Transcriptomic profiling of long non-coding RNAs and messenger RNAs in the liver of mice during Toxoplasma gondii infection.

BACKGROUND: Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular protozoan parasite that can infect a wide range of warm-blooded animals, including humans. It poses significant health risks, particularly in immunocompromised individuals and during pregnancy, leading to severe disease manifestations. The liver, being a crucial organ involved in immune response and metabolic regulation, plays a critical role in the host's defense against T. gondii infection. METHODS: In this study, we utilized RNA sequencing to investigate the expression profiles of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and messenger RNAs (mRNAs) in the liver of mice infected with T. gondii. By employing this method, we obtained a comprehensive overview of the alterations in gene expression occurring in the liver during infection. RESULTS: By comparing the infected groups to the control groups, we identified numerous differentially expressed lncRNAs DElncRNAs and DEmRNAs at two stages of infection. Specifically, at the acute infection stage, we found 628 DElncRNAs, and 6346 DEmRNAs. At the chronic infection stage, we identified 385 DElncRNAs and 2513 DEmRNAs. Furthermore, we identified 1959 commonly expressed DEmRNAs, including IL27, Nos2, and Cxcr2, across two infection stages. Enrichment and co-location analyses revealed pathways linked to immune and inflammatory responses during T. gondii infection. Notably, through co-location analysis, our analysis revealed several DElncRNAs, including Gm29156, Gm29157, and Gm28644, which are potentially implicated in the progression of liver inflammation induced by T. gondii. Additionally, functional enrichment analysis disclosed stage-specific characteristics of liver inflammation and immune response, alongside changes in metabolic regulation and immunosuppression pathways. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings provide valuable insights into the expression patterns of lncRNAs and mRNAs in the liver at different stages of T. gondii infection. We identified potential regulatory factors and pathways implicated in liver inflammation, thereby enhancing our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying liver inflammation and immune responses during T. gondii infection. These findings could contribute to the development of targeted therapeutic strategies for liver inflammation in the context of T. gondii infection.

Potato virus Y viral protein 6K1 inhibits the interaction between defense proteins during virus infection.

14-3-3 proteins play vital roles in plant defense against various pathogen invasions. To date, how 14-3-3 affects virus infections in plants remains largely unclear. In this study, we found that Nicotiana benthamiana 14-3-3h interacts with TRANSLATIONALLY CONTROLLED TUMOR PROTEIN (TCTP), a susceptibility factor of potato virus Y (PVY). Silencing of Nb14-3-3h facilitates PVY accumulation, whereas overexpression of Nb14-3-3h inhibits PVY replication. The antiviral activities of 3 Nb14-3-3h dimerization defective mutants are significantly decreased, indicating that dimerization of Nb14-3-3h is indispensable for restricting PVY infection. Our results also showed that the mutant Nb14-3-3hE16A, which is capable of dimerizing but not interacting with NbTCTP, has reduced anti-PVY activity; the mutant NbTCTPI65A, which is unable to interact with Nb14-3-3h, facilitates PVY replication compared with the wild-type NbTCTP, indicating that dimeric Nb14-3-3h restricts PVY infection by interacting with NbTCTP and preventing its proviral function. As a counter-defense, PVY 6K1 interferes with the interaction between Nb14-3-3h and NbTCTP by competitively binding to Nb14-3-3h and rescues NbTCTP to promote PVY infection. Our results provide insights into the arms race between plants and potyviruses.

[Establishment of a nomogram model for predicting the risk of early-onset sepsis in very preterm infants]. / 预测极早产儿早发型败血症发生风险的列线图模型的构建.

OBJECTIVES: To identify risk factors associated with early-onset sepsis (EOS) in very preterm infants and develop a nomogram model for predicting the risk of EOS. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 344 very preterm infants delivered at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University and admitted to the Department of Neonatology between January 2020 and December 2022. These infants were randomly divided into a training set (241 infants) and a validating set (103 infants) in a 7:3 ratio. The training set was further divided into two groups based on the presence or absence of EOS: EOS (n=64) and non-EOS (n=177). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify risk factors for EOS in the very preterm infants. The nomogram model was developed using R language and validated using the validating set. The discriminative ability, calibration, and clinical utility of the model were assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, calibration curve analysis, and decision curve analysis, respectively. RESULTS: The multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that gestational age, need for tracheal intubation in the delivery room, meconium-stained amniotic fluid, serum albumin level on the first day of life, and chorioamnionitis were risk factors for EOS in very preterm infants (P<0.05). The area under the ROC curve for the training set was 0.925 (95%CI: 0.888-0.963), and that for the validating set was 0.796 (95%CI: 0.694-0.898), confirming the model's good discrimination. The Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test suggested that the model was well-fitting (P=0.621). The calibration curve analysis and decision curve analysis demonstrated that the model had high predictive efficacy and clinical applicability. CONCLUSIONS: Gestational age, need for tracheal intubation in the delivery room, meconium-stained amniotic fluid, serum albumin level on the first day of life, and chorioamnionitis are significantly associated with the development of EOS in very preterm infants.The nomogram model for predicting the risk of EOS in very preterm infants, constructed based on these factors, has high predictive efficacy and clinical applicability.

[PROSI Mutation With Clinical Heterogeneity in Protein S Deficiency:Report of One Case].

Reduced protein S activity is one of the high-risk factors for venous thromboembolism.Hereditary protein S deficiency is an autosomal dominant disorder caused by mutations in the PROS1 gene.We reported a female patient with a mutation of c.292 G>T in exon 3 of the PROS1 gene,which was identified by sequencing.The genealogical analysis revealed that the mutation probably originated from the patient's mother.After searching against the PROS1 gene mutation database and the relevant literature,we confirmed that this mutation was reported for the first time internationally.

Cardioprotective effect of epigallocatechin gallate in myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury and myocardial infarction: a meta-analysis in preclinical animal studies.

This meta-analysis aims to determine the efficacy of Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) in the treatment of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MIRI) and summarize the mechanisms involved. Literature from six databases including Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wan-Fang database, and VIP database (VIP) were systematically searched. All the analysis were conducted by R. Twenty-five eligible studies involving 443 animals were included in this meta-analysis. The results indicated that compared to controls, EGCG exerts a cardioprotective effect by reducing myocardial infarct size (SMD = -4.06; 95% CI: -5.17, -2.94; P < 0.01; I2 = 77%). The funnel plot revealed publication bias. Moreover, EGCG significantly improves cardiac function, serum myocardial injury enzyme, and oxidative stress levels in MIRI animal models. This meta-analysis demonstrates that EGCG exhibits therapeutic promise in animal models of MIRI. However, further validation is still needed in large animal models and large clinical studies.

From Centrosymmetry to Noncentrosymmetry: Precise Structural Regulation and Characterization on ZnHPO3·2H2O Polymorphs.

Polymorphs of ZnHPO3·2H2O with centrosymmetry (Cmcm) and noncentrosymmetry (C2) structures were prepared by modified solution evaporation and seed-crystal-induced secondary nucleation methods. In Cmcm-ZnHPO3·2H2O, the zinc atoms are only octahedrally coordinated, while in C2-ZnHPO3·2H2O, they feature both tetrahedral and octahedral coordination. As a result, Cmcm-ZnHPO3·2H2O features a 2D layered structure with lattice water molecules located in the interlayer space, while C2-ZnHPO3·2H2O features a 3D electroneutral framework of tfa topology connected by Zn(1)O4, Zn(2)O6, and HPO3 units. The UV-visible diffuse reflectance spectra associated with Tauc's analyses give a direct bandgap of 4.24 and 4.33 eV for Cmcm-ZnHPO3·2H2O and C2-ZnHPO3·2H2O, respectively. Moreover, C2-ZnHPO3·2H2O exhibits a weak second harmonic generation (SHG) response and a moderate birefringence for phase matching, indicating its potential as a nonlinear optical material. Detailed dipole moment calculation and analysis confirmed that the SHG response mainly derived from the HPO3 pseudo-tetrahedra.

Cardioprotective effect of curcumin on myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury: a meta-analysis of preclinical animal studies.

Objective: This meta-analysis aimed to determine the efficacy of curcumin in preventing myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in animal models. Methods: Studies published from inception to January 2023 were systematically searched in databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, China's National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wan-Fang database, and VIP database (VIP). The SYRCLE's RoB tool was used to determine methodological quality. Sensitivity analysis and subgroup analysis were performed when there was high heterogeneity. Publication bias was assessed using a funnel plot. Results: Thirty-seven studies involving 771 animals were included in this meta-analysis with methodology quality scores ranging from 4 to 7. The results indicated that curcumin treatment significantly improved myocardial infarction size standard mean difference (SMD) = -5.65; 95% confidence interval (CI): 6.94, -4.36; p < 0.01; I2 = 90%). The sensitivity analysis for infarct size showed that the results were stable and reliable. However, the funnel plot was asymmetric. The subgroup analysis included species, animal model, dose, administration, and duration. The results showed that the subgroup dose was statistically significant between subgroups. In addition, curcumin treatment improved cardiac function, myocardial injury enzymes, and oxidative stress levels in animal models of myocardial I/R injury. The funnel plot revealed that there is publication bias for creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase. Finally, we performed a meta-analysis of inflammatory cytokines and apoptosis index. The results showed that curcumin treatment downregulated serum inflammatory cytokine levels and myocardial apoptosis index. Conclusion: This meta-analysis suggests that curcumin has excellent potential for the treatment of myocardial I/R injury in animal models. However, this conclusion needs to be further discussed and verified in large animal models and human clinical trials. Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD42022383901.

The efficacy and safety of anti-PD-1/PD-L1 in treatment of glioma: a single-arm meta-analysis.

Objective: This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors in patients with glioma. Methods: PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and the Cochrane library were searched from inception to January 2023 without language restriction. Primary outcomes included overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rate (ORR), and adverse events (AEs). The risk of bias was assessed by subgroup analysis, sensitivity analysis, and publication bias, including funnel plot, Egger's test, and Begg's test. Results: A total of 20 studies involving 2,321 patients were included in this meta-analysis. In the analysis of the included phase III clinical trials, the forest plot showed that PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors did not improve the OS (HR=1.15, 95% CI: 1.03-1.29, P=0.02, I2 = 14%) and PFS (HR=1.43, 95% CI: 1.03-1.99, P=0.03, I2 = 87%). In the single-arm analysis, the forest plot demonstrated that the 6-month OS was 71% (95% CI: 57%-83%, I2 = 92%), 1-year OS was 43% (95% CI: 33%-54%, I2 = 93%), and the 2-year OS was 27% (95% CI: 13%-44%, I2 = 97%). The pooled estimate of the median OS was 8.85 months (95% CI: 7.33-10.36, I2 = 91%). Furthermore, the result indicated that the 6-month PFS was 28% (95% CI: 18%-40%, I2 = 95%), 1-year PFS was 15% (95% CI: 8%-23%, I2 = 92%), and the 18-month PFS was 10% (95% CI: 3%-20%, I2 = 93%). The pooled estimate of the median PFS was 3.72 months (95% CI: 2.44-5.00, I2 = 99%). For ORR, the pooled estimate of ORR was 10% (95% CI: 2%-20%, I2 = 88%). We further analyzed the incidence of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor-related AEs, and the pooled incidence of AEs was 70% (95% CI: 58%-81%, I2 = 94%). The incidence of AEs ≥ grade 3 was 19% (95% CI: 11%-30%, I2 = 94%). The funnel plot for the median PFS and median OS was symmetric with no significant differences in Egger's test and Begg's test. The sensitivity analysis revealed that our results were stable and reliable. Conclusion: The results of this meta-analysis suggest that anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy is relatively safe but could not prolong survival in glioma. More randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm our results. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD42023396057.

Metagenomic insights into the composition and function of the gut microbiota of mice infected with Toxoplasma gondii.

Introduction: Despite Toxoplasma gondii infection leading to dysbiosis and enteritis, the function of gut microbiota in toxoplasmosis has not been explored. Methods: Here, shotgun metagenomics was employed to characterize the composition and function of mouse microbial community during acute and chronic T. gondii infection, respectively. Results: The results revealed that the diversity of gut bacteria was decreased immediately after T. gondii infection, and was increased with the duration of infection. In addition, T. gondii infection led to gut microbiota dysbiosis both in acute and chronic infection periods. Therein, several signatures, including depression of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio and infection-enriched Proteobacteria, were observed in the chronic period, which may contribute to aggravated gut inflammation and disease severity. Functional analysis showed that a large amount of Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways and carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZy) family displayed distinct variation in abundance between infected and healthy mice. The lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis related pathways were activated in the chronic infection period, which might lead to immune system imbalance and involve in intestinal inflammation. Moreover, microbial and functional spectrums were more disordered in chronic than acute infection periods, thus implying gut microbiota was more likely to participate in disease process in the chronically infected mice, even exacerbated immunologic derangement and disease progression. Discussion: Our data indicate that the gut microbiota plays a potentially important role in protecting mice from T. gondii infection, and contributes to better understand the association between gut microbiota and toxoplasmosis.

Unravelling Strain-Specific Modifications of Toxoplasma gondii tRNA and sncRNA Using LC-MS/MS.

Many RNA modifications have been detected in rRNA, tRNA and small noncoding RNA (sncRNA) as well as in low-abundance RNA species such mRNA. Although RNA modifications play roles in many cellular and biological processes in various domains of life, knowledge about the diversity and role of RNA modifications in Toxoplasma gondii is limited. In this study, RNA modifications in three T. gondii strains (RH type I, PRU type II, and VEG type III) with distinct virulence abilities were determined by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. We compared the levels of modifications of four nucleotides in tRNA and sncRNA, characterized RNA modification patterns of different T. gondii strains, and determined the diversity of RNA modifications. We detected and quantified 22 modified nucleosides in both tRNA and sncRNA. Significant differences in the diversity of the modified nucleosides were found between the three T. gondii strains. RNA modifications were correlated with the expression of many T. gondii virulence proteins. Some of the identified modifications (e.g., 2'-O-methylinosine, pseudouridine) play a role in mediating the host-parasite interaction. These results provide novel insight into the global modifications in tRNA and sncRNA, and the diversity of RNA modifications between T. gondii strains with different virulence backgrounds. IMPORTANCE Although RNA modifications play roles in many cellular and developmental processes in various domains of life, knowledge about the patterns and functions of RNA modifications in T. gondii is limited. Here, a quantitative liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) approach was used to study global RNA modifications in T. gondii strains of distinct virulence backgrounds. We quantified 22 modified nucleosides in both tRNA and sncRNA. Significant T. gondii strain-specific differences in RNA modifications were detected. More tRNA modifications correlated with T. gondii virulence proteins than sncRNA modifications. RNA modifications were significantly correlated with virulence proteins. Our data provide the first comprehensive profiling of the modifications tRNA and sncRNA in T. gondii, expanding the diversity of RNA modifications in this parasite and suggesting new regulators for modulating its virulence.

Preclinical evidence of reno-protective effect of quercetin on acute kidney injury: a meta-analysis of animal studies.

Objective: This study evaluated the reno-protective effects of quercetin in animal models of acute kidney injury (AKI). Methods: We conducted a systematic search of literature published before April 2023 in PubMed, Web of Science, and EMBASE databases. Methodological quality was assessed by SYRCLE's RoB tool. Funnel plot, Egger's test, and Begg's test were used to determine publication bias. Results: A total of 19 studies with 288 animals were included in this meta-analysis. The methodology quality scores of the included studies ranged from 4 to 7. The results indicated that quercetin reduced blood urea nitrogen (SMD = -4.78; 95% CI: 6.45, -3.12; p < 0.01; I2 = 84%) and serum creatinine (SMD: 2.73, 95% CI: 3.66, -1.80; p < 0.01; I2 = 80%) in AKI models. The result of sensitivity analysis was stable, while the results of funnel plot indicated asymmetric. In addition, we further analyzed inflammatory cytokines, oxidative stress levels, and kidney injury scores, and found that quercetin treatment had antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects and improved kidney injury scores in animal models of AKI. Conclusion: Quercetin exhibited a promising reno-protective effect in AKI animal models. Systematic Review Registration: PROSPERO (CRD42023433333).

Global prevalence and risk factors of Cryptosporidium infection in Equus: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Intoduction: Cryptosporidiosis is a zoonotic disease caused by Cryptosporidium infection with the main symptom of diarrhea. The present study performed a metaanalysis to determine the global prevalence of Cryptosporidium in Equus animals. Methods: Data collection was carried out using Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), VIP Chinese journal database (VIP), WanFang Data, PubMed, and ScienceDirect databases, with 35 articles published before 2021 being included in this systematic analysis. This study analyzed the research data through subgroup analysis and univariate regression analysis to reveal the factors leading to high prevalence. We applied a random effects model (REM) to the metadata. Results: The total prevalence rate of Cryptosporidium in Equus was estimated to be 7.59% from the selected articles. The prevalence of Cryptosporidium in female Equus was 2.60%. The prevalence of Cryptosporidium in Equus under 1-year-old was 11.06%, which was higher than that of Equus over 1-year-old (2.52%). In the experimental method groups, the positive rate detected by microscopy was the highest (10.52%). The highest Cryptosporidium prevalence was found in scale breeding Equus (7.86%). The horses had the lowest Cryptosporidium prevalence (7.32%) among host groups. C. muris was the most frequently detected genotype in the samples (53.55%). In the groups of geographical factors, the prevalence rate of Cryptosporidium in Equus was higher in regions with low altitude (6.88%), rainy (15.63%), humid (22.69%), and tropical climates (16.46%). Discussion: The search strategy use of five databases might have caused the omission of some researches. This metaanalysis systematically presented the global prevalence and potential risk factors of Cryptosporidium infection in Equus. The farmers should strengthen the management of young and female Equus animals, improve water filtration systems, reduce stocking densities, and harmless treatment of livestock manure.

CircRNA and miRNA expression analysis in livers of mice with Toxoplasma gondii infection.

Toxoplasmosis is an important zoonotic parasitic disease caused by Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii). However, the functions of circRNAs and miRNAs in response to T. gondii infection in the livers of mice at acute and chronic stages remain unknown. Here, high-throughput RNA sequencing was performed for detecting the expression of circRNAs and miRNAs in livers of mice infected with 20 T. gondii cysts at the acute and chronic stages, in order to understand the potential molecular mechanisms underlying hepatic toxoplasmosis. Overall, 265 and 97 differentially expressed (DE) circRNAs were found in livers at the acute and chronic infection stages in comparison with controls, respectively. In addition, 171 and 77 DEmiRNAs were found in livers at the acute and chronic infection stages, respectively. Functional annotation showed that some immunity-related Gene ontology terms, such as "positive regulation of cytokine production", "regulation of T cell activation", and "immune receptor activity", were enriched at the two infection stages. Moreover, the pathways "Valine, leucine, and isoleucine degradation", "Fatty acid metabolism", and "Glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism" were involved in liver disease. Remarkably, DEcircRNA 6:124519352|124575359 was significantly correlated with DEmiRNAs mmu-miR-146a-5p and mmu-miR-150-5p in the network that was associated with liver immunity and pathogenesis of disease. This study revealed that the expression profiling of circRNAs in the livers was changed after T. gondii infection, and improved our understanding of the transcriptomic landscape of hepatic toxoplasmosis in mice.

Prevalence of bovine rotavirus among Bovidae in China during 1984-2021: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Bovine rotavirus (BRV) is a potential zoonotic intestinal pathogen that brings a serious threat to calf health, and has resulted in huge economic losses to China's breeding industry. Here, a systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to estimate the prevalence of BRV among Bovidae from 1984 to 2021 in China. A total of 64 publications on BRV investigation in China were screened from the databases Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wan Fang Database, Technology Periodical Database (VIP), PubMed, and ScienceDirect. The random-effect model was used to calculate the pooled prevalence of BRV, and the analyzed data were derived from 25 provinces in China. The estimated pooled prevalence of BRV in China was 35.7% (8176/17,292). In addition, the prevalence of BRV in Southwestern China (77.1%; 2924/3600) was significantly higher than that in other regions of China. Regarding geographic and climatic factors, the prevalence of BRV in the subgroup of latitude 30-35° (76.8%; 3303/4659) was significantly higher than that in the subgroup of latitude less than 30° (37.0%; 485/1275) or more than 35° (32.6%; 1703/5722), while the prevalence of BRV in the subgroup of longitude 100-105° (75.4%; 2513/3849) was significantly higher than that in the subgroup of longitude less than 100° (32.6%; 619/2255) or more than 105° (48.9%; 2359/5552). Rainfall was positively correlated with the prevalence of BRV, whereas temperature was negatively correlated with the positive rate of BRV (P < 0.05). Our data showed that the prevalence of BRV was strongly correlated with geographical and climatic conditions. Thus, we recommend that the corresponding prevention and control programs should be formulated according to different geographical conditions. The strengthening of BRV surveillance in areas with high altitude, low temperature, and heavy rainfall may contribute to the decrease of the incidence of BRV infection among Bovidae herds in China.

Seroprevalence and risk factors of Neospora caninum infection in cattle in China from 2011 to 2020: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Neosporosis is a worldwide infectious disease caused by the obligate intracellular parasite protozoan Neospora caninum (N. caninum), which has a heteroxenous life cycle and affects a wide range of warm-blooded animals, especially canines and cattle. Here, a meta-analysis was conducted to assess the overall seroprevalence and potential risk factors for N. caninum infection among cattle in China. The VIP Chinese Journal Databases (VIP), PubMed, WanFang, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and ScienceDirect databases were employed for a comprehensive search for relevant studies published from 2011 to 2020. A random-effects model was used to calculate the pooled seroprevalence estimated with 95% confidence intervals. The pooled N. caninum seroprevalence in cattle was estimated to be 12.2%. The highest seroprevalence of N. caninum infection in cattle was in Southern China (20.9%), while the lowest seroprevalence was in Northwest China (9.4%). The seroprevalence of N. caninum in the sub-group 2016 or later (10.2%) was lower than that in 2012-2015 (20.7%) and before 2012 (17.2%). Yaks were the least infected species of cattle (7.3%; Yellow cattle 18.1%; Buffalo 7.8%; Dairy cattle 21.5%). Cattle aged > 5 years had higher seroprevalence (20.7%) than that aged 3-5 years (10.7%) and < 3 years (14.2%). In season subgroups, the lowest N. caninum seroprevalence was found in summer (21.3%). Free ranging cattle had a 27.2% seroprevalence of N. caninum, which was higher than 7.8% in stall-feed cattle. The seroprevalence of N. caninum in female (22.6%) cattle was higher than in males (13.4%). Meanwhile, the prevalence was higher as increased parity and abortion. The results indicated that N. caninum infection in cattle was widely distributed in China. We recommend that more attention should be paid to the management of sanitary conditions for breeding in the areas with rich and warm water sources. In addition, it would appear to be prudent and feasible to selectively cease breeding for N. caninum seropositive animals in herds with low prevalence and farmers should not feed aborted fetuses to dogs on farm.

Prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. in Yaks (Bos grunniens) in China: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Cryptosporidium spp., the causative agent of cryptosporidiosis, can infect a variety of hosts. So far, there has been limited information regarding Cryptosporidium spp. infection in yaks (Bos grunniens). Here, we performed the first systematic review and meta-analysis for Cryptosporidium spp. infection in yaks in China. To perform the meta-analysis, five databases (Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), VIP Chinese journal database, WanFang Data, PubMed, and ScienceDirect) were employed to search for studies related to the prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. in yaks in China. The total number of samples was 8,212, and the pooled Cryptosporidium spp. prevalence in yaks was estimated to be 10.52% (1192/8012). The prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. in yaks was 13.54% (1029/5277) and 4.49% (148/2132) in northwestern and southwestern China, respectively. In the sampling year subgroups, the prevalence before 2012 (19.79%; 650/2662) was significantly higher than that after 2012 (6.07%; 437/4476). The prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. in cold seasons (20.55%; 188/794) was higher than that in warm seasons (4.83%; 41/1228). In the age subgroup, the yaks with age < 12 months had a higher prevalence (19.47%; 231/1761) than that in yaks with age ≥12 months (16.63%; 365/2268). Among 12 Cryptosporidium spp. species/genotypes, the C. bovis had the highest prevalence. Moreover, the effects of geography (latitude, longitude, precipitation, temperature, and altitude) and climate on Cryptosporidium spp. infection in yaks were evaluated. Through analyzing the risk factors correlated with the prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp., we recommend that effective management measures should be formulated according to the differences of different geographical factors, in order to prevent cryptosporidiosis and reduce economic losses in yaks in China.

Meta-Analysis of the Prevalence of Echinococcus in Sheep in China From 1983 to 2020.

Echinococcosis is a zoonosis caused by the larval stage of cestode species that belong to the genus Echinococcus. The infection of hydatid in sheep is very common in China, especially in the northwestern China. Here, we conducted the first systematic review and meta-analysis of echinococcosis in sheep in China. Six databases (PubMed, ScienceDirect, Baidu Library, CNKI, Wanfang, and VIP Chinese Journal Database) were used to retrieve the literatures on echinococcosis in sheep in China from 1983 to 2020, and 74 studies. The random effects model was used in the "meta" package of the R software and the PFT was chosen for rate conversion. The research data were analyzed through subgroup analysis and univariate meta-regression analysis to reveal the factors that lead to research heterogeneity. The combined prevalence of Echinococcus in the selected period was estimated to be 30.9% (192,094/826,406). In the analysis of sampling year, the lowest positive rate was 13.9% (10,296/177,318) after 2011. The highest prevalence of Echinococcus was 51.1% (278/531) in the southwestern China. The highest infection rate in sheep was 20.1% (58,344/597,815) in the liver. The analysis based on age showed that the infection rate of elderly sheep was significantly higher than that in younger animals (P < 0.05). We also evaluated the effects of different geographic and climatic factors on the prevalence of Echinococcus in sheep. The results showed that the prevalence of Echinococcus was higher in high altitude, cold, humid, and high rainfall areas. It is necessary to carry out long-term monitoring and control of echinococcosis, cut off the infection route, and reduce the risk of infection in the high risk areas.

The prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in sheep in China: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic disease caused by Toxoplasma gondii, which is widespread in warm-blooded animals and humans. Currently, many studies regarding T. gondii infection in sheep have been published worldwide. However, there is no meta-analysis of sheep infection in China. In this study, five databases were used to retrieve articles related to T. gondii in China. A total of 59 studies from 1987 to June 30, 2020, have been included. We estimated that the combined prevalence of T. gondii in the selected period was 8.5% (3197/28,099). In the analysis of publication year, the lowest positive rate after 2010 was 7.4% (1883/17,313). Geographically, the highest prevalence of T. gondii in sheep was recorded in Southwest China 19.2% (490/2080). Analysis according to age showed that the prevalence of infection in sheep older than 12 months was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than that in younger animals. The prevalence of T. gondii in sheep farmed by farmers was 7.2% (566/6336), which was higher than 5.3% (660/3121) of large-scale farming, suggesting a role for the feeding and husbandry. We also analyzed the impact of different geographic and climatic factors on the prevalence of T. gondii infection in sheep. The results showed that the prevalence was higher in low altitude, warm, humid, and high rainfall areas. We suggest that appropriate control programs should be formulated according to the differences in reproduction patterns and geographical conditions in different regions to reduce the prevalence of T. gondii among sheep in China.

A tobacco ringspot virus-based vector system for gene and microRNA function studies in cucurbits.

Cucurbits are economically important crops worldwide. The genomic data of many cucurbits are now available. However, functional analyses of cucurbit genes and noncoding RNAs have been impeded because genetic transformation is difficult for many cucurbitaceous plants. Here, we developed a set of tobacco ringspot virus (TRSV)-based vectors for gene and microRNA (miRNA) function studies in cucurbits. A TRSV-based expression vector could simultaneously express GREEN FLUORESCENT PROTEIN (GFP) and heterologous viral suppressors of RNA silencing in TRSV-infected plants, while a TRSV-based gene silencing vector could knock down endogenous genes exemplified by PHYTOENE DESATURASE (PDS) in Cucumis melo, Citrullus lanatus, Cucumis sativus, and Nicotiana benthamiana plants. We also developed a TRSV-based miRNA silencing vector to dissect the functions of endogenous miRNAs. Four representative miRNAs, namely, miR159, miR166, miR172, and miR319, from different cucurbits were inserted into the TRSV vector using a short tandem target mimic strategy and induced characteristic phenotypes in TRSV-miRNA-infected plants. This TRSV-based vector system will facilitate functional genomic studies in cucurbits.