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Background: Pathogens can impact host RNA modification machinery to establish a favorable cellular environment for their replication. In the present study, we investigated the effect of Toxoplasma gondii infection on host RNA modification profiles and explored how these modifications may influence the host-parasite interaction. Methodology/principal findings: We analyzed the modification levels of ∼ 80 nt tRNA and 17–50 nt sncRNAs in mouse liver, spleen, and serum using liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry analysis. The results revealed alterations in RNA modification profiles, particularly during acute infection. The liver exhibited more differentially abundant RNA modifications than the spleen. RNA modification levels in serum were mostly downregulated during acute infection compared to control mice. Correlations were detected between different RNA modifications in the liver and spleen during infection and between several RNA modifications and many cytokines. Alterations in RNA modifications affected tRNA stability and protein translation. Conclusions/significance: These findings provide new insight into the role of RNA modifications in mediating the murine host response to T. gondii infection. Author summary: The dynamic landscape of host tissue RNA modifications and its possible association with the immune response to Toxoplasma gondii infection are poorly understood. Here, we analyzed the patterns of 20 RNA modification types in the liver, spleen and serum of mice infected by T. gondii. We characterized the levels of modifications of total RNA, ∼ 80 nt tRNA and 17–50 nt sncRNAs using LC-MS/MS. Differentially abundant RNA modifications were more frequent during acute infection compared to chronic infection and were more pronounced in the liver than in the spleen. Multiple tRNA modifications were co-regulated during chronic infection. Several RNA modifications showed significant correlation with serum cytokines, highlighting the role of RNA modifications in the immune response to T. gondii infection. Alterations of RNA modifications affected tRNA stability and the translation of eukaryotic initiation factor 4A/E. These findings provide new insight into the role of RNA modifications in the pathogenesis of and immune response to T. gondii infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cryptosporidium is an important zoonotic parasite that can infect a variety of hosts, including pigs and humans, through water and food. Many studies on Cryptosporidium infection in pigs have been reported worldwide. However, the meta‐analysis of Cryptosporidium infection in pigs in China has not been published. This study retrieved articles related to Cryptosporidium in pigs in China by using four databases: Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), PubMed, VIP Chinese journal database and Wanfang Data. We retrieved 40 studies related to Cryptosporidium infection in China, and those articles were harvested from the inception to 1 January 2020. We estimated that the overall prevalence of pigs with Cryptosporidium in the selected period was 12.2% (4,349/30,404). In the sampling year subgroup, the prevalence rate after 2010 was the lowest at 8.7% (2,087/18,100). In Northern China, the Cryptosporidium prevalence was 47.9% (34/71). By contrast, the prevalence of Cryptosporidium in Southwestern China was only 6.9% (778/6,445). The infection rate of Cryptosporidium in diarrhoea pigs of 15.6% (74/384) was higher than that in non‐diarrhoea pigs at 10.8% (378/2,840). Among the four age groups, the prevalence of weaning pigs of 16.2% (530/3,243) was the highest, and the difference was significant (p <.05). The prevalence of Cryptosporidium in extensive farming was 25.7% (660/3,121), which was significantly higher than in intensive farming 8.7% (566/6,336), and the prevalence of infection was related to the farming modes (p <.05). We also analysed the impact of different geographic factor subgroups (longitude, latitude, precipitation, temperature, humidity, climate and altitude) on the prevalence of pigs. The results showed that cryptosporidiosis was widespread in pigs in China. We suggest that appropriate control schemes should be developed according to the differences in breeding patterns and geographic conditions in different regions, and effective management measures should be developed to reduce the spread between pigs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Toxoplasma gondii, the causative agent of toxoplasmosis, is carried by a range of intermediate hosts, including pigeons. Eating raw or undercooked pigeon meat, as is common in regions of China, can easily pass on a potentially fatal T. gondii infection. However, there are little data about the seroprevalence and genotypes of T. gondii infection in pigeons. In this study, a total of 963 pigeon blood samples were collected from Jilin Province, Liaoning Province, and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in China between August 2015 and December 2016. The overall seroprevalence of T. gondii was 10.80% (104/963), with 8.80% (41/466) in males and 12.68% (63/497) in females. The seroprevalence of T. gondii in different regions varied from 9.04% (17/188) in Jilin City to 13.16% (20/152) in Shenyang City, a relatively high prevalence. The seroprevalence of T. gondii in juvenile pigeons (6.38%, 18/282) was significantly lower than in adults (86/681, p < 0.05). These findings could provide useful data for the execution of effective control measures against T. gondii infection in pigeons and/or other hosts. More importantly, the findings also suggest that pigeons should not be eaten raw. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Fluorinated ionomer p-perfluoro[1-(2-sulfonic)ethoxy]ethylated polyacrylonitrile-styrene (SFAS) (5) was synthesized via electron transfer reaction between polyacrylonitrile-styrene (AS) (1) and perfluoro-di[2-(2-fluorosulfonyl)ethoxy]propionyl peroxide (FAP) (2) and followed by alkali hydrolysis and acidification of p-perfluoro[1-(2-fluorosulfonyl)ethoxy]ethylated polyacrylonitrile-styrene (3). The microstructure of ionomer 5 was well characterized by FTIR and 19F NMR. Its desulfonation occurred above 197°C was found by TGA, the degree of substitution (DS) and ion exchange capacity (IEC) determined by titration were well controlled through changing the molar ratio of 2:1. The proton exchange membranes made of ionomer 5 have water uptake from 13.4 to 135.3% and conductivity up to 10−2 Scm−1 at 25°C. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The radical reactions of polyolefin and olefin copolymers (4–9), polydienes and diene coplymers (10–15), and polysiloxane (16) with “magic blue” reagent containing H-abstracting agent-bis{perfluoro-1-[1-(2-fluorosulfonyl)ethoxy]ethyl}nitroxide [FSO2CF2CF2OCF(CF3)]2N(Old>2)and spin trap-perfluoro-1-nitroso-[1-(2-fluoro-sulfonyl)ethoxy]ethane FSO2CF2CF2OCF(CF3)NO (3) were studied by EPR detection of the spin adducts of the corresponding polymeric radicals generated in the H-abstraction step to the spin trap 3, namely, the nitroxides FSO2CF2CF2OCF(CF3)N(Or-H) 17–29. EPR studies have provided information about the regio-selectivity of H-abstraction, the subsequent radical steps followed H-abstraction and grounded a possibility of employing “magic blue” reagent in polymer modification via H-abstraction-initiated grafting polymerization. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Blastocystis is a common unicellular protist that lives in the intestines of humans and animals. Blastocystis infection and subtypes in cattle have been reported in several regions. However, the information of Blastocystis infection in cattle in China is still largely scant. To assess the prevalence and subtype distribution of Blastocystis in beef cattle in China, 803 fecal samples were collected from beef cattle farms in four cities of Northeast China, and were subjected to an analysis based on small subunit rRNA gene fragment. The overall prevalence of Blastocystis in beef cattle was 2.11% (17/803), with 2.15% in preweaning calves, 1.9% in postweaning calves, and 3.85% in breeding cattle, but absence in adult cattle ( p  > 0.05). Moreover, five Blastocystis subtypes were identified (ST10, ST21, ST23, ST25, and ST26), among which ST10 and ST26 subtypes were dominant subtypes in beef cattle. Mixed infections were detected in three specimens (ST10/ST25, ST10/ST23/ST25, and ST10/ST26). This is the first report showing Blastocystis infection in beef cattle in Northeast China. In addition, a variety of Blastocystis subtypes are reported in cattle in China for the first time. These results will benefit for better understanding the epidemiology and public health implications of Blastocystis.