So far,ascoviruses have only been identified from Lepidoptera host insects and their transmission vectors-endoparasitic wasps.Here,we reported the first finding of a complete novel ascovirus genome from a Diptera inse...So far,ascoviruses have only been identified from Lepidoptera host insects and their transmission vectors-endoparasitic wasps.Here,we reported the first finding of a complete novel ascovirus genome from a Diptera insect,Dasineura jujubifolia.Initially,sequence fragments with homology to ascoviruses were incidentally identified during metagenomic sequencing of the mitochondria of D.jujubifolia(Cecidomyiidae,Diptera)which is a major pest on Ziziphus jujuba.Then a full circular viral genome was assembled from the metagenomic data,which has an A+T percentage of 74%and contains 142,600 bp with 141 open reading frames(ORFs).Among the 141 ORFs,37 were conserved in all sequenced ascoviruses(core genes)including proteins predicted to participate in DNA replication,gene transcription,protein modification,virus assembly,lipid metabolism and apoptosis.Multi-gene families including those encode for baculovirus repeated open reading frames(BROs),myristylated membrane proteins,RING/U-box E3 ubiquitin ligases,and ATP-binding cassette(ABC)transporters were found in the virus genome.Phylogenetic analysis showed that the newly identified virus belongs to genus Toursvirus of Ascoviridae,and is therefore named as Dasineura jujubifolia toursvirus 2(DjTV-2a).The virus becomes the second reported species of the genus after Diadromus pulchellus toursvirus 1(DpTV-1a).The genome arrangement of DjTV-2a is quite different from that of DpTV-1a,suggesting these two viruses separated in an early time of evolution.The results suggest that the ascoviruses may infect a much broader range of hosts than our previous knowledge,and shed lights on the evolution of ascoviruses and particularly on that of the toursviruses.展开更多
Color variation among populations is thought to be either due to genetic variation or phenotype plasticity.In this study,we found that an agamid lizard,Phrynocephalus theobaldi,inhabiting elevations greater than any o...Color variation among populations is thought to be either due to genetic variation or phenotype plasticity.In this study,we found that an agamid lizard,Phrynocephalus theobaldi,inhabiting elevations greater than any other reptile,displayed a significantly darker spotted marking on the central ventral abdomen in higher populations than in lower populations.The grey spotted area only occurred in elevations>4200 m,and also increased with increased elevation.The ratio of the size of the dark colored area to the degree of skin luminance/reflectance was used to test whether the lizard has a larger and darker spotted area at higher elevations.This ratio was significantly positively associated with elevation rather than substrate color.The lizard did not display sexual difference in this phenotype.Temperature had a significant influence on the brightness of central abdomen,but temperature-related plasticity of this trait was much smaller than the magnitude of the difference between higher(>4200 m)and lower populations(<4200 m).Common garden experiments showed that genetic inheritance,rather than phenotype plasticity,played a dominant role in this variation.Our research addressed the darkness of a body region that is rarely analyzed because it is shielded from direct insolation.The idea that ventral color could be related to thermoregulation is shown to be worthy of further research.展开更多
Growth retardation affects the health and production of livestock,while overexertion can cause sudden cardiac arrest.Both cases are considered to be metabolic disorders and are detrimental to livestock production.Effe...Growth retardation affects the health and production of livestock,while overexertion can cause sudden cardiac arrest.Both cases are considered to be metabolic disorders and are detrimental to livestock production.Effective measures for relieving or treating these disorders are scarce.However,Pimpinella thellungiana H.Wolff(P.thellungiana),a medicinal herb,has been reported to relieve growth retardation and overexertion in ethnopharmacological clinical trials.This paper summarizes and classifies a total of 106 bioactive compounds that were isolated and identified from P.thellungiana,including flavonoids,simple phenylpropanoids,coumarins,volatile compounds,and simple polyphenols,and discusses its pharmaceutical benefits,including its growth-promoting,antioxidant,anti-inflammatory,anti-atherosclerotic,and hepatoprotective properties.The nutrition,metabolism,biological activities,and pharmacological effects of the principal compounds of P.thellungiana in livestock are reviewed,as well as their potential molecular targets and metabolic signaling pathways in which these compounds are involved.However,the pharmacological and toxicological effects of some compounds have not been well documented,and further investigations of the bioactive compounds are needed.Such studies are crucial for the development of natural drugs or feed additives from P.thellungiana to alleviate growth retardation and mitigate injuries from overexertion in livestock.展开更多
基金This work was supported by the International Science and Technology Cooperation Program of Xinjiang Construction Corps(Grant No.2017BC004)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.31900154).
文摘So far,ascoviruses have only been identified from Lepidoptera host insects and their transmission vectors-endoparasitic wasps.Here,we reported the first finding of a complete novel ascovirus genome from a Diptera insect,Dasineura jujubifolia.Initially,sequence fragments with homology to ascoviruses were incidentally identified during metagenomic sequencing of the mitochondria of D.jujubifolia(Cecidomyiidae,Diptera)which is a major pest on Ziziphus jujuba.Then a full circular viral genome was assembled from the metagenomic data,which has an A+T percentage of 74%and contains 142,600 bp with 141 open reading frames(ORFs).Among the 141 ORFs,37 were conserved in all sequenced ascoviruses(core genes)including proteins predicted to participate in DNA replication,gene transcription,protein modification,virus assembly,lipid metabolism and apoptosis.Multi-gene families including those encode for baculovirus repeated open reading frames(BROs),myristylated membrane proteins,RING/U-box E3 ubiquitin ligases,and ATP-binding cassette(ABC)transporters were found in the virus genome.Phylogenetic analysis showed that the newly identified virus belongs to genus Toursvirus of Ascoviridae,and is therefore named as Dasineura jujubifolia toursvirus 2(DjTV-2a).The virus becomes the second reported species of the genus after Diadromus pulchellus toursvirus 1(DpTV-1a).The genome arrangement of DjTV-2a is quite different from that of DpTV-1a,suggesting these two viruses separated in an early time of evolution.The results suggest that the ascoviruses may infect a much broader range of hosts than our previous knowledge,and shed lights on the evolution of ascoviruses and particularly on that of the toursviruses.
基金supported by the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research Program(STEP,Grant No.2019 QZKK0501)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.31772447)Zhejiang Natural Science Foundation(LY21C040002)。
文摘Color variation among populations is thought to be either due to genetic variation or phenotype plasticity.In this study,we found that an agamid lizard,Phrynocephalus theobaldi,inhabiting elevations greater than any other reptile,displayed a significantly darker spotted marking on the central ventral abdomen in higher populations than in lower populations.The grey spotted area only occurred in elevations>4200 m,and also increased with increased elevation.The ratio of the size of the dark colored area to the degree of skin luminance/reflectance was used to test whether the lizard has a larger and darker spotted area at higher elevations.This ratio was significantly positively associated with elevation rather than substrate color.The lizard did not display sexual difference in this phenotype.Temperature had a significant influence on the brightness of central abdomen,but temperature-related plasticity of this trait was much smaller than the magnitude of the difference between higher(>4200 m)and lower populations(<4200 m).Common garden experiments showed that genetic inheritance,rather than phenotype plasticity,played a dominant role in this variation.Our research addressed the darkness of a body region that is rarely analyzed because it is shielded from direct insolation.The idea that ventral color could be related to thermoregulation is shown to be worthy of further research.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China[32260844]Tianshan Talent Project of Xinjiang[2024]+1 种基金Bingtuan Science and Technology Program[2023AB078]International Partnership Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences[092GJHZ2023062GC].
文摘Growth retardation affects the health and production of livestock,while overexertion can cause sudden cardiac arrest.Both cases are considered to be metabolic disorders and are detrimental to livestock production.Effective measures for relieving or treating these disorders are scarce.However,Pimpinella thellungiana H.Wolff(P.thellungiana),a medicinal herb,has been reported to relieve growth retardation and overexertion in ethnopharmacological clinical trials.This paper summarizes and classifies a total of 106 bioactive compounds that were isolated and identified from P.thellungiana,including flavonoids,simple phenylpropanoids,coumarins,volatile compounds,and simple polyphenols,and discusses its pharmaceutical benefits,including its growth-promoting,antioxidant,anti-inflammatory,anti-atherosclerotic,and hepatoprotective properties.The nutrition,metabolism,biological activities,and pharmacological effects of the principal compounds of P.thellungiana in livestock are reviewed,as well as their potential molecular targets and metabolic signaling pathways in which these compounds are involved.However,the pharmacological and toxicological effects of some compounds have not been well documented,and further investigations of the bioactive compounds are needed.Such studies are crucial for the development of natural drugs or feed additives from P.thellungiana to alleviate growth retardation and mitigate injuries from overexertion in livestock.
