Ekpoma virus (EKV) was first identified in 2015 from samples collected from two healthy subjects recruited for a clinical study conducted in Nigeria, and its first detection in China was reported recently from a passenger who returned Shanghai from Angola. EKV was considered to be one of the unassigned viruses belonging to genus Tibrovirus of family Rhabdoviridae. It has two subtypes, EKV-1 and EKV-2. Culicoides is the known vector. So far, EKV can’t be isolated successfully and there isn’t enough evidence to prove that it can cause infections. The EKV detected in China may have a low risk for Shanghai’s public health as well as the whole country. We need to further focus on the research development of the virus for better preparedness of public health in the future.

Since early 2015, Zika virus has caused severe epidemic outbreaks, which started from Brazil involving dozens of regions and countries successively, and contemporaneously growing infants with microcephaly have made the whole global alert against Zika virus. A variety of potential neurological disorders caused by Zika virus infection are under exploring worldwide. The need of treatments for infectors is more and more urgent because of increasing evidences indicating that Zika virus is able to impair the brain development of the embryo in cellular level and animal model. This review will summarize recent research achievements concerning epidemiology and advances among causal relationship with microcephaly, potential preventive vaccines and therapeutic drugs of Zika virus.

Nucleocapsid (N) protein of virus plays special roles in stabilization of viral genome, regulation of viral replication and adapting cellular circumstance. Murine hepatitis virus (MHV), the prototype of Betacoronavirus, is a classic model for the exploration of coronavirus N protein functions. Viral N proteins from detergent-treated virions and recombinant N proteins expressed in prokaryotic cells were prepared and used to immunize BALB/c mice for the preparation of polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies respectively. Antibodies with high sensitivity and specificity against the antigens were selected and subjected an assay for antigenic determinants. The results indicated that both polyclonal antiserum and mAb 2E6 recognized a region covering 58 residues motif. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with mAb 2E6 was established for N proteins in medium supernatants and cellular lysates. The signal could be detected at 4 h after infection and the readings were consistent to viral titers.

ERG11 genes from two different Candida haemulonii strains were cloned and their functions were verified for studying the mechanism of antifungal resistance. To obtain ERG11 gene, degenerate primers were designed according to the conserved sequences in Erg11 protein from the other four types of Candida spp. Partial ERG11 cDNA was amplified by degenerate polymerase chain reaction (PCR). And 5′ cDNA and 3′ cDNA were amplified by rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) method. The full-length ERG11 coding sequences (CDSs) were obtained after aligning and splicing. Furthermore, ERG11 CDSs were cloned into pYES2 and transformed into Saccharomyces cerevisiae (S. cerevisiae) which is auxotrophic for uracil. The susceptibility of yeasts to fluconazole was assayed following Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) M27-A3. The results showed that the complete ERG11 CDSs were obtained and identified through homologous alignment of Erg11 proteins with other Candida spp. Moreover, the susceptibility of yeasts to fluconazole was obviously reduced by overexpression of Erg11 proteins in S. cerevisiae. It is suggested that ERG11 genes can be effectively cloned by degenerate PCR combined with RACE and their functions could be preliminarily verified in pYES2 yeast expression system.

Candida glabrata (C. glabrata) is emerging as the second most common cause for invasive candidiasis and early studies indicate that it is relatively insensitive to azole treatment. Transcription factor Pdr1 is the key regulator of azole resistance genes in C. glabrata. In this study, a Flag sequence was introduced into amino terminus of pdr1 gene at its native locus in chromosome through homologous recombination in clinical isolates of C. glabrata. Western blotting analysis with anti-Flag antibody showed a single immunoreactive species matching the predicted size of Pdr1. Spot assay showed that mutants expressing Flag-Pdr1 were more resistant to fluconazole than wild-type. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction showed that gene expression levels of cdr1 and pup1 in mutants expressing Flag-Pdr1 were significantly increased than those in wild-type strains.

Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) (CRISPR/Cas9) gene editing technology was originated from the study of microbial CRISPR adaptive immune system, by using a specific guide RNA to identify target genes and guide endonuclease of Cas9. Some viral genomes are integrated into the cellular genome or lurk in the organization resulting in persistent infection. This review refers to the latest research results since 2013, focusing on the applications of CRISPR/Cas9 technology in tumorigenic virus infection, such as human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), human papillomavirus (HPV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)．

Vaccine is the most effective tool to prevent infectious diseases and to improve the public health. With the advance of modern medicine, the survival rate among pediatric cancer and chronic disease patients treated with immunosuppressive medication has improved greatly. However, immunosuppressant therapy has impact on vaccine-induced immune protection in children. As a result, the immunosuppressive children are in a high risk of developing vaccine-preventable diseases. This article is to review the clinical impact and mechanism of immunosuppressant therapy on vaccine-induced immune protection in children.

Drug resistance is a consistent problem for anti-infectious therapy. Bacteriophage can eliminate specific species from a microflora and has a potential to be adapted as an option for specific clinical conditions. Current research on phage therapy is reviewed, and the limiting factors are discussed.

Pgp3 is one of the products produced by a small (about 7.5 kb) but highly conserved cryptic plasmid contained in some chlamydiae. This protein is secreted into the cytoplasm of the host cells and known as a virulence factor associated with hydrosalpinx. Its native conformation is a triplex that can be recognized by host immune system. Pgp3 can neutralize the antichlamydial activity of human cathelicidin LL37. This review presents current research progress on the structure, pathogenesis and applications of Pgp3, and provides the new sights in chlamydial pathogenesis and vaccine preparation.