Comparative genomics of two Asian medicinal leeches Hirudo nipponia and Hirudo tianjinensis: With emphasis on antithrombotic genes and their corresponding proteins.

Leeches secrete various biologically active substances which have important medical and pharmaceutical values in antithrombotic treatments. Here, we provide a high quality genome of two Asian medicinal leeches Hirudo nipponia and Hirudo tianjinensis, based on which, we identified 22 antithrombotic gene families, including fourteen coagulation inhibitors, four platelet aggregation inhibitors, three fibrinolysis enhancers, and one tissue penetration enhancer. The total numbers of antithrombotic genes were similar between H.

A Chromosome-Level Genome Assembly of the Non-Hematophagous Leech (Whitman 1884): Identification and Expression Analysis of Antithrombotic Genes.

Despite being a non-hematophagous leech, is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of antithrombotic diseases. In this study, we provide a high quality genome of and based on which, we performed a systematic identification of the potential antithrombotic genes and their corresponding proteins. We identified twenty antithrombotic gene families including thirteen coagulation inhibitors, three platelet aggregation inhibitors, three fibrinolysis enhancers, and one tissue penetration enhancer.

Revisiting the Asian Buffalo Leech () Genome: Focus on Antithrombotic Genes and Their Corresponding Proteins.

Leeches are well-known annelids due to their obligate blood-feeding habits. Some leech species secrete various biologically active substances which have important medical and pharmaceutical value in antithrombotic treatments. In this study, we provided a high-quality genome of the Asian buffalo leech (), based on which we performed a systematic identification of potential antithrombotic genes and their corresponding proteins.

Impacts of future climate on the distribution of 4 bumblebee species in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

Climate warming threatens dozens of bumblebee species across the world, including alpine areas. In plateaus with vast and continuous high-altitude areas, bumblebees' response to climate warming may be relatively optimistic. To study the species' responses to future climate in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, we quantified the suitable areas for 4 local bumblebee indicator species under current and future climate scenarios (Shared Socio-economic Pathway 126, 245, 370, and 585 in 2,100) using MaxEnt models.

Evolutionary Adaptation of Genes Involved in Galactose Derivatives Metabolism in Oil-Tea Specialized Species.

Oil-tea () is a woody oil crop whose nectar includes galactose derivatives that are toxic to honey bees. Interestingly, some mining bees of the genus can entirely live on the nectar (and pollen) of oil-tea and are able to metabolize these galactose derivatives. We present the first next-generation genomes for five and one species that are, respectively, specialized and non-specialized oil-tea pollinators and, combining these with the published genomes of six other species which did not visit oil-tea, we performed molecular evolution analyses on the genes involved in the metabolizing of galactose derivatives.

Digestive Tract Morphology and Gut Microbiota Jointly Determine an Efficient Digestive Strategy in Subterranean Rodents: Plateau Zokor.

Rodents' lifestyles vary in different environments, and to adapt to various lifestyles specific digestion strategies have been developed. Among these strategies, the morphology of the digestive tracts and the gut microbiota are considered to play the most important roles in such adaptations. However, how subterranean rodents adapt to extreme environments through regulating gut microbial diversity and morphology of the digestive tract has yet to be fully studied.

Population genomics and phylogeography of , a wild bee specialized on winter flowering plants.

Diet specialization may affect the population genetic structure of pollinators by reducing gene flow and driving genetic differentiation, especially in pollen-specialist bees. is a pollen-specialist pollinator of , one of the most important staple oil crops in China. .

The Potential Roles of Unique Leaf Structure for the Adaptation of Maxim. ex Balf. in Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.

Leaves are essential plant organs with numerous variations in shape and size. The leaf size is generally smaller in plants that thrive in areas of higher elevation and lower annual mean temperature. The Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau is situated at an altitude of >4000 m with relatively low annual average temperatures.

Molecular evolution of bumble bee vitellogenin and vitellogenin-like genes.

Vitellogenin (Vg), a storage protein, has been significantly studied for its egg yolk precursor role in oviparous animals. Recent studies found that vitellogenin and its Vg-like homologs were fundamentally involved in many other biological processes in social insects such as female caste differences and oxidative stress resilience. In this study, we conducted the first large-scale molecular evolutionary analyses of vitellogenin coding genes () and genes of bumble bees, a primitively eusocial insect belonging to the genus Bombus.

Complete mitochondrial genome of (Lepidoptera: Oecophoridae).

The complete mitochondrial genome of (Lepidoptera: Oecophoridae) was sequenced for a future phylogenetic study of Lepidoptera. The circle genome of the moth is 15,393 bp in length with a pronounced base bias of A + T (79.3%), containing 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNAs, two ribosomal RNAs, and a putative control region.

Complete mitochondrial genome of (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae).

The complete mitochondrial genome of (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) is 15,270 bp in length, containing 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNAs, 2 ribosomal RNAs, and a putative control region. All of the protein-coding genes (PCGs) use the standard start codon ATN, except for cox1 which starts with CGA. The Bayesian phylogenetic analysis was performed using a dataset matrix containing 13 PCGs concatenated from the mitogenomes of 14 Saturniidae species.

Complete mitochondrial genome of (Lepidoptera: Xyloryctidae).

The complete mitochondrial genome of (Lepidoptera: Xyloryctidae) is 15,528 bp in length, containing 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNAs, 2 ribosomal RNAs, and a putative control region. Except for starts with CGA, all other PCGs use the typical ATN codons. Most of the PCGs end with the complete stop codon TAA, whereas terminates with the incomplete stop codon T.

Gut Microbiota Plasticity Influences the Adaptability of Wild and Domestic Animals in Co-inhabited Areas.

Due to the increased economic demand for livestock, the number of livestock is increasing. Because of human interference, the survival of wild animals is threatened in the face of competition, particularly in co-inhabited grazing pastures. This may lead to differences in the adaptability between wild and domestic animals, as well as nutritional deficiencies in wild animals.

Lithobius (Ezembius) hualongensis sp. nov. and Lithobius (Ezembius) sui sp. nov. (Lithobiomorpha, Lithobiidae), two new species of centipede from northwest China.

Lithobius (Ezembius) hualongensis and Lithobius (Ezembius) sui (Lithobiomorpha, Lithobiidae) recently discovered from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China are described. Morphologically, the two new species are very similar but can be distinguished by the number of coxosternal teeth: L. (E.

Maxent modeling for predicting the spatial distribution of three raptors in the Sanjiangyuan National Park, China.

Upland buzzard (), Saker falcon (), and Himalayan vulture () are three common large raptors in the Sanjiangyuan National Park (SNP), China's first national park. Among them, Upland buzzard and Saker falcon play a significant role in controlling plateau rodent populations and reducing the transmission of pathogens carried by rodents. The Himalayan vulture can provide services for the redistribution and recycling of nutrients in the ecosystem, and play an irreplaceable role in the celestial burial culture of Tibetans in China.

Evolutionary Rates of Bumblebee Genomes Are Faster at Lower Elevations.

The importance of climate in determining biodiversity patterns has been well documented. However, the relationship between climate and rates of genetic evolution remains controversial. Latitude and elevation have been associated with rates of change in genetic markers such as cytochrome b.

Two new species of on Qinghai-Tibetan plateau identified from morphology and COI sequences (Lithobiomorpha: Lithobiidae).

Lithobius (Ezembius) longibasitarsus and Lithobius (Ezembius) datongensis (Lithobiomorpha: Lithobiidae), recently discovered from Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China, are described. A key to the species of the subgenus Ezembius in China is presented. The partial mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I barcoding gene was amplified and sequenced for eight individuals of the two new species and the dataset was used for molecular phylogenetic analysis and genetic distance determination.

The complete mitochondrial DNA sequence of the Chinese red pika ().

In this study, we undertook the first complete mitochondrial genome. The genome sequence was 16,663 bp in length, including the typical structure of 22 transfer RNA genes, 13 protein-coding genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes, and the non-coding control region. The overall base composition of mitogenome is 31.

Variation of the Bovidae (Mammalia: Artiodactyla) mitochondrial DNA control region and their phylogenetic relationship.

The control region is the major noncoding segment of animal mitochondrial DNA. The mammal family Bovidae comprises all artiodactyl ungulates. To infer the organization and variation of Bovidae mitochondrial DNA control region, the complete control region sequences of 91 species were analysed.

Genetic differentiation of the oriental rat flea, Xenopsylla cheopis, from two sympatric host species.

Background: The oriental rat flea (Xenopsylla cheopis), which infests several mammals, primarily rats (Rattus spp.), is the most notorious vector of human plague. In this study, we measured the genetic differentiation among populations of fleas from the Asian house rat (Rattus tanezumi) and the brown rat (R.

The roles of calving migration and climate change in the formation of the weak genetic structure in the Tibetan antelope (Pantholops hodgsonii).

Geographical barriers and distance can reduce gene exchange among animals, resulting in genetic divergence of geographically isolated populations. The Tibetan antelope (Pantholops hodgsonii) has a geographical range of approximately 1600 km across the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, which comprises a series of tall mountains and big rivers. However, previous studies indicate that there is little genetic differentiation among their geographically delineated populations.

Genetic evidence for subspecies differentiation of the Himalayan marmot, Marmota himalayana, in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

The primary host of plague in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP), China, is Marmota himalayana, which plays an essential role in the maintenance, transmission, and prevalence of plague. To achieve a more clear insight into the differentiation of M. himalayana, complete cytochrome b (cyt b) gene and 11 microsatellite loci were analyzed for a total of 423 individuals from 43 localities in the northeast of the QTP.

Genetic variation in bitter taste receptor genes influences the foraging behavior of plateau zokor (Eospalax baileyi).

The ability to detect bitter tastes is important for animals; it can help them to avoid ingesting harmful substances. Bitter taste perception is mainly mediated by bitter taste receptor proteins, which are encoded by members of the Tas2r gene family and vary with the dietary preference of a specific species. Although individuals with different genotypes differ in bitterness recognition capability, little is known about the relationship between genetic variation and food selection tendencies at the intraspecific level.

MLVA and MLST typing of Brucella from Qinghai, China.

Background: The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) of China is an extensive pastoral and semi-pastoral area, and because of poverty and bad hygiene conditions, Brucella is highly prevalent in this region. In order to adequately prevent this disease in the QTP region it is important to determine the identity of Brucella species that caused the infection.

Methods: A total of 65 Brucella isolates were obtained from human, livestock and wild animals in Qinghai, a Chinese province in east of the QTP.

[Molecular authentication of Sailonggu and its resource distribution in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau].

To provide accurate information on geographic distribution of crude drug Sailonggu in the plateau, we identified zokor species (Eospalax spp.) in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau using molecular methods. Based on the mitochondrial cytochrome B (cytb) gene sequences, we then extracted haplotypes from these sequences and reconstructed phylogenetic trees for the haplotypes using both maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI) methods.