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.     

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.     

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.     

A novel SRD5A2 mutation in an Iranian family with sex development disorder

Disorders of sex development (DSD) are different types of conditions that their accurate diagnosis by using conventional phenotypic and biochemical approaches is a challenging issue. Precise determination of DSD is critical due to the detection of possible life-threatening associated disorders. It may also assist parents in choosing the most suitable management for their affected child. In this study, two affected kids born from consanguineous families who were clinically diagnosed for sex development disorder were investigated for the main cause of the disease. Biochemical analysis failed to make an accurate diagnosis. Karyotype analysis showed an abnormal sex chromosome pattern. Whole exome sequencing was sequentially applied to precisely ascertain the genetic cause of the disease. A novel deletion, g.40936_53878del12943insTG (NG_008365.1), and one known mutation, c.586G>A (p.Gly196Ser), were detected in SRD5A2 gene in case I and case II respectively. Further analysis was performed using polymerase chain reaction, primer walking and Sanger sequencing to detect the nucleotides changes accurately. Segregation analysis in the families confirmed 13kb novel homozygous deletion of SRD5A2 in case I and c.586G>A in case II. The present study confirms the diagnostic value of whole exome sequencing in the detection of DSD aetiology, especially when several differential diagnoses are possible.     

基于高通量测序的人工培殖冬虫夏草僵虫颜色变化转录组分析

目的:探索人工培殖冬虫夏草Cordyceps sinensis(BerK.)Sacc.外观品质形成的分子基础。方法:以重庆和康定人工培殖冬虫夏草僵虫为材料,利用Illumina Hiseq 2500高通量测序技术进行转录组测序分析,基于差异倍数(FC)和错误发现率(FDR)筛选差异表达基因,具体筛选条件为|log2FC|>1、FDR<0.05。结果:共获得21942个转录本,利用DEGSeq筛选获得1575个差异表达基因,其中上调表达基因626个、下调表达基因949个;基因本体(GO)数据库和京都基因与基因组百科全书(KEGG)富集分析结果显示,这些差异表达基因主要集中于氨基酸代谢、折叠-分选-降解、糖代谢、转运和分解代谢、辅酶因子和微生物代谢等途径;筛选到66个颜色变化差异表达基因,包含46个氧化还原酶活性相关基因、12个过氧化物酶体相关基因、3个单加氧酶活性调节相关基因、3个黑化反应相关基因、2个活性氧代谢相关基因,其中tyr1、TYR基因可能是冬虫夏草僵虫颜色变化的关键功能基因。结论:利用高通量测序技术和生物信息分析获得了人工培殖冬虫夏草僵虫转录组信息特征,为阐明人工培殖冬虫夏草僵虫颜色变化的调控机制研究提供参考。     

岗梅全长转录组测序及其三萜皂苷生物合成相关基因的挖掘

目的:获得岗梅全长转录组数据库,为深入挖掘岗梅功能基因奠定基础。方法:采用基于PacBio Sequel平台的单分子实时测序技术获取岗梅的根、茎、叶样品的转录组数据,并利用非冗余蛋白(NR)、核苷酸序列(NT)、SwissProt蛋白序列数据库、京都基因与基因组百科全书(KEGG)、真核生物相邻类的聚簇(KOG)、蛋白家族(Pfam)、基因本体(GO)进行注释,分析并鉴定编码三萜皂苷生物合成的关键酶的转录本。结果:全长转录组共获得89629个转录本,其中81313个在公共数据库进行了注释。KEEG代谢通路富集分析表明,623个转录本参与岗梅中三萜皂苷合成相关的3条代谢通路,其中263个转录本编码了三萜皂苷生物合成途径的21个关键酶。此外,还预测了2471个转录因子、40421个简单重复序列位点、22119个长链非编码RNA(lncRNA)和29131个mRNA。结论:丰富了岗梅的转录组数据,并为鉴定参与三萜皂苷和其他次生代谢物生物合成的候选基因提供参考,促进其分子生物学和基因组学的研究。