Emission color tuning and dual-mode luminescence thermometry design in Dy3+/Eu3+co-doped SrMoO4phosphors.

The challenge of building a highly reliable contactless temperature probe with high sensitivity, good temperature-induced color discriminability, and economical synthesis has prompted the research community to work in the field of rare-earth-based luminescence thermometry. Moreover, the fast-growing market for optoelectronic devices has increased the demand for tunable color-emitting phosphors. In this study, Dy3+/Eu3+co-doped SrMoO4phosphors were developed as tunable color-emitting source and dual-mode luminescence thermometer. A facile and cost-effective auto-combustion method was used to synthesize the phosphors. Our work demonstrates a viable scheme for tailoring the emission of single-phase phosphors by precisely controlling the dopant concentrations and by modulating excitation wavelength. The overall emission is tuned from greenish-yellow to white and greenish-yellow to reddish-orange. A detailed energy transfer process from the host to the Ln3+ions and between the Ln3+ions is discussed. Further, anti-thermal quenching in the emission of Dy3+ion is observed when excited with 297 nm. The dual-mode luminescence thermometry has been studied by analyzing the fluorescence intensity ratio of Dy3+and Eu3+ions upon excitation at 297 nm. The maximum relative sensitivity value for 4% Eu3+co-doped SrMoO4:4%Dy3+phosphor is 1.46% K-1at 300 K. Furthermore, the configurational coordinate diagram is presented to elucidate the nature of temperature-dependent emission. Therefore, our research opens up new avenues for the development of color-tunable luminescent materials for various optoelectronic and temperature-sensing applications.

Mechanism, Kinetics, and Potential of Mean Force of Evaporation of Water from Aqueous Sodium Chloride Solutions of Varying Concentrations.

The mechanism, kinetics, and potential of mean force of evaporation of water from aqueous NaCl solutions are investigated through both unbiased molecular dynamics simulations and also biased simulations using the umbrella sampling method. The results are obtained for aqueous solutions of three different NaCl concentrations ranging from 0.6 to 6.0 m and also for pure water. The rate of evaporation is found to decrease in the presence of ions. It is found that the process of evaporation of a surface water molecule from ionic solutions can be triggered through its collision with another water or chloride ion. Such collisions provide the additional kinetic energy that is required for evaporation. However, when the collision takes place with a Cl- ion, the evaporation of the escaping water also involves a collision with water in the vicinity of the ion at the same time along with the ion-water collision. These two collisions together provide the required kinetic energy for escape of the evaporating water molecule. Thus, the mechanism of evaporation process of ionic solutions can be more complex than that of pure water. The potential of mean force (PMF) of evaporation is found to be positive and it increases with increasing ion concentration. Also, no barrier in the PMF is found to be present for the condensation of water from vapor phase to the surfaces of the solutions. A detailed analysis of the unsuccessful evaporation attempts by surface water molecules is also made in the current study.

BCA101 Is a Tumor-Targeted Bifunctional Fusion Antibody That Simultaneously Inhibits EGFR and TGFß Signaling to Durably Suppress Tumor Growth.

The EGFR and TGFß signaling pathways are important mediators of tumorigenesis, and cross-talk between them contributes to cancer progression and drug resistance. Therapies capable of simultaneously targeting EGFR and TGFß could help improve patient outcomes across various cancer types. Here, we developed BCA101, an anti-EGFR IgG1 mAb linked to an extracellular domain of human TGFßRII. The TGFß "trap" fused to the light chain in BCA101 did not sterically interfere with its ability to bind EGFR, inhibit cell proliferation, or mediate antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. Functional neutralization of TGFß by BCA101 was demonstrated by several in vitro assays. BCA101 increased production of proinflammatory cytokines and key markers associated with T-cell and natural killer-cell activation, while suppressing VEGF secretion. In addition, BCA101 inhibited differentiation of naïve CD4+ T cells to inducible regulatory T cells (iTreg) more strongly than the anti-EGFR antibody cetuximab. BCA101 localized to tumor tissues in xenograft mouse models with comparable kinetics to cetuximab, both having better tumor tissue retention over TGFß "trap." TGFß in tumors was neutralized by approximately 90% in animals dosed with 10 mg/kg of BCA101 compared with 54% in animals dosed with equimolar TGFßRII-Fc. In patient-derived xenograft mouse models of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, BCA101 showed durable response after dose cessation. The combination of BCA101 and anti-PD1 antibody improved tumor inhibition in both B16-hEGFR-expressing syngeneic mouse models and in humanized HuNOG-EXL mice bearing human PC-3 xenografts. Together, these results support the clinical development of BCA101 as a monotherapy and in combination with immune checkpoint therapy. SIGNIFICANCE: The bifunctional mAb fusion design of BCA101 targets it to the tumor microenvironment where it inhibits EGFR and neutralizes TGFß to induce immune activation and to suppress tumor growth.

Optimized methods for random and targeted mutagenesis in field pea (Pisum sativum L.).

Field pea is an important pulse crop for its dense nutritional profile and contribution to sustainable agricultural practices. Recently, it has received extensive attention as a potential leading source of plant-based proteins. However, the adoption of peas as a mainstream source of proteins is affected by a relatively moderate protein content, anti-nutritional factors and high levels of off-flavor components that reduce protein quality. Availability of genetic variation for desirable seed quality traits is the foundation for the sustainable development of pea varieties with improved protein content and quality. Mutagenesis has been an important tool in gene functional characterization studies and creating genetic variability for crop breeding. Large-scale mutagenesis of a crop using physical and chemical agents requires diligent selection of the mutagen and optimization of its dose to increase the frequency of mutations. In this study, we present detailed optimized protocols for physical and chemical mutagenesis of pea using gamma irradiation and ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS), respectively. Gamma radiation and EMS titration kill curves were established to identify optimal doses of the two mutagenic agents. Based on germination, survival rate and growth phenotypes, a gamma radiation dose of 225 Gy and EMS concentration of 5 mm were selected as optimal dosages for mutagenesis in field pea. The presented protocol has been modified from previously established mutagenesis protocols in other crop plants. Our results indicate that the optimal mutagen dosage is genotype dependent. CRISPR/Cas-based gene editing provides a precise and rapid method for targeted genetic manipulation in plants. With the recent success of gene editing in pea using CRISPR/Cas, this innovative technology is expected to become an integral component of the gene discovery and crop improvement toolkit in pea. Here, we describe an optimized methods for targeted mutagenesis of pea protoplasts, including mesophyll protoplast extraction, PEG-mediated transformation and gene editing of a LOX gene using CRISPR/Cas system. The general strategies and methods of mutagenesis described here provide an essential resource for mutation breeding and functional genomics studies in pea. These methods also provide a foundation for similar studies in other crops.

Improvement in white light emission of Dy3+doped CaMoO4via Zn2+co-doping.

The research in developing a single ingredient phosphor for white-light emission is progressively increasing. It is well known that the4F9/2 â†’ 6H13/2(yellow) and4F9/2 â†’ 6H15/2(blue) transitions of Dy3+ions give near-white light emission. The white light emission of Dy3+ions can be enhanced via improving the crystallinity of the host phosphor via co-doping of transition metal ions. In this paper, we report a significant improvement in the white light emission of Dy3+doped CaMoO4by co-doping Zn2+ions. The x-ray diffraction pattern confirms the tetragonal phase of pure and doped CaMoO4phosphor. The peak broadening and a red-shift in the absorption peak are observed by UV-vis absorption analysis of Zn2+/Dy3+doped CaMoO4. From Photoluminescence studies, we have observed that in Dy3+doped CaMoO4, the 4% Dy3+doped CaMoO4exhibits maximum emission. The Zn2+ions are co-doped to further increase the luminescence intensity of CaMoO4:4%Dy3+and the maximum luminescence is obtained for 0.25% Zn2+concentration. Two intense emission peaks centered at 484 nm and 574 nm related to transitions4F9/2 â†’ 6H15/2and4F9/2 â†’ 6H13/2of Dy3+ion are observed for Dy3+doped phosphor. The4F9/2 â†’ 6H13/2transition is the forced electric dipole transition which is affected by its chemical environment. After Zn2+co-doping, the4F9/2 â†’ 6H13/2transition is affected due to a change in asymmetricity around the Dy3+ions. The 0.25% co-doping of Zn2+gives 34% enhancement in luminescence emission of 4% Dy3+doped CaMoO4. As a result, the CIE coordinates of chromaticity diagram and the color purity of the 0.25% Zn2+co-doped CaMoO4:4Dy3+show improvement in the overall white light emission. We have shown that with Zn2+co-doping, the non-radiative relaxations are reduced which results in improved white light emission of Dy3+ions.

Prophylactic administration of oral calcium carbonate during plateletpheresis: A bicentric prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Administration of anticoagulant citrate and dextrose (ACD-A) chelates ionized calcium in blood and causes hypocalcemia in plateletpheresis donors. The aim of the study was to observe the effects of oral calcium (Ca) supplementation during plateletpheresis on various parameters related to calcium metabolism. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was performed between January 2014 and December 2014 on 200 plateletpheresis donors. They were divided into two groups. In group A donors (n=100), no prophylactic oral calcium supplementation was given. In group B (n=100) donors, 2000 mg of calcium was given one hour before the start of the procedure, 500 mg was given at the start of the procedure and 500 mg calcium was given just before the end of procedure. Biochemical parameters like serum total calcium (T Ca), serum total magnesium (T Mg) and ionized calcium level (iCa) were measured before and after the procedure. Relative risk of citrate toxicity was measured between the two groups. RESULTS: There was a significant fall in total calcium (pre 9.02 mg/dl, post 8.23 mg/dl,), ionized calcium level (pre 1.14 mmol/L, post 0.91 mmol/L) and total magnesium (pre 1.92 mg/dl, post 1.79 mg/dl) amongst the donors who did not receive prophylactic calcium supplementation. Despite calcium intake, in prophylactic calcium intake group, we did observe a significant drop in total magnesium (pre 2.04 mg/dl, post 1.94 mg/dl) and ionized calcium level (pre 1.25 mmol/L, post 1.12 mmol/L, p<0.01). We did observe a drop in total calcium level, however, this observation was not statistically significant. The risk (RR=5.44) of citrate toxicity was higher among group A donors. CONCLUSION: Prophylactic oral calcium carbonate supplementation would help in to reduce the risk of citrate toxicity. Therefore, we suggest for prophylactic oral administration of 3000 mg elemental calcium carbonate in three divided doses to make PP procedures uneventful.

Role of plasma exchange in management of patients clinically diagnosed of postpartum thrombotic microangiopathies: A retrospective observation from a tertiary health-care center.

INTRODUCTION: Diagnosis of postpartum thrombotic microangiopathies in pregnancy is a challenge, but plasma exchange (PE) is life-saving in such cases. This study was conducted with the aim to find the result of the early start of PE in such patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: There were a total of seven clinically diagnosed cases of post partum thrombotic microangiopathies (PP-TMA) where PE was done. The diagnosis of PP-HUS and decision to start PE in such cases were based on the classical triad of microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and acute renal failure. All the PE procedures were done using fully automatic COM.TEC (Fresenius Kabi, Germany). RESULTS: Immediately before the start of PE, the mean platelet count and serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and hemoglobin (Hb) were 53.1 × 109/L, 10,943 IU/L, and 6.4 gm%, respectively. After seven sessions of PE, platelet count improved to 158 × 109/L and LDH dropped to 609 IU/L, and Hb improved to 10.3 gm% (P < 0.05). We got a positive renal response in four patients in whom serum creatinine value reached within normal range while in the remaining three patients, no positive renal response was obtained and serum creatinine remained above normal range. Thus, the response of PE was shown to be inadequate in three patients. Compliance to PE was good. Patients were discharged after 20 days (mean) of hospital admission. CONCLUSION: PE is life-saving in PP-HUS. High degree of clinical suspicion to it and early start of PE were crucial for successful outcome in our patient population.

Effectiveness of therapeutic plasma exchange in a critically ill child with secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis.

Currently, the ASFA has not included TPE in the management of HLH but many cases reports have reported successful role of TPE in HLH. Here we are presenting a case in which HLH was managed successfully with TPE. Diagnosis of HLH is based on the HLH 2004 diagnostic criteria proposed by HLH society. TPE was done using COM. TEC (Fresenius Kabi, Germany). Patient required three sessions of TPE. After three sessions of TPE patient's clinical condition improved remarkably and he was switched to IV Dexamethasone as maintenance treatment. One standard TPE procedure was 1.5 plasma volume exchanges. In view of deranged coagulation profile fresh frozen plasma was used as a replacement fluid. During follow up after one month of discharge, patient was absolutely normal. In developing countries like India, where infections are still a prime concern to the physicians, making an accurate diagnosis of HLH is a great concern. High suspicion, timely diagnosis and early start of TPE can be life saving in such patients.

Feedback regulation by trehalose 6-phosphate slows down starch mobilization below the rate that would exhaust starch reserves at dawn in Arabidopsis leaves.

Trehalose 6-phosphate (Tre6P), a sucrose signaling metabolite, inhibits transitory starch breakdown in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) leaves and potentially links starch turnover to leaf sucrose status and demand from sink organs (Plant Physiology, 163, 2013, 1142). To investigate this relationship further, we compared diel patterns of starch turnover in ethanol-inducible Tre6P synthase (iTPS) lines, which have high Tre6P and low sucrose after induction, with those in sweet11;12 sucrose export mutants, which accumulate sucrose in their leaves and were predicted to have high Tre6P. Short-term changes in irradiance were used to investigate whether the strength of inhibition by Tre6P depends on starch levels. sweet11;12 mutants had twofold higher levels of Tre6P and restricted starch mobilization. The relationship between Tre6P and starch mobilization was recapitulated in iTPS lines, pointing to a dominant role for Tre6P in feedback regulation of starch mobilization. Tre6P restricted mobilization across a wide range of conditions. However, there was no correlation between the level of Tre6P and the absolute rate of starch mobilization. Rather, Tre6P depressed the rate of mobilization below that required to exhaust starch at dawn, leading to incomplete use of starch. It is discussed how Tre6P interacts with the clock to set the rate of starch mobilization.

Therapeutic plasma exchange as a life-saving therapy in a suspected case of autoimmune encephalitis: A case report from a tertiary health-care center.

In half of the suspected autoimmune encephalitis (AIE) patients, no antibodies are identified despite extensive investigation. Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) is a potential first-line therapy for various subtypes of AIE. Here, we present a case of autoantibody-negative-suspected AIE, managed successfully with TPE after patient showed no response to steroids. A total of 5 sessions of TPE was done. One standard TPE procedure session was 1.2-1.5 plasma volume exchanges using 5% albumin as a replacement fluid. After five sessions, patient's clinical condition improved significantly, and a repeated magnetic resonance imaging after 5th cycle of TPE revealed a reduction in the areas of signal alteration. This was suggestive of regression of disease. Patient was discharged on 10th day of hospital admission. With early suspicion even in the absence of detectable autoantibodies, TPE plays an important role in the management of encephalitis.

Prevalence and subtype analysis of Blastocystis in healthy Indian individuals.

There is a growing interest in subtype (ST) analysis of the intestinal parasite Blastocystis due to its extensive genetic diversity that might reflect differences in pathogenicity. Although essential for reference, few studies are available on Blastocystis in healthy individuals. Moreover, molecular epidemiology data on Blastocystis in India still remain to emerge. In the present study we identified the prevalence and ST distribution of Blastocystis in healthy Indian individuals. A total of 220 stool samples were obtained; four of 100 samples from 100 adults were chosen randomly for construction of small subunit (SSU) rRNA gene clone libraries in order to elucidate micro-eukaryotic diversity in the human gut. From the SSU rDNA library, 64 sequences annotated to Blastocystis were used for ST analysis along with sequences obtained by direct sequencing of SSU rDNA PCR products amplified from the remaining samples and generated using primers targeting Blastocystis. Of 220 stool samples collected, 120 samples from 30 infants (aged 1week to 1year) were PCR-negative. Of the remaining 100 samples from 100 adults, 27 resulted in specific amplification. Out of these 27, four samples were suspected of mixed ST infection and so these samples were further analyzed by construction of clone libraries. Analysis of cloned sequences revealed that indeed 2 samples had mixed ST infection (ST1 and ST3) while the remaining two showed infection with two separate ST3 strains. ST3 was the most common ST present in our study group (100%) followed by ST1 (7.4%); ST1 was seen only in mixed infections. SSU rDNA clone library sequences generated by processing of pooled samples were identified as ST3. The majority of ST3 sequences exhibited allele 34 commonly found in the European population.

P7170, a novel inhibitor of mTORC1/mTORC2 and Activin receptor-like Kinase 1 (ALK1) inhibits the growth of non small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Lung cancer is the major cause of cancer-related deaths and many cases of Non Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC), a common type of lung cancer, have frequent genetic/oncogenic activation of EGFR, KRAS, PIK3CA, BRAF, and others that drive tumor growth. Some patients though initially respond, but later develop resistance to erlotinib/gefitinib with no option except for cytotoxic therapy. Therefore, development of novel targeted therapeutics is imperative to provide improved survival benefit for NSCLC patients. The mTOR cell survival pathway is activated in naïve, or in response to targeted therapies in NSCLC. METHODS: We have discovered P7170, a small molecule inhibitor of mTORC1/mTORC2/ALK1 and investigated its antitumor efficacy using various in vitro and in vivo models of human NSCLC. RESULTS: P7170 inhibited the phosphorylation of AKT, S6 and 4EBP1 (substrates for mTORC2 and mTORC1) levels by 80-100% and growth of NSCLC cells. P7170 inhibited anchorage-independent colony formation of NSCLC patient tumor-derived cells subsistent of disease sub-types. The compound also induced apoptosis in NSCLC cell lines. P7170 at a well-tolerated daily dose of 20 mg/kg significantly inhibited the growth of NSCLC xenografts independent of different mutations (EGFR, KRAS, or PIK3CA) or sensitivity to erlotinib. Pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PK-PD) analysis showed sub-micro molar tumor concentrations along with mTORC1/C2 inhibition. CONCLUSIONS: Our results provide evidence of antitumor activity of P7170 in the erlotinib -sensitive and -insensitive models of NSCLC.

Bhargavaea indica sp. nov., a member of the phylum Firmicutes, isolated from Arabian Sea sediment.

A Gram-positive, aerobic, coccoid-rod shaped, non-motile, catalase- and oxidase-positive bacterium, designated strain KJW98(T), was isolated from the marine sediment of Karwar jetty, west coast of India. The strain was ß-haemolytic, non-endospore-forming and grew with 0-8.5% (w/v) NaCl, at 15-48°C and at pH 6.5-9.0, with optimum growth with 0.5% (w/v) NaCl, at 42°C and at pH 7.0-8.0. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA and gyrB gene sequences showed that strain KJW98(T) forms a lineage within the genus Bhargavaea. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 55 mol%. The DNA-DNA relatedness values of strain KJW98(T) with B. beijingensis DSM 19037(T), B. cecembensis LMG 24411(T) and B. ginsengi DSM 19038(T) were 43.2, 39 and 26.5%, respectively. The major fatty acids were anteiso-C15:0 (37.7%), iso-C15:0 (19.7%), anteiso-C17:0 (17.0%) and iso-C16:0 (11.1%). The predominant menaquinone was MK-8 and the cell-wall peptidoglycan was of A4α type with L-lysine as the diagnostic diamino acid. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylglycerol. The phenotypic, genotypic and DNA-DNA relatedness data indicate that strain KJW98(T) should be distinguished from the members of the genus Bhargavaea, for which the name Bhargavaea indica sp. nov. is proposed with the type strain KJW98(T) (=KCTC 13583(T) =LMG 25219(T)).

Microbial community structure at different fermentation stages of kutajarista, a herbal formulation.

Kutajarista is an Ayurvedic fermented herbal formulation prescribed for gastrointestinal disorders. This herbal formulation undergoes a gradual fermentative process and takes around 2 months for production. In this study, microbial composition at initial stages of fermentation of Kutajarista was assessed by culture independent 16S rRNA gene clone library approach. Physicochemical changes were also compared at these stages of fermentation. High performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis showed that Gallic acid, Ellagic acid, and its derivatives were the major chemical constituents recovered in this process. At 0 day of fermentation, Lactobacillus sp., Acinetobacter sp., Alcaligenes sp., and Methylobacterium sp. were recovered, but were not detected at 8 day of fermentation. Initially, microbial diversity increased after 8 days of fermentation with 11 operational taxonomic units (OTUs), which further decreased to 3 OTUs at 30 day of fermentation. Aeromonas sp., Pseudomonas sp., and Klebsiella sp. dominated till 30 day of fermentation. Predominance of γ- Proteobacteria and presence of gallolyl derivatives at the saturation stage of fermentation implies tannin degrading potential of these microbes. This is the first study to highlight the microbial role in an Ayurvedic herbal product fermentation.

Comparative analysis of fecal microflora of healthy full-term Indian infants born with different methods of delivery (vaginal vs cesarean): Acinetobacter sp. prevalence in vaginally born infants.

In this study fecal microflora of human infants born through vaginal delivery (VB) and through cesarean section (CB) were investigated using culture-independent 16S rDNA cloning and sequencing approach. The results obtained clearly revealed that fecal microbiota of VB infants distinctly differ from those in their counterpart CB infants. The intestinal microbiota of infants delivered by cesarean section appears to be more diverse, in terms of bacteria species, than the microbiota of vaginally delivered infants. The most abundant bacterial species present in VB infants were Acinetobacter sp., Bifidobacterium sp. and Staphylococcus sp. However, CB infant's fecal microbiota was dominated with Citrobacter sp., Escherichia coli and Clostridium difficile. The intestinal microbiota of cesarean section delivered infants in this study was also characterized by an absence of Bifidobacteria species. An interesting finding of our study was recovery of large number of Acinetobacter sp. consisting of Acinetobacter pittii (former Acinetobacter genomic species 3), Acinetobacter junii and Acinetobacter baumannii in the VB infants clone library. Among these, Acinetobacter baumannii is a known nosocomial pathogen and Acinetobacter pittii (genomic species 3) is recently recognized as clinically important taxa within the Acinetobacter calcoaceticus-Acinetobacter baumannii (ACB) complex. Although none of the infants had shown any sign of clinical symptoms of disease, this observation warrants a closer look.

Genome-wide analysis of lectin receptor-like kinase family from Arabidopsis and rice.

Lectin receptor-like kinases (LecRLKs) are class of membrane proteins found in higher plants that are involved in diverse functions ranging from plant growth and development to stress tolerance. The basic structure of LecRLK protein comprises of a lectin and a kinase domain, which are interconnected by transmembrane region. Here we have identified LecRLKs from Arabidopsis and rice and studied these proteins on the basis of their expression profile and phylogenies. We were able to identify 32 G-type, 42 L-type and 1 C-type LecRLKs from Arabidopsis and 72 L-type, 100 G-type and 1 C-type LecRLKs from rice on the basis of their annotation and presence of lectin as well kinase domains. The whole family is rather intron-less. We have sub-grouped the gene family on the basis of their phylogram. Although on the basis of sequence the members of each group are closely associated but their functions vary to a great extent. The interacting partners and coexpression data of the genes revealed the importance of gene family in physiology and stress related responses. An in-depth analysis on gene-expression suggested clear demarcation in roles assigned to each gene. To gain additional knowledge about the LecRLK gene family, we searched for previously unreported motifs and checked their importance structurally on the basis of homology modelling. The analysis revealed that the gene family has important roles in diverse functions in plants, both in the developmental stages and in stress conditions. This study thus opens the possibility to explore the roles that LecRLKs might play in life of a plant.

Reclassification of Bacillus beijingensis Qiu et al. 2009 and Bacillus ginsengi Qiu et al. 2009 as Bhargavaea beijingensis comb. nov. and Bhargavaea ginsengi comb. nov. and emended description of the genus Bhargavaea.

We have carried out a polyphasic taxonomic characterization of Bacillus beijingensis DSM 19037(T) and Bacillus ginsengi DSM 19038(T), which are closely related phylogenetically to Bhargavaea cecembensis LMG 24411(T). All three strains are Gram-stain-positive, non-motile, moderately halotolerant and non-spore-forming. 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses showed that the strains constituted a coherent cluster, with sequence similarities between 99.7 and 98.7 %. The percentage similarity on the basis of amino acid sequences deduced from partial gyrB gene nucleotide sequences of these three type strains was 96.1-92.7 %. Phylogenetic trees based on the 16S rRNA gene and GyrB amino acid sequences, obtained by using three different algorithms, were consistent and showed that these three species constituted a deeply rooted cluster separated from the clades represented by the genera Bacillus, Planococcus, Planomicrobium, Sporosarcina, Lysinibacillus, Viridibacillus, Kurthia and Geobacillus, supporting their placement in the genus Bhargavaea. All three type strains have menaquinone MK-8 as the major respiratory quinone and showed similar fatty acid profiles. The main polar lipids present in the three type strains were diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylglycerol, and the three strains showed peptidoglycan type A4α with L-lysine as the diagnostic diamino acid. The DNA G+C contents of Bacillus beijingensis DSM 19037(T), Bacillus ginsengi DSM 19038(T) and Bhargavaea cecembensis LMG 24411(T) were 53.1, 50.2 and 53.7 mol%, respectively. The level of DNA-DNA hybridization among the three strains was 57-39 %, indicating that they are members of different species of the genus Bhargavaea. The phenotypic data are consistent with the placement of these three species in a single genus and support their differentiation at the species level. On the basis of these data, we have emended the description of the genus Bhargavaea and propose the reclassification of Bacillus beijingensis and Bacillus ginsengi to the genus Bhargavaea, as Bhargavaea beijingensis comb. nov. (type strain ge10(T)  = DSM 19037(T)  = CGMCC 1.6762(T)) and Bhargavaea ginsengi comb. nov. (type strain ge14(T)  = DSM 19038(T)  = CGMCC 1.6763(T)).

Shewanella indica sp. nov., isolated from sediment of the Arabian Sea.

A Gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped, catalase- and oxidase-positive bacterium, motile by means of a single polar flagellum and designated strain KJW27(T), was isolated from the marine sediment of Karwar jetty, west coast of India. The strain was ß-haemolytic and grew with 0-10 % (w/v) NaCl, at 10-45 °C and at pH 6.5-10, with optimum growth with 2 % (w/v) NaCl, at 37 °C and at pH 7.5. The major fatty acids were iso-C15:0 (22.2 %), C17:1ω8c (21 %), summed feature 3 (comprising C16:1ω7c and/or C16:1ω6c; 10.2 %), C16:0 (7.1 %), iso-C13:0 (5.6 %) and C17:0 (4.4 %). The DNA G+C content was 51.2 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA and gyrB gene sequences showed that strain KJW27(T) forms a lineage within the genus Shewanella and is closely related to Shewanella algae ATCC 51192(T) (98.8 %), Shewanella haliotis DW01(T) (98.8 %) and Shewanella chilikensis JC5(T) (98.2 %). Sequence identity with other members of this genus ranges from 92.2 to 96.4 %. The DNA-DNA relatedness of strain KJW27(T) with S. algae ATCC 51192(T), S. haliotis DW01(T) and S. chilikensis JC5(T) was 52, 44 and 33 %, respectively. The phenotypic, genotypic and DNA-DNA relatedness data indicate that strain KJW27(T) should be distinguished from S. algae ATCC 51192(T), S. haliotis DW01(T) and S. chilikensis JC5(T). On the basis of the data presented in this study, strain KJW27(T) represents a novel species, for which the name Shewanella indica sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is KJW27(T) ( = KCTC 23171(T)  = BCC 41031(T)  = NCIM 5388(T)).