Pangolins represent the most heavily trafficked mammal globally and harbor diverse microorganisms, raising the concern that illegal trade increases their susceptibility to infectious diseases and facilitates the spread of zoonotic pathogens. In this study, internal organ and fecal samples were collected from 15 confiscated pangolins rescued at the Jinhua Wildlife Rescue Station in Zhejiang Province, China. Metatranscriptomic analysis combined with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) screening detected pestivirus, canine parvovirus 2 (CPV-2), human parainfluenza virus 2 (HPIV2), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa at high abundance in three deceased individuals, while no candidate pathogens were identified in the remaining 12 surviving animals. Two of the deceased pangolins, Pujiang-Pangolin-2 and Pujiang-Pangolin-3, were co-infected with four and two pathogens, respectively, and both exhibited more severe pathological lesions than Qingtian-Pangolin-1, in which only CPV-2 was detected. Pujiang-Pangolin-2 showed markedly elevated levels of CPV-2 and P. aeruginosa in the lung and spleen, accompanied by extensive tissue damage. Pujiang-Pangolin-3 had a higher abundance of pestivirus and presented with pronounced internal hemorrhage. Notably, phylogenetic analyses reveal that the pestivirus, CPV-2, and HPIV2 detected in the infected pangolins were closely related to strains previously identified in Manis javanica, domestic dogs from Vietnam, and humans from the Netherlands, respectively, while the P. aeruginosa sequences clustered with isolates obtained from human clinical samples both within China and internationally.Together with prior reports, these data suggest that trafficked pangolins are highly susceptible to diverse infections and may contribute to the transmission of zoonotic pathogens across species and geographic boundaries.

Polyploidy results in genome redundancy and drives ecological diversification in freshwater fishes, yet the genomic architecture and adaptive significance of recent polyploidization in high-altitude ecosystems remain poorly understood. Herein, after determining genome size and karyotype, we tackle the long-standing challenge of resolving highly similar homologous chromosomes in autopolyploid vertebrates. By integrating long-read sequencing, Hi-C scaffolding, and haplotype-specific phasing, we assemble a haplotype-resolved genome of the autotetraploid Schizothorax nukiangensis, comprising 100 chromosomes grouped into 25 homologous sets, with a genome size of 3.59 Gb in one cell. Evidence consistently support its autotetraploid origin, with a lineage-specific polyploidization event dated to ~0.68 Ma. Comparative genomics reveals substantial expansions of gene families in innate immunity, redox regulation, and transposon activity, suggesting genome remodeling might have contributed to adaptation in hypoxic, pathogen-rich, and fast-flowing mountain rivers. Population genomics across three elevational zones reveal subtle yet significant structure and identify candidate genes under selection related to skeletal development, immune defense, and ciliary function, consistent with adaptation to the torrents or rapids in fast-moving rivers characteristic of steep mountain ranges. Transcriptomic profiling further shows altitude-associated upregulation of genes related to immune responses and oxidative stress mitigation, which is consistent with other reported schizothoracines, highlighting convergent molecular strategies for altitude adaptation. Collectively, these demonstrate that recent autotetraploidization, coupled with gene family innovation and homeolog-specific expression divergence, has facilitated the ecological success of Schizothorax nukiangensis in extreme environments of the Salween River. This work provides important insights into the genomic imprints underlying adaptation in high-altitude freshwater vertebrates.

Pregnancy elicits extensive remodeling of the mammary gland to establish the alveolar network required for lactation, yet the cellular programs underlying this transition in pigs remain poorly resolved. Here, we generate a single-cell transcriptomic atlas of the porcine mammary gland across gilt, late pregnancy, and post-lactational stages. Differential expression analyses identify epithelial, fibroblast and endothelial compartments as the most dynamic during pregnancy, motivating higher-resolution analyses of these lineages. Epithelial trajectories toward alveolar fate exhibit induction of fibrillar collagen programs, including COL1A1, COL3A1 and COL5A1, implicating epithelial contributions to extracellular matrix assembly. Fibroblast analysis revealed a PGLYRP1⁺ fibroblast subtype enriched for the chemokines CCL4, CCL5 and CCL21, suggesting a role in immune cell recruitment. Endothelial cells undergo stage-specific metabolic reprogramming, with late pregnancy characterized by increased expression of glycolysis-associated genes, including IGF1, FLCN and P2RX7, as well as lipid metabolism-related genes such as RBP7, KITLG and CD36. Cross-species comparison reveals conserved cellular identities and key molecular features (ESR1, AR, FOXA1) across human, pig, and mouse mammary glands. Together, this atlas delineates the cellular logic underlying pregnancy-associated remodeling and serves as a resource for elucidating transcriptomic changes in the porcine mammary gland.

Behavioural innovation, a key indicator of advanced cognition, has been well-documented across animal taxa and manifests as creative problem-solving. Typical innovators such as apes and corvids can spontaneously solve complex, multi-step tasks individually without prior training. Innovative behaviours in arthropods—honeybees, bumblebees and ants—are probably underestimated, because their innovative behaviours are often considered products of associative learning, group-level processes, or one-step problem-solving. Here, we challenge this view by demonstrating spontaneous, individual-level innovation in nest construction by the social living jumping spider Toxeus maxillosus (formerly Toxeus magnus), without prior training or external demonstration. Under four challenging lab conditions, T. maxillosus females exhibited the core components of typical innovative behaviours: environmental exploration, behavioural flexibility, insight and action planning. Furthermore, in a vertical string-pulling task (a benchmark test of animal innovation), half of the spiders pulled an out-of-reach sponge upward and incorporated it into the inner wall of the device, thereby creating a suitable microstructure for nest construction. These behaviours demonstrate multi-step, goal-directed manipulation. Our findings suggest that arthropods are capable of individual-level, spontaneous innovation involving planning and multi-step sequences, akin to that observed in typical innovators. We propose that the social lifestyle centered on prolonged maternal care—a trait shared by T. maxillosus and many vertebrate innovators—rather than large brain size or long lifespan, may be a critical evolutionary driver of such cognitive complexity. This study challenges the vertebrate-centric view of typical innovation and provides a new framework for understanding the evolution of cognition across phylogenetic scales.

Gene loss represents a powerful driver of adaptive evolution. Cetaceans, which underwent a profound transition from terrestrial to fully aquatic life, provide an excellent model for investigating this process. Comparative genomic analysis of the cold-sensitive ion channel transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 ( TRPA1) revealed lineage-specific patterns of degeneration across cetaceans. In toothed whales, the ancestral lineage exhibited extensive exon loss within the TRPA1 locus, whereas baleen whales showed signatures consistent with markedly reduced or absent TRPA1 expression. These molecular alterations were inferred to disrupt or abolish TRPA1 protein function across cetaceans. Integration of these findings with established experimental evidence from human and murine TRPA1 studies supported several adaptive hypotheses for TRPA1 gene loss, including tolerance to abrupt thermal fluctuations, attenuation of nociceptive responses in aquatic environments, specialization of integumentary sensory systems, and the emergence of echolocation-associated sensory trade-offs in toothed whales. Collectively, these findings expand the gene loss repertoire of cetaceans and provide novel insights into the molecular underpinnings of secondary aquatic adaptation in mammals.

The ancient Neo-Tethyan region underwent profound tectonic transformations, including the orogenesis of the Xizang Plateau and the westward retreat and ultimate closure of the Neo-Tethyan Ocean. These events significantly influenced the diversification and biogeography of aquatic animals. However, the impact of these large-scale sea-land shifts on the long-range evolutionary history of terrestrial fauna remains unclear. This study investigated how geological changes in the Neo-Tethyan region shaped the evolutionary trajectories and dispersal patterns of Pholcussensu lato cellar spiders across the Old World. Molecular dating, ancestral area reconstructions, and diversity analyses were conducted using sequences from seven genes across 234 samples representing 209 species. Results indicated that these spiders originated in the eastern Neo-Tethyan region during the Early Eocene, with their subsequent diversification driven by a series of concomitant geological events. The Eurasian (ER) Group dispersed into Europe following the westward retreat of the Neo-Tethyan Ocean in the Early Miocene, while the African (AF) Group migrated into Africa via the Arabian Plate land bridge following the closure of the Neo-Tethyan Ocean in the Oligocene. The East Asian (EA) Group, which expanded along the southeastern margin of the Himalayas, experienced explosive diversification in response to sustained orogenesis at the Eocene-Oligocene boundary. These findings illustrate how large-scale geological processes and sea-land changes shaped the evolutionary history of terrestrial fauna in the Neo-Tethyan region.

Ischemic heart disease (IHD) remains a leading contributor to cardiovascular disease (CVD) worldwide. Despite advances in diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, translational research demands robust large animal models to bridge the gap between experimental interventions and clinical application. Among these, porcine models have gained prominence due to their anatomical, physiological, immunological, and genomic similarities to humans. This review provides a comprehensive overview of current methodologies for establishing porcine IHD models, critically assesses emerging rehabilitative strategies, and outlines innovative therapeutic technologies, with the goal of guiding model selection and fostering the development of novel treatment strategies.

Ectothermic organisms may expand their thermal tolerance by producing multiple protein isoforms with differing thermal sensitivities. While such isoforms commonly originate from allelic variation at a single locus (allozymes) or from gene duplication that gives rise to paralogs with distinct thermal responses, this study investigated mRNA editing as an alternative, post-transcriptional mechanism for generating mRNA variants. Cytosolic malate dehydrogenase (cMDH) was examined in foot tissue of two congeners of the marine mussel genus Mytilus, which occupy different thermal environments. Multiple editing events were detected within the mRNA coding region in both species. Editing sites were species-specific, with no shared positions identified. In M. coruscus, editing occurred at 117, 123, 135, 190, 195, 204, 279, and 444, while in M. galloprovincialis, editing was detected at 216 and 597. Each species exhibited multiple edited mRNA variants, and these isoforms were associated with differential protein expression. These findings suggest that mRNA editing may contribute an additional layer of molecular variation. The generation of diverse mRNA isoforms from a single DNA coding sequence may enhance enzymatic flexibility across temperature ranges, supporting eurythermal physiological performance and mitigating thermal stress. Moreover, the presence of multiple edited transcripts within individual organisms raises important caveats about the limitations of approaches that deduce amino acid sequences or estimate adaptive variation solely from genomic data.

Comprehensive phylogeographic insights require the integration of evidence across diverse taxa, ecosystems, and geographical regions. However, our understanding of the arid biota of the vast Asian drylands remains limited. Accordingly, this study combined phylogeographic analyses with ecological niche modeling to investigate patterns of diversification and demography of the Central Asian racerunner (Eremias vermiculata), a widespread lizard inhabiting arid eastern-Central Asia (AECA). Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences were obtained from 876 individuals across 113 localities, while three nuclear genes—CGNL1, MAP1A, and β-fibint7—were sequenced from 204, 170, and 138 individuals, respectively. Analyses identified four distinct mtDNA lineages corresponding to specific geographic subregions within the AECA, reflecting the topographic and ecological heterogeneity of the region. The detection of mito-nuclear discordance indicated the presence of complex evolutionary dynamics. Divergence dating placed the initial lineage splits at approximately 1.18 million years ago, coinciding with major tectonic activity and climatic aridification that likely promoted allopatric divergence. In particular, lineage diversification within the Tarim Basin suggests that recent environmental shifts may have contributed to genetic divergence. Demographic reconstructions revealed signatures of population expansion or range shifts across all lineages during the Last Glacial Maximum, signifying the combined influence of the unique topography and climate dynamics of the AECA on diversification and demographic change. These results highlight the need for fine-scale genomic investigations to clarify the mechanisms underlying mito-nuclear discordance and local adaptation. Such efforts are essential for advancing understanding of how genetic diversity in dryland taxa responds to environmental change, providing insights into the evolutionary adaptability of species in dynamic landscapes.

Selective regulation of gene expression across distinct brain regions is crucial for establishing and maintaining subdivision identities. DNA methylation, a key regulator of gene transcription, modulates transcriptional activity through the conversion of 5-methylcytosine (5mC) to 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC). While DNA methylation is hypothesized to play an essential role in shaping brain identity by influencing gene expression patterns, its direct contribution, especially in primates, remains largely unexplored. This study examined DNA methylation landscapes and transcriptional profiles across four brain regions, including the cortex, cerebellum, striatum, and hippocampus, using samples from 12 rhesus monkeys. The cerebellum exhibited distinct epigenetic and transcriptional signatures, with differentially methylated regions (DMRs) significantly enriched in metabolic pathways. Notably, genes harboring clustered differentially hydroxymethylated regions (DhMRs) overlapped with those implicated in schizophrenia. Moreover, 5mC located 1 kb upstream of the ATG start codon was correlated with gene expression and exhibited region-specific associations with 5hmC. These findings provide insights into the coordinated regulation of cerebellum-specific 5mC and 5hmC, highlighting their potential roles in defining cerebellar identity and contributing to neuropsychiatric diseases.