Zoological Research

389−400

Authors: Quan Li;Feng Cheng;Stephen  M. Jackson;Kristofer  M. Helgen;Wen-Yu Song;Shao-Ying Liu;Daosavanh Sanamxay;Song Li;Fei Li;Yun Xiong;Jun Sun;Hong-Jiao Wang;Xue-Long Jiang

The flying squirrels (Pteromyini, Rodentia) are the most diverse and widely distributed group of gliding mammals. Taxonomic boundaries and relationships within flying squirrels remain an area of active research in mammalogy. The discovery of new specimens of Pteromys (Hylopetes) leonardi Thomas, 1921, previously considered a synonym of Hylopetes alboniger, in Yunnan Province, China allowed a morphological and genetic reassessment of the status of this taxon. Phylogenetic reconstruction was implemented using sequences of two mitochondrial (12S ribosomal RNA and 16S ribosomal RNA) and one nuclear (interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein) gene fragments. Morphological assessments involved examinations of features preserved on skins, skulls, and penises of museum specimens, supplemented with principal component analysis of craniometric data. Together these assessments revealed that this taxon should be recognized not only as a distinct species, but should also be placed within a new genus, described here as Priapomys gen. nov.

406−411

Authors: Ke-Chu Zhang;Qi-Hai Zhou;Huai-Liang Xu;Zhong-Hao Huang

Changes in abiotic and biotic factors can affect the efficiency of biological systems in animals, forcing them to adjust their behaviors in response to daily and seasonal variations. From September  2016  to  August  2017,  we  collected  ranging behavior  data  on  four  groups  of  white-headed  langurs (Trachypithecus leucocephalus)  in  the  Guangxi  Chongzuo White-Headed  Langur  National  Nature  Reserve,  Guangxi, southwest  China.  We  simultaneously  analyzed  how  multiple ecological factors affect langur ranging behavior, which should facilitate  our  understanding  of  the  potential  mechanisms underlying  their  adaptation  to  limestone  habitats.  Results showed that langur ranging behavior was significantly affected by  diet  composition,  food  availability,  and  climatic  factors. Specifically, moving time and daily path length increased with the increase in dietary diversity. Furthermore, moving time and daily  path  length  were  positively  associated  with  the availability  of  fruit  and  relative  humidity  of  the  forest,  and moderately associated with temperature and relative humidity of bare rock. Our study demonstrated that langurs maintain stable  moving  and  feeding  times  and  exhibit  a  short  daily travel  distance,  likely  adopting  an  energy-conserving behavioral  strategy  in  response  to  food  shortages  and  high temperatures  in  the  fragmented  karst  forest.  These  results highlight the importance of food availability and temperature in shaping the ranging behavior of these karst-dwelling primates.

417−422

Authors: Wen-Ping He;Jian Zhou;Zhe Li;Ting-Sen Jing;Chun-Hua Li;Yue-Jing Yang;Meng-Bin Xiang;Chao-Wei Zhou;Guang-Jun Lv;Hong-Yan Xu;Hui Luo;Hua Ye

The  Chinese  longsnout  catfish  (Leiocassis longirostris Günther) is one of the most economically important freshwater fish  in  China.  As  wild  populations  have  declined  sharply  in recent years, it is also a valuable model for research on sexual dimorphism, comparative biology, and conservation. However, the  current  lack  of  high-quality  chromosome-level  genome information  for  the  species  hinders  the  advancement  of comparative  genomic  analysis  and  evolutionary  studies. Therefore, we constructed the first high-quality chromosome- level reference genome for L. longirostris. The total genome was  703.19  Mb,  with  389  contigs  and  contig  N50  length  of 4.29  Mb.  Using  high-throughput  chromosome  conformation capture (Hi-C) data, the genome sequences (685.53 Mb) were scaffolded into 26 chromosomes ranging from 17.36 to 43.97 Mb, resulting in a chromosomal anchoring rate for the genome of  97.44%.  In  total, 23 708 protein-coding  genes  were identified in the genome. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that L. longirostris and  its  closest  related  species P. fulvidraco diverged  approximately  26.6  million  years  ago.  This  high- quality  reference  genome  of L. longirostris should  pave  the way  for  future  genomic  comparisons  and  evolutionary research.

428−432

Authors: Christian Roos;Roberto Portela Miguez;Richard Sabin;Edward E. Louis Jr.;Michael Hofreiter;Dietmar Zinner

Accurate information on name-bearing types, including corresponding type localities, is essential for proper taxonomy. However, such geographic information is often missing or unreliable. The localities of type specimens collected 100–200 years ago can be difficult to trace due to changes in local names or simple inaccuracies. Such a case can be found for the gray-backed sportive lemur (Lepilemur dorsalis), with its type locality imprecisely fixed as Northwest Madagascar. In recent years, eight species have been newly described for the Inter-River-Systems (IRSs) of this region, however the designation of L. dorsalis remains controversial due to a lack of a precise type locality. Here, we sequenced the complete mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) of type specimens of L. dorsalis and L. grandidieri, which is currently recognized as a synonym of L. dorsalis and compared their sequences with those of samples of known provenance from different IRSs. Results showed that the two type specimens of L. dorsalis and L. grandidieri had identical mitogenome sequences and clustered closely with samples collected in IRS V, indicating that the type locality could be fixed to IRS V. Consequently, L. dorsalis occurs in IRS V, and L. grandidieri and L. mittermeieri are junior synonyms of L. dorsalis. This finding demonstrates the value of type specimens for clarifying phylogeographic and taxonomic questions and clarifies the taxonomy of sportive lemurs in Northwest Madagascar.

450−460

Authors: Lin Zeng;He-Qun Liu;Xiao-Long Tu;Chang-Mian Ji;Xiao Gou;Ali Esmailizadeh;Sheng Wang;Ming-Shan Wang;Ming-Cheng Wang;Xiao-Long Li;Hadi Charati;Adeniyi;C. Adeola;Rahamon  Akinyele Moshood Adedokun;Olatunbosun Oladipo;Sunday Charles Olaogun;Oscar J. Sanke;Mangbon Godwin F.;Sheila Cecily Ommeh;Bernard Agwanda;Jacqueline Kasiiti Lichoti;Jian-Lin Han;Hong-Kun Zheng;Chang-Fa Wang;Ya-Ping Zhang; Laurent A. F. Frantz;Dong-Dong Wu

Over the last several hundred years, donkeys have adapted to high-altitude conditions on the Tibetan Plateau. Interestingly, the kiang, a closely related equid species, also inhabits this region. Previous reports have demonstrated the importance of specific genes and adaptive introgression in divergent lineages for adaptation to hypoxic conditions on the Tibetan Plateau. Here, we assessed whether donkeys and kiangs adapted to the Tibetan Plateau via the same or different biological pathways and whether adaptive introgression has occurred. We assembled a de novo genome from a kiang individual and analyzed the genomes of five kiangs and 93 donkeys (including 24 from the Tibetan Plateau). Our analyses suggested the existence of a strong hard selective sweep at the EPAS1 locus in kiangs. In Tibetan donkeys, however, another gene, i.e., EGLN1, was likely involved in their adaptation to high altitude. In addition, admixture analysis found no evidence for interspecific gene flow between kiangs and Tibetan donkeys. Our findings indicate that despite the short evolutionary time scale since the arrival of donkeys on the Tibetan Plateau, as well as the existence of a closely related species already adapted to hypoxia, Tibetan donkeys did not acquire adaptation via admixture but instead evolved adaptations via a different biological pathway.

469−477

Authors: Zhen-Zhen Chen;Jian-Ying Wang;Yu Kang;Qiao-Yan Yang;Xue-Ying Gu;Da-Long Zhi; Li Yan;Cheng-Zu Long;Bin Shen;Yu-Yu Niu

Mutations of PTEN-induced kinase I (PINK1) cause early-onset Parkinson’s disease (PD) with selective neurodegeneration in humans. However, current PINK1 knockout mouse and pig models are unable to recapitulate the typical neurodegenerative phenotypes observed in PD patients. This suggests that generating PINK1 disease models in non-human primates (NHPs) that are close to humans is essential to investigate the unique function of PINK1 in primate brains. Paired single guide RNA (sgRNA)/Cas9-D10A nickases and truncated sgRNA/Cas9, both of which can reduce off-target effects without compromising on-target editing, are two optimized strategies in the CRISPR/Cas9 system for establishing disease animal models. Here, we combined the two strategies and injected Cas9-D10A mRNA and two truncated sgRNAs into one-cell-stage cynomolgus zygotes to target the PINK1 gene. We achieved precise and efficient gene editing of the target site in three newborn cynomolgus monkeys. The frame shift mutations of PINK1 in mutant fibroblasts led to a reduction in mRNA. However, western blotting and immunofluorescence staining confirmed the PINK1 protein levels were comparable to that in wild-type fibroblasts. We further reprogramed mutant fibroblasts into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), which showed similar ability to differentiate into dopamine (DA) neurons. Taken together, our results showed that co-injection of Cas9-D10A nickase mRNA and sgRNA into one-cell-stage cynomolgus embryos enabled the generation of human disease models in NHPs and target editing by pair truncated sgRNA/Cas9-D10A in PINK1 gene exon 2 did not impact protein expression.

482−486

Authors: Jia-Liang Yang;Tong-Dan Zou;Fang Yang;Zheng- Lin Yang;Hou-Bin Zhang

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is an inherited retinal degenerative disease that begins with defective rod photoreceptor function, followed by impaired cone function, and complete blindness in its late stage. To date, however, there is no effective treatment for RP. By carrying a nonsense mutation in the Pde6b gene, rd1 mice display elevated cGMP in conjunction with higher intracellular Ca²⁺ in their rod photoreceptors, resulting in fast retinal degeneration. Ca²⁺ has been linked to activation of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway. The mTOR pathway integrates extracellular and intracellular signals to sense the supply of nutrients and plays a central role in regulating protein and lipid synthesis as well as apoptosis and autophagy. In the present study, we showed that mTOR and phosphorylated mTOR (p-mTOR, activated form of mTOR) are up-regulated in rd1 photoreceptors at postnatal day 10 (P10), a pre-degenerative stage. Moreover, the downstream effectors of mTOR, such as pS6K and S6K, are also increased, suggesting activation of the mTOR signaling pathway. Intravitreal administration of rapamycin, a negative regulator of mTOR, inhibits the mTOR pathway in rd1 photoreceptors. Consequently, the progression of retinal degeneration is slower and retinal function is enhanced, possibly mediated by activation of autophagy in the photoreceptors. Taken together, these results highlight rapamycin as a potential therapeutic avenue for retinal degeneration.

492−501

Authors: Yu-Hang Liao;Chao-Wei Zhou;Wei-Zhen Liu;Jing-Yi Jin;Dong-Ye Li;Fei Liu;Ding-Ding Fan;Yu Zou;Zen-Bo Mu;Jian Shen;Chun-Na Liu;Shi-Jun Xiao;Xiao-Hui Yuan;Hai-Ping Liu

Fish morphological phenotypes are important resources in artificial breeding, functional gene mapping, and population-based studies in aquaculture and ecology. Traditional morphological measurement of phenotypes is rather expensive in terms of time and labor. More importantly, manual measurement is highly dependent on operational experience, which can lead to subjective phenotyping results. Here, we developed 3DPhenoFish software to extract fish morphological phenotypes from three-dimensional (3D) point cloud data. Algorithms for background elimination, coordinate normalization, image segmentation, key point recognition, and phenotype extraction were developed and integrated into an intuitive user interface. Furthermore, 18 key points and traditional 2D morphological traits, along with 3D phenotypes, including area and volume, can be automatically obtained in a visualized manner. Intuitive fine-tuning of key points and customized definitions of phenotypes are also allowed in the software. Using 3DPhenoFish, we performed high-throughput phenotyping for four endemic Schizothoracinae species, including Schizopygopsis younghusbandi, Oxygymnocypris stewartii, Ptychobarbus dipogon, and Schizothorax oconnori. Results indicated that the morphological phenotypes from 3DPhenoFish exhibited high linear correlation (>0.94) with manual measurements and offered informative traits to discriminate samples of different species and even for different populations of the same species. In summary, we developed an efficient, accurate, and customizable tool, 3DPhenoFish, to extract morphological phenotypes from point cloud data, which should help overcome traditional challenges in manual measurements. 3DPhenoFish can be used for research on morphological phenotypes in fish, including functional gene mapping, artificial selection, and conservation studies. 3DPhenoFish is an open-source software and can be downloaded for free at https://github.com/lyh24k/3DPhenoFish/tree/master.

514−524

Authors: De-Zhe Qin;Hui Cai;Chen He;Dong-Hui Yang;Jing Sun;Wen-Lai He;Ba-Lun Li;Jin-Lian Hua;Sha Peng

Normal spermatogenic processes require the scrotal temperature to be lower than that of the body as excessive heat affects spermatogenesis in the testes, reduces sperm quality and quantity, and even causes infertility. Endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) is a crucial factor in many pathologies. Although several studies have linked ERS to heat stress, researchers have not yet determined which ERS signaling pathways contribute to heat-induced testicular damage. Melatonin activates antioxidant enzymes, scavenges free radicals, and protects the testes from inflammation; however, few studies have reported on the influence of melatonin on heat-induced testicular damage. Using a murine model of testicular hyperthermia, we observed that heat stress causes both ERS and apoptosis in the testes, especially in the spermatocytes. These observations were confirmed using the mouse spermatocyte cell line GC2, where the Atf6 and Perk signaling pathways were activated during heat stress. Knockout of the above genes effectively reduced spermatocyte damage caused by heat stress. Pretreatment with melatonin alleviated heat-induced apoptosis by inhibiting the Atf6 and Perk signaling pathways. This mitigation was dependent on the melatonin receptors. In vivo experiments verified that melatonin treatment relieved heat-induced testicular damage. In conclusion, our results demonstrated that ATF6 and PERK are important mediators for heat-induced apoptosis, which can be prevented by melatonin treatment. Thus, our study highlights melatonin as a potential therapeutic agent in mammals for subfertility/infertility induced by testicular hyperthermia.

253−261

Authors: Cui Yang; Zhi-Lan Liu; Jun Wang; Xian-Le Bu; Yan-Jiang Wang; Yang Xiang

Parabiosis is a surgical method of animal modeling with a long history. It has been widely used in medical research, particularly in the fields of aging, stem cells, neuroscience, and immunity in the past two decades. The protocols for parabiosis have been improved many times and are now widely accepted. However, researchers need to consider many details, from surgical operation to perioperative management, to reduce mortality and maintain the parabiosis union. Although parabiosis has certain inevitable limitations, it still has broad application prospects as an irreplaceable animal model in the medical research field.

267−271

Authors: Zhi-Yuan Yao; Xiang Wang;Shu-Qiang Li

Despite 250 years of taxonomic classification and over 1.2 million species already catalogued, known species diversity is only a small part of true species diversity on Earth, and thus, the known species are only the tip of iceberg. Here, we investigated the genus Pholcus Walckenaer, 1805 of the family Pholcidae C. L. Koch, 1850 in the Changbai Mountains, Northeast China, which provides an excellent case of high species diversity. Previously, only 14 endemic Pholcus spiders, all belonging to the P. phungiformes species group, and two introduced species P. manueli Gertsch, 1937 and P. zichyi Kulczyński, 1901 from the P. crypticolens species group, have been recorded from this area. Our study confirmed 11 new species of the P. phungiformes species group based on morphology and three methods of molecular species delimitation: P. gaizhou Yao & Li, sp. nov., P. guanshui Yao & Li, sp. nov., P. jiguanshan Yao & Li, sp. nov., P. longxigu Yao & Li, sp. nov., P. luoquanbei Yao & Li, sp. nov., P. shenshi Yao & Li, sp. nov., P. tianmenshan Yao & Li, sp. nov., P. wangjiang Yao & Li, sp. nov., P. xingqi Yao & Li, sp. nov., P. yaoshan Yao & Li, sp. nov., and P. yuhuangshan Yao & Li, sp. nov. This study brings the fauna of the P. phungiformes species group from the Changbai Mountains to 25 species, approximately two times more than previously known, which could indicate that species diversity in the area is underestimated for all arthropod fauna.

280−286

Authors: Ming Zhang;Peng Cao;Qing-Yan Dai;ong- Qiang Wang;Xiao-Tian Feng;Hong-Ru Wang;Hong Wu;Albert Min-Shan Ko;Xiao-Wei Mao;Yi- Chen Liu;Li Yu;Christian Roos;Tilo Nadler;Wen Xiao;E. Andrew Bennett;Qiao-Mei Fu

DNA studies of endangered or extinct species often rely on ancient or degraded remains. The majority of ancient DNA (aDNA) extraction protocols focus on skeletal elements, with skin and hair samples rarely explored. Similar to that found in bones and teeth, DNA extracted from historical or ancient skin and fur samples is also extremely fragmented with low endogenous content due to natural degradation processes. Thus, the development of effective DNA extraction methods is required for these materials. Here, we compared the performance of two DNA extraction protocols (commercial and custom laboratory aDNA methods) on hair and skin samples from decades-old museum specimens to Iron Age archaeological material. We found that apart from the impact sample-specific taphonomic and handling history has on the quantity and quality of DNA preservation, skin yielded more endogenous DNA than hair of the samples and protocols tested. While both methods recovered DNA from ancient soft tissue, the laboratory method performed better overall in terms of DNA yield and quality, which was primarily due to the poorer performance of the commercial binding buffer in recovering aDNA.

294−299

Authors: Ting-Li Hu;Zhen Xu;Heng Zhang;Ying-Xun Liu;Rui Liao;Guang-Dao Yang;Ruo-Lei Sun;Jie Shi;Qian Ban;Chun-Lin Li;Shao-Ying Liu;Bao-Wei Zhang

During a terrestrial vertebrate survey of the Dabie Mountains in Anhui Province, eastern China, we collected four Asian shrew mole specimens (hereafter, shrew moles). Based on published literature and comparison with previously collected materials, the four specimens were similar to shrew moles from the mountains of Southwest China; however, no species in this group has been previously recorded from the Dabie Mountains. The genetic and morphological characteristics of the specimens were analyzed, based upon which a new species of shrew mole is described, named Uropsilus dabieshanensis sp. nov.

310−334

Authors: Li-Na Du;Jian Yang;Rui Min;Xiao-Yong Chen;Jun-Xing Yang

The loach tribe Yunnanilini from China is reviewed here using morphological characters and complete mitochondrial genomes of select species. Molecular data suggest that the tribe Yunnanilini is not monophyletic and can be divided into three clades. Species of the Yunnanilus nigromaculatus group form an independent genus and are placed in Eonemachilus. In the phylogenetic tree, Y. jinxiensis clusters with Paranemachilus genilepis, and Y. pulcherrimus clusters with Micronemacheilus cruciatus, indicating that Y. jinxiensis and Y. pulcherrimus belong to Paranemachilus and Micronemacheilus, respectively. Based on morphological data, Y. bailianensis and Y. longibarbatus are placed in Heminoemacheilus, while Y. jinxiensis and Y. pulcherrimus, are placed in Paranemachilus and Micronemacheilus, respectively. Yunnanilus niulanensis and Y. qujinensis are treated as junior synonyms of Eonemachilus caohaiensis. Eonemachilus, Micronemacheilus, and Yunnanilus are show short separation between anterior and posterior nostrils. The genera can be distinguished from each other by mouth structure, lateral line and cephalic lateral-line canals, and papillae on median part of both lips. The anterior and posterior nostrils of Heminoemacheilus and Paranemachilus are closely set. Paranemachilus and Micronemacheilus are distinguished by cheeks covered with scales and lips with papillae, respectively. Our phylogenetic tree and morphological characters support Traccatichthys as a valid genus, which can be distinguished from Micronemacheilus by anterior and posterior nostrils closely set (vs. clearly separated). Four species are placed in Traccatichthys.

339−349

Authors: Huan Wang;Tian-Xiu Qiu;Jian-Fei Lu;Han-Wei Liu;Ling Hu; Lei Liu;Jiong Chen

Chronic pollution in aquatic ecosystems can lead to many adverse effects, including a greater susceptibility to pathogens among resident biota. Trifloxystrobin (TFS) is a strobilurin fungicide widely used in Asia to control soybean rust. However, it has the potential to enter aquatic ecosystems, where it may impair fish resistance to viral infections. To explore the potential environmental risks of TFS, we characterized the antiviral capacities of fish chronically exposed to TFS and subsequently infected with spring viraemia of carp virus (SVCV). Although TFS exhibited no significant cytotoxicity at the tested environmental concentrations during viral challenge, SVCV replication increased significantly in a time-dependent manner within epithelioma papulosum cyprini (EPC) cells and zebrafish exposed to 25 μg/L TFS. Results showed that the highest viral load was more than 100-fold that of the controls. Intracellular biochemical assays indicated that autophagy was induced by TFS, and associated changes included an increase in autophagosomes, conversion of LC3-II, accumulation of Beclin-1, and degradation of P62 in EPC cells and zebrafish. In addition, TFS markedly decreased the expression and phosphorylation of mTOR, indicating that activation of TFS may be associated with the mTOR-mediated autophagy pathway. This study provides new insights into the mechanism of the immunosuppressive effects of TFS on non-target aquatic hosts and suggests that the existence of TFS in aquatic environments may contribute to outbreaks of viral diseases.

354−361

Authors: Zhi-Ning Wang;Li Yang;Peng-Fei Fan;Lu Zhang

Scientific research provides essential information for conservation of threatened species. Data deficiency due to insufficient research impedes the design of conservation plans, and research bias may mistakenly direct limited resources to low biodiversity regions or less threatened species. Here, we conducted a systematic review of published papers, grants, and graduate student training on carnivorans in China to identify species bias and research gaps. Furthermore, we collected intrinsic and extrinsic features of carnivorans, and identified features that impact research intensity using generalized linear models. We found that the amount of research on carnivorans increased markedly after 2000, but species bias existed. Bears and big cats received the greatest research attention, while most small- and medium-sized carnivorans received little attention, thus showing the 80–20 phenomenon. Species with a higher level of endemism and protection under Chinese law received more consideration. As an animal conservation icon in China, the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) attracted more than 50% of overall carnivoran research resources. However, the giant panda also showed spillover effects, i.e., post-doctoral graduates who studied the giant panda shifted their research focus to other species after graduation, which may help improve research on other species. Thus, to improve and strengthen Carnivora research and conservation, we suggest investing greater effort in species of less concern, training of more graduate students, and reinforcing academic exchange. If such actions are not taken, many carnivoran species will continue being data deficient and threatened.

377−388

Authors: Xiao-Long Wu;Zhen-Shuo Zhu;Xia Xiao;Zhe Zhou;Shuai Yu;Qiao-Yan Shen;Ju-Qing Zhang;Wei Yue;Rui Zhang;Xin He;Sha Peng;Shi-Qiang Zhang;Na Li;Ming-Zhi Liao;Jin-Lian Hua

LIN28A, an RNA-binding protein, plays an important role in porcine induced pluripotent stem cells (piPSCs). However, the molecular mechanism underlying the function of LIN28A in the maintenance of pluripotency in piPSCs remains unclear. Here, we explored the function of LIN28A in piPSCs based on its overexpression and knockdown. We performed total RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) of piPSCs and detected the expression levels of relevant genes by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), western blot analysis, and immunofluorescence staining. Results indicated that piPSC proliferation ability decreased following LIN28A knockdown. Furthermore, when LIN28A expression in the shLIN28A2 group was lower (by 20%) than that in the negative control knockdown group (shNC), the pluripotency of piPSCs disappeared and they differentiated into neuroectoderm cells. Results also showed that LIN28A overexpression inhibited the expression of DUSP (dual-specificity phosphatases) family phosphatases and activated the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway. Thus, LIN28A appears to activate the MAPK signaling pathway to maintain the pluripotency and proliferation ability of piPSCs. Our study provides a new resource for exploring the functions of LIN28A in piPSCs.

135−137

Authors: Xu-Peng Bi;Guo-Jie Zhang

The water-to-land transition was a major step in vertebrate evolution and eventually gave rise to the tetrapods, including amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. The first land invasion of our fish ancestors is considered to have occurred during the late Devonian period ~370 million years ago (Mya) (Daeschler et al., 2006). Many fossils from important transitional species, such as Tiktaalik, Acanthostega, and Ichthyostega, have helped to identify key morphological and anatomical structures crucial to vertebrate terrestrial adaptation (Coates, 1996; Johanson & Ahlberg, 2001; Shubin et al., 2006). However, homologous analyses of these body forms and structures in more ancient species have suggested that some of the morphologies related to vertebrate land dispersal were already present in early bony fish species. For instance, the presence of shoulder girdles on the articular surface of the endoskeleton in Late Lochkovian Psarolepis indicates that stem sarcopterygians already possessed an endoskeletal fin pattern similar to that of tetrapod stylopods (Zhu & Yu, 2009). In addition, primitive lungs, which originated from the respiratory pharynx and were located on the ventral side of the alimentary tracts, can be observed in several extant basal actinopterygians (bichirs, reedfish) and all extant sarcopterygians, as well as some fossils of coelacanths and salamanders (Cupello et al., 2017; Tissier et al., 2017) (Figure 1). This evidence suggests that, instead of relying on genetic innovations evolving after the first fish left their water habitat, this transition may have been accomplished by adopting physical traits and genetic components that already existed far earlier than when the transition occurred. Whether such an ancestral developmental regulatory network was present or not and how far this ancestral network can be traced in history are challenging questions for paleontologists. Three recent papers published in Cell provide new insights into this hypothesis. Wang et al. (2021) sequenced the giant genome of lungfish, the closest fish species to tetrapods, and Bi et al. (2021) sequenced the genomes of multiple early divergent ray-finned fish. Comparative genomic analyses from these two studies confirmed the presence of ancestral genetic regulatory networks that likely played essential roles in the development and evolution of various biological functions related to vertebrate land invasion. Although certain ancestral features have been lost in teleosts, the most derived fish lineage to evolve after whole-genome duplication (Sato & Nishida, 2010), they have been recreated in zebrafish by modifying their genetic makeup to reactivate the ancestral genetic network (Hawkins et al., 2021).

138−140

Authors: Hao Li;Yong-Gang Yao;Xin-Tian Hu

We recently identified a cynomolgus monkey with naturally occurring Parkinson’s disease (PD), indicating that PD may not be a uniquely human disease (Li et al, 2020). In our previous study, four lines of evidence, including typical PD clinical symptoms, pharmacological responses, pathological hallmarks, and genetic mutations, strongly supported the identification of a monkey with spontaneous PD (Figure 1). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of naturally developed PD in animals. This suggests that PD is not a disease restricted to humans, with its existence in a non-human primate providing a novel evolutionary angle for understanding PD. As a close relative to humans (Buffalo et al, 2019; Phillips et al, 2014; Yan et al, 2011), this rare case of PD in another primate species provides solid evidence that monkeys are ideal candidates for the development of a genuine “animal version of PD”, with conserved etiology and pathogenesis (Li et al, 2020). Furthermore, it allows us to compare similarities and differences in PD development between species and to understand PD pathogenesis from an evolutionary point of view.

153−160

Authors: Sergey Karakashev;Ru-Gang Zhang

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is the leading cause of gynecological cancer-related mortality in the developed world. EOC is a heterogeneous disease represented by several histological and molecular subtypes. Therefore, exploration of relevant preclinical animal models that consider the heterogenic nature of EOC is of great importance for the development of novel therapeutic strategies that can be translated clinically to combat this devastating disease. In this review, we discuss recent progress in the development of preclinical mouse models for EOC study as well as their advantages and limitations.

170−181

Authors: Chuan-Jun Shu;Xuan Huang;Hui-Hao Tang;Ding-Ding Mo;Jian-Wei Zhou;Cheng Deng

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has spread rapidly worldwide with high rates of transmission and substantial mortality. To date, however, no effective treatments or enough vaccines for COVID-19 are available. The roles of angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and spike protein in the treatment of COVID-19 are major areas of research. In this study, we explored the potential of ACE2 and spike protein as targets for the development of antiviral agents against SARS-CoV-2. We analyzed clinical data, genetic data, and receptor binding capability. Clinical data revealed that COVID-19 patients with comorbidities related to an abnormal renin-angiotensin system exhibited more early symptoms and poorer prognoses. However, the relationship between ACE2 expression and COVID-19 progression is still not clear. Furthermore, if ACE2 is not a good targetable protein, it would not be applicable across a wide range of populations. The spike-S1 receptor-binding domain that interacts with ACE2 showed various amino acid mutations based on sequence analysis. We identified two spike-S1 point mutations (V354F and V470A) by receptor-ligand docking and binding enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. These variants enhanced the binding of the spike protein to ACE2 receptors and were potentially associated with increased infectivity. Importantly, the number of patients infected with the V354F and V470A mutants has increased with the development of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. These results suggest that ACE2 and spike-S1 are likely not ideal targets for the design of peptide drugs to treat COVID-19 in different populations.

195−206

Authors: Han Yang;Bin Lyu;Hai-Qiang Yin;Shu-Qiang Li

Although widely thought to be aggressive, solitary, and potentially cannibalistic, some spider species have evolved group-living behaviors. The distinct transition provides the framework to uncover group-living evolution. Here, we conducted a comparative transcriptomic study and examined patterns of molecular evolution in two independently evolved group-living spiders and twelve solitary species. We report that positively selected genes among group-living spider lineages are significantly enriched in nutrient metabolism and autophagy pathways. We also show that nutrient-related genes of group-living spiders convergently experience amino acid substitutions and accelerated relative evolutionary rates. These results indicate adaptive convergence of nutrient metabolism that may ensure energy supply in group-living spiders. The decelerated evolutionary rate of autophagy-related genes in group-living lineages is consistent with an increased constraint on energy homeostasis as would be required in a group-living environment. Together, the results show that energy metabolic pathways play an important role in the transition to group-living in spiders.

212−216

Authors: Yun-Chun Zhang;Ye Htet Lwin;Ren Li;Kyaw- Win Maung;Guo-Gang Li;Rui-Chang Quan

Muntjac deer (Cervidae: Muntiacus) are often cited as an excellent model for the study of vertebrate evolution due to their fast rate of change in chromosome number among vertebrates. However, the phylogenetic relationships within Muntiacus generally, and the taxonomic status of Muntiacus gongshanensis specifically, remain unclear. Here, the phylogenetic relationships within Muntiacus were studied using mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) and cytochrome b (cyt b) segments. Our results recognize 12 species within Muntiacus and support the controversial species M. gongshanensis, M. putaoensis, and M. malabaricus. Furthermore, Bayesian inference (BI) and maximum-likelihood (ML) approaches revealed M. gongshanensis and M. crinifrons to be closely related species, with M. feae as their sister species, and M. putaoensis and M. truongsonensis to be closely related, with M. rooseveltorum as their sister species. The distribution range of M. gongshanensis was also confirmed in southwest China (Namdapha, Modong, Zayu and Gongshan) and northern Myanmar (Putao). The results of this study provide insight into the evolution of Muntiacus and further provide a molecular basis for the taxonomic evaluation of the genus in the future and fundamental data for the conservation of M. gongshanensis.

221−226

Authors: Chen-Yang Liu;Uriel Gélin;Ru-Chuan He;Huan Li;Rui-Chang Quan

Parents may adjust their breeding time to optimize reproductive output and reduce reproductive costs associated with unpredictable climatic conditions, especially in the context of global warming. The breeding performance of tropical bird species in response to local climate change is relatively understudied compared with that of temperate bird species. Here, based on data from 361 white-rumped munia (Lonchura striata) nests, we determined that breeding season onset, which varied from 15 February to 22 June, was delayed by drought and high temperatures. Clutch size (4.52±0.75) and daily survival rate but not egg mass (0.95±0.10 g) were negatively affected by frequent rainfall. Daily nest survival during the rainy breeding season in 2018 (0.95±0.04) was lower than that in 2017 (0.98±0.01) and 2019 (0.97±0.00). The overall nesting cycle was 40.37±2.69 days, including an incubation period of 13.10±1.18 days and nestling period of 23.22±2.40 days. The nestling period in 2018 (25.11±1.97 days) was longer than that in 2017 (22.90±2.22 days) and 2019 (22.00±2.48 days), possibly due to the cooler temperatures. Climate also affected the total number of successful fledglings, which was highest under moderate rainfall in 2017 (115 fledglings) and lowest during prolonged drought in 2019 (51 fledglings). Together, our results suggest that drought and frequent rainfall during the breeding season can decrease reproductive success. Thus, this study provides important insights into bird ecology and conservation in the context of global climate change.

234−240

Authors: Jian-Huan Yang;Nikolay A. Poyarkov

We report on a new amphibian species of the genus Micryletta from Hainan Island, China, based on morphological and molecular analyses. The new species, Micryletta immaculata sp. nov., is diagnosed by a combination of the following morphological characters: medium-sized within genus (SVL 23.3–24.8 mm in males, n=3; 27.7–30.1 mm in females, n=2); dorsum bronze brown to reddish brown in life; dark brown spots and stripes on dorsum and flank absent; flanks largely pigmented with silver white; throat in adult males dark brown; undersides without dark patterns; outer metatarsal tubercle absent; supratympanic fold distinct; webbing between toes basal and poorly developed; tibiotarsal articulation adpressed limb reaching level of tympanum. The new species is divergent from all other congeners based on 16S rRNA gene sequences (3.0%–7.7%). Data on the natural history and male advertisement calls of the new species are provided. Following the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria, we propose the new species to be listed as Vulnerable B1ab (iii).

246−249

Authors: Yu-Fang Mao;Xi-Guo Yuan;Yu-Peng Cun

Somatic mutations are a large category of genetic variations, which play an essential role in tumorigenesis. Detection of somatic single nucleotide variants (SNVs) could facilitate downstream analysis of tumorigenesis. Many computational methods have been developed to detect SNVs, but most require normal matched samples to differentiate somatic SNVs from the normal state, which can be difficult to obtain. Therefore, developing new approaches for detecting somatic SNVs without matched samples are crucial. In this work, we detected somatic mutations from individual tumor samples based on a novel machine learning approach, svmSomatic, using next-generation sequencing (NGS) data. In addition, as somatic SNV detection can be impacted by multiple mutations, with germline mutations and co-occurrence of copy number variations (CNVs) common in organisms, we used the novel approach to distinguish somatic and germline mutations based on the NGS data from individual tumor samples. In summary, svmSomatic: (1) considers the influence of CNV co-occurrence in detecting somatic mutations; and (2) trains a support vector machine algorithm to distinguish between somatic and germline mutations, without requiring normal matched samples. We further tested and compared svmSomatic with other common methods. Results showed that svmSomatic performance, as measured by F1-score, was significantly better than that of others using both simulation and real NGS data.

252−252

Authors: Xue-Hui Wang;Tian-Zhang Song;Lei Li; Ren-Rong Tian;Yong-Tang Zheng

After the publication of Wang et al. (2020), we realized that there were some inappropriate statements in the content. Hereby, we correct them and apologize for any confusion this may have caused.

1-2

Authors: Yong-Gang Yao;Xue-Long Jiang;

14-27

Authors: Yu-Dong Wei; Xiao-Min Du;Dong-Hui Yang;Fang-Lin Ma;Xiu-Wei Yu;Meng-Fei Zhang;Na Li;Sha Peng

Double sex and mab-3-related transcription factor 1 (Dmrt1), which is expressed in goat male germline stem cells (mGSCs) and Sertoli cells, is one of the most conserved transcription factors involved in sex determination. In this study, we highlighted the role of Dmrt1 in balancing the innate immune response in goat mGSCs. Dmrt1 recruited promyelocytic leukemia zinc finger (Plzf), also known as zinc finger and BTB domain-containing protein 16 (Zbtb16), to repress the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-dependent inflammatory signaling pathway and nuclear factor (NF)-κB. Knockdown of Dmrt1 in seminiferous tubules resulted in widespread degeneration of germ and somatic cells, while the expression of proinflammatory factors were significantly enhanced. We also demonstrated that Dmrt1 stimulated proliferation of mGSCs, but repressed apoptosis caused by the immune response. Thus, Dmrt1 is sufficient to reduce inflammation in the testes, thereby establishing the stability of spermatogenesis and the testicular microenvironment.

43-50

Authors: Xing Guo;Xin-Xin He;Hong Chen;Zhi-Cheng Wang;Hui-Fang Li;Jiang-Xian Wang;Ming-Shan Wang

Although domestic ducks have been important poultry species throughout human history, their origin remains enigmatic, with mallards and/or Chinese spot-billed ducks being proposed as the direct wild ancestor(s) of domestic ducks. Here, we analyzed 118 whole genomes from mallard, Chinese spot-billed, and domestic ducks to reconstruct their evolutionary history. We found pervasive introgression patterns among these duck populations. Furthermore, we showed that domestic ducks separated from mallard and Chinese spot-billed ducks nearly 38 thousand years ago (kya) and 54 kya, respectively, which is considerably outside the time period of presumed duck domestication. Thus, our results suggest that domestic ducks may have originated from another wild duck population that is currently undefined or unsampled, rather than from present-day mallard and/or Chinese spot-billed ducks, as previously thought. Overall, this study provides new insight into the complex evolution of ducks.

62-86

Authors: Kai Wang;Zhong-Bin Yu;Gernot Vogel;Jing Che

While considerable progress has been made in the taxonomic studies of the genus Lycodon in Asia, questions remain to be clarified regarding the taxonomy of certain groups, particularly those containing species in China. Not only do many regions in China remain overlooked by herpetologists, resulting in the possibility of undiscovered new species, but the surveyed areas also have suspicious records of recognized congeners that require taxonomic confirmations. Combining both morphological and genetic data, we tackle these outstanding issues in the taxonomy of Lycodon in China. In particular, we discover two new species of Lycodon: one from the previously neglected hot-dry valley in the northern Hengduan Mountain Region close to Tibet, and another recluse and cryptic species from the L. fasciatus complex in the downtown park of a major city in southern Sichuan Province. Additionally, we clarify the distribution of L. septentrionalis in China and resurrect and elevate its junior synonym subspecies, Dinodon septentrionale chapaense, as a full, valid species, and we synonymize the recently described L. namdongensis to the resurrected L. chapaensis comb. nov.. Lycodon chapaensis comb. nov. thus represents a new national record of reptilian fauna of China. Lastly, based on literature review, we also correct some of the erroneous records of L. fasciatus and L. ruhstrati in China, point out remaining taxonomic issues of the genus for future research, and update the dichotomous key and distribution of the 20 species of Lycodon currently recorded from China.

94-99

Authors: Wen-Hua Yu;Gabor Csorba;Zheng-Lan-Yi Huang;Yan-Nan Li;Shuo Liu;Rui-Chang Quan;Qiao-Yan Wang; Hong-Yan Shi;Yi Wu;Song Li

The disk-footed bat Eudiscopus denticulus (Osgood, 1932) is a rare species in Southeast Asia. During two chiropteran surveys in the summer of 1981 and 2019, eight and three small Myotis-like bats with distinct disk-like hindfeet were collected from Yunnan Province, China, respectively. External, craniodental, and phylogenetic evidence confirmed these specimens as E. denticulus, representing a new genus in China. The complete mitochondrial genome consistently showed robust support for E. denticulus as a basal lineage within Myotinae. The coding patterns and characteristics of its mitochondrial genome were similar to that of other published genomes from Myotis. The echolocation signals of the newly collected individuals were analyzed. The potential distribution range of Eudiscopus in Southeast Asia inferred using the MaxEnt model indicated its potential occurrence along the southern border region of Yunnan, China.

108-115

Authors: Zhi-Feng Ding;Chun-Lan Zhang;Wen-Sui Zhang;Qian-Min Yuan;Long-Wu Wang;Gang Ren;En Li;Hui-Jian Hu;Wei Liang

Previous work based on molecular evidence has shown that most socially monogamous birds follow a genetic polyandrous mating system. However, our knowledge about avian mating systems is heavily biased toward the north temperate zone, with data on tropical birds remaining relatively scarce. This uneven distribution of both phylogenetic and spatial sampling has hampered our understanding and interpretation of results. In this study, we investigated the frequency of extra-pair paternity (EPP) in a tropical population of yellow-bellied prinias (Prinia flaviventris) in Guangxi, southern China. A total of 129 individuals belonging to 24 nests were sampled, among which 12 out of 83 chicks (14.46%) in seven nests were found to be EPP offspring. In nests in which all nestlings were sampled, only five out of 56 chicks were EPP offspring, accounting for an unbiased EPP rate of 8.93%. This rate is below the average rate of EPP in the family Sylviidae. The possible causes of EPP in prinias and the occurrence of EPP in birds with high resource investment and intensive parental care are discussed. This study highlights the value of genome-wide markers in determining relatedness in a wild bird species without a reference genome.

124-129

Authors: Seung Jae Lee;Jeong-Hoon Kim;Euna Jo;Eunkyung Choi;Jinmu Kim;Seok-Gwan Choi;Sangdeok Chung;Hyun-Woo Kim;Hyun Park

The Antarctic toothfish, Dissostichus mawsoni, belongs to the Nototheniidae family and is distributed in sub-zero temperatures below S60° latitude in the Southern Ocean. Therefore, it is an attractive model species to study the stenothermal cold-adapted character state. In this study, we successfully generated highly contiguous genome sequences of D. mawsoni, which contained 1 062 scaffolds with a N50 length of 36.98 Mb and longest scaffold length of 46.82 Mb. Repetitive elements accounted for 40.87% of the genome. We also inferred 32 914 protein-coding genes using in silico gene prediction and transcriptome sequencing and detected splicing variants using Isoform-Sequencing (Iso-Seq), which will be invaluable resource for further exploration of the adaptation mechanisms of Antarctic toothfish. This new high-quality reference genome of D. mawsoni provides a fundamental resource for a deeper understanding of cold adaptation and conservation of species.

599-604

Authors: Hao Dai1; Qi-Qi Jin; Lin Li; Luo-Nan Chen;

Gene regulatory networks play pivotal roles in our understanding of biological processes/mechanisms at the molecular level. Many studies have developed sample-specific or cell-type-specific gene regulatory networks from single-cell transcriptomic data based on a large amount of cell samples. Here, we review the state-of-the-art computational algorithms and describe various applications of gene regulatory networks in biological studies.

621-631

Authors: Yan Liang1;Heng Li;Jing Li; Ze-Ning Yang; Jia-Li Li;  Hui-Wen Zheng;  Yan-Li Chen;Hai-Jing Shi;  Lei Guo1; Long-Ding Liu1;

Understanding the pathogenesis of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and clarifying antiviral immunity in hosts are critical aspects for the development of vaccines and antivirals. Mice are frequently used to generate animal models of infectious diseases due to their convenience and ability to undergo genetic manipulation. However, normal adult mice are not susceptible to SARS-CoV-2. Here, we developed a viral receptor (human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, hACE2) pulmonary transfection mouse model to establish SARS-CoV-2 infection rapidly in the mouse lung. Based on the model, the virus successfully infected the mouse lung 2 days after transfection. Viral RNA/protein, innate immune cell infiltration, inflammatory cytokine expression, and pathological changes in the infected lungs were observed after infection. Further studies indicated that neutrophils were the first and most abundant leukocytes to infiltrate the infected lungs after viral infection. In addition, using infected CXCL5-knockout mice, chemokine CXCL5 was responsible for neutrophil recruitment. CXCL5 knockout decreased lung inflammation without diminishing viral clearance, suggesting a potential target for controlling pneumonia.

644-655

Authors: Chang-Hong Li1; Jie Chen;Li Nie; Jiong Chen;

Liver-expressed antimicrobial peptide 2 (LEAP-2) is a cationic peptide that plays an important role in a host’s innate immune system. We previously demonstrated that mudskipper (Boleophthalmus pectinirostris) LEAP-2 (BpLEAP-2) induces chemotaxis and activation of monocytes/ macrophages (MO/MФ). However, the molecular mechanism by which BpLEAP-2 regulates MO/MΦ remains unclear. In this study, we used yeast two-hybrid cDNA library screening to identify mudskipper protein(s) that interacted with BpLEAP-2, and characterized a sequence encoding motile sperm domain-containing protein 2 (BpMOSPD2). The interaction between BpLEAP-2 and BpMOSPD2 was subsequently confirmed by co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP). Sequence analyses revealed that the predicted BpMOSPD2 contained an N-terminal extracellular portion composed of a CRAL-TRIO domain and a motile sperm domain, a C-terminal transmembrane domain, and a short cytoplasmic tail. Phylogenetic tree analysis indicated that BpMOSPD2 grouped tightly with fish MOSPD2 homologs and was most closely related to that of the Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). The recombinant BpMOSPD2 was produced by prokaryotic expression and the corresponding antibody was prepared for protein concentration determination. RNA interference was used to knockdown BpMOSPD2 expression in the mudskipper MO/MФ, and the knockdown efficiency was confirmed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blotting. Knockdown of BpMOSPD2 significantly inhibited BpLEAP-2-induced chemotaxis of mudskipper MO/MФ and BpLEAP-2-induced bacterial killing activity. Furthermore, knockdown of BpMOSPD2 inhibited the effect of BpLEAP-2 on mRNA expression levels of BpIL-10, BpTNFα, BpIL-1β, and BpTGFβ in MO/MФ. In general, BpMOSPD2 directly interacted with BpLEAP-2, and mediated the effects of BpLEAP-2 on chemotaxis and activation of mudskipper MO/MФ. This is the first identification of MOSPD2 as a receptor for LEAP-2.

670-683

Authors: Wen-Yu Song; Xue-You Li1; Zhong-Zheng Chen; Quan Li1; Kenneth Otieno Onditi; Shui-Wang He1;  State Key Laboratory

The interpretation of patterns of biodiversity requires the disentanglement of geographical and environmental variables. Disjunct alpine communities are geographically isolated from one another but experience similar environmental impacts. Isolated homogenous habitats may promote speciation but constrain functional trait variation. In this study, we examined the hypothesis that dispersal limitation promotes taxonomic divergence, whereas habitat similarity in alpine mountains leads to functional convergence. We performed standardized field investigation to sample non-volant small mammals from 18 prominent alpine sites in the Three Parallel Rivers area. We estimated indices quantifying taxonomic and functional alpha- and beta-diversity, as well as beta-diversity components. We then assessed the respective importance of geographical and environmental predictors in explaining taxonomic and functional compositions. No evidence was found to show that species were more functionally similar than expected in local assemblages. However, the taxonomic turnover components were higher than functional ones (0.471±0.230 vs. 0.243±0.215), with nestedness components showing the opposite pattern (0.063±0.054 vs. 0.269±0.225). This indicated that differences in taxonomic compositions between sites occurred from replacement of functionally similar species. Geographical barriers were the key factor influencing both taxonomic total dissimilarity and turnover components, whereas functional beta-diversity was primarily explained by climatic factors such as minimum temperature of the coldest month. Our findings provide empirical evidence that taxonomic and functional diversity patterns can be independently driven by different ecological processes. Our results point to the importance of clarifying different components of beta-diversity to understand the underlying mechanisms of community assembly. These results also shed light on the assembly rules and ecological processes of terrestrial mammal communities in extreme environments.

705-708

Authors: Zheng Gong; Jun-Wei Zhu1; Cui-Ping Li; Shuai Jiang; Li-Na Ma; Bi-Xia Tang; Dong Zou; Mei-Li Chen; Yu-Bin Sun; Shu-Hui Song; Zhang Zhang; Jing-Fa Xiao; Yong-Biao Xue; Yi- Ming Bao; Zheng-Lin Du; Wen-Ming Zhao

Since the first reported severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in December 2019, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a global pandemic, spreading to more than 200 countries and regions worldwide. With continued research progress and virus detection, SARS-CoV-2 genomes and sequencing data have been reported and accumulated at an unprecedented rate. To meet the need for fast analysis of these genome sequences, the National Genomics Data Center (NGDC) of the China National Center for Bioinformation (CNCB) has established an online coronavirus analysis platform, which includes de novo assembly, BLAST alignment, genome annotation, variant identification, and variant annotation modules. The online analysis platform can be freely accessed at the 2019 Novel Coronavirus Resource (2019nCoVR) (https://bigd.big.ac.cn/ncov/online/tools

721 - 725

Authors: Yin-Qiao Wu; Heng Zhao3; Ying-Ju Li1; Saber Khederzadeh; Hong-Jiang Wei; Zhong- Yin Zhou1; Ya-Ping Zhang;

Genomic imprinting often results in parent-of-origin specific differential expression of maternally and paternally inherited alleles and plays an essential role in mammalian development and growth. Mammalian genomic imprinting has primarily been studied in mice and humans, with only limited information available for pigs. To systematically characterize this phenomenon and evaluate imprinting status between different species, we investigated imprinted genes on a genome-wide scale in pig brain tissues. Specifically, we performed bioinformatics analysis of high-throughput sequencing results from parental genomes and offspring transcriptomes of hybrid crosses between Duroc and Diannan small-ear pigs. We identified 11 paternally and five maternally expressed imprinted genes in pigs with highly stringent selection criteria. Additionally, we found that the KCNQ1 and IGF2R genes, which are related to development, displayed a different imprinting status in pigs compared with that in mice and humans. This comprehensive research should help improve our knowledge on genomic imprinting in pigs and highlight the potential use of imprinted genes in the pig breeding field.

733 - 739

Authors: Yu-Lu Gan1; Tao Qin3; Ye htet Lwin3; Guo-Gang Li3; Rui-Chang Quan3; Shuo Liu6 Guo-Hua Yu1

A new species of the genus Amolops, Amolops putaoensis sp. nov., is described from northern Myanmar. The new species can be distinguished from its congeners by the following characters: (1) dorsolateral fold distinct; (2) upper-lip stripe white; (3) male body size 37.6–40.2 mm; (4) ground color of dorsal surface brown, flank green, small warts on dorsum; (5) two internal subgular vocal sacs present; (6) HL slightly shorter than HW; (7) two palmar tubercles present, supernumerary tubercles and outer metatarsal tubercle absent; (8) tympanum smaller than half of eye diameter; (9) vomerine teeth present; (10) tibiotarsal articulation reaching beyond snout tip; (11) supratympanic fold indistinct; (12) pineal body present; (13) finger webbing absent, presence of circummarginal groove on tip of first finger; (14) nuptial pads present. The population from Myanmar represented a distinct maternal lineage within the Amolops monticola group and was recovered as a sister taxon to Amolops aniqiaoensis with strong support (100) based on concatenated data. Average uncorrected pairwise distances (P-distances) between the specimens from Myanmar and other species in the genus ranged from 2.69% (vs. A. aniqiaoensis) to 12.24% (vs. A. indoburmanensis) for 16S rRNA, 6.14% (vs. A. aniqiaoensis) to 15.79% (vs. A. panhai) for COI, and 9.66% (vs. A. aniqiaoensis) to 19.52% (vs. A. afghanus) for ND2.