Wei-Kuang Wang

Angelica hirsutiflora Liu et al.1961, is a perennial herb in the Apiaceae family that is endemic to Taiwan. In this study, the complete circular chloroplast genome of A. hirsutiflora was reconstructed and annotated using Illumina sequencing. The size of the chloroplast genome is 154,266 bp, consisting of two inverted repeats (IRs, 25,075 bp) separated by a large single-copy region (LSC, 86,569 bp) and a small single-copy region (SSC, 17,547 bp). The GC content of the chloroplast genome is 37.6%. There are 114 different genes in the chloroplast genome of A. hirsutiflora, including 80 protein-coding genes, 30 tRNA genes and four rRNA genes. A maximum-likelihood phylogenetic analysis showed that A. hirsutiflora forms a distinct clade, and separated from other species within the genus Angelica. This study provided insights into the evolutionary relationships among different species of Angelica.

This study aims to explore the complete mitochondrial genome and phylogenetic relationship of Conger erebennus (Jordan & Snyder, 1901) (Anguilliformes: Congridae). The information about the mitogenome was obtained using Illumina’s next-generation sequencing technologies. The results revealed that the length of the circular mitogenome was 18,777 bp and it contained 37 genes and three unidentical control regions (CRs). The mitogenome contained 62.78% AT bases with an anti-G bias similar to that in most marine fishes. The maximum-likelihood phylogenetic tree of Anguiliformes based on encoding genes revealed that C. erebennus was in the same clade as other species of Congridae. The results of this study will progress the future of evolutionary research and species identification.

In this study, we determined the complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of Eopsetta grigorjewi Herzenstein, 1890 (Chordata: Pleuronectidae) using Sanger sequencing technology. The total length of the mitogenome sequence of E. grigorjewi is 17,269 base pairs, including 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA genes, and two ribosomal RNA genes. The overall composition of the mitogenome is estimated to be 27.5% A, 25.6% T, 29.9% C, and 17.0% G. The phylogenetic relationships of 15 Pleuronectidae species were constructed based on the 13 PCGs by the maximum-likelihood approach using IQtree software.

Bupleurum kaoi Liu, Chao, and Chuang is an endemic and endangered herb in Taiwan. In this study, the complete circular chloroplast genome of B. kaoi was reconstructed and annotated using Illumina sequencing. The genome size of B. kaoi is 155,938 bp, including a pair of inverted repeat regions (IRs: 26308 bp), separated by a large single-copy (LSC) region of 85,784 bp and a small single-copy (SSC) region of 17,538 bp. The GC content of the chloroplast genome is 37.6%. There are 113 different genes in the chloroplast genome of B. kaoi, including 79 protein-coding genes, 30 tRNA genes, and four rRNA genes. A maximum-likelihood phylogenetic analysis showed that Bupleurum species is the monophyletic group, and B. kaoi belongs to subgenus Bupleurum and is closely related to B. scorzonerifolium.

Oceanic currents, biological traits, and geological evidence from historical climate change have shaped the distribution of genetic diversity and demographic history in Macrobrachium japonicum. In this study, we investigated the phylogeographic structures and demographic history of M. japonicum in Taiwan and the Ryukyu Islands by the partial mitochondrial COI gene. The topology of the haplotype minimum-spanning network revealed a star-like structure, which suggested a recent range expansion. With the apparent lack of strong dispersal barriers to gene flow between ocean basins, amphidromous prawns, as marine organisms with larvae of high dispersal abilities, are generally expected to show genetic homogeneity. Divergence data suggested that M. japonicum populations diverged 0.462 ± 0.164 myr. Complex patterns of asymmetrical gene flow indicate that variation in dispersal ability is affected by the dominant Kuroshio Current systems of the Pacific Ocean. Analysis of its demographic history revealed that M. japonicum underwent a decline in size following a recent population expansion based on ABC analysis. Bayesian skyline plot analyses of all populations indicated that the expansion of M. japonicum was estimated to have occurred in 175 Kya and that the effective population size rapidly increased by approximately 50 Kya. The results of this study may offer both practical and theoretical value for the further study of conservation genetics, management, and sustainable resource utilization.

In this study, we determined the complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of Laomedia astacina De Haan, 1841 using next-generation sequencing technology. The total length of the mitogenome sequence of L. astacina is 14,795 base pairs, including 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA genes, and two ribosomal RNA genes. The overall composition of the mitogenome is estimated to be 35.3% A, 38.0% T, 13.8% C, and 12.9% G, indicating that the L. astacina mitogenome is rich in A + T (73.3%). The phylogenetic relationships of 13 decapod species were constructed based on the 13 PCGs by the maximum-likelihood approach using IQtree software.

Anthropogenic activities accompanied by heavy metal waste threaten the environment. Heavy metal pollution alters the soil microbial community composition, and the microorganisms that adapt to this stress increase in abundance. The remediation process of contaminated soil not only reduces the concentration of heavy metals but also alters the bacterial communities. High-throughput 16S rDNA sequencing techniques were applied to understand the changes in soil microbial communities. Using the remediation approach of the soil mixing, the concentrations of heavy metals in the contaminated areas were diluted and the soil environment was changed. The change of soil environment as a disturbance contributed to the alteration of microbial diversity of the remediated areas. The pH and heavy metals (Cr, Cu, Ni, and Zn) were the most influential factors driving the changes in community structure. The bacterial community structure was significantly different among sample areas. The decrease of heavy metals in soil may be the important factors that changed the microbial composition. This study provides the better understanding of the changes in composition of microbial communities affected by the remediation process in heavy metal-contaminated soil.

A new thermostable Sr(II) compound, formulated as [Sr(bdc)(H₂O)(DMF)]_n ⋅ x(solvent) (1, H₂bdc=terephthalic acid, DMF=N,N’‐dimethylformamide), has been synthesized from the solvothermal reaction of Sr(NO₃)₂ and H₂bdc. The X‐ray structural analysis revealed that compound 1 features a 3D framework based on 1D Sr(II)‐carboxylate chains, and the coordinated and free solvent molecules filled in the 1D channels of 1, which can be easily removed from the 3D framework via heat treatment activation. The obtained solvent‐free samples 1 a not only shows high adsorption capacities of C₂H₂ and CO₂ at 298 K, moderate adsorption selectivity for C₂H₂/CH₄, CO₂/CH₄, but also can be used as a luminescent probe for the detection of nitroaromatic explosives.

Treatment with hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) raises the hatching rate through the development and diapause termination ofArtemiacysts. To comprehend the upstream genetic regulation of diapause termination activated by exterior H₂O₂elements, an Illumina RNA-seq analysis was performed to recognize and assess comparative transcript amounts to explore the genetic regulation of H₂O₂in starting the diapause termination of cysts inArtemia salina. We examined three groupings treated with no H₂O₂(control), 180 μM H₂O₂(low) and 1800 μM H₂O₂(high). The results showed a total of 114,057 unigenes were identified, 41.22% of which were functionally annotated in at least one particular database. When compared to control group, 34 and 98 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were upregulated in 180 μM and 1800 μM H₂O₂treatments, respectively. On the other hand, 162 and 30 DEGs were downregulated in the 180 μM and 1800 μM H₂O₂treatments, respectively. Cluster analysis of DEGs demonstrated significant patterns among these types of 3 groups. GO and KEGG enrichment analysis showed the DEGs involved in the regulation of blood coagulation (GO: 0030193; GO: 0050818), regulation of wound healing (GO:0061041), regulation of hemostasis (GO: 1900046), antigen processing and presentation (KO04612), the Hippo signaling pathway (KO04391), as well as the MAPK signaling pathway (KO04010). This research helped to define the diapause-related transcriptomes ofArtemiacysts using RNA-seq technology, which might fill up a gap in the prevailing body of knowledge.

The cyprinid genusOnychostomaGünther, 1896 consists of 24 valid species distributed in Southeast Asia, including Taiwan, Hainan, mainland China and the Indochina region. In the present study, we determined the complete mitochondrial genome ofO. lepturum, which is 16,598 bp in length, containing 13 protein-coding genes, two rRNA genes, 22 tRNA genes and a typical control region (D-loop). To verify the molecular phylogeny of the subfamily Acrossocheilinae, we provide new insights to better understand the taxonomic status ofAcrossocheilus,OnychostomaandFolifer brevifilis. The phylogenetic trees presented three major clades based on the 13 protein-coding genes from 28 Acrossocheilinae species. Clades I and II represent theOnychostomaandAcrossocheilusgroups, respectively. Species ofAcrossocheilus,OnychostomaandF. brevifilisare included in Clade III, which is considered as an ancestral group. This work provides genomic variation information and improves our understanding of the Acrossocheilinae mitogenome, which will be most valuable in providing new insights for phylogenetic analysis and population genetics research.