Proteomic Characterization of Human Placenta: Insights into Potential Therapeutic Applications for Osteoarthritis.

Biologics have become increasingly prominent as therapeutics in recent years due to their innate immune-privileged nature, biocompatibility, and high levels of protein biofactors. The aim of the study is to characterise the biologic, lyophilized human placenta (LHP) and explore its therapeutic potential for osteoarthritis (OA). The presence of six bioactive constituents that regulate cell-extracellular matrix interaction was identified by liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionization and quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-QTOF/MS). Metalloproteinase inhibitor 3 (TIMP3), alpha-1 anti-trypsin (a1AT), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and transforming growth factor ß1 (TGFß1) were detected and quantified using ELISA. The total protein content present in LHP by Bradford assay was found to be 409.35 ± 0.005 µg/ml. The analytical techniques such as Attenuated Total Reflectance-Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), solid state carbon-13 Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (ssC13 NMR) spectroscopy, and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) revealed the secondary structure and conformational stability of LHP. X-Ray diffraction (XRD) studies showed its amorphous nature. Bioactivity assessment of LHP was performed in human keratinocytes (HaCaT) and human dermal fibroblasts (HDF) by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The LHP was highly proliferative against skin cells and non-toxic, based on the findings of the bioactivity assay. LHP has the potential to be used as a therapeutic agent for OA, as its characterisation unveiled its physical stability, significant concentration of bioactive components that are pertinent to cartilage repair and its conformational stability.

Nivolumab plus Ipilimumab in Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer.

BACKGROUND: In an early-phase study involving patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the response rate was better with nivolumab plus ipilimumab than with nivolumab monotherapy, particularly among patients with tumors that expressed programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1). Data are needed to assess the long-term benefit of nivolumab plus ipilimumab in patients with NSCLC. METHODS: In this open-label, phase 3 trial, we randomly assigned patients with stage IV or recurrent NSCLC and a PD-L1 expression level of 1% or more in a 1:1:1 ratio to receive nivolumab plus ipilimumab, nivolumab alone, or chemotherapy. The patients who had a PD-L1 expression level of less than 1% were randomly assigned in a 1:1:1 ratio to receive nivolumab plus ipilimumab, nivolumab plus chemotherapy, or chemotherapy alone. All the patients had received no previous chemotherapy. The primary end point reported here was overall survival with nivolumab plus ipilimumab as compared with chemotherapy in patients with a PD-L1 expression level of 1% or more. RESULTS: Among the patients with a PD-L1 expression level of 1% or more, the median duration of overall survival was 17.1 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 15.0 to 20.1) with nivolumab plus ipilimumab and 14.9 months (95% CI, 12.7 to 16.7) with chemotherapy (P = 0.007), with 2-year overall survival rates of 40.0% and 32.8%, respectively. The median duration of response was 23.2 months with nivolumab plus ipilimumab and 6.2 months with chemotherapy. The overall survival benefit was also observed in patients with a PD-L1 expression level of less than 1%, with a median duration of 17.2 months (95% CI, 12.8 to 22.0) with nivolumab plus ipilimumab and 12.2 months (95% CI, 9.2 to 14.3) with chemotherapy. Among all the patients in the trial, the median duration of overall survival was 17.1 months (95% CI, 15.2 to 19.9) with nivolumab plus ipilimumab and 13.9 months (95% CI, 12.2 to 15.1) with chemotherapy. The percentage of patients with grade 3 or 4 treatment-related adverse events in the overall population was 32.8% with nivolumab plus ipilimumab and 36.0% with chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: First-line treatment with nivolumab plus ipilimumab resulted in a longer duration of overall survival than did chemotherapy in patients with NSCLC, independent of the PD-L1 expression level. No new safety concerns emerged with longer follow-up. (Funded by Bristol-Myers Squibb and Ono Pharmaceutical; CheckMate 227 ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02477826.).

Surgical Management of Frontal Bone Fractures.

INTRODUCTION: Frontal bone fractures show a low frequency of occurrence of about 5% to 15% of all maxillofacial fractures occurring due to high-velocity injuries such as in the case of road traffic accidents, sporting events, assaults. Successful surgical management revolves around the concept of minimizing cosmetic deformity, maintaining normal sinus function, avoidance of short and long-term complications. In this article, the authors report a case series of 24 cases of frontal bone fracture treated with various treatment modalities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 24 cases of frontal bone fracture admitted to our facility were treated accordingly and the subsequent follow up data were collected and compiled to be included in this study. RESULTS: In our study, 83.33% cases showed isolated anterior table fractures, 8.3% cases with combined anterior and posterior table fractures. 40% cases managed conservatively, 41.6% with titanium mini plates, 12.5% cases with titanium mesh and 4% with cranialisation with fat obliteration. CONCLUSION: Our treatment decisions were based upon the extent and severity of the injuries which aided in tailoring the treatment modality. Thereby, curbing the long-term complications which could be foreseen and hence, a better functional outcome was achieved.

Dactuliophora mysorensis sp. nov.: A New Species of Mycelia Sterilia Causing Zonate Leaf Spot on Cowpea in India.

Cowpea is an important pulse crop extensively grown in arid and semi-arid tropics which is affected by a number of diseases. Fungi belonging to mycelia sterilia are known to cause many diseases on cereals and pulses. During the cowpea field survey in Mysore District of Karnataka (India), Dactuliophora sp. was identified as the major pathogen causing zonate leaf spot (ZLS) disease. The fungal pathogen was isolated from naturally infected cowpea leaves and identified as a member belongs to the genus Dactuliophora, which was previously described by CLA Leakey in the year 1964 on Vigna unguiculata from Africa. However, detailed morphological and cultural examinations of the pathogen revealed striking differences from that of D. tarrii. Based on differences in morphology with D. tarrii, a new species Dactuliophora mysorensis sp. nov. is described herein. The disease incidence as well as disease index was estimated for 3 years (2016-2018). The severity of the disease was high during August-November. High incidence and disease index of ZLS was recorded in Doddamaragowdanahally region. The pathogenicity tests demonstrated similar symptoms of ZLS. The ITS barcoding revealed that the pathogen is closely related to Rhizoctonia bataticola and Macrophomina phaseolina. Further, in vitro evaluation of fungicides was carried out by poisoned food technique. Among the five fungicides examined, only two systemic fungicides (Benomyl and Carbendazim) were effective against D. mysorensis. Thus, the present study recommends Benomyl and Carbendazim for management of ZLS disease caused by D. mysorensis.

Flow of water through carbon nanotubes predicted by different atomistic water models.

Nonequilibrium molecular dynamics simulations are reported to investigate the influence of different atomistic water models on the predicted flow behavior in carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with diameters between 0.81 nm and 1.9 nm. The comparison was made using rigid three-site [simplified point charge (SPC), extended SPC (SCP/E), and transferable intermolecular potential three point (TIP3P)] and four-site (TIP4P and TIP4P/2005) models. In addition, a flexible three-site model (SPC/Fw) was also investigated. The effect of different simulation conditions was determined by generating a flux across the CNT using either a pressure gradient across a membrane separating two water reservoirs or a periodic CNT with a constant force applied to each water molecule. Simulations involving the two water reservoirs indicate that the flux is strongly dependent on the choice of water model, which confirms earlier work. By contrast, this strong model dependency is not a feature of the periodic CNT simulations. Instead, the flux depends mainly on the pore diameter and the molecular density of water inside the CNT. The influence of the water model becomes very small in the periodic CNT simulations, which eliminates distorting entrance/exit effects.

Comparative study of isolation, expansion and characterization of epithelial cells.

BACKGROUND AIMS: The human epithelial cells (EPCs) have been identified as the essential element for the regeneration of skin construct for burns, wounds and various tissue engineer-based products. METHODS: In this study, the isolation, expansion and characterization of EPCs from various sources such as juvenile foreskin (JSK), buccal mucosa (BM), penile skin (PS) and urothelium (UR) in serum-free and xeno-free EpiLife media were evaluated. RESULTS: The growth kinetics study revealed that EPCs from JSK and BM had notably higher growth rates compared with the others. Overall, the EPCs from all sources retained basic morphological characteristics and the functional characteristics such as Pan Cytokeratin (AE1/AE3). In addition, the cryopreservation stability of EPCs was accessed for post-thaw viability and found to be greater than 80% at 1 year of storage, but demonstrated reduced cell recovery (51%) at the second year in fetal bovine serum-free cryopreservation media. CONCLUSIONS: Our result suggests that the EPCs from four cell sources can be grown in feeder-free, serum-free and xeno-free systems using commercially available EpiLife medium without losing epithelial cell characteristics even after passage 4. However, its suitability for clinical application must be accessed by preclinical and clinical studies.

Nonlinear effects at the electrode-tissue interface of deep brain stimulation electrodes.

Objective.The electrode-tissue interface provides the critical path for charge transfer in neurostimulation therapies and exhibits well-established nonlinear properties at high applied currents or voltages. These nonlinear properties may influence the efficacy and safety of applied stimulation but are typically neglected in computational models. In this study, nonlinear behavior of the electrode-tissue interface impedance was incorporated in a computational model of deep brain stimulation (DBS) to simulate the impact on neural activation and safety considerations.Approach.Nonlinear electrode-tissue interface properties were incorporated in a finite element model of DBS electrodesin vitroandin vivo,in the rat subthalamic nucleus, using an iterative approach. The transition point from linear to nonlinear behavior was determined for voltage and current-controlled stimulation. Predicted levels of neural activation during DBS were examined and the region of linear operation of the electrode was compared with the Shannon safety limit.Main results.A clear transition of the electrode-tissue interface impedance to nonlinear behavior was observed for both current and voltage-controlled stimulation. The transition occurred at lower values of activation overpotential for simulatedin vivothanin vitroconditions (91 mV and 165 mV respectively for current-controlled stimulation; 110 mV and 275 mV for voltage-controlled stimulation), corresponding to an applied current of 30µA and 45µA, or voltage of 330 mV at 1 kHz. The onset of nonlinearity occurred at lower values of the overpotential as frequency was increased. Incorporation of nonlinear properties resulted in activation of a higher proportion of neurons under voltage-controlled stimulation. Under current-controlled stimulation, the predicted transition to nonlinear behavior and Faradaic charge transfer at stimulation amplitudes of 30µA, corresponds to a charge density of 2.29µC cm-2and charge of 1.8 nC, well-below the Shannon safety limit.Significance.The results indicate that DBS electrodes may operate within the nonlinear region at clinically relevant stimulation amplitudes. This affects the extent of neural activation under voltage-controlled stimulation and the transition to Faradaic charge transfer for both voltage- and current-controlled stimulation with important implications for targeting of neural populations and the design of safe stimulation protocols.

Progress towards blue emitting MgO-ZnO-Ga2O3 nanocomposites synthesized by bio mediated route.

MgO-ZnO-Ga2O3 nanocomposites are synthesized by solution combustion method using Aloe Vera gel as a reducing agent to increase the efficiency of blue emission. The appearance of Bragg reflections corresponding to MgO, ZnO and Ga2O3 clearly indicates the formation of nanocomposites. The surface morphology consists irregular shape and sized NPs. The Energy dispersive X-ray analysis confirms the purity of the sample. The band energy gap was tuned to 3.1 eV. The Photoluminescence excitation and emission spectra was discussed and compared it with emission spectra of individual oxides as well as with other reported blue emitted nanophosphors. Further, the chromaticity coordinates and Color correlated temperature coordinates clearly confirms their warm blue emission. Further, the powder dusting method was employed to collect the latent fingerprints on the pores and non-pores surfaces. The synthesized MgO-ZnO-Ga2O3 nanocomposites exhibits well-resolved ridge patterns that can be used to identify latent finger prints with clarity. From all these results, the present synthesized MgO-ZnO-Ga2O3 nanocomposite might find an application in display technology as a blue nanophosphor material and for latent finger print detection in crime investigation.

Effect of Eu3+ doping on structural and optical properties of zirconium titanate.

The Europium activated (1-9 mol %) Zirconium Titanate nanoparticles (NPs) have been synthesized by the green solution combustion method using Aloe Vera gel extract as a reducing agent, followed by the calcination at 720 °C for 3hrs. All the synthesized samples crystallize in a pure orthorhombic crystal structure with the space group of Pbcn. The surface and bulk morphology were analyzed. The crystallite size increases, whereas the direct energy band gap was found to decrease with an increase in dopant concentration. Further, the effect of dopant concentration on the photoluminescence properties was studied. The presence of Eu3+ ion in the trivalent state in the host lattice was confirmed by its characteristic emission at 610 nm due to 5D0→7F2 (λex = 464 nm). The CIE coordinates were found in the red region of the CIE 1931 diagram. The CCT coordinates lie in the range 6288-7125 K. The Judd-Ofelt parameters and derived quantities were analyzed. This theory confirms the high symmetry of Eu3+ ions in the host lattice. These findings imply that ZTO:Eu3+ can be employed as a nanopowder material in a red-emitting phosphor material.

Red emission of copper aluminate synthesized via chemical and bio-mediated routes.

For the first time, copper aluminate nanoparticles (NPs) are synthesized by a combustion method using urea as a fuel (CAOU) and Ocimum sanctum (tulsi) extract as a reducing agent (CAOT). The Bragg reflections of the as-formed product confirm the formation of a cubic phase with Fd3̄m space group. The crystallite size, crystallinity and other structural parameters are discussed. The surface morphology of CAOU is agglomerated in nature whereas that of CAOT is hexagonal in shape. The smaller crystallite size CAOT NPs show a higher energy band gap. The photoluminescence (PL) analysis excited at 302 nm shows that the CIE coordinates fall in the red region. The oxygen defects are mainly responsible for the PL emission. The CCT coordinates confirm that both CAOU and CAOT NPs can find an application in warm light emitting diodes.

Photoluminescence, antibacterial, X-ray/gamma ray absorption, supercapacitor and sensor applications of ZrTiO4 nanorods.

In the present communication, ZrTiO4 nanoparticles (NPs) are synthesized by the solution combustion method using urea (ZTOU) and oxalyl dihydrazide (ODH) (ZTODH) as fuel and calcined at 700 °C. The synthesized samples were characterized with different techniques. Powder X-ray diffraction studies show the presence of diffraction peaks corresponding to ZrTiO4. In addition to these peaks, a few additional peaks corresponding to the monoclinic and cubic phases of ZrO2 and the rutile phase of TiO2 are observed. The surface morphology of ZTOU and ZTODH consists of nanorods with different lengths. The TEM and HRTEM images confirm the formation of nanorods along with NPs, and the estimated crystallite size matches well with that of PXRD. The direct energy band gap was calculated using Wood and Tauc's relation and was found to be 2.7 and 3.2 eV for ZTOU and ZTODH respectively. The photoluminescence emission peaks (λ = 350 nm), CIE and CCT of ZTOU and ZTODH clearly confirm that the present nanophosphor might be a good nanophosphor material for blue or aqua green light emitting diodes. Furthermore, antibacterial activity and a viability test were conducted on two food borne pathogens. The X-ray/gamma ray absorption properties are also studied, which clearly show the ZrTiO4 might be a good absorbing material. Furthermore, cyclic voltammetry (CV) analysis of ZTOU nanorods shows very good redox peaks compared to that of ZTODH. From the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements, the charge-transfer resistances for prepared nanorods ZTOU and ZTODH are found to be 151.6 Ω, and 184.5 Ω respectively. The modified graphite electrode with ZTOU shows good sensing activity for both paracetamol and ascorbic acid, compared to ZTODH.

X-ray/gamma radiation shielding properties of zinc ferrite nanoparticles synthesised via solution combustion method.

Zinc ferrite (ZnFe2O4) nanoparticles were synthesised via solution combustion method using urea as a fuel. The synthesised samples were characterised with various techniques. The cubic structure with Fd-3 m space group is confirmed by Powder X-ray Diffraction and Bragg's reflection. The crystallite size estimated from Scherrer's method was found to be 40 nm. The agglomerated irregular shape and sized surface morphology was confirmed by Scanning Electron Microscopy image. The direct energy band gap determined from Wood and Tauc's relation was found to be 5.25 eV. Using a NaI (Tl) detector and multi-channel analyser, the described sample was examined for X-ray and gamma ray shielding characteristics in the energy range of 0.081-1.332 MeV. The measured shielding values are in good agreement with the theory, however below 356 keV, there is a little variation of up to 10%. The current work offers up new possibilities for using this simple, affordable, effective and low temperature approach to create nanomaterials for X-ray and gamma ray shielding.

Synthesis and characterisation of lead-magnesium-boron nanocomposite for radiation shielding application.

There is a need for the replacement of toxic lead with nontoxic materials in radiation shielding applications. Instead of pure lead, lead mixed compounds/mixtures/alloys are considered to be less toxic and hence preferred for radiation shielding purposes. The compounds with magnesium are said to be having good magnetic and mechanical properties. Meanwhile, the boron element avoids secondary radiation and absorbs neutrons. The compound which is a mixture of lead, magnesium and boron is expected to be a good shielding material for radiation for X-rays/gamma rays. Hence in the present study, we have synthesised the lead-magnesium-boron (LMB) nanocomposites (NCs) using the green synthesis approach for the first time. LMB is synthesised by solution combustion method using Aloe vera as a reducing agent. The synthesised NCs are characterised using well-known characterisation techniques. Powder X-ray diffraction confirmed the formation of multi-phase LMB NCs, and average crystal size is found to be 13-15 nm. Surface morphology and chemical composition are affirmed by SEM and EDX. The optical energy gap is found to be 1.87 eV. FTIR confirmed the functional groups. X-rays/gamma rays, neutrons and bremsstrahlung radiation shielding efficiency are measured by experimental and theoretical, compared with conventional shielding materials. LMB NCs have proved to be efficient. Hence, LMB NCs proved to be potential in X-rays/gamma rays, neutrons and bremsstrahlung radiation shielding.

Assemblage and diversity of fungi on wood and seaweed litter of seven northwest portuguese beaches.

Three hundred and fifty woody litter and one hundred and forty seaweed litter sampled from seven beaches of Northwest Portugal were assessed for the filamentous fungal assemblage and diversity. The woody litter was screened for fungi up to 42 months using damp chamber incubation. They consisted of 36 taxa (ascomycetes, 21; basidiomycetes, 3; anamorphic taxa, 12) comprising 10 core group taxa (≥10%) (ascomycetes, 8; basidiomycete, 1; anamorphic taxa, 1). The total fungal isolates ranged between 150 and 243, while the number of fungal taxa per wood ranged between 3 and 4.9. The seaweed litter was screened up to four months in damp chamber incubation. They encompassed 29 taxa (ascomycetes, 16; basidiomycetes, 2; anamorphic taxa, 11) comprising 15 core group taxa (ascomycetes, 9; basidiomycete, 1; anamorphic taxa, 5). Total fungal isolates ranged between 56 and 120, while the number of fungal taxa per seaweed segment ranged between 4.8 and 6.3. Fifteen taxa of ascomycetes, two of basidiomycetes, and four anamorphic taxa were common to wood and seaweed litter. On both the substrates, two arenicolous fungi Arenariomyces trifurcates and Corollospora maritima were the predominant fungi (72.6-85.9%). The species abundance curves showed higher frequency of occurrence of fungal taxa in seaweed than woody litter. Our study revealed rich assemblage and diversity of marine fungi on wood and seaweed litter of Northwest Portugal beaches. The fungal composition and diversity of this survey have been compared with earlier investigations on marine fungi of Portugal coast.

Prof. B. Ramamurthi - A Glimpse into his Contributions to Neuroscience.

Prof B Ramamurthi was a pioneer of Indian neurosurgery and a major force in the development of Indian neuroscience. Founding the Madras Institute of Neurology and later the A Lakshmipathi Neurosurgical Centre (ALNC), both at Madras (or Chennai as it is now called), he developed centres of excellence in his career that spanned over five decades. During this period of time he made Madras, a destination for neurosurgery and neuroscience. Along with his colleagues a large number of publications were produced which influenced the world. Notable among his contributions were those in Stereotaxy for movement disorders, epilepsy, pain and psychiatric illness. He also had notable contributions in brain tumours especially acoustic neurinomas and pituitary tumours. His papers on the low incidence of aneurysms is still quoted widely. Head injuries formed a major part of the neurosurgical work and major contributions were made in that field too. As a developing country with socio-economic issues, infections of the nervous system were seen commonly. His publications on tuberculomas of the brain are noteworthy. He was intrigued by the neurophysiological basis of consciousness. He writings on the subject reflect his attempt to bring together ancient eastern thoughts and concepts of consciousness and life and western science. In the later part of his career he spoke on ethics in and the changing milieu of neurosurgery. While contributions to spinal surgery were not seen in the first half of his career, he along with his colleagues from ALNC published original articles on spinal surgery especially tumours and OPLL. Prof B Ramamurthi, has not only influenced, taught and mentored, during his lifetime, a great many neuroscientists, but he also continues to do so through his publications which continue to be relevant in todays world. A glimpse into his contributions show us how without the technology of today a lot was achieved - and we need to see that, to inspire us to achieve more and to strive for greater heights.

Stimulation-induced changes at the electrode-tissue interface and their influence on deep brain stimulation.

Objective. During deep brain stimulation (DBS) the electrode-tissue interface (ETI) forms a critical path between device and brain tissue. Although changes in the electrical double layer (EDL) and glial scar can impact stimulation efficacy, the effects of chronic DBS on the ETI have not yet been established.Approach. In this study, we characterised the ETI surrounding chronically implanted DBS electrodes in rats and compared the impedance and histological properties at the electrode interface in animals that received daily stimulation and in those where no stimulation was applied, up to 8 weeks post-surgery. A computational model was developed based on the experimental data, which allowed the dispersive electrical properties of the surrounding encapsulation tissue to be estimated. The model was then used to study the effect of stimulation-induced changes in the ETI on the electric field and neural activation during voltage- and current-controlled stimulation.Main results. Incorporating the observed changes in simulationsin silico, we estimated the frequency-dependent dielectric properties of the EDL and surrounding encapsulation tissue. Through simulations we show how stimulation-induced changes in the properties of the ETI influence the electric field and alter neural activation during voltage-controlled stimulation. A substantial increase in the number of stimulated collaterals, and their distance from the electrode, was observed during voltage-controlled stimulation with stimulated ETI properties.In vitroexamination of stimulated electrodes confirmed that high frequency stimulation leads to desorption of proteins at the electrode interface, with a concomitant reduction in impedance.Significance. The demonstration of stimulation-induced changes in the ETI has important implications for future DBS systems including closed-loop systems where the applied stimulation may change over time. Understanding these changes is particularly important for systems incorporating simultaneous stimulation and sensing, which interact dynamically with brain networks.

FDA Emergency Use Authorization-Approved Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019, Pressure-Regulated, Mechanical Ventilator Splitter That Enables Differential Compliance Multiplexing.

Infection with the novel coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), may cause viral pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Treatment of ARDS often requires mechanical ventilation and may take weeks for resolution. In areas with a large outbreaks, there may be shortages of ventilators available. While rudimentary methods for ventilator splitting have been described, given the range of independent ventilatory settings required for each patient, this solution is suboptimal. Here, we describe a device that can split a ventilator among up to four patients while allowing for individualized settings. The device has been validated in vitro and in vivo .

Microbacterium arthrosphaerae sp. nov., isolated from the faeces of the pill millipede Arthrosphaera magna Attems.

A Gram-reaction-positive, rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain CC-VM-Y(T), was isolated from the faeces of the pill millipede Arthrosphaera magna Attems from India and was subsequently studied to determine its taxonomic position. Based on16S rRNA gene sequence similarities, the isolate clearly grouped with members of the genus Microbacterium. On the basis of pairwise comparisons of the 16S rRNA gene sequences, strain CC-VM-Y(T) was most closely related to Microbacterium insulae DS-66(T) (98 %), Microbacterium hydrocarbonoxydans DSM 160809(T) (97.8 %) and Microbacterium hominis NBRC 15708(T) (97.9 %). The peptidoglycan contained the amino acids ornithine (Orn), alanine (Ala), glycine (Gly), homoserine (Hsr) and glutamic acid (Glu) in an approximate molar ratio of 1.0 : 0.8 : 2.2 : 0.8 : 0.3. In addition, substantial amounts of threo-3-hydroxy glutamic acid (Hyg) were detected, which is characteristic of peptidoglycan type B2ß. The acyl type of the peptidoglycan was glycolyl. The menaquinones of strain CC-VM-Y(T) were MK-13 (72 %), MK-12 (25 %) and MK-11 (3 %). The polar lipids consisted of phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, one unknown phospholipid and one unknown glycolipid. The fatty acid profile comprised anteiso-C(15 : 0), iso-C(16 : 0) and anteiso-C(17 : 0) as the major fatty acids, which was congruent with fatty acid profiles of other members of the genus Microbacterium. The results of physiological and biochemical tests as well as DNA-DNA hybridizations with the most closely related species, M. insulae, M. hydrocarbonoxydans and M. hominis, revealed clear phenotypic and genotypic differences between strain CC-VM-Y(T) and other members of the genus Microbacterium. Based on these results, strain CC-VM-Y(T) ( = DSM 22421(T)  = CCM 7681(T)) represents a new species of the genus Microbacterium, for which the name Microbacterium arthrosphaerae sp. nov. is proposed.