Objective To observe the ultrastructure of pharyngeal armature of 7 species of sandflies in China. Methods The pharyngeal armatures of various sandflies were studied by scanning electron microscopy. Results The pharyngeal armature of sandfly consisted of pointed-teeth with various shape, number and arrangement among different species. Conclusion Such differences may provide the morphological proof for identification of species.

Objective To develope a new Real-time quantitative PCR assay using SYBR green as fluorescence reporter, which is rapid, specific, sensitive, cheap and accurate for the detection of mycoplasma pneumoniae(MP), and evaluated its clinical application value.Methods The sequence of the 23S rRNA gene in MP type strain FH was selected as amplified regions, and specific primers were designed.Then the related plasmids were extracted as standards,and the absolute quantitative standard curve was established.The sensitivity ,specificity of the fluorescence quantitative PCR assay was compared with the nest-PCR and kit;To calculate correlation coefficient, coincidence rate and kappa coefficient, clinical samples were detected using above-mentioned methods and cultivation,respectively.Results The detection sensitivity of the new real-time PCR and nest-PCR was 10 copies of FH DNA,while the kit 100 copies.In the specificity tests,the MP sample was positive,while mycoplasma hominis and other four bacteria were all negative.We applied this real-time PCR assay ,nest-PCR, kit and cultivation to 182 clinical specimens, and the detection rates were 55.49％, 52.75％, 47.25％ and 39.01％ ,respectively.The total consistency rate and Kappa coefficient of the new real-time PCR method and nest-PCR were 89.6％ ,0.790, respectively;while those of the new method and cultivation were 83.5 ％ ,0.678, respectively.The total consistency rate and Kappa coefficient of the new real-time PCR method and the kit were 89.6％ ,0.792,respectively;and the correlation coefficient of these two methods was 0.923,P ＜ 0.001.Conclusion Compared with other methods, the new real-time PCR assay could be used to detect mycoplasma pneumoniae quickly and economically, with high sensitivity and specificity ,revealing great utility value on varied instrumentation platforms.

Objective To develop and evaluate the allele-specific real-time PCR(ASPCR) assay for the detection of minor HIV-1 variants. Methods We developed and evaluated the ASPCR assay, using the K103N mutation site as a model system. We constructed plasmids as standards and designed specific and non-specific primers to discriminate the wild-type and mutant plasmids in the real-time PCR using SYBR green as fluorescence reporter. And then we evaluated the sensitivity, accuracy, reproducibility of ASPCR assay and detected the control samples. Results The specific primer can discriminate the wild-type and mutant plasmids including resistant mutation successfully. The sensitivity of ASPCR assay can achieve less than 0.01% and the accuracy of this method is down to 0.1%. The Intra-assay coefficient of variation is less than 0.7 and the Inter-assay coefficient of variation is less than 1.6. Conclusion ASPCR is a sensitive, accurate and rapid method to detect the minor HIV-1 variants which have resistant mutations and it can be used widely in HIV research. ASPCR also can provide earlier and more resistant information to the clinical therapy.

Objective To isolate stable passage primary HIV-1 drug resistant strains and observe replication dynamics of the drug resistant isolates and evolvement tendency of the drug resistant mutations in vitro.Methods Peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs)from 15 AIDS patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy(HAART)were collected,and the primary HIV-1 stains were separated utilizing co-cultivated with PBMCs from normal people.HIV-1 pol genes from those strains were obtained by RT-PCR and sequenced.The drug resistant mutations were analyzed in the Stanford HIV Drug Resistance Database.Results Eight strong positive strains were isolated from 15 AIDS patients with viral loads higher than 1000 copies/ml,and two of them were drug resistant.Drug resistant mutations of the two strains were respectively K103N/K238T and M184V/K103N/Y181C/H221Y which show high-level resistance to NVP and 3TC/NVP,respectively.K103N,M184V,Y181C and H221Y exist stably in the environment without drug pressure,however,RT K238T reverted to K238.Conclusion Two drug resistant strains were successfully isolated in vitro without drug pressure.Strains with K103N shows superior fitness and can exist steadily.Strains with M184V and K103N/Y181C/H221Y can also replicate stably in vitro without drug pressure.NNRTI mutation K238T reproduces astatically,which suggests that RT 238 codon might revert gradually to wild genotype.

Objective To developed A laboratory diagnosis of Moraxella catarrhalis by an laboratories diagnostic method real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR assay. Methods The specific primers and probes were designed based on the sequence of outer membrane protein CopB(copB)gene in Moraxella catarrhalis,and the Taqman probe RT-PCR method was developed to detect the Moraxella catarrhalis.The standard plasmids ex-tracted from the Moraxella catarrhalis standard strains were used to constitute the standard samples,and compared with these standard samples,the sensitivity of the fluorescence quantitative PCR assay was tested by the estab-lished standard curves.The specificity of the fluorescence quantitative PCR assay was tested by the DNA samples of other bacterias in the laboratory.Meanwhile,321 throat swab samples from inpatient and outpatient child pa-tients,with asthma infection were collected as clinical samples to validate the fluorescence quantitative PCR as-say.Results The standard curve was drawn in the real-time PCR by the Taqman fluorescence reporter.During the sensitivity tests,the newly-developed real-time fluorescence PCR could detect at least 10 copies of Moraxella catarrhalis,and could successfully distinguish several DNAs of the pathogens.On the basis of the validation result of the 321 throat swab samples,there are 25 Moraxella catarrhalis with 7.79 % positive rate.Conclusion The fluorescence quantitative PCR assay is of great sensitivity and specificity,and it can be widely used for the detec-tion of Moraxella catarrhalis.

Objective:To investigate the common bacteria in the oropharynx of children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP) and its clinical significance.Methods:A total of 134 children with MPP who were hospitalized in the Department of Pediatric Respiratory, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University from December 2016 to June 2017 were selected as the research subjects, and 42 healthy children in the same hospital were selected retrospectively as the healthy control group during the same period.Fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction Taqman probe was used to detect common oropharyngeal bacteria[ Streptococcus pneumoniae(SP), Moraxella catarrhalis(CTA), Haemophilus influenza(HI)] for the enrolled children.Firstly, the bacterial detection rate of MPP children and healthy children was compared.Then, according to age(<1 years old, 1-<3 years old, 3-<6 years old and 6-14 years old), bacterial detection[Mycoplasma pneumoniae(MP), MP+ bacteria]and bacterial species(MP+ SP, MP+ CTA, MP+ HI), 134 children with MPP were divided into groups to compare.Moreover, the relevant clinical datas were retrospectively analyzed by rank sum test and chi- square test. Results:Among 134 children with MPP, 79 (58.96%) children were detected bacteria, and 17 (40.48%) children were detected bacteria among 42 healthy children, with statistically significant differences( χ2=4.404, P<0.05). Compared with the MP group, the level of white blood cell (WBC)[8.5(6.7, 12.0)×10 9/L vs.7.8(5.8, 9.3)×10 9/L, Z=-2.232], C reactive protein(CRP)[19.2(7.2, 35.0) mg/L vs.8.4(3.4, 24.6) mg/L, Z=-2.810], lactate dehydrogenase(LDH)[286(244, 365) U/L vs.250(210, 302) U/L, Z=-2.474] and the incidence of lobar pneumonia[40.51%(32/79 cases) vs.18.18%(10/55 cases), χ2=7.510], pleural effusion[13.92%(11/79 cases) vs.3.64%(2/55 cases), χ2=3.917], refractory Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (RMPP)[34.18%(27/79 cases) vs.18.18%(10/55 cases), χ2=4.151] in MP+ bacteria group were higher; the course of fever[10(7, 12) d vs.8(6, 10) d, Z=-2.706] and duration of antibiotic use[16(13, 19) d vs.12(9, 16) d, Z=-3.747] in MP+ bacteria group were longer (all P<0.05). The level of WBC in MP+ SP group[12.20(7.80, 17.30)×10 9/L] was higher than that in MP+ HI group [6.75(5.37, 9.44)×10 9/L], and the differences were statistically significant( Z=11.574, P<0.05), and the incidence of lobar pneumonia in MP+ SP group [56.67%(17/30 cases)]was higher than that in MP+ CTA group [0(0/3 cases)]and MP+ HI group[18.75%(3/16 cases)], and the differences were statistically significant( χ2=9.770, P<0.05). Conclusions:Bacterial colonization or infection is more likely to occur in the oropharynx of children with MPP.When WBC, CRP, and LDH are significantly increased and the image shows a large consolidation or pleural effusion, it may indicate mixed bacterial infection, longer course of fever and higher incidence of RMPP, and the common mixed bacteria is SP.

Objective:To understand the pathogen distribution of children with influenza in North China in the past 2018-2019 years, and compare the accuracy of influenza virus antigen test results with that of influenza virus nucleic acid test results, provide reference data for clinical use good influenza virus pathogen detection methods.Methods:Five hundred and eighty throat swab samples of influenza-like children in 10 hospitals, northern China, were collected from December 2018 to January 2019.Each sample was tested by rapid influenza diagnostic test and reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR).Results:Of all 580 clinical samples, 256 positive samples (256/580 cases, 44.14%)were detected by the influenza rapid influenza diagnostic test, of which 235 were pure influenza A(235/256 cases, 91.8%), 21 cases were pave influenza B(21/256 cases, 8.2%), and 324 case were negative samples(324/580 cases, 55.86%). No cases were detected positive A and B at the same time.Of all 580 samples were detected using the A /B influenza virus RT-PCR, and a total of 353 cases(353/580 cases, 60.9%) were positive (of which 242 cases were influenza virus antigen-positive), of which 311 were pure A influenza(311/353 cases, 88.1%) and 41 were pure B influenza(41/353 cases, 11.6%), 1 case of mixed infection of A and B(1/353 cases, 0.3%), and 227 cases were negative(227/580 cases, 39.1%). In 324 cases of influenza virus antigen negative samples, 111 cases(111/324 cases, 34.3%) were positive for influenza virus nucleic acid.The detection rate of influenza A in Taiyuan was 23.2% (22/95 cases), and the detection rate of influenza B was 43.2% (41/95 cases), which was significantly different from other regions.With reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction detection as the standard, the diagnostic value of influenza pathogen detection reagents was evaluated.The sensitivity, specificity, missed diagnosis rate, misdiagnosis rate, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio, Youden index and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve were 68.56%, 93.83%, 31.44%, 6.17%, 94.53%, 65.74%, 11.12, 0.335, 0.624 and 0.812.Conclusions:From December 2018 to January 2019, the majority of children′s influenza in northern China is influenza A virus.Except Taiyuan which is dominated by influenza B. Influenza virus nucleic acid detection has high sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing influenza, and also has the ability to distinguish virus subtypes.Influenza virus antigen detection has a certain diagnostic value, a good specificity (93.83%), sensitivity (68.56%) which needs to be further improved, and a certain rate of missed diagnosis (31.44%) needs to be paid attention to possible missed diagnosis.Detecting positive cases of influenza virus antigens should be given a fast and effective anti-viral treatment, while the negative cases, especially those at high risk for influenza complications, should be confirmed influenza virus RT-PCR as soon as practical.

Objective:To investigate drug resistance gene in Mycoplasma pneumoniae(MP) and the distribution of 13 respiratory pathogens in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF) of children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia(MPP).Methods:A total of 100 BALF of children with MPP in Peking University Third Hospital and Peking University First Hospital from January 2018 to January 2019 were collected.Fluorogenic quantitative PCR was used to detect nucleic acid and it′s drug resistance gene of MP and multiple PCR method was adopted to detect influenza A virus, influenza A virus-H 1N 1, influenza A virus-H 3N 2, influenza B, human parainfluenza virus, adenovirus, human bocavirus, human rhinovirus, Chlamydia pneumoniae, human metapneumovirus, MP, human coronavirus, and respi-ratory syncytial virus gene, and the results were compared by using Chi square test. Results:In 100 BALF samples, MP and drug resistance gene were detected by fluorogenic quantitative PCR.Totally, 83 cases (83.00%) were MP positive and 78 cases (93.98%) were drug resistant.All of them had the point mutations A2063G in V region of 23S rRNA domain.A total of 13 kinds of respiratory pathogens were detected by multiplex PCR method, and 89 cases (89.00%) were positive.Totally, 79 cases (79.00%) were MP positive, of which 74 cases (74.00%) detected only MP, and 5 cases (5.00%) detected MP combined with other pathogens.Other pathogens were detected in 10 cases (10.00%). The virus detection rate of 0-4 years old group was higher than that of >4-6 years old group ( P=0.042) and >6 years old group ( P=0.002), and the differences were statistically significant. Conclusions:MP can be detected in most BALF samples of MPP children, the drug resistance phenomenon is serious, and the main point mutation is A2063G.There were other respiratory pathogens and 2 or 3 pathogens were detected in a small number of BALF samples.

Objective To investigate the antibacterial effect of Fusidic acid on Mycoplasma pneumoniae and antibiotic resistant Mycoplasma pneumoniae in vitro.Methods Twenty-eight clinical strains of Mycoplasma pneumoniae isolated from patients with respiratory tract infection at Beijing Friendship Hospital Affiliated to the Capital University of Medical Sciences from January to December 2016 and 2 Mycoplasma pneumoniae reference strains were enrolled.The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of Fusidic acid and Azithromycin were determined by using micro-dilution ration method.The chessboard method was used to check the antibacterial effect of combination between Fusidic acid and Azithromycin.The antibacterial activity of the Fusidic acid was evaluated by measuring the antibacterial rate of different concentrations.Results One isolate showed no mutation in 23SrRNA,26 isolates had one point mutation in loci 2063 and 1 isolate had one point mutation in loci 2064 among the 28 clinical isolates.The findings by micro-dilution method results showed that the MIC values of all the clinical isolates with mutations associated with macrolide resistance to Azithromycin were ＞ 1.000 0 mg/L,and the MIC values of all the clinical isolates with no mutations to azithromycin were ＜ 0.500 0 mg/L.The findings by micro-dilution method results showed that the MIC value of Fusidic acid for Mycoplasma pneumonia and drug resistance Mycoplasma pneumoniae was 1.000 0 mg/L.The Fractional Inhibitory Concentration index of Fusidic acid and Azithromycin combination was ≤0.500 0 mg/L.When the concentration of the Fusidic acid was lower than or equal to 32 MIC,the antibacterial effect of Fusidic acid against Mycoplasma pneumoniae increased with its higher concentration.When the concentration of the Fusidic acid was lower than or equal to 8 MIC,the longer the strain was exposed to the drug,the stronger antibacterial effect was against Mycoplasma pneumoniae.Conclusion If the treatment of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection is not effective or the infection of patient is combined with bacteria,the application or combination of Fusidic acid may inhibit pathogenic bacteria effectively.Of course,how to use Fusidic acid in clinical treatment needs further study and discussion.

The non-structural protein 5(NS5)is a highly conserved protein in the Flavivirus genus,acting as both a methyltransferase(MTase)and an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase(RdRp).It has been well documented that NS5 plays a crucial role in the replication of viral RNA.Recent studies have shown that NS5 proteins from different flaviviruses interact with various proteins in host cells,aiding the virus in evading the immune system.This review summarizes the structure,subcellular localization,and function of NS5 proteins.Additionally,we outline how flavivirus NS5 proteins contribute to viral replication and immune evasion.Lastly,we present the recent developments of specific small molecule inhibitors that target NS5 proteins.