Molecular genetic identification of Wuzhishan ant chicken, a newly discovered resource in China.

Introduction: The Wuzhishan ant (MY) chicken exhibits significant differences from other chicken breeds. However, the molecular genetic relationship between the MY breed and other chicken breeds has not been assessed. Methods: Whole-genome resequencing was used to compare genetic diversity, nucleotide diversity, the fixation index, the linkage disequilibrium coefficient, and phylogenetic tree relationships between the MY breed and the Wenchang (WC), Danzhou (DZ), Bawangling (BW), and Longsheng Feng (LF) breeds. Results: A total of 21,586,378 singlenucleotide polymorphisms and 4,253,341 insertions/deletions were screened out among the five breeds. The MY breed had the second highest genomic genetic diversity and nucleotide diversity and the lowest LD coefficient among the five breeds. Moreover, the phylogenetic tree analysis showed that individual birds of each breed clustered together with those of their respective breeds. Discussion: Our data indicated that the MY breed is distinct from the other breeds and can be considered a new genetic resource.

Numerical study on solar photovoltaic/thermal system with tesla valve.

In recent years, photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) systems have played a crucial role in reducing energy consumption and environmental degradation, nonetheless, the low energy conversion efficiency presents a considerable obstacle for PV/T systems. Therefore, improving heat conversion efficiency is essential to enhance energy efficiency. In this paper, the PV/T system with the Tesla valve is proposed to solve this problem. Firstly, the cooling effect is simulated and analyzed in the system with four different flow channel structures: semicircle, rectangle, triangle and Tesla valve. The results indicate that the system with the Tesla valve exhibits superior cooling performance. Subsequently, several factors including angle, valve number, valve type, and pipe diameter ratio for the Tesla valve are further studied through numerical and simulation analysis. The results reveal that Tesla valves demonstrate optimal cooling performance when possessing the following structural parameters: complete symmetry, more valves, a 30-degree angle and a pipe diameter ratio of 1. Finally, four different types of fluid are selected to explore the Tesla valve. The conclusion shows that nanofluids with high density, low specific heat, and high thermal conductivity also improve the cooling performance. Thus, the PV/T system with the Tesla valve exhibits good heat dissipation and energy storage efficiency, electrical efficiency can reach 16.32% and thermal efficiency reach 59.65%.

Small Target Detection in Refractive Panorama Surveillance Based on Improved YOLOv8.

Panoramic imaging is increasingly critical in UAVs and high-altitude surveillance applications. In addressing the challenges of detecting small targets within wide-area, high-resolution panoramic images, particularly issues concerning accuracy and real-time performance, we have proposed an improved lightweight network model based on YOLOv8. This model maintains the original detection speed, while enhancing precision, and reducing the model size and parameter count by 10.6% and 11.69%, respectively. It achieves a 2.9% increase in the overall mAP@0.5 and a 20% improvement in small target detection accuracy. Furthermore, to address the scarcity of reflective panoramic image training samples, we have introduced a panorama copy-paste data augmentation technique, significantly boosting the detection of small targets, with a 0.6% increase in the overall mAP@0.5 and a 21.3% rise in small target detection accuracy. By implementing an unfolding, cutting, and stitching process for panoramic images, we further enhanced the detection accuracy, evidenced by a 4.2% increase in the mAP@0.5 and a 12.3% decrease in the box loss value, validating the efficacy of our approach for detecting small targets in complex panoramic scenarios.

The Genetic Selection of HSPD1 and HSPE1 Reduce Inflammation of Liver and Spleen While Restraining the Growth and Development of Skeletal Muscle in Wuzhishan Pigs.

Wuzhishan (WZS) pigs, which are minipigs native to Hainan Province in China, are characterized by strong resistance to extreme hot temperatures and humidity. The relationship between their immune response and growth still needs to be clarified. In this study, we used whole genome sequencing (WGS) to detect variations within 37 WZS pigs, 32 Large White (LW) pigs, and 22 Xiangxi black (XXB) pigs, and ~2.49 GB of SNPs were obtained. These data were combined with those of two other pig breeds, and it was found that most of the genes detected (354) were located within the distinct genetic regions between WZS pigs and LW pigs. The network that was constructed using these genes represented a center including 12 hub genes, five of which had structural variations (SVs) within their regulatory regions. Furthermore, RNA-seq and RT-qPCR data for 12 genes were primarily consistent in liver, spleen, and LDM tissues. Notably, the expression of HSPs (HSPD1 and HSPE1) was higher while that of most genes involved in the JAK3-STAT pathway were lower in liver tissue of WZS pigs, compared with LW pigs. This likely not only reduced inflammation-related immune response but also impaired their growth. Our findings demonstrated the role of HSPs in the connection between inflammation and growth rate, while also providing the fundamental genetic selection of the adaptability of WZS pigs.

Genomic insights into local adaptation and phenotypic diversity of Wenchang chickens.

Wenchang chicken, a prized local breed in Hainan Province of China renowned for its exceptional adaptability to tropical environments and good meat quality, is deeply favored by the public. However, an insufficient understanding of its population architecture and the unclear genetic basis that governs its typical attributes have posed challenges in the protection and breeding of this precious breed. To address these gaps, we conducted whole-genome resequencing on 200 Wenchang chicken samples derived from 10 distinct strains, and we gathered data on an array of 21 phenotype traits. Population genomics analysis unveiled distinctive population structures in Wenchang chickens, primarily attributed to strong artificial selection for different feather colors. Selection sweep analysis identified a group of candidate genes, including PCDH9, DPF3, CDIN1, and SUGCT, closely linked to adaptations that enhance resilience in tropical island habitats. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) highlighted potential candidate genes associated with diverse feather color traits, encompassing TYR, RAB38, TRPM1, GABARAPL2, CDH1, ZMIZ1, LYST, MC1R, and SASH1. Through the comprehensive analysis of high-quality genomic and phenotypic data across diverse Wenchang chicken resource groups, this study unveils the intricate genetic backgrounds and population structures of Wenchang chickens. Additionally, it identifies multiple candidate genes linked to environmental adaptation, feather color variations, and production traits. These insights not only provide genetic reference for the purification and breeding of Wenchang chickens but also broaden our understanding of the genetic basis of phenotypic diversity in chickens.

AB-GRU: An attention-based bidirectional GRU model for multimodal sentiment fusion and analysis.

Multimodal sentiment analysis is an important area of artificial intelligence. It integrates multiple modalities such as text, audio, video and image into a compact multimodal representation and obtains sentiment information from them. In this paper, we improve two modules, i.e., feature extraction and feature fusion, to enhance multimodal sentiment analysis and finally propose an attention-based two-layer bidirectional GRU (AB-GRU, gated recurrent unit) multimodal sentiment analysis method. For the feature extraction module, we use a two-layer bidirectional GRU network and connect two layers of attention mechanisms to enhance the extraction of important information. The feature fusion part uses low-rank multimodal fusion, which can reduce the multimodal data dimensionality and improve the computational rate and accuracy. The experimental results demonstrate that the AB-GRU model can achieve 80.9% accuracy on the CMU-MOSI dataset, which exceeds the same model type by at least 2.5%. The AB-GRU model also possesses a strong generalization capability and solid robustness.

Diverse WGBS profiles of longissimus dorsi muscle in Hainan black goats and hybrid goats.

BACKGROUND: Goat products have played a crucial role in meeting the dietary demands of people since the Neolithic era, giving rise to a multitude of goat breeds globally with varying characteristics and meat qualities. The primary objective of this study is to pinpoint the pivotal genes and their functions responsible for regulating muscle fiber growth in the longissimus dorsi muscle (LDM) through DNA methylation modifications in Hainan black goats and hybrid goats. METHODS: Whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) was employed to scrutinize the impact of methylation on LDM growth. This was accomplished by comparing methylation differences, gene expression, and their associations with growth-related traits. RESULTS: In this study, we identified a total of 3,269 genes from differentially methylated regions (DMR), and detected 189 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) through RNA-seq analysis. Hypo DMR genes were primarily enriched in KEGG terms associated with muscle development, such as MAPK and PI3K-Akt signaling pathways. We selected 11 hub genes from the network that intersected the gene sets within DMR and DEGs, and nine genes exhibited significant correlation with one or more of the three LDM growth traits, namely area, height, and weight of loin eye muscle. Particularly, PRKG1 demonstrated a negative correlation with all three traits. The top five most crucial genes played vital roles in muscle fiber growth: FOXO3 safeguarded the myofiber's immune environment, FOXO6 was involved in myotube development and differentiation, and PRKG1 facilitated vasodilatation to release more glucose. This, in turn, accelerated the transfer of glucose from blood vessels to myofibers, regulated by ADCY5 and AKT2, ultimately ensuring glycogen storage and energy provision in muscle fibers. CONCLUSION: This study delved into the diverse methylation modifications affecting critical genes, which collectively contribute to the maintenance of glycogen storage around myofibers, ultimately supporting muscle fiber growth.

Multi-omics analysis reveals substantial linkages between the oral-gut microbiomes and inflamm-aging molecules in elderly pigs.

Introduction: The accelerated aging of the global population has emerged as a critical public health concern, with increasing recognition of the influential role played by the microbiome in shaping host well-being. Nonetheless, there remains a dearth of understanding regarding the functional alterations occurring within the microbiota and their intricate interactions with metabolic pathways across various stages of aging. Methods: This study employed a comprehensive metagenomic analysis encompassing saliva and stool samples obtained from 45 pigs representing three distinct age groups, alongside serum metabolomics and lipidomics profiling. Results: Our findings unveiled discernible modifications in the gut and oral microbiomes, serum metabolome, and lipidome at each age stage. Specifically, we identified 87 microbial species in stool samples and 68 in saliva samples that demonstrated significant age-related changes. Notably, 13 species in stool, including Clostridiales bacterium, Lactobacillus johnsonii, and Oscillibacter spp., exhibited age-dependent alterations, while 15 salivary species, such as Corynebacterium xerosis, Staphylococcus sciuri, and Prevotella intermedia, displayed an increase with senescence, accompanied by a notable enrichment of pathogenic organisms. Concomitant with these gut-oral microbiota changes were functional modifications observed in pathways such as cell growth and death (necroptosis), bacterial infection disease, and aging (longevity regulating pathway) throughout the aging process. Moreover, our metabolomics and lipidomics analyses unveiled the accumulation of inflammatory metabolites or the depletion of beneficial metabolites and lipids as aging progressed. Furthermore, we unraveled a complex interplay linking the oral-gut microbiota with serum metabolites and lipids. Discussion: Collectively, our findings illuminate novel insights into the potential contributions of the oral-gut microbiome and systemic circulating metabolites and lipids to host lifespan and healthy aging.

Measurement of linear shear through optical vortices in digital shearing speckle pattern interferometry.

Digital shearing speckle pattern interferometry (DSSPI) is a powerful interferometric technique used to visualize the slope contours undergoing static and dynamic deformations. Precise determination of the shear amount is crucial for quantitative analysis in DSSPI. However, accurately measuring the shear amount is often challenging due to factors such as optical device dimensions, deflections, aberrations, and misalignments. In this paper, we propose a novel method utilizing optical vortices deflection in pseudo-phase for shear measurement. This method eliminates the need for attaching calibration objects and replacing the light source, making it applicable to inaccessible or fragile samples. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness and accuracy of the proposed method in determining shear amounts in DSSPI. The method can be easily automated and integrated into existing setups, offering broader application prospects.

Supplementation of dietary areca nut extract modulates the growth performance, cecal microbiota composition, and immune function in Wenchang chickens.

Introduction: The study was aimed at evaluating the effects of areca nut extract (ANE) on the growth performance, cecal microbiota, and immunity of Wenchang chickens. Methods: For this study, 42-day-old healthy Wenchang chickens (n = 450) with similar body weight were chosen. The animals were randomly divided into five groups, with six replicates per group and 15 chickens per replicate. One group was fed a basal diet (control; CCK). The remaining four groups were fed a basal diet supplemented with varying ANE concentrations: 0.038, 0.063, 0.100, and 0.151 g/kg, with the groups denoted as CNT1, CNT2, CNT3, and CNT4, respectively. The feeding experiment lasted 35 days. The ligated cecum segments of the control and experimental groups were collected for metabolomic and metagenomic analysis, while the bone marrow samples were extracted for tandem mass tag (TMT)-based proteomic analysis. Results: All the experimental groups exhibited significantly higher average daily gain (ADG) and significantly lower feed-to-weight (F/G) ratios than CCK. Metabolomic screening of the cecum contents revealed the presence of 544 differential metabolites, including several gut health-related metabolites, such as xanthine, hydroxy hypoxanthine, 2,5-dimethylhydrazine, ganoderic acid, and 2-aminohexanoic acid. Metagenomic analysis of the cecum contents showed an upregulation in the abundance of Prevotella spp. in the experimental groups. However, we observed no significant differences in the abundances of other cecal microbes at phylum and genus levels. Furthermore, we observed significant associations between Prevotella spp. and the differentially abundant metabolites, such as cherubins, thiaburimamide, and 3,4-dihydroxy-L-phenylalanine, (r)-mevalonate, 5-O-methylalloptaeroxylin, nalidixic acid, and deoxyloganin (p < 0.05). Proteomic analysis revealed that the differentially expressed proteins (such as interferon-induced protein with tetratricopeptide repeats 5 (IFIT5), MHC-BF1, and death domain-associated protein (Daxx)) in the bone marrow of the chickens were primarily enriched in the immune network for IgA production and B cell receptor signaling pathway. Conclusion: In conclusion, dietary ANE supplementation was found to enhance metabolic activity and energy utilization, improve growth performance, modulate cecal microbiota, and strengthen the immunity of Wenchang chickens.

m6A and miRNA jointly regulate the development of breast muscles in duck embryonic stages.

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is an abundant internal mRNA modification and plays a crucial regulatory role in animal growth and development. In recent years, m6A modification has been found to play a key role in skeletal muscles. However, whether m6A modification contributes to embryonic breast muscle development of Pekin ducks has not been explored. To explore the role of m6A in embryonic breast muscle development of ducks, we performed m6A sequencing and miRNA sequencing for the breast muscle of duck embryos on the 19th (E19) and 27th (E27) days. A total of 12,717 m6A peaks were identified at E19, representing a total of 7,438 gene transcripts. A total of 14,703 m6A peaks were identified, which overlapped with the transcripts of 7,753 genes at E27. Comparing E19 and E27, we identified 2,347 differential m6A peaks, which overlapped with 1,605 m6A-modified genes (MMGs). Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses revealed that MMGs were enriched in multiple muscle- or fat-related pathways, which was also revealed from our analysis of differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Conjoint analysis of m6A-seq and RNA-seq data showed that pathways related to ß-oxidation of fatty acids and skeletal muscle development were significantly enriched, suggesting that m6A modification is involved in the regulation of fat deposition and skeletal muscle development. There were 90 upregulated and 102 downregulated miRNAs identified between the E19 and E27 stages. Through overlapping analysis of genes shared by MMGs and DEGs and the targets of differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs), we identified six m6A-mRNA-regulated miRNAs. Finally, we found that m6A modification can regulate fat deposition and skeletal muscle development. In conclusion, our results suggest that m6A modification is a key regulator for embryonic breast muscle development and fat deposition of ducks by affecting expressions of mRNAs and miRNAs. This is the first study to comprehensively characterize the m6A patterns in the duck transcriptome. These data provide a solid basis for future work aimed at determining the potential functional roles of m6A modification in adipose deposition and muscle growth.

Interactive effects of high temperature and crude protein levels on growth performance, nitrogen excretion, and fecal characteristics of broilers.

In the present study, we aimed to explore the interactive effects of high temperature (HT) and dietary crude protein (CP) levels on nitrogen (N) excretion, fecal characteristics, and growth performance of broilers. A total of 288 broilers (Arbor Acres) were divided into six groups with eight replicates (six broilers per replicate). Two temperatures (ambient temperature: AT, 23 °C; HT: 28 ~ 32 ~ 28 °C) and three diets (CP: 14.90%, 18.18%, or 21.19%, with equal amounts of essential amino acids) were examined in a 2 × 3 factorial design. The experiment arrangement was from 4 to 6 weeks of age. The results showed that HT led to a significant decrease in the N excretion (P < 0.0001), average daily feed intake (P < 0.0001), and weight gain of broilers (P < 0.0001), while it markedly increased the fecal pH (P = 0.015), fecal moisture (P = 0.0014), uric acid (UA) contents (P = 0.0018), and feed/gain ratio (P < 0.0001). A low CP diet significantly decreased the N excretion (P < 0.001), fecal pH (P = 0.016), fecal moisture (P < 0.0001), and UA contents (P < 0.0001), while it markedly increased the feed/gain ratio (P < 0.001). In conclusion, HT had a negative impact on the fecal characteristics and growth performance of broilers but showed positive effects on N excretion. Moreover, decreased CP levels had a positive effect on the N excretion and fecal characteristics in broilers.

Demodulation method based on a component synthesis and gradient projection for phase-shifting interferometry.

In order to reduce the vibration error of phase-shifting interferometry (PSI) and improve the demodulation accuracy of the wavefront phase, a demodulation method based on a component synthesis and gradient projection for PSI is proposed. For two sequences of interference images with a phase shift of 0, π/2, the method first corrects the vibration error by the pre-processing mechanism and multi-component synthesis. At the same time, two frames of interference images with a phase shift of 0, π/2 are synthesized. Then the gradient projection algorithm is used to filter the background light of the synthesized image, and the wavefront phase is demodulated based on the arctangent operation. The experimental results show that the percentage of pixels demodulated effectively at the truncated interface is more than 90%. Compared with the traditional demodulation method, the number of pixels demodulated effectively (demodulation accuracy) is improved.

Transcriptome-wide study revealed m6A and miRNA regulation of embryonic breast muscle development in Wenchang chickens.

N 6-Methyladenosine (m6A) modification has been shown to play important role in skeletal muscle development. Wenchang chickens are commonly used as a high-quality animal model in researching meat quality. However, there have been no previous reports regarding the profile of m6A and its function in the embryonic breast muscle development of Wenchang chickens. In this paper, we identified different developmental stages of breast muscle in Wenchang chickens and performed m6A sequencing and miRNA sequencing in the breast muscle of embryos. Embryo breast muscles were weighed and stained with hematoxylin-eosin after hatching. We found that myofibers grew fast on the 10th day after hatching (E10) and seldom proliferated beyond the 19th day after hatching (E19). A total of 6,774 differentially methylated genes (DMGs) were identified between E10 and E19. For RNA-seq data, we found 5,586 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). After overlapping DEGs and DMGs, we recorded 651 shared genes (DEMGs). Subsequently, we performed miRNA-seq analysis and obtained 495 differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs). Then, we overlapped DEMGs and the target genes of DEMs and obtained 72 overlapped genes (called miRNA-m6A-genes in this study). GO and KEGG results showed DEMGs enriched in many muscle development-related pathways. Furthermore, we chose WNT7B, a key regulator of skeletal muscle development, to perform IGV visualization analysis and found that the m6A levels on the WNT7B gene between E10 and E19 were significantly different. In conclusion, we found that miRNAs, in conjunction with m6A modification, played a key role in the embryonic breast muscle development of Wenchang chickens. The results of this paper offer a theoretical basis for the study of m6A function in muscle development and fat deposition of Wenchang chickens.

Genotyping and zoonotic potential of Enterocytozoon bieneusi in cattle farmed in Hainan Province, the southernmost region of China.

Enterocytozoon bieneusi is an intestinal pathogen that infects a wide range of species, including humans. Cattle constitute an important host for E. bieneusi; however, there is a scarcity of information on the prevalence and genotyping of E. bieneusi in cattle in the Hainan Province of China. In this study, PCR analysis of 314 fecal samples from cattle in six cities of Hainan was performed for genotype identification. The average prevalence of E. bieneusi in these animals was 9.9% (31/314), and ranged from 0.0% (0/12) to 20.5% (8/39). Five known genotypes - EbpC (n = 14), BEB4 (n = 12), J (n = 2), I (n = 1), and CHG5 (n = 1) - and a novel genotype: HNC-I (n = 1) - were identified. Genotypes EbpC and HNC-I were placed in zoonotic Group 1, and the remaining four genotypes (BEB4, J, I, and CHG5) were placed in Group 2. Since 93.5% of the genotypes found in the cattle (29/31) (EbpC, BEB4, J, and I) have previously been found in humans, these genotypes are probably involved in the transmission of microsporidiosis to humans.

TITLE: Génotypage et potentiel zoonotique d'Enterocytozoon bieneusi chez les bovins élevés dans la province de Hainan, la région la plus au sud de la Chine. ABSTRACT: Enterocytozoon bieneusi est un pathogène intestinal qui infecte un large éventail d'espèces, y compris les humains. Le bétail constitue un hôte important pour E. bieneusi, mais les informations sur la prévalence et le génotypage d'E. bieneusi chez les bovins de la province de Hainan en Chine sont rares. Dans cette étude, une analyse PCR de 314 échantillons fécaux provenant de bovins dans six villes de Hainan a été réalisée pour l'identification du génotype. La prévalence moyenne d'E. bieneusi chez ces animaux était de 9,9 % (31/314), et variait de 0,0 % (0/12) à 20,5 % (8/39). Cinq génotypes connus, EbpC (n = 14), BEB4 (n = 12), J (n = 2), I (n = 1) et CHG5 (n = 1), et un nouveau génotype, HNC-I (n = 1), ont été identifiés. Les génotypes EbpC et HNC-I sont placés dans le groupe zoonotique 1, et les quatre génotypes restants (BEB4, J, I et CHG5) sont placés dans le groupe 2. Puisque 93,5 % (29/31) (EbpC, BEB4, J et I) des génotypes trouvés chez les bovins ont déjà été trouvés chez l'homme, ces génotypes sont probablement impliqués dans la transmission de la microsporidiose à l'homme.

Molecular detection of Enterocytozoon bieneusi in farm-raised pigs in Hainan Province, China: infection rates, genotype distributions, and zoonotic potential.

Enterocytozoon bieneusi is a zoonotic fungal pathogen with a high degree of host diversity that can parasitize many animals, including humans. Pigs may play an important role in the epidemiology of E. bieneusi as reservoir hosts. Nevertheless, the genotypes of E. bieneusi in pigs in China remain poorly understood. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of E. bieneusi infection amongst pigs raised on farms from four cities of Hainan Province, using nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of the partial small subunit of the ribosomal RNA gene, and to identify genotypes of E. bieneusi isolates based on sequence analysis of the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region. Among 188 stool samples, E. bieneusi was detected in 46.8% (88/188). Eight genotypes including four known (EbpA, CS-4, MJ14, and CHG19) and four novel (HNP-I - HNP-IV) genotypes were identified. Using phylogenetic analysis, genotypes EbpA, CS4, CHG19, HNP-III, and HNP-IV were clustered into zoonotic Group 1, while the remaining three genotypes (MJ14, HNP-I, and HNP-II) clustered into Group 10. The high prevalence of zoonotic genotypes of E. bieneusi among pigs suggests that pig farming is a potential source of human infection. Additionally, this is the first identification of genotypes in Group 10 in pigs indicating unique epidemic features of E. bieneusi in pigs in Hainan Province, the southernmost part of China.

TITLE: Détection moléculaire d'Enterocytozoon bieneusi chez les porcs d'élevage dans la province de Hainan en Chine : taux d'infection, répartition des génotypes et potentiel zoonotique. ABSTRACT: Enterocytozoon bieneusi est un pathogène fongique zoonotique avec une grande diversité d'hôte qui peut parasiter de nombreux animaux, y compris les humains. Les porcs peuvent jouer un rôle important dans l'épidémiologie d'E. bieneusi en tant qu'hôtes réservoirs. Néanmoins, les génotypes d'E. bieneusi chez le porc en Chine restent mal connus. Le but de cette étude était de déterminer la prévalence de l'infection par E. bieneusi chez les porcs élevés dans des fermes de quatre villes de la province de Hainan, en utilisant la réaction en chaîne par polymérase emboîtée (PCR) de la petite sous-unité partielle du gène de l'ARN ribosomal et de identifier les génotypes des isolats d'E. bieneusi sur la base d'une analyse de séquence de la région des espaceurs internes transcrits ribosomiques (ITS). Sur 188 échantillons de selles, E. bieneusi a été détecté dans 46,8 % (88/188). Huit génotypes, dont quatre génotypes connus (EbpA, CS-4, MJ14 et CHG19) et quatre génotypes nouveaux (HNP-I à IV), ont été identifiés. Dans une analyse phylogénétique, les génotypes EbpA, CS4, CHG19, HNP-III et HNP-IV étaient regroupés dans le groupe zoonotique 1, tandis que les trois génotypes restants (MJ14, HNP-I et HNP-II) étaient regroupés dans le groupe 10. La prévalence élevée des génotypes zoonotiques d'E. bieneusi chez les porcs suggère que l'élevage porcin est une source potentielle d'infection humaine. De plus, il s'agit de la première identification de génotypes du groupe 10 chez les porcs, indiquant des caractéristiques épidémiques uniques d'E. bieneusi chez les porcs dans la province de Hainan, la partie la plus méridionale de la Chine.

Genotype identification and phylogenetic analysis of Enterocytozoon bieneusi in farmed black goats (Capra hircus) from China's Hainan Province.

Enterocytozoon bieneusi is an important pathogen commonly found in humans and animals. Farmed animals with close contact to humans are important hosts of E. bieneusi. The role of goats in the transmission of E. bieneusi, however, remains unclear. In this study, 341 fresh fecal samples of black goats were collected from five locations in Hainan Province, China. Enterocytozoon bieneusi was identified and genotyped by sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region. Phylogenetic analysis was performed by constructing a neighbor-joining tree of the ITS gene sequences. The average prevalence of E. bieneusi in black goats was 24.0% (82/341) with rates ranging from 6.3% (4/63) to 37.2% (32/86) across the locations (χ2 = 17.252, p < 0.01). Eight genotypes of E. bieneusi were identified, including six known genotypes: CHG5 (n = 47); CHG3 (n = 23); CHG2 (n = 4); CM21 (n = 3); D (n = 2); and AHG1 (n = 1), and two novel genotypes termed HNG-I (n = 1) and HNG-II (n = 1). In the phylogenetic tree, genotype D was clustered into Group 1 and the other identified genotypes were included in Group 2. This represents the first report identifying E. bieneusi in black goats from Hainan Province, with a high prevalence and wide occurrence demonstrated. The two new genotypes identified provide additional insights into the genotypic variations in E. bieneusi. Due to the small percentage of zoonotic genotypes in these animals, there is minimal risk of zoonotic transmission of E. bieneusi.

TITLE: Identification du génotype et analyse phylogénétique d'Enterocytozoon bieneusi chez des chèvres noires (Capra hircus) de la province de Hainan, en Chine. ABSTRACT: Enterocytozoon bieneusi est un agent pathogène important que l'on trouve couramment chez l'homme et les animaux. Les animaux d'élevage, en contact étroit avec l'homme, sont des hôtes importants d'E. bieneusi. Le rôle des chèvres dans la transmission d'E. bieneusi reste toutefois incertain. Dans cette étude, 341 échantillons de fèces fraîches de chèvres noires ont été prélevés dans cinq sites de la province de Hainan, en Chine. Enterocytozoon bieneusi a été identifié et génotypé par des séquences de la région de l'espaceur interne transcrit (ITS). L'analyse phylogénétique a été réalisée en construisant un arbre de jonction voisine des séquences du gène ITS. La prévalence moyenne d'E. bieneusi chez les chèvres noires était de 24,0 % (82/341), avec des taux allant de 6,3 % (4/63) à 37,2 % (32/86) dans tous les sites (χ2 = 17,252, p < 0,01). Huit génotypes d'E. bieneusi ont été identifiés, dont six génotypes connus: CHG5 (n = 47) ; CHG3 (n = 23) ; CHG2 (n = 4) ; CM21 (n = 3) ; D (n = 2) ; AHG1 (n = 1) et deux nouveaux génotypes appelés HNG-I (n = 1) et HNG-II (n = 1). Dans l'arbre phylogénétique, le génotype D appartenait au groupe 1 et les autres génotypes identifiés étaient inclus dans le groupe 2. Il s'agit du premier rapport identifiant E. bieneusi chez des chèvres noires de la province de Hainan, avec une prévalence élevée et une occurrence étendue. Les deux nouveaux génotypes identifiés fournissent des informations supplémentaires sur les variations génotypiques chez E. bieneusi. En raison du faible pourcentage de génotypes zoonotiques chez ces animaux, le risque de transmission zoonotique d'E. bieneusi est minime.

Characterization of the Methylation Status of Pax7 and Myogenic Regulator Factors in Cell Myogenic Differentiation.

Epigenetic processes in the development of skeletal muscle have been appreciated for over a decade. DNA methylation is a major epigenetic modification important for regulating gene expression and suppressing spurious transcription. Up to now, the importance of epigenetic marks in the regulation of Pax7 and myogenic regulatory factors (MRFs) expression is far less explored. In the present study, semi-quantitative the real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analyses showed MyoD and Myf5 were expressed in activated and quiescent C2C12 cells. MyoG was expressed in a later stage of myogenesis. Pax7 was weakly expressed in differentiated C2C12 cells. To further understand the regulation of expression of these genes, the DNA methylation status of Pax7, MyoD, and Myf5 was determined by bisulfite sequencing PCR. During the C2C12 myoblasts fusion process, the changes of promoter and exon 1 methylation of Pax7, MyoD, and Myf5 genes were observed. In addition, an inverse relationship of low methylation and high expression was found. These results suggest that DNA methylation may be an important mechanism regulating Pax7 and MRFs transcription in cell myogenic differentiation.

Distribution and linkage disequilibrium analysis of polymorphisms of MC4R, LEP, H-FABP genes in the different populations of pigs, associated with economic traits in DIV2 line.

PCR-RFLP was used to analyze the polymorphisms of MC4R, LEP, H-FABP genes in a swine breed composite (DIV2) and 4 swine breeds (Yorkshire, Landrace, Meishan, Bamei). The association study of these polymorphisms with several economic traits was carried out on a DIV2 population. The results obtained showed that MC4R/TaqI genotype had an effect for average backfat thickness (P < 0.05) and lean meat percentage (P < 0.05). At locus LEP/HinfI animals of AA genotype had lower test daily gain than that of BB (P < 0.01) or AB genotype (P < 0.05). At the H-FABP/HaeIII locus lean meat percentage of the individuals with genotype DD were higher than that with genotype dd (P < 0.05). Linkage disequilibrium analysis among MC4R, LEP and H-FABP revealed that these genes were independent. This represented two or more genes that could be combined together within one genotype in order to facilitate breeding for objective traits. In addition, a method allowing simultaneous detection of fragments of MC4R and LEP gene was developed.

[Genetic analysis of 32 microsatellite loci in 13 families of Wuzhishan pig by multiplex PCR and gene scanning technique].

Wuzhishan pig is one of the rare and endangered breeds in china. They have the following characteristics such as :light body weight and small size, early sexually maturity, high meat quality and genetic identification with 6 approximately 8 pares litter size,body weight of born 0.3 approximately 0.4 kg, 15 approximately 16 kg at 6 month old, 35 kg at 2 years old, and so on. They may be used for laboratory utilization, comparative studies on human medical model, embryonic engineering, nutrition metabolism, sensitivity test on virus and bacteria, skin brut and tranfer, removing lipid, teeth and mouth cavity diseases, studies on cardiovascular model and evaluation of new medicine products. The polymorphisms of 32 microsatellites in 13 families of Wuzhishan pig in Hainan were Analysed. Number of alleles in each family was counted, mean heterozygosity and polymorphism Information content(PIC) were calculated. The results showed that number of alleles was 13.66, mean heterozygosity was 0.559 while polymorphism information content was 0.731. This revealed that genetic diversity is abundant in Wuzhishan pig in Hainan. These results have instructional significance for preserving breeds, selection and breeding, development and utilization of Wuzhishan pig in Hainan.