A simple and effective method to enrich endogenous DNA from mammalian faeces.

Utilization of faeces has long been a popular approach for genetic and ecological studies of wildlife. However, the success of molecular marker genotyping and genome resequencing is often unpredictable due to insufficient enrichment of endogenous DNA in the total faecal DNA that is dominated by bacterial DNA. Here, we report a simple and cheap method named PEERS to predominantly lyse animal cells over bacteria by using sodium dodecyl sulphate so as to discharge endogenous DNA into liquid phase before bacterial DNA.

Sex-Biased Gene Expression and Evolution in the Cerebrum and Syrinx of Chinese Hwamei ().

It is common that males and females display sexual dimorphisms, which usually result from sex-biased gene expression. Chinese hwamei () is a good model for studying sex-biased gene expression because the song between the sexes is quite different. In this study, we analyze cerebrum and syrinx sex-biased gene expression and evolution using the assembled Chinese hwamei transcriptome.

An efficient pipeline for ancient DNA mapping and recovery of endogenous ancient DNA from whole-genome sequencing data.

Ancient DNA research has developed rapidly over the past few decades due to improvements in PCR and next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies, but challenges still exist. One major challenge in relation to ancient DNA research is to recover genuine endogenous ancient DNA sequences from raw sequencing data. This is often difficult due to degradation of ancient DNA and high levels of contamination, especially homologous contamination that has extremely similar genetic background with that of the real ancient DNA.

Forensic validation of a panel of 12 SNPs for identification of Mongolian wolf and dog.

Wolf (Canis lupus) is a species included in appendices of CITES and is often encountered in cases of alleged poaching and trafficking of their products. When such crimes are suspected, those involved may attempt to evade legal action by claiming that the animals involved are domestic dogs (C. l.

Diversity of Antimicrobial Peptides in Three Partially Sympatric Frog Species in Northeast Asia and Implications for Evolution.

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are evolutionarily ancient molecules that play an essential role in innate immunity across taxa from invertebrates to vertebrates. The evolution system of AMP system has not been well explained in the literature. In this study, we cloned and sequenced AMP transcriptomes of three frog species, namely Rana dybowskii, Rana amurensis, and Pelophylax nigromaculatus, which are partially sympatric in northeast Asia, but show different habitat preferences.

Distinguishing extant elephants ivory from mammoth ivory using a short sequence of cytochrome b gene.

Trade in ivory from extant elephant species namely Asian elephant (Elephas maximus), African savanna elephant (Loxodonta africana) and African forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis) is regulated internationally, while the trade in ivory from extinct species of Elephantidae, including woolly mammoth, is unregulated. This distinction creates opportunity for laundering and trading elephant ivory as mammoth ivory. The existing morphological and molecular genetics methods do not reliably distinguish the source of ivory items that lack clear identification characteristics or for which the quality of extracted DNA cannot support amplification of large gene fragments.

Signals of positive selection in mitochondrial protein-coding genes of woolly mammoth: Adaptation to extreme environments?

The mammoths originated in warm and equatorial Africa and later colonized cold and high-latitude environments. Studies on nuclear genes suggest that woolly mammoth had evolved genetic variations involved in processes relevant to cold tolerance, including lipid metabolism and thermogenesis, and adaptation to extremely varied light and darkness cycles. The mitochondria is a major regulator of cellular energy metabolism, thus the mitogenome of mammoths may also exhibit adaptive evolution.

Improving Species Identification of Ancient Mammals Based on Next-Generation Sequencing Data.

The taxonomical identification merely based on morphology is often difficult for ancient remains. Therefore, universal or specific PCR amplification followed by sequencing and BLAST (basic local alignment search tool) search has become the most frequently used genetic-based method for the species identification of biological samples, including ancient remains. However, it is challenging for these methods to process extremely ancient samples with severe DNA fragmentation and contamination.

Influence of pairwise genetic distance computation and reference sample size on the reliability of species identification using Cyt b and COI gene fragments in a group of native passerines.

Species identification is fundamental to wildlife forensic practice. The desirability of molecular genetic methods is increasing rapidly. The sequence of a marker, rather than its particular diagnostic nucleotides, provides greater safety through comparisons between intra- and inter-specific pairwise genetic distances.

[Time characteristics of imported malaria cases in Yunnan Province].

To investigate the time distribution characteristics and the epidemic trends of imported malaria cases in Yunnan Province. The malaria case records and epidemiological history data of Yunnan Province were collected, and the local infection cases were excluded. The data were statistical analyzed.

[Polymorphism analysis of the block 5 region in merozoite surface protein-1 gene of imported and local Plasmodium vivax in Yunnan Province].

Objective: To analyze the sequence of Plasmodium vivax merozoite surface protein-1(PvMSP-1) and allele polymorphism in imported and local vivax malaria parasites in Yunnan Province.

Methods: Blood samples on filter paper were collected from imported and local vivax malaria cases in Yunnan Province during August 2012 and September 2015 and information of epidemiological history was recorded. Plasmodium DNA was extracted by a DNA extraction kit, and the block 5 region in PvMSP-1 gene was amplified by PCR.

[Geographical features of malaria in Yunnan Province].

Objective: To understand the geographical features of malaria in Yunnan Province, so as to provide the reference for malaria elimination.

Methods: The data of malaria in Yunnan Province from 2012 to 2015 were collected and analyzed.

Results: Totally 2 586 malaria cases were reported in Yunnan Province from 2012 to 2015, in which 274 (10.

[Polymorphism Analysis of Plasmodium falciparum K13 Gene Kelch Domain Associated with Resistance to Artemisinin in Yunnan Province].

Objective: To investigate the polymorphism of Plasmodium falciparum K13 gene kelch domain region and provide basis for understanding the artemisinin resistance of falciparum malaria in Yunnan Province.

Methods: The filter blood samples and relative information of falciparum malaria cases were collected in 16 prefectures of Yunnan Province from January 2013 to December 2015. The source of infection was determined by epidemiological investigation and the place of case discovery was confirmed according to the China Information System for Disease Control and Prevention Epidemic Registration.

[Analysis of polymorphism of 2 gene in from falciparum malaria patients in Yunnan Province].

Objective: To analyze the polymorphism of histidine rich protein 2 (HRP II) gene in (2) from falciparum malaria patients in Yunnan Province, so as to lay the foundation for studying the defection of antigen genes of .

Methods: The filter paper blood samples and related information of falciparum malaria cases reported were obtained in Yunnan Province from August 2012 to September 2015. Under the guidance of the specific primers, the exon2 regions in 2 gene in from DNA samples were amplified by PCR, and the PCR products were sequenced.

[Polymorphism of 72-76 Coding Sequence within Exon 2 Region of Pfcrt in Yunnan Province].

Objective: To understand the endemic situation of chloroquine-resistant falciparum malaria in Yunnan Province by analyzing the polymorphism of the 72-76 amino-acid coding sequence within exon 2 region of Plasmodium falciparum chloroquine resistant transporter (Pfcrt) gene （referred to as the 72-76 coding region） in malaria patients.

Methods: The filter paper blood samples and relative information of falciparum malaria cases were collected in 13 prefectures of Yunnan Province （excluding Diqing, Wenshan, Zhaotong prefectures） from August 2012 to September 2015. The source of infection was determined by epidemiological investigation and the place of case discovery was confirmed according to the endemic registration in the Infectious Diseases Reporting Manage System, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

[Quality Analysis of Laboratory Malaria Diagnosis in Yunnan Province during 2012-2014].

Objective: To assess the quality of microscopy-based malaria diagnosis in Yunnan Province from August 2012 to October 2014, and analyze the relevant factors.

Methods: Blood samples were collected from patients diagnosed as malaria by microscopy in county-level laboratories of Yunnan Province. The blood smears and blood filter paper samples were prepared and submitted to the provincial malaria diagnosis reference laboratory for further confirmation by both microscopy and the genetic approach.

Metformin protects cardiomyocyte from doxorubicin induced cytotoxicity through an AMP-activated protein kinase dependent signaling pathway: an in vitro study.

Doxorubicin (Dox) is one of the most widely used antitumor drugs, but its cumulative cardiotoxicity have been major concerns in cancer therapeutic practice for decades. Recent studies established that metformin (Met), an oral anti-diabetic drug, provides protective effects in Dox-induced cardiotoxicity. Met has been shown to increase fatty acid oxidation, an effect mediated by AMP activated protein kinase (AMPK).

Effectiveness of femur bone indexes to segregate wild from captive minks, Mustela vison, and forensic implications for small mammals.

Utilization of free-living populations of endangered wildlife species is usually strictly prohibited or restricted. Farming of endangered species can provide products that are in demand as a countermeasure. A novel forensic issue arises because it becomes necessary to discriminate the origin of given wildlife products.

[Application of genetic diversity in the researches on rodents].

Genetic diversity is the base of the species diversity and ecosystem diversity, and also the foundation for biological evolution and species differentiation. Furthermore, genetic diversity is important evidence for evaluation of biological resources of nature. The genetic diversity data from a wide variety of rodents have many complex applications.

Comparison of form-deprived myopia and lens-induced myopia in guinea pigs.

Aim: To study the efficacy difference between form-deprived myopia (FDM) and lens-induced myopia (LIM), the degree of myopia, axial length and pathological changes of the posterior sclera from guinea pigs were evaluated.

Methods: Four-week pigmented guinea pigs were randomly assigned into 3 groups, including normal control (n=6), FDM group with monocular cover (n=11) and LIM group with monocular -7D lens treatment (n=11). FDM group was form-deprived while LIM group was lens-induced for 14 d.

Expressions of type I collagen, α2 integrin and β1 integrin in sclera of guinea pig with defocus myopia and inhibitory effects of bFGF on the formation of myopia.

Aim: To investigate the expressions of type I collagen, α2 integrin and β1 integrin in the posterior sclera of guinea pigs with defocus myopia and whether basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) injection inhibits the formation and development of myopia by upregulating the expression of type I collagen, α2 integrin and β1 integrin.

Methods: After 14 days of treatment, the refractive state and axial length were measured and the levels of type I collagen, α2 integrin and β1 integrin were assayed in the posterior sclerae of groups of guinea pigs that wore a monocular -7D polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) lens or had -7D lens wear followed by the peribulbar injection of Phosphate Buffer Solution (PBS) or bFGF. The untreated fellow eye served as a control.

In vitro silencing of the insulin receptor attenuates cellular accumulation of fibronectin in renal mesangial cells.

Background: Insulin receptor (InsR) and insulin signaling proteins are widely distributed throughout the kidney cortex. Insulin signaling can act in the kidney in multiple ways, some of which may be totally independent of its primary role of the maintenance of whole-body glucose homeostasis. However, descriptions of the insulin signaling in renal glomerular mesangial cells (MCs) are quite limited and the roles of insulin signaling in MC functions have not been sufficiently elucidated.

An alternate and reversible method for flight restraint of cranes.

Flight restraint is important for zoos, safaris, and breeding centers for large birds. Currently used techniques for flight restraint include both surgical and non-surgical approaches. Surgical approaches usually cause permanent change to or removal of tendon, patagial membrane, or wing bones, and can cause pain and inflammation.