Molecular phylogenetics and diversity of the Himalayan shrew (Soriculus nigrescens Gray, 1842) (Eulipotyphla, Soricidae) in Southwest China HAIJUN JIANG, CHANGKUN FU, KEYI TANG, FENGJUN LI, ABU UL HASSAN FAIZ, et al. Zootaxa, 2023 The Himalayan shrew, Soriculus nigrescens Gray, 1842, belongs to the monotypic genus Soriculus, which is distributed mainly in the Himalayan region. Previous authors have studied its classification based on morphological and molecular data. However, no comprehensive study of the diversity and phylogeny of this species has been performed. In this study, we investigated the molecular phylogeny, genetic diversity, and species divergence of S. nigrescens based on one mitochondrial gene and three nuclear genes. A total of 124 samples from 27 sites in Southwest China were analyzed. Our molecular phylogenetic analyses and species divergence reveal non-monophyly of Soriculus, potentially representing two genera and three clades. Populations from Yunnan (Clade YN) represent the subspecies S. n. minors and should recover the full species status. Populations from Himalayas (Clade A) represent the species S. nigrescens, while populations from southeastern Nyenchen Tanglha Mountains and southern Himalayas (Clade B) represent a new cryptic and unnamed species. Species delimitation analyses and deep genetic distance analysis clearly support the species status of these three evolving clades. The putative new genus and cryptic species should be studied and identified in the future using a more extensive sampling combined with a comprehensive morphological and phylogenetic analysis.
Process optimization, antioxidant, antibacterial, and drug adjuvant properties of bioactive keratin microparticles derived from porcupine (Hystrix indica) quills Zahid Majeed, Hoorulain Farhat, Basharat Ahmad, Atia Iqbal, Abu ul Hassan Faiz, et al. Peerj, 2023 A structural protein called keratin is often employed in the medical industry to create medication carriers. Process improvement, antioxidant, antibacterial, and adjuvant drug studies of synthetic bioactive keratin microparticles made from lipids and keratin derived from porcupine (Hystrix indica) quills are the main objectives of this study. After coating the keratin microparticles with lipids which were obtained from the same porcupine quills, the bioactive keratin microparticles were produced. The response surface technique was applied to optimize the conditions for extraction of the keratin protein and sizing of the keratin microparticles. An infrared spectroscopy was used to analyze the chemical shifts in compositions of keratin microparticles while the optical microscopy was used to measure the size of the keratin microparticles. The results of this work revealed that a yield 27.36 to 42.25% of the keratin protein could be obtained from porcupine quills. The keratin microparticles were sized between 60.65 and 118.87 µm. Through response surface optimization, mercaptoethanol and urea were shown to be the main variables which positively affected the yield and the size of the keratin protein. The lipid stacking on the keratin microparticles’ surface was confirmed by infrared spectroscopy. The 2,2′-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonate) assay confirmed the keratin microparticle’s antioxidant activity of 29.83%. Compared to lipid alone, the antibacterial properties of the keratin microparticles against Escherichia coli—a gram-negative—and Staphylococcus aureus—a gram-positive—bacteria enhanced by up to 55% following the coating of the microparticles with the lipids. The pharmacological action against these bacterial species was further improved by the lipid-loaded erythromycin that was carried on the surface of keratin microparticles. This work has demonstrated the design and uses of the keratin microparticles obtained from porcupine quills for clinical applications.
Health Impacts of Surface Ozone in Outdoor and Indoor Environments of Hattar Industrial Units, KPK, Pakistan Suneela Jadoon, Shamyla Nawazish, Zahid Majeed, Ayesha Baig, Syed Majid Bukhari, et al. Atmosphere, 2022 This research was carried out to analyze variations in indoor and outdoor ozone concentrations and their health impact on local communities of megacities in Pakistan. For indoor ozone measurements, industrial units of an economic zone, Hattar Industrial Estate, Haripur, KPK, Pakistan, were selected. For outdoor ozone measurements, maximum and minimum peaks from different selected stations of three megacities (Islamabad, Abbottabad, and Haripur Hattar) in Pakistan were analyzed for paired comparisons. The tropospheric ozone levels were measured with the help of a portable SKY 2000-WH-O3 meter from December 2018 to November 2019. According to the findings of this investigation, the indoor ozone concentrations at Hattar Industrial Estate exceeded the permissible limit devised by the WHO. The highest concentration (0.37 ppm) was recorded in the month of May in the food industry, while the lowest concentration (0.00 ppm) was recorded in the cooling area of the steel industry in the month of December. For outdoor ozone concentrations, the maximum concentration (0.23 ppm) was detected in Islamabad in the month of March 2019, whereas the rest of year showed comparatively lower concentrations. In Haripur, the maximum concentration (0.22 ppm) was detected in the month of February 2019 and a minimum concentration (0.11 ppm) was found in the month of November 2019. In Abbottabad, the maximum concentration (0.21 ppm) was detected in the month of March 2019 and the minimum concentration was 0.082 ppm. Increasing tropospheric ozone levels might be harmful for local communities and industrial laborers in the winter season because of the foggy weather. In the Abbottabad and Hattar regions, since COVID infection is indirectly related to low temperature and high emission of gases may compromise the respiratory systems of humans. The results of the present study were shared with industrialists to set precautions for ambient air quality and support the adoption of low emission techniques in industries for the safety of labour and nearby residents.
Molecular phylogeny and taxonomy of the genus Nectogale (Mammalia: Eulipotyphla: Soricidae) Ronghui Fan, Keyi Tang, Liang Dou, Changkun Fu, Abu ul Hassan Faiz, et al. Ecology and Evolution, 2022 The elegant water shrew, Nectogale elegans, is one of the small mammal species most adapted to a semi‐aquatic lifestyle. The taxonomy of the genus Nectogale has received little attention due to difficulties in specimen collection. In this study, we sequenced one mitochondrial and eight nuclear genes to infer the phylogenetic relationship of Nectogale. Phylogenetic analyses revealed two large clades within Nectogale. One clade represented N. elegans, and the other was regarded as N. sikhimensis. The split between N. elegans and N. sikhimensis dated back to the early Pleistocene (2.15 million years ago [Ma]), which might be relevant to the Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau (QTP) uplift. The morphological comparison showed several distinguishing characters within Nectogale: the shape of the mastoids, the first lower unicuspid (a1), and the second upper molar (M2). Overall, the molecular and the morphological evidences supported that the genus Nectogale consists of two valid species: N. elegans and N. sikhimensis.
Biodiversity of invertebrates in association with large ruminants in the vicinity areas of Tolipir National Park Biharean Biologist, 2022
Biodiversity of Culicidae Mosquitoes in District Bagh, Azad Jammu and Kashmir Muhammad Shahbaz, Nosheen Farooq, Abu ul Hassan Faiz, Arshad Javid, Irfan Baboo, et al. Pakistan Journal of Zoology, 2021 Muhammad Shahbaz1,*, Nosheen Farooq1, Abu ul Hassan Faiz1, Arshad Javid2, Irfan Baboo3, Misbah Shoukat1 and Muhammad Aslam Khan4 1Department f Zoology, Women University, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Bagh 2Department of Wildlife and Ecology,University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore 3Department of Zoology, Cholistan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Bahwalpur 4Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of Health Sciences, Lahore Article Information Received 01 October 2019 Revised 11 December 2019 Accepted 03 January 2020 Available online 29 June 2020
Utilization and conservation status of plant resources of mountanious range of pir punjal of Azad Kashmir, Pakistan Abu Al Hassan Faiz, Fakhar I-Abas Bangladesh Journal of Botany, 2019 The utilization patern of plant resources of Pin Punjal Mountanious range of Azad Kashmir and anthropogenic stress of the ecosystem was documented. A total of 150 species were recorded by the local people for various needs, such as, 19 species used as fruit and vegetables, 47 as medicinal, 26 as fuel wood, 12 as timber for furniture making, 32 as fodder for grazing of livestock, 4 as ornamental and 10 as aesthetic for cultural and religious activities. The anthropogenic pressure on the ecosystem was analysed by using principal components analysis (PCA) which resulted significant anthropogenic stressors on the natural resources of the area.
First sighting and occurrence record of King cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) in Pakistan Herpetology Notes, 2017
Mammalian diversity of Tolipir National Park, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan Pakistan Journal of Zoology, 2016
Community structure and diversity of butterflies in Tolipir national park, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Pakistan Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences, 2015
Avifaunal diversity of Tolipir National Park Azad Jammu and Kashmir Pakistan Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences, 2015
Small mammals’ diversity of selected villages of Pothwar (Punjab), Pakistan Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences, 2015
