To investigate molecular epidemiology of DuCV in Cherry Valley ducks in China,the complete genomes of six DuCV strains,which were detected from Cherry Valley ducks in China between 2007 and 2008,were sequenced.Sequence and phylogenetic analysis were carried out to compare these six strains with another 27DuCV strains from Mulard duck,Muscovy duck,Pekin ducks and Mule duck.The analysis showed that the six DuCV strains exhibited typical genetic features of the family of DuCV,such as a stem-loop structure,three major open reading frames (Rep,Cap and ORF3),four intergenic repeats and the conserved motifs for rolling circle replication and for the dNTP binding domain located in the Rep protein.Phylogenetic analysis of the nucleotide sequences of the complete genome and Cap gene of these strains together with those that have been previously published demonstrated two distinct DuCV genotypes.The DuCV strains with complete genomes containing 1988and 1989 nucleotides clustered in genotype A,whereas the strains with complete genomes containing 1991,1992,1995 and 1996 nucleotides lay in genotype B.The six DuCV strains from Cherry Valley ducks were divided into the two groups.The results of the study provides some insight into the variation of DuCVs in Cherry Valley ducks.

To investigate the relationship of the variation of virulence and the external capsid proteins of the pandemic duck hepatitis A virus type 1(DHAV-1) isolates,the virulence,cross neutralization assays and the complete sequence of the virion protein 1(VP1) gene of nine virulent DHAV-1 strains,which were isolated from infected ducklings with clinical symptoms in Shandong province of China in 2007-2008,were tested.The fifth generation duck embryo allantoic liquids of the 9 isolates were tested on 12-day-old duck embryos and on 7-day-old ducklings for the median embryonal lethal doses(ELD50s) and the median lethal doses(LD50s),respectively.The results showed that the ELD5s of embryonic duck eggs of the 9 DHAV-1 isolates were between 1.9 × 106/mL to 1.44 × 107/mL,while the LD50s were 2.39 × 105/mL to 6.15 × 106/mL.Cross-neutralization tests revealed that the 9 DHAV-1 isolates were completely neutralized by the standard serum and the hyperimmune sera against the 9 DHAV-1 isolates,respectively.Compared with other virulent,moderate virulent,attenuated vaccine and mild strains,the VP1 genes of the 9 strains shared 89.8％-99.7％ similarity at the nucleotide level and 92.4％-99.6％ at amino acid level with other DHAV-1 strains.There were three hypervariable regions at the C-terminus(as 158-160,180-193 and 205-219) and other variable points in VPI protein,but which didn't cause virulence of DHAV-1 change.

The duck circovirus (DuCV) infection in sick ducks from Fujian Province was investigated. The liver samples of 43 sick Muscovy ducks with infectious serositis were collected from 12 duck farms in Fujian Province.Based on the published sequences of DuCV, two primers were designed for the detection of DuCV and four pairs of primers were designed to amplify four overlapping fragments that cover the complete genome of DuCV. The specific PCR products were amplified from positive samples. The fragments were then cloned into pMD18-T vector and sequenced, and the full length genomic sequence of the FJ0601 isolate of DuCV was obtained. PCR analysis showed that the proportion of ducks which were positive for circovirus was 79% and 10 out of the 12 farms were positive. Sequence analysis showed that the complete genome of DuCV-FJ0601 was 1988 bp and possessed features common to the family Circoviridae which included a stem-loop structure and the Rep protein motifs. Homology analysis showed that FJ0601 isolate of DuCV had 97.3%～97.5% nucleotide sequence identity to all the four Taiwan isolates (TC1/2002, TC2/2002, TC3/2002, TC4/2002), 82.9% identity to the America (33753-52) isolate and 82.3% identity to the Germany isolate. Phylogenetic analysis with Clustal W, however,showed that FJ0601 isolate of DuCV was on a common branch with Taiwan isolates, and Germany and America isolates belonged to the other branch.

Objective To examine the effect of X-ray radiotherapy on cell proliferation, migration, apoptosis, and cell cycle of human esophageal carcinoma ECA-109 cells following RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated downregulation of RNF2 gene expression.Methods The level of RNF2 mRNA expression in the human esophageal carcinoma cell line ECA-109 was determined using RT-PCR.Cell proliferation of ECA-109 was measured by MTT assay, and the changes in RNF2 protein expression in ECA-109-R cells were determined using Western blot.The changes in cell cycle and cell apoptosis at different time points following radiation were analyzed by flow cytometry, and the effect of transduction on cell migration was examined using Transwell migration assay.Data were subjected to an analysis of variance with repeated measurement design.Results The mean mRNA and protein levels of RNF2 in ECA-109 cells were significantly increased in a dose-dependent manner in the radiation group than in the control group (P<0.01).MTT results demonstrated that ECA-109 cell proliferation was significantly decreased at each time point following radiation compared to those without radiation (P<0.01).The levels of BMI1 and RNF2 protein expression were significantly reduced in the ECA-109-R group than in the ECA-109 and ECA-109-N groups (P<0.01),and no significant difference in protein levels was observed between the ECA-109 group and ECA-109-N group (P>0.05).The Transwell migration assay showed that the number of migrating cells following 3.5 h of radiation was significantly lower in the ECA-109-R group than in the ECA-109 and ECA-109-N groups (P<0.01).The percentage of G2/M phase cells in each group was significantly lower following 6 Gy radiation compared to that in the corresponding untreated group (P<0.01), and the percentage of G2/M phase cells was significantly lower in the ECA-109-R group than in the ECA-109 and ECA-109-N groups (P<0.05).Furthermore,cell apoptosis following radiation was also significantly higher in the ECA-109-R group than in the ECA-109 and ECA-109-N groups (P<0.01).Conclusions RNAi-mediated downregulation of RNF2 expression in esophageal carcinoma cells can reduce cell proliferation and cell migration, rescue post-radiation G2/M cell cycle arrest, promote cell apoptosis,and increase radiosensitivity.

Background: Arctic-like (AL) lineages of rabies viruses (RABVs) remains endemic in some Arctic and Asia countries. However, their evolutionary dynamics are largely unappreciated. Objectives: We attempted to estimate the evolutionary history, geographic origin and spread of the Arctic-related RABVs. Methods: Full length or partial sequences of the N and G genes were used to infer the evolutionary aspects of AL RABVs by Bayesian evolutionary analysis. Results: The most recent common ancestor (tMRCA) of the current Arctic and AL RABVs emerged in the 1830s and evolved independently after diversification. Population demographic analysis indicated that the viruses experienced gradual growth followed by a sudden decrease in its population size from the mid-1980s to approximately 2000.Genetic flow patterns among the regions reveal a high geographic correlation in AL RABVs transmission. Discrete phylogeography suggests that the geographic origin of the AL RABVs was in east Russia in approximately the 1830s. The ancestral AL RABV then diversified and immigrated to the countries in Northeast Asia, while the viruses in South Asia were dispersed to the neighboring regions from India. The N and G genes of RABVs in both clades sustained high levels of purifying selection, and the positive selection sites were mainly found on the C-terminus of the G gene. Conclusions The current AL RABVs circulating in South and North Asia evolved and dispersed independently.

At present,specific targeted treatment of vitiligo is still lacking,and there are many limitations of current therapies,such as slow repigmentation process,long duration of treatment and frequent recurrence.As a therapeutic strategy for rapidly improving the appearance of patients,camouflage therapy has a unique advantage in the treatment of various skin diseases.Several studies in China and other countries have shown that the correct use of cosmetic camouflage can effectively improve the appearance and quality of life of patients with vitiligo.This review summarizes the knowledge about various camouflage therapies and related clinical researches on the relationship between camouflage therapies and quality of life of patients with vitiligo,and elaborates application prospects of camouflage therapies in the treatment of vitiligo.

Objective To evaluate the effect of RNF2 gene knockdown in ECA109 cells on the radiosensitivity to esophageal cancer cell xenograft in nude mice. Methods Thirty-six male BALB/c/nu nude mice were randomly divided into 6 groups: control group, control+ irradiation group, NC group, NC+irradiation group, RNF2 shRNA group and RNF2 shRNA+ irradiation group. The nude mouse models with transplanted tumors were established by subcutaneous inoculation of EAC109 cells and given with irradiation at a dose of 3 Gy for 5 times. The longest ( a) and shortest ( b) diameters of the transplanted tumor were measured every 2 to 3 day since the fourteenth day after inoculation. The time of tumor formation was recorded. The tumor volume was calculated according to the formula ( ab2/2 ) . The growth curve was delineated. Three nude mice were sacrificed in each group at 24 h after the initial irradiation. The expression of RNF2 at the mRNA and protein levels in transplanted tumor tissues was measured by qRT-PCR and immunohistochemistry, respectively. The growth and tumor volume of the other nude mice in each group were observed. The cell apoptosis of transplanted tumor tissues was detected by TUNEL assay. The expression of Bcl-2 and Bax at the mRNA and protein levels in transplantated tumor tissues was quantitatively measured by qRT-PCR and immunohistochemistry, respectively. Results The tumor growth rate was the highest in the control and NC groups. The knockdown of RNF2 reduced the growth rate of xenografts and the tumor growth rate was the slowest in the RNF2 shRNA+ irradiation group ( P<0.05) . TUNEL assay revealed that the cell apoptosis rates in all groups were significantly increased after irradiation ( all P<0.05) . Before and after irradiation, the apoptosis rate in the RNF2 shRNA group was markedly higher than those in the control and NC groups ( both P<0.05) . Prior to irradiation, the expression levels of RNF2 mRNA and protein in the RNF2 shRNA group were significantly lower compared with those in the control and NC groups ( all P<0.05) , and the tendency became more significant after irradiation. Compared with the control and NC groups, the expression levels of Bcl-2 mRNA and protein were significantly down-regulated in the RNF2 shRNA group before and after irradiation ( all P<0.05) , whereas those of Bax mRNA and protein were considerably up-regulated ( all P<0.05 ) . Conclusions In vivo experiment demonstrates that RNF2 knockdown effectively increases the radiosensitivity of esophageal carcinoma EAC109 cells in nude mouse models with transplanted tumors, which is intimately associated with inducing the cell apoptosis.

Background: High concentrations of particulate matter less than 2.5 μm in diameter (PM2.5) in poultry houses is an important cause of respiratory disease in animals and humans. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen that can induce severe respiratory disease in animals under stress or with abnormal immune functions. When excessively high concentrations of PM2.5 in poultry houses damage the respiratory system and impair host immunity, secondary infections with P. aeruginosa can occur and produce a more intense inflammatory response, resulting in more severe lung injury. Objectives: In this study, we focused on the synergistic induction of inflammatory injury in the respiratory system and the related molecular mechanisms induced by PM2.5 and P. aeruginosa in poultry houses. Methods: High-throughput 16S rDNA sequence analysis was used for characterizing the bacterial diversity and relative abundance of the PM2.5 samples, and the effects of PM2.5 and P. aeruginosa stimulation on inflammation were detected by in vitro and in vivo. Results: Sequencing results indicated that the PM2.5 in poultry houses contained a high abundance of potentially pathogenic genera, such as Pseudomonas (2.94%). The lung tissues of mice had more significant pathological damage when co-stimulated by PM2.5 and P. aeruginosa, and it can increase the expression levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor-α through nuclear factor (NF)-κB pathway in vivo and in vitro. Conclusions The results confirmed that poultry house PM2.5 in combination with P. aeruginosa could aggravate the inflammatory response and cause more severe respiratory system injuries through a process closely related to the activation of the NF-κB pathway.

Herpesvirus infections in Cervidae are a serious threat affecting some deer species worldwide. In our attempt to identify malignant catarrhal fever-associated herpesviruses in deer herds, ten gammaherpesviral DNA fragments were identified in five species of deer in herds in China by using a pan-herpesvirus polymerase chain reaction assay targeting viral DNA polymerase. Notably, in sambar (Rusa unicolor), a novel gamma-2 herpesvirus was identified that showed a close relationship with fallow deer lymphotropic herpesvirus (LHV), while the other fragments were phylogenetically grouped together with Elk-LHV. Determination of whether these viruses have any clinical implication in these deer species should be undertaken urgently.
Animals ; Cattle ; China ; Deer ; DNA ; DNA, Viral ; Herpesviridae Infections ; Herpesviridae ; Malignant Catarrh ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

Objective:To examine the effect of FAM83D knockdown on proliferation, survival ability and invasion of human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma after X-ray radiation, and explore the mechanism.Methods:The expression of FAM83D, E-cadherin and vimentin in tumor tissues was detected in 69 cases of esophageal squamous cell cancer by using immunohistochemical method. The siRNA based on the sequences of the FAM83D mRNA were synthesized to transfect into the cultured ECA109 cells as FAM83D shRNA group. The effect of silencing FAM83D gene was evaluated to determine the protein levels of FAM83D in the human oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma ECA109 and KYSE30 cells using western blotting. MTS, clone formation, and Transwell assay were employed to examine the proliferation, survival ability and invasion of ECA109 and KYSE30 cells in vitro, respectively. We used flow cytometry assay to analyze distribution of cell apoptosis in different groups. Western blotting was used to examine the expression of cell metastasis-related molecules and apoptosis-related protein. Results:The strong expression rates of FAM83D, E-cadherin, and vimentin were 55%(38/69), 36%(25/69) and 61%(42/69) in the tumor tissues, respectively. FAM83D protein expression was significantly and negatively correlated with the expression of E-cadherin ( r=-0.350, P<0.01), and positively with the expression of vimentin ( r=0.470, P<0.01). Western blotting results demonstrated that silencing FAM83D gene significantly reduced the FAM83D protein expression ( P<0.01). MTS data demonstrated that FAM83D knockdown after irradiation significantly inhibited the proliferation of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma ECA109 and KYSE30 cells ( P<0.05). The data from the clone formation assay revealed that the radiosensitivity was increased after downragulation of FAM83D expression ( P<0.01). In addition, the invasive abilities of oesophageal carcinoma cells transfected with FAM83D shRNA after irradiation were significantly inhibited compared with those of the NC group ( P<0.01), followed by the downregulation of N-cadherin, vimentin, Snail, p-Akt and p-GSK-3β expression, and the upregulation of E-cadherin expression ( P<0.01). The apoptosis rate of tumor cells in FAM83D shRNA group after irradiation was markedly increased ( P<0.01), followed by a decrease of Bcl-2 and Mcl-1 expression and an increase of Cleaved caspase-3 expression ( P<0.01). Conclusions:FAM83D expressions was found to be closely related to the invasion and development of ESCC. Furthermore, siRNA interference technology inhibited the expression of FAM83D gene in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells, reduced the proliferation, invasion of cells, induced cell apoptosis, and increased radiosensitivity, which may be associated with regulating the epithelial-mesenchymaltransition via Snail/Akt/GSK-3β signaling pathways.