PERSPECTIVE: Critical Cooling and Warming Rates as a Function of CPA Concentration

Cryoprotective agents (CPAs) are routinely applied in cryopreservation protocols to achieve the vitrified state thereby avoiding the damaging effects of ice crystals. Once the CPA has been added, the system needs to cool at a rate ≥ critical cooling rate (CCR) to avoid ice crystallization and successfully enter the vitrified state. Subsequently, upon warming the system needs to meet or exceed a critical warming rate (CWR), often one to two orders of magnitude higher than the CCR, to avoid ice formation and return the system to physiological temperatures for use. Many experimental and theoretical studies have been published on CCRs and CWRs, and correlation for these rates as a function of concentration has been explored for some single component CPAs, but not the CPA cocktails which are commonly used in tissue and organ cryopreservation. In this paper, we summarize the available data of CCRs and CWRs for a variety of CPAs, and suggest a convenient mathematical expression for CCR and CWR that can guide general use for cryoprotective protocol, but also highlights the critical need for further study on CPA cocktails and tissue systems in which CPAs may behave differently and/or may not be fully equilibrated to the loaded CPA.

Temporal Lobe Necrosis in Head and Neck Cancer Patients after Proton Therapy to the Skull Base

PURPOSE

To demonstrate temporal lobe necrosis (TLN) rate and clinical/dose-volume factors associated with TLN in radiation-naïve patients with head and neck cancer treated with proton therapy where the field of radiation involved the skull base.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Medical records and dosimetric data for radiation-naïve patients with head and neck cancer receiving proton therapy to the skull base were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with <3 months of follow-up, receiving <45 GyRBE or nonconventional fractionation, and/or no follow-up magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were excluded. TLN was determined using MRI and graded using Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v5.0. Clinical (gender, age, comorbidities, concurrent chemotherapy, smoking, radiation techniques) and dose-volume parameters were analyzed for TLN correlation. The receiver operating characteristic curve and area under the curve (AUC) were performed to determine the cutoff points of significant dose-volume parameters.

RESULTS

Between 2013 and 2019, 234 patients were included. The median follow-up time was 22.5 months (range = 3.2-69.3). Overall TLN rates of any grade, ≥ grade 2, and ≥ grade 3 were 5.6% (N = 13), 2.1%, and 0.9%, respectively. The estimated 2-year TLN rate was 4.6%, and the 2-year rate of any brain necrosis was 6.8%. The median time to TLN was 20.9 months from proton completion. Absolute volume receiving 40, 50, 60, and 70 GyRBE (absolute volume [aV]); mean and maximum dose received by the temporal lobe; and dose to the 0.5, 1, and 2 cm3 volume receiving the maximum dose (D0.5cm3, D1cm3, and D2cm3, respectively) of the temporal lobe were associated with greater TLN risk while clinical parameters showed no correlation. Among volume parameters, aV50 gave maximum AUC (0.921), and D2cm3 gave the highest AUC (0.935) among dose parameters. The 11-cm3 cutoff value for aV50 and 62 GyRBE for D2cm3 showed maximum specificity and sensitivity.

CONCLUSION

The estimated 2-year TLN rate was 4.6% with a low rate of toxicities ≥grade 3; aV50 ≤11 cm3, D2cm3 ≤62 GyRBE and other cutoff values are suggested as constraints in proton therapy planning to minimize the risk of any grade TLN. Patients whose temporal lobe(s) unavoidably receive higher doses than these thresholds should be carefully followed with MRI after proton therapy.

High resolution multispectral endoscopy significantly improves the diagnostic accuracy of cervical intraepithelial lesions

Colposcopy is a visual technique to examine the cervix and determine selection of sites for biopsies and eligibility for treatment. It's always been a critical part of identifying preinvasive and early invasive cervical carcinoma. Unfortunately, challenges exist with regards to the accuracy of traditional colposcopy. Hence, to fully exploit the benefit of increasing diagnostic sensitivity, there is a pressing need to improve the performance of colposcopy by applying novel innovations and techniques. In this case report, we used a recently developed, high-resolution multispectral endoscopy and evaluated its performance by comparing colposcopic image features (the vascular pattern, in particular, depending upon the improved optics and illumination) with histology results. High-resolution multispectral endoscopy makes it easier to distinguish the features of pathological vessels, so that it has a higher sensitivity and specificity to detect cervical lesions, especially in discriminating the vascular pattern using multispectral technology.

Distribution and Bioavailability of Heavy Metals in Soil Aggregates from the Fenhe River Basin, China

Accumulation, bioavailability and potential ecological risk of seven heavy metals - chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) - have been analyzed in agricultural soil aggregates with particle size of > 1 mm, 0.25-1 mm, 0.05-0.25 mm, and < 0.05 mm from the Fenhe River Basin (FRB). Accumulation factor (AF) analysis demonstrated that heavy metals tend to be enriched in < 0.05 mm soil aggregate. The bioavailability to plants of Cu, Zn, and Cd was higher than that of other metals and increased with the decrease in soil aggregate particle sizes. Risk assessment code (RAC) of Ni, Cu, Zn and Cd were 13.84%-21.08%, 7.13%-13.74%, 32.08%-51.82% and 29.38%-43.82%, indicating that Cu, Zn, Cd and Ni had a low to very high risk to other ecosystems, and the smaller the particle size (0.05-0.25 mm and < 0.05 mm), the greater ecological risk.

A 67-Year-Old Man With a Mass Shadow in His Heart Chamber During Coronary Angiography

A 67-year-old man was admitted to our hospital due to chest tightness induced by activity that had started about 2 months earlier. To clarify the causes of chest pain in this patient, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging was performed, resulting in a diagnosis of ventricular apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with intramyocardial calcification.

Ultrafast temporal-spatial dynamics of amorphous-to-crystalline phase transition in Ge2Sb2Te5 thin film triggered by multiple femtosecond laser pulses irradiation

Studies have shown that the crystallization phase state of Ge₂Sb₂Te₅ (GST) can be reversibly modulated by femtosecond (fs) laser multiple pulses, which have excellent applications in reconfigurable multi-level operation fields. In this study, the temporal-spatial crystalline evolution dynamics of amorphous GST film is investigated during two fs laser pulses excitation through a pump-probe shadowgraph imaging technique. A quasi-amorphous phase state, which is different from that in the initial as-deposited amorphous GST, is emerged through the first fs laser pulse excitation with a pulse energy lower than crystallization threshold. The experimental results reveal that a crystallization enhancement effect can be induced through the second pulse excitation based on this quasi-amorphous surface structure. The stimulative cluster generated in the quasi-amorphous reduces the amorphous-to-crystalline phase transition threshold for the second fs laser pulse irradiation. The spatially-resolved phase-transition threshold extension effect in a horizontal direction is proposed with the increasing pulse number to summarize the mechanism of the crystallization enhancement effect. The specific-grain-appearance (coarse grains and fine grains representing different phase transition approach) distributed area induced by single and double fs laser pulses irradiation are experimentally demonstrated corresponding to threshold extension theory.

Dosimetric evaluation of MR-derived synthetic-CTs for MR-only proton treatment planning

PURPOSE

To evaluate proton dose calculation accuracy of optimized pencil beam scanning (PBS) plans on MR-derived synthetic-CTs for prostate patients.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Ten patient datasets with both a CT and an MRI were planned with opposed lateral proton beams optimized to single field uniform dose under an IRB-approved study. The proton plans were created on CT datasets generated by a commercial synthetic CT-based software called MRCAT (MR for Calculating ATtenuation) routinely used in our clinic for photon-based MR-only planning. A standard prescription of 79.2 Gy (RBE) and 68.4 Gy (RBE) was used for intact prostate and prostate bed cases, respectively. Proton plans were first generated and optimized using the MRCAT synthetic-CT (syn-CT), and then recalculated on the planning CT rigidly aligned with the syn-CT (aligned-CT) and a deformed planning CT (deformed-CT), which was deformed to match outer contour between syn-CT and aligned-CT. The same beam arrangement, total MUs, MUs/spot, spot positions were used to recalculate dose on deformed-CT and aligned-CT without renormalization. DVH analysis was performed on aligned-CT, deformed-CT, and syn-CT to compare D_98%, V_100%, V_95% for PTV, PTVeval, and GTV as well as V_70Gy, V_50Gy for OARs.

RESULTS

The relative percentage dose difference between syn-CT and deformed-CT, were (0.17 ± 0.33 %) for PTVeval D_98% and (0.07 ± 0.1 %) for CTV D_98%. Rectum V_70Gy, V_50Gy, and Bladder V_70Gy were (2.76 ± 4.01 %), (11.6 ± 11.2 %), and (3.41 ± 2.86 %), respectively for the syn-CT, and (3.23 ± 3.63 %), (11.3 ± 8.18 %), and (3.29 ± 2.76 %), respectively for the deformed-CT, and (1.37 ± 1.84 %), (8.48 ± 6.67 %), and (4.91 ± 3.65 %), respectively for aligned-CT.

CONCLUSION

Dosimetric analysis shows that MR-only proton planning is feasible using syn-CT based on current clinical margins that account for a range uncertainty.

Effectiveness of Olaparib Treatment in a Patient with Gallbladder Cancer with an ATM-Inactivating Mutation

Here, we report a case of postoperative recurrence of gallbladder carcinoma (GBC) in a patient who declined systemic chemotherapy. ATM S1905Ifs*25 and STK11 K262Sfs*25 mutations were detected by next-generation sequencing. Oral administration of olaparib was initiated. One month later, the patient experienced relief of clinical symptoms, a decrease in CA19-9 level, and a reduction in abnormal signal in the subcapsular region. The tumor response remained stable for approximately 13 months. This is the first case to demonstrate the clinical benefits of olaparib treatment in a patient with GBC harboring an ATM-inactivating mutation. This observation helps to better inform treatment options to enhance the care of patients with advanced GBC. KEY POINTS: A patient with gallbladder carcinoma harboring an ATM-inactivating mutation responded to olaparib with a progression-free survival of 13 months. This is the first report that demonstrates the clinical benefits of olaparib treatment in a patient with gallbladder carcinoma with an ATM-inactivating mutation. It also highlights the importance of next-generation sequencing, which can provide valuable information for planning effective targeted therapies for gallbladder carcinoma. Evidence-based decisions help determine the best choice of treatment for individualized patient care.

Single-molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing facilitates Tachypleus tridentatus genome annotation

Tachypleus tridentatus is a keystone species in marine ecosystems. Its hemolymph also provides the limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) for detection of bacterial endotoxin in human medical service. Here we combined SMRT sequencing and Illumina RNA-seq to characterize the novel isoforms, novel genetic loci, fusion isoforms formation and transcriptome structure and further to unveil the transcriptome complexity of T. tridentatus. We identified 26,705 non-redundancy isoforms form 10,919 genetic loci, including 25,713 novel isoforms, 2403 novel genes and 170 fusion isoforms. In addition, 1578 novel genes and 23,172 novel isoforms were annotated in the NR, Pfam, KOG, COG, eggNOG, Swiss-Prot, KEGG and GO databases. Meanwhile, we have obtained 4671 gene family clustering based on genetic loci. Furthermore, there are 17,296, 4887, 1054, and 1435 APAs, AS events, lncRNAs, and TFs were identified in the T. tridentatus long-read transcriptome and the target genes of 1054 lncRNA sequences were also predicted. Overall, our work firstly provided the long-read transcriptome and these data are very necessary to improve the annotation information of T. tridentatus genome and optimize the boundaries of 12,342 original reference annotated genes. Furthermore, these information are a potential resource to study LAL secretion mechanisms in T. tridentatus.

Apple rootstocks with different phosphorus efficiency exhibit alterations in rhizosphere bacterial structure

AIMS

The purpose of this study was to select phosphorus-efficient apple rootstocks under phosphorus deficiency and to reveal the effects of different apple rootstocks on the rhizosphere bacterial community.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We used 83 hybrid lines of Malus robusta Rehd. × Malling 9 (M.9) to investigate their physiological traits and the phosphorus deficiency phenotypes of leaves in response to phosphorus deficiency (0·1 mmol l^-1 PO₄ ^3- ). All the plants were cultivated in pots in the greenhouse and watered using drip irrigation. In accordance with the results of investigation, we selected the phosphorus-efficient hybrid lines (PE) and the phosphorus-inefficient hybrid lines (PI) to research their root morphology and root hairs (RH). In addition, we used Illumina MiSeq sequencing to determine the bacterial community of the rhizosphere from different rootstocks. The results showed that the PE plants had better growth characteristics and stronger root plasticity than that of the PI plants, and phosphorus deficiency can stimulate the RH growth of PE plants. There was no significant difference in the rhizosphere bacterial diversity, but we found that the bacterial community structure was significantly different at the genus levels; in addition, 89 genera were found to have significant differences between PE and PI plants, especially Bacillus. The PE rhizosphere had more abundant Bacillus compared to the PI. High positive Pearson correlations with the phosphorus concentration in the plantlets of apple rootstocks were detected for the bacterial genera Bacillus (r: 0·776).

CONCLUSIONS

The phosphorus-efficient apple rootstocks adapted to phosphorus deficiency by shaping the root morphology. Notably, different apple rootstocks showed alteration of the microbes in rhizosphere.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

This study can provide the materials for exploring the mechanism of apple rootstock phosphorus absorption. In accordance with the different bacterial community compositions, we can develop the inoculants to promote nutrient uptake.

HIV-1 genotype is independently associated with immunodeficiency progression among Chinese men who have sex with men: an observational cohort study

OBJECTIVES

HIV-1 genetic diversity is increasing among men who have sex with men (MSM) in China, but the association of HIV-1 genotype with disease progression remains to be elucidated.

METHODS

We collected data in an observational longitudinal cohort study of 860 HIV-1-infected MSM in Guangzhou, China between January 2008 and March 2017. Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazard model were used to predict the time from HIV-1 diagnosis to immunodeficiency progression (CD4 cell count < 200 cells/μl) as well as adjusted hazard ratio (aHR).

RESULTS

CRF01_AE and HIV-1 subtype B infection were associated with higher percentage of patients progressed to immunodeficiency and higher incidence of immunodeficiency than infection with CRF07_BC or CRF55_01B. Compared with CRF07_BC, the time from HIV-1 diagnosis to immunodeficiency were different among the major HIV-1 genotypes, which ranked as follows, in descending order: CRF07_BC (7.03 years) > CRF55_01B (5.71 years, P = 0.014; aHR 3.752, P = 0.0923) > CRF01_AE (5.18 years, P < 0.001; aHR 4.733, P = 0.0152). HIV-1 genotype, viral load and baseline CD4 T-cell count were three independent variables associated with disease progression.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results confirm differential rates of immunodeficiency progression as a function of HIV-1 genotype. The impact of HIV-1 genotype on HIV epidemics, patient management and prevention should be further investigated.

Role of Adult Tissue-Derived Pluripotent Stem Cells in Bone Regeneration

Background

Bone marrow-derived mononuclear cells (BM-MNC) consist of a heterogeneous mix of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPC), endothelial progenitor cells (EPC), monocytes, lymphocytes and pluripotent stem cells. Whereas the importance of MSC and EPC has been well documented in bone healing and regeneration studies, the role of pluripotent stem cells is still poorly understood. In the present study we evaluated if and how Very Small Embryonic Like cells (VSEL), isolated from rat BM-MNC, contribute to bone healing.

Methods

Large bone defects were made in the femurs of 38 Sprague Dawley female rats and treated with β-TCP scaffold granules seeded with male VSEL; BM-MNC, VSEL-depleted BM-MNC or scaffold alone, and bone healing was evaluated at 8 weeks post-surgery.

Results

Bone healing was significantly increased in defects treated with VSEL and BM-MNC, compared to defects treated with VSEL-depleted BM-MNC. Donor cells were detected in new bone tissue, in all the defects treated with cells, and in fibrous tissue only in defects treated with VSEL-depleted BM-MNC. The number of CD68+ cells was the highest in the VSEL-depleted group, whereas the number of TRAP positive cells was the lowest in this group.

Conclusions

Based on the results, we can conclude that VSEL play a role in BM-MNC induced bone formation. In our rat femur defect model, in defects treated with VSEL-depleted BM-MNC, osteoclastogenesis and bone formation were decreased, and foreign body reaction was increased.

Effect of salinity fluctuation on the transcriptome of the Japanese mantis shrimp Oratosquilla oratoria

Salinity fluctuation may detrimentally affect the composition and biological processes of crustaceans. As a euryhaline crustacean, Oratosquilla oratoria can survive at salinities ranging from 20 psu to 40 psu. Therefore, we designed five salinity gradients (20, 25, 30, 35, and 40 psu) and 66.39 Gb clean transcriptome data were obtained after O. oratorias were exposed to each gradient for 24 h. All clean data were spliced into 50,482 unigenes and 17,035 unigenes were annotated in at least one database. Compared with 30 psu, 1010, 851, 1733 and 2188 differentially expressed genes were obtained at 20, 25, 35 and 40 psu, respectively. Results also showed that the osmoregulation of O. oratoria is primarily regulated by lipid and amino acid metabolism, amongst others. No significant up-regulated pathways were enriched at 25 psu and 35 psu, although more significant down-regulated pathways were obtained at 35 psu. Therefore, we assumed that the optimum survival salinity of O. oratoria may range from 25 psu to 35 psu. However, 35 psu may be more suitable for O. oratoria. In addition, 55 unigenes that encode putative inorganic ion exchanges were identified. This study aims to provide fundamental information for understanding the osmoregulation mechanisms of crustaceans.

[The hemodynamic study of internal jugular vein in patients with pulsatile tinnitus by color doppler sonography]

Objective:To investigate the hemodynamic changes of internal jugular vein（IJV） in patients with pulsatile tinnitus（PT） detected by color doppler sonography（CDS）. To explore the correlation of PT with IJV drainage dominance and the value of CDS in the diagnosis of PT. Method:Two hundred and twenty-one patients with PT were examined with the CDS and IJV compression test. The hemodynamic data of the upper, middle and lower IJV were compared with both PT side and unaffected side. The correlation of the PT with the IJV drainage dominance was analyzed. Result:A total of 125 cases（56.6%） of 221 patients with PT underwent ultrasonic IJV compression test with positive results, 96 cases（43.3%） with negative results. In the positive compression test group, the tinnitus disappeared after IJV being completely compressed in 109 cases（87.2%）, and in 16 cases（12.8%） after IJV being partial closure. The extent of sectional area reduction was: upper jugular vein（75.41 ±9.39）%, middle jugular vein（80.25±13.16）%, lower jugular vein（86.58± 7.53）%. The blood flow volume on the tinnitus side was obviously higher than that on the unaffected side（P=0.001）. In the negative compression test group, there was no significant difference in blood flow volume between tinnitus side and unaffected side. In the IJV positive compression test group, 54 cases（43.2%） were IJV drainage dominance combined, and 71 cases（56.8%） were non-dominant combined. In the IJV negative compression test group, 24 cases（25%） were IJV drainage dominance combined, and 72 cases（75%） were non-dominant combined. Conclusion:The positive result of IJV compression test using CDS and the flow volume of IJV on the affected side significantly higher than that on the unaffected side contributed to the diagnosis of venous PT. In this study, the IJV non-dominant side was more common in the venous PT.

P4671A well-defined subgroup of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension patients are positive for antiphospholipid antibodies

Introduction

Recurrent thromboembolism is a major risk factor for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). Antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) are a recognized risk factor for recurrent thromboembolism, however, their contribution to the development of CTEPH is currently unknown.

Purpose

The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of antiphospholipid autoantibodies in a large cohort of consecutive patients with CTEPH.

Methods

Starting May 2013 to December 2018, 297 CTEPHpatients were consecutively enrolled. Diagnosis was confirmed with standardized right heart catheterization, 2D or/and 3D pulmonary angiography in all patients.All patients were also screened for thrombophilia including lupus anticoagulant IgG/IgM anticardiolipin antibodies and IgG/IgM aβ2GPI antibodies. Clinical and demographic characteristics, laboratory profile and hemodynamic data were compared between patients with aPL positive and aPL negative laboratory profiles.

Results

Overall, 297 consecutive patients with CTEPH were assessed for aPLs. Of these, 23 patients (7.7%) resulted positive for laboratory tests exploring aPL. Among patients with positive aPL, profile 17 (74%) were positive for all three test exploring aPL (LA+, aCL+, aB2GPI+). When compared to CTEPH patients without aPL test positivity, those positive for aPL were significantly younger (30.0 vs 55.6 years, p<0.0001), had a positive history of pulmonary embolism (95.6% vs 65.7%, p=0.003), deep venous thrombosis (78.3% vs 41.9%, p=0.0008) and were more frequently affected by other autoimmune diseases (43.5% vs 2.9%, p<0.0001). Moreover, positive aPL patients showed better hemodynamics on right heart catheterization, had more proximal lesions, and had more frequently level I and II surgical classification (82.6% vs 40.5%, p=0.0002) on pulmonary angiography.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that young patients with pulmonary embolism should be assessed for aPLs to guide anticoagulation therapy and prevent recurrences. Additionally, younger age, more proximal lesions and less severe hemodynamic profiles make majority patients with APS good candidates for PEA surgery.

[Analysis of the effect and influencing factors of customized sound on tinnitus]

Objective:To explore the effect and influencing factors of customized sound on tinnitus. Method:303 patients with tinnitus who received customized sound therapy for 6 months were enrolled in this study. Tinnitus handicap inventory (THI) was used to evaluate the treatment effect before treatment, 1 month, 2 months, 3 months, 4 months, 5 months and 6 months after treatment, and the influencing factors of sound treatment effect were analyzed. Result:The THI score decreased at the 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 months after treatment (P<0.01), compared with that before treatment. Gender, tinnitus type and presence or absence of voice allergy had no effect on THI score before treatment and 6 months after treatment (P>0.05). Conclusion:Customized sound therapy can reduce the score of THI in tinnitus patients, which supports that sound therapy can reduce the negative impact and disturbances produced by tinnitus, and its curative effect is not affected by gender, tinnitus type and presence or absence of voice allergy..

Electrical stimulation shifts healing/scarring towards regeneration in a rat limb amputation model

Different species respond differently to severe injury, such as limb loss. In species that regenerate, limb loss is met with complete restoration of the limbs’ form and function, whereas in mammals the amputated limb’s stump heals and scars. In in vitro studies, electrical stimulation (EStim) has been shown to promote cell migration, and osteo- and chondrogenesis. In in vivo studies, after limb amputation, EStim causes significant new bone, cartilage and vessel growth. Here, in a rat model, the stumps of amputated rat limbs were exposed to EStim, and we measured extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition, macrophage distribution, cell proliferation and gene expression changes at early (3 and 7 days) and later stages (28 days). We found that EStim caused differences in ECM deposition, with less condensed collagen fibrils, and modified macrophage response by changing M1 to M2 macrophage ratio. The number of proliferating cells was increased in EStim treated stumps 7 days after amputation, and transcriptome data strongly supported our histological findings, with activated gene pathways known to play key roles in embryonic development and regeneration. In conclusion, our findings support the hypothesis that EStim shifts injury response from healing/scarring towards regeneration. A better understanding of if and how EStim controls these changes, could lead to strategies that replace scarring with regeneration.

Transcriptome analyses reveal alterations in muscle metabolism, immune responses and reproductive behavior of Japanese mantis shrimp (Oratosquilla oratoria) at different cold temperature

Low temperature reduction is thought to cause widespread effects on the physical and behavioral traits of marine organisms, which include metabolic processes, immune responses, and reproductive behavior. Crustaceans are generally considered sensitive to temperature reduction due to the lack of efficient regulators. To better understand the molecular regulatory mechanisms of crustacean exposure to cold stress, Japanese mantis shrimp (Oratosquilla oratoria) was chosen as a representative crustacean. Transcriptomic responses in O. oratoria from five temperatures (25 °C, 22 °C, 19 °C, 16 °C, and 13 °C) were studied using RNA-seq. A total of 64.91 Gb of clean transcriptomic data were generated in 10 libraries and then spliced into 52,107 unigenes with an average length of 1089 bp and an N50 length of 1872 bp. A total of 14,841 unigenes was annotated in at least one database using Blastx alignment. Compared with the control temperature (25 °C), 7, 21, 58, and 236 unigenes were significantly differentially expressed at 22 °C, 19 °C, 16 °C, and 13 °C, respectively. GO analysis showed that 6, 20, 27, and 35 terms were significantly enriched at 22 °C, 19 °C, 16 °C, and 13 °C, respectively. In addition, 2, 5, 2, and 10 significant pathways were presented at 22 °C, 19 °C, 16 °C, and 13 °C, respectively. Combining NR, GO, and KEGG annotation information, many genes significantly differentially expressed at low temperatures may be associated with metabolic processes, immune response, and reproductive behavior. Additionally, we reconstructed the phylogenetic relationship based on 366 orthologous genes and the predicted differentiation time of O. oratoria and P. vannamei range from 212.82 to 365.30 Mya. Furthermore, 16 orthologous genes were identified as PSGs and 30 orthologous genes were identified as FEGs and these adaptive genes were associated with energy metabolism, stress response and immunity, and multiple cellular processing. These results provide fundamental information about molecular mechanisms regulating cold stress response of O. oratoria.

Transcriptomic Responses of Two Ecologically Divergent Populations of Japanese Mantis Shrimp (Oratosquilla oratoria) under Thermal Stress

Simple Summary

Rising ocean temperature would change the seawater chemistry and affect the external and internal physiology of crustaceans due to their lack of certain efficient temperature regulators. In addition, the infraspecific populations of crustaceans might also have different response strategies to the rising of temperature. Therefore, we identified the transcriptomic variations to the same thermal stress between ecologically divergent populations of Oratosquilla oratoria. The aim of this study was to investigate the population-specific function genes and relevant pathways in response to thermal stress in O. oratoria. The results showed that gene-expressed variation was in a population-specific pattern, which indicated that the local environment could lead to the evolvement of changes in gene regulation, ultimately leading to adaptive divergences. Additionally, we found several genes with large pleiotropic effects in the Zhoushan population, which might indicate that the regulation mechanisms of the Zhoushan population were more efficient than those of the Qingdao population under same thermal stress. The results provided some novel insights into the local adaptive differences of the infraspecific populations of O. oratoria and other crustaceans.

Abstract

Crustaceans are generally considered more sensitive to ocean warming due to their lack of certain efficient regulators. However, the alterations in the physiology and behavior of crustaceans in response to thermal stress differ vastly even among the infraspecific populations of heterogeneous landscapes. Consequently, understanding the impact of temperature fluctuation on crustacean infraspecific populations might be essential for maintaining a sustainable persistence of populations at existing locations. In the present study, we chose the Japanese mantis shrimp (Oratosquilla oratoria) as the representative crustacean population, and conducted transcriptome analyses in two divergent O. oratoria populations (the Zhoushan and Qingdao populations) under same thermal stress (20–28 °C) to identify the population-specific expression response to thermal stress. The results showed significant differences in gene expressions, GO terms and metabolic pathways between the two populations. We hypothesized that intraspecific mutations in the same or different genes might lead to thermal adaptive divergences. Temperature increases from 20–28 °C produced significant enrichment in GO terms and altered the metabolic pathways in the Zhoushan population despite the lack of differentially expressed unigenes. Therefore, several functional genes with large pleiotropic effects may underlie the response to thermal stress in the Zhoushan population. Furthermore, the most significantly enriched biological processes of the Qingdao population were associated with the state or activity of cells and its significant enriched pathways with genetic information processing as well as immune and environmental information processing. In contrast, the differentially regulated unigenes of the Zhoushan population were primarily involved in the regulatory cellular and transcription processes and the most significant pathways found were metabolic and digestive. Consequently, the regulatory mechanisms of the Zhoushan population are probably more efficient than those of the Qingdao population under the same thermal stress.