Routine laboratory testing methods for SARS-CoV-2

The coronavirus disease(COVID-19) is a respiratory disease caused by the new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2), which has posed a major threat to global health. Given the current emergence of asymptomatic infections, and the recent Delta new crown variants have strong transmission power, short incubation period of infection, strong pathogenicity and rapid onset of disease. The importance of efficient laboratory diagnostic techniques and methods has become increasingly prominent. Rapid, simple and large-scale testing plays a key role in controlling the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and management of patients. The relevant laboratory testing techniques and methods are reviewed in the this article, which provides diagnostic support for clinicians, public health and control of infection.

Small-Molecule Compound SYG-180-2-2 to Effectively Prevent the Biofilm Formation of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

The resistance of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has augmented due to the abuse of antibiotics, bringing about difficulties in the treatment of infection especially with the formation of biofilm. Thus, it is essential to develop antimicrobials. Here we synthesized a novel small-molecule compound, which we termed SYG-180-2-2 (C21H16N2OSe), that had antibiofilm activity. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the antibiofilm effect of SYG-180-2-2 against clinical MRSA isolates at a subinhibitory concentration (4 µg/ml). In this study, it was showed that significant suppression in biofilm formation occurred with SYG-180-2-2 treatment, the inhibition ranged between 65.0 and 85.2%. Subsequently, confocal laser scanning microscopy and a bacterial biofilm metabolism activity assay further demonstrated that SYG-180-2-2 could suppress biofilm. Additionally, SYG-180-2-2 reduced bacterial adhesion and polysaccharide intercellular adhesin (PIA) production. It was found that the expression of icaA and other biofilm-related genes were downregulated as evaluated by RT-qPCR. At the same time, icaR and codY were upregulated when biofilms were treated with SYG-180-2-2. Based on the above results, we speculate that SYG-180-2-2 inhibits the formation of biofilm by affecting cell adhesion and the expression of genes related to PIA production. Above all, SYG-180-2-2 had no toxic effects on human normal alveolar epithelial cells BEAS-2B. Collectively, the small-molecule compound SYG-180-2-2 is a safe and effective antibacterial agent for inhibiting MRSA biofilm.