Molecular systematic position of the Sarawak Malay badger, Mydaus javanensis

The presence of the Malay badger, Mydaus javanensis, has been recorded for nearly 100 years in Sarawak, Malaysia, but it has rarely been seen. In addition, this animal is among the least studied carnivores in Borneo. The Malay badger is not protected under the Sarawak Wildlife Protection Ordinance. To initiate conservation efforts, we conducted a phylogenetic analysis to characterize the Malay badger’s genetic attributes. In August 2013, a Malay badger was trapped at Mentung Berawan, Serian, and sent to the Matang Wildlife Centre. We managed to collect its genetic materials and sequenced 356 bp of 12S rRNA and 405 bp of cytochrome b (Cyt b) genes. We portrayed its phylogenetic relationships with other Mephitidae family members and calculated its molecular divergence. Our results indicated that the Malay badger could be distinguished from its sister taxon, M. marchei. The teledu clade diverged 2.71 million years ago, after the divergences of Mephitis mephitis and Spilogale putorius

Phylogenetic relationships of Heterotrigona itama in Malaysia based on COI DNA sequences

In Malaysia, stingless bee Heterotrigona itama is one of the bee species that is actively reared and mostly utilized in meliponiculture practice. In this preliminary study, we described the phylogenetic relationship scenario among selected localities of H. itama in Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo. Genomic DNA from 16 samples of five localities in Peninsular Malaysia (Kedah, Kelantan, Melaka and Johor) and Borneo (Sarawak) was successfully extracted and sequenced for phylogenetic analysis. The 489 bp mitochondrial DNA of COI sequences was generated for phylogenetic tree reconstruction and population genetic analysis. Tree topology indicated two monophyletic clades which belong to Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak specimens with high bootstrap support. Five population genetic parameters were studied including nucleotide diversity (π), net nucleotide divergence (Da), nucleotide subdivision (Nst), population subdivision (FST) and gene flow (Nm). The Sarawak samples had the highest scores for all five parameters indicating its genetic affinity to the population in Peninsular Malaysia. Haplotype analysis showed that Kedah-Kelantan samples shared the same haplotype while Sarawak samples had its own unique haplotype with no sharing of haplotypes between other localities. Minimum-Spanning Network generated a visual representation of the relationship reflect a clear separation between Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia stingless bees samples. This preliminary study shows the importance of understanding the systematic data towards conservation efforts of Malaysian stingless bee’s diversity

Metabarcoding of Parasitic Wasp, Dolichogenidea metesae(Nixon)(Hymenoptera: Braconidae) That Parasitizing Bagworm, Metisa plana Walker (Lepidoptera: Psychidae)

Microbiome studies of the parasitoid wasp, Dolichogenidea metesae (Nixon) (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) are important because D. metesae has potential as a biological control agent to suppress the pest, Metisa plana Walker (Lepidoptera, Psychidae). Three field populations of parasitic wasps with different Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices to control M. plana collected from Perak state (Tapah) and Johor state (Yong Peng and Batu Pahat districts) in Peninsular Malaysia were studied. Bacterial community composition and structure were analysed using α and β diversity metrics. Proteobacteria (83.31%) and Bacteroidetes (6.80%) were the most dominant phyla, whereas unknown family from order Rhizobiales was the most abundant family found in all populations followed by Pseudomonadaceae. Family Micrococcaceae was absent in Tapah. Rhizobiales gen. sp. and Pseudomonas sp. were abundant in all populations. Pearson’s correlation analysis showed the strongest correlation between individuals of Batu Pahat and Yong Peng (r = 0.89827, p < 0.05), followed by Tapah and Yong Peng with r = 0.75358, p < 0.05 and Batu Pahat and Tapah (r = 0.69552, p < 0.05). We hypothesise that low diversity and richness in Tapah might be due to direct and indirect effect of insecticides application. This preliminary data was the first study to do inventory of the microbiomes in the gut of the D. metesae

Sequence variation data of the mitochondrial DNA D-loop region of the captive Malayan Gaur (Bos gaurus hubbacki)

This article contains data of the sequence variation in the mitochondrial DNA D-loop region of the Malayan gaur (Bos gaurus hubbacki), locally known as the seladang, from two captive centers. Thirty fecal samples of Malayan gaur were collected from Jenderak Selatan Wildlife Conservation Center (Pahang) and the Sungkai Wildlife Reserve (Perak) for DNA extraction and amplification with polymerase chain reactions. DNA sequences were then analyzed using neighbor joining (NJ) and maximum parsimony (MP) methods. Based on the 652 base pairs obtained, we found seven variable characters with a value of 1%. The genetic distance between the two captive centers was 0.001. Haplotype analyses detected only four haplotypes between these two captive centers. Both NJ and MP trees demonstrate that all individuals in the Jenderak and Sungkai captive centers are in the same clade. Genetic variation of the Malayan gaur in these centers is considered low, possibly because individuals share the same common parent. This sequence variation data are of paramount importance for designing a proper breeding and management program of the Malayan gaur in the future

Phylogenetic relationships of Island flying fox, Pteropus hypomelanus (chiroptera: Pteropodidae) along the east and west coast of Peninsular Malaysia based on Cytochrome b sequences

The study was conducted to determine phylogenetic relationships of Island Flying Fox (Pteropus hypomelanus) along the East and West Coast of the Peninsular Malaysia based on Cytochrome b sequences of mitochondrial DNA and to see the effectiveness of using this region in explaining the relationships among them. There are 29 genetic samples were collected from the several islands includes Dangli Island (Langkawi), Tioman Island (Johor), Tinggi Island (Johor), Redang Island (Terengganu) and Pangkor Island (Perak). Meanwhile, one sequences from the GeneBank represent as outgroup, Pteropus vampyrus to construct a complete phylogenetic tree. Tree topologies were built using the Neighbour Joining (NJ) and Maximum Parsimony (MP) methods. The resulting phylogenetic tree showed a clear separation between (North-West) and (South-East) population supported with 100% bootstrap value. The effectiveness of Cytochrome b has successfully resolved the phylogenetic tree when separating individuals between the populations. This study can contribute to the resolution of taxonomic and systematic problems of Island Flying Fox in Peninsular Malaysia by looking at the effectiveness of Cytochrome b region in explaining the phylogenetic relationships between the populations

First report on metabarcoding analysis of gut microbiome in Island Flying Fox (Pteropus hypomelanus) in island populations of Malaysia

Flying fox (Pteropus hypomelanus) belongs to the frugivorous bats, which play a crucial role in maintaining proper functioning of an ecosystem and conservation of the environment. Bats are well-known carriers of pathogenic viruses, such as BatCov RaTG13 from the coronavirus family that share 90.55% with SARS-CoV-2, the pathogen causing recent global pandemic coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19). However, bats’ possible role as a carrier of pathogenic bacteria is less explored. Here, using metabarcoding analysis through high-throughput sequencing, we explored the gut microbiome composition of different island populations on the east and west coasts of Peninsula Malaysia. The 16S rRNA gene in samples from Redang Island, Langkawi Island, Pangkor Island and Tinggi Island was amplified. Bacterial community composition and structure were analysed with α and β diversity metrics. A total of 25,658 operational taxonomic units at 97% similarity were assigned to eight phyla, 44 families, 61 genera and 94 species of microbes. The Proteobacteria was the dominant phylum in all populations. Meanwhile, the genera Enterobacter, Pseudomonas and Klebsiella, isolated in this study, were previously found in the rectum of other fruit bats. Our analyses suggest that Redang Island and Langkawi Island have high bacteria diversity. Thus, we found geographic locality is a strong predictor of microbial community composition and observed a positive correlation between ecological features and bacterial richness

First report on metabarcoding analysis of gut microbiome in Island Flying Fox (Pteropus hypomelanus) in island populations of Malaysia

Flying fox (Pteropus hypomelanus) belongs to the frugivorous bats, which play a crucial role in maintaining proper functioning of an ecosystem and conservation of the environment. Bats are well-known carriers of pathogenic viruses, such as BatCov RaTG13 from the coronavirus family that share 90.55% with SARS-CoV-2, the pathogen causing recent global pandemic coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19). However, bats’ possible role as a carrier of pathogenic bacteria is less explored. Here, using metabarcoding analysis through high-throughput sequencing, we explored the gut microbiome composition of different island populations on the east and west coasts of Peninsula Malaysia. The 16S rRNA gene in samples from Redang Island, Langkawi Island, Pangkor Island and Tinggi Island was amplified. Bacterial community composition and structure were analysed with α and β diversity metrics. A total of 25,658 operational taxonomic units at 97% similarity were assigned to eight phyla, 44 families, 61 genera and 94 species of microbes. The Proteobacteria was the dominant phylum in all populations. Meanwhile, the genera Enterobacter, Pseudomonas and Klebsiella, isolated in this study, were previously found in the rectum of other fruit bats. Our analyses suggest that Redang Island and Langkawi Island have high bacteria diversity. Thus, we found geographic locality is a strong predictor of microbial community composition and observed a positive correlation between ecological features and bacterial richness

First report on metabarcoding analysis of gut microbiome in Island Flying Fox (Pteropus hypomelanus) in island populations of Malaysia

Flying fox (Pteropus hypomelanus) belongs to the frugivorous bats, which play a crucial role in maintaining proper functioning of an ecosystem and conservation of the environment. Bats are well-known carriers of pathogenic viruses, such as BatCov RaTG13 from the coronavirus family that share 90.55% with SARS-CoV-2, the pathogen causing recent global pandemic coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19). However, bats' possible role as a carrier of pathogenic bacteria is less explored. Here, using metabarcoding analysis through high-throughput sequencing, we explored the gut microbiome composition of different island populations on the east and west coasts of Peninsula Malaysia. The 16S rRNA gene in samples from Redang Island, Langkawi Island, Pangkor Island and Tinggi Island was amplified. Bacterial community composition and structure were analysed with α and β diversity metrics. A total of 25,658 operational taxonomic units at 97% similarity were assigned to eight phyla, 44 families, 61 genera and 94 species of microbes. The Proteobacteria was the dominant phylum in all populations. Meanwhile, the genera Enterobacter, Pseudomonas and Klebsiella, isolated in this study, were previously found in the rectum of other fruit bats. Our analyses suggest that Redang Island and Langkawi Island have high bacteria diversity. Thus, we found geographic locality is a strong predictor of microbial community composition and observed a positive correlation between ecological features and bacterial richness