An Investigation on the Molecular Characteristics and Intracellular Growth Ability among Environmental and Clinical Isolates of Legionella pneumophila in Sichuan Province, China / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the molecular characteristics and intracellular growth ability of Legionella pneumophila (L. pneumophila) strains from 1989 to 2016 in Sichuan Province, China.@*METHODS@#Seventy-nine isolates of L. pneumophila were collected from environmental and clinical sources, including cooling towers, hot springs, bath water, fountains, and patients, and identified with 16S rRNA gene analysis and serum agglutination assay. The isolates were then typed by Sequence-Based Typing (SBT), and Genotyping of forty-two LP1 strains were analyzed by means of multiple-locus VNTR analysis with 8 loci (MLVA-8). All strains were further analyzed for two virulence genes: Legionella vir homologue (lvh) and repeats in structural toxin (rtxA). The intracellular growth ability of 33 selected isolates was determined by examining their interaction with J774 cells.@*RESULTS@#All isolates were identified to L. pneumophila including 11 serogroups, among which the main serogroup were LP1, accounting for 54.43%. Thirty-three different sequence types (STs) from five main clonal groups and five singletons were identified, along with 8 different MLVA patterns. Both the lvh and rtxA loci were found in all 79 strains. Thirty isolates showed high intracellular growth ability in J774 cells.@*CONCLUSION@#L. pneumophila is a potential threat to public health, and effective control and prevention strategies are urgently needed.

An empirical study on growth evaluation of 16 Chinese materia medica listed companies based on factor analysis / 中草药

Eight financial indicators of 16 listed companies of Chinese materia medica (CMM) in 2014 were selected by factor analysis method. A comprehensive growth evaluation system was established, so as to make an empirical research on growth evaluation among 16 CMM listed companies. Results show: Sixteen CMM listed companies' scale and growth differences among the companies is significant, and overall growth performance should be improved. On the aspect of scale ability, profitability, and growth ability, Jilin Aodong Medicine Industry Group Co., Ltd. (score 29.492), Guangzhou Baiyun Mountain Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd (Baiyun Mountain) (score 31.809), Dongbao Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (score 42.110) separately ranked first. The best growth is Baiyun Mountain (score 31.089), and the worst is Taiji Group Co., Ltd. (score -7.053). Some suggestions should be put forward: Increase research and investment, enhance innovation, improve the management ability of CMM listed companies; Strengthen the integration of advantageous resources and optimize the structure of products, realizing the scaled and sustained development of CMM listed companies; Establish brand awareness and strengthen internal management, so as to enhance the market competitiveness of CMM listed companies, etc.