A candidate multi-epitope vaccine against porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae induces robust humoral and cellular response in mice

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (M. hyopneumoniae, Mhp) are two of the most common pathogens involved in the porcine respiratory disease complex (PRDC) resulting in significant economic losses worldwide. Vaccination is the most effective approach to disease prevention. Since PRRSV and Mhp co-infections are very common, an efficient dual vaccine against these pathogens is required for the global swine industry. Compared with traditional vaccines, multi-epitope vaccines have several advantages, they are comparatively easy to produce and construct, are chemically stable, and do not have an infectious potential. In this study, to develop a safe and effective vaccine, B cell and T cell epitopes of PRRSV-GP5, PRRSV-M, Mhp-P46, and Mhp-P65 protein had been screened to construct a recombinant epitope protein rEP-PM that has good hydrophilicity, strong antigenicity, and high surface accessibility, and each epitope is independent and complete. After immunization in mice, rEP-PM could induce the production of high levels of antibodies, and it had good immunoreactivity with anti-rEP-PM, anti-PRRSV, and anti-Mhp antibodies. The anti-rEP-PM antibody specifically recognizes proteins from PRRSV and Mhp. Moreover, rEP-PM induced a Th1-dominant cellular immune response in mice. Our results showed that the rEP-PM protein could be a potential candidate for the development of a safe and effective multi-epitope peptide combined vaccine to control PRRSV and Mhp infections.     

Circulating angiotensin converting enzyme 2 and COVID-19

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has triggered a widespread outbreak since December 2019. The SARS-CoV-2 infection-related illness has been dubbed the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) by the World Health Organization. Asymptomatic and subclinical infections, a severe hyper-inflammatory state, and mortality are all examples of clinical signs. After attaching to the angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor, the SARS-CoV-2 virus can enter cells through membrane fusion and endocytosis. In addition to enabling viruses to cling to target cells, the connection between the spike protein (S-protein) of SARS-CoV-2 and ACE2 may potentially impair the functionality of ACE2. Blood pressure is controlled by ACE2, which catalyzes the hydrolysis of the active vasoconstrictor octapeptide angiotensin (Ang) II to the heptapeptide Ang-(1-7) and free L-Phe. Additionally, Ang I can be broken down by ACE2 into Ang-(1-9) and metabolized into Ang-(1-7). Numerous studies have demonstrated that circulating ACE2 (cACE2) and Ang-(1-7) have the ability to restore myocardial damage in a variety of cardiovascular diseases and have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-apoptotic, and anti-cardiomyocyte fibrosis actions. There have been some suggestions for raising ACE2 expression in COVID-19 patients, which might be used as a target for the creation of novel treatment therapies. With regard to this, SARS-CoV-2 is neutralized by soluble recombinant human ACE2 (hrsACE2), which binds the viral S-protein and reduces damage to a variety of organs, including the heart, kidneys, and lungs, by lowering Ang II concentrations and enhancing conversion to Ang-(1-7). This review aims to investigate how the presence of SARS-CoV-2 and cACE2 are related. Additionally, there will be discussion of a number of potential therapeutic approaches to tip the ACE/ACE-2 balance in favor of the ACE-2/Ang-(1-7) axis.     

补充与替代疗法治疗肠易激综合征的研究进展

肠易激综合征是临床常见的功能性胃肠病之一。由于多数患者的症状经过一线药物治疗后仍不能得到较好改善，许多患者为获得更好的治疗效果，转向选择补充与替代疗法进行治疗。然而，由于研究质量和数量的限制，大部分治疗肠易激综合征的补充与替代疗法并未被相关共识和指南所推荐。本文从补充与替代疗法的分类入手，从天然产品、身心治疗、传统医药3个方面就目前国内外常用的补充与替代疗法治疗肠易激综合征的研究进行概述，以期为临床工作者和患者更好地了解和应用提供帮助。     

HLA-B evolutionary divergence is associated with outcomes after SARS-CoV-2 infection

We examined the correlation between class I HLA evolutionary divergence (HED), a surrogate for the capacity to present different peptides, and the outcomes of 234 adult inpatients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood and genotyped by next-generation sequencing (NGS). HED scores for HLA class I (HLA-A, -B, and -C) genotypes were calculated using Grantham’s distance. Higher HED scores for HLA-B, but not HLA-A or -C, are significantly associated with a decreased probability of poor outcomes including ICU admission, mechanical ventilation, and death (OR = 0.93; P = 0.04) in the univariate analysis. In the multivariate analysis, increased HLA-B HED score, younger age, and no comorbidity were independently associated with favorable outcomes (P = 0.02, P = 0.01, and P = 0.05, respectively). This finding is consistent with the notion that broader peptide repertoires presented by class I HLA may be beneficial in infection control.     

Expanding the phenotype of males with OFD1 pathogenic variants-a case report and literature review

Pathogenic variants in the OFD1 gene have been classically associated with the Orofaciodigital syndrome type 1 in females, a condition previously considered to be X-linked dominant with male embryonic lethality. However, an increasing number of males with pathogenic OFD1 variants who survived beyond the neonatal period have now been reported in the literature. Although each new report has added to the ever-broadening spectrum of clinical findings seen in males, many questions about genotype-phenotype correlations and disease mechanism remain. Herein, we describe a 9-year-old male child with a novel hemizygous pathogenic OFD1 variant identified by exome sequencing and a unique combination of findings, not previously reported, including presence of both a hypothalamic hamartoma and the molar tooth sign. His clinical features overlap multiple ciliopathy phenotypes, blurring the boundaries of distinct ciliopathy gene-disease relationships. This case provides further evidence for the consideration of a broad OFD1-relateddisorder spectrum in affected males rather than multiple distinct phenotypes. Additionally, a review of previously published cases of the disorder in males support the inclusion of the OFD1 gene in the differential diagnosis and work up for all individuals who present with primary ciliopathy-type features, regardless of their gender. We also highlight current information about OFD1 variant types and pathogenesis and explore how these could mechanistically drive some of the observed phenotypic differences.     

儿童腹型过敏性紫癜不同中医证候临床及尿液蛋白质组学差异比较＊

目的 探讨儿童腹型过敏性紫癜（AHSP）不同中医证候的临床及尿液蛋白特征。方法 按照诊断及纳入、排除标准，收集AHSP不同中医证候患儿的临床信息及尿样进行分析，并通过尿液蛋白质组质谱分析，筛选及比较AHSP不同证候的尿液差异蛋白。结果 AHSP不同证候临床特征显示，皮肤紫癜首发者风热伤络证最多，湿毒内蕴证次之；皮肤紫癜伴腹痛症状首发者仅在脾虚不摄证中出现。不同证候间实验室指标未出现统计学差异。通过DDA及DIA定量方法，在不同证候间筛选出21个证候差异蛋白，其中风热伤络、湿毒内蕴证间2个，风热伤络、脾虚不摄证间3个，湿毒内蕴、脾虚不摄证间16个；经OPLS-DA分析筛选出10个差异蛋白，包括ALDOB、Glyc、GSTA2、GPDA、GAPDH、CRYL1、AK1A1、VMO1、Cat S、DHPR。结论 AHSP不同证候间临床及尿液蛋白存在差异，这些差异可为腹型过敏性紫癜的证候诊断提供一定的帮助。     

紫萁贯众单体成分对小鼠SIRS模型的保护作用

目的:建立小鼠全身炎症反应综合征(SIRS)模型,探索紫萁贯众醇提取物中单体成分对羟基苄叉丙酮(4-hydroxybenzylideneacetone,HBAc),3,4-二羟基苄叉丙酮(3,4-dihydroxybenzylideneacetone,DHBAc)对SIRS模型小鼠的保护作用及机制。方法:BALB/c小鼠随机分为正常组,模型组,HBAc,DHBAc低、中、高剂量(25,50,100μg·kg~(-1))组。预防给药7 d后腹腔注射脂多糖(LPS),造模5 h后检测小鼠肛温、呼吸频率、白细胞、血小板计数、白细胞分类、糖脂代谢以及肺组织炎症因子和炎症相关蛋白磷酸化情况。结果:与正常组比较,模型组小鼠腹腔注射LPS(6 mg·kg~(-1))可致小鼠呼吸频率降低(P0.05),体温明显降低(P0.01),外周血白细胞数和单核细胞百分比增加(P0.01),血小板减少(P0.01),血糖水平降低(P0.05),肺组织中白细胞介素-1β分泌增多(P0.01)。与模型组比较,HBAc,DHBAc均明显增加动物呼吸频率,升高动物体温,降低外周白细胞水平以及单核细胞百分比(P0.05,P0.01),并显著升高血糖水平(P0.05,P0.01),减少肺组织中白细胞介素-1β的分泌(P0.01)。结论:腹腔注射LPS致小鼠SIRS模型成立,HBAc,DHBAc对LPS致小鼠SIRS模型有一定的保护作用,可能通过IκB,c-JUN通路发挥抗炎作用。