The ANK2 gene mutations are marked risk factors for autism spectrum disorder, one of the neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) that often extends into adulthood and has a complex etiology involving genetic and environmental factors. ANK2 encodes 2 major isoforms, AnkB-220 (220-kDa isoform of ankyrin-B) and giant AnkB-440. We previously generated a targeted knockout (KO) of giant AnkB-440 in 2 cynomolgus and 2 rhesus monkeys. While no autism-spectrum-disorder-like phenotypes were observed during infancy, we found marked brain volume loss. In this study, we conducted a longitudinal multimodal study in these giant ANK2 KO monkeys during adolescent and young adulthood. Behavioral results from these giant ANK2 KO monkeys revealed increased locomotor activity, deficient cognition (including working memory, cognitive flexibility, and operant lever-press learning), and impaired emotional regulation and social interaction. Furthermore, the giant ANK2 KO monkeys exhibited persistent structural and functional brain abnormalities, up-regulation of brain triglyceride and glycerophospholipids, and peripheral blood transcriptome signatures of immune dysregulation, which may be related to their behavioral alternations. These observations suggest that giant ANK2 depletion in non-human primates phenocopies aspects of behavioral, neural, and molecular features characteristic of NDDs. This study provides an in-depth exploratory longitudinal characterization of giant ANK2 functions in primate brains, which may contribute to translational research on NDDs.

Enrofloxacin (ENR) is a commonly identified veterinary pharmaceutical in global aquaculture products, and short-term therapeutic applications of ENR at recommended doses may exert adverse effects on farmed fish. The present investigation evaluated the toxicological impacts of ENR on intestinal detoxification capacity, immune response, and microbial community dynamics of commercially significant Acanthopagrus schlegelii. Short-term treatment of ENR at the clinically recommended dose (5 mg/L) showed little modulation on expression levels of key detoxification enzymes, while 10 mg/L ENR (over-therapeutic concentration) induced significantly elevated Phase I/II biotransformation enzymes in treated fish. Interestingly, 5 mg/L ENR (decontaminated for 72 h) triggered immunostimulation effects via significantly promoting inflammatory cytokines and lysozyme gene expression. In addition, persistent suppression of the diversity and richness of gut microbial communities was observed following immersion in 5 and 10 mg/L ENR. ENR exposure triggered restructuring of intestinal microbial composition of black seabream, characterized by a reduction in beneficial microbiota and an expansion of opportunistic and antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which may contribute to the observed immune perturbation and long-term health risks. In summary, our findings raise concerns about the safe use of ENR in aquaculture, suggesting that current practices may pose long-term health risks to marine farmed fish.

The extensive utilization of triazophos (TP) caused a threat to aquatic organisms, particularly the non-target organisms such as clams. The current research aimed to evaluate the impact of sub-lethal concentration of TP on Malina clam Ruditapes philippinarum. Clams were subjected to a TP concentration at 25 μg/L (equivalent to 2 % of the 96 h LC50 value) for a period of 7 d, then the proteomic alterations, as well as the activities and gene expression levels of antioxidant enzymes in the clam gills were examined. Proteomics revealed that TP exposure induced 62 differentially abundant proteins (DAPs) in the gills, including 51 with higher abundance and 11 lower abundance. Combined with the findings of enzyme activities (contents) and gene expression analysis, we observed significant variations in the abundance of proteins involved in oxidative stress, cytoskeletal regulation, protein homeostasis, and energy metabolism pathways in the gills under 7 d of TP stress. This suggested that at low concentration, TP might activate stress response pathways or cellular defense strategies, thereby leading to the upregulation of certain proteins.

Argali stands as the largest species among wild sheep in Central and East Asia, with a concerning rate of decline estimated at 30%. The intraspecific taxonomy of argali remains contentious due to limited genomic data and unclear geographic separation. In this study, we constructed a chromosome-level genome assembly and annotation for the Tibetan argali (O. a. hodgsoni), together with population genomic resequencing of 32 individuals representing four subspecies. The contig-level genome was 2.64 Gb in size, with a contig N50 length of 71.69 Mb and an estimated genomic completeness of 96.01%. Using Hi-C sequencing data scaffolding, 99.90% of initially assembled sequences were mapped and oriented onto 28 pseudo-chromosomes except the Y chromosome. Annotation uncovered 21,564 protein-coding genes and 46.38% repeat sequences. The average coverage of the population resequencing data was 23.74 with mean mapping ratio up to of 97.19%. The high-quality genome assembly and annotation of the Tibetan argali, coupled with the high-depth population genomic data, will serve as a valuable genetic resource for studies on the taxonomy and conservation of argali.

Phenanthrene (Phe) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) are among the most frequently detected contaminants in the coastal environment of China. However, comparative studies on the toxic effects of these two chemicals in fish are limited. This study examined biomarker responses in Chinese tongue sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis) larvae exposed to sublethal Phe/PFOS (10 and 100 μg/L) for 7 days. The results showed that both Phe and PFOS significantly altered antioxidant indexes, such as activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD), and the detoxification metabolic parameters including glutathione S-transferase (GST) and glutathione (GSH). Both Phe and PFOS affected the activity of acetylcholinesterase (AchE) and the expression of androgen receptor gene (AR), and estrogen receptor genes (ERα and ERβ). PFOS significantly upregulated AR expression, with levels reaching 2.4-fold that of the control group, whereas AR gene expression was significantly suppressed under Phe exposure. Both PFOS and Phe upregulated the expression of ERα and ERβ genes. The ERα gene expression was 9.17-fold higher in the 100 μg/L PFOS group and 1.88-fold higher in the 100 μg/L Phe group compared to the control. The integrated biomarker response (IBRv2) index revealed that high concentration of PFOS was more toxic than Phe at the initial stage of exposure. Principal component analysis (PCA) further confirmed the distinct separation between the control and high concentration treatment groups, highlighting the immunotoxic and reproductive toxic effects of Phe and PFOS. These findings underscore the importance of monitoring and regulating the environmental presence of these pollutants to protect aquatic life.

Transboundary conservation is critical to halting global biodiversity loss, yet transboundary species represent a particular challenge in terms of who is primarily responsible for their conservation and how to coordinate between range states. Based on intensive field surveys from 2010 to 2023 and systematic data compilation from multilingual literature, we developed the first quantitative framework for assessing national conservation responsibilities for Siberian ibex (Capra sibirica) across its 11-country distribution. We integrated ensemble species distribution models with systematic conservation planning to identify 48 Landscape Conservation Units (LCUs), then applied an entropy weight method to quantify each country’s conservation responsibility based on ecological importance, protection effectiveness, and national capacity. Our assessment reveals a three-tier classification: high-responsibility countries (China, Turkmenistan, Mongolia), medium-responsibility countries (Russia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, India), and low-responsibility countries (Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan). China holds the highest responsibility (score = 0.678) due to its extensive LCUs (45.68 % of total LCUs) and high national capacity, though its low protected area coverage (15.18 %) indicates urgent need for conservation investment. While climate change threatens future habitat availability, anthropogenic pressures from infrastructure development and inadequate protection networks pose more immediate challenges. Our responsibility assessment framework provides a replicable protocol for other transboundary migratory species, helping countries work together more fairly and effectively to prevent extinctions.

Combining genotype and phenotype data promises to greatly increase the value of macaque as biomedical models for human disease. Here we launch the Macaque Biobank project by deeply sequencing 919 captive Chinese rhesus macaques (CRM) while assessing 52 phenotypic traits. Genomic analyses reveal the captive CRMs are a mixture of multiple wild sources and exhibit significantly lower mutational load than their Indian counterparts. We identify hundreds of loss-of-function variants linked to human inherited disease and drug targets, and at least seven exert significant effects on phenotypes using forward genomic screens. Genome-wide association analyses reveal 30 independent loci associated with phenotypic variations. Using reverse genomic approaches, we identify DISC1 (p.Arg517Trp) as a genetic risk factor for neuropsychiatric disorders, with macaques carrying this deleterious allele exhibiting impairments in working memory and cortical architecture. This study demonstrates the potential of macaque cohorts for the investigation of genotype-phenotype relationships and exploring potential spontaneous models of human genetic disease.

Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD), a persistent brominated flame retardant, poses substantial ecological risks attributable to its bioaccumulation potential and toxicity. This study explored the toxic impacts of HBCD on the marine microalgae Chlorella salina using an integrated approach combining physiological, biochemical, and transcriptomic analyses. The microalgae was exposed to concentrations of 5, 50, and 100 μg·L⁻¹ of HBCD for 96 h. The results showed that HBCD significantly inhibited the growth of C. salina (p < 0.05), with a 21 % reduction in cell density at the highest concentration. Pigment analysis indicated that upon exposure to 100 μg·L⁻¹ HBCD, the levels of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and carotenoids decreased by 17 %, 19 %, and 13 %, respectively (p < 0.05). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) revealed concentration-dependent alterations in the composition, conformation, and functionality of key biomacromolecules. Specifically, lipid peroxidation was evidenced by decreased CH2/lipid, CH3/lipid, and olefinic=CH/lipid ratios, along with an increased carbonyl ester/lipid ratio. These findings were corroborated by elevated malondialdehyde (MDA) content and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. Alterations in the secondary structure of proteins were detected through decreased Amide I/Amide II and β-sheet/α-helix ratios. DNA damage involved a reversal of the B- to A-DNA transition and a shift from B- to Z-DNA conformational. Furthermore, transcriptomic analysis identified 4636 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) following exposure to 100 μg·L⁻¹ HBCD, which were predominantly enriched in pathways associated with fatty acid metabolism, energy metabolism, and cellular signaling. These findings provide mechanistic insights into the toxicity of HBCD in marine microalgae and highlight its potential ecological risks in marine environments.

Identifying and protecting hotspots of endemism and species richness is crucial for mitigating the global biodiversity crisis. However, our understanding of spatial diversity patterns is far from complete, which severely limits our ability to conserve biodiversity hotspots. Here, we report a comprehensive analysis of amphibian species diversity in China, one of the most species-rich countries on Earth. Our study combines 20 y of field surveys with new molecular analyses of 521 described species and also identifies 100 potential cryptic species. We identify 10 hotspots of amphibian diversity in China, each with exceptional species richness and endemism and with exceptional phylogenetic diversity and phylogenetic endemism (based on a new time-calibrated, species-level phylogeny for Chinese amphibians). These 10 hotspots encompass 59.6% of China’s described amphibian species, 49.0% of cryptic species, and 55.6% of species endemic to China. Only four of these 10 hotspots correspond to previously recognized biodiversity hotspots. The six new hotspots include the Nanling Mountains and other mountain ranges in South China. Among the 186 species in the six new hotspots, only 9.7% are well covered by protected areas and most (88.2%) are exposed to high human impacts. Five of the six new hotspots are under very high human pressure and are in urgent need of protection. We also find that patterns of richness in cryptic species are significantly related to those in described species but are not identical.

Fishing ports play an essential role in fisheries development and supply chains,as all catches are landed through fishing ports to enter the seafood market.Frequent and intensive fishing activities inevitably affect the fishing port ecosystem by discharging sewage and waste oil from sources such as fishing vessels,leaching ship paint,and operating wharves.However,fishing ports are usually located in semi-enclosed seas,leading to the accumulation of land-based pollution in port environments.Fishing ports are known potential sinks for land-sourced pollutants,such as heavy metals,phthalates,polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons,and petroleum hydrocarbons.Currently,comprehensive research on the distribution and ecological risk of heavy metals in fishing ports is very limited.With no environmental and scientific data available for reference,it is difficult to formulate appropriate pollution control and prevention strategies for fishing ports.Environmental risk assessment in aquatic ecosystems typically uses biomarkers to detect interactions between potential hazards and biological systems.Next to knowing environmental contaminant levels in tissues and the environment,it is important to link to potentially deleterious effects at higher levels of biological organization,such as biochemistry,physiology,and overall health status.Biochemical reactions are frequently used as biomarkers in sentinel model species sampled from reference sites,for monitoring xenobiotic pollution in coastal areas.However,multiple biomarkers were too complex and could not directly reflect the toxic effects of pollutants on organisms,while the integrated biomarker response(IBR)index could overcome this and comprehensively evaluate the aquatic ecosystem health status. The primary purpose of this study was to evaluate the overall pollution level and risks in fishing ports.Samples of green mussels(Perna viridis)and surface water were collected at 12 sampling points in four fishing ports located in Guangdong and Guangxi provinces,China.Six types of heavy metals were measured in the surface water and soft tissues of P.viridis by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.Moreover,biomarkers of the antioxidant defense system,such as superoxide dismutase(SOD),glutathione peroxidase(GPx),catalase(CAT),and malondialdehyde(MDA),were analyzed in the hepatopancreas of P.viridis to calculate the IBR index.The results showed that the range of concentrations of Cu,Zn,Pb,Cd,As,and Cr in seawater was 1.13-2.37,6.67-33.43,0.14-0.32,0.03-0.32,1.09-1.73,and 0.80-1.20 μg/L,respectively,while in the soft tissues of P.viridis,it was 8.31-11.93,67.92-103.17,0.88-3.07,0.80-2.33,9.61-12.70,and 2.54-4.75 mg/kg,respectively.The mean concentrations of Cu,Zn,Pb,Cd,As,and Cr in each fishing port were lower than the fourth grade of the National Seawater Quality Standard(GB 3097-1997).The concentrations of heavy metals in the surface water and soft tissues of P.viridis were generally at a low level,the comprehensive pollution indices(PI)of heavy metals in the surface water of all four fishing ports were within the natural background range,and the comprehensive pollution indices(Pin)of heavy metals in the soft tissues of P.viridis were in the no pollution category.The PI of heavy metals in the surface water was Shekou Port＞Nanwan Port＞Dahao Port＞Yuwan Port,while the Pin of heavy metals in the soft tissues of P.viridis was Yuwan Port＞Shekou Port＞Nanwan Port＞Dahao Port.In addition,Cu concentrations in both the surface water and soft tissues of P.viridis from Shekou Port were the highest among those from the four fishing ports.Furthermore,there was no significant difference in MDA content or SOD,CAT,and GPx enzyme activities,in the hepatopancreas of P.viridis from the four fishing ports.The IBR index of P.viridis was 4.50 in Shekou Port,2.14 in Yuwan Port,1.91 in Dahao Port,and 1.50 in Nanwan Port,which showed a decreasing trend from Shekou Port＞Yuwan Port＞Dahao Port＞Nanwan Port.The highest IBR index was identified at Shekou Port,which agreed with the profiles of the comprehensive pollution index of seawater.According to the correlation analysis,the IBR index showed no significant correlation with the comprehensive pollution index of seawater and marine mussels.It was noteworthy that the IBR index displayed significant positive correlations with Cu concentrations in seawater and mussel tissues,which indicated that Cu pollution may be an important factor to consider in pollution assessments of fishing ports. Overall,this study provides the first evidence of using the IBR index to evaluate the heavy metal pollution status of fishing ports.The pollution level and potential risk of heavy metals in Shekou Port were higher than those of the other three fishing ports.The IBR index coupled with chemical analysis is useful to assess the environmental pollution status of fishing ports for pollution source control and management policy formulation.

Marine litter pollution poses a significant threat to offshore ecosystems, eliciting widespread concern. We investigated seafloor litter patterns in the Pearl River Estuary and adjacent coastal waters of China in 2023 via bottom trawl survey. Average number and weight densities were found to be 154.34 ± 30.95 n/km2 and 2384.63 ± 923.98 g/km2, respectively. Plastic was the most abundant material by number density (79.07 %), and rubber the highest by weight density (22.93 %). Overall number density varied from 40.50 ± 22.50 to 221.13 ± 52.44 n/km2, with the highest in Daya Bay and the lowest in Guanghai Bay. Weight density varied from 189.93 ± 71.94 to 5386.70 ± 3050.30 g/km2, with the highest in Qiao Island and the lowest in Honghai Bay. The main source was plastic bags and wrappers. The Pearl River Delta and Daya Bay were identified as seafloor litter distribution hotspots. Controlling plastic waste input is crucial for reducing seafloor litter in the Pearl River Estuary.

Climate change influences the distribution of many marine species. To project the biogeographical changes of benthic mollusks in response to climate change in the Yellow Sea and East China Sea, ensemble species distribution models (SDMs) were applied. Ensemble SDMs performed well for ten of the thirteen selected benthic mollusks with environmental variables including temperature, salinity, current velocity, and depth. Six cold water mollusks, including bivalves Acila mirabilis , Ennucula niponica , Ennucula tenuis , Nuculana yokoyamai , Pendaloma otohimeae and Megayoldia japonica , were projected to contract their habitats and move northward in 2050s and 2100s under all of the RCP2.6, 4.5, 6.0 and 8.5 climate scenarios, with temperature being the most important environmental variable. Two warm water mollusks (bivalves Nucula tokyoensis and Leptomya minuta ) were projected to lose their suitable habitats under future climate scenarios (all RCP scenarios), while two (the gastropod Cylichna biplicata and the bivalve Moerella hilaris ) were projected to expand their habitats to the deeper water area. The most important environmental variable varied among warm water species between temperature, salinity and depth. This study will contribute to better understanding the marine species biogeographical changes under climate change, and thus we can better protect their biodiversity.

Based on the environmental survey data from the Pearl River Estuary（PRE） in April（spring） and October（autumn） 2020, the pressure-state-response（PSR） model evaluation, the principal component analysis and the correlation analysis were used to evaluate eutrophication status and the environmental factors in the PRE. Results showed that the PSR comprehensive evaluation for the PRE grade was Moderate-Poor, among the five, “Superior, Superior-Moderate, Moderate, Moderate-Poor and Poor”, and it fluctuated insignificantly in recent years. The primary factors affecting the PRE eutrophication were organic pollutants and nutrients and the secondary factors are chlorophyll and dissolved oxygen. The nutrients were negatively correlated with salinity and positively correlated with chlorophyll in water. Eutrophication in the PRE was mainly caused by terrestrial discharges from the city surrounding areas and the water mixed nutrients and phytoplankton activities had affected the eutrophication status of the PRE.

Although species can arise through hybridization, compelling evidence for hybrid speciation has been reported only rarely in animals. Here, we present phylogenomic analyses on genomes from 12 macaque species and show that the fascicularis group originated from an ancient hybridization between the sinica and silenus groups ~3.45 to 3.56 million years ago. The X chromosomes and low-recombination regions exhibited equal contributions from each parental lineage, suggesting that they were less affected by subsequent backcrossing and hence could have played an important role in maintaining hybrid integrity. We identified many reproduction-associated genes that could have contributed to the development of the mixed sexual phenotypes characteristic of the fascicularis group. The phylogeny within the silenus group was also resolved, and functional experimentation confirmed that all extant Western silenus species are susceptible to HIV-1 infection. Our study provides novel insights into macaque evolution and reveals a hybrid speciation event that has occurred only very rarely in primates.

As a ubiquitous environmental pollutant in China, triazophos (TP) is known to have neurotoxicity, oxidative stress, and reproductive toxicity to mussels. To investigate the molecular mechanisms of TP toxicity, metabolic changes in the digestive glands of Perna viridis in different sexes were examined after treated with 35 μg/L TP. Notably, 158 significant different metabolites (SDMs) were detected in TP-treated mussels and more than half of the SDMs were lipids and lipid-like molecules, which suggested that TP disturbed the lipid metabolism of P. viridis. In addition, metabolites associated with neurotoxicity and reproductive disturbance were also detected in female and male mussels. Moreover, a larger number of SDMs were found in male mussels (120 SDMs) than females (99 SDMs), and 60 common metabolites exhibited consistent variation tendency and similar magnitude in both sexes. The metabolic alternations in female and male mussels displayed similar protective mechanisms and also sex-specific responses, male mussels were more sensitive to TP exposure. This research provided new data about the molecular mechanisms of TP toxicity and the gender specific changes in mussels after treated by chemicals.

Controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) is an essential for in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) and an important aspect of assisted reproductive technology (ART). Individual starting doses of gonadotropin (Gn) is a critical decision in the process of COH. It has a crucial impact on the number of retrieved oocytes, the cancelling rate of ART cycles, and complications such as ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), as well as pregnancy outcomes. How to make clinical team more standardized and accurate in determining the starting dose of Gn is an important issue in reproductive medicine. In the past 20 years, research teams worldwide have explored prediction models for Gn starting doses. With the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and deep learning, it is hoped that there will be more suitable predictive model for Gn starting dose in the future.

Although numerous studies on the impacts of climate change on biodiversity have been published, only a handful are focused on the intraspecific level or consider population-level models (separate models per population). We endeavored to fill this knowledge gap relative to the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau (QTP) by combining species distribution modeling (SDMs) with population genetics (i.e., population-level models) and phylogenetic methods (i.e., phylogenetic tree reconstruction and phylogenetic diversity analyses). We applied our models to 11 endemic and widely distributed herpetofauna species inhabiting high elevations in the QTP. We aimed to determine the influence of environmental heterogeneity on species' responses to climate change, the magnitude of climate-change impacts on intraspecific diversity, and the relationship between species range loss and intraspecific diversity losses under 2 shared socioeconomic pathways (SSP245 and SSP585) and 3 future periods (2050s, 2070s, and 2090s). The effects of global climatic change were more pronounced at the intraspecific level (22% of haplotypes lost and 36% of populations lost) than the morphospecies level in the SSP585 climate change scenario. Maintenance of genetic diversity was in general determined by a combination of factors including range changes, species genetic structure, and the part of the range predicted to be lost. This is owing to the fact that the loss and survival of populations were observed in species irrespective of the predicted range changes (contraction or expansion). In the southeast (mountainous regions), climate change had less of an effect on range size (>100% in 3 species) than in central and northern QTP plateau regions (range size <100% in all species). This may be attributed to environmental heterogeneity, which provided pockets of suitable climate in the southeast, whereas ecosystems in the north and central regions were homogeneous. Generally, our results imply that mountainous regions with high environmental heterogeneity and high genetic diversity may buffer the adverse impacts of climate change on species distribution and intraspecific diversity. Therefore, genetic structure and characteristics of the ecosystem may be crucial for conservation under climate change.

To detect potential impacts of climate change on the distribution of common echinoderm species in the Yellow Sea (YS) and East China Sea (ECS), species distribution models (SDMs) were applied. Ensemble SDMs were constructed and were in good model performance for six of the eight selected common echinoderm species. Under future climate scenarios, the brittle stars Ophiopholis mirabilis, Amphioplus depressus and the sea cucumber Protankyra bidentata were projected to expand in the southwestern areas of the YS, the ECS, and the coastal areas of the YS and ECS, respectively; the brittle stars Stegophiura sladeni, Amphiura digitula and Amphiura vadicola will likely contract their ranges in the south distribution areas and expand in the north, showing a northward movement trend. Temperature was the most important environmental variable influencing the distribution of the latter three echinoderms. Our findings will improve our understanding of the impacts of climate change on marine species distributions.

Primates are highly successful mammals with significant morphological,behavioral,and physiological diversity.Studying the genomes of non-human primates,as the closest relative of humans,can provide insights into human evolution,genetic structure,and potential drug targets relevant to human health,thus making important contributions to medical research.Additionally,primate genome research can support ecological balance and resource conservation and promote sustainable development and human well-being.Despite the existence of more than 500 primate species belonging to 80 genera and 16 families worldwide,with new species still being discovered in recent years(Fan et al.,2017;Khanal et al.,2021;Roos et al.,2020),genome sequencing efforts have been limited to a relatively small number of species from only 22 genera(Ensembl v103).Notably,approximately 72％of primate genera remain unsequenced,leading to significant knowledge gaps in our understanding of their evolutionary history.This situation presents considerable challenges for the development,utilization,and protection of primate genetic resources.It is for these compelling reasons that we initiated the Primate Genome Project(PGP)(Wu et al.,2022).