Objective To test our hypothesis that sensitivity to avian influenza A(H5N1)virus varies among mouse strain backgrounds, we compared the pathogenicity of H5N1 viral infection in 5 mouse strains. Methods Onehundred-fifty mice from 2 inbred strains(BALB/c and C57BL/6), and 3 outbred stocks(ICR, NIH Swiss, and KM Swiss)were used. Thirty mice of each strain were subjected to an infected group(20 mice), in which mice were inoculated with 0. 1 mL(104.875 TCID50)of A/Goose/Guangdong/NH/2003(H5N1)virus intra-nasally; ten control mice received noninfectious allantoic fluid. Clinical signs were assessed daily for 14 days post-infection. Necropsy was performed on mice that died during the experiment and those euthanized at end of study. Tissue samples were collected for viral isolation and pathological analysis. Results H5N1 virus infection can cause respiratory illness in all 5 strains with severe or minor acute respiratory distress symptoms, but with different mortality rates: 70% in BALB/c; 50% in ICR; 40% in NIH Swiss; 25% in C57BL/6; and 10% in KM Swiss mice. Necrotizing interstitial pneumonia was found in all cases of death. The virus was isolated from the lungs of all infected dead mice. Conclusion A/Goose/Guangdong/NH/2003 (H5N1)virus can infect all mouse strains used in this study, and can cause clinical symptoms and pathological changes similar to those found in humans infected with HSN1 viruses. However, the pathogenicity of H5N1 viral infection varies significantly between the different mouse strains. Thus, in future study of H5N1 virus infections the mouse strain most relevant to their particular research purpose should be selected as animal model.

Objective:To express NY-ESO-1 epitopes using circular RNA (circRNA) and construct circRNA cancer vaccines using a novel lipid-like material C1, and to evaluate the transfection efficiency and T cell activation potential at cellular level.Methods:In vitro transcription was used to synthesize mRNA and circRNA expressing EGFP and NY-ESO-1 epitopes. Then, they were transfected into COS7 cells and the expression of target proteins were detected in vitro. Lipid-like material C1 and commercial transfection agent TransIT-mRNA were used as delivery systems for mRNA NY-ESO-1 and circRNA NY-ESO-1, and their delivery efficiency was compared. Results:The expression of EGFP was observed under fluorescence microscopy after transfection of mRNA EGFP and circRNA EGFP into COS7 cells for 24 h. The secretion of IFN-γ by T cell receptor-engineered T (TCR-T) cells targeting NY-ESO-1/HLA-A2 was stimulated by COS7-A*02: 01 cells transfected with mRNA NY-ESO-1 and circRNA NY-ESO-1. Compared with mRNA NY-ESO-1, circRNA NY-ESO-1 was able to express the target antigen and stimulate the target cells to release IFN-γ more persistently. The delivery efficiency of C1 material was better than that of commercial transfection reagents when COS7 cells were transfected in vitro. Conclusions:Compared with the linear mRNA, transfection of COS7-A*02: 01 cells with circRNA can lead to more efficient and durable activation of T cells, suggesting that it could be a more suitable candidate for clinical treatment of tumors in the future. The lipid-like material C1 can effectively deliver linear mRNA and circular RNA molecules. This study provides reference for further research on circRNA tumor vaccines.

Objective:To summarize the patient profiles and therapeutic efficacies of ABO-incompatible living-related kidney transplantations at 19 domestic transplant centers and provide rationales for clinical application of ABOi-KT.Methods:Clinical cases of ABO-incompatible/compatible kidney transplantation (ABOi-KT/ABOc-KT) from December 2006 to December 2009 were collected. Then, statistical analyses were conducted from the aspects of tissue matching, perioperative managements, complications and survival rates of renal allograft or recipients.Results:Clinical data of 342 ABOi-KT and 779 ABOc-KT indicated that (1) no inter-group differences existed in age, body mass index (BMI), donor-recipient relationship or waiting time of pre-operative dialysis; (2) ABO blood type: blood type O recipients had the longest waiting list and transplantations from blood type A to blood type O accounted for the largest proportion; (3) HLA matching: no statistical significance existed in mismatch rate or positive rate of PRA I/II between two types of surgery; (4) CD20 should be properly used on the basis of different phrases; (5) hemorrhage was a common complication during an early postoperative period and microthrombosis appeared later; (6) no difference existed in postoperative incidence of complications or survival rate of renal allograft and recipients at 1/3/5/10 years between ABOi-KT and ABOc-KT. The acute rejection rate and serum creatinine levels of ABOi-KT recipients were comparable to those of ABOc-KT recipients within 1 year.Conclusions:ABOi-KT is both safe and effective so that it may be applied at all transplant centers as needed.