitidis).

Methods: 118 meningococcal strains which were isolated from invasive patients and carriers in China were serogrouped by antiseria agglutination testing.

[Progress toward molecular determinants of the pathogenesis of disease due to nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae].

Haemophilus influenzae (Hi) is a pathogen exclusively found in humans. It causes a wide range of infections from the upper respiratory tract to serious invasive diseases. Such as pneumonia, septicemia and meningitis.

[Study on the bactericidal antibody against Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C strains after immunization with a divalent polysaccharide (A plus C) vaccine].

Objective: To optimize the serum bactericidal assay (SBA), detect and analyze the bactericidal antibody level against Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C strains after divalent polysaccharide (A plus C) vaccine immunization.

Methods: Two Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C strains, vaccine candidate strain (C11) and epidemic strain (053442), were selected as targets. The national Neisseria meningitidis standardized serum was used as reference serum.

[Distribution and molecular epidemiologic characterizes of insertion sequence IS1301 in neisseria meningitidis isolated from China].

Objective: To research the distribution and molecular epidemiology of insertion sequence IS1301 in Neisseria (N.) meningitidis strains in China, so as to provide scientific and available evidence for a new method of genotyping in N. meningitidis strains with IS1301.