Effect of enhanced UV-B radiation on growth and photosynthetic physiology of Iris tectorum maxim.

Iris tectorum Maxim. is an important plant that plays a very crucial role in the ecological welfare of wetlands. In this study, the effects of different intensities of UV-B radiation on the growth, photosynthetic pigment content, chlorophyll fluorescence characteristics, chloroplast ultrastructure, and gas exchange parameters of Iris tectorum Maxim. were studied. The results showed that enhanced UV-B radiation had a significant influence on the above-mentioned parameters of iris. Compared with the control, enhanced UV-B radiation caused certain damage to the leaf appearance. With the increasing intensity of radiation, the apparent damage degree became more serious. Enhanced UV-B radiation significantly decreased leaf chlorophyll contents, and the effect accumulated with the exposure time. Enhanced UV-B radiation increased Fo, significantly increased the non-photochemical quenching coefficient NPQ, reduced PSII and Qp, and significantly decreased the Fm, Fv/Fm, and Fv/Fo in leaves. The effect of UV-B radiation on PSII destruction of Iris tectorum Maxim. increased as the radiation intensity increased and the exposure time prolonged. The chloroplast structure was damaged under the enhanced UV-B radiation. More specifically, thylakoid lamellae were distorted, swelling and even blurred, and a large number of starch granules appeared. The effect of the high intensity of radiation on chloroplast ultrastructure was greater than that of lower intensity. Enhanced UV-B radiation reduced significantly the net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and transpiration rate, and the degree of degradation increased with the increasing irradiation intensity. However, the intercellular CO2 content increased, which suggests that the main reason for the decrease of photosynthetic rate was the non-stomatal factors.

Analysis of the Correlation Between the Ratio of Monocytes to High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol and in-Stent Restenosis in Patients with Premature Coronary Heart Disease.

BACKGROUND: High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and monocytes are associated with coronary artery disease, and the ratio of monocytes to high-density lipoprotein (MHR) is associated with long-term adverse outcomes and the recurrence of atrial fibrillation. Currently, the trend of coronary heart disease proned to young people is becoming prominent. However, the relationship between MHR and in-stent restenosis (ISR) in patients with premature coronary heart disease (PCHD) has not been investigated. Therefore, we aimed to assess the relationship between MHR and ISR in patients with PCHD. METHODS: We retrospectively included 257 patients (men ≤ 55 years old, women ≤ 65 years old) with PCHD who underwent drug-eluting stent implantation and follow-up coronary angiography at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from September 2016 to September 2019. Patients were divided into ISR and non-ISR groups depending on their follow-up coronary angiography results. Relative clinical information was recorded and analyzed. A receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to determine the optimum pre-procedural MHR cutoff value to predict ISR. RESULTS: Logistic regression analysis showed that MHR, smoking history, and fibrinogen were independent risk factors for ISR in patients with PCHD. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of MHR was 0.750 (95% confidence interval, 0.695-0.820; P < .001), the cutoff value was 546.88, and the specificity and sensitivity were 65.2% and 78%, while the AUC of monocytes was 0.631 (95% confidence interval, 0.638-0.794; P < .001), the cutoff value was 590, and the specificity and sensitivity were 77.1% and 60.0%. CONCLUSION: MHR is an independent risk factor for ISR in patients with PCHD and showed a certain predictive value.

Phosphorylcholine-Primed Dendritic Cells Aggravate the Development of Atherosclerosis in ApoE-/- Mice.

Background: Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease involving activation of adaptive and innate immune responses to antigens, including oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) and phosphorylcholine (PC). Dendritic cells (DCs), which are antigen-presenting cells that activate T cells, are present in atherosclerotic lesions and are activated in immune organs. However, the mechanism by which PC promotes atherosclerosis is unclear. Methods and Results: To evaluate whether PC promotes atherosclerosis via DCs, 2×105 DCs activated by PC-keyhole limpet hemocyanin (DCs+PC-KLH) were injected into ApoE-/- mice and the features of the plaques and the effects of the DCs on cellular and humoral immunity against PC-KLH were determined. Mice injected with DCs+PC-KLH had significantly larger atherosclerotic lesions than controls, with increased inflammation in the lesions and plaque instability. Furthermore, DCs+PC-KLH were characterized using flow cytometry after coculture of bone marrow-derived DCs and naïve T cells. DCs+PC-KLH showed an inflammatory phenotype, with increased CD86, CD40, and major histocompatibility complex Class II molecules (MHC-II), which promoted PC-specific T helper (Th) 1 and Th17 cell differentiation in vivo and in vitro. Moreover, 2 weeks after the administration of DCs+PC-KLH to mice, these mice produced PC- and oxLDL-specific IgG2a, compared with no production in the controls. Conclusions: These findings suggest that DCs presenting PC promote specific immunity to PC, increase lesion inflammation, and accelerate atherosclerosis, which may explain how PC promotes atherosclerosis.

TAGLN2 is a candidate prognostic biomarker promoting tumorigenesis in human gliomas.

BACKGROUND: Transgelin-2 (TAGLN2) is a member of the calponin family of actin-bundling proteins that is involved in the regulation of cell morphology, motility, and cell transformation. Here, the clinical significance and potential function of TAGLN2 in malignant gliomas were investigated. METHODS: Molecular and clinical data was obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Gene ontology and pathway analysis was used to predict potential functions of TAGLN2. RNA knockdown was performed using siRNA or lentiviral contructs in U87MG and U251 glioma cell lines. Cells were characterized in vitro or implanted in vivo to generate orthotopic xenografts in order to assess molecular status, cell proliferation/survival, and invasion by Western blotting, flow cytometry, and 3D tumor spheroid invasion assay, respectively. RESULTS: Increased TAGLN2 expression was associated with increasing tumor grade (P < 0.001), the mesenchymal molecular glioma subtype and worse prognosis in patients (P < 0.001). Immunohistochemistry performed with anti-TAGLN2 on an independent cohort of patients (n = 46) confirmed these results. Gene silencing of TAGLN2 in U87MG and U251 significantly inhibited invasion and tumor growth in vitro and in vivo. Western blot analysis revealed that epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) molecular markers, such as N-cadherin, E-cadherin, and Snail, were regulated in a manner corresponding to suppression of the EMT phenotype in knockdown experiments. Finally, TAGLN2 was induced ~ 2 to 3-fold in U87MG and U251 cells by TGFß2, which was also elevated in GBM and highly correlated with TAGLN2 mRNA levels (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that TAGLN2 exerts a role in promoting the development of human glioma. The regulation and function of TAGLN2 therefore renders it as a candidate molecular target for the treatment of GBM.

Diversity and distribution of cultured endolichenic fungi in the Ny-Ålesund Region, Svalbard (High Arctic).

Endolichenic fungi within 17 lichen species in the area near Ny-Ålesund (Svalbard, High Arctic) were studied by a culture-based method. The 247 fungal isolates were obtained from 2712 lichen thallus segments. The colonization rate of endolichenic fungi ranged from 1.6 to 26.5 %, respectively. These isolates were identified to 40 fungal taxa, including 35 Ascomycota (10 orders), 4 Basidiomycota (3 orders), and 1 unidentified fungus. Thelebolales was the most abundant order, while Sordariales were the most diverse order. The common fungal taxa shared by more than 3 lichen species were Thelebolus microsporus (93 isolates), Coniochaeta hoffmannii (7 isolates), Sarocladium kiliense (33 isolates), Coniochaeta sp. 1 (5 isolates), Coniochaeta sp. 4 (28 isolates), and Coniochaeta sp. 2 (5 isolates). Low Sorenson's similarity coefficients were observed among different lichen species, indicating that host-related factor may shape the endolichenic fungal communities in this region. In addition, no endolichenic fungal taxa were previously found in the Antarctica and Austrian Alps, suggesting endolichenic fungal communities in this region might be also shaped by the Arctic climate. The results demonstrate the existence of specific cultured endolichenic fungal species, which may be suitable objects for further study of their possible functional roles in the lichen thalli.

An anionic zeolite-like metal-organic framework (AZMOF) with a Moravia network for organic dye absorption through cation-exchange.

An anionic zeolite-like metal-organic framework (AZMOF) with a twisted partially augmented the net, known as the "Moravia" net, [(CH3)2NH2]6[Sr13(O)3()8(OH)2(H2O)16]·xS (, where S represents non-coordinated solvent molecules, and is the abbreviation of benzo-(1,2;3,4;5,6)-tris-(thiophene-2'-carboxylic acid)), has been solvothermally synthesized and characterized, which possesses an anionic framework and nano-sized sodalite cage. Through cation-exchange, is capable of uptaking large organic cationic dyes including Rhodamine B (RB), Basic Red 2 (BR2), Crystal Violet (CV) and Methylene Blue (MB), amongst which the adsorption capability for RB (up to 545 mg g(-1)), and BR2 (up to 675 mg g(-1)) is the highest for reported absorbants to date.

Tenggerimyces mesophilus gen. nov., sp. nov., a member of the family Nocardioidaceae.

A novel aerobic actinomycete, designated strain I12A-02601T, was isolated from a desert soil crusts sample collected from the Shapotou region of Tengger Desert, north-west China. The substrate mycelia of this isolate were well-developed and branched, but not fragmented. The maturity aerial mycelia formed short chains of small, rod-shaped spores. The strain contained ll-diaminopimelic acid, dd-diaminopimelic acid, galactose, glucose, ribose and xylose in its whole-cell hydrolysates. The polar lipids consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, N-acetylglucosamine-containing phospholipids, phosphatidylinositolmannoside and glycolipids. The predominant menaquinones were MK-10(H6) and MK-10(H8). The major fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 0, C16 : 0, anteiso-C17 : 0 and iso-C16 : 0. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 72.2 mol%. The 16S rRNA gene sequences comparison showed that strain I12A-02601T was most closely related to members of the family Nocardioidaceae, such as Actinopolymorpha alba YIM 48868T (93.3 % sequence similarity), Actinopolymorpha pittospori PIP 143T (93.2 %), and Flindersiella endophytica EUM 378T (93.2 %). In the phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, strain I12A-02601T formed a clade with the members of the genera Flindersiella, Thermasporomyces, and Actinopolymorpha in the family Nocardioidaceae. Combined data from this taxonomic study using a polyphasic approach, led to the conclusion that strain I12A-02601T represents a novel species of a new genus in the family Nocardioidaceae, for which the name Tenggerimyces mesophilus gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of the type species is I12A-02601T ( = CPCC 203544T = DSM 45829T = NBRC 109454T).

Molecular analysis of fungal diversity associated with three bryophyte species in the Fildes Region, King George Island, maritime Antarctica.

The fungal communities associated with three bryophytes species (the liverwort Barbilophozia hatcheri, the mosses Chorisodontium aciphyllum and Sanionia uncinata) in the Fildes Region, King George Island, maritime Antarctica, were studied using clone library analysis. Fungal communities showed low diversity; the 680 clones belonged to 93 OTUs. Of these, 78 belonged to the phylum Ascomycota, 13 to the phylum Basidiomycota, 1 to the phylum Zygomycota, and 1 to an unknown phylum. Among the OTUs, the most common orders in the Ascomycota were Helotiales (42 OTUs) and Chaetothyriales (14 OTUs) and the most common orders in the Basidiomycota were Sebacinales (3 OTUs) and Platygloeales (3 OTUs). Most OTUs clustered within clades that contained phylotypes identified from samples in Antarctic or Arctic ecosystems or from bryophytes in other ecosystems. In addition, we found that host-related factor may shape the fungal communities associated with bryophytes in this region. This is the first systematic study of the fungal community in Antarctic bryophytes to be performed using culture-independent method and the results may improve understanding of the endophytic fungal evolution and ecology in the Antarctic ecosystem.

Williamsia sterculiae sp. nov., isolated from a Chinese medicinal plant.

Two actinobacterial strains, CPCC 203464(T) and CPCC 203448, isolated from surface-sterilized stems of medicinal plants were subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic study. These two aerobic organisms formed pale yellow colonies on tryptic soy agar (TSA). Cells were Gram-stain-positive, non-acid-fast, non-motile, rod- or coccoid-like elements. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that strains CPCC 203464(T) and CPCC 203448 were most closely related to the type strains of the species of the genus Williamsia. Chemotaxonomic properties such as containing meso-diaminopimelic acid in the cell wall, arabinose, galactose and ribose being the whole-cell hydrolysate sugars, phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG), phosphatidylglycerol (PG) and phosphatidylinositol (PI) as the phospholipids, and C16 : 0, 10-methyl C18 : 0, C18 : 1ω9c, C16 : 1ω7c and/or iso-C15 : 0 2-OH as major fatty acids supported the affiliation of strains CPCC 203464(T) and CPCC 203448 to the genus Williamsia. The DNA-DNA hybridization values in combination with differentiating chemotaxonomic and physiological characteristics strongly suggested that these two isolates should be classified as representatives of a novel species of the genus Williamsia. The name Williamsia sterculiae sp. nov. is proposed, with strain CPCC 203464(T) ( = DSM 45741(T) = KCTC 29118(T)) as the type strain.

Diversity and cold adaptation of culturable endophytic fungi from bryophytes in the Fildes Region, King George Island, maritime Antarctica.

Endophytic fungi associated with three bryophyte species in the Fildes Region, King George Island, maritime Antarctica, that is, the liverwort Barbilophozia hatcheri, the mosses Chorisodontium aciphyllum and Sanionia uncinata, were studied by culture-dependent method. A total of 128 endophytic fungi were isolated from 1329 tissue segments of 14 samples. The colonization rate of endophytic fungi in three bryophytes species were 12.3%, 12.1%, and 8.7%, respectively. These isolates were identified to 21 taxa, with 15 Ascomycota, 5 Basidiomycota, and 1 unidentified fungus, based on morphological characteristics and sequence analyses of ITS region and D1/D2 domain. The dominant fungal endophyte was Hyaloscyphaceae sp. in B. hatcheri, Rhizoscyphus sp. in C. aciphyllum, and one unidentified fungus in S. uncinata; and their relative frequencies were 33.3%, 32.1%, and 80.0%, respectively. Furthermore, different Shannon-Weiner diversity indices (0.91-1.99) for endophytic fungi and low endophytic fungal composition similarities (0.19-0.40) were found in three bryophyte species. Growth temperature tests indicated that 21 taxa belong to psychrophiles (9), psychrotrophs (11), and mesophile (1). The results herein demonstrate that the Antarctic bryophytes are an interesting source of fungal endophytes and the endophytic fungal composition is different among the bryophyte species, and suggest that these fungal endophytes are adapted to cold stress in Antarctica.

Allonocardiopsis opalescens gen. nov., sp. nov., a new member of the suborder Streptosporangineae, from the surface-sterilized fruit of a medicinal plant.

An endophytic actinomycete, designated strain I10A-01259(T), was isolated from a surface-sterilized fruit of Lonicera maackii (Rupr.) Maxim., a medicinal plant, which was collected from a suburb of Beijing, China. Whole-cell hydrolysates of the isolate contained galactose and meso-diaminopimelic acid. The predominant phospholipids were phosphatidylglycerol and diphosphatidylglycerol; the menaquinones consisted mainly of MK-9, MK-11 and MK-12, with a minor amount of MK-10. The major fatty acids were iso-C16 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 0 and iso-C15 : 0. Comparative analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain I10A-01259(T) was most closely related to Nocardiopsis arabia S186(T) (93.2 % sequence similarity), Thermobifida halotolerans YIM 90462(T) (93.0 %) and other strains of genera within the families Nocardiopsaceae and Thermomonosporaceae. On the phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, strain I10A-01259(T) fell within the radius of the suborder Streptosporangineae, in which the strain formed a distinct lineage next to the genera of the families Nocardiopsaceae and Thermomonosporaceae. Based on the data from our polyphasic taxonomic study, a novel genus and species, Allonocardiopsis opalescens gen. nov., sp. nov., are proposed within the suborder Streptosporangineae. The type strain of Allonocardiopsis opalescens is strain I10A-01259(T) ( = CPCC 203428(T)  = DSM 45601(T)  = KCTC 19844(T)).

Nocardioides perillae sp. nov., isolated from surface-sterilized roots of Perilla frutescens.

A Gram-stain-positive, rod-shaped actinobacterium, designated strain I10A-01402(T), was isolated from surface-sterilized roots of a medicinal plant, Perilla frutescens, collected in a suburb of Beijing, China. Chemotaxonomically, the strain contained ll-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid and MK-8(H4) as the predominant menaquinone. The phospholipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylinositol. The major fatty acids were C17 : 1ω9c, C18 : 1ω9c, C17 : 0, C16 : 0 and iso-C16 : 0. The genomic DNA G+C content was 70.4 mol%. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that strain I10A-01402(T) belonged to the genus Nocardioides. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the isolate formed a robust cluster with Nocardioides ginsengisegetis Gsoil 485(T), N. koreensis MSL-09(T) and N. alkalitolerans KSL-1(T). On the basis of the evidence from our polyphasic taxonomic study, a novel species, Nocardioides perillae sp. nov., is proposed. The type strain is I10A-01402(T) ( = CPCC 203382(T)  = DSM 24552(T)  = KCTC 29022(T)).

Description of Belnapia rosea sp. nov. and emended description of the genus Belnapia Reddy et al. 2006.

A novel alphaproteobacterial strain, designated CPCC 100156(T), was isolated from a forest soil sample collected from Hainan Island, South China, and subjected to taxonomic investigation using a polyphasic approach. The pink- to rosy-coloured colonies on TSA and YM agar were smooth and moist. Good growth occurred at 28-32 °C and at pH 7.0-7.5. The respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-9. The polar lipids consisted of phosphatidylcholine (PC), hydroxyphosphatidylethanolamine (OH-PE), phosphatidylglycerol (PG), diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG) and two unidentified aminolipids (AL1, AL2), with a minor amount of ninhydrin-positive phosphoglycolipid. (NPG). The major cellular fatty acids were summed feature 8 (C(18:1)ω7c /C(18:1)ω6c) (49.5%), summed feature 3 (C(16:1)ω7c/C(16:1)ω6c) (22.5%), and C(16:0) (14.0%). The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 70.3 mol%. The organism showed 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 97.37% with Belnapia moabensis DSM 16746(T). Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the isolate belonged to the family Acetobacteraceae and consistently formed a robust cluster with Belnapia moabensis DSM 16746(T) in the phylogenetic tree. The DNA-DNA hybridization value between the new isolate and Belnapia moabensis DSM 16746(T) was 45.6%. On the basis of the taxonomic evidence, it is proposed that strain CPCC 100156(T) represents a novel species, for which the name Belnapia rosea sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CPCC 100156(T) (=DSM 23312(T)=CGMCC 1.10758(T)). The description of the genus Belnapia is emended accordingly.

Agromyces flavus sp. nov., an actinomycete isolated from soil.

A gram-positive, non-motile strain, designated CPCC 202695(T), was isolated from a soil sample collected from the Qinghai-Tibet plateau, north-west China. Strain CPCC 202695(T) contained rhamnose, glucose and galactose in the cell wall as diagnostic sugars and 2,4-diaminobutyric acid, alanine, glutamic acid and glycine in the peptidoglycan. The polar lipids consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and two unknown glycolipids. MK-12 was the predominant menaquinone and anteiso-C(15 : 0) (34.2 %), iso-C(15 : 0) (19.8 %), iso-C(16 : 0) (12.7 %) and anteiso-C(17 : 0) (11.1 %) were the major fatty acids. 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities (94.2-97.1 %) between the isolate and the type strains of recognized species of the genus Agromyces indicated that strain CPCC 202695(T) was a member of the genus Agromyces. DNA-DNA relatedness clearly separated strain CPCC 202695(T) from its closest relatives. The phenotypic and genotypic data demonstrated that strain CPCC 202695(T) represents a novel species of the genus Agromyces, for which the name Agromyces flavus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CPCC 202695(T) ( = KCTC 19578(T)  = CCM 7623(T)).

Amycolatopsis xylanica sp. nov., isolated from soil.

An actinomycete, designated CPCC 202699(T), was isolated from soil in Qinghai province, China, and its taxonomic status was established. Strain CPCC 202699(T) contained meso-diaminopimelic acid in its peptidoglycan, arabinose and galactose as the diagnostic sugars in whole-cell hydrolysates, a phospholipid pattern consisting mainly of phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylmethylethanolamine and phosphatidylcholine, MK-9(H(4)) as the predominant menaquinone and iso-C(16 : 0) (18.8 %), iso-C(15 : 0) (18.1 %), iso-C(14 : 0) (14.2 %), C(16 : 1) cis9 (10.9 %) and C(17 : 1) cis9 (10.3 %) as the major fatty acids. In the phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, strain CPCC 202699(T) formed a separate branch within the genus Amycolatopsis. However, strain CPCC 202699(T) showed low 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities (<97.0 %) with type strains of species with validly published names in the genus Amycolatopsis. On the basis of genotypic and phenotypic differences from the closest phylogenetic neighbours of strain CPCC 202699(T), a novel species, Amycolatopsis xylanica sp. nov., is proposed. The type strain is CPCC 202699(T) (=DSM 45285(T) =KCTC 19581(T) =CCM 7627(T)).

Actinopolymorpha cephalotaxi sp. nov., a novel actinomycete isolated from rhizosphere soil of the plant Cephalotaxus fortunei.

An actinomycete, strain I06-2230(T), was isolated from rhizosphere soil of the plant Cephalotaxus fortunei, collected from Yunnan province, south China. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the isolate belongs to the genus Actinopolymorpha. Cells grew on agar surfaces, with no penetration even after prolonged cultivation. Aerial hyphae were absent. Cells were irregularly shaped and remained attached as chains or aggregates. Chemotaxonomic data, which showed ll-diaminopimelic acid in the cell wall, glucose as the whole-cell sugar, type PI phospholipids and MK-9(H4) as the predominant menaquinone, supported the affiliation of strain I06-2230(T) to the genus Actinopolymorpha. The major fatty acids were iso-C(15 : 0), iso-C(16 : 0) and iso-C(16 : 1) H. The genomic DNA G+C content was 69.3 mol%. DNA-DNA hybridization data, in combination with chemotaxonomic, physiological and biochemical data, demonstrated that strain I06-2230(T) should be classified as representing a novel species of the genus Actinopolymorpha. The name Actinopolymorpha cephalotaxi sp. nov. is proposed, with strain I06-2230(T) (=DSM 45117(T)=CCM 7466(T)=KCTC 19293(T)) as the type strain.

Actinoplanes sichuanensis sp. nov. and Actinoplanes xinjiangensis sp. nov.

Two motile actinomycetes, designated strains 03-723(T) and 03-8772(T), which had potent inhibitory activity against Enterococcus faecium peptide deformylase and several clinical Gram-positive, antibiotic-resistant strains, were isolated from two soil samples collected from Sichuan Province and Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in China, respectively. The taxonomic status of these two organisms was established by using a polyphasic approach. The taxonomic data were consistent with the assignment of the strains to the genus Actinoplanes. The neighbour-joining phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the two isolates formed a branch with the type strains of Actinoplanes lobatus, Actinoplanes auranticolor, Actinoplanes capillaceus, Actinoplanes campanulatus and Actinoplanes philippinensis in the clade of Actinoplanes species. This branching pattern was also supported by the tree constructed with the maximum-parsimony method. Levels of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity between strains 03-723(T) and 03-8772(T) and their phylogenetic neighbours ranged from 98.0 to 98.8 % and 97.4 to 98.1 %, respectively. However, the two strains shared low levels of DNA-DNA relatedness with the type strains of closely related Actinoplanes species and were readily distinguished by using a combination of phenotypic properties. Therefore, it is proposed that strains 03-723(T) and 03-8772(T) represent two novel species of the genus Actinoplanes, for which the names Actinoplanes sichuanensis sp. nov. (type strain 03-723(T)=KCTC 19460(T)=CCM 7526(T)) and Actinoplanes xinjiangensis sp. nov. (type strain 03-8772(T)=KCTC 19461(T)=CCM 7527(T)) are proposed.

Saccharopolyspora antimicrobica sp. nov., an actinomycete from soil.

Three Gram-positive, aerobic, non-motile, non-acid-alcohol-fast strains, designated I05-00051, I05-00074T and I03-00808, were isolated from different soil samples in Beijing and Sichuan, China. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences and DNA-DNA hybridization experiments revealed that these three isolates represented the same genospecies. These three strains showed <97.0 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with the type strains of recognized species of the genus Saccharopolyspora, with the exception of Saccharopolyspora hirsuta subsp. hirsuta DSM 43463T (98.1 % gene sequence similarity) and Saccharopolyspora spinosa DSM 44228T (98.0 % similarity). Chemotaxonomic data, including meso-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid, arabinose and galactose as predominant sugars, iso-C15 : 0, iso-C16 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 and anteiso-C17 : 0 as major fatty acids, MK-9(H4) as predominant menaquinone and polar lipids dominated by diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylinositol, supported the affiliation of these three organisms to the genus Saccharopolyspora. The genomic DNA G+C contents of the three isolates were 68.2-69.9 mol%. The results of DNA-DNA hybridization experiments among these three isolates and S. hirsuta subsp. hirsuta DSM 43463T and S. spinosa DSM 44228T, in combination with chemotaxonomic and physiological data, demonstrated that the three new isolates represent a novel species of the genus Saccharopolyspora, for which the name Saccharopolyspora antimicrobica sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is I05-00074T (=CCM 7463T=KCTC 19303T).