Herbal materials used as soil amendments alleviate root rot of Panax ginseng.

Root rot is a serious soil-borne fungal disease that seriously affects the yield and quality of Panxa ginseng. To develop a sustainable strategy for alleviating ginseng root rot, an herb-based soil amendment is suggested in this study. Mixed powers of medicinal herbs (MP) and corn stalks (CS) were used as soil amendments, respectively, along with a control group (CK) without treatment. The application of MP and CS led to significant relief from ginseng root rot. The disease index (%) represents both the incidence rate and symptom severity of the disease. The disease index of the MP and CS group was 18.52% and 25.93%, respectively, lower than that of CK (40.74%). Correspondingly, three soil enzyme activities improved; the antifungal components in the soil increased; and the relative abundances of root rot pathogens decreased in response to MP Soil enzyme activities were negatively correlated with disease grades. MP group also led to possible interactive changes in the communities of soil fungi and chemical components. In conclusion, our results suggest that the use of herb-based soil amendments has significant potential as an ecological and effective approach to controlling root rot disease of ginseng by the changing rhizosphere fungal community and soil compositions.

Mining Candidate Genes and Identifying Risk Factors for Leg Disease in Broilers: A Mendelian Randomization Study.

Clinical investigations have highlighted disruptions in bone metabolic processes and abnormal fluctuations in serum indicator levels during the onset of leg disease (LD) in broilers. However, the presence of a genetic causal relationship for this association remains undetermined. Therefore, the aim of this study is to discern the risk factors underlying LD development using 1235 sequenced white-feathered broilers. We employed Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to assess the associations of bone strength (BS), bone mineral density (BMD), tibial bone weight (TBW), tibial bone length (TBL), tibial bone diameter (TBD), bone ash (BA), ash calcium (Ash Ca), ash phosphorus (Ash P), serum calcium (Ca), serum phosphorus (P), serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and serum osteoprotegerin (OPG) with the incidence of LD. Compelling evidence underscores a causal link between the risk of developing LD and decreased BMD (odds ratio (OR) = 0.998; 95% CI: 0.983, 0.993; P < 0.001) and narrower TBD (OR = 0.985, 95% CI: 0.975, 0.994, P = 0.002). Additionally, serum OPG concentrations (OR: 0.995, 95% CI: 0.992, 0.999, P = 0.008) were associated with BMD (OR = 0.0078, 95% CI = 0.0043 to 0.0140, P < 0.001), indicating a robust genetic relationship between ALP concentrations (OR: 0.988, 95% CI: 0.984, 0.993, P < 0.001) and TBD (OR = 0.0046, 95% CI = 0.0026, 0.0083, P < 0.001). Moreover, elevated serum Ca (OR: 0.564, 95% CI: 0.487, 0.655, P < 0.001) and P (OR: 0.614, 95% CI: 0.539, 0.699, P < 0.001) levels were associated with a narrower TBD. Elevated serum levels of Ca, P, ALP, and OPG contribute to disturbances in bone metabolism, while decreased BMD and narrower TBD are associated with a greater risk of developing LD in broilers. This discovery elucidates the metabolic risk factors for LD in broilers and could provide information on LDs, such as osteoporosis, in humans.

Effects of a phytobiotic-based additive on the growth, hepatopancreas health, intestinal microbiota, and Vibrio parahaemolyticus resistance of Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei.

Vibrio genus is a common pathogen in aquaculture and causes acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND) and massive mortality of shrimp. Many studies have suggested that a single functional ingredient such as plant extract or organic acid can reduce the dependence on antibiotics and promote the growth and immunity of aquatic animals. In this study, we evaluated the effects of a phytobiotic-based compound additive (Sanacore® GM, SNGM), which had a successful trajectory of commercial application in fish farming. However, its effects on the hepatopancreas health and intestinal microbiota of shrimp after Vibrio challenge have not been well evaluated. In the present study, Pacific white shrimp were fed diets with or without supplementation of SNGM, and the SNGM grades were 0-g/kg (CON), 3-g/kg (SNGM3), and 5-g/kg (SNGM5) diets. The feed trial lasted 60 days, after which a Vibrio parahaemolyticus challenge was performed. The results showed that compared to the CON group, both the SNGM3 and SNGM5 groups had a significantly higher weight gain and a lower feed conversion ratio as well as higher survival after Vibrio parahaemolyticus challenge. In the growth trial, the SNGM3 group had a significantly increased total protein, albumin concentration, and acid phosphatase activity in hemolymph compared to the CON group. In the challenge experiment, the SNGM3 and SNGM5 groups had increased albumin and glucose contents as well as the activities of phenoloxidase, lysozyme, alkaline phosphatase, and superoxide dismutase in hemolymph. Both the SNGM3 and SNGM5 groups had improved morphology of the hepatopancreas and intestine. The SNGM5 group had alleviated gut microbiota dysbiosis induced by Vibrio infection by increasing the potential probiotic bacterium abundance (Shewanella) and decreasing the potential pathogenic bacteria abundance (Vibrio, Photobacteriuma, Pseudoalteromonas, and Candidatus_Bacilloplasma). In conclusion, the dietary phytobiotic-based additive at 3-g/kg level increased the growth and Vibrio parahaemolyticus resistance of Pacific white shrimp by promoting immune-related enzyme activities and improving the morphological structure of the hepatopancreas and intestine and the intestinal microbiota composition.

Transcriptome analysis reveals the synergistic involvement of MGLL and LPIN1 in fatty acid synthesis in broiler pectoral muscles.

Fatty acids (FAs) are one of the most important bioactive compounds affecting the quality of meat. In this study, we compared the expression profiles of genes involved in FA production in the breast muscle of Jingxing Yellow chickens at different days of age determined by transcriptomic analysis to identify key genes and pathways regulating the FA composition of the breast muscle. Through clustering analysis of gene expression data, the growth process of broiler chickens can be divided into two stages, namely the growth and development stage at the 35th and 63rd days of age (D35, D63), and the mature stage at the 119th day of age (D119). The content of some important unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs), such as C18:2n6c, C20:4n6, and C22:6n3, in the pectoral muscles, differed significantly between these two stages (p < 0.05). Therefore, we compared the gene expression profiles at D35 and D63 with those at D119, and identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs). The gene modules related to the five UFAs with significant changes were identified by weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), and then 150 crossover genes were identified by crossover analysis of the detected DEGs and WGCNA. The results of the pathway enrichment analysis revealed the glycerolipid metabolism pathway related to lipid metabolism, in which the MGLL and LPIN1 genes were particularly enriched. In this study, the expression levels of MGLL and LPIN1 showed an increasing trend during the growth process of broilers, with a negative regulatory effect on the significantly reduced content of C18:2n6c in the pectoral muscle, and a positive regulatory effect on the significantly increased content of C20:4n6. These findings indicated that MGLL and LPIN1 synergistically promote the deposition of FAs, which may further promote the conversion of linoleic acid (C18:2n6c) to arachidonic acid (C20:4n6). Therefore, screening and identifying FA production-related functional genes are key to elucidate the regulatory molecular mechanism of production of FAs in chicken muscle, aiming to provide a theoretical basis for improving chicken meat quality.

Effect of myristic acid supplementation on triglyceride synthesis and related genes in the pectoral muscles of broiler chickens.

Fatty acids (FAs) can serve as energy for poultry, maintain normal cell structure and function, and support a healthy immune system. Although the addition of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) to the diet has been extensively studied and reported, the mechanism of action of saturated fatty acids (SFAs) remains to be elucidated. We investigated the effect of 0.04% dietary myristic acid (MA) on slaughter performance, lipid components, tissue FAs, and the transcriptome profile in chickens. The results showed that dietary MA had no effect on slaughter performance (body weight, carcass weight, eviscerated weight, and pectoral muscle weight) (P > 0.05). Dietary MA enrichment increased MA (P < 0.001) and triglycerides (TGs) (P < 0.01) levels in the pectoral muscle. The levels of palmitic acid, linoleic acid (LA), arachidonic acid (AA), SFAs, monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), and PUFAs were significantly higher (P < 0.01) in the MA supplementation group compared to the control group. However, there were no significant differences in the ratios of PUFA/SFA and n6/omega-3 (n3) between the two groups. The MA content was positively correlated with the contents of palmitic acid, LA, linolenic acid (ALA), n3, n6, SFAs, and unsaturated fatty acids (UFA). DHCR24, which is known to be involved in steroid metabolism and cholesterol biosynthesis pathways, was found to be a significantly lower in the MA supplementation group compared to the control group (P < 0.05, log2(fold change) = -0.85). Five overlapping co-expressed genes were identified at the intersection between the differential expressed genes and Weighted Gene Co­expression Network Analysis-derived hub genes associated with MA phenotype, namely BHLHE40, MSL1, PLAGL1, SRSF4, and ENSGALG00000026875. For the TG phenotype, a total of 28 genes were identified, including CHKA, KLF5, TGIF1, etc. Both sets included the gene PLAGL1, which has a negative correlation with the levels of MA and TG. This study provides valuable information to further understand the regulation of gene expression patterns by dietary supplementation with MA and examines at the molecular level the phenotypic changes induced by supplementation with MA.

Genome-wide association analysis identify candidate genes for feed efficiency and growth traits in Wenchang chickens.

BACKGROUND: Wenchang chickens are one of the most popular local chicken breeds in the Chinese chicken industry. However, the low feed efficiency is the main shortcoming of this breed. Therefore, there is a need to find a more precise breeding method to improve the feed efficiency of Wenchang chickens. In this study, we explored important candidate genes and variants for feed efficiency and growth traits through genome-wide association study (GWAS) analysis. RESULTS: Estimates of genomic heritability for growth and feed efficiency traits, including residual feed intake (RFI) of 0.05, average daily food intake (ADFI) of 0.21, average daily weight gain (ADG) of 0.24, body weight (BW) at 87, 95, 104, 113 days of age (BW87, BW95, BW104 and BW113) ranged from 0.30 to 0.44. Important candidate genes related to feed efficiency and growth traits were identified, such as PLCE1, LAP3, MED28, QDPR, LDB2 and SEL1L3 genes. CONCLUSION: The results identified important candidate genes for feed efficiency and growth traits in Wenchang chickens and provide a theoretical basis for the development of new molecular breeding technology.

Large-scale transcriptomic and genomic analyses reveal a novel functional gene SERPINB6 for chicken carcass traits.

BACKGROUND: Carcass traits are crucial indicators of meat production efficiency. However, the molecular regulatory mechanisms associated with these traits remain unclear. RESULTS: In this study, we conducted comprehensive transcriptomic and genomic analyses on 399 Tiannong partridge chickens to identify key genes and variants associated with carcass traits and to elucidate the underlying regulatory mechanisms. Based on association analyses with the elastic net (EN) model, we identified 12 candidate genes (AMY1A, AP3B2, CEBPG, EEF2, EIF4EBP1, FGFR1, FOXD3, GOLM1, LOC107052698, PABPC1, SERPINB6 and TBC1D16) for 4 carcass-related traits, namely live weight, dressed weight, eviscerated weight, and breast muscle weight. SERPINB6 was identified as the only overlapping gene by 3 analyses, EN model analysis, weighted gene co-expression network analysis and differential expression analysis. Cell-level experiments confirmed that SERPINB6 promotes the proliferation of chicken DF1 cells and primary myoblasts. Further expression genome-wide association study and association analysis indicated that rs317934171 is the critical site that enhances SERPINB6 expression. Furthermore, a dual-luciferase reporter assay proved that gga-miR-1615 targets the 3'UTR of SERPINB6. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, our findings reveal that SERPINB6 serves as a novel gene for chicken carcass traits by promoting fibroblast and myoblast proliferation. Additionally, the downstream variant rs317934171 regulates SERPINB6 expression. These results identify a new target gene and molecular marker for the molecular mechanisms of chicken carcass traits.

Endoscopic application of magnetic compression anastomosis: a review.

Magnetic compression anastomosis (MCA) is a new method that provides sutureless passage construction for tubular organs. Due to the high recurrence rate of conventional endoscopic treatment and the high morbidity and mortality of surgical procedures, the MCA technique shows promise. The aim of this review is to comprehensively examine the literature related to the use of MCA in different gastrointestinal diseases over the past few years, categorizing them according to the anastomotic site and describing in detail the various methods of magnet delivery and the clinical outcomes of MCA. MCA is an innovative technique, and its use represents an advancement in the field of minimally invasive interventions. Comparison studies have shown that the anastomosis formed by MCA is comparable to or better than surgical sutures in terms of general appearance and histology. Although most of the current research has involved animal studies or studies with small populations, the safety and feasibility of MCA have been preliminarily demonstrated. Large prospective studies involving populations are still needed to guarantee the security of MCA. For technologies that have been initially used in clinical settings, effective measures should also be implemented to identify, even prevent, complications. Furthermore, specific commercial magnets must be created and optimized in this emerging area.

New insights into the genetic loci related to egg weight and age at first egg traits in broiler breeder.

Egg weight (EW) and age at first egg (AFE) are economically important traits in breeder chicken production. The genetic basis of these traits, however, is far from understood, especially for broiler breeders. In this study, genetic parameter estimation, genome-wide association analysis, meta-analysis, and selective sweep analysis were carried out to identify genetic loci associated with EW and AFE in 6,842 broiler breeders. The study found that the heritability of EW ranged from 0.42 to 0.44, while the heritability of AFE was estimated at 0.33 in the maternal line. Meta-analysis and selective sweep analysis identified two colocalized regions on GGA4 that significantly influenced EW at 32 wk (EW32W) and at 43 wk (EW43W) with both paternal and maternal lines. The genes AR, YIPF6, and STARD8 were located within the significant region (GGA4: 366.86-575.50 kb), potentially affecting EW through the regulation of follicle development, cell proliferation, and lipid transfer etc. The promising genes LCORL and NCAPG were positioned within the significant region (GGA4:75.35-75.42 Mb), potentially influencing EW through pleiotropic effects on growth and development. Additionally, 3 significant regions were associated with AFE on chromosomes GGA7, GGA19, and GGA27. All of these factors affected the AFE by influencing ovarian development. In our study, the genomic information from both paternal and maternal lines was used to identify genetic regions associated with EW and AFE. Two genomic regions and eight genes were identified as the most likely candidates affecting EW and AFE. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the genetic basis of egg production traits in broiler breeders and provide new insights into future technology development.

Dual-Scale Spiral Material for Balancing High Load Bearing and Sound Absorption.

Porous materials with sound absorption and load-bearing capabilities are in demand in engineering fields like aviation and rail transportation. However, achieving both properties simultaneously is challenging due to the trade-off between interconnected pores for sound absorption and mechanical strength. Inspired by quilling art, a novel design using spiral material formed by rolling planar materials into helical structures is proposed. Experimental results show high structural strength through self-locking mechanisms, while double porosities from interlayer spiral slits and aligned submillimeter pores provide excellent sound absorption. These spiral sheets surpass foam aluminum in specific strength (up to 5.1 MPa) and approach aerogels in sound absorption (average coefficient of 0.93 within 0-6400 Hz). With its adaptability to various planar materials, this spiral design allows for hybrid combinations of different materials for multi-functionality, paving the way for designing advanced, lightweight porous materials for broad applications.

N6-methylation in the development, diagnosis, and treatment of gastric cancer.

Gastric cancer (GC) ranks third among cancers in terms of mortality rate worldwide. A clear understanding of the mechanisms underlying the genesis and progression of GC will contribute to clinical decision making. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most abundant among diverse mRNA modification types and regulates multiple facets of RNA metabolism. In recent years, emerging studies have shown that m6A modifications are involved in gastric carcinoma tumorigenesis and progression and can potentially be valuable new prospects for diagnosis and prognosis. This article reviews the recent progress regarding m6A in GC.

Transcriptome analysis reveals the genes involved in spermatogenesis in white feather broilers.

Semen volume is an important economic trait of broilers and one of the important indices for continuous breeding. The objective of this study was to identify genes related to semen volume through transcriptome analysis of the testis tissue of white feather broilers. The testis samples with the highest semen volume (H group, n = 5) and lowest semen volume (L group, n = 5) were selected from 400-day-old roosters for transcriptome analysis by RNA sequencing. During the screening of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the H and L groups, a total of 386 DEGs were identified, among which 348 were upregulated and 38 were downregulated. Gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis revealed that the immune response, leukocyte differentiation, cell adhesion molecules and collagen binding played vital roles in spermatogenesis. The results showed that 4 genes related to spermatogenesis, namely, COL1A1, CD74, ARPC1B and APOA1, were significantly expressed in Group H, which was consistent with the phenotype results. Our findings may provide a basis for further research on the genetic mechanism of semen volume in white feather broilers.

Abnormal Ocular Movement in the Early Stage of Multiple-System Atrophy With Predominant Parkinsonism Distinct From Parkinson's Disease.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The eye-movement examination can be applied as a noninvasive method to identify multiple-system atrophy (MSA). Few studies have investigated eye movements during the early stage of MSA with predominant parkinsonism (MSA-P). We aimed to determine the characteristic oculomotor changes in the early stage of MSA-P. METHODS: We retrospectively selected 17 patients with MSA-P and 40 with Parkinson's disease (PD) with disease durations of less than 2 years, and 40 age-matched healthy controls (HCs). Oculomotor performance in the horizontal direction was measured in detail using videonystagmography. RESULTS: We found that the proportions of patients with MSA-P and PD exhibiting abnormal eye movements were 82.4% and 77.5%, respectively, which were significantly higher than that in the HCs (47.5%, p<0.05). Compared with HCs, patients with MSA-P presented significantly higher abnormal proportions of fixation and gaze-holding (17.6% vs. 0%), without-fixation (47.1% vs. 0%), prolonged latency in reflexive saccades (29.4% vs. 5.0%), memory-guided saccades (93.3% vs. 10.0%), and catch-up saccades in smooth-pursuit movement (SPM, 41.2% vs. 0) (all p<0.05). Compared with those with PD, patients with MSA-P presented a significantly higher proportion of catch-up saccades in SPM (41.2% vs. 2.5%, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: MSA-P presented the characteristic of catch-up saccades in SPM in the early stage, which may provide some value in differentiating MSA-P from PD.

Gene expression response to Salmonella Typhimurium in the cecal tonsil reveals a potential mechanism of resistance in chickens.

Salmonella has been one of the most important factors restricting the development of the poultry industry and also poses great threat to public health. To get insight into molecular alterations that occur during bacterial infection, we sequenced the cecal tonsil transcriptome in 2 chicken breeds (Beijing-You and Cobb) known to have differing resistance to Salmonella. The 28-day-old chickens were orally challenged by 1.83 × 1011 CFU Salmonella Typhimurium, and the cecal tonsil transcriptome was sequenced 3 d postinfection. Analysis identified 201 and 170 differentially expressed genes response to Salmonella in 2 chicken breeds, respectively. They were involved in the Toll-like receptor signaling pathway and activated the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network suggested MMP9 as a crucial protein that may be involved in extracellular matrix breakdown and leukocyte migration in the resistant breed (Beijing-You). Meanwhile, in susceptible chickens (Cobb), ACOD1 was the key gene in the PPI network and might promote the expression of genes related to oxidative stress response and gastrointestinal tract function. These findings provide insight into the differing resistance of these 2 chicken breeds.

Large-scale genomic and transcriptomic analyses elucidate the genetic basis of high meat yield in chickens.

INTRODUCTION: Investigating the genetic markers and genomic signatures related to chicken meat production by combing multi-omics methods could provide new insights into modern chicken breeding technology systems. OBJECT: Chicken is one of the most efficient and environmentally friendly livestock, especially the fast-growing white-feathered chicken (broiler), which is well known for high meat yield, but the underlying genetic basis is poorly understood. METHOD: We generated whole-genome resequencing of three purebred broilers (n = 748) and six local breeds/lines (n = 114), and sequencing data of twelve chicken breeds (n = 199) were obtained from the NCBI database. Additionally, transcriptome sequencing of six tissues from two chicken breeds (n = 129) at two developmental stages was performed. A genome-wide association study combined with cis-eQTL mapping and the Mendelian randomization was applied. RESULT: We identified > 17 million high-quality SNPs, of which 21.74% were newly identified, based on 21 chicken breeds/lines. A total of 163 protein-coding genes underwent positive selection in purebred broilers, and 83 genes were differentially expressed between purebred broilers and local chickens. Notably, muscle development was proven to be the major difference between purebred broilers and local chickens, or ancestors, based on genomic and transcriptomic evidence from multiple tissues and stages. The MYH1 gene family showed the top selection signatures and muscle-specific expression in purebred broilers. Furthermore, we found that the causal gene SOX6 influenced breast muscle yield and also related to myopathy occurrences. A refined haplotype was provided, which had a significant effect on SOX6 expression and phenotypic changes. CONCLUSION: Our study provides a comprehensive atlas comprising the typical genomic variants and transcriptional characteristics for muscle development and suggests a new regulatory target (SOX6-MYH1s axis) for breast muscle yield and myopathy, which could aid in the development of genome-scale selective breeding aimed at high meat yield in broiler chickens.

Identification of characteristic aroma compounds in chicken meat and their metabolic mechanisms using gas chromatography-olfactometry, odor activity values, and metabolomics.

Aroma has an important influence on the aroma quality of chicken meat. This study aimed to identify the characteristic aroma substances in chicken meat and elucidate their metabolic mechanisms. Using gas chromatography-olfactometry and odor activity values, we identified nonanal, octanal, and dimethyl tetrasulfide as the basic characteristic aroma compounds in chicken meat, present in several breeds. Hexanal, 1-octen-3-ol, (E)-2-nonenal, heptanal, and (E,E)-2,4-decadienal were breed-specific aroma compounds found in native Chinese chickens but not in the meat of white-feathered broilers. Metabolomics analysis showed that L-glutamine was an important metabolic marker of nonanal, hexanal, heptanal, octanal, and 1-octen-3-ol. Exogenous supplementation experiments found that L-glutamine increased the content of D-glucosamine-6-P and induced the degradation of L-proline, L-arginine, and L-lysine to enhance the Maillard reaction and promote the formation of nonanal, hexanal, heptanal, octanal, and 1-octen-3-ol, thus improving the aroma profile of chicken meat.

Genomic insights into the contribution of de novo lipogenesis to intramuscular fat deposition in chicken.

INTRODUCTION: The proportion of animal based foods in daily diet of consumers is constantly increasing, with chicken being highly favored due to its high protein and low fat characteristics. The consumption of chicken around the world is steadily increasing. Intramuscular fat (IMF) is a key indicator affecting meat quality. OBJECT: High IMF content can contribute to improve the quality of chicken meat. The regulatory mechanism of IMF deposition in chicken is poorly understood, so its complete elucidation is essential to improve chicken meat quality. METHOD: Here, we performed whole genome resequencing on 516 yellow feather chickens and single-cell RNA sequencing on 3 63-day-old female JXY chickens. In addition, transcriptome sequencing techniques were also performed on breast muscle tissue of JXY chickens at different developmental stages. And 13C isotope tracing technique was applied. RESULTS: In this study, a large-scale genetic analysis of an IMF-selected population and a control population identified fatty acid synthase (FASN) as a key gene for improving IMF content. Also, contrary to conventional view, de novo lipogenesis (DNL) was deemed to be an important contributor to IMF deposition. As expected, further analyses by isotope tracing and other techniques, confirmed that DNL mainly occurs in myocytes, contributing about 40% of the total fatty acids through the regulation of FASN, using the available FAs as substrates. Additionally, we also identified a relevant causal mutation in the FASN gene with effects on FA composition. CONCLUSION: These findings contribute to the understanding of fat metabolism in muscle tissue of poultry, and provide the feasible strategy for the production of high-quality chicken meat.

A new species and new records of Hymenopellis and Xerula (Agaricales, Physalacriaceae) from China.

Hymenopellis is the genus that exhibits the highest number of species within the Xerula/Oudemansiella complex. Numerous species of Hymenopellis demonstrate edibility, and some of these species have been domesticated and cultivated. During an extensive survey carried out in Henan and Jilin Provinces, China, a substantial quantity of Hymenopellis specimens was gathered as a component of the macrofungal resource inventory. Based on the findings of morphological and molecular phylogenetic studies, a new species, Hymenopellis biyangensis, has been identified. A new record species, Hymenopellis altissima, has been discovered in China. Additionally, two new record species, Hymenopellis raphanipes and Xerula strigosa, have been found in Henan Province. Internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and large subunit ribosomal (nrLSU) were used to establish a phylogeny for species identification. Detailed descriptions, field habitat maps and line drawings of these species are presented. The discussion focuses on the relationships between newly discovered species and other related taxa. Additionally, this study provides and a key to the documented species of Hymenopellis and Xerula found in China.

Multi-Omics Analysis of Genes Encoding Proteins Involved in Alpha-Linolenic Acid Metabolism in Chicken.

Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA, ω-3) is an antioxidant that reduces triglyceride (TG) levels in blood, a component of cell membranes and a precursor compound of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, ω-3) and eicosatrienoic acid (DHA, ω-3). Fatty acid content is a quantitative trait regulated by multiple genes, and the key genes regulating fatty acid metabolism have not been systematically identified. This study aims at investigating the protein-encoding genes regulating ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) content in chicken meat. We integrated genomics, transcriptomics and lipidomics data of Jingxing yellow chicken (JXY) to explore the interactions and associations among multiple genes involved in the regulation of fatty acid metabolism. Several key genes and pathways regulating ω-3 fatty acid metabolism in chickens were identified. The upregulation of GRB10 inhibited the mTOR signaling pathway, thereby improving the content of EPA and DHA. The downregulation of FGFR3 facilitated the conversion of ALA to EPA. Additionally, we analyzed the effects of ALA supplementation dose on glycerol esters (GLs), phospholipid (PL) and fatty acyl (FA) contents, as well as the regulatory mechanisms of nutritional responses in FFA metabolism. This study provides a basis for identifying genes and pathways that regulate the content of FFAs, and offers a reference for nutritional regulation systems in production.