A secure visualization platform for pathogenic genome analysis with an accurate reference database

Investigating the genetic and developmental characteristics,infection transmission attributes,and epidemiological trends of pathogens using genomic data represents the foundation for pathogen surveillance and is a crucial prerequisite for guaranteeing global health security.To meet the analytical demands of research relating to pathogen prevention and control,we designed a secure visualization system capable of pathogen genome assembly,annotation,species identification,sequence typing,antibiotic resistance and virulence analysis,genomic mobile element and transferable resistance gene annotation,and phylogenetic tree reconstruction.For highly pathogenic organisms requiring complete data protection,we have developed a secure computing tool that utilizes a trusted execution environment,is combined with blockchain and privacy computing technologies,and is specifically designed for nucleotide basic local alignment search tool(BLASTn)comparison analysis.This technological advancement offers scientific support for in‐depth investigations into pathogen transmission and epidemiological mechanisms,environmental adaptability,evolutionary trends,and immune evasion mechanisms,as well as the identification of new or emerging pathogen strains.This,in turn,aids efforts in infectious disease prevention,treatment,and research.

From filaments to function: The role of the plant actin cytoskeleton in pathogen perception,signaling and immunity

The eukaryotic actin cytoskeleton is required for numerous cellular processes, including cell shape, development and movement, gene expression and signal transduction, and response to biotic and abiotic stress. In recent years,research in both plants and animal systems have described a function for actin as the ideal surveillance platform, linking the function and activity of primary physiological processes to the immune system. In this review, we will highlight recent advances that have defined the regulation and breadth of function of the actin cytoskeleton as a network required for defense signaling following pathogen infection. Coupled with an overview of recent work demonstrating specific targeting of the plant actin cytoskeleton by a diversity of pathogens,including bacteria, fungi and viruses, we will highlight the importance of actin as a key signaling hub in plants, one that mediates surveillance of cellular homeostasis and the activation of specific signaling responses following pathogen perception. B4 ased on the studies highlighted herein, we propose a working model that posits changes in actin filament organization is in and of itself a highly specific signal, which induces, regulates and physically directs stimulus-specific signaling processes, most importantly, those associated with response to pathogens.

Etiology,clinical features,and epidemiological analysis of diarrhea patients visiting a gastrointestinal clinic in a comprehensive hospital in Beijing,China,in 2023

Objective:To investigate the clinical features and epidemiology of diarrhea patients and analyze the current distribution of enteropathogens causing diarrhea in a comprehensive hospital in Beijing,China,in 2023.Materials and Methods:From April to October 2023,we enrolled patients with diarrheal diseases who visited the gastrointestinal Clinic in our hospital.The patients'demographic,epidemiological,and clinical features were obtained via a questionnaire.Stool samples were examined for 20 enteropathogens by multiplex polymerase chain reaction testing.Results:We enrolled 260 patients;men and adults accounted for 55.77%and 95.77%of the patients,respectively.The median age was 37 years.Eighty-four enteropathogens,72 bacteria and 12 viruses,were identified in 74 patients.Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli was the predominant agent.Patients with and without pathogens detected in stool samples showed no significant differences in age,sex,gastrointestinal symptoms,and stool characteristics.Possible food-related events were recorded in 57.31%of the patients.Leukocyte counts in patients with bacterial infections were higher than those of patients with viral infections and those with no detected pathogens(p<0.05).Seasonality of bacterial distribution was observed(p<0.05).Conclusion:Bacteria were predominant pathogens among the diarrhea patients.The incidence of diarrhea was related to hot weather and foodborne illness.Bacterial diarrhea may cause systemic infection.The clinical symptoms of infectious diarrhea were usually non-specific and unrelated to the type of infection.Timely and comprehensive multi-pathogen surveillance might be helpful to detect suspected pathogens and promote epidemic prevention and control.

Emergence of hypervirulent Pseudomonas aeruginosa pathotypically armed with co-expressed T3SS effectors ExoS and ExoU

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a significant pathogen mainly causing healthcare-associated infections(HAIs).Newly emerging high-risk clones of P.aeruginosa with elevated virulence profiles furtherly cause severe community-acquired infections(CAIs).Usually,it is not common for P.aeruginosa to co-carry exoU and exoS genes,encoding two type III secretion system(T3SS)effectors.The pathogenicity mechanism of exoS+/exoU+strains of P.aeruginosa remains unclear.Here,we provide detailed evidence for a subset of hypervirulent P.aeruginosa strains,which abundantly co-express and secrete the T3SS effectors ExoS and ExoU.The exoS+/exoU+P.aeruginosa strains were available to cause both HAIs and CAIs.The CAI-associated strains could elicit severe inflammation and hemorrhage,leading to higher death rates in a murine acute pneumonia model,and had great virulence potential in establishing chronic infections,demonstrating hypervirulence when compared to PAO1(exoS+/exoU-)and PA14(exoS-/exoU+).Both ExoS and ExoU were co-expressed and co-secreted in abundance in exoS+/exoU+strains.Their abundant protein secretion could boost exoS+/exoU+strains’potentials for cytotoxicity in vitro and pathogenicity in vivo.Genomic evidence indicates that exoU acquisition is likely mediated by horizontal gene transfer(HGT)of the pathogenicity island PAPI-2,while deletion of exoU was sufficient to mitigate virulence in the exoS+/exoU+strains.Furthermore,bioinformatics analysis showed that such exoS+/exoU+P.aeruginosa strains turned out to be widely distributed across the globe.Overall,the research provide detailed evidence for the high virulence and epidemicity of exoS+/exoU+strains of P.aeruginosa,highlighting an urgent need for surveillance against these high-risk hypervirulent strains.