Torque teno virus(TTV) has been found to be prevalent world-wide in healthy populations and in patients with various diseases, but its etiological role has not yet been determined. Using high-throughput unbiased seque...Torque teno virus(TTV) has been found to be prevalent world-wide in healthy populations and in patients with various diseases, but its etiological role has not yet been determined. Using high-throughput unbiased sequencing to screen for viruses in the serum of a patient with persistent high fever who died of suspected viral infection and prolonged weakness, we identified the complete genome sequence of a TTV(isolate Hebei-1). The genome of TTV-Hebei-1 is 3649 bp in length, encoding four putative open reading frames, and it has a G+C content of 49%. Genomic comparison and a BLASTN search revealed that the assembled genome of TTV-Hebei-1 represented a novel isolate, with a genome sequence that was highly heterologous to the sequences of other reported TTV strains. A phylogenetic tree constructed using the complete genome sequence showed that TTV-Hebei-1 and an uncharacterized Taiwan Residents strain, TW53A37, constitute a new TTV genotype. The patient was strongly suspected of carrying a viral infection and died eventually without any other possible causes being apparent. No virus other than the novel TTV was identified in his serum sample. Although a direct causal link between the novel TTV genotype infection and the patient's disease could not be confirmed, the findings suggest that surveillance of this novel TTV genotype is necessary and that its role in disease deserves to be explored.展开更多
Predatory bacteriophages have evolved a vast array of depolymerases for bacteria capture and deprotection.These depolymerases are enzymes responsible for degrading diverse bacterial surface carbohydrates.They are expl...Predatory bacteriophages have evolved a vast array of depolymerases for bacteria capture and deprotection.These depolymerases are enzymes responsible for degrading diverse bacterial surface carbohydrates.They are exploited as antibiofilm agents and antimicrobial adjuvants while rarely inducing bacterial resistance,making them an invaluable asset in the era of antibiotic resistance.Numerous depolymerases have been investigated preclinically,with evidence indicating that depolymerases with appropriate dose regimens can safely and effectively combat different multidrug-resistant pathogens in animal infection models.Additionally,some formulation approaches have been developed for improved stability and activity of depolymerases.However,depolymerase formulation is limited to liquid dosage form and remains in its infancy,posing a significant hurdle to their clinical translation,compounded by challenges in their applicability and manufacturing.Future development must address these obstacles for clinical utility.Here,after unravelling the history,diversity,and therapeutic use of depolymerases,we summarized the preclinical efficacy and existing formulation findings of recombinant depolymerases.Finally,the challenges and perspectives of depolymerases as therapeutics for humans were assessed to provide insights for their further development.展开更多
Influenza virus (IAV)infection is a major cause of severe respiratory illness that affects almost every country in the world.IAV infections result in respiratory illness and even acute lung injury and death,but the un...Influenza virus (IAV)infection is a major cause of severe respiratory illness that affects almost every country in the world.IAV infections result in respiratory illness and even acute lung injury and death,but the underlying mechanisms responsible for IAV pathogenesis have not yet been fully elucidated.In this study,the basic fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2)level was markedly increased in H1N1 virus-infected humans and mice.FGF2,which is predominately derived from epithelial cells,recruits and activates neutrophils via the FGFR2-PI3K-AKT-NFKB signaling pathway.FGF2 depletion or knockout exacerbated influenzaassociated disease by impairing neutrophil recruitment and activation.More importantly,administration of the recombinant FGF2 protein significantly aUeviated the severity of IAV-induced lung injury and promoted the survival of IAV-infected mice.Based on the results from experiments in which neutrophils were depleted and adoptively transferred,FGF2 protected mice against IAV , infection by recruiting neutrophils.Thus,FGF2 plays a critical role in preventing IAV-induced lung injury,and FGF2 is a promising potential therapeutic target during IAV infection.展开更多
Rapidly spreading coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)is currently affecting the world.Specifically,cytokine storms are a key feature in a substantial num ber of COVID-19 patients,1 and studies from our group and others...Rapidly spreading coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)is currently affecting the world.Specifically,cytokine storms are a key feature in a substantial num ber of COVID-19 patients,1 and studies from our group and others suggest that the IL-6/IL-6R cascade plays a dom inant role in symptom-correlated cytokine storms.展开更多
Fewstudies have reported Legionella sainthelensi infection.This infection primarily presents with respiratorymanifestations.Here,we report an immunocompromised patient with cavitary pneumonia caused by L.sainthelensi ...Fewstudies have reported Legionella sainthelensi infection.This infection primarily presents with respiratorymanifestations.Here,we report an immunocompromised patient with cavitary pneumonia caused by L.sainthelensi who mainly had abdominal symptoms.The timely administration of moxifloxacin provided clinical improvement and resolution of symptoms.To our knowledge,this is one of the rare cases of L.sainthelensi infection presenting uniquelywith abdominal distension and liver function impairment butwithout obvious respiratory symptoms.展开更多
基金supported by a grant from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81072350)the National Hi-Tech Research and Development (863) Program of China (No. 2012AA022-003)+2 种基金the China Mega-Project on Major Drug Development (No. 2011ZX09401-023)the China Mega-Project on Infectious Disease Prevention (No. 2013ZX10004-605, No. 2013ZX10004-607, No. 2013ZX10004-217, and No. 2011ZX10004-001) the State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and BioSecurity Program (No. SKLPBS1113)
文摘Torque teno virus(TTV) has been found to be prevalent world-wide in healthy populations and in patients with various diseases, but its etiological role has not yet been determined. Using high-throughput unbiased sequencing to screen for viruses in the serum of a patient with persistent high fever who died of suspected viral infection and prolonged weakness, we identified the complete genome sequence of a TTV(isolate Hebei-1). The genome of TTV-Hebei-1 is 3649 bp in length, encoding four putative open reading frames, and it has a G+C content of 49%. Genomic comparison and a BLASTN search revealed that the assembled genome of TTV-Hebei-1 represented a novel isolate, with a genome sequence that was highly heterologous to the sequences of other reported TTV strains. A phylogenetic tree constructed using the complete genome sequence showed that TTV-Hebei-1 and an uncharacterized Taiwan Residents strain, TW53A37, constitute a new TTV genotype. The patient was strongly suspected of carrying a viral infection and died eventually without any other possible causes being apparent. No virus other than the novel TTV was identified in his serum sample. Although a direct causal link between the novel TTV genotype infection and the patient's disease could not be confirmed, the findings suggest that surveillance of this novel TTV genotype is necessary and that its role in disease deserves to be explored.
基金This work was supported by the University Grants Committee,Hong Kong SAR Government(No.14112921,China).The support of HKPFS from the University Grants Committee to HonglanWang was greatly acknowledged.
文摘Predatory bacteriophages have evolved a vast array of depolymerases for bacteria capture and deprotection.These depolymerases are enzymes responsible for degrading diverse bacterial surface carbohydrates.They are exploited as antibiofilm agents and antimicrobial adjuvants while rarely inducing bacterial resistance,making them an invaluable asset in the era of antibiotic resistance.Numerous depolymerases have been investigated preclinically,with evidence indicating that depolymerases with appropriate dose regimens can safely and effectively combat different multidrug-resistant pathogens in animal infection models.Additionally,some formulation approaches have been developed for improved stability and activity of depolymerases.However,depolymerase formulation is limited to liquid dosage form and remains in its infancy,posing a significant hurdle to their clinical translation,compounded by challenges in their applicability and manufacturing.Future development must address these obstacles for clinical utility.Here,after unravelling the history,diversity,and therapeutic use of depolymerases,we summarized the preclinical efficacy and existing formulation findings of recombinant depolymerases.Finally,the challenges and perspectives of depolymerases as therapeutics for humans were assessed to provide insights for their further development.
基金funding from the National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (SS2015AA020924)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81771700)+2 种基金the Ministry of Science and Technology of China (2013ZXI0004003 and SS2012AA020905)the National Major Research and Development Program (2016YFA0502203 and 2017YFC1200800)P.Y.was supported by the Beijing Nova Program (Z141107001814054).
文摘Influenza virus (IAV)infection is a major cause of severe respiratory illness that affects almost every country in the world.IAV infections result in respiratory illness and even acute lung injury and death,but the underlying mechanisms responsible for IAV pathogenesis have not yet been fully elucidated.In this study,the basic fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2)level was markedly increased in H1N1 virus-infected humans and mice.FGF2,which is predominately derived from epithelial cells,recruits and activates neutrophils via the FGFR2-PI3K-AKT-NFKB signaling pathway.FGF2 depletion or knockout exacerbated influenzaassociated disease by impairing neutrophil recruitment and activation.More importantly,administration of the recombinant FGF2 protein significantly aUeviated the severity of IAV-induced lung injury and promoted the survival of IAV-infected mice.Based on the results from experiments in which neutrophils were depleted and adoptively transferred,FGF2 protected mice against IAV , infection by recruiting neutrophils.Thus,FGF2 plays a critical role in preventing IAV-induced lung injury,and FGF2 is a promising potential therapeutic target during IAV infection.
基金supported by CAMS Research Units of Adaptive Evolution and Control of Emerging Viruses(2018RU009)Beijing New-star Plan of Science and Technology(Z181100006218080)+3 种基金supported by the Excellent Young Scientist Program of the National Natural Science Foundation of China(81822040)the National Youth Talent Support Programfunded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31900466)funded by the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(2020T130080ZX).
文摘Rapidly spreading coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)is currently affecting the world.Specifically,cytokine storms are a key feature in a substantial num ber of COVID-19 patients,1 and studies from our group and others suggest that the IL-6/IL-6R cascade plays a dom inant role in symptom-correlated cytokine storms.
基金supported by grants fromthe Innovation Groups of the National Natural Science Foundation of China(81721002).
文摘Fewstudies have reported Legionella sainthelensi infection.This infection primarily presents with respiratorymanifestations.Here,we report an immunocompromised patient with cavitary pneumonia caused by L.sainthelensi who mainly had abdominal symptoms.The timely administration of moxifloxacin provided clinical improvement and resolution of symptoms.To our knowledge,this is one of the rare cases of L.sainthelensi infection presenting uniquelywith abdominal distension and liver function impairment butwithout obvious respiratory symptoms.
