Rubellicoccus peritrichatus gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from crustose coralline algae in a coral aquarium.

A Gram-stain-negative, motile, aerobic, non-spore-forming coccus, designated strain CR14T, was isolated from crustose coralline algae. Cells grew at 20-30 °C (optimum, 25 °C), at pH 6-9 (optimum, pH 7.6) and with NaCl concentrations of 0.5-9 % (w/v; optimum, 2-4 %). Global alignment based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated strain CR14T is closest to Ruficoccus amylovorans JCM 31066T with an identity of 92 %. The average nucleotide identity and average amino acid identity values between CR14T and R. amylovorans JCM 31066T were 68.4 and 59.9 %, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain CR14T forms an independent branch within the family Cerasicoccaeae, which was consistent with the phylogenomic results. The sole isoprenoid quinone was MK-7. The major fatty acids were C14 : 0, C18 : 1 ω9c, C19 : 0 cyc 9,10 DMA, C16 : 0, and C18 : 2 ω6c. The major cellular polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, and two unidentified lipids. The genome DNA G+C content was 48.7 mol%. Based on morphological, physiological and chemotaxonomic characteristics, strain CR14T is suggested to represent a novel species in a new genus, for which the name Rubellicoccus peritrichatus gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CR14T (=MCCC 1K03845T=KCTC 72139T).

Chemotaxonomy compared to morphological and anatomical taxonomy of five Hibiscus species.

Hibiscus is a charismatic genus of the Malvaceae family that is noted for its diversity, lacking identifiable characteristics for distinguishing its various species. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop authentication methods for genus delimitation and species delineation. The present study aims to discern the taxonomic relationships between the well-known, globally familiar, and economically important five Hibiscus species, namely: H. × rosa-sinensis, H. sabdariffa, H. schizopetalus, H. syriacus and H. tiliaceus based on traditional morphological and anatomical characteristics compared to the contemporary chemotaxonomy. In this context, the leaf-based methanolic extracts of the studied species were analyzed by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometer (GC-MS) to estimate their secondary metabolites similarity. In addition, selected qualitative morphological and anatomical traits including leaf venation patterns, epidermal micromorphology, stomata types and trichomes diversity, petiole serial sectioning (outline, adaxial groove features, vasculature traces arrangement), and midrib characteristics of the studied species were investigated. The results of both chemotaxonomy and traditional taxonomy exhibited a remarkable agreement in the delineation of the five studied species. Specifically, the chemotaxonomy-based dendrogram separates the studied species into two main clusters with the H. sabdariffa as an outlier species in a single cluster and the remaining four species as another cluster with variant distances in its similarity indices. Similarly, the traditional morphological and anatomical characteristics revealed distinct traits for H. sabdariffa compared to the remaining four species. The findings of this study highlight the significance of integrating the structural features with phytochemicals profiling as a potential approach that could be harnessed for the delineation of the taxonomically challenging Hibiscus genus.

Cuticular lipid profiles of selected species of cyclocephaline beetles (Melolonthidae, Cyclocephalini).

Neotropical cyclocephaline beetles, a diverse group of flower-loving insects, significantly impact natural and agricultural ecosystems. In particular, the genus Cyclocephala, with over 350 species, displays polymorphism and cryptic complexes. Lacking a comprehensive DNA barcoding framework, accessible tools for species differentiation are needed for research in taxonomy, ecology, and crop management. Moreover, cuticular hydrocarbons are believed to be involved in sexual recognition mechanisms in these beetles. In the present study we examined the cuticular chemical profiles of six species from the genus Cyclocephala and two populations of Erioscelis emarginata and assessed their efficiency in population, species, and sex differentiation. Overall we identified 74 compounds in cuticular extracts of the selected taxa. Linear alkanes and unsaturated hydrocarbons were prominent, with ten compounds between them explaining 85.6% of species dissimilarity. Although the cuticular chemical profiles efficiently differentiated all investigated taxa, only C. ohausiana showed significant cuticular profile differences between sexes. Our analysis also revealed two E. emarginata clades within a larger group of 'Cyclocephala' species, but they were not aligned with the two studied populations. Our research underscores the significance of cuticular lipid profiles in distinguishing selected cyclocephaline beetle species and contemplates their potential impact as contact pheromones on sexual segregation and speciation.

Sesquiterpene Acids and Lactones from Inula Confertiflora with their Antibacterial Activities.

The phytochemical investigation of the leaves of Inula confertiflora, a medicinal plant endemic to Ethiopia, led to the isolation of 15 terpenoids; 1ß-hydroxy-α-costic acid (1), 3α-hydroxycostic acid (2), isotelekin (3), asperilin (4), carabrone (5), carpesioline (6), graveolide (7), inuviscolide (8), 8-epi-inuviscolide (9), 1ß,4ß-dihydroxy-5α(H)-guaia-10(14),11(13)-dien-8α,12-olide (10), isoinuviscolide (11), 4ß,10ß-dihydroxy-5α(H)-1,11(13)-guaidien-8α,12-olide (12), 4ß,10ß-dihydroxy-1ß(H)-5α(H)-guai-11(13)-en-8α,12-olide (13), 4ß,10α-dihydroxy-1ß(H)-5α(H)-guai-11(13)-en-8α,12-olide (14), 4ß,10α-dihydroxy-1α(H)-5α(H)-guai-11(13)-en-8α,12-olide (15). Herein, structural elucidation and full NMR data for compound 1 are presented for the first time. The structures were elucidated using NMR, HRESIMS, and by comparison with literature data. The relative configurations were defined by NOESY correlations and single-crystal X-ray crystallography. Herein, crystallography data of 6 and 7 were reported for the first time. The antibacterial efficacy of some of the isolated compounds was evaluated against two commonly dispersed environmental strains of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Compounds 1, 3, 6, 7, and 8 exhibited moderate antibacterial activities against the tested organisms. The chemotaxonomic significance of compounds is discussed.

Morphological and Chemical Diversity within Japanese Laurencia Complex (Rhodomelaceae, Ceramiales, Rhodophyta).

Seaweeds of the red algal genus Laurencia are widely distributed worldwide in tropical, subtropical to temperate zones, and grow in Japan from Hokkaido to Okinawa. Laurencia is one of the most studied seaweeds by organic chemists because it produces a variety of compounds with unique structures. In Japan, various halogenated compounds have been found in Laurencia, while some species do not produce any halogenated compounds. Laurencia is one of the most difficult seaweeds to classify morphologically; however, the major halogenated secondary metabolites produced tend to be species-specific, and these compounds can be used as chemical markers for chemical systematics (chemotaxonomy). Similarly, it has been confirmed that domestic Laurencia species produce species-specific halogenated compounds of certain types. Laurencia is one of the "weedy seaweeds" that have not been effectively utilized at present, but it produces a wide variety of metabolites, so there is a good possibility that compounds with specific activity may be found. Thus, it can be seen that the secondary metabolites in Laurencia have many interesting aspects. In this review, we reported significant morphological features to distinguish species in this genus, and the morphological features, habitat, distribution, and chemical composition that help discriminate Japanese Laurencia species.

Lamiide and Ipolamiide: A Comprehensive Review of Their Bioactive Properties and Therapeutic Potential.

There is an increasing interest in using iridoids and secoiridoids as major targets for chemical synthesis and biosynthesis. Iridoids can be found in numerous species of Lamiaceae, Verbenaceae, Scrophulariaceae, and other families. Iridoids possess a chemical structure characterized by a cyclopentane ring with oxidative substituents, forming a six-membered ring. Various research groups have used these structures as valuable starting materials for regioselective and stereoselective synthesis. This approach has enormous potential for the production of bioactive alkaloids, prostaglandin analogues, and other bioactive natural compounds. Because there is currently no review on lamiide and ipolamiide, this review intends to pique researchers' interest in this vital topic of natural science for drug discovery from naturally occurring iridoids. Lamiide and ipolamiide have the potential to be useful tools in the pharmaceutical sector, enabling the use of these plant metabolites in a variety of medicinal compositions. Given that these molecules appear to be potential natural substances for treating human ailments, we get light on them as alternative therapeutic approaches using these compounds alone or in combination with other substances which will potentially lead to future (pre)-clinical investigations.

Chemometric Analysis Evidencing the Variability in the Composition of Essential Oils in 10 Salvia Species from Different Taxonomic Sections or Phylogenetic Clades.

Essential oil (EO) of Salvia spp. has been widely used for culinary purposes and in perfumery and cosmetics, as well as having beneficial effects on human health. The present study aimed to investigate the quantitative and qualitative variations in EOs in wild-growing and cultivated pairs of samples from members in four Salvia sections or three clades, namely S. argentea L. (Sect. Aethiopis; Clade I-C), S. ringens Sm. (Sect. Eusphace; Clade I-D), S. verticillata L. (Sect. Hemisphace; Clade I-B), S. amplexicaulis Lam., and S. pratensis L. (Sect. Plethiosphace; Clade I-C). Furthermore, the natural variability in EO composition due to different genotypes adapted in different geographical and environmental conditions was examined by employing members of three Salvia sections or two phylogenetic clades, namely S. sclarea L. (six samples; Sect. Aethiopis or Clade I-C), S. ringens (three samples; Sect. Eusphace or Clade I-D), and S. amplexicaulis (five samples; Sect. Plethiosphace or Clade I-C). We also investigated the EO composition of four wild-growing species of two Salvia sections, i.e., S. aethiopis L., S. candidissima Vahl, and S. teddii of Sect. Aethiopis, as well as the cultivated material of S. virgata Jacq. (Sect. Plethiosphace), all belonging to Clade I-C. The EO composition of the Greek endemic S. teddii is presented herein only for the first time. Taken together, the findings of previous studies are summarized and critically discussed with the obtained results. Chemometric analysis (PCA, HCA, and clustered heat map) was used to identify the sample relationships based on their chemical classes, resulting in the classification of two distinct groups. These can be further explored in assistance of classical or modern taxonomic Salvia studies.

Metabolomic profiling of different clones of vitis vinifera L. cv. "Glera" and "Glera lunga" grapes by high-resolution mass spectrometry.

INTRODUCTION: Prosecco wine production has been strongly extended in the last decade and several new clones have been introduced. "Glera" (minimum 85%) and "Glera lunga" are grape varieties of great economic impact used to produce Prosecco wines. Study of grape berry secondary metabolites is effective in the classification of vine varieties and clones. High-resolution mass spectrometry provides complete panorama of these metabolites in single analysis and coupling to statistical multivariate analysis is successfully applied in vine chemotaxonomy. OBJECTIVES: update and deepen the knowledge on the "Glera" and "Glera lunga" berry grapes chemotaxonomy and investigate some of the most produced and marketed clones by using the modern analytical and statistical tools. METHODS: five clones of "Glera" and two of "Glera lunga" grown in the same vineyard with same agronomical practices were studied for three vintages. Grape berry metabolomics was characterized by UHPLC/QTOF and multivariate statistical analysis was performed on the signals of main metabolites of oenological interest. RESULTS: "Glera" and "Glera lunga" showed different monoterpene profiles ("Glera" is richer in glycosidic linalool and nerol) and differences in polyphenols (catechin, epicatechin and procyanidins, trans-feruloyltartaric acid, E-ε-viniferin, isorhamnetin-glucoside, quercetin galactoside). Vintage affected the accumulation of these metabolites in berry. No statistical differentiation among the clones of each variety, was found. CONCLUSIONS: Coupling HRMS metabolomics/statistical multivariate analysis enabled clear differentiation between the two varieties. The examined clones of same variety showed similar metabolomic profiles and enological characteristics, but vineyard planting using different clones can result in more consistent final wines reducing the vintage variability linked to genotype × environment interaction.

Marinobacterium lacunae sp. nov. isolated from estuarine sediment.

A novel motile bacterium was isolated from a sediment sample collected in Kochi backwaters, Kerala, India. This bacterium is Gram negative, rod shaped, 1.0-1.5 µm wide, and 2.0-3.0 µm long. It was designated as strain AK27T. Colonies were grown on marine agar displayed circular, off-white, shiny, moist, translucent, flat, margin entire, 1-2 mm in diameter. The major fatty acids identified in this strain were C18:1 ω7c, C16:0, and summed in feature 3. The composition of polar lipids in the strain AK27T included phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, one unidentified amino lipid, two unidentified aminophospholipids, two unidentified phospholipids, and six unidentified lipids. The genomic DNA of strain AK27T exhibited a G+C content of 56.4 mol%. Based on the analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequence, strain AK27T showed sequence similarity to M. ramblicola D7T and M. zhoushanense WM3T as 98.99% and 98.58%, respectively. Compared to other type strains of the Marinobacterium genus, strain AK27T exhibited sequence similarities ranging from 91.7% to 96.4%. When compared to Marinobacterium zhoushanense WM3T and Marinobacterium ramblicola D7T, strain AK27T exhibited average nucleotide identity values of 80.25% and 79.97%, and dDDH values of 22.9% and 22.6%, respectively. The genome size of the strain AK27T was 4.55 Mb, with 4,229 coding sequences. Based on the observed phenotypic and chemotaxonomic features, and the results of phylogenetic and phylogenomic analysis, this study proposes the classification of strain AK27T as a novel species within the genus Marinobacterium. The proposed name for this novel species is Marinobacterium lacunae sp. nov.

Seasonal Dynamics of Photosynthetic Picoeukaryotes in a Monsoon-Influenced Tropical Bay: a Flow Cytometric and Chemotaxonomic Approach.

The composition and ecology of photosynthetic picoeukaryotes (PPE) are essential for understanding microbial food web functioning. We hypothesize that the simultaneous use of flow cytometry (FCM) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) tools will aid in discerning the dominant PPE groups contributing to abundance and biomass under prevailing environmental conditions. The PPE seasonal community abundance and pigment biomass were investigated from a southwest monsoon-influenced tropical bay from June 2015 to May 2016. A size-fractionated (<3 µm) approach using FCM and HPLC revealed five and six PPE groups, respectively. Picocryptophytes dominated the PPE biomass under varied environmental conditions, whereas picodiatoms contributed substantially, being abundant under turbulent, low-temperature, nutrient (NO3-, SiO44-)-enriched conditions. The picochlorophytes dominated the community numerically. The relatively higher abundance and biomass of picoprasinophytes and a positive correlation with NO3- and NH4+ imply proliferation under higher nutrient concentrations. The least contributors to biomass were dinoflagellates and picoprymnesiophytes. The relatively larger cell size of picocryptophytes and picodiatoms resulted in higher cumulative biomass, signifying their role in the microbial food web. Our study proposes incorporation of additional indicator pigments in algorithms used to estimate coastal picophytoplankton contribution to total phytoplankton biomass to avoid discrepancies.

Can Pheromones Contribute to Phylogenetic Hypotheses? A Case Study of Chrysomelidae.

Pheromones mediate species-level communication in the search for mates, nesting, and feeding sites. Although the role of pheromones has long been discussed by various authors, their existence was not proven until the mid-twentieth century when the first sex pheromone was identified. From this finding, much has been speculated about whether this communication mechanism has acted as a regulatory agent in the process of speciation, competition, and sexual selection since it acts as an intraspecific barrier. Chrysomelidae is one of the major Phytophaga lineages, with approximately 40,000 species. Due to this immense diversity the internal relationships remain unstable when analyzed only with morphological data, consequently recent efforts have been directed to molecular analyses to establish clarity for the relationships and found their respective monophyly. Therefore, our goals are twofold 1) to synthesize the current literature on Chrysomelidae sex pheromones and 2) to test whether Chrysomelidae sex pheromones and their chemical structures could be used in phylogenetic analysis for the group. The results show that, although this is the first analysis in Chrysomelidae to use pheromones as a phylogenetic character, much can be observed in agreement with previous analyses, thus confirming that pheromones, when known in their entirety within lineages, can be used as characters in phylogenetic analyses, bringing elucidation to the relationships and evolution of organisms.

Coral Lipids.

Reef-building corals, recognized as cornerstone species in marine ecosystems, captivate with their unique duality as both symbiotic partners and autotrophic entities. Beyond their ecological prominence, these corals produce a diverse array of secondary metabolites, many of which are poised to revolutionize the domains of pharmacology and medicine. This exhaustive review delves deeply into the multifaceted world of coral-derived lipids, highlighting both ubiquitous and rare forms. Within this spectrum, we navigate through a myriad of fatty acids and their acyl derivatives, encompassing waxes, sterol esters, triacylglycerols, mono-akyl-diacylglycerols, and an array of polar lipids such as betaine lipids, glycolipids, sphingolipids, phospholipids, and phosphonolipids. We offer a comprehensive exploration of the intricate biochemical variety of these lipids, related fatty acids, prostaglandins, and both cyclic and acyclic oxilipins. Additionally, the review provides insights into the chemotaxonomy of these compounds, illuminating the fatty acid synthesis routes inherent in corals. Of particular interest is the symbiotic bond many coral species nurture with dinoflagellates from the Symbiodinium group; their lipid and fatty acid profiles are also detailed in this discourse. This exploration accentuates the vast potential and intricacy of coral lipids and underscores their profound relevance in scientific endeavors.

Screening of a Thraustochytrid Strain Collection for Carotenoid and Squalene Production Characterized by Cluster Analysis, Comparison of 18S rRNA Gene Sequences, Growth Behavior, and Morphology.

Carotenoids and squalene are important terpenes that are applied in a wide range of products in foods and cosmetics. Thraustochytrids might be used as alternative production organisms to improve production processes, but the taxon is rarely studied. A screening of 62 strains of thraustochytrids sensu lato for their potential to produce carotenoids and squalene was performed. A phylogenetic tree was built based on 18S rRNA gene sequences for taxonomic classification, revealing eight different clades of thraustochytrids. Design of experiments (DoE) and growth models identified high amounts of glucose (up to 60 g/L) and yeast extract (up to 15 g/L) as important factors for most of the strains. Squalene and carotenoid production was studied by UHPLC-PDA-MS measurements. Cluster analysis of the carotenoid composition partially mirrored the phylogenetic results, indicating a possible use for chemotaxonomy. Strains in five clades produced carotenoids. Squalene was found in all analyzed strains. Carotenoid and squalene synthesis was dependent on the strain, medium composition and solidity. Strains related to Thraustochytrium aureum and Thraustochytriidae sp. are promising candidates for carotenoid synthesis. Strains closely related to Schizochytrium aggregatum might be suitable for squalene production. Thraustochytrium striatum might be a good compromise for the production of both molecule groups.

Strain-specific metabolomic diversity of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum under aerobic and anaerobic conditions.

The chemotaxonomic diversity of 20 Lactiplantibacillus plantarum strains was investigated using non-targeted metabolite profiling under different culture conditions. Multivariate and metabolic pathway analyses based on GC-MS and LC-MS/MS datasets showed that amino acid metabolism, especially 2-hydroxy acids, was enriched under aerobic conditions (AE), whereas fatty acid & sugar metabolism was increased under anaerobic conditions (AN). Based on the metabolite profiles, L. plantarum strains were clustered into three main groups (A, B, and C). Overall, 79 and 83 significantly discriminant metabolites were characterized as chemical markers of AE and AN growth conditions, respectively. Notably, alcohols were more abundant in group A whereas amino acids, peptides, purines, and pyrimidines were significantly higher in group C. 2-hydroxy acids and oxylipins biosynthesized through amino acid and fatty acid metabolism, respectively, were more abundant in groups A and B. Furthermore, we observed a strong correlation between the chemical diversity of L. plantarum groups and their antioxidant activity from metabolite extracts. We propose a non-targeted metabolomic workflow to comprehensively characterize the chemodiversity of L. plantarum strain under different culture conditions, which may help reveal specific biomarkers of individual strains depending on the culture conditions.

Coumarinolignoid and Indole Alkaloids from the Roots of the Hybrid Plant Citrus × paradisi Macfad (Rutaceae).

A phytochemical investigation of the roots of Citrus × paradisi Macfad. (Rutaceae) led to the isolation of two new compounds, namely 1-formyl-5-hydroxy-N-methylindolin-1-ium (1) and decyloxycleomiscosin D (2), along with ten known compounds: 1,1-dimethylpyrrolidin-1-ium-2-carboxylate (3), furan-2,3-diol (4), 5-methoxyseselin (5), umbelliferone (6), scopoletin (7), citracridone I (8), citracridone II (9), citracridone III (10), limonin (11) and lupeol (12). The structures were determined through the comprehensive spectroscopic analysis of 1D and 2D NMR and EI- and ESI-MS, as well as a comparison with the published data. Notably, compounds 3 and 4 from the genus Citrus are reported here for the first time. In addition, the MeOH extract of the roots and compounds 1-7 were screened against the human adenocarcinoma alveolar basal epithelial cell line A549 and the Caucasian prostate adenocarcinoma cell line PC3 using the MTT assay. While the extract showed significant activity, with IC50 values of 35.2 and 38.1 µg/mL, respectively, compounds 1-7 showed weak activity, with IC50 values of 99.2 to 250.2 µM and 99.5 to 192.7 µM, respectively.

Mass Spectrometric Fingerprint Mapping Reveals Species-Specific Differences in Plant Polyphenols and Related Bioactivities.

Plant species show large variation in the composition and content of their tannins and other polyphenols. These large metabolites are not easy to measure accurately, but they are important factors for species bioactivity and chemotaxonomy. Here, we used an automated group-specific UHPLC-DAD-MS/MS tool to detect and quantify eight most common polyphenol groups in 31 chemically diverse plant species representing many types of growth forms and evolutionary ages. Ten replicate plants were used for each species and two polyphenol-related bioactivities, i.e., protein precipitation capacity and oxidative activity were measured in all samples as well. By the help of a novel 2D fingerprint mapping tool we were able to visualize the qualitative and quantitative differences between the species in hydrolysable tannins (galloyl and hexahydroxydiphenoyl derivatives), proanthocyanidins (procyanidins and prodelphinidins), flavonols (kaempferol, quercetin and myricetin derivatives) and quinic acid derivatives together with the two bioactivities. The highest oxidative activities were found with species containing ellagitannins (e.g., Quercus robur, Geranium sylvaticum, Lythrum salicaria and Chamaenerion angustifolium) or prodelphinidin-rich proanthocyanidins (e.g., Ribes alpinum, Salix phylicifolia and Lysimachia vulgaris). The best species with high protein precipitation capacity were rich in gallotannins (Acer platanoides and Paeonia lactiflora) or oligomeric ellagitannins (e.g., Comarum palustre, Lythrum salicaria and Chamaenerion angustifolium). These types of tools could prove their use in many types of screening experiments and might reveal even unusually active polyphenol types directly from the crude plant extracts.

Taxonomic, metabolic traits and species description of aromatic compound degrading Indian soil bacterium Pseudomonas bharatica CSV86T.

A soil bacterium, strain CSV86T isolated from a petrol station in Bangalore, India displays a unique carbon source utilization hierarchy with preferential utilization of various genotoxic aromatic compounds over glucose. Cells were Gram-negative, motile rods, oxidase- and catalase-positive. Strain CSV86T possess a 6.79 Mb genome with 62.72 G + C mol%. 16S rRNA gene phylogeny relates strain CSV86T to the genus Pseudomonas, with highest similarity to Pseudomonas japonica WLT (99.38%). Multi-locus sequence analyses of gyrB-rpoB-rpoD-recA and 33 ribosomal proteins (rps) displayed overall low similarities to its phylogenetic relatives with poor similarity score (6%). Average nucleotide identity (ANI) and in-silico DNA-DNA hybridization (DDH) showed poor (87.11% and 33.2%, respectively) genomic relatedness of strain CSV86T to its closest relatives, indicating genomic distinctiveness. The major cellular fatty acids were 16:0, 17:0cyclo, summed-feature-3 (16:1ω7c/16:1ω6c) and -8 (18:1ω7c). Further, differential abundance of 12:0, 10:0 3-OH and 12:0 3-OH and phenotypic differences distinguished strain CSV86T from closest relatives, hence designated as Pseudomonas bharatica. The unique aromatic degradation ability, resistance to heavy metals, efficient nitrogen-sulfur assimilation, beneficial eco-physiological traits (production of indole acetic acid, siderophore and fusaric acid efflux) and plasmid-free genome suggest strain CSV86T to be a model organism for bioremediation and ideal host for metabolic engineering.

Exploring the volatile metabolites of three Chorisia species: Comparative headspace GC-MS, multivariate chemometrics, chemotaxonomic significance, and anti-SARS-CoV-2 potential.

Chorisia (syn. Ceiba) species are important ornamental, economic, and medicinal plants that are endowed with a diversity of secondary metabolites; however, their volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have been scarcely studied. Therefore, this work explores and compares the headspace floral volatiles of three common Chorisia species, namely Chorisia chodatii Hassl., Chorisia speciosa A. St.-Hil, and Chorisia insignis H.B.K. for the first time. A total of 112 VOCs of varied biosynthetic origins were identified at different qualitative and quantitative ratios, encompassing isoprenoids, fatty acid derivatives, phenylpropanoids, and others. Flowers of the investigated species showed perceptibly differentiated volatile profiles, with those emitted by C. insignis being dominated by non-oxygenated compounds (56.69 %), whereas oxygenated derivatives prevailed among the volatiles of C. chodatii (66.04 %) and C. speciosa (71.53 %). The variable importance in the projection (VIP) in the partial least-squares-discriminant (PLS-DA) analysis described 25 key compounds among the studied species, of which linalool was verified as the most important aroma compound based on VIP values and significance analysis, and it could represent the most typical VOC among these Chorisia species. Furthermore, molecular docking and dynamics analyses of both the major and the key VOCs displayed their moderate to promising binding interactions with four main proteins of SARS-CoV-2, including Mpro, PLpro, RdRp, and spike S1 subunit RBD. The current results collectively cast new light on the chemical diversity of the VOCs of Chorisia plants as well as their chemotaxonomic and biological relevance.

Cohnella mopanensis sp. nov., a new Gram-negative bacterium isolated from soil in Xinping Mountain National Forest Park.

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped bacteria strain, named YIM B01951T, was isolated from a forest soil sample collected from Mopan Mountain National Forest Park, Xinping City, Yunnan Province, southwest PR China (101°58'06" N, 23°03'02" E). Growth occurred at 15-40 °C (optimum, 30 °C), pH 5.0-8.0 (optimum, pH 6.5) and with up to ≤ 3.0% (w/v) NaCl on Nutrient Agar plates. The results of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity analysis showed that strain YIM B01951T was closely related to the type strain of Cohnella arctica M9-62T (96.5%) and Cohnella lupini RLAHU4BT (96.3%). YIM B01951T contains anteiso-C15:0 and iso-C16:0 as the major cellular fatty acids; the main polar lipids are diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG), phosphatidylglycerol (PG), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), lysylphosphatidylglycerol (PGL) and five aminophospholipids (APL). The MK-7 is the major respiratory quinone and the DNA G + C content is 49.2 mol%. Based on these phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic analyses, strain YIM B01951T is considered to be a novel species of the genus Cohnella, and named Cohnella mopanensis sp. nov. The type strain is YIM B01951T (= NBRC 115331T = KCTC 43370T).

Comparative phytochemistry of flavaglines (= rocaglamides), a group of highly bioactive flavolignans from Aglaia species (Meliaceae).

Flavaglines are formed by cycloaddition of a flavonoid nucleus with a cinnamic acid moiety representing a typical chemical character of the genus Aglaia of the family Meliaceae. Based on biosynthetic considerations 148 derivatives are grouped together into three skeletal types representing 77 cyclopenta[b]benzofurans, 61 cyclopenta[bc]benzopyrans, and 10 benzo[b]oxepines. Apart from different hydroxy, methoxy, and methylenedioxy groups of the aromatic rings, important structural variation is created by different substitutions and stereochemistries of the central cyclopentane ring. Putrescine-derived bisamides constitute important building blocks occurring as cyclic 2-aminopyrrolidines or in an open-chained form, and are involved in the formation of pyrimidinone flavaglines. Regarding the central role of cinnamic acid in the formation of the basic skeleton, rocagloic acid represents a biosynthetic precursor from which aglafoline- and rocaglamide-type cyclopentabenzofurans can be derived, while those of the rocaglaol-type are the result of decarboxylation. Broad-based comparison revealed characteristic substitution trends which contribute as chemical markers to natural delimitation and grouping of taxonomically problematic Aglaia species. A wide variety of biological activities ranges from insecticidal, antifungal, antiprotozoal, and anti-inflammatory properties, especially to pronounced anticancer and antiviral activities. The high insecticidal activity of flavaglines is comparable with that of the well-known natural insecticide azadirachtin. Comparative feeding experiments informed about structure-activity relationships and exhibited different substitutions of the cyclopentane ring essential for insecticidal activity. Parallel studies on the antiproliferative activity of flavaglines in various tumor cell lines revealed similar structural prerequisites that let expect corresponding molecular mechanisms. An important structural modification with very high cytotoxic potency was found in the benzofuran silvestrol characterized by an unusual dioxanyloxy subunit. It possessed comparable cytotoxicity to that of the natural anticancer compounds paclitaxel (Taxol®) and camptothecin without effecting normal cells. The primary effect was the inhibition of protein synthesis by binding to the translation initiation factor eIF4A, an ATP-dependent DEAD-box RNA helicase. Flavaglines were also shown to bind to prohibitins (PHB) responsible for regulation of important signaling pathways, and to inhibit the transcriptional factor HSF1 deeply involved in metabolic programming, survival, and proliferation of cancer cells. Flavaglines were shown to be not only promising anticancer agents but gained now also high expectations as agents against emerging RNA viruses like SARS-CoV-2. Targeting the helicase eIF4A with flavaglines was recently described as pan-viral strategy for minimizing the impact of future RNA virus pandemics.