Cathelicidin LL-37 (an antimicrobial peptide)-induced colistin dependence in Acinetobacter baumannii

In this study, we demonstrated the development of colistin dependence in Acinetobacter baumannii isolates after exposure to the human cationic antimicrobial peptide LL-37. The LL-37-induced colistin-dependent mutants showed susceptibility to many other antibiotics and IS1595 or ATTT insertions in LpxACD.     

Will Mutations in the Spike Protein of SARS-CoV-2 Lead to the Failure of COVID-19 Vaccines?

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which has spread worldwide since it was first identified in Wuhan, China, at the end of 2019. With the global transmission of the virus, a large number of SARS-CoV-2 variants have also appeared, especially, emerging strains that have recently been discovered in the United Kingdom (variant 20I/501Y.V1, lineage B.1.1.7), South Africa (variant 20H/501Y.V2, lineage B.1.351), and Brazil (variant 20 J/501Y.V3, and lineage P.1). The common feature of these variants is that they share the N501Y mutation involving the SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein, which is precisely the target of most COVID-19 vaccines. Furthermore, mutations such as N501Y, E484K, and K417N in the S protein may affect viral fitness and transmissibility. However, current research on the impact of these variants on COVID-19 vaccines is still lacking. Herein, we briefly explain why most COVID-19 vaccines target the S protein, update the progress of research regarding S protein-related COVID-19 vaccines, review the latest studies concerning the effects of S protein variants on COVID-19 vaccines, and finally, propose certain strategies to deal with SARS-CoV-2 variants.     

The impact of human single nucleotide polymorphisms on Bacillus Calmette-Guérin responses

The influence of genetic variability on human immune responses has major implications for the understanding of disease mechanisms and host-pathogen interactions. Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine, which is given globally to protect against tuberculosis, has high variability in its protective efficacy against mycobacteria and its beneficial off-target (heterologous) effects. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are major cause of genetic variation and have been strongly associated with susceptibility to tuberculosis and outcomes following BCG immunotherapy for cancer. This review discusses the contribution of SNPs to the variability in mycobacterial-specific and off-target BCG responses, and the implications for this on development of novel TB vaccines and strategies to harness the beneficial off-target effects of BCG.     

2009-2014年辽宁省结核病流行特征分析

目的 分析辽宁省2009-2014年结核病流行病学特征,探索适合辽宁省实际情况的结核病预防和控制策略,为进一步预防和控制结核病疫情提供依据。方法 运用描述性流行病学的统计分析方法对辽宁省2009-2014年肺结核病疫情数据进行统计分析。结果 在这六年间辽宁省累计报告结核病患者148 331例,报告发病率呈下降趋势（χ_趋势2=74.08,P<0.001）,全省14个地市均有患者发病报告,其中沈阳、大连、鞍山、本溪等市登记报告患者较多（χ2= 6 915.97,P<0.001）。报告患者人数自每年的4月份开始,整体上呈逐月下降的趋势,1、2月患者总数最低。患者主要集中在15岁以上年龄段,占总患者数的99.59%;45~岁组报告发病率最高,为76.48/10万。男女性别比为2.59:1（χ2=1 883.91,P<0.001）。农民在所有报告发病人群中患者数最多,其次为家政、家务及待业人群。结论 结核病报告发病率总体呈逐年下降趋势,男性、青壮年、农民群体、春季等是结核高发因素,应加强对相应人群或因素的预防控制措施。     

The construction of tuberculosis prevention and control service system at county level in China needs to be strengthened urgently —— Comments and suggestions of an old tuberculosis control and prevention worker

我国县级结核病防治(简称“结防”)服务体系是公共卫生服务体系,特别是疾病预防控制服务体系的重要组成部分,尤其是在2035年全球终结结核病的大背景下,县、乡、村三级结防服务体系的建设将在我国克难攻坚终结结核病的实践中发挥至关重要的作用。作者对县级结防服务体系建设及防治工作提出了一些思考和建议,希望能引起业界同仁的关注、讨论和重视,更好地为政府制订符合我国实际的相关政策提供科学依据。