During 2006-2016, hepatitis B virus (HBV) was detected in nearly 400 blood donors in the Netherlands and Flanders. Donor demographics and self-reported risk factors as disclosed during the donor exit interview were compared to HBV phylogenies of donor and reference sequences. First-time donors with chronic HBV-infection were often immigrants (67%) infected with genetically highly diverse strains of genotypes A (32%), B (8%), C (6%), D (53%) and E to H (1%). Each subtype was strongly associated with donor ethnicity. In contrast, 57/62 (93%) of acute/recent HBV infections occurred among indigenous donors, of whom 67% was infected with one specific widely circulating epidemic HBV-A2 lineage. HBV typing identified three distinct epidemiological profiles: the import of chronic HBV infections through migration, longstanding transmission of non-epidemic HBV-A2 strains within western-Europe, and the active transmission of one epidemic HBV-A2 strain most likely fueled by sexual risk behavior.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.virol.2017.12.011 | DOI Listing |
Pest Manag Sci
January 2025
Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China.
Background: Exogenous double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) has the potential to serve as an effective alternative to conventional chemical pesticides for the control of insect pests, because it can specifically inhibit essential gene expression in these organisms. However, identifying suitable gene targets remains a crucial step in the development of RNA interference (RNAi)-based pest control strategies.
Results: In this study, three apoptosis-related genes were selected to evaluate their potential for RNAi-induced lethality in Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata via foliar spray dsRNAs.
Protein Sci
February 2025
Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Polymyxins are last-resort antimicrobial peptides administered clinically against multi-drug resistant bacteria, specifically in the case of Gram-negative species. However, an increasing number of these pathogens employ a defense strategy that involves a relay of enzymes encoded by the pmrE (ugd) loci and the arnBCDTEF operon. The pathway modifies the lipid-A component of the outer membrane (OM) lipopolysaccharide (LPS) by adding a 4-amino-4-deoxy-l-arabinose (L-Ara4N) headgroup, which renders polymyxins ineffective.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBMC Rheumatol
January 2025
Department of Rheumatology, Overton Brooks VA Medical Center, Shreveport, LA, USA.
Background: Dermatomyositis is a chronic inflammatory condition affecting muscles and skin, often associated with an increased risk of cancer. Specific autoantibodies, including anti-TIF1 (Transcription Intermediary Factor 1), have been linked to this risk. We present a case of dermatomyositis in a male patient positive for anti-TIF1 antibodies, subsequently diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the tonsil, a novel association not previously documented.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCommun Biol
January 2025
State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
Global warming has threatened all-rounded hierarchical biosphere by reconstructing eco-structure and bringing biodiversity variations. Pacific white shrimp, a successful model of worldwide utilizing marine ectothermic resources, is facing huge losses due to multiple diseases relevant to intestinal microbiota (IM) dysbiosis during temperature fluctuation. However, how warming mediates shrimp health remains poorly understood.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNat Commun
January 2025
State Key Laboratory for Extreme Photonics and Instrumentation, International Research Center for Advanced Photonics, Ningbo Innovation Center, College of Optical Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
The frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) technology combined with optical phased array (OPA) is promising for the all-solid-state light detection and ranging (LiDAR). We propose and experimentally demonstrate a silicon integrated OPA combined with an optical frequency microcomb for parallel LiDAR system. For realizing the parallel wavelengths emission consistent with Rayleigh criterion, the wide waveguide beyond single mode region combined with the bound state in the continuum (BIC) effect is harnessed to obtain an ultra-long optical grating antenna array.
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