Using genetic tools to inform conservation of fragmented populations of Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) across their range in China

A herd of 15 Chinese elephants attracted international attention during their 2021 northward trek, motivating the government to propose establishment of an Asian elephant national park. However, planning is hampered by a lack of genetic information on the remaining populations in China. We collected DNA from 497 dung samples from all 5 populations encompassing the entire range of elephants in China and used mitochondrial and microsatellite markers to investigate their genetic and demographic structure. We identified 237 unique genotypes (153 females, 84 males), representing 81% of the known population. However, the effective population size was small (28, range 25–32). Historic demographic contraction appeared to account for low haplotype diversity (H_d = 0.235), but moderate nucleotide and nuclear diversity (π = 0.6%, H_e = 0.55) was attributable to post-bottleneck recovery involving recent population expansion plus historical gene exchange with elephants in Myanmar, Lao PDR, and Vietnam. The 5 populations fell into 3 clusters, with Nangunhe elephants differing consistently from the other 4 populations (F_ST = 0.23); elephants from Mengyang, Simao, and Jiangcheng belonged to a single population (henceforth, MSJ), and differed from the Shangyong population (F_ST = 0.11). Interpopulation genetic variation reflected isolation by distance and female-biased dispersal. Chinese elephants should be managed as 2 distinct units: Nangunhe and another combining Shangyong and MSJ; their long-term viability will require restoring gene flow between Shangyong and MSJ, and between elephants in China and neighboring countries. Our results have the potential to inform conservation planning for an iconic megafaunal species.     

中国地方绵羊群体TYRP1基因遗传变异研究

本研究旨在了解酪氨酸酶相关蛋白1（tyrosinase related protein 1,TYRP1）基因在中国地方绵羊群体内的遗传变异,以及TYRP1基因突变与不同毛色表型绵羊群体的相关性。通过直接测序法和PCR-RFLP技术对10个中国地方绵羊群体进行单核苷酸多态性（SNP）检测,利用Beagle、PLINK和POPGENE等软件对突变位点数据进行单倍型构建、连锁不平衡分析和遗传变异研究。突变位点检测结果表明,在绵羊TYRP1基因内识别了13个SNPs,其中位于TYRP1基因外显子上的10个SNPs位点,除个别位点在大尾寒羊、中国美利奴羊和岷县黑裘皮羊中没有发生突变外,其他突变位点在所有绵羊品种中均出现不同程度变异,说明中国地方绵羊群体具有较高的遗传多样性。单倍型分析结果表明,所有样本中共有42个单倍型,优势单倍型0000000000（245/918）、0100000001（91/918）在所有绵羊群体中均存在,除单倍型0101100000（93/918）在中国美利奴羊中没有出现,单倍型0001000001（69/918）在岷县黑裘皮羊、哈萨克羊群体中没有出现外,在其他群体中均存在。连锁分析结果表明,10个SNPs在所有样本中均存在2个连锁模块。群体遗传变异分析表明,中国地方绵羊群体具有较高水平的群体内遗传变异,各绵羊品种间存在明显的遗传分化模式,且各品种遗传关系与其品种传统分类结果基本一致。本研究为进一步研究TYRP1基因对绵羊毛色遗传性状的影响提供了参考依据。     

钾肥对紫花苜蓿根颈丙二醛、可溶性蛋白含量与抗氧化系统的影响

为探究钾肥种类及用量对苜蓿(Medicago sativa)抗寒性的影响,本研究以'北极熊'为供试紫花苜蓿品种,采用二因素随机区组试验设计,研究了秋季施用不同钾肥(硫酸钾和氯化钾)及不同施用量(0,50,100,150,200 kg·hm-2 K2 O)对越冬期苜蓿根颈在不同温度(4℃,—20℃)处理下抗氧化酶[过氧化...     

三江源区不同建植年限人工草地根系动态特征

根系动态特征能够反映人工草地植物利用土壤资源的效率和群落恢复演替的程度.本研究以三江源区不同建植年限(5、6、9和13年)人工草地植物根系为研究对象,利用"微根管"技术,连续两个生长季(2015年5-9月和2016年5-9月)探究了4个建植年限人工草地根系动态特征.结果表明:地上生物量和丰富度在建植5～9年呈下降趋势,...     

Effects of different types of dietary non-digestible carbohydrates on the physico-chemical properties and microbiota of proximal colon digesta of growing pigs

The effect of different types of fibre on the intestinal digesta and microbial diversity was evaluated in growing pigs. The animals were fed during forty-two days with one of four experimental diets including a control group, a diet enriched with resistant starch type I, by coarse ground corn, and other two diets containing sugar beet pulp (8%) and wheat bran (10%) (as sources of soluble and insoluble non-starch polysaccharides respectively). Body weight (BW) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) were assessed at day 7, 21 and 42. Luminal samples of digesta from proximal colon were collected to analyse water retention capacity (WRC), concentration of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) and the microbial diversity. Overall, animals fed with higher amounts of non-digestible carbohydrates had lower ADFI and BW. Sugar beet pulp provoked an increase of WRC, a higher concentration of SCFA, and a more stable microbial diversity throughout the experimental period. On the other hand, animals fed with wheat bran presented a lower bacterial diversity.     

Screening and Identification of Protease-producing Bacillus amyloliquefaciens from Pig's Intestines and the Preliminary Study of Its Enzymatic Properties

A Bacillus strains,MY-6 strain which secreted high amount of protease was isolated from healthy pig's intestines,and it was identified as Bacillus amyloliquefaciens by the methods of morphological observation, biochemical tests,16S rDNA sequence amplification and comparison, biolog identification. In order to get an initial understanding of the enzymatic properties of its protease, the dynamic relationship between protease activity and bacterial life cycle, effects of pH,temperature,metal ions and inhibitors on protease activity,and the protease hydrolysis of different substrates were investigated. The results showed that,the protease synthesis of MY-6 strain was synchronized with its spore formation which began in the early stage of the exponential growth phase. The optimum conditions for the protease was 40℃ and pH 7.0,Ca²⁺ and Mn²⁺ had a intensive effects on the protease activity, PMSF could completely inhibit the activity of protease, indicating that the protease was a serine protease.The content of TCA soluble peptides for protein hydrolyzate fish protein, soybean protein, corn protein and casein was 0.83,0.67,0.58 and 0.38 μmol/g,respectively. In conclusion,Bacillus amyloliquefaciens MY-6 strain could be used as an initial selection of probiotic Bacillus to improve protein digestion.     

不同工艺条件对青海传统蒙古奶茶品质的影响

为优化青海传统蒙古奶茶加工工艺,提高其口感质量,以青砖茶、鲜牛乳为主要原料,赤砂糖和食盐为辅料,探究浸提料水比、浸提温度、浸提时间及牛乳、赤砂糖、食盐的添加比例对青海传统蒙古奶茶品质的影响。采用单因素试验、Plackeet-Burman(PB)试验设计、Box-Behnken试验设计,通过感官评定、茶多酚含量及稳定性分析得到蒙古奶茶的三个显著性因素,最佳工艺条件为:浸提时间90min,糖6%,盐0.4%。该配方下蒙古奶茶呈浅棕色液体,无分层,口感最佳,营养成分指标为:茶多酚330.27mg/kg,蛋白质0.69%,可溶性固形物14.7%,沉淀率3.24%,稳定系数0.905。此蒙古奶茶制备工艺可为该青海传统乳制品的工业化生产提供参考依据。     

IGF2基因表达调控及其遗传变异在动物生长发育中的研究进展

胰岛素样生长因子2（insulin-like growth factor 2,IGF2）作为胰岛素类激素家族中重要成员之一,广泛参与机体众多生理代谢过程,在癌症发生、神经调节、糖代谢疾病、骨质疏松、肌肉发育和脂肪沉积等方面具有重要的作用,其功能行使主要通过与受体IGF1R和IGF2R结合或与胰岛素样生长因子结合蛋白IGFBPs和IGF2BPs竞争性结合发挥功能。鉴于IGF2基因在肌肉发育和脂肪沉积中的重要作用,发掘IGF2基因相关分子标记并解析其内在调控机理,在畜牧生产中具有重要的意义。研究发现,众多IGF2基因遗传变异与动物的生长发育之间存在显著相关关系,其可能通过影响IGF2基因印记、甲基化状态、转录因子结合或miRNA靶向结合型转录后调控等方式发挥作用。因此,文章综述了IGF2基因表达调控模式,包括IGF2与其受体的调控关系,基因印记与miRNA参与的表观遗传调控,转录因子对其的调节作用,遗传变异等方面的内容,以期为IGF2基因在动物生长发育调控相关研究中提供相应的借鉴,为分子育种提供有效线索。     

高寒草原类草地退化原因及其分析

高寒草原类草地是青海省及其藏北高原地区畜牧业发展的核心区域。近年来,随着畜牧业的发展及自然环境的变化使得该区域草地退化严重,严重制约着该区域经济的可持续发展。在草地畜牧业发展过程中,随着人类的干预强度的不断加大,草地退化程度正在不断加剧。文章主要对青海高原地区高寒草原类草地退化原因进行了分析,并针对性地提出了恢复对策。