Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) is a positive-sense RNA virus which has caused severe damage to world-wide livestock industry. The extensive genetic and antigenic diversity observed in the evolution of FMDV is generally the obstacle for controlling the disease. The homologous recombination, as a significant force driving the evolution of virus, has also effect on the epidemiological trait of FMDV. However,the role of homologous recombination in the diversification of FMDV in China has not investigated. So it is necessary to study the homologous recombination underlying the evolution of FMDV to control FMD. Based on a sound evolutionary framework, molecular evolutionary analysis was used to identify the putative recombinants. All complete FMDV genomes from China were respectively retrieved from GenBank. Homologous recombination was identified using Simplot program. Phylogenetic relations were analyzed to determine the recombination events among these FMDV isolates by using MEGA 4. The isolates O/NY00, O/China/1/99Tibet, O/Tibet/CHA/99, O/OMIII and O/ES/2001 among 16 FMDVs were identified as putative recombinants by analyzing the FMDV genomic sequences extracted from GenBank. The recombination events frequently happen between serological type Asia1 and O which are endemic FMDV circulating in China, suggesting frequent cross infection of FMDV in China. This situation further makes controlling FMDV in China more difficult. Moreover, serotypic conversion of FMDV between Asia1 and O was detected to be due to homologous recombination. These results provided clues for understanding the antigenic and genetic diversification in FMDV, and shed lights on the potential vaccination and treatment of FMD.

The different growing habitats of Bupleurum chinense were investigated in Donglin mountain & Wuling mountain areas, the saikosaponin a and d in samples of B. chinense collected from different habitats were determined by HPLC. Results showed that B. chinense distributed in various habitats, such as meadow, understory and brushy. Significant differences of saikosaponin contents were observed. The higher saikosaponins contents were showed in samples from meadow habitats, while the lower saikosaponins contents in samples from understory and brushy habitats. The ventilation situation and light condition showed positive correlation with the saikosaponins accumulation in B. chinense. It could be concluded that growing habitats play an important role in accumulation of saikosaponins in B. chinense.
Bupleurum ; chemistry ; China ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; DNA Primers ; genetics ; Ecosystem ; Oleanolic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; analysis ; Saponins ; analysis

Esophageal cancer (EC) has a high incidence and poor prognosis. The two major histological types, squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma, differ in their epidemiology and treatment options. Patients with locally advanced EC benefit from multimodal therapy concepts including neoadjuvant chemotherapy, neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy, and perioperative chemotherapy. Currently, immunotherapy for the solid tumor is a hot spot. Treatment with adjuvant immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) is the first immunotherapy for resectable EC listed in the latest National Comprehensive Cancer Network Guidelines for the Esophageal and Esophagogastric Junction Cancers. Recent clinical trials have established ICIs for three treatment models of resectable EC. Their short-term results demonstrated ideal efficacy and tolerable toxicity, though some concerns remain. This review summarizes the novel data on the ICIs for resectable EC and lists the registered related clinical trials. Hopefully, this review can provide a reference for ongoing research on the treatment options for resectable EC.
Humans ; Esophageal Neoplasms/pathology* ; Esophagogastric Junction/pathology* ; Neoadjuvant Therapy/methods* ; Adenocarcinoma/drug therapy* ; Immunotherapy