Tepidibacillus marianensis sp. nov., a novel heterotrophic iron-reducing bacterium isolated from Mariana Trench sediment.

A novel chemoheterotrophic iron-reducing micro-organism, designated as strain LSZ-M11000T, was isolated from sediment of the Marianas Trench. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene revealed that strain LSZ-M11000T belonged to genus Tepidibacillus, with 97 % identity to that of Tepidibacillus fermentans STGHT, a mesophilic bacterium isolated from the Severo-Stavropolskoye underground gas storage facility in Russia. The polar lipid profile of strain LSZ-M11000T consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, as well as other unidentified phospholipids and lipids. The major fatty acids were C16 : 0 (28.4 %), C18 : 0 (15.8 %), iso-C15 : 0 (12.9 %), and anteiso-C15 : 0 (12.0 %). Strain LSZ-M11000T had no menaquinone. Genome sequencing revealed that the genome size of strain LSZ-M11000T was 2.97 Mb and the DNA G+C content was 37.9 mol%. The average nucleotide identity values between strain LSZ-M11000T and its close phylogenetic relatives, Tepidibacillus fermentans STGHT and Tepidibacillus decaturensis Z9T, were 76.4 and 72.6 %, respectively. The corresponding DNA-DNA hybridization estimates were 20.9 and 23.4 %, respectively. Cells of strain LSZ-M11000T were rod-shaped (1.0-1.5×0.3-0.5 µm). Using pyruvate as an electron donor, it was capable of reducing KMnO4, MnO2, As(V), NaNO3, NaNO2, Na2SO4, Na2S2O3, and K2Cr2O7. Based on phenotypic, genotypic, and phylogenetic evidence, strain LSZ-M11000T is proposed to be a novel strain of the genus Tepidibacillus, for which the name Tepdibacillus marianensis is proposed. The type strain is LSZ-M11000T (=CCAM 1008T=JCM 39431T).

Hanstruepera crassostreae He et al. 2018 is a later heterotypic synonym of Pseudobizionia ponticola Park et al. 2018.

Hanstruepera crassostreae L53T was compared with Pseudobizionia ponticola MM-14T to examine the taxonomic relationship between the two type strains. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of H. crassostreae L53T had complete similarity (100.0%) to that of P. ponticola MM-14T. The results of phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the two strains formed a tight cluster within the genus Pseudobizionia. Draft genomic comparison between the two strains revealed an average nucleotide identity of 96.9 % and a digital DNA-DNA hybridization estimate of 75.3±2.8 %, strongly indicating that the two strains represented a single species. In addition, neither strain displayed any striking difference in metabolic, physiological or chemotaxonomic features. Therefore, we propose that Hanstruepera crassostreae is a later heterotypic synonym of Pseudobizionia ponticola.

Nonomuraea nitratireducens Qu et al. 2020 is a later heterotypic synonym of Nonomuraea phyllanthi Klykleung et al. 2020.

Nonomuraea nitratireducens WYY166T was compared with Nonomuraea phyllanthi PA1-10T to examine the taxonomic relationship between the two type strains. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of N. nitratireducens WYY166T had high similarity (99.9 %) to that of N. phyllanthi PA1-10T. The results of phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the two strains formed a tight cluster within the genus Nonomuraea. Draft genomic comparison between the two strains revealed an average nucleotide identity of 99.3 % and a digital DNA-DNA hybridization estimate of 94.4±1.8 %, strongly indicating that the two strains represented a single species. In addition, neither strain displayed any striking difference in metabolic, physiological or chemotaxonomic features. Therefore, we propose Nonomuraea nitratireducens as a later heterotypic synonym of Nonomuraea phyllanthi.

Metabacillus sediminilitoris sp. nov., a marine bacterium isolated from a tidal sediment.

A Gram-stain-positive, endospore-forming, motile and rod-shaped bacterium, designated as strain DSL-17T, was isolated from a tidal sediment of the East China Sea and characterized phylogenetically and phenotypically. The strain could grow at 16-47 °C (optimum 37 °C), at pH 6.0-10.0 (optimum 6.0) and with 1-7% (w/v) NaCl (optimum 3 %). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain DSL-17T was related to members of the genus Metabacillus and shared the highest similarity with Metabacillus litoralis SW-211T (98.6 %), followed by Metabacillus halosaccharovorans E33T (97.9 %), Metabacillus crassostreae JSM 100118T (97.7 %), Metabacillus niabensis 4T19T (97.7 %) and Metabacillus malikii NCCP-662T (97.5 %). 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities between strain DSL-17T and other members of the genus Metabacillus were below 96.6 %. The sole respiratory quinone was MK-7. Strain DSL-17T had a cell-wall peptidoglycan based on meso-diaminopimelic acid. The polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG), phosphatidylglycerol (PG), three unidentified glycolipids and six unidentified lipids. The strain had iso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C14 : 0, C16 : 0 and iso-C16 : 0 as major fatty acids. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 35.7 mol%. The combined genotypic and phenotypic data indicated that strain DSL-17T represents a novel species of the genus Metabacillus, for which the name Metabacillus sediminilitoris sp. nov. is proposed The type strain is DSL-17T (=MCCC 1K03777T=DSM 109843T).

Muricauda hadalis sp. nov., a novel piezophile isolated from hadopelagic water of the Mariana Trench and reclassification of Muricauda antarctica as a later heterotypic synonym of Muricauda teanensis.

A novel marine Gram-stain-negative, non-motile, aerobic and rod-shaped bacterium, designated as strain MT-229T, was isolated from the deep seawater in the Mariana Trench and characterized phylogenetically and phenotypically. Bacterial optimal growth occurred at 30 °C (ranging 10-40 °C), pH 6 (ranging 3-11) and with 11 % (w/v) NaCl (ranging 0-17 %). Strain MT-229T was a piezophile, growing optimally at 20 MPa (range 0.1-70 MPa). The nearest phylogenetic neighbours were Muricauda antarctica CGMCC 1.2174T and Muricauda taeanensis JCM 17757T with 16S rRNA gene similarity of 98.7 %. The sole respiratory quinone was menaquinone-6 (MK-6). The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), two unidentified aminolipids (AL) and ten unidentified lipids. The major fatty acids of strain MT-229T were iso-C15 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH and iso-C15 : 1 G. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 45.6 mol%. The combined genotypic and phenotypic data indicated that strain MT-229T represents a novel species of the genus Muricauda, for which the name Muricauda hadalis sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain MT-229T (=DSM 109894T=MCCC 1K04201T). In addition, the whole-genome-based comparisons revealed that the type strains of Muricauda antarctica and Muricauda teanensis belong to a single species. It is, therefore, proposed that M. antarctica be recognized as a heterotypic synonym of M. teanensis.

Confluentibacter sediminis sp. nov., isolated from the junction between the ocean and a freshwater lake and emended description of the genus Confluentibacter.

A novel marine Gram-stain-negative, non-motile, aerobic and rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain DSL-48T, was isolated from tidal flat sediment sampled from the East China Sea and characterized phylogenetically and phenotypically. Bacterial optimal growth occurred at 35 °C (range, 4-37 °C), pH 6 (pH 5-10) and with 4 % (w/v) NaCl (0-7 %). The nearest phylogenetic neighbour was Confluentibacter citreus KCTC 52638T with 16S rRNA gene similarity of 97.1 %. The predominant respiratory quinone was menaquinone-6 (MK-6). The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, three unidentified aminolipids and four unidentified lipids. The major fatty acids of strain DSL-48T were iso-C15 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH, anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 0 3-OH and iso-C16 : 0 3-OH. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 33.3 mol%. The combined genotypic and phenotypic data indicated that strain DSL-48T represents a novel species of the genus Confluentibacter, for which the name Confluentibacter sediminis sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain DSL-48T (=KCTC 62648T=MCCC 1K03537T).

Marinomonas shanghaiensis sp. nov., isolated from the junction between an ocean and a freshwater lake.

A Gram-stain-negative, motile with single polar flagellum, rod-shaped bacterium, designated as strain DSL-35T, was isolated from the location where the ocean and Dishui lake meet at Shanghai on the East China Sea and characterized phylogenetically and phenotypically. Optimal growth occurred at 35 °C (range, 4-40 °C), pH 8 pH 5-11) and with 3-4 % (w/v) NaCl (0-12 %). Phylogenetic analysis based on its 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that strain DSL-35T was related to members of the genus Marinomonas and shared the highest sequence identities with Marinomonasarctica 328T (98.0 %), Marinomonashwangdonensis HDW-15T (97.5 %) and Marinomonasrhizomae IVIA-Po-145T (97.2 %). The 16S rRNA gene sequence identities between strain DSL-35T and other members of the genus Marinomonas were below 96.8 %. The digital DNA-DNA hybridization values between strain DSL-35T and the three type strains, Marinomonas. arctica 328T, M. rhizomae HDW-15T and M. rhizomae IVIA-Po-145T, were 30.9±2.4 %, 21.7±2.2% and 22±2.3 %, respectively. The average nucleotide identity values between strain DSL-35T and the three type strains were 87.6 %, 84.6 and 84.2 %, respectively. The predominant ubiquinone was Q-8. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol. The predominant cellular fatty acids of strain DSL-35T were summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c; 40.0 %), C16 : 0 (22.5 %), summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c; 11.2 %), summed feature 2 (C14 : 0 3-OH and/or iso I C16 : 1; 7.2 %), C14 : 0 (6.8 %) and C12 : 0 (5.2 %). The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 44.5 mol%. The combined genotypic and phenotypic data indicated that strain DSL-35T represents a novel species of the genus Marinomonas, for which the name Marinomonas shanghaiensis sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain DSL-35T (=KCTC 62646T=MCCC 1K03535T).

Comparison of Two Donor Liver Procurement Methods for Treatment of Pediatric Acute Liver Failure.

Background: To evaluate the difference and efficacy of two donor liver procurement methods for treatment of pediatric acute liver failure (PALF) by living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). Methods: A total of 17 patients (12 men, 5 women) with PALF who underwent LDLT in our hospital between October 2016 and October 2020, and prognostic efficacy of donors and recipients using two donor liver procurement methods were analyzed. Results: The donors and recipients were both divided into laparoscopic (7 cases) and open (10 cases) donor liver procurement groups. In the recipients, two deaths occurred in the laparoscopic group and one in the open group, and there were three postoperative complications in the laparoscopic group and six in the open group. The cumulative 1-year and 3-year survival rates in the laparoscopic group and the open group were 80.0% and 85.7% separately. There was no difference in the postoperative survival and complications rates between the two groups. In the donors, the operation time, postoperative hospital stay, and blood loss of the laparoscopic group was significantly reduced compared with the open group (P ≤ 0.01). No death or serious complication occurred in either donor group. Conclusion: Laparoscopic donor liver procurement is worth recommending than open donor liver procurement for treatment of PALF combined with LDLT in qualified transplant centers.

Itaconic acid facilitates inflammation abatement and alleviates liver ischemia-reperfusion injury by inhibiting NF-κB/NLRP3/caspase-1 inflammasome axis.

Background: Ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) severely limits the efficacy and donor source of liver transplantation, and the crucial step in alleviating it is to control inflammation. Itaconic acid is a metabolite produced by intrinsic immune cells (especially macrophages) in the inflammatory state and can promote inflammation subsidence. However, its role in liver ischemia-reperfusion is insufficiently clarified. Methods: A mouse liver ischemia-reperfusion model was constructed, and blood and liver tissue samples were collected by sequential euthanasia of mice at pre-set time points. Liver function and inflammatory factor concentrations were measured, and HE staining was conducted. In the hypoxia-reoxygenation model, proteins were collected at pre-set time points, and the expression of NF-κB pathway-associated protein and its downstream inflammation-associated protein NLRP3 and caspase-1 were detected by Western blot, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence. The level of P-P65 in the nucleus was detected by immunofluorescence. Results: In the liver ischemia-reperfusion model, liver function and inflammatory factors were dynamically varied with reperfusion time in mice, and itaconic acid significantly modified liver function and inflammatory status during this process. NF-κB pathway activity was dynamically varied during hypoxia-reoxygenation, and itaconic acid significantly inhibited the activity of the pathway and significantly suppressed the expression of its downstream inflammation-related proteins. Conclusions: Itaconic acid inhibits NF-κB pathway activation and reduces the accumulation of P-P65 in the nucleus. In turn, this reduces NLRP3 and caspase-1 expression of downstream inflammation-related proteins, promotes inflammation regression, and attenuates liver IRI.

Comparison of Corticosteroid and Vincristine in Treating Kaposiform Hemangioendothelioma and Tufted Angioma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the outcome and safety of corticosteroids and vincristine (VCR) in the treatment of kaposiform hemangioendothelioma (KHE) and tufted angioma (TA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clinical studies involving corticosteroids and VCR therapies in treating KHE/TA were identified by using PubMed, Cochrane Library, OVID, EBSCO, CNKI, VIP, and Wanfang databases from their establishment date to December 2017. Randomized controlled trials, case-control, or case series with more than five cases were included. The following data were extracted: study sample, demographics, responses rate, recurrence rate, and adverse reactions. Two reviewers completed screening and extraction. Methodological quality was evaluated with quality appraisal tool. RESULTS: A total of 266 studies were found, and 27 studies were finally included in this research; quality of all studies was low. Seven studies with a total of 123 participants, which compared the effect of systemic corticosteroids with that of VCR, were performed for the meta-analysis. The results indicated that the effect of VCR was significantly higher than that of corticosteroids (relative risk [RR] = 2.08, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.38-3.16). The recurrence rate of VCR (11.1%) was lower than that of corticosteroids (50%), but there was no statistical difference between the two therapies (p = 0.1312). The result of pooled adverse reactions response rate for VCR was 18.2%, significantly lower than that for corticosteroids, which was 52.0%. CONCLUSION: The present profile shows that VCR is relatively more effective and safer in treating KHE/TA than corticosteroids are. So, we believe VCR could be used as a first-line medication agent in the treatment of KHE/TA.

Cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 gene polymorphisms and biliary atresia susceptibility in Chinese children.

Biliary atresia (BA) is a devastating liver disease of complex pathogenesis in neonates, characterized by an inflammatory and fibrosing obstruction of extrahepatic bile ducts. Cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA4) is expressed on the surface of a subset of regulatory T cells (Treg) and down regulates the human immune response. To investigate the possible association between CTLA4 gene polymorphisms and BA susceptibility, we conducted a case-control study in the Chinese children. Three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the CLTA4 gene (rs231725, rs231775 and rs3087243) were genotyped in 113 BA patients and 133 healthy controls. The statistical analysis revealed no significant difference between BA patients and healthy controls in allele or genotype frequencies (rs231725, P = 0.2718, OR = 0.814, 95% CI = 0.564-1.175; rs231775, P = 0.1599, OR = 1.316, 95% CI = 0.897-1.931; rs3087243, P = 0.0572, OR = 1.582, 95% CI = 0.984-2.543), neither in the distribution of haplotypes of these CTLA4 gene SNPs. The result of our study is the first one to provide the evidence that there is no significant association between CLTA4 gene polymorphisms and BA susceptibility in Chinese children.