Fungal polyketides produced by an endophytic fungus Phoma sp. associated with Gastrodia elata.

Two novel fungal polyketides, phometides A (1) and B (2), together with four known compounds (3-6), were isolated from the endophytic fungus Phoma sp. YUD17001 obtained from Gastrodia elata Blume. The structures were elucidated based on spectroscopic analyses, X-ray crystal diffraction, and time-dependent density functional theory/electronic circular dichroism (TDDFT/ECD) calculations. Structurally, phometide A (1) represented the first example of C12 polyketide characterized by an unusual tetrahydrobenzofuran-3(2H)-one core with an α,ß-unsaturated ketone functionality, while phometide B (2) was an unprecedented molecule containing a 2-pentylcycloheptan-1-one scaffold. In an antimicrobial activity assay, phometide A (1) exhibited significant inhibitory activity against Staphylococcus aureus with MIC value of 4 µg/mL. Phometide B (2) showed moderate antifungal activity against Candida albicans with an MIC value of 16 µg/mL. Furthermore, compounds 1 and 2 were evaluated for their acetylcholinesterase inhibitory and cytotoxic activities.

Effect of a digital assessment system for the preclinical tooth preparation of metal-ceramic crowns: A pilot study.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Tooth preparation is a fundamental aspect of prosthodontics and serves as a focal point in preclinical courses. Conventional pedagogy relies heavily on the expertise of instructors, whereas digital technology has the potential to offer instantaneous feedback. The efficacy of a digital assessment system in comparison with traditional teaching methods remains uncertain. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the training effects of traditional assessment and digital evaluation on tooth preparations for the metal-ceramic crowns performed by preclinical students on the convergence angle and tooth reduction. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 40 predoctoral students were randomly divided into the digital group and the traditional group to complete tooth preparation for a metal-ceramic crown on a left mandibular first molar. Students in the traditional group were taught by an experienced instructor, while the digital group students were trained by an objective digital assessment system without instructor guidance. Each student completed the tooth preparation in 20 min, received feedback according to the respective training methods, and later prepared another tooth. In this way, all students completed 4 tooth preparations in 2 weeks. All preparations were evaluated by an optical scanner. Parameters for comparing the digital group with the traditional group were the convergence angle and reduction at different stages. Questionnaires on the digital training system were answered by the students of the digital group. The t tests or Wilcoxon signed rank tests and chi-squared tests were used to analyze the differences between the 2 groups (α=.01). RESULTS: A decreasing trend in convergence angle was seen in both groups, but the 2 groups were statistically similar (P>.01). After training, a decreasing trend was seen in under-reduction and overreduction on 5 surfaces in the digital group. Conversely, in the traditional group, a noteworthy increase was seen in under-reduction on the distal surface (P=.002). Nevertheless, no significant difference was found between the 2 groups (P>.01). According to the results of the questionnaire, over 80% of the students had a positive attitude toward the digital assessment system, and more than 80% of the students expressed their interest in the digital assessment system for tooth preparation training. CONCLUSIONS: Traditional teaching and digital feedback provided similar training effects to improve the quality of tooth preparations for preclinical dental students.

Microbe-host interactions: structure and functions of Gram-negative bacterial membrane vesicles.

Bacteria-host interaction is a common, relevant, and intriguing biological phenomena. The host reacts actively or passively to the bacteria themselves, their products, debris, and so on, through various defense systems containing the immune system, the bacteria communicate with the local or distal tissues of the host via their own surface antigens, secreted products, nucleic acids, etc., resulting in relationships of attack and defense, adaptation, symbiosis, and even collaboration. The significance of bacterial membrane vesicles (MVs) as a powerful vehicle for the crosstalk mechanism between the two is growing. In the recent decade, the emergence of MVs in microbial interactions and a variety of bacterial infections, with multiple adhesions to host tissues, cell invasion and evasion of host defense mechanisms, have brought MVs to the forefront of bacterial pathogenesis research. Whereas MVs are a complex combination of molecules not yet fully understood, research into its effects, targeting and pathogenic components will advance its understanding and utilization. This review will summarize structural, extraction and penetration information on several classes of MVs and emphasize the role of MVs in transport and immune response activation. Finally, the potential of MVs as a therapeutic method will be highlighted, as will future research prospects.

Discovery, Preliminary Structure-Activity Relationship, and Evaluation of Oleanane-Type Saponins from Pulsatilla chinensis for the Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis.

To discover ulcerative colitis (UC) treatment agents, 28 oleanane-type triterpenoid saponins (1-28) including three new saponins, pulsatillosides P-R (1-3), were isolated from Pulsatilla chinensis. The isolated saponins could observably ameliorate UC by improving the intestinal epithelial cell barrier and intestinal flora in vivo. The structure-activity relationship indicated that the oligosaccharide chain at C-28 was essential for their anti-UC activities; the methyl group at the C-23 site of triterpene saponins showed important effects on anti-UC efficacy; the chain length of oligosaccharides at position C-28 had little effect on their anti-UC activities. In vivo investigation of representative saponins 1 and 13 further confirmed that 23-methyl-3,28-bisdesmosidic oleanane-type saponins inhibited the TNFα-NFκB-MLCK axis to improve the intestinal epithelial cell barrier of the colon in UC mice. These findings revealed the potential of 23-methyl-3,28-bisdesmosidic oleanane-type saponins from P. chinensis as promising candidates for the treatment of UC.

Acinetobacter faecalis Sp. Nov., Isolated from Elephant Faeces.

A Gram-negative coccobacillus, YIM 103518T, isolated from wild elephant feces in Xishuangbanna, Yunnan Province, West China, was characterized and identified using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. The strain was strictly aerobic, non-motile, catalase-positive and oxidase-negative, colonies were round, convex, smooth, and pale yellow. The strain growth at 4-40 ℃ (optimum, 28 ℃), pH 6.0-10.0 (optimum, pH 7.0) and 0-4% NaCl (optimum, 0%) in culture medium YIM 38. The major fatty acids of strain YIM 103518T were summed feature 3 (C16:1 ω6c/C16:1 ω7c), C16:0, and C18:1 ω9c. The predominant ubiquinone was Q-9. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine and phospholipids. The 16S rRNA gene sequence showed moderate level of similarity with Acinetobacter portensis AC 877T (98.7%), Acinetobacter sichuanensis CCTCC AB 2018118T (97.1%), and Acinetobacter cumulans CCTCC AB 2018119T (97.1%). The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 36.5 mol%. Strain YIM 103518T showed an average nucleotide identity value of 86.6%, 77.3% and 78.5%, a digital DNA-DNA hybridizations value of 31.2%, 21.9% and 23.0% with the type strain of A. portensis, A. sichuanensis and A. cumulans based on draft genome sequences, respectively. The results of the phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic analyses, showed that strain YIM 103518T represents a novel species of the genus Acinetobacter, for which the name Acinetobacter faecalis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YIM 103518T (=CCTCC AB 2019201T = NBRC 114057T).

Discovery of antibacterial agents targeting biofilm formation: total synthesis and in vitro investigation of amycolasporins.

Three monoterpene alkaloids amycolasporin A and (±) amycolasporins B and C have been synthesized for the first time from commercially available materials in yields of 31%, 14% and 21%, respectively. Their six analogues (18, 19, 30a and 30d-30f) were synthesized through a similar protocol. Meanwhile, the antibacterial activity of all synthesized molecules was evaluated, showing different levels of bioactivity. Among them, analogue 30d was screened as the most effective antibacterial candidate against E. coli (MIC value, 12.5 µg mL-1) and S. aureus (MIC value, 12.5 µg mL-1). Further investigation showed that 30d obviously inhibited biofilm formation and disrupted the preformed biofilm of E. coli and S. aureus by promoting intracellular ROS release.

Comparative and functional analyses of fecal microbiome in Asian elephants.

Asian elephant is large herbivorous animal with elongated hindgut. To explore fecal microbial community composition with various ages, sex and diets, and their role in plant biomass degrading and nutrition conversation. We generated 119 Gb by metagenome sequencing from 10 different individual feces and identified 5.3 million non-redundant genes. The comprehensive analysis established that the Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes and Proteobacteria constituted the most dominant phyla in overall fecal samples. In different individuals, the alpha diversity of the fecal microbiota in female was lower than male, and the alpha diversity of the fecal microbiota in older was higher than younger, and the fecal microbial diversity was the most complex in wild elephant. But the predominant population compositions were similar to each other. Moreover, the newborn infant elephant feces assembled and maintained a diverse but host-specific fecal microbial population. The discovery speculated that Asian elephant maybe have start to building microbial populations before birth. Meanwhile, these results illustrated that host phylogeny, diets, ages and sex are significant factors for fecal microbial community composition. Therefore, we put forward the process of Asian elephant fecal microbial community composition that the dominant populations were built first under the guidance of phylogeny, and then shaped gradually a unique and flexible gut microbial community structure under the influences of diet, age and sex. This study found also that the Bacteroidetes were presumably the main drivers of plant fiber-degradation. A large of secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters, and genes related to enediyne biosynthesis were found and showed that the Asian elephant fecal microbiome harbored a diverse and abundant genetic resource. A picture of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) reservoirs of fecal microbiota in Asian elephants was provided. Surprisingly, there was such wide range of ARGs in newborn infant elephant. Further strengthening our speculation that the fetus of Asian elephant has colonized prototypical fecal microbiota before birth. However, it is necessary to point out that the data give a first inside into the gut microbiota of Asian elephants but too few individuals were studied to draw general conclusions for differences among wild and captured elephants, female and male or different ages. Further studies are required. Additionally, the cultured actinomycetes from Asian elephant feces also were investigated, which the feces of Asian elephants could be an important source of actinomycetes.

The discovery of germacradienol synthase: Construction of genetically-engineered strain, glycosylated modification, bioactive evaluation of germacradienol.

Germacradienol is a main precursor in the biosynthesis of geosmin-type terpenes by a variety of microbes, but its biological activities are still unknown. In the biosynthetic mechanism study of an antifungal degraded sesquiterpenoid (1ß,4ß,4aß,8aα)-4,8a-dimethyloctahydronaphthalene-1,4a(2H)-diol (5) with a geosmin scaffold, the germacradienol synthase B7C62_00490 was identified. To exploit the synthetic potential of the enzyme to create germacradienol, engineered strains were constructed by introducing key synthases of farnesyl diphosphate, germacradienol synthase B7C62_00490 and glycosyltransferase UGT73C5 in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3). Germacradienol (1) and the novel glycosylated derivate germacradienyl-11-O-ß-d-glucopyranoside (3) were successfully obtained from engineered strains. The cytotoxic activity against nine human cancer cell lines and antimicrobial activities against a panel of bacteria and fungi of germacradienol analogs derived from engineered strains were evaluated. Germacradienol demonstrated multiple biological activities, including broad antimicrobial activities with MIC values ranging from 12.5 to 25.0 µg/mL and cytotoxic activities with IC50 values ranging from 21.0 to 83.5 µM. However, the glycosylated germacradienol was inactive.

Exploration of Diverse Secondary Metabolites From Streptomyces sp. YINM00001, Using Genome Mining and One Strain Many Compounds Approach.

A talented endophytic bacteria strain YINM00001, which showed strong antimicrobial activity and multiple antibiotic resistances, was isolated from a Chinese medicinal herb Peperomia dindygulensis Miq. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences demonstrated that strain was closely related to Streptomyces anulatus NRRL B-2000T (99.93%). The complete genome of strain YINM00001 was sequenced. The RAxML phylogenomic tree also revealed that strain YINM00001 was steadily clustered on a branch with strain Streptomyces anulatus NRRL B-2000T under the 100 bootstrap values. The complete genome of strain YINM00001 consists of an 8,372,992 bp linear chromosome (71.72 mol% GC content) and a 317,781 bp circular plasmid (69.14 mol% GC content). Genome mining and OSMAC approach were carried out to investigate the biosynthetic potential of producing secondary metabolites. Fifty-two putative biosynthetic gene clusters of secondary metabolites were found, including the putative cycloheximide, dinactin, warkmycin, and anthracimycin biosynthetic gene clusters which consist with the strong antifungal and antibacterial activities exhibited by strain YINM00001. Two new compounds, peperodione (1) and peperophthalene (2), and 17 known compounds were isolated from different fermentation broth. Large amounts and high diversity of antimicrobial and/or anticancer compounds cycloheximide, dinactin, anthracimycin, and their analogs had been found as predicted before, which highlights strain YINM00001 as an ideal candidate for further biosynthetic studies and production improvement of these valuable compounds. Meanwhile, several gene clusters that were highly conserved in several sequenced actinomycetes but significantly different from known gene clusters might be silent under proceeding fermentation conditions. Further studies, such as heterologous expression and genetic modification, are needed to explore more novel compounds from this talented endophytic Streptomyces strain.

Nakamurella leprariae sp. nov., isolated from a lichen sample.

A novel actinobacterium, YIM 132084T, was isolated from Lepraria sp. lichen collected from Yunnan province, south-west PR China and identified by a polyphasic taxonomic approach. The strain was Gram-stain-positive, aerobic, catalase-positive, oxidase-negative, non-motile and coccus-shaped. Colonies were round, convex, smooth and light orange yellow in color. It grew at 10-40 °C (optimum 28 °C), at pH 6.0-11.0 (optimum pH 7.0) and in the presence of 0-4% NaCl (optimum 0%). Strain YIM 132084T comprised diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylinositol as the major polar lipids, MK-8(H4) as the predominant menaquinone, and anteiso-C15:0, anteiso-C17:0, iso-C15:0 and iso-C16:0 as major fatty acids. Strain YIM 132084T had meso-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid in the cell-wall peptidoglycan, and mannose, ribose, glucose and rhamnose as whole-cell sugars. The 16S rRNA gene sequence showed high level of similarity with Nakamurella flavida KCTC 19127T (97.7%) and Nakamurella flava CGMCC 4.7524T (97.7%). The G + C content of the genomic DNA was 72.4 mol%. Based on draft genome sequences, strain YIM 132084T showed an average nucleotide identity value of 76.1% and 74.9%, a digital DNA-DNA hybridization value of 20.9% and 20.6% with the reference strains Nakamurella flavida and Nakamurella flava, respectively. The results of the phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic analyses showed that strain YIM 132084T represents a novel species of the genus Nakamurella, for which the name Nakamurella leprariae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YIM 132084T (= CGMCC 4.7667T = NBRC 114280T = KCTC 49367T).

Glaciibacter flavus sp. nov., isolated from a lichen sample.

A novel Actinobacterium strain YIM 131861 T, was isolated from lichen collected from the South Bank Forest of the Baltic Sea, Germany. It was Gram-stain-positive, strictly aerobic, catalase positive and oxidase negative, yellow pigmented. Cells were motile with a polar flagellum, irregular rod shaped and did not display spore formation. The strain grew at 15 - 30 °C (optimum 25 °C), at pH 6.0 - 10.0 (optimum pH 7.0) and in the presence of 0 - 1.5% (w/v) NaCl (optimum 1%). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain YIM 131861 T belonged to the genus Glaciibacter, and exhibited a high sequence similarity (96.4%) with Glaciibacter superstes NBRC 104264 T. The genomic DNA G + C content of strain YIM 131861 T was 68.2 mol%. The average nucleotide identity (ANI) and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) values between strain YIM 131861 T and Glaciibacter superstes NBRC 104264 T were 73.2 and 19.9% based on the draft genome sequence. The cell-wall peptidoglycan type was B2γ and contained the 2, 4-diaminobutyric acid as the diagnostic amino acid. Whole cell sugars were galactose, rhamnose, ribose and glucose. It contained MK-12 and MK-13 as the predominant menaquinones. The major cellular fatty acids (> 10%) were identified as anteiso-C15:0, iso-C16:0 and anteiso-C17:0. The polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and two unknown glycolipids. Based on the results of phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic analyses, strain YIM 131861 T should belong to the genus Glaciibacter and represents a novel species of the genus Glaciibacter, for which the name Glaciibacter flavus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YIM 131861 T (= CGMCC 1.16588 T = NBRC 113572 T).

Paracoccus lichenicola sp. nov., Isolated from Lichen.

Strain YIM 132242T, isolated from lichen collected from Pu'er, Yunnan Province, China, was short-rod-shaped, Gram-reaction-negative, aerobic, catalase- and oxidase-positive. Growth of the strain was occurred at 10-39 °C (optimum, 28-35 °C), at pH 4.0-10.0 (optimum, pH 7.0-8.0) and at salinities of 0-8% (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 0-2%). Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain YIM 132242T belonged to the genus Paracoccus and had the highest levels of sequence similarity to Paracoccus aerius KCTC 42845T (97.0% similarity), Paracoccus sediminis CMB17T (96.8% similarity), and Paracoccus fontiphilus MVW-1T (96.4% similarity). The major fatty acid was identified as C18:1 ω7c (77.6%). The predominant respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-10 (Q-10). Polar lipid analysis indicated the presence of phosphatidylglycerol (PG), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylcholine (PC), diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG), an unidentified lipid (L), and three unidentified phospholipids (PL1-PL3). Based on the draft genome sequence, the DNA G + C content of the strain was 67.1 mol%, and the values of average nucleotide identity (ANI) and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) of strain YIM 132242T with Paracoccus aerius KCTC 42845T were 85.4% and 29.1%, respectively. On the basis of the data from this polyphasic characterization, strain YIM 132242T represents a novel species of the genus Paracoccus, for which the name Paracoccus lichenicola sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YIM 132242T (= KCTC 72463T = CGMCC1.17191T).

Oxazolomycins produced by Streptomyces glaucus and their cytotoxic activity.

Six oxazolomycins (1-6) were isolated from the fermentation broth of a soil-borne bacterial strain, Streptomyces glaucus. The structures of the new compounds, oxazolomycins D-F (1-3) and glaucumycins A, B (6a/6b), were elucidated by detailed spectroscopic data analysis. Oxazolomycins 1, 2, 4, and 5 demonstrated weak or modest cytotoxic activities against four human cancer cell lines, with IC50 values ranging from 10.6 ± 1.7 to 89.5 ± 6.6 µM (or >100 µM). Further study showed that 4 caused S phase cell cycle arrest in SMMC7721 cells through down-regulating the protein expression of cyclin A2, CDK2. Meanwhile, 4 induced apoptosis in SMMC7721 cells through down-regulating the protein levels of Bcl-2, up-regulating the levels of Bax, and activating the cleavage of caspase-3.

Glycomyces terrestris sp. nov., isolated from extremely arid soil from Yuanmou Earth Forest.

A Gram-stain-positive, mycelium-forming actinobacterium, YIM 121974T was isolated from an extreme arid soil sample collected at Yuanmou Earth Forest, Yunnan Province, PR China. Classification using a polyphasic approach suggested that strain YIM 121974T belonged to the genus Glycomyces and was closely related to Glycomyces dulcitolivorans SJ-25T (98.3 %), Glycomyces scopariae YIM 56256T (98 %), Glycomyces mayteni YIM 61331T (97.9 %), Glycomyces albidus NEAU-7082T (97.9 %), Glycomyces sambucus CGMCC 4.3147T (97.7 %), Glycomyces artemisiae IXS4T (97.6 %) and Glycomyces parisis CPCC 204357T (97.5 %), but could be distinguished from its closest relatives by a combination of phenotypic and phylogenetic features. Average nucleotide identity values of YIM 121974T to its closest phylogenetic neighbours were 70.7-88.9 %, which are lower than the threshold of 95 %. The digital DNA-DNA hybridization values between YIM 121974T and these relative species were 18.0-36.3 %, which are also well below the cut-off value (>70 %) for species delineation. The DNA G+C content of strain YIM 121974T was 72.3 mol% (draft genome sequence). The predominant menaquinone was MK-11. The phospholipids were composed of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylinositol mannoside, phosphoglycolipid and glycolipid. The major fatty acid compositions were iso-C16 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 0 and anteiso-C17 : 0. The draft genome of isolate YIM 121974T was found to contain 11 secondary metabolite biosynthesis gene clusters by using the antiSMASH server. Based on the above observations, strain YIM 121974T could be distinguished from closely related species belonging to the genus Glycomyces. Thus, strain YIM 121974T represents a novel species of the genus Glycomyces, for which the name Glycomyces terrestris sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YIM 121974T (=KCTC 39870T=DSM 106742T).

Nocardioides flavescens sp. nov., isolated from soil of Gaoligong Mountain, PR China.

A Gram-stain-positive, non-motile, aerobic, rod-shaped, golden yellow-pigmented actinobacterium, designated strain YIM 123512T, was isolated from soil sampled at Gaoligong Mountain, Yunnan Province, PR China. The strain grew at 10-40 °C (optimum, 28 °C), with 0-3.0 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 0-1.0 %) and at pH 5.0-11.0 (optimum, pH 7.0). The major menaquinone was MK-8(H4) and the major cellular fatty acids (>10 %) were identified as iso-C16 : 0 and C17 : 1 ω8c. Strain YIM 123512T had ll-2, 6-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic cell-wall diamino acid. The major polar lipids were found to be diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, two unknown phospholipids and one unknown lipid. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain YIM 123512T was 72.7 mol% based on its draft genome sequence. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that strain YIM 123512T appeared to be most closely related to Nocardioides halotolerans KCTC 19274T (97.7 % sequence similarity) and to belong to the genus Nocardioides. The sequence similarity values of strain YIM 123512T to other currently described type strains of the genus Nocardioides were less than 97.0 %. Based on the draft genome sequence, the novel strain showed an average nucleotide identity value of 80.2 % and a digital DNA-DNA hybridization value of 23.1 % with the reference strain N. halotolerans KCTC 19274T. The results of the polyphasic taxonomic study including phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic analyses show that strain YIM 123512T represents a novel species of the genus Nocardioides, for which the name Nocardioides flavescens sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YIM 123512T (=KCTC 49303T=CGMCC 4.7628T).

Gulosibacter macacae sp. nov., a novel actinobacterium isolated from Macaca mulatta faeces.

A novel Gram-stain-positive, aerobic, non-spore-forming, irregular short rod-shaped actinobacterial strain, designated YIM 102482-1T, was isolated from the faeces of Macaca mulatta. Strain YIM 102482-1T grew optimally at 30-37 °C, at pH 8.0 and in the presence of 1.0-3.0% (w/v) NaCl. Similarly, analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain YIM 102482-1T was a member of the genus Gulosibacter and most closely related to Gulosibacter feacalis NBRC 15706T (97.6 %), Gulosibacter bifidus NBRC 103089T (97.6 %), Gulosibacter chungangensis KCTC 13959T (96.4 %) and Gulosibacter molinativorax DSM 13485T (96.0 %), respectively. Furthermore, phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA gene sequences and genomic sequences demonstrated that strain YIM 102482-1T formed a distinct branch with all type strains of the genus Gulosibacter. The major whole-cell sugars and cellular fatty acids (>10.0 %) were ribose and rhamnose, and anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C16 : 0 and C16 : 0, respectively. The predominant menaquinone was MK-9, and 2,4-diaminobutyric acid and ornithine were the diagnostic diamino acids in the cell-wall peptidoglycan. The dominant polar lipids consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and unidentified glycolipid. The DNA G+C content of YIM 102482-1T was 63.0 mol%. Based on analysis results of physiological, biochemical and chemotaxonomic data, strain YIM 102482-1T represents a novel species of the genus Gulosibacter, for which the name Gulosibacter macacae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YIM 102482-1T(=DSM 102156T=CCTCC AB 2016023T).

Falsigemmobacter faecalis gen. nov. sp. nov., isolated from faeces of Rhinopithecus roxellanae, and reclassification of Gemmobacter intermedius as Falsigemmobacter intermedius comb. nov.

Strain YIM 102744-1T was isolated from Rhinopithecus roxellanae fecal sample collected at Yunnan Wild Animal Park, Yunnan province, PR China. Cells were Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, non-motile and irregular rods. Optimal growth occurred in the presence of 0-1.0% (w/v) NaCl, at pH 7.0-8.0, and at 30 °C. The predominant ubiquinone was Q-10. The major cellular fatty acids (> 10.0%) were C18:1ω7c and C16:1ω7c/C16:1ω6c. The dominant polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylcholine. The DNA G + C content was 62.4 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that YIM 102744-1T belonged to the family Rhodobacteraceae and shared the highest similarity with the type strain Gemmobacter intermedius 119/4T (96.6%). In addition, phylogenetic trees indicated that strain YIM 102744-1T formed a distinct clade together with the closest relative G. intermedius 119/4T. Based on the results of polyphasic taxonomic analysis, strain YIM 102744-1T is considered to represent a novel species within a new genus Falsigemmobacter, for which the name Falsigemmobacter faecalis gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Falsigemmobacter faecalis is YIM 102744-1T(= KCTC 52106T = CCTCC AB 2016031T). Because Gemmobacter intermedius 119/4T formed a branch with YIM 102744-1 in the phylogenetic trees and was clearly separated from the other members within the genus Gemmobacter, it is also proposed to transfer into the genus Falsigemmobacter as Falsigemmobacter intermedius comb. nov. (type strain 119/4T = CIP 110795T = LMG 28215T = CCM 8510T). The type species of the genus Falsigemmobacter is Falsigemmobacter intermedius gen. nov., comb. nov.

Methylobacterium planium sp. nov., isolated from a lichen sample.

A novel bacterial strain, designated YIM 132548 T, was isolated from Lepraria sp. lichen collected from Yunnan province, south-west PR China. The organism was Gram-stain negative, aerobic and methylotrophic. The cell was catalase positive and oxidase negative, asporogenous, rod-shaped and motile with three polar flagella. The strain could grow at 15-30 °C (optimum, 20 °C), at pH 6.0-9.0 (optimum, pH 7.0) and does not grow in the presence of NaCl. According to the 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain YIM 132548 T showed high levels of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with Methylobacterium soli YIM 48816 T (97.6%) and Methylobacterium durans NBRC 112876 T (97.3%), less than 97.0% with other validly named type strains of the genus Methylobacterium. Ubiquinone Q-10 was the predominant respiratory ubiquinone. The predominant cellular fatty acid was identified as summed feature 8 (C18:1ω7c). The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylcholine. The DNA G + C content of the draft genome sequence is 70.2 mol%. The average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridizations values of strain YIM 132548 T with M. soli YIM 48816 T and M. durans NBRC 112876 T were 87.0% and 82.0%, 40.6% and 27.2% based on draft genome sequences, respectively. On the basis of phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic, phenotypic and genomic data, strain YIM 132548 T is concluded to represent a novel species of the genus Methylobacterium, for which the name Methylobacterium planium sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YIM 132548 T (= CGMCC 1.17323 T = NBRC 114056 T).

Nakamurella albus sp. nov.: A Novel Actinobacterium Isolated from a Lichen Sample.

A novel actinobacterium, YIM 132087T, isolated from Lepraria sp. lichen collected from Yunnan province, south-west PR China. Cells are Gram-stain-positive, catalase-positive and oxidase-negative, aerobic, non-motile and short rod-shaped. Colonies are asporogenous, circular and white brown in colour. Optimal growth occured at 15-35 °C (optimum 28 °C), at pH 5.0-9.0 (optimum pH 6.0), and in the presence of 3% NaCl (w/v). The DNA G+C content of strain YIM 132087T based on the draft genome sequence was 71.3 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences suggested that strain YIM 132087T belonged to the genus Nakamurella and exhibited high levels of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with Nakamurella endophytica CGMCC 4.7038T (97.9%) and Nakamurella intestinalis NBRC 111844T (97.2%). The DNA-DNA hybridization values between strain YIM 132087T and its closest relatives are lower than 26%. Strain YIM 132087T had meso-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic cell-wall diamino acid, and MK-8(H4) as the predominant menaquinone. Predominant cellular fatty acids (> 10%) were iso-C16:0, iso-C15:0, C16:0 and anteiso-C15:0. The polar lipid profile were found to be diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylmethylethanolamine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol, three unknown phospholipids, one unknown aminophospholipid and one unknown lipid. Based on phenotypic, phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic analysis, strain YIM 132087T belongs to the genus Nakamurella and represents a novel species of the genus Nakamurella, for which the name Nakamurella albus sp. nov., with type strain YIM 132087T (=CGMCC 4.7629T =NBRC 114017T), is proposed.