Paraflavitalea devenefica sp. nov., isolated from urban soil.

A Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped, mesophilic, milky white-pigmented, aerobic, non-spore-forming and non-flagellated bacterium, designated strain X16T, was isolated from urban soil of Zibo, Shandong, China. According to 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the isolate showed highest similarities with Paraflavitalea soli 5GH32-13T (97.6 %), Pseudoflavitalea soli KIS20-3T (96.2 %), Pseudobacter ginsenosidimutans Gsoil 221T (96.0 %) and Pseudoflavitalea rhizosphaerae T16R-265T (95.8 %). The neighbour-joining tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain X16T formed a subcluster with Paraflavitalea soli 5GH32-13T, and the subcluster was closely related to Pseudoflavitalea soli KIS20-3T, Pseudobacter ginsenosidimutans Gsoil 221T and Pseudoflavitalea rhizosphaerae T16R-265T. Strain X16T also formed a subcluster with Paraflavitalea soli 5GH32-13T in phylogenetic tree based on genomic sequences. The polar lipids are phosphatidylethanolamine, two unknown aminolipids, two unknown aminophospholipids, two unknown lipids and two unknown phospholipids. The major quinone of strain X16T is menaquinone-7 and the main fatty acids (>10 % of total fatty acids) of strain X16T are iso-C15 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH and iso-C15 : 1 G. The genome length of strain X16T is 8.7 Mb with a DNA G+C content of 47.4 %. ANI values among strain X16T and strain Paraflavitalea soli 5GH32-13T, Pseudobacter ginsenosidimutans Gsoil 221T, and Pseudoflavitalea rhizosphaerae T16R-265T are 78.1, 70.7, 70.6 %, respectively. On the basis of the results of the polyphasic characterization presented in this study, it is concluded that strain X16T represents a novel species. Besides, strain X16T can detoxify high toxicity selenite [Se(IV)] to low toxicity elemental selenium [Se(0)], for which the name Paraflavitale devenefica sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is X16T (=KACC 21698T=GDMCC1.1757T).

Origin and evolution of emerging Liao ning Virus (genus Seadornavirus, family Reoviridae).

BACKGROUND: Liao ning virus (LNV) is a member of the genus Seadornavirus, family Reoviridae and has been isolated from kinds of vectors in Asia and Australia. However, there are no systematic studies describe the molecular genetic evolution and migration of LNVs. With the development of bioinformatics, viral genetic data combining the information of virus isolation time and locations could be integrated to infer the virus evolution and spread in nature. METHODS: Here, a phylogenetic and phylogeographic analysis using Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo simulations was conducted on the LNVs isolated from a variety of vectors during 1990-2014 to identify the evolution and migration patterns of LNVs. RESULTS: The results demonstrated that the LNV could be divided into 3 genotypes, of which genotype 1 mainly composed of LNVs isolated from Australia during 1990 to 2014 and the original LNV strain (LNV-NE97-31) isolated from Liaoning province in northern China in 1997, genotype 2 comprised of the isolates all from Xinjiang province in western China and genotype 3 consisted the isolates from Qinghai and Shanxi province of central China. LNVs emerged about 272 years ago and gradually evolved into three lineages in the order genotype 1, genotype 2 and genotype 3. Following phylogeographic analysis, it shows genotype 1 LNVs transmitted from Australia (113°E-153°E,10°S-42°S) to Liaoning province (118°E-125°E,38°N-43°N) in Northeast Asian continent then further spread across the central part of China to western China (75°E-95°E,35°N-50°N). CONCLUSION: LNVs were initially isolated from Liaoning province of China in the Northeast Asia, however, the present study revealed that LNVs were first appeared in Australia in the South Pacific region and transmitted to mainland China then rapidly spread across China and evolved three different genotypes. The above results suggested that LNV had the characteristics of long-distance transmission and there were great genetic diversity existed in the LNV population. Notably, current information of 80 strains of LNVs are limited. It is of great importance to strengthen the surveillance of LNVs to explore its real origin in nature and monitoring of the LNVs' population variation and maintain vigilance to avoid LNV breaking through the species barrier and further clarify its relationship to human and animal infection.

Roseomonas selenitidurans sp. nov., isolated from urban soil, and emended description of Roseomonas frigidaquae.

An aerobic, non-motile, Gram-stain-negative, pink, convex, coccobacilli-shaped, mesophilic bacterium, designated strain BU-1T, was isolated from an urban soil sample from Zibo city, Shandong province, PR China. The strain grew at 20-37 °C (optimum, 30 °C), pH 5-10 (optimum, pH 7) and growth occurred with 0-2 % (w/v) NaCl (optimally with 0.5 %). The results of phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that BU-1T was closely related to members of the genus Roseomonas and had highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities with Roseomonas frigidaquae JCM 15073T (97.8 %), Roseomonas tokyonensis JCM 14634T (96.9 %), Roseomonas stagni JCM 15034T (96.5 %), and Roseomonas riguiloci JCM 17520T (95.9 %). BU-1T also formed a subcluster with R. frigidaquae JCM 15073T and R. stagni JCM 15034T in phylogenetic trees based on genomic sequences. The genome size of BU-1T was 5.79 Mb and the DNA G+C content was 71.7 %. ANI, dDDH and AAI values between BU-1T and R. frigidaquae JCM 15073T were 84.0, 27.2 and 86.7 %, respectively. Furthermore, the genome of BU-1T contained 5446 predicted protein coding genes and 4945 (90.8%) of them had classifiable functions. BU-1T contained Q-10 as the main ubiquinone. The predominant fatty acids (>10 %) were summed feature 3, summed feature 8 and C16:0. The polar lipid profile contained diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine and five unidentified aminolipids. Combined data from phenotypic, phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic studies indicated that strain BU-1T is a representative of a novel species of the genus Roseomonas. Since strain BU-1T can reduce highly toxic selenite [Se(IV)] to low toxicity elemental selenium [Se(0)], the name Roseomonas selenitidurans sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is BU-1T (=KACC 21750T =GDMCC 1.1776T).

Sodium Benzoate Delays the Development of Drosophila melanogaster Larvae and Alters Commensal Microbiota in Adult Flies.

Sodium benzoate (SB), the sodium salt of benzoic acid, is widely used as a preservative in foods and drinks. The toxicity of SB to the human body attracted people's attention due to the excessive use of preservatives and the increased consumption of processed and fast foods in modern society. The SB can inhibit the growth of bacteria, fungi, and yeast. However, less is known of the effect of SB on host commensal microbial community compositions and their functions. In this study, we investigated the effect of SB on the growth and development of Drosophila melanogaster larvae and whether SB affects the commensal microbial compositions and functions. We also attempted to clarify the interaction between SB, commensal microbiota and host development by detecting the response of commensal microbiota after the intervention. The results show that SB significantly retarded the development of D. melanogaster larvae, shortened the life span, and changed the commensal microbial community. In addition, SB changed the transcription level of endocrine coding genes such as ERR and DmJHAMT. These results indicate that the slow down in D. melanogaster larvae developmental timing and shortened life span of adult flies caused by SB intake may result from the changes in endocrine hormone levels and commensal microbiota. This study provided experimental data that indicate SB could affect host growth and development of D. melanogaster through altering endocrine hormone levels and commensal microbial composition.

Preparation of Lutein-Loaded PVA/Sodium Alginate Nanofibers and Investigation of Its Release Behavior.

This investigation aims to study the characteristics and release properties of lutein-loaded polyvinyl alcohol/sodium alginate (PVA/SA) nanofibers prepared by electrospinning. In order to increase PVA/SA nanofibers' water-resistant ability for potential biomedical applications, the electrospun PVA/SA nanofibers were cross-linked with a mixture of glutaraldehyde and saturated boric acid solution at room temperature. The nanofibers were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffractometer (XRD). Disintegration time and contact angle measurements testified the hydrophilicity change of the nanofibers before and after cross-linking. The lutein release from the nanofibers after cross-linking was measured by an ultraviolet absorption spectrophotometer, which showed sustained release up to 48 h and followed anomalous (non-Fickian) release mechanism as indicated by diffusion exponent value obtained from the Korsmeyer-Peppas equation. The results indicated that the prepared lutein-loaded PVA/SA nanofibers have great potential as a controlled release system.