Draft Genome Sequence of Bacillus fengqiuensis FJAT-14578, Isolated from a Soil Sample in China.

Here, we report the first high-quality draft genome sequence of Bacillus fengqiuensis FJAT-14578, isolated from a soil sample collected from China. The genome size was 5,569,389 bp, with a 40.93 mol% G+C content. The number of tRNAs was 69 and of rRNAs was 10 (5S, 16S, and 23S).

Bacillus cihuensis sp. nov., isolated from rhizosphere soil of a plant in the Cihu area of Taiwan.

A Gram-positive, moderately halotolerant, rod-shaped, spore forming bacterium, designated strain FJAT-14515(T) was isolated from a soil sample in Cihu area, Taoyuan County, Taiwan. The strain grew at 10-35 °C (optimum at 30 °C), pH 5.7-9.0 (optimum at pH 7.0) and at salinities of 0-5 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum at 1 % w/v). The diagnostic diamino acid of the peptidoglycan of the isolated strain was meso-diaminopimelic acid and major respiratory isoprenoid quinone was MK-7. Major cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C15:0 (40.6 %), iso-C15:0 (20.7 %) and the DNA G+C content of strain FJAT-14515(T) was 37.1 mol %. A phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain FJAT-14515(T) belongs to the genus Bacillus, and was most closely related to the reference strains of Bacillus muralis DSM 16288(T) (97.6 %) and Bacillus simplex DSM 1321(T) (97.5 %). Levels of DNA-DNA relatedness between strain FJAT-14515(T) and the reference strains of B. muralis DSM 16288(T) and B. simplex DSM 1321(T) were 27.9 % ± 3.32 and 44.1 % ± 0.57, respectively. Therefore, on the basis of phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genotypic properties, strain FJAT-14515(T) represents a novel species of the genus Bacillus, for which the name Bacillus cihuensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is FJAT-14515(T) (=DSM 25969(T) = CGMCC 1.12697(T)).

Bacillus bingmayongensis sp. nov., isolated from the pit soil of Emperor Qin's Terra-cotta warriors in China.

A Bacillus-like isolate, strain FJAT-13831(T), isolated from the No. 1 pit soil of Emperor Qin's Terra-cotta Warriors in Xi'an City, China, was studied to determine its taxonomic status. Dominant fatty acids of this organism included iso-C15:0, iso-C17:0, C16:0, iso-C13:0, anteiso-C15:0, and iso-C17:1ω5c. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis confirmed the affiliation of this isolate to the genus Bacillus and indicated that it was closely related to Bacillus pseudomycoides DSM 12442(T) (99.72 % similarity). A phylogenetic analysis of the gyrB gene sequence similarities exhibited independent clustering of the isolate FJAT-13831(T) and showed 93.8 % (<95 %) sequence similarity with its closest phylogenetic neighbour B. pseudomycoides DSM 12442(T). Separate standing of the strain FJAT-13831(T) was supported by a whole genome-based phylogenetic analysis with an average nucleotide identity value of 91.47 (<95 %) between isolate FJAT-13831(T) and B. pseudomycoides DSM 12442(T) and was consistent with the results of DNA-DNA hybridization (69.1 % relatedness). These findings support the conclusion that the isolate FJAT-13831(T) represents a novel species, for which the name Bacillus bingmayongensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is FJAT-13831(T) (= CGMCC 1.12043(T) = DSM 25427(T)).

Synthesis of 4'-thiosemicarbazonegriseofulvin and its effects on the control of enzymatic browning and postharvest disease of fruits.

4'-Thiosemicarbazonegriseofulvin, a new thiosemicarbazide derivative of griseofulvin, was synthesized and evaluated for its potential in the control of enzymatic browning and postharvest disease of fruits. Browning on fruits is mainly due to the enzymatic oxidation of phenolic compounds catalyzed by tyrosinase. 4'-Thiosemicarbazonegriseofulvin could effectively inhibit the activity of tyrosinase, and its 50% inhibitory concentration (IC(50)) against tyrosinase was determined to be 37.8 µM. It was a reversible and noncompetitive inhibitor of tyrosinase, and its inhibition constant (K(I)) was determined to be 38.42 µM. The antifungal activity of 4'-thiosemicarbazonegriseofulvin was studied against four fungi (Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium moniliforme, Fusarium solani, and Colletotrichum truncatum) that often cause postharvest diseases of fruits. The results showed that 4'-thiosemicarbazonegriseofulvin could also strongly inhibit the mycelial growth of the four target fungi; the 50% lethal concentration (LC(50)) values were 5.4, 7.0, 15.3, and 1.5 mM, respectively.

Cloning and tissue expressions of seven chitinase family genes in Litopenaeus vannamei.

GH18 chitinase is a multi-gene family. The family plays important physiological roles in Crustacea, e.g. ecdysis and defense against pathogen. However, data about GH18 family are rather limited in Crustacea. In the study, different cloning strategies were adopted to clone chitinase genes of Litopenaeus vannamei, which is the most widely cultured shrimp. Seven chitinase family members were identified. Analysis of domain architectures showed the repeated CBM18 modules and catalytic domain of enzymatically inactive chitolectin in Crustacea for the first time. Comparing to the three known groups of crustacean chitinase, four of the seven members are located on new evolutionary clades thus enriched the chitinase family of Crustacea. Tissue expression profiles were investigated in eight tissues. Expression of CHT5 and CHID1 were both detected in the hemocyte by which the innate immunity activity was carried out. The domain architectures, evolutionary relationships and tissue expression patterns all provide reasonable explanation for the existence of multiple genes in crustacean chitinase family.