Associations between Mycobacterium tuberculosis Beijing geno- type and drug resistance to four first-line drugs： a survey in China

Investigations on the genetic diversity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in China have shown that Beijing genotype strains play a dominant role. To study the assoeiation between the M. tuberculosis Beijing genotype and the drug-resistance phenotype, 1286 M. tuberculosis clinical isolates together with epidemiologieal and clinical information of patients were collected from the center for tuberculosis （TB） prevention and control or TB hospitals in Beijing municipality and nine provinces or autonomous regions in China. Drug resistance testing was conducted on all the isolates to the four first-line anti-TB drugs （isoniazid, rifampicin, streptomycin, and ethambutol）. A total of 585 strains were found to be resistant to at least one of the four anti-TB drugs. The Beijing family strains consisted of 499 （53.20%） drug-sensitive strains and 439 （46.80%） drug-resistant strains, whereas the non-Beijing family strains comprised 202 （58.05%） drug-sensitive strains and 146 （41.95%） drug-resistant strains. No significant difference was observed in prevalence （X2=2.41, P 〉 0.05） between the drug-resistant and drug- sensitive strains among the Beijing family strains. Analysis of monoresistance, multidrug-resistant TB, and geographic distribution of drug resistance did not find any relationships between the M. tuberculosis Beijing genotype and drug-resistance phenotype in China. Results confirmed that the Beijing genotype, the predominant M. tuberculosis genotype in China, was not associated with drug resistance.

Preliminary Study of the Protectiveness of Vaccination Against the COVID-19 in the Outbreak of VOC Omicron BA.2—Jilin City,Jilin Province,China,March 3–April 12,2022

Summary What is already known about this topic?An outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)of Omicron BA.2 emerged in Jilin City since March 3,2022,which involved in 27,036 cases by April 12.The vaccination program with inactivated COVID-19 vaccines has been implemented since the beginning of 2021.What is added by this report?The incidences of moderate,severe,and critical cases in the whole population of the group of 0+1 dose were 1.82-,9.49-,and 3.85-fold higher than those in the group of 2 doses,and 5.03-,44.47-,and∞-fold higher than those received 3 doses vaccination.For the population≥60 years,the incidences of moderate,severe,and critical cases in the group of 0+1 dose were 29.92,9.62,and 4.27 per 100,000,showing 4.13-,43.72-,and 4.85-fold higher than 2 doses,as well as 13.28-,22.37-,and∞-fold higher than 3 doses.What are the implications for public health practice?The incidences of each type of COVID-19 in the population who were fully vaccinated or booster vaccinated in Jilin City were significantly lower than those who were unvaccinated and/or partially vaccinated.Booster vaccination with homologous inactivated vaccines induces stronger protectiveness for COVID-19 caused by variant of concern(VOC)Omicron.

A systematic study of the whole genome sequence of Amycolatopsis methanolica strain 239T provides an insight into its physiological and taxonomic properties which correlate with its position in the genus

The complete genome of methanol-utilizing Amycolatopsis methanolica strain 239T was generated,revealing a single 7,237,391 nucleotide circular chromosome with 7074 annotated protein-coding sequences(CDSs).Comparative analyses against the complete genome sequences of Amycolatopsis japonica strain MG417-CF17T,Amycolatopsis mediterranei strain U32 and Amycolatopsis orientalis strain HCCB10007 revealed a broad spectrum of genomic structures,including various genome sizes,core/quasi-core/non-core configurations and different kinds of episomes.Although polyketide synthase gene clusters were absent from the A.methanolica genome,12 gene clusters related to the biosynthesis of other specialized(secondary)metabolites were identified.Complete pathways attributable to the facultative methylotrophic physiology of A.methanolica strain 239T,including both the mdo/mscR encoded methanol oxidation and the hps/hpi encoded formaldehyde assimilation via the ribulose monophosphate cycle,were identified together with evidence that the latter might be the result of horizontal gene transfer.Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rDNA or orthologues of AMETH_3452,a novel actinobacterial class-specific conserved gene against 62 or 18 Amycolatopsis type strains,respectively,revealed three major phyletic lineages,namely the mesophilic or moderately thermophilic A.orientalis subclade(AOS),the mesophilic Amycolatopsis taiwanensis subclade(ATS)and the thermophilic A.methanolica subclade(AMS).The distinct growth temperatures of members of the subclades correlated with corresponding genetic variations in their encoded compatible solutes.This study shows the value of integrating conventional taxonomic with whole genome sequence data.