Molecular Detection and Phylogenetic Characterization of Bat and Human Adenoviruses in Southern China.

Several novel adenoviruses (AdVs) have recently been identified in humans and other animal species. In this study, we report the molecular detection of and phylogenetically characterize bat and human AdVs detected in fecal or rectal swab samples collected in southern China. To detect AdVs, a 252-261 bp fragment of the DNA polymerase (DPOL) gene was amplified using nested PCR. A total of 520 rectal swab samples were collected from eight bat species in four geographic regions of southern China (Guangzhou, Yunfu, Huizhou, and Haikou city). Thirty-six (6.9%) samples from the following species tested positive for AdVs: Myotis ricketti, Miniopterus schreibersii, Scotophilus kuhlii, Taphozous melanopogon, Rhinolophus blythi, and Cynopterus sphinx. Eight novel AdVs were detected in 13.3% of the samples from C. sphinx. Of 328 fecal samples from patients with diarrhea, 16 (4.9%) were positive for classical human AdVs. Phylogenetic analysis showed that human AdVs shared low similarity (57.1-69.3%) with bat AdVs in deduced amino acid sequences of the AdV DPOL region. Thus, our study indicated that bat AdVs and human AdVs are species specific. As such, there is no evidence of cross-species transmission of AdV between bats and humans based on current data.

High prevalence and diversity of viruses of the subfamily Gammaherpesvirinae, family Herpesviridae, in fecal specimens from bats of different species in southern China.

Several studies have reported the detection of herpesviruses (HVs) in bats. However, the prevalence and phylogenetic characteristics of HVs in bats are still poorly understood. To elucidate the epidemiological characteristics of bat HVs in southern China, 520 fecal samples from eight bat species were collected in four geographic regions of southern China. Of these samples, 73 (14.0 %) tested positive for HVs using nested polymerase chain reaction assay. Phylogenetic analysis revealed a high degree of molecular diversity of HVs in bats of different species from different geographic regions. Our study provides evidence for co-evolution of bats and HVs.

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase C677T polymorphism and susceptibility to cervical cancer and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: A number of studies have explored the association between methyl enetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T polymorphism and susceptibility to cervical cancer and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). However, results remained controversial. To address this gap, we decided to conduct a meta-analysis of all available published studies. METHODS: Electronic literature searches of the PubMed, EmBase and Medline databases were performed up to April 30, 2012. Fixed-effects or random-effects model was used to calculate the pooled ORs for different genetic models. RESULTS: A total of 12 case-control studies were ultimately identified. No statistical correlation was found between C677T variants and cervical cancer for the overall population. However, subgroup analyses on the White women pointed to a significant protective effect for individuals heterozygous or homozygous for the T-allele (for CT vs. CC: OR = 0.72, 95% CI 0.59-0.88; for TT vs. CC: OR = 0.69, 95% CI = 0.49-0.97; for CT+TT vs. CC: OR = 0.71, 95% CI 0.59-0.86). C677T variants were associated with neither combined nor stratified CIN among the overall population. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis suggests that White women with mutant C677T genotypes might have a lower risk of cervical cancer, yet lacking enough statistical robustness. Further investigations are needed to get more insight into the role of this polymorphism in cervical carcinogenesis.

[Phenotypes and functions of dendritic cells derived from peripheral blood monocytes of chronic hepatitis B patients with different HBV DNA loads].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the phenotypes and functions of peripheral blood monocyte derived dendritic cells (DC) of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients with different HBV DNA loads. METHODS: Twenty-eight CHB patients were included in this study. All patients were treated with nucleoside analogues (lamivudine or LdT or adefovir) for 24 weeks. Peripheral blood HBV DNA loads and liver biopsies were assessed before and after the treatment. The patients were divided into two groups according to their peripheral blood HBV DNA loads: a high-load group with HBV DNA loads higher than 10(5) copies/ml, and a low-load group with HBV DNA loads lower than 10(3) copies/ml. Ten healthy people were included as controls. Peripheral blood DC of each subject was enriched. The phenotypes of DC were subjected to flow cytometric analysis. The lymphocyte allo-stimulatory capacity of DC was evaluated through MTT assay. IL-10 and IL-12 production were quantified by ELISA. RESULTS: DC proliferated successfully when stimulated by cytokines in vitro; however, DC of the CHB patients proliferated much slower than those of the healthy controls. The expression of DC surface molecules such as HLA-DR, CD86, CD80 and CD83 had a positive rate of over 80% in the normal population. However in our CHB patients they showed lower than normal expressions, especially the HLA-DR, CD86, CD80 and CD83, but the differences were not significant between the two groups with different virus loads. The stimulatory capacity of the DC in mixed lymphocyte reaction showed no difference between the two groups of patients, but both were lower than that of the healthy controls. The production of IL-12 and IL-10 also decreased significantly in the patients. CONCLUSIONS: Peripheral DC of CHB patients have some defects in their phenotypes and their stimulatory capacity. The changes in phenotypes and down-regulation of the functions are not relevant to peripheral HBV DNA loads of the patients.