Zika virus (ZIKV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus that predominantly circulates between humans and Aedes mosquitoes. Clinical studies have shown that Zika viruria in patients persists for an extended period, and results in infectious virions being excreted. Here, we demonstrate that Aedes mosquitoes are permissive to ZIKV infection when breeding in urine or sewage containing low concentrations of ZIKV. Mosquito larvae and pupae, including from field Aedes aegypti can acquire ZIKV from contaminated aquatic systems, resulting in ZIKV infection of adult females. Adult mosquitoes can transmit infectious virions to susceptible type I/II interferon receptor-deficient (ifnagr-/-) C57BL/6 (AG6) mice. Furthermore, ZIKV viruria from infected AG6 mice can causes mosquito infection during the aquatic life stages. Our studies suggest that infectious urine could be a natural ZIKV source, which is potentially transmissible to mosquitoes when breeding in an aquatic environment.

Edwardsiella tarda causes acute symptoms with ascites in Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) and is a major problem for China's aquaculture sector. Genomic selection (GS) has been widely adopted in breeding industries because it shortens generation intervals and results in the selection of individuals that have great breeding potential with high accuracy. Based on an artificial challenge test and re-sequenced data of 1099 flounders, the aims of this study were to estimate the genetic parameters of resistance to E. tarda in Japanese flounder and to evaluate the accuracy of single-step GBLUP (ssGBLUP), weighted ssGBLUP (WssGBLUP), and BayesB for improving resistance to E. tarda by using three subsets of pre-selected single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). In addition, SNPs that are associated with this trait were identified using a single-SNP genome-wide association study (GWAS) and WssGBLUP.

Sugarcane is the major sugar-producing crop worldwide, and hybrid F1 populations are the primary populations used in breeding. Challenged by the sugarcane genome's complexity and the sucrose yield's quantitative nature, phenotypic selection is still the most commonly used approach for high-sucrose yield sugarcane breeding. In this study, a hybrid F1 population containing 135 hybrids was constructed and evaluated for 11 traits (sucrose yield (SY) and its related traits) in a randomized complete-block design during two consecutive growing seasons. The results revealed that all the traits exhibited distinct variation, with the coefficient of variation (CV) ranging from 0.09 to 0.35, the Shannon-Wiener diversity index (H') ranging between 2.64 and 2.98, and the broad-sense heritability ranging from 0.75 to 0.84. Correlation analysis revealed complex correlations between the traits, with 30 trait pairs being significantly correlated. Eight traits, including stalk number (SN), stalk diameter (SD), internode length (IL), stalk height (SH), stalk weight (SW), Brix (B), sucrose content (SC), and yield (Y), were significantly positively correlated with sucrose yield (SY). Cluster analysis based on the 11 traits divided the 135 F1 hybrids into three groups, with 55 hybrids in Group I, 69 hybrids in Group II, and 11 hybrids in Group III. The principal component analysis indicated that the values of the first four major components' vectors were greater than 1 and the cumulative contribution rate reached 80.93%. Based on the main component values of all samples, 24 F1 genotypes had greater values than the high-yielding parent 'ROC22' and were selected for the next breeding stage. A rapid sucrose yield estimation equation was established using four easily measured sucrose yield-related traits through multivariable linear stepwise regression. The model was subsequently confirmed using 26 sugarcane cultivars and 24 F1 hybrids. This study concludes that the sugarcane F1 population holds great genetic diversity in sucrose yield-related traits. The sucrose yield estimation model, ySY=2.01xSN+8.32xSD+0.79xB+3.44xSH-47.64, can aid to breed sugarcane varieties with high sucrose yield.

The group of avian sarcoma and leukosis virus (ASLV) in chickens contains six highly related subgroups, A to E and J. Four genetic loci, tva, tvb, tvc and tvj, encode for corresponding receptors that determine the susceptibility to the ASLV subgroups. The prevalence of ASLV in hosts may have imposed strong selection pressure toward resistance to ASLV infection, and the resistant alleles in all four receptor genes have been identified. In this study, two new alleles of the tva receptor gene, tva(r5) and tva(r6), with similar intronic deletions were identified in Chinese commercial broilers. These natural mutations delete the deduced branch point signal within the first intron, disrupting mRNA splicing of the tva receptor gene and leading to the retention of intron 1 and introduction of premature TGA stop codons in both the longer and shorter tva isoforms. As a result, decreased susceptibility to subgroup A ASLV in vitro and in vivo was observed in the subsequent analysis. In addition, we identified two groups of heterozygous allele pairs which exhibited quantitative differences in host susceptibility to ASLV-A. This study demonstrated that defective splicing of the tva receptor gene can confer genetic resistance to ASLV subgroup A in the host.

Pyropia haitanensis (Bangiales, Rhodophyta), a major economically important marine crop, is also considered as an ideal research model of Rhodophyta to address several major biological questions such as sexual reproduction and adaptation to intertidal abiotic stresses. However, comparative genomic analysis to decipher the underlying molecular mechanisms is hindered by the lack of high-quality genome information. Therefore, we integrated sequencing data from Illumina short-read sequencing, PacBio single-molecule sequencing and BioNano optical genome mapping. The assembled genome was approximately 53.3 Mb with an average GC% of 67.9%. The contig N50 and scaffold N50 were 510.3 kb and 5.8 Mb, respectively. Additionally, 10 superscaffolds representing 80.9% of the total assembly (42.7 Mb) were anchored and orientated to the 5 linkage groups based on markers and genetic distance; this outcome is consistent with the karyotype of five chromosomes (n = 5) based on cytological observation in P. haitanensis. Approximately 9.6% and 14.6% of the genomic region were interspersed repeat and tandem repeat elements, respectively. Based on full-length transcriptome data generated by PacBio, 10,903 protein-coding genes were identified. The construction of a genome-wide phylogenetic tree demonstrated that the divergence time of P. haitanensis and Porphyra umbilicalis was ~204.4 Ma. Interspecies comparison revealed that 493 gene families were expanded and that 449 were contracted in the P. haitanensis genome compared with those in the Po. umbilicalis genome. The genome identified is of great value for further research on the genome evolution of red algae and genetic adaptation to intertidal stresses.

Changes in atmospheric CO2 concentration have played a central role in algal and plant adaptation and evolution. The commercially important red algal genus, Pyropia (Bangiales) appears to have responded to inorganic carbon (Ci) availability by evolving alternating heteromorphic generations that occupy distinct habitats. The leafy gametophyte inhabits the intertidal zone that undergoes frequent emersion, whereas the sporophyte conchocelis bores into mollusk shells. Here, we analyze a high-quality genome assembly of Pyropia yezoensis to elucidate the interplay between Ci availability and life cycle evolution. We find horizontal gene transfers from bacteria and expansion of gene families (e.g. carbonic anhydrase, anti-oxidative related genes), many of which show gametophyte-specific expression or significant up-regulation in gametophyte in response to dehydration. In conchocelis, the release of HCO3- from shell promoted by carbonic anhydrase provides a source of Ci. This hypothesis is supported by the incorporation of 13C isotope by conchocelis when co-cultured with 13C-labeled CaCO3.

Some plant sensor nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat (NLR) receptors detect pathogen effectors through their integrated domains (IDs). Rice RGA5 sensor NLR recognizes its corresponding effectors AVR-Pia and AVR1-CO39 from the blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae through direct binding to its heavy metal-associated (HMA) ID to trigger the RGA4 helper NLR-dependent resistance in rice. Here, we report a mutant of RGA5 named RGA5HMA5 that confers complete resistance in transgenic rice plants to the M. oryzae strains expressing the noncorresponding effector AVR-PikD. RGA5HMA5 carries three engineered interfaces, two of which lie in the HMA ID and the other in the C-terminal Lys-rich stretch tailing the ID. However, RGA5 variants having one or two of the three interfaces, including replacing all the Lys residues with Glu residues in the Lys-rich stretch, failed to activate RGA4-dependent cell death of rice protoplasts. Altogether, this work demonstrates that sensor NLRs require a concerted action of multiple surfaces within and outside the IDs to both recognize effectors and activate helper NLR-mediated resistance, and has implications in structure-guided designing of sensor NLRs.

Staphylococcus aureus is a Gram-positive bacterium responsible for most hospital-acquired (nosocomial) and community-acquired infections worldwide. The only therapeutic strategy against S. aureus-induced infections, to date, is antibiotic treatment. A protective vaccine is urgently needed in view of the emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains associated with high-mortality cases; however, no such vaccine is currently available. In our previous work, the feasibility of implementing a Lactobacillus delivery system for development of S. aureus oral vaccine was first discussed. Here, we describe systematic screening and evaluation of protective effects of engineered Lactobacillus against S. aureus infection in terms of different delivery vehicle strains and S. aureus antigens and in localized and systemic infection models. Limosilactobacillus reuteri WXD171 was selected as the delivery vehicle strain based on its tolerance of the gastrointestinal environment, adhesion ability, and antimicrobial activities in vitro and in vivo. We designed, constructed, and evaluated engineered L. reuteri strains expressing various S. aureus antigens. Among these, engineered L. reuteri WXD171-IsdB displayed effective protection against S. aureus-induced localized infection (pneumonia and skin infection) and, furthermore, a substantial survival benefit in systemic infection (sepsis). WXD171-IsdB induced mucosal responses in gut-associated lymphoid tissues, as evidenced by increased production of secretory IgA and interleukin 17A (IL-17A) and proliferation of lymphocytes derived from Peyer's patches. The probiotic L. reuteri-based oral vaccine appears to have strong potential as a prophylactic agent against S. aureus infections. Our findings regarding utilization of Lactobacillus delivery system in S. aureus vaccine development support the usefulness of this live vaccination strategy and its potential application in next-generation vaccine development. IMPORTANCE We systematically screened and evaluated protective effects of engineered Lactobacillus against S. aureus infection in terms of differing delivery vehicle strains and S. aureus antigens and in localized and systemic infection models. Engineered L. reuteri was developed and showed strong protective effects against both types of S. aureus-induced infection. Our findings regarding the utilization of a Lactobacillus delivery system in S. aureus vaccine development support the usefulness of this live vaccination strategy and its potential application in next-generation vaccine development.

Despite intense research in understanding Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens) pathogenesis, the mechanisms by which it is cleared from the host are largely unclarified. In C. perfringens gas gangrene and enterocolitis model, Mlkl -/- mice, lacking mixed lineage kinase-like protein (MLKL), are more susceptible to C. perfringens infection. Mlkl deficiency results in a defect in inflammasome activation, and IL-18 and IL-1β releases. Exogenous administration of recombinant IL-18 is able to rescue the susceptibility of Mlkl -/- mice. Notably, K+ efflux-dependent NLRP3 inflammasome signaling downstream of active MLKL promotes bacterial killing and clearance. Interestingly, the defect of bactericidal activity is also mediated by decreased classical extracellular trap formation in the absence of Mlkl. Our results demonstrate that MLKL mediates extracellular trap formation in a NLRP3 inflammasome-dependent manner. These findings highlight the requirement of MLKL for host defense against C. perfringens infection through enhancing NLRP3 inflammasome-extracellular traps axis.

Host innate immunity plays a pivotal role in the early detection and neutralization of invading pathogens. Here, we show that pseudokinase mixed lineage kinase-like protein (MLKL) is required for host defence against Streptococcus pluranimalium infection by enhancing NLRP3 inflammasome activation and extracellular trap formation. Notably, Mlkl deficiency leads to increased mortality, increased bacterial colonization, severe destruction of organ architecture, and elevated inflammatory cell infiltration in murine models of S. pluranimalium pulmonary and systemic infection. In vivo and in vitro data provided evidence that potassium efflux-dependent NLRP3 inflammasome signalling downstream of active MLKL confers host protection against S. pluranimalium infection and initiates bacterial killing and clearance. Moreover, Mlkl deficiency results in defects in extracellular trap-mediated bactericidal activity. In summary, this study revealed that MLKL mediates the host defence response to S. pluranimalium, and suggests that MLKL is a potential drug target for preventing and controlling pathogen infection.

Gibberellins (GAs) participate in controlling various aspects of basic plant growth responses. With the exception of bryophytes, GA signalling in land plants, such as lycophytes, ferns and angiosperms, is mediated via GIBBERELLIN-INSENSITIVE DWARF1 (GID1) and DELLA proteins. To explore whether this GID1-DELLA mechanism is present in pines, we cloned an orthologue (PtGID1) of Arabidopsis AtGID1a and two putative DELLA proteins (PtDPL; PtRGA) from Pinus tabuliformis, a widespread indigenous conifer species in China, and studied their recombinant proteins. PtGID1 shares with AtGID1a the conserved HSL motifs for GA binding and an N-terminal feature that are essential for interaction with DELLA proteins. Indeed, A. thaliana 35S:PtGID1 overexpressors showed a strong GA-hypersensitive phenotype compared to the wild type. Interactions between PtGID1 and PtDELLAs, but also interactions between the conifer-angiosperm counterparts (i.e. between AtGID1 and PtDELLAs and between PtGID1 and AtDELLA), were detected in vivo. This demonstrates that pine has functional GID1-DELLA components. The Δ17-domains within PtDPL and PtRGA were identified as potential interaction sites within PtDELLAs. Our results show that PtGID1 has the ability to interact with DELLA and functions as a GA receptor. Thus, a GA-GID1-DELLA signalling module also operates in evolutionarily ancient conifers.

miR-25, a member of the miR-106b-25 cluster, has been reported as playing an important role in many biological processes by numerous studies, while the role of miR-25 in metabolism and its transcriptional regulation mechanism remain unclear. In this study, gain-of-function and loss-of-function assays demonstrated that miR-25-3p positively regulated the metabolism of C2C12 cells by attenuating phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) gene expression and triglyceride (TG) content, and enhancing the content of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Furthermore, the results from bioinformatics analysis, dual luciferase assay, site-directed mutagenesis, qRT-PCR, and Western blotting demonstrated that miR-25-3p directly targeted the AKT serine/threonine kinase 1 (Akt1) 3' untranslated region (3'UTR). The core promoter of miR-25-3p was identified, and the transcription factor activator protein-2α (AP-2α) significantly increased the expression of mature miR-25-3p by binding to its core promoter in vivo, as indicated by the chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay, and AP-2α binding also downregulated the expression of Akt1. Taken together, our findings suggest that miR-25-3p, positively regulated by the transcription factor AP-2α, enhances C2C12 cell metabolism by targeting the Akt1 gene.

To increase the current understanding of the gene-expression profiles in different skin regions associated with different coat colors and identify key genes for the regulation of color patterns in goats, we used the Illumina RNA-Seq method to compare the skin transcriptomes of the black- and white-coated regions containing hair follicles from the Boer and Macheng Black crossbred goat, which has a black head and a white body. Six cDNA libraries derived from skin samples of the white-coated region (n = 3) and black-coated region (n = 3) were constructed from three full-sib goats. On average, we obtained approximately 76.5 and 73.5 million reads for skin samples from black- and white-coated regions, respectively, of which 75.39% and 76.05% were covered in the genome database. A total of 165 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were detected between these two color regions, among which 110 were upregulated and 55 were downregulated in the skin samples of white- vs. black-coated regions. The results of Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analyses revealed that some of these DEGs may play an important role in controlling the pigmentation of skin or hair follicles. We identified three key DEGs, i.e., Agouti, DCT, and TYRP1, in the pathway related to melanogenesis in the different skin regions of the crossbred goat. DCT and TYRP1 were downregulated and Agouti was upregulated in the skin of the white-coated region, suggesting a lack of mature melanocytes in this region and that Agouti might play a key developmental role in color-pattern formation. All data sets (Gene Expression Omnibus) are available via public repositories. In addition, MC1R was genotyped in 200 crossbred goats with a black head and neck. Loss-of-function mutations in MC1R as well as homozygosity for the mutant alleles were widely found in this population. The MC1R gene did not seem to play a major role in determining the black head and neck in our crossbred goats. Our study provides insights into the transcriptional regulation of two distinct coat colors, which might serve as a key resource for understanding coat color pigmentation in goats. The region-specific expression of Agouti may be associated with the distribution of pigments across the body in Boer and Macheng Black crossbred goats.

Probiotics are gaining attention due to their functions of regulating the intestinal barrier and promoting human health. The production of exopolysaccharide (EPS) is one of the important factors for probiotics to exert beneficial properties. This study aimed to screen exopolysaccharides-producing lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and evaluate the probiotic potential. we obtained three exopolysaccharide fractions (EPS1, EPS2, and EPS3) from Lactobacillus pantheris TCP102 and purified by a combination of ion-exchange chromatography and gel permeation chromatography. The structures of the fractions were characterized by FT-IR, UV, HPLC, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. The Mw of EPS1, EPS2, and EPS3 were approximately 20.3, 23.0, and 19.3 kDa, and were mainly composed of galactose, glucose, and mannose, with approximate molar ratios of 2.86:1:1.48, 1.26:1:1, 1.58:1.80:1, respectively. Furthermore, SEM analysis demonstrated that the three polysaccharide fractions differ in microstructure and surface morphology. Additionally, preliminary results for immune-enhancing and anticancer activities reveal that these EPSs significantly induced the production of nitric oxide (NO), TNF-α, and IL-6 in Ana-1 cells and peritoneal macrophage cells. Meanwhile, the EPSs also significantly suppressed the proliferation of HCT-116, BCG-803, and particularly A-2780 cells. The results suggest that the three novel EPSs isolated from Lactobacillus pantheris TCP102 can be regarded as potential application value in functional food and natural antitumor drugs.

Chestnut (Castanea mollissima) is a deciduous tree species with major economic and ecological value that is widely used in the study of floral development in woody plants due its monoecious and out-of-proportion characteristics. Squamosa promoter-binding protein-like (SPL) is a plant-specific transcription factor that plays an important role in floral development. In this study, a total of 18 SPL genes were identified in the chestnut genome, of which 10 SPL genes have complementary regions of CmmiR156. An analysis of the phylogenetic tree of the squamosa promoter-binding protein (SBP) domains of the SPL genes of Arabidopsis thaliana, Populus trichocarpa, and C. mollissima divided these SPL genes into eight groups. The evolutionary relationship between poplar and chestnut in the same group was similar. A structural analysis of the protein-coding regions (CDSs) showed that the domains have the main function of SBP domains and that other domains also play an important role in determining gene function. The expression patterns of CmmiR156 and CmSPLs in different floral organs of chestnut were analyzed by real-time quantitative PCR. Some CmSPLs with similar structural patterns showed similar expression patterns, indicating that the gene structures determine the synergy of the gene functions. The application of gibberellin (GA) and its inhibitor (Paclobutrazol, PP333) to chestnut trees revealed that these exert a significant effect on the number and length of the male and female chestnut flowers. GA treatment significantly increased CmmiR156 expression and thus significantly decreased the expression of its target gene, CmSPL6/CmSPL9/CmSPL16, during floral bud development. This finding indicates that GA might indirectly affect the expression of some of the SPL target genes through miR156. In addition, RNA ligase-mediated rapid amplification of the 5' cDNA ends (RLM-RACE) experiments revealed that CmmiR156 cleaves CmSPL9 and CmSPL16 at the 10th and 12th bases of the complementary region. These results laid an important foundation for further study of the biological function of CmSPLs in the floral development of C. mollissima.

The Glucan synthase-like (GSL) genes are indispensable for some important highly-specialized developmental and cellular processes involving callose synthesis and deposition in plants. At present, the best-characterized reproductive functions of GSL genes are those for pollen formation and ovary expansion, but their role in seed initiation remains unknown.

Acyl-coenzyme A oxidase 1 (ACOX1) is the first and rate-limiting enzyme in peroxisomal fatty acid β-oxidation of fatty acids. Previous studies have reported that ACOX1 was correlated with the meat quality of livestock, while the role of ACOX1 in intramuscular adipogenesis of beef cattle and its transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms remain unclear. In the present study, gain-of-function and loss-of-function assays demonstrated that ACOX1 positively regulated the adipogenesis of bovine intramuscular preadipocytes. The C/EBPα-binding sites in the bovine ACOX1 promoter region at -1142 to -1129 bp, -831 to -826 bp, and -303 to -298 bp were identified by promoter deletion analysis and site-directed mutagenesis. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA) and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) further showed that these three regions are C/EBPα-binding sites, both in vitro and in vivo, indicating that C/EBPα directly interacts with the bovine ACOX1 promoter and inhibits its transcription. Furthermore, the results from bioinformatics analysis, dual luciferase assay, site-directed mutagenesis, qRT-PCR, and Western blotting demonstrated that miR-25-3p directly targeted the ACOX1 3'UTR (3'UTR). Taken together, our findings suggest that ACOX1, regulated by transcription factor C/EBPα and miR-25-3p, promotes adipogenesis of bovine intramuscular preadipocytes via regulating peroxisomal fatty acid β-oxidation.

Cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4) is mainly expressed on CD4(+) T cells, which plays an important role in immune response. The aim of this study was to detect the association between polymorphisms of the CD4 gene and T lymphocyte subpopulations in pigs, and to investigate the effects of genetic variation on the CD4 gene expression level in immune tissues. Five missense mutations in the CD4 gene were identified using DNA pooling sequencing assays, and two main haplotypes (CCTCC and AGCTG) in strong linkage disequilibrium (with frequencies of 50.26% and 46.34%, respectively) were detected in the population of Large White pigs. Our results indicated that the five SNPs and the two haplotypes were significantly associated with the proportions of CD4(-)CD8(-), CD4(+)CD8(+), CD4(+)CD8(-), CD4(+) and CD4(+)/CD8(+) in peripheral blood (p<0.05). Gene expression analysis showed the mRNA level of the CD4 gene in thymus was significantly higher than that in lymph node and spleen (p<0.05). However, no significant difference was observed between animals with CCTCC/CCTCC genotype and animals with AGCTG/AGCTG genotype in the three immune tissues (p>0.05). These results indicate that the CD4 gene may influence T lymphocyte subpopulations and can be considered as a candidate gene affecting immunity in pigs.

Abscess formation is one of the main symptoms of Staphylococcus aureus infection. It is very important to inhibit abscess formation for preventing S. aureus persistent infection. To find a feasible solution, the live oral vaccines delivering S. aureus antigens, rEsxAB and rHlam, were constructed, which were based on the attenuated regulated delayed lysis Salmonella enterica subspecies Serovar Typhimurium strain χ11802, and the inhibiting effect on abscess formation was evaluated in mice kidneys. As the results showed, after oral administration, humoral immunity was induced via the mucosal route as the antigen-specific IgG in the serum and IgA in the intestinal mucus both showed significant increases. Meanwhile, the production of IFN-γ and IL-17 in the kidney tissue suggested that Th1/Th17-biased cellular immunity played a role in varying degrees. After challenged intravenously (i.v.) with S. aureus USA300, the χ11802(pYA3681-esxAB)-vaccinated group showed obvious inhibition in kidney abscess formation among the vaccinated group, as the kidney abscess incidence rate and the staphylococcal load significantly reduced, and the kidney pathological injury was improved significantly. In conclusion, this study provided experimental data and showed great potential for live oral vaccine development with the attenuated regulated delayed lysis Salmonella Typhimurium strains against S. aureus infection.

Runs of homozygosity (ROH) are contiguous homozygous genotype segments in the genome that are present in an individual since the identical haplotypes are inherited from each parent. The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency and distribution of ROH in the genomes of Landrace, Songliao black and Yorkshire pigs. We calculated two types of genome inbreeding coefficients and their correlation, including the inbreeding coefficient based on ROH (FROH) and the inbreeding coefficient based on the difference between the observed and expected number of homozygous genotypes (FHOM). Furthermore, we identified candidate genes in the genomic region most associated with ROH. We identified 21,312 ROH in total. The average number of ROH per individual was 32.99 ± 0.38 and the average length of ROH was 6.40 ± 0.070 Mb in the three breeds. The FROH results showed that Yorkshire pigs exhibited the highest level of inbreeding (0.092 ± 0.0015) and that Landrace pigs exhibited the lowest level of inbreeding (0.073 ± 0.0047). The average correlation between FROH and FHOM was high (0.94) within three breeds. The length of ROH provides insight into the inbreeding history of these three pig breeds. In this study, Songliao black pigs presented a higher frequency and average length of long ROH (>40 Mb) compared with those of Landrace and Yorkshire pigs, which indicated greater inbreeding in recent times. Genes related to reproductive traits (GATM, SPATA46, HSD17B7, VANGL2, DAXX, CPEB1), meat quality traits (NR1I3, APOA2, USF1) and energy conversion (NDUFS2) were identified within genomic regions with a high frequency of ROH. These genes could be used as target genes for further marker-assisted selection and genome selection.