Lianfeng Zhang

Human Infection with an Avian H9N2 Influenza A Virus in Hong Kong in 2003

ABSTRACT Avian H9N2 influenza A virus has caused repeated human infections in Asia since 1998. Here we report that an H9N2 influenza virus infected a 5-year-old child in Hong Kong in 2003. To identify the possible source of the infection, the human isolate and other H9N2 influenza viruses isolated from Hong Kong poultry markets from January to October 2003 were genetically and antigenically characterized. The findings of this study show that the human H9N2 influenza virus, A/Hong Kong/2108/03, is of purely avian origin and is closely related to some viruses circulating in poultry in the markets of Hong Kong. The continued presence of H9N2 influenza viruses in poultry markets in southern China increases the likelihood of avian-to-human interspecies transmission.

miR-34a, a microRNA up-regulated in a double transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease, inhibits bcl2 translation.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short noncoding regulatory RNA molecules that modulate protein expression by inhibiting mRNA translation or promoting mRNA degradation. However, little is understood about the roles of miRNAs in Alzheimers disease. During a research for miRNAs that are differentially expressed in cerebral cortex of APPswe/PSDeltaE9 mice (a model for Alzheimers disease) and age-matched controls, one candidate miRNA that is relatively highly expressed, miR-34a, was studied further because sequence analysis suggested a likely interaction with the 3-untranslated region of bcl2 mRNA. We show that the expression of miR-34a is inversely correlated with the protein level of bcl2 in APPswe/PSDeltaE9 mice and age-matched controls, and miR-34a expression directly inhibits bcl2 translation in SH-SY5Y cells. No effect on bcl2 mRNA level was observed. Western blot analysis of active caspase-3 showed higher levels in APPswe/PSDeltaE9 mice and stable transfecant cell line of miR-34a than in controls. Consistently, miR-34a knockdown through antisense LNA oligonucleotides increased the level of bcl2 protein in SH-SY5Y cells, which was accompanied by a decrease of active caspase-3. These findings suggested that bcl2 is an important functional target for miR-34a, and the abnormal expression of miR-34a may contribute to the pathogenesis of Alzheimers disease, at least in part by affecting the expression of bcl2.

miR-106b aberrantly expressed in a double transgenic mouse model for Alzheimer's disease targets TGF-β type II receptor

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are abundantly expressed in the brain and play an important role in disorders of the brain, including Alzheimers diseases (AD). Growing body of evidence suggests that the TGF-β signaling pathway plays a key role in the pathogenesis of AD. However, it is unclear whether miRNAs involved in AD pathogenesis by regulating TGF-β signaling. Here we found that miR-106b and TGF-β type II receptor (TβR II) were aberrantly expressed in APPswe/PS∆E9 mice (a double transgenic mouse model for AD). Sequence analysis revealed two putative binding sites for miR-106b in the 3 UTR of the TβR II mRNA. Our results showed that the expression of miR-106b was inversely correlated with TβR II protein levels and miR-106b can directly inhibit the TβR II translation in vitro. After induced neurodifferentiation with all-trans retinoic acid, we observed significant neurodegeneration in SH-SY5Y cells stably transfected with miR-106b. Western blot analysis revealed unchanged total Smad2/3 protein levels, but reduced phospho-Smad2/3 (p-Smad2/3) and increased Smad6/7 protein levels in the miR-106b stably transfected cell line. Exposure of SH-SY5Y cells to Aβ42 oligomers led to the expression of miR-106b was first increased and then decreased and TβR II levels reduced. Our in vitro results suggested that Aβ42 oligomer-induced miR-106b leads to impairment in TGF-β signaling through TβR II, concomitant with retinoic acid-induced neurodegeneration in SH-SY5Y cells. These results show that TβR II is a functional target of miR-106b and that miR-106b may influence TGF-β signaling, thereby contributing to the pathogenesis of AD.

Novel Avian-Origin Human Influenza A(H7N9) Can Be Transmitted Between Ferrets via Respiratory Droplets

The outbreak of human infections caused by novel avian-origin influenza A(H7N9) in China since March 2013 underscores the need to better understand the pathogenicity and transmissibility of these viruses in mammals. In a ferret model, the pathogenicity of influenza A(H7N9) was found to be less than that of an influenza A(H5N1) strain but comparable to that of 2009 pandemic influenza A(H1N1), based on the clinical signs, mortality, virus dissemination, and results of histopathologic analyses. Influenza A(H7N9) could replicate in the upper and lower respiratory tract, the heart, the liver, and the olfactory bulb. It is worth noting that influenza A(H7N9) exhibited a low level of transmission between ferrets via respiratory droplets. There were 4 mutations in the virus isolated from the contact ferret: D678Y in the gene encoding PB2, R157K in the gene encoding hemagglutinin (H3 numbering), I109T in the gene encoding nucleoprotein, and T10I in the gene encoding neuraminidase. These data emphasized that avian-origin influenza A(H7N9) can be transmitted between mammals, highlighting its potential for human-to-human transmissibility.

A mouse muscle-adapted enterovirus 71 strain with increased virulence in mice.

Enterovirus 71 (EV71) infections can usually cause epidemic hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD), and occasionally lead to aseptic meningitis, encephalitis, and polio-like illness. Skeletal muscles have been thought to be crucial for the pathogenesis of EV71-related diseases. However, little is known about the virulence of mouse muscle-adapted EV71. The EV71 0805 were subjected to four passages in the mouse muscle to generate a mouse-adapted EV71 strain of 0805a. In comparison with the parental EV71 0805, the mouse muscle-adapted EV71 0805a displayed stronger cytotoxicity against Rhabdomyosarcoma (RD) cells and more efficient replication in RD cells. Furthermore, infection with the EV71 0805a significantly inhibited the gain of body weight, accompanied by increased muscle virus load and multiple tissue distribution in the infected mouse. Histological examinations indicated that infection with the EV71 0805 did not cause obvious pathogenic lesions in mice, while infection with the muscle-adapted 0805a resulted in severe necrotizing myositis in the skeletal and cardio muscles, and intestinitis in mice on day 5 post infection. Further analysis revealed many mutations in different regions of the genome of mouse muscle-adapted virus. Collectively, these data demonstrated the mouse muscle-adapted EV71 0805a with increased virulence in mice.

Lycorine reduces mortality of human enterovirus 71-infected mice by inhibiting virus replication

Human enterovirus 71 (EV71) infection causes hand, foot and mouth disease in children under 6 years old and this infection occasionally induces severe neurological complications. No vaccines or drugs are clinical available to control EV71 epidemics. In present study, we show that treatment with lycorine reduced the viral cytopathic effect (CPE) on rhabdomyosarcoma (RD) cells by inhibiting virus replication. Analysis of this inhibitory effect of lycorine on viral proteins synthesis suggests that lycorine blocks the elongation of the viral polyprotein during translation. Lycorine treatment of mice challenged with a lethal dose of EV71 resulted in reduction of mortality, clinical scores and pathological changes in the muscles of mice, which were achieved through inhibition of viral replication. When mice were infected with a moderate dose of EV71, lycorine treatment was able to protect them from paralysis. Lycorine may be a potential drug candidate for the clinical treatment of EV71-infected patients.

The mouse and ferret models for studying the novel avian-origin human influenza A (H7N9) virus

BackgroundThe current study was conducted to establish animal models (including mouse and ferret) for the novel avian-origin H7N9 influenza virus.FindingsA/Anhui/1/2013 (H7N9) virus was administered by intranasal instillation to groups of mice and ferrets, and animals developed typical clinical signs including body weight loss (mice and ferrets), ruffled fur (mice), sneezing (ferrets), and death (mice). Peak virus shedding from respiratory tract was observed on 2 days post inoculation (d.p.i.) for mice and 3–5 d.p.i. for ferrets. Virus could also be detected in brain, liver, spleen, kidney, and intestine from inoculated mice, and in heart, liver, and olfactory bulb from inoculated ferrets. The inoculation of H7N9 could elicit seroconversion titers up to 1280 in ferrets and 160 in mice. Leukopenia, significantly reduced lymphocytes but increased neutrophils were also observed in mouse and ferret models.ConclusionsThe mouse and ferret model enables detailed studies of the pathogenesis of this illness and lay the foundation for drug or vaccine evaluation.

S100B Transgenic Mice Develop Features of Parkinson's Disease

BACKGROUND AND AIMSnParkinsons disease (PD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative disorders. Until now, the cause and mechanism of PD are unknown, making further studies necessary. We undertook this study to establish the brain-specific S100B gene transgenic mice and investigate the role of S100B in the development of PD.nnnMETHODSnThe hS100B transgenic vector was constructed by inserting the human S100B gene downstream into platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) promoter, followed by microinjection to produce transgenic mice. Motor coordination ability of mice in the S100B transgenic group (TG), S100B knockout group (KG) and the non-transgenic control group (CG) were measured by the Rota-rod test. The expressions of dopamine D1 receptor (D1DR), dopamine D2 receptor (D2DR), G protein-coupled receptor kinase2 (GRK2), G protein-coupled receptor kinase5 (GRK5), tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) in the brain tissue, and levels of dioxyphenylalanine (DOPA), dopamine (DA), homovanillic acid (HVA), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) in the midbrain tissue were detected by RT-PCR, Western blotting, and high-performance liquid chromatography-fluorescence detection method (HPLC-FLD), respectively.nnnRESULTSnCompared with CG, in TG, the motor coordination ability of mice, expressions ofxa0D2DR and GRK2, and the level of 5-HT visibly decreased, while the levels of DOPA, DA and its metabolic product HVA increased, the expressions of D1DR, GRK5, TH and 5-HIAA were similar. Compared with CG, no obvious change of detection indexes was observed in KG.nnnCONCLUSIONSnOverexpression of S100B in the brain resulted in motor coordination impairment, which may have resulted from the downregulation of D2DR and GRK2 expressions, increased DA synthesis and metabolism, and decreased 5-HT level. Therefore, S100B may be a potential cause of pathogenesis in PD.

Necrotizing myositis causes restrictive hypoventilation in a mouse model for human enterovirus 71 infection

BackgroundEnterovirus 71 (EV71) infections are associated with a high prevalence of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) in children and occasionally cause lethal complications. Most infections are self-limiting. However, resulting complications, including aseptic meningitis, encephalitis, poliomyelitis-like acute flaccid paralysis, and neurological pulmonary edema or hemorrhage, are responsible for the lethal symptoms of EV71 infection, the pathogenesis of which remain to be clarified.ResultsIn the present study, 2-week-old Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) mice were infected with a mouse-adapted EV71 strain. These infected mice demonstrated progressive paralysis and died within 12xa0days post infection (d.p.i.). EV71, which mainly replicates in skeletal muscle tissues, caused severe necrotizing myositis. Lesions in the central nervous system (CNS) and other tissues were not observed.ConclusionsNecrotizing myositis of respiratory-related muscles caused severe restrictive hypoventilation and subsequent hypoxia, which could explain the fatality of EV71-infected mice. This finding suggests that, in addition to CNS injury, necrotic myositis may also be responsible for the paralysis and death observed in EV71-infected mice.

Challenge and polymorphism analysis of the novel A (H1N1) influenza virus to normal animals.

The novel influenza A (H1N1) virus that emerged from April 2009 in Mexico has spread rapidly to many countries and initiated a human pandemic. It is important to determine whether the virus has existed in, or will spread to, normal household animals, and whether A (H1N1)-like viruses derived from the animal is able to proliferate in cell lines derived from human. In this current paper, familiar animals, including pigs, chickens, ducks, cats, dogs, rats, mice, and Brandts voles were challenged with the novel influenza A (H1N1) virus, and genetic variations of the viral genome were analyzed after three passages in the susceptible animals. To further determine the virulence of these animals derived influenza A (H1N1)-like viruses, viral replication dynamic curves were monitored after inoculation in MDCK cells and human A549 cells. Our results indicated that pigs, BALB/c mice, and Brandts voles, but not chickens, ducks, cats, dogs, and rats, could be infected by the novel influenza A (H1N1) virus. Genome sequence alignment results showed that there was one genetic variation (G408T) in the HA gene of Brandts vole derived virus and another one (C194A) in the NA gene of BALB/c mice derived virus, and the virulence of these two viruses in MDCK and A549 cells was significantly lower than the virus originally derived from human beings.