Taxonomic revision of genus Rohanixalus(Anura:Rhacophoridae)in China with description of one new species

DEAR EDITOR,Based upon morphological and molecular evidence,the authors revised the genus Rohanixalus Biju,Garg,Gokulakrishnan,Chandrakasan,Thammachoti,Ren,Gopika,Bisht,Hamidy and Shouche,2020(Anura:Rhacophoridae)in China through describing one new species,adding one species to the fauna(R.shyamrupus)and supplementing data on one species(Rohanixalus hansenae;Supplementary Materials).

How little is known about “the little brown frogs”:description of three new species of the genus Leptobrachella(Anura:Megophryidae)from Yunnan Province, China

Asian leaf-litter toads of the genus Leptobrachella represent a great anuran diversification in Asia.Previous studies have suggested that the diversity of this genus is still underestimated. During herpetological surveys from 2013 to 2018, a series of Leptobrachella specimens were collected from the international border areas in the southern and western parts of Yunnan Province, China.Subsequent analyses based on morphological and molecular data revealed three distinct and previously unknown lineages, which we formally describe as three new species herein. Among them, we describe a new species that occurs at the highest known elevation for Leptobrachella in China. Four species of Leptobrachella, including two new species, are found in the same reserve. Furthermore, our results suggest that the population from Longchuan County,Yunnan, may represent an additional new species of Leptobrachella, although we tentatively assigned it to Leptobrachella cf. yingjiangensis due to the small sample size examined. Lastly, we provide the first description of females of L. yingjiangensis. Our results further highlight that both micro-endemism and sympatric distributions of species are common patterns in Leptobrachella, that contribute to taxonomic and conservation challenges in these frogs. We provide an identification key for Leptobrachella known to occur in Yunnan. Given the lack of knowledge on species diversity of Leptobrachella along international border areas, we recommend that future studies include transboundary collaborative surveys.

CMA down-regulates p53 expression through degradation of HMGB1 protein to inhibit irradiation-triggered apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM To investigate the mechanism of chaperone-mediated autophagy(CMA)-induced resistance to irradiationtriggered apoptosis through regulation of the p53 protein in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC). METHODS Firstly, we detected expression of lysosome-associated membrane protein 2a(Lamp-2a), which is the key protein of CMA, by western blot in Hep G2 and SMMC7721 cells after irradiation. We further used sh RNA Lamp-2a HCC cells to verify the radioresistance induced by CMA. Next, we detected the HMGB1 and p53 expression after irradiation by western blot, and we further used RNA interference and ethyl pyruvate(EP), as a HMGB1 inhibitor, to observe changes of p53 expression. Finally, an immunoprecipitation assay was conducted to explore the interaction between Lamp-2a and HMGB1, and the data were analyzed. RESULTS We found the expression of Lamp-2a was increased on irradiation while apoptosis decreased in Hep G2 and SMMC7721 cells. The apoptosis was increased markedly in the sh RNA Lamp-2a Hep G2 and SMMC7721 cells as detected by western blot and colony formation assay. Next, we found p53 expression was gradually reduced on irradiation but obviously increased in sh RNA Lamp-2a cells. Furthermore, p53 increased the cell apoptosis on irradiation in Hep3B(p53-/-) cells. Finally, p53 levels were regulated by HMGB1 as measured through RNA interference and the EP treatment. HMGB1 was able to combine with Lamp-2a as seen by immunoprecipitation assay and was degraded via the CMA pathway. The decreased HMGB1 inhibited p53 expression induced by irradiation and further reduced the apoptosis in HCC cells. CONCLUSION CMA pathway activation appears to down-regulate the susceptibility of HCC to irradiation by degrading HMGB1 with further impact on p53 expression. These findings have clinical relevance for radiotherapy of HCC.

Molecular phylogeny and morphological comparisons of the genus Hebius Thompson, 1913(Reptilia:Squamata: Colubridae) uncover a new taxon from Yunnan Province, China, and support revalidation of Hebius septemlineatus(Schmidt, 1925)

We describe a new species of the genus Hebius and provide evidence for the validity of H.septemlineatus comb.nov..Morphological and molecular analyses of Hebius specimens collected in Yunnan Province,China,revealed three distinct lineages,namely the newly described Hebius weixiensis sp.nov.,as well as H.octolineatus(Boulenger,1904),and H.septemlineatus comb.nov.(Schmidt 1925),which is removed from synonymy with H.octolineatus.Based on mitochondrial genealogy,Hebius weixiensis sp.nov.is sister to H.septemlineatus comb.nov.,while H.octolineatus is sister to H.bitaeniatus.The new species and H.septemlineatus comb.

A new species of genus Fejervarya (Anura:Dicroglossidae) from northern Thailand

We describe a new species of frog in the dicroglossid genus Fejervarya from Ban Monjong, Omkoi District, Chiang Mai Province, northern Thailand. Analysis of DNA sequence data from the mitochondrial gene 16S, advertisement calls, and morphological distinctiveness support recognition of the new species. Matrilineal genealogy suggests that the new population from Chiang Mai is a sister taxon to the South Asian clade that includes F. syhadrensis, F. granosa, and F. pierreL The new species, Fejervarya chiangmaiensis sp. nov., differs morphologically from its congeners by its relatively small body size and proportions and the presence of dorsal warts and dermal ridges. Discovery of this new species indicates that the biodiversity of amphibians in this region remains underestimated.

A new species of rain-pool frog (Dicroglossidae： Fejervarya) from western Thailand

We describe a new species, Fejervarya muangkanensis sp. nov., based on a series of specimens collected from Ban Tha Khanun, Thong Pha Phum District, Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand. The new species is easily distinguished from its congeners by morphological and molecular data, and can be diagnosed by the following characters： （1） small size （adult male snout-vent length （SVL） 33.5 mm; female SVL 40.0-40.9 mm）; （2） tympanum small, discernible but unclear; （3） poorly developed toe webbing; （4） no lateral line system in adults; （5） characteristic ＂Fejervaryan＂ lines present in females; and （6） femoral glands absent. Molecular phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial 16S rRNA further supports it as a distinct lineage and distinguishes it from its congeners for which sequences are available.

Comparative multi-locus assessment of modern Asian newts(Cynops, Paramesotriton, and Pachytriton:Salamandridae) in southern China suggests a shared biogeographic history

Evolutionary biologists are always interested in deciphering the geographic context of diversification,therefore they introduced the concept of comparative phylogeography, which helps to identify common mechanisms that contribute to shared genetic structures among organisms from the same region.Here, we used multi-locus genetic data along with environmental data to investigate shared phylogeographic patterns among three Asianendemic newt genera, Cynops, Paramesotriton and Pachytriton, which occurred in montane/submontane streams or ponds in southern China. Our 222samples from 78 localities covered the entire range of the three genera and represented the largest dataset of this group to date. We reconstructed matrilineal genealogies from two protein-coding,mitochondrial genes, and gene network from two nuclear genes. We also estimated divergence times of major cladogenetic events and used occurrence data to evaluate niche difference and similarity between lineages. Our results revealed a common basal split in all three genera that corresponds to the separation of two geographic terrains of southern China.Those ancient divergence occurred during middle to late Miocene and likely correlate with paleoclimatic fluctuations caused by the uplift of the Qinghai-Xizang (Tibet) Plateau (QTP).Particularly,the strengthening and weakening of Asian summer monsoons during the Miocene may have profoundly impacted southern China and led to repeatedly vicariance in those newts.However,despite differences in realized niches between lineages,there is no evidence for divergence of fundamental niches.Preservation of old newt matriline lineages in mountains of southern China suggests that the region acts as both museums and cradles of speciation.Based on those results,we advocate a multi-pronged protection strategy for newts in the three genera.

X-sight椎体追踪技术在射波刀中的应用

射波刀立体定向放疗能使肿瘤靶区得到最大的照射剂量,而对周围正常组织损伤较少,具有高精度、大剂量、分割次数少及无创伤等优点。X-sight追踪作为颈部肿瘤和椎体转移瘤、胸部肿瘤、腹部肿瘤及盆腔肿瘤的治疗方法得到广泛应用,其安全性和精准性非常高。