Methods for Identifying Seeds of Chinese Medicinal Materials： A Review / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Seeds are the source for the production of Chinese medicinal materials. The seed authenticity and quality of directly affect the effectiveness and safety of Chinese medicinal materials. The seed quality is faced with the problems such as mixed sources， existence of adulterants and seeds stocked for years， low maturity， and low purity. To ensure the high-quality and sustainable development of the Chinese medicinal material industry， it is urgent to standardize the seed market and identify and evaluate the quality of the seeds circulating in the market. Seed identification methods include visual inspection， microscopic observation， micro-character identification， chemical fingerprinting， molecular identification， electronic nose， X-ray diffraction， electrochemical fingerprinting， spectral imaging， and artificial intelligence. These methods have different application scopes and unique advantages and disadvantages. According to the different species of Chinese herbal medicines and different requirements of testing sites， suitable methods can be selected to achieve rapid and accurate identification with low costs. In the future， the seed identification methods should be developed based on emerging technologies with interdisciplinary knowledge， and intelligent， nondestructive， and single-grain detection methods are needed for the modern Chinese medicinal material industry. This paper introduces the seed identification technologies currently applied in research and production， compares the principles， applicability， advantages， and disadvantages of different technologies， and provides an outlook on the future development of seed identification technologies， aiming to provide a reference for the identification and quality evaluation of seeds of Chinese medicinal material.

Identification of Original Plants of Lycii Cortex by Multiplex Allele-specific PCR / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo identify Lycium chinense and L. barbarum as the original plants of Lycii Cortex simply and efficiently by multiple allele-specific polymerase chain reaction （PCR）. MethodThe chloroplast genome sequences of L. chinense and L. barbarum were downloaded from the Chloroplast Genome Information Resource （CGIR）， and then IdenDSS was employed to screen out the specific single nucleotide polymorphism （SNP） sites between the two plants. Primer 5.0 was used to design the specific primers， including primers GQ-F/R for identifying L. chinense and primers NX-F/R for identifying L. barbarum. Furthermore， the primer concentration ratio， annealing temperature， cycles， and Taq enzyme were optimized to establish the optimal PCR system and conditions for plant identification. Finally， the applicability of the established method was examined with the plant samples collected from different regions. ResultThe PCR with GQ-F/R∶NX-F/R concentration ratio of 2∶1 at the annealing temperature at 59 ℃ and for 30 cycles showed specific bands at 183 bp and 295 bp， respectively， for L. chinense and L. barbarum samples from different regions. ConclusionThe established PCR approach can simply， rapidly， and efficiently identify the original plants of Lycii Cortex， serving as a new method for the discrimination between L. chinense and L. barbarum. Moreover， the method provides technical support for the research and development of classic famous prescriptions containing Lycii Cortex.

PCR-RFLP for Distinguishing Periplocae Cortex from Acanthopanacis Cortex and Lycii Cortex / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo establish a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism （PCR-RFLP） method for rapid distinguishing Periplocae Cortex from Acanthopanacis Cortex and Lycii Cortex， so as to avoid the influence of genetic confusion on drug safety. MethodThe DSS-tagged sequences of Periplocae Cortex were obtained from the Chloroplast Genome Information Resource （CGIR） and analyzed to find the enzymatic cleavage sites that were different from those of Acanthopanacis Cortex and Lycii Cortex. The specific enzymatic cleavage site， Cla I， of Periplocae Cortex was selected， on the basis of which the primers for PCR-RFLP were designed. Furthermore， the factors such as annealing temperature， number of cycles， Taq enzyme， PCR instruments， and enzymatic treatment time that may influence PCR-RFLP were studied. The established PCR-RFLP method was applied to the identification of Periplocae Cortex， Acanthopanacis Cortex， and Lycii Cortex samples produced in different regions. ResultThe PCR-RFLP at the annealing temperature of 59 ℃ and with 40 cycles showed clear bands of the samples. When the enzyme digestion time was 30 min. The reaction produced the target bands at about 140 bp and 290 bp for both Periplocae Cortex and its original plant and only a band at about 430 bp for Acanthopanacis Cortex， Lycii Cortex， and their original plants. The method can accurately distinguish Periplocae Cortex from its confounders Acanthopanacis Cortex and Lycii Cortex. ConclusionThe PCR-RFLP method for distinguishing Periplocae Cortex from Acanthopanacis Cortex and Lycii Cortex was established. It has high stability， sensitivity， and applicability， providing a reference for the quality control of Periplocae Cortex， Acanthopanacis Cortex， and Lycii Cortex.

Molecular identification of new Trypanosoma evansi type non-A/B isolates from buffaloes and cattle in Indonesia / Identificação molecular de novos isolados de Trypanosoma evansi tipo não A/B em búfalos e gado na Indonésia

Abstract Trypanosoma evansi is reportedly divided into two genotypes: types A and B. The type B is uncommon and reportedly limited to Africa: Kenya Sudan, and Ethiopia. In contrast, type A has been widely reported in Africa, South America, and Asia. However, Trypanosoma evansi type non-A/B has never been reported. Therefore, this study aims to determine the species and genotype of the Trypanozoon subgenus using a robust identification algorithm. Forty-three trypanosoma isolates from Indonesia were identified as Trypanosoma evansi using a molecular identification algorithm. Further identification showed that 39 isolates were type A and 4 isolates were possibly non-A/B types. The PML, AMN-SB1, and STENT3 isolates were likely non-A/B type Trypanosoma evansi isolated from buffalo, while the PDE isolates were isolated from cattle. Cladistic analysis revealed that Indonesian Trypanosoma evansi was divided into seven clusters based on the gRNA-kDNA minicircle gene. Clusters 6 and 7 are each divided into two sub-clusters. The areas with the highest genetic diversity are the provinces of Banten, Central Java (included Yogyakarta), and East Nusa Tenggara. The Central Java (including Yogyakarta) and East Nusa Tenggara provinces, each have four sub-clusters, while Banten has three.

Resumo Trypanosoma evansi é reportado como dividido em dois genótipos: tipos A e B. O tipo B é incomum e reportado como limitado à África: Quênia, Sudão e Etiópia. Em contraste, o tipo A tem sido amplamente relatado na África, América do Sul e Ásia. No entanto, Trypanosoma evansi tipo não-A/B nunca foi relatado. Portanto, este estudo tem como objetivo determinar a espécie e o genótipo do subgênero Trypanozoon, utilizando-se um algoritmo robusto de identificação. Quarenta e três isolados de tripanosoma da Indonésia foram identificados como Trypanosoma evansi, usando-se um algoritmo de identificação molecular. A identificação adicional mostrou que 39 isolados eram do tipo A e 4 isolados eram, possivelmente, do tipo não A/B. Os isolados PML, AMN-SB1 e STENT3 foram, provavelmente, Trypanosoma evansi do tipo não A/B isolado de búfalos, enquanto os isolados de PDE foram isolados de bovinos. A análise cladística revelou que o Trypanosoma evansi indonésio foi dividido em sete grupos baseados no gene do minicírculo gRNA-kDNA. Os clusters 6 e 7 foram divididos cada um em dois subclusters. As áreas com maior diversidade genética são as províncias de Banten, Java Central (incluindo Yogyakarta) e East Nusa Tenggara. As de Java Central (incluindo Yogyakarta) e East Nusa Tenggara têm, cada uma, quatro subgrupos, enquanto Banten tem três.

Identification of Arisaematis Rhizoma and Pinelliae Rhizoma by PCR-RFLP / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveIn recent years， with the sharp decline of wild resources in Arisaematis Rhizoma and Pinelliae Rhizoma and the immaturity of medicinal cultivation technology， their adulterants have appeared frequently in the market， and the main identifying characteristics have mostly disappeared in the circulation of medicinal materials. Therefore， there is an urgent need to establish a molecular identification method that can quickly and effectively identify the specificity of Arisaematis Rhizoma and Pinelliae Rhizoma. MethodAfter comparison of the rbcL sequences of Arisaematis Rhizoma，Pinelliae Rhizoma， and their adulterants， the specific enzyme cleavage sites Hae Ⅲ and Dra Ⅰ of Arisaematis Rhizoma and Pinelliae Rhizoma， respectively， were selected and identified by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism（PCR-RFLP）. The main system conditions of PCR-RFLP reaction were established and optimized， and their durability and the ability to detect genuine， adulterants， and mixed counterfeits were investigated. ResultThe PCR-RFLP identification method of Arisaematis Rhizoma and Pinelliae Rhizoma was established. After specific primer amplification， Arisaematis Rhizoma and Pinelliae Rhizoma could be digested by Hae Ⅲ and Dra Ⅰ-restricted endonucleases respectively， at annealing temperature of 54 ℃， the number of cycles of 35， and the amount of DNA template of 3-30 ng， producing two fragments or small cut fragments with a single band between 100-250 bp， whereas the mixed counterfeits were not cleaved and both showed a band at 250 bp. The method is highly accurate in identifying adulterants and mixed counterfeits of Arisaematis Rhizoma or Pinelliae Rhizoma. ConclusionThe PCR-RFLP method developed in this study allows for the rapid identification of Arisaematis Rhizoma and Pinelliae Rhizoma.

DNA molecular identification of Polyrhachis dives medicinal materials / 药学学报

In the study, specific primers were designed based on the CO Ⅰ gene sequence of Polyrhachis dives. By optimizing the genomic DNA extraction method and amplification conditions, we established an efficient, specific, and accurate DNA molecular identification method for Polyrhachis dives. In this method, the length of the target fragment was 294-308 bp, and the other counterfeits had no target bands. In this paper, the specific identification method of the origin of Polyrhachis dives established can be used to identify the medicinal materials of Polyrhachis dives accurately.

Morphological and molecular identification of Pyricularia oryzae causing blast disease on rice (Oryza sativa)

Aims@#Rice (Oryza sativa) is one of Malaysia’s most significant crops. Rice blast caused by Pyricularia oryzae is one of the most serious diseases of Oryza sativa, causing significant damage to the Malaysian rice crop and impacting productivity. This study was carried out to isolate and characterize phytopathogenic fungal isolates associated with rice blast collected in a paddy field in Alor Setar, Kedah, Malaysia.@*Methodology and results@#Morphological characterization of seven fungal isolates obtained showed thin, white, and grayish green mycelia and the reverse colony was light yellow to brown. The fungal isolates produced two-septate pyriform (pear-shaped) conidia with solitary, unbranched and light brown conidiophores. Pathogenicity tests of all isolates on rice leaves revealed diamond-shaped symptoms with a grayish center and brown edge. All isolates showed similar morphological and pathogenicity characteristics; thus, a representative isolate was further identified through DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region for species confirmation. Based on DNA sequences of ITS and phylogenetic analysis, the representative isolate was confirmed as P. oryzae.@*Conclusion, significance and impact of study @#Seven isolates morphologically identified as Pyricularia sp. were tested as pathogenic by causing rice blast disease. Representative isolate P2 (USM-PD1) was confirmed to be P. oryzae by DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of the ITS region. This study provides information on the etiology and symptomatology of rice blast disease caused by P. oryzae USM-PD1 that can be applied to diagnose and mitigate the threat posed by this plant pathogen for the disease management.

Corythucha marmorata affects growth and quality of Artemisia argyi / 中国中药杂志

This study aims to investigate the impact of the invasive pest Corythucha marmorata on the growth and quality of Artemi-sia argyi. The signs of insect damage at the cultivation base of A. argyi in Huanggang, Hubei were observed. The pests were identified based on morphological and molecular evidence. The pest occurrence pattern and damage mechanism were investigated. Electron microscopy, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS), and high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC) were employed to analyze the microstructure, volatile oils, and flavonoid content of the pest-infested leaves. C. marmorata can cause destructive damage to A. argyi. Small decoloring spots appeared on the leaf surface at the initial stage of infestation. As the damage progressed, the spots spread along the leaf veins and aggregated into patches, causing yellowish leaves and even brownish yellow in the severely affected areas. The insect frequently appeared in summer because it thrives in hot dry conditions. After occurrence on the leaves, microscopic examination revealed that the front of the leaves gradually developed decoloring spots, with black oily stains formed by the black excrement attaching to the glandular hairs. The leaf flesh was also severely damaged, and the non-glandular hairs were broken, disor-ganized, and sticky. The content of neochlorogenic acid, cryptochlorogenic acid, isochlorogenic acids A and B, hispidulin, jaceosidin, and eupatilin at the early stage of infestation was significantly higher than that at the middle stage, and the content decreased at the last stage of infestation. The content of eucalyptol, borneol, terpinyl, and caryophyllin decreased in the moderately damaged leaves and increased in the severely damaged leaves. C. marmorata was discovered for the first time on A. argyi leaves in this study, and its prevention and control deserves special attention. The germplasm materials resistant to this pest can be used to breed C. marmorata-resis-tant A. argyi varieties.

Updated list of non-volant small mammals from the Serra da Bocaina National Park, southeastern Brazil / Lista atualizada dos pequenos mamíferos não-voadores do Parque Nacional da Serra da Bocaina, sudeste do Brasil

Abstract In the core of the Atlantic Forest biome, the Serra da Bocaina National Park (SBNP) is located in the Atlantic Forest Southeast area of endemism for vertebrates. Filling gaps in knowledge about the spatial distribution and occurrence of species in national parks is of fundamental importance to know how many species are protected and to guide conservation initiatives. Here we updated the non-volant small mammal species list of the SBNP, providing new data on species list and abundance, with species identified mainly by karyotype and/or molecular analysis. Twelve sampling sessions with a capture-mark-recapture approach were carried out in four sites in the SBNP from 2013 to 2016, during the paving works of the state highway RJ-165 (Estrada Parque Paraty-Cunha), municipality of Paraty, state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Non-volant small mammals (Rodentia and Didelphimorphia) were sampled using Sherman® and Tomahawk® live traps (18,987 trap-nights) and pitfall traps (4,591 trap-nights). Thirty-two species (11 marsupials and 21 rodents) were recorded from 1,185 captured specimens. Species richness ranged from 18 to 28 between sites. Ten and 11 species were exclusively captured in live traps and pitfall traps, respectively. The observed richness (32 species) represented 91.4% of the estimated species richness for the study area. Sites 2 and 4 were the most similar to each other regarding species composition, and site 3 was the most dissimilar. The species with highest relative abundance were Euryoryzomys russatus (14%) and Delomys dorsalis (14%), while six species had relative abundances lower than 1%. Fourteen and 17 species were identified by karyotype and molecular analysis, respectively. The present study added 22 species to the park's non-volant small mammals list, which now has 37 species with confirmed occurrence. This species richness found in the SBNP is one of the highest ever recorded for the group of non-volant small mammals in protected areas of the Atlantic Forest in Brazil, corroborating the Serra da Bocaina region as a biodiversity hotspot.

Resumen No cerne do bioma Mata Atlântica, o Parque Nacional da Serra da Bocaina (PNSB) está localizado na área Sudeste de endemismo para vertebrados na Mata Atlântica. Preencher lacunas de conhecimento sobre a distribuição espacial e ocorrência das espécies em parques nacionais é de fundamental importância para saber quantas espécies estão protegidas e orientar iniciativas de conservação. Aqui atualizamos a lista de espécies de pequenos mamíferos não-voadores do PNSB, fornecendo novos dados sobre a lista de espécies e abundância, com espécies identificadas principalmente por análises cariotípicas e/ou molecular. Doze sessões de amostragem com uma abordagem de captura-marcação-recaptura foram realizadas em quatro áreas no PNSB de 2013 a 2016, durante as obras de pavimentação da rodovia estadual RJ-165 (Estrada Parque Paraty-Cunha), município de Paraty, estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. Os pequenos mamíferos não-voadores (Rodentia e Didelphimorphia) foram amostrados usando armadilhas de captura viva Sherman® e Tomahawk® (18.987 armadilhas-noite) e armadilhas de queda (4.591 armadilhas-noite). Trinta e duas espécies (11 marsupiais e 21 roedores) foram registradas em 1.185 espécimes capturados. A riqueza de espécies variou de 18 a 28 entre as áreas de amostragem. Dez e 11 espécies foram capturadas exclusivamente em armadilhas de captura viva e armadilhas de queda, respectivamente. A riqueza observada (32 espécies) representou 91,4% da riqueza de espécies estimada para a área de estudo. As áreas 2 e 4 foram as mais semelhantes entre si quanto à composição de espécies, e a área 3 foi a mais dissimilar. As espécies com maior abundância relativa foram Euryoryzomys russatus (14%) e Delomys dorsalis (14%), enquanto seis espécies tiveram abundâncias relativas inferiores a 1%. Quatorze e 17 espécies foram identificadas pelo cariótipo e por análise molecular, respectivamente. O presente estudo acrescentou 22 espécies à lista de pequenos mamíferos não-voadores do parque, que passou a contar com 37 espécies com ocorrência confirmada. Essa riqueza de espécies encontrada no PNSB é uma das maiores já registradas para o grupo dos pequenos mamíferos não-voadores em áreas protegidas da Mata Atlântica no Brasil, corroborando a região da Serra da Bocaina como um hotspot de biodiversidade.

Identification of 15 bird remains using the 16S rRNA gene sequence / 中国法医学杂志

Objective The mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene PCR sequencing method was applied to identify the bird species involved in the case of bird remains.Methods Using frozen muscle tissue samples from 15 unknown bird remains,the PCR amplification of the 16S rRNA DNA barcode fragment was performed.Results Through sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis,it was determined that the 15 samples were associated with six bird species,including four Streptopelia chinensis,one Turdus eunomus,five Passer montanus,two Chloris sinica,two Fringilla montifringilla,and one Phoenicurus auroreus.These species belong to 2 orders,6 families,and 6 genera,all of which are protected as listed species under the wildlife conservation regulations.Conclusion The 16S rRNA gene segment can be regarded as a reliable approach for accurately identifying bird species from remains,providing a dependable basis for qualitative and sentencing determinations in judicial cases.

Distinguishing between Artemisia stolonifera and A. argyi by specific PCR of leaves and non-glandular trichomes / 中国中药杂志

Artemisia stolonifera is a relative of A. argyi. The two species are difficult to be distinguished due to the similarity in leaf shape and have even less distinctive features after processing. This study aims to establish a method to quickly distinguish between them. At the same time, we examined the reasonability and applicability of the specific polymerase chain reaction(PCR) method. The C/T single nucleotide polymorphism was detected at the position 202 of the sequence, based on which specific primers were designed to identify these two species. The PCR with the specific primer JNC-F and the universal primer ITS3R produced a specific band at 218 bp for A. argyi and no band for A. stolonifera, which can be used to detect at least 3% of A. argyi samples mixed in A. stolonifera samples. The PCR with the specific primer KY-F and the universal primer ITS3R produced a specific band at 218 bp for A. stolonifera and no band for A. argyi, which can be used to detect at least 5% of A. stolonifera samples mixed with A. argyi. The limit of detection of the established method was 5 ng DNA. The established PCR method can accurately distinguish between A. stolonifera and A. argyi, which provides an experimental basis for the quality control of A. stolonifera and determines whether the herbs are adulterated.

Investigation and molecular identification of Anisakis infection in marine fish sold in Fuxin, Liaoning Province / 中国热带医学

@#Abstract: Objective　To investigate the infection of Anisakis in marine fish sold in Fuxin, and conduct molecular identification and evolutionary tracing of third-stage larvae to determine Anisakis species. Methods　From 2018 to 2021, marine fish sold in the market were collected randomly, and the third stage larvae of Anisakis were detected in marine fish sold in the market by direct dissection, and the morphological characteristics were used to preliminarily identify species by microscopy; the total DNA was extracted, the internal transcribed spacer sequence of the ribosomal DNA of Anisakis was amplified, and the sequence alignment and evolution analysis were carried out. Results　A total of 289 market-sold sea fish samples of marine fish sold in the market were dissected and 84 samples of Anisakis were detected with a detection rate of 29.1%, of which the infection rates of hairtail and small yellow croaker were higher, at 41.4% and 41.2%, respectively. BLAST comparison of 28 sequences revealed eight species of anisakids, including Anisakis pegreffii, Anisakis simplex, Anisakis typical, Raphidascaris trichiurid, Contracaecum muraenesoxi, Hysterothylcaium zhoushanensis, Hysterothylacium amoyense and Hysterothylcaium fabri,belonging to the genera Anisakis and Hysterothylacium. The phylogenetic tree constructed from 28 sequences generally formed two topological branches, with Anisakis pegreffii, Anisakis simplex, and Anisakis typical forming three separate clusters as the topology branch of Anisakis genus. However, meanwhile, Hysterothylacium, Contracaecum, and Raphidascaris formed a separate topological branch. Conclusions　The marine fish sold in Fuxin City have severe anisakid infection, with a wide variety of anisakid species, the dominant species being Anisakis pegreffii.

Antimicrobial efficacy of Lactobacillus plantarum strain against the B. cereus, B. subtilis, S. aureus and E.coli strains

The current study aimed to detect the antimicrobial effect of cell free supernatant (CFS) of Lactobacillus plantarum strain against Gram +ve and Gram ­ve bacterial strains. The strain of Lactobacillus plantarum was isolated using selective media MRS agar. The strain was characterized on the basis of the gram staining, colony morphology, the biochemical tests and the DNA sequencing based method of 16S ribotyping. A total of four test strains (The three already isolated and reported strains (E.coli, S. aureus and B. subtilis) and the one recently identified novel strain (B. cereus) were used for the analysis of antagonistic activity of bacteriocin produced by L. plantarum strain. The CFS of L. plantarum showed zone of inhibition against all the test strains (Gram +ve and Gram ­ve bacteria). The conditions favoring the growth of bacteria were associated with the antimicrobial efficacy of CFS. Bacteriocin activity of CFS remained effective after exposure to temperature stress. Wide range of antagonistic potential of CFS of L. plantarum provides an alternative for antibiotics in pharmaceutical industry. Heat resistant feature of bacteriocin suggests its application in food industry.

Molecular identification of non-polio enteroviruses in acute flaccid paralysis cases in Henan Province of China in 2021 / 中华微生物学和免疫学杂志

Objective:To investigate the serotypes and epidemic characteristics of non-polio enteroviruses (NPEV) in acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) cases in Henan Province in 2021.Methods:Fecal specimens of 529 AFP cases reported in Henan Province in 2021 were collected for virus isolation. The VP1 regions of NPEV were sequenced. MEGA5.1 software was used for sequence alignment and a phylogenetic tree was constructed as well. The epidemiological data were organized and statistically analyzed using Excel2016 and SPSS26 software.Results:A total of 30 strains of NPEV were isolated from the fecal specimens of 529 AFP cases, with an isolation rate of 5.67% (30/529). They were belonged to group A and group B with 15 strains in each group, and no group C or group D viruses were isolated. Group A contained six serotypes and was dominated by coxsackievirus A2 (CVA2) and CVA6. Group B contained tree serotypes and was dominated by CVB3. In the population distribution, the separation rate of NPEV was the highest among children under 5 years old, which was 76.67% (23/30), and the ratio of male to female was 1.51∶1. In the regional distribution, group A viruses were mainly distributed in the central, southern and southwestern parts of Henan Province with CVA2 and CVA4 being the most widely distributed, while group B viruses were relatively concentrated, mainly distributed in the central, northern and southwestern parts of Henan Province with CVB3 being the predominant. In terms of time distribution, NPEV could be isolated throughout the year except from January to February, showing the epidemic characteristics of high incidence in spring and summer and low incidence in autumn and winter. The peak of group A virus infection was in May and the peak period of group B virus infection was from June to July.Conclusions:CVB3 was the main serotype of NPEV isolated in Henan Province in 2021. The pathogenic spectrum and regional distribution of NPEV had changed significantly compared with those in 2018-2019. In order to provide reference for the diagnosis and surveillance of AFP and maintain the polio-free status in Henan Province, much attention should be paid to the current epidemic trend of NPEV.

Morphological and molecular identification of trematode isloates from laying ducks in Nanchang City / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

Objective To identify the species of trematodes isolated from laying ducks in Nanchang City using morphological and molecular approaches. Methods Trematodes were isolated from the hepatobiliary duct, gallbladder and large intestine of market-sold laying ducks in Nanchang City. Following morphological characterization, total DNA was extracted from all trematode specimens, and internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) and cytochrome C oxidase subunit 1 (Cox1) genes were amplified using PCR assay and sequenced. Sequence alignment was performed using the Blast software, and homology and phylogenetic analyses were done in the trematode isolates based on ITS and Cox1 gene sequences. Results The morphological characteristics of two trematode isolates from the large intestine of laying ducks were similar to those of Echinostoma revolutum and E. miyagawai, and the morphological characteristics of eight trematode samples isolated from the hepatobiliary duct and gallbladder of laying ducks were similar to those of Amphimerus anatis. The ITS and Cox1 gene sequences of the two trematode isolates from the large intestine of laying ducks had 99.3% and 98.9%-99.4% homology with E. miyagawai, and the phylogenetic analysis showed that two trematode isolates had the closest genetic relationship with E. miyagawai based on ITS and Cox1 gene sequences. The ITS gene sequences of eight trematode isolates from the hepatobiliary duct and gallbladder of laying ducks shared 95.1%-95.5% with Opisthorchis sudarikovi and Clonorchis sinensis, while the Cox1 gene sequences of eight trematode isolates from the hepatobiliary duct and gallbladder of laying ducks shared 86.3%-86.4% and 85.5%-85.7% with O. viverrini and O. sudarikovi. ITS gene sequence-based phylogenetic analysis showed that the duck-derived trematode isolates had the closest genetic relationship with C. sinensis, and Cox1 gene sequence-based phylogenetic analysis showed that the duck-derived trematode isolates had the closest genetic relationship with Metorchis orientalis and O. viverrini. Conclusions The trematode isolates from the large intestine of laying ducts in Nanchang City may be E. miyagawai, and the trematode isolates from the hepatobiliary duct and gallbladder may be an unidentified trematode species of the family Opisthorchiidae.

Identification and quality evaluation of germplasm resources of commercial Scutellaria baicalensis based on DNA barcode and HPLC / 中国中药杂志

Scutellaria baicalensis is a commonly used Chinese medicinal herb. In this study, we identified the germplasm resources of commercial S. baicalensis samples based on trnH-psbA, petA-psbJ, and ycf4-cemA sequences according to the available chloroplast genome sequencing results, and measured the content of baicalin by HPLC. Through the above means we determined the best DNA barcode that can be used to detect the germplasm resources and evaluate the quality of commercial S. baicalensis samples. A total of 104 samples were collected from 24 provinces, from which DNA was extracted for PCR amplification. The amplification efficiencies of trnH-psbA, petA-psbJ, and ycf4-cemA sequences were 100%, 59.62%, and 25.96%, respectively. The results of sequence analysis showed that 5, 4, and 2 haplotypes were identified based on trnH-psbA, petA-psbJ, and ycf4-cemA sequences, respectively. However, the sequences of haplotypes in commercial samples were different from that of the wild type, and the joint analysis of three fragments of S. baicalensis only identified 6 haplotypes. Furthermore, the phylogenetic analysis and genetic distance analysis indicated that trnH-psbA could be used to identify S. baicalensis from adulterants. The above analysis showed that trnH-psbA was the best fragment for identifying the germplasm resources of commercial S. baicalensis samples. We then analyzed the haplotypes(THap1-THap5) of commercial S. baicalensis samples based on trnH-psbA and found that THap2 was the main circulating haplotype of the commercial samples, accounting for 86.55% of the total samples, which indicated the scarce germplasm resources of commercial S. baicalensis samples. The content of baicalin in all the collected commercial S. baicalensis samples exceeded the standard in Chinese Pharmacopoeia and had significant differences(maximum of 12.21%) among samples, suggesting that the quality of commercial S. baicalensis samples varied considerably. However, there was no significant difference in baicalin content between different provinces or between different haplotypes. This study facilitates the establishment of the standard identification system for S. baicalensis, and can guide the commercial circulation and reasonable medication of S. baicalensis.

Identification of Andrographis Herba and its common products using mini-barcode / 中国天然药物

Andrographis Herba, the aerial part of Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Wall. ex Nees (Acanthaceae), has a wide geographic distribution and has been used for the treatment of fever, cold, inflammation, and other infectious diseases. In markets, sellers and buyers commonly inadvertently confuse with related species. In addition, most Chinese medicinal herbs are subjected to traditional processing procedures, such as steaming and boiling, before they are sold at dispensaries; therefore, it is very difficult to identify Andrographis Herba when it is processed into Chinese medicines. The identification of species and processed medicinal materials is a growing issue in the marketplace. However, conventional methods of identification have limitations, while DNA barcoding has received considerable attention as a new potential means to identify species and processed medicinal materials. In this study, 17 standard reference materials of A. paniculata, 2 standard decoctions, 27 commercial products and two adulterants were collected. Based on the ITS2 sequence, it could successfully identify A. paniculata and adulterants. Moreover, a nucleotide signature consisting of 71 bp was designed, this sequence is highly conserved and specific within A. paniculata while divergent among other species. Then, we used these new primers to amplify the nucleotide signature region from processed materials. In conclusion, the DNA barcoding method developed in the present study for authenticating A. paniculata is rapid and cost-effective. It can be used in the future to guarantee the quality of Andrographis Herba of each regulatory link for clinical use.

Molecular identification of non-polio enteroviruses in acute flaccid paralysis cases in Henan Province of China in 2019 / 中华微生物学和免疫学杂志

Objective:To investigate the types and distribution of non-polio enterovirus (NPEV) in acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) cases in Henan Province in 2019.Methods:A total of 513 cases of AFP were reported in Henan Province in 2019. Two stool specimens were collected from each case for virus isolation. The VP1 gene of NPEV-positive strains was amplified and sequenced. Sequence alignment and construction of the phylogenetic tree were completed by MEGA5.1 software. The epidemiological data of NPEV-positive strains were statistically analyzed by Excel 2016 and SPSS19 software.Results:A total of 39 NPEV strains were isolated from 513 AFP cases, with an isolation rate of 7.60% (39/513). Among them, 18 strains were group A viruses and 21 strains were group B viruses. Both group A and group B viruses contained seven serotypes. No viruses of group C and group D was isolated. Coxsackievirus A type 4 (CVA4) and CVA16 were the predominant types in group A, and echovirus type 11 (Echo11) was the predominant type in group B. The nucleotide identity between the NPEV-positive strains was 67.4%-100.0%, and their nucleotide identity with the prototype strain was 71.4%-85.6%. NPEV was mainly detected in scattered children under 7 years old with an isolation rate of 84.62% (33/39), and the ratio of male to female was 2.07∶1. No statistically significant difference in the isolation rate was found between different age groups or between different sexes ( P>0.05). Among the group A viruses, CVA2, CVA4 and CVA16 were widely distributed. Echo3, Echo11 and Echo30 were the widely distributed group B viruses. NPEV could be isolated throughout the year except for January. Group A virus infections mainly occurred from April to July, accounting for 66.67% (12/18) of the whole year. Group B virus infections mainly occurred in September, accounting for 28.57% (6/21) of the whole year. Conclusions:The main serotype of NPEV isolated in Henan Province in 2019 was Echo11. The pathogen spectrum and regional distribution of NPEV as well as the isolation rate in different age groups changed significantly compared with those in 2018. Therefore, it was necessary to strengthen monitoring and conduct targeted prevention and control to effectively reduce the occurrence of AFP.

Molecular Identification of Tibetan Codonopsis Plants Based on ITS2 and psbA-trnH Barcode / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo identify the molecular biology of various species of Tibetan Codonopsis plants based on internal transcribed spacer（ITS）2 and psbA-trnH sequence barcode technology. MethodThe genomic DNA of 28 Tibetan Codonopsis plant samples from four species （Codonopsis canescens，C. foetens subsp. nervosa，C. pilosula， and C. thalictrifolia var. mollis） were extracted，and the ITS2 and psbA-trnH sequences were amplified and sequenced. The related sequences of 81 Tibetan Codonopsis plant samples belonging to 15 species were downloaded from GenBank， and MEGA 6.0 was used for sequence comparison and mutation site analysis. The GC content and genetic distance within and between species were calculated. Additionally， phylogenetic trees were constructed by maximum likelihood （ML） method， neighbor-joining （NJ） method，and unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic means （UPGMA） . ResultAccording to the mutation site，C. canescens， C. pilosula，C. pilosula subsp. tangshen， C. pilosula var. modesta，C. bhutanica，C. clematidea，C. lanceolata，C. subglobosa and C. foetens were distinguished. In the phylogenetic trees，the optimal clustering effects for ITS2 and psbA-trnH sequences were obtained using the ML method and the UPGMA method， respectively， and 12 species were effectively clustered. ConclusionITS2 and psbA-trnH sequences have a high identification rate for species of single origin，but there are still some limitations in identifying variants and original variants. This study provides basis for the identification of affinity relationship and clinical safety of Tibetan Codonopsis plants.

Identification of Murrayae Folium et Cacumen by Multiplex Allele-Specific PCR / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo establish a polymerase chain reaction（PCR） method to accurately discriminate the crude materials of Murrayae Folium et Cacumen， Murraya exotica and M. paniculata. MethodBased on the difference in chloroplast genome sequences of M. exotica and M. paniculata， species-specific identification primers P03 and P04 of M. exotica and M. paniculata were designed according to single nucleotide polymorphism （SNP） on the chloroplast genome. A multiplex allele-specific PCR identification method was established for the identification of M. exotica and M. paniculata following the optimization of annealing temperature， number of cycles， and primer concentration ratio. The established PCR method for identification was explored and verified in terms of tolerance and feasibility by investigating the type of Taq polymerases and PCR system model. ResultIn this multiplex allele-specific PCR identification method， about 330 and 230 bp of specific fragments were amplified from DNA templates of M. exotica and M. paniculata， respectively， under the following conditions：cycle number of 31， annealing temperature of 60 ℃， and primer concentration ratio of P03 and P04 of 1∶2. Consistent results were obtained for samples from different sources. ConclusionThe multiplex allele-specific PCR identification method established in this study can accurately identify the origin of Murrayae Folium et Cacumen， which can be used for the simultaneous identification of M. exotica and M. paniculata by the length of fragments in a single identification assay.