Molecular characteristics of Brucella melitensis isolates from humans in Qinghai Province, China

Background:The prevalence of human brucellosis in Qinghai Province of China has been increasing rapidly,with confirmed cases distributed across 31 counties.However,the epidemiology of brucellosis transmission has not been fully elucidated.To characterize the infecting strains isolated from humans,multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeats analysis(MLVA)and whole-genome single-nucleotide polymorphism(SNP)-based approaches were employed.Methods:Strains were isolated from two males blood cultures that were confirmed Brucella m elitensis positive following biotyping and MLVA.Genomic DNA was extracted from these two strains,and whole-genome sequencing was performed.Next,SNP-based phylogenetic analysis was performed to compare the two strains to 94 B.melitensis strains(complete genome and draft genome)retrieved from online databases.Results:The two Brucella isolates were identified as B.melitensis biovar 3(QH2019001 and QH2019005)following conventional biotyping and were found to have differences in their variable number tandem repeats(VNTRs)using MLVA-16.Phylogenetic examination assigned the 96 strains to five genotype groups,with QH2019001 and QH2019005 assigned to the same group,but different subgroups.Moreover,the QH2019005 strain was assigned to a new subgenotype,llj,within genotype II.These findings were then combined to determine the geographic origin of the two Brucella strains.Conclusions:Utilizing a whole-genome SNP-based approach enabled differences between the two B.m elitensis strains to be more clearly resolved,and facilitated the elucidation of their different evolutionary histories.This approach also revealed that QH2019005 is a member of a new subgenotype(Hj)with an ancient origin in the eastern Mediterranean Sea.

Fluorescence polarization assay improves the rapid detection of human brucellosis in China

Background:Brucellosis is an infectious-allergic zoonotic disease caused by bacteria of the genus Brucella.Early diagnosis is the key to preventing,treating,and controlling brucellosis.Fluorescence polarization immunoassay(FPA)is a new immunoassay for relatively rapid and accurate detection of antibodies or antigens based on antigen-antibody interaction.However,there is no report on FPA-based detection of human brucellosis in China.Therefore,this study is to evaluate the value of FPA for the diagnosis of human brucellosis in China.

Economic and employment effects of China's power transition based on input‒output and scenario simulation

With high carbon emission,the low-carbon transition of power sector will be critical for China to achieve the carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals.The power transition will have an impact on the economy and employment through the value chain.Quantifying the impact is important for China's future energy and welfare policies.This study adopts input‒output model to analyze the impact on economy and employment based on accelerated and slow power transition scenarios.The results show that the low-carbon power transition will have a negative impact on coal power and coal mining and washing sectors,while a positive impact on machine manufacturing and equipment sector.Low-carbon power transition will have a positive economic and employment effect to promote inclusive growth.By 2060,economic output will increase by about 8.50 trillion CNY,value-added by about 3.39 trillion CNY,and employment will increase by about 3.74 million.Although slower coal power transition can stabilize the economic and employment effect in the short and medium run,accelerating the power transition will produce more positive effect and lower job losses by coal power in the long run.By 2060,accelerating transition will boost output by 8.21%,value-added by 8.20%and jobs by 7.97%.Accordingly,the government should establish an all-round just low-carbon transition mechanism.

Complete mitochondrial genome of Ampittia dioscorides （Lepidoptera： Hesperiidae） and its phylogenetic analysis

The complete mitochondrial genome of Ampittia dioscorides （Lepidoptera： Hesperiidae） was determined. The sequenced genome is a circular molecule of 15313 bp, containing 13 protein-coding genes （PCGs）, 22 tRNA genes, two rRNA genes, and an A ＋ T-rich region. The gene arrangements and transcribing directions are identical to those in most of the reported lepidopteran mitogenomes. The base composition of the whole genome and genes or regions are also similar to those in other lepidopteran species. All the PCGs are initiated by typical ATN codons; the exception being CO1, which begins with a CGA codon. Eight genes （ND2, ATPase8, ATPase6, COIII, ND5, ND4L, ND6, and Cytb） end with a TAA stop codon, and two genes （ND1 and ND3） end with TAG. The remaining three genes （CO1 and COIl, which end with TA-, and ND4, which ends with T-） have incomplete stop codons. All tRNAs have the typical clover-leaf structure of mitochondrial tRNAs, with the exception of tRNAser（AGY）. On the basis of the concatenated nucleotide and amino acid sequences of the 13 PCGs and wingless gene of 22 butterfly species, maximum parsimony （MP） and Bayesian inference （BI） trees were constructed, respectively. Both MP and BI trees had the same topological structure： （（（（Nymphalidae ＋ Danaidae） ＋ Lycaenidae） ＋ Pieridae） ＋ Papilionidae） ＋ Hesperiidae）. The results provide support for Hesperiidae as a superfamily-level taxon.