BackgroundTo investigate the effects and underlying mechanisms of photoperiod on the growth and lipid metabolism of tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus).MethodsFour photoperiod treatment groups were established: 10L:14D, 12L:12D, 14L:10D, and 16L:8D. Various analytical methods were employed, including tissue sectioning, blood lipid analysis, gene expression profiling, fatty acid profiling, and lipidomics, to assess the impact of photoperiod on lipid metabolism in tilapia.ResultsIn both females and males, the highest relative body weight growth rates were observed in the 16L:8D group, reaching 122.1% and 133.6%, respectively. As the photoperiod increased, the visibility of lipid droplets in the liver decreased. The expression levels of lipid synthesis‑related genes (fasn, acaca, srebp1, and aclya) were downregulated. Blood lipid concentrations, including cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low‑density lipoprotein (LDL), and non‑esterified fatty acid (NEFA) levels, were reduced. Saturated fatty acid (SFA) content decreased, whereas polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) content increased. Lipidomic analysis revealed 54 significantly differential lipid metabolites between the control group (12L:12D) and the experimental group (16L:8D) (P<0.05), and candidate biomarkers for photoperiod‑regulated lipid metabolism were identified.ConclusionThese findings suggest that a long photoperiod (16L:8D) effectively increases the growth rate of tilapia and reduces blood lipid concentrations and hepatic fat deposition, thereby promoting healthy growth. This study provides a theoretical foundation for healthy aquaculture practices in fish.

To understand the environmental adaptations among sessile bivalves lacking adaptive immunity, a series of analyses were conducted, with special emphasis on the widely distributed C. ariakensis. Employing Pacbio sequencing and Hi -C technologies, whole genome for each of a C. ariakensis (southern China) and C. hongkongensis individual was generated, with the contig N50 reaching 6.2 and 13.0 Mb, respectively. Each genome harbored over 30,000 protein -coding genes, with approximately half of each genome consisting of repeats. Genome alignment suggested possible introgression between C. gigas and C. ariakensis (northern China), and re -sequencing data corroborated this result and indicated significant gene flow between C. gigas and C. ariakensis. These introgressed candidates, well -represented by genes related to immunity and osmotic pressure, may be associated with environmental stresses. Gene family dynamics modeling suggested immune -related genes were well represented among the expanded genes in C. ariakensis. These outcomes could be attributed to the spread of C. ariakensis.

Objectives: Intravenous thrombolysis therapy (IVT) with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator has proven to be a beneficial treatment for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients when administered within 4.5 h after a stroke. This study aimed to investigate an available and inexpensive predictive tool for early neurological deterioration in AIS. Methods: Patients admitted to our department with acute stroke who were given IVT with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator within 4.5 h of stroke onset were included in the study. The NIH stroke scale (NIHSS) was used to assess patients’ neurological state prior to IVT and for 24 h after. Early neurological deterioration was defined as occurring if the NIHSS total score increased by ≥ 4 or the NIHSS individual score increased by ≥ 2 compared to baseline. Patients were randomly assigned to training or validation cohorts. Results: Of the 266 AIS patients receiving IVT who were screened, 217 were deemed eligible for the study. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified smoking history, NIHSS score, homocysteine level, and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio as independent factors for predicting early neurological deterioration. ROC analysis was used to assess the quality of the resulting nomogram. The AUC for the training dataset was 0.826 (95 % CI, 0.719–0.932), and for the validation dataset was 0.887 (95 % CI, 0.763–1.000). Conclusion: The robustness of this nomogram suggests that it may be a reliable tool for evaluating the progression of AIS after IVT.

OBJECTIVES:Our previous study has demonstrated that hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S), a novel gasotransmitter, attenuates excessive autophagy and depressive-like behaviors in chronic restraint stress (CRS)-exposed rats, but the underlying molecular mechanism remains to be elucidated. Silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1), a deacetylase at the consumption of NAD+ plays an important regulatory role in depression. Hence, this study aimed to investigate whether SIRT1 mediates the protective effect of H 2 S on CRS-induced depressive-like behaviors by regulating hippocampal autophagy.METHODS:Adult male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were subjected to CRS (6 h × 28 days) to induce depression-like behavior. Rats were injected with sodium hydrosulfate (NaHS, 100 μmol/kg/d, i.p.), as a donor of H 2 S, alone or in combination with Sirtinol (a SIRT1 inhibitor; 10 nmol, i.c.v.) during CRS process. The depression-like characteristics of rats were assessed by the novelty-suppressed feeding test (NSFT), tail suspension test (TST), forced swimming test (FST) and open field test (OFT). The number of hippocampal autophagosomes was detected by transmission electron microscopy. The expressions of hippocampal autophagy-related proteins were measured by western blotting analysis.RESULTS:Sirtinol blocked the inhibitory effect of H 2 S on depressive-like behaviors in CRS-exposed rats according to NSFT, TST, FST and OFT. In addition, sirtinol reversed the protective response of H 2 S to CRS-induced excessive autophagy, as proved by the increases in the number of autophagosomes and the expression of Beclin-1 as well as a decrease in the expression of P62 in the hippocampus.CONCLUSION:These results indicated that SIRT1 contributes to the antidepressant-like function of H 2 S during CRS via reducing hippocampal autophagy.

Hong Kong oyster（Magallana hongkongensis） is an important economic shellfish cultivated in the coastal areas of southern China. However, breeding diseases frequently happen during cultivation, and they have seriously restricted the sustainable development of Hong Kong oyster farming industry. As an important regulatory factor, microRNA（miRNA） participates in various biological processes of marine species through post-transcriptional regulation of their target genes. In this study, we used high-throughput sequencing technology to create miRNA libraries from gill of Hong Kong oyster under different induction time points of Vibrio parahaemolyticus infection and then explored the miRNAs related to immune regulation via bioinformatics analysis. In total, we obtained 453 conserved miRNAs and 222 novel miRNAs. Subsequently, the unique miRNAs among blank control group/12 h pathogen-injection group, blank control group/24 h pathogen-injection group, 12 h pathogen-injection group/24 h pathogen-injection group were further screened. As result, a number of differentially expressed or highly expressed miRNAs were found in different comparison groups. Among them, miR-10, miR-23, miR-92, miR-100, miR-125, miR-144, miR-145, miR-146, miR-335 and miR-750 have been verified to involve in the immune regulation processes in a variety of marine animals. KEGG enrichment analyses of target genes of differentially expressed miRNAs showed that the target genes of miR-411-5p, miR-4454-5p, novel-m0159-3p and novel-m0187-3p participated in immune-related pathways. These results indicated that the above-mentioned miRNAs may play an important role in the immune regulation of Hong Kong oysters, Thus, it is necessary to further explore on them.

渔业是新时期实现乡村振兴的重要途径.广西是水库移民大省(份),大化是广西库区水面资源最丰富的渔业大县和移民大县,渔业是库区移民收入的主要来源.以大化县为典型,对大化县库区渔业发展现状进行了实地调研,分析提出大化库区渔业存在总体发展水平低、养殖品种不合理、产业化市场化水平低以及缺乏特色品种和特色品牌等广西其他水库普遍存在的问题,结合当前我国乡村振兴背景及水产养殖业发展新政策新趋势和大化库区实际条件,提出今后大化库区渔业的发展思路是坚持高质量可持续发展,发展策略是打造生态养殖模式和地方特色品牌,重点发展大水面增养殖和拦网养鱼、开发地方特色名优鱼类、生产高端生态鱼和有机鱼.同时还提出了大化库区渔业发展的具体措施,即职能部门和养殖户转变观念,加强水产品品牌认证、品牌建设和无公害示范基地建设,推广健康养殖技术和生态养殖模式,调整品种结构和养殖方式,形成特色渔业及其产业布局,从产、供、销三方面实施渔业产业化等.

ObjectiveThis study aims to study the correlation between serum β2-glycoprotein I (β2-GPI)/oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) and the risk of cerebral infarction in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM).MethodsFrom January 2019 to March 2021, 56 patients with T2DM combined with cerebral infarction were chosen as a diabetic cerebral infarction (DCI) group, and 60 patients with simple T2DM were chosen as a T2DM group. In addition, 60 healthy volunteers were recruited as a control group. The essential information of each group was collected, and the serum β2-GPI/oxLDL and inflammatory factor levels in each group were compared. The clinical factors that affect the risk of ischemic cerebral infarction in patients with T2DM were analyzed by a logistic model.ResultsCompared with the control group, the level of serum β2-GPI/oxLDL in the T2DM and DCI groups increased significantly, P < 0.001. Compared with the T2DM group, the serum β2-GPI/oxLDL level in the DCI group increased significantly, P < 0.05. The result of Pearson’s correlation analysis showed that serum β2-GPI/oxLDL was positively correlated with total cholesterol, triglycerides, fasting blood glucose, 2-h postprandial blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α (all P’s < 0.05). Serum TNF-α and β2-GPI/oxLDL were independent risk variates for DCI (P < 0.05). Based on the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, the values of the area under the curve for TNF-α, serum β2-GPI/oxLDL, and the combined diagnosis of DCI were 0.653 (0.552–0.753), 0.680 (0.583–0.777), 0.739 (0.647–0.831), respectively.ConclusionIn DCI patients, the levels of serum oxLDL/β2-GPI are significantly increased. Serum oxLDL/β2-GPI is an independent risk factor that affects the occurrence of DCI. In addition, the serum β2-GPI/oxLDL level implicates the lipid metabolism and inflammatory status of the internal environment of DCI patients to a certain extent.

和蔼巴非蛤（Paphia amabilis）是广泛分布于东南亚海岸的重要贝类，因其体内富含C37类胡萝卜素，其足部和虹吸管的肌肉通常是亮橙色的。然而，在4个北部湾野生群体[越南群体CT （采自Co To岛）,北海群体（BH, BHA）与湛江群体ZJ]中，有10.5%～18.6%的个体其肌肉是黄色的（yellow-muscled, YMs）。为辅助该物种育种中亲本群体的选择，并探索和蔼巴非蛤肌肉颜色的遗传模式，本研究开发了20个基因组微卫星标记，并用其中的12个微卫星标记分析了3个地理群体（CT, BH和ZJ,n=32/种群）以及YM和RM （red-muscled,红肌肉）亚种群的遗传分化。3个地理群体的遗传多样性均为中等水平，其等位基因数分别为：CT群体4～21（8.4±4.5）,BH群体4～16（7.6±3.3）,ZJ群体4～18（7.5±3.7）。平均观察杂合度/预期杂合度CT为0.66/0.66,BH为0.62/0.63,ZJ为0.55/0.62。在对微卫星进行的36次试验中，经MICRO-CHECKER分析，有4个位点偏离了哈迪-温伯格平衡（HWE,经Bonferroni校正后P＜0.05）,均在ZJ群体可能由于无效等位基因的存在。精确检验表明，在越南群体CT和两个中国群体（BH/ZJ）之间存在极显著的遗传分化(F ST , 0.099/0.123)。结果表明，未发现微卫星标记的等位基因与肌肉颜色显著相关，在两个颜色亚群YM和RM之间未发现显著的遗传分化。

为了探究北部湾养殖区域香港牡蛎(Crassostrea hongkongensis)体内的异养细菌和弧菌数量及其耐药概况变化,对不同养殖场牡蛎体内的异养细菌进行分离培养,并统计其数量,通过药敏纸片扩散等方法研究了细菌的耐药状况.结果显示:牡蛎在高死亡率养殖环境中体内的异养细菌[(8.6±0.4)×106CFU·g–1]和弧菌[(9.5±0.4)×105CFU·g–1]数量较高,在中死亡率环境中体内的异养细菌[(6.9±0.2)×106CFU·g–1]和弧菌[(4.5±0.6)×105CFU·g–1]数量次之,在低死亡率养殖环境中体内的异养细菌[(3.3±0.1)×106CFU·g–1]和弧菌[(2.5±0.6)×105CFU·g–1]数量最低.耐药细菌主要为革兰氏阴性菌,对β-内酰胺类(青霉素)、糖肽类(万古霉素)的耐药率较高,对四环素类(四环素、多西环素)的耐药率次之,对氨基糖苷类(链霉素、庆大霉素、妥布霉素、新霉素)、大环内酯类(红霉素)、喹诺酮类(诺氟沙星、环丙沙星、氧氟沙星、恩诺沙星)的耐药率较低.在高死亡率环境中牡蛎体内的多重耐药菌占79.7％,其耐药谱型(48种)较广;在中度死亡率环境中牡蛎体内的多重耐药菌占66.2％,其耐药谱型为30种;在低死亡率环境中牡蛎体内的多重耐药菌占58.4％,其耐药谱型为17种.本文探究了牡蛎死亡率与其体内异养细菌数量和细菌耐药性的关系,结果显示牡蛎在高死亡率环境中体内的耐药细菌数量多、耐药谱型较广,低死亡率环境中牡蛎体内的耐药细菌数量较少,异养细菌数量与牡蛎死亡率呈正相关关系,两者相关系数为0.996.

The oyster is one of the most abundantly harvested shellfish in the world. To explore the impact of salinity on antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and the microbial community associated with farmed oysters, oysters were taken from high-, medium-, and low-salinity zones (labeled HS, MS, and LS, respectively) in Qinzhou Bay of Beibu Gulf, China. ARB were tested with the Kirby–Bauer method. Species of ARB were confirmed by 16 S rDNA analysis. Microbial communities were analyzed by high-throughput sequencing technology. The results indicate that HS-derived ARB (>60%) resisted β-lactams and aminoglycosides and that LS-derived strains resisted macrolide and tetracyclines. All strains resisted 4 or more antibiotics. A total of 542 operational taxonomic units were detected in the samples, with Shewanella, Vibrio, and Endozoicomonas being the dominant genera (>80%), although distributed differently among the different salinity samples. The oyster microbial richness ranked as MS > LS > HS. This study provides an important reference for future efforts to explain factors or mechanisms underlying correlations between ARB, the microbiome, and salinity and thus the potential health of oysters in this region.

Paphia amabilis is an important fishery shellfish widely distributing along Southeast Asia coast. The muscles of its foot and siphons are commonly colored bright red-orange due to the presence of C37 skeletal carotenoids. However, 10.5%-18.6% of yellow-muscled individuals (YMs) were found among the four P . amabilis wild samples from Vietnam (Co To island, CT) and China (Beihai, BH/BHA, Guangxi Province; and Zhanjiang, ZJ, Guangdong Province), the north of Beibu Gulf, South China Sea. Twenty genomic microsatellite markers were developed and 12 were employed to analyze the population genetic differentiation of three geographical populations (CT, BH, and ZJ, n=32/population), as well as YM and RM (red-muscled) subpopulations. Medium levels of genetic diversity were detected in all three populations with the number of alleles ranging from 4-21 (8.4±4.5) for CT, 4-16 (7.6±3.3) for BH and 4-18 (7.5±3.7) for ZJ. The average observed/expected heterozygosities were 0.66/0.66 for CT, 0.62/0.63 for BH, and 0.55/0.62 for ZJ, respectively. Total 4 out of 36 tests of microsatellites deviated from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium (HWE, P <0.05 after Bonferroni correction), all in ZJ population due to the presence of null alleles suggested by MICRO-CHECK. Exact test indicated highly significant differentiations ( F ST ) between Vietnamese and two Chinese populations (0.099/0.123 between CT and BH/ZJ). No allele of any microsatellite marker was found significantly associated with muscularcoloration of P. amabilis , consequently no convergent microsatellite genetic differentiation presents between YM and RM subpopulations, supporting that epigenetic factor might play an important role in carotenoids accumulation of P. amabilis .

[目的]了解巨砺属牡蛎的系统关系和种类区分.[方法]对我国沿海分布的7种巨砺属牡蛎(香港牡蛎、有明牡蛎、熊本牡蛎、岩牡蛎、艾氏牡蛎、太平洋牡蛎、葡萄牙牡蛎)的线粒体DNA片段(COI、12S、16S和tRNAs),以及核糖体RNA基因转录间隔子序列(ITS-1、ITS-2和ITS)进行分子系统学研究.[结果]无论种间或种内,tRNAs序列差异最大,亚种内TS1序列差异最大;tRNAs和COI序列较其它序列变异更快,种间变异与种内变异之间有明显的条形码间隙;12S、16S、ITS和ITS2的种间变异与种内变异无重叠及条形码间隙;ITS1的种间变异与种内变异出现重叠.在亚种层面,12S、ITS、ITS1和ITS2的亚种间变异与亚种内变异出现重叠;16S的亚种间变异与亚种内变异无重叠及条形码间隙;tRNAs与COI序列亚种间变异与亚种内变异之间有明显的条形码间隙,有利于区分亚种.[结论]tRNAs和COI序列可用于种及亚种的鉴定.

[目的]选育出香港牡蛎(Crassostrea hongkongensis)耐高盐品系,为提高其养殖经济效益和促进产业持续发展提供保障.[方法]以广西茅尾海海区野生香港牡蛎为亲本,采用♂:♀=1:3的交配方式建立30个香港牡蛎野生群体全同胞家系,比较各家系早期的生长性状差异,并对30个家系在高盐度(25‰～30‰)自然海域的生长和存活率进行监测,对香港牡蛎耐高盐性进行筛选.[结果]各家系间的受精率及孵化率无显著差异(P>0.05,下同).在幼虫培育过程中,至15日龄时以家系G1的壳高最大,家系I1的壳高最小,二者差异显著(P<0.05);以G为父本的半同胞家系存活率较低,均低于平均值(63.21％);而以D为父本的3个家系存活率较高,均超过71.33％.海区养殖期间,至60日龄时各家系均表现出较高的存活率,保持在90.00％以上;至120日龄时,除家系B1、B2、B3、E1、I1、J1、J2和J3外,其他各家系的存活率均为0;至300日龄时家系B1、B2、B3、I1、J1和J2的存活率在40.23％～60.32％.不同家系的壳高在相同日龄差异明显,养成期至300日龄时,家系B2的壳高最大,但与家系B1和J3的差异不显著;以家系E1的壳高最小.[结论]通过家系建立结合高盐海域养殖的方式筛选获得B1、B2、I1、J1和J2等优良家系,可为香港牡蛎耐高盐品系选育提供种质资源.

A black-heart disease caused by polydorid infestation is reported for the first time in Kumamoto oyster Crassostrea sikamea Amemiya, 1928 spat in a pond at Beihai city, Guangxi province, China, with a prevalence of 100% and a cumulative mortality rate of 50% within 2 mo. In heavily infected oyster spat, blisters extended toward the center of the inner shell surface, around the adductor muscle scar area to form a large black area occupying approximately 50% of the area of the inner shell surface. Morphological analysis identified the pathogen as Polydora lingshuiensis Ye et al., 2015, which was reconfirmed by comparison of its corresponding 18S rRNA and mitochondrial CO1 gene sequences with those in the GenBank database. The mean abundance of mud blisters was significantly higher in live spat than in dead spat, suggesting that P. lingshuiensis preferentially infests live oyster spat. Additionally, P. lingshuiensis larvae were detected in the inlet near the dam, which suggests that the source of P. lingshuiensis larvae infecting the spat may be larvae entering the ponds through the water current from the sea.

为掌握贝类帕金虫病的发生和流行规律,对广西沿海的常见贝类进行了帕金虫(Perkinsus spp.)感染情况调查,并开展了香港巨牡蛎(Crassostrea hongkongensis)和菲律宾蛤仔(Ruditapes philippinarum)寄生帕金虫的流行病学研究.结果显示,调查的14种贝类中有13种感染了奥尔森帕金虫(P.olseni),8种感染了北海帕金虫(P.beihaiensis),7种同时感染了这2种帕金虫(同一贝类个体最多感染一种帕金虫).奥尔森帕金虫在尖紫蛤(Soletellina acuta)、棕带仙女蛤(Callista erycina)、菲律宾蛤仔、毛蚶(Scapharca subcrenata)等4种贝类中的感染率显著高于其他10种,而北海帕金虫在香港巨牡蛎和翡翠贻贝(Perna viridis)中的感染率显著高于其他12种.在香港巨牡蛎中,北海帕金虫的感染率显著高于奥尔森帕金虫;在菲律宾蛤仔中,奥尔森帕金虫的感染率显著高于北海帕金虫.帕金虫在不同海域、不同养殖贝类种类中呈现出不同的感染规律.

Backgroud: Chronic restraint stress (CRS) induces depressive-like behaviors in rodents, which involves dysregulation of hippocampal synapse formation and excessive autophagy. Adiponectin has antidepressant activity. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a novel gasotransmitter. The present work was to investigate whether H2S antagonizes CRS-induced depressive-like behaviors in rats and to explore whether its potential mechanism involves ameliorated synaptic and autophagic dysregulation by upregulation of adiponectin. Methods: Depressive-like behavior was analyzed by the tail suspension test (TST), novelty suppressed feeding test (NSFT), and open field test (OFT). The structure of autophagy was observed under transmission electron microscopy. The expressions of adiponectin, beclin1, and sequestosome 1 (p62/SQSTMI) protein in hippocampus were measured by Western blot. The levels of synapsin1 (SYN1) in the hippocampus were calculated by Western blot and immunofluorescence technique. Results: The behavior experiments, including TST, NSFT, and OFT, showed that NaHS (a donor of H2S) reduced CRS-induced depressive-like behaviors. NaHS decreased the loss of hippocampal synapse as evidenced by increased the level of SYN1 in the hippocampus of CRS-exposed rats. NaHS rescued CRS-induced excessive hippocampal autophagy as evidenced by declines in the number of autophagosomes and the expression of beclin1 as well as increase in the expression of P62 in the hippocampus of CRS-exposed rats. NaHS upregulated hippocampal adiponectin expression in the CRS-exposed rats. Furthermore, neutralizing adiponectin by Anti-acrp30 reversed the protective response of NaHS to CRS-produced depressive-like behaviors as well as hippocampal synaptic disruption and excessive autophagy. Conclusion: H2S mitigates CRS-induced depressive behavior via upregulation of adiponectin, which in turn results in amelioration in hippocampal synapse formation dysfunction and excessive autophagy.

Amphioxus, a cephalochordate, is a key model animal for studying the evolution of vertebrate immunity. Recently, studies have revealed that microRNA (miRNA) expression profiles change significantly in the amphioxus gill after immune stimulation, but it remains largely unknown how gene expression responds to immune stress. Elucidating gene expression changes in the amphioxus gill will provide a deeper understanding of the evolution of gill immunity in vertebrates. Here, we used high-throughput RNA sequencing technology (RNA-seq) to conduct tag-based digital gene expression profiling (DGE) analyses of the gills of control Branchiostoma belcheri and of those exposed to the viral mimic, poly(I:C) (pIC). Six libraries were created for the control and treatment groups including three biological replicates per group. A total of 1999 differently expressed genes (DEGs) were obtained, with 571 and 1428 DEGs showing up- or down-regulation, respectively, in the treatment group. Enrichment analysis of gene ontology (GO) terms and pathways revealed that the DEGs were primarily related to immune and defense response, apoptosis, human disease, cancer, protein metabolism, enzyme activity, and regulatory processes. In addition, eight DEGs were randomly selected to validate the RNA-seq data using real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR), and the results confirmed the accuracy of the RNA-seq approach. Next, we screened eight key responding genes to examine the dynamic changes in expression levels at different time points in more detail. The results indicated that expressions of TRADD, MARCH, RNF31, NF-κb, CYP450, TNFRSF6B, IFI and LECT1 were induced to participate in the antiviral response against pIC. This study provides a valuable resource for understanding the role of the amphioxus gill in antiviral immunity and the evolution of gill immunity in vertebrates.

为了研究鲎形体与体重之间的异速生长关系,进一步探讨其生长特性,分别测定分析圆尾鲎(Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda)和中国鲎(Tachypleus tridentatus)不同年龄段、不同龄期及不同性别的形态参数(头胸甲宽度及体重).结果表明,圆尾鲎与中国鲎各年龄段、各龄期及不同龄期的雌、雄鲎头胸甲宽度与体重均为极显著正相关,决定系数R2＞ 0.81.异速生长曲线斜率-回归系数6(体重的1og值与前体宽度的1og值)均大干1,总体表现为随着龄期的增长而不断增加,且雌鲎体重相对于头胸甲宽度的增长率大于雄鲎.

The gene expression associated with immune response to bacteria/bacterial mimic has been extensively analyzed in amphioxus, but remains largely unknown about how gene are involved in the immune response to viral invasion at expression level. Here, we analyze the rRNA-depleted transcriptomes of Branchiostoma belcheri using strand-specific RNA-seq in response to the viral mimic, poly (I:C) (pIC). A total of 5,317 differentially expressed genes were detected at treatment group by comparing with control. The gene with the most significant expression changes (top 15) after pIC challenge and 7 immune-related categories involving 58 differently expressed genes were scrutinized. By functional enrichment analysis of differently expressed genes, gene ontology terms involving response to stress and stimulus, apoptosis, catabolic and metabolic processes and enzyme activity were overrepresented, and several pathways related to immune signaling, immune response, cancer, apoptosis, viral disease, metabolism were activated after pIC injection. A positive correlation between the qRT-PCR and strand-specific RNA-seq data confirmed the accuracy of the RNA-seq results. Additionally, the expression of genes encoding NLRC5, CASP1, CASP6, CYP450, CAT, and MDA5 were induced in B. belcheri under pIC challenge. Our experiments provide insight into the immune response of amphioxus to pIC and valuable gene expression information for studying the evolution of antiviral immunity in vertebrates.

Chronic restraint stress (CRS) has detrimental effects on cognitive function. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S), as a neuromodulator, regulates learning and memory. Hippocampus is a key structure in learning and memory. Sirt1 (silence signal regulating factor 1) plays an important role in modulating cognitive function. Therefore, our present work was to investigate whether H2S meliorates CRS-induced damage in hippocampus and impairment in cognition, and further to explore whether the underlying mechanism is via upreglulating Sirt1. In our present work, the behavior experiments [Y-maze test, Novel object recognition (NOR) test, Morris water maze (MWM) test] showed that sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS, a donor of H2S) blocked CRS-induced cognitive impairments in rats. NaHS inhibited CRS-induced hippocampal oxidative stress as evidenced by decrease in MDA level as well as increases in GSH content and SOD activity. NaHS rescued CRS-generated ER stress as evidenced by downregulations of CPR78, CHOP, and cleaved caspase-12. NaHS reduced CRS-exerted apoptosis as evidenced by decreases in the number of TUNEL-positive cells and Bax expression as well as increase in Bcl-2 expression. NaHS upregulated the expression of Sirt1 in the hippocampus of CRS-exposed rats. Furthermore, inhibited Sirt1 by Sirtinol reversed the protective effects of NaHS against CRS-produced cognitive dysfunction and oxidative stress, ER stress as well as apoptosis in hippocampus. Together, these results suggest that H2S meliorates CRS-induced hippocampal damage and cognitive impairment by upregulation of hippocampal Sirt1.