ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the impact of depletion of the twin arginine translocation (TAT) system on virulence and physiology of Yersinia enterocolitica for a better understanding of its pathogenicity.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We constructed a DeltatatC::SpR mutant of Yersinia enterocolitica by P1 phage mediated transduction using Escherichia coli K-12 DeltatatC::SpR strain as a donor.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A P1-mediated genetic material transfer was found between the two species of enterobacteria, indicating a great potential of acquisition of antibiotic resistance in emergency of a new threatening pathogen by genetic material exchanges. Periplasmic trimethylamine N-oxidase reductase activity was detected in the wild type Y. enterocolitica strain and translocation of this enzyme was completely abolished by the DeltatatC::SpR mutation. In addition, the DeltatatC::SpR mutation showed a pleiotropic effect on the metabolism of Y. enterocolitica. However, the tat mutation did not seem to affect the mobility and virulence of Y. enterocolitica under the conditions used.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Unlike other pathogenic bacteria studied, the TAT system of Y. enterocolitica might play an important role in the pathogenic process, which is distinct from other pathogens, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and enterohemorrhagic E. coli O157:H7.</p>
Subject(s)
Drug Resistance, Microbial , Genetics , Genes, Bacterial , Mutation , Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-NH Group Donors , Metabolism , Transduction, Genetic , Virulence , Yersinia enterocolitica , Genetics , Metabolism , VirulenceABSTRACT
<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>To find the pathogenic agents of aseptic meningitis prevalent in Xuzhou of Jiangsu province in 2001.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The enterovirus (EV) was cultured from CSF of the patients and identified with anti-serum by neutralization test. Neutralization titer of antibody in paired sera from meningitis children was determined. EV RNA was detected by RT-PCR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Four strains of Coxsackievirus B5, 2 strains of Coxsackievirus B3 and 1 strain of Echovirus 7 were isolated from 22 CSF specimens. The isolation rate of virus was 31.8% (7/22), 21 CSF were tested by RT-PCR, the positive rate of EV RNA was 52.4% (11/21); 57.9% (11/19) of patients paired-sera had over 4 folds antibody rise or became seroconverted.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Enterovirus was the pathogenic agent of aseptic meningitis prevalent in Xuzhou of Jiangsu province, the main serotype of the virus was Coxsackievirus B5.</p>
Subject(s)
Child , Child, Preschool , Humans , Infant , Antibodies, Viral , Allergy and Immunology , China , Epidemiology , Coxsackievirus Infections , Cerebrospinal Fluid , Epidemiology , Virology , Echovirus Infections , Cerebrospinal Fluid , Epidemiology , Virology , Enterovirus , Genetics , Allergy and Immunology , Meningitis, Aseptic , Cerebrospinal Fluid , Epidemiology , Virology , Microscopy, Electron , Neutralization Tests , Prevalence , RNA, Viral , Genetics , Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction , VirionABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the distribution of Yersinia enterocolitica and its virulence factors in Nantong, Jiangsu.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Yersinia strains were isolated from livestock and poultry. Conventional PCR was used to detect the virulence factors of all strains and strain 0:8 was analyzed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis(PFGE).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The combined isolation rate of Yersinia enterocolitica from livestock and poultry was 31.06% and the gene distribution characters were: 39.57% of them were ail-, ystA- , ystB-, yadA- , virF-; 60.43% were ail- , ystA- , ystB + , yadA- , virF- respectively. The two reference strains from America and Denmark showed similar electrophoresis patterns but were significantly different with O:8 strains isolated from China while the serotypes of Yersinia enterocolitica O:3 and O:9 which were the main epidemic strains in China, were not found in this area.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The pathogenic Yersinia enterocolitis O:3 and O:9 were not found in Nantong,Jiangsu province.</p>
Subject(s)
Animals , Animals, Domestic , Microbiology , China , Electrophoresis , Poultry , Microbiology , Virulence Factors , Genetics , Metabolism , Yersinia enterocolitica , Genetics , VirulenceABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the efficacy of the interferon alpha-2b nasal spray in prevention of rubella and measles virus infections.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The properly selected volunteer groups have been divided into interferon alpha-2b experimental and control group. The experimental group received interferon alpha-2b treatment by nasal spray for 2 days before the immunization, then both groups were challenged with rubella and measles attenuated live vaccine respectively through nasal spray. The sera from pre-immunization and 21 and 28 days after immunization were collected to test the IgG antibody titers. The influence on the viral antibody titer reflects the viral preventive effect by interferon alpha-2b.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The antibody titer difference of measles virus between experimental and control group was 1.26 (21 day) and 2.96 (28 day), there were statistically difference between them; the difference of rubella virus was 0.95 (21 day) and 0.37 (28 day), but there were no statistically differences found.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The preliminary results showed that the interferon alpha-2b can be used as prevention method for measles and rubella viral infections.</p>
Subject(s)
Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Young Adult , Administration, Intranasal , Antibodies, Viral , Blood , Antiviral Agents , Therapeutic Uses , Interferon-alpha , Therapeutic Uses , Measles , Allergy and Immunology , Virology , Measles Vaccine , Allergy and Immunology , Therapeutic Uses , Measles virus , Allergy and Immunology , Recombinant Proteins , Rubella , Allergy and Immunology , Virology , Rubella Vaccine , Allergy and Immunology , Therapeutic Uses , Rubella virus , Allergy and Immunology , Treatment Outcome , Vaccination , Methods , Vaccines, Attenuated , Allergy and Immunology , Therapeutic UsesABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To carry out epidemiological study on an outbreak caused by E. coli O157:H7 infection in Jiangsu province in 1999.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Epidemiological, microbiological and moleculebiological methods were used to find out the source, route of transmission and risk factors.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>95 severe O157:H7 infected patients with acute renal failure in 9 counties and districts of 2 municipalities were reported in Jiangsu province, 1999 while 83 of the patients died with a death rate of 87.37%. Most patients were seen in mid or late June. The ratio of male to female was 1 to 1.44 and 88.42% of the patients were over 50 years old. 38 patients occurred in 2000 with 34 deaths. Major factors contributing to the outbreak would include without drinking tap water, eating leftover food, poor sanitary status in kitchen, not washing hands before meal and after bowl movement. 2 strain of O157:H7 was isolated from severe patients and 3 from diarrhea cases. Carrier rate among animals was up to 9.62% and 99.41% of the strains carried toxic gene. Strains isolated from feces of patients and animals belonged to the same colonies.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>This outbreak was severe which caused by O157:H7 and was first seen in China, which was closely related to the high carrier rate of O157:H7 in animals and to the positive rate of high toxic gene of the strains. There were various routes of transmission and the main factors of infection would include poor personal health habits and poor sanitation of the household.</p>