Faecalibacter macacae gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from the faeces of Macaca assamensis.

Huge numbers of bacteria reside in the digestive tract of most animals. During an investigation into the bacterial diversity of primates, strain YIM 102668T was isolated. When neighbour-joining phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences was conducted, strain YIM 102668T formed a cluster within the family Flavobacteriaceae and in a lineage not associated with any known group of previously proposed genera. Closely related genera were Algoriella (94.8 %), Chishuiella (94.8 %), Empedobacter (highest 94.6 %), Moheibacter (90.9 %) and Weeksella (90.6 %). In addition, strain YIM 102668T contained MK-6 as the predominant respiratory quinone and iso-C15 : 0 as the major fatty acid. The major polar lipid was phosphatidylethanolamine and the genomic DNA G+C content was 30.6 mol%. These chemotaxonomic characterizations confirmed that strain YIM 102668T belonged to the family Flavobacteriaceae. Supported by the results of phylogenetic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic analyses, we propose that strain YIM 102668T represents a novel genus, for which the name Faecalibacter macacae gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YIM 102668T (=KCTC 52109T=CCTCC AB 2016016T).

Flavobacterium macacae sp. nov., isolated from Macaca mulatta faeces.

A yellow, Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, non-gliding, non-spore-forming, rod-shaped strain, designated YIM 102600T, was isolated from the faeces of Macaca mulatta dwelling in the Yunnan Wild Animal Park, Yunnan Province, South-West PR China. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain YIM 102600T was a member of the genus Flavobacterium, and closely related to Flavobacterium qiangtangense F3T (96.9 % similarity) and Flavobacterium noncentrifugens R-HLS-17T (96.0 % similarity). Phylogenetic trees showed that strain YIM 102600T formed a clade with F. qiangtangense F3T and F. noncentrifugens R-HLS-17T. Growth occurred at 4-30 °C (optimum, 28 °C), pH 7.0-8.0 (pH 7.5) and NaCl concentration 0-2 % (w/v; 0-1 %, w/v). The major fatty acids were iso-C15:0 and summed feature 3 (comprising C16:1 ω7c and/or C16:1 ω6c). The predominant polar lipid was phosphatidylethanolamine and the sole respiratory quinone was menaquinone-6. The DNA G+C content was 36.4 mol%. The calculated digital DNA-DNA hybridization values between strain YIM 102600T and other species of Flavobacterium ranged from 70.0 to 75.0 % and average nucleotide identity values were in a range between 13.7 to 23.5 %. Based above the consensus of phenotypic and phylogenetic analyses as well as whole genome comparisons, strain YIM 102600T (=KCTC 52099T=CCTCC AB 201632T) is proposed to represent type strain of a novel species, Flavobacterium macacae sp. nov.

Flavobacterium viscosus sp. nov. and Flavobacterium tangerina sp. nov., from Primates Feces.

Strains YIM 102796T and YIM 102701-2T were isolated from the feces of Macaca mulatta and Hylobates hoolock, respectively, living in the Yunnan Wild Animal Park, Yunnan province of China. The two strains were Gram-stain-negative, non-gliding, produced flexirubin pigments, non-flagellated and aerobic bacteria. The 16S rRNA gene-based phylogenetic analysis indicate that both YIM 102796T and YIM 102701-2T are members of the genus Flavobacterium, closely related to F. ummariense DS-12T (95.9% similarity) and F. ceti 454-2T (93.8% similarity), respectively. The two strains shared 95.1 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity. The average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values between the two strains were 76.5% and 22.9%, respectively, indicating that they are separate species. DNA G+C contents of YIM 102796T and YIM 102701-2T were 32.3 mol% and 34.0 mol%, respectively. Strains are able to grow at 4-37 °C, at pH 7.0-8.0 and in 0-2% (w/v) NaCl. Predominant fatty acid constituents (>7 %) were iso-C15:0, summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω6c and/or C16 : 1ω7c) and summed feature 9 (iso-C17:1ω9c and/or 10-methylC16:0). Menaquinone 6 is major respiratory quinone. The predominant polar lipids were very similar to each other, comprising phosphatidylethanolamine, and multiple unknown aminolipids and unidentified polar lipids, and an unidentified aminophospholipid. On the basis of phenotypic and phylogenetic distinctiveness, it is suggested that the two strains represent two novel Flavobacterium species with strain YIM 102796T (=KCTC 52101T=CCTCC AB 2016015T) as the type strain of Flavobacterium viscosus sp. nov. and strain YIM 102701-2T (=KCTC 52100T=CCTCC AB 2016028T) as the type strain of Flavobacterium tangerina sp. nov.

Diversity of methanogens in the hindgut of captive white rhinoceroses, Ceratotherium simum.

BACKGROUND: The white rhinoceros is on the verge of extinction with less than 20,200 animals remaining in the wild. In order to better protect these endangered animals, it is necessary to better understand their digestive physiology and nutritional requirements. The gut microbiota is nutritionally important for herbivorous animals. However, little is known about the microbial diversity in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of the white rhinoceros. Methanogen diversity in the GIT may be host species-specific and, or, function-dependent. To assess methanogen diversity in the hindgut of white rhinoceroses, an archaeal 16S rRNA gene clone library was constructed from pooled PCR products obtained from the feces of seven adult animals. RESULTS: Sequence analysis of 153 archaeal 16S rRNA sequences revealed 47 unique phylotypes, which were assigned to seven operational taxonomic units (OTUs 1 to 7). Sequences assigned to OTU-7 (64 out of 153 total sequencs - 42%) and OTU-5 (18%, 27/153) had 96.2% and 95.5% identity to Methanocorpusculum labreanum, respectively, making Methanocorpusculum labreanum the predominant phylotype in these white rhynoceroses. Sequences belonging to OTU-6 (27%, 42/153) were related (97.6%) to Methanobrevibacter smithii. Only 4% of the total sequences (6/153) were assigned to Methanosphaera stadtmanae (OTU-1). Sequences belonging to OTU-2 (4%, 6/153), OTU-3 (3%, 5/153) and OTU-4 (2%, 3/153) were distantly related (87.5 to 88,4%) to Methanomassiliicoccus luminyensis and were considered to be novel species or strains that have yet-to-be cultivated and characterized. CONCLUSION: Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the methanogen species in the hindgut of white rhinoceroses were more similar to those in the hindgut of horses. Our findings may help develop studies on improving the digestibility of forage for sustainable management and better health of these endangered animals.

[Isolation methods and diversity of culturable fecal actinobacteria associated with Panthera tigris tigris in Yunnan Safari Park].

OBJECTIVE: We studied the isolation methods and diversity of culturable fecal actinobacteria associated with Panthera tigris tigris by using culture-dependent approaches. METHODS: Fresh fecal samples of healthy Panthera tigris tigris were collected from Yunnan Safari Park. Pretreatment of the samples, isolation media and inhibitors were tested for actinobacteria isolation. 16S rRNA genes of actinobacteria were sequenced and subjected to phylogenetic analysis. RESULTS: The abundance of culturable actinobacteria was 1.10 x 10(8) cfu/g colony forming units (CFU) per gram of feces (wet weight). We obtained 110 purified cultural actinobacterium strains. The analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that these strains were distributed in 10 different families and 12 genera of actinobacteria at least, and most of them were non-filamentous, such as Arthrobacter, Dietzia, Kocuria, Corynebacterium and Microbacterium. Streptomyces was the mainly classical filamentous actinobacteria, and up to 64% of total. CONCLUSION: Drying and heating up the fecal samples can greatly increase the rate of the actinobacteria. Many kinds of inhibitors and chemical defined media are suitable for isolation of fecal actinobacteria. The culturable actinobacteria are abundant in Panthera tigris tigris feces. Our study found an effective method to isolate animals' fecal actinobacteria and it's useful for studying and exploiting animals' fecal actinobacteria.

Enteractinococcus coprophilus gen. nov., sp. nov., of the family Micrococcaceae, isolated from Panthera tigris amoyensis faeces, and transfer of Yaniella fodinae Dhanjal et al. 2011 to the genus Enteractinococcus as Enteractinococcus fodinae comb. nov.

A novel actinobacterium, designated strain YIM 100590(T), was isolated from Panthera tigris amoyensis faeces collected from Yunnan Wild Animal Park in Yunnan province, south-west China. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence data showed that strain YIM 100590(T) is a member of the family Micrococcaceae. Cells were coccoid to oval (0.7-1.5 µm in diameter) occurring singly or in clusters. Growth was observed at 10-37 °C (optimum 28 °C) and at pH 7.0-11.0 (optimum pH 8.0). The major fatty acids were iso-C(15:0) (32.22%), anteiso-C(15:0) (31.64%) and iso-C(16:0) (17.38%). The peptidoglycan was of A4α type (L-Lys-Gly-L-Glu). The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylinositol mannosides, dimannosyl diacylglycerol, an unknown glycolipid and two unknown phospholipids. The quinone system comprised menaquinones MK-7 (91.9%) and MK-8 (8.3%). The DNA G+C content of strain YIM 100590(T) was 56.2 mol%. Chemotaxonomic data indicated that the strain belongs to the family Micrococcaceae. On the basis of morphological and chemotaxonomic data and phylogenetic analysis, strain YIM 100590(T) is considered to represent a novel species of a new genus within the family Micrococcaceae, for which the name Enteractinococcus coprophilus gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Enteractinococcus coprophilus is YIM 100590(T) (=DSM 24083(T)=JCM 17352(T)). Yaniella fodinae DSM 22966(T) was transferred to the new genus as Enteractinococcus fodinae comb. nov. (type strain G5(T)=DSM 22966(T)=JCM 17931(T)=MTCC 9846(T)).

[Diversity and bioactivity of culturable actinobacteria from animal feces].

OBJECTIVES: In order to provide new source for discovering new lead compounds of drugs and other products, the diversity and some bioactivities of culturable actinobacteria in animal feces were studied. METHODS: Five animals' fecal samples were collected from Yunnan Wild Animal Park. The pure cultures of actinobacteria were isolated from these samples by using 5 different media. The 16S rRNA gene sequences of 119 selected strains were determined; the phylogenetic analysis was carried out; and antimicrobial and anti-tumor activities were determined by using agar diffusion method, tumor cell lines k562and HL60 respectively. RESULTS: In total 20 genera of actinobacteria from the 5 animals' feces were identified. Many strains inhibited Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus lentus, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger. Some strains presented antitumor activities. Some known secondary metabolites and Sannastatin, a novel macrolactam polyketide glycoside with bioactivities, were isolated and identified. CONCLUSION: Fecal actinobacteria are a new potential source for discovering drug lead and other industry products.

[Amlodipine combined with terazosin reduces postvoid residual and the risk of acute urinary retention].

OBJECTIVE: This prospective randomized double-blinded clinical trial was designed to explore the effects of amlodipine and the combination of amlodipine with terazosin in improving postvoid residual (PVR) in patients with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and concomitant hypertension. METHODS: We randomly divided 360 LUTS patients with concomitant hypertension into a 5 mg amlodipine group, a 2 mg terazosin group and a 5 mg amlodipine plus 2 mg terazosin group, and measured PVR at the baseline and 4 weeks after the treatment. RESULTS: For male patients with LUTS associate with hypertension, all of amlodipine (APVR = 6.8) , terazosin (APVR = 7. 6), and combination group (APVR = 8.8) can significant reduced the PVR (P < . 0.1), but no significant difference was found among three groups. CONCLUSION: Amlodipine alone or combined with terazosin can improve the PVR of the LUTS patient effectively, but had no significant difference compared with terazosin.