Ruliang Pan

Background: Understanding the nasopharyngeal (NAS) and rectal (INT) microbiomes is critical to maintain host health. However, their functional roles in shaping microbial network structure and niche differentiation remain unexplored in most animal species, especially endangered primates. Here, we compared the NAS and INT microbiomes of golden snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus roxellana) using full-length 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing and metagenomics, focusing on taxonomic composition, functional profiles (KEGG, CAZy, PHI), and microbial co-occurrence networks. Results: Our results indicate that microbial community structure and diversity (Shannon evenness) differ significantly between the two niches. Taxonomically, both sequencing approaches consistently show that, at the relative-abundance level, NAS is dominated by genera such as Dolosigranulum and Vibrio, whereas the INT is characterized by Campylobacter, Helicobacter, and Aerococcus. Notably, metagenomic analysis indicates a relatively high abundance of potential pathogens, including Helicobacter pylori and Chlamydia psittaci. LEfSe analysis shows Dolosigranulum and Campylobacter are key microbial markers for the NAS and INT niches, respectively. KEGG pathway analysis reveals that the NAS microbiome is enriched in valine/leucine/isoleucine degradation and glutathione metabolism, while the INT microbiome is enriched in amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism and ribosome pathways. At the CAZy level, all 29 differentially abundant families (e.g., GH13_29, GH103, AA3_2) were enriched in the NAS. Distinct pathogen–host interaction profiles further reflect niche-specific adaptations. Exploratory Spearman-based co-occurrence networks (in which no genus–CAZy edge survived Benjamini–Hochberg (FDR) correction) linked core commensals to KEGG pathways and CAZy families (e.g., GT35, GH0). In the INT, Campylobacter and Helicobacter form high-connectivity modules associated with pathways such as those involving the two-component system and ABC transporters. Conclusions: The nasopharyngeal and rectal microbiomes in golden snub-nosed monkeys differ not only taxonomically but also functionally, exhibiting clear spatially specialized functional differentiation. Given the small sample size (n = 8), these findings provide preliminary evidence for niche-specific microbial and functional partitioning and suggest that the nasopharynx may harbor a relatively high abundance of potential zoonotic pathogens. This study provides a basis for further exploration with a larger sample size.

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Seasonal body mass fluctuations in mammals reflect fundamental trade-offs between ecological constraints and reproductive effort, yet few studies have simultaneously linked these dynamic changes with activity budgets in high-altitude primates inhabiting extreme-temperature environments. We examined the effects of environmental stress and mating effort on body mass dynamics in black-and-white snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus bieti). Using monthly non-invasive monitoring over a full annual cycle, we obtained 464 body mass records from free-ranging adults (127 male records, 337 female records). Both sexes showed marked seasonal variation: body mass peaked in spring and autumn, declined moderately in winter (males: −7.4%, females: −2.9%), and dropped more sharply during the mating season (males: −11.1%, females: −12.9%). Male mass loss was positively correlated with the number of mates. Seasonal shifts in activity budgets accompanied these patterns: in summer, males increased movement and females increased both movement and social interaction, while both sexes reduced resting; in winter, both sexes increased feeding time, with females additionally reducing social activities. These findings reveal two distinct phases of body mass loss. Body mass decline was more pronounced during the mating season than in winter, a pattern that may be associated with higher energetic costs related to reproductive activity. Our study demonstrates how high-altitude primates balance survival and reproduction through flexible energy allocation, offering key insights into their seasonal energy allocation resilience in provisioned high-altitude habitats.

Skin trauma, especially chronic trauma, poses a significant clinical challenge, often leading to severe disability or even death. Traditional treatment methods exhibit several limitations in terms of efficacy, material availability, and biocompatibility. The development of decellularized extracellular matrices (dECMs) has led to revolutionary progress in this field. These materials retain the bioactive components of the natural extracellular matrix (ECM) and, combined with their excellent physical structure, promote wound healing. Preclinical studies have demonstrated that dECM-based dressings can enhance the re-epithelialization rate by 20–50% and shorten the healing cycle of chronic wounds by 40%. This article systematically reviews the application of dECM in wound repair. First, it outlines the pathophysiology of wound healing, focusing on the mechanisms by which key ECM components promote wound healing. Next, it classifies decellularized materials and proposes material design schemes for different types of damage. Finally, the limitations of current dECM-based wound treatments and future research directions are discussed. This review aims to provide a theoretical framework and technical reference for researchers in related fields, promoting the widespread application of dECM materials for skin trauma treatment.

Adoption among nonhuman primates (hereafter primates) has been widely reported, particularly in chimpanzees, renowned for their higher intelligence and well-developed cognition. In contrast to adoption in other Old World monkeys, this case of adoption in golden snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus roxellana) involves two infants associated with three units characterized by distinct social structures and reproductive functions. Consequently, this case extends beyond traditional hypotheses on allomaternal care and adoption—such as enhancing the fitness of adoptive mothers, fostering maternal behaviors, and improving fitness through social and individual interactions—to necessitate an association with the complex social structure characterized by hierarchical, multilevel composition, akin to human society, and intense sexual selection that frequently results in infanticide. Specifically, adopting an infant with a genetic link to the dominant male of the adopting female may reduce the risk of infanticide against her offspring that do not share a biological link with the dominant male. This adoption pattern suggests that golden snub-nosed monkeys may possess more sophisticated intelligence and cognition, characteristics supported by more developed brain structure and facial muscles than the other Old World monkeys.

The evolutionary development and phylogenetic division between Asian and African cercopithecoids (Cercopithecidae) have attracted significant attention in genetics, molecular biology, behavior, and morphology. However, less emphasis has been placed on how they have evolved morphologically after divergence, approximately 10 million years ago (mya) for Colobinae and 5–7 mya for Cercopithecinae, corresponding to the significant variation and diversity in landscape, climate, habitat, and ecologies between the two continents. This study examines whether such variation and diversity have been reflected in dental morphology. Our findings reveal substantial differences between Hylobatidae and Cercopithecidae, as well as between Colobinae and Cercopithecinae, indicating that size-adjusted dental variation mainly reveals the diversity associated with evolution and phylogenetic inertia. Interestingly, despite the earlier divergence of Afro-Asian colobines, their Euclidean Distance is comparable to that of Afro-Asian cercopithecines. This implies that latecomers (macaques) demonstrate equivalent diversity to colobines due to their extensive dispersion and broader adaptative radiation on the same continent. Colobinae exhibit more developed premolar and molar regions. However, when post-canine teeth are considered alone, Colobinae present a significantly larger molar size than Asian Cercopithecinae but not with the African Cercopihecinae. This contradicts the hypothesis that folivorous primates (Colobinae) have larger post-canine molars than frugivorous ones (Cercopithecinae). The considerable molar size in African Cercopithecinae must be associated with their more protrusive and larger facial structure rather than a specific dietary preference, being less diverse than their Asian counterparts—a trait that has evolved phylogenetically. This study also paves the way for further exploration of facial and cranial differences between the continental groups of Cercopithecinae and Colobinae, delving deeply into diversity variation due to geographical and climatic adaptations.

Genetic diversity is an essential indicator that echoes the natural selection and environmental adaptation of a species. Isolated small populations are vulnerable to genetic drift, inbreeding, and limited gene flow; thus, assessing their genetic diversity is critical in conservation. In this study, we studied the genetic diversity of black-and-white snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus bieti) using neutral microsatellites and five adaptive major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes. Two DQA1 alleles, two DQB1 alleles, two DRB1 alleles, two DRB5 alleles, and three DPB1 alleles were isolated from a population. The results indicate that neutral microsatellites demonstrate a high degree of heterozygosity and polymorphism, while adaptive MHC genes display a high degree of heterozygosity and moderate polymorphism. The results also show that balancing selection has prominently influenced the MHC diversity of the species during evolution: (1) significant positive selection is identified at several amino acid sites (primarily at and near antigen-binding sites) of the DRB1, DRB5, and DQB1 genes; (2) phylogenetic analyses display the patterns of trans-species evolution for all MHC loci. This study provides valuable genetic diversity insights into black-and-white snub-nosed monkeys, which dwell at the highest altitude and have experienced the harshest environmental selection of all primates globally since the Pleistocene. Such results provide valuable scientific evidence and a reference for making or amending conservation strategies for this endangered primate species.

Understanding how climate, ecological and environmental changes, and anthropogenic activities have driven animals' development and predicting their prospective distribution profiles are essential to making a tangible conservation strategy. Macaques (Macaca) distributed in China provide an ideal research model for such an effort. We reconstruct their geographic distribution profiles from the last inter-glaciation (LIG, 120,000-140,000 years BP), the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM, 22,000 years BP), and the present (1970-2000), based on which we deduce their distribution perspective in the 2050s. The results show that their suitable habitats during LIG and LGM were mainly in eastern Southwest, Central, and Coastal China. A noticeable distribution reduction started in LIG and persisted until the present (1970-2000). Their distribution centroid would shift northward to mountainous regions, mainly in Southwest China, where more migration corridors would be available for their prospective development. Also, the results indicate that China's Protected Area currently does not cover more than 94.00% of macaques' potential habitats, which is a dismal situation for their conservation. Finally, this study proclaims that the conservation priority of the macaques in the years to come should focus on Southwest China - their future refuge region.