Six Thallus Surface Types of Coralline Algae with Descriptions of Two New Records of Amphiroa beauvoisii and Neogoniolithon setchellii in Sanya reef, China

Coralline algae are globally distributed calcifying species and play critical ecological roles to marine ecosystems by contributing significantly to their structural complexity and diversity. Thallus surface types of historical samples in Sanya coral reef reserve were studied based on the scanning electron microscope (SEM) method. Our results show six thallus surface types within the study area: Corallina-type, Jania-type, Leptophytum-type, Phymatolithon-type, Pneophyllum-type, and Spongites-type. The Phymatolithon-type is the dominant surface type in Sanya reefs. Two new record species in the region are described: Amphiroa beauvoisii and Neogoniolithon setchellii. Although thallus surface types provide useful diagnostics characters for distinguishing coralline algae at tribe or subfamily level, species identification needs to refer to the reproductive features. This is the first surface study of coralline algae in the South China Sea. This result provides the baseline data needed for the monitoring and management of reef-building organisms of coral reef in China

Conservation of noncoding microsatellites in plants: implication for gene regulation

BACKGROUND: Microsatellites are extremely common in plant genomes, and in particular, they are significantly enriched in the 5' noncoding regions. Although some 5' noncoding microsatellites involved in gene regulation have been described, the general properties of microsatellites as regulatory elements are still unknown. To address the question of microsatellites associated with regulatory elements, we have analyzed the conserved noncoding microsatellite sequences (CNMSs) in the 5' noncoding regions by inter- and intragenomic phylogenetic footprinting in the Arabidopsis and Brassica genomes. RESULTS: We identified 247 Arabidopsis-Brassica orthologous and 122 Arabidopsis paralogous CNMSs, representing 491 CT/GA and CTT/GAA repeats, which accounted for 10.6% of these types located in the 500-bp regions upstream of coding sequences in the Arabidopsis genome. Among these identified CNMSs, 18 microsatellites show high conservation in the regulatory regions of both orthologous and paralogous genes, and some of them also appear in the corresponding positions of more distant homologs in Arabidopsis, as well as in other plants. A computational scan of CNMSs for known cis-regulatory elements showed that light responsive elements were clustered in the region of CT/GA repeats, as well as salicylic acid responsive elements in the (CTT)(n)/(GAA)(n )sequences. Patterns of gene expression revealed that 70–80% of CNMS (CTT)(n)/(GAA)(n )associated genes were regulated by salicylic acid, which was consistent with the prediction of regulatory elements in silico. CONCLUSION: Our analyses showed that some noncoding microsatellites were conserved in plants and appeared to be ancient. These CNMSs served as regulatory elements involved in light and salicylic acid responses. Our findings might have implications in the common features of the over-represented microsatellites for gene regulation in plant-specific pathways

A meta-analysis identifies new loci associated with body mass index in individuals of African ancestry

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified 36 loci associated with body mass index (BMI), predominantly in populations of European ancestry. We conducted a meta-analysis to examine the association of >3.2 million SNPs with BMI in 39,144 men and women of African ancestry, and followed up the most significant associations in an additional 32,268 individuals of African ancestry. We identified one novel locus at 5q33 (GALNT10, rs7708584, p=3.4×10−11) and another at 7p15 when combined with data from the Giant consortium (MIR148A/NFE2L3, rs10261878, p=1.2×10−10). We also found suggestive evidence of an association at a third locus at 6q16 in the African ancestry sample (KLHL32, rs974417, p=6.9×10−8). Thirty-two of the 36 previously established BMI variants displayed directionally consistent effect estimates in our GWAS (binomial p=9.7×10−7), of which five reached genome-wide significance. These findings provide strong support for shared BMI loci across populations as well as for the utility of studying ancestrally diverse populations

Artificial reefs for sea cucumber aquaculture confirmed as settlement substrates of the moon jellyfish Aurelia coerulea

In coastal areas with a high intensity of human activities, expansion of artificial structures may enhance Aurelia spp. blooms because these constructions may provide additional substrates for the settlement and proliferation of the polyps. In the present study, the possible occurrence and distribution of Aurelia coerulea ephyrae and polyps were investigated in sea cucumber (Apostichopus japonicus) culture ponds that contain huge amounts of artificial structures. Our results showed that A. coerulea ephyrae were widely distributed in the A. japonicus culture ponds along the Bohai and Yellow Seas. Furthermore, underwater photography revealed that polyps of A. coerulea mainly occurred on the undersides of the artificial reefs made by plastic sunshade nets, tiles and substrate cages. The artificial reefs may decrease the time A. coerulea planulae spend settling, provide more hidden, calm and shady places for the settlement and proliferation of A. coerulea planulae, and thus were suitable substrates for the moon jellyfish A. coerulea. Our study suggests that the A. japonicus culture ponds may act as nursery grounds for the jellyfish A. coerulea and may potentially enhance the blooms of this species in the coastal waters along the Bohai and Yellow Seas

Joint protection of a crucial reef ecosystem

[Extract] The South China Sea, situated just north of the Coral Triangle, contains abundant reef bioresources and provides a range of important ecological services. However, South China Sea reefs have suffered serious degradation due to local human activities, ocean warming, and outbreaks of coral-eating crown-of-thorns starfish. Furthermore, overfishing in the South China Sea has decimated its bioresources. Such degradation impairs ecosystem function and stability and, as a result, ecological goods and services. Countries adjacent to the South China Sea can act together to mitigate reef ecosystem damage

Diurnal changes in photosynthesis in Sclerocarya birrea from South Africa and Israel after introduction and acclimatization in Wenshan, Yunnan Province, China

Photosynthetic activity is one of the most important indicators for evaluating the introduction and acclimatization of trees to new geographies. The aim of this study was to investigate the photosynthetic characteristics of marula [Sclerocarya birrea (A. Rich.) Hochst. subsp. caffra (Sond.) Kokwaro (Anacardiaceae)] and the environmental conditions relevant to its growth in China. We analyzed the diurnal dynamics of photosynthesis in two S. birrea varieties, one from South Africa and one from Israel, after introduction into China using a portable photosynthesis measuring system. Our results showed that the diurnal net photosynthetic rate (P-n) exhibited an atypical double-peak pattern that was influenced mainly by stomatal factors. Moreover, the diurnal change in stomatal conductance (G(s)) was consistent with that for P-n and showed an obvious double-peak curve, whereas the diurnal change in the transpiration rate (T-r) was opposite to that in intercellular CO2 concentration (C-i), which presented a single-peak curve. The extreme values of the environmental factors we monitored occurred at approximately the same time of day and influenced photosynthesis by affecting C-1, T-r, and leaf temperature (T-L), with light intensity exerting an especially strong effect. The P-n of the S. birrea variety from Israel was higher than that of the S. birrea variety from South Africa, while South Africa S. birrea exhibited superior growth trait in southern China. We suggest that the photosynthetic performance of S. birrea can be acclimated to a new environment. (C) 2015 SAAB. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

High density aggregations of the Aurelia sp 1 ephyrae in a Chinese coastal aquaculture pond

Blooms of the Moon Jellyfish Aurelia sp.1 medusae have occurred in the harbors and coastal waters of the Bohai and Yellow Seas. However, the occurrence and distribution of Aurelia sp.1 ephyrae is relatively unknown. Mass occurrence of scyphozoan ephyrae in a coastal aquaculture pond (Shidao) in northern China was first recorded in April 2015. Based on morphological characteristics, the ephyrae collected in the aquaculture pond were mostly similar to the ephyrae collected in Atlantic French waters, which were identified as Aurelia sp.1. This was further confirmed by phylogenetic analyses of the mtDNA 16S regions of the sampled ephyrae. Surprisingly, the blooms of Aurelia sp.1 ephyrae formed an obvious reddish color similar to "red tides" in the surface water of the aquaculture pond. The mean density of ephyrae in the reddish color zone of the aquaculture pond was estimated to be 7.38 x 10(6) individuals m(-3). Seawater temperature and wind are the key factors for the formation of Aurelia sp.1 ephyra bloom in the aquaculture pond. Finally, we speculate that artificial structures may provide more substrates for the polyps and enhance the Jellyfish blooms in Chinese aquaculture ponds

Comparative Transcriptome Profiling Reveals Potential Candidate Genes, Transcription Factors, and Biosynthetic Pathways for Phosphite Response in Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)

The study was conducted with C31 and C80 genotypes of the potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), which are tolerant and susceptible to phosphite (Phi, H2PO3), respectively. To decipher the molecular mechanisms underlying tolerance and susceptibility to Phi in the potato, RNA sequencing was used to study the global transcriptional patterns of the two genotypes. Media were prepared with 0.25 and 0.50 mM Phi, No-phosphorus (P), and 1.25 mM (phosphate, Pi as control). The values of fragments per kilobase of exon per million mapped fragments of the samples were also subjected to a principal component analysis, grouping the biological replicates of each sample. Using stringent criteria, a minimum of 819 differential (DEGs) were detected in both C80-Phi-0.25_vs_C80-Phi-0.50 (comprising 517 upregulated and 302 downregulated) and C80-Phi-0.50_vs_C80-Phi-0.25 (comprising 302 upregulated and 517 downregulated) and a maximum of 5214 DEGs in both C31-Con_vs_C31-Phi-0.25 (comprising 1947 upregulated and 3267 downregulated) and C31-Phi-0.25_vs_C31-Con (comprising 3267 upregulated and 1947 downregulated). DEGs related to the ribosome, plant hormone signal transduction, photosynthesis, and plant–pathogen interaction performed important functions under Phi stress, as shown by the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes annotation. The expressions of transcription factors increased significantly in C31 compared with C80. For example, the expressions of Soltu.DM.01G047240, Soltu.DM.08G015900, Soltu.DM.06G012130, and Soltu.DM.08G012710 increased under P deficiency conditions (Phi-0.25, Phi-0.50, and No-P) relative to the control (P sufficiency) in C31. This study adds to the growing body of transcriptome data on Phi stress and provides important clues to the Phi tolerance response of the C31 genotype

Animal Model Studies, Antibiotic Resistance and Toxin Gene Profile of NE Reproducing <em>Clostridium perfringens</em> Type A and Type G Strains Isolated from Commercial Poultry Farms in China

Poultry necrotic enteritis (NE) is a complex and multifactorial disease caused by Clostridium perfringens types. Earlier, the disease was prevented and/or controlled through the addition of in-feed antibiotics and antimicrobial growth promoters (AGPs). The ban on the use of these agents as feed additives has been a major reason for re-emergence of this disease leading to huge economic losses to the world poultry industry. Understanding the pathogenesis of NE by developing an effective experimental model remains challenging and lacks consistency owing to the involvement of several critical factors involved in causing lesions of disease in the field. In this study, locally characterized C. perfringens types, i.e., ACP (toxinotype A), and GCP (toxinotype G), obtained from NE outbreaks on commercial farms in China (2020–2022), were used to experimentally induce NE in Specific-Pathogen-Free (SPF) chicks. The lesion scores observed on day 20 were 1.9 ± 1.10 (GCP strain) and 1.5 ± 1.08 (ACP strain), and both had significant difference as compared to the control group. The inclusion of fishmeal in addition to oral clostridial dose, i.e., fishmeal (day 7 onward) + Clostridia (7.5 × 108 cfu/mL consecutively for 04 days) induced a lesion score of 2.0 ± 1.15 in respective groups. Use of coccidia (Eimeria necatrix) on day 9 followed by clostridia challenge enhanced the lesion scores to 2.5 ± 1.08 and 2.2 ± 1.23 for type G and type A strains, respectively. When both predisposing factors (coccidia + fish meal) were given together, i.e., fishmeal (day 7 onward) and coccidia (day 9) along with clostridia, the lesion scores were 3.2 ± 1.22 (GCP + coccidia + fish meal) and 3.0 ± 1.15 (ACP + coccidia + fish meal). These results were significantly different from group 1 (ACP) and 2 (GCP), in which only C. perfringens was used to induce NE. The clinical signs as well as histopathological lesions in experimentally induced groups were found similar as reported in the literature. The two type G strains identified in this study were also used for susceptibility testing against various drugs. Both strains were found to be resistant to amikacin, doxycycline, metronidazole, neomycin, nystatin, polymyxin B, streptomycin, and tetracycline. Variable susceptibility was seen against ceftriaxone, florfenicol, gentamicin, and kanamycin drugs. Amoxicillin, ampicillin, cefotaxime, ciprofloxacin, enrofloxacin, ofloxacin, and penicillin were effective drugs based upon their low level of resistance and therefore they might be preferred over other antimicrobial agents for proper treatment/prophylaxis of NE infections. Further studies are needed to study the pathogenesis of NE in detail in experimentally induced models along with continuous monitoring of the resistance pattern of C. perfringens strains in the field