Phylogeographic forces driving evolution of sea‐dispersed plants are often influenced by regional and species characteristics, although not yet deciphered at a large spatial scale for many taxa like ...the mangrove species Heritiera littoralis. This study aimed to assess geographic distribution of genetic variation of this widespread mangrove in the Indo‐West Pacific region and identify the phylogeographic factors influencing its present‐day distribution. Analysis of five chloroplast DNA fragments’ sequences from 37 populations revealed low genetic diversity at the population level and strong genetic structure of H. littoralis in this region. The estimated divergence times between the major genetic lineages indicated that glacial level changes during the Pleistocene epoch induced strong genetic differentiation across the Indian and Pacific Oceans. In comparison to the strong genetic break imposed by the Sunda Shelf toward splitting the lineages of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, the genetic differentiation between Indo‐Malesia and Australasia was not so prominent. Long‐distance dispersal ability of H. littoralis propagules helped the species to attain transoceanic distribution not only across South East Asia and Australia, but also across the Indian Ocean to East Africa. However, oceanic circulation pattern in the South China Sea was found to act as a barrier creating further intraoceanic genetic differentiation. Overall, phylogeographic analysis in this study revealed that glacial vicariance had profound influence on population differentiation in H. littoralis and caused low genetic diversity except for the refugia populations near the equator which might have persisted through glacial maxima. With increasing loss of suitable habitats due to anthropogenic activities, these findings therefore emphasize the urgent need for conservation actions for all populations throughout the distribution range of H. littoralis.
This is the first report of the geographic distribution of genetic variation of a widespread mangrove (Heritiera littoralis) in the Indo‐West Pacific region. Being conducted at a large spatial scale, our study identified that natural geographic barriers, contemporary oceanic currents, and species ecology act interactively to shape present‐day distribution of the species in this region.
Trailliaedoxa gracilis (Rubiaceae) is a Chinese endemic monotypic genus distributed in southwestern China. This study reported the complete chloroplast genome of T. gracilis assembled from Illumina ...sequencing reads. The chloroplast genome size is 152,407 bp, containing a single large copy (LSC) region of 82,957 bp, a short single copy (SSC) region of 17,936 bp, and a pair of inverted repeats (IRs) of 25,757 bp. A total of 127 genes were found, including 82 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, and eight rRNA genes. A phylogenetic analysis using the maximum likelihood algorithm revealed that T. gracilis belonged to the subfamily Ixoroideae and had the closest relationship with Scyphiphora hydrophyllacea.
An electronic health record (e-HR) system has been developed in Minhang District of Shanghai, China, since 2005, making it convenient for local health institutions to provide integrative and ...comprehensive health care and management for major diseases.
In 2008, an e-HR-based cancer prevention program was initiated to screen multiple cancers, including colorectal, gastric, liver, lung, cervical, and breast cancers, and provide subsequent health education and health management to cancer patients and high-risk individuals. This study was designed in prospective analysis, based on the constructive analysis of key information, observation of cancer screening and healthcare processes and organizations, and stages of cancers detected by the e-HR-based programs.
From 2008 to 2016, health education was conducted for over 5 million attendances, and more than 3 million screening tests were performed for eligible residents over 40 years old. A total of 2,948 cancer cases were detected, accounting for 13.3% of all newly diagnosed cancers in the district during the 9-year period. Thirty point seven percent detected cancer cases were at the early stage, significantly higher than the 22.9% in cases identified by e-HR-based follow-up and 13.8% in cases diagnosed due to signs or symptoms. More than 136,000 residents were identified as individuals at high risk of cancer and subject to sustainable clinical follow-up and health management.
The successful application of e-HR system in cancer prevention and control in Minhang district of Shanghai, China, implies that the system may act as an extendable and sustainable infrastructure for comprehensive health care and services for a broad spectrum of diseases and health events.
Eukaryotic pathogens of humans often evade the immune system by switching the expression of surface proteins encoded by subtelomeric gene families. To determine if plant pathogenic fungi use a ...similar mechanism to avoid host defenses, we sequenced the 14 chromosome ends of the rice blast pathogen, Magnaporthe oryzae. One telomere is directly joined to ribosomal RNA-encoding genes, at the end of the approximately 2 Mb rDNA array. Two are attached to chromosome-unique sequences, and the remainder adjoin a distinct subtelomere region, consisting of a telomere-linked RecQ-helicase (TLH) gene flanked by several blocks of tandem repeats. Unlike other microbes, M.oryzae exhibits very little gene amplification in the subtelomere regions-out of 261 predicted genes found within 100 kb of the telomeres, only four were present at more than one chromosome end. Therefore, it seems unlikely that M.oryzae uses switching mechanisms to evade host defenses. Instead, the M.oryzae telomeres have undergone frequent terminal truncation, and there is evidence of extensive ectopic recombination among transposons in these regions. We propose that the M.oryzae chromosome termini play more subtle roles in host adaptation by promoting the loss of terminally-positioned genes that tend to trigger host defenses.
An effective enterovirus 71 (EV71) vaccine is needed to control the annual outbreaks of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) in China. Adequate epidemiologic data relating to HFMD are needed to make ...decisions about appropriate public health interventions and implementation of the new EV71 vaccine.
We analyzed the population-based epidemiologic characteristics, clinical outcome and laboratory investigation of the 2011 HFMD outbreak in children based on the citywide surveillance system in Shanghai.
The incidence rate of HFMD was 25.8 per 1000 in children <10 years of age in Shanghai in 2011, ranging from 2.5 per 1000 in the age group 7 to 9.9 years to 48.4 per 1000 in the age group 3 to 3.9 years. Children 1 to 1.9 years were at the highest risk of developing severe complications and most susceptible to HFMD. Boys and migrant children had significantly increased risks of contracting HFMD and developing severe disease. More institutional clusters/outbreaks occurred in the winter peak months than in the summer peak months. Migrant young children played a central role in the spread of HFMD in the community. EV71 was identified in 39.7% of mild HFMD outpatients, 47.4% of hospitalized patients, 92.1% of severe inpatients with complications, 50% of outbreaks and 38.8% of clusters in institutions.
HFMD and EV71 infections have a significant health effect on Shanghai children.
Camellia granthamiana is a wild camellia resource endemic to China and is listed as a Vulnerable species globally. Here, we reported and characterized its complete chloroplast (cp) genome by using ...Illumina pair-end sequencing data. The total chloroplast genome size was 157,001 bp, including inverted repeats (IRs) of 26,042 bp, separated by a large single copy (LSC) and a small single copy (SSC) of 86,622 and 18,295 bp, respectively. A total of 131 genes, including 36 tRNA, 8 Rrna, and 87 protein-coding genes were identified. Phylogenetic analysis showed that C. granthamiana is sister to C. sinensis with 100% value support.
Camellia ptilophylla is a natural caffeine-free tea plant endemic to China with high commercial and therapeutic values. Here, we report the complete chloroplast genome assembled using Illumina ...pair-end sequencing data. The chloroplast genome was 157,097 bp in length, with a large single copy (LSC) region of 86,631 bp, a small single copy (SSC) region of 18,286 bp, separated by two inverted repeat (IR) regions of 26,090 bp each. It contains a total of 132 genes, with an overall GC content of 37.3%. The phylogenetic analysis showed that C. ptilophylla is sister to a congeneric species, C. reticulata.
Camellia renshanxiangiae is a vulnerable species distributed in China with unique hairy anthers and faint scent. Here, we report the characterization of its complete chloroplast (cp) genome using ...Illumina pair-end sequencing data. The total chloroplast genome size was 156,665 bp, including two inverted repeats (IRs) of 26,071 bp each, separated by a large single copy (LSC) and a small single copy (SSC) of 86,277 bp and 18,246 bp, respectively. A total of 131 genes, including 36 tRNA, 8 rRNA, and 87 protein-coding genes, were identified. Phylogenetic analysis showed that C. renshanxiangiae clustered with Camelia species (C. sinensis, C. crapnelliana).
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