Effect of glucocorticoid for patients with type A aortic dissection undergoing surgical repair with deep hypothermic circulatory arrest: A single-center, retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative patients with Type A aortic dissection (TAAD) often experience severe inflammatory responses caused by multiple factors perioperatively. However, the effect of postoperative glucocorticoid (GC) use, which is a potent anti-inflammatory agent, on complications or all-cause mortality is unclear. METHODS: Patients with TAAD who underwent surgical repair requiring deep hypothermic circulatory arrest between January 2020 and December 2021 were included in the study. Characteristics of patients treated with and without GCs were compared. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality, and a composite secondary outcome was defined as in-hospital death or any major complications. Propensity score matching was used to balance baseline differences between groups. Kaplan-Meier curves were used to compare survival probability. RESULTS: A total of 393 postoperative patients with TAAD were included in the study. Forty of them (10.2%) received GC treatment at a median daily methylprednisolone-equivalent dose of 0.6 mg/kg (0.4-0.7) for a median period of 2 (1-3) days. Patients on GCs had more intraoperative blood transfusions, higher postoperative APACHE II (12 vs 9, p = .004) and SOFA (9 vs 6, p < .001) scores, worse perioperative hepatic, renal and cardiac function. The in-hospital mortality in the matched cohort did not differ between groups [GC n = 11/40 (27.5%) versus Non-GC n = 19/80 (23.8%); p = .661]. CONCLUSIONS: The propensity to use GCs correlated with the critical status of the patient. However, low dose and short-term postoperative GC treatment did not reduce in-hospital mortality rates among patients with TAAD. A more appropriate regimen should be further investigated.

Mesobacterium pallidum gen. nov., sp. nov., Heliomarina baculiformis gen. nov., sp. nov. and Oricola indica sp. nov., three novel Alphaproteobacteria members isolated from deep-sea water in the southwest Indian ridge.

Three Gram-staining-negative, aerobic and rod-shaped strains, designated as T40-1T, T40-3T and JL-62T, were isolated from the deep-sea water in the southwest Indian ridge. For strain T40-1T, growth occurred at 15-37 °C (optimum, 28 °C), pH 6.0-9.0 (optimum, pH 7.5) and in the presence of 0.5-5.0 % NaCl (w/v; optimum, 2.0 %). Strain T40-3T could grow at 15-40 °C (optimum, 28 °C), with 0.5-11.0 % NaCl (optimum, 2.0 %, w/v) at pH 6.0-9.5 (optimum, 8.0). The temperature, pH and salinity ranges for growth of strain JL-62T were 15-40 °C (optimum, 30 °C), pH 5.5-9.0 (optimum, pH 7.5-8.0) and 0.5-9.0 % NaCl (w/v; optimum, 4.0 %). Ubiquinone-10 was the sole ubiquinone in all strains, the major fatty acids (>20 %) were summed feature 8 (C18 : 1 ω7c / C18 : 1 ω6c). The major polar lipids of strains T40-1T and T40-3T were phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and diphosphatidylglycerol. Strain JL-62T contained phosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerol as major polar lipids. Phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA gene and core-genomic sequences revealed affiliation of strains T40-1Tand T40-3T to the family Roseobacteraceae and formed two independent clades from other Roseobacteraceae genera, and those two strains had average nucleotide identities of 62.0-72.0 % to their phylogenetically related species which fell into to the genus boundary range, indicating that they represent two novel genera. While strain JL-62T represents a novel species in the genus Oricola belonging to the family Phyllobacteriaceae, which was supported by overall genomic relatedness index calculations. The DNA G+C contents of strains T40-1T, T40-3T and JL-62T were 66.5, 60.1 and 62.1 mol %, respectively. Based on the polyphasic taxonomic data, strains T40-1T (=MCCC M24557T=KCTC 82975T) and T40-3T (=MCCC 1K05135T=KCTC 82976T) are classified as representing two novel genera belonging to the family Roseobacteraceae with the names Mesobacterium pallidum gen. nov., sp. nov. and Heliomarina baculiformis gen. nov., sp. nov. are proposed, and strain JL-62T (=MCCC M24579T=KCTC 82974T) is proposed to represent a novel species within the genus Oricola with the name Oricola indica sp. nov. is proposed.

Physiological and genomic features of Henriciella with the description of Henriciella mobilis sp. nov.

Strains M65T, M69 and JN25 were isolated from seawater of the West Pacific Ocean. Cells of the three strains were Gram-stain-negative, aerobic and rod-shaped. Cells were motile by means of flagella. On the basis of the results of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strains M65T, M69 and JN25 showed the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to Henriciella algicola MCS27T (98.8 %), followed by Henriciella marina DSM 19595T (98.4 %), Henriciella barbarensis MCS23T (98.4 %), Henriciella pelagia LA220T (98.3 %), Henriciella aquimarina P38T (98.1 %) and Henriciella litoralis SD10T (97.8 %). The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities among the isolates were 100 %. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that the isolates fell within a cluster comprising the Henriciella species and represented an independent lineage. The average nucleotide identity and in silico DNA-DNA hybridization values between strain M65T and the type strains of Henriciella species were 73.9-85.8 % and 19.9-22.4 %, respectively. The sole respiratory quinone detected in the three isolates was ubiquinone 10. The principal fatty acids were summed feature 8 (C18 : 1 ω7c and/or C18 : 1 ω6c) and C16 : 0. The major polar lipids were glucuronopyranosyldiglyceride, monoglycosyldiglyceride and one unidentified glycolipid. The DNA G+C content was 61.3-61.4 mol%. Phylogenetic distinctiveness, chemotaxonomic differences, together with phenotypic properties, revealed that the isolates could be differentiated from the Henriciella species with validly published names. Therefore, it is proposed that strains M65T, M69 and JN25 represent a novel species of the genus Henriciella, for which the name Henriciella mobilis sp. nov. (type strain, M65T=CGMCC 1.15927T=KCTC 52576T) is proposed.

Alteromonas alba sp. nov., a marine bacterium isolated from seawater of the West Pacific Ocean.

A Gram-stain-negative, strictly aerobic, motile by one polar flagellum, non-spore-forming, rod-shaped bacterium, designated as 190T, was isolated from seawater of the West Pacific Ocean and subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic investigation. Colonies were 1.0-2.0 mm in diameter, smooth, circular, convex and white after growth on marine agar at 30 °C for 24 h. Strain 190T was found to grow at 4-40 °C (optimum, 30 °C), at pH 5.5-10.5 (optimum, pH 6.5) and with 0.5-12.5 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 2.0 %). Chemotaxonomic analysis showed the sole respiratory quinone was ubiquinone 8 (Q-8), and the major fatty acids were summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or iso-C15 : 0 2-OH), C16 : 0 and summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω6c and/or C18 : 1ω7c). The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylglycerol (PG), one unidentified aminolipid (AL1) and two unidentified glycolipids (GL1, GL2). The DNA G+C content of strain 190T was 48.7 mol% based on the genome sequence. The comparison of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities showed that strain 190T was closely related to Alteromonas oceani S35T (99.6 % sequence similarity), A. lipolytica JW12T (98.2 %), A. aestuariivivens JDTF-113T (97.7 %) and A. mediterranea DET (97.5 %); it exhibited 97.0 % or less sequence similarity with the type strains of other species with validly published names. Phylogenetic trees reconstructed with the neighbour-joining, maximum-parsimony and maximum-likelihood methods based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain 190T constituted a separate branch with A. oceani, A. confluentis, A. aestuariivivens and A. lipolytica in a clade of the genus Alteromonas. OrthoANI values between strain 190T and A. oceani S35T and A. lipolytica JW12T were 93.5 and 77.9 %, respectively, and in silico DNA-DNA hybridization values were 53.8 and 21.2 %, respectively. Differential phenotypic properties, together with phylogenetic distinctiveness, demonstrated that strain 190T is clearly distinct from recognized species of the genus Alteromonas. On the basis of these features, we propose that strain 190T (=MCCC 1K03456T=KCTC 62227T) represents a novel species of the genus Alteromonas with the name Alteromonas alba sp. nov.

Erythrobacter zhengii sp. nov., a bacterium isolated from deep-sea sediment.

A Gram-stain-negative, strictly aerobic, rod-shaped bacterium, designated V18T, was isolated from a deep-sea sediment sample collected from the Pacific Ocean and subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic investigation. Cells of strain V18T grew in medium containing 0-10.0 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum 1.0 %), at pH 5.5-9.0 (optimum 6.5-7.0) and at 10-40 °C (optimum 30-37 °C). Aesculin and Tweens 20, 40, 60 and 80 were hydrolysed. The isolate contained carotenoid-like pigments and lacked bacteriochlorophyll a. Strain V18T was closely related to members of the genus Erythrobacter, namely Erythrobacter odishensis JA747T (98.9 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity), E. westpacificensis JLT2008T (98.8 %), E. gangjinensis K7-2T (97.7 %), E. aquimixticola JSSK-14T (97.6 %), E. marinus KCTC 23554T (97.4 %), E. atlanticus s21-N3T (97.3 %), E. arachoides RC4-10-4T (97.2 %), E. citreus RE35F/1T (97.1 %) and E. luteus KA37T (97.0 %), and exhibited less than 97.0 % sequence similarity with the type strains of other species with validly published names. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that strain V18T clustered with E. odishensis JA747T and formed an independent lineage. The average nucleotide identity and in silico DNA-DNA hybridization values between strain V18T and the type strains of Erythrobacter species were 70.5-83.4 % and 18.4-26.1 %, respectively. Strain V18T contained ubiquinone 10 (Q-10) as the sole respiratory quinone. The major fatty acids (>10 %) were summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c), summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c) and C16 : 0. The major polar lipids were sphingoglycolipid (SGL), diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG), phosphatidyglycerol (PG), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and one unidentified lipid (L1). The DNA G+C content was 62.6 mol%. According to the phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic data, strain V18T represents a novel species of the genus Erythrobacter, for which the name Erythrobacter zhengii is proposed. The type strain is V18T (=KCTC 62389T=MCCC 1K03475T).

Altererythrobacter aerophilus sp. nov., isolated from deep-sea water of the north-west Pacific.

A Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped bacterium, designated Ery1T, was isolated from deep-sea seawater collected from the Mariana Trench and subjected to a polyphasic investigation for taxonomy. Strain Ery1T was able to grow in medium containing 0-10 % NaCl (w/v; optimum, 0-1.0 %), pH 5.0-9.5 (optimum, pH 6.0-7.0) and at temperatures between 10-45 °C (optimum, 30-40 °C). The comparison of 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain Ery1T showed highest similarity to Altererythrobacterxinjiangensis S3-63T (97.7 %) and Altererythrobacterrigui WW3T (97.6 %), and exhibited less than 97.5 % sequence similarity to other type strains of the species with validly published names. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that strain Ery1T fell within the cluster comprising the Altererythrobacter species and formed a coherent clade with Altererythrobacterxinjiangensis and Altererythrobactersoli. The OrthoANIu and in silico DNA-DNA hybridization values between strain Ery1T and the reference strains were 73.8-75.9 % and 19.2-20.1 %, respectively. Strain Ery1T contained Q-10 as the major respiratory quinone and Q-11 in a minor amount. The major fatty acids (>10 %) were summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c), summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c), C16 : 0, C18 : 1ω7c 11-methyl and C14 : 0 2-OH. The major polar lipids were sphingoglycolipid, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidyglycerol, phatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine and three unidentified glycolipids. Differential phenotypic properties, chemotaxonomic differences, phylogenetic distinctiveness, together with the genomic data demonstrated that strain Ery1T represents a novel species of the genus Altererythrobacter, for which named as Altererythrobacter aerophilus sp. nov. with the type strain Ery1T (=KCTC 62387T=CGMCC 1.16499T=MCCC 1A10037T).

Complete Genome Sequence of Qipengyuania sediminis CGMCC 1.12928T, Shed Light on Its Role in Matter-Cycle and Cold Adaption Mechanism of the Genus Qipengyuania.

Qipengyuania sediminis CGMCC 1.12928T, a family member of Erythrobacteraceae, the class of Alphaproteobacteria, was isolated from a borehole sediment sample collected from Qiangtang Basin in Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, the largest permafrost in China. Understanding bacterial molecular feature may shed light on the ecological strategy in the extreme environment. Here we describe the complete genome sequence and annotation of strain CGMCC 1.12928T, including the complete genome sequence and annotation. The genome of strain CGMCC 1.12928T consist of a single-circular chromosome, comprises 2,416,000 bp with an average G + C content of 66.7 mol%, and contains 2414 genes; including 2367 CDSs, 44 tRNA genes, as well as one operon of 16S-23S-5S rRNA genes. Genomic properties indicated that strain CGMCC 1.12928T has a relatively smaller genome size and higher G + C content within the family Erythrobacteraceae. In addition, genomic analysis revealed its genome contains multiple function genes responsible for nitrogen, sulfur and phosphorus cycles and explained the cold adaption mechanism. Thus, this strain plays an active role in the biogeochemical cycle in cold niche. The whole-genome of this isolate will widen our understanding of the ecological role of the genus Qipengyuania in permafrost.

Minwuia thermotolerans gen. nov., sp. nov., a marine bacterium forming a deep branch in the Alphaproteobacteria, and proposal of Minwuiaceae fam. nov. and Minwuiales ord. nov.

Two Gram-stain-negative, strictly aerobic, non-motile, non-spore-forming, rod-shaped bacteria, designated as SY3-15Tand SY3-13, were isolated from a seawater sample of the South China Sea. Colonies were 0.5-1.0 mm in diameter, smooth, circular, convex and translucent after growth on marine agar at 37 °C for 3 days. The strains were found to grow at 20-50 °C (optimum, 42 °C), pH 6.0-8.5 (optimum, pH 6.5-7.5) and with 0.5-6.0 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 1.5-2.0 %). Chemotaxonomic analysis showed the sole respiratory quinone to be ubiquinone-10, the major fatty acids (>10 %) were C16 : 0 3-OH, C19 : 0cyclo ω9c, C18 : 1 3-OH and summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c), and the polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol, two unidentified aminolipids and three unidentified lipids. The DNA G+C content was 67.2-67.4 mol% calculated by genome. The 16S rRNA gene sequences of strains SY3-15T and SY3-13 were identical and related to the genus Lutibaculum with a similarity of 92.1 %. The 16S rRNA gene phylogenetic trees reconstructed with neighbour-joining, maximum-parsimony and minimum-evolution methods showed that the strains constituted a deep and separated branch from other families of Alphaproteobacteria, and the phylogenetic trees based on concatenated 163 protein sequences from genome sequences showed that the clade in which strains SY3-15T and SY3-13 located was separated from the clade of the other orders of Alphaproteobacteria, indicating it may represent a novel family of a novel order. Based on their phenotypic properties and their phylogenetic distinctiveness, we propose strains SY3-15T (=MCCC 1K03467T=KCTC 62335T) and SY3-13 (=MCCC 1K03466=KCTC 62329) to represent a novel species of a novel genus with the name Minwuia thermotolerans gen. nov., sp. nov., and we propose Minwuiaceae fam. nov. and Minwuiales ord. nov. with Minwuia as the type genus.

Marinobacter fuscus sp. nov., a marine bacterium of Gammaproteobacteria isolated from surface seawater.

A Gram-stain-negative bacterium, designated NH169-3T, was isolated from a surface seawater sample of the South China Sea and subjected to a taxonomic polyphasic investigation. Strain NH169-3T was strictly aerobic, non-motile, non-spore-forming and rod-shaped. The colony was 1.0-2.0 mm in diameter after the growth on marine agar at 30 °C for 72 h. The centre of the colony was smooth, circular, convex and brown with a transparent periphery. Strain NH169-3T was able to grow at temperatures between 4-40 °C (optimum, 37 °C), pH 5.5-9.0 (pH 7.5) and with 0-12.5 % (w/v) NaCl (3.0 %). Chemotaxonomic analysis showed that the sole respiratory quinone of strain NH169-3T was ubiquinone 9; major fatty acids were C16 : 0 and C18 : 1ω9c, and major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and one unidentified glycolipid. The DNA G+C content was 52.7 mol%. The comparison of 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain NH169-3T was closely related to Marinobacter shengliensis SL013A34A2T with a similarity of 98.0 %. Three phylogenetic trees reconstructed with neighbour-joining, maximum-parsimony and maximum-likelihood methods using 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain NH169-3T was grouped into a separated branch with M. shengliensis SL013A34A2T in a clade of the genus Marinobacter and closely related to Marinobacter halophilus JCM 30472T, Marinobacter vinifirmus DSM 17747T and Marinobacter hydrocarbonoclasticus DSM 8798T. Analyses of both phenotypic and phylogenetic properties have suggested that strain NH169-3T was distinctive from species with validly published names in genus Marinobacter. Thus, strain NH169-3T (=MCCC 1K03455T=KCTC 62226T) is proposed as a novel species in genus Marinobacter with the name Marinobacter fuscus sp. nov.

Pseudooceanicola lipolyticus sp. nov., a marine alphaproteobacterium, reclassification of Oceanicola flagellatus as Pseudooceanicola flagellatus comb. nov. and emended description of the genus Pseudooceanicola.

A Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped bacterium, designated 157T, was isolated from seawater collected from the Philippine Sea. Cells of strain 157T grew in medium containing 0.5-10.0 % NaCl (w/v, optimum 3 %), at pH 6.0-8.5 (optimum 7.0) and at 15-40 °C (optimum 30 °C). Tweens 20, 40 and 80 as well as urea were hydrolysed. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain 157T had a high sequence similarity with respect to Pseudooceanicola marinus AZO-CT (97.2 %), and exhibited less than 97.0 % sequence similarity to other type strains of the species with validly published names. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that strain 157T fell within a cluster comprising the Pseudooceanicola species and formed a coherent clade with P. marinus AZO-CT and Pseudooceanicola antarcticus Ar-45T. Strain 157T exhibited average nucleotide identity values of 74.5 and 74.9 % to P. marinus LMG 23705T and P. antarcticus Ar-45T, respectively. In silico DNA-DNA hybridization analysis revealed that strain 157T shared 20.2 % DNA relatedness with P. marinus LMG 23705T and 20.6 % with P. antarcticus Ar-45T, respectively. The sole isoprenoid quinone was ubiquinone 10. The major fatty acids were summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c), C19 : 0 cyclo ω8c, C16 : 0 2-OH and C16 : 0. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, one unidentified aminolipid and one unidentified glycolipid. The DNA G+C content was 64.6 mol%. According to the phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic and phenotypic data, it represents a novel species of the genus Pseudooceanicola, for which the name Pseudooceanicolalipolyticus is proposed. The type strain is 157T (=KCTC 52654T=MCCC 1K03317T). In addition, the description of the genus Pseudooceanicola is emended and Oceanicola flagellatus is reclassified as Pseudooceanicola flagellatus comb. nov., with the type strain DY470T (=CGMCC 1.12664T=LMG 27871T) proposed.

Gracilimonas amylolytica sp. nov., isolated from deep-sea sediment.

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, non-motile and rod-shaped bacterium, designated LA399T, was isolated from deep-sea sediment collected from the Pacific Ocean. Cells of strain LA399T grew in the medium containing 0-10.0 % of NaCl (w/v; optimum 3.0-5.0 %), pH 6.5-8.0 (optimum 7.0) and 20-40 °C (optimum 37 °C). Aesculin, gelatin, starch and Tween 80 were hydrolysed. Strain LA399T was closely related to Gracilimonas halophila WDS2C40T (97.0 % sequence similarity), Gracilimonas mengyeensis YIM J14T (96.4 %), Gracilimonas rosea CL-KR2T (96.4 %) and Gracilimonas tropica DSM 19535T (96.0 %), and exhibited equal or less than 96.0 % sequence similarity to other type strains of species with validly published names. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that strain LA399T clustered with the clade comprising the Gracilimonas species and formed an independent lineage. Strain LA399T contained menaquinone 7 as the sole isoprenoid quinone and iso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 0, summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c/C16 : 1ω6c) and summed feature 9 (iso-C17 : 1ω9c/10-methyl C16 : 0) as the predominant cellular fatty acids. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, one unidentified phospholipid and three unidentified glycolipids. The DNA G+C content was 45.3 mol%. According to the phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic and phenotypic data, it represents a novel species of the genus Gracilimonas, for which the name Gracilimonas amylolytica is proposed. The type strain is LA399T (=CGMCC 1.16248T=KCTC 52885T).

Maribacter cobaltidurans sp. nov., a heavy-metal-tolerant bacterium isolated from deep-sea sediment.

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, non-motile and rod-shaped bacterium, designated B1T, was isolated from deep-sea sediment collected from the South Atlantic Ocean. Cells of strain B1T grew in medium containing 0.5-6.0 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum 1.0-2.0 %), at pH 5.5-7.5 (optimum pH 7.0) and at 15-37 °C (optimum 30 °C). Aesculin, starch and Tweens 20, 40 and 60 were hydrolysed. The strain was able to grow in medium containing a high concentration of Co2+ (10 mM). The 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain B1T shared high similarity with respect to Maribacter orientalis DSM 16471T (97.7 %), and exhibited less than 97.0 % sequence similarity with the type strains of other species with validly published names. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that strain B1T fell within the cluster comprising Maribacter species and formed an independent lineage. The average nucleotide identity and in silico DNA-DNA hybridization values between strain B1T and M. orientalis DSM 16471T were 72.0 % and 17.6 %, respectively. Strain B1T contained menaquinone 6 (MK-6) as the sole isoprenoid quinone and iso-C17 : 0 3-OH, iso-C15 : 0 and iso-C15 : 1 G as the predominant cellular fatty acids. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, one unidentified aminolipid and two unidentified lipids. The DNA G+C content was 39.7 mol%. According to the phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic and phenotypic data, B1T represents a novel species of the genus Maribacter, for which the name Maribacter cobaltidurans sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is B1T (=CGMCC 1.15508T=KCTC 52882T=MCCC 1K03318T).

Henriciella pelagia sp. nov., isolated from seawater.

Strain LA220T, isolated from seawater of the Eastern Pacific Ocean, was subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic study. Cells of the strain were Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, motile and short rod-shaped. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain LA220T showed high similarity to Henriciella litoralis SD10T (98.5 %), Henriciella marina DSM 19595T (98.3 %) and Henriciellaaquimarina P38T (97.5 %), and exhibited less than 97.0 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with respect to the type strains of other Hyphomonadaceae species. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that strain LA220T fell within the cluster of the genus Henriciella. The average nucleotide identity and in silico DNA-DNA hybridization values between strain LA220T and the type strains of Henriciella species were 74.8-76.8 and 18.4-20.8 %, respectively. The sole respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-10 (Q-10). The principal fatty acids were summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c) and C16 : 0. The major polar lipids were three unidentified glycolipids. The DNA G+C content was 59.9 mol%. Phylogenetic distinctiveness, chemotaxonomic differences and phenotypic properties revealed that strain LA220T could be differentiated from recognized Henriciella species. Therefore, strain LA220T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Henriciella, for which the name Henriciella pelagia sp. nov. (type strain LA220T=CGMCC 1.15928T=KCTC 52577T) is proposed.

Alteromonas lipolytica sp. nov., a poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate-producing bacterium isolated from surface seawater.

Strain JW12T, isolated from surface seawater of the Arabian Sea, was subjected to characterization by a polyphasic taxonomic approach. Cells of the isolate were Gram-stain-negative, aerobic and rod-shaped. It accumulated poly-ß-hydroxybutyrate. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain JW12T was closely related to Alteromonas confluentis, with 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 98.0 %. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that it fell within the cluster of the genus Alteromonas and represented one independent lineage with A. confluentis. The average nucleotide identity (ANI) value and the genome-to-genome distance between strain JW12T and A. confluentis KCTC 42603T were 70.0 and 21.3 %, respectively. The sole respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-8 (Q8). The principal fatty acids were summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or iso-C15 : 0 2-OH), C16 : 0 and C18 : 1ω7c. The major polar lipids included phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, two unidentified glycolipids and one aminophospholipid. The DNA G+C content was 48.4 mol%. Differential phylogenetic distinctiveness and chemotaxonomic differences, together with phenotypic properties obtained in this study, revealed that strain JW12T could be differentiated from the closely related species. Therefore, it is proposed that strain JW12T represents a novel species in the genus Alteromonas, for which the name Alteromonas lipolytica sp. nov. (type strain, JW12T=CGMCC 1.15735T=KCTC 52408T=MCCC 1K03175T), is proposed.

Actibacterium pelagium sp. nov., a novel alphaproteobacterium, and emended description of the genus Actibacterium.

A Gram-stain-negative, non-motile, rod-shaped bacterium, designated JN33T, was isolated from seawater collected from the western Pacific Ocean. Strain JN33T was positive for hydrolysis of aesculin and gelatin. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain JN33T showed high 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to Actibacterium atlanticum 22II-S11-z10T (97.3 %), A. mucosum KCTC 23349T (96.6 %) and A. ureilyticum LS-811T (95.7 %) and exhibited less than 97.0 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with respect to the other type strains within the family Rhodobacteraceae. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that strain JN33T fell within the cluster of the genus Actibacterium. The average nucleotide identity and in silico DNA-DNA hybridization values between strain JN33T and the type strains of Actibacterium species were 73.1-73.8 % and 19.8-20.1 %, respectively. The sole respiratory quinone was ubiquinone 10 (Q-10). The principal fatty acids were summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c) and C16 : 0. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol, one unidentified phospholipid and two unidentified aminolipids. The DNA G+C content was 57.8 mol%. Distinctly different phylogenetic characteristics, chemotaxonomic differences, as well as phenotypic properties, revealed that strain JN33T could be differentiated from the Actibacterium species with validly published names. Therefore, it is proposed that strain JN33T represents a novel species of the genus Actibacterium, for which the name Actibacterium pelagium sp. nov. (type strain, JN33T=CGMCC 1.16012T=KCTC 52653T) is proposed.

Left Heart Ejection Fraction as a Load-Independent Parameter for Patients with Mitral Regurgitation.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY: The functions of the left ventricle and left atrium are closely associated with the outcomes of surgically treated patients with severe mitral regurgitation (MR). However, both parameters were overestimated in the presence of MR. The present study integrated the left atrium and left ventricle as the left heart (LH) to eliminate the influence of MR within the integrated structure. The study aim was to explore whether the emptying fraction of the LH is a load-independent parameter for patients with MR. METHODS: A total of 52 patients with isolated organic MR was enrolled as a patient group, and 48 age- and gender-matched healthy subjects as a control group. The left atrial emptying fraction (LAEF) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were evaluated using apical four-chamber views. The global volume of the LH was calculated as the sum of left atrial (LA) and left ventricular (LV) volumes. The LH emptying fraction (LHEF) was assessed according to the volume-time curve of the LH. All patients underwent echocardiography one day before and within one week after surgery. RESULTS: The LA, LV and LH volumes were each increased in the patient group (p <0.05). The LVEF of the patient group was comparable to that of controls before surgery (p >0.05), and fell by 10% after surgery (p <0.05). The LAEF of the patient group fell before surgery and also suffered a 10% fall after surgery. Both, baseline and postoperative LHEF were decreased in the patient group (both p <0.05) and remained unchanged after the correction of MR (p >0.05). CONCLUSIONS: By integrating the left atrium and left ventricle as a whole, the LHEF avoided the influence of MR and proved to be a load-independent parameter for global left heart function in patients with MR.

Pseudohongiellanitratireducens sp. nov., isolated from seawater, and emended description of the genus Pseudohongiella.

Two Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, motile by a single polar flagellum and rod-shaped strains, designated SCS-49T and SCS-111, were isolated from seawater of the South China Sea. The two strains grew at 4-35 °C, with 0.5-7.5 % (w/v) NaCl and at pH 6.5-9.0 and were able to reduce nitrate. Q-8 was the sole ubiquinone. The major fatty acids of the two strains were C16 : 0, C18 : 1ω7c and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c). The polar lipids included diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phospoglycolipid, three unidentified glycolipids, five unidentified phospholipids and two to three unidentified lipids. The isolates formed a stable clade with Pseudohongiella acticola and Pseudohongiella spirulinae based on phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences. Strains SCS-49T and SCS-111 exhibited 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity values of 97.2 and 96.0 % with respect to the type strains of P. acticola and P. spirulinae, respectively. The average nucleotide diversity and in silico DNA-DNA hybridization values between strain SCS-49T and P. acticola KCTC 42131T were 71.4 and 25.1 %, respectively and the values between strain SCS-49T and SCS-111 were 99.9 and 99.2 %, respectively. Based upon the phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genetic data, strains SCS-49T and SCS-111 represent a novel species in the genus Pseudohongiella, for which the name Pseudohongiella nitratireducens sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is SCS-49T (=CGMCC 1.15425T=KCTC 52155T=MCCC 1K03186T).

Kordiimonas lipolytica sp. nov., isolated from seawater.

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped bacterium, designated M41T, was isolated from a surface seawater sample collected from the western Pacific Ocean. The isolate grew in medium containing 0.5-10.0 % (w/v) NaCl (optimally at 1.0-3.0 %) at 15-45 °C and pH 5.5-9.5. Positive for oxidase, catalase and nitrate reduction. The respiratory quinone is Q-10. The major fatty acids (>10 %) are iso-C15:0, iso-C17:1ω9c and summed feature 3 (comprising C16:1ω7c and/or iso-C15:0 2-OH). The major polar lipids are phosphatidylethanolamine, one unidentified phospholipid, one unidentified aminolipid, and three unidentified glycolipids.The genomic DNA G+C content is 56.3 mol %. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain M41T should be assigned to the genus Kordiimonas. The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities between the isolate and the type strains of species of the genus Kordiimonas with validly published names were in the range 96.2- 98.6 %. Strain M41T exhibited average nucleotide identity (ANI) values of 81.7 and 72.3 % with respect to Kordiimonas. lacus S3-22T and Kordiimonasgwangyangensis JCM 12864T, respectively. The genome-to-genome distance analysis revealed that strain M41T shared 51.4 % DNA-DNA relatedness with K. lacus S3-22T and 16.3 % with K. gwangyangensis JCM 12864T. On the basis of phenotypic and genotypic characteristics, strain M41T represents a novel species of the genus Kordiimonas, for which the name Kordiimonas lipolytica sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is M41T (=CGMCC 1.15304T=JCM 30877T). An emended description of Kordiimonas lacus is also provided.

Pseudoalteromonas gelatinilytica sp. nov., isolated from surface seawater.

Three Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped bacteria, designated strains NH153T, F-2-11 and M-1-78, were isolated from surface seawater of the South China Sea and the East China Sea. The three isolates were able to grow at 15-45 °C (optimum 28-37 °C), but no growth occurred at 4 or 50 °C. The pH range for growth was pH 5.5-9.5 (optimum pH 7.5-8.5). The isolates required sea salts for growth and growth occurred in the presence of 0-10 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum 3-5 %); no growth occurred in the presence of 12.0, 15.0 or 20.0 % (w/v) NaCl. They were positive for hydrolysis of gelatin and Tween 80. The sole respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-8 (Q-8). The major cellular fatty acids (>10 %) were C16 : 0, C18 : 1ω7c and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or iso-C15 : 0 2-OH). The major polar lipid components were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, one unidentified glycolipid, one unidentified phospholipid and one unidentified lipid. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain NH153T was 41.4 mol%. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the isolates were closely related to the type strain of Pseudoalteromonas shioyasakiensis (98.0-98.6 % sequence similarity). The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities between the three isolates were 98.8-99.7 %. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that they formed a distinct lineage and clustered with P. shioyasakiensis and Pseudoalteromonas arabiensis. The level of DNA-DNA relatedness among the three isolates was 78.0-85.5 %. Strain NH153T exhibited average nucleotide identity values of 93.4 and 84.2 % with respect to P. shioyasakiensisJCM 18891T and P. arabiensisJCM 17292T, respectively. The genome-to-genome distance analysis revealed that strain NH153T shared 52.4 % DNA relatedness with P. shioyasakiensisJCM 18891T and 28.1 % with P. arabiensisJCM 17292T. On the basis of the phenotypic, genotypic and chemotaxonomic characterizations, as well as phylogenetic inference obtained in this study, strains NH153T, F-2-11 and M-1-78 represent a novel species within the genus Pseudoalteromonas, for which the name Pseudoalteromonasgelatinilytica sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is NH153T (=CGMCC 1.15370T=DSM 100951T), and F-2-11 (=CGMCC 1.15364=DSM 100953) and M-1-78 (=CGMCC 1.15365=DSM 100952), are additional strains of the species.

Pontibacter amylolyticus sp. nov., isolated from a deep-sea sediment hydrothermal vent field.

A Gram-stain-negative, short rod-shaped bacterium, designated 9-2T, was isolated from a sediment sample collected from a hydrothermal vent field on the south-west Indian Ridge. It formed red colonies, produced carotenoid-like pigments and did not produce bacteriochlorophyll a. Strain 9-2T was positive for hydrolysis of DNA, gelatin and starch, but negative for hydrolysis of aesculin and Tween 60. The sole respiratory quinone was menaquinone-7 (MK-7). The main polar lipids consisted of phosphatidylethanolamine, one unidentified phospholipid and two unidentified polar lipids. The principal fatty acids (>5%) were summed feature 4 (iso-C17:1 I and/or anteiso-C17:1 B), iso-C15:0 and iso-C17:0 3-OH. The genomic DNA G+C content was 49.2 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain 9-2T should be assigned to the genus Pontibacter. Levels of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity between the new isolate and the type strains of Pontibacter species with validly published names were in the range 94.0-96.5%. On the basis of phenotypic and genotypic data, strain 9-2T represents a novel species of the genus Pontibacter, for which the name Pontibacter amylolyticus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 9-2T (=CGMCC 1.12749T=JCM 19653T=MCCC 1K00278T).