Mapping the Child’s Grey Interior:Authenticity of Plague Narrative in The Great Plague

The Great Plague:The Diary of Alice Paynton,London 1665-1666 adopts the realistic painting style and direct writing to the painful experience,describes the situation of the Great Plague in London truly from the perspective of children,and breaks people’s cognitive expectation of children’s literature,the construction of children’s Gray inner world is completed behind the true description of the Great Plague in London with the true brushwork,which presents a different world of childlike innocence.Despite the importance of epidemics writing in literature,the child’s diary perspective of them is one of the least developed of Plague Narrative.Only when authenticity and the child’s grey interior are integrated will we reveal a true picture of society as it was.

The Historical and Current Characteristics of“Plague Writing”-Rereading Chi Zijian’s Novel White Snow Crow in the Post Epidemic Era

Chi Zijian’s novel White Snow Crow is about the pestis in Northeast China from the autumn and winter of 1910 to the spring of 1911,focusing on the living conditions of people in Fujiadian,Harbin,under the shadow of the pestis,and thus connects the vicissitudes of Harbin in the development of modern Chinese history.Re-reading this novel in the context of the post-epidemic era not only allows us to immerse ourselves in the specific temporal and spatial fields described in the text with an immersive reading mindset,feel the heavy impact that the disaster has brought to the people of Northeast China,but also provide us with a different perspective to observe the current social reality.In particular,the social problems shown by the novel through the pestis and the description of ordinary people’s life experience under the plague still deserve further discussion.

Cloning and Sequence of Glycoprotein H Gene of Duck Plague Virus

The glycoprotein H （gH） gene homologue of duck plague virus （DPV） was cloned by degenerate polymerase chain reaction （PCR） and sequenced. It was located immediately downstream from the thymidine kinase gene （TK）. In addition, the 3＇-end of the gene homologue to herpesvirus UL21 was located downstream from the gH gene. DPV gH gene open reading frame （ORF） was 2 505 bp in length and its primary translation product was a polypeptide of 834 amino acids long. It possessed several characteristics of membrane glycoproteins, including an N-terminal hydrophobic signal sequence, an external domain containing eight putative N-linked glycosylation sites, a C-terminal transmembrane domain, and a charged cytoplasmic tail. Comparison with other herpesvirus revealed identities of 20.2, 25.1, 23.0, 23.0, 26.5 and 26.0% with the gH counterparts of the human herpesvirus virus 1 （HSV1）, equine herpesvirus 4 （EHV4）, bovine herpesvirus 1 （BHV1）, pseudorabies virus （PRV）, gallid herpesvirus 2 （GHV2） and gallid herpesvirus 3 （GHV3）, respectively.

Cloning of Thymidine Kinase Gene of Duck Plague Virus Using Degenerate PCR

The DNA of duck plague virus （DPV） thymidine kinase （TK） gene was cloned and sequenced from a vaccine virus in the study. Degenerate oligonucleotide primers for the consensus site of herpesvirus UL24, TK, and glycoprotein H（gH） gene were used in the polymerase chain reaction （PCR） to amplify DNA product with 3 741-base-pairs （bp） in size. DNA sequence analysis revealed a 1 077-base-pairs （bp） open reading frame （ORF） encoding a 358 amino acid polypeptide homologous to herpesvirus TK proteins. The predicted TK protein shared 31.2, 41.3, 35.7, 37.4, and 28.4% identity with herpes simplex virus typel, equine herpesvirus type 4, Marek＇s disease virus 2, herpesvirus turkey, and infectious laryngotracheitis virus, respectively. Comparison of the amino acid sequences of other herpesvirus TK proteins showed that these proteins were not conserved on the whole, otherwise the portion of the TK proteins corresponding to the nucleotide binding domain and the nucleoside binding site were highly conserved among herpesvirus. Comparison with the amino acid sequences of the conserved nucleotide and nucleoside binding domains of other eleven herpesvirus TK proteins to the predicted DPV peptide confirmed its identity as the DPV TK protein.

Role of duck plague virus glycoprotein C in viral adsorption:Absence of specific interactions with cell surface heparan sulfate

Many mammalian herpes viruses utilize heparan sulfate （HS） moieties present on cell surface proteoglycans as receptors for cell entry, and this process also requires viral glycoprotein C （gC） homologues. However, our understanding of the role of gC in facilitating attachment of other alpha-herpes viruses such as the duck plague virus （DPV） remains preliminary. To study the role of gC during DPV infection, we used a gC-deleted mutant virus （DPV-AgC-EGFP）. Examination of the viral copy number by real-time PCR, as well as time course studies of viral adsorption and proliferation revealed that gC was involved in the viral binding to the cell surface. The affinity of viral glycoproteins （gB-DPV, gC-DPV, and gE-DPV） to HS was assessed using a prokaryotic expression system and HJTrapTM HeparJn HP column chromatography. In addition, to confirm that gC played a role in the interaction between DPV and HS, viruses were treated with the HS analogue heparin and host cells were treated with its inhibitors heparinase prior to exposure to DPV-△gC-EGFP or wild-type strain Chinese virulent duck plague virus （DPV-CHv）. The effects of heparin and heparinase on virus infectivity demonstrated that function of gC on Viral adsorption is independent of interactions between gC and heparin sulfate on cell surface. All in all, this study demonstrated that the gC of DPV can mediate viral adsorption in an HS-independent manner, which distinguish it from the gC of some other alpha-herpes viruses. Future studies will be required to identify the receptors involved in gC protein binding to cells. This work provides us a foundation for further studies of examining the roles of gC in the adsorption during duck plague virus infection.

Backcalculation of the disease-age specific frequency of secondary transmission of primary pneumonic plague

The purpose of the paper was to assess the frequency of secondary transmissions of primary pneumonic plague relative to the onset of fever.A simple backcalculation method was employed to estimate the frequency of secondary transmissions relative to disease-age.A likelihood-based procedure was taken using observed distributions of the serial interval(n = 177) and incubation period(n = 126).Furthermore,an extended model was developed to account for the survival probability of cases.The simple backcalculation suggested that 31. 0%(95%confidence intervals(CI):11.6,50.4) and 28.0%(95%CI:10.2,45.8) of the total number of secondary transmissions had occurred at second and third days of the disease,respectively,and more than four-fifths of the secondary transmission occurred before the end of third day of disease.The survivorship-adjusted frequency of secondary transmissions was obtained,demonstrating that the infectiousness in later stages of illness was not insignificant and indicates that the obtained frequencies were likely biased on underlying factors including isolation measures.In conclusion,the simple exercise suggests a need to implement countermeasures during pre-clinical stage or immediately after onset.Further information is needed to elucidate the finer details of the disease-age specific infectiousness.

The Taxonomic Status of Spermophilus in the Plague Area of Dingbian County,Shaanxi Province,China

This study was conducted to define the taxonomic status of Spermophilus in the plague area of Dingbian County in Shaanxi Province,China,through the two-factor variance analysis of morphological characteristics,DNA barcoding,and chromosome karyotype analysis.

The Development of a Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) Procedure for Plague Diagnostic

Plague caused by Yersinia pestis is one of the infectious diseases subject to the International Health Regulations (IHR). Permanent monitoring of the focal plague areas is mandatory in order to enable prompt control measures to prevent the spread of the disease. Therefore, the availability of efficient diagnosis tests is of paramount importance. Here, we describe a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP)-based procedure for rapid Y. pestis detection. We constructed a set of LAMP primers, which were used in assays to establish the reaction conditions that would lead to the quick visualization of the results by evaluating the test tube with the naked eye. The primers were specifically designed to target the caf1 gene located on pFra/Tox (pMT), a prototypical plasmid of Y. pestis. The LAMP procedure was performed at 65°C for 45 min in a water bath and allowed for the detection of at least 10 pg of bacterial DNA. Due to its simplicity, specificity, sensitivity and rapidity, the LAMP technique is an additional tool that may be implemented in routine plague diagnoses, especially in emergencies.

Epidemiologic analysis of a previous outbreak of bubonic plague:The first identified outbreak with bacteriological confirmation in Kobe and Osaka,Japan

Objective:To characterize the case fatality and estimate the symptomatic period of bubonic plague.Methods: Epidemiologic analyses of a previous outbreak of plague in Osaka and Kobe,two major port cities in Japan, from 1899-1900 were performed.In addition to date of onset of symptoms,gender,age and the date of death were extracted from the historical data.The time from onset to death(symptomatic period) was fitted to gamma distribution using the maximum likelihood method.Results:Temporal distribution revealed suspected chains of transmission of the primary pneumonic plague at the late stage of the outbreak.The case fatality of bubonic plague without specific treatment was 83.4%,and the mean time from onset to death was estimated as 4.7 days(95%confidence interval;4.0,5.5).Conclusion:Case fatality of bubonic plague without specific treatment was extremely high.The symptomatic period of bubonic plague appeared to be longer than that of pneumonic plague.

Overview of the plague in the late Ming Dynasty and its prevention and control measures

The plague of the late Ming Dynasty(15511644 C.E.)was long lasting,affected a wide range of the population,and had serious consequences.The purpose of this study is to review the medical system in place at the time and the measures instituted to prevent and control the plague during the late Ming Dynasty.Information on the history of the Ming Dynasty(13681644 C.E.),local chronicles,and related research literature were consulted and analyzed in terms of duration,geographical area,and other dimensions of the epidemic.Because of the abnormal climate,wide range of natural disasters,and the impact of war,the epidemic spread over a wide area during the late Ming Dynasty.The government’s epidemic prevention measures were affected by war and other factors,resulting in poor control of the outbreak.However,in terms of the medical system in place during the Ming Dynasty,some of the thinking and methods of prevention and control of the plague were historical and progressive.Some outstanding physicians such as Wu Youke(15821652 C.E.)appeared during this period.His theory of plague prevention and control had a profound influence on the formation and development of pestilence deterrence in later generations.In the late Ming Dynasty,rich experiences and measures of prevention and control were accumulated in the struggle against the plague.These methods and experiences also have a significant,positive guiding influence on the prevention and control of plague in the present day.

Understanding the prevention and cure of plagues in Daoist medicine

Daoist medicine,a special form of traditional Chinese medicine with distinct Daoist styles,has played an important role in the history of plague control in ancient China.Emerged from the pandemics at the end of the Han Dynasty(146 C.E.-220 C.E.),Daoism,the native Chinese religion,has always had a religious mission to end the spread of plagues;thus,it has actively participated in treating plagues through various techniques of medicine and religion.In the practice of plague treatment for thousands of years,Daoist medicine has developed a special etiology of plague that includes Qi-based theories(Qi is considered to be the force that informs and animates all things in Daoism,thus,plague is also considered to be caused by specific and hazardous Qi.)and worm-based theories,forming a strategy of plague control that includes prevention before an epidemic,active treatment during the epidemic,and recovery after the epidemic;these developed plague prevention methods combine isolation,disinfection,and drug use.Additionally,it is the first to practice a primitive immunoprophylaxis method that uses tissues and secretions of infected persons and animals to infect healthy individuals to gain disease immunity.It has formed a plague treatment method mainly based on drug treatment and ritual treatment,supplemented by acupuncture and physical treatment.It has left behind many effective drugs and prescriptions for plague treatment,some of which have a wide clinical application.Hence,Daoist medicine has made great contributions to plague control in Chinese history.Its strategies,methods,medicines,and prescriptions for plague control still have considerable theoretical and application today,especially in the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic.

Research on Prevention and Control Technology of Grassland Locust Plague in Hami City, Xinjiang

Hami City is the main locust plague area in Xinjiang.In the past,chemical pesticide control of locusts was mainly adopted,which not only cost a lot of manpower,material and financial resources,but also killed natural enemies of locusts and other insects due to the extensive use of chemical pesticides.As a result,the natural ecological environment of grassland was damaged and polluted to varying degrees,while the grassland ecosystem was deteriorating day by day.Since 2004,the prevention and control of grassland locusts has been carried out by chicken herding,duck herding,nesting for attracting birds,as well as biological and plant pesticides.In particular,the proportion of rosy starling control technology in grassland locust control has increased year by year,and the grassland ecosystem has recovered significantly.

Analysis on the medication and methods of ancient traditional Chinese medicine in the prevention of plague

Background:To analyze the medication and methods of ancient traditional Chinese medicine for the prevention of plague and seasonal pathogen in order to reduce the spread of infectious diseases such as flu and protect the susceptible people.Methods:Search the medication and the methods for preventing plague and seasonal pathogen in the Chinese Medical Code,classify and summarize the methods,perform frequency analysis and efficacy cluster analysis on Chinese medicines of involved medicines.Results:The methods of preventing ancient plague were as follows:burning and fumigating Chinese medicines,medicating nostrils,wearing bags filled with Chinese medicines,oral Chinese medicines and applying medicines to skin.The 3 main ways for drugs to work were external medication,nostril inhalation,and internal absorption.The Chinese medicines for preventing plague are mostly warm in nature and pungent in flavour,belonging to the spleen,stomach,liver,lung meridian.The 3 categories of drugs obtained by cluster analysis are C1:drugs for facilitating lung,relieving exterior and dissipating cold,such as Cangzhu(Atractylodis rhizoma)-Qianghuo(Notopterygh rhizoma et radix)-Xixin(Asari radix et rhizoma)-Baizhi(Angelicae dahuricae radix)-Fangfeng(Saposhnikoviae radix)-Zaojiao(Gleditsiae sinensis fructus);C2:drugs for promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis,such as Xionghuang(Realgar)-Zhusha(Cinnabaris)-Dahuang(Rhei radix rhizoma)-Chuanxiong(Chuanxiong rhizoma)-Jiegeng(Platycodonis radix);C3:drugs for replenishing Qi(it is the most basic element that constitutes human body and maintains life activities in traditional Chinese medicine)and tonifying the spleen,such as Gancao(Glycyrrhizae radix et rhizoma)-Dazao(Jujubae fructus)-Ganjiang(Zingiberis rhizoma)-Rougui(Cinnamomi cortex)-Gansong(Nardostachyos radix et rhizoma)-Chenpi(Citri reticulatae pericarpium)-Baizhu(Atractylodis macrocephalae rhizoma).Conclusion:Through analysis the medication and methods of ancient traditional Chinese medicine for the prevention of plague,we can provide reference for modern research from the original plague prevention methods,and make an important contribution to the use of traditional Chinese medicine in the prevention and treatment of epidemic infectious diseases in modern clinic.

Stability Analysis of Bubonic Plague Model with the Causing Pathogen Yersinia pestis in the Environment

Bubonic plague is a serious bacterial disease, mainly transmitted to human beings and rodents through flea bite. However, the disease may also be transmitted upon the interaction with the infected materials or surfaces in the environment. In this study, a deterministic model for bubonic plague disease with Yersinia pestis in the environment is developed and analyzed. Conditions for existence and stability of the equilibrium points are established. Using Jacobian method disease free equilibrium (DFE) point, E0 was proved to be locally asymptotically stable. The Metzler matrix method was used to prove that the DFE was globally asymptotically stable when R0 < 1. By applying Lyapunov stability theory and La Salles invariant principle, we prove that the endemic equilibrium point of system is globally asymptotically stable when R0 > 1. Numerical simulations are done to verify the analytical predictions. The results show that bubonic plague can effectively be controlled or even be eradicated if efforts are made to ensure that there are effective and timely control strategies.

Relationship Between Climate Change and Marmot Plague of Marmota himalayana Plague Focus—the Altun Mountains of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau,China,2000–2022

Introduction:Plague is a zoonotic disease that occurs naturally in specific geographic areas.Climate change can influence the populations of the plague host or vector,leading to variations in the occurrence and epidemiology of plague in animals.Methods:In this study,we collected meteorological and plague epidemiological data from the Marmota himalayana plague focus in the Altun Mountains of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau.The data spanned from 2000 to 2022.We describe the climatic factors and plague epidemic conditions and we describe their analysis by Pearson’s correlation.Results:During the period from 2000 to 2022,the isolation rates of Yersinia pestis(Y.pestis)from marmots and fleas were 9.27%(451/4,864)and 7.17%(118/1,646),respectively.Additionally,we observed a positive rate of F1 antibody of 11.25%(443/3,937)in marmots and 18.16%(142/782)in dogs.With regards to climate,there was little variation,and a decreasing trend in blowing-sand days was observed.The temperature in the previous year showed a negative correlation with the Y.pestis isolation rate in marmots(r=−0.555,P=0.011)and the positive rate of F1 antibody in marmots(r=−0.552,P=0.012)in the current year.The average annual precipitation in the previous two years showed a positive correlation with marmot density(r=0.514,P=0.024),while blowingsand days showed a negative correlation with marmot density(r=−0.701,P=0.001).Furthermore,the average annual precipitation in the previous three years showed a positive correlation with the isolation rate of Y.pestis from marmots(r=0.666,P=0.003),and blowing-sand days showed a negative correlation with marmot density(r=−0.597,P=0.009).Conclusions:The findings of this study indicate that there is a hysteresis effect of climate change on the prevalence of plague.Therefore,monitoring climate conditions can offer significant insights for implementing timely preventive and control measures to combat plague epidemics.

One Health: navigating plague in Madagascar amidst COVID-19

Background Africa sees the surge of plague cases in recent decades,with hotspots in the Democratic Republic of Congo,Madagascar,and Peru.A rodent-borne scourge,the bacterial infection known as plague is transmitted to humans via the sneaky bites of fleas,caused by Yersinia pestis.Bubonic plague has a case fatality rate of 20.8%with treatment,but in places such as Madagascar the mortality rate can increase to 40–70%without treatment.Main text Tragedy strikes in the Ambohidratrimo district as three lives are claimed by the plague outbreak and three more fight for survival in the hospitals,including one man in critical condition,from the Ambohimiadana,Antsaharasty,and Ampanotokana communes,bringing the total plague victims in the area to a grim to five.Presently,the biggest concern is the potential plague spread among humans during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.Effective disease control can be achieved through training and empowering local leaders and healthcare providers in rural areas,implementing strategies to reduce human–rodent interactions,promoting water,sanitation and hygiene practices(WASH)practices,and carrying out robust vector,reservoir and pest control,diversified animal surveillance along with human surveillance should be done to more extensively to fill the lacunae of knowledge regarding the animal to human transmission.The lack of diagnostic laboratories equipped represents a major hurdle in the early detection of plague in rural areas.To effectively combat plague,these tests must be made more widely available.Additionally,raising awareness among the general population through various means such as campaigns,posters and social media about the signs,symptoms,prevention,and infection control during funerals would greatly decrease the number of cases.Furthermore,healthcare professionals should be trained on the latest methods of identifying cases,controlling infections and protecting themselves from the disease.Conclusions Despite being endemic to Madagascar,the outbreak’s pace is unparalleled,and it may spread to non-endemic areas.The utilization of a One Health strategy that encompasses various disciplines is crucial for minimizing catastrophe risk,antibiotic resistance,and outbreak readiness.Collaboration across sectors and proper planning ensures efficient and consistent communication,risk management,and credibility during disease outbreaks.

Single-cell transcriptomics of immune cells in lymph nodes reveals their composition and alterations in functional dynamics during the early stages of bubonic plague

Bubonic plague caused by Yersinia pestis is highly infectious and often fatal.Characterization of the host immune response and its subsequent suppression by Y.pestis is critical to understanding the pathogenesis of Y.pestis.Here,we utilized single-cell RNA sequencing to systematically profile the transcriptomes of immune cells in draining lymph nodes(d LNs)during the early stage of Y.pestis infection.Dendritic cells responded to Y.pestis within 2 h post-infection(hpi),followed by the activation of macrophages/monocytes(Mφs/Mons)and recruitment of polymorphonuclear neutrophils(PMNs)to d LNs at 24 hpi.Analysis of cell-to-cell communication suggests that PMNs may be recruited to lymph nodes following the secretion of CCL9 by Mφs/Mons stimulated through CCR1-CCL9 interaction.Significant functional suppression of all the three innate immune cell types occurred during the early stage of infection.In summary,we present a dynamic immune landscape,at single-cell resolution,of murine d LNs involved in the response to Y.pestis infection,which may facilitate the understanding of the plague pathogenesis of during the early stage of infection.

Pandemic Studies in Middle Eastern History and Qur’anic Verse Interpretation of the Plague

In the past two years,the world has been excited by the arrivalof the COVID-19 pandemic.This plague,in fact,has successfullyparalysed many people in the world.Paralysis due to the spreadof the virus,whose effect is not only to make many people in theworld fall ill and must be treated specifically(quarantine),ismainly due to a number of factors that lead to death.This studyaims to elaborate on the history of the pandemic in Islamic literature.Historically,the first plague(Ṭa’un)occurred in AncientEgypt,based on the records of the Ancient Egyptians on papyrussheets.Imam as-Suyuthi wrote that t:a’un in Egypt occurred duringthe time of the Prophet Musa and Pharaoh.After that,theIslamic world experienced a plague pandemic that took thousandsof Muslim lives.This paper aims to provide Muslims withan understanding that the COVID-19 pandemic is not a new thingin the Islamic world.

Epidemiological features of four human plague cases in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China in 2019

This study aims to investigate cases of human plague in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (IMAR), China, and to inform the development of plague prevention and control strategies. On 12th of November 2019, two herdsmen from Sunitezuo Banner, Xilingol League were diagnosed with pneumonic plague in Beijing, China. On November 16th, one resident of Xianghuang Banner, Xilingol League was diagnosed with bubonic plague in Huade County Hospital, Ulanqab, China. On 27th of November, one resident of Siziwang Banner was diagnosed with bubonic plague. In total, 78 close contacts were monitored over a period, but none of them developed symptoms. Plague outbreaks in animals had been reported in Sunitezuo Banner, Xianghuang Banner, and Siziwang Banner in 2019. Two of the four cases were related (husband and wife), but not the other two. All the cases may be associated with contact with rodents (hare) or infected fleas. The cases highlight the importance of early identification of plague cases in humans in order to stop further infection. This demonstrates the value of monitoring and ongoing vigilance on endemic diseases, the importance of updating medical training and raising public awareness about infectious diseases that even have not been observed over decades.

Deliberate release:Plague-A review

Yersinia pestis is the causative agent of plague and is considered one of the most likely pathogens to be used as a bioweapon.In humans,plague is a severe clinical infection that can rapidly progress with a high mortality despite antibiotic therapy.Therefore,early treatment of Y.pestis infection is crucial.This review provides an overview of its clinical manifestations,diagnosis,treatment,prophylaxis,and protection requirements for the use of clinicians.We discuss the likelihood of a deliberate release of plague and the feasibility of obtaining,isolating,culturing,transporting and dispersing plague in the context of an attack aimed at a westernized country.The current threat status and the medical and public health responses are reviewed.We also provide a brief review of the potential prehospital treatment strategy and vaccination against Y.pestis.Further,we discuss the plausibility of antibiotic resistant plague bacterium,F1-negative Y.pestis,and also the possibility of a plague mimic along with potential strategies of defense against these.An extensive literature search on the MEDLINE,EMBASE,and Web of Science databases was conducted to collate papers relevant to plague and its deliberate release.Our review concluded that the deliberate release of plague is feasible but unlikely to occur,and that a robust public health response and early treatment would rapidly halt the transmission of plague in the population.Front-line clinicians should be aware of the potential of a deliberate release of plague and prepared to instigate early isolation of patients.Moreover,front-line clinicians should be weary of the possibility of suicide attackers and mindful of the early escalation to public health organizations.