Article
Fisheries
Li-Wu Cheng, Shreesha Rao, Sayuj Poudyal, Pei-Chi Wang, Shih-Chu Chen
Summary: This study found that Chinese softshell turtles (CST) in the Kaohsiung and Pingtung regions of Taiwan are infected by various bacteria from the Bacillus cereus group (Bcg). Through molecular and phylogenetic analysis, it was revealed that virulence genes such as cytotoxin K, haemolysin BL complex, and non-haemolytic enterotoxin complex are common in CST isolates, while others like cereulide synthetase and cereulide peptide synthase-like genes were not detected.
JOURNAL OF FISH DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Yao Xiao, Froylan Sosa, Lesley R. de Armas, Li Pan, Peter J. Hansen
Summary: Gene expression analysis in preimplantation embryos using a direct synthesis and specific-target pre-amplification method showed reliable results for sexing and other gene expression studies. Calibration curve analysis of PCR results validated 93.75% of genes tested, demonstrating the method's robustness. The study also showed that within-assay variation increased when cycle threshold values exceeded 18, indicating limitations in sensitivity at higher levels of gene expression.
JOURNAL OF DAIRY SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Xiuwen Zhang, Susan Wagner, Clare E. Holleley, Janine E. Deakin, Kazumi Matsubara, Ira W. Deveson, Denis O'Meally, Hardip R. Patel, Tariq Ezaz, Zhao Li, Chexu Wang, Melanie Edwards, Jennifer A. Marshall Graves, Arthur Georges
Summary: In this study, the researchers discovered that the genetic sex determination system of Pogona vitticeps is controlled by a W-borne dominant female-determining gene. The transcripts produced by the W-borne allele may produce truncated polypeptides that inhibit testis development. This finding is important for our understanding of the sex determination mechanism in reptiles and the influence of epigenetics.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Eduardo Resendiz, Helena Fernandez-Sanz, Jose Francisco Dominguez-Contreras, Amelly Hyldai Ramos-Diaz, Agnese Mancini, Alan A. Zavala-Norzagaray, A. Alonso Aguirre
Summary: The emergence of fibropapillomatosis in sea turtles in the Baja California peninsula may be linked to factors such as population growth, surge of tourism, pollution, and increased fisheries. A black turtle with fibropapilloma and chelonid alphaherpesvirus 5 was found in a key foraging area in the Mexican Pacific, posing a potential risk to the turtle population. Molecular analysis revealed a high alignment with the Scutavirus of the Eastern Pacific group, showing the need for further research and conservation strategies in the region.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Weidu Song, Chuanhao Zhang, Huichao Lin, Taiyi Zhang, Haixia Liu, Xiaowen Huang
Summary: The proposed real-time rotary PCR reaction system (RRP) meets the requirements of low cost, low-power consumption, potential for miniaturization, and portability. Experimental and theoretical results demonstrate its feasibility in the rapid quantitative detection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and have broad application prospects in bacteria detection and food safety.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Shaolei Huang, Yiquan An, Bangchao Xi, Xianglian Gong, Zhongfu Chen, Shan Shao, Shengxiang Ge, Jun Zhang, Dongxu Zhang, Ningshao Xia
Summary: Nucleic acid detection is a method that directly identifies the presence of pathogenic microorganisms and has advantages of high sensitivity, commendable specificity, and a short window period. A real-time PCR system based on multiple temperature zones was proposed to solve the time-consuming problem, enabling fast detection speed and high sensitivity under extreme conditions.
Article
Ecology
Qingjun Zhu, Liu Lin, Fei Kong, Ting Zhang, Hai-Tao Shi
Summary: The timing of synchronous hatching events in the Chinese softshell turtle coincides with decreasing nest temperatures, which may further facilitate their nocturnal emergence. Synchronous behaviors of hatchlings in the nest may be effective in reducing the risk of predation, while predation is more likely to occur in asynchronous hatching groups. This study suggests that the hatching of the Chinese softshell turtle in response to temperature changes in the nest might be an adaptive nocturnal emergence strategy.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jae Jong Kim, Hyoung-Min Park, A. Young Kyoung, In Kyung Park, Si-Kyu Lim, Byoung Chul Park
Summary: Genetic mutations like SNP are common in genetic disorders and cancers, and PCR methods are widely used for SNP detection. The specifically designed PCR platform STexS can efficiently distinguish small amounts of SNP mixed in normal DNA, aiding in targeting potential SNPs or genetically mutated biomarkers in human clinical samples.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Andrea A. Cabrera, Alba Rey-Iglesia, Marie Louis, Mikkel Skovrind, Michael Westbury, Eline D. Lorenzen
Summary: Accurate sex identification is important for understanding the biology of a species. The SeXY pipeline presented in this study offers a novel and accurate method for sex identification using low-coverage shotgun sequencing data from a single individual. It does not rely on conspecific sex-chromosome assembly as reference and can achieve 100% accuracy even with as few as 1000 mapped reads.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Aina Garcia-Raventos, Antonio Munoz-Merida, Oriol Lapiedra, Mar Unzeta, Mariona Ferrandiz-Rovira, Daniel Sol
Summary: This study developed a novel method for molecular sexing of birds based on the detection of unique Z- and W-linked SNP markers. The method accurately assigned the sex of individuals in a species with reduced sexual dimorphism and different maturity stages, with high reliability and accuracy.
MOLECULAR ECOLOGY RESOURCES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Li-Wu Cheng, Omkar Vijay Byadgi, Chin-En Tsai, Pei-Chi Wang, Shih-Chu Chen
Summary: Chinese softshell turtles are economically important aquaculture species commercially farmed in Asia, especially in Taiwan. The Bacillus cereus group (Bcg) strains pose a major threat to these farming systems, but limited information is available regarding their pathogenicity and genome. This study investigated the pathogenicity of Bcg strains isolated from the turtles and performed whole-genome sequencing. The results revealed a new genospecies, named Bacillus shihchuchen, and identified antibiotic resistance and anthrax toxin genes in one of the strains, QF108-045.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biology
Basanta Bista, Zhiqiang Wu, Robert Literman, Nicole Valenzuela
Summary: Sex chromosome dosage compensation (SCDC) mechanisms were discovered in turtles, with tissue- and age-dependent regulation in embryos, influenced by gene-by-gene regulation. The SCDC in Apalone turtles resembles that of pygmy snakes and differs from Anolis lizards, advancing our understanding of gene-dose compensation in XX/XY and ZZ/ZW systems.
PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Fisheries
Bing Gong, Fangyin Bao, Yuliang Wang, Huabin Liu, Mingsong Xiao, Jixiang He
Summary: The study found that adding Traditional Chinese Medicines (TCMs) as feed additives could influence the growth performance of healthy juvenile turtles, with the optimal dose being 20g/kg in the diet. This impact was evidenced through changes in weight gain, specific growth rate, and feed conversion ratio, as well as alterations in metabolic pathways following the addition of TCMs.
AQUACULTURE REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Maria Brockmann, Christoph Leineweber, Tom Hellebuyck, An Martel, Frank Pasmans, Michaela Gentil, Elisabeth Mueller, Rachel E. Marschang
Summary: This study aimed to establish a real-time PCR assay for the quick detection of the bacterial species D. agamarum, which is responsible for dermatitis and cheilitis in lizards. The assay can help in promptly treating affected animals and reducing the risk of spread.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Lu Zhou, Jinhong Lei, Xiaofei Zhai, Ningning Lu, Haitao Shi, Jichao Wang
Summary: Vocalization is crucial for the survival of underwater animals. The Chinese soft-shelled turtle, a highly vulnerable species, has not been studied for its underwater vocalization, which can provide important insights for ecological and evolutionary research. By conducting underwater recordings, we identified 10 call types of the turtle and observed differences in vocalizations between individuals of different ages and sexes. The Chinese soft-shelled turtle has a diverse range of vocalizations and shows the tendency for vocalization to become more diverse with age, aiding its adaptation to complex and dim underwater environments.
