[Challenges to prevent and control the outbreak of COVID-19]

An outbreak of severe pneumonia of unknown cause was reported in December 2019 in Wuhan, Hubei province, China. The infectious virus was soon identified and named as 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). The name of the COVID-19 was given by WHO on 11 February 2020. It has so far caused about 118 000 cases in 114 countries including China ending March 10, and was characterized as a pandemic by WHO on March 11. We still face great challenges in control of the epidemic: uncertain initial source of infection, infected populations widely scattered, complex routs of transmission, populations generally susceptible, high contagiousness of the virus, and finally vaccines unlikely available in the near future.

Desmoglein 4 diversity and correlation analysis with coat color in goat

Desmoglein 4 (DSG4) has an important role in the development of wool traits in domestic animals. The full-length DSG4 gene, which contains 3918 bp, a complete open-reading-frame, and encodes a 1040-amino acid protein, was amplified from Liaoning cashmere goat. The sequence was compared with that of DSG4 from other animals and the results show that the DSG4 coding region is consistent with interspecies conservation. Thirteen single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified in a highly variable region of DSG4, and one SNP (M-1, G>T) was significantly correlated with white and black coat color in goat. Haplotype distribution of the highly variable region of DSG4 was assessed in 179 individuals from seven goat breeds to investigate its association with coat color and its differentiation among populations. However, the lack of a signature result indicates DGS4 haplotypes related with the color of goat coat.

Variability with altitude of major histocompatibility complex-related microsatellite loci in goats from Southwest China

We aimed to use microsatellite BM1258 loci of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) as an indicator of the influence of genetic diversity of immunity in goats (Dazu Black, Hechuan White, Meigu, and Tibetan goat). In total, 132 animals comprising 50 Dazu Black goats, 24 Hechuan White goats, 34 Meigu goats, and 24 Tibetan goats were examined. Collectively, 18 different alleles and 42 genotypes were found. The overall observed levels of heterozygosity showed large divergence from the expected levels in the four breeds, and an increase in the mean number of alleles of BM1258 accompanied decreasing altitude of the livestock's habitat. Our results indicate that low-altitude regions or plains were more conducive to genetic material exchange and gene flow between different populations. In addition, it seems that the breeds from low-altitude regions were less susceptible to problems introduced by commercial animals.

Expressional analysis of immune-related miRNAs in breast milk

Immune-related miRNAs in breast milk are extracellular miRNAs that are related to immune organ development and regulation of the immune function in infants and young animals. The goal of this study was to compare the expression levels of five immune-related miRNAs in breast milk in black goats, humans, and dairy cattle. The miRNAs from milk were extracted and the expression levels were assessed using quantitive RT-PCR methods. MiR-146, miR-155, miR-181a, miR-223, and miR-150 were all detected in Dazu black goat milk, and these miRNAs were significantly more highly expressed in colostrum than in mature milk of goats (P < 0.01), except for miR-150. Further, all five miRNAs were expressed in human colostrum, but patterns differed from those in goats: miR-146 and miR-155 were highly expressed (P < 0.01) in human colostrum, whereas miR-223 was abundant in goat colostrum (P < 0.01). In addition, five miRNAs were significantly higher in bovine mature milk than in goat milk (P < 0.01). Taken together, these results confirm that immune-related miRNAs are rich in breast milk with different expression levels depending on the lactation phase and species.

Brief Note Low diversity of the major histocompatibility complex class II DRA gene in domestic goats (Capra hircus) in Southern China

DRA encodes the alpha chain of the DR heterodimer, is closely linked to DRB and is considered almost monomorphic in major histocompatibility complex region. In this study, we identified the exon 2 of DRA to evaluate the immunogenetic diversity of Chinese south indigenous goat. Two single nucleotide polymorphisms in an untranslated region and one synonymous substitution in coding region were identified. These data suggest that high immunodiversity in native Chinese population.

Short Communication: Diversity of TNF-α region in Chinese domestic goats

Tumor necrosis factor-α is a cytokine with a wide range of effects on both lymphoid and non-lymphoid cells. In this study, we identified polymorphisms in major histocompatibility complex class III gene in the 4th exon and the 3' untranslated region of tumor necrosis factor-α to evaluate the immunogenetic diversity of Chinese south indigenous goat. Three single-nucleotide polymorphisms were identified and showed similar frequencies in different except MI loci. These data suggest that the high immunodiversity of the tumor necrosis factor-α region within these breeds can be used for strengthening variety improvement and promoting animal husbandry development in Chinese indigenous goats.

Molecular analysis of the relationship between specific vaginal bacteria and bacterial vaginosis metronidazole therapy failure

Bacterial vaginosis frequently persists, even after treatment. The role of some strains of bacteria associated with bacterial vaginosis treatment failure remains poorly defined. The aim of our study was to define the risk of bacterial vaginosis treatment failure, including pre-treatment detection of specific vaginal bacteria. Bacterial vaginosis is present when the Nugent score is ≥7 and the modified Amsel criteria is positive. Women with bacterial vaginosis were treated with intravaginal metronidazole gel nightly for 5 nights. The 454 pyrosequencing method was used to detect bacteria in vaginal fluid. By univariate analysis, a history of bacterial vaginosis, intrauterine device use and the presence of Facklamia, Corynebacterium and Veillonella were significantly associated with bacterial vaginosis treatment failure. Lactobacillus crispatus, Lactobacillus pentosus and Megasphaera were significantly associated with curing bacterial vaginosis. After logistic regression analysis and detection of these bacteria for test-of-cure, we found that women who had a history of bacterial vaginosis had a higher incidence of bacterial vaginosis treatment failure, whereas women with L. crispatus had a lower incidence of treatment failure. Post-treatment sexual activity was not associated with the treatment effect. Our data suggested that treatment failure may be not caused by drug resistance. Rather, it has a closer relationship with the failed restoration of lactobacilli.

[The efficacy of parenteral nutrition with different energy for systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) in the aged]

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of parenteral nutrition (PN) with lower or higher energy for treating systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) in the aged, thirty old SIRS critically ill patients were involved in a randomized control clinical trial. Fifteen cases were treated by PN with lower energy (105 KJ.kg-1.d-1), and another fifteen cases with higher energy (146 KJ.kg-1.d-1) for 6 days. The data about metabolisms of protein, glucose and fat, blood gas analysis, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE II) were analysed. The results showed that: 1. The effects of 105 KJ.kg-1.d-1 PN in increasing organism protein and maintaining nitrogen balance were the same as those of 146 KJ.kg-1.d-1 PN. 2. The levels of fast blood sugar and triglyceride maintained unchanged in 105 KJ.kg-1.d-1 PN group, while they increased significantly in 146 KJ.kg-1.d-1 PN group(P < 0.05). 3. PaO2 was raised greatly in 105 KJ.kg-1.d-1 PN group, while not in 146 KJ.kg-1.d-1 PN group. 4. 105 KJ.kg-1.d-1 PN and 146 KJ.kg-1.d-1 PN decreased APACHE II(P < 0.05), but the efficiency of 105 KJ.kg-1.d-1 PN was better than that of 146 KJ.kg-1.d-1 PN (P < 0.05). We conclude that PN with 105 KJ.kg-1.d-1 energy intake is more effective and safer for treating SIRS than that with 146 KJ.kg-1.d-1 in the aged.