摘要: 为明确桫椤叶蜂Rhoptroceros cyatheae幼虫取食桫椤Alsophila spinulosa及小黑桫椤Gymnosphaera metteniana var.subglabra两种寄主植物后肠道菌群的结构组成和多样性，及取食两种寄主植物上的平均发育历期，利用Illumina HiSeq技术对取食两种寄主植物后的桫椤叶蜂幼虫肠道细菌的16S rDNA的V3～V4区域进行测序与分析，并记录在寄主植物上的平均发育历期。结果显示：(1)取食小黑桫椤的叶蜂卵历期、老熟幼虫期、蛹期(4.07±0.80 d、9.15±1.36 d和3.82±1.11 d)相比取食桫椤的(4.57±0.65 d、10.75±1.73 d和4.73±0.86 d)显著缩短，成虫寿命无显著影响；(2)取食桫椤的幼虫肠道注释到细菌4门6纲17目26科37属，取食小黑桫椤的桫椤叶蜂幼虫肠道注释到细菌12门17纲32目44科58属；其中，变形菌门Proteobacteria(83.68%±3.74%、81.18%±0.75%)是两组肠道的优势菌门；肠杆菌属Enterobacter(61.98%±10.64%、30.25%±1.75%)为两组的优势菌属。α多样性分析表明取食小黑桫椤的叶蜂幼虫肠道微生物群落多样性略高于取食桫椤的叶蜂幼虫，β多样性分析结果显示，取食小黑桫椤的叶蜂幼虫肠道微生物群落更稳定。KEGG功能预测分析显示取食桫椤和小黑桫椤的叶蜂肠道细菌群落功能无差异，肠道细菌主要参与宿主的营养代谢。本研究为进一步探讨影响桫椤叶蜂肠道细菌变化的因素，以及后续研究肠道细菌与寄主植物之间的互作提供参考。

摘要:

摘要:

摘要:

摘要: Musk secreted by male forest musk deer (Moschus berezovskii) musk glands is an invaluable component of medicine and perfume. Musk secretion depends on musk gland maturation; however, the mechanism of its development remains elusive. Herein, using single cell multiome ATAC + gene expression coupled with several bioinformatic analyses, a dynamic transcriptional cell atlas of musk gland development was revealed, and key genes and transcription factors affecting its development were determined. Twelve cell types, including two different types of acinar cells (Clusters 0 and 10) were identified. Single-nucleus RNA and single-nucleus ATAC sequencing analyses revealed that seven core target genes associated with musk secretion (Hsd17b2, Acacb, Lss, Vapa, Aldh16a1, Aldh7a1, and Sqle) were regulated by 12 core transcription factors (FOXO1, CUX2, RORA, RUNX1, KLF6, MGA, NFIC, FOXO3, ETV5, NR3C1, HSF4, and MITF) during the development of Cluster 0 acinar cells. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment showed significant changes in the pathways associated with musk secretion during acinar cell development. Gene set variation analysis also revealed that certain pathways associated with musk secretion were enriched in 6-year-old acinar cells. A gene co-expression network was constructed during acinar cell development to provide a precise understanding of the connections between transcription factors, genes, and pathways. Finally, intercellular communication analysis showed that intercellular communication is involved in musk gland development. This study provides crucial insights into the changes and key factors underlying musk gland development, which serve as valuable resources for studying musk secretion mechanisms and promoting the protection of this endangered species.

摘要: Photoperiod is a pivotal factor in affecting testicular function and spermatogenesis in seasonal-breeding animals. Mitophagy is essential for spermatogenesis, but its association with seasonal photoperiods has not been studied extensively. To explore this, we exposed male Brandt's voles (Lasiopodomys brandtii) to long-photoperiod (LP, 16 h/day) and short-photoperiod (SP, 8 h/day) conditions from their embryonic stages. Our results indicated that testis weight, volume, and relative testes weight were all significantly increased in LP compared to SP. Additionally, blood testosterone levels were markedly higher in LP than SP. Histological examination revealed that seminiferous diameter and epithelium thickness were greater in LP, with an increased abundance of germ cell types and cell numbers compared to SP. RT-qPCR analysis showed that mitophagy-promoting genes, such as Pink1, Prkn, Tomm7, Mnf2, Lc3, Optn, Gabarap, and Nbr1 were all upregulated in LP. Fluorescence in situ hybridization indicated that Pink1 expression was present in spermatogonia in SP, while in LP, Pink1 expression extended to almost all germ cell types with significantly higher mean optical density. Prkn expression was found in all germ cell types in both LP and SP, with a significantly higher mean optical density of 10-week-old LP males. Transmission electron microscopy showed normal mitochondrial morphology with clear membranes in SP, while the LP group had reduced cristae in mitochondria and damaged mitochondria undergoing autophagy. This study suggests that mitophagy may be involved in the photoperiodic spermatogenesis in Brandt's voles, providing insights into the role of photoperiod in seasonal reproduction in wild animals.

摘要: The genus Pseudamnicola Paulucci, 1878, is commonly found throughout the Mediterranean region. The genus displays considerable levels of endemism, accompanied by notable systematic and taxonomic ambiguity. However, the application of molecular data has proven highly effective in clarifying taxonomy and unveiling the diversity of cryptic species within the genus. Therefore, we employed all cytochrome c oxidase subunit I sequence data available and generated new ones from Greece to infer the phylogeny of the genus throughout its Mediterranean range and estimate the divergence times as well as the ancestral area of diversification. Our phylogenetic and time-estimate analyses demonstrate that with 36 to 38 extant Pseudamnicola species and genetic divergences across species ranging from 0.5% to 11.9% on average, the genus underwent relatively recent diversification during late Miocene (6.53 Ma), and the primary speciation events occurred during Plio-Pleistocene. The Italian Peninsula and Islands and the Ionian Drainages as defined by the Freshwater Ecoregions of the World are the ancestral regions of the genus following two different dispersal routes. Our study contributes to deepening our understanding of Pseudamnicola phylogeny by using data from throughout its range for the first time. This phylogeny provides evidence and confirms previous studies that relatively recent habitat isolation, followed by founder and dispersal events, has been one of the primary reasons for the evolution of the genus Pseudamnicola in the Mediterranean basin.

摘要:

摘要:

摘要: The duck-billed platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) is currently listed as near-threatened. A key part of the conservation strategy for this species is its captive maintenance; however, captive animals often have dysbiotic gut bacterial microbiomes. Here, for the first time, we characterize the gut microbiome of wild platypus via fecal samples using high-throughput sequencing of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene and identify microbial biomarkers of captivity in this species. At the phylum level, Firmicutes (50.4%) predominated among all platypuses, followed by Proteobacteria (28.7%), Fusobacteria (13.4%), and Bacteroidota (6.9%), with 21 core bacteria identified. Captive individuals did not differ in their microbial alpha-diversity compared to wild platypus but had significantly different community composition (beta-diversity) and exhibited higher abundances of Enterococcus, which are potential pathogenic bacteria. Four taxa were identified as biomarkers of wild platypus, including Rickettsiella, Epulopiscium, Clostridium, and Cetobacterium. This contrast in gut microbiome composition between wild and captive platypus is an essential insight for guiding conservation management, as the rewilding of captive animal microbiomes is a new and emerging tool to improve captive animal health, maximize captive breeding efforts, and give reintroduced or translocated animals the best chance of survival.