Draft genome sequence of a multidrug-resistant Campylobacter coli ST825 carrying several acquired antibiotic resistance genes isolated from poultry in China.

OBJECTIVES: Campylobacter coli is a typical food-borne pathogen worldwide known to cause bacterial gastroenteritis in humans. This study reported a draft whole genome sequence of C. coli isolate obtained from the caecal contents of poultry in Jinhua, China. METHODS: Whole genomic DNA was sequenced using an Illumina Novaseq 6000 platform in 150 bp paired-end mode. The generated reads were de novo assembled by SPAdes v.3.12.0. All probable coding sequences were annotated using the RAST (Rapid Annotation using Subsystem Technology), and antibiotic resistance-related genes were also further identified by ResFinder 4.1 and rgi 5.1.1. RESULTS: The draft genome contained 1 794 608 bp, a total of 69 contigs, belonging to sequence type (ST) ST825, comprising 1972 coding genes, 42 transfer RNAs, 2 ribosomal RNA, and with a GC content of 31.2%. The RAST analysis revealed a total of 698 subsystems in the genome of C. coli WL32 strain, with most of the genes associated with amino acids and derivatives (21.35%) and protein metabolism (17.05%). The genes related to antibiotic resistance, including erm(B) gene associated with macrolide resistance, blaOXA-61 gene associated with resistance to ß-lactams, aac (6')-aph(2'), ant(6)-Ia, aph(2')-If, aph(3')-III gene associated with resistance to aminoglycosides, tetO gene associated with resistance to tetracycline, cat gene associated with amphenicol, and gyrA with fluoroquinolone Thr-86-Ile substitution, were identified. Also, the virulence genes, including motA, motB, flaG, fliE, fliF, fliG, flhB, and flhF genes, were identified by WGS analysis. CONCLUSION: We report the draft genome sequence of C. coli ST825 isolate obtained from a poultry in China, which could provide potential information for tracking the potential spread of such a multidrug-resistant clone from poultry product processing to human beings.

Draft Genome Sequence of a Campylobacter coli WL22 Isolate Possessing erm(B) with gyrA Mutations, Isolated from Poultry in China.

Campylobacter coli is a major foodborne pathogen worldwide that causes campylobacteriosis cases in humans and is an emerging threat in developing countries. The rapid dissemination of the macrolide resistance gene erm(B) poses a significant threat to the clinical therapy of campylobacteriosis. Here, we report the draft genome sequences of one Campylobacter coli strain possessing erm(B), isolated from the cecal contents of poultry in Jinhua, China.

Development and Validation of an Individualized Immune Prognostic Signature for Recurrent Prostate Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Immune-related genes possess promising prognostic potential in multiple cancer types. Here, we describe the development of an immune-related prognostic signature for predicting prostate cancer recurrence. METHODS: Prostate cancer gene expression profiles for 477 prostate cases, as well as accompanying follow-up information were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and GEO. The samples were divided into 3 groups and immune gene sets significantly associated with prognosis were identified by evaluating the relationship between the expression of 1039 immune genes and prognosis in the training set. Relative expression levels of these genes were used to identify prognostic gene pairs. LASSO was used for feature selection and robust biomarkers selected. Finally, the identified immune prognostic markers were validated using dataset and GEO validation dataset and their performance compared with existing prognostic models. RESULTS: In total, 87 immune genes, significantly associated with prognosis, were identified and 2447 immune gene pairs (IRGPs) established. Univariate survival analysis identified 641 prognosis-associated immune gene pairs. 8-IRGPs were obtained via LASSO feature selection and an 8-IRGPs signature established. The 8-IRGPs signature exhibited an independent prognosis value in prostate cancer of the training set, test set, and external validation set (p = <0.001). The 5- year survival AUC in both the training set and the validation set was >0.7. The 8-IRGPs outperformed clinical tumor classification features, including T, N, radiation therapy (RT) and targeted molecular therapy (TMT) (p <0.01). In addition, we compared the prognostic characteristics of 8-IRGPs with 3 reported prostate cancers and found that 8-IRGPs achieved a high C index (0.85) and had the highest predictive performance within 10 years of follow-up (HR: 10.5). Finally, we integrated T, N, RT, TMT, and 8-IRGPs and generated a novel alignment chart to aid the prediction of prostate cancer recurrence in individual patients (p <0.01). CONCLUSION: Here, we identified an 8-IRGP novel prognostic signature for the prediction of prostate cancer recurrence.

[Investigation on the hosts with natural Paragonimus infection and species identification in Jinhua Prefecture of Zhejiang Province].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the natural hosts infected with Paragonimus sp. and identify the species of the parasite in selected counties/districts of Jinhua prefecture in Zhejiang Province. METHODS: Three townships/towns were randomly sampled from each of the 9 counties/districts in Jinhua as pilot spots for the survey. Fresh-water snails were collected from the fields for examining cercariae. Crabs were collected and detected for metacercariae by routine technique and the metacercariae were fed to dogs purchased in areas free from paragonimiasis. Fecal materials of dogs and cats around the villages and streams where crabs were found infected were collected for examining eggs. The artificially infected dogs were sacrificed 55 d after infection to receive adult worms. The size of cercariae, metacercariae, eggs and adult worms was measured. After the DNA of the adult worm was extracted, PCR was used to amplify the COI gene and ITS2 gene of the mitochondria from the worms. Homology with relative strains/isolates was analyzed and phylogenetic tree constructed. RESULTS: The survey demonstrated that the snail Semisulcospira libertina and the crab Sinopotamon chekiangense served as the first and second intermediate hosts respectively. Natural infection was found in Wucheng District with an infection rate of 0.2% (2/1,088) in snails and 76.7% (46/60) in crabs in Shafan township, and an infection index (II) of 2.0 in crabs, 0.1% (1/1,683) in snails and 53.0% (46/60) in crabs with an II of 0.9 in Langya town. The infection rate was 0 (0/575) in snails and 30.0% (18/60) in crabs with an II of 0.1 in Baimu township of Wuyi County. Paragonimus eggs were detected in feces of stray cats with a positive rate of 8.3% (1/12) in Shafan and 0.6% (1/17) in Langya. The size and morphology of the cercariae, metacercariae, eggs and adult worms were similar to those of Paragonimus westermani. The sequences of the COI and ITS2 genes were with 390 bp and 363 bp respectively, indicating a homology of 88.2%-98.2% and 86.5%-88.1% to the 11 strains/isolates of P. westermani recorded in the GenBank. The phylogenetic trees revealed that the parasite in Jinhua was in between the Minchin (Minqing, Fujian) strain and the Japanese Mie and Chiba strains. CONCLUSION: Natural paragonimus infection has been detected in snails, The parasite has been identified as P. westermani which is phylogenetically close to those crabs and cats in Jinhua. reported from Fujian Province and from Mie and Chiba of Japan.

[Effects of montelukast and BCG-PSN on the expression of STAT5b mRNA and IL-4 mRNA in blood mononuclearcells of rats with asthma].

OBJECTIVE: To study the expression of signal transducer and activator of transcription 5b (STAT5b) mRNA and interleukin-4 (IL-4) mRNA in blood mononuclearcells in a rat model of asthma and the effect of montelukast (MK) and BCG-polysaccharide and nucleic acid injection (BCG-PSN) on STAT5b mRNA and IL-4 mRNA expression. METHODS: Fifty-two male Sprague-Dawley rats (weight:140-200 g) were randomly divided into four groups: asthma, MK treated and BCG-PSN-treated and control groups. Rat model of asthma was prepared by ovalbumin (OVA) sensitization. The rats were sacrificed 24 hrs after the last sensitization. Blood eosinophils (EOS) were counted. Plasma contens of IL-4 and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) were measured using ELISA. Expression of STAT5b mRNA and IL-4 mRNA in blood mononuclearcells was detected with SYBR GREEN I fluorescent quantitation PCR method. RESULTS: Blood contents of STAT5b mRNA and IL-4 mRNA in the untreated asthma group were significantly higher than those in the other three groups (<0.01). Blood EOS count and plasma IL-4 contents in the untreated asthma group significantly increased, while plasma IFN-gamma contents significantly decreased compared with the other three groups (<0.01). There were no significant differences in the parameters measured among the MK-treated, the BCG-PSNjtreated and the control groups. STAT5b mRNA expression was positively correlated to IL-4 mRNA expression, IL-4 content and EOS count (r=0.730,0.650, 0.664, respectively; <0.01), but negatively correlated to IFN-gamma content (r=-0.798; <0.01). CONCLUSIONS: STAT5b mRNA and IL-4 mRNA were strongly expressed in blood mononuclearcells in rats with asthma, and there was a positive correlation between them. MK and BCG-PSN had inhibitory effects on the expression of STAT5b mRNA and IL-4 mRNA, which might be contributed to suppression of airway inflammation in asthma.