Distinct genomic traits of acral and mucosal melanomas revealed by targeted mutational profiling

The incidence of melanoma is rising globally including China. Comparing to Caucasians, the incidence of non‐cutaneous melanomas is significantly higher in Chinese. Herein, we performed genomic profiling of 89 Chinese surgically resected primary melanomas, including acral (n = 54), cutaneous (n = 22), and mucosal (n = 13), by hybrid capture‐based next‐generation sequencing. We show that mucosal melanomas tended to harbor more pathogenic mutations than other types of melanoma, though the biological significance of this finding remains uncertain. Chromosomal arm‐level alterations including 6q, 9p, and 10p/q loss were highly recurrent in all subtypes, but mucosal melanoma was significantly associated with increased genomic instability. Importantly, 7p gain significantly correlated with unfavorable clinical outcomes in non‐cutaneous melanomas, representing an intriguing prognostic biomarker of those subtypes. Furthermore, focal amplification of 4q12 (KIT, KDR, and PDGFRα) and RAD51 deletion were more abundant in mucosal melanoma, while NOTCH2 amplification was enriched in acral melanoma. Additionally, cutaneous melanomas had higher mutation load than acral melanomas, while mucosal melanomas did not differ from other subtypes in mutation burden. Together, our data revealed important features of acral and mucosal melanomas in Chinese including distinctive driver mutation pattern and increased genomic instability. These findings highlight the possibilities of combination therapies in the clinical management of melanoma.     

Vertebrate-Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera)-arbovirus transmission networks: Non-human feeding revealed by meta-barcoding and next-generation sequencing

BackgroundAedes aegypti mosquito-borne viruses including Zika (ZIKV), dengue (DENV), yellow fever (YFV), and chikungunya (CHIKV) have emerged and re-emerged globally, resulting in an elevated burden of human disease. Aedes aegypti is found worldwide in tropical, sub-tropical, and temperate areas. The characterization of mosquito blood meals is essential to understand the transmission dynamics of mosquito-vectored pathogens.Methodology/principal findingsHere, we report Ae. aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus host feeding patterns and arbovirus transmission in Northern Mexico using a metabarcoding-like approach with next-generation deep sequencing technology. A total of 145 Ae. aegypti yielded a blood meal analysis result with 107 (73.8%) for a single vertebrate species and 38 (26.2%) for two or more. Among the single host blood meals for Ae. aegypti, 28.0% were from humans, 54.2% from dogs, 16.8% from cats, and 1.0% from tortoises. Among those with more than one species present, 65.9% were from humans and dogs. For Cx. quinquefasciatus, 388 individuals yielded information with 326 (84%) being from a single host and 63 (16.2%) being from two or more hosts. Of the single species blood meals, 77.9% were from dogs, 6.1% from chickens, 3.1% from house sparrows, 2.4% from humans, while the remaining 10.5% derived from other 12 host species. Among those which had fed on more than one species, 11% were from dogs and humans, and 89% of other host species combinations. Forage ratio analysis revealed dog as the most over-utilized host by Ae. aegypti (= 4.3) and Cx. quinquefasciatus (= 5.6) and the human blood index at 39% and 4%, respectively. A total of 2,941 host-seeking female Ae. aegypti and 3,536 Cx. quinquefasciatus mosquitoes were collected in the surveyed area. Of these, 118 Ae. aegypti pools and 37 Cx. quinquefasciatus pools were screened for seven arboviruses (ZIKV, DENV 1–4, CHIKV, and West Nile virus (WNV)) using qRT-PCR and none were positive (point prevalence = 0%). The 95%-exact upper limit confidence interval was 0.07% and 0.17% for Ae. aegypti and Cx. quinquefasciatus, respectivelyConclusions/significanceThe low human blood feeding rate in Ae. aegypti, high rate of feeding on mammals by Cx. quinquefasciatus, and the potential risk to transmission dynamics of arboviruses in highly urbanized areas of Northern Mexico is discussed.     

耐盐碱促生菌的筛选及性能

盐分是影响作物生长最重要的因素,使用能促进植物生长的耐盐碱促生菌减轻盐胁迫引起的损害是一种农业上的有效方法。文中从盐碱地筛选得到7株耐盐细菌,并考察筛选菌株的产胞外聚合物(EPS)能力、降碱能力和产吲哚-3-乙酸(IAA)能力。经综合评价选出1株优势菌株DB01,菌株DB01产EPS能力为0.21 g/g,降碱能力为8.7%,产IAA的能力为8.97 mg/L。菌株经16S rRNA鉴定为海水盐单胞菌Halomonas aquamarina,并且有抑制香蕉枯萎病、番茄早疫病、大豆疫霉病、小麦纹枯病病原菌的能力,同时能够在盐胁迫下促进小麦幼苗的发芽率和根长。海水盐单胞菌Halomonas aquamarina DB01可为土壤微生物资源开发利用和盐碱地改良提供理论依据。     

基于氢氧稳定同位素的黄河兰州段河岸植物水分来源

多枝柽柳和旱柳是北方地区河岸生态修复的良好树种,具有护河防洪、调节区域气候的作用和营造河岸地带植被景观的功能。本研究选取黄河兰州段沿岸2处样点,采集了多枝柽柳和旱柳木质部以及各潜在水源的样品,利用氧同位素直接对比法、贝叶斯混合模型MixSIAR和相似性比例指数(PS指数),分析了多枝柽柳和旱柳对各潜在水源的利用率以及两者之间的水分利用关系。结果表明: 在整个生长季,浅层土壤水(0～30 cm)是多枝柽柳和旱柳的主要水分来源,利用率分别为28.3%和24.4%,多枝柽柳对河水的利用率最小(16.6%),旱柳对地下水的利用率最小(17.9%);在土壤含水量较低的月份,植物会增加对河水和地下水的利用比例,样点S₁和S₂的PS指数分别为91.0%和87.7%,两个样点均在5月的PS指数最大,不同月份的水分利用关系存在一定的差异;处于河漫滩这一特殊地理位置,多枝柽柳和旱柳对各潜在水源的利用比较平均,最大程度地获取各潜在水源的水分,是一种最优的吸水模式。本研究可为开展黄河兰州段河岸休闲旅游活动和黄河流域生态环境保护中植物水分管理提供一定的理论基础。     

外来入侵植物的根系觅养行为研究进展

土壤养分分布具有高度空间异质性, 植物的根系觅养行为是其对土壤养分异质性的一种适应。不同植物为了适应养分异质性会产生不同的根系觅养行为, 通过调整自身的根系觅养范围、觅养精度和觅养速度来更好地吸收利用土壤中的养分。外来植物与本地植物的竞争是决定其成功入侵的重要因素, 土壤养分等环境因素会影响它们之间的竞争关系。近年来, 外来入侵植物的觅养行为逐渐受到人们的关注, 关于入侵植物根系觅养行为的研究成果陆续出现: (1)总体来看, 外来入侵植物具有较强的根系觅养能力, 但根系觅养范围与觅养精度之间的权衡关系还不确定; (2)营养异质性会影响入侵植物与本地植物之间的竞争, 反过来, 二者之间的竞争也会影响根系觅养行为对营养异质性的响应; (3)丛枝菌根真菌(arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, AMF)能够提高入侵植物的根系觅养能力, 外来植物入侵能够改变入侵植物对AMF的偏好性, 形成AMF对入侵的正反馈作用, 而本地植物与AMF的相互作用也会影响入侵植物的竞争力。未来还应加强营养异质环境下种间竞争和AMF共生对入侵植物根系觅养行为的影响机制研究, 以及全球变化背景下入侵植物根系觅养行为的变化与机制方面的研究, 可以更深入地认识外来植物的觅养行为在其成功入侵中的作用, 并为利用营养调控来防控入侵植物提供理论依据。     

云南48种木兰科野生植物资源遗传多样性研究

为了解云南省木兰科（Magnoliaceae）野生植物资源的遗传多样性,利用ISSR分子标记技术对48种木兰科野生植物资源进行研究。结果表明,10对引物共扩增出151条带,均为多态性条带,多态性条带百分率为100%。总的观测等位基因数（N_a）为2.000 0,有效等位基因数（N_e）为1.564 5,Nei’s基因多样性指数（H）0.337 9,Shannon’s信息指数（I）为0.510 1。总的基因多样性指数（H_t）为0.368 0,属间基因多样性指数（D_st）为0.251 9,占68.4%,基因分化系数（G_st）为0.684 0,基因流（N_m）为0.231 0。UPGMA聚类分析将48种木兰科植物划分为7个类群,各类群并非按照属聚在一起,而是不同属植物相间分布,长喙厚朴（Magnolia rostrata）、素黄含笑（Michelia flaviflora）和球花含笑（M.sphaerantha）可能为云南省木兰科植物中的原始种。48种木兰科野生植物总体具有较高的遗传多样性,但属间遗传变异较高,基因流较小,存在遗传漂变的风险,聚类结果与刘玉壶的分类系统存在分歧,这从分子水平为木兰科植物间的起源、进化与分类提供了重要依据。     

生境梯度影响下的天然红松种群空间格局与种内关联

为理清生境梯度下天然红松种群空间分布规律,以黑龙江省凉水国家级自然保护区内自坡底至坡顶的四种生境(生境Ⅰ,谷地平坡潮湿生境;生境Ⅱ,坡下缓坡潮湿生境;生境Ⅲ,坡上斜坡半湿润生境;生境Ⅳ,坡顶陡坡半干旱生境)类型中建群种红松种群为研究对象。分析不同林层(主林层、亚林层、演替层、更新层)红松种群的数量特征,并基于O-ring函数,在重复采样条件下评价了红松种群空间分布格局。结果表明:(1)下坡位生境(生境Ⅰ、Ⅱ)红松更新层种群数量显著大于上坡位(生境Ⅲ、Ⅳ)(P0.05),演替层中差异不显著;自坡底至坡顶的生境梯度上,主林层和亚林层中红松株数比例增加,红松种群年龄结构结构由倒J型向J型转变。(2)下坡位原始红松林更新层和演替层中红松种群聚集规模与聚集强度均高于上坡位,坡顶(生境Ⅳ)原始红松林更新层中红松种群聚集规模与聚集强度高于坡上(生境Ⅲ)。(3)四类生境的原始红松林中主林层与更新层中红松种群总体表现为空间独立,在个别尺度上表现出微弱的空间正关联或负关联;在0—5 m尺度上,下坡位红松林原始林内演替层与主林层红松种群表现为空间负关联,而上坡位生境林分对应林层间空间关系则为空间正关联;四类生境中,亚林层与主林层中红松种群在全部研究尺度上均表现为空间独立。可以认为,造成上坡位生境的原始红松林中幼树、幼苗聚集规模与强度弱于下坡位的原因是上坡位更新与演替层中种群数量较少;而随坡位上升,更现层、演替层与主林层中红松种群间的空间关系由空间负关联向空间正关联转变是生物与非生物因子共同作用的结果。研究结果为阔叶红松林的经营管理与生态修复提供了理论依据。     

2种调查方法对四川黑竹沟国家级自然保护区3种雉类种群密度调查的比较

种群数量是物种的重要生态学基础资料,合适的密度调查方法是数量估算的基础。2016年4-5月,采用广泛应用于鸡形目Galliformes鸟类种群密度调查的样线法和样点法,调查了四川黑竹沟国家级自然保护区3种鸡形目鸟类(白腹锦鸡Chrysolophus amherstiae、红腹角雉Tragopan temminckii和血雉Ithaginis cruentus)的种群密度。样线法和样点法估算的雄体密度分别是:白腹锦鸡1.20只/km^2和(6.31±0.98)只/km^2,红腹角雉5.41只/km^2和(0.39±0.17)只/km^2,血雉3.01只/km^2和(5.97±2.70)只/km^2。除红腹角雉外,样点法估算的白腹锦鸡、血雉种群密度均大于样线法。建议针对不同鸡形目鸟类采用不同的调查方法,并尽量扩大样本数量,从而提高调查结果的准确性。     

Migration sources and pathways of the pest species Sogatella furcifera in Yunnan,China, and across the border inferred from DNA and wind analyses

The migration sources and pathways of Sogatella furcifera (Horváth) in topologically complex regions like Yunnan, China, and adjacent montane areas have long been a challenging task and a bottleneck in effective pest forecast and control. The present research reinvestigated this issue using a combination of mtDNA and long‐term historical wind field data in an attempt to provide new insights. Genetic analyses showed that the 60 populations of S. furcufera collected across Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Yunnan, Guizhou, and Sichuan lack genetic structure and geographic isolation, while spatial analysis of haplotype and diversity indices discovered geographic relevance between populations. Migration rate analysis combined with high‐resolution 10‐year wind field analysis detected the following migration sources, pathways, and impacted areas which could explain the outbreak pattern in Yunnan. (a) Dominating stepwise northward migrations originated from northern Indochina, southern Yunnan, and central‐eastern Yunnan, impacting their northern areas. (b) Concurring summer–autumn southward (return) migration originated from nearly all latitude belts of Sichuan and Yunnan mainly impacting central and southern Yunnan. (c) Regular eastward and summer–autumn westward migrations across Yunnan. The northward migration reflects the temporal rhythm of gradual outbreaks from the south to the north in a year, while the return migration may explain the repeated or very severe outbreaks in the impacted areas. To form a better pest forecast and control network, attention must also be paid to the northern part of Yunnan to suppress the impact of return migration in summers and autumns.