Ornithinimicrobium laminariae sp. nov., isolated from the kelp Laminaria japonica.

A Gram-stain-positive, aerobic, non-sporulating, yellow-pigmented and rod or cocci-shaped bacterium, designated Arc0846-15T, was isolated from the kelp Laminaria japonica. Strain Arc0846-15T was found to grow at 16-35 °C (optimum, 28 °C), at pH 6.0-9.5 (optimum, 7.0) and in the presence of 0-6 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 2 %). Cells were positive for catalase and negative for oxidase activity. Phylogenetic analyses, based on 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons, revealed that the nearest phylogenetic neighbour strains of strain Arc0846-15T were Ornithinimicrobium murale 01 Gi-040T (96.2 %), Ornithinimicrobium kibberense K22-20T (96.1 %) and Ornithinimicrobium humiphilum HKI 0124T (95.2 %). Based on phylogenomic analysis, the average nucleotide identity values between strain Arc0846-15T and the neighbour strains were 69.8, 69.7 and 69.8 %, respectively; the digital DNA-DNA hybridization values between strain Arc0846-15T and its three closest neighbour strains were 18.8, 19.1 and 19.3 %, respectively. The predominant menaquinone was MK-8 (H4). The dominant cellular fatty acids were C17 : 1 ω8c, iso-C15 : 0, iso-C16 : 0 and C17 : 0. The polar lipids contained diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, glycolipid, one unidentified aminolipid and four unidentified lipids. The DNA G+C content of strain Arc0846-15T was 61.6 mol% based on the whole genome sequence. Based on the phylogenetic and phenotypic characteristics, strain Arc0846-15T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Ornithinimicrobium, for which the name Ornithinimicrobium laminariae sp. nov. is proposed, with Arc0846-15T (=KCTC 49655T=MCCC 1K06093T) as the type strain.

Shewanella nanhaiensis sp. nov., a marine bacterium isolated from sediment of South China Sea, and emended descriptions of Shewanella woodyi, Shewanella hanedai and Shewanella canadensis.

A Gram-stain-negative, motile, facultative anaerobic and rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain NR704-98T, was isolated from marine sediment of the northern South China Sea. Cells were positive for oxidase and catalase activity. Growth was observed at 4-30 °C (optimum 20-25 °C), at pH 6-9 (pH 7) and with 0.5-7 % NaCl (2 %). The 16S rRNA gene-based phylogenetic analysis revealed that the nearest phylogenetic neighbours of strain NR704-98T were Shewanella woodyi MS32T (97.9 %), Shewanella hanedai 281T (97.1 %), Shewanella sediminis HAW-EB3T (96.8 %) and Shewanella canadensis HAW-EB2T (96.7 %). Based on the results of phylogenomic analysis, the average nucleotide identity and the digital DNA-DNA hybridization values between strain NR704-98T and the previously mentioned type strains of species of the genus Shewanella were in the range of 74.9-93.1 % and 20.6-51.4 %, respectively. The respiratory quinones were Q-7 and Q-8. The predominant fatty acids (>10 %) of strain NR704-98T were C16 : 0, summed feature 3 (C16 : 1 ω7c and/or C16 : 1 ω6c) and iso-C15 : 0. Phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, two unidentified aminophospholipids and five unidentified lipids were detected in strain NR704-98T. Based on the phylogenetic and phenotypic characteristics, strain NR704-98T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Shewanella, for which the name Shewanella nanhaiensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is NR704-98T (=KCTC 82799T=MCCC 1K06091T).

Equity of geographical access to public health facilities in Nepal.

INTRODUCTION: Geographical accessibility is important against health equity, particularly for less developed countries as Nepal. It is important to identify the disparities in geographical accessibility to the three levels of public health facilities across Nepal, which has not been available. METHODS: Based on the up-to-date dataset of Nepal formal public health facilities in 2021, we measured the geographical accessibility by calculating the travel time to the nearest public health facility of three levels (ie, primary, secondary and tertiary) across Nepal at 1×1 km2 resolution under two travel modes: walking and motorised. Gini and Theil L index were used to assess the inequality. Potential locations of new facilities were identified for best improvement of geographical efficiency or equality. RESULTS: Both geographical accessibility and its equality were better under the motorised mode compared with the walking mode. If motorised transportation is available to everyone, the population coverage within 5 min to any public health facilities would be improved by 62.13%. The population-weighted average travel time was 17.91 min, 39.88 min and 69.23 min and the Gini coefficients 0.03, 0.18 and 0.42 to the nearest primary, secondary and tertiary facilities, respectively, under motorised mode. For primary facilities, low accessibility was found in the northern mountain belt; for secondary facilities, the accessibility decreased with increased distance from the district centres; and for tertiary facilities, low accessibility was found in most areas except the developed areas like zonal centres. The potential locations of new facilities differed for the three levels of facilities. Besides, the majority of inequalities of geographical accessibility were from within-province. CONCLUSION: The high-resolution geographical accessibility maps and the assessment of inequality provide valuable information for health resource allocation and health-related planning in Nepal.

Ruegeria haliotis sp. nov., Isolated from the Gut of the Abalone Haliotis rubra.

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, non-motile, white-pigmented, short rod-shaped, and alginate-degrading bacterium, designated B1Z28T, was isolated from the gut of the abalone Haliotis rubra obtained at Weihai, China. Strain B1Z28T was found to grow at 4-35 °C, pH 6.5-9.0, and in the presence of 0.5-8.0% (w/v) NaCl. Cells were positive for oxidase and catalase activity. The 16S rRNA-based phylogenetic analysis revealed that the nearest phylogenetic neighbors of strain B1Z28T were Tritonibacter scottomollicae MCCC 1A06440T (98.1%), Ruegeria faecimaris KCTC 23044T (98.0%), and Ruegeria meonggei KCTC 32450T (97.8%). Based on phylogenomic analysis, the average nucleotide identity (ANI) values between strain B1Z28T and the neighbor strains were 71.6, 77.2, and 78.1%, respectively; the digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) values based on the draft genomes between strain B1Z28T and its closest neighbors were 20.5, 20.8, and 21.6%, respectively. Ubiquinone-10 (Q-10) was detected as the predominant respiratory quinone. The dominant cellular fatty acids were Summed feature 8 (contained C18:1 ω7c and/or C18:1 ω6c). The polar lipids included phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG), phosphatidylglycerol (PG), phospholipid (PL), aminolipid (AL), and three unidentified lipids. Based on the phylogenetic and phenotypic characteristics, strain B1Z28T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Ruegeria, for which the name Ruegeria haliotis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is B1Z28T (= KCTC 72686T = MCCC 1H00393T).

Tamlana haliotis sp. nov., isolated from the gut of the abalone Haliotis rubra.

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, non-motile, yellow-pigmented rod-shaped and alginate-degrading bacterium, designated B1N29T, was isolated from the gut of the abalone Haliotis rubra obtained in Weihai, China. Strain B1N29T was found to grow at 4-35 ℃ (optimum, 25 ℃), at pH 6.5-9.0 (optimum, 7.0-7.5) and in the presence of 0.5-9% (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 2%). Cells were positive for oxidase and catalase activity. The 16S rRNA-based phylogenetic analysis revealed that the nearest phylogenetic neighbors of strain B1N29T were Tamlana carrageenivorans KCTC 62451T (98.2%) and Tamlana agarivorans KCTC 22176T (97.7%). Based on the phylogenomic analysis, the average nucleotide identity (ANI) values between strain B1N29T and the neighbor strains were 79.2 and 79.0%, respectively; the digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) values between strain B1N29T and its two closest neighbors were 22.8 and 23.0%, respectively. Menaquinone-6 (MK-6) was detected as the sole respiratory quinone. The dominant cellular fatty acids were iso-C15:0, iso-C17:0 3-OH, anteiso-C15:0 and iso-C15:1 G. The polar lipids included phosphatidylethanolamine, one aminophospholipid, seven aminolipids and five unidentified lipids. Based on the phylogenetic and phenotypic characteristics, strain B1N29T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Tamlana, for which the name Tamlana haliotis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is B1N29T (= KCTC 72683T = MCCC 1H00394T).

Salinimicrobium nanhaiense sp. nov. and Salinimicrobium oceani sp. nov., two novel species of the family Flavobacteriaceae isolated from the South China Sea.

Strains J15B81-2T and J15B91T were isolated from a sediment sample collected from the South China Sea. Cells of both strains were observed to be rod-shaped, non-gliding, Gram-stain-negative, yellow-pigmented, facultatively anaerobic, catalase-positive, oxidase-negative and showing optimum growth at 30 °C. Strains J15B81-2T and J15B91T could tolerate up to 9 and 10  % (w/v) NaCl concentration and grow at pH 6.5-9.5 and 6.0-9.0, respectively. The strains shared 97.4 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to each other but were identified as two distinct species based on 81.1-85.8 % ANIb and 31.5 % dDDH values calculated using whole genome sequences. Strains J15B81-2T and J15B91T shared highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to Salinimicrobium xinjiangense CGMCC 1.12522T (98.4 %) and Salinimicrobium sediminis CGMCC 1.12641T (98.0 %), respectively. Among species with validly published names, S. sediminis CGMCC 1.12641T shared close genetic relatedness with strains J15B81-2T [85.1-85.3% average nucleotide identity based on blastBlast+ (ANIb) and 30.6 % digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH)] and J15B91T (76.6-79.1 % ANIb and 21.5 % dDDH). The major fatty acid of strains J15B81-2T and J15B91T were identified as iso-C15 : 0 and iso-C16 : 0, respectively, and the major polar lipids of the two strains consisted of phosphatidylethanolamine, one unidentified phospholipid, one unidentified aminolipid and one unidentified lipid. The strains contained MK-6 as their predominant menaquinone. The genomic G+C contents of strains J15B81-2T and J15B91T were determined to be 41.7 and 41.8 mol %, respectively. Both strains are considered to represent two novel species of the genus Salinimicrobium and the names Salinimicrobium nanhaiense sp. nov. and Salinimicrobium oceani sp. nov. are proposed for strains J15B81-2T (=KCTC 72867T=MCCC 1H00410T) and J15B91T (=KCTC 72869T=MCCC 1H00411T), respectively.

Comparison of complications in cranioplasty with various materials: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: Meta-analysis to evaluate complications in the use of autogenous bone and bone substitutes and to compare bone substitutes, specifically HA, polyetheretherketone (PEEK) and titanium materials.Methods: Search of PubMed, Cochrane, Embase and Google scholar to identify all citations from 2010 to 2019 reporting complications regarding materials used in cranioplasty.Results: 20 of 2266 articles met the inclusion criteria, including a total of 2913 patients. The odds of overall complication were significantly higher in the autogenous bone group (n = 214/644 procedures, 33.2%) than the bone substitute groups (n = 116/436 procedures, 26.7%, CI 1.29-2.35, p < 0.05). In bone substitutes groups, there was no significant difference in overall complication rate between HA and Ti (OR, 1.2; 95% CI, 0.47-3.14, p = 0.69). PEEK has lower overall complication rates (OR, 0.51; 95% CI, 0.30-0.87, p = 0.01) and lower implant exposure rates (OR, 0.17; 95% CI, 0.06-0.53, p = 0.002) than Ti, but there was no significant difference in infection rates and postoperative hematoma rates.Conclusions: Cranioplasty is associated with high overall complication rates with the use of autologous bone grafts compared with bone substitutes. PEEK has a relatively low overall complication rates in substitutes groups, but still high infection rates and postoperative hematoma rates. Thus, autologous bone grafts should only be used selectively, and prospective long-term studies are needed to further refine a better material in cranioplasty.

Formosa maritima sp. nov., isolated from coastal sediment.

A Gram-stain-negative, strictly aerobic, gliding-motile, rod-shaped and orange-pigmented bacterium, designated 1494T, was isolated from marine sediment collected off the coast of Weihai, PR China. Strain 1494T was found to grow at 4-37 °C (optimum, 30 °C), at pH 6.0-9.0 (pH 7.0) and in the presence of 0-8 % (w/v) NaCl (2 %). Cells were positive for oxidase and catalase activity. The results of 16S rRNA gene based phylogenetic analysis revealed that strain 1494T belonged to the genus Formosa and exhibited the highest sequence similarity to Formosa spongicola KCTC 22662 T (98.4 %). Menaquinone-6 (MK-6) was detected as the major respiratory quinone. The dominant cellular fatty acids were iso-C15 : 1 G and iso-C15 : 0. The DNA G+C content of strain 1494T was 31.1 mol%. The major polar lipids included phosphatidylethanolamine, one unidentified phospholipid and one unidentified lipid. Based on its phylogenetic and phenotypic characteristics, strain 1494T is considered to represent a novel species from the genus Formosa, for which the name Formosa maritima sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 1494T (=KCTC 72531T=MCCC 1H00385T).

Seonamhaeicola maritimus sp. nov., isolated from coastal sediment.

A Gram-stain-negative, facultatively anaerobic, non-motile, rod-shaped and orange-pigmented bacterium, designated 1505T, was isolated from marine sediment that was obtained off the coast of Weihai, PR China. Strain 1505T was found to grow at 10-35 °C (optimum, 28 °C), at pH 6.0-9.0 (optimum, 7.5) and in the presence of 1-4 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 2 %). Cells were positive for oxidase and catalase activity. The 16S rRNA gene based phylogenetic analysis revealed that the nearest phylogenetic neighbours of strain 1505T were Seonamhaeicola algicola Gy8T (97.1 %), Seonamhaeicola marinus B011T (96.3 %) and Seonamhaeicola aphaedonensis KCTC 32578T (95.6 %). Based on phylogenomic analysis, the average nucleotide identity values between strain 1505T and S. algicola Gy8T, S. marinus B011T and S. aphaedonensis KCTC 32578T were 75.9, 76.0 and 77.7 %, respectively; the digital DNA-DNA hybridization values based on the draft genomes between strain 1505T and S. algicola Gy8T, S. marinus B011T and S. aphaedonensis KCTC 32578T were 20.0, 20.7 and 21.4 %, respectively. Menaquinone-6 (MK-6) was detected as the major respiratory quinone. The dominant cellular fatty acids were iso-C15 : 1 G and C18 : 1ω9c. The DNA G+C content of strain 1505T was 33.3 mol%. The polar lipids included phosphatidylethanolamine, six aminolipids and four unidentified lipids. Based on its phylogenetic and phenotypic characteristics, strain 1505T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Seonamhaeicola, for which the name Seonamhaeicola maritimus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 1505T (=KCTC 72528T=MCCC 1H00389T).

Chengkuizengella sediminis gen. nov. sp. nov., isolated from sediment.

A Gram-stain-positive, aerobic, motile, endospore-forming bacterium, designated strain J15A17T, was isolated from sediment of the South China Sea. The strain was oxidase-positive and catalase-negative. Optimal growth occurred at 33 °C, pH 7.5 and in the presence of 3 % (w/v) NaCl. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the strain showed closest similarity (92.8 %) to Paenibacillus puldeungensis strain CAU 9324T. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the isolate forms a separate branch within the family Paenibacillaceae, with the genus Cohnella as the most closely related genus. The DNA G+C content of strain J15A17T was 37.4 mol%. The strain contained MK-7 as the sole respiratory quinone; anteiso-C15 : 0 and iso-C16 : 0 were the major cellular fatty acids; and its polar lipid pattern consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, glycolipid and four unidentified phospholipids. The strain displayed the peptidoglycan type A4α l-Lys-d-Asp in the cell wall. Phylogenetic, physiological, biochemical and morphological differences between strain J15A17T and its closest relatives in the genera Cohnella, Fontibacillus and Paenibacillus suggest that strain J15A17T (=KCTC 33759T=MCCC 1H00137T) represents the type strain of a novel species in a new genus within the family Paenibacillaceae, Chengkuizengella sediminis gen. nov. sp. nov.

Protective effects of petroleum ether extracts of Herpetospermum caudigerum against α-naphthylisothiocyanate-induced acute cholestasis of rats.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The ripe seeds of Herpetospermum caudigerum have been used in Tibetan folk medicine for treatment of bile or liver diseases including jaundice, hepatitis, intumescences or inflammation. Previously reports suggested that the seed oil and some lignans from H. caudigerum exhibited protective effects against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatic damage in rats, which may be related to their free radical scavenging effect. However, the protective effect of H. caudigerum against cholestasis is still not revealed. The aim of the present study was to investigate the pharmacological effect and the chemical constituents of the petroleum ether extract (PEE) derived from H. caudigerum against α-naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT)-induced acute cholestasis in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Male cholestatic Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats induced by ANIT (60mg/kg) were orally administered with PEE (350, 700 and 1400mg/kg). Levels of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), γ-Glutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GTP), total bilirubin (TBIL), direct bilirubin (DBIL) and total bile acid (TBA), as well as bile flow, and histopathological assay were evaluated. Hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA), myeloperoxidase (MPO), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and nitric monoxide (NO) in liver were measured to explore the possible protective mechanisms. Phytochemical analysis of PEE was performed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometer (GC-MS). RESULTS: PEE have exhibited significant and dose-dependent protective effect on ANIT-induced liver injury by reduce the increases in serum levels of ALT, AST, ALP, γ-GTP, TBIL, DBIL and TBA, restore the bile flow in cholestatic rats, and reduce the severity of the pathological tissue damage induced by ANIT. Hepatic MDA, MPO and NO contents in liver tissue were reduced, while SOD and GST activities were elevated in liver tissue. 49 compounds were detected and 39 of them were identified by GC-MS analysis, in which long-chain fatty acids were the main constituents. CONCLUSIONS: PEE exhibited a dose-dependently protective effect on ANIT-induced liver injury in cholestatic rats with the potential mechanism of attenuated oxidative stress in the liver tissue, and the possible active compounds were long-chain fatty acids.

Paraliobacillus sediminis sp. nov., isolated from East China sea sediment.

A Gram-strain-positive, facultatively anaerobic, motile, endospore-forming, slightly halophilic bacterium, designated strain 126C4T, was isolated from sediment from the East China Sea. The strain was catalase-positive and oxidase-negative. Optimal growth occurred at 28-30 °C, pH 7.0-7.5 and in the presence of 3-5 % (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic analyses, based on 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons, showed that strain 126C4T was a member of the genus Paraliobacillus, with 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities to Paraliobacillus quinghaiensis YIM-C158T and Paraliobacillus ryukyuensis O15-7T of 96.2 % and 95.3 %, repectively. The DNA G+C content was 39.6 mol%. The strain contained MK-7 as the sole respiratory quinone, anteiso-C15 : 0, C16 : 0, iso-C15 : 0 and iso-C16 : 0 as the major cellular fatty acids, and its polar lipid pattern comprised diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, three glycolipids and four unknown phospholipids. On the basis of its phylogenetic position, phenotypic traits and chemotaxonomic characteristics, it is suggested that strain 126C4T represents a novel species of the genus Paraliobacillus, for which the name Paraliobacillus sediminis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 126C4T (=KCTC 33762T=MCCC 1H00136T).

Mutation and a high-throughput screening method for improving the production of Epothilones of Sorangium.

The epothilones are highly promising prospective anticancer agents that are produced by the myxobacterium Sorangium cellulosum. We mutated the epothilone producing S. cellulosum strain So0157-2 to improve the production of epothilones. For evaluation in high-throughput of a large number of mutants, we developed a simple microtiter method for primary screening. Using the classical UV-mutation method plus selection pressures, the production capacity was increased about 0.5 approximately 2.5 times the starting strain. The mutants with higher production and different phenotypes were further subjected to recursive protoplast fusions and the fusants products were screened under multi-selection pressure. Furthermore, the production was greatly increased by the genome shuffling. For epothilone B, the production of one fusant was increased about 130 times compared to the starting strain, increasing from 0.8 mg l(-1) to 104 mg l(-1).