A new skink of the genus Sphenomorphus Fitzinger, 1843 (Squamata: Scincidae) from Hon Ba Nature Reserve, southern Vietnam.

A new forest skink of the genus Sphenomorphus Fitzinger, 1843 is described from Khanh Hoa Province, southern Vietnam based on morphological characters of four specimens and a fragment of 653 nucleotides of the gene COI. Sphenomorphus yersini sp. nov.

Large-scale phylogenetic analyses provide insights into unrecognized diversity and historical biogeography of Asian leaf-litter frogs, genus Leptolalax (Anura: Megophryidae).

Southeast Asia and southern China (SEA-SC) harbor a highly diverse and endemic flora and fauna that is under increasing threat. An understanding of the biogeographical history and drivers of this diversity is lacking, especially in some of the most diverse and threatened groups. The Asian leaf-litter frog genus Leptolalax Dubois 1980 is a forest-dependent genus distributed throughout SEA-SC, making it an ideal study group to examine specific biogeographic hypotheses.

An overview of the accumulation of microcystins in aquatic ecosystems.

Cyanotoxins produced by toxic cyanobacteria pose a major, worldwide environmental threat to freshwater ecosystems. Microcystins (MCs) are considered to be the most hazardous groups. Indeed, some of the largest aquatic ecosystems on the earth are being contaminated with MCs.

Markhacanasin C, cycloartane triterpenoid from the leaves of Markhamia stipulata var. canaense V.S. Dang.

One new cycloartane triterpenoid, named markhacanasin C (1), together with three known triterpenoids, oleanolic acid (2), ursolic acid (3) and 6β,19α-dihydroxyursolic acid (4) were isolated by various chromatographic methods from the most cytotoxic fraction of the ethyl acetate extract of Markhamia stipulata var. canaense V.S.

Biomass accumulation of Panax vietnamensis in cell suspension cultures varies with addition of plant growth regulators and organic additives.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of plant growth regulators including kinetin (KN), benzyl adenine and naphthalene acetic acid, yeast extract and casein hydrolyzate on biomass accumulation of Vietnamese ginseng Panax vietnamensis (P. vietnamensis) in cell suspension culture.

Methods: Cell suspension cultures were established from friable calluses derived from leaves and petioles of 3-year-old in-vitro P.

Histological Characteristics on the Testes of Mud Spiny Lobster, Panulirus polyphagus (Herbst, 1793).

Background And Objective: Mud spiny lobsters, Panulirus polyphagus (P. polyphagus) are one of the most important fisheries resources now-a-days due to quality that it's possessed. However, there is still lack of in-depth study about this species mainly on males testicular characteristics and sexual maturity size.

Variations of five eIF4E genes across cassava accessions exhibiting tolerant and susceptible responses to cassava brown streak disease.

Cassava (Manihot esculenta) is an important tropical subsistence crop that is severely affected by cassava brown streak disease (CBSD) in East Africa. The disease is caused by Cassava brown streak virus (CBSV) and Ugandan cassava brown streak virus (UCBSV). Both have a (+)-sense single-stranded RNA genome with a 5' covalently-linked viral protein, which functionally resembles the cap structure of mRNA, binds to eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) or its analogues, and then enable the translation of viral genomic RNA in host cells.

Molecular, morphological and acoustic assessment of the genus (Anura, Megophryidae) from Langbian Plateau, southern Vietnam, with description of a new species.

Asian Mountain Toads () are a poorly known genus of mostly small-sized anurans from southeastern China and Indochina. To shed light on the systematics within this group, the most comprehensive mitochondrial DNA phylogeny for the genus to date is presented, and the taxonomy and biogeography of this group is discussed. Complimented with extensive morphological data (including associated statistical analyses), molecular data indicates that the Langbian Plateau, in the southern Annamite Mountains, Vietnam, is one of the diversity centres of this genus where three often sympatric species of are found, , and an undescribed species.

The 33.1 kDa Excretory/secretory Protein Produced by Larvae Serves as a Potential Common Biomarker for Serodiagnosis of Toxocariasis in Paratenic Animals and Human.

Background: Toxocariasis is a prevalent zoonosis disease caused by the closely related nematode species and which parasitise Canidae and Felidae respectively. In paratenic hosts, larvae of these worms cause multiple organ damage. However, how these paratenic hosts response to these worms and whether any common biomarker can be applied for diagnosis are still unclear.

Barcoding utility in a mega-diverse, cross-continental genus: keeping pace with Cyrtodactylus geckos.

Over the past decade, DNA barcoding has become a staple of low-cost molecular systematic investigations. The availability of universal primers and subsidized sequencing projects (PolarBOL, SharkBOL, SpongeBOL) have driven this popularity, often without appropriate investigation into the utility of barcoding data for the taxonomic group of interest. Here, our primary aim is to determine the phylogenetic value of DNA barcoding (mitochondrial locus COI) within the gecko genus Cyrtodactylus.

A new color pattern of the Bungarus candidus complex (Squamata: Elapidae) from Vietnam based on morphological and molecular data.

Kraits with black and white bands from Nui Chua National Park, central Vietnam are morphologically similar to the Burmese Krait, Bungarus magnimaculatus, however, analysis of molecular data finds them to be nested within the B. candidus complex.

First report on free and covalently bound microcystins in fish and bivalves from Vietnam: Assessment of risks to humans.

The free and covalently bound microcystins (MCs) in 3 fish and 2 bivalves from the Dau Tieng Reservoir in Vietnam were investigated for the first time in the present study. The results showed that all species were contaminated with MCs. Our findings indicate that eating the muscle of fish from the Dau Tieng Reservoir is safe but that eating the bivalves is not safe during toxic cyanobacterial bloom episodes.

Integrative taxonomy of the genus Buchannan, 1800 (Mollusca, Gastropoda, Pulmonata, Onchidiidae).

In an effort to clarify the species diversity of onchidiid slugs, the taxonomy of the genus Buchannan, 1800 is revised using an integrative approach. New, fresh specimens were collected in a large number of places, including type localities. The genus is redefined here as a clade including only three species which are strongly supported by both morphological and molecular data.

Red River barrier and Pleistocene climatic fluctuations shaped the genetic structure of complex (Anura: Microhylidae) in southern China and Indochina.

South China and Indochina host striking species diversity and endemism. Complex tectonic and climatic evolutions appear to be the main drivers of the biogeographic patterns. In this study, based on the geologic history of this region, we test 2 hypotheses using the evolutionary history of species complex.

A novel multilocus phylogenetic estimation reveals unrecognized diversity in Asian horned toads, genus Megophrys sensu lato (Anura: Megophryidae).

The horned toad assemblage, genus Megophrys sensu lato, currently includes three groups previously recognized as the genera Atympanophrys, Xenophrys and Megophrys sensu stricto. The taxonomic status and species composition of the three groups remain controversial due to conflicting phenotypic analyses and insufficient phylogenetic reconstruction; likewise, the position of the monotypic Borneophrys remains uncertain with respect to the horned toads. Further, the diversity of the horned toads remains poorly understood, especially for widespread species.

A new species of kukri snake (Squamata: Colubridae: Oligodon Fitzinger, 1826) from Con Dao Islands, southern Vietnam.

We describe a new kukri snake, Oligodon condaoensis sp. nov., from Con Dao Islands, southern Vietnam based on the morphological characters of four specimens.

Microcystin accumulation and biochemical responses in the edible clam Corbiculaleana P. exposed to cyanobacterial crude extract.

We investigated the accumulation and effects of cyanobacterial crude extract (CCE) containing microcystins (MCs) on the edible clam Corbiculaleana P. Toxic effects were evaluated through the activity of antioxidant and detoxification enzymes: catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione-S-transferases (GSTs) from gills, foot, mantle and remaining soft tissues. Clams were exposed to CCE containing 400μg MC-LReq/L for 10days and were then kept in toxin-free water for 5days.

Effect of cell membrane permeability protein on porcine oocyte vitrification.

Background: The discovery of proteins with inherent cell membrane-translocating activity will expand our ability to study and manipulate various intracellular processes in living systems.

Objective: We investigated the effect of TAT-EGFP (trans-activator of transcription-enhanced green fluorescent protein) intra-cellular delivery on the survival and development of mature porcine oocytes after cryopreservasion.

Materials And Methods: Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) collected from follicles 3 to 6 mm in diameter in abattoir-derived oocytesries of prepubertal gilts were on vitro matured (IVM).

A New Species of Cleisostoma (Orchidaceae) from the Hon Ba Nature Reserve in Vietnam: A Multidisciplinary Assessment.

A new species, Cleisostoma yersinii J. Ponert & Vuong, is described and illustrated based on the material collected in the Hon Ba Nature Reserve in southern Vietnam. In addition to conventional (macro)morphological examination we comparatively investigated root and leaf anatomy (using light and fluorescent microscopy), assessed nectar characteristics (using HPLC analysis), determined nuclear genome size (using DNA flow cytometry) and reconstructed phylogenetic relationships (using nrITS sequences).

Modelling and prediction of air pollutant transport during the 2014 biomass burning and forest fires in peninsular Southeast Asia.

During the dry season, from November to April, agricultural biomass burning and forest fires especially from March to late April in mainland Southeast Asian countries of Myanmar, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam frequently cause severe particulate pollution not only in the local areas but also across the whole region and beyond due to the prevailing meteorological conditions. Recently, the BASE-ASIA (Biomass-burning Aerosols in South East Asia: Smoke Impact Assessment) and 7-SEAS (7-South-East Asian Studies) studies have provided detailed analysis and important understandings of the transport of pollutants, in particular, the aerosols and their characteristics across the region due to biomass burning in Southeast Asia (SEA). Following these studies, in this paper, we study the transport of particulate air pollution across the peninsular region of SEA and beyond during the March 2014 burning period using meteorological modelling approach and available ground-based and satellite measurements to ascertain the extent of the aerosol pollution and transport in the region of this particular event.

Intertidal nematode communities in the Mekong estuaries of Vietnam and their potential for biomonitoring.

Nematode communities in eight Mekong estuaries were investigated during the dry season. The aim of the study was to identify the structure and the diversity of the communities in relation to the main environmental characteristics. In each estuary, three to four intertidal sampling stations were identified at regular distances from the mouth to up to 45 km land inward.

Binhthuanomon vinhtan, a new genus and new species of semi-terrestrial freshwater crab (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura: Potamidae) from south central Vietnam.

A new genus and new species of semi-terrestrial crab of the family Potamidae, Binhthuanomon vinhtan n. sp., is described from south central Vietnam.

The systematics and independent evolution of cave ecomorphology in distantly related clades of Bent-toed Geckos (Genus Cyrtodactylus Gray, 1827) from the Mekong Delta and islands in the Gulf of Thailand.

An integrative taxonomic analysis of the distantly related Cyrtodactylus condorensis and intermedius species complexes of the Mekong Delta revealed that C. paradoxus is a junior synonym of C. condorensis and that C.

Downregulation of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Enhances Chemosensitivity by Induction of Apoptosis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells.

Objective: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), one of the most common cancers worldwide, is resistant to anticancer drugs. Angiogenesis is a major cause of tumor resistance to chemotherapy, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a key regulator of angiogenesis. The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of small-interfering RNA targeting VEGF gene (VEGF-siRNA) on chemosensitivity of HCC cells in vitro.