Genome-Based Reclassification of Anoxybacillus geothermalis Filippidou et al. 2016 as a Later Heterotypic Synonym of Anoxybacillus rupiensis Derekova et al. 2007.

In this study, our aim was to elucidate the relationship between Anoxybacillus rupiensis DSM 17127T and Anoxybacillus geothermalis GSsed3T through whole-genome phylogenetic analysis. The obtained 16S rRNA gene sequence from the genome of A. rupiensis DSM 17127T exhibited a 99.8% similarity with A. geothermalis GSsed3T. In the phylogenetic trees constructed using whole-genome sequences and 16S rRNA gene sequences, A. rupiensis DSM 17127T and A. geothermalis GSsed3T were observed to form a clade, indicating a close relationship between them. Moreover, the average amino acid identity, average nucleotide identity, and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values calculated between A. rupiensis DSM 17127T and A. geothermalis GSsed3T exceeded the threshold values typically used for species demarcation. Furthermore, the phylogenomic analysis based on the core genome of the strains in question provided additional support for the formation of a monophyletic clade by A. rupiensis DSM 17127T and A. geothermalis GSsed3T. Most phenotypic and chemotaxonomic features between both strains were almost identical except for a few exceptions. These findings suggest that both strains should be classified as belonging to the same species, and we propose that A. geothermalis GSsed3T is a later heterotypic synonym of A. rupiensis DSM 17127T.

Genome-based reclassification of Anoxybacillus kamchatkensis Kevbrin et al. 2005 as a later heterotypic synonym of Anoxybacillus ayderensis Dulger et al. 2004.

In this study, we aimed to clarify the taxonomic positions of Anoxybacillus kamchatkensis DSM 14988T and Anoxybacillus ayderensis AB04T using whole-genome phylogenetic analysis, biochemical and chemotaxonomic characteristics. In phylogenetic trees drawn using whole-genome sequences and 16S rRNA gene sequences, A. kamchatkensis DSM 14988T and A. ayderensis AB04T clade together and showed high sequence similarity (99.6%) based on 16S rRNA gene. The average amino acid identity, average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values between A. kamchatkensis DSM 14988T and A. ayderensis AB04T were found to be greater than the threshold values for species demarcation. Most phenotypic and chemotaxonomic features between both species were almost identical except for a few exceptions. The present results show that A. kamchatkensis DSM 14988T is a later heterotypic synonym of A. ayderensis AB04T.

Janthinobacterium kumbetense sp. nov., a violacein-producing bacterium isolated from spring water in Turkey, and investigation of antimicrobial activity of violacein.

Strain GKT was isolated from the Kumbet plateu of Giresun in Turkey. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain GKT belonged to genus Janthinobacterium and 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities with all type strains of the genus Janthinobacterium were 98.89%-99.78%. The calculated pairwise average nucleotide identity (ANI) values between strain GKT and all type strains of Janthinobacterium species were in the range of 79.8%-93.2%. In addition, digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) values were in the range of 23.0%-51.7%. Major fatty acids are C10:03OH, C12:0, C16:1ω7c, C16:0, and C18:1ω7c, and polar lipids included phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, also one unidentified phospholipid and one unidentified aminophospholipid. The respiratory quinone of strain GKT was determinated to be Q-8. The genome sizes of strain GKT was 6 197 538 bp with 63.16% G + C ratio. Strain GKT is Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped, and motile. A violet pigment was produced by strain GKT. The crude violacein pigments were separated into three diferent bands on a TLC sheet. Then violacein and deoxyviolacein were purifed by vacuum liquid column chromatography and identifed by NMR spectroscopy. The antimicrobial activities of purifed violacein and deoxyviolacein were screened for seven microorganisms. Based on the results of the morphological, biochemical, physiological, phylogenetic, and genomic characteristics, we propose classifying the strain GKT as representative of a novel species of the genus Janthinobacterium, for which the name Janthinobacterium kumbetense sp. nov. is proposed (GKT = LMG 32662T = DSM 11423T).

Isolation and characterization of detergent-compatible amylase-, protease-, lipase-, and cellulase-producing bacteria.

Detergent-compatible enzymes are the new trend followed by most in the detergent industry. Cellulases, lipases, proteases, and amylases are among the enzymes frequently used in detergents. Detergent-compatible enzymes can be obtained from many organisms, but the stability, cheapness, and availability of microbial enzymes make them preferable in industrial areas. In the present study, soil samples contaminated with household waste were collected from different regions of Trabzon (Turkey) for amylase-, cellulase-, protease-, and lipase-producing bacteria. A total of 55 bacterial isolates differing in colony morphology were purified from the samples and 25 of the isolates gave positive results in enzyme screening. The enzyme screening experiments revealed that 10 isolates produced amylase, 9 produced lipase, 7 produced cellulase, and 6 produced protease. While 2 isolates showed both protease and lipase activity, for 2 different isolates cellulose and amylase activity were detected together. It was also observed that one isolate, C37PLCA, produced all four enzymes. The morphological, physiological, and biochemical analyses of the bacteria from which we obtained the enzymes were performed and species close to them were determined using 16S rRNA sequences. Based on the results obtained, our enzymes show tremendous promise for the detergent industry.

Novel piperazine-substituted silicon phthalocyanines exert anti-cancer effects against breast cancer cells.

BACKGROUND: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is one of the effective methods that can be used in cancer treatment. In this study, we aimed to investigate the PDT-mediated anti-cancer effects of newly synthesized piperazine-substituted silicon phthalocyanine molecules on breast cancer cells. METHODS: The compounds were analyzed by different spectroscopic techniques (FT-IR, UV-vis, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, MS) and the absorbance characteristics were determined. The cytotoxic effects of silicon phthalocyanines on MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells and non-tumorigenic MCF-10A cells were evaluated using MTT assay. Detection of apoptotic populations was performed by Annexin V/7AAD assay. H2DCFDA dye was used to analyze intracellular reactive oxygen species. The clonogenic activity and cellular motility were analyzed by colony formation assay and in vitro scratch assay, respectively. Caspase-3, PARP1, and cleaved-PARP1 protein levels were analyzed by western blot studies. RESULTS: Piperazine-substituted silicon phthalocyanines caused high levels of cytotoxic effects and apoptotic cell population in MDA-MB-231 cells, while low levels of cytotoxic effects were observed in MCF-10A cells. Following PDT, intense ROS formation was detected in MDA-MB-231 cells. Colony-forming capacity and cellular motility of MDA-MB-231 cells were highly restricted following PDT, whereas these effects were observed at lower levels in MCF-10A cells. Silicon phthalocyanines caused different effects on cleaved-PARP1 expressions of MDA-MB-231 and MCF-10A cells. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that piperazine-substituted silicon phthalocyanines can exert selective anti-cancer effects on breast cancer cells and activate cellular death through different molecular pathways. Hence, we believe that they may be used as effective photosensitizer agents in the future.

Tumor-selective new piperazine-fragmented silicon phthalocyanines initiate cell death in breast cancer cell lines.

A new silicon phthalocyanine with piperazine-furan ring and its quaternized form were synthesized. All compounds were analyzed by spectroscopic techniques (FT-IR, 1H-NMR, MS, and UV-vis), and the absorbance characteristics of silicon phthalocyanines were evaluated with the expected strong typical absorption bands in the far-red spectrum. The cytotoxic effects of these phthalocyanines induced by photodynamic therapy (PDT) were determined in a dose-dependent manner. Following cytotoxicity analysis, flow cytometric research of cell death was performed. The formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was determined by confocal microscopy. High levels of cytotoxicity and decreased viable cell population have been detected in cancer cells after treatment. In addition, ROS formation was observed in PDT treated cancer cells. However, low levels of cell death and ROS formation were observed in non-tumorigenic cells. According to western blot data, PDT-mediated treatment was found to provide different expression patterns of the cleaved PARP1 protein. The presented study demonstrates that PDT-mediated treatment of newly synthesized phthalocyanines has significant anti-cancer effects on breast cancer cells and may induce different cell death pathways.