Zheng-Fei Yan

Activation Effects of Polysaccharides of Flammulina velutipes Mycorrhizae on the T Lymphocyte Immune Function

Flammulina velutipes mycorrhizae have increasingly been produced with increasing of F. velutipes production. A mouse model was thus used to examine potential effect of F. velutipes mycorrhizae on the immune function. Fifty female Wistar mice (5-weeks-old) weighed 15–20 g were randomly allocated into five groups. Polysaccharide of F. velutipes mycorrhizae were treated with mice and mice spleen lymphocytes. The levels of CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ T lymphocyte, interleukin-2 (IL-2), and tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-α) were determined. The results showed that the proportions of CD3+, and CD4+ T lymphocyte, the ratio of CD4+/CD8+, and the levels of IL-2 and TNF-a were significantly increased in polysaccharide of F. velutipes mycorrhizae, while the proportion of CD8+ T lymphocyte was decreased in polysaccharide of F. velutipes mycorrhizae-dose dependent manner. Our findings indicated that a long term exposure of polysaccharide of F. velutipes mycorrhizae could activate the T lymphocyte immune function. Polysaccharide of F. velutipes mycorrhizae was expected to develop into the immune health products.

Arthrobacter deserti sp. nov., isolated from a desert soil sample.

A Gram-stain-positive, non-motile, rod-shaped, catalase-positive and oxidase-negative bacterium, designated YIM CS25T, was isolated from a soil sample collected from Turpan desert in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, north-western China. The isolate grew at 15-40 °C, at pH 6.0-8.0 and with 0-6 % (w/v) NaCl. The phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain YIM CS25T belonged to the genus Arthrobacter and was closely related to Arthrobacter halodurans JSM 078085T (95.89 % similarity). The peptidoglycan type contained lysine, alanine and glutamic acid. The major whole-cell sugars were galactose, glucose and ribose. The isolate contained diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylinositol as the major polar lipids and MK-9 (H2) as the predominant menaquinone. The major cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C17 : 0, iso-C16 : 0 and anteiso-C17 : 1ω9c. The genomic DNA G+C content was 68.3 mol%. On the basis of phylogenetic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic analysis, strain YIM CS25T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Arthrobacter, for which the name Arthrobacter deserti sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YIM CS25T ( = KCTC 39544T = CGMCC 1.15091T).

Paracoccus hibisci sp. nov., isolated from the rhizosphere of Hibiscus syriacus L. (Mugunghwa flower)

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, short-rod-shaped bacterium, motile by means of one flagellum (THG-T2.8T), was isolated from the rhizosphere of Mugunghwa flower. Growth occurred at 10-37 °C (optimum 28 °C), at pH 6-8 (optimum 7) and with 0-5 % NaCl (optimum 1 %). The major quinone was ubiquinone-10 (Q-10). The major fatty acids were C10 : 0 3-OH, C16 : 0, C18 : 0 and C18 : 1ω7c. The polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylmethylethanolamine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, one unidentified aminolipid, two unknown phospholipids, one unknown glycolipid and one unidentified lipid. The DNA G+C content of strain THG-T2.8T was 65.5 mol%. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the nearest phylogenetic neighbours of strain THG-T2.8T were identified as Paracoccus tibetensis Tibet-S9a3T (98.6 %), Paracoccus aestuarii B7T (98.4 %), Paracoccus rhizosphaerae CC-CCM15-8T (98.3 %) and Paracoccus beibuensis JLT1284T (98.2 %). Levels of sequence similarity among strain THG-T2.8T and other species of the genus Paracoccus were lower than 98.0 %. DNA-DNA hybridization values between strain THG-T2.8T and P. tibetensis Tibet-S9A3TT, P. aestuarii B7T, P. rhizosphaerae CC-CCM15-8T and P. beibuensisJLT1284T were 36.5 % (38.8 %, reciprocal analysis), 32.8 % (34.8 %), 31.6 % (33.8 %) and 15.3 % (24.8 %), respectively. On the basis of the phylogenetic analysis, chemotaxonomic data, physiological characteristics and DNA-DNA hybridization data, strain THG-T2.8T represents a novel species of the genus Paracoccus, for which the name Paracoccus hibisci sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is THG-T2.8T (=KACC 18932T=CCTCC AB 2016181T).

Inhibitory and Acceleratory Effects of Inonotus obliquus on Tyrosinase Activity and Melanin Formation in B16 Melanoma Cells

The aim of the present study is to preliminarily investigate the antimelanogenesis effect of Inonotus obliquus extracts by cell-free mushroom tyrosinase assay. It was found that petroleum ether and n-butanol extracts might contain unknown potential tyrosinase inhibitors, while its ethyl acetate extract might contain some unknown accelerators. Six compounds were isolated and their structures were identified by interpretation of NMR data and nicotinic acid was first discovered in Inonotus obliquus. In cells testing, betulin and trametenolic acid decreased tyrosinase activity and melanin content, while inotodiol and lanosterol significantly increased tyrosinase activity and melanin content, showing an AC⁡50 of 9.74 and 8.43 μM, respectively. Nicotinie acid, 3β,22,25-trihydroxy-lanosta-8-ene, had a little or no effect on tyrosinase. Betulin exhibited a mode of noncompetitive inhibition with a K I = K IS of 0.4 μM on tyrosinase activity showing an IC50 of 5.13 μM and being more effective than kojic acid (6.43 μM), and trametenolic acid exhibited a mode of mixed inhibition with a K I of 0.9 μM, K IS of 0.5 μM, and an IC50 of 7.25 μM. We proposed betulin and trametenolic acid as a new candidate of potent tyrosinase inhibitors and inotodiol and lanosterol as accelerators that could be used as therapeutic agent.

Pterocarpus santalinus L. Regulated Ultraviolet B Irradiation‐induced Procollagen Reduction and Matrix Metalloproteinases Expression Through Activation of TGF‐β/Smad and Inhibition of the MAPK/AP‐1 Pathway in Normal Human Dermal Fibroblasts

Ultraviolet light‐induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) damage human skin and prematurely cause aging. A growing body of research is focusing on considering plants and plant‐derived compounds as antiphotoaging therapeutic material. Pterocarpus santalinus L., as an Indian traditional medicine, possesses antidiabetic, anti‐inflammatory and antioxidative effects. Here, we studied the antiphotoaging effects of ethanolic extract of P. santalinus L. heartwood (EPS) on ultraviolet radiation B (UVB)‐irradiated normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDFs). Results showed that EPS significantly inhibited the upregulation of matrix metalloproteinases and IL‐6 caused by UVB irradiation, and suppressed UVB‐induced phosphorylation of extracellular signal‐regulated kinase, Jun N‐terminal kinase and p38, as well as the activation of AP‐1 transcription factors. Further study indicated that UVB‐induced production of MMP‐1 and IL‐6 could be inhibited by PD 98059 (an ERK inhibitor) and SP600125 (A JNK inhibitor), implied that EPS inhibited UVB‐induced MMP‐1 and IL‐6 secretion by inactivating MAPK signaling pathway. In addition, EPS possessed an excellent antioxidant activity, which could increase cytoprotective antioxidants such as HO‐1, NQ‐O1 expression by facilitating the nuclear accumulation of Nrf2. Treatment of NHDFs with EPS also recovered UVB‐induced procollagen type I reduction by activating TGF‐β/Smad pathway. These findings demonstrated that EPS had a potential effect against UVB‐induced skin photoaging.

Flavobacterium hibisci sp. nov., isolated from the rhizosphere of Hibiscus syriacus L.

A Gram-stain-negative, smooth, bright-yellow-pigmented, rod-shaped bacterial strain, slightly motile by gliding, catalase- and oxidase-positive and aerobic, but growing weakly under anaerobic conditions, was isolated from the rhizosphere of the flower mugunghwa (Hibiscus syriacus L.) located in Kyung Hee University, Yongin, Gyeonggi, South Korea. The strain named THG-HG1.4T grew at 15-35 °C, pH 6.5-9.0 and in the presence of 0-2.5 % (w/v) NaCl. The phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that strain THG-HG1.4T was most closely related to Flavobacterium gyeonganense HME7524T (98.83 %) and Flavobacterium arsenitoxidans S2-3HT (97.28 %). The DNA G+C content of strain THG-HG1.4T was 41.2 mol%. In DNA-DNA hybridization, the DNA-DNA relatedness between strain THG-HG1.4T and its closest phylogenetic neighbour was below 64.1 %. The predominant isoprenoid quinone detected in strain THG-HG1.4T was menaquinone-6 (MK-6). The major polar lipids were found to be phosphatidylethanolamine, three unidentified lipids, two unidentified glycolipids and an unidentified aminolipid. The major fatty acids were identified as iso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 0 3-OH, C16 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH and summed feature 3. Thus, based on the report of the phenotypic, genotypic and phylogenetic characterization of strain THG-HG1.4T, it has been concluded that the novel isolate represents a novel species of the genus Flavobacterium.Flavobacterium hibisci sp. nov. is proposed, with THG-HG1.4T (=KACC 18852T=CCTCC AB 2016178T) as the type strain.

Paracoccus hibiscisoli sp. nov., isolated from the rhizosphere of Mugunghwa (Hibiscus syriacus)

A Gram-reaction-negative, aerobic, non-motile, short-rod-shaped bacterium (THG-T2.31T) was isolated from the rhizosphere of Mugunghwa (Hibiscus syriacus). Growth occurred at 10-35 °C (optimum 28 °C), at pH 5.0-8.0 (optimum pH 7.0) and with 0-4.0 % NaCl (optimum 1.0 %). Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the nearest phylogenetic neighbours of strain THG-T2.31T were identified as Paracoccus marcusii DSM 11574T (98.4 %), Paracoccus haeundaensis BC74171T (98.3 %), Paracoccus carotinifaciens E-396T (98.3 %), Paracoccus aestuarii B7T (97.3 %) and Paracoccus seriniphilus MBT-A4T (97.0 %); levels of similarity with the type strains of other species of the genus Paracoccus were lower than 97.0 %. The polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylmethylethanolamine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, one unidentified aminolipid and two unidentified phospholipids. The major fatty acids were C16 : 0, C18 : 0, C10 : 0 3-OH, and C18 : 1ω7c. The quinone was ubiquinone-10 (Q-10). The DNA G+C content of strain THG-T2.31T was 69.1 mol%. DNA-DNA hybridization values between strain THG-T2.31T and P. marcusii DSM 11574T, P. haeundaensis BC74171T, P. carotinifaciens E-396T, P. aestuarii B7T and P. seriniphilus MBT-A4T were 38.9 % (34.9 %, reciprocal analysis), 29.1 % (23.5 %), 28.0 % (19.7 %), 18.9 % (9.3) and 13.1 % (6.2 %). On the basis of the phylogenetic analysis, chemotaxonomic data, physiological characteristics and DNA-DNA hybridization data, strain THG-T2.31T represents a novel species of the genus Paracoccus, for which the name Paracoccus hibiscisoli sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is THG-T2.31T (=KACC 18933T=CCTCC AB 2016182T).

Actinotalea solisilvae sp. nov., isolated from forest soil and emended description of the genus Actinotalea

A Gram-stain-positive, aerobic, non-motile and short-rod-shaped actinobacterium, designated THG-T121T, was isolated from forest soil. Growth occurred at 10-40 °C (optimum 28-30 °C), at pH 6-8 (optimum 7) and at 0-4 % NaCl (optimum 1 %). Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the nearest phylogenetic neighbours of strain THG-T121T were identified as Actinotalea ferrariae KCTC 29134T (97.9 %), Actinotalea fermentans KCTC 3251T (97.3 %), Cellulomonas carbonis KCTC 19824T (97.2 %). 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities among strain THG-T121T and other recognized species were lower than 97.0 %. The polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, two phosphatidylinositol mannosides, one unidentified phospholipid, three unidentified glycolipids and one unidentified lipid. The isoprenoid quinone was menaquinone (MK-10(H4)). The major fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 1 A, C16 : 0, iso-C16 : 0, anteiso-C17 : 0 and iso-C17 : 0. The whole-cell sugars of strain THG-T121T were rhamnose, ribose, mannose and glucose. The peptidoglycan type of strain THG-T121T is A4β, containing l-Orn-D-Ser-L-Asp. The DNA G+C content of strain THG-T121T was 72.4 mol%. DNA-DNA hybridization values between strain THG-T121T and A. ferrariae KCTC 29134T, A. fermentans KCTC 3251T and C. carbonis KCTC 19824T were 30.2 % (27.3 %, reciprocal analysis), 28.4 %, (17.3 %) and 16.9 %, (9.3 %), respectively. On the basis of the phylogenetic analysis, chemotaxonomic data, physiological characteristics and DNA-DNA hybridization data, strain THG-T121T represents a novel species of the genus Actinotalea, for which the name Actinotaleasolisilvae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is THG-T121T (=KACC 19191T=CGMCC 4.7389T).

Corynebacterium defluvii sp. nov., isolated from Sewage

A Gram-positive, aerobic, non-motile, rod-shapeds, catalase-positive, and oxidase-negative strain, designated Y49T, was isolated from sewage collected from Jilin Agricultural University, China. It grew at 20–40°C (optimum at 30°C), at pH 6.0–8.0 (optimum at 7.0) and at 0–1.0% sodium chloride (optimum at 0%). The major isoprenoid quinone was menaquinone-8 (MK-8) and the polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylmethylethanolamine, four unidentified lipids, and two unidentified aminolipids. The peptidoglycan was meso-diaminopimelic acid. The cell-wall sugars were galactose, arabinose, and glucose. The fatty acids were C9:0, C16:0, C16:1ω9c, C17:1ω9c, C18:3ω6c (6,9,12), C18:1ω9c, and C18:0. The DNA G+C content was 51.4 mol%. Based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the nearest phylogenetic neighbors of strain Y49T were Corynebacterium efficiens DSM 44549T (97.5%), Corynebacterium callunae DSM 20147T (97.2%), Corynebacterium deserti GIMN 1.010T (96.8%), Corynebacterium glutamicum ATCC 13032T (96.4%), and other species belonging to this genus (92.3–95.4%). The DNA-DNA relatedness value between strain Y49T and C. efficiens DSM 44549T, C. callunae DSM 20147T, C. deserti GIMN1.010T, and C. glutamicum ATCC 13032T was 25.5±2.0%, 21.1±1.0%, 16.5±0.5%, and 13.5±0.9%, respectively. Based on the phylogenetic analysis, chemotaxonomic data, physiological characteristics and DNA-DNA hybridization data, strain Y49T represents a novel species of the genus Corynebacterium, for which the name Corynebacterium defluvii sp nov. is proposed. The type strain is Y49T (= KCTC 39731T =CGMCC 1.15506T).

Altererythrobacter deserti sp. nov., isolated from desert soil

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, short rod-shaped, non-motile bacterium (THG-S3T), was isolated from desert soil. Growth occurred at 15-35 °C (optimum 28 °C), at pH 5-10 (optimum 7) and at 0-4 % NaCl (optimum 1 %). Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the nearest phylogenetic neighbours of strain THG-S3T were identified as Altererythrobacter rigui KCTC 42620T (99.0 %), Altererythrobacter dongtanensis KCTC 22672T (97.1 %), Altererythrobacter xinjiangensis CCTCC AB 207166T (96.9 %), Altererythrobacter troitsensis KCTC 12303T (96.9 %). Levels of relatedness among strain THG-S3T and other Altererythrobacter species were lower than 96.0 %. DNA-DNA hybridization values between strain THG-S3T and A. rigui KCTC 42620T, A. dongtanensis KCTC 22672T, A. xinjiangensis CCTCC AB 207166T and A. troitsensis KCTC 12303T were 59.7 % (42.8 %, reciprocal analysis), 45.1 % (36.3 %), 34.7 % (25.1 %) and 15.1 % (12.3 %), respectively. The DNA G+C content of strain THG-S3T was 69 mol%. The polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and three unidentified lipids The quinone was ubiquinone-10. The major fatty acids were C16 : 0, C17 : 1 ω6c, C18 : 1 ω7c and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1 ω7c and/or C16 : 1 ω6c). On the basis of the phylogenetic analysis, chemotaxonomic data, physiological characteristics and DNA-DNA hybridization data, strain THG-S3T represents a novel species of the genus Altererythrobacter, for which the name Altererythrobacter deserti sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is THG-S3T (=KACC 19190T=CGMCC 1.15959T).