Micromonospora profundi TRM 95458 converts glycerol to a new osmotic compound.

Plant growth and agricultural productivity was greatly limited by soil salinity and alkalization. The application of salt-tolerant rhizobacteria could effectively improve plant tolerance to saline-alkali stress. Micromonospora profundi TRM 95458 was obtained from the rhizosphere of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) as a moderate salt-tolerant rhizobacteria. A new osmotic compound (ABAGG) was isolated from the fermentation broth of M. profundi TRM 95458. The chemical structure of the new compound was elucidated by analyzing nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and high-resolution mass (HRMS) data. M. profundi TRM 95458 could convert glycerol into ABAGG. The accumulation of ABAGG varied depending on the amount of glycerol and glycine added to the fermentation medium. In addition, the concentration of NaCl affected the ABAGG content obviously. The highest yield of ABAGG was observed when the salt content of the fermentation medium was 10 g/L. The study indicated that salt stress led to the accumulation of ABAGG using glycerol and glycine as substrates, suggesting ABAGG might aid in the survival and adaptation of the strain in saline-alkaline environments as a new osmotic compound.

Three novel Actinoplanes species isolated by using polyaspartic acid as a water-retaining agent for the enrichment in situ.

Three novel actinomycete strains, designated TRM66264-DLMT, TRM88002T and TRM88003T, were isolated by using polyaspartic acid as a water-retaining agent for the enrichment in situ. The 16S rRNA gene sequence and phylogenetic analyses of three strains indicated that they belonged to the genus Actinoplanes. The phylogenetically closest strains of TRM66264-DLMT, TRM88002T and TRM88003T were Actinoplanes bogorensis LIPI11-2-Ac043T (98.4 %), Actinoplanes abujensis A4029T (98.0 %) and Actinoplanes ferrugineus IFO15555T (98.1 %), respectively. The major polar lipids of strains TRM66264-DLMT and TRM88002T were phosphatidylethanolamine and disphosphatidylglycerol, while strain TRM88003T only had phosphatidylethanolamine. The predominant menaquinones of strain TRM66264-DLMT were identified as MK-9(H4) and MK-9 (H6). Strains TRM88002T and TRM88003T had MK-9(H4). The cell-wall peptidoglycan of three strains contained meso-diaminopimelic acid. The whole-cell sugars of strain TRM66264-DLMT were identified as arabinose, glucose, galactose and xylose. Strains TRM88002T and TRM88003T mainly had arabinose and glucose. The DNA G+C content of strains TRM66264-DLMT, TRM88002T and TRM88003T were 70.48, 70.46 and 70.64 mol%, respectively. Genotypic and phenotypic analysis confirmed that all three strains sre new members of the genus Acinoplanes. Therefore, it is proposed that strains TRM66264-DLMT, TRM88002T and TRM88003T represent three novel species of the genus Actinoplanes, for which the names Actinoplanes polyasparticus sp. nov. (type strain TRM66264-DLMT=CCTCC AA 2021015T=LMG 32389T), Actinoplanes hotanensis sp. nov. (type strain TRM88002T=CCTCC AA 2021036T=LMG 32621T) and Actinoplanes aksuensis sp. nov. (type strain TRM88003T=CCTCC AA 2021037 T=LMG 32622T) are proposed.

Effect of polyaspartic acid on soil water storage, soil microbial diversity, cotton yield and fiber quality.

Water-saving is one of the most important problems in agricultural development, especially in arid and semi-arid areas. The effects of polyaspartic acid (PASP) on soil water storage, soil microbial community, soil physiochemical properties, cotton yield and fiber quality were studied to find water-saving material utilized in cotton field. The experiment was divided into two parts, the first part concerned the direct application of three different amounts of PASP under field conditions. In the second part, PASP was mixed with soil in different proportions and the mixtures were put into bottles, which were then buried in the cotton field. The application of PASP improved the water-holding capacity and thus increased water content available to the cotton root system in the cotton field for a long time, and significantly (p < 0.05) increased the content of soil organic matter, available P and ammonium-N. Relative abundances of Methylophaga, Sphingomonas, Cupriavidus, Pseudeurotium, Fusarium and Nectria were significantly affected by applying PASP. Compared to the control group, 15, 75 and 150 kg ha-1 of PASP increased seed cotton yield by 3.94, 8.31 and 7.71%, respectively. The application of PASP also increased the reflectance degree, Micronaire and short fiber index of cotton. These results suggested that 75 kg ha-1 of PASP can be appropriate to alleviate drought stress in arid and semi-arid areas.

Streptomyces griseicoloratus sp. nov., isolated from soil in cotton fields in Xinjiang, China.

A novel bacterium of the genus Streptomyces, designated TRM S81-3T, was isolated from soil in cotton fields of Xinjiang, China. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that strain TRM S81-3T is most closely related to Streptomyces viridiviolaceus NBRC 13359T (98.9% sequence similarity); however, the average nucleotide identity (ANI) between strains TRM S81-3T and S. viridiviolaceus NBRC 13359T is relatively low (91.6%). Strain TRM S81-3T possesses LL-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic cell-wall diamino acid, MK-9(H4), MK-9(H6), and MK-9(H10) as the major menaquinones, and polar lipids including diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG), phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylmethyl ethanolamine (PME), phosphotidylinositolone (PI), phospholipid of unknown structure containing glucosamine (NPG), and two unidentified phospholipids (PLs).The major fatty acids are iso-C16:0, anteiso-C15:0, anteiso-C17:1 ω9c, anteiso-C17:0, iso-C15:0, and C14:0. The genomic DNA G + C content is 72.1%. Based on the evidence from this polyphasic study, strain TRM S81-3T represents a novel species of Streptomyces, for which the name Streptomyces grisecoloratus is proposed. The type strain is TRM S81-3T (= CCTCC AA 2020002T = LMG 31942T).

Anti-inflammatory effect of a polysaccharide fraction from Craterellus cornucopioides in LPS-stimulated macrophages.

Immunocytes-involved inflammation is considered to modulate the damage in various diseases. Oxidative stress is initiated by oxidative agents such as LPS and ROS, which are strongly involved in chronic inflammation. Our previous study found that a polysaccharide fraction from Craterellus cornucopioides (CCPP-1) showed good antioxidant activity. However, the anti-inflammatory effect of CCPP-1 was still elusive. The objective of this study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of CCPP-1 and its potential mechanism in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. The results showed that CCPP-1 could inhibit LPS-induced ROS and NO accumulation. Additionally, CCPP-1 could decrease pro-inflammatory cytokines production (TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-18) and inflammatory mediator (iNOS) expression, which might be associated with its capacity to inhibit NF-κB signaling pathway and NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Therefore, this study suggested that CCPP-1 had an ameliorative effect on the inflammation response and was potential to develop into functional food for treating chronic inflammation. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Craterellus cornucopioides is an edible fungus widely distributed in Southwestern China. It was reported that C. cornucopioides polysaccharide (CCPP-1), as important active ingredient, showed good antioxidant activity. However, the anti-inflammatory effect was still elusive. This study showed that CCPP-1 possessed anti-inflammatory activity. The molecular mechanism might be associated with its capacity to inhibit NF-κB signaling pathway and NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Therefore, polysaccharides from C. cornucopioides have potential to develop into functional food to combat inflammatory condition and thus indirectly halt the progression of various inflammatory response-related chronic diseases.

A new chlorine-containing iridoid glycoside from Plantago maxima.

A phytochemical investigation on the whole plant of Plantago maxima Juss. ex Jacq led to the isolation of a new and rare chlorinated iridoid glycoside named plantomoside (1), along with three known compounds, geniposidic acid (2), 10-deoxygeniposidic acid (3), and viteoid II (4). The structure of 1 was determined through 1 D and 2 D NMR spectroscopic data analysis, HR-ESI-MS, and acid hydrolysis.

Amicoumacins from a desert bacterium: quorum sensing inhibitor against Chromobacterium violaceum.

In our study, the anti-quorum sensing (QS) activity of fermentation broth from TRM B-02, a bacterium isolated from Taklimakan desert, was investigated using the biosensor bioassay on Chromobacterium violaceum ATCC12472. TRM B-02 was 100% similar to Bacillus subtilis subsp. Inaquosorum KCTC 13429(T) by genotypic and phenotypic analyses. Based on anti-QS activity tracking, six known amicoumacins, named as AI-77-H (1), AI-77-F (2), amicoumacin B (3), amicoumacin C (4), AI-77-C (5) and bacilosarcins D (6), were isolated and identified. Among them, compounds 1-3 exhibited a better inhibitory effect on C. violaceum ATCC12472. Further research suggested that compounds 1-3 could significantly down-regulate the expressions of violacein operon A (vioA), vioB, vioD and vioE and up-regulate vioC. Docking experiments indicated that compounds 1-3 may act as an inhibitor of violacein biosynthetic pathway competitively inhibiting the binding of flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) with the vioD enzyme.[Figure: see text].

Streptomyces apocyni sp. nov., an endogenous actinomycete isolated from Apocynum venetum.

A novel actinomycete, designated strain TRM 66233T, was isolated from Apocynum venetum L. collected from the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China and characterized using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences affiliated strain TRM 66233T with the genus Streptomyces. Strain TRM 66233T showed a high similarity value to Streptomyces bikiniensis NRRL B-1049T (98.07 %) based on the 16S rRNA gene phylogenetic tree. The whole-cell sugar pattern of TRM 66233T consisted of glucose, galactose, mannose and ribose. The predominant menaquinones were MK-9(H2), MK-9(H6), MK-9(H8) and MK-9(H10). The polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol and four unidentified lipids. The major fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C16 : 0, C16 : 0 and iso-C17 : 0. The G+C content of the DNA was 70.35 mol%. The DNA-DNA relatedness and average nucleotide identity values as well as evolutionary distances based on multilocus (atpD, gyrB, recA, rpoB and trpB) sequences between strain TRM 66233T and closely related type strains were significantly lower than the recommended threshold values. The whole-genome average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values between strain TRM 66233T and S. bikiniensis NRRL B-1049T were 78.86 and 23.2 %, respectively. On the basis of evidence from this polyphasic study, strain TRM 66233T should represent a novel species of the genus Streptomyces, for which the name Streptomyces apocyni sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is TRM 66233T (=CCTCC AA 2019056T=LMG 31559T).

Colonization on Cotton Plants with a GFP Labeled Strain of Bacillus axarquiensis.

Verticillium dahliae was one of the most important diseases caused Verticillium wilt of cotton. In our previous study, Bacillus axarquiensis TUBP1 was screened and found to be an antagonistic strain against V. dahliae with 43% biocontrol effect in the cotton field. In order to uncover the functional mechanism of B. axarquiensis against Verticillium wilt in cotton, the colonization of B. axarquiensis labeled with a green fluorescent protein (GFP) was investigated in cotton plants and the rhizosphere soil. Firstly, a plasmid (pHT-315) containing gfp gene was successfully transformed into wild B. axarquiensis TUBP1 and labeled a green fluorescence by electroporation, which didn't change the bioactivity in vitro. In gnotobiotic conditions, cotton seeds were then inoculated with the gfp-labeled strain and grown in green house. Observation with a confocal laser scanning microscope and a scanning electron microscope showed that GFP-labeled B. axarquiensis TUBP1 infected cotton roots and widely distributed in epidermis, cortical parenchyma, intercellular spaces, the xylem vessels, and pith cells as well as root hair cells through cracks formed at the lateral root junctions, followed by a slow migration from roots to stems and leaves. Quantitative fluorescence and flow cytometry (FACS) approaches showed a gradual decrease in the number of TUBP1-315gfp with increasing inoculation time. However, TUBP1-315gfp levels were detectable till 45 days after planting. In contrast, no fluorescence signal was detected in the non-inoculated groups. Therefore, GFP-labeled B. axarquiensis TUBP1 exhibited colonization in different parts of cotton plants from the rhizosphere soil.

Antifungal effects of actinomycin D on Verticillium dahliae via a membrane-splitting mechanism.

Antifungal bioassays led to the isolation of actinomycins D and A1 from Streptomyces luteus TRM45540 collected from Norpo in Xinjiang, and these compounds were identified by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The antifungal activity of actinomycin D was higher than that of actinomycin A1. Actinomycin D clearly inhibited the spore germination, hyphal growth and biomass accumulation of Verticillium dahliae in a dose-dependent manner. Flow cytometric analysis with propidium iodide, total ergosterol measurement, cell leakage and scanning electron microscopy experiments demonstrated that the plasma membrane of this fungus was damaged by actinomycin D, resulting in swollen cells and cellular content leakage. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that parts of the plasma membrane infolded after being treated with actinomycin D. The antifungal activity of actinomycin D damaged the fungal plasma membrane of V. dahliae via a membrane-splitting mechanism, which provided new insights into the functional mechanism of actinomycin D.

Glycomyces xiaoerkulensis sp. nov., isolated from Xiaoerkule lake in Xinjiang, China.

A novel actinomycete, strain TRM 41368T, was isolated from a silt sample from Xiaoerkule lake in Xinjiang province, China, and was examined using a polyphasic approach. Strain TRM 41368T was aerobic, Gram-stain-positive, with an optimum NaCl concentration for growth of 5 % (w/v), and an optimum temperature for growth of 35-37 °C. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain TRM 41368T was most closely related to Glycomycesfuscus TRM 49117T (98.46 % similarity). However, it had a relatively low DNA-DNA relatedness value with G. fuscus TRM 49117T (ANI=70.59 %). The organism had chemical and morphological features typical of the genus Glycomyces. The cell wall of TRM 41368T contained meso-diaminopimelic acid; xylose, ribose and glucose were the major whole-cell sugars. The diagnostic polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylinositolmannosides. The predominant menaquinone was MK-9(H6). The major fatty acids were C18 : 1ω9c, C16 : 0, iso-C16 : 0, anteiso-C17 : 0 and anteiso-C15 : 0. The G+C content of the DNA was 69.9 mol%. On the basis of the polyphasic evidence, strain TRM 41368T should be designated as a novel species of the genus Glycomyces, for which the name Glycomyces xiaoerkulensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is TRM 41368T (=CCTCC AA 2017005T=KCTC 39932T).

Streptomyces salilacus sp. nov., an actinomycete isolated from a salt lake.

The taxonomic position of a novel actinomycete, strain TRM 41337T, isolated from sediment of a salt lake, Xiaoerkule Lake, Xinjiang, China, was determined by a polyphasic approach. Strain TRM 41337T grew optimally at 28 °C and in the presence of 1 % (w/v) NaCl. It grew at up to pH 12. The whole-cell sugars of strain TRM 41337T were ribose and xylose. The diagnostic diamino acid contained ll-diaminopimelic acid. The polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylinositolmannoside and two other unidentified phospholipids. The predominant menaquinones were MK-9(H8), MK-9, MK-9(H4) and MK-9(H6). The major fatty acids were iso-C16 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C17 : 0 and iso-C16 : 1 H. Based on morphological and chemotaxonomic characteristics, the isolate was determined to belong to the genus Streptomyces. The phylogenetic tree based on its nearly complete 16S rRNA gene sequence (1498 nt) with representative strains showed that the strain consistently falls into a distinct phyletic lineage together with Streptomyces barkulensis DSM 42082T (97.48 % similarity) and a subclade consisting of Streptomyces fenghuangensis GIMN 4.003T (97.20 %), Streptomyces macrosporus NBRC 14748T (97.14 %) and Streptomyces radiopugnans R97T (97.01 %). On the basis of these data, strain TRM 41337T should be designated as a representative of a novel species of the genus Streptomyces, for which the name Streptomyces salilacus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is TRM 41337T (=CCTCC AA 2015030T=KCTC 39726T).

Saccharopolyspora aidingensis sp. nov., an actinomycete isolated from a salt lake.

A novel halophilic actinomycete strain, designated TRM 46074T, was isolated from Aiding salt lake in Turpan Basin, north-west China. Strain TRM 46074T was aerobic, Gram-stain-positive and grew optimally with 12 % (w/v) NaCl. The strain was observed to produce sparse aerial mycelium with long chains of spores that were non-motile and oval or spherical in shape with a rough or smooth surface; substrate mycelium was branched and well developed. The cell wall was determined to contain meso-diaminopimelic acid; the diagnostic whole-cell sugars were galactose, arabinose and ribose. The diagnostic polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylinositol. The predominant menaquinones were MK-9(H4), MK-10(H8) and MK-10(H4). The G+C content of the DNA was 70.9 mol%. The major fatty acids were anteiso-C17 : 0, iso-C15 : 0, iso-C16 : 0 and iso-C17 : 0. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain TRM 46074T belongs to the genus Saccharopolyspora. Strain TRM 46074T had 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 99.6 % with the closest described species, Saccharopolyspora ghardaiensis H53T. DNA-DNA hybridization between strain TRM 46074T and Saccharopolysporaghardaiensis H53T showed 58.6 % relatedness. On the basis of the evidence from a polyphasic study, strain TRM 46074T is considered to represent a novel species in the genus Saccharopolyspora, for which the name Saccharopolyspora aidingensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is TRM 46074T (=CCTCC AA 2012014T=JCM 30185T).

Streptomyces kalpinensis sp. nov., an actinomycete isolated from a salt water beach.

A novel actinobacterium designated TRM 46509T was isolated from a salt water beach at Kalpin, Xinjiang, north-west China. The strain was aerobic and Gram-stain-positive, with an optimum NaCl concentration for growth of 1 % (w/v). The isolate formed sparse aerial mycelium and produced spiral spores at the end of the aerial mycelium on Gauze's No. 1 medium. The isolate contained ll-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid and ribose as the major whole-cell sugar. The polar lipids included diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylinositol mannosides and an unidentified phospholipid. The predominant menaquinones were MK-9(H2), MK-9(H6) and MK-9(H8). The major fatty acids were C16:0, iso-C16 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 0 and iso-C14 : 0. The G+C content of the DNA was 69.3 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis showed that strain TRM 46509T shared 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 97.6 % with the closest described species Streptomyces tacrolimicus ATCC 55098T. On the basis of evidence from this polyphasic study, strain TRM 46509T should be designated as representing a novel species of the genus Streptomyces, for which the name Streptomyces kalpinensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is TRM 46509T (=CCTCC AA 2015028T=KCTC 39667T).

Streptomyces luteus sp. nov., an actinomycete isolated from soil.

A Streptomyces-like strain, designated TRM 45540T, was isolated from soil of the Loulan area (89° 22' 22″ E 40° 29' 55″ N), Xinjiang Province, north-west China, and was characterized taxonomically by using a polyphasic study. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that strain TRM 45540T shared 99.87 % similarity with Streptomyces mutabilis NBRC 12800T (GenBank accession number AB184156). The strain was aerobic, Gram-stain-positive, with an optimum NaCl concentration for growth of 5 % (w/v). The isolate formed white aerial mycelium that was long filamentous with few branches; the substrate mycelium possessed long, smooth-surfaced spore chains bearing smooth spores and produced a yellow diffusible pigment. The strain contained iso-C16 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C17 : 0 and C16 : 0 as major cellular fatty acids. The predominant menaquinones of the strain were MK-9(H6), MK-9(H4) and MK-9(H10). The whole-cell sugar pattern contained glucose and ribose. The polar lipid pattern of the strain consisted of phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphotidylinositol, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylinositolmannosides. Genotypic and phenotypic data confirmed that strain TRM 45540T represents a novel species, clearly different from related species of the genus Streptomyces, and for which the name Streptomyces luteus (type strain TRM 45540T=CCTCC AA 2014003T=NRRL B-59117T) is proposed.

Anti-neuroinflammatory effect of Sophoraflavanone G from Sophora alopecuroides in LPS-activated BV2 microglia by MAPK, JAK/STAT and Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathways.

BACKGROUND: Neuroinflammation plays a vital role in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative conditions. Sophora alopecuroides is widely used in traditional Uighur's medicine for the treatment of inflammation. Sophoraflavanone G (SG), a major flavonoid found in the S. alopecuroides, has also been reported to exhibit anti-inflammatory activity both in vitro and in vivo. However, the effect of S. alopecuroides and SG on microglia-mediated neuroinflammation has not been investigated. PURPOSE: The present study was designed to evaluate the anti-neuroinflammatory effect of S. alopecuroides and SG against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated BV2 microglial cells and to explore the underlying mechanisms. METHODS: We measured the production of pro-inflammatory mediators and cytokines, and analyzed relevant mRNA and protein expressions by qRT-PCR and Western Blot. RESULTS: S. alopecuroides extract (SAE) and SG inhibited the LPS-induced release of nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß). Additionally, SG reduced gene expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1ß, and further decreased the protein expressions of iNOS and COX-2. Mechanism studies found that SG down-regulated phosphorylated mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT and Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT), and up-regulated heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression via nuclear translocation of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2). In addition, SG inhibited the cytotoxicity of conditioned medium prepared by LPS-activated BV2 microglia to neuronal PC12 cells and improved cell viability. CONCLUSION: S. alopecuroides and SG displayed anti-neuroinflammatory activity in LPS-activated BV2 microglia. SG was able to inhibit the neuroinflammation by MAPKs, PI3K/AKT, JAK/STAT and Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathways and might act as a natural therapeutic agent to be further developed for the treatment of various neuroinflammatory conditions.

Saccharomonospora xiaoerkulensis sp. nov., isolated from lake sediment.

A novel actinomycete, strain TRM 41495T, was isolated from lake sediment of Xiaoerkule lake in Xinjiang province, China, and was examined using a polyphasic approach. Strain TRM 41495T was aerobic, Gram-stain-positive, growing best on ISP medium 7 with abundant white aerial mycelium formed and brown soluble pigments produced. The optimum NaCl concentration for growth was 3.0 % (w/v), and the optimum temperature for growth was 37 °C. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain TRM 41495T was shown to belong to the genus Saccharomonospora with a sequence similarity of 97.50 % with the most closely related species, Saccharomonospora xinjiangensis. The organism had chemical and morphological features typical of the genus Saccharomonospora. The cell wall of strain TRM 41495T contained meso-diaminopimelic acid, and galactose, arabinose, ribose and mannose were the major whole-cell sugars. The polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylinositol and an unknown phosphoglycolipid. The predominant menaquinones were MK-9(H4) and MK-9(H2). The major fatty acids were iso-C16 : 0, C16 : 0, C17 : 1ω6c, anteiso-C17 : 0 and iso-C16 : 1H. The G+C content of the DNA was 72.9 mol%. However, DNA-DNA hybridization studies between strain TRM 41495T and Saccharomonospora xinjiangensis showed only 43.9 % relatedness. Whole-cell sugars, menaquinones and fatty acids differentiate strain TRM 41495T from Saccharomonospora xinjiangensis. On the basis of the polyphasic evidence, strain TRM 41495T represents a novel species of the genus Saccharomonospora, for which the name Saccharomonospora xiaoerkulensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is TRM 41495T (=CCTCC AA 2015038T=KCTC 39727T).

Streptomyces litoralis sp. nov., isolated from a salt water beach.

A novel actinomycete strain, designated TRM 46515T, was isolated from a salt water beach at Awat, Xinjiang, Northwest China, and characterized using polyphasic taxonomy. Comparison of 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain TRM 46515T is a member of the genus Streptomyces, exhibiting highest similarity with Streptomyces qinglanensis 172205T (98.32 %). However, DNA-DNA relatedness and phenotypic data readily distinguished strain TRM 46515T from phylogenetically related type strains. The G+C content of the DNA was 70.40 mol%. Whole-cell hydrolysates of strain TRM 46515T were found to contain ll-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid and ribose was the major whole-cell sugar. The major fatty acids identified were anteiso-C17 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 0, iso-C16 : 0 and iso-C17 : 0. The main menaquinone was MK-9(H8) and the polar lipids were identified as diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidyl ethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylinositol and one unknown glycolipid. On the basis of these phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic data, strain TRM 46515T should be designated as a representative of a novel species of the genus Streptomyces, for which the name Streptomyces litoralis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is TRM 46515T (=CCTCC AA 2015040T=KCTC 39729T).

Nocardiopsis akesuensis sp. nov., an actinomycete isolated from a salt water beach.

The taxonomic position of a novel actinomycete, strain TRM 46250T, isolated from the sediment of a salt water beach at Baicheng, Xinjiang, China, was determined by a polyphasic approach. Strain TRM 46250T grew optimally in the presence of 2 % (w/v) NaCl and an optimum temperature range for growth of 28-37 °C. The whole-cell sugars of strain TRM 46250T were ribose, xylose, mannose and galactose. The diagnostic diamino acid was meso-diaminopimelic acid. The polar lipids were phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylmethyl ethanolamine and six unidentified phospholipids. The predominant menaquinones were MK-10, MK-10(H6) and MK-10(H8). The major fatty acids were 10-methyl C18 : 0, iso-C16 : 0, C16 : 0, iso-G C16 : 1 and C18 : 1ω9c. Based on morphological and chemotaxonomic characteristics the isolate was determined to belong to the genus Nocardiopsis. The phylogenetic tree based on its nearly complete 16S rRNA gene sequence (1493 nt) with those of representative strains showed that the strain consistently falls into a distinct phyletic line together with Nocardiopsis gilva YIM 90087T (97.68 % similarity) and a subclade consisting of Nocardiopsis composta KS9T (97.52 %), Nocardiopsis rosea YIM 90094T (97.44 %) and Nocardiopsis rhodophaea YIM 90096T (97.16 %). However, DNA-DNA hybridization studies between strain TRM 46250T and N. gilva YIM 90087T showed only 36.94 % relatedness. On the basis of these data, strain TRM 46250T should be designated as a representative of a novel species of the genus Nocardiopsis, for which the name Nocardiopsis akesuensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is TRM 46250T (=CCTCC AA 2015027T=KCTC 39725T).

Streptomyces canalis sp. nov., an actinomycete isolated from an alkali-removing canal.

A novel actinomycete strain, designated TRM 46794-61T, was isolated from an alkali-removing canal in 14th Farms of Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, north-west China. The isolate contained ll-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid. The whole-cell sugar patterns of the isolate contained ribose, mannose and glucose. The polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylmethylethanolamine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylinositol mannoside and two unidentified phospholipids. The predominant menaquinones were MK-9(H2), MK-9(H4), MK-9(H6) and MK-9(H8). The major fatty acids were iso-C16 : 0, anteiso-C17 : 0 and anteiso-C15 : 0. The G+C content of the DNA was 70.4 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis showed that strain TRM 46794-61T had a 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 97.6 % with the most closely related species with a validly published name, Streptomyces aidingensis TRM 46012T, and it could be distinguished from all species in the genus Streptomyces based on data from this polyphasic taxonomic study. However, DNA-DNA hybridization studies between strain TRM 46794-61T and S.aidingensis TRM 46012T showed only 45.4 % relatedness. On the basis of these data, strain TRM 46794-61T should be designated as a representative of a novel species of the genus Streptomyces, for which the name Streptomyces canalis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is TRM 46794-61T (=CCTCC AA 2015006T=KCTC 39568T).