A Multiple Targeting Nanoprobe for Identifying Cancer Metastatic Sites Based on Detection of Various mRNAs in Circulating Tumor Cells.

Identification of cancer metastatic sites is of importance for adjusting therapeutic interventions and treatment choice. However, identifying the location of metastatic lesions with easy accessibility and high safety is challenging. Here we demonstrate that cancer metastatic sites can be accurately detected by a triple targeting nanoprobe. Through coencapsulating molecular beacons probing a cancer biomarker (CXCR4 mRNA), a lung metastatic biomarker (CTSC mRNA), and a bone metastatic biomarker (JAG1 mRNA), the nanoprobe decorated by SYL3C conjugated hyaluronic acid and ICAM-1 specific aptamer conjugated hyaluronic acid can target diverse phenotyped circulating tumor cells (CTCs) during epithelial-mesenchymal and mesenchymal-epithelial transitions in whole blood for sensitive probing. The detection of CTCs from cancer patients shows that the nanoprobe can provide accurate information to distinguish different cancer metastasis statuses including nonmetastasis, lung metastasis, and bone metastasis. This study proposes an efficient screening tool for identifying the location of distant metastatic lesions via facile blood biopsy.

Spartinivicinus marinus sp. nov., isolated from intertidal sediment.

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, flagellated, and long rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain SM1973T, was isolated from an intertidal sediment sample collected from the coast of Qingdao, PR China. Strain SM1973T grew at 15-37 °C and with 0-5.5 % NaCl. It reduced nitrate to nitrite and hydrolysed aesculin but did not hydrolyse casein and gelatin. The strain showed the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity (98.2 %) to the type strain of Spartinivicinus ruber. The phylogenetic trees based on the 16S rRNA genes and single-copy orthologous clusters showed that strain SM1973T clustered with S. ruber, forming a separate lineage within the family Zooshikellaceae. The major cellular fatty acids were summed feature 3 (C16 : 1 ω7с and/or C16 : 1 ω6с) and C16 : 0. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and diphosphatidylglycerol. The main respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-9. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain SM1973T was 40.4 mol%. Based on the polyphasic evidence presented in this paper, strain SM1973T is considered to represent a novel species within the genus Spartinivicinus, for which the name Spartinivicinus marinus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is SM1973T (=MCCC 1K04833T=KCTC 72846T).

[Osteoporosis Screening Values of Osteoporosis Self-Assessment Tool for Asians Index and Body Mass Index in Middle-Aged and Elderly Tibetan Population in Tibet].

Objective: To analyze the screening value of osteoporosis self-screening tool for Asia (OSTA) and body mass index (BMI) for osteoporosis (OP) in middle-aged and elderly Tibetan population in the Tibetan region. Methods: Data on demographic information, bone mineral density (BMD), and other information of 627 middle-aged and elderly people were collected. Analysis of the correlation between OSTA index, BMI and BMD, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was performed to evaluate the OP screening effects. Results: OSTA index and BMI were correlated with BMD in both female and male populations ( P<0.05). In both male and female populations, OSTA index screening results for OP yielded higher area under the curve ( AUC) than BMI did, with the AUC for female OSTA index being 0.886 and that for female BMI being 0.785, while that for male OSTA index being 0.957 and that for male BMI being 0.834. When comparing the different age groups, the AUC of OSTA index and BMI of the middle-age group was higher than those of the quasi-elderly group and the elderly group, with the AUC of OSTA index and BMI of the middle-age being 0.939 and 0.858, those of the quasi-elderly group being 0.860 and 0.813, and those of the elderly group being 0.750 and 0.650, respectively. When the optimal cut-off value of diagnosis with OSTA index was －2.20, the sensitivity and specificity were both 100%. When the optimal cut-off value for diagnosis with BMI was 17.512 kg/m2, the sensitivity and specificity were both 100%. Conclusion: OSTA index and BMI have different OP screening effects in different middle-aged and elderly Tibetan populations, and OSTA index shows better effects for OP screening than BMI does.

Detection of mRNAs of Ribosomal Protein L15 and E-Cadherin in Living Circulating Tumor Cells at Single Cell Resolution To Study Tumor Heterogeneity.

To study the heterogeneity of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) is of crucial importance to analyze cancer progression and metastasis. However, in situ detection of highly heterogeneous CTCs in peripheral blood still faces an elusive challenge. Here, we show direct detection of two metastasis-related mRNAs of diverse CTCs in whole blood by a triple-targeting nanoprobe. In the nanoprobe, two kinds of molecular beacons, MB1 to detect RPL15 mRNA and MB2 to detect E-cadherin (E-cad) mRNA, are loaded in a highly efficient delivery vector decorated with EpCAM-targeted SYL3C, EGFR-targeted CL4, and CD44-targeted hyaluronic acid chains to specifically deliver MB1/MB2 into epithelial, mesenchymal, and stem CTCs in unprocessed peripheral blood. The numbers of RPL15+ and E-cad+ CTCs are positively correlated with the metastasis stages of cancer patients. This study provides an effective strategy to realize direct observation on diverse metastasis-related genes in living CTCs with different phenotypes to provide accurate information on cancer heterogeneity and metastasis.

Stratifin promotes renal dysfunction in ischemic and nephrotoxic AKI mouse models via enhancing RIPK3-mediated necroptosis.

Stratifin (SFN) is a member of the 14-3-3 family of highly conserved soluble acidic proteins, which regulates a variety of cellular activities such as cell cycle, cell growth and development, cell survival and death, and gene transcription. Acute kidney injury (AKI) is prevalent disorder characterized by inflammatory response, oxidative stress, and programmed cell death in renal tubular epithelial cells, but there is still a lack of effective therapeutic target for AKI. In this study, we investigated the role of SFN in AKI and the underlying mechanisms. We established ischemic and nephrotoxic AKI mouse models caused by ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) and cisplatin, respectively. We conducted proteomic and immunohistochemical analyses and found that SFN expression levels were significantly increased in AKI patients, cisplatin- or I/R-induced AKI mice. In cisplatin- or hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R)-treated human proximal tubule epithelial cells (HK2), we showed that knockdown of SFN significantly reduced the expression of kidney injury marker Kim-1, attenuated programmed cell death and inflammatory response. Knockdown of SFN also significantly alleviated the decline of renal function and histological damage in cisplatin-caused AKI mice in vivo. We further revealed that SFN bound to RIPK3, a key signaling modulator in necroptosis, to induce necroptosis and the subsequent inflammation in cisplatin- or H/R-treated HK2 cells. Overexpression of SFN increased Kim-1 protein levels in cisplatin-treated MTEC cells, which was suppressed by RIPK3 knockout. Taken together, our results demonstrate that SFN that enhances cisplatin- or I/R-caused programmed cell death and inflammation via interacting with RIPK3 may serve as a promising therapeutic target for AKI treatment.

Description of Aureibaculum luteum sp. nov. and Aureibaculum flavum sp. nov. isolated from Antarctic intertidal sediments.

Two Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, non-motile, and rod-shaped bacterial strains, designated SM1352T and A20T, were isolated from intertidal sediments collected from King George Island, Antarctic. They shared 99.8% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with each other and had the highest sequence similarity of 98.1% to type strain of Aureibaculum marinum but < 93.4% sequence similarity to those of other known bacterial species. The genomes of strains SM1352T and A20T consisted of 5,108,092 bp and 4,772,071 bp, respectively, with the G + C contents both being 32.0%. They respectively encoded 4360 (including 37 tRNAs and 6 rRNAs) and 4032 (including 36 tRNAs and 5 rRNAs) genes. In the phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA gene and single-copy orthologous clusters (OCs), both strains clustered with Aureibaculum marinum and together formed a separate branch within the family Flavobacteriaceae. The ANI and DDH values between the two strains and Aureibaculum marinum BH-SD17T were all below the thresholds for species delineation. The major cellular fatty acids (> 10%) of the two strains included iso-C15:0, iso-C15:1 G, iso-C17:0 3-OH. Their polar lipids predominantly included phosphatidylethanolamine, one unidentified aminophospholipid, one unidentified aminolipid, and two unidentified lipids. Genomic comparison revealed that both strains possessed much more glycoside hydrolases and sulfatase-rich polysaccharide utilization loci (PULs) than Aureibaculum marinum BH-SD17T. Based on the above polyphasic evidences, strains SM1352T and A20T represent two novel species within the genus Aureibaculum, for which the names Aureibaculum luteum sp. nov. and Aureibaculum flavum sp. nov. are proposed. The type strains are SM1352T (= CCTCC AB 2014243 T = JCM 30335 T) and A20T (= CCTCC AB 2020370 T = KCTC 82503 T), respectively.

Marinifaba aquimaris gen. nov., sp. nov., a novel chitin-degrading gammaproteobacterium in the family Alteromonadaceae isolated from seawater of the Mariana Trench.

A novel Gram-negative, rod-shaped, aerobic, oxidase-positive and catalase-negative bacterium, designated strain SM1970T, was isolated from a seawater sample collected from the Mariana Trench. Strain SM1970T grew at 15-37 oC and with 1-5% (w/v) NaCl. It hydrolyzed colloidal chitin, agar and casein but did not reduce nitrate to nitrite. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain SM1970T formed a distinct lineage close to the genus Catenovulum within the family Alteromonadaceae, sharing the highest sequence similarity (93.6%) with type strain of Catenovulum maritimum but < 93.0% sequence similarity with those of other known species in the class Gammaproteobacteria. The major fatty acids of strain SM1970T were summed feature 3 (C16: 1 ω7c and/or C16: 1 ω6c), C16: 0 and summed feature 8 (C18: 1 ω7c and/or C18: 1 ω6c). The major polar lipids of the strain included phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol and its main respiratory quinone was ubiquinone 8. The draft genome of strain SM1970T consisted of 77 scaffolds and was 4,172,146 bp in length, containing a complete set of genes for chitin degradation. The average amino acid identity (AAI) values between SM1970T and type strains of known Catenovulum species were 56.6-57.1% while the percentage of conserved proteins (POCP) values between them were 28.5-31.5%. The genomic DNA G + C content of strain SM1970T was 40.1 mol%. On the basis of the polyphasic analysis, strain SM1970T is considered to represent a novel species in a novel genus of the family Alteromonadaceae, for which the name Marinifaba aquimaris is proposed with the type strain being SM1970T (= MCCC 1K04323T = KCTC 72844T).

Tritonibacter aquimaris sp. nov. and Tritonibacter litoralis sp. nov., two novel members of the Roseobacter group isolated from coastal seawater.

Two Gram-stain-negative bacterial strains, SM1969T and SM1979T, were isolated from coastal surface seawater of Qingdao, China. They were taxonomically characterized by the phylogenetic, genomic, chemotaxonomic and phenotypic analyses. The two strains shared 97.0% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with each other and the highest similarity (96.8-97.5%) with type strains of six species in the genera Shimia, Tritonibacter and Tropicibacter in the Roseobacter group of the family Rhodobacteraceae. In the phylogenetic tree based on single-copy orthologous clusters (OCs), both strains clustered with known species of the genus Tritonibacter and together formed a separate branch adjacent to Tritonibacter ulvae. Although sharing many chemotaxonomic and phenotypic characteristics, the two strains could be differentiated from each other and closely related species by numerous traits. Particularly, strain SM1969T was found to have a DMSP lyase coding gene dddW in its genome and have the ability to produce DMS from DMSP while strain SM1979T was not. The average nucleotide identity and in silico DNA-DNA hybridization values between strains SM1969T and SM1979T and type strains of closely related species were all below the thresholds to discriminate bacterial species, demonstrating that they constitute two new species in the genus Tritonibacter. The names Tritonibacter aquimaris sp. nov. and Tritonibacter litoralis sp. nov. are proposed for the two new species, with type strains being SM1969T (= MCCC 1K04320T = KCTC 72843T) and SM1979T (= MCCC 1K04321T = KCTC 72842T), respectively.

Individuals at ultra-high risk of psychosis and first-degree relatives of patients with schizophreniaexperience impaired family functionality and social support deficit in comparison to healthy controls.

AIM: The present study was designed to assess the role of family function and social support in the context of different phases of schizophrenia. METHODS: First-episode patients with experiences of schizophrenia (FEP), ultra-high risk for psychosis (UHR), first-degree relatives (FDR) of patients with experiences of schizophrenia, and healthy controls (HC) (40 per group) were subjected to in-person clinical interviews. The results of these interviews were then used to gauge social support and family function using the Perceived Social Support Scale (PSSS) and the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Scales (FACESII-CV). Data were analyzed through ANCOVA, correlation analysis and logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: We found that family function and social support showed a approximately gradual downward trend through the HC, FDR, UHR, and FEP groups but no significant differences were found in the family function of the FDR, UHR and FDR group. Logistic regression analyses indicated that UHR group patients exhibited decreased family support and family cohesion relative to members of the HC group, but had greater perceived social support than did members of the FEP group. Results for members of the FDR group were in line with those of members of the UHR group. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggested that both UHR and FDR individuals experience impaired family functionality and social support which expanded the understanding of the psychological characteristics of the prodromal period of schizophrenia. Further explorations are warranted to develop optimal psychosocial interventions.

Ghrelin Affects Gastric Cancer Progression by Activating AMPK Signaling Pathway.

As the endogenous ligand for the GH secretagogue receptor (GHSR), Ghrelin is aberrant expressed in multiple malignant carcinoma, and involved in regulating a number of progression of cancer, especially in metastasis and proliferation. However, the precise role of Ghrelin in tumorigenesis of gastric cancer (GC) is still poorly understood. In this study, we extensively investigated the roles and mechanisms of Ghrelin in human gastric cancer. Ghrelin levels in cancer tissues and cell lines were analyzed by immunohistochemistry, qRT-PCR, and Western blot. Functional studies were performed after Ghrelin overexpressed or knockdown in AGS cell line. Cell proliferation was evaluated in by MTT and clone formation assays. The wound healing and Transwell system were used to assess the cell migration and invasive ability of GC cells. Cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry, and metabolic assays were performed to reveal the function of Warburg effect in the process. Ghrelin was lowly expressed in gastric cancer tissues and cell lines. Overexpression of Ghrelin inhibited gastric cancer cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and promoted apoptosis by activating the AMPK pathway, while D-[lys3]-GHRP-6 (a GHSR agonist) treatment relieved the effect, promoting tumorigenesis. Ghrelin knockdown increased the glucose uptake and lactic acid release, suggesting that Ghrelin elicited an anti-Warburg effect via AMPK pathway to inhibit gastric tumorigenesis. Ghrelin inhibits cell proliferation, migration, and invasion by eliciting an anti-Warburg effect via AMPK signaling pathway in gastric cancer cells.

Saikosaponin D: review on the antitumour effects, toxicity and pharmacokinetics.

CONTEXT: Bupleuri Radix, the dried root of Bupleurum chinense DC and Bupleurum scorzonerifolium Willd (Apiaceae), is an important medicinal herb widely used to treat cancers for hundreds of years in Asian countries. As the most antitumour component but also the main toxic component in Bupleuri Radix, saikosaponin D (SSD) has attracted extensive attention. However, no summary studies have been reported on the antitumour effects, toxicity and pharmacokinetics of this potential natural anticancer substance. OBJECTIVE: To analyse and summarise the existing findings regarding to the antitumour effects, toxicity and pharmacokinetics of SSD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We collected relevant information published before April 2021 by conducting a search of literature available in various online databases including PubMed, Science Direct, CNKI, Wanfang database and the Chinese Biological Medicine Database. Bupleurum, Bupleuri Radix, saikosaponin, saikosaponin D, tumour, toxicity, and pharmacokinetics were used as the keywords. RESULTS: The antitumour effects of SSD were multi-targeted and can be realised through various mechanisms, including inhibition of proliferation, invasion, metastasis and angiogenesis, as well as induction of cell apoptosis, autophagy, and differentiation. The toxicological effects of SSD mainly included hepatotoxicity, neurotoxicity, haemolysis and cardiotoxicity. Pharmacokinetic studies demonstrated that SSD had the potential to alter the pharmacokinetics of some drugs for its influence on CYPs and P-gp, and the oral bioavailability and actual pharmacodynamic substances in vivo of SSD are still controversial. CONCLUSIONS: SSD is a potentially effective and relatively safe natural antitumour substance, but more research is needed, especially in vivo antitumour effects and pharmacokinetics of the compound.

Facile Strategy To Enhance Specificity and Sensitivity of Molecular Beacons by an Aptamer-Functionalized Delivery Vector.

To enhance the specificity and sensitivity of molecular beacons (MBs) in detecting mRNA in living tumor cells, we introduced an aptamer (AS1411) to the delivery system of MBs to form an aptamer-decorated nanoprobe (ANP), which was prepared through self-assembly between AS1411-conjugated carboxymethyl chitosan (ACMC) with protamine sulfate (PS)/CaCO3/MB cores. Owing to the specific binding of AS1411 to nucleolin, which is overexpressed in tumor cell membranes and nuclei, an AS1411-decorated MB-delivery system leads to dramatically increased cell uptake of MBs for probing survivin mRNA and thus induces strong intracellular fluorescence emission in targeted tumorous cells and cell nuclei. Furthermore, we demonstrate that ANP can efficiently detect survivin mRNA in mitochondria. In other words, the effective delivery of MBs ensures the precise detection of mRNA distribution in diverse organelles. In addition, we evaluated the efficiency of ANP in probing tumor cells in simulated blood as well as in peripheral blood from a healthy donor and found that the nanoprobe can specifically deliver MBs to tumor cells and identify tumor cells in blood. The targeting delivery system we constructed holds promising applications in precise detection of subcellular distribution of mRNA in living tumor cells as well as in fluorescence-guided cancer detection in liquid biopsy technology. This study provides a facile strategy to effectively improve the specificity and sensitivity of conventional molecular beacons.

Antarcticimicrobium sediminis gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from Antarctic intertidal sediment, transfer of Ruegeria lutea to Antarcticimicrobium gen. nov. as Antarcticimicrobium luteum comb. nov.

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, non-flagellated and rod- or ovoid-shaped bacterium, designated as strain S4J41T, was isolated from Antarctic intertidal sediment. The isolate grew at 0-37 °C and with 0.5-10 % (w/v) NaCl. It reduced nitrate to nitrite and hydrolysed Tween 80 and gelatin. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain S4J41T constituted a distinct phylogenetic line within the family Rhodobacteraceae and was closely related with some species in the genera Ruegeria, Phaeobacter, Pseudopuniceibacterium, Sulfitobacter, Puniceibacterium and Poseidonocella with 98.6-95.7 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities. The major cellular fatty acids were C16 : 0, summed feature 8 (C18 : 1 ω7c and/or C18 : 1 ω6c) and C18 : 0 and the major polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and one unidentified aminolipid. The sole respiratory quinone was Q-10. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain S4J41T was 60.3 mol%. Based on the phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic and phenotypic data obtained in this study, strain S4J41T is considered to represent a novel species in a new genus within the family Rhodobacteraceae, for which the name Antarcticimicrobium sediminis gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is S4J41T (=MCCC 1K03508T=KCTC 62793T). Moreover, the transfer of Ruegeria lutea Kim et al. 2019 to Antarcticimicrobium gen. nov. as Antarcticimicrobium luteum comb. nov. (type strain 318-1T=JCM 30927T=KCTC 72105T) is also proposed.

Vibrio algicola sp. nov., isolated from the surface of coralline algae.

A Gram-stain-negative, oxidase- and catalase-positive, facultative anaerobic and rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain SM1977T, was isolated from the surface of coralline algae collected from the intertidal zone at Qingdao, PR China. The strain grew at 10-35 °C, pH 4.5-8.5 and with 1-8.5% (w/v) NaCl. It reduced nitrate to nitrite and hydrolysed Tween 20 and DNA. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain SM1977T was affiliated with the genus Vibrio, having the highest sequence similarity (97.6 %) to the type strain of Vibrio casei, followed by those of another five species (95.6-97.6 %) in the Rumoiensis clade of the genus Vibrio. However, the in silico DNA-DNA hybridization (75.3-75.9 %) and average nucleotide identity (21.6-22.8 %) values of SM1977T against these close relatives were all below the corresponding thresholds to discriminate bacterial species. The major fatty acids were summed feature 3 (C16:1 ω7c and/or C16:1 ω6c), C16:0 and summed feature 8 (C18:1 ω6c and /or C18:1 ω7c). The predominant polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylglycerol. The sole respiratory quinone was Q-8. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain SM1977T, determined from the obtained whole genomic sequence, was 42.3 mol%. On the basis of the polyphasic results obtained in this study, strain SM1977T is considered to represent a novel species within the genus Vibrio, for which the name Vibrio algicola sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is SM1977T (=MCCC 1K04351T=KCTC 72847T).

Fluviibacterium aquatile gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from estuary sediment.

A Gram-negative, aerobic, non-flagellated and ovoid- or rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain SM1902T, was isolated from the sediment sampled at the Jia River estuary, Yantai, PR China. The strain grew at 10-37 °C (optimum, 25-30 °C), pH 6.0-10.0 (pH 7.0) and with 0.5-13.0 % (w/v) NaCl (2.5%). It reduced nitrate to nitrite, but did not produce bacteriochlorophyll a. The results of phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain SM1902T constituted a separated lineage within the family Rhodobacteraceae and was closely related to Meridianimarinicoccus roseus TG-679T and Phycocomes zhengii LMIT002T with 96.1 and 94.3 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities, respectively. The predominant cellular fatty acid was summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c). The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, an unidentified aminolipid and an unidentified lipid. The sole respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-10. The in silico DNA-DNA hybridization values between strain SM1902T and Meridianimarinicoccus roseus TG-679T and Phycocomes zhengii LMIT002T were 19.6 and 19.5 %, respectively; and the average nucleotide identity values between them were 76.1 and 74.2 %, respectively. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain SM1902T was 58.2 mol%. Based on the phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic and phenotypic data obtained in this study, strain SM1902T is considered to represent a novel species in a new genus within the family Rhodobacteraceae, for which the name Fluviibacterium aquatile gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is SM1902T (=KCTC 72045T=MCCC 1K03596T=CCTCC AB 2018346T).

Shewanella polaris sp. nov., a psychrotolerant bacterium isolated from Arctic brown algae.

A Gram-stain-negative, facultatively anaerobic, flagellated and rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain SM1901T, was isolated from a brown algal sample collected from Kings Bay, Svalbard, Arctic. Strain SM1901T grew at -4‒30 °C and with 0-7.0 % (w/v) NaCl. It reduced nitrate to nitrite and hydrolysed DNA and Tween 80. Results of phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain SM1901T was affiliated with the genus Shewanella, showing the highest sequence similarity to the type strain of Shewanella litoralis (97.5%), followed by those of Shewanella vesiculosa, Shewanella livingstonensis and Shewanella saliphila (97.3 % for all three). The major cellular fatty acids were summed feature 3 (C16 : 1 ω7с and/or C16 : 1 ω6с), C16 : 0, C18 : 0, iso-C15 : 0 and C17 : 1 ω8с and the major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol. The respiratory quinones were ubiquinones Q-7, Q-8, menaquinones MK-7(H) and MK-8. The genome of strain SM1901T was 4648537 nucleotides long and encoded a variety of cold adaptation related genes, providing clues for better understanding the ecological adaptation mechanisms of polar bacteria. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain SM1901T was 40.5 mol%. Based on the polyphasic evidence presented in this paper, strain SM1901T was considered to represent a novel species, constituting a novel psychrotolerant lineage out of the known SF clade encompassed by polar Shewanella species, within the genus Shewanella, for which the name Shewanella polaris sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is SM1901T (=KCTC 72047T=MCCC 1K03585T).

Pelagovum pacificum gen. nov., sp. nov., a novel member of the family Rhodobacteraceae isolated from surface seawater of the Mariana Trench.

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, ovoid-rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain SM1903T, was isolated from surface seawater of the Mariana Trench. The strain grew at 15-37 °C (optimum, 35 °C) and with 1-15 % (optimum, 4 %) NaCl. It hydrolysed aesculin but did not reduce nitrate to nitrite and hydrolyse Tween 80. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain SM1903T formed a separate lineage within the family Rhodobacteraceae, sharing the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with type strains of Pseudooceanicola antarcticus (95.7 %) and Roseisalinus antarcticus (95.7 %). In phylogenetic trees based on single-copy OCs and whole proteins sequences, strain SM1903T fell within a sub-cluster encompassed by Oceanicola granulosus, Roseisalinus antarcticus and Histidinibacterium lentulum and formed a branch adjacent to Oceanicola granulosus. The major cellular fatty acids were summed feature 8 (C18 : 1 ω7c and/or C18 : 1 ω6c), C16 : 0 and 11-methyl-C18 : 1 ω7c. The polar lipids mainly comprised phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, one unidentified lipid, one unidentified aminolipid, and one unidentified glycolipid. The solo respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-10. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain SM1903T was 66.0 mol%. Based on the results of phenotypic, chemotaxonomic, and phylogenetic characterization for strain SM1903T, it is considered to represent a novel species of a novel genus in the family Rhodobacteraceae, for which the name Pelagovum pacificum gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is SM1903T (=MCCC 1K03608T=KCTC 72046T).

Pedobacter indicus sp. nov., isolated from deep-sea sediment.

A Gram-stain negative, aerobic, non-flagellated, rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain SM1810T, was isolated from deep-sea sediment collected from the Southwest Indian Ocean. Strain SM1810T grows at 15-40 °C (optimum, 28 °C), at pH 5.0-9.0 (optimum, pH 6.0-7.0) and with 0-8% (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 1.5%). Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain SM1810T is affiliated with the genus Pedobacter, sharing high sequence similarity (95.8%) with the type strain of Pedobacter bauzanensis. The major fatty acids of strain SM1810T are iso-C15:0, summed feature 3 (C16:1ω7c and/or C16:1ω6c) and iso-C17:0 3OH. The predominant respiratory quinone is MK-7. The polar lipids are phosphatidylethanolamine, an unidentified aminophospholipid, an unidentified phospholipid and eight unidentified lipids. The genomic DNA G + C content of strain SM1810T was determined to be 40.8 mol%. Based on the phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic and phenotypic data obtained in this study, strain SM1810T is concluded to represent a novel species of the genus Pedobacter, for which the name Pedobacter indicus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is SM1810T (KCTC 62798T = CCTCC AB 2018198T).

Targeting Delivery of Oligodeoxynucleotides to Macrophages by Mannosylated Cationic Albumin for Immune Stimulation in Cancer Treatment.

To efficiently deliver CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) to macrophages for the reversal of cancer-induced immunosuppression, nanoparticles ODN@MCBSA with mannosylated cationic albumin (MCBSA) as a macrophage targeting vector were constructed. Compared with ODN@CBSA with cationic albumin (CBSA) as a vector, ODN@MCBSA exhibited significantly improved cellular uptake mediated by mannose moieties, resulting in significantly enhanced secretion of proflammatory cytokines including IL-12, IL-6, TNF-α, and iNOS. The modulation of macrophages toward the favorable M1 phenotype was confirmed by the upregulated CD80 expression after being treated by ODN delivery systems. In addition to immune cells, the effects of the ODN delivery system on cancerous HeLa cells were also investigated. The results showed that ODN@MCBSA did not affect the overall tumor cell viability. However, enhanced NF-κB, p-Akt, PIK3R3, Fas, and FasL, as well as upregulated caspases were observed in tumor cells, implying the pleiotropic effects on tumor cells. Our study provides a more in-depth understanding on the immunotherapeutic effects of CpG ODNs and highlights the importance of macrophage targeting delivery to minimize the effects on tumor cells. These results indicate that MCBSA could serve as a promising delivery vector of CpG ODNs to macrophages for cancer immunotherapy.

Marinomonas algicola sp. nov. and Marinomonas colpomeniae sp. nov., isolated from marine macroalgae.

Two Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped bacteria, polar flagellated, designated strains SM2066T and SM1966T, were respectively isolated from the surfaces of Colpomenia sinuosa and Ulva pertusa macroalgae collected off the coastal areas of Rongcheng, PR China. Strain SM2066T grew at 8-37 °C and with 0.5-7.0 % (w/v) NaCl, while strain SM1966T grew at 5-30 °C and with 0.5-8.5% (w/v) NaCl. Both of them reduced nitrate to nitrite and required Na+ for growth but neither of them hydrolysed starch and DNA. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene and single-copy orthologous cluster sequences revealed that both strains SM2066T and SM1966T were affiliated with the genus Marinomonas but formed distinct phylogenetic branches from known Marinomonas species, respectively sharing the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities with type strains of Marinomonas ushuaiensis (97.9 %) and Marinomonas blandensis (96.7 %). The digital DNA-DNA hybridization and average nucleotide identity values between strains SM2066T and SM1966T and type strains of closely related Marinomonas species were all below 22.9 and 79.9 mol%, respectively. The major fatty acids of the two strains were summed feature 3 (C16 : 1 ω6c/C16 : 1 ω7c), summed feature 8 (C18 : 1 ω7c) and C16 : 0, with their predominant polar lipids being phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol, and their sole respiratory quinone being Q-8. The genomic DNA G+C contents of strains SM2066T and SM1966T determined from genomic sequences were 40.3 and 41.6 mol%, respectively. On the basis of the polyphasic evidence presented in this study, strains SM2066T and SM1966T are considered to represent two novel species within the genus Marinomonas, for which the names Marinomonas colpomeniae sp. nov. and Marinomonas algicola sp. nov. are proposed. The type strains are SM2066T (=MCCC 1K04390T= KCTC 82372T) and SM1966T (=MCCC 1K04387T= KCTC 72848T), respectively.