Antibody response is a crucial host defense against human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection. In recent years, tremendous progress has been made in isolating and characterizing of broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (bnmAbs) from “elite neutralizers” who remain healthy despite of prolonged infection. These bnmAbs were found to target four major vulnerable sites on the envelope glycoprotein. Structural and functional characterization of these bnmAbs has provided critical foundation for our better understanding of protective antibody response in vivo. In the current review, we summarize the characteristics of these bnmAbs and discuss on their implications for rational design of novel HIV-1 vaccines capable of inducing antibodies similar to those bnmAbs.

This study aims to evaluate the effect of electroporation on the expression of DNA vaccine in vivo and its induced adaptive immune responses. The gene expression in vivo following DNA delivery via electroporation was determined by assessing reporter gene products of firefly luciferase by using in vivo imaging device, which was further dissected as the tissue distribution of gene products, the peak level and the lasting time of expression when compared to the traditional immunization through muscular injection. The data showed that EP did not alter the tissue distribution, but increased the peak level and lowered the plateau dosage of DNA vaccine. Further experiments with DNA vaccine pDRVI1-HIV expressing an ENV from HIV-1 CRF07BC demonstrated that electroporation was able to enhance cellular and humoral immune responses which were gauged by the level of interferon-γ secreting enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) responses and HIV-1 specific binding antibody titers, respectively. Altogether, electroporation in vivo technology is likely to be a useful tool in the administration of DNA vaccines.

Disinfection of microenvironment surface is very important for control contamination of biosafety laboratory. Hydrogen peroxide has been used widely in biosafety laboratories for disinfection. The effect of hydrogen peroxide on inactivation of different bacteria was investigated in the present study. The effect of hydrogen peroxide in the form of dry-mist (diameter <10 µm) on sterilization of common pathogens in the biosafety cabinet (BSC) was evaluated. The optimized procedure (diffusing 1 min for 8 cycles, reaching 60 ppm, and staying 2 h) has been determined, at which the hydrogen peroxide dry-mist was able to completely kill 6 logs of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), Staphylococcus epidermidis (S. epidermidis), Mycobacterium smegmatis (M. smegmatis), Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis) and Bacillus stearothermophilus (B. stearothermophilus), as well as 8 logs of Escherichia coli (E. coli), but not 7 logs of S. aureus, S. epidermidis and M. smegmatis. Therefore, it is suggested that before disinfection of BSC surface microenvironment by hydrogen peroxide dry-mist it is necessary to wipe the surface of BSC or decontaminate extravasation spilth with disinfectants.

The present paper aims to investigate the epidemiological and etiological characteristics of hand，foot and mouth disease (HFMD) in Shanghai from 2009 to 2011. The data from the National Notifiable Disease Report System were analyzed. A total of 6 676 clinical samples were collected and real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed. 257 samples were cultured with RD cells. The complete sequences of VP1-encoding region in several identified human enterovirus 71 (HEV71) strains were analyzed. The results showed that 18 districts/counties had reported HFMD cases; children ≤5 years old were the most susceptible population; the peak of HFMD epidemic was from April to November; HEV71 and coxsackievirus A16 (CA16) were the major pathogens for this epidemic, but the constituent ratio of HEV71 and CA16 was different in different months and regions. Out of 6 676 patients，4 647 cases were positive for enterovirus by real-time RT-PCR, with the overall positive rate of 69.61%. Among them 1 419 were CAl6 (with the positive rate of 21.26%) and 2 592 were HEV7l (with the overall positive rate of 38.83%). 57 HEV71 strains were obtained, with the isolation rate of 22.18％. BLAST sequence analysis showed that all 27 HEV71 strains from 2009 to 2010 were classified into C4a.

Yeasts, especially Candida, are important pathogens causing bloodstream infections (BSIs), responsible for significant mortality and morbidity among hospitalized patients. The present paper aims to report the current epidemiology of yeast BSI in Ruijin Hospital from January 2008 to December 2012, and to estimate the impact of appropriate antifungal therapy on the outcomes. The incidence of nosocomial yeast BSI was 0.34 episodes /1 000 hospitalized patients, and the overall crude 28-day mortality rate was 27.1%. The proportion of yeast BSI caused by non- Candida albicans (C. albicans)(65.1%) including C. parapsilosis (18.6%), C. tropicalis (14.0%), C. glabrata (7.0%), C. guilliermondii (5.4%) and C. sake (4.7%) was higher than that of C. albicans (34.9%). Among 129 cases of yeast BSI, 78.3% (101 cases) received empiric antifungal therapy of which only 69.8% (90 cases) were considered appropriate, while 21.7% (28 cases) did not receive any antifungal agent. The mortality was significantly lower in those who received appropriate empiric antifungal therapy compared with those who received inappropriate empiric antifungal therapy (20.0% vs. 43.6%, P=0.006) within 5 d of the onset. The age (HR=1.036, P=0.005) and neutropenia <500/mm3 (HR=15.497, P<0.001) were independent risk factors for 28-day mortality, while appropriate empiric antifungal therapy (HR=0.325, P=0.002) was protective factor. Appropriate empiric antifungal therapy influenced the short-term survival.

It is a challenge for clinicians to manage patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) drug resistance. Here we reported the successful antiretroviral therapy in a case with complicated recombinant HIV-1 subtype and multidrug-resistant. The drug adherence played an important role in the case. The difference between results HIV drug resistance test and in vivo effect of drugs should be taken into account. The viral response to drugs and viral escape mechanism in rare HIV subtypes need further research .

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a global medical concern with huge social and economic impacts. In the current practice, hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) prepared from pooled serum of immunized donors is prescribed to prevent HBV transmissions, such as mother-to-child transmission, acute exposure, and donor-receptor infection for orthotopic liver transplant patients. As a plasma-derived product, the clinical application of HBIG is limited by serum supply, potential of unknown pathogens and other risk factors in the pooled blood, and up-limits of functional dose. Although recombinant anti-HBV monoclonal antibody is being sorted as a practical alternative for HBIG, its research and development is in a relatively slow pace comparing to the other products. One of the most critical speed-limiting steps is the lack of an established preclinical evaluating system for anti-HBV monoclonal antibodies. Current research progress on functional evaluation of anti-HBV antibodies are reviewed in this paper.

Adult acute infectious diarrhea is different from children infectious diarrhea in incidence, severity and prognosis. Fluid infusion and antidiarrheal treatment are given priority to antibiotics. In recent years, there are some new and updated evidence-based medical evidence in fluid infusion, probiotics and new antidiarrheal medicines for adult acute infectious diarrhea, which in further ensures the safety of the existing drugs, offers more choices and improves our understanding of the treatment of diarrhea.