To estimate the nationwide and regional distribution of HIV-1 genotypes in China in the past three decades, province-specific HIV-1 molecular epidemiology data were derived from 260 independent studies of HIV molecular prevalence through searching PubMed, VIP Chinese Journal Database (VIP), China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wanfang Data from January 1981 to December 2015. The nationwide and regional distribution of HIV-1 genotypes was estimated by weighting the genotype distribution from each province- and risk-specific subpopulation with the number of reported cases in the corresponding subgroups in the relevant periods. A sharp transition of HIV-1 subtypes and recombinant distribution was observed in various risk groups and regions over time. CRF01_AE has rapidly surged among almost all risk groups and in all areas, and it has become dominant among men who have sex with men and heterosexuals. A wide variety of new circulating recombinant forms (CRFs) and unique recombinant forms (URFs) were rapidly appearing in several risk groups and regions. After 2007, CRF01_AE was the most prevalent strain, accounting for 42.5% of all national infections, followed by CRF07_BC (28.9%), subtype B'/B (10.9%), CRF08_BC (10.0%), and subtype C (2.8%). URFs and other CRFs were responsible for 2.6% and fewer than 1% of infections nationwide, respectively. The nationwide and regional distributions of HIV-1 subtypes and recombinants were sharply shifting in China. CRF01_AE and new CRFs played an increasing role in the nationwide or regional HIV pandemic. The nationwide diversity of HIV-1 poses a formidable challenge to HIV vaccine development and disease prevention.

BackgroundCryptosporidium spp., Giardia duodenalis and Enterocytozoon bieneusi are common enteric pathogens in humans and animals. Data on the transmission of these pathogens are scarce from Guangdong, China, which has a subtropical monsoon climate and is the epicenter for many emerging infectious diseases. This study was conducted to better understand the prevalence and identity of the three pathogens in pre-weaned dairy calves in Guangdong.MethodsThe occurrence and genetic identity of three pathogens were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction. PCR-positive products were sequenced to determine the species and genotypes. A Chi-square test was used to compare the prevalence of pathogens among sampling dates, age groups, or clinical signs.ResultsThe detection rates of Cryptosporidium spp., G. duodenalis and E. bieneusi were 24.0% (93/388), 74.2% (288/388) and 15.7% (61/388), respectively. Three Cryptosporidium species were detected, including C. bovis (n = 73), C. parvum (n = 12) and C. ryanae (n = 7); one animal had concurrence of C. bovis and C. parvum. C. parvum was the dominant species during the first two weeks of life, whereas C. bovis and C. ryanae were mostly seen at 3–9 weeks of age. Sequence analysis identified the C. parvum as subtype IIdA19G1. Assemblage E (n = 282), assemblage A (n = 1), and concurrence of A and E (n = 5) were identified among G. duodenalis-positive animals using multilocus genotyping (MLG). Altogether, 15, 10 and 17 subtypes of assemblage E were observed at the bg, gdh and tpi loci, respectively, forming 49 assemblage E MLGs. The highest detection rate of G. duodenalis was found in winter. Sequence analysis identified genotypes J (n = 57), D (n = 3) and one concurrence of J and D among E. bieneusi-positive animals. The detection rate of E. bieneusi was significantly higher in spring (38.0%; 41/108) than in summer (7.2%; 8/111) and winter (7.1%; 12/169).ConclusionsThese results indicate a common occurrence of C. parvum subtype IIdA19G1, G. duodenalis assemblage E, and E. bieneusi genotype J in pre-weaned dairy calves in Guangdong. More studies are needed to understand the unique genetic characteristics and zoonotic potential of the three enteric pathogens in the province.

Cytochrome P450 (P450) enzymes are responsible for biotransformation of xenobiotics, including environmental toxicants and drugs. Expression of P450s can directly affect drug metabolism, resulting in various outcome in either therapeutic efficacy or adverse effects. Nuclear receptors are a class of transcription factors that can regulate expression of P450s at both basal and drug‐induced levels. Some long non‐coding RNAs (lncRNAs) near a transcription factor are found to participate in the regulatory functions of the transcription factors in either promotion or repression manner. The aim of this study is to determine whether there is a transcriptional regulatory network containing nuclear receptors and lncRNAs controlling both basal and drug‐induced expression of P450s in liver cells. Four nuclear receptors, hepatocyte nuclear factor 1a (HNF1a), hepatocyte nuclear factor 4a (HNF4a), pregnane X receptor (PXR), and constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) as well as two lncRNAs, HNF1a‐antisense 1 (HNF1a‐AS1) and HNF4a‐antisense 1 (HNF4a‐AS1) were examined in control of basal and drug‐induced expression of 8 different P450 enzymes. Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) were applied to knock down the nuclear receptors and lncRNAs in HepaRG cells with or without treatment of phenobarbital or rifampicin. Expression of the nuclear receptors, lncRNAs, and P450s was measured by RT‐PCR and Western blots. Knocking down of HNF1a or HNF4a affected basal expression of numerous P450s as well as CAR and PXR, and also impaired phenobarbital or rifampicin induced expression of several P450s, which may be due to decreased CAR/PXR expression. Moreover, HNF4a knockdown was able to decrease HNF1a expression and showed more potent effect than HNF1a knockdown. Knocking down of CAR or PXR only affected basal and induced expression of their target P450s without affecting expression of HNF1a or HNF4a. These data suggested the existence of a regulatory network in controlling P450 expression in an order through HNF4a to HNF1a to CAP/PXR. Expression of HNF1a‐AS1 and HNF4a‐AS1 is largely dependent on expression of their nearby coding gene HNF1a and HNF4a. Moreover, HNF4a knockdown depleted expression of both lncRNAs, but HNF1a knockdown only depleted HNF1a‐AS1 expression. Knocking down of HNF1a‐AS1 showed a similar regulation trend on the P450s compared to HNF1a or HNF4a knockdown, indicating involvement of this lncRNA in the regulation of P450s. However, knocking down of HNF4a‐AS1 showed an opposite regulation trend compared to HNF1a or HNF4a knockdown, indicating that HNF4a‐AS1 may play an inhibitory role in the HNF4a function. Altogether, out study concludes that there is a transcription regulatory network among the different nuclear receptors and lncRNAs in the regulation of both basal and drug‐induced expression of P450s in liver cells. This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.

To explore the evolutionary dynamics and molecular transmission patterns of HIV-1 CRF01_AE in depth among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Shanghai, we constructed phylogenetic tree and genetic transmission networks based on 1, 152 pol sequences from MSM, 282 from other risk groups and 795 references. Phylogenetic analyses identified two distinct major CRF01_AE lineages and a Shanghai-based sub-lineage. The estimated tMRCAs for lineage 1 and 2 were 1996.0 (1992.9–1999.2) and 1997.8 (1994.3–2001.4), respectively. Of the 1, 152 MSM, 681 (59.1%) were identified as belonging to 241 separate networks. Of these 681 individuals in networks, 74.2% were linked to cases diagnosed in different years, 4.3% were linked to heterosexual women, and 0.7% were linked to persons who inject drugs. A total of 71 networks including 180 individuals diagnosed in Shanghai with the same domicile were found. Recent infection (P = 0.022) and sampling year after 2011 (P < 0.001) were significantly associated with potential transmission links among the networks. Besides, a significant transmission of viruses with drug resistant mutations at V179D/E were found in the networks. Given these findings, we propose that genetic transmission analysis is a useful tool in HIV intervention strategies to curb the spread of virus and promoting public health.