101 results on '"Zhijun Hou"'
Search Results
2. Haplotype-resolved chromosome-scale genomes of the Asian and African Savannah Elephants
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Minhui Shi, Fei Chen, Sunil Kumar Sahu, Qing Wang, Shangchen Yang, Zhihong Wang, Jin Chen, Huan Liu, Zhijun Hou, Sheng-Guo Fang, and Tianming Lan
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Science - Abstract
Abstract The Proboscidea, which includes modern elephants, were once the largest terrestrial animals among extant species. They suffered mass extinction during the Ice Age. As a unique branch on the evolutionary tree, the Proboscidea are of great significance for the study of living animals. In this study, we generate chromosome-scale and haplotype-resolved genome assemblies for two extant Proboscidea species (Asian Elephant, Elephas maximus and African Savannah Elephant, Loxodonta africana) using Pacbio, Hi-C, and DNBSEQ technologies. The assembled genome sizes of the Asian and African Savannah Elephant are 3.38 Gb and 3.31 Gb, with scaffold N50 values of 130 Mb and 122 Mb, respectively. Using Hi-C technology ~97% of the scaffolds are anchored to 29 pseudochromosomes. Additionally, we identify ~9 Mb Y-linked sequences for each species. The high-quality genome assemblies in this study provide a valuable resource for future research on ecology, evolution, biology and conservation of Proboscidea species.
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- 2024
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3. Whole-genome analysis of Escherichia coli isolated from wild Amur tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) and North China leopard (Panthera pardus japonensis)
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Hongjia Li, Tianming Lan, Hao Zhai, Mengchao Zhou, Denghui Chen, Yaxian Lu, Lei Han, Jinpu Wei, Shaochun Zhou, Haitao Xu, Lihong Tian, Guangshun Jiang, and Zhijun Hou
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Escherichia coli ,Amur tiger ,North China leopard ,Whole-genome sequencing ,Drug resistance ,Medicine ,Biology (General) ,QH301-705.5 - Abstract
Background Escherichia coli is an important intestinal flora, of which pathogenic E. coli is capable of causing many enteric and extra-intestinal diseases. Antibiotics are essential for the treatment of bacterial infections caused by pathogenic E. coli; however, with the widespread use of antibiotics, drug resistance in E. coli has become particularly serious, posing a global threat to human, animal, and environmental health. While the drug resistance and pathogenicity of E. coli carried by tigers and leopards in captivity have been studied intensively in recent years, there is an extreme lack of information on E. coli in these top predators in the wild environment. Methods Whole genome sequencing data of 32 E. coli strains collected from the feces of wild Amur tiger (Panthera tigris altaica, n = 24) and North China leopard (Panthera pardus japonensis, n = 8) were analyzed in this article. The multi-locus sequence types, serotypes, virulence and resistance genotypes, plasmid replicon types, and core genomic SNPs phylogeny of these isolates were studied. Additionally, antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) was performed on these E. coli isolates. Results Among the E. coli isolates studied, 18 different sequence types were identified, with ST939 (21.9%), ST10 (15.6%), and ST3246 (9.4%) being the most prevalent. A total of 111 virulence genes were detected, averaging about 54 virulence genes per sample. They contribute to invasion, adherence, immune evasion, efflux pump, toxin, motility, stress adaption, and other virulence-related functions of E. coli. Sixty-eight AMR genes and point mutations were identified. Among the detected resistance genes, those belonging to the efflux pump family were the most abundant. Thirty-two E. coli isolates showed the highest rate of resistance to tetracycline (14/32; 43.8%), followed by imipenem (4/32; 12.5%), ciprofloxacin (3/32; 9.4%), doxycycline (2/32; 6.3%), and norfloxacin (1/32; 3.1%). Conclusions Our results suggest that E. coli isolates carried by wild Amur tigers and North China leopards have potential pathogenicity and drug resistance.
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- 2024
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4. Exploration of Parascaris species in three different Equus populations in China
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Mengchao Zhou, Yaxian Lu, Lei Han, Maolin Lu, Chunyu Guan, Jie Yu, Hetong Liu, Denghui Chen, Hongjia Li, Yuling Yang, Lu Zhang, Lihong Tian, Quan Liu, and Zhijun Hou
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Equus ,Karyotype ,Phylogenetic analysis ,Parascaris spp. ,Infectious and parasitic diseases ,RC109-216 - Abstract
Abstract Background The roundworms, Parascaris spp., are important nematode parasites of foals and were historically model organisms in the field of cell biology, leading to many important discoveries. According to karyotype, ascarids in Equus are commonly divided into Parascaris univalens (2n = 2) and Parascaris equorum (2n = 4). Methods Here, we performed morphological identification, karyotyping and sequencing of roundworms from three different hosts (horses, zebras and donkeys). Phylogenetic analysis was performed to study the divergence of these ascarids based on cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences. Results Karyotyping, performed on eggs recovered from worms of three different Equus hosts in China, showed two different karyotypes (2n = 2 in P. univalens collected from horses and zebras; 2n = 6 in Parascaris sp. collected from donkeys). There are some differences in the terminal part of the spicula between P. univalens (concave) and Parascaris sp. (rounded). Additionally, it was found that the egg’s chitinous layer was significantly thicker in Parascaris sp. (> 5 μm) than P. univalens (
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- 2023
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5. Yezo Virus Infection in Tick-Bitten Patient and Ticks, Northeastern China
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Xiaolong Lv, Ziyan Liu, Liang Li, Wenbo Xu, Yongxu Yuan, Xiaojie Liang, Li Zhang, Zhengkai Wei, Liyan Sui, Yinghua Zhao, Zhijun Hou, Feng Wei, Shuzhen Han, Quan Liu, and Zedong Wang
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Yezo virus ,viruses ,infection ,tick-bitten patient ,ticks ,Ixodes persulcatus ,Medicine ,Infectious and parasitic diseases ,RC109-216 - Abstract
We identified Yezo virus infection in a febrile patient who had a tick bite in northeastern China, where 0.5% of Ixodes persulcatus ticks were positive for viral RNA. Clinicians should be aware of this potential health threat and include this emerging virus in the differential diagnosis for tick-bitten patients in this region.
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- 2023
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6. Flavivirus prM interacts with MDA5 and MAVS to inhibit RLR antiviral signaling
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Liyan Sui, Yinghua Zhao, Wenfang Wang, Hongmiao Chi, Tian Tian, Ping Wu, Jinlong Zhang, Yicheng Zhao, Zheng-Kai Wei, Zhijun Hou, Guoqiang Zhou, Guoqing Wang, Zedong Wang, and Quan Liu
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Flavivirus ,Precursor membrane protein ,MDA5 ,MAVS ,RLR signaling ,Biotechnology ,TP248.13-248.65 ,Biology (General) ,QH301-705.5 ,Biochemistry ,QD415-436 - Abstract
Abstract Background Vector-borne flaviviruses, including tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), Zika virus (ZIKV), West Nile virus (WNV), yellow fever virus (YFV), dengue virus (DENV), and Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), pose a growing threat to public health worldwide, and have evolved complex mechanisms to overcome host antiviral innate immunity. However, the underlying mechanisms of flavivirus structural proteins to evade host immune response remain elusive. Results We showed that TBEV structural protein, pre-membrane (prM) protein, could inhibit type I interferon (IFN-I) production. Mechanically, TBEV prM interacted with both MDA5 and MAVS and interfered with the formation of MDA5-MAVS complex, thereby impeding the nuclear translocation and dimerization of IRF3 to inhibit RLR antiviral signaling. ZIKV and WNV prM was also demonstrated to interact with both MDA5 and MAVS, while dengue virus serotype 2 (DENV2) and YFV prM associated only with MDA5 or MAVS to suppress IFN-I production. In contrast, JEV prM could not suppress IFN-I production. Overexpression of TBEV and ZIKV prM significantly promoted the replication of TBEV and Sendai virus. Conclusion Our findings reveal the immune evasion mechanisms of flavivirus prM, which may contribute to understanding flavivirus pathogenicity, therapeutic intervention and vaccine development.
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- 2023
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7. Emergence, prevalence, and evolution of H5N8 avian influenza viruses in central China, 2020
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Xiang Li, Xinru Lv, Yi Li, Linhong Xie, Peng Peng, Qing An, Tian Fu, Siyuan Qin, Yuan Cui, Chengbo Zhang, Rongxiu Qin, Fengyi Qu, Zhenliang Zhao, Meixi Wang, Qiuzi Xu, Yong Li, Guoxiang Yang, Guang Chen, Jun Zhang, Hesong Zheng, Enda Ma, Ruifang Zhou, Xiangwei Zeng, Yulong Wang, Zhijun Hou, Yajun Wang, Dong Chu, Yanbing Li, and Hongliang Chai
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avian influenza viruses ,china ,h5n8 ,swan ,2.3.4.4b ,Infectious and parasitic diseases ,RC109-216 ,Microbiology ,QR1-502 - Abstract
Highly pathogenic influenza A(H5N8) viruses have caused several worldwide outbreaks in birds and are able cross the species barrier to infect humans, posing a substantial threat to public health. After the first detection of H5N8 viruses in deceased swans in Inner Mongolia, we performed early warning and active monitoring along swan migration routes in central China. We isolated and sequenced 42 avian influenza viruses, including 40 H5N8 viruses, 1 H5N2 virus, and 1 H9N2 virus, in central China. Our H5N8 viruses isolated in swan stopover sites and wintering grounds showed high nucleotide homologies in the whole genome, revealing a common evolutionary source. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the H5 viruses of clade 2.3.4.4b prevalent in 2020 have further diverged into two sub-clades: b1 and b2. The phylogeographic analysis also showed that the viruses of sub-clade b2 most likely originated from poultry in Russia. Notably, whooper swans were found to be responsible for the introduction of sub-clade b2 viruses in central China; whooper and tundra swans play a role in viral spread in the Yellow River Basin and the Yangtze River Basin, respectively. Our findings highlight swans as an indicator species for transborder spreading and monitoring of the H5N8 virus.
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- 2022
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8. Equus roundworms (Parascaris univalens) are undergoing rapid divergence while genes involved in metabolic as well as anthelminic resistance are under positive selection
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Lei Han, Tianming Lan, Yaxian Lu, Mengchao Zhou, Haimeng Li, Haorong Lu, Qing Wang, Xiuyun Li, Shan Du, Chunyu Guan, Yong Zhang, Sunil Kumar Sahu, Puyi Qian, Shaofang Zhang, Hongcheng Zhou, Wei Guo, Hongliang Chai, Sibo Wang, Quan Liu, Huan Liu, and Zhijun Hou
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Diversification ,Parascaris univalens ,Adaptation ,Evolution ,Biotechnology ,TP248.13-248.65 ,Genetics ,QH426-470 - Abstract
Abstract Background The evolution of parasites is often directly affected by the host's environment. Studies on the evolution of the same parasites in different hosts are of great interest and are highly relevant to our understanding of divergence. Methods Here we performed whole-genome sequencing of Parascaris univalens from different Equus hosts (horses, zebras and donkeys). Phylogenetic and selection analyses were performed to study the divergence and adaptability of P. univalens. Results At the genetic level, multiple lines of evidence indicate that P. univalens is mainly separated into two clades (horse-derived and zebra & donkey-derived). This divergence began 300–1000 years ago, and we found that most of the key enzymes related to glycolysis were under strong positive selection in zebra & donkey-derived roundworms, whereas the lipid-related metabolic system was under positive selection in horse-derived roundworms, indicating that the adaptive evolution of metabolism has occurred over the past few centuries. In addition, we found that some drug-related genes showed a significantly higher degree of selection in diverse populations. Conclusions This work reports the adaptive evolution and divergence trend of P. univalens in different hosts for the first time. Its results indicate that the divergence of P. univalens is a continuous, dynamic process. Furthermore, the continuous monitoring of the effects of differences in nutritional and drug histories on the rapid evolution of roundworms is conducive to further understanding host-parasite interactions.
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- 2022
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9. H10Nx avian influenza viruses detected in wild birds in China pose potential threat to mammals
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Xinru Lv, Jingman Tian, Xiang Li, Xiaoli Bai, Yi Li, Minghui Li, Qing An, Xingdong Song, Yu Xu, Heting Sun, Peng Peng, Siyuan Qin, Zhenliang Zhao, Rongxiu Qin, Qiuzi Xu, Fengyi Qu, Meixi Wang, Hua Luo, Zhen Zhang, Xiangwei Zeng, Yajun Wang, Zhijun Hou, Xiaoyu Zhou, Yulong Wang, Yanbing Li, and Hongliang Chai
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Avian influenza virus ,H10 subtype ,Wild birds ,Phylogeography ,Pathogenicity ,Medicine (General) ,R5-920 - Abstract
H10 subtype avian influenza viruses (AIVs) have been isolated from wild and domestic avian species worldwide and have occasionally crossed the species barrier to mammalian hosts. Fatal human cases of H10N8 infections and the recent detection of human H10N3 infections have drawn widespread public attention. In this study, 25 H10Nx viruses were isolated from wild waterfowl in China during a long-term surveillance of AIVs. We conducted phylogenetic and phylogeographic studies of the hemagglutinin (HA) genes of global H10 viruses to determine the spatiotemporal patterns of spread and the roles of different hosts in viral transmission. We found the pattern of AIV transmission from wild birds to poultry to humans, and Anatidae have acted as the seeding population in the spread of the virus. Phylogenetic incongruence indicated complex reassortment events and our isolates were divided into eight genotypes (G1–8). We also found that the HA genes of the G8 viruses belonged to the North American lineage, indicating that intercontinental gene flow has occurred. Their receptor-binding specificity showed that the G1/4/5/6/7/8 viruses bind to both human-type α2,6-linked sialic acid receptors and avian-type α2,3-linked sialic acid receptors. Mouse studies indicated that the H10Nx isolates replicated efficiently in the respiratory system without preadaptation, but showed low pathogenicity in mice. The H10Nx isolates showed no (G2/4/7) or low pathogenicity (G1/3/5/6/8) in chickens, and the G6 and G8 viruses could be transmitted to chickens through direct contact. The asymptomatic shedding of these wild-bird-origin H10Nx isolates in chickens and their good adaptation in mice should increase the ease of their transmission to humans, and they therefore pose a threat to public health. Our findings demonstrate a further understanding of wild bird-origin H10 viruses and provide information for the continuous surveillance of H10 subtype viruses.
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- 2023
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10. Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N8) Clade 2.3.4.4b Viruses in Satellite-Tracked Wild Ducks, Ningxia, China, 2020
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Xinru Lv, Xiang Li, Heting Sun, Yi Li, Peng Peng, Siyuan Qin, Weidong Wang, Yuecheng Li, Qing An, Tian Fu, Fengyi Qu, Qiuzi Xu, Rongxiu Qin, Zhenliang Zhao, Meixi Wang, Yulong Wang, Yajun Wang, Xiangwei Zeng, Zhijun Hou, Chengliang Lei, Dong Chu, Yanbing Li, and Hongliang Chai
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influenza ,highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N8) viruses ,influenza virus ,viruses ,H5N8 ,subtype ,Medicine ,Infectious and parasitic diseases ,RC109-216 - Abstract
During October 2020, we identified 13 highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N8) clade 2.3.4.4b viruses from wild ducks in Ningxia, China. These viruses were genetically related to H5N8 viruses circulating mainly in poultry in Europe during early 2020. We also determined movements of H5N8 virus‒infected wild ducks and evidence for spreading of viruses.
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- 2022
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11. The first genome assembly of the amphibian nematode parasite (Aplectana chamaeleonis)
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Lei Han, Tianlu Liu, Fengping He, and Zhijun Hou
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Electronic computers. Computer science ,QA75.5-76.95 - Abstract
Cosmocercoid nematodes are common parasites of the digestive tract of amphibians. Genomic resources are important for understanding the evolution of a species and the molecular mechanisms of parasite adaptation. So far, no genome resource of Cosmocercoid has been reported. In 2020, a massive Cosmocercoid infection was found in the small intestine of a toad, causing severe intestinal blockage. We morphologically identified this parasite as A. chamaeleonis. Here, we report the first A. chamaeleonis genome with a genome size of 1.04 Gb. The repeat content of this A. chamaeleonis genome is 72.45%, and the total length is 751 Mb. This resource is fundamental for understanding the evolution of Cosmocercoid and provides the molecular basis for Cosmocercoid infection and control.
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- 2023
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12. The impact of current failures on predicted well-being for future success: Different mechanisms of action in high and low self-threat situations
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Zhijun Hou, Yuting Wang, Lin Li, and Jingjing Song
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self-threat ,predicted well-being ,affect ,self-esteem ,current performance ,Psychology ,BF1-990 - Abstract
This study explored the effect of current performance on the predicted well-being for future success and its mechanism. This empirical research consists of two experiments. In Study 1, the individual’s predicted well-being of future performance in the tests was lower in good feedback condition compared with bad feedback condition. It means that individuals have a higher expectation of future success after an unimportant loss. Study 2 focused on the moderating role of self-threat situations and the mediating role of affect and self-esteem in the effect of current performance feedback on predicted well-being. The results showed that individuals who got bad feedback have a low predicted well-being of future success only in a high self-threatening condition. Self-threat plays a moderating role between current performance and predicted well-being. The serial mediation role of affect and self-esteem in the negative effect of current performance on predicted well-being holds in high self-threat situations. By specifying the behavioral consequences and analyzing the psychological process in high and low self-threat situations, this research expands the literature on development of appropriate cognitive theories and propose novel measures and practical implications of enhancing predicted well-being.
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- 2022
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13. Extensive diversity of RNA viruses in ticks revealed by metagenomics in northeastern China.
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Ziyan Liu, Liang Li, Wenbo Xu, Yongxu Yuan, Xiaojie Liang, Li Zhang, Zhengkai Wei, Liyan Sui, Yinghua Zhao, Yanyan Cui, Qing Yin, Dajun Li, Qianxue Li, Zhijun Hou, Feng Wei, Quan Liu, and Zedong Wang
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Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine ,RC955-962 ,Public aspects of medicine ,RA1-1270 - Abstract
BackgroundTicks act as important vectors of infectious agents, and several emerging tick-borne viruses have recently been identified to be associated with human diseases in northeastern China. However, little is known about the tick virome in northeastern China.MethodsTicks collected from April 2020 to July 2021 were pooled for metagenomic analysis to investigate the virome diversity in northeastern China.ResultsIn total, 22 RNA viruses were identified, including four each in the Nairoviridae and Phenuiviridae families, three each in the Flaviviridae, Rhabdoviridae, and Solemoviridae families, two in the Chuviridae family, and one each in the Partitiviridae, Tombusviridae families and an unclassified virus. Of these, eight viruses were of novel species, belonging to the Nairoviridae (Ji'an nairovirus and Yichun nairovirus), Phenuiviridae (Mudanjiang phlebovirus), Rhabdoviridae (Tahe rhabdovirus 1-3), Chuviridae (Yichun mivirus), and Tombusviridae (Yichun tombus-like virus) families, and five members were established human pathogens, including Alongshan virus, tick-borne encephalitis virus, Songling virus, Beiji nairovirus, and Nuomin virus. I. persulcatus ticks had significant higher number of viral species than H. japonica, H. concinna, and D. silvarum ticks. Significant differences in tick viromes were observed among Daxing'an, Xiaoxing'an and Changbai mountains.ConclusionsThese findings showed an extensive diversity of RNA viruses in ticks in northeastern China, revealing potential public health threats from the emerging tick-borne viruses. Further studies are needed to explain the natural circulation and pathogenicity of these viruses.
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- 2022
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14. The chromosome-scale genome of the raccoon dog: Insights into its evolutionary characteristics
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Tianming Lan, Haimeng Li, Shangchen Yang, Minhui Shi, Lei Han, Sunil Kumar Sahu, Yaxian Lu, Jiangang Wang, Mengchao Zhou, Hui Liu, Junxuan Huang, Qing Wang, Yixin Zhu, Li Wang, Yanchun Xu, Chuyu Lin, Huan Liu, and Zhijun Hou
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Animals ,Genetics ,Genomics ,Zoology ,Science - Abstract
Summary: The raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides) is an invasive canid species native to East Asia with several distinct characteristics. Here, we report a chromosome-scale genome of the raccoon dog with high contiguity, completeness, and accuracy. The intact taste receptor genes, expanded gene families, and positively selected genes related to digestion, absorption, foraging, and detoxification likely support the omnivory of raccoon dogs. Several positively selected genes and raccoon dog-specific mutations in TDRD6 and ZP3 genes may explain their high reproductivity. Enriched GO terms in energy metabolism and positively selected immune genes were speculated to be closely related to the diverse immune system of raccoon dogs. In addition, we found that several expanded gene families and positively selected genes related to lipid metabolism and insulin resistance may contribute to winter sleep of the raccoon dog. This high-quality genome provides a valuable resource for understanding the evolutionary characteristics of this species.
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- 2022
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15. A dual-role of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein in regulating innate immune response
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Yinghua Zhao, Liyan Sui, Ping Wu, Wenfang Wang, Zedong Wang, Yang Yu, Zhijun Hou, Guangyun Tan, Quan Liu, and Guoqing Wang
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Medicine ,Biology (General) ,QH301-705.5 - Abstract
Abstract The recently emerged severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which is the causative agent of ongoing global pandemic of COVID-19, may trigger immunosuppression in the early stage and overactive immune response in the late stage of infection; However, the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. Here we demonstrated that the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N) protein dually regulated innate immune responses, i.e., the low-dose N protein suppressed type I interferon (IFN-I) signaling and inflammatory cytokines, whereas high-dose N protein promoted IFN-I signaling and inflammatory cytokines. Mechanistically, the SARS-CoV-2 N protein dually regulated the phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of IRF3, STAT1, and STAT2. Additionally, low-dose N protein combined with TRIM25 could suppress the ubiquitination and activation of retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I). Our findings revealed a regulatory mechanism of innate immune responses by the SARS-CoV-2 N protein, which would contribute to understanding the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 and other SARS-like coronaviruses, and development of more effective strategies for controlling COVID-19.
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- 2021
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16. Characterization and subcellular localization of Alongshan virus proteins
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Yinghua Zhao, Ping Wu, Li Liu, Baohua Ma, Mingming Pan, Yuan Huang, Nianyan Du, Hongyan Yu, Liyan Sui, Ze-Dong Wang, Zhijun Hou, and Quan Liu
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segmented flavivirus ,Alongshan virus ,viral proteins ,characterization ,subcellular localization ,Microbiology ,QR1-502 - Abstract
Alongshan virus (ALSV) in the Jingmenvirus group within the family Flaviviridae is a newly discovered tick-borne virus associated with human disease, whose genome includes four segments and encodes four structural proteins (VP1a, VP1b, VP2, VP3, and VP4) and two non-structural proteins (NSP1 and NSP2). Here, we characterized the subcellular distribution and potential function of ALSV proteins in host cells. We found that viral proteins exhibited diverse subcellular distribution in multiple tissue-deriving cells and induced various morphological changes in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), and NSP2, VP1b, VP2, and VP4 were all co-localized in the ER. The nuclear transfer and co-localization of VP4 and calnexin (a marker protein of ER), which were independent of their interaction, were unique to HepG2 cells. Expression of NSP1 could significantly reduce mitochondria quantity by inducing mitophagy. These findings would contribute to better understanding of the pathogenesis of emerging segmented flaviviruses.
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- 2022
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17. Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5Nx) Virus of Clade 2.3.4.4b Emerging in Tibet, China, 2021
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Yi Li, Xiang Li, Xinru Lv, Qiuzi Xu, Zhenliang Zhao, Siyuan Qin, Peng Peng, Fengyi Qu, Rongxiu Qin, Qing An, Meixi Wang, Zhen Zhang, Hua Luo, Xiangwei Zeng, Yulong Wang, Zhijun Hou, Heting Sun, Yajun Wang, Yu Xu, Yanbing Li, and Hongliang Chai
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HPAIV ,H5N8 ,H5N1 ,clade 2.3.4.4b ,migratory birds ,Microbiology ,QR1-502 - Abstract
ABSTRACT H5N8 and H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (AIVs) of clade 2.3.4.4b were isolated from dead migratory birds and fecal samples collected in Tibet, China, in May 2021. Phylogenetic analyses showed that the viruses isolated in this study may have spread from wintering or stopover grounds of migratory birds in South Asia. We monitored two disparate clade 2.3.4.4b H5Nx viruses in migratory birds in Tibet during their breeding season. The data revealed that breeding grounds may exhibit a potential pooling effect among avian influenza viruses in different migratory populations. IMPORTANCE In this study, 15 H5N8 and two H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses of clade 2.3.4.4b were isolated from dead migratory birds and fecal samples in Tibet, China. Isolates of H5N1 virus of clade 2.3.4.4b have been rarely reported in China. Our findings highlight that breeding grounds may exhibit a potential pooling effect among avian influenza viruses (AIVs) in different migratory populations. In addition to intensification of the surveillance of AIVs in migratory birds in Tibet, China, international cooperation should be strengthened.
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- 2022
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18. Molecular Detection of Parvovirus in Captive Siberian Tigers and Lions in Northeastern China From 2019 to 2021
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Shuping Huang, Xiang Li, Wei Xie, Lijun Guo, Dan You, Haitao Xu, Dan Liu, Yulong Wang, Zhijun Hou, Xiangwei Zeng, Siyuan Yang, Hongliang Chai, and Yajun Wang
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Siberian tigers ,lion ,FPV ,VP2 gene ,nested PCR ,real-time PCR ,Microbiology ,QR1-502 - Abstract
The fact that wild felines are carriers of pernicious infectious viruses should be a major concern due to the potential cross-species transmission between the felines and human or domestic animals. However, studies on the virus in the captive wild felines, especially in tigers, are thin on the ground. In this study, we screened four infectious viruses, namely, feline parvovirus (FPV), feline coronavirus (FCoV), canine distemper virus (CDV), and influenza A virus (IAV), in the blood samples of 285 captive Siberian tigers (Panthera tigris altaica) and in the spleen samples of two deceased lions (Panthera leo), which were collected from 2019 to 2021 in three Siberian Tiger Parks from the northeast of China. Nucleic acids isolated from the blood samples collected from tigers and the spleen samples collected from two deceased lions were positive for FPV by PCR, and the positive rate was 4.6% (13/285) in tigers. Furthermore, the VP2 gene of FPV was amplified by nested PCR, and the sequences of the VP2 gene from these six FPV positive strains shared 98.3–99.9% homology with the reference. The key amino acid sites of VP2 protein were consistent with that of FPV reference strains. Phylogenetic analysis based on the VP2 gene showed that in this study, FPV-positive strains were grouped within the FPV clade and closely related to the Asian strains clade. The results of this study showed that FPV circulated in the captive Siberian tigers and lions in northeastern China and provided valuable information for the study of FPV epidemiology in wild felines. Therefore, we suggest that regular antibody monitoring and booster immunization for tigers should be performed.
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- 2022
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19. The Variation of Duck RIG-I-Mediated Innate Immune Response Induced by Different Virulence Avian Influenza Viruses
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Boyu Zhai, Lanlan Liu, Xiang Li, Xinru Lv, Jinyan Wu, Jing Li, Shengze Lin, Yuxiang Yin, Jiaqi Lan, Jianan Du, Chenwei Wu, Yi Wen, Yajun Wang, Yulong Wang, Zhijun Hou, Yanbing Li, Hongliang Chai, and Xiangwei Zeng
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AIV ,H5N8 ,H4N6 ,duck ,RIG-I ,IFN-β ,Microbiology ,QR1-502 - Abstract
In recent years, the emerging highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N8) virus has been reported with features of widely spread, an expanding host range, and cross-species transmission, attracting wide attention. The domestic duck plays a major role in the epidemiological cycle of the HPAI H5N8 virus, but little is known concerning innate immune responses during influenza infection in duck species. In this study, we used two wild-bird-origin viruses, H5N8 and H4N6, to conduct duck infection experiments, and detect the load of the two viruses, and retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I) and interferon β (IFN-β) in the host’s natural immune response. Through comparison, it is found that the expression levels of RIG-I and IFN-β are both fluctuating. The innate immunity starts rapidly within 6 h after infection and is inhibited by the virus to varying degrees. The expression of RIG-I and IFN-β decreased on 1–2 days post-infection (dpi). The HPAI H5N8 virus has a stronger inhibitory effect on RIG-I than the low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) H4N6 virus and is the strongest in the lungs. After infection with HPAI H5N8 virus, 2 dpi, viral RNA replicates in large amounts in the lungs. It has been proven that RIG-I and IFN-β play an important role in the innate immune response of ducks to HPAI H5N8 virus infection, especially in the lungs. The main battlefield of RIG-I and IFN-β after infection with the LPAI H4N6 virus is in the rectum. Both viruses have been effectively controlled after 7 dpi. These results will help to understand the transmission mechanisms of avian influenza virus in wild ducks and help effectively prevent and control avian influenza.
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- 2022
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20. A survey of Cryptosporidium prevalence among birds in two zoos in China
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Yaxian Lu, Tianchun Pu, Baohua Ma, Lixin Wang, Mengchao Zhou, Yu Chen, Xiuyun Li, Changming Zheng, Hetong Liu, Jinpeng Liu, Chunyu Guan, Hongyan Yu, Chunkuo Dai, Yuan Huang, Yuling Yang, Zhiwei Peng, Lei Han, Hongliang Chai, and Zhijun Hou
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Cryptosporidium parvum ,White crane (Grus leucogeranus) ,Flamingo (Phoenicopteridae) ,Phylogenetic ,18S rRNA gene ,Medicine ,Biology (General) ,QH301-705.5 - Abstract
Background Cryptosporidiosis is an important zoonotic protozoan disease worldwide, but few studies on this disease have been performed in wild birds; thus, our knowledge of this disease is insufficient, even in zoo birds. Animals in zoos are possible zoonotic disease reservoirs, potentially resulting in zoonotic agent spillover to humans; accordingly, our understanding of such phenomena should be improved. Methods A total of 263 fresh fecal samples from 43 avian species were randomly collected from the Beijing Zoo and Harbin North Forest Zoo and screened for the prevalence of Cryptosporidium by 18S rRNA gene sequencing. Cryptosporidium species were distinguished based on the combined results of phylogenetic tree and genetic distance analyses conducted with the inclusion of seven avian Cryptosporidium species and 13 avian Cryptosporidium genotypes. The genetic diversity of Cryptosporidium parvum among different hosts, including humans, cattle, dogs, and birds, and the genetic diversity of avian C. parvum among avian hosts in China, Iraq and Brazil were determined based on C. parvum 18S rRNA haplotypes. Results The results of PCR targeting the 18S rRNA gene revealed that 1.9% (5/263) of the samples were Cryptosporidium-positive. Four of the five Cryptosporidium-positive samples originated from white cranes (Grus leucogeranus), and one originated from a flamingo (Phoenicopteridae). Avian C. parvum isolates, including the isolates examined in the present study, showed gene flow with other isolates from different types of hosts, including humans, cattle and dogs, indicating that zoo birds potentially pose zoonotic and pathogenic risks to humans and animals. Additionally, gene flow between avian C. parvum isolates from China and Brazil was detected. Conclusions To the best of our knowledge, our results demonstrate C. parvum infection in a flamingo (Phoenicopteridae) and white cranes (Grus leucogeranus) for the first time. The results of our study provide an important reference for understanding the host range, biological characteristics, and molecular epidemiology of C. parvum.
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- 2022
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21. Investigation of the Efficacy of Pyrantel Pamoate, Mebendazole, Albendazole, and Ivermectin against Baylisascaris schroederi in Captive Giant Pandas
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Yaxian Lu, Linhua Deng, Zhiwei Peng, Mengchao Zhou, Chengdong Wang, Lei Han, Shan Huang, Ming Wei, Rongping Wei, Lihong Tian, Desheng Li, and Zhijun Hou
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Ailuropoda melanoleuca ,anthelmintic administration ,anthelmintic resistance ,FECRT ,Veterinary medicine ,SF600-1100 ,Zoology ,QL1-991 - Abstract
Baylisascaris schroederi is one of the main health risks threatening both wild and captive giant pandas. The administration of anthelmintics is a common method to effectively control B. schroederi infection, but there is a notable risk of anthelmintic resistance (AR) after long-term, constant use of anthelmintics. Four anthelmintics—pyrantel pamoate (PYR), mebendazole (MBZ), albendazole (ABZ), and ivermectin (IVM)—were each administered separately at intervals of 2 months to 22 enrolled giant pandas. The fecal egg count reduction (FECR) proportions were calculated by both the Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) Bayesian mathematical model and the arithmetic mean. AR was assessed based on the criteria recommended by the World Association for the Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology (WAAVP). The estimated prevalence of B. schroederi infection was 34.1%. After treatment with PYR, MBZ, ABZ, and IVM, it was determined that MBZ, ABZ, and IVM were efficacious against B. schroederi, while nematodes were suspected to be resistant to PYR according to the fecal egg count reduction (FECR) proportions.
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- 2022
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22. Exploration of Zoo felids in North-East China for the prevalence and molecular identification of Cryptosporidium spp.
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Shakeel Hussain, Syed Mohsin Bukhari, Lixin Wang, Nimra Khalid, and Zhijun Hou
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Cryptosporidium ,Zoo felids ,18S rRNA gene ,Prevalence ,Phylogenetic ,Medicine ,Biology (General) ,QH301-705.5 - Abstract
Cryptosporidium spp. is a protozoan having the potential to cause zoonosis in humans and animals. Despite the zoonotic importance of this protozoan parasite, limited data are available about its prevalence in zoo felids in North-Eastern China. Hence, the current study was designed to determine the occurrence and molecular characterization of Cryptosporidium spp. from the fecal samples of captive zoo felids. Fecal samples (N = 244) were collected from different felids from five different zoos of North-Eastern China. 18S rRNA gene was amplified from the genomic DNA using species specific primers in nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR) and Cryptosporidium parvum and Cryptosporidium spp. was found. The overall prevalence of Cryptosporidium was 9.43% (23/244). The 18S rRNA gene similarity analysis showed that 6 Cryptosporidium isolates were Cryptosporidium parvum and the remaining 17 Cryptosporidium isolates were resembling to a Cryptosporidium spp., which is similar to Cryptosporidium NEV10. Phylogenetic tree was constructed based on 18S rRNA of Cryptosporidium spp. The similarity of Cryptosporidium parvum was with its other isolates in China, India, Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Czech Republic, Spain and USA while Cryptosporidium NEV10 alike had a close relationship with Turkish isolates. In conclusion, Cryptosporidium was prevailing in feline animals of China zoo and zoo officials are directed to consider their control policy as it can be a cause of zoonosis.
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- 2021
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23. SARS-CoV-2 Membrane Protein Inhibits Type I Interferon Production Through Ubiquitin-Mediated Degradation of TBK1
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Liyan Sui, Yinghua Zhao, Wenfang Wang, Ping Wu, Zedong Wang, Yang Yu, Zhijun Hou, Guangyun Tan, and Quan Liu
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SARS-CoV-2 ,membrane protein ,type I interferon ,TBK1 ,ubiquitination ,Immunologic diseases. Allergy ,RC581-607 - Abstract
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative pathogen of current COVID-19 pandemic, and insufficient production of type I interferon (IFN-I) is associated with the severe forms of the disease. Membrane (M) protein of SARS-CoV-2 has been reported to suppress host IFN-I production, but the underlying mechanism is not completely understood. In this study, SARS-CoV-2 M protein was confirmed to suppress the expression of IFNβ and interferon-stimulated genes induced by RIG-I, MDA5, IKKϵ, and TBK1, and to inhibit IRF3 phosphorylation and dimerization caused by TBK1. SARS-CoV-2 M could interact with MDA5, TRAF3, IKKϵ, and TBK1, and induce TBK1 degradation via K48-linked ubiquitination. The reduced TBK1 further impaired the formation of TRAF3–TANK–TBK1-IKKε complex that leads to inhibition of IFN-I production. Our study revealed a novel mechanism of SARS-CoV-2 M for negative regulation of IFN-I production, which would provide deeper insight into the innate immunosuppression and pathogenicity of SARS-CoV-2.
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- 2021
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24. The genetic characteristics of Sarcoptes scabiei from Chinese serow (Capricornis milneedwardsii) and goral (Naemorhedus goral arnouxianus) compared with other mites from different hosts and geographic locations using ITS2 and cox1 sequences
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Mengchao, Zhou, Peng, Peng, Xiaotian, Zhang, Shakeel, Hussain, Yaxian, Lu, Lei, Han, Denghui, Chen, Hongjia, Li, Quan, Liu, Lihong, Tian, Heting, Sun, and Zhijun, Hou
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Scabies ,China ,Infectious Diseases ,General Veterinary ,Insect Science ,Animals ,Humans ,Parasitology ,Ruminants ,General Medicine ,Sarcoptes scabiei ,Phylogeny - Abstract
Scabies is a common parasitic disease in many mammalian species, caused by the infestation of Sarcoptes scabiei. There is no consistent conclusion on whether Sarcoptes mites from different hosts or geographic locations have apparent genetic divergence. In this study, we collected and morphologically identified S. scabiei from Chinese serow and goral, and we described the genetic diversity of S. scabiei and other mites based on phylogenetic analyses of the ITS2 and cox1 sequence fragments, including data available in GenBank. The mites isolated from Chinese serow and goral were S. scabiei, and they were morphologically similar. The phylogenetic trees and haplotype networks showed that S. scabiei from other locations worldwide did not cluster according to host divergence or geographical distribution. Additionally, the Fst values were - 0.224 to 0.136 and - 0.045 to 1 between S. scabiei from different hosts, including humans and domestic and wild animals, based on partial ITS and cox1 sequences. Worldwide S. scabiei samples formed three clusters (with H2, H5, and H12 at their centers) in the ITS and one cluster (with C9 at the center) in the cox1 haplotype phylogenetic network. The S. scabiei collected from Chinese serow and goral were morphologically similar and had the same genotype. A study on the genetic characteristics of S. scabiei from Chinese serow and goral together with other mites from different hosts and geographic locations around the world showed no obvious divergence. These findings indicated that scabies likely is a zoonotic disease and that the global prevalence of scabies is probably related to the worldwide trade of domestic animals.
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- 2022
25. A Study on the Elderly Care System of Eunuchs in the Qing Dynasty’s Internal Affairs Office
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Zhengzhong, Cai, primary, Zhijun, Hou, additional, Lian, Yang, additional, Hui, Zeng, additional, Mingshan, Zhang, additional, and Cheng-Chung, Tsai, additional
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- 2023
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26. Competition between China and Japan’s Porcelain Industry in the Era of Great Navigation —Historical Role Positioning of Guangzhou Foshan “Guangcai Porcelain” and China Taiwan Porcelain
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Zhengzhong, Cai, primary, Mingshan, Zhang, additional, Yangyang, Liu, additional, Zhijun, Hou, additional, and Cheng-Chung, Tsai, additional
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- 2023
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27. Flavivirus prM interacts with MDA5 and MAVS to inhibit RLR antiviral signaling
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Liyan Sui, Yinghua Zhao, Wenfang Wang, Hongmiao Chi, Tian Tian, Jinlong Zhang, Yicheng Zhao, Zhijun Hou, Zheng-Kai Wei, Guoqiang Zhou, Guoqing Wang, Zedong Wang, and Quan Liu
- Abstract
Background: Vector-borne flaviviruses, including tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), Zika virus (ZIKA), West Nile virus (WNV), yellow fever virus (YFV), dengue virus (DENV), and Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), pose a growing threat to public health worldwide, and have evolved complex mechanisms to overcome host antiviral innate immunity. However, the underlying mechanisms of flavivirus structural proteins to evade host immune response remain elusive. Results: We show that TBEV structural protein, pre-membrane (prM) protein, could inhibit type I interferon (IFN-I) production. Mechanically, TBEV prM interacted with both MDA5 and MAVS and interfered with the formation of MDA5-MAVS complex, thereby impeding the nuclear translocation and dimerization of IRF3 to inhibit RLR antiviral signaling. ZIKA and WNV prM was also demonstrated to interact with both MDA5 and MAVS, while dengue virus serotype 2 (DENV2) and YFV prM associated only with MDA5 or MAVS to suppress IFN-I production. In contrast, JEV prM could not suppress IFN-I production. Overexpression of TBEV and ZIKA prM significantly promoted the replication of TBEV and Sendai virus. Conclusion: Our findings reveal the immune evasion mechanisms of flavivirus prM, which may contribute to understanding flavivirus pathogenicity, therapeutic intervention and vaccine development.
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- 2022
28. The global succinylation of SARS-CoV-2-infected host cells reveals drug targets
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Quan Liu, Heming Wang, He Zhang, Liyan Sui, Letian Li, Wang Xu, Shouwen Du, Pengfei Hao, Yuhang Jiang, Jing Chen, Xiaoyun Qu, Mingyao Tian, Yinghua Zhao, Xuerui Guo, Xingye Wang, Wu Song, Guangqi Song, Zhengkai Wei, Zhijun Hou, Guoqing Wang, Minhua Sun, Xiao Li, Huijun Lu, Xinyu Zhuang, Ningyi Jin, Yicheng Zhao, Chang Li, and Ming Liao
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Multidisciplinary ,SARS-CoV-2 ,COVID-19 ,Succinates ,Viral Nonstructural Proteins ,Virus Replication ,Antiviral Agents ,COVID-19 Drug Treatment ,Exoribonucleases ,Host-Pathogen Interactions ,Humans ,Sirtuins ,Molecular Targeted Therapy ,Caco-2 Cells ,Protein Processing, Post-Translational - Abstract
SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of the COVID-19 pandemic, undergoes continuous evolution, highlighting an urgent need for development of novel antiviral therapies. Here we show a quantitative mass spectrometry-based succinylproteomics analysis of SARS-CoV-2 infection in Caco-2 cells, revealing dramatic reshape of succinylation on host and viral proteins. SARS-CoV-2 infection promotes succinylation of several key enzymes in the TCA, leading to inhibition of cellular metabolic pathways. We demonstrated that host protein succinylation is regulated by viral nonstructural protein (NSP14) through interaction with sirtuin 5 (SIRT5); overexpressed SIRT5 can effectively inhibit virus replication. We found succinylation inhibitors possess significant antiviral effects. We also found that SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid and membrane proteins underwent succinylation modification, which was conserved in SARS-CoV-2 and its variants. Collectively, our results uncover a regulatory mechanism of host protein posttranslational modification and cellular pathways mediated by SARS-CoV-2, which may become antiviral drug targets against COVID-19.
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- 2022
29. A new nairo-like virus associated with human febrile illness in China
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Zhen Han, Jian-Wei Shao, Xu Zhang, Zedong Wang, Wei Wang, Junqi Niu, Bo Wang, Youchun Wang, Ming Liao, Ying-Hua Zhao, Zhijun Hou, Shu-Zheng Han, Quan Liu, Liyan Sui, Changfa Fan, Chang Li, Jun Ma, Xiao-Long Lv, Yan-Chun Wang, Zhengtao Yang, Chen Chen, Yong Zhang, Zhengkai Wei, and Ningyi Jin
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0301 basic medicine ,myalgia ,Male ,Epidemiology ,nairo-like virus ,Antibodies, Viral ,patients ,Communicable Diseases, Emerging ,Mice ,Interquartile range ,Drug Discovery ,Medicine ,Depression (differential diagnoses) ,Nairovirus ,biology ,General Medicine ,Middle Aged ,Infectious Diseases ,Tick-Borne Diseases ,Female ,medicine.symptom ,Research Article ,Adult ,China ,Fever ,030106 microbiology ,Immunology ,Beiji nairovirus ,Viremia ,Genome, Viral ,Tick ,Bunyaviridae Infections ,Microbiology ,Virus ,Incubation period ,ticks ,03 medical and health sciences ,Virology ,Animals ,Humans ,business.industry ,biology.organism_classification ,medicine.disease ,Mice, Inbred C57BL ,030104 developmental biology ,Parasitology ,business - Abstract
Several nairo-like viruses have been discovered in ticks in recent years, but their relevance to public health remains unknown. Here, we found a patient who had a history of tick bite and suffered from a febrile illness was infected with a previously discovered RNA virus, Beiji nairovirus (BJNV), in the nairo-like virus group of the order Bunyavirales. We isolated the virus by cell culture assay. BJNV could induce cytopathic effects in the baby hamster kidney and human hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Negative-stain electron microscopy revealed enveloped and spherical viral particles, morphologically similar to those of nairoviruses. We identified 67 patients as BJNV infection in 2017–2018. The median age of patients was 48 years (interquartile range 41–53 years); the median incubation period was 7 days (interquartile range 3–12 days). Most patients were men (70%), and a few (10%) had underlying diseases. Common symptoms of infected patients included fever (100%), headache (99%), depression (63%), coma (63%), and fatigue (54%), myalgia or arthralgia (45%); two (3%) patients became critically ill and one died. BJNV could cause growth retardation, viremia and histopathological changes in infected suckling mice. BJNV was also detected in sheep, cattle, and multiple tick species. These findings demonstrated that the newly discovered nairo-like virus may be associated with a febrile illness, with the potential vectors of ticks and reservoirs of sheep and cattle, highlighting its public health significance and necessity of further investigation in the tick-endemic areas worldwide.
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- 2021
30. Gene rearrangements in the mitochondrial genome of ten ascaris species and phylogenetic implications for Ascaridoidea and Heterakoidea families
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Lei Han, Yuling Yang, Haimeng Li, Xiaoyu Zhou, Mengchao Zhou, Tianlu Liu, Yaxian Lu, Qing Wang, Shangcheng Yang, Minhui Shi, Xiuyun Li, Shan Du, Chunyu Guan, Yong Zhang, Wei Guo, Jiangang Wang, Hongliang Chai, Tianming Lan, Huan Liu, Quan Liu, Heting Sun, and Zhijun Hou
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Gene Rearrangement ,Structural Biology ,Genome, Mitochondrial ,Ascaridoidea ,Ascaris ,Gene Order ,Humans ,Animals ,General Medicine ,Molecular Biology ,Biochemistry ,Phylogeny - Abstract
The Ascaridoidea family and Heterakoidea family are the most common and typical representative of large parasites. Although our understanding of these parasites' diversity has expanded by analyses of some mitochondrial genes, there is limited information on these species' evolutionary rates. Here we determined ten complete mitogenome sequences of five subfamilies of Ascaridoidea and one subfamily of Heterakoidea. The phylogenetic tree divided the Ascaridoidea into six monophyletic major clades, and the divergence time of Heterakoidea family and Ascaridoidea family can be placed during the early Carboniferous Period (300-360 Mya). The reconstruction of the ancestral state showed that the gene orders of all species in Ascaridoidea were conserved, and the Heterakoidea had obvious genome rearrangement. The conserved blocks between them were divided into five and the main types are tandem-duplication/random loss (TDRL). These results will help to better understand the gene rearrangements and evolutionary position of ascaris species.
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- 2022
31. Object Detection Using Deep Learning Methods in Traffic Scenarios
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Zhijun Hou and Azzedine Boukerche
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050210 logistics & transportation ,General Computer Science ,Computer science ,business.industry ,Deep learning ,05 social sciences ,Feature extraction ,02 engineering and technology ,Machine learning ,computer.software_genre ,Convolutional neural network ,Object detection ,Field (computer science) ,Theoretical Computer Science ,Task (project management) ,Open research ,0502 economics and business ,0202 electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering ,Key (cryptography) ,020201 artificial intelligence & image processing ,Artificial intelligence ,business ,computer - Abstract
The recent boom of autonomous driving nowadays has made object detection in traffic scenes a hot topic of research. Designed to classify and locate instances in the image, this is a basic but challenging task in the computer vision field. With its powerful feature extraction abilities, which are vital for object detection, deep learning has expanded its application areas to this field during the past several years and thus achieved breakthroughs. However, even with such powerful approaches, traffic scenarios have their own specific challenges, such as real-time detection, changeable weather, and complex lighting conditions. This survey is dedicated to summarizing research and papers on applying deep learning to the transportation environment in recent years. More than 100 research papers are covered, and different aspects such as key generic object detection frameworks, categorized object detection applications in traffic scenario, evaluation metrics, and classified datasets are included. Some open research fields are also provided. We believe that it is the first survey focusing on deep learning-based object detection in traffic scenario.
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- 2021
32. Ecological relationships among habitat type, food nutrients, parasites and hormones in wild boar Sus scrofa during winter
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Dongqi Liu, Zhaoyue Li, Zhijun Hou, Heng Bao, Xue Luan, Ping Zhang, Xin Liang, Shuang Gong, Yumiao Tian, Da Zhang, Wen She, Feifei Yang, Shiyu Chen, Nathan James Roberts, and Guangshun Jiang
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Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law ,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics ,Nature and Landscape Conservation - Published
- 2022
33. Prevalence and molecular characterization of Pentatrichomonas hominis in Siberian tigers (Panthera tigris altaica) in northeast China
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Hongbo ZHANG, Nan ZHANG, Pengtao GONG, Shuqin CHENG, Xiaocen WANG, Xin LI, Zhijun HOU, Chang LIU, Tianqi BI, Bobo WANG, Yidan CHENG, Jianhua LI, and Xichen ZHANG
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China ,Prevalence ,Animals ,Animal Science and Zoology ,Tigers - Abstract
The overall infection rate of Pentatrichomonas hominis in Siberian tigers in northeast China is 31.3%. All the P. hominis identified in Siberian tigers belonged to genotype CC1.
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- 2022
34. Chromosome-scale assembly and whole-genome sequencing of 266 giant panda roundworms provide insights into their evolution, adaptation and potential drug targets
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Huanming Yang, Shangchen Yang, Xiaofang Cheng, Shaowen He, Yixin Zhu, Xun Xu, Yunting Huang, Ruobing Han, Michael Lisby, Huan Liu, He-Ting Sun, Jieyao Yu, Linhua Deng, Qing Wang, Karsten Kristiansen, Haorong Lu, Lingling Li, Haimeng Li, Zhiwei Peng, Yulong Wang, Yaxian Lu, Hongliang Chai, Zhijun Hou, Desheng Li, Quan Liu, Lei Han, Yanqiang Zhou, and Tianming Lan
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Population ,Computational biology ,adaptation ,Biology ,Genome ,Chromosomes ,Ascaridoidea ,Genetics ,Animals ,Humans ,Gene family ,education ,Genome size ,Gene ,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics ,Whole genome sequencing ,Baylisascaris schroederi ,Genetic diversity ,education.field_of_study ,anthelmintics ,roundworms ,genetic diversity ,Pharmaceutical Preparations ,Adaptation ,Ursidae ,Biotechnology - Abstract
Helminth diseases have long been a threat to the health of humans and animals. Roundworms are important organisms for studying parasitic mechanisms, disease transmission and prevention. The study of parasites in the giant panda is of importance for understanding how roundworms adapt to the host. Here, we report a high-quality chromosome-scale genome of Baylisascaris schroederi with a genome size of 253.60 Mb and 19,262 predicted protein-coding genes. We found that gene families related to epidermal chitin synthesis and environmental information processes in the roundworm genome have expanded significantly. Furthermore, we demonstrated unique genes involved in essential amino acid metabolism in the B. schroederi genome, inferred to be essential for the adaptation to the giant panda-specific diet. In addition, under different deworming pressures, we found that four resistance-related genes (glc-1, nrf-6, bre-4 and ced-7) were under strong positive selection in a captive population. Finally, 23 known drug targets and 47 potential drug target proteins (essential homologues linked to lethal phenotypes) were identified. The genome provides a unique reference for inferring the early evolution of roundworms and their adaptation to the host. Population genetic analysis and drug sensitivity prediction provide insights revealing the impact of deworming history on population genetic structure of importance for disease prevention.
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- 2022
35. An initial coprological survey of parasitic fauna in the wild Amur leopard ( Panthera pardus orientalis )
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Zhijun Hou, Yao Ning, Dan Liu, Zhiwei Peng, Hongliang Chai, and Guangshun Jiang
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0106 biological sciences ,China ,Fauna ,Zoology ,010603 evolutionary biology ,01 natural sciences ,Feces ,Toxocara cati ,Paragonimus ,Helminths ,biology.animal ,Animals ,Panthera ,0501 psychology and cognitive sciences ,050102 behavioral science & comparative psychology ,biology ,Coccidiosis ,05 social sciences ,Leopard ,biology.organism_classification ,Amur leopard ,Sarcocystidae ,Threatened species ,Spirometra ,Animal Science and Zoology ,Helminthiasis, Animal - Abstract
The Amur leopard, one of nine recently recognized subspecies of leopard, is still the most threatened by a stochastic procession of extinction. Evaluation of the potential danger to the conservation of the Amur leopard originating from disease urgently needs to be studied. Unfortunately, research on the potential risk to Amur leopards caused by disease is rare. In terms of parasitic diseases that affect this species, even basic data for parasitic fauna are absent. The aim of this study is to acquire this knowledge to improve the general understanding of Amur leopard parasites. Seven parasite species, including 3 nematodes (Toxocara cati, a capillarid-type parasite, and a Metastrongyloidea-type parasite), 2 cestodes (Spirometra sp. and Taenia sp.), 1 trematode (Paragonimus sp.), and 1 protozoan (Cystoisospora felis), were found in this research. Toxocara cati occurred most frequently, followed by Spirometra sp.
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- 2020
36. Biological characteristics of two mesenchymal stem cell lines isolated from the umbilical cord and adipose tissue of a neonatal common hippo (Hippopotamus amphibius)
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Jinpu Wei, Xiuxiu Dong, Bo Wang, Yajiang Wu, Wu Chen, Zhijun Hou, Chen Wang, and Tao Wang
- Abstract
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent adult stem cells and can be isolated from many tissues of the body. Due to their potentials to treat various diseases and be applied in animal breeding, MSCs have been isolated and identified regarding their biological properties. Common hippos (Hippopotamus amphibius) are a vulnerable species and yet the cryopreservation of their genetic materials is scare. In this study, we successfully established two MSC lines (UC-MSCs and AT-MSCs) from the umbilical cord and adipose tissue of a neonatal common hippo and comparatively described their features. Both UC-MSCs and AT-MSCs showed fibroblastoid morphology and could be continuously passaged for over 17 passages without dramatic signs of senescence. The cell cultures had normal chromosome composition, say, 17 pairs of autosomes and 1 pair of X chromosomes. UC-MSCs and AT-MSCs displayed similar gene expression profiles. They were positive for CD45, CD73, CD90 and CD105 and negative for HLA-DR. They demonstrated stemness maintenance by expression of classical stem cell markers. UC-MSCs and AT-MSCs manifested different differentiation potentials into other cell lineages. In summary, these two cell lines demonstrated the essential properties of mesenchymal stem cells and might play a role in the future research.
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- 2021
37. The Variation of Duck RIG-I-Mediated Innate Immune Response Induced by Different Virulence Avian Influenza Viruses
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Boyu Zhai, Lanlan Liu, Xiang Li, Xinru Lv, Jinyan Wu, Jing Li, Shengze Lin, Yuxiang Yin, Jiaqi Lan, Jianan Du, Chenwei Wu, Yi Wen, Yajun Wang, Yulong Wang, Zhijun Hou, Yanbing Li, Hongliang Chai, and Xiangwei Zeng
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Microbiology (medical) ,animal diseases ,viruses ,virus diseases ,Microbiology - Abstract
In recent years, the emerging highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N8) virus has been reported with features of widely spread, an expanding host range, and cross-species transmission, attracting wide attention. The domestic duck plays a major role in the epidemiological cycle of the HPAI H5N8 virus, but little is known concerning innate immune responses during influenza infection in duck species. In this study, we used two wild-bird-origin viruses, H5N8 and H4N6, to conduct duck infection experiments, and detect the load of the two viruses, and retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I) and interferon β (IFN-β) in the host’s natural immune response. Through comparison, it is found that the expression levels of RIG-I and IFN-β are both fluctuating. The innate immunity starts rapidly within 6 h after infection and is inhibited by the virus to varying degrees. The expression of RIG-I and IFN-β decreased on 1–2 days post-infection (dpi). The HPAI H5N8 virus has a stronger inhibitory effect on RIG-I than the low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) H4N6 virus and is the strongest in the lungs. After infection with HPAI H5N8 virus, 2 dpi, viral RNA replicates in large amounts in the lungs. It has been proven that RIG-I and IFN-β play an important role in the innate immune response of ducks to HPAI H5N8 virus infection, especially in the lungs. The main battlefield of RIG-I and IFN-β after infection with the LPAI H4N6 virus is in the rectum. Both viruses have been effectively controlled after 7 dpi. These results will help to understand the transmission mechanisms of avian influenza virus in wild ducks and help effectively prevent and control avian influenza.
- Published
- 2021
38. Emergence, prevalence, and evolution of H5N8 avian influenza viruses in central China, 2020
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Fengyi Qu, Xiang Li, Chengbo Zhang, Guang Chen, Yi Li, Yulong Wang, Tian Fu, Meixi Wang, Jun Zhang, Zhijun Hou, Guoxiang Yang, Hongliang Chai, Xinru Lv, Enda Ma, Ruifang Zhou, Hesong Zheng, Yuan Cui, Qiuzi Xu, Peng Peng, Yajun Wang, Dong Chu, Yanbing Li, Xiangwei Zeng, Yong Li, Zhenliang Zhao, Linhong Xie, Qing An, Rongxiu Qin, and Siyuan Qin
- Subjects
China ,Epidemiology ,viruses ,Immunology ,Zoology ,Infectious and parasitic diseases ,RC109-216 ,Genome, Viral ,Biology ,medicine.disease_cause ,Microbiology ,Genome ,Virus ,Poultry ,Avian influenza viruses ,Russia ,Evolution, Molecular ,swan ,H5N8 ,Virology ,Anseriformes ,Drug Discovery ,medicine ,Influenza A Virus, H9N2 Subtype ,Prevalence ,Animals ,Influenza A Virus, H5N8 Subtype ,Clade ,Phylogeny ,Phylogenetic tree ,Whole Genome Sequencing ,Influenza Infections ,Outbreak ,General Medicine ,QR1-502 ,Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 ,Phylogeography ,Infectious Diseases ,Indicator species ,Influenza in Birds ,Parasitology ,Animal Migration ,2.3.4.4b ,Influenza A Virus, H5N2 Subtype ,Research Article - Abstract
Highly pathogenic influenza A(H5N8) viruses have caused several worldwide outbreaks in birds and are able cross the species barrier to infect humans, posing a substantial threat to public health. After the first detection of H5N8 viruses in deceased swans in Inner Mongolia, we performed early warning and active monitoring along swan migration routes in central China. We isolated and sequenced 42 avian influenza viruses, including 40 H5N8 viruses, 1 H5N2 virus, and 1 H9N2 virus, in central China. Our H5N8 viruses isolated in swan stopover sites and wintering grounds showed high nucleotide homologies in the whole genome, revealing a common evolutionary source. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the H5 viruses of clade 2.3.4.4b prevalent in 2020 have further diverged into two sub-clades: b1 and b2. The phylogeographic analysis also showed that the viruses of sub-clade b2 most likely originated from poultry in Russia. Notably, whooper swans were found to be responsible for the introduction of sub-clade b2 viruses in central China; whooper and tundra swans play a role in viral spread in the Yellow River Basin and the Yangtze River Basin, respectively. Our findings highlight swans as an indicator species for transborder spreading and monitoring of the H5N8 virus.
- Published
- 2021
39. Emergence, Evolution, and Pathogenicity of Influenza A(H7N4) Virus in Shorebirds in China
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Minghui Li, Qing An, Jingman Tian, Wentao Yu, Juergen A. Richt, Xinru Lv, Jiang Du, Siyuan Yang, Jing Sun, Linhong Xie, Yulei Li, Siyuan Qin, Yajun Wang, He-Ting Sun, Hailong Zhang, Xiaoli Bai, Yanbing Li, Xiang Li, Yi Li, Fengjiang Zhang, Jianzhang Ma, Peng Peng, Xiangwei Zeng, Zhijun Hou, Yulong Wang, Yu Xu, and Hongliang Chai
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China ,Immunology ,Influenza A Virus, H7N7 Subtype ,Virulence ,Biology ,medicine.disease_cause ,Microbiology ,Communicable Diseases, Emerging ,Virus ,Birds ,Evolution, Molecular ,Mice ,Virology ,Flyway ,medicine ,Animals ,Position-Specific Scoring Matrices ,Gene ,Conserved Sequence ,Phylogeny ,Phylogenetic tree ,Biological Evolution ,Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 ,Disease Models, Animal ,Phylogeography ,Insect Science ,Influenza in Birds ,Mutation ,RNA, Viral ,Female ,Flock ,Disease Susceptibility - Abstract
A 2-year surveillance study of influenza A viruses in migratory birds was conducted to understand the subsequent risk during the migratory seasons in Dandong Yalu River Estuary Coastal Wetland National Nature Reserve, Liaoning Province, China, a major stopover site on the East Asian-Australasian flyway. Overall, we isolated 27 influenza A viruses with multiple subtypes, including H3N8 (n=2), H4N6 (n=2), H4N7 (n=2), H7N4 (n=9), H7N7 (n=1), H10N7 (n=7), and H13N6 (n=4). Particularly, a novel reassortant influenza A(H7N4) virus was first identified in a woman and her backyard poultry flock in Jiangsu Province, China, posing a serious threat to public health. Here, we describe the genetic characterization and pathogenicity of the nine influenza A(H7N4) isolates. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that complex viral gene flow occurred among Asian countries. We also demonstrated a similar evolutionary trajectory of the surface genes of the A(H7N4) isolates and Jiangsu human-related A(H7N4) viruses. Our A(H7N4) isolates exhibited differing degrees of virulence in mice, suggesting a potential risk to other mammalian species, including humans. We revealed multiple mutations that might affect viral virulence in mice. Our report highlights the importance and needs for the long-term surveillance of avian influenza virus in migratory birds, combined with domestic poultry surveillance along migratory routes and flyways, and thereby develop measures to manage potential health threats. Importance The H7 subtype avian influenza viruses, such as H7N2, H7N3, H7N4, H7N7, and H7N9, were documented being capable of infecting humans, and the H7 subtype low pathogenic avian influenza viruses are capable of mutating into highly pathogenic avian influenza; therefore, they pose a serious threat to public health. Here, we investigated the evolutionary history, molecular characteristics, and pathogenicity of shorebird-origin influenza A(H7N4) viruses, showing a similar evolutionary trajectory with Jiangsu human A(H7N4) viruses in HA and NA genes. Moreover, our isolates exhibited variable virulence (including moderate virulence) in mice, suggesting a potential risk to other mammalian species, including humans.
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- 2021
40. Equus roundworms (Parascaris univalens) are undergoing rapid divergence due to host and environment factors
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Mengchao Zhou, Xiuyun Li, Wei Guo, Yong Zhang, Sunil Kumar Sahu, Hongliang Chai, Puyi Qian, Chunyu Guan, Tianming Lan, Yaxian Lu, Shaofang Zhang, Quan Liu, Huan Liu, Haimeng Li, Zhijun Hou, Shan Du, Sibo Wang, Qing Wang, Haorong Lu, Lei Han, and Hongcheng Zhou
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Parascaris univalens ,biology ,Evolutionary biology ,Host (biology) ,biology.organism_classification ,Equus ,Divergence - Abstract
Background The evolution of parasites is often directly affected by the host's environment. Studies on the evolution of the same parasites in different hosts are extremely attractive and highly relevant to our understanding of divergence and speciation. Methods Here we performed whole genome sequencing of Parascaris univalens from different Equus hosts (horses, zebras and donkeys). Phylogenetic and selection analysis was performed to study the divergence and adaptability of P. univalens. Results At the genetic level, multiple lines of evidence support that P. univalens were mainly separated into two clades (Horse-derived and Zebra & Donkey-derived). This divergence began at 300-1000 years ago, and we found that most of the key enzymes related to glycolysis were under strong positive selection in zebra & donkey-derived roundworms, but lipid related metabolism system was under positive selection in the horse-derived roundworms, indicating that the adaptive evolution of metabolism may drive the divergence in past few centuries. In addition, we found that some drug-related genes have a significantly higher degree of selection in different populations. Conclusions This work reports evidence that the host’s diet drives the divergence of roundworms for the first time, and also supports that divergence is a continuous and dynamic process, and continuous monitoring of the effects of differences in nutritional and drug history on rapid evolution of roundworms are conducive to further understanding host-parasite interactions.
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- 2021
41. Equus roundworms (Parascaris univalens) are undergoing rapid divergence while genes involved in metabolic as well as anthelminic resistance are under positive selection
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Lei Han, Tianming Lan, Yaxian Lu, Mengchao Zhou, Haimeng Li, Haorong Lu, Qing Wang, Xiuyun Li, Shan Du, Chunyu Guan, Yong Zhang, Sunil Kumar Sahu, Puyi Qian, Shaofang Zhang, Hongcheng Zhou, Wei Guo, Hongliang Chai, Sibo Wang, Quan Liu, Huan Liu, and Zhijun Hou
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Ascaridoidea ,Genetics ,Animals ,Parasites ,Equidae ,Horses ,Phylogeny ,Biotechnology - Abstract
Background The evolution of parasites is often directly affected by the host's environment. Studies on the evolution of the same parasites in different hosts are of great interest and are highly relevant to our understanding of divergence. Methods Here we performed whole-genome sequencing of Parascaris univalens from different Equus hosts (horses, zebras and donkeys). Phylogenetic and selection analyses were performed to study the divergence and adaptability of P. univalens. Results At the genetic level, multiple lines of evidence indicate that P. univalens is mainly separated into two clades (horse-derived and zebra & donkey-derived). This divergence began 300–1000 years ago, and we found that most of the key enzymes related to glycolysis were under strong positive selection in zebra & donkey-derived roundworms, whereas the lipid-related metabolic system was under positive selection in horse-derived roundworms, indicating that the adaptive evolution of metabolism has occurred over the past few centuries. In addition, we found that some drug-related genes showed a significantly higher degree of selection in diverse populations. Conclusions This work reports the adaptive evolution and divergence trend of P. univalens in different hosts for the first time. Its results indicate that the divergence of P. univalens is a continuous, dynamic process. Furthermore, the continuous monitoring of the effects of differences in nutritional and drug histories on the rapid evolution of roundworms is conducive to further understanding host-parasite interactions.
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- 2021
42. A dual-role of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein in regulating innate immune response
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Zedong Wang, Wenfang Wang, Quan Liu, Zhijun Hou, Guoqing Wang, Guangyun Tan, Ping Wu, Ying-Hua Zhao, Yang Yu, and Liyan Sui
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Cancer Research ,TRIM25 ,QH301-705.5 ,viruses ,Article ,Immune system ,Genetics ,medicine ,Coronavirus Nucleocapsid Proteins ,Humans ,STAT1 ,STAT2 ,Biology (General) ,skin and connective tissue diseases ,Innate immunity ,Innate immune system ,biology ,SARS-CoV-2 ,fungi ,COVID-19 ,virus diseases ,Hep G2 Cells ,biochemical phenomena, metabolism, and nutrition ,Phosphoproteins ,Immunity, Innate ,Cell biology ,HEK293 Cells ,A549 Cells ,Interferon Type I ,biology.protein ,Medicine ,Signal transduction ,Caco-2 Cells ,IRF3 ,Infection ,Interferon type I ,medicine.drug ,Signal Transduction - Abstract
The recently emerged severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which is the causative agent of ongoing global pandemic of COVID-19, may trigger immunosuppression in the early stage and overactive immune response in the late stage of infection; However, the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. Here we demonstrated that the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N) protein dually regulated innate immune responses, i.e., the low-dose N protein suppressed type I interferon (IFN-I) signaling and inflammatory cytokines, whereas high-dose N protein promoted IFN-I signaling and inflammatory cytokines. Mechanistically, the SARS-CoV-2 N protein dually regulated the phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of IRF3, STAT1, and STAT2. Additionally, low-dose N protein combined with TRIM25 could suppress the ubiquitination and activation of retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I). Our findings revealed a regulatory mechanism of innate immune responses by the SARS-CoV-2 N protein, which would contribute to understanding the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 and other SARS-like coronaviruses, and development of more effective strategies for controlling COVID-19.
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- 2021
43. Exploration of Zoo felids in North-East China for the prevalence and molecular identification of Cryptosporidium spp
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Zhijun Hou, N. Khalid, Syed Mohsin Bukhari, Lixin Wang, and Shakeel Hussain
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Veterinary Medicine ,North east china ,animal diseases ,Zoology ,Cryptosporidium ,Zoo felids ,General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology ,18S ribosomal RNA ,Phylogenetic ,parasitic diseases ,medicine ,Prevalence ,Molecular Biology ,Feces ,Phylogenetic tree ,biology ,18S rRNA gene ,General Neuroscience ,Zoonosis ,General Medicine ,Genomics ,medicine.disease ,biology.organism_classification ,digestive system diseases ,Cryptosporidium parvum ,Medicine ,General Agricultural and Biological Sciences ,Nested polymerase chain reaction - Abstract
Cryptosporidium spp. is a protozoan having the potential to cause zoonosis in humans and animals. Despite the zoonotic importance of this protozoan parasite, limited data are available about its prevalence in zoo felids in North-Eastern China. Hence, the current study was designed to determine the occurrence and molecular characterization of Cryptosporidium spp. from the fecal samples of captive zoo felids. Fecal samples (N = 244) were collected from different felids from five different zoos of North-Eastern China. 18S rRNA gene was amplified from the genomic DNA using species specific primers in nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR) and Cryptosporidium parvum and Cryptosporidium spp. was found. The overall prevalence of Cryptosporidium was 9.43% (23/244). The 18S rRNA gene similarity analysis showed that 6 Cryptosporidium isolates were Cryptosporidium parvum and the remaining 17 Cryptosporidium isolates were resembling to a Cryptosporidium spp., which is similar to Cryptosporidium NEV10. Phylogenetic tree was constructed based on 18S rRNA of Cryptosporidium spp. The similarity of Cryptosporidium parvum was with its other isolates in China, India, Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Czech Republic, Spain and USA while Cryptosporidium NEV10 alike had a close relationship with Turkish isolates. In conclusion, Cryptosporidium was prevailing in feline animals of China zoo and zoo officials are directed to consider their control policy as it can be a cause of zoonosis.
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- 2021
44. Equus roundworms (Parascaris spp.) are undergoing divergence due to natural and anthropogenic factors
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Wei Guo, Yaxian Lu, Xiuyun Li, Qing Wang, Quan Liu, Hongliang Chai, Haorong Lu, Tianming Lan, Zhijun Hou, Sunil Kumar Sahu, Hongcheng Zhou, Lei Han, Huan Liu, Sibo Wang, Yong Zhang, Chunyu Guan, Puyi Qian, Shaofang Zhang, Mengchao Zhou, Haimeng Li, and Shan Du
- Subjects
Zoology ,Biology ,biology.organism_classification ,Equus ,Natural (archaeology) ,Divergence - Abstract
The evolution of parasites is often directly affected by the host's environment or behavior. Studies on the evolution of the same parasites in different hosts are extremely attractive and highly relevant to our understanding of divergence and speciation. Here we presented the first molecular evidence of divergence of Equus roundworms in different hosts (horses, zebras and donkeys). At the genetic level, Equus roundworms were mainly separated into two clades (Horse-derived and Zebra & Donkey-derived). This divergence began at 600–1500 years ago, which interestingly coincided with the domestication history of horses. We found that most of the key enzymes related to glycolysis were under strong positive selection in zebra & donkey-derived roundworms, indicating that the evolution of the metabolic level was one of the main reasons for the divergence. In addition, we conducted a selective scan of resistance-related genes and found that the three populations were under different degrees of selection. This prompted us to pay attention to the possible impact of drugs on divergence, not just the drug resistance. This work supports that divergence or speciation is a continuous and dynamic process, and continuous monitoring of environmental factors is conducive to further understanding the adaptive evolution of roundworms.
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- 2021
45. Biological characteristics of two mesenchymal stem cell cultures isolated from the umbilical cord and adipose tissue of a neonatal common hippo (Hippopotamus amphibius)
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Jinpu Wei, Xiuxiu Dong, Bo Wang, Yajiang Wu, Wu Chen, Zhijun Hou, Chen Wang, and Tao Wang
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Adipose Tissue ,Animals ,Cell Differentiation ,Mesenchymal Stem Cells ,Cell Biology ,General Medicine ,Cells, Cultured ,Artiodactyla ,Cell Proliferation ,Umbilical Cord ,Developmental Biology - Abstract
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent adult stem cells and can be isolated from many tissues of the body. Due to their potentials to treat various diseases and be applied in animal breeding, MSCs have been isolated and identified regarding their biological properties. Common hippos (Hippopotamus amphibius) are a vulnerable species and yet the cryopreservation of their genetic materials is scare. In this study, we successfully established two MSC cultures (UC-MSCs and AT-MSCs) from the umbilical cord and adipose tissue of a neonatal common hippo and comparatively described their features. Both UC-MSCs and AT-MSCs showed fibroblastoid morphology and could be continuously passaged for over 17 passages without dramatic signs of senescence. The cell cultures had normal chromosome composition, say, 17 pairs of autosomes and 1 pair of X chromosomes. UC-MSCs and AT-MSCs displayed similar gene expression profiles. They were positive for CD34, CD45, CD73, CD90 and CD105 and negative for HLA-DR. They demonstrated stemness maintenance by expression of classical stem cell markers. UC-MSCs and AT-MSCs manifested different differentiation potentials into other cell lineages. In summary, these two cell cultures demonstrated the essential properties of mesenchymal stem cells and might play a role in the future research.
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- 2022
46. Molecular Identification and Antibacterial Activity Analysis of Blue Fox (Vulpes lagopus) β-Defensins 108 and 122
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Li-hong Tian, Zhijun Hou, Ping Wu, Tao-lin Liu, Ling-ling Li, and Nian-Yan Du
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Artificial fertilization ,Vulpes ,Veterinary medicine ,Antimicrobial peptides ,molecular identification ,Semen ,medicine.disease_cause ,Microbiology ,03 medical and health sciences ,Semen quality ,0302 clinical medicine ,antibacterial activity ,SF600-1100 ,medicine ,Escherichia coli ,030304 developmental biology ,Vulpes lagopus ,0303 health sciences ,030219 obstetrics & reproductive medicine ,General Veterinary ,biology ,biology.organism_classification ,QL1-991 ,vBD122 ,Lagopus ,Animal Science and Zoology ,Antibacterial activity ,Zoology ,vBD108 - Abstract
The blue fox (Vulpes lagopus), a fur-bearing animal, is an important component of the breeding industry in China. Semen quality is a key factor for the reproductive process and the breeding effectiveness of the farmed blue fox. However, bacterial contamination in semen samples utilized in artificial fertilization is very common. The β-defensins, a class of important antimicrobial peptides in mammals, could protect the reproductive system of male animals from bacterial invasion, maintain the stability of the genital tract microenvironment and improve semen quality. In this study, molecular cloning and bioinformatics analysis were conducted to analyze the protein structure and function of blue fox β-defensin 108 (Vulpes lagopus beta-defensin 108, vBD108) and 122 (Vulpes lagopus beta-defensin 122, vBD122). To evaluate the bacteriostatic effect of recombinant vBDs (Vulpes lagopus beta-defensins) protein, varying concentrations (0, 25, 50, 100, 200 µg/mL) were taken to evaluate the effects on Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus at different times (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12 h). The results showed that vBD108 and vBD122 existed in different forms in protein structure and had antibacterial activity. Both proteins, at 50 µg/mL, had efficacious bacteriostatic activity. This study shows that recombinant vBD108 and vBD122 proteins have good antibacterial activity in vitro. This implies a potential role in improving semen quality and hygienic measures in the process of artificial insemination as an extender of semen dilution with antibacterial activity.
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- 2021
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47. SARS-CoV-2 Membrane Protein Inhibits Type I Interferon Production Through Ubiquitin-Mediated Degradation of TBK1
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Quan Liu, Yinghua Zhao, Liyan Sui, Wenfang Wang, Zhijun Hou, Guangyun Tan, Yang Yu, Ping Wu, and Zedong Wang
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0301 basic medicine ,TRAF3 ,Interferon-Induced Helicase, IFIH1 ,TBK1 ,viruses ,Immunology ,Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases ,ubiquitination ,Viral Matrix Proteins ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Ubiquitin ,Interferon ,medicine ,Humans ,Immunology and Allergy ,membrane protein ,Receptors, Immunologic ,skin and connective tissue diseases ,Original Research ,TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 3 ,biology ,SARS-CoV-2 ,Chemistry ,fungi ,virus diseases ,RC581-607 ,biochemical phenomena, metabolism, and nutrition ,Type I interferon production ,I-kappa B Kinase ,Cell biology ,HEK293 Cells ,030104 developmental biology ,Membrane protein ,030220 oncology & carcinogenesis ,Interferon Type I ,Proteolysis ,biology.protein ,DEAD Box Protein 58 ,type I interferon ,Phosphorylation ,Interferon Regulatory Factor-3 ,Immunologic diseases. Allergy ,Signal transduction ,IRF3 ,Signal Transduction ,medicine.drug - Abstract
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative pathogen of current COVID-19 pandemic, and insufficient production of type I interferon (IFN-I) is associated with the severe forms of the disease. Membrane (M) protein of SARS-CoV-2 has been reported to suppress host IFN-I production, but the underlying mechanism is not completely understood. In this study, SARS-CoV-2 M protein was confirmed to suppress the expression of IFNβ and interferon-stimulated genes induced by RIG-I, MDA5, IKKϵ, and TBK1, and to inhibit IRF3 phosphorylation and dimerization caused by TBK1. SARS-CoV-2 M could interact with MDA5, TRAF3, IKKϵ, and TBK1, and induce TBK1 degradation via K48-linked ubiquitination. The reduced TBK1 further impaired the formation of TRAF3–TANK–TBK1-IKKε complex that leads to inhibition of IFN-I production. Our study revealed a novel mechanism of SARS-CoV-2 M for negative regulation of IFN-I production, which would provide deeper insight into the innate immunosuppression and pathogenicity of SARS-CoV-2.
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- 2021
48. Morphological and phylogenetical analysis reveals that a new tapeworm species (Cestoda: Hymenolepididae) from whooper swan belongs to Cloacotaenia not Hymenolepis
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Qian Zhai, Li-Xin Wang, Zhiwei Peng, Yaxian Lu, Ying Sun, Zhijun Hou, Hongliang Chai, Dongdong Shen, Yanqiang Zhou, Lei Han, and Liwei Teng
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0106 biological sciences ,biology ,Phylogenetic tree ,Cestoda ,Ovary (botany) ,Zoology ,Forestry ,04 agricultural and veterinary sciences ,biology.organism_classification ,01 natural sciences ,Whooper swan ,28S ribosomal RNA ,Rostellum (helminth) ,040103 agronomy & agriculture ,0401 agriculture, forestry, and fisheries ,Hymenolepididae ,Hymenolepis (tapeworm) ,010606 plant biology & botany - Abstract
During a helminthological study of waterfowl in China, a new species (Cloacotaenia cygnimorbus sp. nov.) of hymenolepidid cestodes (tapeworm) was found in the small intestine of whooper swan (Cygnus cygnus, Linnaeus, 1758). The rudimentary rostellum and four unarmed muscular suckers, proglottids with distinct craspedote and three spherical testes were coincident with the characters of Cloacotaenia or Hymenolepis, but phylogenetic analysis of 28S rRNA and cox1 gene revealed that the new species is Cloacotaenia rather than Hymenolepis. Its morphology was also clearly differentiated from C. megalops in the arrangement of its testes in a triangle instead of in line and the cirrus unarmed rather than spined. Compared with C. megalops, the new species has more elongated neck, much larger mature proglottids and much smaller testes, cirrus sac, ovary, vitellarium and uterine proglottid. In addition, it infected the host intestine not the cloacae. Phylogenetic analysis of cox1 gene of the new species shows that it had a level of sequence variation (10.52–23.06%) with the sequences of C. megalops. The considerable morphological and molecular differences between those two parasites support C. cygnimorbus sp. nov. as a new species.
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- 2019
49. SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein dually regulates innate immune responses
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Yinghua Zhao, Liyan Sui, Guoqing Wang, Quan Liu, Wenfang Wang, Zedong Wang, Guangyun Tan, Ping Wu, Yang Yu, and Zhijun Hou
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TRIM25 ,Innate immune system ,biology ,viruses ,virus diseases ,biochemical phenomena, metabolism, and nutrition ,medicine.disease ,Proinflammatory cytokine ,Cell biology ,Interferon ,biology.protein ,medicine ,STAT1 ,STAT2 ,Cytokine storm ,IRF3 ,medicine.drug - Abstract
The recently emerged severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of the ongoing global pandemic of COVID-19, may trigger immunosuppression in the early stage and a cytokine storm in the late stage of infection, however, the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. Here we demonstrated that the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N) protein dually regulated innate immune responses, i.e., the low-dose N protein suppressed type I interferon (IFN-I) signaling and inflammatory cytokines, whereas high-dose N protein promoted IFN-I signaling and inflammatory cytokines. Mechanistically, the SARS-CoV-2 N protein interacted with the tripartite motif protein 25 (TRIM25), thereby dually regulating the phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of IRF3, STAT1 and STAT2. Additionally, low-dose N protein combined with TRIM25 could suppress retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I) ubiquitination and activation. Our findings revealed a regulatory mechanism of innate immune responses by the SARS-CoV-2 N protein, which would contribute to understanding the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 and other SARS-like coronaviruses, and development of more effective strategies for controlling COVID-19.
- Published
- 2021
50. Declined expressing mRNA of beta-defensin 108 from epididymis is associated with decreased sperm motility in blue fox (Vulpes lagopus)
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Li-hong Tian, Ping Wu, Zhijun Hou, Ling-ling Li, Tao-lin Liu, and Zhi-ping Liu
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Male ,beta-Defensins ,Vulpes ,animal diseases ,Foxes ,Pathogenesis ,Andrology ,03 medical and health sciences ,Vulpes lagopus ,0302 clinical medicine ,parasitic diseases ,medicine ,Animals ,RNA, Messenger ,Animal Husbandry ,Sperm motility ,030304 developmental biology ,Epididymis ,0303 health sciences ,Messenger RNA ,lcsh:Veterinary medicine ,030219 obstetrics & reproductive medicine ,General Veterinary ,biology ,virus diseases ,food and beverages ,General Medicine ,biology.organism_classification ,Fertility ,medicine.anatomical_structure ,Beta defensin ,Asthenozoospermia ,asthenospermia ,Sperm Motility ,biology.protein ,lcsh:SF600-1100 ,population characteristics ,Immunohistochemistry ,Antibody ,vBD108 ,Research Article - Abstract
Background Fecundity is important for farm blue fox (Vulpes lagopus), who with asthenospermia have be a problem in some of farms in China. A key symptom of asthenospermia is decreased sperm motility. The decreased secreting beta-defensin108 (vBD108) of blue fox is speculated be related to asthenospermia. To clarify this idea, the mRNA expression of vBD108 in testis and epididymis of blue foxes with asthenospermia were detected and compared to the healthy one. The antibody was prepared and analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Results The vBD108 in testis and epididymis was found both in blue fox with asthenospermia and healthy group by the method of immunohistochemistry. The expression of vBD108 mRNA in testes (P P Conclusions These results suggested that vBD108 deficiency may related to blue fox asthenospermia. Meanwhile, the study on the blue fox vBD108 provides a hopeful direction to explore the pathogenesis of blue fox asthenospermia in the future.
- Published
- 2021
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