Territorywide Study of Early Coronavirus Disease Outbreak,Hong Kong,China

Initial cases of coronavirus disease in Hong Kong were imported from mainland China. A dramatic increase in case numbers was seen in February 2020. Most case-patients had no recent travel history, suggesting the presence of transmission chains in the local community. We collected demographic, clinical, and epidemiologic data from 50 patients, who accounted for 53.8% of total reported case-patients as of February 28, 2020. We performed whole-genome sequencing to determine phylogenetic relationship and transmission dynamics of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infections. By using phylogenetic analysis, we attributed the community outbreak to 2 lineages; 1 harbored a common mutation, Orf3a-G251V, and accounted for 88.0% of the cases in our study. The estimated time to the most recent common ancestor of local coronavirus disease outbreak was December 24, 2019, with an evolutionary rate of 3.04 × 10⁻³ substitutions/site/year. The reproduction number was 1.84, indicating ongoing community spread.     

Genomic Characterization of hlyF-positive Shiga Toxin–Producing Escherichia coli,Italy and the Netherlands, 2000–2019

Shiga toxin–producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O80:H2 has emerged in Europe as a cause of hemolytic uremic syndrome associated with bacteremia. STEC O80:H2 harbors the mosaic plasmid pR444_A, which combines several virulence genes, including hlyF and antimicrobial resistance genes. pR444_A is found in some extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC) strains. We identified and characterized 53 STEC strains with ExPEC-associated virulence genes isolated in Italy and the Netherlands during 2000–2019. The isolates belong to 2 major populations: 1 belongs to sequence type 301 and harbors diverse stx₂ subtypes, the intimin variant eae-ξ, and pO157-like and pR444_A plasmids; 1 consists of strains belonging to various sequence types, some of which lack the pO157 plasmid, the locus of enterocyte effacement, and the antimicrobial resistance–encoding region. Our results showed that STEC strains harboring ExPEC-associated virulence genes can include multiple serotypes and that the pR444_A plasmid can be acquired and mobilized by STEC strains.     

Genomic and Pathologic Findings for Prototheca cutis Infection in Cat

Severe nasal Prototheca cutis infection was diagnosed postmortem for an immunocompetent cat with respiratory signs. Pathologic examination and whole-genome sequencing identified this species of algae, and susceptibility testing determined antimicrobial resistance patterns. P. cutis infection should be a differential diagnosis for soft tissue infections of mammals.     

mNGS协助诊断无焦痂型丛林斑疹伤寒1例

 丛林斑疹伤寒是由恙虫病东方体感染引起的一种急性人畜共患传染病。临床表现为发热、皮疹、淋巴结肿大,被叮咬部位出现特异性焦痂和溃疡是该病诊断的最主要依据,没有焦痂和溃疡的患者往往很难识别。本文报告1例54岁男性患者,以发热、淋巴结肿大及全身多个脏器损伤为主要临床表现,因无特征性焦痂,且经验性使用抗菌药物效果不佳,给诊疗带来困难。病例标本送宏基因组二代测序(mNGS)明确病原体为恙虫病东方体。换用左氧氟沙星及阿奇霉素治疗后患者症状很快好转,最终痊愈出院。mNGS已被证明比传统培养方法更敏感,在早期诊断恙虫病方面优于传统临床方法,尤其是对于没有典型焦痂的患者。     

鹦鹉热衣原体肺炎患者临床特点分析

 目的 探讨分析鹦鹉热衣原体肺炎患者的临床表现及辅助检查结果特征,以提高对该病的认识。方法 回顾性分析某医院2019年6月- 2021年8月经宏基因组二代测序（mNGS）诊断鹦鹉热衣原体肺炎的9例患者临床资料。结果 9例患者中男性7例,女性2 例,包含1例妊娠36⁺²周孕妇;年龄25~70岁,中位年龄63岁;临床主要表现为高热（9例）、咳嗽（9例）、咳痰（7例）。白细胞计数正常8例,淋巴细胞计数降低9例,CRP升高9例,ESR升高9例,PCT正常4例,门冬氨酸氨基转移酶和丙氨酸氨基转移酶升高6例。9例患者胸部 CT均表现为斑片或斑片实变影。经血及肺泡灌洗液mNGS确诊后使用多西环素、莫西沙星、左氧氟沙星、阿奇霉素单药治疗方案,疗程14~21 d,均好转出院。结论 鹦鹉热衣原体肺炎临床表现多样、诊断困难,mNGS检测可以快速明确病原学诊断,有助于及时启动特异性抗感染治疗,可减少抗菌药物的使用,改善预后。     

PCR在猴B病毒鉴定中的应用研究

目的为鉴定新分离毒株是否为B病毒.方法根据ScinicarielloF报道的引物,用PCR方法扩增BV147、HSV-1、HSV-2,对扩增产物进行SacⅡ内切酶消化.结果这一对引物可同时对这3种病毒进行扩增,但只有BV147的扩增产物可被SacⅡ内切酶切开.对BV147扩增片段克隆测序的结果证实,其与美国B病毒E2490株部分基因(UL27)相对应位置的核苷酸同源性为100%.结论初步建立了检测B病毒DNA的PCR方法并测定了新分离病毒毒株的部分基因序列,证明新分离的病毒为B病毒.     

DNA直接银染测序法的建立和优化

目的：建立一种简便易行,灵敏经济的DNA直接银染测序法。方法：以标准DNApGEMR -3Zf( )(1g/L）为测序模板,测序电泳后,分别用银染试剂盒的银染色法及改良的银染色法进行染色,比较这两种方法的优劣。结果：改良的银染法具有操作简便,对显影温度不苛求,耗费少等优点。所显示的DNA带型与传统的方法比较,同样清晰可读,结论：优化的DNA直接银染测序法因简便经济,无放射性污染,更适合大多数实验室使用。     

Preliminary study of single nucleotide polymorphisms of PRPS2 gene in overproducing type of gouty patients

目的 :探讨编码人磷酸核糖焦磷酸合成酶亚单位 2的基因 PRPS2单核苷酸多态性与产生过剩型痛风患者的关系。方法 :利用聚合酶链反应扩增健康人和产生过剩型痛风患者 PRPS2基因全部外显 (包括外显子与内含子交界区 )的片段 ,采用多荧光标记的 PCR单链构象多态性分析技术对扩增的片段进行了筛选 ,对筛选到的片段进行序列测定 ,并与正常序列进行对照分析。结果 :在 PRPS2基因的第一个外显子区发现了一个 SNP( exon1+45A/G) ,第六个内含子区发现了一个 SNP ( intron6+12G/A) ,健康人与患者间的频率比较分别为 P =0 .0 96和 P =0 .2 73。结论 :提供了 PRPS2基因 SNP的数据库信息 ,为研究痛风发病机制提供了新的途径。     

Two-stage Study of Familial Prostate Cancer by Whole-exome Sequencing and Custom Capture Identifies 10 Novel Genes Associated with the Risk of Prostate Cancer

BackgroundFamily history of prostate cancer (PCa) is a well-known risk factor, and both common and rare genetic variants are associated with the disease.ObjectiveTo detect new genetic variants associated with PCa, capitalizing on the role of family history and more aggressive PCa.Design, setting, and participantsA two-stage design was used. In stage one, whole-exome sequencing was used to identify potential risk alleles among affected men with a strong family history of disease or with more aggressive disease (491 cases and 429 controls). Aggressive disease was based on a sum of scores for Gleason score, node status, metastasis, tumor stage, prostate-specific antigen at diagnosis, systemic recurrence, and time to PCa death. Genes identified in stage one were screened in stage two using a custom-capture design in an independent set of 2917 cases and 1899 controls.Outcome measurements and statistical analysisFrequencies of genetic variants (singly or jointly in a gene) were compared between cases and controls.Results and limitationsEleven genes previously reported to be associated with PCa were detected (ATM, BRCA2, HOXB13, FAM111A, EMSY, HNF1B, KLK3, MSMB, PCAT1, PRSS3, and TERT), as well as an additional 10 novel genes (PABPC1, QK1, FAM114A1, MUC6, MYCBP2, RAPGEF4, RNASEH2B, ULK4, XPO7, and THAP3). Of these 10 novel genes, all but PABPC1 and ULK4 were primarily associated with the risk of aggressive PCa.ConclusionsOur approach demonstrates the advantage of gene sequencing in the search for genetic variants associated with PCa and the benefits of sampling patients with a strong family history of disease or an aggressive form of disease.Patient summaryMultiple genes are associated with prostate cancer (PCa) among men with a strong family history of this disease or among men with an aggressive form of PCa.