ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: From March to June 2021, the reported number of clinically diagnosed endemic typhus in Anhui and Hubei provinces of China nearly increased four-fold compared with the monthly average numbers in last 5 years. An etiological and epidemiological investigation was initiated. METHODS: The clinical specimens from the reported patients and the potential vector ticks were collected for molecular and serological detection, as well as cell culturing assay to identify the potential pathogen. RESULTS: Polymerase chain reaction and sequence analysis of rrs and groEL showed that the pathogen from these patients was Ehrlichia sp., isolated from Haemaphysalis longicornis attached to these patients. The phylogenetic analysis based on 39 Ehrlichia genomes suggested that it should be taxonomically classified as a novel species, tentatively named "Candidatus Ehrlichia erythraense". A total of 19 of 106 cases were confirmed as Candidatus Ehrlichia erythraense infections by polymerase chain reaction, sequencing, and/or serological tests. The most frequent symptoms were fever (100%), rashes (100%), asthenia (100%), anorexia (100%), and myalgia (79%). CONCLUSION: The occurrence of the disease presenting with fever and rashes in Anhui and Hubei provinces was caused by a novel species of the genus Ehrlichia; physicians need to be aware of this newly-discovered pathogen to ensure appropriate testing, treatment, and regional surveillance.
Subject(s)
Ehrlichiosis , Ticks , Animals , Humans , Ehrlichia/genetics , Phylogeny , Ehrlichiosis/diagnosis , Ehrlichiosis/epidemiology , China/epidemiologyABSTRACT
A headspace solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS) method was developed and optimized for qualitative and semi quantitative analysis of volatile components from Schisandra propinqua, a kind of Yi Nationality herb medicine. This method was used for analysis and evaluation of volatile components from S.propinqua from four different geometrical origins (Yunnan Wuding, Yunnan Luoping, Guizhou Qingzhen and Hubei Shennongjia). 51, 53, 52ï¼ 50 compounds were identified from the above four kinds of samples respectively, in which 46 volatile components were contained in all of these four origins. The volatile components in these samples from different geographical origins were then compared by using principal component analysis, cluster analysis and other chemometrics methods. The results suggested that the analysis of volatile components can be used to distinguish the S.propinqua from four origins, and those samples from close geographical origins were more similar in volatile components. The developed method was stable, reliable, and suitable for rapid analysis of volatile components from S.propinqua, providing reference for quality control, drug development and scientific utilization of the herb.
Subject(s)
Ecosystem , Schisandra/chemistry , Volatile Organic Compounds/analysis , China , Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry , Phytochemicals/analysis , Solid Phase MicroextractionABSTRACT
The application of genetic engineering technology in modern agriculture shows its outstanding role in dealing with food shortage. Traditional medicinal plant cultivation and collection have also faced with challenges, such as lack of resources, deterioration of environment, germplasm of recession and a series of problems. Genetic engineering can be used to improve the disease resistance, insect resistance, herbicides resistant ability of medicinal plant, also can improve the medicinal plant yield and increase the content of active substances in medicinal plants. Thus, the potent biotechnology can play an important role in protection and large area planting of medicinal plants. In the development of medicinal plant genetic engineering, the safety of transgenic medicinal plants should also be paid attention to. A set of scientific safety evaluation and judgment standard which is suitable for transgenic medicinal plants should be established based on the recognition of the particularity of medicinal plants.
Subject(s)
Plants, Genetically Modified/genetics , Plants, Medicinal/genetics , Genetic Engineering , Plant Diseases/genetics , Plant Diseases/prevention & control , Plants, Genetically Modified/chemistry , Plants, Genetically Modified/growth & development , Plants, Genetically Modified/metabolism , Plants, Medicinal/chemistry , Plants, Medicinal/growth & development , Plants, Medicinal/metabolismABSTRACT
Metabolomics has been frequently used in pharmacodynamic studies, especially those on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Radix Paeoniae Alba and Radix Paeoniae Rubra are popularly used in TCM, and both have hepatoprotective effects. In this study, a CCl(4)-induced acute liver injury rat model was established and confirmed by the observed serum aminotransferase activities. The metabolomics approach was applied to study the influence of Radix Paeoniae Alba and Radix Paeoniae Rubra on the metabolic changes in rats with acute liver injury. The partial least-squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) of rat serum and their ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) fingerprints allowed discrimination of controlled, acute liver injury-model rats after administration of the two types of TCMs. The time-dependent PLS-DA plots showed that the changes in the metabolic patterns of the rats, which were administered with the TCMs, had stabilized within 2 h after they received the intraperitoneal CCl(4) injection. The results indicated the protective effect of TCMs against liver injury. Several potential biomarkers were detected and identified, which included creatine, deoxycholic acid, choline, 5-methylenetetrahydrofolate, folic acid, and glycocholic acid. The physiological significance of these metabolic changes was discussed.
