Streptomyces pimonensis sp. nov., isolated from the Taklimakan desert in Xinjiang, China.

A novel Streptomyces strain, designated TRM 75549T, was isolated from a sample of sand in Pimo reclamation area, Taklimakan desert, Xinjiang, North-West China. Phylogenetic analyses of the 16S rRNA gene sequences placed strain TRM75549T within the genus Streptomyces with the highest similarities to Streptomyces pilosus NBRC 12772T (98.7%). Nonetheless, average nucleotide identity (ANI) value and the digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) value between strain TRM75549T and S. pilosus NBRC 12772T were, respectively, 88.2% and 44.1%, and well below 95-96% and 70% cutoff point recommended for recognizing genomospecies, respectively. A multi-locus sequence analysis of five house-keeping genes (atpD, gyrB, recA, rpoB and trpB) and phylogenomic analysis also illustrated that strain TRM75549T should also be assigned to the genus Streptomyces. Strain TRM75549T contained MK-9 (H6) and MK-9 (H8) as predominant menaquinones. The diagnostic diamino acid of cell walls were identified as LL-diaminopimelic acid and meso-diaminopimelic. The whole-cell sugar pattern of strain TRM 75549T consisted of mannose and glucose. The major fatty acids (> 5%) were iso-C14:0, iso-C15:0, anteiso-C15:0, iso-C16:1H, iso-C16:0. The polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, lysophosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phospholipids, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatiylinositol mannosides and unidentified phospholipids. Strain TRM75549T could be differentiated from S. pilosus NBRC 12772T, based on physiological and biochemical characteristics. Thus, strain TRM75549T is representative of a novel species of the genus Streptomyces, for which the name Streptomyces pimonensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is TRM75549T (= CCTCC AA 2020054T = LMG 32221T).

Genome mining discovery of hydrogen production pathway of Klebsiella sp. WL1316 fermenting cotton stalk hydrolysate

Genome sequencing was used to identify key genes for the generation of hydrogen gas through cotton stalk hydrolysate fermentation by Klebsiella sp. WL1316. Genome annotation indicated that the genome size was 5.2 Mb with GC content 57.6%. Xylose was metabolized in the pentose phosphate pathway via the conversion of xylose to xylulose in Klebsiella sp. WL1316. This strain contained diverse formate-hydrogen lyases and hydrogenases with gene numbers higher than closely related species. A metabolic network involving glucose, xylose utilisation, and fermentative hydrogen production was reconstructed. Metabolic analysis of key node metabolites showed that glucose and xylose metabolism influenced biomass synthesis and biohydrogen production. Formic acid accumulated during fermentation at 24–48 h but decreased sharply after 48 h, illustrating the splitting of formic acid to hydrogen gas during early-to-mid fermentation. The Kreb’s cycle was the main competitive metabolic branch of biohydrogen synthesis at 24 h of fermentation. Lactic and acetic acid fermentation and late ethanol accumulation competed the carbon skeleton of biohydrogen synthesis after 72 h of fermentation, indicating that these competitive pathways are regulated in middle-to-late fermentation (48–96 h). This study is the first to elucidate the metabolic mechanisms of mixed sugar utilisation and biohydrogen synthesis based on genomic information.(AU)

Halomonas jincaotanensis sp. nov., isolated from the Pamir Plateau degrading polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon.

A Gram-strain-negative, rod-shaped, aerobic bacterium, designated strain TRM 85114T, was isolated from the Jincaotan wetland in the Pamir Plateau of China. This strain grew optimally at 30 °C and pH 6.0 in the presence of 3% (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain TRM 85114T was affiliated with the genus Halomonas, and shared high sequence similarity with Halomonas korlensis XK1T (97.3%) and Halomonas tibetensis pyc13T (96.4%). Strain TRM 85114T contained C16:0 and C19:0 cyclo ω8c as primary cellular fatty acids, Q-9 as predominate respiratory quinone, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phospholipids of unknown structure containing glucosamine, unidentified aminophospholipids, unidentified lipids and three unidentified phospholipids as the major polar lipids. The complete genome of TRM 85114T comprised 3,902 putative genes with a total of 4,126,476 bp and a G + C content of 61.6%. The average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values between strain TRM 85114T and related type Halomonas strains of H. korlensis XK1T, H. tibetensis pyc13T, Chromohalobacter salexigens DSM 6768T, and Halomonas urumqiensis BZ-SZ-XJ27T were 75.4-88.9% and 22.9-39.2%, respectively. Based on phenotypic, chemotaxonomic, and molecular features, strain TRM 85114T represents a novel species of the genus Halomonas, for which the name is proposed as Halomonas jincaotanensis sp. nov.. The type strain is TRM 85114T (CCTCC AB 2021006T = LMG 32311T). The amount of 1-naphthylamine degradation by strain TRM 85114T reached up to 32.0 mg/L in 14 days.

Genome mining discovery of hydrogen production pathway of Klebsiella sp. WL1316 fermenting cotton stalk hydrolysate.

Genome sequencing was used to identify key genes for the generation of hydrogen gas through cotton stalk hydrolysate fermentation by Klebsiella sp. WL1316. Genome annotation indicated that the genome size was 5.2 Mb with GC content 57.6%. Xylose was metabolized in the pentose phosphate pathway via the conversion of xylose to xylulose in Klebsiella sp. WL1316. This strain contained diverse formate-hydrogen lyases and hydrogenases with gene numbers higher than closely related species. A metabolic network involving glucose, xylose utilisation, and fermentative hydrogen production was reconstructed. Metabolic analysis of key node metabolites showed that glucose and xylose metabolism influenced biomass synthesis and biohydrogen production. Formic acid accumulated during fermentation at 24-48 h but decreased sharply after 48 h, illustrating the splitting of formic acid to hydrogen gas during early-to-mid fermentation. The Kreb's cycle was the main competitive metabolic branch of biohydrogen synthesis at 24 h of fermentation. Lactic and acetic acid fermentation and late ethanol accumulation competed the carbon skeleton of biohydrogen synthesis after 72 h of fermentation, indicating that these competitive pathways are regulated in middle-to-late fermentation (48-96 h). This study is the first to elucidate the metabolic mechanisms of mixed sugar utilisation and biohydrogen synthesis based on genomic information.

AKIP1 promotes glioblastoma viability, mobility and chemoradiation resistance via regulating CXCL1 and CXCL8 mediated NF-κB and AKT pathways.

This study aimed to investigate the interaction of A-kinase-interacting protein 1 (AKIP1) with C-X-C motif chemokine ligand (CXCL)1, CXCL2, CXCL8, and their effects on regulating glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) malignant behaviors. AKIP1 expression was modified by pcDNA and pGPH1 vectors in U-87 MG and U-251 MG cells. Subsequently, multiple compensative experiments were conducted via adding CXCL1, CXCL2 and CXCL8 in the pGPH1-AKIP1 (AKIP1 knockdown) transfected U-87 MG and U-251 MG cells, respectively. Furthermore, AKIP1, CXCL1/2/8 expressions in 10 GBM and 10 low-grade glioma (LGG) tumor samples were detected. AKIP1 was elevated in various GBM cell lines compared to normal human astrocytes. AKIP1 overexpression promoted U-87 MG and U-251 MG cell proliferation and invasion while inhibited apoptosis; and it enhanced chemoresistance to temozolomide (but not cisplatin) and radiation resistance; then AKIP1 knockdown showed the opposite effects. Meanwhile, AKIP1 positively regulated CXCL1/2/8, NF-κB pathway, AKT pathway and PD-L1 expression. Further multiple compensative experiments uncovered that CXCL1 and CXCL8 promoted proliferation, invasion, chemoradiation resistance, NF-κB pathway, AKT pathway and PD-L1 expression in U-87 MG and U-251 MG cells, also in pGPH1-AKIP1 (AKIP1 knockdown) transfected U-87 MG and U-251 MG cells; although CXCL2 exhibited similar treads, but its effect was much weaker. Besides, NF-κB pathway inhibitor and AKT pathway inhibitor attenuated the effect of CXCL1&CXCL8 on promoting GBM cell malignant behaviors. Clinically AKIP1 and CXCL1/8 were elevated in GBM compared to LGG tumor samples, and they were inter-correlated. AKIP1 promotes GBM viability, mobility and chemoradiation resistance via regulating CXCL1 and CXCL8 mediated NF-κB and AKT pathways.

Preserving Right Pre-motor and Posterior Prefrontal Cortices Contribute to Maintaining Overall Basic Emotion.

Basic emotions such as happiness, sadness, and anger are universal, regardless of the human species, and are governed by specific brain regions. A recent report revealed that mentalizing, which is the ability to estimate other individuals' emotional states via facial expressions, can be preserved with the help of awake surgery. However, it is still questionable whether we can maintain the ability to understand others' emotions by preserving the positive mapping sites of intraoperative assessment. Here, we demonstrated the cortical regions related to basic emotions via awake surgery for patients with frontal glioma and investigated the usefulness of functional mapping in preserving basic emotion. Of the 56 consecutive patients with right cerebral hemispheric glioma who underwent awake surgery at our hospital, intraoperative assessment of basic emotion could be successfully performed in 22 patients with frontal glioma and were included in our study. During surgery, positive responses were found in 18 points in 12 patients (54.5%). Of these, 15 points from 11 patients were found at the cortical level, mainly the premotor and posterior part of the prefrontal cortices. Then, we focused on cortical 15 positive mappings with 40 stimulations and investigated the types of emotions that showed errors by every stimulation. There was no specific rule for the region-emotional type, which was beyond our expectations. In the postoperative acute phase, the test score of basic emotion declined in nine patients, and of these, it decreased under the cut-off value (Z-score ≤ -1.65) in three patients. Although the total score declined significantly just after surgery (p = 0.022), it recovered within 3 months postoperatively. Our study revealed that through direct electrical stimulation (DES), the premotor and posterior parts of the prefrontal cortices are related to various kinds of basic emotion, but not a single one. When the region with a positive mapping site is preserved during operation, basic emotion function might be maintained although it declines transiently after surgery.

P68 RNA helicase promotes invasion of glioma cells through negatively regulating DUSP5.

Gliomas are the most common central nervous system tumors. They show malignant characteristics indicating rapid proliferation and a high invasive capacity and are associated with a poor prognosis. In our previous study, p68 was overexpressed in glioma cells and correlated with both the degree of glioma differentiation and poor overall survival. Downregulating p68 significantly suppressed proliferation in glioma cells. Moreover, we found that the p68 gene promoted glioma cell growth by activating the nuclear factor-κB signaling pathway by a downstream molecular mechanism that remains incompletely understood. In this study, we found that dual specificity phosphatase 5 (DUSP5) is a downstream target of p68, using microarray analysis, and that p68 negatively regulates DUSP5. Upregulating DUSP5 in stably expressing cell lines (U87 and LN-229) suppressed proliferation, invasion, and migration in glioma cells in vitro, consistent with the downregulation of p68. Furthermore, upregulating DUSP5 inhibited ERK phosphorylation, whereas downregulating DUSP5 rescued the level of ERK phosphorylation, indicating that DUSP5 might negatively regulate ERK signaling. Additionally, we show that DUSP5 levels were lower in high-grade glioma than in low-grade glioma. These results suggest that the p68-induced negative regulation of DUSP5 promoted invasion by glioma cells and mediated the activation of the ERK signaling pathway.

Genome-wide analysis of RNAs associated with Populus euphratica Oliv. heterophyll morphogenesis.

The desert plant Populus euphratica Oliv. has typical heterophylly; linear (Li), lanceolate (La), ovate (Ov) and broad-ovate (Bo) leaves grow in turn as trees develop to maturity. P. euphratica is therefore a potential model organism for leaf development. To investigate the roles of RNAs (including mRNAs, miRNAs, lncRNAs and circRNAs) in the morphogenesis of P. euphratica heterophylls, juvenile heterophylls were sampled individually, and then, the expression patterns of miRNAs, mRNAs, lncRNAs and circRNAs were analysed by small RNA sequencing and strand-specific RNA sequencing. We found that 1374 mRNAs, 19 miRNAs, 71 lncRNAs and 2 circRNAs were P. euphratica heterophyll morphogenesis-associated (PHMA) RNAs; among them, 17 PHMA miRNAs could alter the expression of 46 PHMA mRNAs. Furthermore, 11 lncRNAs and 2 circRNAs interacted with 27 PHMA mRNAs according to the ceRNA hypothesis. According to GO and KEGG pathway analysis, PHMA RNAs were mainly involved in metabolism, response to stimulus and developmental processes. Our results indicated that external environmental factors and genetic factors in P. euphratica co-regulated the expression of PHMA RNAs, repressed cell division, reinforced cell growth, and ultimately resulted in the morphogenesis of P. euphratica heterophylls.

Streptomyces carminius sp. nov., a novel actinomycete isolated from Sophora alopecuroides in Xinjiang, China.

A novel actinobacterial strain, designated TRM SA0054T, was isolated from the roots of Sophora alopecuroides grown in Alar, Xinjiang, north-west China, and characterised by a polyphasic taxonomic approach. Phylogenetic analysis showed that strain TRM SA0054T has 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 98.22% with Streptomyces barkulensis RC 1831T. Whole cell hydrolysates of strain TRM SA0054T were found to contain LL-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid and ribose, glucose and xylose as the major whole cell sugars. The major fatty acids were identified as iso-C16:0, iso-C16:1 G, anteiso-C17:0, anteiso-C15:0, C16:0, anteiso-C17:1 ω9c. The main menaquinones were determined to be MK-8 (H4), MK-9 (H6) and MK-9 (H8). The polar lipids were identified as diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylmethylethanolamine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylinositol mannoside and an unidentified lipid. The G + C content of the genomic DNA was determined to be 73.04%. Strain TRM SA0054T has a relatively low DNA-DNA relatedness value with Streptomyces barkulensis RC 1831T as determined by calculating the average nucleotide identity value (ANI = 84.1%). Based on the phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic data, it is concluded that strain TRM SA0054T should be designated as a novel species of the genus Streptomyces, for which the name Streptomyces carminius sp. nov. is proposed, with type strain TRM SA0054T (= CCTCC AA 2016041T = KCTC39903T).

Biohydrogen production from fermentation of cotton stalk hydrolysate by Klebsiella sp. WL1316 newly isolated from wild carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) of the Tarim River basin.

A new hydrogen-producing bacterium was isolated from the intestine of wild carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) of the Tarim River Basin. The isolate was identified as Klebsiella sp. based on 16S rDNA gene sequencing and examination of physiological and biochemical characteristics. The isolated strain, Klebsiella sp. WL1316, could effectively produce a high yield of hydrogen by using cotton stalk hydrolysate as substrate. The optimum fermentation conditions for hydrogen production were determined as follows: an initial sugar concentration of 40 g/L, a fermentation temperature of 37 °C and an initial pH value of 8.0. The scaled-up fermentation process was conducted in a 5-L fermenter using these parameters. Higher productivities with maximum daily hydrogen production of 937.0 ± 41.0 mL L-1 day-1, cumulative hydrogen production of 2908.5 ± 47.4 mL L-1, viable cell count of (20.2 ± 0.6) × 108 CFU mL-1 and hydrogen yield of 1.44 ± 0.08 mol mol-1sugarconsumed were obtained. The cumulative hydrogen production was predicted by the modified Gompertz equation with R 2 of 0.997, and values of R m and P were 44.8 mL L-1 h-1 and 3057.6 mL L-1, respectively. These results indicated that the strain Klebsiella sp. WL1316 resulted in a high hydrogen production rate (HPR) and good hydrogen production potential. Moreover, this strain exhibited higher values of maximum hydrogen yield and HPR than the reported pure cultures.

An RNA­sequencing study identifies candidate genes for angiotensin II­induced cardiac remodeling.

The present study aimed to reveal the underlying mechanism of angiotensin II (AngII)­induced cardiac remodeling and to identify potential therapeutic targets for prevention. Rat cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) were cultured with 10 nM AngII for 12 h, and CFs without AngII were used as the control. Following RNA isolation from AngII treated and control CFs, RNA­sequencing was performed to detect gene expression levels. Differentially­expressed genes (DEGs) were identified using the linear models for microarray analysis package in R software, and their functions and pathways were examined via enrichment analysis. In addition, potential associations at the protein level were revealed via the construction of a protein­protein interaction (PPI) network. The expression levels of genes of interest were validated via reverse transcription­quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis. In total, 126 upregulated and 140 downregulated DEGs were identified. According to the enrichment analysis, acetyl coA carboxylase ß (ACACB), interleukin 1ß (IL1B), interleukin 1α (IL1A), nitric oxide synthase 2 (NOS2) and matrix metallopeptidase 3 (MMP3) were associated with the immune response, regulation of angiogenesis, superoxide metabolic process and carboxylic acid binding biological processes. Among them, ACACB and MPP3 were two predominant nodes in the PPI network. In addition, IL1B and MMP3 were demonstrated to be upregulated. These five genes, particularly IL1B and MMP3, may be used as candidate markers for the prevention of AngII­induced cardiac remodeling.

[Clinical observation of the combined treatment of Chinese traditional medicine and levamisole for RAU].

PURPOSE: To observe the clinical effects of combination application treatment of Chinese traditional medicine(CTM) and levamisole on RAU through clinical uses of CTM experience formula and levamisole. METHODS: Seventy-six RAU cases were randomly divided into two groups. The treatment group was given CTM experience formula and levamisole; the control group was given levamisole only. Wilcoxon test was performed for comparison of the treatment using SAS 9.0 software package. RESULTS: The total effective rate was 92.10% in the treatment group. The total effective rate was 78.95% in the control group. There was significant difference between the two groups. CONCLUSION: The combined treatment of CTM and levamisole is superior to levamisole alone for RAU.

The study of helicon plasma source.

Helicon plasma source is known as efficient generator of uniform and high density plasma. A helicon plasma source was developed for investigation of plasma neutralization and plasma lens in the Institute of Modern Physics in China. In this paper, the characteristics of helicon plasma have been studied by using Langmuir four-probe and a high argon plasma density up to 3.9x10(13) cm(-3) have been achieved with the Nagoya type III antenna at the conditions of the magnetic intensity of 200 G, working gas pressure of 2.8x10(-3) Pa, and rf power of 1200 W with a frequency of 27.12 MHz. In the experiment, the important phenomena have been found: for a given magnetic induction intensity, the plasma density became greater with the increase in rf power and tended to saturation, and the helicon mode appeared at the rf power between 200 and 400 W.

A high-current microwave ion source with permanent magnet and its beam emittance measurement.

The progress of a 2.45 GHz high-current microwave ion source with permanent magnet for T(d,n)4He reaction neutron generator is reported in this paper. At 600 W microwave power and 22 kV extraction voltage, 90 mA peak hydrogen ion beam is extracted from a single aperture of 6 mm diameter. The beam emittance is measured using a simplified pepper-pot method. The (x,x(')) emittance and the (y,y(')) emittance for 14 keV hydrogen ion beam are 55.3pi and 58.2pi mm mrad, respectively. The normalized emittances are 0.302pi and 0.317pi mm mrad, respectively.

[Effects of warming spleen and stomach for dispersing phlegm recipe on expression of interleukin-8 in S180 tumor tissue in mice].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of warming spleen and stomach for dispersing phlegm recipe (Wenzhong Xiaotan Recipe, WZXTR), a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, on expression of interleukin-8 (IL-8) in S(180) tumor tissue in mice, and to explore the effectiveness and its mechanism. METHODS: Fifty mice were randomly divided into five groups: untreated group, cold water-treated group, cold water and WZXTR-treated group, cold water and dispersing phlegm and eliminating stagnation recipe (Xiaotan Sanjie Recipe, XTSJR, another compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine) treated group, cold water and tegafur-treated group. Mice in the latter 4 groups were fed 0-4 degrees centigrade cold distilled water 10 ml/(kg x d) one week before tumor inoculation for 3 weeks. Mice in the 5 groups were inoculated neoplastic cells which were diluted 2 x 10(7)/ml with normal saline in the right armpit at the second week. Forty-eight hours later, the mice were given drugs intragastrically (WZXTR, XTSJR and tegafur, respectively). The mice were continually intervened by cold water in the morning and given drugs in the afternoon. Mice in the cold water-treated group were given normal saline, and nothing was given in untreated group. Morphology appearance and changes of rectal temperature were observed, and the tumor weight and volume were measured and inhibitory rate was calculated 22 days after tumor inoculation. IL-8 was detected by avidin-biotin system-enzyme-labeled immunosorbent assay (ABC-ELISA) and real-time reverse polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR). RESULTS: The content of IL-8 in tumor tissue of the untreated group was significantly higher than that of the other groups (P<0.01), and that of the cold water-treated group was higher than that of the cold water and WZXTR-treated group (P<0.01) and the cold water and XTSJR-treated group (P<0.05), respectively. The gray scale value of cDNA amplification strap was descent more evidently in both the cold water and WZXTR-treated group and the cold water and XTSJR-treated group as compared with that of the cold water-treated group and the untreated group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: WZXTR can restrain tumor growth, and the mechanism may be that it can degrade the expression of IL-8 in S180 tumor.