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With worldwide cultivation, the faba bean (Vicia faba L.) stands as one of the most vital cool-season legume crops, serving as a major component of food security. China leads global faba bean production in terms of both total planting area and yield, with major production hubs in Yunnan, Sichuan, Jiangsu, and Gansu provinces. The faba bean viruses have caused serious yield losses in these production areas, but previous researches have not comprehensively investigated this issue. In this study, we collected 287 faba bean samples over three consecutive years from eight provinces/municipalities of China. We employed small RNA sequencing, RT-PCR, DNA sequencing, and phylogenetic analysis to detect the presence of viruses and examine their incidence, distribution, and genetic diversity. We identified a total of nine distinct viruses: bean yellow mosaic virus (BYMV, Potyvirus), milk vetch dwarf virus (MDV, Nanovirus), vicia cryptic virus (VCV, Alphapartitivirus), bean common mosaic virus (BCMV, Potyvirus), beet western yellows virus (BWYV, Polerovirus), broad bean wilt virus (BBWV, Fabavirus), soybean mosaic virus (SMV, Potyvirus), pea seed-borne mosaic virus (PSbMV, Potyvirus), and cucumber mosaic virus (CMV, Cucumovirus). BYMV was the predominant virus found during our sampling, followed by MDV and VCV. This study marks the first reported detection of BCMV in Chinese faba bean fields. Except for several isolates from Gansu and Yunnan provinces, our sequence analysis revealed that the majority of BYMV isolates contain highly conserved nucleotide sequences of coat protein (CP). Amino acid sequence alignment indicates that there is a conserved NAG motif at the N-terminal region of BYMV CP, which is considered important for aphid transmission. Our findings not only highlight the presence and diversity of pathogenic viruses in Chinese faba bean production, but also provide target pathogens for future antiviral resource screening and a basis for antiviral breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Viral disease is one of the major reasons leading to yield and quality reduction of potato production. To gain better knowledge about seed potato quality in China, the occurrences of six common viruses, including potato leafroll virus (PLRV) and potato viruses A (PVA), M (PVM), S (PVS), X (PVX) and Y (PVY), were investigated in two of China's four potato production zones (specifically, Zone I and Zone IV) from 2013 to 2016. A total of 1231 random tuber samples (Zone I, n = 571; Zone IV, n = 660) and 532 symptomatic leaf samples (Zone I, n = 375; Zone IV, n = 157) were collected in seed potato and commercial potato fields and tested for the viruses by reverse transcription (RT)-PCR (tuber samples) and/or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA; leaf samples). The results showed that virus-free tubers accounted for 79.7% and 52.0% in seed tuber samples from zones I and IV, respectively. All of the six viruses analysed were present in both zones I and IV, but occurred at different frequencies, with PVY and PVS being the predominant viruses in zones I and IV, respectively. Moreover, 44.0% and 39.8% of the virus-positive samples in zones I and IV, respectively, were found to be infected with more than one virus. Strain typing of PVS and PVY demonstrated the existence of similar strains of PVY (i.e. PVYO, PVYNTNb, PVYN:O, PVYN-Wi, PVY – (SYR-I and -II) and of PVS (i.e. PVSO and PVSA) in both zones. For PVY, recombinant strains were predominant, with SYR-II (27.7%) being the most abundant strain in Zone I and SYR-I (53.3%) being the predominant strain in Zone IV. PVSO was the predominant strain in Zone I whereas PVSA was the dominant strain in Zone IV. This study revealed not only the high incidence of viruses in both seed and commercial potatoes in China, but also the differential occurrence and strain composition of the viruses between two major production zones in China for the first time. In addition, the study suggests the need for different management strategies for different production zones to enhance the quality of seed potatoes in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The occurrence of cyanobacterial blooms in summer are frequently accompanied by the succession of phytoplankton communities in freshwater. However, little is known regarding the roles of viruses in the succession, such as in huge reservoirs. Here, we investigated the viral infection characteristics of phytoplankton and bacterioplankton during the summer bloom succession in Xiangxi Bay of Three Gorges Reservoir, China. The results indicated that three distinct bloom stages and two successions were observed. From cyanobacteria and diatom codominance to cyanobacteria dominance, the first succession involved different phyla and led to a Microcystis bloom. From Microcystis dominance to Microcystis and Anabaena codominance, the second succession was different Cyanophyta genera and resulted in the persistence of cyanobacterial bloom. The structural equation model (SEM) showed that the virus had positive influence on the phytoplankton community. Through the Spearman's correlation and redundancy analysis (RDA), we speculated that both the increase of viral lysis in the eukaryotic community and the increase of lysogeny in cyanobacteria may contributed to the first succession and Microcystis blooms. In addition, the nutrients supplied by the lysis of bacterioplankton might benefit the second succession of different cyanobacterial genera and sustain the dominance of cyanobacteria. Based on hierarchical partitioning method, the viral variables still have a marked effect on the dynamics of phytoplankton community, although the environmental attributes were the major factors. Our findings suggested that viruses played multiple potential roles in summer bloom succession and may help the blooms success of cyanobacteria in Xiangxi Bay. Under the background of increasingly serious cyanobacterial blooms worldwide, our study may have great ecological and environmental significance for understanding the population succession in phytoplankton and controlling the cyanobacterial blooms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. Metagenomics has revealed that, in addition to the digestive tract, certain viruses are also commonly found in human blood. In order to explore and monitor potential novel viruses, three serum samples of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia were collected at the No. 2 People's Hospital of Changshu City, China. Materials and Methods. We sequenced the virome of serum samples from three patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia using an unbiased viral metagenomic approach and subsequently performed maximum likelihood phylogenetic analysis using MrBayes v3.2. In addition, pairwise sequence comparison was produced with ORF1 amino acid sequences of anelloviruses within Bayesian consensus tree. Results. Partial genomes of eight different anelloviruses containing the complete ORF1 gene have been identified. BLASTp results showed that the amino acid sequence identity of these viruses with the best match in GenBank was between 56.22% and 95.43%. Phylogenetic analysis based on ORF1 indicated that seven sequences belong to the genus Alphatorquevirus and one sequence belongs to the genus Gammatorquevirus. Conclusions. This virological investigation has increased our understanding of the diversity of anelloviruses in human serum, but further study is needed to verify its potential correlation with disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to describe the pathogen spectrum of bacteria and viruses of RTIs in hospitalized children during the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic in Shenzhen. From October 2020 to October 2021, the results of pathogenic tests causing RTIs were retrospectively analyzed in hospitalized children in Shenzhen Luohu Hospital Group. 829 sputum samples for bacterial isolation and 1,037 nasopharyngeal swabs for virus detection in total. The positive detection rate (PDR) of bacteria was 42.1%. Staphylococcus aureus (18.8%) was the predominant bacteria detected in positive cases, with Moraxella catarrhalis (10.9%), Streptococcus pneumoniae (9.5%) following. The PDR of the virus was 65.6%. The viruses ranking first to third were Human Rhinovirus (HRV), Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and Human Parainfluenza (HPIV), with rates of 28.0, 18.1, and 13.5%, respectively. Children under 3 years were the most susceptible population to RTIs. The pathogens of S. aureus, M. catarrhalis, S. pneumoniae, HRV, and HPIV were more prevalent in autumn. Meanwhile, RSV had a high rate of infection in summer and autumn. S. aureus and HRV had higher co-infection rates. Our findings demonstrate the pathogen spectrum of 1,046 hospitalized children with RTIs in Shenzhen, China, during the COVID-19 outbreak. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Viruses, as the most abundant entities on earth, play an important role in shaping bacterial communities, mediating gene transfer between host cells, and promoting biogeochemical cycles. Yet, soil viruses remain understudied, as there is a lack of information about the mechanisms of community construction, interactions between viruses and host bacteria, and ecological functions. To expand our understanding of soil viruses, we investigated six viromes across three land use types in northeast and southwestern China, including agricultural and forest soils. We analyzed viral and bacterial community composition and explored their interactions. We utilized metagenomic sequencing technology and high-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing to study viral and bacterial communities. Twenty-four viral families were detected in six viromes including sixteen dsDNA virus families and eight ssDNA virus families. Viral and bacterial communities were significantly different between various land use types, with viruses having greater disparities. The composition of bacterial communities in soils across different land use types was inconsistent with their viral communities. We identified abundant auxiliary carbohydrate-active enzyme genes from viromes. The results revealed that soil viral communities differ by land use type and that viruses could regulate bacterial carbon cycling processes by encoding auxiliary metabolic genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Geese play an important role in agricultural economics, with China producing the vast majority of goose meat consumed worldwide annually. The variations in the avian viruses and co‐infections result in substantial economic losses to the goose industry in China. To understand the evolutionary characteristics and co‐infections of viruses, a broad epidemiological investigation of epizootic viruses of goose was carried out in nine provinces of China during 2018–2021. Here, the results indicated that, among the 1970 clinical samples, 50.81% (1001/1970) were positive for goose astrovirus (GAstV), 18.22% (359/1970) for avian orthoreovirus, 12.74% (251/1970) for goose parvovirus, 11.02% (217/1970) for H9N2 subtype avian influenza virus, 4.01% (79/1970) for Newcastle disease virus, and 2.08% (41/1970) for fowl adenovirus. Among the six viruses, co‐infections comprised a large proportion (66.37%) in the field, of which the dual infection was more common. Additionally, phylogenetic analysis of GAstVs indicated that Chinese GAstVs had formed two distinct groups, that is, GAstV‐1 and GAstV‐2. GAstV‐2 sub‐genotype II‐c had arisen as the dominant genotype in the whole country. Notably, all the H9N2‐AIV isolated strains harboured the mammalian adaptation markers I155T, H183N, and Q226L (H3 numbering) in the HA gene, which promotes preferential binding to human‐like α2‐6‐linked sialic acid receptors. And beyond that, we determined that the goose‐origin Muscovy Duck Reovirus isolates, showing 51.7%–96% similarities to that of other waterfowl‐origin orthoreovirus isolates in sequence homology analysis of the representative part of σC, are a new variant of waterfowl‐origin orthoreovirus. These data provide valuable information about the prevalence of infectious diseases in geese on mainland China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thallium (Tl), a highly toxic heavy metal, can affect microbial community, while little is known about its effect on viral community. The present study investigated the variation of viral communities, as well as their interactions with microbial hosts under Tl stress. Tl in sediments significantly altered the composition and diversity of the viral communities, but showed no significant links with the prokaryotic communities, which may reveal a potential discrepancy in the sensitivity of the viral and prokaryotic communities to heavy metal stress. Auxiliary metabolic genes (AMGs) involved in denitrification, methane oxidation and organic sulfur transformation were enriched at T1-contaminated sites, while the abundance of AMGs related to methanogenesis and sulfate reduction were higher at pristine sites. Specially, the enrichment of AMGs involved in assimilatory sulfate reduction in Tl-contaminated sites could possibly reduce Tl bioavailability by enhancing the microbially-driven sulfur cycling to generate sulfides that could be complexed with Tl. Moreover, there was a significantly positive correlation between virus-carrying metal resistant genes and the sedimentary Tl concentration, implying that Tl contamination might enhance the metal resistant potential of the viruses. Serving as the functional gene reservoir, the response of viral AMGs to Tl stress could represent a potential pathway for microorganisms to be adapted to the metal-polluted environments. Our study provided novel insights into the impact of Tl spill on viral communities, shedding light on functional characteristics and the links of virus-host interaction with Tl level., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

In July 2022, an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) virus clade 2.3.4.4b occurred among migratory birds at Qinghai Lake in China. The virus circulated in June, and reassortants emerged after its introduction into the area. Surveillance in 2023 showed that the virus did not establish a stable presence in wild waterfowl.

We conducted a longitudinal cohort study of SARS-CoV-2 and influenza rates in childcare centers and schools in Wuxi, China, collecting 1,760 environmental samples and 9,214 throat swabs from 593 students (regardless of symptoms) in weekly collections during February-June 2023. We estimated a cumulative infection rate of 124.8 (74 episodes)/1,000 persons for SARS-CoV-2 and 128.2 (76 episodes)/1,000 persons for influenza. The highest SARS-CoV-2 infection rate was in persons 18 years of age, and for influenza, in children 4 years of age. The asymptomatic proportion of SARS-CoV-2 was 59.6% and 66.7% for influenza; SARS-CoV-2 symptomatic proportion was lower in 16-18-year-olds than in 4-6-year-olds. Only samples from frequently touched surface tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 (4/1,052) and influenza (1/1,052). We found asynchronous circulation patterns of SARS-CoV-2 and influenza, similar to trends in national sentinel surveillance. The results support vaccination among pediatric populations and other interventions, such as environmental disinfection in educational settings.

Several zoonotic influenza A viruses detected in humans contain genes derived from avian H9N2 subtypes. We uncovered a Eurasian avian-like H1N1 swine influenza virus with polymerase basic 1 and matrix gene segments derived from the H9N2 subtype, suggesting that H9N2 viruses are infecting pigs and reassorting with swine influenza viruses in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent rise in the frequency of influenza A(H5N6) infections in China has raised serious concerns about whether the risk for human infection has increased. We surveyed epidemiologic, clinical, and genetic data of human infections with A(H5N6) viruses. Severe disease occurred in 93.8% of cases, and the fatality rate was 55.4%. Median patient age was 51 years. Most H5N6 hemagglutinin (HA) genes in human isolates in 2021 originated from subclade 2.3.4.4b; we estimated the time to most recent common ancestor as June 16, 2020. A total of 13 genotypes with HA genes from multiple subclades in clade 2.3.4.4 were identified in human isolates. Of note, 4 new genotypes detected in 2021 were the major causes of increased H5N6 virus infections. Mammalian-adapted mutations were found in HA and internal genes. Although we found no evidence of human-to-human transmission, continuous evolution of H5N6 viruses may increase the risk for human infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite few human cases of tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), high rates of TBEV seroprevalence were reported among humans and animals in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in Northwestern China. In this study, the Karshi virus (KSIV) was identified and isolated from Hyalomma asiaticum ticks in Xinjiang. It belongs to the genus Flavivirus of the family Flaviviridae and is closely related to TBEV. KSIV infects cell lines from humans, other mammals and ticks, and causes encephalitis in suckling mice. High minimum infection rates (4.96%) with KSIV were detected among tick groups. KSIV infections have occurred in sheep and marmots, resulting in antibody-positive rates of 2.43 and 2.56%, respectively. We further found that, of the KSIV antibody-positive serum samples from animals, 13.9% had TBEV exposure showing cross-reaction to KSIV, and 11.1% had KSIV infection resulting in cross-reaction to TBEV; 8.3% were likely to have co-exposure to both viruses (or may be infected with one of them and present cross-reactivity with the other). The results revealed a substantial KSIV prevalence among ticks in Xinjiang, indicating exposure of animals to KSIV and TBEV. The findings implied misinterpretation of the high rates of TBEV seroprevalence among humans and animals in previous studies. There is a need to develop detection methods to distinguish KSIV from TBEV and to perform an in-depth investigation of KSIV and TBEV prevalence and incidence in Northwestern China, which would enhance our preparation to provide medical treatment of emerging diseases caused by tick-borne viral pathogens such as KSIV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mukawa virus (MKWV), a novel tick-borne virus (TBV) of the genus Phlebovirus of family Phenuiviridae , has been firstly reported in Ixodes persulcatus in Japan. In this study, we made an epidemiological investigation in China to obtain the geographic distribution and genetic features of this virus outside Japan. We screened 1,815 adult ticks (665 I. persulcatus , 336 Dermacentor silvarum , 599 Haemaphysalis longicornis , 170 Rhipicephalus microplus , 45 Haemaphysalis concinna) and 805 wild small mammals collected from eight provinces. The positive rate of 6.77% (45/665, including 18 female and 27 male I. persulcatus) and 2.22% (1/45, 1 male H. concinna) were obtained from I. persulcatus and H. concinna in Heilongjiang province, respectively. No evidence of MKWV infection was found in other three tick species or any of the mammalian species. The virus can infect the Vero cells successfully, indicating the ability of MKWV to replicate in mammalian cells. A phylogenetic tree based on the nucleotide sequences of L, M, and S segments demonstrated that the Japanese MKWV variant, our two MKWV variants, and KURV were clustered with the members of the mosquito/sandfly-borne phleboviruses and distant from other tick-borne phenuiviruses. A phylogenetic analysis based on 895 bp partial L gene sequences (n = 46) showed that all MKWV sequences were separated into three lineages. Our results showed the presence of MKWV in I. persulcatus and H. concinna in northeast of China, highlighting the necessity of epidemiological study in wider regions. Due to the ability of MKWV to replicate in mammalian cells, the potential for zoonosis, and wide distribution of I. persulcatus and H. concinna in China, the important vectors of MKWV, further screening to more tick species, wild animals, domestic animals, and humans raises up practical significance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A live attenuated duck Tembusu virus (TMUV) vaccine FX2010-180P (180P) was successfully utilized to prevent TMUV infections in ducks in China. Compared with wild-type TMUV, 180P was highly attenuated and lost transmissibility in ducks. However, the mechanism of the attenuation of 180P remains poorly understood. To explore the key molecular basis of attenuation, chimeric and site mutant viruses in the background of the wild-type TMUV-FX2010 (FX) strain were rescued, and the replication, tissue tropism, and transmissibility were characterized in ducks. The results show that the envelope (E) protein was responsible for attenuation and loss of transmission in ducks. Further studies showed that a D120N amino acid mutation located in domain II of the E protein was responsible for the attenuation and transmissibility loss of 180P in ducks. The D120N substitution resulted in an extra high-mannose type N-linked glycosylation (NLG) in the E protein of 180P compared with the wild-type TMUV, which might restrict the tissue tropism and transmissibility of TMUV in ducks. Our findings elucidate that N120 in the E protein is a key molecular basis of TMUV attenuation in ducks and provide new insight into the role of NLG in TMUV tissue tropism and transmissibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A rapid decrease in viral gastroenteritis during winter 2019-20 and a return of norovirus and rotavirus activity during winter 2020-21 were observed while multiple nonpharmaceutical interventions for coronavirus disease were in effect in Hong Kong. The initial collateral benefit of coronavirus disease countermeasures that reduced the viral gastroenteritis burden is not sustainable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an emerging environmental contaminant, antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in tap water have attracted great attention. Although studies have provided ARG profiles in tap water, research on their abundance levels, composition characteristics, and potential threat is still insufficient. Here, 9 household tap water samples were collected from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) in China. Additionally, 75 sets of environmental sample data (9 types) were downloaded from the public database. Metagenomics was then performed to explore the differences in the abundance and composition of ARGs. 221 ARG subtypes consisting of 17 types were detected in tap water. Although the ARG abundance in tap water was not significantly different from that found in drinking water plants and reservoirs, their composition varied. In tap water samples, the three most abundant classes of resistance genes were multidrug, fosfomycin and MLS (macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin) ARGs, and their corresponding subtypes ompR, fosX and macB were also the most abundant ARG subtypes. Regarding the potential mobility, vanS had the highest abundance on plasmids and viruses, but the absence of key genes rendered resistance to vancomycin ineffective. Generally, the majority of ARGs present in tap water were those that have not been assessed and are currently not listed as high-threat level ARG families based on the World Health Organization Guideline. Although the current potential threat to human health posed by ARGs in tap water is limited, with persistent transfer and accumulation, especially in pathogens, the potential danger to human health posed by ARGs should not be ignored., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

China implemented stringent non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) in spring 2020, which has effectively suppressed SARS-CoV-2. In this study, we utilized data from routine respiratory virus testing requests from physicians and examined circulation of 11 other respiratory viruses in Southern China, from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2020. A total of 58,169 throat swabs from patients with acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs) were collected and tested. We found that while the overall activity of respiratory viruses was lower during the period with stringent NPIs, virus activity rebounded shortly after the NPIs were relaxed and social activities resumed. Only influenza was effectively suppressed with very low circulation which extended to the end of 2020. Circulation of other respiratory viruses in the community was maintained even during the period of stringent interventions, especially for rhinovirus. Our study shows that NPIs against COVID-19 have different impacts on respiratory viruses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is one of the most widely cultivated forage crops in the world. China is the second largest producer of alfalfa in terms of the planting area worldwide, with Gansu, Henan, Inner Mongolia, and Shaanxi provinces being the production hubs. Alfalfa viruses have been reported on a small-scale survey in some of these areas, but they have not been well characterized. In the present study, seven viruses were detected in 12 fields of 10 cities/counties of the four abovementioned provinces by high-throughput sequencing and assembly of small RNA. Their incidence, distribution, and genetic diversity were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, polymerase chain reaction (PCR)/reverse transcription-PCR and clone sequencing. The results showed that alfalfa mosaic virus (AMV), pea streak virus (PeSV), lucerne transient streak virus (LTSV), alfalfa dwarf virus (ADV), Medicago sativa alphapartitivirus 1 (MsAPV1), MsAPV2, and alfalfa leaf curl virus (ALCV) were the main viruses infecting alfalfa in four examined provinces. AMV and MsAPV1 had the highest incidences in all 4 provinces. SDT analysis of the 7 viruses isolated in China revealed a highly conserved among AMV, LTSV, ADV, MsAPV1, MsAPV2, and ALCV, but the sequence was a high variation between China isolates to abroad isolates in PeSV, ADV, and ALCV. To our knowledge, this is the first report of ADV in Inner Mongolia and Gansu, ALCV in Inner Mongolia, MsAPV1 and MsAPV2 in all 4 provinces, and PeSV and LTSV in China. These findings provide a basis for future research on the genetic evolution of alfalfa viruses in China and on strategies to prevent diseases in alfalfa caused by these viruses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the isolation of Tamdy virus from Hyalomma asiaticum ticks in northwest China and serologic evidence of human Tamdy virus infection in the same region. These findings highlight the need to further investigate a potential causal relationship between Tamdy virus and febrile illnesses of unknown etiology in that region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The burden and characteristics of respiratory viral infections in children hospitalized for acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs) during the post-COVID-19 pandemic era are unclear. We analyzed the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of pediatric patients hospitalized with common respiratory virus infections before and after relaxation of non-pharmaceutical interventions in Hangzhou, China and evaluated the diagnostic value of the six-panel respiratory pathogen detection system., Methods: Six types of respiratory viruses were detected in respiratory samples from children with suspected ARTIs by multiplex real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Changes in virus detection rates and epidemiological and clinical characteristics, obtained from electronic health records, were analyzed. Binary logistic regression was used to identify respiratory tract infections risk factors. Multiplex RT-qPCR and targeted next-generation sequencing results were compared in random samples., Results: Among the 11,056 pediatric samples, 3228 tested positive for one or more of six common respiratory pathogens. RSV and PIV-3 detection rates differed significantly across age groups (both P < 0.001), and were more common in younger children. PIV-1 was more common in infants, toddlers, and preschoolers than in school-age children (P < 0.001). FluB was predominantly detected in school-age children (P < 0.001). RSV-, ADV-, and PIV-1-positivity rates were higher in 2022 than in 2023. Seasonal viral patterns differed across years. RSV (OR 9.156. 95% CI 5.905-14.195) and PIV-3 (OR 1.683, 95% CI 1.133-2.501) were risk factors for lower respiratory tract infections. RSV-positivity was associated with severe pneumonia (P = 0.044). PIV-3 (OR 0.391, 95% CI 0.170-0.899), summer season (OR 1.982, 95% CI 1.117-3.519), and younger age (OR 0.938, 95% CI 0.893-0.986) influenced pneumonia severity. Multiplex RT-qPCR showed good diagnostic performance., Conclusion: After changes in COVID-19 prevention and control strategies, six common respiratory viruses in children were prevalent in 2022-2023, with different seasonal epidemic characteristics and age proclivities. RSV and PIV-3 cause lower, and FluA, FluB, and ADV more typically cause upper respiratory tract infections. Infancy and summer season influence severe pneumonia risk. Multiplex RT-qPCR is valuable for accurate and timely detection of respiratory viruses in children, which facilitates management, treatment, and prevention of ARTIs., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Dangerous biological agents （DBAs） refer to microorganisms, toxins, and other biological substances that have the potential to cause significant harm to humans, animals, plants, and the environment. They are the primary target of the prevention and response in China's Biosafety Law, and it is of great importance to clarify the characteristics of DBAs in the Beijing suburban rivers for the insurance of the water safety in Beijing. The typical Beijing suburban rivers （Mangniu River, Chaohe River, and Baihe River） were selected, and the occurrence and distribution of DBAs concerning the molecular biology composition as the nucleic acid （antibiotic resistance genes, ARGs）, nucleic acid and proteins （viruses）, and intact cellular structures （pathogens） were determined based on the metagenomics. The results showed that there was a high abundance of multidrug-resistant ARGs in the water and substrates of the urban river； on average, they made up 74.11% ±6.82% of the total, and the abundance of aminoglycoside and MLS （macrolide-lincosamide-streptomycin）-resistant ARGs was the highest, but the predominant subtypes of ARGs were of low risk and had limited transmission potential. The viruses in the tributary mainly belonged to the phages, most of which were Kyanoviridae and Peduoviridae, with averages of 16.98% ±8.44% and 16.19% ±10.79%, respectively. Eukaryotic viral populations consisted mainly of members from the Mimiviridae and Phycodnaviridae families, with averages of 10.37% ±12.68% and 8.34% ±6.97%, respectively, whereas there were few viruses related to human and animal diseases. The pathogenic bacteria mainly contained Neisseria meningitidis , Brucella suis , Salmonella enterica, and Burkholderia pseudomalle , with averages of 19.17% ±3.63%, 12.76% ±2.88%, 11.22% ±1.95%, and 8.26% ±1.84%, respectively. The composition and abundance of pathogenic bacteria varied significantly among different tributaries and locations, possibly owing to water quality, pollution sources, environmental factors, and human activities. These findings can provide data support for the water safety management and biological risk control of Beijing suburban rivers.

We investigated Alongshan virus infection in reindeer in northeastern China. We found that 4.8% of the animals were viral RNA-positive, 33.3% tested positive for IgG, and 19.1% displayed neutralizing antibodies. These findings suggest reindeer could serve as sentinel animal species for the epidemiologic surveillance of Alongshan virus infection.

Background: Flies are acknowledged as vectors of diseases transmitted through mechanical means and represent a significant risk to human health. The study aimed to determine the prevalence of enteropathogens carried by flies in Pudong New Area to inform strategies for preventing and controlling flies., Methods: Samples were collected from various locations in the area using cage trapping techniques between April and November 2021, encompassing various habitats such as parks, residential areas, restaurants, and farmers' markets. The main fly species were identified using cryomicrography and taxonomic enumeration, with 20 samples per tube collected from different habitats. Twenty-five enteropathogens were screened using GI&#95;Trial v3 TaqMan TM microbial arrays., Results: A total of 3,875 flies were collected from 6,400 placements, resulting in an average fly density of 0.61 flies per cage. M. domestica were the most common species at 39.85%, followed by L. sericata at 16.57% and B. peregrina at 13.14%. Out of 189 samples, 93 tested positive for enteropathogens, with nine different pathogens being found. 12.70% of samples exclusively had parasites, a higher percentage than those with only bacteria or viruses. The study found that M. domestica had fewer enteropathogens than L. sericata and B. peregrina, which primarily harbored B. hominis instead of bacteria and viruses such as E. coli, Astrovirus, and Sapovirus. During spring testing, all three fly species exhibited low rates of detecting enteropathogens. M. domestica were found in residential areas with the highest number of pathogen species, totaling six. In contrast, L. sericata and B. peregrina were identified in farmers' markets with the highest number of pathogen species, totaling six and seven, respectively., Conclusions: Flies have the potential to serve as vectors for the transmission of enteropathogens, thereby posing a substantial risk to public health., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

We isolated severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) from farmed minks in China, providing evidence of natural SFTSV infection in farmed minks. Our findings support the potential role of farmed minks in maintaining SFTSV and are helpful for the development of public health interventions to reduce human infection.

We characterized the evolution and molecular characteristics of avian influenza A(H7N9) viruses isolated in China during 2021-2023. We systematically analyzed the 10-year evolution of the hemagglutinin gene to determine the evolutionary branch. Our results showed recent antigenic drift, providing crucial clues for updating the H7N9 vaccine and disease prevention and control.

Background: Akabane virus (AKAV) is an important insect-borne virus which is widely distributed throughout the world except the Europe and is considered as a great threat to herbivore health. Results: An AKAV strain defined as TJ2016 was firstly isolated from the bovine sera in China in 2016. Sequence analysis of the S and M segments suggested that the isolated AKAV strain was closely related to the AKAV strains JaGAr39 and JaLAB39, which belonged to AKAV genogroup II. To further study the pathogenic mechanism of AKAV, the full-length cDNA clone of TJ2016 S, M, and L segment was constructed separately into the TVT7R plasmid at the downsteam of T7 promoter and named as TVT7R-S, TVT7R-M, and TVT7R-L, respectively. The above three plasmids were further transfected into the BSR-T7/5 cells simultaneously with a ratio of 1:1:1 to produce the rescued virus AKAV. Compared with the parental wild type AKAV (wtAKAV), the rescued virus (rAKAV) was proved to be with similar cytopathic effects (CPE), plaque sizes and growth kinetics in BHK-21 cells. Conclusion: We successfully isolated a AKAV strain TJ2016 from the sera of cattle and established a reverse genetic platform for AKAV genome manipulation. The established reverse genetic system is also a powerful tool for further research on AKAV pathogenesis and even vaccine studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The circular replication‐associated protein (Rep)‐encoding single‐stranded (CRESS) DNA virus emergence in diverse host has been associated with severe disease. Porcine circovirus‐like virus (Po‐Circo‐like [PCL] virus) is a CRESS DNA virus, the prevalence and pathogenicity of which are rarely studied. Methods: We obtained two blood samples, four faecal samples, and two intestinal samples from a pig farm suffered from diarrheal disease in the delivery room in September 2020 and attempted to isolate and identify a causative pathogen. Subsequently, only PCL virus was positive, and qRT‐PCR was designed to detect the loading titre of PCL virus. We then initiated a heightened surveillance program on the pathogenicity and epidemiology of PCL virus. Results: Six PCL virus strains, with severe diarrhoea and haemorrhagic enteritis, have been found in six different pig farms in Guangdong province, China. A multiple sequence alignment of these PCL viruses and bovine circovirus‐like virus/CH showed a similarity of 92.5‐94.8% for the Rep protein, indicating these PCL viruses are highly homologous to Bo‐Circo‐like virus associated with calf diarrhoea. There were striking similarities between the PCL virus and bovine circovirus‐like virus outbreaks in aetiological settings and Genomic sequence. We found that 11.2% (20/178) of diarrhoea samples and 13.3% (6/45) of pig farms were positive for PCL virus, suggesting that PCL virus may have spread widely in Pig farms. Moreover, this article underscores the risk of PCL virus spilling over and adapting to new species. Conclusions: Porcine circovirus‐like virus was found to be associated with porcine diarrheal disease in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In late 2020, we detected 32 highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N8) viruses in migratory ducks in Shanghai, China. Phylogenetic analysis of 5 representative isolates identified 2 sublineages of clade 2.3.4.4b. Each sublineage formed separate clusters with isolates from East Asia and Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Maedi/Visna virus (MVV) is a contagious viral pathogen that causes considerable economic losses to the sheep industry worldwide. Objectives: In China, MVV has been detected in several regions, but its molecular characteristics and genetic variations were not thoroughly investigated. Methods: Therefore, in this study, we conducted next-generation sequencing on an MVV strain obtained from northwest China to reveal its genetic evolution via phylogenetic analysis. Results: A MVV strain obtained from Inner Mongolia (NM) of China was identified. Sequence analysis indicated that its whole-genome length is 9193 bp. Homology comparison of nucleotides between the NM strain and reference strains showed that the sequence homology of gag and env were 77.1%-86.8% and 67.7%-75.5%, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the NM strain was closely related to the reference strains isolated from America, which belong to the A2 type. Notably, there were 5 amino acid insertions in variable region 4 and a highly variable motif at the C-terminal of the surface glycoprotein (SU5). Conclusions: The present study is the first to show the whole-genome sequence of an MVV obtained from China. The detailed analyses provide essential information for understanding the genetic characteristics of MVV, and the results enrich the MVV library. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

GETV, an arbo-borne zoonotic virus of the genus Alphavirus, which causes diarrhea and reproduction disorders in swine, lead to serious economic losses to the swine industry in China. At present, the existing methods for GETV detection are time-consuming and low sensitivity, so, a rapid, accurate and sensitive GETV detection method is urgently needed. In this study, a fluorescent reverse transcription recombinase-assisted amplification method (RT-RAA) was successfully established for the rapid detection of GETV. The sensitivity of this method to GETV was 8 copies/reaction and 20 TCID50/reaction. No cross-reaction with other viruses. A total of 118 samples were prepared for GETV detection using fluorescent RT-RAA and SYBR Green I RT-qPCR, the coincidence rate of the two methods was 100%. The results suggest that the RT-RAA method is rapid, sensitive and specific for GETV detection and can be applied in the clinical. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat plants showing yellowing and mosaic in leaves and stunting were collected from wheat fields in Henan Province, China. Analysis of these plants by transmission electron microscopy showed that they contained two types of filamentous virus-like particles with a length of 200-500 nm and 1000-1300 nm, respectively. RNA-seq revealed a coinfection with wheat yellow mosaic virus (WYMV) and an unknown wheat-infecting virus. The genome of the unknown virus is 8,410 nucleotides long, excluding its 3' poly(A) tail. It has six open reading frames (ORFs). ORF1 encodes a putative viral replication-associated protein (Rep), and ORFs 2, 3, and 4 encode the triple gene block (TGB) proteins. ORFs 5 and 6 encode the capsid protein (CP) and a protein with unknown function, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis showed that this novel virus is evolutionarily related to members of the subfamily Quinvirinae, family Betaflexiviridae. It is, however, distinct from the viruses in the currently established genera. Based on the species and genus demarcation criteria set by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV), we tentatively name this novel virus "wheat yellow stunt-associated betaflexivirus" (WYSaBV), and we propose it to be a member of a new genus in the family Betaflexiviridae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Norovirus (NoV) and human astrovirus (HAstV) are important causative agents of acute gastroenteritis in children and adults. They are comprised of multiple genotypes and attention should be paid to genotype changes or emergence of new genetic variants. To study the prevalence and diversity of NoV GI, GII, and HAstV circulating in eastern China, we conducted a three‐year environmental surveillance in a coastal city of Yantai. Thirty‐six sewage samples were collected, processed, and examined for the presence of viral genomes by PCR. The results showed that NoV GI, GII, and HAstV were detected in all 36 samples. Six NoV GI genotypes, 11 NoV GII genotypes, and 5 HAstV serotypes were identified; GI.6, GII.17, and HAstV‐5 were the most prevalent types, respectively. Persistent existence of NoV GII.17 Kawasaki 308 variant was observed during whole study period. Phylogenetic analysis reflected multiple transmission lineages in local population for both viruses. Our results reflect continuous presence of enteric viruses in sewage, improve our understanding on their molecular epidemiology, and demonstrate surveillance on sewage is an effective approach in understanding the local circulation of enteric viruses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The numerous global outbreaks and continuous reassortments of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N6/H5N8) clade 2.3.4.4 viruses in birds pose a major risk to the public health. We investigated the tropism and innate host responses of 5 recent HPAI A(H5N6/H5N8) avian isolates of clades 2.3.4.4b, e, and h in human airway organoids and primary human alveolar epithelial cells. The HPAI A(H5N6/H5N8) avian isolates replicated productively but with lower competence than the influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, HPAI A(H5N1), and HPAI A(H5N6) isolates from humans in both or either models. They showed differential cellular tropism in human airway organoids; some infected all 4 major epithelial cell types: ciliated cells, club cells, goblet cells, and basal cells. Our results suggest zoonotic potential but low transmissibility of the HPAI A(H5N6/H5N8) avian isolates among humans. These viruses induced low levels of proinflammatory cytokines/chemokines, which are unlikely to contribute to the pathogenesis of severe disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Human Adenoviruses (HAdVs) cause a wide array of illnesses in all age groups. They particularly cause frequent morbidity among children. In China, human adenovirus types 3, 4, 7, 11, 14, 21, and 55 have caused at least seven outbreaks since 2000. However, limited studies are available regarding the epidemiological patterns and diversity of HAdVs types among hospitalized patients with respiratory tract infections (RTIs).Methods: To understand the epidemiology and subtype distribution of HAdV infections associated with RTIs in China, nasal swab (NS) clinical samples were collected from 4129 patients in a Guangzhou hospital between August 2017 and October 2019. PCR, sequencing, and phylogenetic analysis were performed on these specimens to identify HAdV subtypes.Results: HAdV was successfully sequenced in 99 (2.4%) of the 4129 NS specimens, with the highest HAdV prevalence (6.3%) found in children between the ages of 5 and 10 years. Among HAdV-positive specimens, the most prevalent genotypes identified were HAdV-B3 (55.6%) and HAdV-B7 (25.3%). The most common symptoms in the HAdV-infected patients were fever (100%), cough (80.8%), and rhinorrhea (71.8%). HAdV infections were detected throughout the year with a relatively higher prevalence in summer.Conclusion: All ages suffer adenovirus infections, but young children are at the greatest risk. This study data demonstrates that at least three species of HAdVs (species B, C, and E) are circulating in Guangzhou City, China. As antiviral therapies and type-specific vaccines become available, such epidemiological data will be useful in guiding therapy and public health interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The multifaceted non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) taken during the COVID-19 pandemic not only decrease the spreading of the SARS-CoV-2, but have impact on the prevalence of other viruses. This study aimed to explore the prevalence of common respiratory viruses among hospitalized children with lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) in China during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Respiratory specimens were obtained from children with LRTI at Children's Hospital of Fudan University for detection of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), adenovirus (ADV), parainfluenza virus (PIV) 1 to 3, influenza virus A (FluA), influenza virus B (FluB), human metapneumovirus (MPV) and rhinovirus (RV). The data were analyzed and compared between the year of 2020 (COVID-19 pandemic) and 2019 (before COVID-19 pandemic). Results: A total of 7107 patients were enrolled, including 4600 patients in 2019 and 2507 patients in 2020. Compared with 2019, we observed an unprecedented reduction of RSV, ADV, FluA, FluB, and MPV infections in 2020, despite of reopening of schools in June, 2020. However, the RV infection was significantly increased in 2020 and a sharp increase was observed especially after reopening of schools. Besides, the PIV infection showed resurgent characteristic after September of 2020. The mixed infections were significantly less frequent in 2020 compared with the year of 2019. Conclusions: The NPIs during the COVID-19 pandemic have great impact on the prevalence of common respiratory viruses in China. Meanwhile, we do need to be cautious of a possible resurgence of some respiratory viruses as the COVID-19 restrictions are relaxed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak reported in China in December 2019 has spread throughout the world. The WHO declared it as a pandemic in March 2020. The pandemic severely affected public health and the global economy. Many studies conducted on the coronavirus have helped us to elucidate its pathogenicity and pathophysiology. However, it is important to study the behavior of the pathogen in the environment to develop effective control measures. While studying the persistence and transmission of viruses in drinking water and wastewater systems, a low concentration of coronavirus and its nucleic acids have been detected in municipal wastewaters. This could be due to their high susceptibilities to degradation in aqueous environments. Epidemiological study on coronaviruses in wastewater will serve two purposes, i.e., in early detection of outbreak and in identifying asymptomatic carriers. In such cases, the epidemiological study will help in early detection of the presence of the virus in the community. Secondly, it will help in knowing if there are asymptomatic carriers, as such people do not show any signs of symptoms but shed the viruses in feces. The present review focuses on the epidemiological surveillance of wastewater for coronaviruses, as in recent years these are increasingly causing global pandemics. In this review we have discussed, the four pertinent areas of coronavirus study: (1) occurrence of coronavirus in wastewater, (2) wastewater based epidemiological surveillance of coronaviruses, (3) epidemiological surveillance tools used for detection of coronaviruses in sewage, and (4) persistence and sustainability of coronaviruses in wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a specific and simple method based on the dual priming oligonucleotide (DPO) system was developed to simultaneously detect transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV), porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV), porcine rotavirus A (PRV-A), porcine delta coronavirus (PDCoV), and swine acute diarrhea syndrome coronavirus (SADS-CoV), associated with the major enteric RNA viruses in pigs. The DPO system-based multiplex RT-PCR method simplified the primer design and did not require optimization of the annealing temperature. Specificity analysis revealed that the method could specifically detect TGEV, PEDV, PRV-A, PDCoV, and SADS-CoV without any cross-amplification of other circulating swine viruses. The limit of detection of the method was as low as 103–104 copies/μL plasmid of each virus. The method also had good repeatability, and obvious results were seen in three repeat experiments with an interval of 45 days. This optimized multiplex RT-PCR method was used to evaluate 181 clinical swine samples that were collected from four provinces of China between September 2016 and August 2018. The results showed that the positive detection rates of PEDV, PDCoV, SADS-CoV, PRV-A, and TGEV were 30.94% (56/181), 17.67% (32/181), 11.6% (21/181), 9.39% (17/181), and 0.55% (1/181), respectively. Mixed infection of two or more viruses was also common. The DPO system-based multiplex RT-PCR could be a useful tool for detecting enteric virus infections. This method has the advantages of easy operation, low cost, high detection efficiency, and short running time for early diagnosis in clinical cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We constructed a coronavirus disease community vulnerability index using micro district-level socioeconomic and demographic data and analyzed its correlations with case counts across the 3 pandemic waves in Hong Kong, China. We found that districts with greater vulnerability reported more cases in the third wave when widespread community outbreaks occurred. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the damage caused by COVID-19 has increased exponentially, so too has the insistence that China bears some international responsibility for the unquantifiable damage sustained as a direct result of the state having failed to contain the virus, and to notify the international community of its existence. Some have suggested that the international contagion of the virus may be classified as transboundary harm. The current article analyses the law of transboundary harm, and proposes a set of criteria based on treaty and precedent that may be relied on to properly classify an event as such. It concludes that it is not only incorrect to classify international contagion as transboundary harm, but that to do so would pose a significant risk to the position and treatment of the individual in international law. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we isolated a group of viruses that can cause a cytopathic effect in BHK-21 cells from sandfly specimens collected in Yangquan County, Shanxi Province, central China. The representative virus strain is SXYQ1860 and, with increased viral injection, the suckling mice became ill and died, with viral titers continually increasing. The results of molecular genetic evolution analysis of the three gene segments of the virus, L, M, and S, indicate that the newly isolated viruses from Yangquan County are the same as the Wuxiang virus (WUXV) previously isolated from sandflies collected in Wuxiang county, China. This is the first time that the WUXV was also isolated outside Wuxiang County. Therefore, strengthening the surveillance of neglected sandflies and the viruses they transmit to help prevent and control arboviruses and the associated diseases is essential for public health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Road dust-associated contaminants (RD-AC) are gradually becoming a much thornier problem, as their monotonous correlations render them carcinogenic, mutagenic, and teratogenic. While many studies have examined the harmful effects of road dust on both humans and the environment, few studies have considered the co-exposure risk and gradient outcomes given the spatial extent of RD-AC. In this spirit, this paper presents in-depth elucidation into the baffling complexities induced by both major and emerging contaminants of road dust through a panorama-to-profile up-to-date review of diverse studies unified by the goal of advancing innovative methods to mitigate these contaminants. The paper thoroughly explores the correlations between RD-AC and provides insights to understand their potential in dispersing saprotrophic microorganisms. It also explores emerging challenges and proposes a novel integrated framework system aimed at thermally inactivating viruses and other pathogenic micro-organisms commingled with RD-AC. The main findings are: (i) the co-exposure risk of both major and emerging contaminants add another layer of complexity, highlighting the need for more holistic framework strategies, given the geospatial morphology of these contaminants; (ii) road dust contaminants show great potential for extended prevalence and severity of viral particles pollution; (iii) increasing trend of environmentally persistent free radicals (EPFRs) in road dust, with studies conducted solely in China thus far; and (iv) substantial hurdle exists in acquiring data concerning acute procedural distress and long-term co-exposure risk to RD-ACs. Given the baffling complexities of RD-ACs, co-exposure risk and the need for innovative mitigation strategies, the study underscore the significance of establishing robust systems for deep road dust contaminants control and future research efforts while recognizing the interconnectivity within the contaminants associated with road dust. [Display omitted] • The baffling complexities induced by road dust contaminants are explored. • Emerging contaminants of road dust are increasingly gaining a foothold worldwide. • Carcinogenic effects to transmit pathogenic microorganisms are discussed. • Integrative mitigation framework system is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The treat of infectious disease epidemics has increased the critical need for continuous broad-ranging surveillance of pathogens with outbreak potential. Using metatranscriptomic sequencing of blood samples, we identified several cases of Japanese encephalitis virus infection from Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China. This discovery highlights the risk for known viral diseases even in nonendemic areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe an introduction of clade GH severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 causing a fourth wave of coronavirus disease in Hong Kong. The virus has an ORF3a-Q57H mutation, causing truncation of ORF3b. This virus evades induction of cytokine, chemokine, and interferon-stimulated gene expression in primary human respiratory cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pneumonia caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 emerged in China at the end of 2019. Because of the severe immunomodulation and lymphocyte depletion caused by this virus and the subsequent administration of drugs directed at the immune system, we anticipated that patients might experience fungal superinfection. We collected data from 186 patients who had coronavirus disease-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) worldwide during March-August 2020. Overall, 182 patients were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), including 180 with acute respiratory distress syndrome and 175 who received mechanical ventilation. CAPA was diagnosed a median of 10 days after coronavirus disease diagnosis. Aspergillus fumigatus was identified in 80.3% of patient cultures, 4 of which were azole-resistant. Most (52.7%) patients received voriconazole. In total, 52.2% of patients died; of the deaths, 33.0% were attributed to CAPA. We found that the cumulative incidence of CAPA in the ICU ranged from 1.0% to 39.1%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Wuxiang virus was isolated from sandfly specimens collected in Wuxiang County, Shanxi Province, China in 2018, representing the first reported isolation of sandfly-borne virus from sandflies collected in a natural environment in China. The local sandfly density, seasonal fluctuations, and temporal and spatial distributions of the virus in Wuxiang County remain unclear. Materials and Methods: Four fixed sandfly collection sites were set up in Wuxiang County and sandfly specimens were collected continuously from June to August 2019. All sandfly specimens were subjected to viral isolation and molecular biological analysis. Results: The data on sandfly specimens collected in Wuxiang County from June to August 2019 showed a significant difference in the density of sandflies between June 26 and August 16 (p < 0.05). No statistical difference was found in sandfly density among collection sites (p > 0.05). A total of 33 virus isolates causing cytopathic effects in mammalian (BHK-21) cells were obtained from 7466 sandflies (91 pools) collected from June to August 2019. The results of molecular genetic evolution analysis of the nucleotide sequence of these isolates showed that the L and S genes (encoding NS and N proteins) of the 33 viruses isolated in 2019 are in the same evolutionary branch as the previously isolated Wuxiang virus. No significant difference was found in the virus isolation rate (the pool isolation rate of virus) among sandflies collected at different times from June to August (p > 0.05). The virus isolation rate of sandflies collected at different collection sites showed a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that the Wuxiang virus is a stable viral population in local sandflies. Strengthened research into Wuxiang virus infection of humans and animals and clarification of the public health hazards posed by Wuxiang virus to both humans and animals are urgently needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Research during prior virus outbreaks has examined vulnerability factors associated with increased anxiety and fear.Design: We explored numerous psychopathology, sociodemographic, and virus exposure-related variables associated with anxiety and perceived threat of death regarding COVID-19.Method: We recruited 908 adults from Eastern China for a cross-sectional web survey, from 24 February to 15 March 2020, when social distancing was heavily enforced in China. We used several machine learning algorithms to train our statistical model of predictor variables in modeling COVID-19-related anxiety, and perceived threat of death, separately. We trained the model using many simulated replications on a random subset of participants, and subsequently externally tested on the remaining subset of participants.Results: Shrinkage machine learning algorithms performed best, indicating that stress and rumination were the most important variables in modeling COVID-19-related anxiety severity. Health anxiety was the most potent predictor of perceived threat of death from COVID-19.Conclusions: Results are discussed in the context of research on anxiety and fear from prior virus outbreaks, and from theory on outbreak-related emotional vulnerability. Implications regarding COVID-19-related anxiety are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]