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Background Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) can infect human and other mammals, including hamsters. Syrian (Mesocricetus auratus) and dwarf (Phodopus sp.) hamsters are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection in the laboratory setting. However, pet shop-related Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreaks have not been reported. Methods We conducted an investigation of a pet shop-related COVID-19 outbreak due to Delta variant AY.127 involving at least 3 patients in Hong Kong. We tested samples collected from the patients, environment, and hamsters linked to this outbreak and performed whole genome sequencing analysis of the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)-positive samples. Results The patients included a pet shop keeper (Patient 1), a female customer of the pet shop (Patient 2), and the husband of Patient 2 (Patient 3). Investigation showed that 17.2% (5/29) and 25.5% (13/51) environmental specimens collected from the pet shop and its related warehouse, respectively, tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA by RT-PCR. Among euthanized hamsters randomly collected from the storehouse, 3% (3/100) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA by RT-PCR and seropositive for anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody by enzyme immunoassay. Whole genome analysis showed that although all genomes from the outbreak belonged to the Delta variant AY.127, there were at least 3 nucleotide differences among the genomes from different patients and the hamster cages. Genomic analysis suggests that multiple strains have emerged within the hamster population, and these different strains have likely transmitted to human either via direct contact or via the environment. Conclusions Our study demonstrated probable hamster-to-human transmission of SARS-CoV-2. As pet trading is common around the world, this can represent a route of international spread of this pandemic virus.

The increasing prevalence of N501Y variants of SARS-CoV-2 has kindled global concern due to their enhanced transmissibility. Genome sequencing is the gold standard method to identify the emerging variants of concern. But it is time-consuming and expensive, limiting the widespread deployment of genome surveillance in some countries. Health authorities surge the development of alternative assay to expand screening capacity with reduced time and cost. In this study, we developed an in-house TaqMan minor groove binder (MGB) probe-based one-step RT-qPCR assay to detect the presence of N501Y mutation in SARS-CoV-2. A total of 168 SARS-CoV-2 positive respiratory specimens were collected to determine diagnostic accuracy of the RT-qPCR assay. As a reference standard, PANGO lineages and the mutation patterns of all samples were characterised by whole-genome sequencing. The analytical sensitivity and the ability of the assay to detect low frequency of N501Y variants were also evaluated. A total of 31 PANGO lineages were identified from 168 SARS-CoV-2 positive cases, in which 34 samples belonged to N501Y variants, including B.1.1.7 (n = 20), B.1.351 (n = 12) and P.3 (n = 2). The N501Y RT-qPCR correctly identified all 34 samples as N501Y-positive and the other 134 samples as wildtype. The limit-of-detection of the assay consistently achieved 1.5 copies/μL on four different qPCR platforms. N501Y mutation was successfully detected at an allele frequency as low as 10 % in a sample with mixed SARS-CoV-2 lineage. The N501Y RT-qPCR is simple and inexpensive (US$1.6 per sample). It enables robust high-throughput screening for surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern harbouring N501Y mutation.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer and the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Recent studies have shown that cancer stem cells (CSCs) are an important cause of tumor recurrence and metastasis. We hypothesized that CSCs marker CD166-positive CRC and colorectal adenoma (CAD) cells consist of more hotspot mutations than CD166-negative CRC and colorectal adenoma cells. To verify this, formalin fixed paraffin embedded tissue specimens from 42 patients each with CRC and CAD were recruited and CD166 immunohistochemical (IHC) staining followed by macrodissection was performed. DNA extracted was used for quantitative polymerase chain reaction detection on a somatic mutation array. Results showed that the immunoreactivity of CD166 protein had significant difference among CRC, CAD, and normal colorectal epithelial tissues (NCET) (P < 0.0001, Kruskal-Wallis test). Moreover, nucleotide changes were found in APC, KRAS, P53, PIK3CA, FBXW7 and SRC genes. Among those genes, KRAS exon 2 mutations were validated in another cohort of 70 CRC and 72 CAD specimens. Results showed that the difference in percentage of KRAS exon 2 mutations between CD166 positive and CD166 negative CRC specimens was significant (P < 0.05, chi-square test). Long term follow-up of the CRC patients showed that CD166-positive KRAS exon 2 mutations was useful in discriminating CRC patients with worse outcome. This study has provided evidence that KRAS exon 2 mutations are concentrated in CD166-positive cancer cells, with prognostic significance in CRC, and those mutations are also detected in CAD.

// Sze Chuen Cesar Wong 1 , Moon Tong Cheung 2 , Lewis Lai Yin Luk 2 , Vivian Ha Man Lee 2 , Pak Tat Chan 2 , Hin Fung Andy Tsang 1 , Evelyn Yin Kwan Wong 1 , Vivian Weiwen Xue 1 , Amanda Kit Ching Chan 3 and John Kwok Cheung Chan 3 1 Department of Health Technology and Informatics, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China 2 Department of Surgery, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Hong Kong, China 3 Department of Pathology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Hong Kong, China Correspondence to: Sze Chuen Cesar Wong, email: cesar.wong@polyu.edu.hk Keywords: prognostic significance; cytokeratin 20 lymph node; vascular endothelial growth factor A mRNA; chromodomain helicase DNA binding protein 4 mRNA Received: May 05, 2017 Accepted: November 28, 2017 Published: December 19, 2017 ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Cytokeratin 20-positive cells in lymph nodes from pN0 colorectal cancer (CRC) patients were detected previously by us. The aims of this study were to investigate which tumor metastasis-related genes were involved and their potential clinical significance. RESULTS: Fourteen of 84 (17%) genes were differentially expressed by at least 2-fold. Among them, 10 genes were up-regulated whereas 4 genes were down-regulated. Those differential expressed genes were validated in the second cohort of specimens. Follow-up analysis for 60 months showed that patients with lymph node vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) mRNA and chromodomain helicase DNA binding protein 4 (CHD4) mRNA expression higher than the median copies had significantly shorter time to recurrence than those with lower than the median copies. Multivariate analysis showed that VEGF-A mRNA, CHD4 mRNA and lymphatic vessel involvement were independent prognostic factors for disease recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: VEGF-A mRNA and CHD4 mRNA were up-regulated in CK20-positive pN0 lymph nodes and they may have prognostic significance in pN0 CRC patients. METHODS: Two cohorts of lymph node specimens from pN0 CRC patients of each with and without CK20-positive cells were recruited. In the first cohort, tumor metastasis genes were profiled using gene expression arrays. Differential expressed genes were validated in the second cohort. Moreover, their prognostic significance was examined by following-up the second cohort of patients with CK20-positive cells for 60 months and all histopathological findings were correlated to recurrence.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer and the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Recent studies have shown that cancer stem cells (CSCs) are an important cause of tumor recurrence and metastasis. We hypothesized that CSCs marker CD166-positive CRC and colorectal adenoma (CAD) cells consist of more hotspot mutations than CD166-negative CRC and colorectal adenoma cells. To verify this, formalin fixed paraffin embedded tissue specimens from 42 patients each with CRC and CAD were recruited and CD166 immunohistochemical (IHC) staining followed by macrodissection was performed. DNA extracted was used for quantitative polymerase chain reaction detection on a somatic mutation array. Results showed that the immunoreactivity of CD166 protein had significant difference among CRC, CAD, and normal colorectal epithelial tissues (NCET) (P < 0.0001, Kruskal-Wallis test). Moreover, nucleotide changes were found in APC, KRAS, P53, PIK3CA, FBXW7 and SRC genes. Among those genes, KRAS exon 2 mutations were validated in another cohort of 70 CRC and 72 CAD specimens. Results showed that the difference in percentage of KRAS exon 2 mutations between CD166 positive and CD166 negative CRC specimens was significant (P < 0.05, chi-square test). Long term follow-up of the CRC patients showed that CD166-positive KRAS exon 2 mutations was useful in discriminating CRC patients with worse outcome. This study has provided evidence that KRAS exon 2 mutations are concentrated in CD166-positive cancer cells, with prognostic significance in CRC, and those mutations are also detected in CAD.