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The cao vit gibbon Nomascus nasutus, also known as eastern black crested gibbon, is categorized as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List and was considered one of the world's 25 most threatened primates. The only known population occurs along the border between China and Viet Nam. Accurate information on population size and dynamics is critical for the species’ conservation, but population surveys conducted in only one country may over- or underestimate total population size because the home ranges of cao vit gibbon groups often cross the international border. In 2007 and 2016 we conducted two collaborative transboundary censuses of the cao vit gibbon populations in the Trung Khanh Cao Vit Gibbon Species and Habitat Conservation Area in Viet Nam and the Bangliang Gibbon National Nature Reserve in China. The results showed a population size of 102–110 in 2007, which increased to 107–136 in 2016. Our results indicate that previous surveys conducted separately in Viet Nam and China underestimated the global population size of this species. According to our more comprehensive surveys, the gibbon population is increasing slowly. The gibbons and their habitat are legally protected in both countries. Hunting and charcoal making have not been reported in this area since 2007. As habitat carrying capacity is a limiting factor, habitat restoration is required. However, lack of funding to protect the cao vit gibbon remains a challenge.

Camellia oleifera Abel. is an important economic tree species of southern China. In this study, we evaluated the mating system and genetic diversity of a series of cultivars of C. oleifera ‘Ruan Zhi’. A total of 159 individuals from the progenies of four cultivars were tested by simple sequence repeat molecular markers. Results reveal that 11 pairs of primers showed polymorphism and their polymorphism information content value was greater than 0.73, suggesting that these primers could be used to identify the genetic diversity of open-pollinated populations. The average number of effective alleles (Ne = 4.88) was significantly different from the average number of alleles (Na = 12.18), and their distribution in the sample population was not uniform. The average observed heterozygosity (Ho = 0.96) was greater than the average expected heterozygosity (He = 0.79), and the population heterozygote was excessive. Shannon index was 1.84 and populations showed high genetic diversity. As regards to the mating system, the multilocus outcrossing rate was 0.996, and the single locus 0.866. These results indicate a high degree of outcrossing by C. oleifera ‘Ruan Zhi’. We recommend selecting individuals for high genetic gain from the progenies of cultivars because of outcrossing characteristics and genetic diversity for application to germplasm conservation and promotion.

Background The worsening problems of antibiotic resistance prompt the need for alternative strategies. Baicalin, which is isolated from Scutellaria baicalensisi, has been demonstrated to exhibit anti-inflammatory, anti-virulence and antimicrobial effects. Salmonella typhimurium is an important foodborne pathogenic bacteriaum that causes gastrointestinal disease in humans and many animals. Purpose The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of baicalin on S. typhimurium infection in mice and its possible mechanism in vitro. Study design To evaluate the effect of baicalin in vivo, mice were orally administered of baicalin, and then were infected by an intragastric administration of S. typhimurium. The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) of baicalin, baicalein, and oroxylin A against S. typhimurium were detected under the guides of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. In vitro, Caco-2 cells were infected with S. typhimurium in the presence or absence of baicalin, baicalein, and oroxylin A at sub-MICs. Methods In the in vivo experiment, the body weight loss, the serum levels of TNFα, IL-6, and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), the pathological changes of the caecum and the caecum bacterial burdens were examined. The MICs and MBCs of baicalin, baicalein, and oroxylin A against S. typhimurium were detected by two-fold serial dilutions. In vitro, Caco-2 cells were infected with S. typhimurium, and the invasion capacity, TNFα, nitrate, and LDH were analysed. The transcription levels of Salmonella pathogenicity island 1 virulence associated genes (sopB, sopE, sopE2) of S. typhimurium in the presence of baicalin, baicalein, and oroxylin A were detected by qRT-PCR. Results Our results showed that baicalin significantly decreased the body weight loss, the serum levels of TNFα, IL-6, and LDH, and the caecum bacterial burdens of mice challenged with S. typhimurium. Histological examination showed that baicalin decreased the lesion in the caecum of S. typhimurium-infected mice. MICs and MBCs of baicalin, and oroxylin A. against S. typhimurium were > 128 µg/ml. MICs and MBCs of baicalein against S. typhimurium were 64 µg/ml, and > 128 µg/ml, respectively. Pretreatment of Caco-2 cells or S. typhimurium with baicalin, baicalein, and oroxylin A significantly inhibited the invasion of Caco-2 cells by S. typhimurium in a dose-dependent manner. Sub-MICs of baicalin, baicalein, and oroxylin A also significantly decreased the levels of TNFα, nitrate, and LDH from S. typhimurium-infected Caco-2 cells. Moreover, the transcription levels of sopB, sopE, and sopE2 were significantly suppressed by baicalin, baicalein, and oroxylin A. Conclusions These results demonstrated that baicalin is a promising agent for the prevention of S. typhimurium infection via the modulation of both bacterial virulence and host response.

Four types of ligands (Q1–Q4) and their complexes ( 1 – 36 ) with transition metal ions have been synthesized, in which two new complexes ( 15 and 20 ) have been prepared and tested. In vitro antimicrobial activities of the ligands and their complexes were investigated against a representative panel of strains including two Gram positive bacteria ( Sarcina ureae , Staphylococcus aureus ), two Gram negative bacteria ( Escherichia coli , Pseudomonas aeruginosa ) and three fungi ( Aspergillus niger , Saccharomyces cerevisiae , Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense ). The relationship between the structure and the antibacterial activities was discussed. Our study results indicated that some compounds have preferred antibacterial activities that may have potential pharmaceutical applications.