AbstractBackgroundAs the deadline for eliminating schistosomiasis approaches, more targeted and effective interventions should be proposed. We aimed to understand the burden among various gender, ages, countries, and continents and to analyze the trends in the burden of schistosomiasis from 1990 to 2041.MethodsThis study utilizes data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 to analyze the schistosomiasis burden trends from 1990 to 2021, including age-standardized rates of prevalence, Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs), and death of different genders, ages, and regions. Data of schistosomiasis related anemia was also extracted and analyzed. Bayesian age-period-cohort (BAPC) models were used to assess and project the age standardized rates of prevalence, DALYs and death till 2041.ResultsGlobally, the age-standardized rates of prevalence, DALYs, and death of schistosomiasis all present a declining trend. Individuals aged 15 to 29 years old present the highest age-standardized rates of prevalence and DALYs. The burden of schistosomiasis varies inversely with socio-economic development. The Years Lived with Disability (YLDs) rate for schistosomiasis-related anemia increases with the burden of schistosomiasis. The age-standardized rates of prevalence, DALYs, and death might tend to decline until 2041 in the world, Africa, Asia, and the Americas.ConclusionsThe burden of schistosomiasis is clustered in the 15 to 29 age group, which represents the strongest labor force. Additionally, reproductive-aged women also experience a significant disease burden. Targeted interventions including preventive chemotherapy, health behavior change, and communications should be proposed and covered this risk population.Author summarySchistosomiasis primarily affects more than 200 million people in Africa, Asia, and the Americas. To achieve the World Health Organization’s (WHO) 2030 target of eliminating schistosomiasis as a public health problem globally, understanding the distribution of schistosomiasis burden is crucial. In this study, we employed data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 to analyze the burden of schistosomiasis across different regions, countries, genders, and age groups. Our analysis reveals that both the age standardized rates of prevalence and Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) of schistosomiasis reach the peak among individuals aged 15-29 years, who represent the highest potential for labor force participation and reproduction. The disease burden increases with the decline of Socio-demographic Index (SDI). However, countries with higher levels of healthcare level exhibit lower schistosomiasis-related anemia Years Lived with Disability (YLDs) rates. Most endemic areas in Asia and the Americas are supposed to achieve the target of schistosomiasis elimination before 2030, but Africa faces challenges in meeting it. Therefore, we advised endemic countries with lower SDIs to implement targeted interventions for the 15 to 29 age group. Meanwhile, improving healthcare level also be important to decrease the impact of schistosomiasis.

INTRODUCTION:The WHO aims to eliminate schistosomiasis as a public health problem by 2030. Based on the Global Burden of Disease 2021 (GBD 2021), this study assesses the global distribution of schistosomiasis burden to guide policy and resource allocation. METHODS:Schistosomiasis burden and social-demographic indexes (SDIs) data were extracted from GBD 2021 study. Smoothing spline models were used to examine the relationship between age-standardized prevalence rates (ASPR), DALY rates, mortality rates (ASMR), and SDI. Future burden predictions till 2030 were made using a Bayesian age-period-cohort model. Predictions and their 95 % certainty intervals were used to determine whether the region can meet the target by 2030. RESULTS:Globally, the burden of schistosomiasis was substantial (prevalence: 151.38 million; DALYs: 1,746,333.31; deaths: 12,857.57) in 2021. Africa accounted for most burden (Prevalence: 84.25 %; DALYs: 87.92 %; Deaths: 87.28 %). Among all age groups, individuals aged 15 to 24 years old bear the heaviest burden in 2021. The ASPR, Age-standardized DALY rate and ASMR were inversely correlated to the SDIs across different super regions (r = -0.72, P < 0.00; r = -0.71, P < 0.00; r = -0.71, P < 0.00) and countries and territories (r = 0.02, P = 0.85; r = -0.48, P < 0.00; r = -0.72, P < 0.00). According to model results, the burden of schistosomiasis in most regions will continue to decline in the future, while it in regions with high-income presented slightly rising. CONCLUSIONS:Despite significant progress, further effects are needed to achieve the 2030 goal across the world. Additionally, the rising ASR of DALY of schistosomiasis in regions with high-income warrants attentions.

The patriotic public health movement, also known as the “public health campaign” which is a mode based on communities participated health movement in China, aims to strengthen health knowledge awareness among the people; to improve the living environment and quality of life; to reduce disease risk factors; to promote the levels of social comprehensive health and public health. Through the launching of governmental policies and cooperation between collectives and individuals, it is possible to achieve the goals of disease prevention and having a better life and health for local people by environmental improvement in the urban and rural, national health education and health promotion, and pest and its transmitted diseases control. Simply to say, the goal of patriotic public health movement is to improve the living environment, to control pests and its transmitted diseases, and to promote health education and conditions in people. It is a health promotion model with Chinese characteristics, it is also the most influential health event in our history and a great innovation in health field in China.

Objective: To determine the spatiotemporal distribution of Schistosoma (S.) japonicum infections in humans, livestock, and Oncomelania (O.) hupensis across the endemic foci of China. Methods: Based on multi-stage continuous downscaling of sentinel monitoring, county-based schistosomiasis surveillance data were captured from the national schistosomiasis surveillance sites of China from 2005 to 2019. The data included S. japonicum infections in humans, livestock, and O. hupensis. The spatiotemporal trends for schistosomiasis were detected using a Joinpoint regression model, with a standard deviational ellipse (SDE) tool, which determined the central tendency and dispersion in the spatial distribution of schistosomiasis. Further, more spatiotemporal clusters of S. japonicum infections in humans, livestock, and O. hupensis were evaluated by the Poisson model. Results: The prevalence of S. japonicum human infections decreased from 2.06% to zero based on data of the national schistosomiasis surveillance sites of China from 2005 to 2019, with a reduction from 9.42% to zero for the prevalence of S. japonicum infections in livestock, and from 0.26% to zero for the prevalence of S. japonicum infections in O. hupensis. Analysis using an SDE tool showed that schistosomiasis-affected regions were reduced yearly from 2005 to 2014 in the endemic provinces of Hunan, Hubei, Jiangxi, and Anhui, as well as in the Poyang and Dongting Lake regions. Poisson model revealed 11 clusters of S. japonicum human infections, six clusters of S. japonicum infections in livestock, and nine clusters of S. japonicum infections in O. hupensis. The clusters of human infection were highly consistent with clusters of S. japonicum infections in livestock and O. hupensis. They were in the 5 provinces of Hunan, Hubei, Jiangxi, Anhui, and Jiangsu, as well as along the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. Humans, livestock, and O. hupensis infections with S. japonicum were mainly concentrated in the north of the Hunan Province, south of the Hubei Province, north of the Jiangxi Province, and southwestern portion of Anhui Province. In the 2 mountainous provinces of Sichuan and Yunnan, human, livestock, and O. hupensis infections with S. japonicum were mainly concentrated in the northwestern portion of the Yunnan Province, the Daliangshan area in the south of Sichuan Province, and the hilly regions in the middle of Sichuan Province. Conclusions: A remarkable decline in the disease prevalence of S. japonicum infection was observed in endemic schistosomiasis in China between 2005 and 2019. However, there remains a long-term risk of transmission in local areas, with the highest-risk areas primarily in Poyang Lake and Dongting Lake regions, requiring to focus on vigilance against the rebound of the epidemic. Development of high-sensitivity detection methods and integrating the transmission links such as human and livestock infection, wild animal infection, and O. hupensis into the surveillance-response system will ensure the elimination of schistosomiasis in China by 2030.

The placenta could transmit information to the maternal circulation via the secretion of small extracellular vesicles (sEVs), but little is known about whether and how these sEVs participate in premature labor (PTL). We speculate that miRNA plays an important role in sEV-mediated fetal-maternal information transmission. The present study was aimed at investigating whether the placenta can regulate the contraction of the maternal myometrium via sEV-mediated transmit of miR-25-3p during PTL. The expression of miR-25-3p and its targets Cav3.2 and SERCA2a in clinical samples, cells, and animal specimens was detected. The role of miR-25-3p was observed in the LPS-induced preterm labor mouse model. The sEVs from HTR-8/SVneo cells were characterized by transmission electron microscopy and nanoparticle tracking analysis. The Ca2+ oscillation in HMSMs was analyzed by an intracellular Ca2+ change tracking assay on a confocal microscope. The contraction of HMSMs was detected by a collagen matrix contraction assay. We found that miR-25-3p can directly bind to the 3′UTR of Cav3.2 and SERCA2a. The miR-25-3p level was decreased, and the expression of its targets Cav3.2 and SERCA2a was increased in the placenta and myometrium tissues of PTL patients. Forced upregulation of miR-25-3p reduced the oxidative stress and inflammation responses and the incidence of PTL in LPS-treated mice. The expression of miR-25-3p was not changed in LPS-stimulated human myometrial smooth muscle cells (HMSMs) but was strongly reduced in the trophoblast cell and its sEVs. Additionally, the trophoblast cell line HTR-8/SVneo could transmit miR-25-3p into HMSMs via sEVs. The sEVs derived from LPS-stimulated trophoblasts upregulated the expression of Cav3.2 and SERCA2a and triggered Ca2+ oscillation as well as the contraction of HMSMs; these effects were partially reversed by the overexpression of miR-25-3p in the trophoblasts. Further, the upregulation of miR-25-3p induced changes of Ca2+ oscillation and contraction of HMSMs mediated by sEVs which were also abrogated by the knockdown of miR-25-3p in HMSMs. The results demonstrated that miR-25-3p plays a crucial role in PTL via Cav3.2- and SERCA2a-mediated Ca2+ oscillation and contraction of HMSMs. PTL seems to be related to the decreased exosomal miR-25-3p content transmitted by the trophoblasts under inflammatory conditions.

目的 筛选与无形体Ats-1互作的THP-1宿主细胞蛋白,为揭示病原体侵袭宿主的致病机理提供科学数据.方法 利用分子克隆法构建pGBKT7-ats-1诱饵质粒并转化酵母Y2HGold,验证诱饵质粒是否有自激活、毒性现象;制备THP-1细胞cDNA并连接到pGADT7-Rec上,转化酵母Y187并鉴定cDNA文库质量;酵母双杂交筛选与Ats-1互作的宿主细胞靶蛋白,通过GO、String生物信息分析细胞靶蛋白可能的生物学过程.结果 成功构建诱饵质粒;cDNA文库容量4×106克隆,插入片段100～3000 bp,且无污染,达到建库质控要求;酵母双杂交结果显示,与Ats-1蛋白互作的宿主细胞靶蛋白7个,分别是真核延伸因子1复合体α1亚基(EEF1A1)、TIMP金属蛋白酶抑制子1(TIMP1)、锌指蛋白36,C3H样2(ZFP36L2)、半乳糖凝集素1(LGALS1)、前胸腺素α(PTMA)、WBSCR22、吸引素(ATRN).生物信息分析显示,与Ats-1互作的宿主靶蛋白主要参与细胞分化增殖、细胞凋亡、自噬、炎症等生物学过程.结论 病原诱饵蛋白与宿主细胞靶蛋白互作是一种细胞-细胞间发生信号联系的分子水平生物学过程,可能影响病原粘附、侵袭及胞内生存,最终导致疾病发生及临床症状出现.

Background A steady progress on schistosomiasis control in the Peoples’ Republic of China (P.R. China) was achieved and broadened into the twelve-year medium and long term national plan (MLNP) which marled the implementation of an integrated control strategy across all endemic areas in P.R. China in 2004. To understand the endemic trends of schistosomiasis to assess the effectiveness of an integrated strategy, we conducted an analysis of schistosomiasis surveillance data spanned from 2005 to 2015. Methods The schistosomiasis sentinel surveillance data from sentinel sites were collected and analyzed from 2005 to 2015. In these sentinel sites, residents aged 6 years or above were screened annually by indirect hemagglutination assay (IHA), while only antibody positives were followed by stool examination either Kato-katz method (KK) and/or hatching technique (HT). Domestic animals raised in sentinel sites were examined by HT for confirming the infection of schistosomes. Snail investigation was conducted each year through systematic sampling method combined with environmental sampling method. The snails collected from field were tested by microscopic dissection method. The infection rates of schistosomes in residents, domestic animals and snails, as well as the indicators reflecting the snails’ distribution were calculated and analyzed. ANOVA analysis was used to examine the changes of the number of eggs per gram feces in population and Chi-square test was used to examine any change in proportions among groups. Results A total of 148 902 residents from sentinel sites attended this study and 631 676 blood samples were examined by IHA test during the 11 covered years. The annual average antibody positive rates presented a significant decrease trends, from 17.48% (95% CI : 17.20–17.75%) in 2005 to 5.93% (95% CI : 5.71–6.15%) ( χ 2 = 8890.47, P < 0.001) in 2015. During 2005–2015, the average infection rate of schistosomes in residents declined from 2.07% (95% CI : 1.96–2.17%) to 0.13% (95% CI : 0.09–0.16%), accompanied by significant decrease of infection intensity in population. In 2015, the stool positives were only found in farmers, fishermen and boatmen with infection rate of 0.16% (95% CI : 0.11–0.20%), 0.17% (95% CI : 0–0.50%) respectively. The infection rate of schistosomes in domestic animals dropped from 9.42% (538/5711, 95% CI : 8.66–10.18%) to 0.08% (2/2360, 95% CI : 0–0.20%) from 2005 to 2015. Infections were found in eight species of domestic animals at the beginning of surveillance while only two cattle were infected in 2015. Totally 98 ha of new snail habitats were found, while 94.90% (93/98) distributed in lake and marshland regions. The percentage of frames with snails decreased from 16.96% (56 884/33 5391, 95% CI : 16.83–17.09%) in 2005 to 4.28% (18 121/423 755, 95% CI : 4.22–4.34%) in 2014, with a slightly increase in 2015. Meanwhile, the infection rate of schistosomes in snails was decreased from 0.26% (663/256 531, 95% CI : 0.24–0.28%) to zero during 2005–2015. Conclusions The infection rate of schistosomes declined significantly, providing evidence that the goal of the MLNP was achieved. Elimination of schistosomiasis as a public health problem defined as WHO was also reached in P.R. China nationwide. Surveillance-response system should be improved and strengthened to realize the final goal of schistosomiasis elimination.

In this study, the complete chloroplast (cp) genome of Epimedium tianmenshanense was sequenced and assembled. The circular genome is 157,066 bp in size. The whole chloroplast genome of E. tianmenshanense contains 112 unique genes, of which 78 protein-coding genes, 30 tRNA genes, and four rRNA genes. The phylogenetic analysis based on 17 complete chloroplast genomes demonstrated a closer relationship between E. tianmenshanense and E. lishihchenii.

China has made remarkable progress in reducing schistosomiasis caused by Schistosoma japonicum over the past 7 decades but now faces a severe threat from imported schistosomiasis. Results from national surveillance during 2010-2018 indicate integrating active surveillance into current surveillance models for imported cases is urgently needed to achieve schistosomiasis elimination in China.

目的:筛选与嗜吞噬无形体Msp2蛋白互作的THP-1细胞靶蛋白,有助于理解病原体侵袭宿主的分子机理.方法:PCR获得无形体msp2基因克隆到pGBKT7载体上构建诱饵质粒并转化酵母菌株Y2HGold,营养缺陷培养基及蓝白斑实验验证诱饵质粒是否有自激活、毒性;抽提THP-1总RNA,经反转录、Long-distance PCR、同源重组等构建到pGADT7-Rec载体上并转化酵母菌株Y187,鉴定cDNA文库质量;酵母双杂交筛选与无形体Msp2互作的宿主细胞靶蛋白,生物信息学分析蛋白互作可能导致的信号通路变化.结果:成功构建诱饵质粒;cDNA文库容量达4×106克隆,插入片段大小100-3000 bp,且无污染;酵母双杂交获得宿主靶蛋白7个,分别是NADH脱氢酶(泛醌)1 α亚体13(NDUFA13)、锌指蛋白36,C3H样2(ZFP36L2)、核糖体蛋白11(RPL11)、前胸腺素α(PTMA)、C19orf10、组织蛋白酶G(CTSG)、核糖体蛋白S25(RPS25);生物信息学分析,互作的宿主靶蛋白主要参与细胞增殖、细胞凋亡、溶酶体成熟及其它一些信号通路等生物学过程.结论:应用酵母双杂交系统初步筛选出与嗜吞噬细胞无形体表面蛋白Msp2互作的宿主细胞靶蛋白,并利用生物信息学初步分析了其参与的生物学过程,为进一步研究病原菌胞内生存分子机制奠定了基础.

BACKGROUND:Adhesion, biofilm formation, yeast-hyphal transition, secretion of enzymes, and hemolytic activity are all considered important factors in Candida tropicalis infection. However, DNA sequence data for this pathogen are limited. In this study, the polymorphism and heterogeneity of genes agglutinin-like sequences (ALS)2, Lipase (LIP)1, LIP4, and secretory aspartyl proteinase tropicalis (SAPT)1-4 as well as the relationship between phenotype and genotype were analyzed. METHODS:This study started in August 2013, and ended in July 2017. The complete length of ALS2, LIP1, LIP4, and SAPT1-4 of 68 clinical C. tropicalis isolates was sequenced. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) as well as insertions and deletions (indels) were identified within these genes. In addition, phenotypic characteristics of the virulent factors, including adhesion and the secretion of aspartyl proteinases and phospholipases, were determined. RESULTS:There were 73, 24, 17, 16, 13, and 180 SNPs in the genes LIP1, LIP4, SAPT1, SAPT2, SAPT3, and SAPT4, respectively. Furthermore, 209 SNPs were identified in total for the gene ALS2. Interestingly, large fragment deletions and insertions were also found in ALS2. Isolate FXCT 01 obtained from blood had deletions on all 4 sites and showed the lowest adhesion ability on the polymethylpentene surface. In addition, isolates with deletions in the regions 1697 to 1925 and 2073 to 2272 bp displayed relatively low abilities for adhesion and biofilm formation, and this phenotype correlated with the deletions found in ALS2. LIP1, SAPT4, and ALS2 displayed great heterogeneity among the isolates. Large deletions found in gene ALS2 appeared to be associated with the low ability of adhesion and biofilm formation of C. tropicalis. CONCLUSION:This study might be useful for deeper explorations of gene function and studying the virulent mechanisms of C. tropicalis.

Dipstick Dye Immunoassay (DDIA) and Indirect Haemagglutination Assay (IHA), are two commercially available kits which have been widely used for screening Schistosoma japonicum in P.R. China. Whether they can be used for screening of Schistosoma haematobium are not clear. In order to evaluate the diagnostic efficiency of DDIA and IHA for screening Schistosoma haematobium, serum samples were collected from pupils in endemic areas in Zambia, Southern Africa, and tested by DDIA and IHA by single-blind manner. Meanwhile, the pupils were microscopically examined by infection with Schistosoma and soil-transmitted helminths, visually observed for parasite eggs. Of the enrolled 148 pupils, 61% tested positive for S. haematobium infection, while 31% and 36% of pupils were infected with hookworm and Ascaris respectively. Regarding the parasitological tests as reference standard, for the diagnosis of S. haematobium infection, IHA performed higher sensitivity (74%, 95% CI: 65%-83%) than that of DDIA (60%, 95%CI: 49%-70%). The sensitivities of IHA and DDIA are significant higher in 10-14 years old students than those of 7-9 years old group. The specificity of DDIA and IHA were 61% (95%CI: 49%-74%) and 72% (95%CI: 60%-84%), respectively. The co-infection with STHs decreased the specificity of DDIA but had no impact on that of IHA. Our study indicated that IHA has more potential as an alternative diagnostic tool for identifying schistosomiasis haematobium but need further improvement.

Objective To understand the situation of Schistosoma japonicum infections in foating population and its epidemi-ological characteristics in China,so as to provide insights into the development of the surveillance strategy and interventions for schistosomiasis. Methods According to the protocol of national surveillance project,indirect hemagglutination test(IHA) was employed for serological screening of S.japonicum infections among the floating population in the national schistosomiasis surveillance sites of China from 2005 to 2014,and the sero-positives were subjected to parasitological examinations.In addition, epidemiological analyses were performed to describe the characteristics of schistosomiasis in the floating population. Re-sults A total of 11 834 floating population were monitored at the national schistosomiasis surveillance sites of China during the study period,and 11 558 persons received serological tests,with 419 sero-positives screened.Then,370 sero-positive floating populations were detected using parasitological examinations,and 25 stool positives were detected.The prevalence of S.japoni-cum infections significantly varied in time(Χ 2=15.103 7),occupations(Χ 2=115.182 7)and regions(Χ 2= 13.177 5)in the study subjects during the study period(all P<0.05).A high adjusted prevalence of S.japonicum infections was seen in the boat-men and fishermen in several provinces. Conclusions Boatmen and fishermen are at a high risk of S. japonicum infections among the floating population,and should be paid more attention to in future schistosomiasis surveillance and control activities due to their strong mobility and difficulty of monitoring.

In The Lancet Infectious Diseases, Shigui Yang and colleagues1Yang S Wu J Ding C et al.Epidemiological features of and changes in incidence of infectious diseases in China in the first decade after the SARS outbreak: an observational trend study.Lancet Infect Dis. 2017; 17: 716-725Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (160) Google Scholar analysed the epidemiological profiles and trends of 45 infectious diseases in China and found ten diseases substantially increasing from 2004 to 2013. Notably, two neglected tropical diseases, namely echinococcosis and schistosomiasis, had large increases, with echinococcosis increasing most, with an annual percentage change of 24·0%, and schistosomiasis increasing by the sixth largest amount, at 10·5%. However, caution is warranted as the incidence of the reported cases of these two diseases from the national notifiable infectious disease report system could not be deduced.2National Health and Family Planning Commission of the People's Republic of China.http://www.nhfpc.gov.cn/jkj/s3578/new_list.shtmlGoogle Scholar Three approaches are adopted to capture the epidemiology of schistosomiasis in China, namely the national sampling survey, active sentinel surveillance, and the passive routine report. Three national surveys were implemented in 1989, 1995, and 2004; in 1989, an infection proportion of 10·20% occurred in endemic areas, in 1995, it was 4·89%, and in 2004, it was 2·50% (figure).3Zhang LJ Li SZ Wen LY et al.The establishment and function of schistosomiasis surveillance system towards elimination in the People's Republic of China.Adv Parasitol. 2016; 92: 117-141Crossref PubMed Scopus (39) Google Scholar, 4Zhou XN Guo JG Wu XH et al.Epidemiology of schistosomiasis in the People's Republic of China, 2004.Emerg Infect Dis. 2007; 13: 1470-1476Crossref PubMed Scopus (225) Google Scholar Active sentinel surveillance was initiated in 1990, and high coverage has been achieved since 2005, with 81 sentinel spots.3Zhang LJ Li SZ Wen LY et al.The establishment and function of schistosomiasis surveillance system towards elimination in the People's Republic of China.Adv Parasitol. 2016; 92: 117-141Crossref PubMed Scopus (39) Google Scholar The infection proportion has generally decreased, from 2·06% in 2005 to 0·22% in 2013. The third approach is passive routine report, namely the national notifiable infectious disease report system2National Health and Family Planning Commission of the People's Republic of China.http://www.nhfpc.gov.cn/jkj/s3578/new_list.shtmlGoogle Scholar from which Yang and colleagues1Yang S Wu J Ding C et al.Epidemiological features of and changes in incidence of infectious diseases in China in the first decade after the SARS outbreak: an observational trend study.Lancet Infect Dis. 2017; 17: 716-725Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (160) Google Scholar extracted data. In this system, the reported cases with schistosomiasis have increased from 1275 in 2004 to 5699 in 2013. However, the included cases in this passive report system were predominately acute schistosomiasis cases at the beginning, allowing rapid detection and subsequent response.5Li SZ Zheng H Abe EM et al.Reduction patterns of acute schistosomiasis in the People's Republic of China.PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2014; 8: e2849Crossref PubMed Scopus (31) Google Scholar Later, more chronic schistosomiasis cases were also included because of the rapid decrease of acute cases owing to successful adoption of an integrated control strategy against schistosomiasis in 2004.5Li SZ Zheng H Abe EM et al.Reduction patterns of acute schistosomiasis in the People's Republic of China.PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2014; 8: e2849Crossref PubMed Scopus (31) Google Scholar The apparent increase in schistosomiasis according to this system is only attributable to improvements in the report system rather than an actual change in incidence. Similarly, increasing echinococcosis according to this system resulted from the improvement of disease control. Owing to increasing awareness of echinococcosis in China, an increasing number of patients with echinococcosis are supported by the government to receive treatment in hospitals, which has led to the drastic increase of reported cases in this passive system, from 602 in 2004 to 3841 in 2013.2National Health and Family Planning Commission of the People's Republic of China.http://www.nhfpc.gov.cn/jkj/s3578/new_list.shtmlGoogle Scholar Between 2001 and 2004, a national survey of important parasitic diseases including echinococcosis was carried out in China.6Technical Steering Panel for National Survey of Current Status of Major Human Parasitic DiseasesReport on the national survey of current status of major human parasitic diseases in China. People's Medical Publishing House, Beijing2008Google Scholar In 2012, another special survey of echinococcosis was also implemented in endemic areas.7Wang GQ Epidemiological survey on echinococcosis in China. Shanghai Scientific and Technical Publishers, Shanghai2016Google Scholar Comparing 29 counties included in both surveys, the prevalence of echinococcosis has decreased from 1·37% in 2001–04 to 0·71% in 2012. Schistosomiasis has been a high priority for health since the establishment of a new government in 1949. A substantial decrease in schistosomiasis, especially after adoption of an integrated control strategy in 2004, has led to China aiming to eliminate schistosomiasis by 2025.8Sun LP Wang W Hong QB et al.Approaches being used in the national schistosomiasis elimination programme in China: a review.Infect Dis Poverty. 2017; 6: 55Crossref PubMed Scopus (46) Google Scholar Echinococcosis is also a high priority for public health in China, with substantial control activities implemented in western endemic areas. M-BQ and X-NZ were financially supported by the Forth Round of Three-Year Public Health Action Plan (2015–17) in Shanghai (grant number GWTD2015S06). S-ZL and L-JZ declare no competing interests. Epidemiological features of and changes in incidence of infectious diseases in China in the first decade after the SARS outbreak: an observational trend studyAlthough the overall incidence of infectious diseases was increasing from 2004, the rate levelled off after 2009. Effective prevention and control strategies are needed for diseases with the highest incidence—including hand, foot, and mouth disease, hepatitis B, and tuberculosis—and those with the fastest rates of increase (including hydatid disease, hepatitis C, and syphilis). Full-Text PDF

Receptor recognition is a key step in the initiation of phage infection. Previously, we found that VP3, the T7 family phage of the Vibrio cholerae serogroup O1 biotype El Tor, can adsorb the core oligosaccharide (OS) of lipopolysaccharides of V. cholerae However, some wildtype strains of V. cholerae possessing the intact OS gene cluster still have VP3 binding but are resistant to VP3 infection. Moreover, an OS gene-deletion mutant still exhibits weak VP3 binding, suggesting multiple factors are possibly involved in VP3 binding to V. cholerae Here, we report that the outer-membrane protein TolC of V. cholerae is involved in the host adsorption of VP3. We observed that TolC directly interacts with the VP3 tail fiber protein gp44 and its C-terminal domains, and we also found that three amino acid residues in the outside loops of TolC, at positions 78, 290, and 291, are critical for binding to gp44. Among the VP3-resistant wildtype V. cholerae strains, frequent amino acid residue mutations were observed in the loops around the sites 78, 290, and 291, which were predicted to be exposed to the cell surface. These findings reveal a co-receptor-binding mechanism for VP3 infection of V. cholerae and that both outer-membrane TolC and OS are necessary for successful VP3 infection of V. cholerae We conclude that mutations on the outside loops of the receptor may confer V. cholerae strains with VP3 phage resistance, enabling these strains to survive in environments containing VP3 or related phages.

Schistosomiasis remains an important public health issue, with a large number of cases reported across sub-Saharan Africa, and parts of Asia and Latin America. China was once highly endemic, but has made substantial progress and is moving towards elimination of schistosomiasis. Meanwhile, despite long-term, repeated, school-based chemotherapy in many African countries, more than 90% of all schistosomiasis cases are concentrated in Africa, and hence, this continent constitutes the key challenge for schistosomiasis control. Opportunities and issues for international collaboration in the fight against schistosomiasis are outlined with a focus on China's experiences, including the role of public health authorities and intersectoral collaboration, use of new and effective snail control approaches and diagnostic tools adapted to the specific stage of control, as well as the strengthening of risk mapping and surveillance-response mechanisms. Training courses targeting African governmental officials and professionals, coupled with field visits of African scientists and control programme managers to China, and vice versa, are considered important for improved schistosomiasis control and elimination. The crucial question remains whether the Chinese experience can be translated and applied in African countries to improve the effectiveness of health interventions and scale-up.

立克次体可分为立克次体科及无形体科，前者引起恙虫病、斑疹伤寒等传统立克次体病，后者引起人粒细胞无形体病、埃立克体病等新发立克次体病。本文着重对无形体病防治所要面对的挑战即诊断困难和原因进行阐述，提出在临床上高度怀疑本病时，应使用特效药物——四环素类抗生素进行经验治疗。

目的 探讨实时荧光定量PCR快速检测斑点热群立克次体标本的应用价值.方法 根据斑点热群立克次体外膜蛋白A (OmpA)基因保守序列设计TaqMan特异性探针和引物,进行实时荧光定量PCR方法学评估,并同时运用该法和普通PCR法对对海南省2012年不明原因发热病人157份血标本进行斑点热群立克次体的检测及结果分析.结果 本研究建立的定量标准曲线循环阈值(Ct值)和模板拷贝数呈良好的线性关系(R2值为0.998).该法能检出斑点热群立克次体阳性标准品—西伯利亚立克次体(R.sibirica)最小浓度为102 copies/μl,灵敏度比普通PCR高100倍.用该法检测斑点热群立克次体DNA,结果为阳性,检测金黄色葡萄球菌、铜绿假单胞菌、致泻性大肠埃希菌和副溶血弧菌等其他病原细菌DNA结果均为阴性.采用实时荧光定量PCR法对实验室库存的发热病人血标本DNA进行回顾性检测,结果示阻性2例,检出率为1.2％ (2/157),而普通PCR检测结果均为阴性.结论 实时荧光定量PCR法具有快速、特异和灵敏的优点,在处理突发公共卫生事件中可发挥快速检测的优势,在斑点热诊断中具有重要的临床意义.