Electrospun Nanofibers Hybrid Wrinkled Micropyramidal Architectures for Elastic Self-Powered Tactile and Motion Sensors.

Conformable, sensitive, long-lasting, external power supplies-free multifunctional electronics are highly desired for personal healthcare monitoring and artificial intelligence. Herein, we report a series of stretchable, skin-like, self-powered tactile and motion sensors based on single-electrode mode triboelectric nanogenerators. The triboelectric sensors were composed of ultraelastic polyacrylamide (PAAm)/(polyvinyl pyrrolidone) PVP/(calcium chloride) CaCl2 conductive hydrogels and surface-modified silicon rubber thin films. The significant enhancement of electrospun polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) nanofiber-modified hierarchically wrinkled micropyramidal architectures for the friction layer was studied. The mechanism of the enhanced output performance of the electrospun PVDF nanofibers and the single-side/double-side wrinkled micropyramidal architectures-based sensors has been discussed in detail. The as-prepared devices exhibited excellent sensitivity of a maximum of 20.1 V/N (or 8.03 V/kPa) as tactile sensors to recognize a wide range of forces from 0.1 N to 30 N at low frequencies. In addition, multiple human motion monitoring was demonstrated, such as knee, finger, wrist, and neck movement and voice recognition. This work shows great potential for skin-like epidermal electronics in long-term medical monitoring and intelligent robot applications.

The Significance of Preoperative Serum Sodium and Hemoglobin in Outcomes of Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma: Multi-Center Analysis Between China and the United States.

PURPOSE: To analyze the effect of preoperative serum sodium and hemoglobin on oncologic outcomes in upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) based on a multi-center cohort from China and the United States (U.S.). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 775 patients with UTUC treated surgically at tertiary care medical facilities in China or the US from 1998 to 2015. We analyzed associations of preoperative serum sodium and hemoglobin with clinicopathological characteristics, overall survival (OS), cancer-specific survival (CSS) and intravesical recurrence free survival (IVRFS). RESULTS: The US patients had comparatively lower serum sodium and similar hemoglobin at baseline. Preoperative low serum sodium value was associated with tumor multifocality, lymph node metastasis (LNM) and lymphovascular invasion (LVI); preoperative anemia was associated with advanced age, tumor multifocality, high tumor grade and LVI. Preoperative low serum sodium was an independent predictor of worse OS in the entire cohort; preoperative anemia was an independent predictor of worse OS and CSS in the US cohort alone, Chinese cohort alone and the combined cohort. We developed a predictive nomogram for OS which exhibited better prognostic value when it included the values of sodium and anemia, and successfully validated it in different cohorts. CONCLUSION: Preoperative low serum sodium and anemia could be informative in predicting worse pathologic and survival outcomes in different UTUC patient ethnic groups.

Continuous evolution of influenza A viruses of swine from 2013 to 2015 in Guangdong, China.

Southern China is considered an important source of influenza virus pandemics because of the large, diverse viral reservoirs in poultry and swine. To examine the trend in influenza A virus of swine (IAV-S), an active surveillance program has been conducted from 2013 to 2015 in Guangdong, China. The phylogenetic analyses showed that the external genes of the isolates were assigned to the Eurasian avian-like swine (EA) H1N1 and/or human-like H3N2 lineages with multiple substitutions, indicating a notable genetic shift. Moreover, the internal genes derived from different origins (PB2, PB1, PA, NP: pdm/09 (pandemic influenza virus 2009)-origin, M: pdm/09- or EA-origin, NS: North American Triple Reassortant (TR)-origin have become the dominant backbone of IAV-S in southern China. According to the origins of the eight gene segments, the isolates can be categorized into five genotypes. The results of mice experiment showed that the YJ4 (genotype 1) and DG2 (genotype 4) are the most pathogenic to mice, and the viruses are observed in kidneys and brains, indicating the systemic infection. The alterations of the IAV-S gene composition supported the continued implementation of the intensive surveillance of IAV-S and the greater attention focused on potential shifts toward transmission to humans.

PB2 E627K or D701N substitution does not change the virulence of canine influenza virus H3N2 in mice and dogs.

Recently, canine influenza virus H3N2 (CIV H3N2) has circulated continuously in the dog populations of Asia and the United States (US). As humans have close contact with pet dogs, the circulation of CIV H3N2 is a cause for concern. Previous studies have reported that the E627K and D701N substitutions in the PB2 subunit enhanced viral pathogenicity to mammals in various influenza viruses. However, how the E627K and D701N substitutions in the PB2 subunit might affect the virulence of CIV H3N2 is unclear. Here, we constructed recombinant viruses by introducing E627K or D701N into the PB2 gene in the genetic background of A/Canine/Guangdong/02/2011H3N2 using a reverse-genetic system. The results showed that the E627K or D701N substitutions in the PB2 subunit of CIV H3N2 enhanced polymerase activity, but these substitutions did not impact viral pathogenicity in mice or beagles.

Predictive value of gene methylation for second recurrence following surgical treatment of first bladder recurrence of a primary upper-tract urothelial carcinoma.

The clinical relevance of aberrant DNA promoter methylation is being increasingly recognized in urothelial carcinoma. The present study was conducted to explore the methylation status of patients with upper-tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) who experienced bladder recurrence, and to evaluate the predictive value of gene methylation for second bladder recurrence and tumor progression. A total of 85 patients with primary UTUC, who experienced bladder recurrence after radical nephroureterectomy, were enrolled between January 2001 and December 2013. Using methylation-sensitive polymerase chain reaction, the promoter methylation statuses of 10 genes were analyzed in the bladder tumor specimens. Among the patient group, 32 patients experienced second bladder recurrence, and bladder progression was detected in 16. With the exception of BRCA1, the methylation rate of the majority of genes tended to gradually increase to varying extents with the number of recurrences; a smaller proportion of primary tumors exhibited gene methylation when compared with the first recurrent tumors and second recurrent tumors. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses revealed that unmethylated GDF15 [hazard ratio (HR)=0.36; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.14-0.92] and methylated VIM (HR=2.91; 95% CI, 1.11-7.61) in the first recurrent bladder tumor, as well as male gender (HR=2.28; 95% CI, 1.06-4.87), first recurrence interval <8 months (HR=2.34; 95% CI, 1.15-4.78) and primary UTUC tumor size ≥5 cm (HR=3.48; 95% CI, 1.43-8.45) were independent risk factors for a second bladder recurrence after surgery for the first bladder recurrence; the Harrell's concordance index (c-index) for the related nomogram was 0.71 (95% CI: 0.61-0.81). Furthermore, methylated CDH1 (HR=2.91; 95% CI, 1.08-7.77) and VIM (HR=4.91; 95% CI, 1.11-21.7) in the first recurrent bladder tumor, male gender (HR=3.6; 95% CI, 1.1-11.73), and primary tumor stage T2-T4 (HR=4.57; 95% CI, 1.22-17.13), multifocality (HR=3.64; 95% CI, 1.19-11.16) and size ≥5 cm (HR=3.1; 95% CI, 1.91-10.54) for the primary UTUC were considered to be predictors of tumor progression; the c-index for the nomogram was 0.88 (95% CI, 0.69-0.92). The present findings demonstrated that promoter methylation of cancer-related genes was frequently observed in patients with urothelial carcinoma, and that the gene methylation rate of certain genes tended to gradually increase with the number of bladder recurrences. This may be used as a predictive factor for a second bladder recurrence and tumor progression after the surgical treatment of the first bladder recurrence.

Comparison of clinicopathologic characteristics, epigenetic biomarkers and prognosis between renal pelvic and ureteral tumors in upper tract urothelial carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: There's no consensus about the difference between renal pelvic and ureteral tumors in terms of clinical features, pathological outcomes, epigenetic biomarkers and prognosis. METHODS: The data of 341 patients with renal pelvic tumors and 271 patients with ureteral tumors who underwent radical nephroureterectomy between 1999 and 2011 were retrospectively reviewed. The clinicopathologic features, gene promoters methylation status and oncologic outcomes were compared. Regression analysis was performed to identify oncologic prognosticators. RESULTS: Patients with ureteral tumors were relatively older (p = 0.002), and had higher likelihood of pre-operative renal insufficiency (p < 0.001), hypertension (p = 0.038) and hydronephrosis (P < 0.001), while in patients with renal pelvic tumors gross hematuria was more prevalent (p < 0.001). Renal pelvic tumors tended to exhibit non-organ-confined disease (p = 0.004) and larger tumor diameter (p = 0.001), while ureteral tumors had a higher likelihood of exhibiting high grade (p < 0.001) and sessile architecture (p = 0.023). Hypermethylated gene promoters were significantly more prevalent in renal pelvic tumors (p < 0.001), specifically for TMEFF2, GDF15, RASSF1A, SALL3 and ABCC6 (all p < 0.05). Tumor location failed to independently predict cancer-specific survival, overall survival, intravesical or contralateral recurrence (all p > 0.05), while gene methylation status was demonstrated to be an independent prognostic factor. CONCLUSION: Renal pelvic tumors and ureteral tumors exhibited significant differences in clinicopathologic characteristics and epigenetic biomarkers. Gene promoter methylation might be an important mechanism in explaining distinct tumor patterns and behaviors in UTUC.

Positive urinary fluorescence in situ hybridization indicates poor prognosis in patients with upper tract urothelial carcinoma.

Here, we evaluated the potential contribution of fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) as a prognostic risk factor of bladder recurrence and survival in patients with upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC). A total of 159 UTUC patients were enrolled in this study from January 2012 to May 2016. The 159 voided urine samples before surgery were analyzed using the UroVysion® kit to detect the copy numbers of chromosomes 3, 7, 17 and 9p21 (p16). Patients were classified using an optimal cutoff value of chromosomes 3, 7, 17, and 9p21. Cox's proportional hazards regression model was used to assess the prognostic value of FISH for bladder recurrence and survival. We found that 27 (17.6%) patients experienced bladder recurrence and 26 (16.4%) patients died from cancer, with a median follow-up of 27 months. The patients with positive FISH result were more likely to present bladder recurrence (p = 0.077). However, positive FISH was not associated with cancer specific-free survival (CSS) (p = 0.944). Tumor multifocality, the percentage of abnormal chromosome 3 > 5%, chromosome 7 > 6%, chromosome 17 > 11% and deletion of p16 > 4% were significant prognostic risk factors for BRFS in univariate analysis. In multivariate analysis, only tumor multifocality (hazard ratio [HR] = 3.487, 95%CI: 1.605-7.576, p = 0.002) and the percentage of p16 loss > 4% were both prognostic risk factors for bladder recurrence (HR = 3.487, 95%CI: 1.605-7.576, p = 0.002). These data consider that the urinary FISH test could be a powerful tool in predicting the risk of bladder recurrence in patients with UTUC.

Preoperative predictors of nonorgan-confined disease in upper-tract urothelial carcinoma differ between China and the United States.

OBJECTIVE: To compare preoperative predictors of nonorgan-confined (NOC) disease in patients with upper-tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) from the United States (US) and China. METHODS: Clinicopathologic data of patients with UTUC treated surgically at tertiary care facilities in the US or China from 1998 to 2015 were, retrospectively, compiled. Patient characteristics, preoperative imaging, cytology, ureteroscopic findings, and serum markers (neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, estimated glomerular filtration rate, hemoglobin, and albumin) were evaluated. After excluding patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy, rates of NOC disease at definitive surgery were tabulated. Logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic analyses were performed to determine predictors of NOC for each country using previously published nomograms, and the cohorts were compared. RESULTS: Totally, 753 patients with UTUC were included for analysis (451 Chinese and 302 US). NOC rates were similar between the 2 countries (31% vs. 29%, P = 0.568). On multivariable analysis, cT3 stage (P = 0.001) and high-grade pathology on ureteroscopy (P = 0.011) were significant predictors for NOC in the US, while male gender (P = 0.034), tumor location on imaging (P = 0.009), tumor size on imaging (P = 0.044), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte (P = 0.043), and preoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate (P = 0.028) were significant in China. Areas under the curve differed by nomogram used (Western model: 0.750 in US, vs. 0.670 in China; Chinese model: 0.763 in US, vs. 0.828 in China). CONCLUSION: Predictors for NOC in UTUC differ between the US and China. There may be unique population-based markers that more profoundly influence the accuracy of nomograms in certain populations. Our findings highlight the importance of considering population differences when clinically applying predictive tools in UTUC.

Validation of the Pretreatment Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio as a Prognostic Factor in a Large Cohort of Chinese Patients with Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The pretreatment neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been reported to be a prognostic factor in various types of carcinomas. The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic value of pretreatment NLR in a large cohort of Chinese patients with upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC). METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the medical data of 656 UTUC patients who underwent radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) from 2001 to 2011 at Peking University First Hospital. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to calculate the optimal cutoff point of pretreatment NLR. Uni- and multi-variate analyses were used to identify the prognostic factors for cancer-specific survival (CSS) and intravesical recurrence-free survival (IVRFS). RESULTS: The optimal cutoff point of pretreatment NLR was 2.40 by ROC curves, by which patients with high NLR (NLR ≥2.40) and low NLR (NLR <2.40) accounted for 314 (47.9%) and 342 (52.1%) patients, respectively. Patients with a high pretreatment NLR tended to have high tumor grades (χ2 = 15.725, P< 0.001), high tumor stages (χ2 = 25.416, P< 0.001), tumor sizes >5 cm (χ2 = 8.213, P= 0.005), ipsilateral hydronephrosis (χ2 = 4.624, P= 0.033), and concomitant carcinoma in situ(CIS) (χ2 = 9.517, P= 0.003). A high pretreatment NLR (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.820, P= 0.001), main tumor diameter >5 cm (HR = 1.789, P= 0.009), lymph node metastasis (HR = 1.863, P= 0.024), and high tumor stage (HR = 1.745, P< 0.001) independently predicted poor CSS after surgery, while only concomitant carcinoma in situ(CIS) (HR = 2.164, P= 0.034), ureteroscopy before surgery (HR = 1.701, P= 0.015), and high tumor grade (HR = 1.645, P= 0.018) were independent predictors of IVRFS after RNU. CONCLUSIONS: The pretreatment NLR was related to some adverse clinicopathological features and was an independent predictor of CSS, although not IVRFS, in Chinese UTUC patients.

A Multi-Institutional Comparison of Clinicopathological Characteristics and Oncologic Outcomes of Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma in China and the United States.

PURPOSE: We evaluated differences in clinicopathological characteristics and oncologic outcomes between patients with upper tract urothelial carcinoma in mainland China and the United States. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively compiled clinicopathological and oncologic outcomes data on patients with upper tract urothelial carcinoma treated surgically at tertiary care medical facilities in the United States or China from 1998 to 2015. Baseline demographics, comorbidities and pathological features were evaluated. Oncologic end points, including intravesical recurrence and cancer specific survival, were obtained after excluding patients who received systemic chemotherapy. Multivariable Cox regression was performed to determine predictors of adverse oncologic outcomes for each country. RESULTS: A total of 775 patients with upper tract urothelial carcinoma were identified, including 451 in China and 324 in the United States. Median followup was 42 months. American patients were more frequently male (65% vs 44%) and smokers (79% vs 18%), and had a worse mean ASA® (American Society of Anesthesiologists®) score (2.7 vs 2.2) and prior bladder cancer (41% vs 4%, all p <0.001). Chinese patients more often had preoperative hydronephrosis (56% vs 40%), high grade pathology (98% vs 77%), muscle invasion (64% vs 38%) and nodal metastases (26% vs 6%, all p <0.001). American patients had worse overall survival on Kaplan-Meier analysis (p = 0.049). However, country of origin did not predict local relapse or cancer specific survival. CONCLUSIONS: Patient and disease characteristics of upper tract urothelial carcinoma differed between the Chinese and American cohorts. Chinese patients appeared relatively healthier at presentation but more often exhibited adverse pathological features. While evaluation and management patterns may account for these variations, the pathological findings may reflect a differential underlying pathogenesis of disease. Additional study is warranted to further characterize these differences.

Live poultry market workers are susceptible to both avian and swine influenza viruses, Guangdong Province, China.

Guangdong Province is recognized for dense populations of humans, pigs, poultry and pets. In order to evaluate the threat of viral infection faced by those working with animals, a cross-sectional, sero-epidemiological study was conducted in Guangdong between December 2013 and January 2014. Individuals working with swine, at poultry farms, or live poultry markets (LPM), and veterinarians, and controls not exposed to animals were enrolled in this study and 11 (4 human, 3 swine, 3 avian, and 1 canine) influenza A viruses were used in hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assays (7 strains) and the cross-reactivity test (9 strains) in which 5 strains were used in both tests. Univariate analysis was performed to identify which variables were significantly associated with seropositivity. Odds ratios (OR) revealed that swine workers had a significantly higher risk of elevated antibodies against A/swine/Guangdong/L6/2009(H1N1), a classical swine virus, and A/swine/Guangdong/SS1/2012(H1N1), a Eurasian avian-like swine virus than non-exposed controls. Poultry farm workers were at a higher risk of infection with avian influenza H7N9 and H9N2. LPM workers were at a higher risk of infection with 3 subtypes of avian influenza, H5N1, H7N9, and H9N2. Interestingly, the OR also indicated that LPM workers were at risk of H1N1 swine influenza virus infection, perhaps due to the presence of pigs in the LPM. While partial confounding by cross-reactive antibodies against human viruses or vaccines cannot be ruled out, our data suggests that animal exposed people as are more likely to have antibodies against animal influenza viruses.

Avian-like A (H1N1) swine influenza virus antibodies among swine farm residents and pigs in southern China.

Infection of human with avian-like A (H1N1) swine influenza virus (SIV) occasionally occurs in China, suggesting a potential risk of cross-species transmission of the swine influenza H1N1 virus from pigs to humans, particularly to those having direct contact with pigs. A seroepidemiological study was conducted to assess the prevalence of antibodies against the avian-like A (H1N1) SIV among swine farm residents and pigs in southern China to evaluate the risk of infection to swine farm workers. Hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assays revealed that 11.17% (61/546) of the sera samples from swine farm residents in southern China were positive for antibodies against the avian-like A (H1N1) SIV. The difference in numbers of antibody-positive samples obtained from swine farm residents and a control group of healthy city residents was statistically significant (P = 0.031). In addition, 219 of the 1,180 serum samples from pigs were positive for the antibodies against an avian-like A (H1N1) SIV, A/swine/Guangdong/SS1/2013(H1N1), as assessed by HI. The data suggest that occupational exposure of swine farm residents and veterinarians in southern China to pigs may increase their risk of acquiring avian-like A (H1N1) SIV infection. According to a special pig farming model in southern China, the staff and residents are in close contact with infected pigs and may be among the first to become infected.

Identification of four genotypes of H3N2 swine influenza virus in pigs from southern China.

In 2011, four H3N2 swine influenza viruses (SIVs) were isolated from nasal swabs of four pigs (800 nasal swabs were collected from pigs showing influenza-like symptoms) in Guangdong province, China. Four different genotypes of H3N2 appeared among pigs in southern China, including wholly human-like H3N2 viruses, intermediate (1975) double-reassortant human H3N2 viruses (resulting from reassortment between an early human lineage and a recent human lineage), recent double-reassortant human H3N2 viruses, and avian-like H3N2 viruses. Because pigs can support the reassortment of human and avian influenza viruses, our surveillance should be enhanced as a part of an overall pandemic preparedness plan.

Avian influenza A (H5N1) virus antibodies in pigs and residents of swine farms, southern China.

BACKGROUND: Since 1997, the H5 avian influenza viruses (AIVs) circulating in China have become an international concern. Clade 2.3.2 of H5N1 AIVs is genetically distinct from the viruses isolated before 2007 and antigenically different from the vaccine strains widely used in China. Swine farms in rural China are thought to play an important role in AIVs ecology. OBJECTIVES: A seroepidemiological study was undertaken among swine farm residents and pigs to understand the prevalence of antibodies against H5N1 AIVs in southern China. STUDY DESIGN: During the period March 24, 2008 to December 25, 2012,serum samples were collected from 1606 swine farm residents on 40 swine farms in southern China. A total of 1980 pigs' serum samples were collected in the same swine farms where swine workers' serum samples were collected from March 2009 to March 2013. For a control group, 104 serum samples were collected from healthy city residents in Nanchang. All the serum samples were collected to perform hemagglutination inhibition (HI) and (neutralization) NT assays to investigate the prevalence of H5N1 AIV infections in southern China. RESULTS: Sixteen human samples were positive by HI assay and 10 of these were also positive by NT assay against H5N1. No serum samples from human control and pigs were HI positive for H5N1 AIV. DISCUSSION: Our results demonstrate minimal transmission H5N1 AIV from birds to pigs in the swine farms studied and the risk of poultry-to-human and poultry-to-pig transmission for at least clades 2.3.2 seemed very low. This study provides the first data regarding antibodies against H5N1 AIV in humans and pigs on swine farms in China. The findings of this study can serve as a baseline for additional serologic studies to assess transmission of H5N1 viruses between avian species, pigs and swine workers.

Phylogenetic analysis and molecular characteristics of 17 porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus isolates in Southern China from 2010 to 2011.

We analyzed the complete genomic sequences of 17 porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) isolates from Southern China obtained between 2010 and 2011 and found that four of seven isolates from 2011 were closely related to the JXA1-R strain (vaccine virus of JXA1). This close relationship between field isolates and China domestic vaccine viruses has not been reported to date. The occurrence of vaccine-like viruses potentially creates a threat for the pig breeding industry and brings difficulties for control of this disease.

Serological surveillance of H5 and H9 avian influenza A viral infections among pigs in Southern China.

Pigs are susceptible to both human and avian influenza viruses (AIV). Moreover, they are suspected of being the intermediate hosts or mixing vessels of pandemic influenza viruses. Researchers suspect that the influenza viruses are able to undergo reassortment or to adapt to various mammalian hosts while they incubate in pigs. For the present report, we conducted a serological surveillance of pigs in southern China from 2008 to 2012 to establish the prevalence of antibodies against H5N1 and H9N2 AIV. A total of one hundred pig farms from the Guangdong, Zhejiang, Fujian, and Yunnan Provinces were sampled, yielding a total of 3960 serum specimens. The haemagglutination inhibition (HI) tests revealed no evidence of H5 infection when the Clade 2.3.2 virus was used as the antigen, but a 4.6% positive rate of H9 infection was observed when using the Beijing/1/94-like virus as the antigen. The positive sera for H9 infection were further verified with neutralization tests, which confirmed a 3.7% rate of positive sera of H9 infection. In summary, the results imply that the swine populations in southern China had not been affected greatly by the H5N1 avian influenza virus. Nevertheless, these swine H9N2 influenza viruses might pose a threat to human health, and so researchers should continue to carry out swine influenza virus surveillance in China.

Mutagenesis analysis of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus nonstructural protein 7.

Nonstructural protein 7 (nsp7), which is flanked by nsp6 and nsp8, is one of the most conserved nonstructural proteins of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV). Nonstructural protein (nsp)-specific antibodies are produced in high titers in response to virus replication, especially against nsp1a, nsp1b, nsp2, and nsp7. However, many regional aspects of nsp7 are still veiled, such as its impact on viral replication and virulence or the immunological mechanism between virus and host. Based on the structure of the predicted nsp7 domain, we have constructed a series of large mutations and deletions. We ultimately demonstrated all mutations (nsp7, nsp7α/nspß) and the majority of substitutions of nsp7 affected the PRRSV replicative cycle in some ways and were fatal for viral recovery, which indicates that these are significant to structure or function of the nsp7. What's more, the mutant vOKXH-nsp7 (F40A) indeed caused some of the variation compared with the parental virus vOKXH-GD, which shortens the amount of time needed to reach its highest viral titer, and decreases the concentration of the highest viral titer, obstructing viral mRNA and protein synthesis. Consequently, these valuable results possibly provide the first direct evidence that the nsp7 is really a critical protein domain for the RNA synthesis and the translation of viral protein of PRRSV.

Genetic evolution and phylogenetic analysis of porcine circovirus type 2 infections in southern China from 2011 to 2012.

Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2), the primary causative agent of porcine circovirus-associated diseases (PCVADs), is a serious economic problem for the swine industry worldwide. Three major PCV2 genotypes (PCV2a, PCV2b, and PCV2c), have been identified. To explore the prevalence of different subgroups of PCV2 in southern China, 66 PCV2 isolates collected during 2011-2012 were analyzed. PCV2b was the predominant genotype circulating in southern China from 2011 to 2012. Moreover, subtype 1C was the predominant subtype. Comparisons of the complete ORF2 nucleotide sequence revealed 89.3-100% homology and 87.2-100% amino acid sequence identities. The deletion at position 1042 and two nucleotide substitutions at positions T1035A or T1033C were important for the PCV2 evolution. Base-by-base of ORF2 comparison showed that the PCV2 evolution trace was PCV2a to PCV2b-1A1B to PCV2b-1C. These results contribute to the understanding of PCV2 epidemiology in southern China.

Genetic characterization of avian-origin H3N2 canine influenza viruses isolated from Guangdong during 2006-2012.

Canine influenza virus (CIV) is an emerging pathogen that causes severe and acute respiratory disease in dogs. In 2006, the H3N2 canine influenza virus was first identified in dogs from Guangdong province in China. Up to now, nine CIVs have been isolated from different populations in Guangdong. The nine isolates were grouped together with the canine H3N2 viruses isolated from dogs and felines in Korea, when the eight phylogenetic trees constructed were compared. These findings emphasize the importance of CIV surveillance in this region for understanding the genesis of this virus, and it is important to remain aware of the potential of H3N2 CIV to be transmitted from dogs to the human population.