Molecular evolutionary analysis reveals Arctic-like rabies viruses evolved and dispersed independently in North and South Asia

Background@#Arctic-like (AL) lineages of rabies viruses (RABVs) remains endemic in some Arctic and Asia countries. However, their evolutionary dynamics are largely unappreciated. @*Objectives@#We attempted to estimate the evolutionary history, geographic origin and spread of the Arctic-related RABVs. @*Methods@#Full length or partial sequences of the N and G genes were used to infer the evolutionary aspects of AL RABVs by Bayesian evolutionary analysis. @*Results@#The most recent common ancestor (tMRCA) of the current Arctic and AL RABVs emerged in the 1830s and evolved independently after diversification. Population demographic analysis indicated that the viruses experienced gradual growth followed by a sudden decrease in its population size from the mid-1980s to approximately 2000.Genetic flow patterns among the regions reveal a high geographic correlation in AL RABVs transmission. Discrete phylogeography suggests that the geographic origin of the AL RABVs was in east Russia in approximately the 1830s. The ancestral AL RABV then diversified and immigrated to the countries in Northeast Asia, while the viruses in South Asia were dispersed to the neighboring regions from India. The N and G genes of RABVs in both clades sustained high levels of purifying selection, and the positive selection sites were mainly found on the C-terminus of the G gene. @*Conclusions@#The current AL RABVs circulating in South and North Asia evolved and dispersed independently.

PM2.5 in poultry houses synergizes with Pseudomonas aeruginosa to aggravate lung inflammation in mice through the NF-κB pathway

Background@#High concentrations of particulate matter less than 2.5 μm in diameter (PM2.5) in poultry houses is an important cause of respiratory disease in animals and humans. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen that can induce severe respiratory disease in animals under stress or with abnormal immune functions. When excessively high concentrations of PM2.5 in poultry houses damage the respiratory system and impair host immunity, secondary infections with P. aeruginosa can occur and produce a more intense inflammatory response, resulting in more severe lung injury. @*Objectives@#In this study, we focused on the synergistic induction of inflammatory injury in the respiratory system and the related molecular mechanisms induced by PM2.5 and P. aeruginosa in poultry houses. @*Methods@#High-throughput 16S rDNA sequence analysis was used for characterizing the bacterial diversity and relative abundance of the PM2.5 samples, and the effects of PM2.5 and P. aeruginosa stimulation on inflammation were detected by in vitro and in vivo. @*Results@#Sequencing results indicated that the PM2.5 in poultry houses contained a high abundance of potentially pathogenic genera, such as Pseudomonas (2.94%). The lung tissues of mice had more significant pathological damage when co-stimulated by PM2.5 and P. aeruginosa, and it can increase the expression levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor-α through nuclear factor (NF)-κB pathway in vivo and in vitro. @*Conclusions@#The results confirmed that poultry house PM2.5 in combination with P. aeruginosa could aggravate the inflammatory response and cause more severe respiratory system injuries through a process closely related to the activation of the NF-κB pathway.

Evidence of two genetically different lymphotropic herpesviruses present among red deer, sambar, and milu herds in China

Herpesvirus infections in Cervidae are a serious threat affecting some deer species worldwide. In our attempt to identify malignant catarrhal fever-associated herpesviruses in deer herds, ten gammaherpesviral DNA fragments were identified in five species of deer in herds in China by using a pan-herpesvirus polymerase chain reaction assay targeting viral DNA polymerase. Notably, in sambar (Rusa unicolor), a novel gamma-2 herpesvirus was identified that showed a close relationship with fallow deer lymphotropic herpesvirus (LHV), while the other fragments were phylogenetically grouped together with Elk-LHV. Determination of whether these viruses have any clinical implication in these deer species should be undertaken urgently.

Effects of pre-treatment on Cu2+ absorption of Penicillium janthinellum strain GXCR / 生物工程学报

In order to effectively increase capacity of Cu2+ absorption by Penicillium from Cu2+-containing aqueous solution and to study the mechanisms of absorption, effects of eight pre-treatment methods on Cu2+ absorption of Penicillium janthinellum strain GXCR were compared. The results showed that the efficiency of Cu2+ absorption obviously increased through pre-treatment by homogenization, homogenization-basification (NaOH), oven dry (80 degrees C), homogenization-salinification (NaCl), homogenization-detergent and homogenization-polarization (C2H6SO), but significantly decreased after acidification pretreatment with H2SO4. In comparison with the previous reports, the pretreatment in a homogenization-NaOH way could more efficiently enhance the Cu2+ absorption capacity of this fungus. Homogenization-basification (0.5 mol/L NaOH) increased Cu2+ biosorption by 47.95%. The Cu2+ absorption of the mycelia treated by homogenization-basification followed Langmuir isotherm equation, suggesting a surface absorption process. After four cycles of absorption-desorption, mycelia pretreated by homogenization-alkalization still had 70.82% of Cu2+ biosorption efficiency. Infrared reflectance analysis indicated that alkalization treatment made marked effects on molecular groups of C-H, C=O, and C=O in COOH on the mycelial surfaces, and -OH was a key Cu2+-binding group. It is therefore suggested that the Cu2+ absorption by the GXCR is likely to be a chemical absorption process through Cu2+ binding with -OH group on the mycelia.

Cu and Fe bioleaching in low-grade chalcopyrite and bioleaching mechanisms using Penicillium janthinellum strain GXCR / 生物工程学报

Bioleaching of Cu and Fe in low-grade chalcopyrite using Penicillium janthinellum strian GXCR was studied. As a result, shaking bioleaching was more efficient than submerged bioleaching; Cu bioleaching was much better than Fe bioleaching; under conditions of optimum carbon source (10% sucrose, W/V), optimum nitrogen source (1.5% NaNO3, W/V), shaking bioleaching and the optimum combination of conditions (initial pH 6.0 in leaching media, 5% (W/V) 200-mesh ore and initial inocula of 3.0x10(5) conidia/mL), Cu bioleaching efficiency reached 87.31% (W/W). One of the most important factors affecting Cu bioleaching in shaking bioleaching was the initial pH in leaching media (F > F0.05). The major organic acids for Cu and Fe bioleaching were citric and oxalic acids, respectively. Low bioleaching efficiency by submerged bioleaching was due to low production of citric and oxalic acids. The mechanisms employed by the GXCR in Cu bioleaching included biochemical functions of citric and oxalic acids as well as ore crack caused by mechanical power generated from mycelial growth.