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Systemic inflammation is related to disease progression and prognosis in patients with advanced cirrhosis. However, the mechanisms underlying the initiation of inflammation are still not fully understood. The role of CD169+ monocyte/macrophage in cirrhotic systemic inflammation was undetected. Flow cytometry analysis was used to detect the percentage and phenotypes of CD169+ monocytes as well as their proinflammatory function in patient-derived cirrhotic tissue and blood. Transcriptome differences between CD169+ and CD169− monocytes were also compared. Additionally, a mouse model with specific depletion of CD169+ monocytes/macrophages was utilized to define their role in liver injury and fibrosis. We observed increased CD169 expression in monocytes from cirrhotic patients, which was correlated with inflammatory cytokine production and disease progression. CD169+ monocytes simultaneously highly expressed M1- and M2-like markers and presented immune-activated profiles. We also proved that CD169+ monocytes robustly prevented neutrophil apoptosis. Depletion of CD169+ monocytes/macrophages significantly inhibited inflammation and liver necrosis in acute liver injury, but the spontaneous fibrin resolution after repeated liver injury was impaired. Our results indicate that CD169 defines a subset of inflammation-associated monocyte that correlates with disease development in patients with cirrhosis. This provides a possible therapeutic target for alleviating inflammation and improving survival in cirrhosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is an increasing burden of circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses (cVDPVs) due to the continued use of oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV). However, the informativeness of routine OPV VP1 sequencing for the early identification of viruses carrying virulence-associated reversion mutations has not been directly evaluated in a controlled setting. We prospectively collected 15,331 stool samples to track OPV shedding from children receiving OPV and their contacts for ten weeks following an immunization campaign in Veracruz State, Mexico and sequenced VP1 genes from 358 samples. We found that OPV was genetically unstable and evolves at an approximately clocklike rate that varies across serotypes and by vaccination status. Overall, 61% (11/18) of OPV-1, 71% (34/48) OPV-2, and 96% (54/56) OPV-3 samples with available data had evidence of a reversion at the key 5' UTR attenuating position and 28% (13/47) of OPV-1, 12% (14/117) OPV-2, and 91% (157/173) OPV-3 of Sabin-like viruses had ≥1 known reversion mutations in the VP1 gene. Our results are consistent with previous work documenting rapid reversion to virulence of OPV and underscores the need for intensive surveillance following OPV use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human papillomavirus (HPV) types differ by geographic location and the ethnicity of the human host, which may have implications for carcinogenicity. HPV35 is one of the least frequently identified high-risk types in North America and Europe but was the most common high-risk HPV (hrHPV) infection in a cohort in rural Zimbabwe. Whole genome analysis is limited for HPV35; no such studies have been performed in Zimbabwe. Of 648 women in the initial cohort in Zimbabwe, 19 (19/648, 2.9%) tested positive for HPV35, and eight samples were successfully sequenced for HPV35. The maximum number of sequence variants for the whole genome was 58 nucleotides (0.7%) compared to the prototype (58/7879). The maximum number of sequence variants in E6 and E7 was 3 (3/450, 0.7%) 2 (2/300, 0.7%), respectively. These are the first HPV35 whole genome sequences from Zimbabwe, and these data further lend support to the carcinogenicity of HPV35 despite limited sequence heterogeneity. Further studies to determine carcinogenic effects and impact of HPV vaccinations are warranted, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adulteration of meat products and costly animal-derived commodities with their inferior/cheaper counterparts is a grievous global problem. Species authentication is still technical challenging, especially to those deep processed products. The present study described the design of seven sets of species-specific primer based on a high heterozygous region of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene. These primers were proven to have high species specificity and no cross-reactions and unexpected products to different DNA source. Multiplex PCR assay was achieved for rapid and economical identification of four commonly consumed meats (pork, beef, chicken, and mutton). The conventional PCR assay was sensitive down to 0.001 ng of DNA template in the reactant. The developed method was also powerful in detecting as low as 0.1-mg adulterated pork (0.05 % in wt/wt) in an artificial counterfeited mutton. Validation test showed that the assay is specific, reproducible, and robust in commercial deep processed meats, leatherware, and feather commodities. This proposed method will be greatly beneficial to the consumers, food industry, leather, and feather commodity manufacture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]