Codonopsis pilosula twines either to the left or to the right

We report the twining handedness of Codonopsis pilosula, which has either a left- or right-handed helix among different plants, among different tillers within a single plant, and among different branches within a single tiller. The handedness was randomly distributed among different plants, among the tillers within the same plants, but not among the branches within the same tillers. Moreover, the handedness of the stems can be strongly influenced by external forces, i.e. the compulsory left and right forming inclined to produce more left- and right-handed twining stems, respectively, and the reversing could make a left-handed stem to be right-handed and vice versa. We also discuss the probable mechanisms these curious cases happen

Comparative phylogeography of the plateau zokor (Eospalax baileyi) and its host-associated flea (Neopsylla paranoma) in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

Background: Specific host-parasite systems often embody a particular co-distribution phenomenon, in which the parasite’s phylogeographic pattern is dependent on its host. In practice, however, both congruent and incongruent phylogeographic patterns between the host and the parasite have been reported. Here, we compared the population genetics of the plateau zokor (Eospalax baileyi), a subterranean rodent, and its host-associated flea species, Neopsylla paranoma, with an aim to determine whether the two animals share a similar phylogeographic pattern. Results: We sampled 130 host-parasite pairs from 17 localities in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP), China, and sequenced a mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) segment (~2,500 bp), including the complete COI and COII genes. We also detected 55 zokor and 75 flea haplotypes. AMOVA showed that the percentage of variation among the populations of zokors constituted 97.10%, while the within population variation was only 2.90%; for fleas, the values were 85.68% and 14.32%, respectively. Moreover, the flea Fst (fixation index) values were significantly smaller than in zokor. Although the Fst values between zokors and fleas were significantly and positively correlated (N =105, R =0.439, p =0.000), only a small amount (R2= 0.19) of the flea Fst variations could be explained by the zokor Fst variations. The two animals showed very distinct haplotype network structures from each other while co-phylogenetic analyses were unable to reject the hypothesis of an independence of speciation events. Conclusions: Zokors and fleas have very distinct population genetic patterns from each other, likely due to the influence of other sympatrically-distributed vertebrates on the transmission of fleas

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

Lithobius (Ezembius) longibasitarsus sp. n. and Lithobius (Ezembius) datongensis sp. n. (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 c 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. Both morphology and molecular data show that the specimens examined should be referred to Lithobius (Ezembius)

Regulation of Wnt Singaling Pathway by Poly (ADP-Ribose) Glycohydrolase (PARG) Silencing Suppresses Lung Cancer in Mice Induced by Benzo(a)pyrene Inhalation Exposure

Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon that specifically causes cancer and is widely distributed in the environment. Poly (ADP-ribosylation), as a key post-translational modification in BaP-induced carcinogenesis, is mainly catalyzed by poly (ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase (PARG) in eukaryotic organisms. Previously, it is found that PARG silencing can counteract BaP-induced carcinogenesis in vitro, but the mechanism remained unclear. In this study, we further examined this process in vivo by using heterozygous PARG knockout mice (PARG+/−). Wild-type and PARG+/− mice were individually treated with 0 or 10 μg/m3 BaP for 90 or 180 days by dynamic inhalation exposure. Pathological analysis of lung tissues showed that, with extended exposure time, carcinogenesis and injury in the lungs of WT mice was progressively worse; however, the injury was minimal and carcinogenesis was not detected in the lungs of PARG+/− mice. These results indicate that PARG gene silencing protects mice against lung cancer induced by BaP inhalation exposure. Furthermore, as the exposure time was extended, the protein phosphorylation level was down-regulated in WT mice, but up-regulated in PARG+/− mice. The relative expression of Wnt2b and Wnt5b mRNA in WT mice were significantly higher than those in the control group, but there was no significant difference in PARG+/− mice. Meanwhile, the relative expression of Wnt2b and Wnt5b proteins, as assessed by immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis, was significantly up-regulated by BaP in WT mice; while in PARG+/− mice it was not statistically affected. Our work provides initial evidence that PARG silencing suppresses BaP induced lung cancer and stabilizes the expression of Wnt ligands, PARG gene and Wnt ligands may provide new options for the diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer

The impact of monthly air pollution exposure and its interaction with individual factors: Insight from a large cohort study of comprehensive hospitalizations in Guangzhou area

BackgroundAlthough the association between short-term air pollution exposure and certain hospitalizations has been well documented, evidence on the effect of longer-term (e. g., monthly) air pollution on a comprehensive set of outcomes is still limited.MethodA total of 68,416 people in South China were enrolled and followed up during 2019–2020. Monthly air pollution level was estimated using a validated ordinary Kriging method and assigned to individuals. Time-dependent Cox models were developed to estimate the relationship between monthly PM10 and O3 exposures and the all-cause and cause-specific hospitalizations after adjusting for confounders. The interaction between air pollution and individual factors was also investigated.ResultsOverall, each 10 μg/m3 increase in PM10 concentration was associated with a 3.1% (95%CI: 1.3%−4.9%) increment in the risk of all-cause hospitalization. The estimate was even greater following O3 exposure (6.8%, 5.5%−8.2%). Furthermore, each 10 μg/m3 increase in PM10 was associated with a 2.3%-9.1% elevation in all the cause-specific hospitalizations except for those related to respiratory and digestive diseases. The same increment in O3 was relevant to a 4.7%−22.8% elevation in the risk except for respiratory diseases. Additionally, the older individuals tended to be more vulnerable to PM10 exposure (Pinteraction: 0.002), while the alcohol abused and those with an abnormal BMI were more vulnerable to the impact of O3 (Pinteraction: 0.052 and 0.011). However, the heavy smokers were less vulnerable to O3 exposure (Pinteraction: 0.032).ConclusionWe provide comprehensive evidence on the hospitalization hazard of monthly PM10 and O3 exposure and their interaction with individual factors

unigene

Unigenes of Xenopsylla cheopis transcriptome, assembled busing Trinity progra

annotation

The functional annotations by NR, SWISS-PROT, COG, KEGG, and GO databases

Data from: "Transcriptome resources for the oriental rat flea and primary plague vector, Xenopsylla cheopis" in Genomic Resources Notes Accepted 1 August 2015 to 31 September 2015

This article documents the public availability of raw transcriptome sequence data, 45,254 assembled unigenes as well as their functional annotations of a plague vector Xenopsylla cheopis

Data from: Riverine barriers have little influence on genetic structure of Rattus tanezumi

Rivers may hinder population migration and promote genetic differentiation of terrestrial animals. Most studies testing the riverine barrier hypothesis have yielded positive results, while very few studies do not support this hypothesis. In this study, 384 Asian house rats (Rattus tanezumi) were collected fromYunnan,China. By combined use of the sequence markers of mitochondrial (mtDNA) and nuclear (IRBP), we tested the influence of five local rivers on the population genetics of R. tanezumi. A total of 81 mtDNA haplotypes and 135 IRBP haplotypes were determined, and many of which were shared by two or more of the six geographic regions. AMOVA analyses showed that most variations happened either within populations or among populations, while very few variations (<15%) happened among the six geographic regions formed by the five rivers. SAMOVA analysis classified the mtDNA sequences into three groups, while no genetic differentiation was detected on IRBP. Our results concluded that riverine barriers in the study area have little influence on the genetic structure of R. tanezumi

File S1-4 and Table S1

File S1-4 and Table S