Control of rabies: epidemiology of rabies in Asia and development of new-generation vaccines for rabies

Rabies is an enzootic viral disease widespread throughout the world. Although it is a vaccine-preventable disease, the annual number of human deaths caused by rabies is estimated to be 32,000 in Asia. Phylogenetic analysis based on sequence data of the partial N gene of rabies viruses in Asia has shown that the viruses are divided into five genogroups, distributed in Middle East, South Asia, South East Asia, Malay, and Arctic regions. The genetic relationships among these rabies viruses agree basically with the results of previous studies. Meanwhile, new types of vaccines are being developed by applying gene manipulation techniques to rabies virus in order to overcome the disadvantages of current vaccines. This article reviews the molecular epidemiology of rabies in Asia and progress made in the development of new-generation rabies vaccines with the goal of elimination or control of rabies in Asia.     

Dengue hemorrhagic fever with special emphasis on immunopathogenesis

Dengue virus infections are a serious cause of morbidity and mortality in most tropical and subtropical areas of the world; Southeast and South Asia, Central and South America, and the Caribbean. Dengue virus infection can be asymptomatic or causes two forms of illness, dengue fever (DF) and dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF), which is the severe form of dengue illness and often fatal. Pathogenesis of DHF has been analyzed, and two mechanisms are considered to be responsible. These include dengue serotype cross-reactive immune responses and virulence of the virus. The immunopathological mechanisms include a complex series of immune responses. Rapid increase in the levels of cytokines, especially TNF-, and chemical mediators play a key role in inducing unique clinical manifestations of DHF such as plasma leakage, shock, and hemorrhagic manifestations. It is understood that the process is initiated by infection with a virulent dengue virus, often in the presence of antibodies that enhance dengue virus infection in secondary infection, and then triggered by rapidly elevated cytokines and chemical mediators that were produced by intense immune activation. However, complete understanding of the entire pathological mechanism is far from complete, and further studies are still needed.     

土壤中结合残留态甲磺隆的微生物降解研究

主要进行了优选菌株青霉 (Penicilliumsp .)对土壤中结合残留态甲磺隆的降解研究 ,结果表明 ,优选菌株的引入对土壤中可提态甲磺隆的影响不大 ,但对结合残留态甲磺隆的降解和矿化有较大影响。在结合残留态甲磺隆中 ,优选菌株青霉的引入有利于松结态甲磺隆尤其是松结态富里酸甲磺隆的降解。     

盾壳霉几丁质酶和葡聚糖酶酶动力学性质初步研究

盾壳霉几丁质酶和葡聚糖酶酶动力学性质研究表明:几丁质酶和葡聚糖酶的酶促反应,在本试验计量范围内,其反应速度与酶量和底物浓度均呈正相关,但两种酶促反应适宜的温度和pH值有较大差。几丁质酶降解几丁质的最适反应温度为50℃,最适pH值为8.0,葡聚糖酶降解葡聚糖的最适反应温度为60℃,最适pH值为3.0。     

采谱方式对竹材气干密度近红外预测模型精度的影响

该文对近红外光谱技术结合化学计量学分析方法快速预测毛竹材气干密度的可行性进行了研究,重点探讨不同采谱方式对所建模型预测精度的影响.为了便于对比,建模过程中光谱数据未经过任何预处理.结果表明,采谱方式影响着模型的预测精度.从竹材横切面采谱所建模型的预测精度最高,内表面（靠近竹黄面）居中,外表面（靠近竹青面）最差.但如果对竹材内外表面的光谱求平均后建模,则可以显著提高模型的预测精度.随后选择最优模型对随机抽取、未参与建模的30个未知样品的密度进行了预测,预测值与测量值的 相关性高,表明近红外光谱技术可以快速、准确地预测竹材的气干密度.      

地高辛标记质粒探针监测卡那霉素耐药性的研究

 用 Eco R 单酶切卡那霉素抗性质粒 ,经 DNA纯化回收 4.34 1kb的目的基因片段。以随机引物法 ,用地高辛进行标记 ,制备成探针 ,成功建立了斑点杂交法和菌落原位杂交法用于检测猪源大肠杆菌对卡那霉素的耐药性 ,结果表明与药敏试验阳性的符合率为 10 0 % ,说明建立的探针技术可以用于猪源大肠杆菌对卡那霉素的耐药性监测。     

European bat lyssaviruses: Distribution, prevalence and implications for conservation

Worldwide, there are more than 1100 species of the Order Chiroptera, 45 of which are present in Europe, and 16 in the UK. Bats are reservoirs of, or can be infected by, several viral diseases, including rabies virus strains (in the Lyssavirus genus). Within this genus are bat variants that have been recorded in Europe; European bat lyssavirus 1 (EBLV-1), European bat lyssavirus 2 (EBLV-2) and, four currently unclassified isolates. Since 1977, 783 cases of EBLVs (by isolation of viral RNA) have been recorded in Europe. EBLV-1 or EBLV-2 has been identified in 12 bat species, with over 95% of EBLV-1 infections identified in Eptesicus serotinus. EBLV-2 is associated with Myotis species (Myotis daubentonii and Myotis dasycneme). A programme of passive surveillance in the United Kingdom between 1987 and 2004 tested 4871 bats for lyssaviruses. Of these, four M. daubentonii (3.57% of submitted M. daubentonii) were positive for EBLV-2. Potential bias in the passive surveillance includes possible over-representation of synanthropic species and regional biases caused by varying bat submission numbers from different parts of the UK. In 2003, active surveillance in the UK began, and has detected an antibody prevalence level of 1-5% of EBLV-2 in M. daubentonii (n = 350), and one bat with antibodies to EBLV-1 in E. serotinus (n = 52). No cases of live lyssavirus infection or lyssavirus viral RNA have been detected through active surveillance. Further research and monitoring regarding prevalence, transmission, pathogenesis and immunity is required to ensure that integrated bat conservation continues throughout Europe, whilst enabling informed policy decision regarding both human and wildlife health issues.     

Influence of sodium diethyldithiocarbamate (Imuthiol) on lymphocyte function and growth in weanling pigs

Mitogen-stimulated lymphocyte proliferation, delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reactions, interleukin-2 (IL-2) production, and growth performance were evaluated in 3-week-old pigs treated with imuthiol. Lymphocyte proliferative responses to Con A and PWM were reduced (P < 0.05) in pigs treated with imuthiol at 25 mg/kg; PHA proliferative responses were not influenced by imuthiol treatment. Imuthiol at 2.5 mg/kg and 25 mg/kg lowered IL-2 production when compared to saline-treated controls. Delayed-type hypersensitivity responses to PHA were higher in 25 mg/kg imuthiol-treated pigs; however, 2.5 mg/kg imuthiol-treated pigs had lower DHT reactions. Imuthiol at 2.5 mg/kg and 25 mg/kg reduced (P < 0.05) average daily feed intake. These data suggest that in vivo imuthiol treatment in pigs lowers lymphocyte proliferative responses, IL-2 production, and growth performance.     

Host immune responses after administration of inactivated Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis virus vaccines—III. Kinetics for neutralizing antibody immunoglobulin class responses in donors and adoptively-immunized recipients

C57B16 mice were immunized with either live, attenuated TC-83 strain VEE virus vaccine or formalin-inactivated VEE vaccine combined with Bordetella pertussis. The kinetics of specific donor and adoptively-immunized recipient anti-VEE neutralizing antibody responses were studied. Donor mice immunized with either live or inactivated VEE virus vaccine combined with potent adjuvants develop specific anti-VEE IgM and IgG responses as early as 7 days post-immunization. Anti-VEE IgM antibody responses comprise the majority of anti-VEE neutralizing antibody at this early time period. By 14 to 21 days post-immunization, anti-VEE IgG responses predominated. When adoptively-immunized recipients were studied, the anti-VEE IgM to IgG predominance seen in donors early after administration was reversed, and for each time-period studied, recipients' serum anti-VEE antibody class responses consisted principally of IgG rather than IgM antibody. Since T-cells cooperation with B-cells is critical in the IgM-IgG antibody shift, these studies support the critical role T-cells exert in adoptive transfer in a murine model of experimental VEE infection. Furthermore, immunization with either live or inactivated VEE vaccine coupled to a potent adjuvant induce comparable donor and adoptively-immunized recipient anti-VEE antibody class responses.