Behavior and toxicity assessment of copper nanoparticles in aquatic environment: A case study on red swamp crayfish.

With the wide use of copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) in various industrial and commercial applications, they inevitably enter the aquatic environment. However, their behavior in the aquatic environment and potential toxicity to aquatic organisms remain little known. In this study, we investigated the behavior of CuNPs in freshwater, as well as the toxicity and bioaccumulation of CuNPs and copper sulfate (CuSO), used as a positive control for copper ions toxicity, in red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii).

Reproductive performance and semen characteristics of pond-reared and wild-caught large-sized male broodstock of the Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis.

There has been a recent emphasis on production of large-sized Eriocheir sinensis broodstock. In China, aquaculturists generally prefer wild-caught (WC) crabs from the Yangtze River as broodstock because offspring performance is superior to that of pond-reared (PR) broodstock. Currently, however, there is a ban on fishing in the Yangtze River, and effects on E.

Chromosome-level genome assembly of Paralithodes platypus provides insights into evolution and adaptation of king crabs.

The blue king crab, Paralithodes platypus, which belongs to the family Lithodidae, is a commercially and ecologically important species. However, a high-quality reference genome for the king crab has not yet been reported. Here, we assembled the first chromosome-level blue king crab genome, which contains 104 chromosomes and an N50 length of 51.

High-Quality Genome Assembly of Reveals Its Unique Genome Evolution.

As an important freshwater aquaculture species in China, the Chinese mitten crab () has high economic and nutritional value. However, limited genomic information is currently available for studying its basic development and genetic diversity. Here, we performed whole-genome sequencing on Oxford Nanopore Technologies Limited's platform using promethION.

Chromosome-level genome assembly reveals the unique genome evolution of the swimming crab (Portunus trituberculatus).

Background: The swimming crab, Portunus trituberculatus, is an important commercial species in China and is widely distributed in the coastal waters of Asia-Pacific countries. Despite increasing interest in swimming crab research, a high-quality chromosome-level genome is still lacking.

Findings: Here, we assembled the first chromosome-level reference genome of P.

De novo transcriptome sequencing and analysis of male and female swimming crab (Portunus trituberculatus) reproductive systems during mating embrace (stage II).

Background: The swimming crab Portunus trituberculatus is one of the most commonly farmed crustaceans in China. As one of the most widely known and high-value edible crabs, it crab supports large crab fishery and aquaculture in China. Only large and sexually mature crabs can provide the greatest economic benefits, suggesting the considerable effect of reproductive system development on fishery.

Dynamic mRNA and miRNA expression analysis in response to hypoxia and reoxygenation in the blunt snout bream (Megalobrama amblycephala).

Adaptation to hypoxia is a complex process involving various pathways and regulation mechanisms. A better understanding of the genetic influence on these mechanisms could permit selection for hypoxia-sensitive fish. To aid this understanding, an integrated analysis of miRNA and mRNA expression was performed in Megalobrama amblycephala under four acute hypoxia and reoxygenation stages.

Molecular Cloning and Functional Characterization of a Hexokinase from the Oriental River Prawn Macrobrachium nipponense in Response to Hypoxia.

Metabolic adjustment to hypoxia in (oriental river prawn) implies a shift to anaerobic metabolism. Hexokinase (HK) is a key glycolytic enzyme in prawns. The involvement of HK in the hypoxia inducible factors (HIFs) pathway is unclear in prawns.

Molecular cloning, mRNA expression and characterization of membrane-bound hemoglobin in oriental river prawn Macrobrachium nipponense.

Most hemoglobins are respiratory proteins and are ubiquitous in animals, bacteria, fungi, protists, and plants. In this study, we describe a membrane-bound hemoglobin in the oriental river prawn Macrobrachium nipponense (MnHb), which also expresses hemocyanin. MnHb cDNA was cloned using the rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) approach, which afforded a 1201bp gene encoding a 193 amino acid polypeptide.

Molecular cloning, characterization and expression analysis of caspase-3 from the oriental river prawn, Macrobrachium nipponense when exposed to acute hypoxia and reoxygenation.

Caspases are present in the cytosol as inactive proenzymes but become activated when apoptosis is initiated, playing an essential role at various stages of the process. In this study, a caspase-3 (Mncaspase-3c) was cloned from gill of the oriental river prawn Macrobrachium nipponense by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction and rapid amplification of cDNA ends, and its properties were characterized. The 1730-bp cDNA contained an open reading frame of 1566 bp, a 123-bp 5'-untranslated region (UTR), and a 41-bp 3'-UTR containing a poly(A) tail.

De novo assembly of the blunt snout bream (Megalobrama amblycephala) gill transcriptome to identify ammonia exposure associated microRNAs and their targets.

De novo transcriptome sequencing is a robust method for microRNA (miRNA) target gene prediction, especially for organisms without reference genomes. Following exposure of Megalobrama amblycephala to ammonia (0.1 or 20 mg L(-1) ), two cDNA libraries were constructed from the fish gills and sequenced using Illumina HiSeq 2000.

Molecular cloning, characterization, and expression analysis of p53 from the oriental river prawn, Macrobrachium nipponense, in response to hypoxia.

The tumor suppressor gene p53 plays a critical role in safeguarding the integrity of the genome in mammalian cells. It acts as a sequence-specific transcription factor. Once p53 is activated by a variety of cellular stresses, it transactivates downstream target genes and regulates the cell cycle and apoptosis.

Molecular characterization and mRNA expression of hypoxia inducible factor-1 and cognate inhibiting factor in Macrobrachium nipponense in response to hypoxia.

Hypoxia inducible factors (HIFs) are considered to be the master switches of oxygen-dependent gene expression in mammalian species. Currently, very little is known about the function of this important pathway or the molecular structures of key players in the hypoxia-sensitive Oriental River Prawn Macrobrachium nipponense. In this study, HIFs-1α (HIF-1α), -1β (HIF-1β) and HIF 1-alpha inhibitor (FIH-1) from M.

Identification and comparative analysis of the oriental river prawn (Macrobrachium nipponense) microRNA expression profile during hypoxia using a deep sequencing approach.

Hypoxia refers to a state of oxygen deficiency, which is observed frequently in aquaculture ponds. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that are important effectors in regulating gene expression through posttranscriptional mechanisms. They are key elements in the response to hypoxia.

Identification of the complete mitochondrial genome of the pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei (Decapoda: Penaeidae).

The complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of Litopenaeus vannamei was determined to be 15 989 bp in size, it contains 22 tRNA genes, 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), two rRNA genes and a D-loop region. The nucleotide composition was biased toward A + T nucleotides (67.8%) and the AT skew of this mitogenome was slightly negative (-0.

Characterization of the complete mitochondrial genome of the red crayfish, Procambarus clarkii (Decapoda: Cambaridae).

Here we present the complete mitochondrial (mt) genome of Procambarus clarkii (Decapoda: Cambaridae) and provide its annotation. The complete mt genome was determined to be 15 929 bp and contains 22 tRNA genes, 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), two rRNA genes, and a D-loop region. The nucleotide composition was biased toward A + T nucleotides (72.

Transciptomic and histological analysis of hepatopancreas, muscle and gill tissues of oriental river prawn (Macrobrachium nipponense) in response to chronic hypoxia.

Background: Oriental river prawn, Macrobrachium nipponense, is a commercially important species found in brackish and fresh waters throughout China. Chronic hypoxia is a major physiological challenge for prawns in culture, and the hepatopancreas, muscle and gill tissues play important roles in adaptive processes. However, the effects of dissolved oxygen availability on gene expression and physiological functions of those tissues of prawns are unknown.

The complete mitochondrial genome of the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae).

The complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of Tribolium castaneum (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) was determined to be 15,883 bp (GenBank accession No. KM009121), which contains 22 tRNA genes, 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 2 rRNA genes and a major non-coding A + T-rich region. It has the typical gene organization and order of mitogenomes from ancestral insects.

Identification and characterization of a Macrobrachium nipponense ferritin subunit regulated by iron ion and pathogen challenge.

Ferritin, a major iron storage protein in most living organisms, plays a crucial role in iron metabolism. In this study, the ferritin subunit MnFer was identified in the oriental river prawn (Macrobrachium nipponense) and functionally characterized. The full-length cDNA of MnFer is 999 bp in size with a 122-bp 5'-untranslated region (UTR), a 364-bp 3'-UTR and a 513-bp open reading frame that encodes a protein possessing 171 amino acids and a deduced molecular weight of 19.

Identification of differentially expressed genes in hepatopancreas of oriental river prawn, Macrobrachium nipponense exposed to environmental hypoxia.

Hypoxia represents a major physiological challenge for prawn culture, and the hepatopancreas plays an important role in these processes. Here, we applied high-throughput sequencing technology to detect the gene expression profile of the hepatopancreas in Macrobrachium nipponense in response to hypoxia for 3 h and hypoxia for 24 h. Gene expression profiling identified 1925 genes that were significantly up- or down-regulated by dissolved oxygen availability.

Nitrite-induced hepatotoxicity in Bluntsnout bream (Megalobrama amblycephala): the mechanistic insight from transcriptome to physiology analysis.

Previous studies have investigated the physiological responses to acute nitrite exposure in fish; however, little information is available for the underlying molecular mechanisms of nitrite toxicity in aquatic ecosystems. In an effort to understand the underlying mechanisms of nitrite tolerance and to illuminate global gene expression patterns modulated by nitrite toxicity, we sampled livers from juvenile Megalobrama amblycephala exposed in 0.1, 15 and 30 mg L(-1) nitrite and performed short read (100 bp) next generation RNA sequencing (RNA-seq).

Identification and mRNA expression of antioxidant enzyme genes associated with the oxidative stress response in the Wuchang bream (Megalobrama amblycephala Yih) in response to acute nitrite exposure.

Aquatic organisms possess cellular detoxification systems to deal with pollutants. To explore the influence of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated in response to nitrite on oxidative stress defenses and the antioxidant system in Megalobrama amblycephala, the full length cDNA sequences were determined for three antioxidant-related genes, namely catalase (MaCAT), selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase (MaGPx1) and Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (MaCu/Zn-SOD). Encoded polypeptides that exhibited high identity and similarity with corresponding proteins in other fish species.

Characterization of recombinant H9N2 influenza viruses isolated from wild ducks in China.

Wild birds are considered to be the natural reservoirs for avian influenza A viruses (AIV). During active influenza surveillance in Poyang Lake of southeast China, we isolated and characterized 11 H9N2 viruses from two species of wild ducks. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the 11 isolates were almost identical with 99.