Codon usage patterns in chromosomal and retrotransposon genes of the mosquito Anopheles gambiae

Codon usage was compiled for fourteen chromosomal genes and four retrotransposons from the mosquito Anopheles gambiae. Variation exists among chromosomal genes in the degree of bias. The genes showing the highest bias are probably most highly expressed. In these genes, the base composition at the third codon position is much richer in G + C than is the overall coding sequence. Thus, codon usage is biased toward G- or C-ending codons. Codon usage in each retrotransposon is quite different, not only from chromosomal genes but also from the other retrotransposons. Codon usage comparisons among homologous genes from An. gambiae and two other Dipterans, the yellow fever mosquito Aedes aegypti and the fruitfly Drosophila melanogaster, show that while there are similarities, particularly between An. gambiae and D. melanogaster in the preference for G-and C-ending codons, each species has evolved a distinct pattern of codon usage.     

Prevalence and geographic distribution of Hepatitis C Virus genotypes in Indian patient cohort

Viral hepatitis represents a major global health problem with 170 million Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) carriers worldwide, and 12–13 million HCV carriers in India. HCV genotypes are of clinical significance in indicating drug responsiveness and prognosis of the patient. The HCV genotypes are of epidemiologic significance as well, as they are indicative of transmission route of infection and have not been extensively studied in the Indian context. In the current study, HCV genotyping was examined in 2118 patients from different geographic regions of India. HCV was detected by PCR amplification of 5′ UTR and core-envelope1 regions, followed by genotyping using nucleotide sequencing and analysis with NCBI tool (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/projects/genotyping/formpage.cgi). HCV genotype distribution in the 2118 Indian patients demonstrated prevalence of HCV3 (3a/3b primarily) in 62% and HCV1 (1a/1b primarily) in 31% patients. The predominance of HCV3 was significant in northern (p = 0.01) and eastern (p = 0.008) regions of India. HCV types 2, 4, 5, and 6 were detected in 0.05–4.5% of the patient group. Thus, our studies demonstrate HCV genotype prevalence in the cohort group in different regions of India.     

四川省绵阳市2019—2021年流行性感冒流行病学特征分析

目的 了解绵阳市2019—2021年流行性感冒流行病学特征,为绵阳市流感防控工作提供重要依据。方法 收集绵阳市2019—2021年流感监测相关数据,采用描述性流行病学方法进行统计学分析。结果 绵阳市2019—2021年流感共报告发病55 970例,年均报告发病率388.08/10万。报告流感样病例（influenza-like illness cases, ILI） 103 723例,年平均ILI%为3.58%。2019年流感报告发病率、ILI%、阳性检出率均远超过历年同期水平。人群分类构成以15岁以下学生为主。报告发病数居前三位的地区分别为涪城区20 118例（占35.94%）、游仙区6 394例（占11.42%）、江油市5 800例（占10.36%）。2019—2021年共收到并检测ILI标本10 126份,阳性率19.53%;标本阳性检出率以15岁以下学生为主。历年流感病毒优势毒株呈现出交替流行的趋势,2019年以A（H3）型为主,2020年受新冠疫情影响,全年阳性检出率均较低,2021年除检出2份A（H9）型外,其余均为BV型。2019—2021年共报告ILI暴发疫情43起,发生时间主要集中在冬季,场所以小学居多。结论 2019—2021年绵阳市流感病例、ILI、病原学监测、暴发疫情的特征基本一致,15岁以下的学生及学校仍为重点关注人群及场所。而新型冠状病毒肺炎疫情大流行下,流感的低发水平进一步印证非药物干预措施对流感防控工作的重要性。     

Free-living, Amphizoic and Opportunistic Amebas

Amebas belonging to the genera Naegleria, Acanthamoeba and Balamuthia are free-living, amphizoic and opportunistic protozoa that are ubiquitous in nature. These amebas are found in soil, water and air samples from all over the world. Human infection due to these amebas involving brain, skin, lung and eyes has increased significantly during the last 10 years. The epidemiology, immunology, protozoology, pathology, and clinical features of the infections produced by these protozoa differ strikingly. Infection by the pathogenic Naegleria fowleri is acquired by exposure to polluted water in ponds, swimming pools and man-made lakes. Raised temperatures during the hot summer months or warm water from power plants facilitate the growth of N. fowleri. N. fowleri is a thermophilic ameba that grows well in tropical and subtropical climates. The CNS infection, called Primary Amebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM), produced by N. fowleri is characterized by an acute fulminant meningoencephalitis leading to death 3–7 days after exposure. Victims are healthy, young individuals with a history of recent water-related sport activities. The portal of entry is the olfactory neuroepithelium. The pathologic changes are an acute hemorrhagic necrotizing meningoencephalitis with modest purulent exudate, mainly at the base of the brain, brainstem and cerebellum. Trophozoites can be seen within the CNS lesions located mainly around blood vessels. Thus far 179 cases have been reported; 81 in the USA alone. Balamuthia mandrillaris and several species of Acanthamoeba are pathogenic “opportunistic” free-living amebas which cause Granulomatous Amebic Encephalitis (GAE) in humans and animals. GAE is an infection, usually seen in debilitated, malnourished individuals, in patients undergoing immunosuppressive therapy for organ transplants and in Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). The granulomatous component is negligible, particularly in immunocompromised individuals. Pathologically these amebas produce a patchy, chronic or subacute granulomatous encephalitis with the presence of trophozoites and cysts. The portal of entry is probably through the respiratory tract or an ulceration of the skin reaching the CNS by hematogenous spread. As of October 1, 1996, 166 cases 1103 due to Acanthamoeba and 63 due to Balamothial of GAE have been reported from around the world. Of these 103 cases due to Acanthamoeba (72 have been reported in the USA alone, > 50 in AIDS). It is well known that several species of Acanthamoeba can also produce, chronic sight threatening ulceration of the cornea called Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK), mostly in contact lens wearers or in individuals with minor corneal abrasions. Hundreds of cases of AK have been documented world wide.     

Species-specific identification of microsporidia in stool and intestinal biopsy specimens by the polymerase chain reaction

In view of the increasing number of cases of human microsporidiosis, simple and rapid methods for clear identification of microsporidian parasites to the species level are required. In the present study, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used for speciesspecific detection ofEncephalitozoon cuniculi, Encephalitozoon hellem, Encephalitozoon (Septata) intestinalis, andEnterocytozoon bieneusi in both tissue and stool. Using stool specimens and intestinal biopsies of patients infected withEnterocytozoon bieneusi (n=9),Encephalitozoon spp. (n=2), andEncephalitozoon intestinalis (n=1) as well as stool spiked with spores ofEncephalitozoon cuniculi andEncephalitozoon hellem and tissue cultures ofEncephalitozoon cuniculi andEncephalitozoon hellem, three procedures were developed to produce PCR-ready DNA directly from the samples. Specific detection of microsporidian pathogens was achieved in the first PCR. The subsequent nested PCR permitted species determination and verified the first PCR products. Without exception, the PCR assay confirmed electron microscopic detection ofEnterocytozoon bieneusi andEncephalitozoon intestinalis in stool specimens and their corresponding biopsies and in spiked stool samples and tissue cultures infected withEncephalitozoon cuniculi andEncephalitozoon hellem. Moreover, identification ofEncephalitozoon spp. could be specified asEncephalitozoon intestinalis. Whereas standard methods such as light and transmission electron microscopy may lack sensitivity or require more time and special equipment, the PCR procedure described facilitates speciesspecific identification of microsporidian parasites in stool, biopsies, and, probably, other samples in about five hours.     

甘肃省SARS抗体血清流行病学调查

目的 了解甘肃省严重急性呼吸综合征(SARS)患者、密切接触者和正常人群血清SARS冠状病毒特异性IgG抗体水平。方法 利用酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA)法检测SARS病毒IgG抗体水平。检测对象包括甘肃省9例SARS患者的急性期和(或)恢复期系列血清，l109例直接护理SARS患者的医生、护士、实验室检测人员、疾控人员和曾与患者有接触的人员以及978例正常人血清。结果 9例临床诊断病例SARS冠状病毒特异性IgG抗体中6例为阳性，疾病恢复后12个月血清抗体仍为阳性；密切接触者1例特异性IgG抗体阳性；正常人3例特异性IgG抗体阳性。结论 病例抗体阳性符合临床诊断，密切接触者和正常人的抗体阳性数较低，提示可能不存在隐性感染。