Enantioselective Construction of Quaternary Stereocenters via Cooperative Photoredox/Fe/Chiral Primary Amine Triple Catalysis.

The catalytic and enantioselective construction of quaternary (all-carbon substituents) stereocenters poses a formidable challenge in organic synthesis due to the hindrance caused by steric factors. One conceptually viable and potentially versatile approach is the coupling of a C-C bond through an outer-sphere mechanism, accompanied by the realization of enantiocontrol through cooperative catalysis; however, examples of such processes are yet to be identified. Herein, we present such a method for creating different compounds with quaternary stereocenters by photoredox/Fe/chiral primary amine triple catalysis. This approach facilitates the connection of an unactivated alkyl source with a tertiary alkyl moiety, which is also rare. The scalable process exhibits mild conditions, does not necessitate the use of a base, and possesses a good functional-group tolerance. Preliminary investigations into the underlying mechanisms have provided valuable insights into the reaction pathway.

Improved Outcomes of Combined Main Branch Stenting and Side Branch Drug-Coated Balloon versus Two-Stent Strategy in Patients with Left Main Bifurcation Lesions.

BACKGROUND: Drug-eluting stent (DES) plus drug-coated balloon (DCB) is a safe and effective treatment strategy for coronary artery bifurcation lesions, but there is no report about this strategy being used for left main (LM) bifurcation lesions. We aim to explore the efficacy and safety of DES plus DCB in the treatment of LM bifurcation lesions. METHODS: A total of 100 patients diagnosed with LM bifurcation lesions by coronary angiography were retrospectively enrolled at our center from January 2018 to December 2019. They received either a two-stent strategy or a main branch (MB) stenting plus side branch (SB) DCB strategy and were accordingly divided into the 2-DES group and the DES + DCB group. Patients treated with DES + DCB were compared with a cohort of matched patients treated with a 2-DES strategy. Clinical data was collected and quantitative coronary analysis was performed. RESULTS: For immediate postoperative angiography, though the two groups had no differences in the minimal luminal diameter (MLD) and luminal stenosis of MB, the DES + DCB group had significantly lower SB ostial MLD and a higher degree of residual lumen stenosis than the 2-DES group (P < 0.05). At the time of follow-up, the SB ostial MLD of the DES + DCB group was higher than that of the 2-DES group, but lumen stenosis, late lumen loss (LLL), and LLL at the distal end of the left MB were all smaller than those of the 2-DES group (Ps < 0.05). Furthermore, the incidence of lumen restenosis and MACE between the two groups had no significance. CONCLUSION: The combination of DES and DCB is relatively safe and effective for the treatment of LM bifurcation lesions, and this strategy seems to have advantages in reducing LLL at the SB ostium.

Postmortem detection of COL gene family variants in two aortic dissection cases.

Aortic dissection (AD) usually remains undiagnosed, but its manifestation is abrupt and is associated with high morbidity and poor prognosis, leading to sudden cardiac death. Variants in COL family genes are associated with AD. In case 1, a 32-year-old Chinese man was admitted to the hospital with complaints of abdominal pain and died on the next day. In case 2, a 36-year-old Chinese woman was admitted to the hospital because of waist pain and died the next afternoon. According to autopsy findings, the cause of death in both cases was an acute cardiac tamponade, which was attributed to AD rupture. Whole-exome sequencing was performed on the blood collected from the hearts of the two deceased patients. Positive variants in COL family genes were found in both cases, without positive variants in other AD-associated genes. In case 1, a novel, likely pathogenic, missense variant was identified in COL6A1. In case 2, we identified one novel, likely pathogenic, frameshift deletion in COL23A1 and one novel, likely pathogenic, missense mutation in COL1A2. Based on these two cases, physicians should consider the role and significance of COL family gene mutations in AD in young patients. Furthermore, molecular anatomy is clearly necessary and significant in cases of sudden cardiac death attributed to AD, particularly in younger individuals.

Efficiency and safety of laser-assisted hatching on vitrified-warmed blastocyst transfer cycles: a prospective control trial.

To clarify the efficiency and safety of laser-assisted hatching (LAH) application on vitrified-warmed blastocyst transfer (VBT) cycles, we designed the non-randomized concurrent control trial included 4039 VBT cycles in the Center for Reproductive Medicine, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, during the even days from November 2014 to December 2015. The VBT cycles were divided into LAH group (n = 1932) and non-LAH group (n = 2107) according to the date of blastocyst thawing. Laser-partial zona pellucida dissection was performed on all blastocysts thawed on that day every 4 days, and those blastocysts were assigned to the LAH group. There were a higher biochemical pregnancy rate (66.87% vs 63.69%; P = 0.034; rate ratio for LAH vs non-LAH group [RR], 1.050; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.004-1.098) and an increased live birth rate (48.81% vs 45.51%; P = 0.036; RR, 1.072; 95% CI, 1.005-1.145) with comparable ectopic pregnancy, twin or multiple pregnancies, spontaneous abortion and birth defect rates of the LAH group than those of the non-LAH group. Subgroup analysis showed that live birth rate, birth defect rate, and other pregnancy outcomes were comparable for patients younger than 35 years when blastocyst transfer, patients with endometrium thickness less than 0.9 cm during ovulation or the initiation of progesterone treatment, ICSI blastocysts, AC or BC blastocysts according to Gardner morphological criteria and day 5 blastocysts of the LAH group than it of non-LAH group. LAH could be performed selectively on vitrified-warmed blastocysts before transfer for better pregnancy outcomes. Trial registration number: ChiCTR2000032975. Date of registration: May 17, 2020. Retrospectively registered.

Construction of a Stable Expression Cell Line of Human Phospholamban. / 人源性受磷蛋白稳定表达细胞系的构建.

OBJECTIVES: To construct a cell line that can stably express human phospholamban(PLN) and initially explore its application in the study of myocardial toxicity mechanism. METHODS: FastCloning method was used to insert the open reading frame sequence of target gene PLN into eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA5/FRT/TO(hereinafter referred to as pDFT) to construct the pDFT-PLN-Flag plasmid. The Flp-InTM T-RExTM 293 cells were generated by cotransfection of the constructed plasmid and pOG44 plasmid to express the target gene. Successfully recombined monoclonal cell lines were screened by hygromycin B resistance. Western blot and indirect immunofluorescence (IFA) were used to examine the expression of the target protein in recombinant cells. After the cell line was exposed to aconitine, it was verified by Western blot to detect changes in PLN protein phosphorylation. RESULTS: After PCR amplification of the recombinant plasmid and DNA electrophoresis, the length of the amplified product is the same as the known PLN gene fragment, which is consistent with the open reading frame (ORF) sequence of the human PLN gene after sequencing. IFA and Western blot showed that the constructed proliferation cell line can stably express high levels of human PLN under induction and regulation. Preliminary results showed that the phosphorylation level of Thr17-PLN decreased after two hours of exposure to 1 µmol/L aconitine. CONCLUSIONS: This human cell line can stably express PLN and can be used to study the mechanism of action of aconitine on the cell at molecular level.

Robust Biological Hydrogen-Bonded Organic Framework with Post-Functionalized Rhenium(I) Sites for Efficient Heterogeneous Visible-Light-Driven CO2 Reduction.

A robust 2,2'-bipyridine (bpy)-derived biological hydrogen-bonded framework (HOF-25) has been realized depending on guanine-quadruplex with the assistance of π-π interaction, which reacts with Re(CO)5 Cl to give a post-functionalized HOF-25-Re. X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopic study on HOF-25-Re confirms the covalent attachment of Re(bpy)(CO)3 Cl segments to this HOF. Robust and recycled HOF-25-Re bearing photocatalytic Re(bpy)(CO)3 Cl centers displays good heterogeneous catalytic activity towards carbon dioxide photoreduction in the presence of [Ru(bpy)3 ]Cl2 and triisopropanolamine in CH3 CN under visible-light irradiation, with both high CO production rate of 1448 µmol g-1 h-1 and high selectivity of 93 %. Under the same conditions, the experimental turnover number of HOF-25-Re (50) is about 8 times as that of the homogeneous control Re(bpy)(CO)3 Cl. The sustainably regenerated HOF-25-Re via crystallization and post-modification processes shows recovered photocatalytic performance.

Exploring the genetic pathogenicity of aortic dissection from 72 Han Chinese individuals using next-generation sequencing.

Aortic dissection (AD) is a heterogeneous genetic disease with high morbidity and mortality. Although many genes predispose patients to AD, the pathogenic spectrum remains incomplete. This study aims to (a) investigate whether genotype differences exist between Stanford A and B AD individuals, and (b) broaden the pathogenic genetic spectrum of AD and reported novel variants of AD-associated genes. The DNA of 72 unrelated Han Chinese individuals with AD was tested by whole-exome sequencing. Of 142 AD-associated genes, 10 pathogenic variants, and 48 likely pathogenic variants in 36 genes were identified among 39 cases. The diagnostic yield was 54.2%. Of the 58 positive variants, 27 were novel. FBN1 was the most frequently positive gene in both Stanford A and Stanford B. Twenty-seven positive variants from 18 COL family genes were distributed in 36.8% of Stanford A and 6.7% of Stanford B cases. We emphasize that positive variants of COL family genes show distribution predominance and strong pathogenicity in Stanford A, while positive variants of smooth muscle cell pathway genes present distribution advantages mainly in Stanford B cases. Our findings provide a new perspective for both the pathogenic mechanism and the treatment of AD.

Palladium-Catalyzed Divergent Imidoylative Cyclization of Multifunctionalized Isocyanides: Tunable Access to Oxazol-5(4H)-ones and Cyclic Ketoimines.

A palladium-catalyzed tunable imidoylative cyclization of multifunctionalized isocyanides to construct diverse imine-containing heterocycles has been developed. Oxazol-5(4H)-one derivatives were obtained exclusively when allyl-2-benzyl(or allyl)-2-isocyanoacetates were used in the reaction with aryl triflates as electrophiles, whereas cyclic ketoimines were generated in the presence of aryl iodides with the allyl ester group remaining unreacted. The reactions proceeded smoothly under mild conditions with a wide functional group tolerance.

The Monocyte-to-Lymphocyte Ratio at Hospital Admission Is a Novel Predictor for Acute Traumatic Intraparenchymal Hemorrhage Expansion after Cerebral Contusion.

PURPOSE: To explore the potential of monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR) at hospital admission for predicting acute traumatic intraparenchymal hematoma (tICH) expansion in patients with cerebral contusion. Patients and Methods. This multicenter, observational study included patients with available at-hospital admission (baseline) and follow-up computed tomography for volumetric analysis (retrospective development cohort: 1146 patients; prospective validation cohort: 207 patients). Semiautomated software assessed tICH expansion (defined as ≥33% or 5 mL absolute growth). MLR was acquired from routine blood tests upon admission. We constructed two predictive models: basic combined model of clinical and imaging variables and MLR combined model of both MLR and other variables in the basic model. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis and decision curve analysis (DCA) were used to estimate the performance of MLR for predicting acute tICH expansion. RESULTS: MLR was significantly larger in patients with acute tICH expansion compared to those without acute tICH expansion (mean [SD], 1.08 [1.05] vs. 0.59 [0.37], P < 0.001). A nonlinear positive relationship between MLR and the incidence of acute tICH expansion was observed. Multivariate logistic regression indicated MLR as an independent risk factor for acute tICH expansion (odds ratio (OR), 5.88; 95% confidence interval (CI), 4.02-8.61). The power of the multivariate model for predicting acute tICH expansion was substantially improved with the inclusion of MLR (AUC 0.86 vs. AUC 0.74, P < 0.001), as was also observed in an external validation cohort (AUC 0.83 vs. AUC 0.71, P < 0.001). The net benefit of MLR model was higher between threshold probabilities of 20-100% in DCA. For clinical application, a nomogram derived from the multivariate model with MLR was introduced. In addition, MLR was positively associated with 6-month unfavorable outcome. CONCLUSION: MLR is a novel predictor for traumatic parenchymatous hematoma expansion. A nomogram derived from the MLR model may provide an easy-to-use tool for predicting acute tICH expansion and promoting the individualized treatment of patients with hemorrhagic cerebral contusion. MLR is associated with long-term outcome after cerebral contusion.

Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio as a Novel Predictor of Outcome in Patients With Severe Traumatic Brain Injury.

OBJECTIVE: The neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been reported to be a predictor of outcome in critical illness. Objective of this study was to investigate the changes of the NLR in patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) and analyze the relationship between the NLR and TBI outcome. SETTING: China. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 855 patients with severe TBI from January 2007 to April 2012. DESIGN: Retrospective. MAIN MEASUREMENT: Data on the NLR and other indicators were collected. After follow-up until death or 1 year, the relationship between the NLR and TBI outcome was analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: The final analysis included 688 patients. There were 508 (73.8%) who had an unfavorable outcome by 1 year after head trauma. The value of the NLR on admission was significantly higher in the unfavorable outcome group than in the favorable outcome group (P < .001). Multivariate logistic analysis showed that higher NLR was associated with an unfavorable outcome (odds ratio, 1.100; P < .001). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the NLR had a sensitivity of 60.2% and a specificity of 71.1% for predicting unfavorable outcome at 1 year on the basis of the best threshold. CONCLUSION: The NLR might be useful as a novel predictor for 1-year outcome and mortality in severe TBI.

Microbispora bryophytorum sp. nov., an actinomycete isolated from moss (Bryophyta).

A novel endophytic actinomycete, designated strain NEAU-TX2-2(T), was isolated from moss and characterized using a polyphasic approach. The isolate was found to have morphological characteristics typical of the genus Microbispora . The isolate formed longitudinally paired spores on the tips of short sporophores that branched from aerial hyphae. Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence supported the assignment of the novel strain to the genus Microbispora , and strain NEAU-TX2-2(T) exhibited 99.08 and 98.62% gene sequence similarities to Microbispora amethystogenes JCM 3021(T) and Microbispora rosea subsp. rosea JCM 3006(T), respectively. However two tree-making algorithms supported the position that strain NEAU-TX2-2(T) formed a distinct clade with M. rosea subsp. rosea JCM 3006(T). A low level of DNA-DNA relatedness allowed the isolate to be differentiated from M. amethystogenes JCM 3021(T) and M. rosea subsp. rosea JCM 3006(T). Moreover, strain NEAU-TX2-2(T) could also be distinguished from its closest phylogenetic relatives by morphological and physiological characteristics. Therefore, it is proposed that strain NEAU-TX2-2(T) represents a novel species of the genus Microbispora for which the name Microbispora bryophytorum sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is NEAU-TX2-2(T) ( = CGMCC 4.7138(T) = DSM 46710(T)).

Actinomycetospora rhizophila sp. nov., an actinomycete isolated from rhizosphere soil of a peace lily (Spathi phyllum Kochii).

A novel actinomycete, designated strain NEAU-B-8(T), was isolated from the rhizosphere soil of a peace lily (Spathi phyllum Kochii) collected from Heilongjiang province, north-east China. Key morphological and physiological characteristics as well as chemotaxonomic features of strain NEAU-B-8(T) were congruent with the description of the genus Actinomycetospora , such as the major fatty acids, the whole-cell hydrolysates, the predominant menaquinone and the phospholipid profile. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that strain NEAU-B-8(T) shared the highest sequence similarities with Actinomycetospora lutea JCM 17982(T) (99.3% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity), Actinomycetospora chlora TT07I-57(T) (98.4 %), Actinomycetospora straminea IY07-55(T) (98.3%) and Actinomycetospora chibensis TT04-21(T) (98.2%); similarities to type strains of other species of this genus were lower than 98%. The phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain NEAU-B-8(T) formed a distinct branch with A. lutea JCM 17982(T) that was supported by a high bootstrap value of 97% in the neighbour-joining tree and was also recovered with the maximum-likelihood algorithm. However, the DNA-DNA relatedness between strain NEAU-B-8(T) and A. lutea JCM 17982(T) was found to be 50.6 ± 1.2%. Meanwhile, strain NEAU-B-8(T) differs from other most closely related strains in phenotypic properties, such as maximum NaCl tolerance, hydrolysis of aesculin and decomposition of urea. On the basis of the morphological, physiological, chemotaxonomic, phylogenetic and DNA-DNA hybridization data, we conclude that strain NEAU-B-8(T) represents a novel species of the genus Actinomycetospora , named Actinomycetospora rhizophila sp. nov. The type strain is NEAU-B-8(T). ( = CGMCC 4.7134(T) =DSM 46673(T)).

Plantactinospora veratri sp. nov., an actinomycete isolated from black false hellebore root (Veratrum nigrum L.).

A novel actinomycete, designated strain NEAU-FHS4T, was isolated from the root of black false hellebore (Veratrum nigrum L.). Strain NEAU-FHS4T formed single spores with smooth surfaces on substrate mycelium. The novel strain contained meso-diaminopimelic as amino acid of the peptidoglycan and xylose and glucose as whole-cell sugars. The predominant menaquinones were MK-10(H6) and MK-10(H8). Mycolic acids were not detected. The diagnostic phospholipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylinositol. The predominant cellular fatty acids were iso-C16 : 0, C16 : 0, C18 : 0 and anteiso-C17 : 0. Phenotypic and chemotaxonomic analysis showed that the novel isolate had characteristics typical of members of the genus Plantactinospora. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis also indicated that strain NEAU-FHS4T belonged to the genus Plantactinospora, with highest sequence similarities to Plantactinospora mayteni YIM 61359T (98.88 %) and Plantactinospora endophytica YIM 68255T (98.85 %). The results of DNA-DNA hybridization and physiological and biochemical tests allowed genotypic and phenotypic differentiation of the novel strain from the most closely related strains. Based on morphological, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic data, strain NEAU-FHS4T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Plantactinospora, for which the name Plantactinospora veratri sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is NEAU-FHS4T ( = CGMCC 4.7143T = DSM 46718T).

Streptomyces vulcanius sp. nov., a novel actinomycete isolated from volcanic sediment.

A novel actinomycete, designated strain NEAU-C3(T), was isolated from volcanic sediment collected from Longwan, Jilin province, north China and characterized using a polyphasic approach. The organism was found to have morphological and chemotaxonomic characteristics typical of the members of the genus Streptomyces. EzTaxon-e analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated strain NEAU-C3(T) to be most closely related to Streptomyces hygroscopicus subsp. ossamyceticus JCM 4965(T) (97.7 % sequence similarity) and Streptomyces torulosus JCM 4872(T) (97.7 %). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain NEAU-C3(T) belongs within the genus Streptomyces and forms a separate subclade, an association that was supported by a bootstrap value of 72 % in the neighbour-joining tree and also recovered with the maximum-likelihood algorithm. The DNA-DNA hybridization values between strain NEAU-C3(T) and the two most closely related type strains were low enough to justify the assignment of the strain to a novel species. On the basis of these phenotypic, phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic characteristics, it is concluded that strain NEAU-C3(T) represents a novel species of the genus Streptomyces, for which the name Streptomyces vulcanius sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is NEAU-C3(T) (=CGMCC 4.7177(T)=DSM 42139(T)).

Sphaerisporangium corydalis sp. nov., isolated from the root of Corydalis yanhusuo L.

Two Gram-stain positive, aerobic actinomycete strains, designated NEAU-YHS12 and NEAU-YHS15(T), were isolated from the root of Corydalis yanhusuo L. collected from Wuchang, Heilongjiang Province, northeast China. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the two strains are closely related to one another (99.8 % similarity), and had the closest relationship with Sphaerisporangium cinnabarinum JCM 3291(T) (98.7, 98.6 %), Sphaerisporangium flaviroseum YIM 48771(T) (98.6, 98.6 %), Sphaerisporangium melleum JCM 13064(T) (98.5, 98.4 %) and Sphaerisporangium dianthi NEAU-CY18(T) (98.4, 98.4 %). DNA-DNA hybridization value between strains NEAU-YHS12 and NEAU-YHS15(T) was 82 ± 1.4 %, and the values between the two strains and the closely related type strains were well below 70 %. The two strains also shared a number of phenotypic characteristics that were distinct from the closely related species. Both strains were observed to contain MK-9(H6), MK-9(H4) and MK-9(H2) as the detected menaquinones. The cell wall peptidoglycan was found to contain meso-diaminopimelic acid. The phospholipid profiles were found to contain diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylmethylethanolamine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylinositol mannoside, phosphoglycolipid, and an unidentified phospholipid. The major fatty acids were identified as iso-C16:0, C17:1 ω7c, C18:0 and iso-C15:0. On the basis of the genetic and phenotypic properties, it is proposed that strains NEAU-YHS15(T) and NEAU-YHS12 be classified as representatives of a novel species of the genus Sphaerisporangium, for which the name Sphaerisporangium corydalis sp. nov is proposed. The type strain is NEAU-YHS15(T) (CGMCC 4.7148(T) = DSM46732(T)).

Streptomyces maoxianensis sp. nov., a novel actinomycete isolated from soil in Maoxian, China.

A novel actinomycete, designated strain NEAU-Spg16(T), was isolated from a soil sample from a pine forest in Songpinggou, Maoxian, southwest China. A polyphasic taxonomic study was carried out to establish the status of strain NEAU-Spg16(T). The cell wall peptidoglycan was found to contain LL-diaminopimelic acid and glycine. The major menaquinones were identified as MK-9(H8), MK-9(H4) and MK-9(H6). The phospholipid profile was found to contain diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol and an unidentified phospholipid. The major fatty acids were identified as iso-C(16:0), C(18:0), C(16:0) and iso-C(15:0). 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity studies showed that strain NEAU-Spg16(T) belongs to the genus Streptomyces with the highest sequence similarity to Streptomyces nitrosporeus DSM 40023(T) (98.6%). However, phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that it is most closely related to Streptomyces scopuliridis DSM 41917(T) (98.2% sequence similarity). A combination of DNA-DNA hybridization results and some phenotypic characteristics indicated that strain NEAU-Spg16(T) can be clearly differentiated from S. scopuliridis DSM 41917(T) and S. nitrosporeus DSM 40023(T). Therefore, it is concluded that strain NEAU-Spg16(T) represents a novel species of the genus of Streptomyces, for which the name Streptomyces maoxianensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type stain is NEAU-Spg16(T) (=CGMCC 4.7139(T) = DSM 42137(T)).

Sphaerisporangium dianthi sp. nov., an endophytic actinomycete isolated from a root of Dianthus chinensis L.

A novel actinomycete, designated strain NEAU-CY18(T), was isolated from the root of a Chinese medicinal plant Dianthus chinensis L and subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic study. The novel strain was found to develop spherical sporangia with non-motile spores on aerial mycelium. The cell-wall peptidoglycan was found to contain meso-diaminopimelic acid. The whole-cell sugars were identified as madurose, mannose, ribose, galactose and glucose. The phospholipid profile was found to contain diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylmethylethanolamine, phosphatidylethanolamine, hydroxy-phosphatidylmethylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylinositol mannosides and an unidentified phospholipid. The predominant menaquinones were identified as MK-9(H4), MK-9(H2) and MK-9(H6). The major fatty acids were identified as C17:0 10-methyl, iso-C16:0 and C16:0. EzTaxon-e analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that the strain belongs to the genus Sphaerisporangium and was most closely related to Sphaerisporangium cinnabarinum JCM 3291(T) (98.9 %) and Sphaerisporangium melleum JCM 13064(T) (98.3 %). Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that strain NEAU-CY18(T) forms a monophyletic clade with S. cinnabarinum JCM 3291(T), an association that was supported by a bootstrap value of 97 % in the neighbour-joining tree and also recovered with the maximum-likelihood algorithm. Comparisons of some phenotypic properties and low DNA-DNA relatedness values enabled the strain to be differentiated from S. cinnabarinum JCM 3291(T) and S. melleum JCM 13064(T). Therefore, it is concluded that strain NEAU-CY18(T) represents a novel Sphaerisporangium species, for which the name Sphaerisporangium dianthi sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is NEAU-CY18(T) ( = CGMCC 4.7132(T) = DSM 46736(T)).

Dactylosporangium cerinum sp. nov., a novel actinobacterium isolated from the rhizosphere of Pinus koraiensis Sieb. et Zucc.

A novel actinobacterium, designated strain NEAU-TPG4(T) was isolated from rhizosphere soil of Pinus koraiensis Sieb. et Zucc. collected from Luobei, Heilongjiang Province, north China, and characterized using a polyphasic approach. Morphological and chemotaxonomic properties of strain NEAU-TPG4(T) were consistent with the description of the genus Dactylosporangium. The strain formed finger-shaped sporangia on short sporangiophores that emerged directly from substrate hyphae. The cell-wall peptidoglycan consisted of meso- and 3-hydroxy-diaminopimelic acids; arabinose, xylose and glucose were found as whole-cell sugars. The phospholipid profile contained diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylinositol. The predominant menaquinones were identified as MK-9(H8) and MK-9(H6). The predominant cellular fatty acids were identified as iso-C16:0, anteiso-C15:0, anteiso-C17:0 and C18:0. Phylogenetic analysis using 16S rRNA gene sequences also indicated that the strain should be classified in the genus Dactylosporangium and showed that the closest relatives were Dactylosporangium maewongense Japan Collection of Microorganism (JCM) 15933(T) (99.6 %), Dactylosporangium siamense NBRC 106093(T) (99.6 %), Dactylosporangium aurantiacum JCM 3083(T) (99.5 %) and Dactylosporangium luteum JCM 17685(T) (99.5 %). However, the low level of DNA-DNA relatedness and several cultural and physiological characteristics allowed the strain to be distinguished from its closest relatives. Thus, it is proposed that strain NEAU-TPG4(T) represents a novel Dactylosporangium species. Dactylosporangium cerinum sp. nov. The type strain of D. cerinum is NEAU-TPG4(T) (=CGMCC 4.7152(T) = DSM 46712(T)).