Chromosome-level genome and population genomics of the intermediate horseshoe bat(Rhinolophus affinis)reveal the molecular basis of virus tolerance in Rhinolophus and echolocation call frequency variation

Horseshoe bats(genus Rhinolophus,family Rhinolophidae)represent an important group within chiropteran phylogeny due to their distinctive traits,including constant high-frequency echolocation,rapid karyotype evolution,and unique immune system.Advances in evolutionary biology,supported by high-quality reference genomes and comprehensive whole-genome data,have significantly enhanced our understanding of species origins,speciation mechanisms,adaptive evolutionary processes,and phenotypic diversity.However,genomic research and understanding of the evolutionary patterns of Rhinolophus are severely constrained by limited data,with only a single published genome of R.ferrumequinum currently available.In this study,we constructed a high-quality chromosome-level reference genome for the intermediate horseshoe bat(R.affinis).Comparative genomic analyses revealed potential genetic characteristics associated with virus tolerance in Rhinolophidae.Notably,we observed expansions in several immune-related gene families and identified various genes functionally associated with the SARS-CoV-2 signaling pathway,DNA repair,and apoptosis,which displayed signs of rapid evolution.In addition,we observed an expansion of the major histocompatibility complex class II(MHC-II)region and a higher copy number of the HLA-DQB2 gene in horseshoe bats compared to other chiropteran species.Based on whole-genome resequencing and population genomic analyses,we identified multiple candidate loci(e.g.,GLI3)associated with variations in echolocation call frequency across R.affinis subspecies.This research not only expands our understanding of the genetic characteristics of the Rhinolophus genus but also establishes a valuable foundation for future research.

An Improved Chromosome-Level Genome Assembly and Annotation of Belted Beard Grunt(Hapalogenys analis)

Hapalogenys analis(order Lobotiformes)is an economically and ecologically significant fish species.It is a typical sedentary rocky reef fish and is primarily found in the northern Pacific Ocean.Here,we used Hi-C and PacBio sequencing technique to assemble a high-quality,chromosome-level genome for this species.The 539 Mb genome had a contig N50 with a size of 3.43 Mb,while 755 contigs clustered into 24 chromosomal groups with an anchoring rate of 99.02%.Of the total genomic sequence,132.74Mb(24.39%)were annotated as repeat elements.A total of 21360 protein-coding genes were identified,of which 20787 genes(97.32%)were successfully annotated to public databases.The BUSCO evaluation indicated that 96.90%of the total orthologous genes were matched.The phylogenetic tree representing H.analis and 14 other bony fish species indicated that the H.analis genome contained 364 expanded gene families related to olfactory receptor activity,compared with the common ancestor of H.analis and Sciaenidae.Comparative genomic analysis further identified 3584 contracted gene families.Branch-site modeling identified 277 genes experiencing positive selection,which may facilitate the adaptation to rocky reef environments.The genome reported here is helpful for ecological and evolutionary studies of H.analis.

Comparative and Phylogenetic Analysis of the Complete Chloroplast Genomes of 19 Species in Rosaceae Family

Rosaceae represents a vast and complex group of species,with its classification being intricate and contentious.The taxonomic placement of many species within this family has been a subject of ongoing debate.The study utilized the Illumina platform to sequence 19 plant species from 10 genera in the Rosaceae.The cp genomes,vary-ing in size from 153,366 to 159,895 bp,followed the typical quadripartite organization consisting of a large single-copy(LSC)region(84,545 to 87,883 bp),a small single-copy(SSC)region(18,174 to 19,259 bp),and a pair of inverted repeat(IR)regions(25,310 to 26,396 bp).These genomes contained 132–138 annotated genes,including 87 to 93 protein-coding genes(PCGs),37 tRNA genes,and 8 rRNA genes using MISA software,52 to 121 simple sequence repeat(SSR)loci were identified.D.arbuscular contained the least of SSRs and did not have hexanotides,A.lineata contained the richest SSRs.Long terminal repeats(LTRs)were primarily composed of palindromic and forward repeat sequences,meanwhile,The richest LTRs were found in Argentina lineata.Except for Argentina lineata,Fragariastrum eriocarpum,and Prunus trichostoma,which varied in gene type and position on both sides of the boundary,the remaining species were found to be mostly conserved according to IR boundary analysis.The examination of the Ka/Ks ratio revealed that only the infA gene had a value greater than 1,indicating that this gene was primarily subjected to positive selection during evolution.Additionally,9 hotspots of variation were identified in the LSC and SSC regions.Phylogenetic analysis confirmed the scientific validity of the genus Prunus L.sensu lato(s.l.)within the Rosaceae family.The separation of the three genera Argentina Hill,Fragariastrum Heist.ex Fabr.and Dasiphora Raf.from Potentilla L.may be a more scientific classification.These results offer fresh perspectives on the taxonomy of the Rosaceae.

The updated weeping forsythia genome reveals the genomic basis for the evolution and the forsythin and forsythoside A biosynthesis

Weeping forsythia (Forsythia suspensa,Oleaceae) is a deciduous broad-leaved tree species distributed in the warm temperate zone of China.However,the species still lacks a chromosome-level genome.In this study,the former draft genome (Accession No.WIPI00000000) of weeping forsythia was assembled into 14 chromosomes with a 712.9 Mb genome size.Weeping forsythia underwent a and b whole-genome duplication events.After the divergence between weeping forsythia and Olea europaea,1 453 gene families had a significant expansion,and 1 146 gene families had a significant contraction.The enrichment pathways and ontologies of expanded genes suggested that the tillering,photosynthesis and growth capacity of weeping forsythia were enhanced after the divergence of weeping forsythia and O.europaea.The contracted genes suggested that the resistance of weeping forsythia to cold and drought was weakened.The last glacial period led to a significant decline in the effective population size of weeping forsythia.Forty-six candidate genes were identified for the synthesis of the forsythin and forsythoside A by genomic and transcriptomic data.In this study,we improved the previous draft genome of weeping forsythia.Our genome will provide genomic resources for the subsequent evolution and breeding research of weeping forsythia.

Evolutionary genetics of wheat mitochondrial genomes

The Triticum-Aegilops complex provides ideal models for the study of polyploidization,and mitochondrial genomes(mtDNA)can be used to trace cytoplasmic inheritance and energy production following polyploidization.In this study,gapless mitochondrial genomes for 19 accessions of five Triticum or Aegilops species were assembled.Comparative genomics confirmed that the BB-genome progenitor donated mtDNA to tetraploid T.turgidum(genome formula AABB),and that this mtDNA was then passed on to the hexaploid T.aestivum(AABBDD).T urartu(AA)was the paternal parent of T.timopheevii(AAGG),and an earlier Ae.tauschii(DD)was the maternal parent of Ae.cylindrica(CCDD).Genic sequences were highly conserved within species,but frequent rearrangements and nuclear or chloroplast DNA insertions occurred during speciation.Four highly variable mitochondrial genes(atp6,cob,nad6,and nad9)were established as marker genes for Triticum and Aegilops species identification.The BB/GG-specific atp6 and cob genes,which were imported from the nuclear genome,could facilitate identification of their diploid progenitors.Genic haplotypes and repeat-sequence patterns indicated that BB was much closer to GG than to Ae.speltoides(SS).These findings provide novel insights into the polyploid evolution of the Triticum/Aegilops complex from the perspective of mtDNA,advancing understanding of energy supply and adaptation in wheat species。

Assembly and analysis of the Populus deltoides mitochondrial genome:the first report of a multicircular mitochondrial conformation for the genus Populus

Genomics research of Populus deltoides,an important timber species that is widely planted worldwide,is an important part of poplar breeding.Currently,the nuclear and chloroplast genome of P.deltoides have been sequenced,but its mitochondrial genome(mitogenome)has not been reported.To further explore the evolution and phylogeny of P.deltoides,the mitogenome of P.deltoides I-69 was assembled using reads from Nanopore and Illumina sequencing platforms and found to consist of 802,637 bp and three circular chromosomes(336,205,280,841,and 185,591 bp)containing 58 genes(34 protein-coding genes,21 tRNA genes,and 3 rRNA genes).RNA analysis in combination with several species showed signifi cantly fewer RNA editingsites in the mitogenomes of poplar and other angiosperms than in gymnosperms.Sequence transfer analysis showed extensive mitogenome rearrangements in Populus species,and with evolution from lower to higher plants,tRNA transfer from chloroplasts to mitochondria became increasingly frequent.In a phylogenetic analysis,the evolutionary status of P.deltoides was determined,and the section Populus was supported.Our results based on the fi rst report of a multicircular conformation of the Populus mitogenome provide a basis for further study of the evolution and genetics of P.deltoides and other Populus species and for breeding programs.

Comparative genomic analysis of Lactobacillus crispatus strains Lc31 and Lc83 with anti-cervical cancer potential by complete genome sequencing

Lactobacillus crispatus is a commonly found species in the urogenital tract(UGT)of healthy females and can also colonize other niches,such as the gastrointestinal tract(GIT).Although its potential protective role in cervical cancer has been reported,the anticancer mechanisms involved are still unclear.In this study,we sequenced and characterized the complete genomes of two L.crispatus strains(Lc31 and Lc83)isolated from the UGT of healthy women of reproductive age.Phylogenetic and phylogenomic analyses of these two strains and 15 other L.crispatus strains with complete genome sequences revealed that strains from the UGT and GIT clustered separately.UGT strains had a larger genome size,higher GC contents,and more protein-coding sequences and insertion sequence(Is)elements,indicating the likelihood of active horizontal gene transfer in this niche.We found a universal presence of genes encoding bacteriocins and the absence of virulence factors and antibiotic resistance genes in UGT strains,suggesting the potential of L.crispatus as a urogenital probiotic.Comparative genomic analysis identified an ula gene cluster responsible for L-ascorbate catabolism exclusively in UGT strains,and carbohydrate fermentation experiments confirmed that this substrate supported the growth of L.crispatus Lc31 and Lc83.Our findings improve the understanding of how the genome determines niche adaptation by L.crispatus,providing a foundation for investigating the mechanisms by which urogenital-derived L.crispatus promotes female health.

Rice-wheat comparative genomics:Gains and gaps

Rice and wheat provide nearly 40%of human calorie and protein requirements.They share a common ancestor and belong to the Poaceae(grass)family.Characterizing their genetic homology is crucial for developing new cultivars with enhanced traits.Several wheat genes and gene families have been characterized based on their rice orthologs.Rice–wheat orthology can identify genetic regions that regulate similar traits in both crops.Rice–wheat comparative genomics can identify candidate wheat genes in a genomic region identified by association or QTL mapping,deduce their putative functions and biochemical pathways,and develop molecular markers for marker-assisted breeding.A knowledge of gene homology facilitates the transfer between crops of genes or genomic regions associated with desirable traits by genetic engineering,gene editing,or wide crossing.

Comparative genomic analysis revealed that dietary habits affected the adaptation of Bifidobacterium bifidum to the intestinal tract in different geographic populations

Recent research on the genome of Bifidobacterium bifidum has mainly focused on the isolation sources(intestinal tract niche)recently,but reports on the isolation region are limited.This study analyzed the differences in the genome of B.bifidum isolated from different geographical populations by comparative genomic analysis.Results at the genome level indicated that the GC content of American isolates was significantly higher than that of Chinese and Russian isolates.The phylogenetic tree,based on 919 core genes showed that B.bifidum might be related to the geographical characteristics of isolation region.Furthermore,functional annotation analysis demonstrated that copy numbers of carbohydrate-active enzymes(CAZys)involved in the degradation of polysaccharide from plant and host sources in B.bifidum were high,and 18 CAZys showed significant differences across different geographical populations,indicating that B.bifidum had adapted to the human intestinal environment,especially in the groups with diets rich in fiber.Dietary habits were one of the main reasons for the differences of B.bifidum across different geographical populations.Additionally,B.bifidum exhibited high diversity,evident in glycoside hydrolases,the CRISPR-Cas system,and prophages.This study provides a genetic basis for further research and development of B.bifidum.

Alleviative effects of Bacillus coagulans strains on irritable bowel syndrome-unraveling strain specificity through physiological and genomic analysis

The high intraspecies heterogeneity of Baciillus coagulans leads to significant phenotypic differences among different strains.Thus,6 B.coagulans strains were tested in the present study using an irritable bowel syndrome(IBS)animal model to determine whether the IBS-alleviating effects of B.coagulans strains are strain-specific.The results of this study showed that the ingestion of B.coagulans GBI-30,6086,and B.coagulans CCFM1041 significantly alleviated IBS symptoms in mice.In contrast,other B.coagulans strains showed no or limited alleviating effects on IBS symptoms.According to our experimental results,the two main common features of these strains were as follows:1)The resistance of vegetative cells to bile salts,and 2)ability to synthesize specific lipids and secondary metabolites.Screening strains based on these two indicators may greatly reduce costs and provide a basis for mining new functional B.coagulans strains.Our results also suggest that administration of B.coagulans could significantly regulate microbiota dysbiosis in animal models.Moreover,the close relationships between the gut microbiota,gut microbiota metabolites,and IBS were further confirmed in this study.

Strain-specific effect of Streptococcus thermophilus consumption on host physiology

Streptococcus thermophilus is one of the most prevalent species in stool samples of westernized populations due to continuous exposure to fermented dairy products.However,few studies have explored the effect on host physiology by multiple S.thermophilus strains and considered the inter-strain differences in regulating host.In the present study,we investigated how four S.thermophilus strains influenced the gut microbiota,mucin changes,and host metabolism after 28 days of intervention in conventional mice.The results indicated that the consumption of S.thermophilus affected the host with strain specificity.Among four S.thermophilus strains,DYNDL13-4 and DQHXNQ38M61,especially DQHXNQ38M61,had more effect on host physiology by modulating gut microbiota and host metabolism than LMD9 and 4M6.Ingestion of strains DYNDL13-4 and DQHXNQ38M61 resulted in more remarkable changes in amino acid metabolism and lipid metabolism than that of strains LMD9 and 4M6,which may be related to the elevation of intestinal Bifidobacterium by DYNDL13-4 and DQHXNQ38M61.The enriched Coriobacteriaceae UCG-002,Rikenellaceae RC9 gut group,and Lactobacillus only in the DQHXNQ38M61 group,had a close relationship with the prominent effect of DQHXNQ38M61 on regulating amino acid and lipid metabolism.In addition,DQHXNQ38M61 had a strong influence on degrading colonic mucin fucose by decreasedα-fucosidase activity in feces,and improving mucin sulfation by upregulated Gal3ST2 expression.Comparative genomic analysis revealed that the four S.thermophilus strains belonged to different branches in the phylogenetic tree,and DYNDL13-4 and DQHXNQ38M61 had more genes involved in carbohydrate metabolism,amino acid metabolism,membrane transport,and signal transduction,which may confer the capacity of nutrient utilization and gastrointestinal adaptation of the strains and be associated with their strong regulation in host.Our study provides valuable information for understanding the regulation of host metabolism after consuming different S.thermophilus strains and could facilitate potential personalized applications of S.thermophilus based on strain varieties.

In silico Detection of Novel MicroRNAs Genes in Soybean Genome

The importance of microRNAs （miRNAs） at the post-transcriptional regulation level has recently been recognized in both animals and plants. In this study, the simple and most effective method of comparative genomic approach was used. First known plants miRNAs BLAST against the soybean genome, and then the located candidates were searched for novel miRNAs by RNA folding method in the vicinity （±400 nt） of the candidates. The results showed that a total of 521 novel soybean miRNA genes, including 236 mature miRNAs, were identified. All these mature miRNAs were grouped into 58 families, of which 21 of them were novel family in soybean. The upstream 2 000 nt of potential pre-miRNAs was used for promoter prediction, in order to investigate prediction of miRNAs and detect transcript unit and clustering. In this study, rniRNA genes less tend to be present as clusters in soybean. Only 9 clusters, containing 2l miRNA genes （accounted for 4.0% of the total）, were observed as part of polycistronic transcripts. Detailed analysis of sequence characteristics of novel miRNAs in soybean and all previous known plants miRNAs, were carried out. These results of this study provide a reference point for further study on miRNAs identification in plants, and improve the understanding of genome in soybean.

Comparative genome analysis on intraspecific evolution and nitrogen fixation of Leptospirillum ferriphilum isolates

To reveal the intraspecific evolution of Leptospirillum ferriphilum isolates which thrived in industrial bioleaching ecosystems and acid mine drainages,genome sequences of L.ferriphilum YSK,L.ferriphilum DX and L.ferriphilum ZJ were determined to compare with complete genome of L.ferriphilum ML-04.The genome comparisons reveal that extensive intraspecific variation occurs in their genomes,and that the loss and insertion of novel gene blocks of probable phage origin may mostly contribute to heterogeneity of gene content among L.ferriphilum genomes.Surprisingly,a nif gene cluster is identified in L.ferriphilum YSK and L.ferriphilum ZJ genomes.Intensive analysis and further experiments indicate that the nif gene cluster in L.ferriphilum YSK inherits from ancestor rather than lateral gene transfer.Overall,results suggest that the population of L.ferriphilum undergoes frequent genetic recombination,resulting in many closely related genome types in recent evolution.The combinatorial processes profoundly shape their physiologies and provide the basis for adaptation to different niches.

Comparative analysis of the genome of the field isolate V86010 of the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae from Philippines

Genome dynamics of pathogenic organisms are driven by plant host and pathogenic organism co-evolution, in which patho- gen genomes areused to overcome stresses imposed by hosts with various genetic backgrounds through generation of a range of field isolates. This model also applies to the rice host and its fungal pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae. To better understand genetic variation of M. oryzae in nature, the field isolate V86010 from the Philippines was sequenced and ana- lyzed. Genome annotation found that the assembled V86010 genome was composed of 1 931 scaffolds with a combined length of 38.9 Mb. The average GC ratio is 51.3% and repetitive elements constitute 5.1% of the genome. A total of 11 857 genes including 616 effector protein genes were predicted using a combined analysis pipeline. All predicted genes and effector protein genes of isolate V86010 distribute on the eight chromosomes when aligned with the assembled genome of isolate 70-15. Effector protein genes are located disproportionately at several chromosomal ends. The Pot2 elements are abundant in V86010. Seven V86010-specific effector proteins were found to suppress programmed cell death induced by BAX in tobacco leaves using an Agrobacterium-mediated transient assay. Our results may provide useful information for further study of the molecular and genomic dynamics in the evolution of M. oryzae and rice host interactions, and for characterizing novel effectors and AVR genes in the rice blast pathogen.

Comparative chloroplast genomes of Ulva prolifera and U.linza(Ulvophyceae)provide genetic resources for the development of interspecific markers

The green seaweeds Ulva linza and U.prolifera are closely related species.They usually co-occur widely and have important ecological significance as primary producers thriving in the intertidal zone.In the Yellow Sea,a genetically unique floating ecotype of U.prolifera even bloomed to cause serious green tides.However,there is still a lack of appropriate molecular markers to distinguish these two species,partially due to limited evaluations on the intraspecific variations in U.prolifera among dif ferent ecotypes.Since organelle genomes could provide rich genetic resources for phylogenetic analysis and development of genetic markers,in this study,the chloroplast genome from one attached population of U.prolifera was completely sequenced,and comparative genomic analyses were performed with other existing chloroplast genomes from U.linza and the floating ecotype of U.prolifera.The results showed that in spite of the high level of collinearity among three genomes,there were plenty of genetic variations especially within the non-coding regions,including introns and gene spacer regions.A strategy was proposed that only those signals of variation,which were identical between two ecotypes of U.prolifera but divergent between U.linza and U.prolifera,were selected to develop the interspecific markers for U.linza and U.prolifera.Two candidate markers,psa B and pet B,were shown to be able to distinguish these two closely related species and were applicable to more attached populations of U.prolifera from a wide range of geographical sources.In addition to the interspecific marker,this study would also provide resources for the development of intraspecific markers for U.prolifera.These markers might contribute to the surveys for Ulva species composition and green tide monitoring especially in the Yellow Sea region.

Comparative Analysis of the Complete Chloroplast Genome Sequences of Four Origin Plants of Lonicerae Flos(Lonicera;Caprifoliaceae)

Lonicerae Flos(LF)derived from the dried flower buds or opening flowers of four Lonicera plants(Lonicera macranthoides,L.hypoglauca,L.confusa,and L.fulvotnetosa),is a popular traditional Chinese medicine.Because the four origin plants are very similar in morphology,it is difficult to control the quality of LF in actual production.Over the past decade,many reports have pointed out the differences among them,including the botanical characteristics and active ingredients.However,there is still a lack of rapid methods that can be applied to the identification of the four origins.In this study,comparative analysis of the four chloroplast genomes was performed,and they showed low diversity(Pi=0.00267),three variation hotspots regions(rbcL-accD,rps12-ndhF and rps12-trnN-trnG)were identified as potentially molecular marker of highly informative.Meanwhile,the most obvious difference in SSR comparative analysis is reverse and complement repeats were only identified in L.confusa and L.hypoglauca,respectively.Lastly,the phylogenetic tree showed that L.confusa is more closely related to L.fulvotnetosa,while L.macranthoides is closer to L.hypoglauca.This study systematically revealed the differences among the four chloroplast genomes,and it provides valuable genetic information for identifying the origin of LF.

Comparative Analysis of the Genomes of Three Field Isolates of the Rice Blast Fungus <i>Magnaporthe oryzae</i>from Southern China

Rice blast caused by Magnaporthe oryzae (M. oryzae) is one of the most destructive diseases, which causes significant rice yield losses and affects global food security. To better understand genetic variations among different isolates of M. oryzae in the nature field, we re-sequenced and analyzed the genomes of three field isolates, QJ08-2006, QJ10-10, and QJ10-3001, which showed distinct pathogenicity on Xin-Yin-Zhan, an elite variety in South China. Genome annotation indicated that these three isolates assemblies have similar genome sizes with 38.4 Mb, 38.3 Mb, and 38.4 Mb, respectively. The QJ08-2006 assembly has 2082 contigs with an N50 of 127.4 kb, the QJ10-10 assembly has 2239 contigs with an N50 of 105.13 kb, the QJ10-3001 assembly has 2025 contigs with an N50 of 133.16 kb. A total of 10,432 genes including 1408 putative secreted protein genes were identified from the annotated isolate QJ08-2006 genome, 10,418 genes including 1410 putative secreted protein genes were identified in QJ10-10, and 10,401 genes including 1420 putative secreted protein genes were identified in QJ10-3001. There are as many as 11,076 identical genes in these three isolates and contained only a few unique genes among three isolates, of which 277 unique genes in QJ08-2006 and 264 unique genes in QJ10-10, and 213 unique genes in QJ10-3001. Most of the predicted secreted protein genes had been identified, and the three re-sequenced strains contained 371, 369, and 387 small Indel, respectively. Avr genes were analyzed in several sequenced Magnaporthe strains, the results revealed that Avr-Pi9 and Avr-Piz-t were present in all the sequenced isolates. The isolates QJ08-2006 contained AvrPib, QJ10-10, and QJ10-3001 had an insertion of a Pot3 element in the promoter of the AvrPib gene. Our results showed that, the rapid dominancy of virulence mutant isolates via clonal propagation displayed in the field after the release of the elite variety Xin-Yin-Zhan.

Chromosome-level genome assembly of the Asian citrus psyllid,Diaphorina citri

Diaphorina citri is a global citrus pest.As a vector insect,it can transmit the causative agents of citrus huanglongbing,causing irreversible losses to the citrus industry.The acquisition of genomic information can provide a molecular genetic basis for effective control of D.citri.Here,the DNBSEQ™,Oxford Nanopore Technologies,and Hi-C technologies are applied to generate a high-quality chromosome-level genome of D.citri.The genome size of D.citri was 523.78 Mb with a scaffold N50 of 47.05 Mb distributed on 13 chromosomes.A total of 250.64 Mb(47.85%)repeat sequences and 24048 protein-coding genes were predicted.Genome resequencing of female and male individuals indicated that the sex chromosome system of D.citri is XO.Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that D.citri and Pachypsylla venusta,which separated from their most recent common ancestor about 336.62 million years ago,were the most closely related.Additionally,we identified genes potentially involved in detoxification metabolism,pathogen transmission,and honeydew secretion for further investigation.The high-quality genome provides an important reference for developing effective management strategies of D.citri.

The haplotype-resolved genome assembly of autotetraploid rhubarb Rheum officinale provides insights into its genome evolution and massive accumulation of anthraquinones

Rheum officinale,a member of the Polygonaceae family,is an important medicinal plant that is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine.Here,we report a 7.68-Gb chromosome-scale assembly of R.officinale with a contig N50 of 3.47 Mb,which was clustered into 44 chromosomes across four homologous groups.Comparative genomics analysis revealed that transposable elements have made a significant contribution to its genome evolution,gene copy number variation,and gene regulation and expression,particularly of genes involved in metabolite biosynthesis,stress resistance,and root development.We placed the recent autotetraploidization of R.officinale at~0.58 mya and analyzed the genomic features of its homol-ogous chromosomes.Although no dominant monoploid genomes were observed at the overall expression level,numerous allele-differentially-expressed genes were identified,mainly with different transposable element insertions in their regulatory regions,suggesting that they functionally diverged after polyploidization.Combining genomics,transcriptomics,and metabolomics,we explored the contributions of gene family amplification and tetraploidization to the abundant anthraquinone production of R.officinale,as well as gene expression patterns and differences in anthraquinone content among tissues.Our report of-fers unprecedented genomic resources for fundamental research on the autopolyploid herb R.officinale and guidance for polyploid breeding of herbs.

Genetic and Phenotypic Variation of Campylobacter jejuni NCTC11168 Caused by flhA Mutation during Laboratory Passage

Objective Campylobacter jejuni NCTC11168 is commonly used as a standard strain for flagellar biosynthesis research.In this report,two distinguished phenotypic isolates(CJ1Z,flhA mutant strain,lawn;CJ2S,flhA complemented strain,normal colony)appeared during laboratory passages for NCTC11168.Methods Phenotypic assessments,including motility plates,transmission electron microscopy,biofilm formation assay,autoagglutination assay,and genome re-sequencing for these two isolates(CJ1Z,flhA mutant strain;CJ2S,flhA complemented strain)were carried out in this study.Results Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the flagellum was lost in CJ1Z.Phenotypic assessments and genome sequencing of the two isolates were performed in this study.The capacity for biofilm formation,colony auto-agglutination,and isolate motility was reduced in the mutant CJ1Z.Comparative genomic analysis indicated a unique native nucleotide insertion in flhA(nt,2154)that caused the I719Y and I720Y mutations and early truncation in flhA.Conclusion FlhA has been found to influence the expression of flagella in C.jejuni.To the best of our knowledge,this is the first study to describe the function of the C-terminal of this protein.