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Development of Genome-Derived InDel Markers and Genetic Diversity Analysis of Caragana acanthophylla in Xinjiang, China.

Caragana acanthophylla Kom. is an ecologically important drought-tolerant shrub in Xinjiang, China, but species-specific molecular markers for germplasm characterization remain limited. We sampled 93 individuals from 11 localities representing the currently known distribution of C. acanthophylla in Xinjiang. Three individuals per locality (33 in total) were whole-genome resequenced, yielding 2,873,410 high-quality SNPs and 5,679,915 InDels. Genome-wide SNP-based PCA and genetic relationship analysis provided an independent high-resolution assessment of the 33 resequenced individuals. From 34 candidate primer pairs, eight polymorphic InDel markers with stable amplification and clear genotyping profiles were retained and applied to all 93 individuals. The SNP dataset revealed clear regional differentiation and finer locality-associated relationships. Analysis of the same 33 individuals with the eight InDel loci recovered part of this broad pattern, particularly the differentiation of the western YL materials, but showed lower fine-scale resolution. Across all 93 individuals, the InDel panel revealed moderate to low marker-level genetic diversity and detectable regional differentiation. AMOVA attributed 67.00% of the variation to differences among the 11 original sampling localities, while the five exploratory analytical groups showed a similar among-group component (68.37%). The Mantel correlation detected across all 93 individuals (r = 0.801, p < 0.001) disappeared after YL was excluded (r = -0.032, p = 0.724), indicating that the overall spatial signal was largely driven by the geographic separation of YL. These results support the eight-marker panel as a practical, low-cost tool for preliminary germplasm characterization and broader sample screening, while genome-wide SNP data provide substantially greater resolution for population-level inference.

Caragana acanthophylla

Analysis of human papillomavirus type 16 E4, E5 and L2 gene variations among women with cervical infection in Xinjiang, China.

BACKGROUND: There is a high incidence of cervical cancer in Xinjiang. Genetic variation in human papillomavirus may increase its ability to invade, spread, and escape host immune response. METHODS: HPV16 genome was sequenced for 90 positive samples of HPV16 infection. Sequences of the E4, E5 and L2 genes were analysed to reveal sequence variation of HPV16 in Xinjiang and the distribution of variation among the positive samples of HPV16 infection. RESULTS: Eighty-one of the 90 samples of HPV16 infection showed variation in HPV16 E4 gene with 18 nucleotide variation sites, of which 8 sites were synonymous variations and 11 missense variations. 90 samples of HPV16 infection showed variation in HPV16 E5 and L2 genes with 16 nucleotide variation sites (6 synonymous, 11 missense variations) in the E5 gene and 100 nucleotide variation sites in L2 gene (37 synonymous, 67 missense variations). The frequency of HPV16 L2 gene missense variations G3377A, G3599A, G3703A, and G3757A was higher in the case groups than in the control groups. CONCLUSIONS: Phylogenetic tree analysis showed that 87 samples were European strains, 3 cases were Asian strains, there were no other variations, and G4181A was related to Asian strains. HPV16 L2 gene missense variations G3377A, G3599A, G3703A, and G3757A were significantly more frequent in the case groups than in the control groups.

Humans

First Report and Integrated Characterization of Aeromonas veronii Associated with the Protected Fish Diptychus maculatus in Xinjiang, China.

Aeromonas veronii is a widely distributed opportunistic aquatic pathogen associated with diseases in freshwater fish. Despite the ecological and conservation significance of Diptychus maculatus, a protected cold-water fish inhabiting high-altitude ecosystems, information regarding its associated bacterial communities remains limited. This study aimed to isolate and characterize A. veronii recovered from D. maculatus and provide baseline information on its occurrence and phenotypic characteristics. Eight bacterial isolates were recovered from various tissues, including skin, gills, eye, intestine, dorsal fin, body kidney, gonad, and spleen of randomly sampled fish individuals from Xinjiang, China. Phenotypic and biochemical characterization, together with 16S rRNA sequencing, supported their identification as A. veronii, while gyrB analysis of a representative isolate provided additional species-level confirmation. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing revealed a consistent multidrug-resistance phenotype among all isolates. The isolates were susceptible to enrofloxacin, cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, and florfenicol. Intermediate responses were observed for ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, doxycycline, oxytetracycline, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, whereas resistance was detected against norfloxacin, neomycin, penicillin, amoxicillin, tetracycline, and erythromycin. In vitro biofilm assays demonstrated weak to moderate biofilm-forming capacity among isolates. These findings provide baseline data for wildlife microbial surveillance and conservation-oriented monitoring of protected fish populations, supporting future investigations into environmental monitoring, genomic characterization, and host-microbe interactions.

Aeromonas veronii

Landscape Genomics Reveals Divergent Adaptation Modes and Predicts Climate Vulnerability in Xinjiang Indigenous Sheep.

Climate change increasingly endangers precious indigenous sheep germplasm resources distributed across diverse Chinese landscapes, and systematically decoding their polygenic climate-adaptive genetic mechanisms is essential for targeted breed conservation and long-term sustainable pastoral production. Whole-genome resequencing data from 93 individuals covering six representative local sheep breeds were analyzed in this work. After filtering highly collinear climate variables, three mature landscape genomic approaches were jointly applied to identify environment-linked gene variants, while two predictive metrics across ten CMIP6 future climate scenarios quantified each breed's long-term adaptive risks. Six temperature- and water-related environmental factors jointly drove sheep population genetic differentiation, with temperature fluctuation indices showing markedly stronger explanatory power. Detected adaptive genes were significantly enriched in ion transport, energy metabolism and cellular stress response pathways. Future projections indicated western breeds (Bayinbuluke, Cele Black, Xiahe) face severe maladaptation risks under high-emission SSP370 scenarios by 2100, whereas central and eastern breeds possess much broader climate tolerance. This study systematically reveals the core genomic basis of ovine climate adaptation and quantifies distinct breed-specific climate vulnerability, providing solid reliable theoretical support for precision germplasm conservation and selective breeding of climate-resilient sheep varieties.

adaptive loci

Kaposi Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus Is Not Detected in Osteosarcoma From KSHV-Endemic African Countries and the Non-Endemic United States Populations.

Osteosarcoma is an aggressive primary malignant bone tumor of poorly defined etiology that predominantly affects adolescents and young adults. A viral cause has long been proposed, and a recent study from Xinjiang, China, reported frequent detection of Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) in Uyghur osteosarcoma cases, suggesting a possible association in this KSHV-endemic population. Whether this association extends to broader populations remains unknown. Our study investigated the presence of KSHV in osteosarcoma specimens from KSHV-endemic African countries (Cameroon, Kenya, South Africa, Zambia) and the non-endemic United States. A total of 356 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded and fresh-frozen specimens were retrieved or prospectively collected. In 77 selected high-quality specimens, KSHV infection was assessed by immunohistochemistry for LANA1 and by qPCR targeting 5 viral open reading frames (ORF25, ORF26, ORF37, ORF65, and ORF73). LANA1 expression was undetectable in all tumors. Using qPCR, 75/77 specimens were negative for all targets, 1/77 excluded due to insufficient remaining DNA quantity to perform the assay, and 1/77 positive across all five targets. Additionally, we studied the KSHV seroprevalence in a separate cohort comprised of 49 sera obtained from individuals with osteosarcoma from Zambia (n&#x2009;=&#x2009;39) and the United States (n&#x2009;=&#x2009;10). We measured by ELISA the presence of specific antibodies against four KSHV antigens: K8.1, KCP, VCA, and LANA1. KSHV seropositivity was detected in 15/39 individuals from Zambia and none from the United States. In the absence of compelling evidence, our findings could not support an association between KSHV infection and osteosarcoma in our study population.

Humans

Comparative genomic analysis of Streptococcus parasuis and Streptococcus suis reveals mobile element-associated enrichment of antimicrobial resistance and lack of detectable same-MGE colocalization with virulence-associated genes within stable species boundaries.

Streptococcus suis is a major porcine pathogen and a zoonotic agent that causes meningitis and septicemia in humans. Streptococcus parasuis, a recently recognized close relative, remains poorly characterized with regard to its clinical significance and genomic features. In this study, we generated a single-contig closed genome assembly with genome-wide DNA methylation profiles for S. parasuis strain A1, isolated from a diseased pig in Xinjiang, China, and complemented in silico genomic predictions with isolate-level experimental validation of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genotypes, virulence genotypes, and phenotypic susceptibility for this reference strain. Using this high-quality genome as a reference anchor, we performed comparative genomic analyses across 195 streptococcal genomes, comprising 15 S. parasuis and 180 S. suis strains, to distinguish genome-level co-occurrence of resistance and virulence determinants from their physical colocalization on the same mobile genetic element (MGE).Species boundaries remained clearly delineated at the genomic level, with a median interspecies average nucleotide identity (ANI) of approximately 86.0%, compared with intraspecies ANI medians of 97.5% for S. parasuis and 96.2% for S. suis. Pangenome analysis identified 12,693 gene clusters, of which 1086 were core clusters, and functional annotation revealed significant differences in accessory gene repertoires between the two species. Within this stable genomic framework, S. parasuis genomes carried a higher AMR gene burden; strain A1 harbored 10 AMR genes, multiple virulence-associated genes, three genomic islands, and eight prophage regions. For strain A1, PCR validation confirmed six AMR genes and six virulence genes, and disk diffusion testing demonstrated a multidrug-resistant phenotype consistent with the genotypic profile.Among 235 predicted mobile elements, 19 harbored AMR genes and seven carried Virulence Factor Database (VFDB) homologs, but none carried both categories simultaneously. This finding reflects a lack of detectable same-MGE colocalization under the applied annotation and assembly framework; it should not be interpreted as evidence of biological physical decoupling. Under a random-placement model, the expected number of co-carrying regions was only 0.57, and the probability of observing zero co-carrying regions was P&#x202f;=&#x202f;0.55. This negative result should be interpreted with caution, given the limited number of cargo-bearing regions and the predominantly draft status of most genomes. Furthermore, the A1 genome contained multiple restriction-modification systems, showed depletion of several methylation motif families in mobile regions, and had limited CRISPR spacer matching evidence, suggesting prior exposure to the relevant sequence space. None of the genomes met our predefined criteria for whole-genome convergence.Collectively, our results support a model in which S. parasuis accumulates AMR-related genes in a modular fashion via mobile elements within stable species boundaries, with no detectable same-MGE colocalization of AMR and virulence determinants under our analytical pipeline. These findings imply that AMR surveillance strategies for this species should prioritize tracking mobile genetic elements rather than inferring wholesale genomic convergence toward S. suis.

Streptococcus suis

Precision UV-B irradiation for flavonoid biofortification in indoor-cultivated Morus nigra: Integrated multi-omics and molecular docking insights.

Precision application of UV irradiation represents an effective strategy for improving the quality of functional food crops under controlled environmental conditions. Morus nigra serves as a significant functional food resource in Xinjiang, with its leaves being rich in diverse bioactive compounds with nutritional and health-promoting properties. In this study, a low-dose UV-B treatment regimen was developed to enhance flavonoids in indoor-cultivated M. nigra without growth penalty. Multi-omics revealed a hormone shift (suppressed auxin vs. activated JA signaling). This triggered transcriptional reprogramming of PAL/4CL and CHS/CYP75B1, redirecting carbon flux towards flavonoid biosynthesis. Transient overexpression of MYB, NAC, and TIFY variants validated this regulatory network. The UV-B-induced NAC upregulated key genes and flavonoids, while different TIFY members showed diverse regulatory effects. Molecular docking predicted that the induced flavonoids had hypoglycemic, antioxidant, and anti-browning potential. This study indicates targeted UV-B as a green biofortification strategy for high-value crops in controlled environments.

Flavonoid biosynthesis

Mining of important genetic loci and evaluation of genetic effects for growth traits in Baicheng You Chicken.

The Baicheng You Chicken is a precious indigenous breed in Xinjiang, China, prized for its strong disease and stress resistance and superior meat quality. However, the lack of scientific breeding and conservation has led to poor production performance, particularly in growth traits. In this study, we collected phenotypic and whole-genome resequencing data from 1,535 18-week-old Baicheng You Chickens (180 males and 1,355 females). After stringent quality control (SNP call rate > 95%, minor allele frequency > 1%), we constructed the breed's first comprehensive SNP-based genome-wide variation map, which comprised 2,020,743 high-quality SNPs across the genome. The filtered SNPs had high mapping quality (99.73% mapped to the bGalGal1.mat.broiler.GRCg7b reference genome, Q30 = 93.26%) and a reasonable Ti/Tv ratio (2.596), guaranteeing the reliability of subsequent analyses. We estimated genetic effects (SNP-based heritability and phenotypic variance explained (PVE) by individual loci) via the restricted maximum likelihood (REML) method, and performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) using a mixed linear model (MLM) - with sex as a fixed effect and principal components to correct for population stratification - to identify significant loci and their effect sizes (Beta). All eight growth traits showed moderate to high heritability: body weight (BW) had the highest heritability (0.86&#xb1;0.11), while chest width (CW, 0.41&#xb1;0.08) and body slanting length (BSL, 0.43&#xb1;0.09) were the lowest; keel length (KL), chest girth (CG), pelvic width (PW), chest depth (CD) and shank length (SL) had heritabilities of 0.50&#xb1;0.09, 0.46&#xb1;0.09, 0.54&#xb1;0.09, 0.67&#xb1;0.10 and 0.74&#xb1;0.10, respectively. GWAS identified 145 significant SNPs, with a maximum Beta value of 0.39 and PVE ranging from 1.25% to 6.25%. We annotated 22 candidate genes, with TAPT1, IGF2BP1, ADGRB3, LDB2, NCAPG and LCORL as key candidates. These quantifiable genetic markers and effect estimates provide direct targets for marker-assisted selection (MAS) and valuable resources for future genomic selection (GS) programs, offering a practical approach to improve the breed's slow growth while preserving its unique meat quality.

Baicheng You Chicken

Genetic heterogeneity and pathogenic potential of historical Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus isolates in China.

The Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) poses a significant public health threat. In China, CCHFV has been circulating for decades, yet the genomic diversity and pathogenic potential of the circulating strains remain poorly characterized, hindering risk assessment and countermeasure development. In this study, we recovered 24 historical CCHFV strains isolated between 1966 and 2004 from humans, ticks and jerboas in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China. Whole-genome sequencing was performed, followed by comprehensive analyses of their phylogenetic relationships, in vitro infectivity and in vivo pathogenicity. Phylogenetic analyses revealed high genetic heterogeneity, identifying seven genotypes for the L segment, nine for the M segment (including a novel Asia 4 genotype), and nine for the S segment. Amino acid mutation analysis revealed that the mucin-like domain (MLD) of the glycoprotein (GP) exhibited the highest mutation rate, contributing substantially to sequence diversity. In vitro, Asia 2 (75024) and Asia 3 (79121M18) strains exhibited robust replication in monkey-, hamster-, and human-derived cell lines. In C57BL/6 mice, all four representative strains induced viral replication and specific antibody responses (IgM and IgG), causing mild to moderate pathological damage in the liver, spleen, and kidneys. In IFNAR-/- mice, virulence varied markedly among representative strains: Asia 2 and Asia 3 strains were highly lethal (LD50 < 1 TCID50), Asia 1 was moderately virulent (LD50 = 142.5 TCID50), and Asia 4 exhibited atypical, non-dose-dependent mortality. Collectively, our work reports a novel Asia 4 genotype and suggests strain- and lineage-associated differences in virulence for CCHFV in China, providing critical insights for surveillance and targeted countermeasure development.

Animals

Whole-Genome Sequencing Reveals Population Structure, Genetic Diversity, and Selection Signatures in Kazakh Dromedary and Bactrian Camels.

Understanding the genomic basis of environmental adaptation is essential for the conservation and genetic improvement of domestic camels. In this study, we investigated the population structure, genetic diversity, and genomic variation potentially associated with environmental adaptation of Kazakh dromedary and Bactrian camels using whole-genome sequencing. Whole-genome sequencing data were generated for Kazakh camels (15 dromedaries and 16 Bactrian camels) and integrated with 131 publicly available genomes representing camel populations from the Arabian Peninsula, Iran, Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, and Mongolian wild camels. Population structure, genetic diversity, and genome-wide selection were evaluated using principal component analysis, ADMIXTURE, nucleotide diversity, linkage disequilibrium, runs of homozygosity, genomic inbreeding (FROH), and selection scans based on FST, &#x3b8;&#x3c0; ratio, and XP-EHH. Population genomic analyses revealed clear differentiation between dromedary and Bactrian camels, whereas Kazakh camel populations exhibited higher nucleotide diversity (&#x3b8;&#x3c0; = 1.307-1.551 &#xd7; 10-3), and lower genomic inbreeding (median FROH: 0.037-0.056) than Arabian populations. Genome-wide selection analyses identified MC4R as the prominent candidate gene in Kazakh dromedaries and RYR1 as a prominent candidate gene in Kazakh Bactrian camels. Functional enrichment analyses highlighted pathways related to energy metabolism, thermogenesis, calcium signaling, skeletal muscle function, mitochondrial activity, and oxidative stress response. These findings provide new insights into genomic variation potentially associated with environmental adaptation in Kazakh camels and offer valuable genomic resources for future conservation, breeding, and evolutionary studies.

MC4R

A new species of Gryllotalpa (Orthoptera, Gryllotalpidae) from northwestern China, with notes on its mitochondrial genome.

A new species of mole cricket, Gryllotalpa xinjiangica Gu & Miao, sp. nov., is described from Xinjiang, northwestern China, based on morphological characters and molecular data. The new species belongs to the G. gryllotalpa species complex and represents the second confirmed species of this complex known from East Asia. It can be distinguished from related species by the absence of inner subapical spurs on the hind tibiae, tegminal venation, and the structure of the male phallic complex. The complete mitochondrial genome of G. xinjiangica Gu & Miao, sp. nov. was sequenced, revealing a novel tRNA gene rearrangement (trnE-trnN-trnS1). Phylogenetic analyses based on the mitochondrial cox1 gene support the distinctiveness of the new species and recover it as sister to the G. gryllotalpa + G. vineae clade. An identification key to the known Chinese species of Gryllotalpidae is provided.

Gene rearrangement

Histopathological evaluation of RPL5 expression in triple-negative breast cancer: an integrated immunohistochemical and transcriptomic study.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype of breast cancer characterized by high invasiveness, limited therapeutic options, and unfavorable clinical outcomes. Ribosomal protein L5 (RPL5), a component of the large ribosomal subunit, has been implicated in ribosome biogenesis, translational regulation, and p53-associated cellular processes. This study investigated the immunohistochemical expression pattern of RPL5 in TNBC tissues and explored its potential biological significance through integrated transcriptomic analyses. Tumor tissues from 37 patients with TNBC and 7 adjacent non-tumorous breast tissues were collected from the Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University between December 2017 and December 2023. RPL5 protein expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry, and its association with clinicopathological characteristics was analyzed. Public transcriptomic datasets from TCGA-BRCA and GEO were further used to validate RPL5 expression patterns in TNBC. Co-expression analysis and Gene Ontology (GO)/Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were performed to investigate potential biological functions and signaling pathways associated with RPL5. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated significantly lower RPL5 protein expression in TNBC tissues compared with adjacent normal breast tissues (p=0.001). In contrast, transcriptomic analyses revealed significantly higher RPL5 expression in TNBC compared with non-TNBC breast cancer subtypes (p<0.001). No significant associations were observed between RPL5 expression and clinicopathological parameters, including age, tumor size, menopausal status, TNM stage, histological grade, or lymph node metastasis (all p>0.05). Survival analysis showed no significant difference in overall survival between patients with high and low RPL5 expression. Functional enrichment analyses indicated that RPL5-related genes were predominantly involved in ribosome biogenesis, translational regulation, and p53-related signaling pathways. These findings suggest that abnormal RPL5 expression may be associated with TNBC biology through ribosome-related programs, although causal roles require functional validation. RPL5 may represent a potential histopathological and molecular indicator associated with TNBC biology, although its precise functional role requires further experimental validation.

Humans