This is the first and largest prospective, multicenter, active, population-based surveillance study of the epidemiology of Mycoplasma pneumoniae among outpatient children with mild respiratory tract infections (RTIs) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nationwide measures like strict face mask wearing and restrictions on population movement implemented to prevent the spread of COVID-19 might also effectively prevent the spread of M. pneumoniae .

In bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), decreased angiogenesis and alveolarization is associated with pulmonary cell death and inflammation. It is commonly observed in premature infants who required mechanical ventilation and oxygen therapy. Since enhanced interleukin-6 (IL-6) expression has been reported in infants with BPD, it was hypothesized that a decrease in IL-6 may enhance lung inflammation and decrease hyperoxia-induced neonatal lung injury in mice. In the current study, newborn wild-type (WT) and IL-6 null mice were treated with 85% O 2 (hyperoxia) or 21% O 2 (normoxia) for 96 h. Although the increased volume and decreased quantity of alveoli was triggered by hyperoxia in WT and IL-6 null mice, transcription and translation of proinflammatory cytokines (monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, IL-10, IL-12 and tumor necrosis factor- α ) and pulmonary cell death (caspase stimulation and terminal deoxynucleotidyl-transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling staining) were significantly enhanced in IL-6 null mice compared with WT mice. These results suggest that the crosstalk between inflammation and cell death may be involved in hyperoxia-induced lung injury in BPD. Future treatment approaches for bronchopulmonary dysplasia should be based on the suppression of cytokine expression.

In recent years, the Chinese tree shrew has been considered to be a promising experimental animal for numerous diseases. Yet the susceptibility of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) in Chinese tree shrew is still unknown. We infected Chinese tree shrews with a high dose (2.5 × 10(6) CFU) or a low dose (2.5 × 10(3) CFU) of the H37Rv strain via the femoral vein to cause severe or mild disease. Disease severity was determined by clinical signs, pathologic changes and bacteria distribution in organs. Furthermore, among lung samples of the uninfected, mildly and seriously ill Chinese tree shrews, differentially expressed protein profiles were analyzed through iTRAQ and validated by qPCR. Tuberculous nodules, skin ulceration, pleural effusion and cerebellum necrosis could be observed in seriously ill animals. Regulation of the actin cytoskeleton was newly defined as a possible MTB-related pathway correlated with disease progression. This comprehensive analysis of the experimental infection and the depiction of the proteomics profiles in the Chinese tree shrew provide a foundation for the establishment of a new animal model of tuberculosis and provide a better understanding of the mechanism of tuberculosis.

A mouse model of spontaneous latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) that mimics LTBI in humans is valuable for drug/vaccine development and the study of tuberculosis. However, most LTBI mouse models require interventions, and a spontaneous LTBI mouse model with a low bacterial load is difficult to establish. In this study, mice were IV-inoculated with 100 CFU Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv, and a persistent LTBI was established with low bacterial loads (0.5~1.5log10 CFU in the lung; < 4log10 CFU in the spleen). Histopathological changes in the lung and spleen were mild during the first 20 weeks post-inoculation. The model was used to demonstrate the comparative effects of prophylactic and therapeutic administration of Ganoderma lucidum extract (spores and spores lipid) in preventing H37Rv replication in both lung and spleen. H37Rv was inhibited with prophylactic use of G. lucidum extract relative to that of the untreated control and therapy groups, and observed in the spleen and lung as early as post-inoculation week 3 and week 5 respectively. H37Rv infection in the therapy group was comparable to that of the untreated control mice. No significant mitigation of pathological changes was observed in either the prophylactic or therapeutic group. Our results suggest that this new LTBI mouse model is an efficient tool of testing anti-tuberculosis drug, the use of G. lucidum extract prior to M. tuberculosis infection may protect the host against bacterial replication to some extent.