Group A Streptococcal meningitis in children: a short case series and systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Group A streptococcal(GAS) meningitis is a severe disease with a high case fatality rate. In the era of increasing GAS meningitis, our understanding about this disease is limited. PURPOSE: To gain a better understanding about GAS meningitis. METHODS: Five new cases with GAS meningitis were reported. GAS meningitis related literatures were searched for systematic review in PUBMED and EMBASE. Case reports and case series on paediatric cases were included. Information on demographics, risk factors, symptoms, treatments, outcomes, and emm types of GAS was summarized. RESULTS: Totally 263 cases were included. Among 100 individuals, 9.9% (8/81) had prior varicella, 11.1% (9/81) had anatomical factors, and 53.2% (42/79) had extracranial infections. Soft tissue infections were common among infants (10/29, 34.5%), while ear/sinus infections were more prevalent in children ≥ 3 years (21/42, 50.0%). The overall case fatality rate (CFR) was 16.2% (12/74). High risk of death was found in patients with shock or systemic complications, young children(< 3 years) and cases related to hematogenic spread. The predominate cause of death was shock(6/8). Among the 163 patients included in case series studies, ear/sinus infections ranged from 21.4 to 62.5%, while STSS/shock ranged from 12.5 to 35.7%, and the CFR ranged from 5.9 to 42.9%. CONCLUSIONS: A history of varicella, soft tissue infections, parameningeal infections and CSF leaks are important clinical clues to GAS in children with meningitis. Young children and hematogenic spread related cases need to be closely monitored for shock due to the high risk of death.

Next-generation sequencing technology as a powerful detection and semi-quantitative method for herpes simplex virus type 1 in pediatric encephalitis.

This case report presents a 1-year-old boy from China, with sudden onset of fever, convulsion, and sleepiness, screened for viral DNA in blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) sample using next-generation sequencing (NGS) to diagnose herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) encephalitis, further validated by PCR. After acyclovir treatment, the patient's symptom disappeared and HSV-1 DNA unique reads decreased from 4290 to zero in CSF, and from 23 to zero in blood detected by NGS. The clinical presentation and outcome were consistent with the pathogenic diagnostic results of NGS. NGS of CSF samples can be used as a diagnostic assay for HSV-1 encephalitis and also might be a semi-quantitative method for evaluation of treatment effect.

KPC1 alleviates hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced apoptosis in rat cardiomyocyte cells though BAX degradation.

Bax triggers cell apoptosis by permeabilizing the outer mitochondrial membrane, leading to membrane potential loss and cytochrome c release. However, it is unclear if proteasomal degradation of Bax is involved in the apoptotic process, especially in heart ischemia-reperfusion (I/R)-induced injury. In the present study, KPC1 expression was heightened in left ventricular cardiomyocytes of patients with coronary heart disease (CHD), in I/R-myocardium in vivo and in hypoxia and reoxygenation (H/R)-induced cardiomyocytes in vitro. Overexpression of KPC1 reduced infarction size and cell apoptosis in I/R rat hearts. Similarly, the forced expression of KPC1 restored mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and cytochrome c release driven by H/R in H9c2 cells, whereas reducing cell apoptosis, and knockdown of KPC1 by short-hairpin RNA (shRNA) deteriorated cell apoptosis induced by H/R. Mechanistically, forced expression of KPC1 promoted Bax protein degradation, which was abolished by proteasome inhibitor MG132, suggesting that KPC1 promoted proteasomal degradation of Bax. Furthermore, KPC1 prevented basal and apoptotic stress-induced Bax translocation to mitochondria. Bax can be a novel target for the antiapoptotic effects of KPC1 on I/R-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis and render mechanistic penetration into at least a subset of the mitochondrial effects of KPC1.

Lujinxingia litoralis gen. nov., sp. nov. and Lujinxingia sediminis sp. nov., two new representatives in the order Bradymonadales.

In this study, two bacterial strains designated B210T and SEH01T, isolated from coastal sediment sampled in Weihai, PR China, were characterized using a polyphasic approach. Strains were Gram-stain-negative, facultative anaerobic, rod-shaped and motile. According to the results of phylogenetic analyses based on their 16S rRNA genes, these two strains should be classified under the order Bradymonadales and they both show <90 % sequence similarities with Bradymonas sediminis FA350T. Moreover, strain B210T showed 98.6 % sequence similarity to strain SEH01T. Genomic characteristics including average nucleotide identity and in silico DNA-DNA hybridization values clearly separated strain B210T from strain SEH01T. The sole quinone of these two strains was menaquinone MK-7, and the major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and an unidentified lipid. Iso-C15 : 0 was the major fatty acid in both strains B210T and SEH01T, and iso-C14 : 0 3-OH was also a major fatty acid for strain SEH01T. Based on the polyphasic analysis, these two strains represent two novel species of a new genus within the family Bradymonadaceae. Consequently, the novel genus Lujinxingia gen. nov. is proposed, containing two new species Lujinxingia litoralis gen. nov. sp. nov. and Lujinxingia sediminis sp. nov., with strain B210T (=KCTC 42951T=CGMCC 1.16770T) and strain SEH01T (=KCTC 42950T=DSM 101859T) as the type strains, respectively.

The diagnostic value of metagenomic next-generation sequencing for identifying Streptococcus pneumoniae in paediatric bacterial meningitis.

BACKGROUND: There is currently no research on the diagnostic value of metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) for a single pathogens in CSF. The aim of this study was to analyse the value of mNGS for identifying Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) in paediatric bacterial meningitis. METHODS: Bacterial meningitis (BM) cases from October 23, 2014, to December 31, 2016, and December 1, 2017, to July 31, 2018 at Beijing Children's Hospital were reviewed. Clinical features and pathogens were analysed. RESULTS: We diagnosed 135 patients with BM in this study. A total of 43 S. pneumoniae were identified by combination methods. 26/135 (19.3%) patients had positive results in S. pneumoniae by blood and/or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture. Alere BinaxNow®Streptococcus pneumoniae Antigen test was positive in 35/135(25.9%) cases. 32/135 (23.7%) S. pneumoniae were identified by mNGS. Six CSF samples were identified as S. pneumoniae only by mNGS technology. Taking culture as the gold standard, the sensitivity and specificity of mNGS for diagnosing S. pneumoniae meningitis were 73.1 and 88.1%, respectively. The positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of diagnosing S. pneumoniae meningitis by mNGS were 59.4 and 93.2%, respectively. When comparison between mNGS and combined tests (culture and Alere BinaxNow®Streptococcus pneumoniae Antigen test), the sensitivity and specificity of mNGS for S. pneumoniae identification were 70.3 and 93.9%, the PPV and NPV in the identification of S. pneumoniae by mNGS were 81.4 and 89.3%, respectively. The difference in number of unique reads of S. pneumoniaein from CSF sample (< 14 days onset) and CSF sample (> 14 days from onset) was statistically significant (170.5 VS. 13, P = 0.019). The difference in the collected time of CSF for culture and mNGS was statistically significant (4 days VS. 14 days, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: mNGS has high sensitivity and specificity for S. pneumoniae identification. The pathogen load (number of unique reads) of S. pneumonia is related to the CSF collection time. mNGS was less affected than culture by the use of antibiotics before CSF collection.

VEGF-A and VEGF-B Coordinate the Arteriogenesis to Repair the Infarcted Heart with Vagus Nerve Stimulation.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) suppresses arrhythmic activity and minimizes cardiomyocyte injury. However, how VNS affects angiogenesis/arteriogenesis in infarcted hearts, is poorly understood. METHODS: Myocardial infarction (MI) was achieved by ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) in rats. 7 days after LAD, stainless-steel wires were looped around the left and right vagal nerve in the neck for vagus nerve stimulation (VNS). The vagal nerve was stimulated with regular pulses of 0.2ms duration at 20 Hz for 10 seconds every minute for 4 hours, and then ACh levels by ELISA in cardiac tissue and serum were evaluated for its release after VNS. Three and 14 days after VNS, Real-time PCR, immunostaining and western blot were respectively used to determine VEGF-A/B expressions and α-SMA- and CD31-postive vessels in VNS-hearts with pretreatment of α7-nAChR blocker mecamylamine (10 mg/kg, ip) or mACh-R blocker atropine (10 mg/kg, ip) for 1 hour. The coronary function and left ventricular performance were analyzed by Langendorff system and hemodynamic parameters in VNS-hearts with pretreatment of VEGF-A/B-knockdown or VEGFR blocker AMG706. Coronary arterial endothelial cells proliferation, migration and tube formation were evaluated for angiogenesis following the stimulation of VNS in coronary arterial smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). RESULTS: VNS has been shown to stimulate VEGF-A and VEGF-B expressions in coronary arterial smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and endothelial cells (ECs) with an increase of α-SMA- and CD31-postive vessel number in infarcted hearts. The VNS-induced VEGF-A/B expressions and angiogenesis were abolished by m-AChR inhibitor atropine and α7-nAChR blocker mecamylamine in vivo. Interestingly, knockdown of VEGF-A by shRNA mainly reduced VNS-mediated formation of CD31+ microvessels. In contrast, knockdown of VEGF-B powerfully abrogated VNS-induced formation of α-SMA+ vessels. Consistently, VNS-induced VEGF-A showed a greater effect on EC tube formation as compared to VNS-induced VEGF-B. Moreover, VEGF-A promoted EC proliferation and VSMC migration while VEGF-B induced VSMC proliferation and EC migration in vitro. Mechanistically, vagal neurotransmitter acetylcholine stimulated VEGF-A/B expressions through m/nACh-R/PI3K/Akt/Sp1 pathway in EC. Functionally, VNS improved the coronary function and left ventricular performance. However, blockade of VEGF receptor by antagonist AMG706 or knockdown of VEGF-A or VEGF-B by shRNA significantly diminished the beneficial effects of VNS on ventricular performance. CONCLUSION: VNS promoted angiogenesis/arteriogenesis to repair the infracted heart through the synergistic effects of VEGF-A and VEGF-B.

Bacillus marinisedimentorum sp. nov., isolated from marine sediment.

A novel Gram-stain-positive, motile and facultatively anaerobic strain, designated NC2-31T, was isolated from sediment from the coast of Weihai, PR China. Optimal growth occurred at 37 °C, pH 7.5 and with 2.0-3.0 % (w/v) NaCl. MK-7 was the major respiratory quinone. Meso-diaminopimelic acid was a diagnostic diamino acid in the peptidoglycan. The major polar lipids of NC2-31T were diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG), phosphatidylglycerol (PG) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE). The genomic DNA G+C content of the strain was 46.3 mol%. The predominant cellular fatty acids (>10.0 %) of NC2-31T were iso-C15 : 0 (18.9 %), anteiso-C15 : 0 (15.8 %), summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or iso-C15 : 0 2-OH) (15.3 %) and iso-C16 : 0 (10.3 %). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that NC2-31T should be classified as representing a member of the genus Bacillus. Based on data from the current polyphasic study, NC2-31T represents a novel species within the genus Bacillus, for which the name Bacillusmarinisedimentorum sp. nov. is proposed with type strain NC2-31T (=KCTC 33721T=MCCC 1K01239T).

Risk factors for carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae bloodstream infection and predictors of mortality in Chinese paediatric patients.

BACKGROUND: Bloodstream infections (BSI) caused by carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae (CRKP) are associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. Early identification of patients at highest risk is very important. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical characteristics and mortality of K. pneumoniae BSI and to identify risk factors associated with CRKP BSI among paediatric patients. METHODS: From January 2011 to December 2014, a retrospective case-control study was conducted at Beijing Children's Hospital, China. Risk factors for CRKP BSI and for K. pneumoniae BSI-related death were evaluated. Patients with BSI caused by K. pneumoniae were identified from the microbiology laboratory database. Data regarding demographic, microbiological and clinical characteristics, therapy and outcome were collected from the medical records. RESULTS: A total of 138 patients with K. pneumoniae BSI were enrolled, including 54 patients with CRKP BSI and 84 patients with carbapenem-susceptible K. pneumoniae (CSKP) BSI. Most of the BSI (114; 82.6%) were healthcare-associated, while the rest (24; 17.4%) were community-acquired. Hematologic malignancies (odds ratio (OR):4.712, [95% CI: 2.181-10.180], P <  0.001) and previous cephalosporin administration (OR: 3.427, [95% CI: 1.513-7.766], P = 0.003) were found to be associated with the development of CRKP BSI. 28-day mortality of K. pneumoniae BSI was 8.7%. Mechanical ventilation (OR:9.502, [95% CI: 2.098-43.033], P = 0.003), septic shock (OR:6.418, [95% CI: 1.342-30.686], P = 0.020), and isolation of CRKP (OR:9.171, [95% CI: 1.546-54.416], P = 0.015) were independent risk factors for 28-day mortality of K. pneumoniae BSI. CONCLUSION: Hematologic malignancies and previous cephalosporin administration were associated with the development of CRKP BSI, while mechanical ventilation, septic shock and CRKP infection were independent mortality predictors for K. pneumoniae BSI. More attention should be paid to CRKP BSI in the paediatric population.

S100B promotes injury-induced vascular remodeling through modulating smooth muscle phenotype.

S100B is a biomarker of nervous system injury, but it is unknown if it is also involved in vascular injury. In the present study, we investigated S100B function in vascular remodeling following injury. Balloon injury in rat carotid artery progressively induced neointima formation while increasing S100B expression in both neointimal vascular smooth muscle (VSMC) and serum along with an induction of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). Knockdown of S100B by its shRNA delivered by adenoviral transduction attenuated the PCNA expression and neointimal hyperplasia in vivo and suppressed PDGF-BB-induced VSMC proliferation and migration in vitro. Conversely, overexpression of S100B promoted VSMC proliferation and migration. Mechanistically, S100B altered VSMC phenotype by decreasing the contractile protein expression, which appeared to be mediated by NF-κB activity. S100B induced NF-κB-p65 gene transcription, protein expression and nuclear translocation. Blockade of NF-κB activity by its inhibitor reversed S100B-mediated downregulation of VSMC contractile protein and increase in VSMC proliferation and migration. It appeared that S100B regulated NF-κB expression through, at least partially, the Receptor for Advanced Glycation End products (RAGE) because RAGE inhibitor attenuated S100B-mediated NF-κB promoter activity as well as VSMC proliferation. Most importantly, S100B secreted from VSMC impaired endothelial tube formation in vitro, and knockdown of S100B promoted re-endothelialization of injury-denuded arteries in vivo. These data indicated that S100B is a novel regulator for vascular remodeling following injury and may serve as a potential biomarker for vascular damage or drug target for treating proliferative vascular diseases.

Motilimonas eburnea gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from coastal sediment.

A novel Gram-stain-negative, non-spore-forming, facultatively anaerobic bacterium, designated YH6T, was isolated from marine sediment in Weihai, China. Cells of starin YH6T were motile, straight rods that formed ivory-white colonies on 2216E agar. Optimal growth occurred at 28-33 °C (range 15-37 °C), in the presence of 2-4 % (w/v) NaCl (range 1-8 %) and at pH 7.5-8.5 (range pH 6.5-9.0). The sole respiratory lipoquinone was Q-8, and the major fatty acids (>10 %) were C16 : 0 and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c/iso-C15 : 0 2-OH). The polar lipids profile of the novel strain consisted of phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol and several other unknown lipids (phospholipids, lipid and phosphoaminolipid). The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 46.5 mol%. The closest type strain phylogenetically to strain YH6T was Vibrio variabilis (92.99 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity) followed by Paramoritella alkaliphila (92.55 %), Pseudoalteromonas aurantia (92.20 %) and Pseudoalteromonas citrea (92.20 %). Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence placed the novel strain in the order Alteromonadales, class Gammaproteobacteria. On the basis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence data as well as physiological and biochemical characteristics, we concluded that strain YH6T represents a novel species of a new genus. We propose the name of Motilimonas eburnea gen. nov., sp. nov. for this novel species. The type strain of the novel species is YH6T (=KCTC 42594T=MCCC 1H00122T).

Lentibacillus sediminis sp. nov., isolated from a marine saltern.

A novel, Gram-stain-positive, moderately halophilic, endospore-forming, motile, facultatively anaerobic and rod-shaped strain, designated 0W14T, was isolated from a marine saltern of Wendeng, China. Optimal growth occurred at 37 °C, pH 7.5 and with 6.0 % (w/v) NaCl. MK-7 was the sole respiratory quinone and the peptidoglycan type of 0W14T was A4ßl-Orn-d-Glu. The major cellular fatty acid (>10.0 %) in strain 0W14T was anteiso-C15 : 0. The polar lipid profile of strain 0W14T consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, two unknown glycolipids and four unknown phospholipids. The genomic DNA G+C content of the strain was 44.8 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain 0W14T forms a phylogenetic lineage with members of the genus Lentibacillus within the family Bacillaceae. Based on data from the current polyphasic study, the isolate is proposed to represent a novel species of genus Lentibacillus, for which the name Lentibacillus sediminis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 0W14T (=KCTC 33835T=MCCC 1H00171T).

Rhodosalinus sediminis gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from marine saltern.

A novel Gram-stain-negative, moderately halophilic, motile, facultatively anaerobic and rod-shaped strain, designated WDN1C137T, was isolated from a marine saltern at Wendeng, PR China. Optimal growth occurred at 40 °C, pH 7.5 and with 7.0 % (w/v) NaCl. Q-10 was the sole respiratory quinone. The major cellular fatty acids (>10.0 %) in WDN1C137T were C18 : 1ω7c (46.2 %), cyclo C19 : 0ω8c (18.7 %) and C16 : 0 (12.3 %). The major polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol, phosphoglycolipid, phosphatidylcholine, one unidentified glycolipid, one unidentified lipid, one unidentified aminolipid and two unidentified phospholipids. The genomic DNA G+C content was 70.9 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that WDN1C137T shared the highest similarity (94.5 %) to Roseivivax jejudonensis KCTC 42110T, followed by Roseivivax halodurans JCM 10272T (94.2 %) and Roseivivax roseus DSM 23042T (94.1 %). WDN1C137T formed a separate branch from the closely related genera Roseivivax, Loktanella, Paracoccus and Cribrihabitans within the family Rhodobacteraceae, which indicated that it represented a novel genus in the phylogenetic tree. On the basis of the data from the current polyphasic study, the isolate is proposed to represent a novel species of a novel genus within the family Rhodobacteraceae, with the name Rhodosalinus sediminis gen. nov., sp. nov. The type strain of the type species is WDN1C137T (=KCTC 52478T=MCCC 1H00170T).

Chengkuizengella sediminis gen. nov. sp. nov., isolated from sediment.

A Gram-stain-positive, aerobic, motile, endospore-forming bacterium, designated strain J15A17T, was isolated from sediment of the South China Sea. The strain was oxidase-positive and catalase-negative. Optimal growth occurred at 33 °C, pH 7.5 and in the presence of 3 % (w/v) NaCl. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the strain showed closest similarity (92.8 %) to Paenibacillus puldeungensis strain CAU 9324T. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the isolate forms a separate branch within the family Paenibacillaceae, with the genus Cohnella as the most closely related genus. The DNA G+C content of strain J15A17T was 37.4 mol%. The strain contained MK-7 as the sole respiratory quinone; anteiso-C15 : 0 and iso-C16 : 0 were the major cellular fatty acids; and its polar lipid pattern consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, glycolipid and four unidentified phospholipids. The strain displayed the peptidoglycan type A4α l-Lys-d-Asp in the cell wall. Phylogenetic, physiological, biochemical and morphological differences between strain J15A17T and its closest relatives in the genera Cohnella, Fontibacillus and Paenibacillus suggest that strain J15A17T (=KCTC 33759T=MCCC 1H00137T) represents the type strain of a novel species in a new genus within the family Paenibacillaceae, Chengkuizengella sediminis gen. nov. sp. nov.

Paraliobacillus sediminis sp. nov., isolated from East China sea sediment.

A Gram-strain-positive, facultatively anaerobic, motile, endospore-forming, slightly halophilic bacterium, designated strain 126C4T, was isolated from sediment from the East China Sea. The strain was catalase-positive and oxidase-negative. Optimal growth occurred at 28-30 °C, pH 7.0-7.5 and in the presence of 3-5 % (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic analyses, based on 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons, showed that strain 126C4T was a member of the genus Paraliobacillus, with 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities to Paraliobacillus quinghaiensis YIM-C158T and Paraliobacillus ryukyuensis O15-7T of 96.2 % and 95.3 %, repectively. The DNA G+C content was 39.6 mol%. The strain contained MK-7 as the sole respiratory quinone, anteiso-C15 : 0, C16 : 0, iso-C15 : 0 and iso-C16 : 0 as the major cellular fatty acids, and its polar lipid pattern comprised diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, three glycolipids and four unknown phospholipids. On the basis of its phylogenetic position, phenotypic traits and chemotaxonomic characteristics, it is suggested that strain 126C4T represents a novel species of the genus Paraliobacillus, for which the name Paraliobacillus sediminis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 126C4T (=KCTC 33762T=MCCC 1H00136T).

Duodenal Bulb Adenocarcinoma Benefitted from Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy: A Case Report.

Duodenal bulb adenocarcinoma is an extremely rare malignancy in the alimentary tract which has a low incidence rate and nonspecific symptoms. It is difficult to diagnose early, and the misdiagnosis rate is high. CT, MRI, upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, and other advanced imaging modalities should be combined to make a comprehensive evaluation. The diagnostic confirmation of this tumor type mainly depends on the pathological examination. The combination of surgery with other treatment modalities is effective. A review of reports on duodenal bulb adenocarcinoma with chemotherapy revealed 6 cases since 1990. However, there are few reports on neoadjuvant chemotherapy for the disease. In this report, preoperative S-1 in combination with oxaliplatin neoadjuvant chemotherapy achieved a complete pathological response in the treatment of duodenal bulb adenocarcinoma. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy shows a better clinical efficacy in the treatment of duodenal bulb adenocarcinoma, but its value needs to be further verified.

Marinicrinis sediminis gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from marine sediment.

Novel Gram-stain-variable, bent rods or long filaments that were endospore-forming, facultatively anaerobic, oxidase- and catalase-negative, and designated strain NC2-42T, were isolated from sediment on the coast of Weihai, China. Optimal growth occurred at 37 °C, pH 7.5 and with 2-3 % (w/v) NaCl. MK-7 was the sole respiratory quinone and meso-diaminopimelic acid was a diagnostic diamino acid in the peptidoglycan. The polar lipid profile of this novel isolate consisted of phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, an unknown phospholipid, an unknown phosphoaminolipid, two unknown glycolipids and an unknown lipid. The major cellular fatty acids in strain NC2-42T were anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C16 : 0 and C16 : 0. The G+C content of the genomic DNA of strain NC2-42T was 58.11 mol% (HPLC). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain NC2-42T showed the highest similarity (92.32 %) to Paenibacillus profundus within the family Paenibacillaceae. Based on data from this taxonomic study using a polyphasic approach, the isolate is proposed to represent a novel species of a new genus within the family Paenibacillaceae, with the name Marinicrinis sediminis gen. nov., sp. nov. The type strain of the type species is NC2-42T (=KCTC 33676T=MCCC 1K01238T).

Marinagarivorans algicola gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from marine algae.

Two novel agar-degrading, Gram-stain-negative, motile, heterotrophic, facultatively anaerobic and pale yellow-pigmented bacterial strains, designated Z1T and JL1, were isolated from marine algae Gelidium amansii (Lamouroux) and Gracilaria verrucosa, respectively. Growth of the isolates was optimal at 28-30 °C, pH 7.0-7.5 and with 2-3 % (w/v) NaCl. Both strains contained Q-8 as the sole respiratory quinone. The major cellular fatty acids in strain Z1T were C18 : 1ω7c, C16 : 0 and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or iso-C15 : 0 2-OH). The predominant polar lipids in strain Z1T were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and an aminolipid. The genomic DNA G+C content of both strains was 45.1 mol%. Strains Z1T and JL1 were closely related, with 99.9 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity. The average nucleotide identity (ANI) value between strains Z1T and JL1 was 99.3 %. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strains Z1T and JL1 form a distinct phyletic line within the class Gammaproteobacteria, with less than 92.3 % similarity to their closest relatives. Based on data from the current polyphasic study, the isolates are proposed to belong to a novel species of a new genus designated Marinagarivorans algicola gen. nov., sp. nov. The type strain of the type species is Z1T ( = ATCC BAA-2617T = CICC 10859T).

Wenzhouxiangella sediminis sp. nov., isolated from coastal sediment.

A novel Gram-stain-negative, non-spore-forming, non-motile, facultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped strain, designated XDB06T, was isolated from coastal sediment of Xiaoshi Island, Weihai, China. Optimal growth occurred at 37 °C, pH 7.5 and with 4.0 % (w/v) NaCl. Q-8 was the sole respiratory quinone. The major cellular fatty acids in strain XDB06T were iso-C15 : 0 and iso-C16 : 0. The polar lipids of strain XDB06T were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, two unidentified glycolipids and four unidentified phospholipids. The genomic DNA G+C content of the strain was 65.0 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain XDB06T clusters within the genus Wenzhouxiangella and is most closely related to Wenzhouxiangella. marina MCCC 1K00261T, with a 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 96.50 %. Based on data from the current polyphasic study, strain XDB06T represents a novel species of the genus Wenzhouxiangella, for which the name Wenzhouxiangella sediminis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is XDB06T (=KCTC 52041T=MCCC 1K02285T).

Characteristics and outcomes of cryptococcal meningitis in HIV seronegative children in Beijing, China, 2002-2013.

BACKGROUND: Data regarding HIV-seronegative pediatric patients with cryptococcal meningitis (CM) have been very limited. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed non-HIV-infected in patients with CM from January 2002 through December 2013 in Beijing Children's Hospital. Records of the all patients were obtained and compared. RESULTS: The 34 children had a median age of 5.6 years. Most of the patients were male (67.6 %). Only 23.5 % of the cases had identifiable underlying diseases. The sensitivity of the CSF cryptococcal antigen, India ink smear and CSF culture in our study were 81.5, 85.3 and 82.4 %, respectively. And the sensitivity of combinations of these tests was 91.2 %. Out of the 34 patients, 16 (47.1 %) had other organs involvement in addition to the brain. The main abnormal features via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were Virchow-Robin space dilatation (44.4 %), hydrocephalus (38.9 %), gelatinous pseudocysts (33.3 %), brain atrophy (33.3 %), meningeal enhancement (27.8 %) and local lesions (27.8 %). In total, 64.7 % of the patients were successfully treated at discharge, whereas treatment failed in 35.3 % of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: Cryptococcal meningitis is an infrequent disease with a high fatality rate in children in China. The majority of patients were apparently healthy. Clinicians should consider cryptococcal infection as a potential pathogen of pediatric meningitis. Cryptococcal antigen, India ink smear and culture tests are recommended for diagnosis.

PEP-1-SOD1 fusion proteins block cardiac myofibroblast activation and angiotensin II-induced collagen production.

BACKGROUND: Oxidative stress is closely associated with cardiac fibrosis. However, the effect of copper, zinc-superoxide dismutase (SOD1) as a therapeutic agent is limited due to the insufficient transduction. This study was aimed to investigate the effect of PEP-1-SOD1 fusion protein on angiotensin II (ANG II)-induced collagen metabolism in rat cardiac myofibroblasts (MCFs). METHODS: MCFs were pretreated with SOD1 or PEP-1-SOD1 fusion protein for 2 h followed by incubation with ANG II for 24 h. Cell proliferation was measured by Cell Counting Kit-8. Superoxide anion productions were detected by both fluorescent microscopy and Flow Cytometry. MMP-1 and TIMP-1 were determined by ELISA. Intracellular MDA content and SOD activity were examined by commercial assay kits. Protein expression was analyzed by western blotting. RESULTS: PEP-1-SOD1 fusion protein efficiently transduced into MCF, scavenged intracellular O2 (-), decreased intracellular MDA content, increased SOD activity, suppressed ANG II-induced proliferation, reduced expression of TGF-ß1, α-SMA, collagen type I and III, restored MMP-1 secretion, and attenuated TIMP-1 secretion. CONCLUSION: PEP-1-SOD1 suppressed MCF proliferation and differentiation and reduced production of collagen type I and III. Therefore, PEP-1-SOD1 fusion protein may be a potential novel therapeutic agent for cardiac fibrosis.