Prognostic significance of serum cystatin C in acute brainstem infarctions patients.

OBJECTIVES: Some studies show that high circulating cystatin C (CysC) may predict cardiovascular events and death after ischemic stroke onset. However, the association between serum CysC and outcome in ischemic stroke patients remains contradictory. We sought to assess the association between a specific stroke subgroup, brainstem infarction (BSI) and serum CysC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 324 acute BSI patients were included in the study. Serum CysC was used to calculate estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFRCysC) at baseline. Modified Rankin scale score ((mRS) ≥3) six months after acute BSI indicates poor functional outcome. Patients were categorized into two groups according to mRS and eGFRCysC. Logistic regression analyses were performed to determine independent risk factors. RESULTS: Lower eGFRCysC was associated with hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). This risk remained statistically significant after controlling for age, hypertension, initial National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, HbA1c, fibrinogen and homocysteine. The serum eGFRCysC levels were significantly lower in the poor functional outcome group than the good functional outcome group (P<0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that eGFRCysC level was significantly lower in the poor outcome group after adjusting for age, previous infarctions, initial NIHSS score, and HbA1c. CONCLUSIONS: Lower eGFRCysC levels were strongly associated with poor functional outcome of acute BSI patients with a higher HbA1c level. Lower eGFRCysC may be a more helpful serologic biomarker for the prediction of prognosis in BSI.

[Advances in the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of acute decompensatory cirrhosis].

Acute decompensatory cirrhosis is a common cause of hospital admission, readmission, and death, causing a heavy burden on patients, their families, and society. This article reviews the research advancement from the perspectives of concept evolution, pathogenesis, treatment, outcome, and prognosis models, providing new ideas for preventing and treating acute decompensatory cirrhosis.

[Research progress of sodium butyrate in metabolic-associated fatty liver disease].

Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) has become the most common chronic liver disease affecting global public health, and its incidence rate is increasing year by year. The molecular mechanism of its pathogenesis is not yet fully understood, and there is a shortage of effective clinical prevention and treatment methods. Studies have found that sodium butyrate can participate in gene regulation, immune regulation, intestinal barrier function regulation, oxidative stress and other in-vivo physiological activities. Furthermore, it also plays an important role in preventing and alleviating the MAFLD occurrence and development. This article reviews the related studies of sodium butyrate on gene expression regulation, fat metabolism improvement, intestinal flora regulation, and steatohepatitis improvement with MAFLD.

The aberrant activation of Wnt pathway caused by ß-catenin mutation and its prognostic significance in NK/T-cell lymphoma.

The aberrant activation of the Wnt/ß-catenin signal has an important role in the progression of cancers. Herein, we investigated ß-catenin mutation and the activation of the Wnt pathway in association with the clinical-pathological characteristics, chemo-resistance and prognosis of NK/T-cell lymphoma (NKTCL). Real-time quantitative PCR, immunocytochemistry and immunohistochemistry SP methods detected the levels of ß-catenin, c-myc and cyclin D1 in human NKTCL cell lines (SNK-6 and YTS) and NKTCL tissues. Mutation analysis was detected in exon 3 of ß-catenin gene; and we analyzed cell viability after histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) treatment. As a result, 19 (38%) of NK/T-cell lymphoma displayed nuclear ß-catenin and 16 (32%) contained mutations in exon 3; while no mutations were detected in lymphomas negative for ß-catenin nuclear staining (p<0.05). Most mutations affecting ß-catenin were adjacent to regulatory phosphorylation sites. ß-catenin, c-myc and cyclin D1 were significantly elevated in SNK-6 and YTS cell lines compared to normal NK/T cells (p<0.05). Furthermore, the high expression of ß-catenin, c-myc and cyclin D1 significantly correlated with the III/IV Ann Arbor stage. Additionally, the expression of ß-catenin in the SNK-6 cell line decreased significantly after treatment with HDACi, and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed that the elevated expression of ß-catenin correlated with poor prognosis in NKTCL patients (23.66±2.77 months vs 31.65±1.78 months, p=0.023). In conclusion: mutations in exon 3 of ß-catenin and the activated Wnt pathway are common in NK/T-cell lymphoma that has nuclear ß-catenin, and it is closely correlated with the Ann Arbor stage and prognosis in NKTCL patients.

[The diagnostic framework for screening Alzheimer's disease in the Chinese population].

Criteria for diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is not available in China. The international criteria is not a proper choice due to issues such as translation and lead to low diagnostic rate and high rate of missed diagnosis. The research group of Alzheimer's Disease Chinese (ADC) reviewed knowledge and techniques in neuropsychology, neuroimaging, molecular biology, and clinical neurology, and systematically studied the detection techniques such as memory, language, visuospatial, executive function, and medial temporal lobe visual scores on MRI, and their optimal threshold and diagnostic value for the diagnosis of AD. Through a systematic review and consensus meeting, a diagnostic framework for screening AD in the Chinese population was established. Among these methods, an operational standard for clinical pathology models increased the diagnostic sensitivity by 15%. The sensitivity and specificity of screening memory impairment increased by 18.1% and 11.6%, respectively. The sensitivity of screening medial temporal lobe atrophy increased by 24.5% and missed diagnosis was decreased by 34.5%. An operational standard for clinical biology models, incorporating the latest molecular imaging and molecular biology techniques, has enabled the early diagnosis of AD in China. The framework combines a principled diagnostic guideline with an operational screening protocol, which is applicable to all clinical settings and of great significance for the early detection, early diagnosis and early treatment of AD.

[Screening and diagnostic framework of vascular dementia in Chinese population].

For lack of cognitive screening standard system and controversy over the value of imaging for cerebrovascular diseases in China, the research group of Alzheimer's Disease Chinese (ADC) studied the knowledge of neuropsychology, neuroimaging and clinical neurology, systematically reviewed the diagnostic techniques such as memory, language, visuospatial, executive, function, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of cerebrovascular diseases, and their optimal threshold and diagnostic value for vascular dementia. Via a consensus meeting, the diagnostic guidelines and practical screening process are combined to construct a framework in Chinese population, which is based on the objective evidence of medical history and clinical evaluation. The diagnosis of vascular dementia is supported by imaging evidence of cerebrovascular diseases and differentiates from other causes of dementia or comorbidities. This consensus is applicable to medical units in China, and is of great significance for early detection, early diagnosis and early treatment of vascular dementia.

The relationship between plasma homocysteine levels and MTHFR gene variation, age, and sex in Northeast China.

BACKGROUND: Hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) is the risk factor for cardiovascular disease and stroke. However, the impacts on the genetic variation of methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) on plasma homocysteine levels in the Northeast Chinese population have not been studied. Therefore, this study was carried out to determine the relationship between HHcy and MTHFR gene variation, and whether it was influenced by age and sex of the population in Northeast China. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 466 subjects were randomly enrolled in this study. According to the homocysteine levels (Hcy ≥ 15 µmol/L) of the subjects, they were divided into hyperhomocysteine (HHcy = 206) and normal homocysteine (Hcy = 260). Polymerase chain reaction/high-resolution dissolution curve and homocysteine determination kit methods were used for genotype testing and homocysteine detection, respectively. RESULTS: High plasma homocysteine levels are associated with MTHFR 677T and 1298A [P < 0.00, odds ratio (confidence interval) = 1.842 (1.418-2.394) >1], which is related to increasing age (Prange = 0.0005-0.0161), with the homocysteine levels of males higher than females (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: High plasma homocysteine levels were linked to the MTHFR gene mutation. In addition, plasma homocysteine levels increased significantly with age with male's homocysteine levels higher than that of females.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is associated with stroke severity and progression of brainstem infarctions.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is closely correlated to visceral obesity, dyslipidaemia, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus. We sought to assess the association between a specific stroke subgroup, brainstem infarctions (BSIs) and NAFLD. Furthermore, we evaluated whether NAFLD is an independent risk factor in patients with BSIs. METHODS: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease was assessed in 306 patients with radiologically confirmed BSIs via liver ultrasound. Differences between patients with and without NAFLD were compared. Data associated with stroke severity and progression after admission were collected. RESULTS: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease was found in 130 (42.5%) patients with acute BSIs; 58 (19.0%) had National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale scores >7 and 57 (18.6%) had progression after admission. Initial National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale scores, incidence of progression and stroke severity, and modified Rankin Scale scores at discharge were significantly higher in patients with NAFLD than in those without NAFLD. NAFLD was associated with stroke severity [Cox regression: hazard ratio (HR), 2.243; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.254-4.013, P < 0.01]. This risk remained statistically significant after controlling for age, gender, diabetes mellitus and C-reactive protein (HR, 2.327; 95% CI, 1.252-4.324, P < 0.01). In addition, NAFLD was associated with progression (HR, 2.155; 95% CI, 1.201-3.865, P < 0.05) and remained significant after controlling for age, gender, diabetes mellitus, fibrinogen and C-reactive protein (HR, 2.378; 95% CI, 1.260-4.486, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that NAFLD is a potential risk factor when evaluating the severity and progression of acute BSIs. This relationship is independent of classic risk factors and metabolic syndrome features.

Homoclinic-doubling and homoclinic-gluing bifurcations in the Takens-Bogdanov normal form with D 4 symmetry.

In this paper, we investigate the dynamics of a fourth-order normal form near a double Takens-Bogdanov bifurcation. The reduced system of this normal form possesses eight pairs of homoclinic orbits for certain parameter values. The nonlinear time transformation method is applied to obtain an analytical approximation of the homoclinic orbit in the perturbed system and to construct the homoclinic bifurcation curve as well. Using numerical continuation, period-doubling and homoclinic-doubling cascades emanating from a codimension-2 bifurcation point are found. A codimension-2 homoclinic-gluing bifurcation point at which several homoclinic orbits concerning the origin glue together to form a new homoclinic orbit is also obtained. It is shown that in the vicinity of these bifurcation points, the system may exhibit chaos and chaotic attractors.

Differential expression of HPG-axis genes in autotetraploids derived from red crucian carp Carassius auratus red var., ♀ × blunt snout bream Megalobrama amblycephala, ♂.

Autotetraploid fish (4n = 200, abbreviated as 4nRR), which reach sexual maturity at 1 year of age, were derived from the whole genome duplication of red crucian carp Carassius auratus red var. (RCC; 2n = 100) and possess four sets of chromosomes from RCC. The histological features of the gonads showed that the RCC and 4nRR both possessed normal gonadal structure and could arrive at maturation. To understand the expression characteristics of genes related to reproductive development in the autotetraploid fish, we analysed the nucleotide sequence and expression characteristics of the gnrh2, gthb and gthr genes, which are the pivotal genes of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis. We found that the gnrh2, gthb and gthr genes in 4nRR share remarkable homology with RCC, but there were obvious differences in expression levels between 4nRR and RCC. These results demonstrate that autotetraploidization can lead to gene expression changes. This study provides insights into the molecular mechanism underlying the reproductive development of autotetraploid fish and is expected to be of great significance for subsequent research on polyploidization.

[Dementia screening and diagnostic framework in Chinese population].

There are no standard diagnostic criteria for Alzheimer's disease (AD) in China. The copied international criteria has led to a high rate of missed diagnosis due to issues such as translation and cultural discrepancy. Under the principles of semantic equivalence, content equivalence and performance equivalence, the research group of Alzheimer's Disease Chinese (ADC) adopted several effective methods, such as two-way translation, content conversion, performance evaluation, etc. to systematically study the cognitive, behavioral, functional, and general assessment techniques in dementia screening and diagnosis, as well as their screening thresholds and diagnostic values. We also established a dementia screening and assessment framework in clinical practice through systematic reviews and group consensus. It has improved the early diagnosis rate of dementia in China, been accepted by home and abroad academic institutions, which is of great significance for early diagnosis and treatment of dementia.

[Analysis of correlation between serum fatty acid profile and cognitive impairment in the elderly].

Objective: To explore the relationship between cognitive impairment and serum fatty acid profile. Methods: Participants aged ≥60 years were selected from 3 communities in Shijiazhuang in 2015. The questionnaire was performed to collect basic information. And Montreal Cognitive Assessment was applied for the evaluation of cognitive impairment. Blood lipid parameters and serum fatty acid profiles were analyzed for all the subjects. A total of 529 subjects were finally included in this research. Multivariate ordinal logistic model was used to analyze the relationship between serum fatty acid profile and cognitive impairment. Results: Normal, mild and moderate cognitive impairment accounted for 41.2% (n=218), 51.4% (n=272) and 7.4% (n=39) of all the subjects respectively. With control of age, gender, education, total cholesterol (TC), total triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), the OR (95%CI) of eicosenoic acid, nervonic acid and ratio of n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3/n-6) was 1.06 (1.01-1.10), 0.93 (0.91-0.96), and 0.17 (0.04-0.73). Conclusion: The risk of cognitive impairment decreased with the raise of serum nervonic acid concentration and n-3/n-6, and increased with the raise of serum eicosenoic acid concentration.

Parasites, nutrition, immune responses and biology of metabolic tissues.

Nutritional immunology, immunometabolism and identification of novel immunotherapeutic targets are areas of active investigation in parasitology. There is a well-documented crosstalk among immune cells and cells in metabolically active tissues that is important for homeostasis. The numbers and function of these cells are altered by obesity leading to inflammation. A variety of helminths spend some part of their life cycle in the gastrointestinal tract and even entirely enteral nematode infections exert beneficial effects on glucose and lipid metabolism. The foundation of this review is the ability of enteric nematode infections to improve obesity-induced type 2 diabetes and the metabolic syndrome, which are significant health issues in developed areas. It considers the impact of nutrition and specific nutritional deficiencies, which are occur in both undeveloped and developed areas, on the host's ability mount a protective immune response against parasitic nematodes. There are a number of proposed mechanisms by which parasitic nematodes can impact metabolism including effects gastrointestinal hormones, altering epithelial function and changing the number and/or phenotype of immune cells in metabolic tissues. Nematodes can also exert their beneficial effects through Th2 cytokines that activate the transcription factor STAT6, which upregulates genes that regulate glucose and lipid metabolism.

[Epidemiological survey of visual impairment in Funing County, Jiangsu].

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of visual impairment and factors associated with visual impairment among people aged 50 years and above in Funing County, Jiangsu Province. Methods: Cross-sectional study. Random cluster sampling was used in selecting individuals aged ≥50 years in 30 clusters, and 5 947 individuals received visual acuity testing and eye examination. Stata 13.0 software was used to analyze the data. Multivariate logistic regression was used to detect possible factors of visual impairment such as age, gender and education. Statistical significance was defined as P< 0.05. Results: A total of 6 145 persons aged 50 years and above were enumerated, and 5 947 (96.8%) participants were examined. Based on the criteria of World Health Organization (WHO) visual impairment classification and presenting visual acuity, 138 persons were diagnosed as blindness, and 1 405 persons were diagnosed as low vision. The prevalence of blindness and low vision was 2.32% and 23.63%, respectively. And the prevalence of visual impairment was 25.95%. Based on the criteria of WHO visual impairment classification and best-corrected visual acuity, 92 persons were diagnosed as blindness, and 383 persons were diagnosed as low vision. The prevalence of blindness and low vision was 1.55% and 6.44%, respectively. And the prevalence of visual impairment was 7.99%. Concerning presenting visual acuity and best-corrected visual acuity, the prevalence of blindness and low vision was higher in old people, females and less educated persons. Cataract (46.63%) was the leading cause of blindness. Uncorrected refractive error (36.51%) was also a main cause of visual impairment. Conclusion: The prevalence of visual impairment is higher in old people, females and less educated persons in Funing County, Jiangsu Province. Cataract is still the leading cause of visual impairment. (Chin J Ophthalmol, 2017, 53: 502-508).

Determining critical nutrient thresholds needed to control harmful cyanobacterial blooms in eutrophic Lake Taihu, China.

Nutrient overenrichment has led to dramatic increases in harmful cyanobacterial blooms, creating serious threats to drinking water supplies, ecological and economic sustainability of freshwater ecosystems. Nutrient-cyanobacterial bloom interactions were examined in eutrophic Lake Taihu, China. In situ microcosm nutrient dilution bioassays and mesocosm nutrient addition experiments were conducted to determine nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) concentration and load thresholds needed to control cyanobacterial bloom formation. Blooms were dominated by toxic, non N2 fixing Microcystis spp, from May to December. Dilution bioassays showed seasonality in nutrient limitation, with P-availability controlling prebloom spring conditions and N-availability controlling summer-fall blooms. Nutrient dilution and enrichment bioassays indicated that total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) concentration thresholds should be targeted at below 0.80 mg L(­1) and 0.05 mg L(­1), respectively, to limit intrinsic growth rates of Microcystis dominated blooms. Based on estimates of nutrient loading and observed stoichiometry of phytoplankton biomass, 61­71% TN and 20­46% TP reduction are necessary to bring Taihu's phytoplankton biomass to "acceptable" sub-bloom conditions of less than 20 µg L(­1) chlorophyll a.

rPSGL-1-Ig, a recombinant PSGL-1-Ig fusion protein, ameliorates LPS-induced acute lung injury in mice by inhibiting neutrophil migration.

The binding of selectin to P—selectin glycoprotein ligand—1 (PSGL—1) mediates the tethering and rolling of leukocytes on the endothelium during leukocyte migration and inflammation. Recombinant human PSGL—1—Ig fusion protein (rPSGL—1—Ig) is a widely used selectin inhibitor that prevents neutrophil entry into inflamed or reperfused tissues. We hypothesized that rPSGL—1—Ig could be used to as a drug for the treatment of acute lung injury (ALI). We induced murine ALI by injecting mice with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and then treated the mice with rPSGL—1—Ig. We determined the lung injury index, wet/dry ratio, and inflammatory cytokine level in differentially treated mice. The symptoms of LPS—induced lung injury were alleviated by rPSGL—1—Ig treatment. The histopathological index of LPS—induced lung injury improved after rPSGL—1—Ig treatment. rPSGL—1—Ig treatment also reduced the recruitment of inflammatory cells, including neutrophils, into the lung, as well as reducing the level of inflammatory cytokines. These data suggest that rPSGL—1—Ig protein has a therapeutic effect on LPS—induced lung injury.

Analysis of the gene-protein interaction network in glioma.

Glioma is the most aggressive type of brain tumor. Great progress has been achieved in glioma treatment, but the protein-protein interaction networks underlining glioma are poorly understood. We identified the protein-protein interaction network for glioma based on gene expression and predicted biological pathways underlying the molecular complexes in the network. Genes involved in glioma were selected from the Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) database. A literature search was performed using the Agilent Literature Search plugin, and Cytoscape was used to establish a protein-protein interaction network. The molecular complexes in the network were detected using the Clusterviz plugin, and pathway enrichment of molecular complexes was performed using DAVID online. There were 378 glioma genes in the OMIM database. The protein-protein interaction network in glioma contained 1814 nodes, 6471 edges, and 8 molecular complexes. There were 17 pathways (false discovery rate <1), which were related to cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, Toll-like receptor signaling pathway, chemokine signaling pathway, oocyte meiosis, progesterone-mediated oocyte maturation, transmembrane transport of small molecules, metabolism of amino acids, and notch signaling pathway, among others. Our results provide a bioinformatic foundation for further studies of the mechanisms of glioma.

[Resveratrol protects dopaminergic neurons in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease by regulating the gut-brain axis via inhibiting the TLR4 signaling pathway].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the protective effect of resveratrol on intestinal barrier in 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1, 2, 3, 6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced Parkinson's disease (PD) mouse models and its mechanism for regulating TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling to protect dopaminergic neurons. METHODS: Fifty-two C57BL/6J mice were randomized into control group (n= 12), MPTP group (n=14), MPTP + resveratrol (30 mg/kg) group (n=13), and MPTP + resveratrol (90 mg/kg) group (n=13), and mouse models were established by intraperitoneal MPTP (30 mg/kg) injection for 7 days in the latter 3 groups. Behavioral tests were conducted to evaluate the effect of resveratrol on motor symptoms of the mice. Western blotting was used to detect the expression of TH, α-syn, ZO-1, Claudin-1, TLR4, MyD88, and NF-κB in the brain tissues of the mice. Immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, ELISA and transmission electron microscopy were used to verify the effect of resveratrol for suppressing inflammation and protecting the intestinal barrier. RESULTS: Compared with those in the normal control group, the mice in MPTP group showed significant changes in motor function, number of dopaminergic neurons, neuroinflammation, levels of LPS and LBP, and expressions of tight junction proteins in the intestinal barrier. Resveratrol treatment significantly improved motor function of the PD mice (P < 0.01), increased the number of neurons and TH protein expression (P < 0.05), down-regulated the expressions of GFAP, Iba-1, and TLR4, lowered fecal and plasma levels of LPS and LBP (P < 0.05), restored the expression levels of ZO-1 and Claudin-1 (P < 0.01), and down-regulated the expressions of TLR4, MyD88, and NF-κB in the colon tissue (P < 0.05). The mice with resveratrol treatment at 30 mg/kg showed normal morphology of the tight junction complex with neatly and tightly arranged intestinal villi. CONCLUSION: Resveratrol repairs the intestinal barrier by inhibiting TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway-mediated inflammatory response, thereby improving motor function and neuropathy in mouse models of MPTP-induced PD.

First Report of Ageratum yellow vein China virus Infecting Zinnia elegans in Vietnam.

Whitefly-transmitted geminiviruses belong to the Geminiviridae family, which includes a group of plant DNA viruses that occurs in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide and caused severe leaf curl diseases on many crops. In July 2011, symptoms of mild yellowing and curling of leaves were observed on Zinnia elegans in Hue City, Vietnam. To identify possible begomoviruses, two samples with typical symptoms (Z1 and Z2) were collected and total DNA was extracted using PlantGen DNA Kit (CoWin Biotech Co., China). Using begomovirus-specific degenerate primer pair AV494 and AC1048 to amply geminivirus capsid protein gene (3), a 586-bp DNA fragment was amplified from both collected samples. The PCR products from Z1 and Z2 were cloned and sequenced. The partial sequences from two isolates had 96.8% similarity to each other and most closely related to Ageratum yellow vein China virus (AYVCNV) (98% identity to GenBank Accession Nos. AM940137.1 and AJ849916.1). Using two degenerate primer pairs bego1 (5'-ACMGGCCYATGWAYMGGAAG-3')/bego6 (5'-ACNGGDAARACRATGTGGGC-3') and bego2 (5'-CTTDATRTTBTCRTCCATCC-3')/bego3 (5'-CCWGGATTGCANARSAMGAT-3') to amplify full-length viral genome from Z1 (1). The complete DNA-A sequence from Z1 were determined to be 2,741 nucleotides (JX911332), showed high levels of sequence identity (89% [JN809812] to 98% [AJ849916.1 and AJ558120]) with AYVCNV and shared 98% nucleotide sequence identity with AYVCNV-G68 (AJ849916.1) and AYVCNV-G13 (AJ558120). No DNA-B component nor DNA-ß could be detected using primers described previously (4). Zinnia leaf curl virus, Ageratum enation virus, Tobacco leaf curl virus, and Alternanthera yellow vein virus have been reported to be associated with Zinnia leaf curl disease (2). To our knowledge, this is the first report of AYVCNV infecting Z. elegans. AYVCNV was first reported in A. conyzoides on Hainan Island, China, and could infect L. esculentum (Solanaceae), A. conyzoides (Asteraceae), or tobacco (Solanaceae). Our results further corroborate that AYVCNV can infect Asteraceae plants. Therefore, this virus may pose a serious threat to many plants. References: (1) L. Lin et al. Plant Prot. 37:44, 2011. (2) P. Naveen et al. J. Biotechnol. Bioinform. 2:6, 2012. (3) S. D. Wyatt et al. Phytopathology 86:1288, 1996. (4) X. P. Zhou et al. J. Gen. Virol. 84:237, 2003.