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Background Trichosporon asahii is considered the most prominent species associated with invasive trichosporonosis, but little is known about the pathogenesis of T. asahii infection in the host. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of noncoding endogenous small RNAs that play vital roles by manipulating immune responses against pathogenic microorganisms. Nevertheless, the exact functions of miRNAs in T. asahii infection are still unknown. Objective To investigate the interactions involved in the miRNA immune response in THP-1 macrophages following in vitro exposure to T. asahii. Methods We utilized next-generation sequencing to detect differentially expressed (DE) miRNAs and mRNAs in THP-1 cells after 24 h of in vitro exposure to T. asahii. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to verify the sequencing results. The miRNA-mRNA regulatory network was constructed with the DE miRNAs and DE mRNAs. We performed Kyoto Encyclopaedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis of the predicted targeting mRNAs in the miRNA-mRNA network. A dual-luciferase reporter assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were utilized to demonstrate the reliability of the miR-342-3p/Dectin-1 pair. Results A total of 120 DE miRNAs and 588 DE mRNAs were identified after 24 h of in vitro exposure to T. asahii. The miRNA-mRNA regulatory network was constructed with 39 DE miRNAs and 228 DE mRNAs. KEGG pathway analysis revealed that the up-regulated DE mRNAs in the complex interaction network were mainly involved in immune-related pathways. In addition, we verified the target relationship between miR-342-3p and Dectin-1 and found that miR-342-3p could promote the expression of TNF-α and IL-6 by negatively regulating Dectin-1. Conclusions This study evaluated the expression profiles of miRNA/mRNA and revealed the immunological consequences of THP-1 macrophages in response to T. asahii exposure. Moreover, our data suggest that miR-342-3p can indirectly promote inflammatory responses and may be a potential therapeutic target against trichosporonosis.

Enterocytozoon bieneusi is an obligate intracellular parasite and the most common pathogen of microsporidiosis in humans and animals. In this study, a total of 198 fecal samples were collected from 11 captive populations of Rhesus macaque in Chinese zoos, to investigate the prevalence and analyze the zoonotic potential of E. bieneusi by genotype of the Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) gene on the rRNA of E. bieneusi via nested PCR. Results showed that the average infection rate of E. bieneusi in the 11 populations was 13.6%, and the highest infection rate was 56.5% in the population of Xinjiang Tianshan Zoo. Seven genotypes were identified including 2 known genotypes (D and CM1) and 5 novel genotypes (Mul1, Mul2, Mul3, Mul4 and Mul5). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the novel genotypes Mul2, Mul3, Mul4 and Mul5 belonged to Group 1 showed the zoonotic potential．These findings extend the distribution of E. bieneusi genotypes and provide baseline data for controlling E. bieneusi infection.

Gastrointestinal microbiome plays an important role in animal metabolism, immune system and pathology associated with health and disease. Many wild slow lorises were confiscated from illegal trade into captivities and experienced a range of changes in living environment and diet. Microbiome analysis contributes to improving captive management by identifying the alteration in their gastrointestinal microbial communities and aiding in determining the factors affecting the health of captive slow lorises. The fecal samples of eighteen Bengal slow lorises (Nycticebus bengalensis) were used to compare gut microbiota from four rescue centers located in Dehong, Gejiu, Nanning and Puer cities of China. The results showed a significant site-dependent difference in microbial community diversity. Similar to other Lorisinae species, the Phyla including Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes and Proteobacteria dominated their gut microbiome composition. The Gejiu group exhibited a higher overall diversity and the unique OTUs, which is resulted from long-term isolated husbandry and heavy human disturbances. The scarcity of gums in the captive diet was likely to cause a lower abundance of Prevotella associated with soluble fiber degradation. The variation of intestinal microbiota in different environments highlights the necessity to improve feed preparation and husbandry management for the captive Bengal slow lorises.

The gut microbiome of captive primates can provide a window into their health and disease status. The diversity and composition of gut microbiota are influenced by not only host phylogeny, but also host diet. Old World monkeys (Cercopithecidae) are divided into two subfamilies: Cercopithecinae and Colobinae. The diet and physiological digestive features differ between these two subfamilies. Accordingly, highthroughput sequencing was used to examine gut microbiota differences between these two subfamilies, using data from 29 Cercopithecinae individuals and 19 Colobinae individuals raised in captivity. Through a comparative analysis of operational taxonomic units (OTUs), significant differences in the diversity and composition of gut microbiota were observed between Cercopithecinae and Colobinae. In particular, the gut microbiota of captive Old World monkeys clustered strongly by the two subfamilies. The Colobinae microbial diversity was higher than that of Cercopithecinae. Additionally, Firmicutes, Lactobacillaceae, Veillonellaceae, and Prevotella abundance were higher in Cercopithecinae, while Bacteroidetes, Ruminococcaceae, Christensenellaceae, Bacteroidaceae, and Acidaminococcaceae abundance were higher in Colobinae. PICRUSt analysis revealed that the predicted metagenomes of metabolic pathways associated with proteins, carbohydrates, and amino acids were significantly higher in Colobinae. In the context of host phylogeny, these differences between Cercopithecinae and Colobinae could reflect adaptations associated with their respective diets. This well-organized dataset is a valuable resource for future related research on primates and gut microbiota. Moreover, this study may provide useful insight into animal management practices and primate conservation.

The Asiatic softshell turtle, also known as the black-rayed softshell turtle (Amyda cartilaginea; Accession no: MT039230), is found in northeastern India (Mizoram), Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand. This turtle is thought to have been introduced into the Sunda Islands, Sulawesi, and Yunnan, China, through the Malay Peninsula to Sumatra, Java, and Borneo. Herein, we determined the complete mitochondrial genome of A. cartilaginea for the first time using next-generation sequencing (NGS). The assembled mitogenome was 16,763 bp in length and encoded 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, two ribosomal RNA genes (12S rRNA and 16S rRNA), and one control region (CR). The PCGs based maximum-likelihood phylogeny discriminated A. cartilaginea from other Testudines and clusters within family Trionychidae with the sister taxa of Nilssonia nigricans.

Background Invasive Trichosporon asahii (T. asahii) infection frequently occurs with a high mortality in immunodeficient hosts, but the pathogenesis of T. asahii infection remains elusive. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a type of endogenous noncoding RNA that participate in various disease processes. However, the mechanism of circRNAs in T. asahii infection remains completely unknown. Methods RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) was performed to analyze the expression profiles of circRNAs, microRNAs (miRNAs), and mRNAs in THP-1 cells infected with T. asahii or uninfected samples. Some of the RNA-seq results were verified by RT-qPCR. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses were used to analyze the differentially expressed mRNAs. A circRNA-miRNA-mRNA network was constructed and verified by dual-luciferase reporter assay and overexpression experiments. Results A total of 46 circRNAs, 412 mRNAs and 47 miRNAs were differentially expressed at 12 h after T. asahii infection. GO and KEGG analyses showed that the differentially expressed mRNAs were primarily linked to the leukocyte migration involved in the inflammatory response, the Toll-like receptor signaling pathway, and the TNF signaling pathway. A competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network was constructed with 5 differentially expressed circRNAs, 5 differentially expressed miRNAs and 42 differentially expressed mRNAs. Among them, hsa_circ_0065336 was found to indirectly regulate PTPN11 expression by sponging miR-505-3p. Conclusions These data revealed a comprehensive circRNA-associated ceRNA network during T. asahii infection, thus providing new insights into the pathogenesis of the T. asahii-host interactions.

Bengal slow lorises (Nycticebus bengalensis) are threatened by illegal trade. Subsequently, numerous wild-born individuals are rescued and transferred to rescue centers. Metabonomic analysis of intestinal microbiomes has increasingly played a vital role in evaluating the effects of dietary alteration on the captive status of endangered non-human primates. A synthetic analysis was done to test the differences in gut microbes and fecal metabolites between two dietary groups of Bengal slow lorises across 8 weeks. Dietary interventions led to intra-group convergence and inter-group variation in the composition of intestinal flora, metabolites, and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). The control diet, consisting of gums and honey, significantly increased the abundance of some potential probiotics, such as Bifidobacterium and Roseburia, and the concentration of some anti-disease related metabolites. The decrease in some amino acid metabolites in the original group fed without gums was attributed to poor body condition. Some distinct SCFAs found in the control group indicated the dietary alteration herein was fat-restricted but fiber deficient. Cognizant of this, plant exudates and fiber-enriched food supplies should be considered an optimal approach for dietary improvement of the confiscated and captive Bengal slow lorises.

Trichosporon asahii (T. asahii) is a clinically important opportunistic pathogenic fungus capable of causing systemic lethal infection in immunosuppressive and immunodeficient hosts. However, the mechanism of the host immune response upon T. asahii infection has not been elucidated. Recent evidence has shown that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play key roles in regulating the immune response to resist microbial infections. In this study, we analyzed the expression profiles of lncRNAs at 12 and 24 h post-infection (hpi) in THP-1 cells infected with T. asahii using RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq). A total of 64 and 160 lncRNAs displayed significant differentially expressed (DE) at 12 h and 24 hpi, respectively. Among these lncRNAs, 18 lncRNAs were continuous DE at two time points. The DE of eight candidate lncRNAs were verified by real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analyses were performed to analyze the cis-target genes of 18 DE lncRNAs. The results showed that they were enriched in signaling pathways related to the host immune response, indicating that these lncRNAs might play important roles in fungi–host interactions. Finally, we explored the function of lncRNA NEAT1 and found that the expression of TNF-α and IL-1β declined after NEAT1 knockdown in T. asahii-infected THP-1 cells. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a expression analysis of lncRNAs in macrophages infected with T. asahii. Our study helps to elucidate the role of lncRNAs in the host immune response to early infection by T. asahii.

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) leads to a major risk to poultry and its residues in meat products can also pose serious threat to human health. In this study, after feeding 165-day-old Roman laying hens for 35 days, the toxic effects of aflatoxin B1 at different concentrations were evaluated. The purpose of this study was to explore the mechanism of liver toxicosis responses to AFB1. We found that highly toxic group exposure resulted in liver fat deposition, increased interstitial space, and hepatocyte apoptosis in laying hens. Furthermore, a total of 164 differentially expressed lnRNAs and 186 differentially expressed genes were found to be highly correlated (Pearson Correlation Coefficient &gt, 0.80, p-value &lt, 0.05) by sequencing the transcriptome of control (CB) and highly toxic group (TB3) chickens. We also identify 29 differentially expressed genes and 19 miRNAs that have targeted regulatory relationships. Based on the liver cell apoptosis and fatty liver syndrome that this research focused on, we found that the highly toxic AFB1 led to dysregulation of the expression of PPARG and BCL6. They are cis-regulated by TU10057 and TU45776, respectively. PPARG was the target gene of gga-miR-301a-3p, gga-miR-301b-3p, and BCL6 was the target gene of gga-miR-190a-3p. In summary, highly toxic AFB1 affects the expression levels of protein-coding genes and miRNAs in the liver of Roman layer hens, as well as the expression level of long non-coding RNA in the liver, which upregulates the expression of PPARG and downregulates the expression of Bcl-6. Our study provides information on possible genetic regulatory networks in AFB1-induced hepatic fat deposition and hepatocyte apoptosis.

The hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian (HPO) axis regulates the breeding process cycle of laying hens. However, the key regulatory genes of the HPO axis and pathways that drive chicken egg laying performance remain elusive. A total of 856 Chinese Luhua chicken was raised and the highest two hundred and the lowest two hundred chicken egg production were considered as high egg production (HEP) and low egg production (LEP) according to the total egg number at 300 days of age, respectively. RNA-seq sequencing (RNA-Seq) was conducted to explore the chicken transcriptome from the hypothalamus, pituitary gland and ovary tissue of 6 Chinese Luhua chicken with 3 high and low-rate egg production. In total, 76.09 Gb RNA-seq sequences were generated from 15 libraries with an average of 5.07 Gb for each library. Further analysis showed that 414, 356 and 10 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in pituitary gland, ovary and hypothalamus between HEP and LEP chickens, respectively. In pituitary gland, DEGs were involve in regulation of cellular glucose homeostasis, Ras protein signal transduction, negative regulation of hormone secretion. In Ovary DEGs were mainly involved in embryonic organ development, regulation of canonical Wnt signaling, response to peptide hormone. Our study identified DEGs that regulate mTOR signaling pathway, Jak-STAT signaling pathway, Tryptophan metabolism and PI3K-Akt signaling pathways at HPO-axis in laying hens. These important data contribute to improve our understanding of reproductive biology of chicken and isolating effective molecular markers that can be used for genetic selection in Chinese domestic Luhua chicken.

Background The mammal intestinal microbiota is involved in various physiological processes and plays a key role in host environment adaption. However, for non-human primates (NHPs), little is known about their gut microbial community in high-altitude environments and even less about their adaption to such habitats. We characterised the gut microbial community of rhesus macaques from multiple high-altitude environments and compared it to those of low-altitude populations. Results We collected faecal samples of rhesus macaques from four high-altitude populations (above 3000 m) and three low-altitude populations (below 500 m). By calculating the alpha diversity index, we found that high-altitude populations exhibited a higher diversity. Statistical analysis of beta diversity indicated significant differences between high- and low-altitude populations. Significant differences were also detected at the phylum and family levels. At the phylum level, the high-altitude gut microbial community was dominated by Firmicutes (63.42%), while at low altitudes, it was dominated by Bacteroidetes (47.4%). At the family level, the high-altitude population was dominated by Ruminococcaceae (36.2%), while the low-altitude one was dominated by Prevotellaceae (39.6%). Some families, such as Christensenellaceae and Rikenellaceae, were consistently higher abundant in all high-altitude populations. We analysed the overlap of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) in high-altitude populations and determined their core OTUs (shared by all four high-altitude populations). However, when compared with the low-altitude core OTUs, only 65% were shared, suggesting a divergence in core OTUs. Function prediction indicated a significant difference in gene copy number of 35 level-2 pathways between high- and low-altitude populations; 29 of them were higher in high altitudes, especially in membrane transport and carbohydrate metabolism. Conclusions The gut microbial community of high-altitude rhesus macaques was significantly distinct from that of low-altitude populations in terms of diversity, composition and function. High-altitude populations were dominated by Firmicutes and Ruminococcace, while in low-altitude populations, Bacteroidetes and Prevotellaceae were dominant. The difference in gut microbiota between these two populations may be caused by differences in host diet, environmental temperature and oxygen pressure. These differentiated gut microbial microorganisms may play a critical role in the adaptive evolution of rhesus macaques to high-altitude environments.

Many studies have revealed that circulating long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) regulate gene and protein expression in the process of hepatic fibrosis. Liver fibrosis is a reversible wound healing response followed by excessive extracellular matrix accumulation. In the development of liver fibrosis, some lncRNAs regulate diverse cellular processes by acting as competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) and binding proteins. Previous investigations demonstrated that overexpression of lncRNAs such as H19, maternally expressed gene 3 (MEG3), growth arrest-specific transcript 5 (GAS5), Gm5091, NR_002155.1, and HIF 1alpha-antisense RNA 1 (HIF1A-AS1) can inhibit the progression of liver fibrosis. Furthermore, the upregulation of several lncRNAs [e.g., nuclear paraspeckle assembly transcript 1 (NEAT1), hox transcript antisense RNA (Hotair), and liver-enriched fibrosis-associated lncRNA1 (lnc-LFAR1)] has been reported to promote liver fibrosis. This review will focus on the functions and mechanisms of lncRNAs, the lncRNA transcriptome profile of liver fibrosis, and the main lncRNAs involved in the signalling pathways that regulate hepatic fibrosis. This review provides insight into the screening of therapeutic and diagnostic markers of liver fibrosis.

MicroRNA (miRNA) is known to be an important regulator of muscle growth and development. The regulation of microRNA on the skeletal muscle phenotype of animals is mainly achieved by regulating the proliferation and differentiation of myoblasts. In this study, we sequenced a total of 60 samples from 15 developing stages of the pectoral muscle and five other tissues at 300 days of Tibetan chicken. We characterized the expression patterns of miRNAs across muscle developmental stages, and found that the chicken growth and development stage was divided into early-embryonic and late-embryonic as well as postnatal stages. We identified 81 and 21 DE-miRNAs by comparing the miRNA profiles of pectoral muscle of three broad periods and different tissues, respectively; and 271 miRNAs showed time-course patterns. Their potential targets were predicted and used for functional enrichment to understand their regulatory functions. Significantly, GgmiRNA-454 is a time-dependent and tissue-differential expression miRNA. In order to elucidate the role of gga-miRNA-454 in the differentiation of myoblasts, we cultured chicken myoblasts in vitro. The results show that although gga-miRNA-454-3p initiates increase and thereafter decrease during the chicken myoblasts differentiation, it had no effect on primary myoblasts proliferation. Furthermore, we confirm that gga-miRNA-454 inhibits myoblast differentiation by targeting the myotube-associated protein SBF2.

Amphibians have undergone catastrophic declines worldwide and the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is an attractive candidate for investigating the link between adaptive variation and individual fitness. Nonetheless, little research has been conducted to study the amphibians MHC genes. Thus, MHC class Ia of Odorrana margaretae, a representative species of the Odorrana, was isolated and used to analyze the adaptive mechanism. We isolated alleles and determined evolution patterns of MHC class Ia in O. margaretae. The phylogenetic tree of MHC class Ia was reconstructed to understand the evolutionary relationship of Anura. In O. margaretae of MHC class Ia: there were more non-synonymous mutations compared to synonymous mutations; there are at least two loci; the recombination alleles took place for a large proportion (55.56%) of the alleles and recombination usually took place between whole exon of Ia genes of MHC class; positive selection sites were detected and most (10 of 19) located at the α1 and α2 domains belonged to the presumed ABS. The diversity of genes of MHC class Ia was led by recombination, gene duplication and positive selection. Trans-species polymorphisms of anuran genes of MHC class Ia were evident in anurans. Therefore, the MHC class Ia present demonstrative candidates for investigating the link between adaptive variation and individual fitness. We argue that knowledge of the MHC of other anuran lineage, especially focusing a genus such as O. margaretae, should provide an overall more complete picture of the organization of MHC in anurans.

The molecular mechanisms underlying the evolution of adaptive immunity-related proteins can be deduced by a thorough examination of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). Currently, in vertebrates, there is a relatively large amount of research on MHCs in mammals and birds. However, research related to amphibian MHC genes and knowledge about the evolutionary patterns is limited. This study aimed to isolate the MHC class I genes from Chenfu&rsquo, s Treefrog (Zhangixalus chenfui) and reveal the underlying evolutionary processes. A total of 23 alleles spanning the coding region of MHC class Ia genes were identified in 13 individual samples. Multiple approaches were used to test and identify recombination from the 23 alleles. Amphibian MHC class Ia alleles, from NCBI, were used to construct the phylogenetic relationships in MEGA. Additionally, the partition strategy was adopted to construct phylogenetic relationships using MrBayes and MEGA. The sites of positive selection were identified by FEL, PAML, and MEME. In Chenfu&rsquo, s Treefrog, we found that: (1) recombination usually takes place between whole exons of MHC class Ia genes, (2) there are at least 3 loci for MHC class Ia, and (3) the diversity of genes in MHC class Ia can be attributed to recombination, gene duplication, and positive selection. We characterized the evolutionary mechanisms underlying MHC class Ia genes in Chenfu&rsquo, s Treefrog, and in so doing, broadened the knowledge of amphibian MHC systems.

This study set out to investigate the relationship between gut microbiota composition and host adaptation to high altitude conditions. Fecal samples from both high and low altitude humans and pigs were studied using multi-omics methods. 16S ribosomal meta-analysis results showed significant differences in bacterial diversity and composition between high and low altitude members of the same species, as well as between different species. Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas, and Sphingobacterium were the three most abundant bacterial genera found in high altitude fecal samples of both humans and pigs. The alpha diversities of microbiota from Chinese people were found to be relatively lower than those of people in other countries. We found significant convergent trends in microbial metagenome compositions between Tibetans and Tibetan pigs living at high altitudes, and significant differences between these and their low-altitude counterparts. Metabolic pathways related to energy metabolism, amino-acid metabolism, and carbohydrate metabolism were consistently enriched at high altitudes, in both Tibetans and Tibetan pigs. Propanoic acid and octadecanoic acid were significantly elevated in high-altitude Tibetan pigs, and genes related to these two metabolites were also up-regulated. Thus, this study revealed that unique gut bacteriomes and their functions may be closely related to environmental host adaptation in high altitude conditions, such as those in the Tibetan plateau.

The goral (Naemorhedus caudatus), a species of the Caprinae, is classified as globally vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species because of its sharply declining population size, which is attributable to habitat destruction. In this study, we determined and described the complete mitochondrial genome of N. c. griseus, a goral subspecies from the western Sichuan of China; the mitochondrial genome of this goral is 16,557 bp in length (GenBank accession No: MG865962) and contains 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), two rRNA genes, 23 tRNA genes, and one control region (D-loop). Ten PCGs start with ATG, but ND2, ND3, and ND5 use ATA as the start codon. The overall base composition of the mitochondrial DNA is 34.6% A, 28.6% T, 22.4% C, and 14.4% G. The G+C content is 36.8%. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that N. c. griseus clustered into a clade with other Naemorhedus species with high bootstrap support. This work provides additional molecular information for studying the conservation genetics and evolutionary relationships of this endangered species.

Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni) is one of the main causes of human campylobacteriosis worldwide. Chicken is the main reservoir of C. jejuni. The cecum is the primary site of C. jejuni colonization. Our previous study has shown that the CLOCK gene is important to regulate the response to C. jejuni inoculation and has a cross-talking with immune-related genes. Correlation networks between the CLOCK gene and microRNAs (miRNAs) play vital roles in colorectal tumorigenesis. MiRNAs play crucial roles in bacterial invasion through regulating multiple target genes. To study the regulatory correlation between miRNAs and target genes, 5 miRNAs that regulate the expression of the CLOCK gene (CLOCK-interacted miRNAs) and 5 immune-related target genes predicted through Targetscan and miRDB were selected to analyze the expression pattern in chicken ceca at 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, and 24 h post C. jejuni inoculation using quantitative PCR. The results showed that the expression of gga-miR-148a, gga-miR-1416-5p, gga-miR-30b, and gga-miR-30c were significantly up-regulated at 8 hpi, and gga-miR-30a-5p, gga-miR-30b, and gga-miR-30c were significantly down-regulated at 24 hpi, and gga-miR-1416-5p was significantly down-regulated at 20 hpi (P 0.05). The expression levels of BCL9 (B-cell CLL/lymphoma 9), STX16 (syntaxin16), IL4R (interleukin 4 receptor), and IRF4 (interferon regulatory factor 4) genes were significantly up-regulated at 8 hpi, while SOCS3 (suppressor of cytokine signaling 3) was significantly down-regulated. Furthermore, the expression pattern of gga-miR-30b was consistent with gga-miR-30c. Both miRNAs and mRNAs showed an oscillation expression pattern in both inoculated and non-inoculated groups. The regulatory direction of SOCS3 was contrary to those of gga-miR-148a, gga-miR-1416-5p, gga-miR-30b, and gga-miR-30c at 8 hpi. In summary, MiR-30 and the miR-148/miR-152 family time-dependently regulate the response to C. jejuni inoculation in chicken ceca. BCL9, STX16, IRF4, and IL4R play important roles in the response to C. jejuni inoculation. The CLOCK gene-interacted miRNA and immune-related target genes had a correlative response to C. jejuni inoculation. The SOCS3 gene interacts with gga-miR-30b, gga-miR-30c, gga-miR-148a, and gga-miR-1416-5p in response to C. jejuni inoculation at 8 hpi. The correlations between CLOCK-interacted miRNA and immune-related target genes play vital roles in the response to C. jejuni inoculation. The results herein will lay the foundation for further study of a regulatory mechanism of chicken miRNAs and their target genes in response to C. jejuni inoculation.

Knowledge about the impact of different geographical environments on rhesus macaque gut microbiota is limited. In this study, we compared the characteristics of gut microbiota in six different Chinese rhesus macaque populations, including Hainan, Nanning, Guizhou, Xichang, Jianchuan and Tibet. Through the composition analysis of operational taxonomic units (OTUs), we found that there were significant differences in the abundance of core overlapping OTUs in the six Chinese groups. Specifically, the Tibet population exhibited the highest gut microbial diversity and the most unique OTUs. Statistically significant differences in the composition of gut microbiota among the six groups at phylum and family level were evident. Specifically, Tibet had higher abundances of Firmicutes and lower abundances of Bacteroidetes than the other geographical groups, and the higher abundance of Firmicutes in the Tibetan group was mainly caused by a significant increase in the family Ruminococcaceae and Christensenellaceae. Phylogenetic investigation of communities by reconstruction of unobserved state analysis showed that the enrichment ratio for environmental information processing and organismal systems was the highest in the Tibet population. Additionally, our results suggested that in the adaptation process of rhesus macaques to different geographical environments, the abundance of the core common flora of the intestinal microbes had undergone varying degree of change and produced new and unique flora, both of which helped to reshape the gut microbiota of rhesus macaques. In particular, this change was more obvious for animals in the high-altitude environments.

The white-lipped deer (Cervus albirostris) is a rare and endangered species endemic to the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau in China. In this study, we determined the complete mitochondrial genome sequence of the white-lipped deer. The total length of the mitogenome is 16473 bp. It has the typical structure of a vertebrate mitochondrial genome including 13 protein-coding genes(PCGs), 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, two ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes and a control region (D-loop). tRNASer lacks the stem of the dihydrouridine (DHU) arm and fails to form a typical cloverleaf secondary structure. A phylogenetic tree based on the 13 PCG sequences of nine species closely related to white-lipped deer shows the classification status of the species within the family Cervidae. These results provide new molecular biology information to further understand the diversity of the white-lipped deer, which will help to protect this population.

The Sichuan deer (Cervus elaphus macneilli) is a rare animal native to western Sichuan and southeastern Tibet, China. In this study, the entire Sichuan deer mitochondrial genome was sequenced; it was 16350 bp long (GenBank accession No: KX449334) and contained 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), two rRNA genes, 22 tRNA genes, and one control region (D-loop). Ten PCGs started with ATG, but ND2, ND3, and ND5 used ATA as the start codon. PCG homology between C.e.macneilli and four other red deer subspecies ranged from 93.9 to 96%, which indicates a clear difference among subspecies. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the Sichuan deer clustered into a clade with other red deer subspecies with high bootstrap support. This work provides additional molecular information for studying red deer conservation genetics and evolutionary relationships.

Forest musk deer (FMD) is an endangered species, and its population size has dropped dramatically. In this study, we determined the complete mitochondrial genome of a FMD. The genome was 16,353 bp long, and contained 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, two ribosomal RNA genes, and one control region. Most PCGs were distributed on the heavy strand except ND6 and eight tRNA genes, which were encoded on the light strand. The nucleotide composition was asymmetric, with an overall A+T content of 62.1%. Comparison with one previously described mitochondrial genome revealed 94.4% sequence homology and 1128 nucleotide mutation sites, which represents a substantial difference. A phylogenetic tree based on Cytb genes of eight closely related musk deer species showed that our sample clustered with two FMD subspecies from Yunnan, China. These results provide novel molecular information that can potentially be used for genetic diversity conservation of this species.

The Vietnam Warty Newt (Paramesotriton deloustali) is threatened by habitat loss and illegal capture for traditional medicines use and domestic pet trade. In this study, we described the complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of P. deloustali. The entire mitogenome sequence of P. deloustali is 16,391 bp long, containing 13 protein coding genes, two ribosomal RNA, 22 transfer RNA genes, one control region and an additional 261 bp non-coding sequence between tRNAThr and tRNAPro genes. Our new data of the complete mitogenome of P. deloustali will offer solid genetic information for further conservation genetics research of this threatened species.

Tylototriton ziegleri is distributed in northern Vietnam and is a new member of the genus Tylototriton. The conservation status of this species has not yet been assessed by the IUCN, but several other species of Tylototriton have been listed as near threatened or vulnerable due to habitat destruction and illegal hunting. We determined the complete sequence and structural characteristics of the mitochondrial genome of T. ziegleri. The entire mitogenome is 16,266 bp in length, and contains 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, two rRNA genes, a control region, and a non-coding region. The length, gene arrangement, and composition are similar to mitogenomes of other species of Tylototriton. A phylogenetic tree based on the mitogenome sequences of several Asian species within Salamandridae confirmed the genus Tylototriton as monophyletic, with T. ziegleri being the sister species of T. asperrimus and both constituting the sister group of T. wenxianensis. This work provides basic molecular data which are critical for further genetic research and conservation of the genus Tylototriton.

Trachypithecus poliocephalus : (Primates: Cercopithecidae), classified as critically endangered (IUCN) and in China was listed National First Class Protected Animal. In this study, the complete mitochondrial genome sequence of T. poliocephalus has been reported for the first time in China. The complete mitochondrial genome of T. poliocephalus was sequenced and it contained 13 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNA genes (12S rRNA and 16S rRNA), 22 tRNA genes, and one control region (D-loop).

We newly obtained the near complete mitochondrial genome of Oreolalax schmidti (18,481bp) by using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in this study. It includes 13 protein-coding genes (PCG), two ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, and 23 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes. The phylogenetic tree indicates that the Oreolalax schmidti is closely related to the O. lichuanensis. This report will help the further studies of Oreolalax species classification and source protection.

We sequenced and annotated the complete mitogenome sequence of Oreolalax omeimontis (17,675 bp long). The mitogenome encoded 13 protein-coding genes (PCG), 2 ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, 23 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, and a control region (GenBank accession number MN803321). The phylogenetic tree conforms the close relationship of O. omeimontis and O. multipunctatus, and a monophyletic clade of genus Oreolalax.

A complete mitogenome sequence of the blue-crested lizard (Calotes mystaceus) was determined in this study. The 16,506 bp genome consists 13 protein-coding genes (PCG), two ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gen...

The complete mitochondrial genome of the Oreolalax major (17,786 bp long) was obtained in this study. It includes 13 protein-coding genes (PCG), two ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, and 23 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes (GenBank accession number MN803320). The phylogenetic tree indicates that the O. major is closely related to the O. xiangchengensis.

Ferret-badger (Melogale moschata) is a widely distributed and rarely studied species. Therefore, we sequenced its complete mitochondrial genome, which is circular in shape with 16,511 bp length and have a structure typical to mammals. There is 98.67% similarity when compared with the reported sequence (HM106328). It contained 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, 2 rRNA genes, and 1 control regions (D-loop). This study can provide novel molecular information and genetic diversity of ferret-badger.

Red-and-white giant flying squirrel (Petaurista alborufus) is a widely distributed but rarely studied species. Here, we sequenced the complete mitochondrial genome about it, which is a circular genome of 16,511 bp and have a typical structure with mammals. The base composition shows higher composition of A\T. There are 61 variations and eight base deletions between two sequences when compared with the reported sequence (JQ743657). In this study, we obtain a new mitochondrial genome sequence of red-and-white giant flying squirrel, which provide novel molecular information that could prove fundamental to our understanding of diversity research and phylogenetic structure.

The complete mitochondrial of Cynops cyanurus cyanurus was determined by using Sanger sequencing and the mitogenome size of C. c. cyanurus was 16,465 bp. It contained 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNAs, 2 rRNAs, 1 control region (D-loop) and a non-coding region (NC). In addition, the phylogenetic tree shows that C. c. cyanurus has the closest relationship with C. c. chuxiongensis. Hoping this study can improve our understanding of the species evolutionary relationship of Cynops.

Due to the multiple causes, the population of roe deer has declined significantly. In this study, we analyzed the complete mitogenome of Capreolus pygargus bedfordi, whose genome was 16,357 bp long. There were 13 protein-coding genes (PCG), two ribosomal RNA genes (12S rRNA and 16S rRNA), 22 transfer RNA genes, and one control region. Nine PCGs started with ATG, while NAD2, NAD3, and NAD5 genes commenced with ATA, and ND4L began with GTG. ND6 and eight tRNA genes were encoded on the L-strand. These results provide newer molecular information, which contribute to its molecular and phylogenetic studies, and genetic diversity conservation.

In this study, the complete mitochondrial genome sequence of Prionodon pardicolor pardicolor has been reported for the first time in China. The total length of the mitogenome was 16,689 bp. It contained the typical structure, including 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes and 1 control region (D-loop). tRNASer lost the stem of DHC loop and failed to form a typical cloverleaf secondary structure. Mitochondrial control region of P. p. pardicolor was 1242 bp long, laying between the tRNAPro and tRNAPhe genes. Based on the 13 PCG sequences, homology and single-nucleotide mutation loci were performed between P. p. pardicolor and P. pardicolor. As a result, the homology between two species was 99.6% on average, and Nucleotide mutation loci was 41. Also, in view of their mitochondrial control region comparison, P. p. pardicolor drop 28 bp nucleotides.

Cynops cyanurus chuxiongensis is distributed in Yunnan plateau. In this paper, we sequenced and determined the complete mitochondrial genome of C. c. chuxiongensis. The assembled mitogenome is 16,4...

In this study, we sequenced the complete mitochondrial genome of Argali sheep (Ovis ammon). The total length was 16,612 bp, which contained 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 tRNA genes, 2 rRNA genes, and a control region (D-loop). Eight tRNA genes with one PCG (ND6) encoded on the L-strand, others were encoded on the H-strand. The neighbor-joining analysis shows that Argali sheep has a close relationship with the same genus species of Ovis aries and Ovis orientalis. This study has provided new data for the phylogeny of Argali sheep.

Reintroduction is a key approach in the conservation of endangered species. In recent decades, many reintroduction projects have been conducted for conservation purposes, but the rate of success has been low. Given the important role of gut microbiota in health and diseases, we questioned whether gut microbiota would play a crucial role in giant panda's wild‐training process. The wild procedure is when captive‐born babies live with their mothers in a wilderness enclosure and learn wilderness survival skills from their mothers. During the wild‐training process, the baby pandas undergo wilderness survival tests and regular physical examinations. Based on their performance through these tests, the top subjects (age 2–3 years old) are released into the wild while the others are translocated to captivity. After release, we tracked one released panda (Zhangxiang) and collected its fecal samples for 5 months (January 16, 2013 to March 29 2014). Here, we analyzed the Illumina HiSeq sequencing data (V4 region of 16S rRNA gene) from captive pandas (n = 24), wild‐training baby pandas (n = 8) of which 6 were released and 2 were unreleased, wild‐training mother pandas (n = 8), one released panda (Zhangxiang), and wild giant pandas (n = 18). Our results showed that the gut microbiota of wild‐training pandas is significantly different from that of wild pandas but similar to that of captive ones. The gut microbiota of the released panda Zhangxiang gradually changed to become similar to those of wild pandas after release. In addition, we identified several bacteria that were enriched in the released baby pandas before release, compared with the unreleased baby pandas. These bacteria include several known gut‐health related beneficial taxa such as Roseburia, Coprococcus, Sutterella, Dorea, and Ruminococcus. Therefore, our results suggest that certain members of the gut microbiota may be important in panda reintroduction., The gut microbiota of wild‐training pandas is significantly different from that of wild pandas, but similar to that of captive ones. However, the gut microbiota of panda Zhangxiang gradually changed to that of wild pandas after successful release. Several bacteria that were enriched in the wild‐training baby pandas who met the criteria for release into the wild. These bacteria include several known gut‐health‐related beneficial taxa such as Roseburia, Coprococcus, Sutterella, Dorea, and Ruminococcus, indicating potential roles of these bacteria in the fitness of these baby pandas.

Platysternon megacephalum is the only living representative species of Platysternidae and only three subspecies remain: P. m. megalorcephalum, P. m. shiui, and P. m. peguense. However, previous reports implied that P. m. peguense has distinct morphological and molecular features. The characterization of the mitogenome has been accepted as an efficient means of phylogenetic and evolutionary analysis. Hence, this study first determined the complete mitogenome of P. m. peguense with the aim to identify the structure and variability of the P. m. peguense mitogenome through comparative analysis. Furthermore, the phylogenetic relationship of the three subspecies was tested. Based on different tRNA gene loss and degeneration of these three subspecies, their rearrangement pathways have been inferred. Phylogenetic analysis showed that P. m. peguense is a sister group to (P. m. megalorcephalum and P. m. shiui). Furthermore, the divergence time estimation of these three subspecies coincided with the uplift of the Tibetan Plateau. This study shows that the genetic distances between P. m. peguense and the other two subspecies are comparable to interspecific genetic distances, for example within Mauremys. In general, this study provides new and meaningful insights into the evolution of the three Platysternidae subspecies.

Rhesus macaques are raised in almost every Chinese zoo due to their likeability and ease in feeding; however, little is yet known about the genetic diversity of rhesus macaques in captivity. In this study, a 475-base pair nucleotide sequence of the mitochondrial DNA control region was obtained from the fecal DNA of 210 rhesus macaque individuals in captivity. A total of 69 haplotypes were defined, 51 of which (73.9%) were newly identified. Of all haplotypes, seven were shared between two zoos, and 62 haplotypes (89.8%) appeared only in a specific zoo, indicating a low rate of animal exchange between Chinese zoos. Moreover, there was a relatively high level of genetic diversity among the rhesus macaques (Hd = 0.0623 ± 0.0009, Pi = 0.979 ± 0.003,K= 28.974). Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that all haplotypes were clearly clustered into two major haplogroups—Clade A (southeastern China) and Clade B (southwestern China)—and each major clade contained several small sub-haplogroups. The haplotypes of rhesus macaques from the same zoo were not clustered together for the most part, but scattered among several subclades on the phylogenetic tree. This indicates that the rhesus macaques in most Chinese zoos may originat from a diverse collection of geographical areas. Our results demonstrate that zoos play an important role in the conservation of the genetic diversity of rhesus macaques, as well as provide useful information on the genetic management of captive rhesus macaques.

Objective: The gene SLC15A4 (solute carrier family 15 [oligopeptide transporter], member 4) has been reported as contributing to the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We performed a case–control replication study to investigate further the association between single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the SLC15A4 gene and systemic SLE in a Han Chinese population. Methods: In Han Chinese SLE patients and healthy individuals (n = 355, 375, respectively), 18 SNPs in the SLC15A4 gene were genotyped using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry and TaqMan SNP genotyping assays. Analyses of allele frequencies and genotypes using codominant, dominant, and recessive models were conducted, as well as a linkage disequilibrium analysis. P values

Tylototriton shanorum, an endemic species of Myanmar, is threatened by illegal capture and environmental destruction. Here, the complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of T. shanorum is described. The entire mitogenome sequence of T. shanorum is 17,096 bp long, containing 13 protein coding genes, two ribosomal RNA, 22 transfer RNA genes, one control region. In addition, two additional 3′ Cytb like sequences and two complete tRNAThr genes, one pseudo tRNAThr, and three noncoding sequences (NC1, NC1′ and NC2) were situated between Cytb and tRNAPro genes. The new complete mitogenome sequence of T. shanorum will be useful for conservation genetics, evolutionary biology, phylogeography, as well as phylogenetic relationships studies of this threatened species.

The Oriental Fire-bellied Newt (Cynops orientalis David) has been listed as Near Threatened species (NT) recently due to habitat destruction and degradation and illegal trade in the domestic and international pet markets. We sequenced and characterized the complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of C. orientalis in this paper. The complete mitogenome sequence of C. orientalis is 16,294 bp in length, containing 37 genes (13 protein coding genes, two ribosomal RNA, 22 transfer RNA genes and one control region). The new sequenced complete mitogenome of C. orientalis will provide useful information for application in conservation genetics and evolution for this near threatened species.

The chemokine CXCL16 and its receptor CXCR6 are implicated in various physiological and pathological processes in cooperative and/or stand-alone fashions. Despite the significance of rodent animal models in elucidating the function and clinical relevance of the chemokine and its receptor, the evolutionary characterization of these molecules remains deficient for this taxon to a certain extent. In this study, we implemented a comparison of synonymous and nonsynonymous variation rates in combination with the maximum likelihood (ML) analysis and Tajima's test to evaluate the interspecific and intraspecific evolutions of CXCL16 and CXCR6 in murine rodents. Our results indicate that adaptive selection has frequently contributed to genetic diversity of both CXCL16 and CXCR6 in the murine lineage that is asynchronous with a relative dependence between these genes. This signature is radically different from the lineage-specific and concordant adaptive diversity of the primate homologues of these genes, which was reported in a previous study. The diversity identified in the present study shed further light on molecular strategies against the challenges towards CXCL16 and CXCR6.

[EN] Two unknown single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) sites in exons 1 (c.194C>T) and 2 (c.445T>A) of meat-type rabbit MSTN gene were identified in the study. Our objective was to analyse the population genetics structure of the two novel SNP sites in 230 individuals from six breeds and their associations with carcass traits of rabbits. We found that live body weight (BW), cold carcass weight (CCW), reference carcass weight (RCW), CCW percentage (PCCW) and RCW percentage (PRCW) of the rabbits with the genotype CC at the c.194C>T of exon 1 or AA at the c.445T>A of exon 2 were significantly higher than those with other genotypes. Diplotype significantly affected BW, RCW, CCW, PRCW (P, The studies were financially supported by Basic Science Research Fund of Sichuan Agricultural University (No.11967) and the National Modern Rabbit Production Industry Special Fund (N°. NYCYTX-44-1-3).

Grey-headed Parrotbill, Paradoxornis gularis, has significant economic and scientific value in China. Length of the complete mitochondrial genome of grey-headed parrotbill is 17,743 bp, and it contains 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 2 ribosomal RNA genes (12S rRNA and 16S rRNA), 22 transfer RNA genes (tRNA), and a D-loop sequence. The overall base composition of the mitochondrial sequence was 29.47% A, 14.68% G, 24.33% T, 31.52% C. All tRNAs have the typical cloverleaf structure, except for tRNASer. All PCGs start with ATG codons, except for COXI and NADH6, which are initiated by GTG and CTA, respectively.

The complete mitochondrial genome of tufted deer (Elaphodus cephalophus) has been described in our research. The sequence of this genome is 16356 bp with a circular structure, and contains 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, two ribosomal RNA genes, and one control region. When compare with the reference sequence (DQ873526), it shows that there are 262 variations, 4 base deletions and 13 base insertions. In this study we obtain a new complete mitochondrial genome sequence of tufted deer that provide effective molecular information for the diversity research and phylogenetic structure.

We obtained the complete mitochondrial genome of Amolops granulosus, which was 17,785 bp in length and it contained the 37 typical mitochondrial genes: 2 ribosomal RNAs, 22 transfer RNAs (tRNAs), 1...

Blue-winged Minla is a small-sized bird, belonging to the Family Leiothrichidae of the Passeriformes. The population is suspected to be in decline owing to ongoing habitat destruction and fragmentation. Therefore, we sequenced and analyzed the Blue-winged Minla mitochondrial genome to provide a theoretical basis for protecting the brids. The mitochondrial genome of Blue-winged Minla was 17862 bp, it contains 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes, and 2 control regions. The overall base composition of the mitochondrial was 30.88% A, 13.82% G, 23.86% T, 31.44% C.

In this study, we determined the complete mitochondrial genome sequence of the Mustela sibirica. The complete mitogenome of M. sibirica is 16,529 bp in length and consist of 13 protein-coding genes...

In this study, we reported the complete mitochondrial genome sequence of a red panda (Ailurus fulgens). The mitogenome (GenBank accession number MK886830) length is 16,517 bp and exhibits the typic...