Cell proliferation potency is independent of FGF4 signaling in trophoblast stem cells derived from androgenetic embryos.

We previously established trophoblast stem cells from mouse androgenetic embryos (AGTS cells). In this study, to further characterize AGTS cells, we compared cell proliferation activity between trophoblast stem (TS) cells and AGTS cells under fibroblast growth factor 4 (FGF4) signaling. TS cells continued to proliferate and maintained mitotic cell division in the presence of FGF4. After FGF4 deprivation, the cell proliferation stopped, the rate of M-phase cells decreased, and trophoblast giant cells formed. In contrast, some of AGTS cells continued to proliferate, and the rate of M-phase cells did not decrease after FGF4 deprivation, although the other cells differentiated into giant cells. RO3306, an ATP competitor that selectively inhibits CDK1, inhibited the cell proliferation of both TS and AGTS cells. Under RO3306 treatment, cell death was induced in AGTS cells but not in TS cells. These results indicate that RO3306 caused TS cells to shift mitotic cell division to endoreduplication but that some of AGTS cells did not shift to endoreduplication and induced cell death. In conclusion, the paternal genome facilitated the proliferation of trophoblast cells without FGF4 signaling.

Alistipes indistinctus sp. nov. and Odoribacter laneus sp. nov., common members of the human intestinal microbiota isolated from faeces.

Two anaerobic, non-spore-forming, non-motile, Gram-negative-staining bacteria, strains YIT 12060(T) and YIT 12061(T), were isolated from human faeces. Cells of strain YIT 12060(T) were coccoid to rod-shaped with round ends, positive for catalase, negative for indole and oxidase production, produced succinic and acetic acids as end products of glucose metabolism in peptone/yeast extract/glucose medium and had a DNA G+C content of 55.2 mol%. The main respiratory quinones were MK-10 (40%) and MK-11 (57%). Fatty acid analysis demonstrated the presence of a high concentration of iso-C(15 : 0) (56%). Following 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, this strain was found to be most closely related to species of the genus Alistipes, with 90.9-92.6% gene sequence similarities to type strains of this species. Phylogenetic analysis and biochemical data supported the affiliation of strain YIT 12060(T) to the genus Alistipes of the family 'Rikenellaceae'. Strain YIT 12060(T) therefore represents a novel species of the genus Alistipes for which the name Alistipes indistinctus sp. nov. is proposed; the type strain is YIT 12060(T) (=DSM 22520(T)=JCM 16068(T)). Cells of the other isolate, strain YIT 12061(T), were pleomorphic rods that were asaccharolytic, catalase- and oxidase-negative, positive for gelatin hydrolysis and indole production, produced small amounts of succinic, acetic and iso-valeric acids as end products of metabolism in peptone/yeast extract medium and had a DNA G+C content of approximately 42.4 mol%. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity values, this strain was shown to belong to the family 'Porphyromonadaceae' and related to the type strains of Odoribacter splanchnicus (89.6%) and Odoribacter denticanis (86.2%); similarity values with strains of recognized species within the family 'Porphyromonadaceae' were less than 84 %. Biochemical data supported the affiliation of strain YIT 12061(T) to the genus Odoribacter. Strain YIT 12061(T) therefore represents a novel species for which the name Odoribacter laneus sp. nov. is proposed; the type strain is YIT 12061(T) (=DSM 22474(T)=JCM 16069(T)).

Bacteroides clarus sp. nov., Bacteroides fluxus sp. nov. and Bacteroides oleiciplenus sp. nov., isolated from human faeces.

Three Gram-stain-negative, obligately anaerobic, non-spore-forming, rod-shaped bacteria (strains YIT 12056T, YIT 12057T and YIT 12058T) were isolated from human faeces. These strains were characterized by phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequence and phenotypic tests. 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses revealed that strains YIT 12056T, YIT 12057T and YIT 12058T were most closely related to the type strains of Bacteroides gallinarum, Bacteroides uniformis and Bacteroides intestinalis with approximate similarity values of 96.6, 95.0 and 96.7%, respectively. The DNA G+C contents of the novel strains were 45.3 (YIT 12056T), 45.2 (YIT 12057T) and 43.6 mol% (YIT 12058T) and the major respiratory quinones of all three isolates were menaquinones MK-10 and MK-11. These properties were typical for members of the genus Bacteroides. The results of the other phenotypic analyses also supported the affiliation of these strains to the genus Bacteroides. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, analysis of the major cellular fatty acids and other biochemical tests enabled the genotypic and phenotypic differentiation of the three new strains. Based on these data, three novel species, Bacteroides clarus sp. nov., Bacteroides fluxus sp. nov. and Bacteroides oleiciplenus sp. nov. are proposed. The type strains of B. clarus, B. fluxus and B. oleiciplenus are YIT 12056T (=JCM 16067T=DSM 22519T), YIT 12057T (=JCM 16101T=DSM 22534T) and YIT 12058T (=JCM 16102T=DSM 22535T), respectively.

Paraprevotella clara gen. nov., sp. nov. and Paraprevotella xylaniphila sp. nov., members of the family 'Prevotellaceae' isolated from human faeces.

Two anaerobic, non-spore-forming, pleomorphic, Gram-negative rods, designated YIT 11840T and YIT 11841T, were isolated from human faeces. The organisms were catalase-negative, produced succinic and acetic acids as end products of glucose metabolism and had DNA G+C contents of approximately 48-49 mol%. Although the phenotypic characteristics of these two strains were very similar, analysis of their 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that they are only distantly related (93.8%), indicating that they represent two different species. A comparative sequence analysis revealed that these two species are members of the family 'Prevotellaceae' but are phylogenetically distant (<88% sequence similarity) from the known genera belonging to this family, including Prevotella, Hallela and Xylanibacter. On the basis of the phylogenetic analysis and physiological tests, strains YIT 11840T and YIT 11841T represent two novel species of a new genus, for which the names Paraprevotella clara gen. nov., sp. nov. (type strain YIT 11840T=JCM 14859T=DSM 19731T), the type species, and Paraprevotella xylaniphila sp. nov. (type strain YIT 11841T=JCM 14860T=DSM 19681T) are proposed.

Parasutterella excrementihominis gen. nov., sp. nov., a member of the family Alcaligenaceae isolated from human faeces.

A novel, strictly anaerobic, non-spore-forming, Gram-negative coccobacillus (strain YIT 11859(T)) was isolated from human faeces. Biochemically, this strain was largely unreactive and was asaccharolytic. Growth of strain YIT 11859(T) in peptone-yeast extract broth produced no visible turbidity, and a trace amount of propionate was detected as an end product of metabolism. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain YIT 11859(T) was related most closely to the type strains of Sutterella species, with 90.8-88.0 % sequence similarity. Phylogenetic analysis of these and other related sequences confirmed that strain YIT 11859(T) was phylogenetically most closely associated with Sutterella species, but formed a separate cluster, indicating that strain YIT 11859(T) represents a novel member of the family Alcaligenaceae. Fatty acid analysis demonstrated the presence of a high concentration of C(18 : 1)omega9c (75 % of the total). The main respiratory quinones were menaquinone (MK-6) and methylated menaquinone (MMK-6). The G+C content of the DNA was 49.8 mol%. These results suggest that strain YIT 11859(T) represents a novel species of a new genus, for which the name Parasutterella excrementihominis gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Parasutterella excrementihominis is YIT 11859(T) (=DSM 21040(T) =JCM 15078(T)).

Dialister succinatiphilus sp. nov. and Barnesiella intestinihominis sp. nov., isolated from human faeces.

Two anaerobic, non-spore-forming, bacteria (YIT 11850(T) and YIT 11860(T)) that stained Gram-negative, were isolated from human faeces. Cells of strain YIT 11850(T) were coccobacilli, asaccharolytic and largely unreactive, with only traces of lactate and propionate as metabolic end products; however, strain YIT 11850(T) was able to decarboxylate succinate to propionate. The DNA G+C content of strain YIT 11850(T) was 51.9 mol%. Following 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, this strain was found to be most closely related to Dialister propionicifaciens, with 95.1 % sequence similarity between the two taxa. Biochemical data supported the affiliation of strain YIT 11850(T) to the genus Dialister. Strain YIT 11850(T) therefore represents a novel species for which the name Dialister succinatiphilus sp. nov. is proposed; the type strain is YIT 11850(T) (=DSM 21274(T)=JCM 15077(T)). Cells of the other isolate, strain YIT 11860(T), were non-motile, rod-shaped, positive for aesculin hydrolysis, negative for indole production, produced succinic and acetic acids as end products of glucose metabolism and possessed a DNA G+C content of 45.5 mol%. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity values, this strain was shown to belong to the family 'Porphyromonadaceae' related to Barnesiella viscericola (96.0 %); similarity values with species within the family 'Porphyromonadaceae' with validly published names were less than 86 %. Biochemical data supported the affiliation of strain YIT 11860(T) to the genus Barnesiella. Strain YIT 11860(T) therefore represents a novel species for which the name Barnesiella intestinihominis sp. nov. is proposed; the type strain is YIT 11860(T) (=DSM 21032(T)=JCM 15079(T)).

Sutterella parvirubra sp. nov. and Megamonas funiformis sp. nov., isolated from human faeces.

Three strains of anaerobic, non-spore-forming, Gram-negative coccobacilli (YIT 11816T, YIT 11817 and YIT 11818) were isolated from human faeces. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, these strains were shown to belong to the family Alcaligenaceae and to be related to the type strain of Sutterella stercoricanis (94.9 %) and to Sutterella wadsworthensis WAL 7877 (94.3 %); the similarity to strains of any other species with a validly published name within the family Alcaligenaceae was less than 92 %. Biochemical data supported the affiliation of these strains to the genus Sutterella. These strains therefore represent a novel species, for which the name Sutterella parvirubra sp. nov. is proposed; the type strain is YIT 11816T (=DSM 19354T =JCM 14724T). The cells of another isolate, strain YIT 11815T, were non-spore-forming, Gram-negative, very large rods, 1x5-200 microm in size, with or without a central, subterminal or terminal swelling of 2-4 microm diameter when grown in a broth medium supplemented with glucose. Based on comparative 16S rRNA gene sequencing, this bacterium is a member of the family Acidaminococcaceae, and most closely related to Megamonas hypermegale (95.3 % similarity to the type strain). Interestingly, the 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain YIT 11815T showed 99 % similarity to sequences of uncultured colonic bacteria. A 16S rRNA gene sequence divergence value of >3 % from known cultured species suggested that isolate YIT 11815T represents a novel species, for which the name Megamonas funiformis sp. nov. is proposed; the type strain is YIT 11815T (=DSM 19343T =JCM 14723T).

Genus Megamonas should be placed in the lineage of Firmicutes; Clostridia; Clostridiales; 'Acidaminococcaceae'; Megamonas.

Megamonas hypermegale is the sole species of the genus Megamonas included in the List of Prokaryotic Names with Standing in Nomenclature and in the databases of DDBJ, EBI/EMBL and NCBI/GenBank it is placed in the lineage of Bacteroidetes; Bacteroidetes (class); 'Bacteroidales'; Bacteroidaceae; Megamonas. Phylogenetic analysis based on comparative 16S rRNA gene sequencing showed that this species clustered with species of the family 'Acidaminococcaceae' but not with those of the Bacteroidaceae. The genus Megamonas should be placed in the lineage of Firmicutes; Clostridia; Clostridiales; 'Acidaminococcaceae'; Megamonas.