Plasma Reference Ranges for Brain Injury Biomarkers (NfL, NfH, MCP-1, and MMP-9) in Healthy Chinese.

BACKGROUND: Brain injury triggers neuroaxonal injury and neural death, that leads to the development of secondary sequelae. Throughout this process, brain injury factors released into circulation via the injured neurovascular unit are important prognostic parameters. Plasma NfL, NfH, MCP-1, and MMP-9 have been identified as potential indicators in this regard. METHODS: Using a microfluidic ELISA platform, we measured plasma from 273 healthy subjects that underwent quantifications of NfL, NfH, MCP-1, and MMP-9 levels. We investigated the possible associations between biomarkers and basic demographics. RESULTS: The median concentration of plasma NfL was 10.40 (IQR = 6.73 - 16.60) pg/mL, NfH was 70.70 (IQR = 39.75 - 125.50) pg/mL, MCP-1 was 191.0 (IQR = 162.0 - 237.5) pg/mL, and MMP-9 was 169,255 (IQR = 107,657 - 231,276) pg/mL. Among all four biomarkers, plasma NfL and NfH levels were positively correlated with age (r = 0.557, p < 0.001, r = 0.364, p = 0.003). NfL was also correlated with NfH (r = 0.391, p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: These data provide a basis for the potential application of a brain-injury biomarker panel in routine clinical practice. It lays a significant foundation in supporting circulating CNS-biomarkers as noninvasive biomarkers for neurological disorders.

Pontibacter flavimaris sp. nov., of the family Hymenobacteraceae, isolated from marine sediment.

A Gram-stain-negative, ovoid or rod-shaped, non-flagellated, motile-by-gliding and aerobic bacteria, designated S10-8T, was isolated from marine sediment of the Yellow Sea. Colonies of strain S10-8T had a pink-red pigmentation and its cells were approximately 0.5-0.8 µm×1.0-2.5 µm in size. Growth occurred at 10-45 °C (optimally at 33-37 °C), in the presence of 0-12.0 % NaCl (optimally at 2.0-5.0 %, w/v) and at pH 5.0-8.5 (optimally at pH 7.0-7.5). Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene indicated that strain S10-8T is a member of the genus Pontibacter within the family Hymenobacteraceae, and the 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of strain S10-8T to its closest relative Pontibacter actiniarum KCTC 12367T was 96.9 %. Strain S10-8T contained MK-7 as the predominant menaquinone and summed feature 4 (iso-C17:1 I and/or anteiso-C17:1 B) and iso-C15:0 as the major fatty acids. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, an unidentified aminophospholipid and an unidentified lipid. The size of the draft genome was 4 623 791 bp and the G+C content was 53.5 mol%. There were low DNA-DNA hybridization values (<48.3±5.2 %) and average nucleotide identity values (<86.5 %) between strain S10-8T and the most closely related recognized Pontibacter species. Therefore, we propose a novel species in the genus Pontibacter to accommodate the novel isolate: Pontibacter flavimaris sp. nov. (type strain S10-8T=KCTC 42769T=ACCC 19859T).

Salimicrobium humidisoli sp. nov., Isolated from Saline-Alkaline Soil.

A Gram-staining-positive, aerobic, non-endospore-forming, coccus-shaped, non-flagellated, and non-motile bacterium, designated WN024T, was isolated from the natural saline-alkali wetland soil of Binhai new district, Tianjin, China. Cells of strain WN024T were catalase- and oxidase-positive. The isolate was able to grow between 20 and 45 °C (optimal at 33-37 °C), pH 6.5-11.0 (optimal 7.5-8.0), and in the presence of 5.0-25.0% NaCl (optimal at 10.0-15.0%, w/v). The isolate could be affiliated to the genus Salimicrobium and the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of strain WN024T to its closest relative Salimicrobium salexigens DSM 22782T was 97.9%. The size of the genome was 2,622,223 bp in size with a G + C content of 47.1%. The sole respiratory quinone of strain WN024T was MK-7, the predominant fatty acids were iso-C15:0, anteiso-C15:0 and anteiso-C17:0. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol (PG), glycolipid (GL), phospholipid (PL) and diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG). The cell-wall diamino acid was meso-diaminopimelic acid. The DNA-DNA hybridization values between strain WN024T and the closest relative S. salexigens DSM 22782T was 47.3 ± 2.3%. The highest average nucleotide identity (ANI) value was 92.3% to S. salexigens DSM 22782T (GenBank Accession No. GCA_900156705.1). Therefore, we propose a novel species in the genus Salimicrobium to accommodate this novel isolate, named Salimicrobium humidisoli sp. nov. The type strain is WN024T (= ACCC 19979T = KCTC 33897T).

Bacillus salipaludis sp. nov., isolated from saline-alkaline soil.

A Gram-staining-positive, endospore-forming, aerobic strain, designed WN066T, was isolated from saline-alkali wetland soil of Tianjin, China. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated WN066T was a member of the genus of Bacillus, and most closely related to Bacillus drentensis DSM 15600T (98.9%), Bacillus cucumis CCM 8651T (98.8%), Bacillus bataviensis DSM 15601T (98.7%) and Bacillus niacini DSM 2923T (98.7%). However, the average nucleotide identity (ANI) and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (DDH) values between strain WN066T and the most closely related species were less than the previously proposed cutoff values for differentiating species within the genus, suggesting that this strain represented a novel Bacillus species. The strain grew at 19-42 °C (optimally 33-37 °C) in the presence of 3-20% (w/v) NaCl (optimally 8-12%(w/v)), and at pH 6.5-11.0 (optimally 7.5-8.5). The major cellular fatty acids were iso-C15:0 (24.8%) and anteiso-C15:0 (38.9%). The predominant polar lipids consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG), phosphatidylglycerol (PG) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE). The size of the draft genome was 6,213,503 bp in size and had a G + C content of 38.6 mol %. The peptidoglycan contained meso-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid. On basis of phenotypic, phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic and genomic features, strain WN066T represented a novel species within the genus Bacillus, for which the name B. salipaludis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is WN066T (= KCTC 33953T = ACCC 60085T).