Analysis on the Epidemiological Characteristics of Escherichia coli O157:H7 Infection in Xuzhou,Jiangsu,China,1999

Objective： To determine epidemiologic features of an Escherichia coli O157：H7 outbreak occurred in Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province, China in 1999, and assess the incidence of E. coli O157：H7 in diarrhea patients and host animals and its relationship with disease onset, and provide a scientific basis for establishing prevention and control strategies. Methods： Epidemiological, microbiological, and molecular methods were performed to identify risk factors and describe the ecology of E. coli O157：H7 in the enviromnent. Results： From May to September, in 1999, 99 cases of E. coli O157：H7 infection were confirmed. Fifty-six patients were enrolled in the case-control study. Bad personal health habits and poor sanitary conditions in the kitchen were associated with increased risks of infection, whereas hand washing was protective. The household survey indicated that residents in the epidemic region during the outbreak had higher than expected rates of diarrhea. The total E. coli O157：H7 carrier rate in the livestock was 12.36%（22/178）, specifically 19.15% in cattle, 12.50% in goat, and 11.11% in swine. Numerical analysis of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis（PFGE） profiles divided strains into two clusters with 77.5% homology. One cluster contained 11 strains isolated from diarrheal patients, foods, and animals. The other cluster comprised 10 strains from patients and environment. Conclusion： In a large outbreak of E. coli O157：H7 infection among predominantly elderly residents in Xuzhou, high rates of carriage of E. coli O157：H7 among host animals most likely resulted in contamination of the environment, thereby leading to the outbreak. Effective and preventive control measures should be taken to avoid contamination, including environmental and family health improvement, good personal hygiene, and safe food handling practices.

新关联网络中大金融科技风险的跨界传染效应

随着新科技与金融业的深度融合,一个由金融科技公司和传统金融机构构成的新关联网络悄然形成。新关联网络中的大金融科技公司与传统金融机构间的技术与业务渗透日益紧密并对传统金融业产生风险传染与溢出。文章立足新关联网络,通过识别大金融科技风险并探寻其传染机制,选取股票收益率变量数据,利用GARCH-Copula模型测度大金融科技的风险溢出效应。结果表明:大金融科技公司的风险水平高于传统金融机构,且对传统金融业具有风险传染效应,其中对证券业的风险溢出强度最大,对银行业的风险溢出相对较弱。大金融科技对传统金融业的风险溢出强度与其在新关联网络中的关联度成正比关系,但其传染强度并不随着关联度的增加而增强。因此,要降低大金融科技风险对传统金融的风险传染溢出,必须充分运用监管科技手段,建立涵盖新关联网络各环节各渠道各层面的风险监管与防控机制,以及时发现和抑制风险的兹生、衍化和传染。

Antibacterial activity evaluation of a novel K3-specific phage against Acinetobacter baumannii and evidence for receptor-binding domain transfer across morphologies

Acinetobacter baumannii(A.baumannii)poses a serious public health challenge due to its notorious antimicrobial resistance,particularly carbapenem-resistant A.baumannii(CRAB).In this study,we isolated a virulent phage,named P1068,from medical wastewater capable of lysing CRAB,primarily targeting the K3 capsule type.Basic characterization showed that P1068 infected the A.baumannii ZWAb014 with an optimal MOI of 1,experienced a latent period of 10 min and maintained stability over a temperature range of 4–37C and pH range of 3–10.Phylogenetic and average nucleotide identity analyses indicate that P1068 can be classified as a novel species within the genus Obolenskvirus of the Caudoviricetes class as per the most recent virus classification released by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses(ICTV).Additionally,according to classical morphological classification,P1068 is identified as a T4-like phage(Myoviridae).Interestingly,we found that the tail fiber protein(TFP)of P1068 shares 74%coverage and 88.99%identity with the TFP of a T7-like phage(Podoviridae),AbKT21phiIII(NC_048142.1).This finding suggests that the TFP gene of phages may undergo horizontal transfer across different genera and morphologies.In vitro antimicrobial assays showed that P1068 exhibited antimicrobial activity against A.baumannii in both biofilm and planktonic states.In mouse models of intraperitoneal infection,P1068 phage protected mice from A.baumannii infection and significantly reduced bacterial loads in various tissues such as the brain,blood,lung,spleen,and liver compared to controls.In conclusion,this study demonstrates that phage P1068 might be a potential candidate for the treatment of carbapenem-resistant and biofilmforming A.baumannii infections,and expands the understanding of horizontal transfer of phage TFP genes.

Interleukin-33 drives hepatic fibrosis through activation of hepatic stellate cells

Liver fibrosis is a consequence of chronic liver disease,causing morbidity and mortality.Interleukin-33(IL-33)is a critical mediator of inflammation,which may be involved in the development of liver fibrosis.Here,we investigated the role of IL-33 in human patients and experimental bile-duct ligation(BDL)-induced fibrosis in mice.We report increased hepatic IL-33 expression in the murine BDL model of fibrosis and in surgical samples obtained from patients with liver fibrosis.Liver injury,inflammatory cell infiltration and fibrosis were reduced in the absence of the IL-33/ST2 receptor,and the activation of hepatic stellate cells(HSCs)was decreased in ST2-deficient mice.Recombinant IL-33 activated HSCs isolated from C57BL/6 mice,leading to the expression of IL-6,TGF-β,α-SMA and collagen,which was abrogated in the absence of ST2 or by pharmacological inhibition of MAPK signaling.Finally,administration of recombinant IL-33 significantly increased hepatic inflammation in sham-operated BL6 mice but did not enhance BDL-induced hepatic inflammation and fibrosis.In conclusion,BDL-induced liver inflammation and fibrosis are dependent on ST2 signaling in HSCs,and therefore,the IL-33/ST2 pathway may be a potential therapeutic target in human patients with chronic hepatitis and liver fibrosis.

RP11-40C6.2 Inactivates Hippo Signaling by Attenuating YAP1 Ubiquitylation in Hepatitis B Virus-associated Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Background and Aims:Chronic hepatitis caused by hepatitis B virus(HBV)infection is a leading cause of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).We investigated the roles of oncogenic HBV infection-associated long noncoding RNAs in HCC.Methods:Bioinformatics analysis of data from the Cancer Genome Atlas(TCGA)was performed to screen potential oncogenic HBV-related lncRNAs.Next,we assessed their expression in clinical samples and investigated their correlation with clinical characteristics.The detailed oncogenic effects were analyzed by performing in vitro and in vivo studies.Results:RP11-40C6.2,an HBV infection-related lncRNA,was identified by analysis of the TCGA–Liver Hepatocellular Carcinoma database.Gene Set Enrichment Analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)enrichment analysis of differentially expressed genes revealed a strong association of RP11-40C6.2 with the Hippo signaling pathway.RP11-40C6.2 was overexpressed in HCC patients with HBV infection compared to those without HBV infection.RP11-40C6.2 transcription showed a positive association with HBV-X protein(HBx),but not HBV core protein(HBc)expression,both of which are carcinogenic proteins.Luciferase gene reporter and ChIP assays revealed that YAP1/TAZ/TEADs complex enhanced RP11-40C6.2 transcription by binding to its promoter area.RP11-40C6.2 showed oncogenic characteristics in HCC cell lines and in animal models that were mediated via activation of YAP1.In vitro ubiquitylation assay revealed that RP11-40C6.2 can promote the stabilization of YAP1 by stopping phosphorylation at its s127 residue and further stopping its degradation through binding to 14-3-3.Conclusions:RP11-40C6.2 is an HBV infection-related lncRNA that exerts its oncogenic effects by targeting the Hippo signaling pathway.

IL-33/ST2 signaling in liver transplantation

In a study published in Cellular&Molecular Immunology,we described a novel mechanism by which IL-33 drives hepatic fibrosis through the MAPK pathway.The study demonstrated that hepatocyte-derived IL-33 is elevated upon bile duct ligation(BDL)-induced liver injury and fibrogenesis and activates hepatic stellate cells in a JNK/ERK/p38-dependent manner.