Genetic fusion of CCL11 to antigens enhances antigenicity in nucleic acid vaccines and eradicates tumor mass through optimizing T-cell response.

Nucleic acid vaccines have shown promising potency and efficacy for cancer treatment with robust and specific T-cell responses. Improving the immunogenicity of delivered antigens helps to extend therapeutic efficacy and reduce dose-dependent toxicity. Here, we systematically evaluated chemokine-fused HPV16 E6/E7 antigen to improve the cellular and humoral immune responses induced by nucleotide vaccines in vivo. We found that fusion with different chemokines shifted the nature of the immune response against the antigens. Although a number of chemokines were able to amplify specific CD8 + T-cell or humoral response alone or simultaneously. CCL11 was identified as the most potent chemokine in improving immunogenicity, promoting specific CD8 + T-cell stemness and generating tumor rejection. Fusing CCL11 with E6/E7 antigen as a therapeutic DNA vaccine significantly improved treatment effectiveness and caused eradication of established large tumors in 92% tumor-bearing mice (n = 25). Fusion antigens with CCL11 expanded the TCR diversity of specific T cells and induced the infiltration of activated specific T cells, neutrophils, macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs) into the tumor, which created a comprehensive immune microenvironment lethal to tumor. Combination of the DNA vaccine with anti-CTLA4 treatment further enhanced the therapeutic effect. In addition, CCL11 could also be used for mRNA vaccine design. To summarize, CCL11 might be a potent T cell enhancer against cancer.

Atorvastatin-induced intracerebral hemorrhage is inhibited by berberine in zebrafish.

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), for which there are currently no effective preventive or treatment methods, has a very high fatality rate. Statins, such as atorvastatin (ATV), are the first-line drugs for regulating blood lipids and treating hyperlipidemia-related cardiovascular diseases. However, ATV-associated ICH has been reported, although its incidence is rare. In this study, we aimed to investigate the protective action and mechanisms of berberine (BBR) against ATV-induced brain hemorrhage. We established an ICH model in zebrafish induced by ATV (2 µM) and demonstrated the effects of BBR (10, 50, and 100 µM) on ICH via protecting the vascular network using hemocyte staining and three transgenic zebrafish. BBR was found to reduce brain inflammation and locomotion injury in ICH-zebrafish. Mechanism research showed that ATV increased the levels of VE-cadherin and occludin proteins but disturbed their localization at the cell membrane by abnormal phosphorylation, which decreased the number of intercellular junctions between vascular endothelial cells (VECs), disrupting the integrity of vascular walls. BBR reversed the effects of ATV by promoting autophagic degradation of phosphorylated VE-cadherin and occludin in ATV-induced VECs examined by co-immunoprecipitation (co-IP). These findings provide crucial insights into understanding the BBR mechanisms involved in the maintenance of vascular integrity and in mitigating adverse reactions to ATV.

Biotransformation of antioxidant eriocitrin into characteristic metabolites by the gut microbiota.

Eriocitrin is a flavonoid glycoside with strong antioxidant capacity that has a variety of pharmacological activities, such as hypolipidemic, anticancer and anti-inflammatory effects. We found that the gut microbiota could rapidly metabolize eriocitrin. By using LC/MSn-IT-TOF, we identified three metabolites of eriocitrin metabolized in the intestinal microbiota: eriodictyol-7-O-glucoside, eriodictyol, and dihydrocaffeic acid. By comparing these two metabolic pathways of eriocitrin (the gut microbiota and liver microsomes), the intestinal microbiota may be the primary metabolic site of eriocitrin metabolism. These findings provide a theoretical foundation for the study of pharmacologically active substances.

Upregulation of Hepatic Glutathione S-Transferase Alpha 1 Ameliorates Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatosis by Degrading Fatty Acid Binding Protein 1.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is the most common metabolic disease of the liver, characterized by hepatic steatosis in more than 5% of hepatocytes. However, despite the recent approval of the first drug, resmetirom, for the management of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, decades of target exploration and hundreds of clinical trials have failed, highlighting the urgent need to find new druggable targets for the discovery of innovative drug candidates against MASLD. Here, we found that glutathione S-transferase alpha 1 (GSTA1) expression was negatively associated with lipid droplet accumulation in vitro and in vivo. Overexpression of GSTA1 significantly attenuated oleic acid-induced steatosis in hepatocytes or high-fat diet-induced steatosis in the mouse liver. The hepatoprotective and anti-inflammatory drug bicyclol also attenuated steatosis by upregulating GSTA1 expression. A detailed mechanism showed that GSTA1 directly interacts with fatty acid binding protein 1 (FABP1) and facilitates the degradation of FABP1, thereby inhibiting intracellular triglyceride synthesis by impeding the uptake and transportation of free fatty acids. Conclusion: GSTA1 may be a good target for the discovery of innovative drug candidates as GSTA1 stabilizers or enhancers against MASLD.

Bicyclol Alleviates Atherosclerosis by Manipulating Gut Microbiota.

Atherosclerosis (AS) is associated with high morbidity and mortality, thus imposing a growing burden on modern society. Herb-derived bicyclol (BIC) is a versatile bioactive compound that can be used to treat AS. However, its efficacy in AS is not yet described. Here, it is shown that BIC normalizes gut microflora dysbiosis induced by a high fat diet in Apoe(-/-) mice. Metagenome-wide association study analysis verifies that the modulation on carbohydrate-active enzymes and short-chain fatty acid generating genes in gut flora is among the mechanisms. The gut healthiness, especially the gut immunity and integrity, is restored by BIC intervention, leading to improved systemic immune cell dynamic and liver functions. Accordingly, the endothelial activation, macrophage infiltration, and cholesterol ester accumulation in the aortic arch are alleviated by BIC to lessen the plaque onset. Moreover, it is proved that the therapeutic effect of BIC on AS is transmissible by fecal microbiota transplantation. The current study, for the first time, demonstrates the antiatherosclerotic effects of BIC and shows that its therapeutic value can at least partially be attributed to its manipulation of gut microbiota.

The potential biological effects of quercetin based on pharmacokinetics and multi-targeted mechanism in vivo.

Quercetin is a plant-derived polyphenol flavonoid that has been proven to be effective for many diseases. However, the mechanism and in vivo metabolism of quercetin remains to be clarified. It achieves a wide range of biological effects through various metabolites, gut microbiota and its metabolites, systemic mediators produced by inflammation and oxidation, as well as by multiple mechanisms. The all-round disease treatment of quercetin is achieved through the organic combination of multiple channels. Therefore, this article clarifies the metabolic process of quercetin in the body, and explores the new pattern of action of quercetin in the treatment of diseases.

Metabolites Analysis of Anti-Myocardial Ischemia Active Components of Saussurea involucrata Based on Gut Microbiota-Drug Interaction.

Saussurea involucrata has been reported to have potential therapeutic effects against myocardial ischemia. The pharmacological effects of oral natural medicines may be influenced by the participation of gut microbiota. In this study, we aimed to investigate the bidirectional regulation of gut microbiota and the main components of Saussurea involucrata. We first established a quantitative method for the four main components (chlorogenic acid, syringin, acanthoside B, rutin) which were chosen by fingerprint using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), and found that gut microbiota has a strong metabolic effect on them. Meanwhile, we identified five major rat gut microbiota metabolites (M1-M5) using liquid chromatography tandem time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC/MSn-IT-TOF). The metabolic properties of metabolites in vitro were preliminarily elucidated by LC-MS/MS for the first time. These five metabolites of Saussurea involucrata may all have potential contributions to the treatment of myocardial ischemia. Furthermore, the four main components (10 µg/mL) can significantly stimulate intestinal bacteria to produce short chain fatty acids in vitro, respectively, which can further contribute to the effect in myocardial ischemia. In this study, the therapeutic effect against myocardial ischemia of Saussurea involucrata was first reported to be related to the intestinal flora, which can be useful in understanding the effective substances of Saussurea involucrata.

Biotransformation of Liquiritigenin into Characteristic Metabolites by the Gut Microbiota.

The bioavailability of flavonoids is generally low after oral administration. The metabolic transformation of flavonoids by the gut microbiota may be one of the main reasons for this, although these metabolites have potential pharmacological activities. Liquiritigenin is an important dihydroflavonoid compound found in Glycyrrhiza uralensis that has a wide range of pharmacological properties, such as antitumor, antiulcer, anti-inflammatory, and anti-AIDS effects, but its mechanism of action remains unclear. This study explored the metabolites of liquiritigenin by examining gut microbiota metabolism and hepatic metabolism in vitro. Using LC-MS/MS and LC/MSn-IT-TOF techniques, three possible metabolites of liquiritigenin metabolized by the gut microbiota were identified: phloretic acid (M3), resorcinol (M4), and M5. M5 is speculated to be davidigenin, which has antitumor activity. By comparing these two metabolic pathways of liquiritigenin (the gut microbiota and liver microsomes), this study revealed that there are three main metabolites of liquiritigenin generated by intestinal bacteria, which provides a theoretical basis for the study of pharmacologically active substances in vivo.

Rhizobium flavescens sp. nov., Isolated from a Chlorothalonil-Contaminated Soil.

A Gram-negative, facultative anaerobic, non-lagellated and rod-shaped bacterium FML-4T was isolated from a chlorothalonil-contaminated soil in Nanjing, China. Phylogenetic analyses of 16S rRNA genes revealed that the strain FML-4T shared the highest sequence similarity of 97.1% with Ciceribacter thiooxidans KCTC 52231T, followed by Rhizobium rosettiformans CCM 7583T (97.0%) and R. daejeonense KCTC 12121T (96.8%). Although the sequence similarities of the housekeeping genes thrC, rceA, glnII, and atpD between strain FML-4T and C. thiooxidans KCTC 52231T were 83.8%, 88.7%, 86.2%, and 92.0%, respectively, strain FML-4T formed a monophyletic clade in the cluster of Rhizobium species. Importantly, the feature gene of the genus Rhizobium, nifH gene (encoding the dinitrogenase reductase), was detected in strain FML-4T but not in C. thiooxidans KCTC 52231T. In addition, strain FML-4T contained the summed feature 8 (C18:1ω7c and/or C18:1ω6c), C19:0 cyclo ω8c and C16:0 as the major fatty acids. Genome sequencing of strain FML-4T revealed a genome size of 7.3 Mbp and a G+C content of 63.0 mol%. Based on the results obtained by phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic analyses, phenotypic characterization, average nucleotide identity (ANI, similarity 77.3-75.4%), and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH, similarity 24.5-22.3%), it was concluded that strain FML-4T represented a novel species of the genus Rhizobium, for which the name Rhizobium flavescens sp. nov. was proposed (type strain FML-4T = CCTCC AB 2019354T = KCTC 62839T).

Hypseudohenrins I - K: three new polycyclic polyprenylated acylphloroglucinol derivatives from Hypericum pseudohenryi.

Three previously unidentified polycyclic polyprenylated acylphloroglucinols (PPAPs) derivatives, hypseudohenrins I-K (1-3), along with a known analogue hyphenrone X (4), were isolated from the aerial part of Hypericum pseudohenryi. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by NMR spectroscopy and ECD calculation. The anti-inflammatory activity of the compounds was evaluated. Compounds 1-3 showed mild anti-inflammatory activity while hyphenrone X showed prominent anti-inflammatory activity.[Formula: see text].

Biotransformation of Timosaponin BII into Seven Characteristic Metabolites by the Gut Microbiota.

Timosaponin BII is one of the most abundant Anemarrhena saponins and is in a phase II clinical trial for the treatment of dementia. However, the pharmacological activity of timosaponin BII does not match its low bioavailability. In this study, we aimed to determine the effects of gut microbiota on timosaponin BII metabolism. We found that intestinal flora had a strong metabolic effect on timosaponin BII by HPLC-MS/MS. At the same time, seven potential metabolites (M1-M7) produced by rat intestinal flora were identified using HPLC/MS-Q-TOF. Among them, three structures identified are reported in gut microbiota for the first time. A comparison of rat liver homogenate and a rat liver microsome incubation system revealed that the metabolic behavior of timosaponin BII was unique to the gut microbiota system. Finally, a quantitative method for the three representative metabolites was established by HPLC-MS/MS, and the temporal relationship among the metabolites was initially clarified. In summary, it is suggested that the metabolic characteristics of gut microbiota may be an important indicator of the pharmacological activity of timosaponin BII, which can be applied to guide its application and clinical use in the future.

Rhizobium terrae sp. nov., Isolated from an Oil-Contaminated Soil in China.

A Gram-stain-negative, facultative aerobic, non-spore-forming, non-motile, non-flagellated, rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain NAU-18T was isolated from an oil-contaminated soil in China. Strain NAU-18T could grow at 10-42 °C (optimum, 30 °C), at pH 5.0-8.0 (optimum, 7.0) and in the presence of 0-2.0% (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 0.5% NaCl in R2A). The predominant fatty acids were C18:1ω7c (71.2%) and Summed feature 2 (5.1%), representing 76.3% of the total fatty acids. The major respiratory quinones were Q9 and Q10. The DNA G + C content of strain NAU-18T was 61.4 mol% based on its draft genome sequence. Genome annotation of strain NAU-18T predicted the presence of 6668 genes, of which 6588 are coding proteins and 80 are RNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain NAU-18T was a member of the genus Rhizobium and showed 96.93% (with 93.2% coverage) and 96.81% (with 100% coverage) identities with those of Neorhizobium alkalisoli CCBAU 01393T and Rhizobium oryzicola ZYY136T, respectively. In the phylogenetic analysis, strain NAU-18T and R. oryzicola ZYY136T are consistently placed in the same branch. Strain NAU-18T represents a novel species within the genus Rhizobium, for which the name Rhizobium terrae sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain NAU-18T (=KCTC 62418T = CCTCC AB 2018075T).

Oleisolibacter albus gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from an oil-contaminated soil.

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, flagellated, rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain NAU-10T, was isolated from an oil-contaminated soil collected in PR China. Strain NAU-10T could grow at 10-42 °C (optimum, 30 °C), pH 5.0-9.0 (pH 7.0) and in the presence of 0-2.5 % (w/v) NaCl (0.5 % in Luria-Bertani broth). The major fatty acids were C18 : 1 ω7c (38.6 %), C17 : 1 ω6c (9.8 %), C18 : 1 2-OH (9.1 %), summed feature 3 (8.7 %), C16 : 0 3-OH (7.2 %) and C16 : 0 (6.7 %). The major respiratory quinones were Q9 and Q10. The total polar lipids were lipid, aminolipid, phospholipid, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine. Strain NAU-10T shared the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities with Rhodocista pekingensis 3-pT (95.9 %), Niveispirillum cyanobacteriorum TH16T (95.3 %) and Niveispirillum fermenti CC-LY736T (95.3 %), and constituted a sub-cluster within the family Rhodospirillaceae. The DNA G+C content of strain NAU-10T was 68.2 mol% based on its draft genome sequence. Genome annotation of strain NAU-10T predicted the presence of 4309 genes, of which 4237 are coding proteins and 72 are RNA genes. Based on its phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characteristics, as well as the analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences, it was concluded that strain NAU-10T represents a novel genus, for which the name Oleisolibacter gen. nov., is proposed. The type species of this genus is Oleisolibacter albus with the type strain NAU-10T (=KCTC 62417T=CCTCC AB 2018015T).

Sphingomonas flavalba sp. nov., isolated from a procymidone-contaminated soil.

A novel Gram-stain-negative, strictly aerobic, non-spore-forming, motile with one polar flagellum and short rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain ZLT-5T, was isolated from procymidone-contaminated soil sampled in Nanjing, Jiangsu, PR China. Growth occurred at 26-37 °C (optimum, 37 °C), at pH 6.0-9.0 (pH 7.0) and in the presence of 0-1.5 % NaCl (0.5 %). Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain ZLT-5T belonged to the genus Sphingomonas, with the highest sequence similarity to Sphingomonas kyeonggiensis THG-DT81T (96.6 %), followed by Sphingomonas dokdonensis DSM 21029T (96.5 %) and Sphingomonas silvisoli RP18T (96.3 %). The G+C content of strain ZLT-5T was 68.0 mol% (draft genome sequence). The average nucleotide identity value of the draft genomes between strain ZLT-5T and S. kyeonggiensis THG-DT81T was 75.4 %. Strain ZLT-5T contained ubiquinone-10 as the predominant isoprenoid quinone and sym-homospermidine as the major polyamine. The major polar lipids consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, phosphoaminolipid and sphingoglycolipid. The main cellular fatty acids (>10 % of the total fatty acids) of strain ZLT-5T were C17 : 1ω6c, summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C15 : 0 ISO 2-OH) and summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c). Based on phylogenetic analysis and physiological and biochemical characterization, strain ZLT-5T is described as a novel species of the genus Sphingomonas, for which the name Sphingomonas flavalba sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is ZLT-5T (=CCTCC AB 2018188T=KCTC 62840T).

Chitinophaga deserti sp. nov., isolated from desert soil.

An aerobic bacterial strain, designated XJ-2T, was isolated from a soil sample collected from Gurbantunggut Sandy Desert in PR China. Cells of strain XJ-2T were Gram-stain-negative, non-motile, rod-shaped and non-spore-forming. The new isolate grew well at 10-37 °C (optimum, 28-30 °C), pH 6.0-11.0 (pH 7.0) and 0-1 % (w/v) NaCl (0 %). The 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain XJ-2T showed the highest similarity to that of Chitinophaga rhizosphaerae T16R-86T (99.0 %), followed by Chitinophaga barathri YLT18T (97.0 %), Chitinophagahumicola Ktm-2T (96.7 %) and Chitinophaga niabensis JS13-10T (96.4 %). The major menaquinone of strain XJ-2T was menaquinone 7 and the predominant fatty acids (>5 %) were iso-C15 : 0, C16 : 1ω5c and iso-C17 : 0 3-OH. The polar lipids consisted of phosphatidylethanolamine, an unidentified glycolipid, three unidentified aminolipids and five unidentified lipids. The genome size was 6.33 Mb, comprising 5268 predicted genes with a G+C content of 41.5 mol%. The DNA G+C content was 50.5 mol% based on total genome calculations. The average nucleotide identity and the digital DNA-DNA hybridization values between strain XJ-2T and strain T16R-86T were 79.6 and 22.3 %, respectively. DNA-DNA relatedness between strain XJ-2T and strain YLT18T was 17.0 %. Based on the physiological, biochemical and chemotaxonomic characteristics, strain XJ-2T represents a novel species of the genus Chitinophaga, for which the name Chitinophagadeserti sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is XJ-2T (KCTC 62443T=CCTCC AB 2018019T).

Pedobacter helvus sp. nov., isolated from farmland soil.

A strictly aerobic, Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped, yellow, non-spore-forming bacterial strain, designated P-25T, was isolated from soil collected in Yantai, Shandong Province, PR China. The temperature, pH and NaCl concentration ranges for the growth of strain P-25T were 10-37 °C (optimum, 28-30 °C), pH 6.0-9.0 (optimum, pH 7.5-8.0) and 0-4 % (w/v) (optimum, 1 % w/v), respectively. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain P-25T was most closely related to Pedobacter xixiisoli S27T (98.1 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity), followed by Pedobacter chitinilyticus CM134L-2T (97.2 %) and Pedobacter ureilyticus THG-T11T (97.1 %). The genomic DNA G+C content of strain P-25T based on its draft genome sequence was 38.1 %. MK-7 was the major respiratory quinone, and iso-C15 : 0, C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c (summed feature 3) and iso-C17 : 0 3-OH were the major fatty acids. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, one unidentified aminophospholipid, one unidentified phospholipid, two unidentified lipids, five unidentified aminolipids and two unidentified glycolipids. Average nucleotide identity values for the draft genomes between strain P-25T and strains S27T, CM134L-2T and THG-T11T were 81.8, 77.6 and 81.2 %, respectively, and the digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) values were 30.0, 19.2 and 27.6 %, respectively. Based on their phylogenetic and phenotypic characteristics, chemotaxonomic data, and dDDH results, strain P-25T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Pedobacter, for which the name Pedobacter helvus sp. nov. is proposed; the type strain is strain P-25T (KCTC 62821T=CCTCC AB 2018185T).

Steroidobacter soli sp. nov., isolated from farmland soil.

A Gram-stain-negative bacterial strain, designated JW-3T, was isolated from a soil sample collected from farmland in Yantai, Shandong Province, PR China. Cells of strain JW-3T are motile rods and strictly aerobic, showing catalase- and oxidase-positive reactions. Strain JW-3T could grow at 16-37 °C (optimum, 30 °C), at pH 6.0-9.0 (pH 7.0) and in the presence of 0-1 % (w/v) NaCl (0.5 %, in Luria-Bertani broth). The major fatty acids were summed feature 3 (C16 : 1 ω7c and/or C16 : 1 ω6c; 35.5 %), iso-C16 : 0 (16.7 %) and C12 : 0 (10.8 %). The major respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-8 (Q8). The polar lipids of strain JW-3T consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, four unidentified phospholipids, two unidentified lipids, two unidentified glycolipids and a partial unidentified aminophospholipid. Strain JW-3T was most closely related to Steroidobacter agariperforans KA5-BT with 97.67 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity. Results of phylogenetic analyses, based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing, showed that strain JW-3T forms a distinct phylogenic lineage within the genus Steroidobacter of the family Sinobacteraceae. The DNA G+C content of strain JW-3T was 62.57 mol%, based on its draft genome sequence. Average nucleotide identity values and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values for draft genomes, between strain JW-3T and strain KA5-BT, were 84.54 and 30.80 %, respectively. Based on its phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and molecular features, and DNA-DNA hybridization results, strain JW-3T represents a novel species of the genus Steroidobacter, for which the name Steroidobactersoli sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JW-3T (=CCTCC AB 2018184T=KCTC 62820T).

Determination of berberine-upregulated endogenous short-chain fatty acids through derivatization by 2-bromoacetophenone.

Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are a major group of endogenous metabolites generated by the gut microbiota and have been reported to play an important role in physical health, such as improving energy metabolism. Here, using 2-bromoacetophenone as the derivatization reagent (BP, 10 mg/mL, 40 °C for 20 min), a sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric method was established for the quantitative determination of seven short-chain fatty acids in plasma and feces. The analyses were performed on a C18 column in positive multiple reaction monitoring mode. Specificity, linearity, accuracy, precision, recovery, and stability were observed within the quantitative limits of biological sample analysis. The established method has largely improved the sensitivity by 200- to 2000-fold than that in gas chromatography (GC). Especially for butyrate, the lower quantitative limit of 1 ng/mL, 1600-fold higher in sensitivity than that of GC (1.6 µg/mL), ensured the accurate determination of its low level in blood or feces (88 ± 29 ng/mL in blood, 176 ± 18 µg/g in feces). Then, the validated method was applied for therapeutic studies of berberine in hyperlipidemia hamsters in vivo and screening of 13 compounds (including five metabolites of berberine and eight typical isoquinoline alkaloids) in vitro. After berberine treatment (oral, 200 mg/kg, 2 weeks) to hyperlipidemia hamsters, the levels of butyrate were significantly upregulated in blood (77 ± 10 ng/mL vs. 117 ± 13 ng/mL, *P < 0.05) and feces (132 ± 11 µg/g vs. 547 ± 57 µg/g, ***P < 0.001), which further verified butyrate as an active endogenous metabolite in coordination with berberine to lower the blood lipids. Additionally, the berberine metabolites (M1, M2, M3), as well as two isoquinoline alkaloids (tetrandrine and dauricine), could also obviously induce the production of SCFAs (butyrate, etc.) in gut microbiota. In total, we have successfully established a new derivative LC-MS/MS method for the targeted quantitative determination of seven SCFAs in biological samples. Graphical abstract.

Spirosoma sordidisoli sp. nov., a propanil-degrading bacterium isolated from a herbicide-contaminated soil.

A novel Gram-stain negative, aerobic, rod-shaped, asporogenous, propanil-degrading bacterial strain, TY50T, was isolated from a herbicide-contaminated soil in Nanjing, China. Strain TY50T was found to grow optimally at pH 9.0, 30 °C and in the absence of NaCl. The G + C content of the total DNA was determined to be 55.5 mol%. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain TY50T shows high identity to that of Spirosoma lacussanchae CPCC 100624T (99.3%), Spirosoma metallicum PR1014kT (94.8%) and Spirosoma soli MIMBbqt12T (94.6%). DNA-DNA hybridization indicated that the isolate had relatively low levels of DNA-DNA relatedness with S. lacussanchae CPCC 100624T (48.3%). Average nucleotide identity and the digital DNA-DNA hybridizations for draft genomes between strain TY50T and S. lacussanchae CPCC 100624T were 93.2% and 51.0%, respectively. The major cellular fatty acids of strain TY50T were identified as C16:1ω5c (24.5%) and summed feature 3 (C16:1ω6c/C16:1ω7c, 40.7%). MK-7 was found to be the predominant respiratory quinone. The major polar lipid profile includes phosphatidylethanolamine, an unidentified lipid and an unidentified aminolipid. These chemotaxonomic data support the affiliation of strain TY50T with the members of the genus Spirosoma. Strain TY50T can be distinguished from its close phylogenetic neighbours based on its phenotypic, genotypic, and chemotaxonomic features. Therefore, strain TY50T represents a novel member of the genus Spirosoma, for which the name Spirosoma sordidisoli sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is TY50T (= KCTC 62494T = CCTCC AB 2018041T).

Rhizobium album sp. nov., isolated from a propanil-contaminated soil.

A novel Gram-stain negative, facultatively anaerobic, non-spore-forming, motile and rod-shaped bacterium (NS-104T) was isolated from a propanil-contaminated soil in Nanjing, China. Growth occurred at pH 5.0-9.0 (optimum 6.0), 16-37 °C (optimum 30 °C) and in the presence of 0-2.0% (w/v) NaCl (optimum, without NaCl). Strain NS-104T showed high 16S rRNA gene sequence identity to Rhizobium azooxidifex DSM 100211T (96.7%). The phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene as well as the housekeeping genes recA, atpD and glnA demonstrated that strain NS-104T belongs to the genus Rhizobium. Strain NS-104T did not form nodules on six different legumes, and the nodD, nodC and nifH genes were neither amplified by PCR nor found in the draft genome of strain NS-104T. The sole respiratory quinone was ubiquinone Q-10. The polar lipid profile included the major amounts phosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and moderate amounts of phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, diphosphatidylglycerol and unidentified aminolipids. The major cellular fatty acids were C18:1ω7c (39.6%), C19:0 cyclo ω8c (29.8%) and C16:0 (11.5%). The G + C content of strain NS-104T was 61.9 mol%. Strain NS-104T therefore represents a new species, for which the name Rhizobium album sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain NS-104T (= KCTC 62327T = CCTCC AB 2017250T).