Metrical dental analysis on golden monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellana)

Dental variation in the Chinese golden monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellana) is here evaluated by univariate, bivariate, and multivariate analyses. Allometric analyses indicate that canines and P3s are positively, but other dimensions negatively scaled to mandible and maxilla, and to body size. With the exception of the mesiodistal dimensions of I-1 and M-3, and the buccolingual dimension of Pq, mandibular dental variables show similar scaling relative to body size. Analysis of residuals shows that males have significantly larger canine, P-3 and buccolingual dimensions of the postcanine teeth (M-2 and M-3) than females. A significant difference in shape between the sexes is found in the buccolingual dimension of the upper teeth, but not in the mandible. Unlike the situation in some other species, Female golden monkeys do nor exhibit relatively larger postcanine teeth than males, in fact, the reverse is true, especially for M(2)s and M(3)s. The fact that most of the dental variables show low negative allometry to body size might be related a cold environment that has led to the development of larger body size with I-educed energy loss. When the raw data are examined by Discriminant Function Analysis the sexes are clearly distinguishable.

First report of two Balantidium species from the Chinese giant salamander, Andrias davidianus: Balantidium sinensis Nie 1935 and Balantidium andianusis n. sp.

Two ciliated protozoa, Balantidium sinensis Nie 1935 and Balantidium andianusi n. sp., were isolated from the feces of a wild Chinese giant salamander (Andrias davidianus) captured from the mountainous area of Shiyan, Hubei Province, Central China in October 2006. It is the first report of Balantidium species inhabiting Cryptobranchoidea amphibians. The occurrence of B. sinensis in A. davidianus should be a new record because the type specimens were first discovered and named by Nie in 1935 from Rana nigromaculata and Rana plancyi. For the lack of enough descriptions of taxonomic features in the previous report, it was re-described in detail and compared with Nie's type specimens and B. giganteum to complete the morphological descriptions in the present work. B. andianusi n. sp. was considered to be a new species based on its unique morphological characteristics, especially the high length/width ratio of the vestibulum (8:1). Comparisons were also made among Balantidium species that were found from urodele amphibians.

Golden-rule treatment on the ClO/ClO+ electron-transfer system

The structures, properties and electron transfer reactivity of the ClO/ClO+ coupling system are studied in this paper at ab initio (HF and MP2) levels and the density functional theory (DFT: B3LYP, B3P86, B3PW91) levels employing 6311 + G(3df) basis set and on the basis of the golden-rule of the time-dependent perturbation theory. Investigations indicate that the results got from the B3LYP method employing 6-311 + G(3df) basis set is in excellent agreement with the experiment. The activation energies, the stabilization energies and the electronic coupling matrix elements have also been calculated by using the B3LYP/6-311 + G(3df) method, and then the electron transfer rates are determined at this level. The electronic coupling matrix element of EC.6 is very small, only 0.03 kcal/mol, while that of EC.7 is the biggest, being 12.41 kcal/mol, the corresponding electron transfer rate is also the fastest among these seven encounter complexes. The averaged electron transfer rate is about 1.672 X 10(11) M-1 s(-1). It is indicated that the structures optimized by B3LYP method are more reliable than the results got from the other four methods. It also testified that the electronic coupling matrix element is the vital factor that significantly affects the electron transfer rate. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Theoretical study on the ClO/ClO- system electron-transfer reactivity by the golden-rule

The structures, properties and electron transfer reactivity of the ClO/ClO- coupling system are studied in this paper at ab initio (UHF and UMP2) levels and the Density Functional Theory (DFT: UB3LYP, UB3P86, UB3PW91) levels employing 6311 + G(3df) basis set and on the basis of the Golden-rule of the time-dependent perturbation theory. Investigations indicate that the results obtained using the UB3LYP method employing 6-311 + G(3df) basis set is in excellent agreement with the experiment. For this coupling system, six stable coupling modes have been found which correspond to six different encounter complexes and denote six different electron transfer mechanism: four O-O directly linked structures (one collinear: D-h, one anti-parallel: C-s, two twist: C-2) and two Cl-O linked structures (cis- and anti- C-s structures). The activation energies, the stabilization energies and the electronic coupling matrix elements have also been calculated for the electron transfer reactions via these six different mechanism at the UB3LYP/6-311 + G(3df) level, and then the electron transfer rates are determined at the same level. The most favorable coupling mode to the electron transfer is the anti-parallel mechanism. The averaged electron transfer rate is about 5.58 X 10(11) M-1 s(-1). It is also implied that the B3LYP method can give more reasonable results for the electron transfer reactivity of this system. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Comparative molecular cytogenetic studies in the order Carnivora: mapping chromosomal rearrangements onto the phylogenetic tree

We have made a set of chromosome-specific painting probes for the American mink by degenerate oligonucleotide primed-PCR (DOP-PCR) amplification of flow-sorted chromosomes. The painting probes were used to delimit homologous chromosomal segments among human, red fox, dog, cat and eight species of the family Mustelidae, including the European mink, steppe and forest polecats, least weasel, mountain weasel, Japanese sable, striped polecat, and badger. Based on the results of chromosome painting and G-banding, comparative maps between these species have been established. The integrated map demonstrates a high level of karyotype conservation among mustelid species. Comparative analysis of the conserved chromosomal segments among mustelids and outgroup species revealed 18 putative ancestral autosomal segments that probably represent the ancestral chromosomes, or chromosome arms, in the karyotype of the most recent ancestor of the family Mustelidae. The proposed 2n = 38 ancestral Mustelidae karyotype appears to have been retained in some modern mustelids, e.g., Martes, Lutra, ktonyx, and Vormela. The derivation of the mustelid karyotypes from the putative ancestral state resulted from centric fusions, fissions, the addition of heterochromatic arms, and occasional pericentric inversions. Our results confirm many of the evolutionary conclusions suggested by other data and strengthen the topology of the carnivore phylogenetic tree through the inclusion of genome-wide chromosome rearrangements. Copyright (C) 2002 S. KargerAG, Basel.

A new species of Paramesotriton (Caudata : Salamandridae) from Guizhou Province, China

We describe a new species of salamander, Paramesotriton zhijinensis, from Guizhou Province, China. The generic allocation of the new species is based on morphological and molecular characters. In morphology, it is most similar to Paramesotriton chinensis

A High Polymorphism Level in Rhinopithecus roxellana

The Sichuan golden monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellana) is a famous and beautiful endangered primate. Owing to the dearth of samples and technical limitations, previous studies could not adequately assess the levels of genetic polymorphisms in the species. To

入侵生物金苹果螺在滇池流域的首次记录

2004年10月,中国科学院昆明动物研究所首次发现金苹果螺(Pomacea canaliculata)入侵重要的水源保护区嵩明白邑黑龙潭.金苹果螺起源于中南美洲,在亚洲,它通过有意或无意的传播而逐渐扩散到菲律宾、越南、泰国、老挝、柬埔寨、马来西亚、印尼、巴布几内亚、韩国、日本和中国的南部.金苹果螺已成为水稻产区的最大害虫,给农业生产带来巨大的损失.为防止金苹果螺在云南扩散,目前已经实施了严格的预防、控制措施,同时开展了公众保护教育宣传活动.

COMPARISON OF MASTICATORY MORPHOLOGY BETWEEN RHINOPITHECUS-BIETI AND R-ROXELLANA

The masticatory apparatus for two endemic species of golden monkey in China, Rhinopithecus bieti and Rhinopithecus roxellana, were compared with those of macaques, Macaca and leaf monkeys, Presbytis. Multivariate analyses demonstrated that the two golden monkey species are distinct. Interspecies allometric analyses revealed that golden monkeys differ in their masticatory apparatus from both macaques and leaf monkeys. The prominent symphysial fusion, corpus, and sagittal condylar dimension of R. roxellana may produce efficient biting force on the incisal and posterior canine teeth, with the heavy reaction force barn on the temporomandibular joint. However, the well-developed bizygamatic width and mandibular height in R. bieti suggest that posterior canine function is similarly prominent in R. roxellana, while incisal function is not. (C) 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

First direct evidence of infanticide and cannibalism in wild snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus bieti)

Although infanticide has been witnessed in many species of Colobinae, and a case was observed in a captive group of golden snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus roxellana), observed cases of infanticide in wild snubnosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus spp.) have not

Morphological description of two bucephalid trematodes collected from freshwater fishes in the Uji River, Kyoto, Japan

The morphology of two species of bucephalids (Bucephalidae; Digenea; Trematoda), which since 1999 has caused a fish disease at the Uji River, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan, is described. Parabucephalopsis parasiluri Wang, 1985 was first recorded in the Uji River in 2000, and Prosorhynchoides ozakii (Nagaty, 1937) in 2005. The definitive host of both species is the Lake Biwa catfish (Silurus biwaensis), and the second intermediate hosts include many fish species from several families. P. parasiluri is an introduced parasite that invaded with its first intermediate host, golden mussels (Limnoperna fortunei), from the Asian continent. P ozakii may also be an introduced species, although its first intermediate host has not been identified. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Bryodrilus fuscistriatus, a new enchytraeid species (Oligochaeta : Enchytraeidae) from northeastern China

Bryodrilus fuscistriatus, a new enchytraeid species from Mt. Changbaishan, Jilin Province, north-eastern China, is described. It is characterized by brown epidermal glands, 7 pairs of preclitellar nephridia, poorly-developed clitellar glands, spermatheca with 2 sessile globular diverticula, and a long sperm funnel with a very broad collar. It is similar to the Alaskan B. tunicatus Dozsa-Farkas & Christensen, 2002 in possessing two diverticula in the spermathecal ampulla and the origin of the dorsal vessel, and the Chinese B. longifistulatus and B. macrotheca Xie et al., 2000c in body size, long sperm funnel and undeveloped clitellar glands, but it differs from B. tunicatus by the presence of brown-striped epidermal gland cells in III-V, a poorly-elevated clitellum, the absence of copulatory glands in XIII-XIV, the regular outline of coelomocytes, and 7 pairs of preclitellar nephridia; from B. longifistulatus and B. macrotheca by the shape of spermatheca, the color of epidermal gland cells, the position of the first pair nephridia, and the origin of dorsal vessel.

Molecular identification and expression analysis of natural resistance associated macrophage protein (Nramp) cDNA from Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus)

Natural resistance associated macrophage protein (Nramp) controls partially innate resistance to intracellular parasites. Its function is to enhance the ability of macrophages to kill pathogens. However, little is known about the structure and function of Nramp in lower vertebrates such as teleosts. We have recently isolated a cDNA encoding Nramp from Japanese flounder (Paratichthys olivaceus). The full-length cDNA of the Nramp is 3066 bp in length, including 224 bp 5' terminal UTR, 1662 bp encoding region and 1180 bp 3' terminal UTR. The 1662-nt open reading frame was found to code for a protein with 554 amino acid residues. Comparison of amino acid sequence indicated that Japanese flounder Nramp consists of 12 transmembrane (TM) domains. A consensus transport motif (CTM) containing 20 residues was observed between transmembrane domains 8 and 9. The deduced amino acid sequence of Japanese flounder had 77.30%, 82.71%, 82.67%, 79.64%, 80.72%, 90.97%, 91.16%, 60.14%, 71.48%, 61.69%, 72.37% identity with that of rainbow trout Nramp alpha and beta, channel catfish Nramp, fathead minnow Nramp, common carp Nramp, striped sea bass Nramp, red sea bream Nramp, mouse Nramp 1 and 2, human Nramp 1 and 2, respectively. RT-PCR indicated that Nramp transcripts were highly abundant in spleen, head kidney, abundant in intestine, liver and gill, and less abundant in heart. The level of Nramp mRNA in embryos gradually increases during embryogenesis from 4 h (8 cell stage) to 80 h (hatched stage) after fertilization. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Development of a rapid, sensitive and specific diagnostic assay for fish Aquareovirus based on RT-PCR

A rapid, sensitive and highly specific detection method for Aquareovirus based on reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was developed. Based on multiple sequence alignment of the cloned sequences of a local isolates, the Threadfin reovirus (TFV) and Guppy reovirus (GPV) with Grass carp reovirus (GCRV), a pair of degenerate primers was selected carefully and synthesized. Using this primer combination, only one specific product, approximately 450 bp in length was obtained when RT-PCR was carried out using the genomic double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) of TFV, GPV and GCRV. Similar results were also obtained when Chum salmon reovirus (CSRV) and Striped bass reovirus (SBRV) dsRNA were used as templates. No products were observed when nucleic acids other than the dsRNA of the aquareoviruses described above were used as RT-PCR templates. This technique could detect not only TFV but also GPV and GCRV in low titer virus-infected cell cultured cells. Furthermore, this method has also been shown to be able to diagnose GPV-infected guppy (Poecilia reticulata) that exhibit clinical symptoms as well as GPV-carrier guppy. Collectively, these results showed that the RT-PCR amplification method using specific degenerate primers described below is very useful for rapid and accurate detection of a variety of aquareovirus strains isolated from different host species and origin. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Complete nucleotide sequence of the S10 genome segment of grass carp reovirus (GCRV)

Hemorrhagic disease, caused by the grass carp reovirus (GCRV), is one of the major diseases of grass carp in China. Little is known about the structure and function of the gene segments of this reovirus. The S10 genome segment of GCRV was cloned and the complete nucleotide sequence is reported here. The S10 is 909 nucleotides long and contains a large open reading frame (ORF) encoding a protein of 276 amino acids with a deduced molecular weight of approximately 29.7 kDa. Comparisons of the deduced amino acid sequence of GCRV S10 with those of other reoviruses revealed no significant homologies. However, GCRV S10 shared a putative zinc-finger sequence and a similar distribution of hydrophilic motifs with the outer capsid proteins encoded by Coho salmon aquareovirus (SCSV) S10, striped bass reovirus (SBRV) S10, and mammalian reovirus (MRV) S4. It was predicted that this segment gene encodes an outer capsid protein.