Establishment of the HPLC fluorescence detection method for plasma trace ivermectin and its pharmacokinetics in Bactrian camel.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Ivermectin (IVM), a widely used veterinary anthelmintic, lacks recommended doses for Bactrian camels. This study aims to establish its pharmacokinetics in Bactrian camels, comparing with other livestock. METHODS: A method for high-performance liquid chromatography fluorescence detection of IVM in plasma was developed. RESULTS: IVM exhibited linear scaling (y = 0.6946x + 0.0088, R2 = 0.9988) within 0.025-5 ng/mL, with a lower limit of quantification of 25.00 pg/mL, high recovery (>70%) and low RSD (<7%). In Bactrian camels, IVM injection showed a low Cmax, extended Tmax and apparent secondary absorption compared to cattle and sheep. CONCLUSIONS: Slow absorption and widespread distribution were observed, with peak concentration and area under the curve correlating positively with the dose. This study provides insights into IVM pharmacokinetics in Bactrian camels, informing dose determination and highlighting potential metabolic differences compared to other livestock.

Transcriptomic profiling of different developmental stages reveals parasitic strategies of Wohlfahrtia magnifica, a myiasis-causing flesh fly.

BACKGROUND: Wohlfahrtia magnifica is an obligatory parasite that causes myiasis in several warm-blooded vertebrates. Adult females deposit the first-stage larvae directly onto wounds or natural body orifices (e.g., genitalia) of the host, from where they quickly colonize the host tissue and feed on it for development. The infestation of W. magnifica can lead to health issues, welfare concerns, and substantial economic losses. To date, little is known about the molecular mechanisms of the W. magnifica-causing myiasis. RESULTS: In this study, we collected parasitic-stage larvae of W. magnifica from wounds of naturally infested Bactrian camels, as well as pupae and adult flies reared in vitro from the wound-collected larvae, for investigating the gene expression profiles of the different developmental stages of W. magnifica, with a particular focus on examining gene families closely related to the parasitism of the wound-collected larvae. As key proteins related to the parasite-host interaction, 2049 excretory/secretory (ES) proteins were identified in W. magnifica through the integration of multiple bioinformatics approaches. Functional analysis indicates that these ES proteins are primarily involved in cuticle development, peptidase activity, immune response, and metabolic processes. The global investigation of gene expression at different developmental stages using pairwise comparisons and weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA) showed that the upregulated genes during second-stage larvae were related to cuticle development, peptidase activity, and RNA transcription and translation; during third-stage larvae to peptidase inhibitor activity and nutrient reservoir activity; during pupae to cell and tissue morphogenesis and cell and tissue development; and during adult flies to signal perception, many of them involved in light perception, and adult behavior, e.g., feeding, mating, and locomotion. Specifically, the expression level analysis of the likely parasitism-related genes in parasitic wound-collected larvae revealed a significant upregulation of 88 peptidase genes (including 47 serine peptidase genes), 110 cuticle protein genes, and 21 heat shock protein (hsp) genes. Interestingly, the expression of 2 antimicrobial peptide (AMP) genes, including 1 defensin and 1 diptericin, was also upregulated in the parasitic larvae. CONCLUSIONS: We identified ES proteins in W. magnifica and investigated their functional distribution. In addition, gene expression profiles at different developmental stages of W. magnifica were examined. Specifically, we focused on gene families closely related to parasitism of wound-collected larvae. These findings shed light on the molecular mechanisms underlying the life cycle of the myiasis-causing fly, especially during the parasitic larval stages, and provide guidance for the development of control measures against W. magnifica.

Identification of freshwater snail species and survey of their trematode infections in Ordos, China.

In order to investigate and study the species and distribution of freshwater snails in Ordos area of Inner Mongolia, as well as the trematode infection in different periods, and to provide a scientific basis for the effective prevention and control of livestock trematodiasis. In this paper, freshwater snails distributed in Ordos were widely collected for morphological identification, and PCR amplification of freshwater snails COI gene and ITS2 gene was carried out with the help of molecular biology. At the same time, microscopic examination was used to observe the trematode infection of freshwater snails in two different periods from May to July and July to September, and the molecular biology of the trematodes was identified. The results showed that the 1796 freshwater snails collected belonged to two orders, three families and four genera, i.e. Bellamya, Radix, Galba, and Gyraulus. Microscopic examination of snails showed that the infection rate of trematode larvae from July to September was significantly higher than that from May to July. The collected trematodes were identified as five species, namely Cotylurus marcogliesei, Fasciola hepatica, Fasciola gigantica, Paramphistomum cervi, and Parastrigea robusta. The combination of freshwater snail species in Ordos and the infection of trematode in snails showed that a large number of freshwater snails were infected with trematodes, especially from July to September, when there is more rain and suitable climate, which causes serious harm to local livestock.

Genome and Transcriptome Analyses Facilitate Genetic Control of Wohlfahrtia magnifica, a Myiasis-Causing Flesh Fly.

Myiasis caused by Wohlfahrtia magnifica is a widespread parasitic infestation in mammals. The infested host suffers from damage as the developing larvae feed on its tissues. For the control of myiasis infestation, genetic methods have been shown to be effective and promising as an alternative to insecticides. Combining genome, isoform sequencing (Iso-Seq), and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) data, we isolated and characterized two sex-determination genes, W. magnifica transformer (Wmtra) and W. magnifica transformer2 (Wmtra2), whose orthologs in a number of insect pests have been utilized to develop genetic control approaches. Wmtra transcripts are sex-specifically spliced; only the female transcript encodes a full-length functional protein, while the male transcript encodes a truncated and non-functional polypeptide due to the presence of the male-specific exon containing multiple in-frame stop codons. The existence of five predicted TRA/TRA2 binding sites in the male-specific exon and the surrounding intron of Wmtra, as well as the presence of an RNA-recognition motif in WmTRA2 may suggest the auto-regulation of Wmtra by its own protein interacting with WmTRA2. This results in the skipping of the male-specific exon and translation of the full-length functional protein only in females. Our comparative study in dipteran species showed that both the WmTRA and WmTRA2 proteins exhibit a high degree of similarity to their orthologs in the myiasis-causing blow flies. Additionally, transcriptome profiling performed between adult females and adult males reported 657 upregulated and 365 downregulated genes. Functional analysis showed that among upregulated genes those related to meiosis and mitosis Gene Ontology (GO) terms were enriched, while, among downregulated genes, those related to muscle cell development and aerobic metabolic processes were enriched. Among the female-biased gene set, we detected five candidate genes, vasa (vas), nanos (nanos), bicoid (bcd), Bicaudal C (BicC), and innexin5 (inx5). The promoters of these genes may be able to upregulate Cas9 expression in the germline in Cas9-based homing gene drive systems as established in some flies and mosquitoes. The isolation and characterization of these genes is an important step toward the development of genetic control programs against W. magnifica infestation.

Research progress and limitation analysis of RNA interference in Haemonchus contortus in China.

Haemonchus contortus is a highly pathogenic and economically important parasitic nematode that affects small ruminants worldwide. While omics studies hold great promise, there are fewer research tools available for analyzing subsequent gene function studies. RNA interference (RNAi) technology offers a solution to this problem, as it especially allows for the knockout or shutting off of the expression of specific genes. As a result, RNAi technology has been widely used to explore gene function and disease treatment research. In this study, we reviewed the latest advancements in RNAi research on Haemonchus contortus in China, with the aim of providing a reference for the identification of key genes involved in growth and development, anthelmintic resistance, diagnostic markers, and diagnostic drug targets for the treatment of Haemonchus contortus.

Comparative study of the function and structure of the gut microbiota in Siberian musk deer and Forest musk deer.

Musk deer are famous for their secretion of musk; however, the scale of artificial breeding of musk deer is limited. Considering the lack of a comprehensive understanding of the gut microbiota, there is a need to study the gut microbiota of Siberian musk deer (SMD). Quantitative PCR analysis and high-throughput sequencing were used to show the differences in gut microbial communities and functions between SMD and forest musk deer (FMD). The relative abundance of Firmicutes was significantly higher in SMD than in FMD, with a corresponding decrease in Bacteroidetes, and showed significant seasonal variation. The gut microbiome of FMD has enriched activity for carbohydrate metabolism, while in SMD, amino acids and energy metabolism was higher. The key enzymatic reactions were related to pyruvate metabolism in SMD; however, in FMD, enzymes that digest cellulose (EC:3.2.1.21, EC:3.2.1.4.) were more abundant, and these were related to the living environment and feeding habits. This indicates that FMD and SMD have significant differences in their microbial communities and functions. Furthermore, antibiotic resistances were identified and significantly different in gut microbes of SMD and FMD. For SMD, seasonal variations alter microbial communities and function. The key enzymes of the short-chain fatty acids (EC:1.3.1.44, EC:6.4.1.2) were significantly different, with higher relative abundance in winter-a mechanism of natural selection and environmental adaptation. This study is the first to analyze the composition of the gut microbiota of SMD and can be used to develop or modify conservation and husbandry strategies for musk deer, to improve their productivity. KEY POINTS: • Significant differences in microbial communities and their function between FMD and SMD. • The energy metabolism and the relative abundance of Firmicutes were significantly higher in SMD. • Seasonal variations alter microbial function in SMD, carbohydrate metabolism was higher in summer.

Genomic insights into evolution and control of Wohlfahrtia magnifica, a widely distributed myiasis-causing fly of warm-blooded vertebrates.

Wohlfahrtia magnifica is a pest fly species, invading livestock in many European, African and Asian countries, and causing heavy agroeconomic losses. In the life cycle of this obligatory parasite, adult flies infect the host by depositing the first-stage larvae into body cavities or open wounds. The feeding larvae cause severe (skin) tissue damage and potentially fatal infections if untreated. Despite serious health detriments and agroeconomic concerns, genomic resources for understanding the biology of W. magnifica have so far been lacking. Here, we present a complete genome assembly from a single adult female W. magnifica using a Low-DNA Input workflow for PacBio HiFi library preparation. The de novo assembled genome is 753.99 Mb in length, with a scaffold N50 of 5.00 Mb, consisting of 16,718 predicted protein-encoding genes. Comparative genomic analysis revealed that W. magnifica has the closest phylogenetic relationship to Sarcophaga bullata followed by Lucilia cuprina. Evolutionary analysis of gene families showed expansions of 173 gene families in W. magnifica that were enriched for gene ontology (GO) categories related to immunity, insecticide-resistance mechanisms, heat stress response and cuticle development. In addition, 45 positively selected genes displaying various functions were identified. This new genomic resource contributes to the evolutionary and comparative analysis of dipterous flies and an in-depth understanding of many aspects of W. magnifica biology. Furthermore, it will facilitate the development of novel tools for controlling W. magnifica infection in livestock.

Camel whey protein alleviates heat stress-induced liver injury by activating the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway and inhibiting HMGB1 release.

This study aimed to investigate the mechanism by which camel whey protein (CWP) inhibits the release of high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) in heat stress (HS)-stimulated rat liver. Administration of CWP by gavage prior to HS inhibited the cytoplasmic translocation of HMGB1 and consequently reduced the inflammatory response in the rat liver, and downregulated the levels of the NLR pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome, interleukin (IL)-1ß, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. The use of N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), an inhibitor of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, indicated that this downregulation effect may be attributed to the antioxidant activity of CWP. We observed that CWP enhanced nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf)2 and heme-oxygenase (HO)-1 expression, which inhibited ROS production, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase (NOX) activity, and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, and increased superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) activity and reduced glutathione (GSH) content in the HS-treated liver, ultimately increasing the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in the liver. Administration of Nrf2 or HO-1 inhibitors before HS abolished the protective effects of CWP against oxidative damage in the liver of HS-treated rats, accompanied by increased levels of HMGB1 in the cytoplasm and IL-1ß and TNF-α in the serum. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that CWP enhanced the TAC of the rat liver after HS by activating Nrf2/HO-1 signaling, which in turn reduced HMGB1 release from hepatocytes and the subsequent inflammatory response and damage. Furthermore, the combination of CWP and NAC abolished the adverse effects of HS in the rat liver. Therefore, dietary CWP could be an effective adjuvant treatment for HS-induced liver damage.

Positivity Rate Investigation and Anthelmintic Resistance Analysis of Gastrointestinal Nematodes in Sheep and Cattle in Ordos, China.

Gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs), such as Trichostrongylidae, are important pathogens in small ruminants, causing significant losses in these livestock species. Despite their veterinary importance, GINs have not been studied in certain regions of the world. Therefore, much of their epidemiology and economic impact on production remain unknown. In the present study, a systematic epidemiological survey based on the modified McMaster technique was conducted to investigate the type and infection of GINs in sheep and cattle. In 9622 fecal samples from 491 sampling sites in the four main banner districts of Ordos, the prevalence of GIN infection was found to be 38.84% and 4.48% in sheep and cattle, respectively. At the same time, the effects of four pasture types on the distribution of GINs were analyzed. This study also found severe resistance to ivermectin and albendazole in GINs and suspected anthelmintic resistance in nitroxynil, levamisole and closantel. We report the type and infection of GINs in Ordos, with the aim to help the prevention and control of GINs. Based on the results of the questionnaire survey and GIN resistance test, we found several reasons for the anthelmintic resistance of GINs, consequently providing new ideas for controlling the occurrence of anthelmintic resistance.

Hydrolyzed camel whey protein alleviated heat stress-induced hepatocyte damage by activated Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway and inhibited NF-κB/NLRP3 axis.

Liver damage is the most severe complication of heat stress (HS). Hydrolyzed camel whey protein (CWP) possesses bioactive peptides with obviously antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The current study aims to investigate whether CWP that is hydrolyzed by a simulated gastrointestinal digestion process, named S-CWP, protects BRL-3A hepatocytes from HS-induced damage via antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanisms. BRL-3A cells were pretreated with S-CWP before being treated at 43 °C for 1 h, and the levels of the cellular oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, biomarkers for liver function, the activities of several antioxidant enzymes, and the cell viability were analyzed. The expression level of pivotal proteins in correlative signaling pathways was evaluated by western blotting. We confirmed that S-CWP alleviated HS-induced hepatocytes oxidative stress by decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS), nitric oxide (NO), 8-Hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), lipid peroxidation (LPO), protein carbonylation (PCO), and the activities of NADPH oxidase while enhanced superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) activities, and GSH content. S-CWP suppressed HS-induced inflammatory response by reducing the phosphorylation of NF-κB p65, the expression of NLRP3, and caspase-1 and finally alleviated caspase-3-mediated apoptosis. S-CWP also alleviated HS-induced hepatocyte injury by reducing alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels and restoring Heat Shock Protein 70 (HSP70) expression. Furthermore, S-CWP treatment significantly enhanced the expression of NF-E2-related nuclear factor erythroid-2 (Nrf2) and HO-1. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of S-CWP were weakened by ML385, a specific Nrf2 inhibitor. Additionally, zinc protoporphyrin (ZnPP), a specific HO-1 inhibitor, significantly reversed S-CWP-induced reduction in the phosphorylation of NF-κB p65. Thus, our results revealed that S-CWP protected against HS-induced hepatocytes damage via activating the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway and inhibiting NF-κB/NLRP3 axis.

Genetic characteristics of Giardia duodenalis from sheep in Inner Mongolia, China.

Giardia duodenalis is an important zoonotic pathogen for both human and animal health. Although there have been reports on G. duodenalis infections in animals all over the world, information regarding the prevalence and genetic characteristics of G. duodenalis in sheep in Inner Mongolia, China, is limited. In this study, 209 sheep fecal specimens were collected in this autonomous region. We established that the prevalence of G. duodenalis was 64.11% (134/209), as determined using nested PCR detection and sequences analysis of the small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene. Based on the beta-giardin (bg) locus, the glutamate dehydrogenase (gdh) locus, and the triose phosphate isomerase (tpi) locus to study genetic characteristics, both assemblages A (2.99%, 4/134) and E (97.01%, 130/134) were found. Five novel nucleotide sequence of assemblage E were detected, two at the bg locus, two at the gdh locus, and one at the tpi locus. Multilocus genotyping yielded four assemblage E and two assemblage A multilocus genotypes (MLGs), including four novel assemblage E MLGs and one novel assemblage A MLG. Results of this study indicated that G. duodenalis was highly prevalent in sheep in Inner Mongolia. This study is the first to use the multilocus genotyping approach to identify G. duodenalis in sheep from this region.

TITLE: Caractéristiques génétiques de Giardia duodenalis chez les moutons en Mongolie intérieure, Chine. ABSTRACT: Giardia duodenalis est un pathogène zoonotique important pour la santé humaine et animale. Bien qu'il y ait eu des rapports sur des infections à G. duodenalis chez les animaux partout dans le monde, les informations concernant la prévalence et les caractéristiques génétiques de G. duodenalis chez les ovins en Mongolie intérieure, Chine, sont limitées. Dans cette étude, 209 spécimens fécaux de moutons ont été collectés dans cette région autonome. Nous avons établi que la prévalence de G. duodenalis était de 64,11 % (134/209), grâce à la détection par PCR imbriquée et l'analyse des séquences de la petite sous-unité du gène de l'ARN ribosomal (ARNr SSU). Sur la base du locus bêta-giardine (bg), du locus glutamate déshydrogénase (gdh) et du locus triose phosphate isomérase (tpi) pour l'étude des caractéristiques génétiques, les deux assemblages A (2,99 %, 4/134) et E (97,01 %, 130/134) ont été trouvés. Cinq nouvelles séquences nucléotidiques de l'assemblage E ont été détectées, deux au locus bg, deux au locus gdh et une au locus tpi. Le génotypage multilocus a produit quatre génotypes multilocus (GML) pour l'assemblage E et deux GML pour l'assemblage A, y compris quatre nouveaux GML pour E et un nouveau GML pour A. Les résultats de cette étude indiquent que G. duodenalis était très répandu chez les moutons en Mongolie intérieure. Cette étude est la première à utiliser l'approche de génotypage multilocus pour identifier G. duodenalis chez les moutons de cette région.

Whole-genome sequencing of wild Siberian musk deer (Moschus moschiferus) provides insights into its genetic features.

BACKGROUND: Siberian musk deer, one of the seven species, is distributed in coniferous forests of Asia. Worldwide, the population size of Siberian musk deer is threatened by severe illegal poaching for commercially valuable musk and meat, habitat losses, and forest fire. At present, this species is categorized as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. However, the genetic information of Siberian musk deer is largely unexplored. RESULTS: Here, we produced 3.10 Gb draft assembly of wild Siberian musk deer with a contig N50 of 29,145 bp and a scaffold N50 of 7,955,248 bp. We annotated 19,363 protein-coding genes and estimated 44.44% of the genome to be repetitive. Our phylogenetic analysis reveals that wild Siberian musk deer is closer to Bovidae than to Cervidae. Comparative analyses showed that the genetic features of Siberian musk deer adapted in cold and high-altitude environments. We sequenced two additional genomes of Siberian musk deer constructed demographic history indicated that changes in effective population size corresponded with recent glacial epochs. Finally, we identified several candidate genes that may play a role in the musk secretion based on transcriptome analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Here, we present a high-quality draft genome of wild Siberian musk deer, which will provide a valuable genetic resource for further investigations of this economically important musk deer.

Whole-genome sequencing of 128 camels across Asia reveals origin and migration of domestic Bactrian camels.

The domestic Bactrian camels were treated as one of the principal means of locomotion between the eastern and western cultures in history. However, whether they originated from East Asia or Central Asia remains elusive. To address this question, we perform whole-genome sequencing of 128 camels across Asia. The extant wild and domestic Bactrian camels show remarkable genetic divergence, as they were split from dromedaries. The wild Bactrian camels also contribute little to the ancestry of domestic ones, although they share close habitat in East Asia. Interestingly, among the domestic Bactrian camels, those from Iran exhibit the largest genetic distance and the earliest split from all others in the phylogeny, despite evident admixture between domestic Bactrian camels and dromedaries living in Central Asia. Taken together, our study support the Central Asian origin of domestic Bactrian camels, which were then immigrated eastward to Mongolia where native wild Bactrian camels inhabit.

Effects of CYP1A enzyme specific inhibitor on pharmacokinetics of para-acetaminophen in Bactrian camel.

The effects of CYP1A enzyme on the pharmacokinetics of p-acetaminophen were studied in Bactrian camel. Twelve Bactrian camels were divided into 2 groups, then given a single dose of p-acetaminophen only or with the enzyme inhibitor lomefloxacin. Blood samples were collected after different intervals, and p-acetaminophen concentration was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. Pharmacokinetic parameters were analyzed by Phoenix WinNonLin v.7.0. The results show that lomefloxacin can significantly inhibit Bactrian camel CYP1A enzyme, as evidenced by the prolonged elimination half-life, increased maximum plasma concentration and area under the curve values and the shortened time to peak concentration for p-acetaminophenol in the substrate with inhibitor group. The results lay a foundation for revealing the particular characteristics of the CYP1A enzyme in Bactrian camels.

Diversity and distribution of CYP gene family in Bactrian camel.

Cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes belong to a superfamily of monooxygenases which are phase I enzymes responsible for the first pass metabolism of about 90% of drugs in animals. However, these enzymes are often polymorphic and metabolism of the same drug in different species or different individuals is influenced by genetic and non-genetic factors. Bactrian camels are capable of survival in harsh living environments, being able to consume diets that are often toxic to other mammals and can tolerate extreme water and food deprivation. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the Bactrian camel's special metabolic pathways and unique detoxification capabilities are attributable to particularities of the CYP gene family. The Bactrian camel's whole genome sequencing data were systemically analyzed and annotated, and then, CYP gene family was searched from the whole protein database and compared with CYP gene families of cattle, horse, chicken, and human. The total of 63 CYP gene copies were found in Bactrian camel's whole genome and were classified into 17 families and 38 subfamilies. Among them, 9 multi-gene families were found, and CYP2, CYP3, and CPY4 have 27, 6, and 7 subfamilies, accounting for 43, 10, and 11% in camel CYP gene, respectively. In comparison with cattle, chicken, horse, and human, the distribution of CYP gene subfamilies in camel is different, with more CYP2J and CYP3A copies in the Bactrian camel, which may contribute to the Bactrian camel's specific biological characteristics and metabolic pathways. Comparing to the cow, horse, chicken, and human CYP genes, the distribution of CYP gene subfamilies is distinct in the Bactrian camel. The higher copy number of CYP2J gene and CYP3A gene in Bactrian camel may be the important factors contributing to the distinct biological characteristics and metabolic pathways of Bactrian camels for adaptation to the harsh environments.

Comparative analysis of fecal microbial communities in cattle and Bactrian camels.

Bactrian camels may have a unique gastrointestinal (GI) microbiome because of their distinctive digestive systems, unique eating habits and extreme living conditions. However, understanding of the microbial communities in the Bactrian camel GI tract is still limited. In this study, microbial communities were investigated by comparative analyses of 16S rRNA hypervariable region V4 sequences of fecal bacteria sampled from 94 animals in four population groups: Inner Mongolian cattle (IMG-Cattle), Inner Mongolian domestic Bactrian camels (IMG-DBC), Mongolian domestic Bactrian camels (MG-DBC), and Mongolian wild Bactrian camels (MG-WBC). A total of 2,097,985 high-quality reads were obtained and yielded 471,767,607 bases of sequence. Firmicutes was the predominant phylum in the population groups IMG-Cattle, IMG-DBC and MG-WBC, followed (except in the Inner Mongolian cattle) by Verrucomicrobia. Bacteroidetes were abundant in the IMG-DBC and MG-WBC populations. Hierarchical clustered heatmap analysis revealed that the microbial community composition within the three Bactrian camel groups was relatively similar, and somewhat distinct from that in the cattle. A similar result was determined by principal component analysis, in which the camels grouped together. We also found several species-specific differences in microbial communities at the genus level: for example, Desulfovibrio was abundant in the IMG-DBC and MG-WBC groups; Pseudomonas was abundant in the IMG-Cattle group; and Fibrobacter, Coprobacillus, and Paludibacter were scarce in the MG-WBC group. Such differences may be related to different eating habits and living conditions of the cattle and the various camel populations.

Genome sequences of wild and domestic bactrian camels.

Bactrian camels serve as an important means of transportation in the cold desert regions of China and Mongolia. Here we present a 2.01 Gb draft genome sequence from both a wild and a domestic bactrian camel. We estimate the camel genome to be 2.38 Gb, containing 20,821 protein-coding genes. Our phylogenomics analysis reveals that camels shared common ancestors with other even-toed ungulates about 55-60 million years ago. Rapidly evolving genes in the camel lineage are significantly enriched in metabolic pathways, and these changes may underlie the insulin resistance typically observed in these animals. We estimate the genome-wide heterozygosity rates in both wild and domestic camels to be 1.0 × 10(-3). However, genomic regions with significantly lower heterozygosity are found in the domestic camel, and olfactory receptors are enriched in these regions. Our comparative genomics analyses may also shed light on the genetic basis of the camel's remarkable salt tolerance and unusual immune system.

[Image identification for microscopic structures of Mongolian herbal flowers with invariant moments].

Microscopic characteristics of several Mongolian Herbal flowers were extracted by improved Pseudo-Jacobi (p = 4, q = 2)-Fourier Moments (PJFM's), and 368 different versions of 28 microscopic characteristics of these herbs were identified by using the minimum-mean-distance rule. The experimental results showed that the average identification rate reaches as high as 98.1%. Therefore, this study can provide new techniques for digitalization and visualization of microscopic characteristics of Mongolian Herbs.

Image analysis by pseudo-Jacobi (p = 4, q = 3)-Fourier moments.

Pseudo-Jacobi (p = 4, q = 3)-Fourier moments (PJFMs) based on Jacobi polynomials are described. The new orthogonal radial polynomials have almost uniformly distributed (n + 2) zeros in the region of small radial distance 0 < or = r < or = 1. Both theoretical and experimental results indicate that PJFMs are better than orthogonal Fourier-Mellin moments in terms of reconstruction errors and signal-to-noise ratio. The PJFMs are normalized to shift, rotation, scale, and intensity invariance, and some pattern-recognition experiments are described.