Background: Babesiosis is an important haemoparasitic disease, caused by the infection and subsequent intra-erythrocytic multiplication of protozoa of the genus Babesia that impacts the livestock industry and animal health. The distribution, epidemiology and genetic characterization of B. bigemina, B. bovis, and B. ovata in cattle in China as well as the prevalence of these protozoan agents were assessed.
Methods: A total of 646 blood specimens from cattle, dairy cattle and yaks from 14 provinces were collected and tested for the presence of the three Babesia species via a specific nested PCR assay based on the rap-1 and ama-1 genes. The PCR results were confirmed by DNA sequencing. Gene sequences and the genetic characterization were determined for selected positive samples from each sampling area.
Results: Of a total of 646 samples, 134 (20.7 %), 60 (9.3 %) and 10 (1.5 %) were positive for B. bovis, B. bigemina and B. ovata infections, respectively. Mixed infections were found in 7 of 14 provinces; 43 (6.7 %) samples were infected with B. bovis and B. bigemina. Three samples (0.5 %) exhibited a co-infection with B. bovis and B. ovata, and 6 (0.9 %) were infected with all three parasites. The rap-1a gene of B. bovis indicated a high degree of sequence heterogeneity compared with other published rap-1a sequences worldwide and was 85-100 % identical to B. bovis rap-1a sequences in Chinese isolates. B. bigemina rap-1c and B. ovata ama-1 genes were nearly identical, with 97.8-99.3 % and 97.8-99.6 % sequence identity, respectively, in GenBank.
Conclusions: Positive rates of B. bovis and B. bigemina infection are somewhat high in China. The B. bovis infection in yaks was first reported. The significant sequence heterogeneity in different variants of the rap-1a gene from Chinese B. bovis isolates might be a great threat to the cattle industry if RAP-1a protein is used as immunological antigen against Babesia infections in China. The data obtained in this study can be used to plan effective control strategies against babesiosis in China.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13071-015-1110-0 | DOI Listing |
Expert Opin Drug Discov
January 2025
Division of Genetics and Genomics, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
Introduction: Kabuki Syndrome (KS) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by distinctive facial features, intellectual disability, and multiple congenital anomalies. It is caused by pathogenic variants in the and genes. Despite its significant disease burden, there are currently no approved therapies for KS, highlighting the need for advanced research and therapeutic development.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCell Rep
January 2025
Department of Neurological Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; The Brain Tumor Center, Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA. Electronic address:
Mutation or deletion of the deubiquitinase USP7 causes Hao-Fountain syndrome (HAFOUS), which is characterized by speech delay, intellectual disability, and aggressive behavior and highlights important unknown roles of USP7 in the nervous system. Here, we conditionally delete USP7 in glutamatergic neurons in the mouse forebrain, triggering disease-relevant phenotypes, including sensorimotor deficits, impaired cognition, and aggressive behavior. Although USP7 deletion induces p53-dependent neuronal apoptosis, most behavioral abnormalities in USP7 conditional knockout mice persist following p53 loss.
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Institute of Rare Diseases, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610000, China.
Genomic sources from China are underrepresented in the population-specific reference database. We performed whole-genome sequencing or genome-wide genotyping on 1,207 individuals from four linguistically diverse groups (1,081 Sinitic, 56 Mongolic, 40 Turkic, and 30 Tibeto-Burman people) living in North China included in the 10K Chinese People Genomic Diversity Project (10K_CPGDP) to characterize the genetic architecture and adaptative history of ethnic groups in the Silk Road Region of China. We observed a population split between Northwest Chinese minorities (NWCMs) and Han Chinese since the Upper Paleolithic and later Neolithic genetic differentiation within NWCMs.
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January 2025
Lanzhou University Second Hospital, The Second Medical College of Lanzhou University, Cuiyingmen No.82, Chengguan District, Lanzhou, 730030, China.
Ischemic stroke leads to permanent damage to the affected brain tissue, with strict time constraints for effective treatment. Predictive biomarkers demonstrate great potential in the clinical diagnosis of ischemic stroke, significantly enhancing the accuracy of early identification, thereby enabling clinicians to intervene promptly and reduce patient disability and mortality rates. Furthermore, the application of predictive biomarkers facilitates the development of personalized treatment plans tailored to the specific conditions of individual patients, optimizing treatment outcomes and improving prognoses.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCurr Rheumatol Rep
January 2025
Department of Rheumatology, Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
Purpose Of Review: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a complex autoimmune disease characterized by chronic inflammation of the synovial tissue, where T cells play a central role in pathogenesis. Recent research has identified T peripheral helper (Tph) cells as critical mediators of local B cell activation in inflamed tissues. This review synthesizes the latest advancements in our understanding the of the role of T cells in RA, from initiation to established disease.
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