Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules play an important role in the immune response of vertebrates. In this paper, full-length MHC IIA cDNA was isolated from swamp eel (Monopterus albus) by rapid amplification of cDNA ends PCR. The genomic structure, molecular polymorphism, tissue distribution, and immune response of the MHC IIA gene to bacterial challenge were investigated. The full-length cDNA (GenBank accession No.: KC616308) is 1,509 bp in length including an 83 bp-long 5' untranslated region (UTR) and a 709 bp-long 3' UTR, which encoded a 238 amino acids protein. In the 2,339 bp-long MHC IIA genomic DNA, four exons and three introns were identified. Sequence comparison exhibited that the deduced amino acid sequence shared 27.1-66.3% identity with those of other species. Seven alleles were identified from five healthy individuals. Number of alleles per individual diversified from two to five. Five different 5' UTR sequences and two different 3' UTR sequences from one individual may infer the existence of five loci at least. Real-time quantitative PCR demonstrated that swamp eel MHC IIA transcripts were ubiquitously expressed in ten tissues, but the expression level was distinctly different. Significant changes were observed in liver, spleen, kidney and intestine after challenged with pathogenic bacteria Aeromonas hydrophilia.

Drug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum parasites have swept across Southeast Asia and now threaten Africa. By implementing a P. falciparum genetic cross using humanized mice, we report the identification of key determinants of resistance to artemisinin (ART) and piperaquine (PPQ) in the dominant Asian KEL1/PLA1 lineage. We mapped k13 as the central mediator of ART resistance and identified secondary markers. Applying bulk segregant analysis, quantitative trait loci mapping and gene editing, our data reveal an epistatic interaction between mutant PfCRT and multicopy plasmepsins 2/3 in mediating high-grade PPQ resistance. Susceptibility and parasite fitness assays implicate PPQ as a driver of selection for KEL1/PLA1 parasites. Mutant PfCRT enhanced susceptibility to lumefantrine, the first-line partner drug in Africa, highlighting a potential benefit of opposing selective pressures with this drug and PPQ. We also identified that the ABCI3 transporter can operate in concert with PfCRT and plasmepsins 2/3 in mediating multigenic resistance to antimalarial agents.

The complete chloroplast genome sequence of Oryza eichingeri (GenBank accession number: KX085496) was generated by de novo assembly with low-coverage whole-genome sequence data. The chloroplast genome is 134,821 bp in length and showed conserved typical chloroplast structure. The cpDNA contained four rRNA, 39 tRNA, and 79 unique protein-coding genes. Seventeen genes contain one intron, only ycf3 contains two introns; rps12 is trans-spliced, one of its exons is in the LSC region (5′_end) and the two reside in the IR regions (3′_end) separated. A pair of gene ndhH, due to the 5′ part of ndhH which overlaps the IR/SSC junctions, was two unique genes. The AT content of O. eichingeri cp genome is 61%. Phylogenomic analysis showed that O. eichingeri is closely related to O. officinalis . The complete cpDNA of O. eichingeri provides essential and important DNA molecular data for further phylogenetic and evolutionary analysis for the genus Oryza .

The complete chloroplast genome sequence of Oryza rhizomatis (GenBank accession number: KX085497) was generated by de novo assembly with low-coverage whole-genome sequence data. The genome was 134,796 bp in length, containing a pair of inverted repeat (IRa and IRb) regions of 20,818 bp, which were separated by a large single-copy (LSC) region of 80,829 bp and a small singlecopy (SSC) region of 12,330 bp, respectively. The genic regions account for 43.77% of whole cpDNA, and the AT content of the cpDNA was 60.99%. The O. rhizomatis cpDNA encodes 112 unigenes (79 protein-coding genes, four rRNA genes, and 29 tRNA genes). Eighteen genes contain introns, ycf3 contains two introns, and the rest of the gene contains one intron; rps12 is trans-spliced, one of its exons is in the LSC region (5 0 _end) and the two reside in the IR regions (3 0 _end) separated. A pair of gene ndhH, due to the 5 0 part of ndhH which overlaps the IR/SSC junctions, was two unique genes. The four rRNA genes are all located in the IR. Phylogenomic analysis showed that O. rhizomatis is closely related to O. officinalis. The new data will help to determine the phylogenetic placement of the genus Oryza and fill gaps in our understanding of Oryzae biology.