High-coverage proteome analysis reveals the first insight of protein modification systems in the pathogenic spirochete Leptospira interrogans

Leptospirosis is a widespread zoonotic disease caused by pathogenic spirochetes of the genus Leptospira that infects humans and a wide range of animals. By combining computational prediction and high-accuracy tandem mass spectra, we revised the genome annotation of Leptospira interrogans serovar Lai, a free-living pathogenic spirochete responsible for leptospirosis, providing substantial peptide evidence for novel genes and new gene boundaries. Subsequently, we presented a high-coverage proteome analysis of protein expression and multiple posttranslational modifications （PTMs）. Approximately 64.3% of the predicted L. interrogans proteins were cataloged by detecting 2 540 proteins. Meanwhile, a profile of multiple PTMs was concurrently established, containing in total 32 phosphorylated, 46 acetylated and 155 methylated proteins. The PTM systems in the serovar Lai show unique features. Unique eukaryotic-like features of L. interrogans protein modifications were demonstrated in both phosphorylation and arginine methylation. This systematic analysis provides not only comprehensive information of high-coverage protein expression and multiple modifications in prokaryotes but also a view suggesting that the evolutionarily primitive L. interrogans shares significant similarities in protein modification systems with eukaryotes.

Safety assessment of Bifidobacterium longum JDM301 based on complete genome sequences

AIM： To assess the safety of Bifidobacterium/ongum （B. longum） JDM301 based on complete genome sequences. METHODS： The complete genome sequences of JDM301 were determined using the GS 20 system. Putative virulence factors, putative antibiotic resis- tance genes and genes encoding enzymes respon- sible for harmful metabolites were identified by blast with virulence factors database, antibiotic resistance genes database and genes associated with harmful metabolites in previous reports. Minimum inhibitory concentration of 16 common antimicrobial agents was evaluated by E-test RESULTS： JDM301 was shown to contain 36 genes as- sociated with antibiotic resistance, 5 enzymes related to harmful metabolites and 162 nonspecific virulence fac- tors mainly associated with transcriptional regulation, adhesion, sugar and amino acid transport. B. longum JDM301 was intrinsically resistant to ciprofloxacin, ami- kacin, gentamicin and streptomycin and susceptible to vancomycin, amoxicillin, cephalothin, chloramphenicol, erythromycin, ampicillin, cefotaxime, rifampicin, imi- penem and trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazol. JDM301 was moderately resistant to bacitracin, while an earlier study showed that bifidobacteria were susceptible to this antibiotic. A tetracycline resistance gene with the risk of transfer was found in JDM301, which needs to be experimentally validated. CONCLUSION： The safety assessment of JDM301 using information derived from complete bacterial ge- nome will contribute to a wider and deeper insight into the safety of probiotic bacteria.

Towards an actionable One Health approach

Background Despite the increasing focus on strengthening One Health capacity building on global level,challenges remain in devising and implementing real-world interventions particularly in the Asia-Pacific region.Recognizing these gaps,the One Health Action Commission(OHAC)was established as an academic community for One Health action with an emphasis on research agenda setting to identify actions for highest impact.Main text This viewpoint describes the agenda of,and motivation for,the recently formed OHAC.Recognizing the urgent need for evidence to support the formulation of necessary action plans,OHAC advocates the adoption of both bottom-up and top-down approaches to identify the current gaps in combating zoonoses,antimicrobial resistance,addressing food safety,and to enhance capacity building for context-sensitive One Health implementation.Conclusions By promoting broader engagement and connection of multidisciplinary stakeholders,OHAC envisions a collaborative global platform for the generation of innovative One Health knowledge,distilled practical experience and actionable policy advice,guided by strong ethical principles of One Health.

Identification of habitat suitability for the dominant zoonotic tick species Haemaphysalis flava on Chongming Island,China

Haemaphysalis ticks are pathogenic vectors that threaten human and animal health and were identified in Chongming,the third largest island in China.To understand the distribution of these ticks and determine their potential invasion risk,this study aimed to identify the habitat suitability of the dominant tick H.flava based on natural environmental factors.Geographic information system(GIS)images were combined with sample points from tick investigations to map the spatial distribution of H.flava.Data on 19 bioclimatic variables,environmental variables,and satellite-based landscapes of Chongming Island were retrieved to create a landcover map related to natural environmental determinants of H.flava.These data included 38 sites associated with the vectors to construct species distribution models with MaxEnt,a model based on the maximum entropy principle,and to predict habitat suitability for H.flava on Chongming Island in 2050 and 2070 under different climate scenarios.The model performed well in predicting the H.flava distribution,with a training area under the curve of 0.84 and a test area under the curve of 0.73.A habitat suitability map of the whole study area was created for H.flava.The resulting map and natural environment analysis highlighted the importance of the normalized difference vegetation index and precipitation in the driest month for the bioecology of H.flava,with 141.61 km^(2)(11.77%),282.94 km^(2)(23.35%),and 405.30 km^(2)(33.69%)of highly,moderately,and poorly suitable habitats,respectively.The distribution decreased by 135.55 km^(2) and 138.82 km^(2) in 2050 and 2070,respectively,under the shared socioeconomic pathway(SSP)1.2.6 climate change scenario.However,under SSP 5.8.5,the total area will decrease by 128.5 km^(2) in 2050 and increase by 151.64 km^(2) in 2070.From a One Health perspective,this study provides good knowledge that will guide tick control efforts to prevent the spread of Haemaphysalis ticks or transmission risk of Haemaphysalis-borne infections at the human-animal-environment interface on the island.

Towards a global One Health index: a potential assessment tool for One Health performance

Background:A One Health approach has been increasingly mainstreamed by the international community, as it provides for holistic thinking in recognizing the close links and inter-dependence of the health of humans, animals and the environment. However, the dearth of real-world evidence has hampered application of a One Health approach in shaping policies and practice. This study proposes the development of a potential evaluation tool for One Health performance, in order to contribute to the scientific measurement of One Health approach and the identification of gaps where One Health capacity building is most urgently needed.Methods:We describe five steps towards a global One Health index (GOHI), including (i) framework formulation;(ii) indicator selection;(iii) database building;(iv) weight determination;and (v) GOHI scores calculation. A cell-like framework for GOHI is proposed, which comprises an external drivers index (EDI), an intrinsic drivers index (IDI) and a core drivers index (CDI). We construct the indicator scheme for GOHI based on this framework after multiple rounds of panel discussions with our expert advisory committee. A fuzzy analytical hierarchy process is adopted to determine the weights for each of the indicators.Results:The weighted indicator scheme of GOHI comprises three first-level indicators, 13 second-level indicators, and 57 third-level indicators. According to the pilot analysis based on the data from more than 200 countries/territories the GOHI scores overall are far from ideal (the highest score of 65.0 out of a maximum score of 100), and we found considerable variations among different countries/territories (31.8–65.0). The results from the pilot analysis are consistent with the results from a literature review, which suggests that a GOHI as a potential tool for the assessment of One Health performance might be feasible.Conclusions:GOHI—subject to rigorous validation—would represent the world’s first evaluation tool that constructs the conceptual framework from a holistic perspective of One Health. Future application of GOHI might promote a common understanding of a strong One Health approach and provide reference for promoting effective measures to strengthen One Health capacity building. With further adaptations under various scenarios, GOHI, along with its technical protocols and databases, will be updated regularly to address current technical limitations, and capture new knowledge.

Molecular Epidemiology of Staphylococcus aureus among Patients with Skin and Soft Tissue Infections in Two Chinese Hospitals

Background：Staphylococcus aureus is one of the predominant causes of skin and soft tissue infections （SSTIs）,but limited data were available regarding the characterization of S.aureus from SSTIs patients in Jiangsu Province in China.We aimed to investigate the molecular epidemiology ofS.aureus among SSTIs patients in two hospitals of Jiangsu Province.Methods：Sixty-two patients with SSTIs from two Chinese hospitals in Jiangsu Province were enrolled in this study,and 62 S.aureus isolates were collected from February 2014 to January 2015.S.aureus isolates were characterized by antimicrobial susceptibility testing,toxin gene detection,and molecular typing with sequence type,Staphylococcus protein A gene type,accessorygeneregulator（agr）group,and Staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec type.Results：Sixteen （25.8%） methicillin-resistant S.aureus （MRSA） isolates were detected,and there was no isolate found resistant to vancomycin,teicoplanin,sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim,and linezolid.The sei was the toxin gene most frequently found,and no lukS/F-PV-positive isolates were detected among the SSTIs＆#39; patients.Molecular analysis revealed that ST398 （10/62,16.1%;2 MRSA and 8 methicillin-susceptible S.aureus） to be the dominant clone,followed by ST5 （8/62,12.9%） and ST7 （8/62,12.9%）.Conclusions：The livestock ST398 was the most common clone among patients with S.aureus SSTIs in Jiangsu Province,China.Surveillance and further studies on the important livestock ST398 clone in human infections are necessarily requested.

Tackling global health security by building an academic community for One Health action

Background One Health approach is crucial to tackling complex global public health threats at the interface of humans, animals, and the environment. As outlined in the One Health Joint Plan of Action, the international One Health community includes stakeholders from different sectors. Supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, an academic community for One Health action has been proposed with the aim of promoting the understanding and real-world implementation of One Health approach and contribution towards the Sustainable Development Goals for a healthy planet.Main text The proposed academic community would contribute to generating high-quality scientific evidence, distilling local experiences as well as fostering an interconnected One Health culture and mindset, among various stakeholders on different levels and in all sectors. The major scope of the community covers One Health governance, zoonotic diseases, food security, antimicrobial resistance, and climate change along with the research agenda to be developed. The academic community will be supported by two committees, including a strategic consultancy committee and a scientific steering committee, composed of influential scientists selected from the One Health information database. A workplan containing activities under six objectives is proposed to provide research support, strengthen local capacity, and enhance global participation.Conclusions The proposed academic community for One Health action is a crucial step towards enhancing communication, coordination, collaboration, and capacity building for the implementation of One Health. By bringing eminent global experts together, the academic community possesses the potential to generate scientific evidence and provide advice to local governments and international organizations, enabling the pursuit of common goals, collaborative policies, and solutions to misaligned interests.

Advancing early warning and surveillance for zoonotic diseases under climate change:Interdisciplinary systematic perspectives

Zoonoses account for the majority of emerging infectious diseases and pose a serious threat to human and animal health.Under global warming and climate change,zoonoses are significantly affected by influencing hosts,vectors,and pathogen dynamics as well as their in-teractions.Traditional zoonoses surveillance relies on molecular or serological diagnostic methods to monitor pathogens from animal or patient samples,which may miss the early warning signs of pathogens spillover from the environment.Nowadays,new technologies such as remote sensing,environment-based screening,multi-omics,and big data science facilitate comprehensive active surveillance,offering great potential for early warning and prediction.Despite the recent technological advances,there is few reviews that explores the integration of cutting-edge technologies aimed at constructing a robust early warning system.Therefore,we discussed the opportunities,barriers,and limitations of interdisciplinary emerging technologies for exploring early warning and surveillance of zoonoses.This systematic review summarized a practical framework for early surveillance integrated with a modified SEIR model for zoonoses in the context of climate change.It also outlined challenges and future prospects in terms of data sharing,early detection of unknown zoonoses and the move towards global surveillance.

Development and optimization of integrated course of medical microbiology and parasitology

The course of medical microbiology and parasitology is integrated with medical microbiology and human parasitology. It is an important basic medical course. Efficient utilization of existing teaching resources and promotion of further integration are actual requirements of the teaching reform. Integration experience of this course in recent years are summarized in this paper,from the aspects of teaching modes,teaching resources,evaluation system,and management measures,we concluded how to construct and optimize this course. We also focus on the encountered problems and countermeasures in the construction of the curriculum in this paper,so as to provide strategic guidance for the further development of medical microbiology and parasitology.

Assessing food security performance from the One Health concept:an evaluation tool based on the Global One Health Index

Background Food systems instantiate the complex interdependencies across humans,physical environments,and other organisms.Applying One Health approaches for agri-food system transformation,which adopts integrated and unifying approaches to optimize the overall health of humans,animals,plants,and environments,is crucial to enhance the sustainability of food systems.This study develops a potential assessment tool,named the global One Health index-Food Security(GOHI-FS),aiming to evaluate food security performance across countries/territories from One Health perspective and identify relevant gaps that need to be improved for sustainable food systems.Methods We comprehensively reviewed existing frameworks and elements of food security.The indicator framework of GOHI-FS was conceptualized following the structure-process-outcome model and confirmed by expert advisory.Publicly available data in 2020 was collected for each indicator.The weighting strategy was determined by the Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process.The data for each indicator was normalized and aggregated by weighted arithmetic mean.Linear regressions were performed to evaluate the associations of GOHI-FS with health and social-economic indicators.Results The GOHI-FS includes 5 first-level indicators,19 second-level indicators and 45 third-level indicators.There were 146 countries/territories enrolled for evaluation.The highest average score of first-level indicators was Nutrition(69.8)and the lowest was Government Support and Response(31.3).There was regional heterogeneity of GOHI-FS scores.Higher median scores with interquartile range(IQR)were shown in North America(median:76.1,IQR:75.5-76.7),followed by Europe and Central Asia(median:66.9,IQR:60.1-74.3),East Asia and the Pacific(median:60.6,IQR:55.5-68.7),Latin America and the Caribbean(median:60.2,IQR:57.8-65.0),Middle East and North Africa(median:56.6,IQR:52.0-62.8),South Asia(median:51.1,IQR:46.7-53.8),and sub-Saharan Africa(median:41.4,IQR:37.2-46.5).We also found significant associations between GOHI-FS and GDP per capita,socio-demographic index,health expenditure and life expectancy.Conclusions GOHI-FS is a potential assessment tool to understand the gaps in food security across countries/territories under the One Health concept.The pilot findings suggest notable gaps for sub-Saharan Africa in numerous aspects.Broad actions are needed globally to promote government support and response for food security.

Review and expectation of integrated curriculum of basic medical sciences of Shanghai Jiao Tong University

Since early 1950 s,many domestic and foreign medical schools have carried out the integrated teaching reform of medical education. In our school of basic medical sciences,there have been three types of integrated curriculum reform carried out in history,i. e. horizontally integrated courses,problem-oriented basic medical sciences curriculum, and organ system-based integrated curriculum. This article reviews the experience of these three teaching reforms and the problems encountered and hopes to provide some references for the integration of basic medical sciences curriculum of other medical schools.