Genome survey and identification of polymorphic microsatellites provide genomic information and molecular markers for the red crab Charybdis feriatus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Decapoda: Brachyura: Portunidae)

We conducted a whole genome survey in the portunid crab Charybdis feriatus (Linnaeus, 1758) using Illumina sequencing platform and developed a set of polymorphic microsatellite loci. A total of 117.7 Gb of clean reads were generated, with 74× coverage of the estimated genome size of 1.4 Gb. The GC content, heterozygosity rate, and repeat sequence rate of the genome were estimated to be 40%, 1.1%, and 51%, respectively. A total of 3,779,209 microsatellites were identified from the genome. Sixty microsatellite loci were evaluated in a wild population of 40 individuals. As a result, 14 polymorphic microsatellite loci (23.3%) were obtained. The number of alleles (3 to 15), polymorphism information content (0.365 to 0.884), observed heterozygosity (0.050 to 0.975), and expected heterozygosity (0.450 to 0.907) per locus averaged 6.8, 0.652, 0.691, and 0.707, respectively. We show that the genome of C. feriatus has a high heterozygosity and repeat sequence rates, and provide a novel insight into the genome profile of marine crabs. The genetic markers developed in this study are potentially useful for studies on population dynamics and conservation genetics of C. feriatus and other species of brachyuran crabs.

Changes in the gut microbiota during and after commercial helium–oxygen saturation diving in China

ObjectivesThe influence of commercial helium–oxygen saturation diving on divers’ gut microbiotas was assessed to provide dietary suggestion.MethodsFaecal samples of 47 divers working offshore were collected before (T1), during (T2) and after (T3) saturation diving. Their living and excursion depths were 55–134 metres underwater with a saturation duration of 12–31 days and PaO2 of 38–65 kPa. The faecal samples were examined through 16S ribosomal DNA amplicon sequencing based on the Illumina sequencing platform to analyse changes in the bacteria composition in the divers’ guts.ResultsAlthough the α and β diversity of the gut microbiota did not change significantly, we found that living in a hyperbaric environment of helium–oxygen saturation decreased the abundance of the genus Bifidobacterium, an obligate anaerobe, from 2.43%±3.83% at T1 to 0.79%±1.23% at T2 and 0.59%±0.79% at T3. Additionally, the abundance of some short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing bacteria, such as Fusicatenibacter, Faecalibacterium, rectale group and Anaerostipes, showed a decreased trend in the order of before, during and after diving. On the contrary, the abundance of species, such as Lactococcus garvieae, Actinomyces odontolyticus, Peptoclostridium difficile, Butyricimonas virosa, Streptococcus mutans, Porphyromonas asaccharolytica and A. graevenitzii, showed an increasing trend, but most of them were pathogens.ConclusionsOccupational exposure to high pressure in a helium–oxygen saturation environment decreased the abundance of Bifidobacterium and some SCFA-producing bacteria, and increased the risk of pathogenic bacterial infection. Supplementation of the diver diet with probiotics or prebiotics during saturation diving might prevent these undesirable changes.

First report of reference guided genome assembly of Black Bengal goat (Capra hircus)

ObjectivesBlack Bengal goat (Capra hircus), a member of the Bovidae family with the unique traits of high prolificacy, skin quality and low demand for food is the most socioeconomically significant goat breed in Bangladesh. Furthermore, the aptitude of adaptation and disease resistance capacity of it is highly notable which makes its whole genome information an area of research interest.Data descriptionThe genomic DNA of local (Chittagong, Bangladesh) healthy Black Bengal goat (Capra hircus) was extracted and then sequenced. The de novo assembly and structural annotations are being presented here. Sequencing was done using Illumina sequencing platform and the draft genome assembled is about 3.04 Gb. 26458 Genes were annotated using Maker gene annotations tool which predicted BUSCO Gene models. Universal Single Copy Orthologs refer 82.5% completeness of the assembled genome.

Identification of microRNAs in the green and red sectors of Amaranthus tricolor L. leaves based on Illumina sequencing data

Betalains are abundant in amaranth plants. Additionally, the betalain molecular structure and metabolic pathway differ from those of betanin in beet plants. To date, only a few studies have examined the regulatory roles of miRNAs in betalain biosynthesis in plants. Thus, we constructed small RNA libraries for the red and green sectors of amaranth leaves to identify miRNAs associated with betalain biosynthesis. We identified 198 known and 41 novel miRNAs. Moreover, 216 miRNAs were distributed in 44 miRNA families, including miR156, miR159, miR160, miR166, miR172, miR319, miR167, miR396, and miR398. An analysis of all unigene sequences in an amaranth transcriptome database resulted in the detection of 493 target genes for the 239 screened miRNAs. The targets included SPL2, ARF18, ARF6, and NAC. A quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction validation of 20 miRNAs and nine target genes revealed expression-level differences between the red and green sectors of amaranth leaves. This study involved the application of an Illumina sequencing platform to identify miRNAs regulating betalain metabolism in amaranth plants. The data presented herein may provide insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of betalain biosynthesis in amaranth and other plant species.

Identification of microRNAs in the green and red sectors of Amaranthus tricolor L. leaves based on Illumina sequencing data

Betalains are abundant in amaranth plants. Additionally, the betalain molecular structure and metabolic pathway differ from those of betanin in beet plants. To date, only a few studies have examined the regulatory roles of miRNAs in betalain biosynthesis in plants. Thus, we constructed small RNA libraries for the red and green sectors of amaranth leaves to identify miRNAs associated with betalain biosynthesis. We identified 198 known and 41 novel miRNAs. Moreover, 216 miRNAs were distributed in 44 miRNA families, including miR156, miR159, miR160, miR166, miR172, miR319, miR167, miR396, and miR398. An analysis of all unigene sequences in an amaranth transcriptome database resulted in the detection of 493 target genes for the 239 screened miRNAs. The targets included SPL2, ARF18, ARF6, and NAC. A quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction validation of 20 miRNAs and nine target genes revealed expression-level differences between the red and green sectors of amaranth leaves. This study involved the application of an Illumina sequencing platform to identify miRNAs regulating betalain metabolism in amaranth plants. The data presented herein may provide insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of betalain biosynthesis in amaranth and other plant species.

Cloning and Functional Analysis of Three Chalcone Synthases from the Flowers of Safflowers Carthamus tinctorius

The flowers of safflowers (Carthamus tinctorius L.) are very important as they are the sole source of their distinct pigments, i.e. carthamus-red and-yellows, and have historically had strong connections to the cultural side of human activities such as natural dyes, rouge, and traditional medicines. The distinct pigments are quinochalcone C-glucosides, which are found specifically in the flowers of C. tinctorius. To investigate the biosynthetic pathways of quinochalcone C-glucosides, de novo assembly of the transcriptome was performed on the flowers using an Illumina sequencing platform to obtain 69,312 annotated coding DNA sequences. Three chalcone synthase like genes, CtCHSl, 2 and 3 were focused on and cloned, which might be involved in quinochalcone C-glucosides biosynthesis by establishing the C6-C3-C6 chalcone skeleton. It was demonstrated that all the recombinant CtCHSs could recognize p-coumaroyl-CoA, caffeoyl-CoA, feruloyl-CoA, and sinapoyl-CoA as starter substrates. This is the first report on the cloning and functional analysis of the three chalcone synthase genes from the flowers of C. tinctorius.

Whole-Genome Sequence of Salmonella enterica Serovar Enteritidis Phage Type 4, Isolated from a Brazilian Poultry Farm

The draft genome of Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis phage type 4 (PT4) strain IOC4647/2004, isolated from a poultry farm in São Paulo state, was obtained with high-throughput Illumina sequencing platform, generating 4,173,826 paired-end reads with 251 bp. The assembly of 4,804,382 bp in 27 scaffolds shows strong similarity to other S . Enteritidis strains.