Infectious bronchitis virus inhibits activation of the TLR7 pathway, but not the TLR3 pathway.

Various strains of infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) cause different forms of infectious bronchitis with different clinical signs. Here, primary chicken embryo kidney (CEK) cells and specific-pathogen-free (SPF) chickens were infected with three pathogenic IBV strains, and it was observed that the TLR7-MYD88 pathway was inhibited but the TLR3-TIRF pathway was activated. After treatment with poly(I:C)-LMW, poly (I:C)-LMW/LyoVec, and Imiquimod, the replication of IBV was significantly suppressed after 24 h. However, treatment with TLR3 pathway inhibitors such as Pepinh-TRIF, celastrol, chloroquine, and BX795 resulted in increased replication of IBV after 36 h. These results also showed that chloroquine and celastrol were most effective inhibitors of the antiviral response at 48 hpi.

Uncovering genomic regions controlling plant architectural traits in hexaploid wheat using different GWAS models.

Wheat is a major food crop worldwide. The plant architecture is a complex trait mostly influenced by plant height, tiller number, and leaf morphology. Plant height plays a crucial role in lodging and thus affects yield and grain quality. In this study, a wheat population was genotyped by using Illumina iSelect 90K single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) assay and finally 22,905 high-quality SNPs were used to perform a genome-wide association study (GWAS) for plant architectural traits employing four multi-locus GWAS (ML-GWAS) and three single-locus GWAS (SL-GWAS) models. As a result, 174 and 97 significant SNPs controlling plant architectural traits were detected by ML-GWAS and SL-GWAS methods, respectively. Among these SNP makers, 43 SNPs were consistently detected, including seven across multiple environments and 36 across multiple methods. Interestingly, five SNPs (Kukri_c34553_89, RAC875_c8121_1490, wsnp_Ex_rep_c66315_64480362, Ku_c5191_340, and tplb0049a09_1302) consistently detected across multiple environments and methods, played a role in modulating both plant height and flag leaf length. Furthermore, candidate SNPs (BS00068592_51, Kukri_c4750_452 and BS00022127_51) constantly repeated in different years and methods associated with flag leaf width and number of tillers. We also detected several SNPs (Jagger_c6772_80, RAC875_c8121_1490, BS00089954_51, Excalibur_01167_1207, and Ku_c5191_340) having common associations with more than one trait across multiple environments. By further appraising these GWAS methods, the pLARmEB and FarmCPU models outperformed in SNP detection compared to the other ML-GWAS and SL-GWAS methods, respectively. Totally, 152 candidate genes were found to be likely involved in plant growth and development. These finding will be helpful for better understanding of the genetic mechanism of architectural traits in wheat.

[Study on an intervention model of "schools without infected students with schistosoma japonica" in heavy endemic areas].

OBJECTIVE: To study an intervention model of "schools without infected students with schistosoma japonica", to control and prevent students from schistosoma infection. METHODS: Twelve primary schools of four heavy endemic counties (districts) with schistosomiasis in the Poyang Lake areas were selected as the study fields, of which, ten schools were the experimental groups, and the other two schools were the control groups by cluster random sampling. All enrolment students were the target population. The baseline survey was carried out in 2005, and an intervention model, "information dissemination + behavior participation + behavior encouragement", was applied in the experiment groups in 2006 - 2008, then the effect of intervention was assessed. RESULTS: Before intervention (2005), the anti-schistosomiasis knowledge awareness rate of experimental and control groups were 14.75% (324/2196) and 16.58% (91/549), and the different was not significant (χ(2) = 1.14, P > 0.05); the rate of accurate attitude of anti-schistosomiasis were 14.71% (323/2196) and 11.84% (65/549) in experimental and control groups, and the difference was not significant (χ(2) = 2.98, P > 0.05); the rate of contacting infected water were 15.44% (18 988/122 976) and 15.03% (4622/30 744) in experimental and control group and the difference was not significant (χ(2) = 3.13, P > 0.05); and the infection rate of schistosomiasis of experiment control groups were 9.65% (212/2196) and 10.56% (58/549), the difference was not significant (χ(2) = 0.41, P > 0.05). After one year intervention (2006), the anti-schistosomiasis knowledge awareness rate of experimental and control groups were 97.79% (2032/2078) and 18.11% (98/541), and the different was significant (χ(2) = 1794.31, P < 0.01); the rate of accurate attitude of anti-schistosomiasis were 99.09% (2059/2078) and 13.49% (73/541) in experimental and control group, and the difference was significant (χ(2) = 2077.45, P < 0.01). After 1 - 3 years intervention (2006 - 2008), there were no any contactors with infected water and infectors with schistosome in students of the experiment group in successive 3 years. While in the control group of the same period, the rate contacting infected water were 16.12% (4884/30 296), 11.11% (3079/27 720) and 12.25% (3451/28 168); the infection rate of schistosomiasis were 8.87% (48/541), 7.47% (37/495) and 7.95% (40/503), respectively. CONCLUSION: The intervention model of health promotion, "information dissemination + behavior participation + behavior encouragement", can effectively control and prevent students from infecting schistosoma japonica in heavy endemic areas with schistosomiasis.

[Establishment and application of school-based health promotion and intervention model of schistosomiasis in lake-type endemic area].

OBJECTIVE: To establish an intervention model of school health promotion, and apply it in developing "schistosomiasis-free schools". METHODS: At the pilot stage, all students of Henghu primary school and Banshan primary school in Xinjian County of Jiangxi Province were selected as experiment group and control group, respectively. A baseline survey covered knowledge and attitude on schistosomiasis control, water contact behaviors and Schistosoma japonicum infection rate. Two health promotion intervention models, i.e. "information communication + training of protection skill + reward & punishment" (model A, 1993-1999) and "information communication + behavior participation + encouragement" (model B, 2000-2007), were implemented in Henghu school. The effect of two models was compared by infection rate. At the application stage, all students of 8 schools in Xinjian County, Nanchang County, and Jinxian County were chosen for evaluation of the effectiveness of Model B with same methods and index. RESULTS: Before intervention there was no significant statistical difference on the passed rate of anti-schistosomiasis knowledge, correct rate of anti-schistosomiasis attitude, frequency of infested water exposure and the infection rate between Henghu and Banshan schools (P > 0.05). In Henghu school, the intervention showed significant effect on the scores of knowledge and attitude after one year (P < 0.01), raised from 9.0% and 55.1% before intervention to 94.4% and 98.9% after intervention, respectively. The frequency of infested water exposure and the infection rate significantly decreased from 14.6% and 13.5% before intervention to 1.9% and 2.3%, respectively (P < 0.01). In 2-7 years after intervention, there were only one or two schistosomiasis cases each year. At the application stage, no schistosomiasis cases were found among Model B target population in two successive years after intervention. CONCLUSION: The practice of Model B can be extended to other schools in endemic area to develop "schistosomiasis-free schools".

[Current status of human Schistosoma japonicum infection and reinfection in marshland and lake regions of Xinjian County, Jiangxi Province, China].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the dynamics of human infection and reinfection of Schistosoma japonicum after chemotherapy in marshland and lake endemic regions so as to provide the evidence for developing a cost-effective control strategy. METHODS: From 2007 to 2011, the schistosome infection, intensities and reinfection of population were investigated and the results were analyzed dynamically in Caohui Village, a national schistosomiasis surveillance site in Changyi Township, Xinjian County, Jiangxi Province, China. RESULTS: The schistosome infection rate was 3.55% and the mean intensity was 1.56 in 2007, and the schistosome infection rate was 1.52% and the mean intensity was 1.60 in 2011. The reinfection rates were 2.70%, 9.09% and 2.47% in 2009, 2010, and 2011, respectively. CONCLUSION: The schistosomiasis endemic situation shows a downtrend in the village. However, the reinfection is still serious; therefore, we should strengthen the research of risk factors of reinfection and control them.

[Advanced schistosomiasis chemotherapy and assistance in Xinjian County, 2005-2009].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the status of chemotherapy and assistance for advanced schistosomiasis patients in Xinjian County, 2005-2009. METHODS: The data of chemotherapy and assistance for patients with advanced schistosomiasis in Xinjian County from 2005 to 2009 were collected and analyzed statistically by using The Information Management System for Advanced Schistosomiasis Chemotherapy and Assistance in Jiangxi Province. RESULTS: Among 636 cases, the sex ratio of male to female was 1.19: 1, and the average age was 61.52 +/- 11.2 years old. Ascites was the main symptoms of patients (93.71%), and the percentage of splenectomized ones was 32.38% among them. The IHA-positive rate, HBsAg-positive rate and repeat treatment rate were 31.6%, 24.37% and 44.50%, respectively. The clinical cure rate, recovery rate and death rate were 43.53%, 55.94% and 5.97%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The advanced schistosomiasis chemotherapy and assistance improves the symptoms and life quality of these patients.

[Surveillance of schistosomiasis in Caohui Village, Xinjian County, 2005 - 2010].

The surveillance of schistosomiasis in a national schistosomiasis surveillance site, Caohui Village, Xinjian County, 2005-2010 showed that the infection rates of residents and livestock decreased to below 3% and 5%, respectively. However, the endemic situation was still of instability. Therefore, we should strengthen the comprehensive control measures including the control of infectious sources in the light of local conditions to control the schistosomiasis endemic situation.