OBJECTIVE: This study investigates the efficacy and mechanisms of Qingjie Fuzheng Granules (QFG) in inhibiting colitis-associated colorectal cancer (CAC) development via RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) correlation analysis. METHODS: CAC was induced in BALB/c mice using azoxymethane (AOM) and dextran sulfate sodium (DSS), and QFG was administered orally to the treatment group. The effects of QFG on CAC were evaluated using disease index, histology, and serum T-cell ratios. RNA-seq and 16S rRNA analysis assessed the transcriptome and microbiome change. Key pharmacodynamic pathways were identified by integrating these data and confirmed via Western blotting and immunofluorescence. The link between microbiota and CAC-related markers was explored using linear discriminant analysis effect size and Spearman correlation analysis. RESULTS: Long-term treatment with QFG prevented AOM/DSS-induced CAC formation, reduced levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), IL-6, and interferon γ (IFN-γ), and increased CD3⁺ and CD4⁺/CD8⁺ T cells ratio, without causing hepatic or renal toxicity. A 16S rRNA analysis revealed that QFG rebalanced the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio and mitigated AOM/DSS-induced microbiota disturbances. Transcriptomics and Western blotting analysis identified the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-containing protein 2 (NOD2)/nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) pathway as key for QFG's treatment against CAC. Furthermore, QFG decreased the abundance of Bacilli, Bacillales, Staphylococcaceae, Staphylococcus, Lactobacillales, Aerococcus, Alloprevotella, and Akkermansia, while increasing Clostridiales, Lachnospiraceae, Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group, Ruminococcaceae, and Muribaculaceae, which were highly correlated with CAC-related markers or NOD2/NF-κB pathway. CONCLUSION By mapping the relationships between CAC, immune responses, microbiota, and key pathways, this study clarifies the mechanism of QFG in inhibiting CAC, highlighting its potential for clinical use as preventive therapy.

OBJECTIVETo understand the epidemiologic and etiologic characteristics of diarrheagenic Escherichia (E.) coli infections in Shenzhen.

METHODSStool samples were collected from acute diarrheal patients in four sentinel hospitals in Shenzhen and diarrheagenic E. coli strains were isolated and identified with multiplex real-time PCR. Serotyping and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) typing were conducted for the diarrheagenic E. coli isolates.

RESULTSA total of 74 diarrheagenic E. coli strains were isolated from 1 823 stool samples (4.06%). The patients were mainly young children aged <3 years and adults aged 20-39 years, and the infections mainly occurred during May-September of a year. Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) and enteropathognic E. coli (EPEC) were predominant (45.9% and 31.1%). Serogroups and PFGE patterns varied among the diarrheagenic E. coli isolates. However, serogroup O159 were predominant in ETEC and there were 5 clusters with ≥2 strains sharing same PFGE patterns.

CONCLUSIONSETEC and EPEC were predominant in diarrheagenic E. coli strains isolated from diarrheal patients in Shenzhen. Age and season specific characteristics of diarrheagenic E. coli infections were observed. The serotypes and PFGE patterns of diarrheagenic E. coli strains varied. Close attention should be paid to the possible ETEC outbreak.

Adult ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Diarrhea ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; Disease Outbreaks ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field ; Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli ; classification ; isolation & purification ; Escherichia coli Infections ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Serotyping ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo analyze the etiological characteristics, virulence genes and plasmids that carrying diarrhea-causing Proteus mirabilis and to assess their relationship with drug resistance and pathogenicity.

METHODSProteus mirabilis coming from six different sources (food poisoning, external environment and healthy people) were analyzed biochemically, on related susceptibility and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Virulence genes were detected by PCR. Plasmids were extracted and sequenced after gel electrophoresis purification.

RESULTSThe biochemical characteristics of Proteus mirabilis from different sources seemed basically the same, and each of them showed having common virulence genes, as ureC, rsmA, hpmA and zapA. However, the PFGE patterns and susceptibility of these strains were different, so as the plasmids that they carried. Plasmid that presented in the sequenced strain showed that the 2 683 bp length plasmid encodes qnrD gene was associated with the quinolone resistance.

CONCLUSIONEtiological characteristics and molecular characteristics of Proteus mirabilis gathered from different sources, were analyzed. Results indicated that traditional biochemical analysis and common virulence gene identification might be able to distinguish the strains with different sources. However, PFGE and plasmids analysis could distinguish the sources of strains and to identify those plasmids that commonly carried by the drug-resistant strains. These findings also provided theoretical basis for further study on the nature of resistance and pathogenicity in Proteus mirabilis.

Diarrhea ; microbiology ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Genes, Bacterial ; Humans ; Plasmids ; genetics ; Proteus mirabilis ; genetics ; pathogenicity ; Virulence Factors ; genetics

Objective To establish a molecular typing system of Staphylococcus aureus by using resolution melting for food-poi-soning fast tracing.Methods Primers were designed and synthesized according to the literature of VNTR in Staphylococcus au-reus ,and were used to perform molecular typing on the strains which had detected by PFGE,then 4 types of VNTRs were with higher discriminatory power were selected.On this basis,we established a molecular typing system for the detection of 59 Staphy-lococcus aureus isolated from food poisoning.Results The molecular typing system has good precision for detection.The standard deviation(s)of within-batch repetitive experiments were 0.03 -0.05 ℃,between-batch repetitive experiments were 0.04 -0.06℃,between-day repetitive experiments were 0.04-0.06 ℃.At the same time,the 59 strains of Staphylococcus aureus were divided into 19 types which were 11 epidemic clones and 8 sporadic clones.The correlation coefficient of Simpson was 0.916 4.Conclusion The molecular typing system for Staphylococcus aureus based on resolution melting was simple,fast and repeatable.It can be ap-plied to fast tracing and screen of Staphylococcus aureus in food poisoning.

Objective To analyze the etiological characteristics,virulence genes and plasmids that carrying diarrhea-causing Proteus mirabilis and to assess their relationship with drug resistance and pathogenicity. Methods Proteus mirabilis coming from six different sources (food poisoning,external environment and healthy people) were analyzed biochemically,on related susceptibility and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Virulence genes were detected by PCR. Plasmids were extracted and sequenced after gel electrophoresis purification. Results The biochemical characteristics of Proteus mirabilis from different sources seemed basically the same,and each of them showed having common virulence genes,as ureC,rsmA,hpmA and zapA. However,the PFGE patterns and susceptibility of these strains were different,so as the plasmids that they carried. Plasmid that presented in the sequenced strain showed that the 2 683 bp length plasmid encodes qnrD gene was associated with the quinolone resistance. Conclusion Etiological characteristics and molecular characteristics of Proteus mirabilis gathered from different sources,were analyzed. Results indicated that traditional biochemical analysis and common virulence gene identification might be able to distinguish the strains with different sources. However,PFGE and plasmids analysis could distinguish the sources of strains and to identify those plasmids that commonly carried by the drug-resistant strains. These findings also provided theoretical basis for further study on the nature of resistance and pathogenicity in Proteus mirabilis.