Background: An outbreak of pneumonia associated with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged in Wuhan city and then to other city. It is very urgent to delineate the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of these affected patients. Methods: To investigate the epidemiological characteristics of the COVID-19, we describe a case series of 459 patients with con rmed COVID-19 in WZ of China from January 27 to February 12, 2020. Results: The median age of all patients was 48.0 years, and 46.8% were females. 37.5% of patients had a history of residence in Wuhan. Fever (72.1%) and cough (43.6%) were the most frequent symptoms. In addition, three kinds of unconventional cases were observed, in which included 4.4% con rmed virus carrier who were asymptomatic, 7.8% con rmed patients who had no link to Wuhan city but contact with individuals from Wuhan without any symptoms at the time of contact, and 10.7% con rmed patients who had no link to Wuhan city nor a history of intimate contact with patients or individuals from Wuhan without any symptoms, respectively. Conclusion: Our ndings presented the possibility of asymptomatic carriers affected with SARS-CoV-2, and this phenomenon suggested that chances of uncontrollable transmission in the larger population might be higher than formerly estimated, and transmission by these three kinds of unconventional patients in WZ may be one of the characteristics of infection in other Chinese cities outside the Wuhan epidemic area.

Networks of protein interactions coordinate cellular functions. We describe a bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) assay for determination of the locations of protein interactions in living cells. This approach is based on complementation between two nonfluorescent fragments of the yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) when they are brought together by interactions between proteins fused to each fragment. BiFC analysis was used to investigate interactions among bZIP and Rel family transcription factors. Regions outside the bZIP domains determined the locations of bZIP protein interactions. The subcellular sites of protein interactions were regulated by signaling. Cross-family interactions between bZIP and Rel proteins affected their subcellular localization and modulated transcription activation. These results attest to the general applicability of the BiFC assay for studies of protein interactions.

The specificity of biological regulatory mechanisms relies on selective interactions between different proteins in different cell types and in response to different extracellular signals. We describe a bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) approach for the simultaneous visualization of multiple protein interactions in the same cell. This approach is based on complementation between fragments of fluorescent proteins with different spectral characteristics. We have identified twelve new bimolecular fluorescent complexes that correspond to seven different spectral classes. Bimolecular complex formation between fragments of different fluorescent proteins did not differentially affect the dimerization efficiency or subcellular sites of interactions between the bZIP domains of Fos and Jun. Multicolor BiFC enables visualization of interactions between different proteins in the same cell and comparison of the efficiencies of complex formation among alternative interaction partners.Networks of protein interactions mediate cellular responses to environmental stimuli and direct the execution of developmental programs. Each protein typically has a large number of alternative interaction partners, and the selectivity of these interactions determines the developmental potential of the cell and its responses to extracellular stimuli. We recently described a new approach for the visualization of protein interactions in living cells designated bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) analysis 1 . The BiFC approach is based on the formation of a fluorescent complex by fragments of the yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) brought together by the association of two interaction partners fused to the fragments. This approach enables visualization of the subcellular sites of protein interactions under conditions that closely reflect the normal physiological environment.Molecular engineering of the green fluorescent protein (GFP) has produced several variants with altered spectral characteristics 2 . These variants allow simultaneous visualization of the distributions of multiple proteins in living cells. Moreover, fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between different variants enables analysis of interactions between individual pairs of proteins in living cells 3, 4 . Thus far, it has not been possible to visualize multiple interactions in the same cell.Selected fragments of many proteins can associate to produce functional bimolecular complexes. Such bimolecular complementation provides a convenient approach for detection of protein interactions in cells if the protein fragments can associate only when they are brought together by interaction partners fused to the fragments 1, 5-9 . The unique characteristic of the BiFC approach is that the bright intrinsic fluorescence of the bimolecular complex allows direct * To whom correspondence should be addressed:Tel: (734) FAX: (734) RESULTSThe spectral characteristics of bimolecular fluorescent complexes formed by fragments of YFP were virtually identical t...

Background: In late December 2019, an outbreak of acute respiratory illness, coronavirus disease 2019 , emerged in Wuhan, China. We aimed to study the epidemiology, clinical features and short-term outcomes of patients with COVID-19 in Wuhan, China. Methods: We performed a single center, retrospective case series study in 221 patients with laboratory confirmed SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia at a university hospital, including 55 severe patients and 166 non-severe patients, from January 2, 2020 to February 10, 2020. Results: Of the 221 patients with COVID-19, the median age was 55.0 years and 48.9% were male and only 8 (3.6%) patients had a history of exposure to the Huanan Seafood Market. Compared to the non-severe pneumonia patients, the median age of the severe patients was significantly older, and they were more likely to have chronic comorbidities. Most common symptoms in severe patients were high fever, anorexia and dyspnea. On admission, 33.0% patients showed leukopenia and 73.8% showed lymphopenia. In addition, the severe patients suffered a higher rate of co-infections with bacteria or fungus and they were more likely to developing complications. As of February 15, 2020, 19.0% patients had been discharged and 5.4% patients died. 80% of severe cases received ICU (intensive care unit) care, and 52.3% of them transferred to the general wards due to relieved symptoms, and the mortality rate of severe patients in ICU was 20.5%. Conclusions: Patients with elder age, chronic comorbidities, blood leukocyte/lymphocyte count, procalcitonin level, co-infection and severe complications might increase the risk of poor clinical outcomes.

Background: It remains a matter of debate whether autophagy contributes to apoptosis. Results: Atg5 and p62 are required for an intracellular death-inducing signaling complex (iDISC) formation on autophagosomal membranes for caspase-8 self-processing. Conclusion: Autophagosome serves as a platform for the intracellular activation of caspase-8. Significance: Induction of iDISC formation may shift cytoprotective autophagy to apoptosis for more effective cancer therapies.

Phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC) plays a pivotal role in regulation of intracellular signal transduction from various receptor molecules. More than 10 members of human PI-PLC isoforms have been identified and classified into three classes ␤, ␥, and ␦, which are regulated by distinct mechanisms. Here we report identification of a novel class of human PI-PLC, named PLC⑀, which is characterized by the presence of a Ras-associating domain at its C terminus and a CDC25-like domain at its N terminus. The Ras-associating domain of PLC⑀ specifically binds to the GTP-bound forms of Ha-Ras and Rap1A. The dissociation constant for HaRas is estimated to be approximately 40 nM, comparable with those of other Ras effectors. Co-expression of an activated Ha-Ras mutant with PLC⑀ induces its translocation from the cytosol to the plasma membrane. Upon stimulation with epidermal growth factor, similar translocation of ectopically expressed PLC⑀ is observed, which is inhibited by co-expression of dominant-negative Ha-Ras. Furthermore, using a liposome-based reconstitution assay, it is shown that the phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate-hydrolyzing activity of PLC⑀ is stimulated in vitro by Ha-Ras in a GTP-dependent manner. These results indicate that Ras directly regulates phosphoinositide breakdown through membrane targeting of PLC⑀.

Background In December 2019, Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak was reported from Wuhan, China. Information on the clinical course and prognosis of COVID-19 was not thoroughly described. We described the clinical courses and prognosis in COVID-19 patients. Methods Retrospective case series of COVID-19 patients from Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University in Wuhan, and Xi-shui Hospital, Hubei Province, China, up to February 10, 2020. Epidemiological, demographic and clinical data were collected. Clinical course of survivors and non-survivors were compared. Risk factors for death were analyzed. Results A total of 107 discharged patients with COVID-19 were enrolled. The clinical course of COVID-19 presented as a tri-phasic pattern. Week 1 after illness onset was characterized by fever, cough, dyspnea, lymphopenia and radiological multilobar pulmonary infiltrates. In severe cases, thrombocytopenia, acute kidney injury, acute myocardial injury or adult respiratory distress syndrome were observed. During week 2, in mild cases, fever, cough and systemic symptoms began to resolve and platelet count rose to normal range, but lymphopenia persisted. In severe cases, leukocytosis, neutrophilia and deteriorating multi-organ dysfunction were dominant. By week 3, mild cases had clinically resolved except for lymphopenia. However, severe cases showed persistent lymphopenia, severe acute respiratory dyspnea syndrome , refractory shock, anuric acute kidney injury, coagulopathy, thrombocytopenia and death. Older age and male sex were independent risk factors for poor outcome of the illness. Conclusions A period of 7–13 days after illness onset is the critical stage in COVID-19 course. Age and male gender were independent risk factors for death of COVID-19.

up to February 10, 2020. Epidemiological, demographic, and clinical data were collected. The clinical course of survivors and non-survivors were compared. Risk factors for death were analyzed. Results: A total of 107 discharged patients with COVID-19 were enrolled. The clinical course of COVID-19 presented as a tri-phasic pattern. Week 1 after illness onset was characterized by fever, cough, dyspnea, lymphopenia, and radiological multi-lobar pulmonary infiltrates. In severe cases, thrombocytopenia, acute kidney injury, acute myocardial injury, and adult respiratory distress syndrome were observed. During week 2, in mild cases, fever, cough, and systemic symptoms began to resolve and platelet count rose to normal range, but lymphopenia persisted. In severe cases, leukocytosis, neutrophilia, and deteriorating multi-organ dysfunction were dominant. By week 3, mild cases had clinically resolved except for lymphopenia. However, severe cases showed persistent lymphopenia, severe acute respiratory dyspnea syndrome, refractory shock, anuric acute kidney injury, coagulopathy, thrombocytopenia, and death. Older age and male sex were independent risk factors for poor outcome of the illness. Conclusions: A period of 7-13 days after illness onset is the critical stage in the COVID-19 course. Age and male gender were independent risk factors for death of COVID-19.