Expression and Purification of Recombinant Mayaro Virus Envelope Glycoproteins E1 and E2 to Develop a Mayaro Virus Detection System

Mayaro virus (MAYV) is a mosquito-transmitted alphavirus that produces an acute, usually non-fatal, febrile illness including Mayaro fever. Like other alphaviruses, the MAYV E1 and E2 envelope glycoproteins are major viral surface antigens that play a key role in host recognition and infection. Here, we report expression and purification methods for recombinant MAYV E1 (rE1) and rE2 using a baculovirus system. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) revealed that rE1 and rE2 were antigenic and reacted with human anti-MAYV IgG and IgM. Cross-reactivity was also confirmed with human anti-Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) IgG and IgM. Furthermore, we developed an immunochromatographic strip test (IST) with rE2 to diagnose MAYV infection. Thus, purified rE2 may be valuable tool for rapidly diagnosing MAYV infection.

An Epidemiological Survey of Visceral Leishmaniasis in Hamangou Coal Mine Area of Korla City, Xinjiang / 中国寄生虫学与寄生虫病杂志

Objective To investigate the epidemiological status of visceral leishmaniasis in Hamangou coal mine area of Korla City of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.Methods Based on a hint of possible existence of patients, a retrospective survey was carried out house by house to find cases with suspected signs/symptoms of the disease.Meanwhile, a survey on current status was conducted, including physical examination(liver and spleen palpation) to those less than 15 years-old, leishmanin skin test and rk39 immunochromatographic strip test for part of the residents.Bone marrow smears were examined for the cases with clinical signs/symptoms and positive rk39 strip test.Sandflies were collected using routine methods in and around the area, identified, and dissected to find infection of promastigotes.Results Leishmanin skin test was performed in 185 people with a positive rate of 21.1%(39/185), 39 out of 140 local residents who have lived there for more than 6 years showed positive(27.9%) , while all residents who have lived less than 6 years and children under 5 years old were negative.Of the 81 children under 15 years old with a negative skin test, one showed positive for rk39 strip test, and leishmania body was found in the bone marrow smear of this case, so confirmed as visceral leishmaniasis.12 sandfies were identified as Phlebotomus alexandri, and natural infection with promastigotes was found in one sandly.Conclusion The investigation confirms that visceral leishmaniasis is endemic in the Hamangou coal mine area.