Vibrio salinus sp. nov., a marine nitrogen-fixing bacterium isolated from the lagoon sediment of an islet inside an atoll in the western Pacific Ocean.

A marine, facultatively anaerobic, nitrogen-fixing bacterium, designated strain DNF-1T, was isolated from the lagoon sediment of Dongsha Island, Taiwan. Cells grown in broth cultures were Gram-negative rods that were motile by means of monotrichous flagella. Cells grown on plate medium produced prosthecae and vesicle-like structures. NaCl was required and optimal growth occurred at about 2-3% NaCl, 25-30 °C and pH 7-8. The strain grew aerobically and was capable of anaerobic growth by fermenting D-glucose or other carbohydrates as substrate. Both the aerobic and anaerobic growth could be achieved with NH4Cl as a sole nitrogen source. When N2 served as the sole nitrogen source only anaerobic growth was observed. Major cellular fatty acids were C14:0, C16:0 and C16:1 ω7c, while major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol. The DNA G+C content was 42.2 mol% based on the genomic DNA data. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA genes and the housekeeping genes, gapA, pyrH, recA and gyrB, revealed that the strain formed a distinct lineage at species level in the genus Vibrio of the family Vibrionaceae. These results and those from genomic, chemotaxonomic and physiological studies strongly support the assignment of a novel Vibrio species. The name Vibrio salinus sp. nov. is proposed for the novel species, with DNF-1T (= BCRC 81209T = JCM 33626T) as the type strain. This newly proposed species represents the second example of the genus Vibrio that has been demonstrated to be capable of anaerobic growth by fixing N2 as the sole nitrogen source.

Vibrio nitrifigilis sp. nov., a marine nitrogen-fixing bacterium isolated from the lagoon sediment of an islet inside an atoll.

A nitrogen-fixing isolate of facultatively anaerobic, marine bacterium, designated strain NFV-1T, was recovered from the lagoon sediment of Dongsha Island, Taiwan. It was a Gram-negative rod which exhibited motility with monotrichous flagellation in broth cultures. The strain required NaCl for growth and grew optimally at about 25-35 °C, 3% NaCl and pH 7-8. It grew aerobically and could achieve anaerobic growth by fermenting D-glucose or other carbohydrates as substrates. NH4Cl could serve as a sole nitrogen source for growth aerobically and anaerobically, whereas growth with N2 as the sole nitrogen source was observed only under anaerobic conditions. Cellular fatty acids were predominated by C16:1 ω7c, C16:0, and C18:1 ω7c. The major polar lipids consisted of phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylserine. Strain NFV-1T had a DNA G + C content of 42.5 mol%, as evaluated according to the chromosomal DNA sequencing data. Analyses of sequence similarities and phylogeny based on the 16S rRNA genes, together with the housekeeping genes, gyrB, ftsZ, mreB, topA and gapA, indicated that the strain formed a distinct species-level lineage in the genus Vibrio of the family Vibrionaceae. These phylogenetic data and those from genomic and phenotypic characterisations support the establishment of a novel Vibrio species, for which the name Vibrio nitrifigilis sp. nov. (type strain NFV-1T = BCRC 81211T = JCM 33628T) is proposed.

Glaciimonas soli sp. nov., a soil bacterium isolated from the forest of a high elevation mountain.

A Gram-negative, psychrophilic bacterium, designated strain GS1T, was isolated from a forest soil sample collected from the West Peak of Mt. Yushan, Yushan National Park, Taiwan. Cells grown in broth cultures were mostly non-motile and non-flagellated, whereas motile cells with monotrichous, subpolar flagella were also observed. The novel strain grew over a temperature range of 4-25 °C with optimum growth at 10-15 °C. It grew aerobically and was not capable of anaerobic growth by fermentation of D-glucose or other carbohydrates. Ubiquinone 8 was the predominant isoprenoid quinone. The major polar lipids comprised phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol and dimethylaminoethanol. Cellular fatty acids were dominated by C16:1ω7c (35.2%), C16:0 (19.5%), C18:1ω7c (18.8%) and C17:0ω7c cyclo (15.5%). The DNA G + C content was 49.2 mol% evaluated according to the genomic sequencing data. Strain GS1T shared more than 96.5% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities with type strains of four Collimonas species (97.2-97.5%), three Glaciimonas species (97.3% for each of the three) and Oxalicibacterium solurbis (96.5%). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain GS1T formed a stable genus-level clade with type strains of species in the genus Glaciimonas in the family Oxalobacteraceae and GS1T was an outgroup with respect to these Glaciimonas species. Characteristically, strain GS1T could be easily distinguished from the recognised Glaciimonas species by exhibition of swimming motility with monotrichous, subpolar flagellum in some of the cells, ability to grow in NaCl at 2% but not at 3% and the distinguishable fatty acid profiles. On the basis of the polyphasic taxonomic data from this study, strain GS1T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Glaciimonas, for which the name Glaciimonas soli sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is GS1T (= JCM 33275T = BCRC 81091T).

Exercise training attenuates cardiac inflammation and fibrosis in hypertensive ovariectomized rats.

This study investigated the effects of exercise training on cardiac inflammatory and cardiac fibrotic pathways in female spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), which were divided into a sham-operated sedentary hypertensive group (SHR-S), a sedentary hypertensive ovariectomized group (SHR-O), or a hypertensive ovariectomized group with treadmill exercise training (SHR-OT; 60 min/day, 5 days/wk) for 8 wk. Normotensive female Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) served as controls. SOD and catalase (CAT) activities were significantly increased in the SHR-OT group, when compared with the SHR-S or SHR-O groups. The protein levels of estrogen receptor (ER)-α and ER-ß became decreased in the SHR-O group, when compared with the WKY or SHR-S groups, but were not changed in the SHR-OT group. The protein level of the angiotensin II type I receptor (AT1R) was increased in the SHR-S group but did not further change in the SHR-O group, whereas it was decreased in the SHR-OT group. The inflammatory-related protein levels of TNF-α, p-NF-κB, cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and IL-6, as well as the fibrotic-related protein levels of transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß), p-Smad2/3, connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9, and collagen I were increased in the SHR-S group and increased further in the SHR-O group, whereas they were decreased in the SHR-OT group. The coexistence of hypertension and ovariectomy additively increased cardiac inflammatory and fibrotic pathways partially through hypertension-enhanced AT1R and ovariectomy-depressed estrogen receptors. Exercise training appeared to suppress hypertensive ovariectomized heart-induced inflammatory and fibrotic pathways possibly through decreasing AT1R but not through estrogen receptors.NEW & NOTEWORTHY The coexistence of hypertension and ovariectomy appeared to increase cardiac inflammatory and fibrotic pathways likely through hypertension-enhanced angiotensin II type I receptor and ovariectomy-depressed estrogen receptors. Exercise training on a treadmill could prevent hypertensive ovariectomized heart-induced cardiac inflammation and fibrosis via an inflammatory pathway [TNF-α, p-IKK-α/ß, p-NF-κB, cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), iNOS, and IL-6] and fibrotic pathway [transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß), p-Smad2/3, connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9, and collagen I] possibly through decreasing angiotensin II type I receptor but not through estrogen receptors.

Honokiol, an active compound of Magnolia officinalis, is involved in restoring normal baroreflex sensitivity in hypercholesterolemic rabbits.

This study investigated the effects of methanol extract Magnolia officinalis (MEMO) on baroreceptor reflex sensitivity (BRS) in the hypercholesterolemic rabbits and the involved molecular mechanisms. Male New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into Control (normal diet), Cholesterol (0.5% w/w cholesterol diet), and Magnolia groups (0.5% w/w cholesterol diet plus 1% w/w MEMO). The animals were treated with the designated diet for 4 or 8 weeks. BRS in the control of heart rate was assessed by linear regression method. After 8 weeks of treatments, plasma total cholesterol (TC) was significantly elevated in the Cholesterol/Magnolia groups. The arterial blood pressure (aBP) was increased in the Cholesterol and Magnolia groups. The depression of BRS observed in the Cholesterol group was significantly ameliorated in the Magnolia group. After L-NAME (Nω-nitro-Larginine methyl ester, 20 mg/kg, iv), the BRS of the Cholesterol group was significantly improved. Results from our in vitro study further indicated that honokiol, the principle component of MEMO, would protect human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) from H2O2-induced damages and inhibit H2O2-induced vascular smooth muscles cells (VSMCs) proliferation, which was evident by the decreased expression of pFAK, and p-Erk1/2. The results of the present study suggested that the improvement of BRS by MEMO in the hypercholesterolemic rabbits might be mediated by the antioxidant property of MEMO as indicated by the results from the L-NAME and in vitro honokiol studies.

Antiapoptotic and mitochondrial biogenetic effects of exercise training on ovariectomized hypertensive rat hearts.

This study was to investigate the effects of exercise training on antiapoptotic pathways and mitochondrial biogenesis in ovariectomized hypertensive rats. Histopathological analysis, TUNEL assay, and Western blotting were performed on the excised hearts from female spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), which were divided into a sham-operated sedentary hypertensive (SHR-S), a sedentary hypertensive ovariectomized (SHR-O), and hypertensive ovariectomized rats that underwent treadmill exercise training (SHR-OT; 60 min/day, 5 days/wk) for 8 wk, along with normotensive Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY). When compared with the WKY group, the SHR-S group exhibited decreased protein levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) and mitochondrial OPA-1 (mitochondrial biogenesis) and decreased further in the SHR-O group. The protein levels of p-PI3K, p-Akt, Bcl-2, Bcl-xL (prosurvival pathways), and the protein levels of PGC-1α and mitochondrial OPA1 (mitochondrial biogenesis) were increased in the SHR-OT group, but estrogen receptor (ER)α and ERß were not changed when compared with the SHR-O group. The protein levels of t-Bid, Bad, Bax, cytosolic cytochrome c, activated caspase 9, and activated caspase 3 (mitochondria-dependent apoptotic pathways), as well as Fas ligand, TNF-α, Fas receptors, Fas-associated death domain, activated caspase 8 (Fas receptor-dependent apoptotic pathways) were decreased in the SHR-OT group, when compared with the SHR-O group. Exercise training protection on the coexistence of hypertension and ovariectomy-induced cardiac mitochondria-dependent and Fas receptor-dependent apoptotic pathways by enhancing the Bcl2-related and mitochondrial biogenetic prosurvival pathways might provide a new therapeutic effect on cardiac protection in oophorectomized early postmenopausal hypertensive women. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Widely dispersed cardiac apoptosis was found in the coexistence of hypertension and ovariectomy. Exercise training on a treadmill could prevent ovariectomized hypertension-induced widely dispersed cardiac apoptosis via mitochondria-dependent apoptotic pathway (t-Bid, Bad, Bax, cytosolic cytochrome c, activated caspase 9, and activated caspase 3) and Fas receptor-dependent apoptotic pathway (Fas ligand, tumor necrosis factor-α, Fas receptors, Fas-associated death domain, activated caspase 8, and activated caspase 3) through enhancing the Bcl2-related (p-PI3K, p-Akt, Bcl-2, Bcl-xL) and mitochondrial biogenetic (PGC-1α and mitochondrial optic atrophy 1) prosurvival pathways.

Dongshaea marina gen. nov., sp. nov., a facultatively anaerobic marine bacterium that ferments glucose with gas production.

Two isolates of heterotrophic, facultatively anaerobic, marine bacteria, designated DM1 and DM2T, were recovered from a lagoon sediment sample of Dongsha Island, Taiwan. Cells were Gram-reaction-negative rods. Nearly all of the cells were non-motile and non-flagellated during the late exponential to early stationary phase of growth, while a few of the cells exhibited motility with monotrichous flagellation. The two isolates required NaCl for growth and grew optimally at about 30 °C, 2-3 % NaCl and pH 7-8. They grew aerobically and could achieve anaerobic growth by fermenting d-glucose or other carbohydrates with production of acids and the gases, including CO2 and H2. Ubiquinone Q-8 was the only respiratory quinone. Cellular fatty acids were predominated by C16 : 0, C18 : 1ω7c and C16 : 1ω7c. The major polar lipid was phosphatidylethanolamine. Strains DM1 and DM2T had DNA G+C contents of 52.0 and 51.8 mol%, respectively, as determined by HPLC analysis. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences clearly indicated that the two isolates formed a distinct genus-level lineage in the family Aeromonadaceae of the class Gammaproteobacteria and was an outgroup with respect to a stable supragenic clade comprising species of the genera Oceanimonas, Oceanisphaera and Zobellella. The phylogenetic data and those from chemotaxonomic, physiological and morphological characterizations support the establishment of a novel species and genus inside the family Aeromonadaceae, for which the name Dongshaea marina gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is DM2T (=BCRC 81069T=JCM 32096T).

Combined effects of 17ß-estradiol and exercise training on cardiac apoptosis in ovariectomized rats.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to investigate the combined 17ß-estradiol (E2) and exercise training on cardiac pro-survival and anti-apoptotic pathways in ovariectomized rats. METHODS: Fifty-six female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into a sham-operated (Sham), a bilaterally ovariectomized (OVX), an OVX treated with E2 (OVX-E2; 10µg/kg/day), and an OVX with E2 and treadmill exercise training (OVX-E2-EX; 60 min/day, 5 days/week) for 10 weeks. Following 10 weeks of exercise training, rat hearts were isolated for the evaluation of Histopathological analysis, TUNEL assay, and Western blotting. RESULTS: The protein levels of estrogen receptor α (ERα), estrogen receptor ß (ERß), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), IGF-1 receptor (IGF-1R), phospho-phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (p-PI3K) (estrogen receptors/IGF-1-related survival pathway) were significantly increased in either the OVX-E2 or OVX-E2-EX group when compared with the OVX group. The protein levels of B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), B-cell lymphoma-extra-large (Bcl-xL) and phosphorylated-Bad (p-Bad) (Bcl-2 family survival pathway) were significantly increased in the OVX-E2-EX group when compared with the OVX group. Only the p-Bad was significantly increased in the OVX-E2 group when compared with the OVX group. The protein levels of truncation of Bid (t-Bid), Bcl-2-associated death promotor (Bad), Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax), Cytochrome c, caspases-9, and caspases-3 (mitochondria-dependent apoptotic pathway), as well as the protein levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), Fas ligand, Fas receptors, Fas-associated death domain (FADD), activated caspase-8 and activated caspase-3 (Fas receptor-dependent apoptotic pathway) were significantly decreased in either the OVX-E2 or OVX-E2-EX group when compared with the OVX group. Furthermore, when compared with the OVX-E2 group, the protein levels of ERß, IGF-1, IGF-1R, Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL were further enhanced in the OVX-E2-EX group as well as the protein levels of Cytochrome c, Fas receptors, FADD, activated caspase-8, activated caspase-9 and activated caspase-3 were further decreased in the OVX-EX-E2 group. CONCLUSIONS: Combined E2 and exercise training exhibited a positive effect of protection on ovariectomy-induced cardiac apoptosis by enhancing ERß-related survival pathways, which might provide a more effective therapeutic effect on cardiac protection in bilaterally oophorectomized or menopausal women than E2 treatment only.

Spongiibacter taiwanensis sp. nov., a marine bacterium isolated from aged seawater.

A Gram-reaction-negative, heterotrophic, marine bacterium, designated strain SPT1T, was isolated from an aged seawater sample which was collected from the shallow coastal region of Nanya, Keelung, Taiwan and stored at room temperature for more than 7 years. Strain SPT1T was a motile rod which exhibited monotrichous flagellation. It required NaCl for growth and exhibited optimal growth at 30-35 °C, 1-3 % NaCl and pH 7-8. The strain was a strictly aerobic bacterium, incapable of anaerobic growth by nitrate reduction or denitrification, or by fermenting glucose or other carbohydrates. Cellular fatty acids were dominated by C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c (23.4 %), C17 : 1ω8c (18.1 %), C16 : 0 (8.5 %), C18 : 1ω7c (8.4 %) and C10 : 0 3-OH (6.3 %). The predominant isoprenoid quinone was Q-8. Polar lipids consisted of phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidic acid. The DNA G+C content was 57.9 mol%. Phylogeny based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain SPT1T formed a distinct species-level lineage within the genus Spongiibacter of the class Gammaproteobacteria and shared sequence similarities of 94.4-96.2 % with Spongiibacter marinusand Spongiibacter tropicus, the only two species of the genus Spongiibacterwith validly published names. The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities between strain SPT1T and other species were less than 93.1 %. Polyphasic taxonomic data obtained in this study indicated that strain SPT1T could be classified as a novel species of the genus Spongiibacter, for which the name Spongiibacter taiwanensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is SPT1T (=JCM 31012T=BCRC 80916T).

Tagaea marina gen. nov., sp. nov., a marine bacterium isolated from shallow coastal water.

A Gram-negative, heterotrophic, marine bacterium, designated strain TT1T, was isolated from seawater collected from the shallow coastal region of Anping Harbour, Tainan, Taiwan. Cells grown in broth cultures were straight rods that were motile by means of a single polar flagellum. The isolate required NaCl for growth and exhibited optimal growth at 30-35 °C, 2-4 % NaCl and pH 7-8. Strain TT1T grew aerobically and was not capable of anaerobic growth by fermentation of glucose or other carbohydrates. Q-10 was the sole major isoprenoid quinone. Cellular fatty acids were dominated by C18 : 1ω7c (47.5 %), C18 : 1 2-OH (16.3 %) and C19 : 0ω8c cyclo (10.6 %). The DNA G+C content was 56.4 mol%. Phylogeny based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain TT1T formed a distinct genus-level lineage in the family Rhodospirillaceae of the class Alphaproteobacteria and exhibited the highest sequence similarity with species of the genera Thalassobaculum (89.9-90.0 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity), Oceanibaculum (89.4-89.9 %) and Nisaea (89.1-89.7 %). Strain TT1T could be distinguished from species of these phylogenetically closest genera based on differences in DNA G+C contents (56.4 mol% vs 60.0-68.0 mol%), fatty acid profiles and some physiological characteristics. On the basis of the polyphasic taxonomic data from this study, strain TT1T is considered to represent a novel species of a new genus in the family Rhodospirillaceae, for which the name Tagaea marina gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of the type species is TT1T ( = JCM 18659T = BCRC 80493T).

Complete Genome Sequence of Simiduia agarivorans SA1(T), a Marine Bacterium Able To Degrade a Variety of Polysaccharides.

Simiduia agarivorans strain SA1(T) is able to degrade a variety of polysaccharides found in marine algae, plants, and animals. The genome of S. agarivorans SA1(T) consists of a single chromosome (4,309,711 bp), and its information may provide insights into the polysaccharide-degrading capability, cell division, flagellar motility, and chemotaxis of this bacterium.

Reclassification of [Glaciecola] lipolytica and [Aestuariibacter] litoralis in Aliiglaciecola gen. nov., as Aliiglaciecola lipolytica comb. nov. and Aliiglaciecola litoralis comb. nov., respectively.

Following phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, together with DNA G+C contents and differential chemotaxonomic and physiological characteristics, a new genus with the name Aliiglaciecola gen. nov. is proposed to more appropriately accommodate two recognized species of the genera Glaciecola and Aestuariibacter. Accordingly, [Glaciecola] lipolytica and [Aestuariibacter] litoralis should be reassigned to the novel genus as Aliiglaciecola lipolytica comb. nov. (type strain, E3(T) = JCM 15139(T) = CGMCC 1.7001(T)) and Aliiglaciecola litoralis comb. nov. (type strain, KMM 3894(T) = JCM 15896(T) = NRIC 0754(T)), respectively. Aliiglaciecola lipolytica is proposed as the type species of this new genus. Physiologically, the combined characteristics of positive reactions for nitrate reduction and growth at 4 °C and 36 °C distinguish the new genus from the genera Aestuariibacter and Glaciecola by one to three traits. Moreover, the new genus is also distinguished from the genus Glaciecola by the fatty acid profile and distinguished from the genus Aestuariibacter by the differences of major isoprenoid quinone (MK-7 vs Q-8) and DNA G+C content (40.8-43.0 mol% vs 48.0-54.0 mol%).

Kangiella taiwanensis sp. nov. and Kangiella marina sp. nov., marine bacteria isolated from shallow coastal water.

Two Gram-negative, heterotrophic, aerobic, marine bacteria, designated strains KT1(T) and KM1(T), were isolated from seawater samples collected from the shallow coastal regions of northern Taiwan. Cells grown in broth cultures were non-flagellated rods. NaCl was required for growth. Optimal growth occurred with 2-5 % NaCl, at 25-30 °C and at pH 8. They grew aerobically and were not capable of anaerobic growth by fermenting D-glucose or other carbohydrates. Q-8 was the only isoprenoid quinone. The major polar lipid detected in strain KT1(T) was phosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine, whereas those detected in KM1(T) were phosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine, phosphatidyldimethylethanolamine and an unidentified phospholipid. Cellular fatty acids were nearly all iso-branched, with iso-C(15 : 0) as the most abundant component (54.6-57.2 % of the total). Strains KT1(T) and KM1(T) had DNA G+C contents of 43.9 and 46.3 mol%, respectively. The two strains shared 98.1 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity; levels of similarity with the type strains of species of the genus Kangiella were 95.6-98.4 %. Data from the present taxonomic study conducted using a polyphasic approach revealed that the isolates could be classified as representatives of two novel species of the genus Kangiella, for which the names Kangiella taiwanensis sp. nov. (type strain KT1(T) = BCRC 80330(T) = JCM 17727(T)) and Kangiella marina sp. nov. (type strain KM1(T) = BCRC 80329(T) = JCM 17728(T)) are proposed.

Aliidiomarina taiwanensis gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from shallow coastal water.

A Gram-negative, heterotrophic, aerobic, marine bacterium, designated AIT1(T), was isolated from a seawater sample collected in the shallow coastal region of Bitou Harbour, New Taipei City, Taiwan. Cells grown in broth cultures were straight or slightly curved rods that were motile by means of a single polar flagellum. Strain AIT1(T) required NaCl for growth, grew optimally at 30-40°C and with 1.5-5.0% NaCl, and was incapable of anaerobic growth by fermentation of glucose or other carbohydrates. The isoprenoid quinones consisted of Q-8 (95.2%) and Q-9 (4.8%). The major polar lipids comprised diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine. The cellular fatty acids were predominantly iso-branched and included iso-C(17:0) (26.5%), summed feature 9 (comprising iso-C(17:1)ω9c and/or 10-methyl C(16:0); 25.9%) and iso-C(15:0) (20.5%). The DNA G+C content was 51.5 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain AIT1(T) formed a distinct lineage within the class Gammaproteobacteria and was most closely related to members of the genus Idiomarina in the family Idiomarinaceae (91.5-93.9% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity). The phylogenetic data, together with chemotaxonomic, physiological and morphological data, revealed that the isolate should be classified as a representative of a novel species in a new genus in the family Idiomarinaceae, for which the name Aliidiomarina taiwanensis gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is AIT1(T) (=JCM 16052(T)=BCRC 80035(T)=NCCB 100321(T)).

Altered nitroxidergic and NMDA receptor-mediated modulation of baroreflex-mediated heart rate in obese Zucker rats.

Arterial baroreflex, an important physiological regulatory system for buffering systemic blood pressure, is impaired in obesity. This study investigated whether the blunted baroreflex function in obesity is attributed to the altered nitroxidergic or N-methyl--aspartate (NMDA) mechanism. Baroreflex bradycardia responses, blood pressure and heart rate in 30 lean and 30 obese anesthetized Zucker rats (8-12 weeks of age) were assessed after injecting phenylephrine with intravenous preadministration of saline (control), dextromethorphan (DXM, NMDA receptor antagonist, 10 mg kg(-1)) or N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, 100 mg kg(-1)). Compared with lean rats (-2.00+/-0.29 b.p.m. mm Hg(-1)), the baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) in obese rats (-0.43+/-0.05 b.p.m. mm Hg(-1)) was significantly blunted. The BRS was significantly suppressed by DXM in lean rats but not in obese rats. After administration of L-NAME, BRS was significantly suppressed in lean Zucker rats but not in obese Zucker rats. The normal BRS was significantly suppressed in lean rats after administration of both DXM and L-NAME, and the blunted BRS in obesity was significantly blocked to nearly no BRS after administration of both DXM and L-NAME. This study suggests that BRS is blunted in obese rats and that blunted baroreflex is, at least in part, attributed to altered nitroxidergic or NMDA receptor-mediated modulation.

Molecular mechanism of green microalgae, Dunaliella salina, involved in attenuating balloon injury-induced neointimal formation.

The pathological mechanism of restenosis is primarily attributed to excessive proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). The preventive effects of ethanol extract of Dunaliella salina (EDS) on balloon injury-induced neointimal formation were investigated. To explore its molecular mechanism in regulating cell proliferation, we first showed that EDS markedly reduced the human aortic smooth muscle cell proliferation via the inhibition of 5'-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation at 40 and 80 microg/ml. This was further supported by the G0/G1-phase arrest using a flow cytometric analysis. In an in vivo study, EDS at 40 and 80 microg/ml was previously administered to the Sprague-Dawley rats and found that the thickness of neointima, and the ratio of neointima:media were also reduced. EDS inhibited VSMC proliferation in a dose-dependent manner following stimulation of VSMC cultures with 15 % fetal bovine serum (FBS). Suppressed by EDS were 15 % FBS-stimulated intracellular Raf, phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinases (p-Erk) involved in cell-cycle arrest and proliferating cell nuclear antigen. Phosphorylated focal adhesion kinase (p-FAK) was also suppressed by EDS. Also active caspase-9, caspase-3 and cleaved poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) protein expression levels were increased by administration with EDS; the apoptotic pathway may play an important role in the regulatory effects of EDS on cell growth. These observations provide a mechanism of EDS in attenuating cell proliferation, thus as a potential intervention for restenosis.

Analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of a water extract of Trachelospermum jasminoides (Apocynaceae).

AIMS OF THE STUDY: This study investigated the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of a water extract of Trachelospermum jasminoides (WET) in ICR mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In HPLC analysis, the fingerprint chromatogram of WET was established. Acetic acid-induced writhing response and formalin-induced pain were examined the analgesics effects of WET. WET on lambda-Carrageenan(carr)-induced paw edema was performed. We investigate the anti-inflammatory mechanism of WET via studies of the activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GRx) in the liver and the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitrite oxide (NO) in the edema paw. Serum NO and TNF-alpha were also measured. RESULTS: The fingerprint chromatogram of WET was established through HPLC analysis, and implies that WET contains the active ingredient gallic acid, chlorgenic acid, caffeic acid, taxifolin, isoquercitrin and quercetin. WET significantly inhibited the numbers of acetic acid-induced writhing responses and the formalin-induced pain in the late phase. In the anti-inflammatory test, WET inhibited the development of paw edema induced by carr. WET decreased the paw edema at the third, fourth and fifth hour after carr administration, and increased the activities of SOD, GPx and GRx in the liver tissue and decreased the MDA level in the edema paw at the third hour after carr injection. WET decreased the level of NO in edematous paw tissue and in serum level, and diminished the level of serum TNF-alpha at the fifth hour after carr injection. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrated that WET is an effective anti-inflammatory agent in carr-induced inflammation. WET probably exerts anti-inflammatory effects by suppressing TNF-alpha and NO. The anti-inflammatory mechanism of WET might be related to the decrease in the level of MDA in the edema paw via increasing the activities of SOD, GPx and GRx in the liver.

Aliagarivorans marinus gen. nov., sp. nov. and Aliagarivorans taiwanensis sp. nov., facultatively anaerobic marine bacteria capable of agar degradation.

Two agarolytic strains of Gram-negative, heterotrophic, facultatively anaerobic, marine bacteria, designated AAM1T and AAT1T, were isolated from seawater samples collected in the shallow coastal region of An-Ping Harbour, Tainan, Taiwan. Cells grown in broth cultures were straight rods that were motile by means of a single polar flagellum. The two isolates required NaCl for growth and grew optimally at about 25-30 degrees C, in 2-4% NaCl and at pH 8. They grew aerobically and could achieve anaerobic growth by fermenting D-glucose or other sugars. The major isoprenoid quinone was Q-8 (79.8-92.0%) and the major cellular fatty acids were summed feature 3 (C16:1omega7c and/or iso-C15:0 2-OH; 26.4-35.6%), C18:1omega7c (27.1-31.4%) and C16:0 (14.8-16.3%) in the two strains. Strains AAM1T and AAT1T had DNA G+C contents of 52.9 and 52.4 mol%, respectively. The two strains had a 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 98.6% and shared 84.9-92.4% sequence similarity with the type strains of Agarivorans albus (91.2-92.4%), eight Alteromonas species (84.9-87.1%), two Aestuariibacter species (86.0-87.0%), Bowmanella denitrificans (86.1-86.7%), eight Glaciecola species (85.0-87.9%) and Salinimonas chungwhensis (85.9-86.1%). Despite their high sequence similarity, strains AAM1T and AAT1T had a DNA-DNA relatedness value of only 4.5%. The data obtained from these polyphasic taxonomic studies revealed that the two agarolytic isolates could be classified as representatives of two novel species in a new genus, Aliagarivorans gen. nov., with Aliagarivorans marinus sp. nov. [type strain is AAM1T (=BCRC 17888T=JCM 15522T)] as the type species and Aliagarivorans taiwanensis sp. nov. [type strain is AAT1T (=BCRC 17889T=JCM 15537T)] as a second species.

Ethanol extract of Dunaliella salina induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in A549 human non-small cell lung cancer cells.

The ethanol extract of Dunaliella salina (EDS) on proliferation and apoptosis in the A549 human lung cancer cell line and their associated protein expressions were investigated. After 24 and 48 h treatment, MTT assay showed that 25 microg/ml of EDS significantly reduced A549 cell proliferation by 25.2% (p<0.05) and 48.3% (p<0.01), respectively. To explore its molecular mechanisms in regulating cell proliferation, we first showed that EDS markedly reduced A549 proliferation via inhibition of BrdU incorporation at 25 microg/ml by 65.8% (p<0.001). By cytometric analysis, EDS was found to induce apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in the G0/G1 phase. In the DNA gel electrophoresis assay, EDS (25, 50 and 100 microg/ml) induced significant apoptosis at 48 h. Annexin V/Propodium iodide double staining demonstrated that administration of EDS (25 microg/ml) in 12, 24 and 48 h induces apoptosis of 27.7%, 30.7%, and 38.7%. Western blotting assay demonstrated that EDS significantly increased the expression of cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitors p53 and p21 and death-receptor proteins Fas and FasL. Bax expression was also elevated by treatment with EDS. Our data suggested that EDS could influence the antiproliferative effects and induce cell cycle G0/G1 arrest and apoptosis of A549 lung cancer cells.