Aquiflexum gelatinilyticum sp. nov., isolated from river water.

Two Gram-stain-negative, strictly aerobic, rod-shaped, non-motile and non-gliding bacteria, designated as XJ19-10T and XJ19-11, were isolated from river water in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, PR China. Cells of these strains were catalase-, oxidase- and gelatinase-positive and contained carotenoids but no flexirubins. Growth occurred at 10-30 °C, pH 7.0-9.0 and with 0-2.5% (w/v) NaCl. On the basis of the results of 16S rRNA gene sequence and genome analyses, the two isolates represented members of the genus Aquiflexum, and the closest relative was Aquiflexum aquatile Z0201T with 16S rRNA gene sequence pairwise similarities of 97.9-98.1%. Furthermore, the average nucleotide identities and digital DNA-DNA hybridization identities between the two isolates and other relatives were all less than 82.9 and 28.2 %, respectively, all below the species delineation thresholds. The results of pan-genomic analysis indicated that the type strain XJ19-10T shared 2813 core gene clusters with other three type strains of members of the genus Aquiflexum, as well as having 623 strain-specific clusters. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, an unidentified aminolipid and unidentified lipids. The predominant fatty acids (>10% of the total contents) were iso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 1G, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH and summed feature 9, and MK-7 was the respiratory quinone. On the basis of the results of phenotypic, physiological, chemotaxonomic and genotypic characterization, strains XJ19-10T and XJ19-11 are considered to represent a novel species, for which the name Aquiflexum gelatinilyticum sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is XJ19-10T (=CGMCC 1.19385T =KCTC 92266T).

Parapedobacter tibetensis sp. nov., isolated from shore soil of saline lake in Tibet of China and its genome mining of secondary metabolite.

Five aerobic, Gram-stain-negative, non-motile, non-spore-forming, short rod bacteria strains, designated as C3-1-R+6T, C3-2-M9, B3-2-R-7, B3-2-R-21 and C3-2-M2, were isolated from shore soil of LungmuCo Lake in Tibet of China. The 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons confirmed their affiliation to the genus Parapedobacter of the family Sphingobacteriaceae, and showed that they were most closely related to Parapedobacter lycopersici KACC 18788T with 94.26 % similarities. The average nucleotide identity (ANI), average amino acid identity (AAI) and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) values between them and the validly published Parapedobacter species were all below the thresholds for delineating species, supporting that they were novel species of genus Parapedobacter. The ANI, AAI and dDDH values between strains C3-1-R+6T and Parapedobacter lycopersici KACC 18788T were 72, 75, and 18% respectively. Meanwhile, the ANI/AAI and dDDH values between these five isolates were higher than the threshold values, showing that they belonged to the same species of Parapedobacter. According to genome comparison, the novel isolates have some special biosynthetic gene clusters of secondary metabolites including bacteriton, aryl-polyene, lantipeptide and t1pks, which were absent from their most related phylogenetic neighbours P. lycopersici KACC 18788T and P. pyrenivorans CGMCC 1.12195T. The main polar lipids contained phosphatidylethanolamine, one unidentified phospholipid, one unidentified aminolipid, one unidentified glycolipid and five unidentified lipids. The predominant respiratory quinone was MK-7. The major cellular fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, summed feature 3 (C16 : 1 ω7c and/or C16 : 1 ω6c) and iso-C17 : 0 3-OH. The genome size of strain C3-1-R+6T was 5 984 948 bp, and its genomic DNA G+C content was 46.21 mol%. To sum up, the five strains were identified as a novel species of the genus Parapedobacter, for which the name Parapedobacter tibetensis sp. nov. was proposed. The type strain was C3-1-R+6T (=CGMCC 1.19194T=KCTC 92150T).

Flavobacterium frigoritolerans sp. nov. and Flavobacterium shii sp. nov., isolated from glaciers on the Tibetan Plateau.

The genus Flavobacterium belongs to the family Flavobacteriaceae and its members are widely distributed in the environment. Taxonomic descriptions of strains LS1R47T and LS1R49T isolated from the Laigu glacier on the Tibetan Plateau, China, are presented in this study. Both strains were psychrotolerant, Gram-stain-negative, aerobic and rod-shaped. The comparative analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain LS1R47T was closest to Flavobacterium bizetiae CIP 105534T (98.90 %) and strain LS1R49T was closest to Flavobacterium collinsii 983-08T (98.73 %). The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, average nucleotide identity (ANI) and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) values between the two novel isolates were 99.4, 86.0 and 30.9 %, respectively. The ANI and dDDH values between strains LS1R47T and LS1R49T and their closely relatives were below 87.6 and 33.3 %, respectively. Phylogenomic analysis showed that the two strains cluster together with Flavobacterium hydatis ATCC 29551T. Both strains contained MK-6 as sole quinone, phosphatidylethanolamine as the principal polar lipid, and summed feature 3 (iso-C15 : 0 2-OH and/or C16 : 1 ω7c), iso-C15 : 0 3-OH, C15 : 0 3-OH and iso-C17 : 0 3-OH as the main fatty acids. These results indicated that strains LS1R47T and LS1R49T represented two novel species within the genus Flavobacterium. Therefore, we propose two novel species, Flavobacterium frigoritolerans sp. nov. (LS1R47T=CGMCC 1.11577T=NBRC 113654T) and Flavobacterium shii sp. nov. (LS1R49T=CGMCC 1.11581T=NBRC 113652T).

Effects of Melt Hydrogenation on the Microstructure Evolution and Hot Deformation Behavior of TiBw/Ti-6Al-4V Composites.

In this study, Ti-6Al-4V matrix composites reinforced with TiB ceramic whiskers were in situ synthesized and hydrogenated using the melt hydrogenation technique (MHT). The effects of MHT on the microstructure evolution and hot compression behavior of the composites were investigated by optical microscopy (OM), electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Hot compression tests were performed at strain rates of 0.1/s, 0.01/s, and 0.001/s and temperatures of 800 °C, 850 °C, and 900 °C; the hot workability of composites significantly improved after hydrogenation, for example, the 900 °C peak flow stress of hydrogenated composites (43 MPa) decreased by 53.76% compared with that of unhydrogenated ones (93 MPa) at a strain rate of 0.01/s. Microstructural observations show that MHT can effectively facilitate the dispersion of TiB whiskers and induce the α/ß lath refinement of the matrix in our as-cast hydrogenated composite. During hot compression, MHT effectively promoted the as-cast composite microstructure refinement, accelerated the dynamic recrystallization (DRX) generation, and reduced the stress concentration at the interface between the reinforcement and matrix; in turn, the hydrogenated composites presented low peak stress during hot compression.

Mucilaginibacter aurantiaciroseus sp. nov. and Mucilaginibacter flavidus sp. nov., isolated from Renlongba glacier on the Tibetan Plateau.

Strains RB4R14T and RT5R15T, two Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped, non-motile bacteria, were isolated from ice and cryoconite of Renlongba glacier, respectively, on the Tibetan Plateau, PR China. The results of phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA genes indicated that strains RB4R14T and RT5R15T belonged to the genus Mucilaginibacter with the highest similarities to Mucilaginibacter rigui WPCB133T (98.78 %) and Mucilaginibacter xinganensis BJC16-A31T (97.64 %), respectively. The genomic DNA G+C contents of strains RB4R14T and RT5R15T were 42.8 and 43.1 mol%, respectively. The digital DNA-DNA hybridization values between strains RB4R14T, RT5R15T and their close relatives were below 31.9 and 17.4 %, respectively. The average nucleotide identity values between the two novel strains and their close relatives were 79.5-82.0 and 77.9-79.3 % respectively, indicating the novelty of the two isolates at a species level. The two novel strains contained MK-7 as the major menaquinone, and summed feature 3 (comprising C16 : 1 ω7c and/or C16 : 1 ω6c), iso-C15 : 0 and iso-C17 : 0-3OH as the major fatty acids. The major polar lipid of the two novel strains were phosphatidylethanolamine. Based on phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic results, we propose two novel species, Mucilaginibacter aurantiaciroseus sp. nov. (RB4R14T=CGMCC 1.11911T=NBRC 114020T) and Mucilaginibacter flavidus sp. nov. (RT5R15T=CGMCC 1.23117T=NBRC 113930T).

Devosia ureilytica sp. nov., isolated from Kuche River in China.

Two novel strains, designated XJ19-45T and XJ19-1, were isolated from water of Kuche River in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China. Their cells were Gram-stain-negative, aerobic and motile rods. The phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA genes and genomes showed that the two isolates belonged to the genus Devosia and the closest relative was Devosia subaequoris HST3-14T. The 16S rRNA genes sequences pairwise similarities, average nucleotide identities, digital DNA-DNA hybridizations and average amino acid identities between type strain XJ19-45T and other relatives were all less than 98.3, 80.3, 23.6 and 85.7 %, respectively, all below the species delineation thresholds. Pan-genomic analysis indicated that the novel isolate XJ19-45T shared 1594 core gene clusters with the 11 closely related type strains in Devosia, and the number of strain-specific clusters was 390. The major cellular fatty acids (>10 %) of the two isolates were summed feature 8, C18 : 1 ω7c 11-methyl and C16 : 0. Diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and glycolipids were the major polar lipids, and Q10 was the detected respiratory quinone. Based on the results of phenotypic, physiological, chemotaxonomic and genotypic characterizations, we propose that the isolates represent a novel species, for which the name Devosia ureilytica sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is XJ19-45T (=CGMCC 1.19388T=KCTC 92263T).

Arthrobacter cheniae and Arthrobacter frigidicola sp. nov., isolated from a glacier.

Two Gram-stain-positive, aerobic, rod-shaped, pink and light pink colony-forming bacteria, designated as Hz2T and MDT2-14T, respectively, were isolated from glacier cryoconite samples. Comparisons based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strains Hz2T and MDT2-14T take Arthrobacter bussei KR32T and Arthrobacter zhaoguopingii J391T as their closest neighbours, respectively. The average nucleotide identity values between the two novel strains and their closest relatives were 83.56 and 93.06 %, respectively. The two strains contain MK-9(H2) as their predominant menaquinone. The polar lipids of both strains were phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol and an unidentified glycolipid. The major fatty acids of strain Hz2T were anteiso-C15 : 0, summed feature 3 (comprising C16 : 1 ω7c and/or C16 : 1 ω6c) and iso-C15 : 0, while the major fatty acids of strain MDT2-14T were anteiso-C15 : 0 and anteiso-C17 : 0. Based on these data, we propose two novel species, Arthrobacter cheniae sp. nov. (Hz2T = CGMCC 1.9262T=NBRC 113086T) and Arthrobacter frigidicola sp. nov. (MDT2-14T=CGMCC 1.9882T=NBRC 113089T).

Aliidiomarina indica sp. nov., isolated from deep seawater.

A Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped bacterial strain, designated SW123T, was isolated from a deep-sea water sample collected from the Indian Ocean. Strain SW123T was strictly aerobic, catalase- and oxidase-positive. The predominant cellular fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 and summed feature 9 (comprising C16 : 0-methyl or iso-C17 : 1 ω9c). Ubiquinone-8 was the sole respiratory quinone. The major polar lipids consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol. The genomic DNA G+C content was 49.4 mol%. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain SW123T was closely related to Aliidiomarina shirensis AIST (96.7 % sequence similarity), Aliidiomarina iranensis GBPy7T (96.3%), Aliidiomarina haloalkalitolerans AK5T (96.0%) and Aliidiomarina celeris F3105T (95.9%). Phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain SW123T represented a novel member of the genus Aliidiomarina, forming a distinct cluster with A. celeris F3105T. On the basis of phylogenetic inference and phenotypic characteristics, we propose that strain SW123T represents a novel species of the genus Aliidiomarina, with the name Aliidiomarina indica sp. nov. The type strain is SW123T (=CGMCC1.16169T=KCTC 82234T).

Roseomonas oleicola sp. nov., isolated from an oil production mixture in Yumen Oilfield, and emended description of Roseomonas frigidaquae.

A pink, ovoid-shaped, Gram-stain-negative, strictly aerobic and motile bacterial strain, designated ROY-5-3T, was isolated from an oil production mixture from Yumen Oilfield in PR China. The strain grew at 4-42 °C (optimum, 30 °C), at pH 5-10 (optimum, 7) and with 0-5 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 0%). The results of phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that ROY-5-3T belongs to the genus Roseomonas and shared the highest pairwise similarities with Roseomonas frigidaquae CW67T (98.1%), Roseomonas selenitidurans BU-1T (97.8%), Roseomonas tokyonensis K-20T (97.7%) and Roseomonas stagni HS-69T (97.3%). The average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values between ROY-5-3T and other related type strains of Roseomonas species were less than 84.08 and 28.60 %, respectively, both below the species delineation threshold. Pan-genomic analysis showed that the novel isolate ROY-5-3T shared 3265 core gene families with the four closely related type strains in Roseomonas, and the number of strain-specific gene families was 513. The major fatty acids were identified as summed feature 8 (C18 : 1 ω6c/C18 : 1 ω7c), summed feature 3 (C16 : 1 ω6c/C16 : 1 ω7c) and C16 : 0. Strain ROY-5-3T contained Q-10 as the main ubiquinone and the genomic DNA G+C content was 69.8 mol%. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol. Based on the phylogenetic, morphological, physiological, chemotaxonomic and genome analyses, strain ROY-5-3T represents a novel species of the genus Roseomonas for which the name Roseomonas oleicola sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is ROY-5-3T (=CGMCC 1.13459T =KCTC 82484T).

Pararhodonellum marinum gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from deep-sea sediment.

A Gram-stain-negative, non-motile bacterial strain, designated SW124T, was isolated from a deep-sea sediment sample collected from the Indian Ocean. SW124T was aerobic and catalase-positive. The strain grew at 4-40 °C (optimum, 30 °C), at pH 5.0-8.6 (optimum, pH 7.0) and in the presence of 0.5-9.5 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 3.0%). The results of comparative analyses of the 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that SW124T was grouped in the vicinity of the genus Rhodonellum in the family Cyclobacteriaceae. The quinone system contained menaquinone MK-7. The predominant cellular fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH and summed feature 3 (comprising C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c). SW124T contained phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) as the major polar lipid. The genomic DNA G+C content of SW124T was 41.7 mol%. On the basis of its phenotypic characteristics and phylogenetic data, we propose that strain SW124T (=CGMCC 1.16171T=KCTC 82235T) represents a novel species of a novel genus, with the name Pararhodonellum marinum gen. nov., sp. nov.

Aurantimonas marina sp. nov., isolated from deep-sea sediment.

A novel bacterial strain, designated SW136T, was isolated from a deep-sea sediment sample collected from the South China Sea. Cells were Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, catalase-positive and oxidase-positive. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain SW136T represented a novel member of the genus Aurantimonas, forming a distinct cluster with 'Aurantimonas litoralis', Aurantimonas coralicida and Aurantimonas manganoxydans (98.2, 98.1 and 97.9% sequence similarity, respectively). The predominant cellular fatty acid of strain SW136T was C18 : 1 ω7c. Strain SW136T contained ubiquinone-10 as the dominant respiratory quinone, and diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol as the major polar lipids. The genomic DNA G+C content was 64.3 mol%. The average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values of strain SW136T with A. coralicida CGMCC 1.12222T and A. manganoxydans CGMCC 1.12225T were 78.8 and 78.6 % and 21.5 and 25.5 %, respectively. On the basis of phylogenetic inference and phenotypic characteristics, we propose that strain SW136T represents a novel species of the genus Aurantimonas, with the name Aurantimonas marina sp. nov. The type strain is SW136T (=CGMCC 1.17725T=KCTC 82366T).

Glacieibacterium frigidum gen. nov., sp. nov., a novel member of the family Sphingosinicellaceae isolated from a glacier.

A novel Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped, yellow bacterium, designated as LB1R16T, was isolated from the Laigu glacier on the Tibetan Plateau, PR China. Strain LB1R16T was catalase-positive, oxidase-negative and grew at 0-28 °C, pH 6.0-8.0 and in the absence of NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain LB1R16T belongs to the family Sphingosinicellaceae but formed an independent lineage. The highest level of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities were found to Polymorphobacter arshaanensis DJ1R-1T (95.24 %), Sphingoaurantiacus capsulatus YLT33T (94.78 %) and Sandarakinorhabdus limnophila DSM 17366T (94.67 %). The genomic DNA G+C content was 68.8 mol%. The main cellular fatty acids were summed feature 8 (C18 : 1 ω7c/C18 : 1 ω6c), summed feature 3 (C16 : 1 ω7c/C16 : 1 ω6c), C16 : 0 and C12 : 0-OH. The respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-10. The polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, one sphingoglycolipid, one unidentified aminolipid, one unidentified phospholipid and two unidentified polar lipids, which were different from the type strains of Polymorphobacter arshaanensis, Sphingoaurantiacus capsulatus and Sandarakinorhabdus limnophila. Based on a polyphasic approach, a novel species of a new genus, Glacieibacterium frigidum gen. nov., sp. nov., within the family Sphingosinicellaceae is proposed. The type strain is LB1R16T (=CGMCC 1.11941T=NBRC 113873T).

Flavobacterium franklandianum sp. nov. and Flavobacterium gawalongense sp. nov., isolated from glaciers on the Tibetan Plateau.

The genus Flavobacterium (family Flavobacteriaceae) can be found in diverse environments. In this study, seven novel strains were isolated from glaciers in PR China and subjected to taxonomic research. Phylogenetic analyses based on the 16S rRNA gene revealed that the strains belonged to the genus Flavobacterium. None of the seven strains grew at temperatures above 22 °C, indicating that they are psychrophilic. Furthermore, the average nucleotide identity (ANI) values of the seven strains were calculated and indicated that they represented two novel species in Flavobacterium. Strain LB3P56T was most closely related to Flavobacterium soyangense IMCC26223T (97.70 %) and strain GSP16T was most closely related to Flavobacterium sinopsychrotolerans 0533T (98.03 %). The ANI values between the two Flavobacterium strains and their closest relatives were less than 83.47 %, which was much lower than the threshold for species delineation of 95-96 %. Therefore, we propose two novel species, Flavobacterium franklandianum sp. nov. (LB3P56T=CGMCC 1.11934T=NBRC 113651T) and Flavobacterium gawalongense sp. nov. (GSP16T=CGMCC 1.24642T=NBRC 113664T).

Inflammation Pharmacological Reaction and YMDD Mutational Patterns in Lamivudine Therapeutics Hepatitis B Virus.

Background/Aims: Emergence of tyrosine-methionine-aspartate-aspartate (YMDD) motif in reverse transcriptase is a serious problem in chronic hepatitis B(CHB) patients after Lamivudine (LAM) therapy. However, the relationship between inflammation pharmacological reaction and YMDD mutational patterns of CHB has not been well-characterized. The aim of this study was to investigate the inflammation pharmacological reaction and different YMDD mutants patterns of CHB patients. Methods: We investigated the inflammation pharmacological reaction and YMDD mutational patterns through biochemical, serological and virological detection among 83 CHB patients, including 25 YMDD mutants, 25 under detection, and 33 control patients without YMDD mutants. Results: Prevalence of YMDD mutation patterns is different. Among 25 YMDD mutants patients, YIDD was the dominant mutation (72%), followed YVDD (16%) and the hybrid YIDD + YVDD (12%). The time course during the YMDD mutations was also different. 52.4% patients developed the mutation less than 12 months after the LAM therapy. Serum hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA level in patients with YMDD mutants were significantly higher than that in control and negative groups. Serum HbsAg and HbeAg in patients with YMDD mutants were also higher than those in control and negative groups, despite no significant difference was found forserum HbeAb. ALT and AST levels were also significantly higher in mutants group. Conclusions: Illuminating inflammation pharmacological reaction and YMDD mutational patterns of CHB during pathological process may have implications for future therapy in YMDD mutation patients. This may have impact on the choice of treatment strategies for lamivudine-resistant HBV.

Undibacterium crateris sp. nov., isolated from water of crater lake.

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, flagellated, non-spore-forming, rod-shaped bacterium, named B2R-29T, was isolated from water collected from a crater lake on Da Hinggan mountain, PR China. Strain B2R-29T was oxidase- and catalase-positive. On the basis of the results of 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses, strain B2R-29T clearly belonged to the family Oxalobacteraceae, class Betaproteobacteria and showed the highest similarity to Undibacterium oligocarboniphilum EM1T (97.4 %) and to the other species of Undibacterium (less than 96.8 %). In the phylogenetic tree, strain B2R-29T formed a clade with U. oligocarboniphilum EM1T and Undibacterium squillarum CMJ-9T, indicating that is a member of the genus Undibacterium. Digital DNA-DNA hybridization and average nucleotide identity analyses were performed and the values between strain B2R-29T and its closely related Undibacterium species were less than 75.1 % and 16.9 %, respectively. The chemotaxonomic data of B2R-29T were as follows: major uniquinone, Q-8; predominant polar lipids, phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylglycerol; major fatty acids, C16 : 0 and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1 ω7c / C16 : 1 ω6c); predominant polyamines, putrescine, 2-hydroxyputrescine and spermidine. The DNA G+C content was 51.7 mol% from the genomic sequencing data. In accordance with the phenotypic, physiological and chemotaxonomic properties mentioned above, strain B2R-29T represents a novel species of the genus Undibacterium for which the name Undibacterium crateris sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is B2R-29T (=CGMCC 1.13792T=KCTC 72018T).

MIL-1, a novel antitumor agent derived from natural product millepachine, acts as tubulin polymerization inhibitor for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Natural products are a large source of clinically effective antitumor drugs. Millepachine, a natural product derived from leguminous plants, was reported to display antitumor activity. In this study, the novel compound, (1H-indol-5-yl) (5-methoxy-2,2-dimethyl-2H-chromen-8-yl)methanone (MIL-1), was designed and synthesized by fusing millepachine and indole rings. MIL-1 exerted much better antitumor activity than millepachine, manifesting as a 24- to 201-fold increase in vitro cytotoxicity and a 2.4-fold increase in in vivo antitumor activity in hepatocellular cell lines-derived models. The immunofluorescence and HPLC detection revealed that MIL-1 was a potent microtubule targeting agent by interfering with the equilibrium of tubulin-microtubule dynamics and irreversibly binding to tubulin. MIL-1 displayed remarkable antitumor activity with an IC50 of 31-207 nM towards various human cancer cell lines derived from various organs and tissues, and it exerted no evidence of toxicity against normal cells. Mechanistic studies showed that MIL-1 arrested the cell cycle at G2/M phase and induced apoptosis by activating caspase-3 activity and reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation. Moreover, the superior antitumor effect of MIL-1 is worthy of further detailed study for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Azospirillum oleiclasticum sp. nov, a nitrogen-fixing and heavy oil degrading bacterium isolated from an oil production mixture of Yumen Oilfield.

Two nitrogen-fixing and heavy oil degrading strains, designated RWY-5-1-1T and ROY-1-1-2, were isolated from an oil production mixture from Yumen Oilfield in China. The 16S rRNA gene sequence showed they belong to Azospirillum and have less than 96.1 % pairwise similarity with each species in this genus. The average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values between them and other type strains of Azospirillum species were less than 75.69 % and 22.0 %, respectively, both below the species delineation threshold. Pan-genomic analysis showed that the novel isolate RWY-5-1-1T shared 2145 core gene families with other type strains in Azospirillum, and the number of strain-specific gene families was 1623, almost two times more than the number known from other species. Furthermore, genes related to nitrogenase, hydrocarbon degradation and biosurfactant production were found in the isolates' genomes. Also, this strain was capable of reducing acetylene to ethylene at a rate of 22nmol ethylene h-1 (108 cells) and degrading heavy oil at a rate of 36.2 %. The major fatty acids and polar lipids were summed feature 8 (C18:1ω7c/C18:1ω6c), and phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, and phosphatidylcholine. Furthermore, a combination of phenotypic, chemotaxonomic, phylogenetic and genotypic data clearly indicated that strains RWY-5-1-1T and ROY-1-1-2 represent a novel species, for which the name Azospirillum oleiclasticum sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is RWY-5-1-1T (=CGMCC 1.13426T =KCTC 72259 T). Azospirillum novel strains with the ability of heavy oil degradation associated with the promotion of plant growth has never been reported to date.