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Abstract: HLA-A, -B, and -C alleles were genotyped by sequencing-based typing (SBT) in 102 unrelated ethnic Mongolian individuals living in Inner Mongolia and 110 Hui individuals inhabiting the Qihai plateau in Northern China. In all, 28 HLA-A, 49 HLA-B, and 27 HLA-C alleles in Mongolians and 29 HLA-A, 41 HLA-B, and 27 HLA-C alleles in Hui were detected in this study. A*24G1, A*110101/1121N and A*02G1 are the three most frequent HLA-A alleles both in Mongolians and Hui. At the HLA-B locus, only B*51G1 was found with a frequency of more than 10% in Hui. Cw*070201G1 is the most common HLA-C allele both in Mongolian and Hui. The most frequent HLA-A:C:B, HLA-A:C, and HLA-C:B haplotypes are A*330301-Cw*030201/030202-B*5801, A*330301-Cw*030201/030202, and Cw*030201/030202-B*5801 in Mongolian and A*0207/0215N-Cw*010201/010202-B*4601, A*02G1-Cw*070201G1, and Cw*010201/010202-B*4601 in Hui, respectively. The genetic distance (GD) estimated according to HLA-A, -B, and -C allele frequency indicates that Mongolian and Hui have the closest relationship, and both are closer to Northern Han rather than Southern Han, suggesting that the two ethnicities might have been subjected to intensive gene exchange with Northern Han in history. The dendrogram based on the GD measurements further demonstrates that Mongolian and Hui cluster as a branch with Northern Han Chinese and Northeast Asians. Our results may lead to better understanding of the origins and relationships of Chinese ethnic groups and provide the genetic background for disease association studies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Cultivars are a main agricultural material in the table grape production chain. China has the largest number of table grape growers in the world, but their cultivar-adoption preferences are largely unknown. We aimed to fill this gap. A questionnaire study, in-depth interview and photograph test were carried out with 1045 table grape growers in the main growing regions of China, and results were validated by table grape cultivar research publications. Results revealed good yield, high disease resistance, high berry sugar content (19–20°Brix), large berry size, compact cluster and strong transport/storage potential as the top criteria in Chinese grape growers’ cultivar adoption. Deep red to dark purple colour was preferred to light-colour selections; round to oval shape and strong Muscat flavour were welcomed. Seedlessness was a low-weighted attribute. Chinese grape growers are highly willing to adopt new table grape cultivars. In addition to featured consumption attributes, they emphasize production attributes and risk-control management in their adoption decision-making. Our results provide first information on table grape cultivar adoption in China. The outlined multi-trait adoption indexes could be useful to international and domestic table grape breeders and nurseries at both strategic and tactical levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II alleles have been associated with an increased or decreased risk of developing cervical cancer through infection with oncogenic forms of human papillomavirus (HPV). To verify whether HLA class II allelic polymorphism is related to cervical cancer in China, 133 cervical cancers and 98 healthy controls were analyzed for HLA typing. Our results showed that DPB1*1301 allele frequency was significantly higher in the cervical cancers compared with healthy controls (OR, 3.793; p = 0.002; Pc = 0.04). A significant relationship was found between DRB1*150101–DQB1*0602 haplotype (OR, 0.180; p < 0.0001; Pc < 0.003), DRB1*070101–DQB1*0201 haplotype (OR, 0.110; p = 0.001; Pc = 0.03), and decreased risk for cervical cancer. Similar tendencies were observed for DRB1*150101–DQB1*0602 haplotype with HPV16 positive cervical cancers (OR, 0.182; p = 0.001; Pc = 0.021), and for DRB1*070101–DQB1*0201 haplotype (OR, 0.144; p =0.003; Pc = 0.063). These results indicate that HLA–DPB1*1301 may confer susceptibility to cervical cancer, and the haplotypes DRB1*150101–DQB1*0602 and DRB1*070101–DQB1*0201 may contribute to the resistance to the development of cervical cancer among Chinese women. The study suggests that specific HLA class II alleles and haplotypes may influence the immune response to specific HPV-encoded epitopes and affect the risk of cervical cancer in a Chinese population from an area with a high incidence of this neoplasia. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Bagging can improve the appearance of fruits and increase the food safety and commodification, it also has effects on intrinsic quality of the fruits, which was commonly reported negative changes. Fig can be regarded as a new model fruit with its relatively small genome size and long fruit season., Results: In this study, widely targeted metabolomics based on HPLC MS/MS and RNA-seq of the fruit tissue of the 'Zibao' fig before and after bagging were analyzed to reveal the metabolites changes of the edible part of figs and the underneath gene expression network changes. A total of 771 metabolites were identified in the metabolome analysis using fig female flower tissue. Of these, 88 metabolites (including one carbohydrate, eight organic acids, seven amino acids, and two vitamins) showed significant differences in fruit tissue before and after bagging. Changes in 16 structural genes, 13 MYB transcription factors, and endogenous hormone (ABA, IAA, and GA) metabolism and signal transduction-related genes in the biosynthesis pathway of flavonoids after bagging were analyzed by transcriptome analysis. KEGG enrichment analysis also determined significant differences in flavonoid biosynthesis pathways in female flower tissue before and after bagging., Conclusions: This work provided comprehensive information on the composition and abundance of metabolites in the female flower tissue of fig. The results showed that the differences in flavor components of the fruit before and after bagging could be explained by changes in the composition and abundance of carbohydrates, organic acids, amino acids, and phenolic compounds. This study provides new insights into the effects of bagging on changes in the intrinsic and appearance quality of fruits., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Bifidobacterium longum subsp. longum BBMN68 was isolated from the feces of a healthy centenarian living in an area of BaMa, Guangxi, China, known for longevity. Here we report the main genome features of B. longum strain BBMN68 and the identification of several predicted proteins associated with the ecological niche of longevity.

The majority of Miaos, Bouyeis, and Shuis are distributed in the Guizhou province of southwest China. They live within vast areas, while each ethnicity lives in individual concentrated communities in small areas. Their origin, migration, and relationship have long been interesting to anthropologists. In the present study, polymorphism of HLA-A, -B, and -C genes was investigated using the sequencing-based typing method in the Miao, Bouyei, and Shui from Guizhou, southwest China. Generally, Miao, Bouyei, and Shui share the most high-frequency alleles, suggesting that these three ethnic groups might be subject to intensive gene exchange because of their close location. However, it appears that some alleles distribute ethnic-specifically for each ethnicity. The dendrogram constructed according to the neighbor-joining method demonstrates that Miao, Bouyei, and Shui cluster together and form a branch with other southern Chinese ethnic groups, indicating that Miao, Bouyei, and Shui are three genetically close ethnic groups and inherit more characteristics of southern Chinese populations. The study will increase our understanding of the HLA polymorphism in Chinese populations.

The issue about the origin of the Tibeto-Burman speaking ethnic groups (TBs) mostly residing in the Hengduan and Himalayan region in southwest China has been disputed for several decades. Based primarily on historical literatures and archaeologic findings the "Di-Qiang origin" hypothesis was proposed, in which the Tibeto-Burman speakers were thought to be descendants of the ancient Di-Qiang groups (DQs) who originated in northwest China. However, other evidence also challenge this hypothesis. In the present study, we investigate the distribution of HLA class I and class II genes in Lisu and Nu, two Tibeto-Burman-speaking ethnic groups, using a high-resolution polymerase chain reaction-sequencing-based typing method. Lisu and Nu share similar allele and haplotype frequencies of HLA class I and class II genes. Phylogenetic trees and principal component analysis based on HLA allele frequencies clearly indicated that Lisu and Nu clustered together with high bootstrap value, suggesting their close genetic relationship. The complicated genetic background of TBs was also revealed. The dendrogram based on HLA class II allelic frequencies demonstrated that East Asians clustered together and that four Tibeto-Burman-speaking ethnic groups (Naxi, Lahu, Lisu, and Nu) formed a clade clustering with southern East Asians (SEA), whereas another Tibeto-Burman speaker, Yi, integrated into the cluster of northern East Asians (NEA). Principal component analysis based on HLA class II allelic frequencies supported that TBs could be classified into two groups with Naxi, Lahu, Lisu and Nu scattering among SEA, while Yi locating close to NEA. A clear boundary between NEA and SEA was also observed in the principal component plot based on HLA class I allele frequencies and Lisu and Nu clustered into the SEA. In conclusion, our results provide evidences that not only DQs but also southwest aborigines may be ancestors of the TBs.

Infection with human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) confers a high risk for the development of cervical cancer. Variants of this virus may interact differentially with host genetic factors, possibly affecting the disease pathogenesis. This study was designed to investigate the association between HPV16 E6 variants and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) polymorphism within a Chinese population. Peripheral blood from HPV16 positive Chinese women with cervical carcinoma, who had previously been tested for HPV16 E6 variants, was used for HLA class II typing. It was found that there was a significant positive association between DQB1*060101 allele and HPV16 As variant-positive cervical cancers (OR, 4.47; Pc=0.0018). A negative relationship was found between DRB1*150101-DQB1*0602 haplotype and decreased risk for HPV16 As variant-positive cervical cancers (OR=0.31; P=0.037). Similar tendency was observed for the haplotype DRB1*070101-DQB1*0201 with HPV16 As variant-positive cervical cancers (OR=0.16, P=0.024). Additionally, as for the HPV16 E6 prototype-positive cervical cancers, a significant positive association was found in DQB1*060101 allele (OR=5.95; P=0.002; Pc=0.036), and similar trends were observed for DQB1*030201 (OR=10.87, P<0.0001; Pc=0.0018), and DPB1*1301(OR=7.40, P=0.002; Pc=0.04). It was found that there was no significant association between DRB1-DQB1 haplotype and HPV16 prototype-positive cervical cancers. These data indicate that host genetic factors, such as HLA polymorphism, may determine the potential oncogenicity of the HPV16 E6 variant. The results suggest that a specific match between E6 variant proteins and HLA class II alleles may contribute to HPV16-related cervical carcinogenesis in a certain Chinese population., ((c) 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.)

The Drung ethnic minority is one of the smallest ethnic groups of China, geographically isolated by mountains and rivers. Before 1949, Drung society maintained many vestiges of the primitive commune system. The origin and migration of the Drung and their genetic background are still unknown because of limited records about this population. Here, we for the first time demonstrated the unique distribution of HLA alleles in the Drung by high-resolution sequence-based typing (SBT) method. Number of alleles detected is obviously less than expected and only a few alleles with a high homozygosity in each locus are predominant in this minority. The characteristics of HLA allele distribution in the Drung could reflect founder effects, suggesting the Drung probably descended from very few ancestors. The statistical analysis based on allele frequencies indicated that the Drung was an isolated ethnic group, but it also provided the clue that the Drung was genetically related to Chinese southwestern ethnic groups. Significant reduced allelic diversity and genetic isolate in the Drung make it an ideal homogeneous population and very useful model to study the evolution of HLA and the origin and migration of Chinese ethnic groups. The research paved a way to elucidate the genetic background of this mysterious minority and disease predisposition.

Cervical cancer is strongly associated with the infection by oncogenic forms of human papillomavirus (HPV). Although most women are able to clear HPV infection, some develop persistent infections that may lead to cancer, implying genetic susceptibility factors for malignant progression. To verify whether HLA class II DQB1 polymorphism is related to cervical cancer in Chinese population, HLA-DQB typing was carried out by PCR-SBT for 258 patients with cervical cancer and 284 healthy controls, and the allele frequencies were calculated. In this study, HLA-DQB1*060101 and DQB1*0602 alleles were significantly higher in the HPV16 infected patients with cervical cancer compared with healthy controls (chi(2) = 31.7452, p < 0.0001; chi(2) = 12.7838, p(c) = 0.0066), but DQB1*050201 allele was significantly lower (chi(2) = 26.2187, p < 0.0001). This result indicates that HLA-DQB1*060101 and DQB1*0602 may confer susceptibility to cervical cancer, and DQB1*050201 may contribute to the resistance to the development of cervical cancer among Chinese women. Sequence analysis reveals that DQB1*060101 allele encodes Leu at position 9 and Asp at position 37, unique to the susceptibility to cervical cancer, whereas the other DQB1 alleles encode Phe or Tyr and Ile or Tyr at the same two positions, respectively. This finding implies that polymorphic amino acids at the putative antigen binding residues 9 and 37 of HLA-DQB1 alleles may play an important role in the development of cervical cancer., (Copyright 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.)

Sequence polymorphism in the transcriptional regulatory region extending to intron1 (DQRRI1) of HLA-DQB1 gene, and their haplotypic distributions were investigated in southern Chinese populations. We cloned and sequenced a 1.1-kb segment containing the transcriptional regulatory region, exon1, and partial intron1 of HLA-DQB1 gene of 37 individuals from nine different ethnic groups in southern China. A high-density map of 162 polymorphisms, including 152 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and 10 insertion-deletion polymorphisms, was revealed. By comparing these data with SNPs deposited in dbSNP database in National Center for Biotechnology Information and polymorphisms that have been reported, 66 polymorphisms were firstly reported. A total of 16 different haplotypes were detected based on these 162 polymorphisms. The distribution of 16 alleles of DQRRI1 as well as their linkage with DQB1 exon2 alleles was also investigated based on the population study and phylogenetic analysis. Tight linkage between these two regions were discovered, as each of DQB1*02, DQB1*03, DQB1*04, DQB1*05, and DQB1*06 alleles was seen to be linked with specific DQRRI1 allele. Our study showed different pattern of transcriptional regulatory region, exon1, and intron1 of different DQB1 alleles.