Atomoxetine: toxicological aspects of a new treatment for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Brazil.

Atomoxetine is a drug widely used for the treatment of the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with reduced risk of adverse motor reactions and chemical dependence. However, the pharmacokinetics characteristics as well as the toxicological risk of atomoxetine deserves further investigation to comprehensively analyze the therapeutic and safety aspects of this drug. This study aimed to predict the physicochemical profile and medicinal chemistry characteristics of atomoxetine, alongside its pharmacokinetic properties-namely absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion-as well as its toxicology (ADMET) potential through the utilization of web-based in silico tools. This research emphasizes predicted physicochemical, medicinal chemistry, and absorption parameters of atomoxetine that could influence the efficacy and safety of this drug for ADHD treatment. Additionally, atomoxetine also presents noteworthy predicted risks of hepatotoxicity, cardiotoxicity, neurotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, respiratory system toxicity, skin toxicity, and carcinogenicity. These findings underscore the necessity for further assessments of atomoxetine's safety profile, particularly considering different patient populations and durations of drug treatment. The data reported here from in silico predictions suggest that closer monitoring is warranted when atomoxetine is administered to patients with ADHD. Moreover, controlled studies detailing reliable protocols for personalized dosing, considering the multifactorial variability in metabolism efficiency and toxicological potential, would enable a more comprehensive assessment of atomoxetine's safety profile.

Chitosan-Coated Polymeric Silver and Gold Nanoparticles: Biosynthesis, Characterization and Potential Antibacterial Applications: A Review.

Biosynthesized metal nanoparticles, especially silver and gold nanoparticles, and their conjugates with biopolymers have immense potential in various fields of science due to their enormous applications, including biomedical applications. Polymeric nanoparticles are particles of small sizes from 1 nm to 1000 nm. Among different polymeric nanoparticles, chitosan-coated silver and gold nanoparticles have gained significant interest from researchers due to their various biomedical applications, such as anti-cancer, antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, anti-inflammatory technologies, as well as targeted drug delivery, etc. Multidrug-resistant pathogenic bacteria have become a serious threat to public health day by day. Novel, effective, and safe antibacterial agents are required to control these multidrug-resistant pathogenic microorganisms. Chitosan-coated silver and gold nanoparticles could be effective and safe agents for controlling these pathogens. It is proven that both chitosan and silver or gold nanoparticles have strong antibacterial activity. By the conjugation of biopolymer chitosan with silver or gold nanoparticles, the stability and antibacterial efficacy against multidrug-resistant pathogenic bacteria will be increased significantly, as well as their toxicity in humans being decreased. In recent years, chitosan-coated silver and gold nanoparticles have been increasingly investigated due to their potential applications in nanomedicine. This review discusses the biologically facile, rapid, and ecofriendly synthesis of chitosan-coated silver and gold nanoparticles; their characterization; and potential antibacterial applications against multidrug-resistant pathogenic bacteria.

Biophysical and pharmacokinetic characterization of a small-molecule inhibitor of RUNX1/ETO tetramerization with anti-leukemic effects.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a malignant disease of immature myeloid cells and the most prevalent acute leukemia among adults. The oncogenic homo-tetrameric fusion protein RUNX1/ETO results from the chromosomal translocation t(8;21) and is found in AML patients. The nervy homology region 2 (NHR2) domain of ETO mediates tetramerization; this oligomerization is essential for oncogenic activity. Previously, we identified the first-in-class small-molecule inhibitor of NHR2 tetramer formation, 7.44, which was shown to specifically interfere with NHR2, restore gene expression down-regulated by RUNX1/ETO, inhibit the proliferation of RUNX1/ETO-depending SKNO-1 cells, and reduce the RUNX1/ETO-related tumor growth in a mouse model. However, no biophysical and structural characterization of 7.44 binding to the NHR2 domain has been reported. Likewise, the compound has not been characterized as to physicochemical, pharmacokinetic, and toxicological properties. Here, we characterize the interaction between the NHR2 domain of RUNX1/ETO and 7.44 by biophysical assays and show that 7.44 interferes with NHR2 tetramer stability and leads to an increase in the dimer population of NHR2. The affinity of 7.44 with respect to binding to NHR2 is Klig = 3.75 ± 1.22 µM. By NMR spectroscopy combined with molecular dynamics simulations, we show that 7.44 binds with both heteroaromatic moieties to NHR2 and interacts with or leads to conformational changes in the N-termini of the NHR2 tetramer. Finally, we demonstrate that 7.44 has favorable physicochemical, pharmacokinetic, and toxicological properties. Together with biochemical, cellular, and in vivo assessments, the results reveal 7.44 as a lead for further optimization towards targeted therapy of t(8;21) AML.

Whole genome mapping and identification of single nucleotide polymorphisms of four Bangladeshi individuals and their functional significance.

OBJECTIVE: The major objective of the study was to sequence the whole genome of four Bangladeshi individuals and identify variants that are known to be associated with functional changes or disease states. We also carried out an ontology analysis to identify the functions and pathways most likely to be affected by these variants. RESULTS: We identified around 900,000 common variants and close to 5 million unique ones in all four of the individuals. This included over 11,500 variants that caused nonsynonymous changes in proteins. Heart function associated pathways were heavily implicated by the ontology analysis; corroborating previous studies that claimed the Bangladeshi population as highly susceptible to heart disorders. Two variants were found that have been previously identified as pathogenic factors in familial hypercholesteremia and structural disorders of the heart. Other pathogenic variants we found were associated with pseudoxanthoma elasticum, cancer progression, polyagglutinable erythrocyte syndrome, preeclampsia, and others.

Flavobacterium agri sp. nov., a novel bacterial species isolated from rhizospheric soil of Coriandrum sativum.

A Gram-stain-negative, strictly aerobic, cream yellow colored, non-motile, rod-shaped bacterial strain, designated MAH-1T was isolated from rhizospheric soil of Coriandrum sativum. A polyphasic taxonomic study was performed on the isolated strain. Optimal growth occurred at 28-30 °C, pH 6.5 and 0% NaCl. The strain showed activity for both catalase and oxidase tests. Cell growth occurs on R2A agar, nutrient agar and Luria-Bertani agar. Cells were able to hydrolyze starch, aesculin, gelatin, and Tween 20. Alignment of 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain MAH-1T was associated with the genus Flavobacterium and was most closely related to Flavobacterium longum YIT 12745T (94.5% sequence similarity) and Flavobacterium caeni LM5T (93.0%). Strain MAH-1T had a genome size of 3,975,600 bp. Genome contained 67 contigs encoded by 3,522 protein-coding genes with 38 tRNA and 6 rRNA genes. The genomic DNA G + C contents of strain MAH-1T was 47.1 mol %. The genomic ANI and dDDH values between strain MAH-1T and one of the close relatives F. caeni LM5T were 72.2 and 18.8%, respectively. The major fatty acids were C15:0 iso, C16:0 iso and C15:0 anteiso. The predominant respiratory quinone was menaquinone 6 (MK-6). Based on physiological, biochemical and phylogenetic data for this isolate, it was confirmed that strain MAH-1T was affiliated to the genus Flavobacterium and represented a novel species, for which the name Flavobacterium agri sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is MAH-1T (= KACC 19300T = CGMCC 1.16617T).

Mucilaginibacter formosus sp. nov., a bacterium isolated from road-side soil.

A Gram-stain negative, aerobic, non-motile and rod-shaped novel bacterial strain, designated as MAH-5T, was isolated from a road-side soil sample and was characterised by using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. The colonies were observed to be yellowish orange in colour, smooth, circular and 0.3-0.7 mm in diameter when grown on nutrient agar for 2 days. Strain MAH-5T was found to be able to grow at 15-35 °C and at pH 4.0-8.0. The strain was observed to be positive for both the catalase and oxidase tests. Cells were found to be able to hydrolyse aesculin, gelatin and starch. By 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons, the isolate was identified as a member of the genus Mucilaginibacter and to be closely related to Mucilaginibacter panaciglaebae BXN5-31T (98.35%), Mucilaginibacter soyangensis HME6664T (97.82%), Mucilaginibacter antarcticus S14-88T (97.49%) and Mucilaginibacter ximonensis XM-003T (97.06%). In DNA-DNA hybridization tests, the DNA relatedness values between strain MAH-5T and its close phylogenetic neighbors were below 45.0%. The genomic DNA G + C content of strain MAH-5T was determined to be 41.5 mol% and the predominant isoprenoid quinine was identified as MK-7. The major fatty acids were identified as C15:0 iso and summed feature 3 (comprising C16:1ω7c and/or C16:1ω6c). The genetic characteristics, in combination with chemotaxonomic and physiological data, demonstrated that the isolated strain MAH-5T represents a novel species within the genus Mucilaginibacter, for which the name Mucilaginibacter formosus sp. nov. is proposed, with MAH-5T as the type strain (= KACC 19291T = CGMCC1.16489T).

Biological Synthesis of Ginsenoside Rd Using Paenibacillus horti sp. nov. Isolated from Vegetable Garden.

A Gram-stain positive, aerobic, motile, rod-shaped, and ginsenoside Rd producing novel bacterial strain, designated as MAH-16T, was isolated from soil sample of a vegetable garden and was characterized by using a polyphasic approach. The colonies were beige color, smooth, circular, and 0.3-0.7 mm in diameter when grown on tryptone soya agar for 3 days. Strain MAH-16T can grow at 20-40 °C temperature, at pH 5.0-7.0 and at 0-1% NaCl. Cell growth occurs on nutrient agar, R2A agar, tryptone soya agar, and Luria-Bertani agar but not on MacConkey agar. The strain was positive for both catalase and oxidase test. The novel strain rapidly synthesized ginsenoside Rd from major ginsenoside Rb1. According to the 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons, the isolate was identified as a member of the genus Paenibacillus and was most closely related to Paenibacillus barengoltzii SAFN-016T (97.1%), Paenibacillus faecis 656.84T (96.7%), and Paenibacillus konsidensis LBYT (96.2%). In DNA-DNA hybridization tests, the DNA relatedness between strain MAH-16T and its closest phylogenetic neighbor was below 45.0%. The genomic DNA G + C content of isolated strain was determined to be 52.0 mol% and the predominant isoprenoid quinine was menaquinone-7 (MK-7). The major fatty acids were identified as anteiso-C15:0. The genetic characteristics in combination with chemotaxonomic and physiological data demonstrated that strain MAH-16T represented a novel species within the genus Paenibacillus, for which the name Paenibacillus horti sp. nov. is proposed, with MAH-16T as the type strain (=KACC 19299T = CGMCC1.16487T).

Sphingobium tyrosinilyticum sp. nov., a tyrosine hydrolyzing bacterium isolated from Korean radish garden.

A yellow-pigmented novel bacterial strain, MAH-12T, was isolated from a soil sample of Korean radish garden and was characterized using a polyphasic approach. Cells were Gram-staining negative, non-motile and rod-shaped. The strain was aerobic, catalase positive, optimum growth temperature and pH were 28-30 °C and 6.0, respectively. The novel strain is able to hydrolyze L-tyrosine, starch, esculin and 4-nitrophenyl-ß-D-galactopyranoside. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain MAH-12T belongs to the genus Sphingobium and is most closely related to several Sphingobium type strains (97.2-97.8%). In DNA-DNA hybridization tests, the DNA relatedness between strain MAH-12T and its closest phylogenetic neighbors was below 45.0%. The DNA G + C content was 64.0 mol% and the predominant respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-10. The major cellular fatty acids were summed feature 8 (C18:1 ω7c and/or C18:1 ω6c) and C16:0. The DNA-DNA hybridization results and results of the genotypic analysis in combination with chemotaxonomic and physiological data demonstrated that strain MAH-12T represented a novel species within the genus Sphingobium, for which the name Sphingobium tyrosinilyticum is proposed. The type strain is MAH-12T (= KACC 19297T = CGMCC 1.16225T). The NCBI GenBank accession number for the 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain MAH-12T is KY964278 and the digital protologue database taxon number of strain MAH-12T is TA00463.

Luteibacter pinisoli sp. nov., a casein degrading bacterium isolated from rhizospheric soil of Pinus koraiensis.

A yellow pigmented, Gram-staining negative, motile and rod-shaped novel bacterial strain, designated MAH-14T was isolated from rhizospheric soil and was characterized using a polyphasic approach. The isolated strain was aerobic, oxidase and catalase were positive, optimum growth temperature and pH were 28-30 °C and 6.5, respectively. The novel strain is able to hydrolyze casein, starch, esculin, gelatin, L-tyrosine, DNA, tween 80, tween 20, L-arginine and 4-nitrophenyl-BD-galactopyranoside. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain MAH-14T belongs to the genus Luteibacter and is most closely related to Luteibacter yeojuensis R2A16-10T (98.5%), Luteibacter anthropi CCUG 25036T (98.4%) and Luteibacter rhizovicinus LJ96T (98.3%). In DNA-DNA hybridization experiments, the DNA relatedness between strain MAH-14T and its closest phylogenetic neighbor was below 45.0%. The predominant respiratory quinone and the DNA G + C content of the novel strain were ubiquinone-8 and 63.5 mol%, respectively. The novel strain MAH-14T is able to produce flexirubin-type pigments. The major cellular fatty acids were C15:0 iso, summed feature 3 (C16:1 ω7c and/or C16:1 ω6c) and summed feature 9 (C17:1 iso ω9c and/or C16:0 10-methyl). The DNA-DNA hybridization results and results of the genotypic analysis in combination with chemotaxonomic and physiological data revealed that strain MAH-14T represented a novel species within the genus Luteibacter, for which the name Luteibacter pinisoli, is proposed. The type strain is MAH-14T (= KACC 19298T = CGMCC 1.16227T).

Flavobacterium chungangensis sp. nov., a Bacterium Isolated from Soil of Chinese Cabbage Garden.

A novel bacterial strain MAH-10T was isolated from soil sample of a Chinese cabbage garden, Republic of Korea and was characterized using a polyphasic approach. Cells were Gram-staining negative, rod-shaped, yellowish orange colored, and motile. The strain was aerobic, catalase and oxidase are positive, and optimum growth temperature and pH were 28 °C and 6.5, respectively. Flexirubin-type pigments were found to be present. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain MAH-10T belongs to the genus Flavobacterium and is most closely related to Flavobacterium tyrosinilyticum KCTC 42726T (98.7%). On the basis of phylogenetic tree, other closely related species are Flavobacterium banpakuense KACC 14225T (98.3%) and Flavobacterium chungbukense KACC 15048T (97.6%). In DNA-DNA hybridization tests, the DNA relatedness between strain MAH-10T and its closest phylogenetic neighbor was below 45.0%. The DNA G+C content was 37.2 mol% and the predominant respiratory quinone was menaquinone-6. The major cellular fatty acids were C15:0 iso, C16:0, and summed feature 3 (C16:1ω7c and/or C16:1ω6c). On the basis of DNA-DNA hybridization results and genotypic, chemotaxonomic, and physiological data analysis, it is demonstrated that strain MAH-10T represented a novel species within the genus Flavobacterium, for which the name Flavobacterium chungangensis is proposed. The type strain is MAH-10T (=KACC 19296T=CGMCC 1.16226T). The NCBI GenBank accession number for the 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain MAH-10T is KY964277 and the digital protologue database (DPD) Taxon Number of strain MAH-10T is TA00296.

Lysobacter humi sp. nov., a bacterium isolated from rice field.

A novel bacterial strain THG-PC4T was isolated from soil sample of rice field and was characterized by using a polyphasic approach. Cells were Gram-negative, bright yellow colored, nonmotile and rod shaped. The strain was aerobic and catalase positive, optimum growth temperature, and pH were 28 °C and 7, respectively. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain THG-PC4T belongs to the genus Lysobacter and is most closely related to Lysobacter fragariae KCTC 42236T, followed by Lysobacter oryzae KCTC 22249T, Lysobacter tyrosinelyticus KCTC 42235T, Lysobacter terrae KACC 17646T, Lysobacter yangpyeongensis KACC 11407T, Lysobacter rhizosphaerae KCTC 42237T and Lysobacter niabensis KACC 11587T. In DNA-DNA hybridization tests, the DNA relatedness between strain THG-PC4T and its closest phylogenetic neighbors was below 45 %. The DNA G + C content was 66.6 mol %, and the predominant respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-8. Flexirubin-type pigments were found to be present. The major cellular fatty acids were iso-C16:0, iso-C17:1 ω9c, iso-C17:0 and iso-C11:0 3OH. The predominant polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol. The DNA-DNA hybridization, genotypic, chemotaxonomic and physiological data demonstrated that strain THG-PC4T represented a novel species within the genus Lysobacter, for which the name Lysobcater humi is proposed. The type strain is THG-PC4T (=KACC 18284T = CCTCC AB 2015292T).

Microbacterium horti sp. nov., a bacterium isolated from Cucurbita maxima cultivating soil.

A novel bacterial strain THG-SL1(T) was isolated from a soil sample of Cucurbita maxima garden and was characterized by using a polyphasic approach. Cells were Gram-reaction-positive, non-motile and rod-shaped. The strain was aerobic, catalase positive and weakly positive for oxidase. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis but it shared highest similarity with Microbacterium ginsengisoli KCTC 19189(T) (96.6 %), indicating that strain THG-SL1(T) belongs to the genus Microbacterium. The DNA G + C content of the isolate was 68.9 mol %. The major fatty acids were anteiso-C15: 0 (39.7 %), anteiso-C17: 0 (24.4 %) and iso-C16: 0 (18.5 %). The major polar lipids of strain THG-SL1(T) were phosphatidylglycerol (PG) and an unidentified glycolipid (GL). The predominant respiratory isoprenoid quinones were menaquinone-11 and menaquinone-12. The diamino acid in the cell-wall peptidoglycan was ornithine. Based on the results of polyphasic characterization, strain THG-SL1(T) represented a novel species within the genus Microbacterium, for which the name Microbacterium horti sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is THG-SL1(T) (=KACC 18286(T)=CCTCC AB 2015117(T)).

Pseudoxanthomonas humi sp. nov., a bacterium isolated from rhizospheric soil of Fraxinus chinensis in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea.

A novel bacterial strain THG-MM13(T) was isolated from rhizospheric soil sample and was characterized by using a polyphasic approach. Cells were Gram-reaction-negative, non-motile and rod-shaped. The strain was aerobic, catalase and oxidase positive, and optimum growth temperature and pH were 28 °C and 7.0, respectively. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain THG-MM13(T) (KM598260) belongs to the genus Pseudoxanthomonas and is most closely related to Pseudoxanthomonas wuyuanensis KCTC 23877(T) (97.4 %) (JN247803), followed by Pseudoxanthomonas koreensis KCTC 12208(T) (96.7 %) (AY550263) and Pseudoxanthomonas yeongjuensis KACC 11580(T) (96.7 %) (DQ438977). The DNA G + C content was 63.7 mol%, and the predominant respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-8. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine. The major fatty acids were iso-C15:0 (31.3 %) and iso-C16:0 (19.3 %). The DNA-DNA relatedness value between strain THG-MM13(T) and P. wuyuanensis KCTC 23877(T) was below 50 %. The DNA-DNA hybridization result and results of the genotypic analysis in combination with chemotaxonomic and physiological data demonstrated that strain THG-MM13(T) represented a novel species within the genus Pseudoxanthomonas, for which the name Pseudoxanthomonas humi is proposed. The type strain is THG-MM13(T) (=KACC 18280(T) = CCTCC AB 2015122(T)).

Sphingosinicella cucumeris sp. nov., isolated from soil of a cucumber garden.

A novel bacterial strain, THG-sc1(T), was isolated from a soil sample of a cucumber garden and was characterised by using a polyphasic approach. Cells were observed to be Gram-stain negative, non-motile and rod-shaped. The strain was found to be aerobic, catalase and oxidase positive, esculin and starch negative, and to have an optimum growth temperature and pH of 28 °C and 7.5, respectively. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain THG-sc1(T) was found to belong to the genus Sphingosinicella and to be closely related to Sphingosinicella vermicomposti KCTC 22446(T), followed by Sphingosinicella xenopeptidilytica DSM 17130(T) and Sphingosinicella microcystinivorans KCTC 12019(T). The DNA G+C content was determined to be 60.8 mol% and the predominant respiratory quinone was identified as ubiquinone-10. The major polyamine was found to be sym-homospermidine. The major polar lipids were identified as sphingoglycolipid, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and an unidentified phospholipid. The major fatty acids were identified as C(18:1)ω7c, C(16:0) and summed feature 3 (C(16:1)ω7c and/or iso-C(15:0) 2-OH, as defined by MIDI). The results of the genotypic analysis, in combination with chemotaxonomic and physiological data, demonstrated that strain THG-sc1(T) represents a novel species within the genus Sphingosinicella, for which the name Sphingosinicella cucumeris is proposed. The type strain is THG-sc1(T) (=KACC 18279(T) = CCTCC AB 2015120(T)).

Lysobacter novalis sp. nov., isolated from fallow farmland soil.

A novel bacterial strain, designated THG-PC7(T), was isolated from fallow farmland soil in Yongin, South Korea. Cells of strain THG-PC7(T) were Gram-stain-negative, dark yellow, aerobic, rod-shaped and had gliding motility. Strain THG-PC7(T) grew optimally at 25-35 °C, at pH 7 and in the absence of NaCl. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis identified strain THG-PC7(T) as belonging to the genus Lysobacter, exhibiting highest sequence similarity with Lysobacter ximonensis KCTC 22336(T) (98.7%) followed by Lysobacter niastensis KACC 11588(T) (95.7%). In DNA-DNA hybridization tests, DNA relatedness between strain THG-PC7(T) and its closest phylogenetic neighbour L. ximonensis was below 25%. The DNA G+C content of the novel isolate was determined to be 62.5 mol%. Flexirubin-type pigments were found to be present. The major cellular fatty acids were determined to be iso-C15 : 0, iso-C16 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 0 and iso-C17 : 1ω9c. The major respiratory quinone was identified as ubiquonone-8 (Q8). The predominant polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and an unidentified aminophospolipid. On the basis of results from DNA-DNA hybridization and the polyphasic data, strain THG-PC7(T) represents a novel species of the genus Lysobacter, for which the name Lysobacter novalis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is THG-PC7(T)( = KACC 18276(T) = CCTCC AB 2014319(T)).

Chryseobacterium formosus sp. nov., a bacterium isolated from an ancient tree trunk.

A Gram-reaction-negative, non-motile and rod-shaped bacterium, designated as THG-DN3.6(T), was isolated from an ancient tree trunk from Republic of Korea. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain THG-DN3.6(T) was shown to belong to the genus Chryseobacterium and the highest similarity to Chryseobacterium indoltheticum LMG 4025(T) (97.2%) and the closest phylogenetic relatives were Chryseobacterium scophthalmum (96.8%), Chryseobacterium piscium (96.7%) and Chryseobacterium balustinum KCTC 2903(T) (96.3%). The DNA G + C content of the isolate was 33.2 mol%. The predominant isoprenoid quinone was menaquinone-6. The major fatty acids were iso-C15:0, summed feature 3 (C16:1 ω7c and/or C16:1 ω7t and/or iso-C15:0 2-OH), iso-C17:1 ω9c and iso-C17:0 3-OH. The major polar lipids of strain THG-DN3.6(T) were phosphatidylethanolamine. The mean DNA-DNA relatedness of strain THG-DN3.6(T) to C. indoltheticum LMG 4025(T) was 52 ± 0.5%. Based on the results of polyphasic characterization, strain THG-DN3.6(T) represented a novel species within the genus Chryseobacterium, for which the name Chryseobacterium formosus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is THG-DN3.6(T) (=KCTC 42606 = CCTCC AB 2015118). The NCBI GenBank accession number for the 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain THG-DN3.6(T) is KM035938.

Lysobacter agri sp. nov., a bacterium isolated from soil.

A bacterial strain, designated as THG-SKA3(T), was isolated from field soil of Kyung Hee University, South Korea. Cells of the isolate were observed to be Gram-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped and motile by gliding. The strain was found to grow optimally at 28 °C, at pH 7 and in absence of NaCl. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons, strain THG-SKA3(T) shared highest sequence similarity with Lysobacter niastensis KACC 11588(T) followed by Lysobacter panacisoli KACC 17502(T), Lysobacter enzymogenes LMG 8762(T) and Lysobacter oryzae KCTC 22249(T). The G+C content of THG-SKA3(T) was determined to be 68.9 mol%. The DNA-DNA relatedness values between strain THG-SKA3(T) and its closest phylogenetic neighbors were below 25.0 %.The major polar lipids of strain THG-SKA3(T) were determined to be diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine. The predominant respiratory quinone was identified as ubiquinone 8 (Q-8). The major cellular fatty acids were identified as branched chain iso-C15:0, iso-C16:0 and unsaturated iso-C17:1 ω9c. On the basis of polyphasic data presented, it is evident that strain THG-SKA3(T) represents a novel species of the genus Lysobacter, for which the name Lysobacter agri sp. nov. (type strain THG-SKA3(T) = KACC 18283(T) = CSCTCC AB 2015126(T)) is proposed.

Taibaiella yonginensis sp. nov., a bacterium isolated from soil of Yongin city.

A novel bacterial strain, designated as THG-SC4(T), was isolated from a soil sample collected from Yongin city in South Korea. Cells of the strain were Gram-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped and non-motile. The strain grew optimally at 28-30 °C; at pH 7.0 and in the absence of NaCl. Flexirubin-type pigments were found to be present. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, strain THG-SC4(T) was shown to belong to the genus Taibaiella and shares high sequence similarity with Taibaiella smilacinae KCTC 32316(T) (95.4 %), followed by Taibaiella koreensis KACC 17171(T) (94.3 %) and Taibaiella chishuiensis JCM 19637(T) (94.2 %). The DNA G+C content of the novel isolate was determined to be 43.1 mol% and MK-7 was identified as the predominant isoprenoid quinone. The only polyamine was homospermidine. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, an unidentified aminophospholipid and an unidentified polar lipid. The predominant fatty acids were identified as iso-C15:0, iso-C15:1 G, C16:0 and iso-C17:03-OH. On the basis of data from this polyphasic taxonomic study, strain THG-SC4(T) is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Taibaiella, for which the name Taibaiella yonginensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is THG-SC4(T) (=KACC 18372(T) = CCTCC AB 2014316(T)).

Piper betle extracts exhibit antitumor activity by augmenting antioxidant potential.

The present study was conducted to evaluate the methanolic extract of Piper betle leaves (MPBL) and its organic fractions with regard to antitumor activity against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) in Swiss albino mice and to confirm their antioxidant activities. At 24 h post-intraperitoneal inoculation of tumor cells into mice, extracts were administered at 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg body weight for nine consecutive days. The antitumor effects of the extracts were then assessed according to tumor volume, packed cell count, viable and non-viable tumor cell count, median survival time and increase in life span of EAC-bearing mice. Next, hematological profiles and serum biochemical parameters were calculated, and antioxidant properties were assessed by estimating lipid peroxidation, reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) levels. MPBL and the ethylacetate fraction (EPBL) at a dose of 100 mg/kg induced a significant decrease in tumor volume, packed cell volume and viable cell count and increased the life span of the EAC-bearing mice (P<0.05). Hematological and serum biochemical profiles were restored to normal levels in the extract-treated mice compared with the EAC control mice. MPBL and EPBL treatment significantly decreased lipid peroxidation (P<0.05) and restored GSH, SOD and CAT levels towards normal compared with the EAC control. Taken together, the results of the present study demonstrated that Piper betle extracts exhibit significant antitumor activity, which may be attributed to the augmentation of endogenous antioxidant potential.