Genome of tropical bed bug Cimex hemipterus (Cimicidae, Hemiptera) reveals tetraspanin expanded in bed bug ancestor.

Cimex species are ectoparasites that exclusively feed on warm-blooded animals such as birds and mammals. Three cimicid species are known to be persistent pests for humans, including the tropical bed bug Cimex hemipterus, common bed bug Cimex lectularius, and Eastern bat bug Leptocimex boueti. To date, genomic information is restricted to the common bed bug C.

Elucidating the ecophysiology of soybean pod-sucking stinkbug Riptortus pedestris (Hemiptera: Alydidae) based on de novo genome assembly and transcriptome analysis.

Food security is important for the ever-growing global population. Soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr.

Cytochrome oxidase I DNA barcodes of crocodilians meat selling in Hong Kong.

The crocodilians include true crocodiles, alligators, caimans, and gharial, and the trade of crocodilian products is regulated in accordance with the Convention of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Hong Kong does not have her own wild crocodilians; thus, all crocodilians meat available is presumably imported with proper license. Here, we obtained a dataset of cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene markers of 114 crocodilian meat samples (including frozen and dried crocodilian meat products) available in the contemporary market.

The genome and sex-dependent responses to temperature in the common yellow butterfly, Eurema hecabe.

Background: Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) is one of the most geographically widespread insect orders in the world, and its species play important and diverse ecological and applied roles. Climate change is one of the biggest challenges to biodiversity this century, and lepidopterans are vulnerable to climate change. Temperature-dependent gene expression differences are of relevance under the ongoing climate crisis.

Horseshoe crab genomes reveal the evolution of genes and microRNAs after three rounds of whole genome duplication.

Whole genome duplication (WGD) has occurred in relatively few sexually reproducing invertebrates. Consequently, the WGD that occurred in the common ancestor of horseshoe crabs ~135 million years ago provides a rare opportunity to decipher the evolutionary consequences of a duplicated invertebrate genome. Here, we present a high-quality genome assembly for the mangrove horseshoe crab Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda (1.

Highly efficient adhesion and inactivation of Escherichia coli on visible-light-driven amino-functionalized BiOBr hybrids.

Amino groups are successfully introduced on the surface of BiOBr nanosheets through a facile ammonia functionalization method. The surface morphology of the modified BiOBr hybrids varies on the concentration of applied ammonia solution. The active {001}-facet-exposed feature of nanosheets is well retained after amino-functionalization.

Reconstruction of ancient homeobox gene linkages inferred from a new high-quality assembly of the Hong Kong oyster (Magallana hongkongensis) genome.

Background: Homeobox-containing genes encode crucial transcription factors involved in animal, plant and fungal development, and changes to homeobox genes have been linked to the evolution of novel body plans and morphologies. In animals, some homeobox genes are clustered together in the genome, either as remnants from ancestral genomic arrangements, or due to coordinated gene regulation. Consequently, analyses of homeobox gene organization across animal phylogeny provide important insights into the evolution of genome organization and developmental gene control, and their interaction.

Infection patterns of dengue, Zika and endosymbiont Wolbachia in the mosquito Aedes albopictus in Hong Kong.

Background: The mosquito Aedes albopictus is a vector of dengue and Zika viruses. Insecticide-resistant mosquito populations have evolved in recent decades, suggesting that new control strategies are needed. Hong Kong has a monsoon-influenced humid subtropical climate, which favours the spread of mosquitoes.

Jellyfish genomes reveal distinct homeobox gene clusters and conservation of small RNA processing.

The phylum Cnidaria represents a close outgroup to Bilateria and includes familiar animals including sea anemones, corals, hydroids, and jellyfish. Here we report genome sequencing and assembly for true jellyfish Sanderia malayensis and Rhopilema esculentum. The homeobox gene clusters are characterised by interdigitation of Hox, NK, and Hox-like genes revealing an alternate pathway of ANTP class gene dispersal and an intact three gene ParaHox cluster.

X-Shaped α-FeOOH with Enhanced Charge Separation for Visible-Light-Driven Photocatalytic Overall Water Splitting.

Photocatalytic overall water splitting (POWS) is a promising route for converting solar energy into green and sustainable energy. Herein, we report a facile hydrothermal approach for the fabrication of x-shaped α-FeOOH photocatalysts containing high-index facets for POWS. The x-shaped α-FeOOH photocatalysts exhibited enhanced visible-light-driven POWS activities in comparison with that of FeOOH without x-structures, with a maximum H and O evolution rate of 9.

Distribution and current infection status of Biomphalaria straminea in Hong Kong.

Background: Schistosomiasis, also generally known as snail fever, is a parasitic disease caused by trematode flatworms of the genus Schistosoma. In Hong Kong and mainland China, the freshwater snail Biomphalaria straminea has been introduced and has the potential to transmit intestinal schistosomiasis caused by S. mansoni, a parasite of man which has a wide distribution in Africa and parts of the New World, especially Brazil.

Enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen production from aqueous sulfide/sulfite solution by ZnOS with simultaneous dye degradation under visible-light irradiation.

Photocatalytic hydrogen (H) production was performed by visible-light-driven (VLD) ternary photocatalyst, zinc oxysulfide (ZnOS) in the presence of sulfide/sulfite (S/SO) sacrificing system, with simultaneous azo-dye Reactive Violet 5 (RV5) degradation. Enhancement in both RV5 degradation and H production was achieved, with the promotion of H production after decolorization of RV5. The effect of initial concentration of RV5 was found to be influential on the enhancement of H during the simultaneous processes, with a maximum of 110% increase of H produced.

Interaction between bacterial cell membranes and nano-TiO revealed by two-dimensional FTIR correlation spectroscopy using bacterial ghost as a model cell envelope.

The interaction between microorganisms and nanoparticles is a crucial step towards understanding the subsequent biological effect. In this study, the interaction between TiO nanoparticles and bacterial cell membrane was investigated by Two-dimensional Correlation Fourier Transformation Infrared spectroscopy (2D-FTIR-COS) using bacterial ghosts (BGs), which are non-living bacterial cell envelopes devoid of cytoplasm. The synchronous map of 2D-FTIR-COS results indicated that the functionalities in proteins of BGs preferentially interacted with TiO nanoparticles; whereas the interaction of TiO nanoparticles with characteristic functionality in polysaccharides (COH) and phospholipids (PO) were very weak or insensitive.

Probing the intracellular organic matters released from the photocatalytic inactivation of bacteria using fractionation procedure and excitation-emission-matrix fluorescence.

Photocatalysis provides a "green" and effective strategy for water disinfection. During the photocatalytic disinfection process, intracellular organic matter (IOM) from bacterial cells may be released into the bulk solution. In this study, the role of released IOM in the photocatalytic bacterial inactivation was investigated by fractionation procedure and fluorescence excitation-emission-matrix (EEM) combined with parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) approaches.

Removal of harmful alga, Chattonella marina, by recyclable natural magnetic sphalerite.

Fish-killing harmful algal blooms (HABs) of Chattonella marina causes serious hazards and risks to fish farming and environment throughout the world. At present, it is necessary to explore cost-effective and recyclable materials for controlling C. marina blooms to reduce the cost and control the potential side effect to the environment.

Pattern Differentiation of Lateral Elbow Pain in Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Systematic Review.

Background: Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) uses a sophisticated diagnostic system called pattern differentiation, which allows for the tailor-made treatment of individuals.

Objective: This study aimed to identify the commonly used TCM patterns for lateral elbow pain (LEP), as well as the clinical features associated with these patterns.

Method: Journal literature in 15 major Chinese and English databases and textbooks from five medical libraries as well as Chinamaxx were reviewed.

Noble-metal loading reverses temperature dependent photocatalytic hydrogen generation in methanol-water solutions.

Co-catalysts and sacrificing reagents are important components in artificial photocatalytic processes. Here we demonstrate that noble-metal loading reverses the temperature dependent photocatalytic activity trends of photocatalytic hydrogen (H) generation with methanol as a sacrificing reagent. This finding suggested that visible and infrared light can enhance photocatalytic H generation via a heat effect over noble-metal/photocatalysts.

Rapid Change of Microbiota Diversity in the Gut but Not the Hepatopancreas During Gonadal Development of the New Shrimp Model Neocaridina denticulata.

During evolution of animals, their co-evolution with bacteria has generally been ignored. Recent studies have provided evidences that the symbiotic bacteria in the animal gut can either be essential or contributing to the plasticity of the host. The Crustacea includes crab, crayfish, lobster, and shrimp and represents the second largest subphylum on the planet.

The role and synergistic effect of the light irradiation and H2O2 in photocatalytic inactivation of Escherichia coli.

Inactivation of Escherichia coli K-12 was conducted by applying a continuous supplying of commercial H2O2 to mimic the H2O2 production in a photocatalytic system, and the contribution of H2O2 in photocatalytic inactivation was investigated using a modified "partition system" and five E. coli mutants. The concentration of exogenous H2O2 required for complete inactivation of bacterial cells was much higher than that produced in-situ in common photocatalytic system, indicating that H2O2 alone plays a minor role in photocatalytic inactivation.