Rapid detection and identification of fungi from clinical specimens and culture isolates has become increasingly important as the numbers of patients susceptible to these infections continues to grow. Fortunately, new assays have been recently developed to aid early diagnosis and guide appropriate empiric anti-fungal therapy. Major improvement has been focused on direct detection of fungal antigen in specimens (e.g., galactomannan and beta glucan); rapid culture-based identification methods including chromogenic Candida agar; automated biochemical test panels such as Vitek 2 and MicroScan; and molecular assays including peptide nucleic acid fluorescent in situ hybridization (PNA-FISH), specific and broad range polymerase chain reaction(PCR) assays, and DNA-based sequencing technology use to identify organisms directly in clinical specimens or from positive cultures.

LipL32 is not only the most abundant protein of the outer membrane but also an immunodominant antigen that is highly conserved in pathogenic Leptospira. Recombinant LipL32 (rLipL32) purified under natural conditions was adapted to immunize BALB/c mice for developing monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Twenty-nine mAbs against eight epitopes were produced and characterized. The capture and detection of antibodies were selected using a one-by-one pairing method with biotin-conjugated mAbs. To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of the mAb pairs, antigen capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was applied to detect antigens extracted from 15 pathogenic Leptospira strains and from other pathogenic bacteria. One pair of mAbs was selected and the detection capability of rLipL32 by ELISA was found to be approximately 1 ng/ml. mAbs produced with rLipL32 purified under natural conditions may be promising in the further detection of leptospiral antigens.

In oeder to investigate the effects of C terminal SPRY domain of TRIM22 on its transcription, translation and subcellular localization, SPRY domain was deleted (ΔSPRY) and amplified through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and was then inserted into the eukaryotic expression plasmid, pcDNA3.1. Plasmids expressing wild type TRIM22 or TRIM22-ΔSPRY were transfected into HepG2 cells. The mRNA expression level was determined by semiquantitative reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR), the protein expression level was determined by Western blot analysis, and the subcellular localization was determined by immunofluorescence staining. The results showed that plasmid expressing TRIM22-ΔSPRY was successfully constructed. After transfection into HepG2 cells, the TRIM22-ΔSPRY showed no difference from the wild type TRIM22 at both mRNA and protein levels. However TRIM22-ΔSPRY was localized exclusively to the cytoplasm of HepG2 cells in contrast to the nuclear localization of wild type TRIM22. These results may be useful for studying the role of SPRY domain in TRIM22-mediated antiviral activities.

The present paper aims to retrospectively analyze the clinical data of 220 patients with adult measles in Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital , Shanghai Jiao Tong University ,from January 2003 to December 2008，and to evaluate the clinical characteristics of adult measles. The patients included 124 males and 96 females.The average age was(34.6±4.2)years old and the proportion of migrating population who are not regular Shanghai residents was 70.91%. The incidence peak of adult measles appeared in April and May, and the positive rate of measles virus-specific serum IgM was 93.18%. There were 183 patients (83.18%)with fever above 39℃, 86 patients (39.09%) and 31 patients (14.09%)concurrent with viral hepatitis and diarrhea, respectively. Our study highlighted the importance of postponed onset of measles in adults including people with history of vaccination as shown by serious toxemic symptoms and liver injuries.

The present paper aims to report a case of adult varicella attributable to the vOka vaccine,and to raise our awareness ofs econdary transmission through vaccination. The fluid of the skin lesions was aspirated and inoculated to human embryonic fibroblasts. The cytopathic effect (CPE) was observed 3 days later and identified by indirect immunofluorescence using monoclonal antibodies against glycoprotein E of varicella-zostervirus (VZV). The gene sequence date further revealed that the vaccine strain-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms of this isolate were the same as those included in the vOka vaccine. Both the woman and her parents denied previously having the varicella vaccine. A retrospective survey showed that the transmission may have come from a child with zoster following vaccination.

Here a rare case of primary splenic tuberculosis is reported. The immunocompetent patient was admitted to our department for fever, without definite pulmonary infection. He was ultimately diagnosed based on pathologic evidence after splenectomy and positive culture for mycobacterium. The clinical manifestation of the disease and diagnostic procedure used in this case will help clinicians recognize this disease.

Cryptococcus gattii infection has the potential to cause a significant outbreak. Over the past 10 years, the incidence of Cryptococcus gattii infection in Vancouver Island, Canada has been significantly higher than that observed in other areas throughout the world. During this outbreak, most patients were immunocompetent. Cryptococcus gattii has been reported to disperse to adjacent areas. In this paper , the mechanisms responsible for outbreaks of Cryptococcus gattii infection, including molecular typing analysis,possible origin, virulence factors, and dispersal mechanisms of the pathogen are reviewed.

Cryptococcus neoformans is an important fungal pathogen in clinical practice. Dendritic cells (DCs) are the most powerful antigen-presenting cells , which function as the central link between innate and adaptive
immune responses. They are important in recognizing a variety of pathogens, presenting antigens, and inducing immune responses. Many investigations demonstrate that DCs can effectively recognize cryptococcal antigens through several receptors on the cellular surface and promote valid cell-mediated immune responses against invasive microbes. Meanwhile, DCs themselves have shown a certain capacity to kill Cryptococcus neoformans ; however , subset type or the maturation status of DCs can significantly affect the host immune defense . On the other hand, Cryptococcus neoformans has some virulence factors, which can inhibit the induction of protective immune responses, although mannoproteins have been identified as the main immunodominant antigens in Cryptococcus neoformans . In this article , the complicated mechanisms of interplay between DCs and Cryptococcus neoformans in recent years are reviewed.

Enterovirus type 71 ( EV71) is one of the major etiological agents of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD), which often causes severe neurological complications. Since EV71 was first isolated in 1969, several epidemics of EV71 infection have broken out around the world, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region with high incidence of neurological involvement in recent years. Many researches have been conducted to investigate the structure of EV71, the mechanisms that may cause neurological complications, and the opportunities for vaccine development.

As a complicated systemin eukaryocytes, the ubiquitin systemincludes mainly ubiquitin, 26S proteasome, enzyme E1, enzyme E2 , andenzyme E3. The ubiquitin-proteasome pathway is a major intracellular systemfor extralysosomal protein degradation and plays an important role in various cellular functional regulations. It has been found that many viruses could utilize the ubiquitin systemf or their own survival and reproduction by down-regulating surface immune molecules to escape the host immune responses, regulating viral transcription, inhibiting cellular apoptosis and helping with viral budding and release. Exploring the mechanisms underlying the use of the ubiquitin systemby viruses may provide an alternate view to understand the infection mechanisms and provide new targets for related antiviral therapeutics.