Abstract Background In 2017, pertussis made a comeback in China. Altogether, 10 390 cases were reported, with an average annual incidence rate of 0.7530 cases per 100 000 people, the most in 24 years. Methods Using epidemiological data of pertussis cases in China from 1950 to 2021 extracted from the National Notifiable Infectious Diseases Surveillance System and the official website of the National Health Commission, we investigated the epidemic of pertussis in China in 2017. The data came from 31 provinces and regions in mainland China, including geographic, seasonality and patient demographic information. Results From 1950 to 2021, there was a cumulative total of 34703090 cases of pertussis. In 2017, 10390 cases were diagnosed, with the annual incidence of pertussis during the 2017–2021 surge is almost 2.5 times higher than the 1991–2016 period (1.1048 vs 0.4279 per 100 000; IRR 2.582, 95% CI 2.503 ~ 2.663; p < 0·0001) and peaked in 2019 (2·1947 per 100 000). In the past 71 years, the hardest hit regions the epidemic has increase from southern China towards northern China and spread to all provinces. The peak incidence is from July to August each year; most cases are children, with the highest annual incidence in 0-year-old children (16.983 per 100,000). In 2017, as compared with 2004 through 2016, incidence increased in younger infants and older children; the percentages of cases according to age group were as follows: 0 to 12 months, 10.23 percent from 2004 through 2016 and 60.86 percent from 2017 through 2018 (P < 0.05); 1 years to 2 years, 2.77 percent and 14.40 percent (P < 0.05); 2 to 6 years, 1.14 percent and 4.17 percent (P = 0.037). Conclusions Since the introduction of universal immunization in 1978, it took only 27 years from the control of the epidemic in 1990 to the recovery. Since the 2017 pertussis resurge in China occurred mainly in children who had been appropriately immunized, it is clear that the diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus vaccine failed to give full protection against the disease.

Avian sarcoma and leukosis virus (ASLV), diversified into seven phylogenetically relativesubgroups (A, B, C, D, E, J, and K), present as either exogenous or endogenous viruses in domesticchicken. [...]

Fluorophores are like antennas: the rate at which they absorb light depends on their orientation with respect to the incoming light wave. Although optical properties of fluorescent proteins are known to be anisotropic, this fact has remained largely non-appreciated and non-utilized. We have now investigated the single- and two-photon anisotropic optical properties of representative fluorescent proteins, by optical measurements on fluorescent protein crystals. The results have allowed us to associate the observed optical directionality to a molecular reference frame, revealing both expected and novel properties of fluorescent proteins. Knowing the directionality of optical properties of fluorescent proteins is likely to lead to novel biological FRET and polarization microscopy applications, some of which we illustrate.

ABSTRACT In order to find out the main factors influenced the hatchability and improve the hatchability of the windowed chicken eggs at stage X, several experiments were made on the basis of the former patent of eggshell windowing methods on equatorial plane, such as cutting and sealing techniques, air cell recovering, laying position immediately after sealing, as well as the injection volumes into the subgerminal cavity of the blastoderm. The result showed that:1) the best sealing material combination was straw powder (SP) and instant glue (IG); 2) there was a highly positive correlation between air cell rate and hatchability; 3) the highest hatchability increased to 71.6% when the eggs were windowed and sealed with IG dropped firstly and then SP sprinkled, finally lay down with the blunt end upward immediately after being sealed; 4) the hatchability was significantly reduced as injection volume (DMEM) was increased (p<0.05 or p<0.01) from 1 µL to 10 1 µL, and the group of injecting 1 µL was the highest (48.4 %). The hatchability and efficiency with such method of windowing, injecting, and sealing was the highest at the present time (more than 30 eggs per hour per person), and it might be broadly used in the fields of avian transgenesis, genetic resources preservation, and embryonic development model of human medicine.

We obtain analytical formulas for the computation of integrals (moments) of all the most common Radial Basis Functions (usually shortened as RBFs) on polygonal regions that may be nonconvex or even multiply connected. With RBFs of finite regularity, such as Thin-Plate Splines, Wendland functions and Radial Powers, our Matlab codes, based on standard linear solvers for the corresponding moment matching systems, provide cubature rules that are reasonably accurate and numerically stable.

A polymer probe based on N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide copolymers labelled with a fluorescent dye Dy-633 or Cy-7 and decorated with targeting oligopeptides GE-7 or GE-11, specific targeting ligands binding to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) highly expressed on surface of tumour cells, was designed, synthesised and characterised. Specific accumulation of the polymer probe in the tumour mass is a prerequisite for successful fluorescence-guided endoscopic surgery as the fluorescence signal from the malignant cells enables more precise resection of the tumour without damaging the healthy tissue. Flow cytometry and confocal microscopy was used to assess the binding efficacy of the oligopeptide conjugates to EGFR on the cell membranes of the malignant cells. The results showed that the highest binding efficacy was achieved with polymers bearing the GE-11 targeting oligopeptide in human EGFR-positive hypopharyngeal carcinoma cells (FaDu) and in breast adenocarcinoma cells (MDA-MB-231). Similarly, the polymer probes targeted by the GE-11 oligopeptidewere found in vivo as highly effective in tumour accumulation, as determined from fluorescence imaging. Indeed, the ex vivo cross-section of the tumours showed significant tumour border fluorescence proving the potential of the studied polymer probes. Moreover, the presence of the active targeting moiety on the polymer-drug conjugate should enable the use of such a conjugate as a targeted polymer system for treatment of solid tumours. Replacement of the fluorescent probe with a cytostatic drug provides a targeted polymer nanocancerostatic for advanced treatment of neoplastic diseases, thus the polymer probes have multiple functions.

Successful derivation and cultivation of primordial germ cells (PGCs) opened the way to efficient transgenesis and genome editing in the chicken. Furthermore, implantation of male PGCs from non-chicken galliform species into the chicken embryos resulted in cross-species germline chimeras and viable offspring. We have recently improved the PGC technology by demonstrating that chicken male PGCs transplanted into the testes of adult cockerel recipients mature into functional sperms. However, the availability of this orthotopic transplantation for cross-species transfer remains to be explored. Here we tested the capacity of genetically distant male PGCs to mature in the microenvironment of adult testes. We derived PGCs from the Chinese black-bone Silkie and transplanted them into infertile White Leghorn cockerels. Within 15-18 weeks after transplantation, we observed restoration of spermatogenesis in recipient cockerels and production of healthy progeny derived from the transplanted PGCs. Our findings also indicate the possibility of cross-species orthotopic transplantation of PGCs. Thus, our results might contribute to the preservation of endangered avian species and maintaining the genetic variability of the domestic chicken.

A chicken multiplex cytokine assay (Bio-Plex) to detect four different cytokines (IL-2, IL-12, IL-10, and interferon gamma) simultaneously in plasma samples was designed. Most standard curves range between 1 to 5 pg/mL and 5,000 pg/mL, except for IFNγ with the range of 50 to 25,000 pg/mL. Such a chicken multiplex assay proved to be fast and reliable, and comparable in sensitivity, accuracy, and reproducibility to conventional enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Comparison of the multiplex assay with the ELISA technique using the same clones of detection and capture antibodies resulted in correlation coefficients for all cytokines ranging from 0.95 to 0.99. Lower limit of detection and limit of quantification values were obtained for all tested cytokines by the Bio-Plex assay compared with ELISA. To reduce the risk of cross-reaction with other proteins, the Bio-Plex system was used, combining the principle of sandwich immunoassay with the Luminex bead-based technology. The cytokine standard recoveries for each cytokine varied between 86 and 118% in dynamic concentration ranges. A chicken multiplex cytokine assay (Bio-Plex) provided a more complete picture of differences between the Th1/Th2 cytokine profiles of the immunized via a new system of antigen delivery into chicken antigen-presenting cells and control groups. This multiplexed fluorescent-bead-based detection assay can be used as a quantitative or comparative tool for the study of the chicken ex vivo cellular immune response.

The ongoing progress in primordial germ cell derivation and cultivation is opening new ways in reproductive biotechnology. This study tested whether functional sperm cells can be matured from genetically manipulated primordial germ cells after transplantation in adult testes and used to restore fertility. We show that spermatogenesis can be restored after mCherry-expressing or GFP-expressing primordial germ cells are transplantated into the testes of sterilized G0 roosters and that mCherry-positive or GFP-positive non-chimeric transgenic G1 offspring can be efficiently produced. Compared with the existing approaches to primordial germ cell replacement, this new technique eliminates the germ line chimerism of G0 roosters and is, therefore, faster, more efficient and requires fewer animals. Furthermore, this is the only animal model, where the fate of primordial germ cells in infertile recipients can be studied.