Ultrasound findings in neonates with alveolar capillary dysplasia with misalignment of the pulmonary veins: report of two cases.

Alveolar capillary dysplasia with misalignment of the pulmonary veins (ACDMPV) is a rare congenital pulmonary disease that affects newborns. Most patients with ACDMPV are born at full term and are healthy. The main clinical manifestations are refractory pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary failure with gastrointestinal, urinary, or cardiac malformations. ACDMPV often progresses rapidly, but no conventional biological or imaging tests other than genetic testing are available for its diagnosis. Lung biopsy is currently the gold standard for diagnosis. We herein report two cases of ACDMPV confirmed by pathological examination and discuss their ultrasonographic findings.

Biodegradability of polyethylene mulching film by two Pseudomonas bacteria and their potential degradation mechanism.

Wasted polyethylene (PE) products caused pollution has become a global issue. Researchers have identified PE-degrading bacteria which have been considered as a sustainable alleviation to this crisis. However, the degradation mechanism employed by currently isolated bacteria is unclear and their degradation efficiencies are insufficient. More importantly, there is little research into bacteria capable of degrading PE mulching film to solve "white" pollution in agriculture. We determined the PE degradation efficiency of two Pseudomonas, identified by 16S rDNA analysis, and elucidated their potential mechanisms through whole genome sequencing. During an 8-week period, PE mulch lost 5.95 ± 0.03% and 3.62 ± 0.32% of its mass after incubated with P. knackmussii N1-2 and P. aeruginosa RD1-3 strains, respectively. Moreover, considerable pits and wrinkles were observed on PE.The hydrophobicity of PE films also decreased, and new oxygenic functional groups were detected on PE mulch by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry (FTIR). Complete genome sequencing analysis indicated that two Pseudomonas strains encode genes for enzymes and metabolism pathways involved in PE degradation. The results provide a theoretical basis for further research that investigates the mechanism driving the degradation and metabolism of discarded PE in the environment.

The benefits of biochar: Enhanced cadmium remediation, inhibited precursor production of nitrous oxide and a short-term disturbance on rhizosphere microbial community.

Biochar has the potential to remediate heavy metals in agricultural soil and mitigate nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions; however, the effects of biochar on heavy metal remediation, the soil microbial community and N2O emissions are not completely understood. In this study, we conducted a pot experiment in which Glycine max L. (soybean) was cultivated in two cadmium (Cd)-contaminated soils (low, 3.14 mg kg-1; high, 10.80 mg kg-1) to investigate the effects of biochar on the bioremediation of Cd, N2O emissions and the rhizosphere microbial community structure. The bioaccumulation of Cd in the plant shoots and roots increased with all biochar addition rates (0%, 1%, 5% and 10%); unexpectedly, the translocation capacity of Cd to the edible parts of the plant significantly decreased to 0.58 mg kg-1, which was close to the edible threshold (0.4 mg kg-1). The abundance and activities of functional marker genes of microbial nitrification (amoA) and denitrification (nirK, nirS and nosZ) were quantified with quantitative PCR, and we found that biochar addition reduced the precursor production of rhizoshpere N2O by inhibiting the transcription of the nirK gene. In addition, the nitrogenase activity during anthesis (S) was significantly (P < 0.05) increased with 1% (v/v) biochar addition. Noticeably, biochar addition only changed the microbial community structure in the very first stage before eventually stabilize. This study highlighted that biochar has the potential ability to maintain the quality of agricultural crops, remediate Cd-contaminated soils and may help reduce N2O emissions without disturbing the microbial community.

Biodegradability and ecological impacts of polyethylene-based mulching film at agricultural environment.

Discarded Polyethylene (PE) mulches have posed a persistent pollution in the agricultural field. Although PE degraded by microbes has been reported, the effect on in situ soil environment is not completely understood. To determine the biodegradability and ecological impacts of PE-based mulches, we tested the biodegradation related properties of screened strains and analyzed change in soil quality and microbial community after covering with different mulches. Strain Bacillus aryabhattai 5-3 showed 3.85 ±â€¯0.50% gravimetric weight loss after a 30 days incubation with PE-based mulch as the sole carbon source; Considerable pits and vast cavities were found on the surface using AFM and SEM. The hydrophobicity of mulch sheet was decreased to 68.9 ±â€¯0.8°, FTIR identified that new oxidized groups were formed on the surfaces of incubated mulch. Additionally, the fluctuations of microbial communities indicate that synthetic mulch could replace the current commercial product to minimise agricultural pollution.

Herbaspirillum robiniae sp. nov., isolated from root nodules of Robinia pseudoacacia in a lead-zinc mine.

A novel endophytic bacterium, designated strain HZ10T, was isolated from root nodules of Robinia pseudoacacia growing in a lead-zinc mine in Mianxian County, Shaanxi Province, China. The bacterium was Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, motile, slightly curved- and rod-shaped, methyl red-negative, catalase-positive, and did not produce H2S. Strain HZ10T grew at 4-45 °C (optimum, 25-30 °C), pH 5-9 (optimum, pH 7-8) and 0-1 % (w/v) NaCl. The major fatty acids were identified as C16 : 0, summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c) and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c), and the quinone type was Q-8. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol. The DNA G+C content of the genomic DNA was 64.9 mol% based on the whole genome sequence. According to the 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the closest phylogenetic relative to strain HZ10T is Herbaspirillum chlorophenolicum CPW301T (98.72 % sequence identity). Genome relatedness of the type strains H. chlorophenolicum CPW301T, Herbaspirillum seropedicae Z67T and Herbaspirillum aquaticum IEH 4430T, was quantified by using the average nucleotide identity (86.9-88.0 %) and a genome-to-genome distance analysis (26.6 %-29.3 %), with both strongly supporting the notion that strain HZ10T belongs to the genus Herbaspirillum as a novel species. Based on the results from phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic and physiological analyses, strain HZ10T represents a novel Herbaspirillum species, for which the name Herbaspirillum robiniae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is HZ10T (=JCM 31754T=CCTCC AB 2014352T).

Mitsuaria noduli sp. nov., isolated from the root nodules of Robinia pseudoacacia in a lead-zinc mine.

A novel endophytic bacterium, designated strain HZ7T, was isolated from the root nodules of Robinia pseudoacacia growing in a lead-zinc mine in Mianxian County, Shaanxi Province, China. Cells were Gram-reaction-negative, aerobic, motile, rod-shaped, methyl-red-negative, catalase-positive, positive for chitosan-degrading activity and did not produce H2S. Strain HZ7T grew at 4-45 °C (optimum 25-30 °C), at pH 5-9 (optimum pH 7-8) and with 0-1 % (w/v) NaCl. The quinone type was ubiquinone 8 (UQ-8). The major fatty acids were identified as C16 : 0, C17 : 0 cyclo and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c). The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 68.5 mol% by whole genome sequencing. According to 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the closest phylogenetic relative was Mitsuaria chitosanitabida 3001T (99.05 % similarity). Genome relatedness was computed using average nucleotide identity and genome-to-genome distance analysis, both of which strongly supported strain HZ7Tas belonging to the genus Mitsuaria as a representative of a novel species. On the basis of phylogenetic analysis, chemotaxonomic data and physiological characteristics, strain HZ7T represents a novel species of the genus Mitsuaria, for which the name Mitsuaria noduli sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is HZ7T (=JCM 31671T=CCTCC AB 2014353T).

Micromonospora nickelidurans sp. nov., isolated from soil from a nickel-mining site.

An actinomycete, strain K55T, was isolated from a composite soil sample from a nickel mine,collected from Yueyang, Shaanxi Province, PR China. Strain K55T showed 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities of 98.73 %­98.51 % to species of the genus Micromonospora, including Micromonospora haikouensis 232617T, Micromonospora coxensis 2-30-b(28)T, Micromonospora wenchangensis 2602GPT1-05T, Micromonospora matsumotoense IMSNU22003T, Micromonospora maoerensis NEAU-MES19T, and Micromonospora humi P0402T. This strain harboured meso-diaminopimelic acid, alanine and glycine as the major cell-wall amino acids, xylose and glucose as the characteristic whole-cell sugars, and iso-C15 : 0(20.53 %),iso-C17 : 0 (12.74 %), iso-C16 : 0 (12.15 %), anteiso-C17 : 0 (7.97 %), C17 : 1ω8c(7.49 %) and C17 : 0 (6.63 %) as the dominant fatty acids. The major menaquinones were MK-10(H4) and MK-10(H6). The phospholipid profile comprised phosphatidylethanolamine,diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylglycerol and unknown phosphoglycolipids. The DNA G+C content was 71.4 mol%. A comprehensive analysis ofseveral physiological and biochemical traits and DNA­DNA relatedness indicated that strainK55T was different from closely related species. These phenotypic, genotypic and chemotaxonomic data suggest that strain K55T represents a novel species of the genus Micromonospora, for which the name Micromonospora nickelidurans sp. nov., is proposed. The type strain is K55T (5JCM 30559T5ACCC19713T).

Bacillus radicibacter sp. nov., a new bacterium isolated from root nodule of Oxytropis ochrocephala Bunge.

A Gram-positive, facultative anaerobic, rod-shaped, and endospore-forming strain, designated 53-2(T) was isolated from the root nodule of Oxytropis ochrocephala Bunge growing on Qilian mountain, China. The strain can grow at pH 7.0-8.0, 10-50 °C and tolerate up to 11% NaCl. Optimal growth occurred at pH 7.2 and 37 °C. The result of BLASTn search based on 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that strain 53-2(T) , being closest related to Bacillus acidicola 105-2(T) , possessed remote similarity (less than 95.64%) to the species within genus Bacillus. The DNA G + C content was 37.8%. Chemotaxonomic data (major quinone is MK-7; major polar lipids are diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, unknown phospholipid, and aminoglycophospholipid; fatty acids are anteiso-C15: 0 , iso-C15:0 and anteiso-C17: 0 ) supported the affiliation of the isolate to the genus Bacillus. On the basis of physiological, phylogenetic, and biochemical properties, strain 53-2(T) represents a novel species within genus Bacillus, for which the name Bacillus radicibacter is proposed. The type strain is 53-2(T) (=DSM27302(T) =ACCC06115(T) =CCNWQLS5(T) ).

Diaphorobacter ruginosibacter sp. nov., isolated from soybean root nodule, and emended description of the genus Diaphorobacter.

A gram-negative bacterium designated BN30(T), which is motile with a polar flagellum, non-endospores forming, oxidase- and catalase-positive, was isolated from soybean root nodule. The organism is facultative anaerobic and surface-wrinkled rod. It can grow at 10-40 °C, pH 6-8 and 6 % (w/v) NaCl. BLASTn search based on 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that the strain is closely related to Diaphorobacter aerolatus 8604S-37(T), Alicycliphilus denitrificans K601(T), Simplicispira limi EMB325(T), Diaphorobacter nitroreducens NA10B(T) and Diaphorobacter oryzae RF3(T), which all belonged to the family Comamonadaceae in class Betaproteobacteria. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the strain formed a firm clade with three Diaphorobacter species, being closest to Diaphorobacter aerolatus 8604S-37(T) with similarity of 98.64 %. DNA-DNA relatedness values between strain BN30(T) and five reference strains ranged from 11.5 to 35.9 %. All the results of phylogenetic analysis, chemotaxonomical data (predominant fatty acids are C16:0, sum feature 3, sum feature 8 and C17:0 cyclo; major polar lipids are diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol; major quinone is Q-8; G+C of total DNA is 65.2 %), physiological and phenotypic results supported that BN30(T) represented a novel species within the genus Diaphorobacter. The name Diaphorobacter ruginosibacter was proposed, and the type strain is BN30(T) (=ACCC06116(T) = DSM 27467(T)).

Streptomyces ziwulingensis sp. nov., isolated from grassland soil.

A novel actinobacterium, designated strain F22(T), was isolated from grassland soil collected from the Ziwuling area on the Loess Plateau, China. The novel strain was found to have morphological and chemotaxonomic characteristics typical of members of the genus Streptomyces. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain F22(T) belonged to the genus Streptomyces, being most closely related to Streptomyces resistomycificus NBRC 12814(T) (98.28 % sequence similarity), Streptomyces ciscaucasicus NBRC 12872(T) (98.14 %), Streptomyces chartreusis NBRC 12753(T) (98.14 %) and Streptomyces canus NRRL B-1989(T) (98.14 %). In DNA-DNA hybridizations and comparisons of morphological and phenotypic data, strain F22(T) could be distinguished from all of its closest phylogenetic relatives. Strain F22(T) exhibited antibacterial and antifungal activity, especially against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis and Cylindrocarpon destructans. Based on the DNA-DNA hybridization data and morphological, phenotypic and phylogenetic evidence, strain F22(T) represents a novel species of the genus Streptomyces, for which the name Streptomyces ziwulingensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is F22(T) ( = CCNWFX 0001(T) = JCM 18081(T) = ACCC41875(T)).

Streptomyces shaanxiensis sp. nov., a blue pigment-producing streptomycete from sewage irrigation soil.

A novel isolate belonging to the genus Streptomyces, strain CCNWHQ 0031(T), was isolated from soil in a sewage irrigation area in Shaanxi province, China. The isolate produced light greyish-blue aerial mycelium and dark blue diffusible pigment on Gause's synthetic agar. Strain CCNWHQ 0031(T) formed Spirales-type chains with spiny spores. Chemotaxonomic data confirmed that strain CCNWHQ 0031(T) belonged to the genus Streptomyces. Analysis of the almost complete 16S rRNA gene sequence placed strain CCNWHQ 0031(T) in the genus Streptomyces where it formed a distinct phyletic line with recognized Streptomyces species. Strain CCNWHQ 0031(T) exhibited highest sequence similarities to Streptomyces caeruleatus GIMN4.002(T) (99.3%), Streptomyces coeruleorubidus NBRC 12855(T) (98.9%), Streptomyces curacoi NBRC 12761(T) (98.8%) and Streptomyces lincolnensis NBRC 13054(T) (98.0%). DNA-DNA hybridization studies of strain CCNWHQ 0031(T) with these four closest relatives showed relatedness values of 56.6 ± 0.4, 50.3 ± 0.6, 49.8 ± 0.7 and 36.9 ± 0.9 %, respectively. On the basis of its molecular and physiological properties, it is evident that strain CCNWHQ 0031(T) represents a novel species of the genus Streptomyces, for which the name Streptomyces shaanxiensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CCNWHQ 0031(T) ( = CCNWTJ 0031(T) = JCM 16925(T) = ACCC 41873(T)).

Streptomyces zinciresistens sp. nov., a zinc-resistant actinomycete isolated from soil from a copper and zinc mine.

A filamentous actinomycete, designated strain CCNWNQ 0016(T), was isolated from soil from a zinc and copper mine in Shaanxi province, north-western China. A polyphasic taxonomic study was carried out to establish the status of strain CCNWNQ 0016(T). Chemical and morphological properties of the isolate were similar to those of species of the genus Streptomyces. Analysis of the almost complete 16S rRNA gene sequence placed strain CCNWNQ 0016(T) in the genus Streptomyces where it formed a distinct phyletic line with recognized species of this genus. The strain exhibited highest sequence similarities to Streptomyces niveoruber NBRC 15428(T) (98.8  %), Streptomyces griseoviridis NBRC 12874(T) (98.7  %) and Streptomyces aurantiogriseus NBRC 12842(T) (98.7  %). Furthermore, DNA-DNA hybridization studies between the novel isolate and these three strains showed relatedness values of 49.6 ± 0.6, 47.2 ± 0.9 and 46.9 ± 1.1  %, respectively. A number of phenotypic properties also enabled the isolate to be differentiated from related species of the genus Streptomyces. Therefore, it is proposed that strain CCNWNQ 0016(T) (=K42(T) =ACCC 41871(T) =HAMBI 3107(T)) should be classified as the type strain of a novel species in the genus Streptomyces, Streptomyces zinciresistens sp. nov. The maximum level of resistance to Zn²+ for strain CCNWNQ 0016(T) is 35 mM.

Streptomyces plumbiresistens sp. nov., a lead-resistant actinomycete isolated from lead-polluted soil in north-west China.

The taxonomic position of an actinomycete isolated from a lead-polluted soil in Gansu province, north-west China, was determined by using a polyphasic approach. Chemical and morphological properties of the isolate, designated strain CCNWHX 13-160(T), were similar to those of streptomycetes. Analysis of the almost complete 16S rRNA gene sequence placed strain CCNWHX 13-160(T) in the genus Streptomyces where it formed a distinct phyletic line with recognized Streptomyces species. The strain was most similar to Streptomyces pseudovenezuelae NBRC 12904(T) (98.9 %) and Streptomyces resistomycificus NBRC 12814(T) (98.8 %). Furthermore, DNA-DNA hybridization studies between the novel isolate and these two strains showed relatedness values of 49.7+/-0.8 and 43.2+/-1.1 %, respectively. It is proposed that strain CCNWHX 13-160(T) (=ACCC 41207(T)=HAMBI 2991(T)) be classified as the type strain of a novel species in the genus Streptomyces, Streptomyces plumbiresistens sp. nov. The MIC of Pb(2+) for growth of strain CCNWHX 13-160(T) was 4.0 mM.