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Listeriosis, caused by Listeria monocytogenes , is a severe food-borne infection. The nationwide surveillance in China concerning listeriosis is urgently needed. In the present study, 144 L. monocytogenes isolates were collected from the samples of blood, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and fetal membrane/placenta in China for 12 years from 2008 to 2019. We summarized these listeriosis patients’ demographical and clinical features and outcomes. The susceptibility profile for 12 antibiotics was also determined by the broth microdilution method. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and serogroups of these listeria isolates were analyzed to designate epidemiological types. We enrolled 144 cases from 29 healthcare centers, including 96 maternal-neonatal infections, 33 cases of bacteremia, 13 cases of neurolisteriosis, and two cutaneous listeriosis. There were 31 (59.6%) fetal loss in 52 pregnant women and four (9.8%) neonatal death in 41 newborns. Among the 48 nonmaternal-neonatal cases, 12.5% (6/48) died, 41.7% (20/48) were female, and 64.6% (31/48) occurred in those with significant comorbidities. By MLST, the strains were distinguished into 23 individual sequence types (STs). The most prevalent ST was ST87 (49 isolates, 34.0%), followed by ST1 (18, 12.5%), ST8 (10, 6.9%), ST619 (9, 6.3%), ST7 (7, 4.9%) and ST3 (7, 4.9%). Furthermore, all L. monocytogenes isolates were uniformly susceptible to penicillin, ampicillin, and meropenem. In summary, our study highlights a high genotypic diversity of L. monocytogenes strains causing clinical listeriosis in China. Furthermore, a high prevalence of ST87 and ST1 in the listeriosis should be noted.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential roles of the SH3-containing guanine nucleotide exchange factor (SGEF) in human prostate cancer. Experimental data showed that SGEF was overexpressed in human prostate cancer cells and specimens. The reduction of SGEF expression through an SGEF-targeting siRNA in androgen-independent C4-2 and C4-2B cells suppressed both anchorage-dependent and anchorage-independent growth. In addition, the androgen receptor (AR) antagonist bicalutamide further strengthened this inhibitory effect due to the suppression of the elevated AR transactivation after knockdown of SGEF. Collectively, our results provide the first demonstration that SGEF is a novel promoter of human prostate cancer progression and development.

Streptococcal Species is increasingly recognized as a potentially preventable emerging infection in human’s brain with high prevalence around the world. Streptococcus constellatus is one of the most common pathogens. Meanwhile, anaerobic bacteria are the rare causes for intracranial infection. To date, intracranial mixed infection caused by Prevotella intermedia and Streptococcus constellatus has not been reported. We reported a Chinese case to raise the global awareness of severity of the intracranial mixed infection. Here, we illustrated the epidemiological risk factors, clinical manifestations and outcomes of the patient. For patients who suffer from exacerbated brain infection with fetid cerebrospinal fluid, early repeated imaging is urgently needed and empiric antibiotic therapy should consider anaerobic and aerobic bacteria in these situations.

Previously, we demonstrated that SGEF enhances EGFR stability; however, SGEF-mediated downstream signaling of EGFR is not well understood. Here, we show that SGEF enhances EGF-induced ERK1/2 activation independent of its guanine nucleotide exchange (GEF) activity. We further show that SGEF interacts with Grb2, a critical downstream transducer of EGFR. Surprisingly, we found that interaction of Grb2 to SGEF antagonizes the ability of SGEF to enhance EGF-induced ERK1/2 activation. Taken together, this study reports a novel function of SGEF that excludes GEF and also provides important insights into the complex role of Grb2 in EGFR signal transduction.

Salinity is one of the most important abiotic stress affecting the world rice production. The cultivation of salinity-tolerant cultivars is the most cost-effective and environmentally friendly approach for salinity control. In recent years, CRISPR/Cas9 systems have been widely used for target-site genome editing; however, their application for the improvement of elite rice cultivars has rarely been reported. Here, we report the improvement of the rice salinity tolerance by engineering a Cas9-OsRR22-gRNA expressing vector, targeting the OsRR22 gene in rice. Nine mutant plants were identified from 14 T 0 transgenic plants. Sequencing showed that these plants had six mutation types at the target site, all of which were successfully transmitted to the next generations. Mutant plants without transferred DNA (T-DNA) were obtained via segregation in the T1 generations. Two T2 homozygous mutant lines were further examined for their salinity tolerance and agronomic traits. The results showed that, at the seedling stage, the salinity tolerance of T2 homozygous mutant lines was significantly enhanced compared to wild-type plants. Furthermore, no significantly different agronomic traits were found between T2 homozygous mutant lines and wild-type plants. Our results indicate CRISPR/Cas9 as a useful approach to enhance the salinity tolerance of rice.

Background Salt stress is a major abiotic constraint limiting rice ( Oryza sativa L.) production worldwide, particularly in saline-affected regions. Improving salt tolerance at the seed germination stage is crucial for increasing stand establishment and yield stability, especially under direct seeding conditions. Identifying loci associated with salt-tolerant germination and characterizing key candidate genes offers valuable insights for breeding strategies. Results We evaluated the salt tolerance of 406 drought-resistant rice accessions at the germination stage under 0, 100, 150, and 200 mM NaCl conditions. Four germination-related traits—germination potential (GP), relative germination potential (RGP), root length (RL), and relative root length (RRL)—were measured. Significant phenotypic variation was observed, with GP, RGP, RL, and RRL sharply decreasing as the NaCl concentration increased. Using a genome-wide association study (GWAS) with 65,069 high-quality SNPs, we identified 27 significantly associated loci. Among these genes, 9 colocalized with known QTLs/genes, and 18 were identified as novel. The key locus qRL8.1, identified under 200 mM NaCl stress, contained multiple closely linked SNPs and strongly associated with RL and RRL. Expression analyses of candidate genes within qRL8.1 indicated that LOC_Os08g41790 (encoding a phosphatidylinositol/uridine kinase family protein) and LOC_Os08g42030 (encoding a peroxidase precursor) were both highly expressed in roots and strongly induced by salt stress. Haplotype analysis revealed that favorable alleles of these genes are associated with improved seed germination and root elongation under salt stress conditions. Several elite varieties carrying superior haplotypes of both genes were identified, providing valuable genetic resources for breeding salt-tolerant rice cultivars. Conclusions This study identified multiple loci conferring salt tolerance at the germination stage, with qRL8.1 emerging as a key locus. Two candidate genes, LOC_Os08g41790 and LOC_Os08g42030 , were significantly associated with increased salt tolerance. The elite haplotypes and varieties identified here can be directly utilized in rice breeding programs. These findings increase our understanding of the genetic mechanisms underlying salt tolerance during early seedling establishment and offer new avenues for developing salt-resistant rice varieties.

BackgroundThe two-line method based on the photoperiod and thermo-sensitive genic male sterile (PTGMS) lines is more cost-effective, simple, and efficient than the three-line system based on cytoplasmic male-sterility. Blast and drought are the most prevalent biotic and abiotic stress factors hampering rice production. Molecular techniques demonstrate higher efficacy in the pyramiding of disease resistance genes, providing green performance under the background of water-saving and drought-resistance rice.ResultsThis study employed molecular marker-assisted selection, conventional hybridization, and high-intensity stress screening to integrate three broad-spectrum blast resistance genes Pi9, Pi5, and Pi54 into Huhan 1S. Subsequently, a novel water-saving and drought-resistance rice (WDR) PTGMS line Huhan 74S was developed. The drought resistance of the new PTGMS line Huhan 74S was comparable to that of Huhan 1S. Pathogenicity assays involving the inoculation of 14 blast prevalent isolates in the glasshouse showed that the blast resistance frequency of Huhan 74S was 85.7%. Further evaluation under natural blast epidemic field conditions showed that Huhan 74S and its hybrids were resistant to leaf and neck blast. The critical temperature point of fertility-sterility alteration of Huhan 74S was 23 °C daily mean temperature. The complete male sterility under natural growth conditions in 2017 at Shanghai lasted for 67 days. Also, both the agronomic and grain quality traits met the requirement for two-line hybrid rice production.ConclusionThese results indicate that the newly bred PTGMS line Huhan 74S can be used to breed high-yielding, good-quality, disease-resistant two-line hybrid water-saving and drought-resistance rice (WDR), hence promoting sustainable rice production in China.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) has become a worldwide public health problem, but little information is available about the disease burden in China. We aimed to evaluate the burden of AKI and assess the availability of diagnosis and treatment in China. We launched a nationwide, cross-sectional survey of adult patients who were admitted to hospital in 2013 in academic or local hospitals from 22 provinces in mainland China. Patients with suspected AKI were screened out on the basis of changes in serum creatinine by the Laboratory Information System, and we reviewed medical records for 2 months (January and July) to confirm diagnoses. We assessed rates of AKI according to two identification criteria: the 2012 Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) AKI definition and an increase or decrease in serum creatinine by 50% during hospital stay (expanded criteria). We estimated national rates with data from the 2013 report by the Chinese National Health and Family Planning Commission and National Bureau of Statistics. Of 2 223 230 patients admitted to the 44 hospitals screened in 2013, 154 950 (7·0%) were suspected of having AKI by electronic screening, of whom 26 086 patients (from 374 286 total admissions) were reviewed with medical records to confirm the diagnosis of AKI. The detection rate of AKI was 0·99% (3687 of 374 286) by KDIGO criteria and 2·03% (7604 of 374 286) by expanded criteria, from which we estimate that 1·4–2·9 million people with AKI were admitted to hospital in China in 2013. The non-recognition rate of AKI was 74·2% (5608 of 7555 with available data). Renal referral was done in 21·4% (1625 of 7604) of the AKI cases, and renal replacement therapy was done in 59·3% (531 of 896) of those who had the indications. Delayed AKI recognition was an independent risk factor for in-hospital mortality, and renal referral was an independent protective factor for AKI under-recognition and mortality AKI has become a huge medical burden in China, with substantial underdiagnosis and undertreatment. Nephrologists should take the responsibility for leading the battle against AKI. National 985 Project of China, National Natural Science Foundation of China, Beijing Training Program for Talents, International Society of Nephrology Research Committee, and Bethune Fund Management Committee.

Background The widespread cultivation of water-saving and drought-resistance rice (WDR) represents a crucial strategy for sustainable agriculture in water-limited environments. Hanyou73, an elite WDR hybrid derived from the restorer line Hanhui3, exhibits outstanding drought resistance and stable yield performance. However, its susceptibility to blast, bacterial blight (BB), and brown planthopper (BPH) constrains its long-term cultivation stability. Results Three major resistance genes Pi9 (blast), Xa23 (BB) and Bph6 (BPH) were successfully pyramided into Hanhui3 via marker-assisted backcross breeding. The resulting improved line, Hanhui303, retained 96.68% of the recurrent parent genome (RPG). Furthermore, Hanhui303 and Hanhui3 were indistinguishable using 48 standard SSR markers for variety identification. Hanhui303 and its hybrid rice conferred resistance to both blast, BB and BPH. The major important agronomic traits and grain quality of Hanhui303 and its hybrid rice obtained in field trials were similar to those of Hanhui3 and the control hybrid rice. Conclusions We developed a novel restorer line, Hanhui303, with significantly enhanced resistance to three major biotic stresses while maintaining the elite agronomic and drought resistance traits of Hanhui3. Due to its high genetic similarity and identical fingerprint profile, Hanhui303 can directly replace Hanhui3 in hybrid seed production. This study provides a practical and efficient strategy for improving multiple resistances in elite parental lines, thereby promoting the sustainable cultivation of WDR hybrids.