Changzhong Jin

Novel Reassortant Influenza A(H5N8) Viruses in Domestic Ducks, Eastern China

Domestic ducks are natural reservoirs of avian influenza viruses and serve as reassortant hosts for new virus subtypes. We isolated 2 novel influenza A(H5N8) viruses from domestic ducks in eastern China, sequenced their genomes, and tested their pathogenicity in chickens and mice. Circulation of these viruses may pose health risks for humans.

Novel reassortant highly pathogenic H5N6 avian influenza viruses in poultry in China.

We characterized two novel highly pathogenic H5N6 influenza viruses isolated from Chinese poultry in 2013. Genomic analysis showed that both isolates were reassortants, and derived their genes from H5 and H6 subtype viruses found in poultry in China. The virulence of the two isolates was examined in chickens and mice, and both isolates were found to be highly pathogenic in chickens and only moderately virulent for mice. Our results show that continued circulation of these viruses could endanger both avian species and humans.

Alterations in the Fecal Microbiota of Patients with HIV-1 Infection: An Observational Study in A Chinese Population.

The available evidence suggests that alterations in gut microbiota may be tightly linked to the increase in microbial translocation and systemic inflammation in patients with human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) infection. We profiled the fecal microbiota as a proxy of gut microbiota by parallel barcoded 454-pyrosequencing in 67 HIV-1-infected patients (32 receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy [HAART] and 35 HAART naïve) and 16 healthy controls from a Chinese population. We showed that α-diversity indices did not differ significantly between the healthy control and HIV-1-infected patients. The ratio of Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes increased significantly in HIV-1-infected patients. Several key bacterial phylotypes, including Prevotella, were prevalent in HIV-1-infected patients; whereas Phascolarctobacterium, Clostridium XIVb, Dialister and Megamonas were significantly correlated with systemic inflammatory cytokines. After short-term, effective HAART, the viral loads of HIV-1 were reduced; however, the diversity and composition of the fecal microbiota were not completely restored. and the dysbiosis remained among HIV-1-infected subjects undergoing HAART. Our detailed analysis demonstrated that dysbiosis of fecal microbiota might play an active role in HIV-1 infection. Thus, new insights may be provided into therapeutics that target the microbiota to attenuate the progression of HIV disease and to reduce the risk of gut-linked disease in HIV-1-infected patients.

Genetic and molecular characterization of H9N2 and H5 avian influenza viruses from live poultry markets in Zhejiang Province, eastern China

Live poultry markets (LPMs) are a key source of reassorted avian influenza viruses (AIVs) because of the density of terrestrial and aquatic poultry and the frequency of AIV infection. H9N2 viruses are prevalent in terrestrial poultry throughout Asia and have been isolated from poultry outbreaks worldwide. They infect both avian and mammalian species and may be significant donors of genetic material to emerging human pathogens. LPMs in Zhejiang Province were surveyed from 2013–2014 for AIVs. Three hundred seventy-four (374) AIV strains were isolated from 3,328 samples. Whole–genome sequencing and phylogenetic analyses were performed. We identified a novel H9N2 virus genotype that had undergone reassortment with gene segments from Qa/HK/G1/97–like, Ck/BJ/1/94–like, and Dk/HK/Y439/97–like viruses. Phylogenetic analyses suggested the H9N2 viruses had undergone reassortments with other AIV subtypes. The results also suggested that two different clades (2.3.2 and 2.3.4.6) of H5 viruses were co–circulating in Zhejiang Province. Given that reassorted H5 AIVs were detected in geese and ducks, it is possible that apparently healthy birds contribute to emerging H5 AIVs. Continued surveillance is required in poultry in eastern China.

Detection of the long noncoding RNAs nuclear-enriched autosomal transcript 1 (NEAT1) and metastasis associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 in the peripheral blood of HIV-1-infected patients

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in HIV‐1 infection have not been extensively studied. Here we detected two lncRNAs, nuclear‐enriched autosomal transcript 1 (NEAT1) and metastasis associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1), in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and plasma of HIV‐1‐infected patients.

Multiple Signaling Pathways Are Involved in the Interleukine-4 Regulated Expression of DC-SIGN in THP-1 Cell Line

Dendritic cell-specific intercellular adhesion molecule-3 grabbing nonintegrin (DC-SIGN) is an important pattern recognition receptor on dendritic cells (DCs), and its expression shows significant cytological and histological specificity, being interleukine-4 (IL-4) dependent. The signaling pathways through which IL-4 regulates expression of DC-SIGN are still unclear. We used phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate- (PMA-) differentiated THP-1 cells as the in vitro model of monocyte/macrophage cells to study the signaling pathways involved in IL-4-regulated expression of DC-SIGN. We found that a high expression of DC-SIGN could be induced by IL-4 at the levels of mRNA and cell surface protein. Upregulated expression of DC-SIGN was almost completely blocked by the specific inhibitor of ERK pathway, and partly reduced by the specific inhibitors of JAK-STAT and NF-κB pathways. The activation of the three signaling pathways was directly confirmed by testing the phosphorylation of protein kinase within the cytoplasm and nucleus over time. The analysis of cis-acting elements of DC-SIGN promoter showed that the activity of DC-SIGN promoter without Ets-1 transcription factors binding site almost completely disappeared. Our results demonstrated that multiple signaling pathways are involved in IL-4 induced high expression of DC-SIGN on THP-1 cells, in which ERK pathway is the main signaling pathway and mediated by the Ets-1 transcription factors binding site.

The psychological status of HIV‐positive people and their psychosocial experiences in eastern China

Objectives The aim of the study was to investigate the psychological status and the psychosocial experiences of HIV‐positive people using Symptom Check List 90 (SCL‐90) in eastern China.

Characterization of a novel highly pathogenic H5N2 avian influenza virus isolated from a duck in eastern China

During surveillance for avian influenza viruses (AIVs) in live-poultry markets (LPMs) in eastern China in 2013, one H5N2 AIV was isolated from a duck. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the hemagglutinin of this strain belongs to clade 2.3.4 and received its genes from H5, H3 and H6 AIVs of poultry in China. The virulence of this strain was examined in chickens and mice, and it was found to be highly pathogenic in chickens but demonstrated moderate pathogenicity in mice. These results suggest that active surveillance of AIVs in LPMs should be used in an early warning system for avian influenza outbreaks.

Honokiol: an effective inhibitor of tumor necrosis factor-α-induced up-regulation of inflammatory cytokine and chemokine production in human synovial fibroblasts

In this study, we investigated the mechanisms underlying the anti-inflammatory effects of honokiol in tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α-stimulated rheumatoid arthritis synovial fibroblasts (RASFs). RASFs pre-treated with honokiol (0-20 μM) were stimulated with TNF-α (20 ng/ml). The levels of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), nitric oxide (NO), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), and macrophage inflammatory protein-1α (MIP-1α) in supernatants were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Griess assay. In addition, protein expression levels of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and phosphorylated Akt, nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB), and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 were determined by western blot. The expression of NFκB-p65 was assessed by immunocytochemical analysis. TNF-α treatment significantly up-regulated the levels of PGE2, NO, sICAM-1, TGF-β1, MCP-1, and MIP-1α in the supernatants of RASFs, increased the protein expression of COX-2, iNOS, and induced phosphorylation of Akt, IκB-α, NFκB, and ERK1/2 in RASFs. TNF-α-induced expression of these molecules was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by pre-treatment with honokiol. The inhibitory effect of honokiol on NFκB-p65 activity was also confirmed by immunocytochemical analysis. In conclusion, honokiol is a potential inhibitor of TNF-α-induced expression of inflammatory factors in RASFs, which holds promise as a potential anti-inflammatory drug.

Multiple amino acid substitutions involved in the adaptation of avian-origin influenza A (H10N7) virus in mice.

AbstractTo identify substitutions that are possibly associated with the adaptation of avian-origin H10N7 virus to mammals, adaptation of the H10N7 virus in mouse lung was carried out by serial lung-to-lung passage. Genomic analysis of the mouse-adapted virus revealed amino acid changes in the PB2 (E627K), PA (T97I), and HA (G409E) proteins, and this virus was more virulent in mice than the wild-type virus. Our results suggest that these substitutions are involved in the enhancement of the replication efficiency of avian-origin H10N7 virus, resulting in severe disease in mice. Continued poultry surveillance of these substitutions in H10N7 viruses is required.