Pseudoparamoeba garorimi n. sp., with Notes on Species Distinctions within the Genus

A new marine species of naked lobose amoebae Pseudoparamoeba garorimi n. sp. (Amoebozoa, Dactylopodida) isolated from intertidal marine sediments of Garorim Bay, Korea was studied with light and transmission electron microscopy. This species has a typical set of morphological characters for a genus including the shape of the locomotive form, type of subpseudopodia and the tendency to form the single long waving pseudopodium in locomotion. Furthermore, it has the same cell surface structures as were described for the type species, Pseudoparamoeba pagei: blister‐like glycostyles with hexagonal base and dome‐shaped apex; besides, cell surface bears hair‐like outgrowths. The new species described here lacks clear morphological distinctions from the two other Pseudoparamoeba species, but has considerable differences in the 18S rDNA and COX1 gene sequences. Phylogenetic analysis based on 18S rDNA placed P. garorimi n. sp. at the base of the Pseudoparamoeba clade with high PP/BS support. The level of COX1 sequence divergence was 22% between P. garorimi n. sp. and P. pagei and 25% between P. garorimi n. sp. and P. microlepis. Pseudoparamoeba species are hardly distinguishable by morphology alone, but display clear differences in 18S rDNA and COX1 gene sequences.     

Insight into the bovine milk peptide LPcin‐YK3 selection in the proteolytic system of Lactobacillus species

Antimicrobial peptides are class of small, positively charged peptides known for their broad‐spectrum antimicrobial activity. Antimicrobial activities for most antimicrobial peptides have largely remained elusive, particularly in the lactic acid bacteria. However, recently our investigation using LPcin‐YK3, an antimicrobial peptide from bovine milk, suggests that in vitro antimicrobial activity was reduced over 100‐fold compared with pathogenic bacteria. Additionally, for the structural study of how antimicrobial peptide undergoes its reaction at the proteolytic pathway of lactic acid bacteria based on degradation assay and propidium iodide staining, we performed molecular docking for interaction between oligopeptide‐binding protein A and LPcin‐YK3 peptide. Given that degradation related to the LPcin‐YK3 peptide in lactic acid bacteria proteolytic system, the inhibitory inactivity of LPcin‐YK3 against beneficial lactic acid bacteria strains may be one of the primary pharmacological properties of recombinant peptide discovered in bovine milk. These results provide structural and functional insights into the proteolytic mechanism and possibility as a putative substrate of oligopeptide‐binding protein A in respect of LPcin‐YK3 peptide.     

Bacillus subtilis strain L1 promotes nitrate reductase activity in Arabidopsis and elicits enhanced growth performance in Arabidopsis,lettuce, and wheat

Journal of Plant Research - Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are a group of bacteria that promote plants growth in the rhizosphere. PGPRs are involved in various mechanisms that...     

Human recombinant IL-10 reduces xenogenic cytotoxicity via macrophage M2 polarization

Xenotransplantation has been considered an alternative to the moderate shortage of donor organs for transplantation. To achieve successful xenotransplatation, there is the need to overcome immune rejection. Although, hyperacute rejection has been overcome by α1,3-galactosyltransferase knockout pig, cellular immune rejection remains as a subsequent barrier. Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is known as an anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory cytokine which has been shown to limit inflammatory responses by inhibiting macrophage activation in several animal experiments. To study the effect of human IL-10 (hIL-10) on pig-to-human xenotransplantation, porcine kidney epithelial cell line (PK(15)) expressing hIL-10 was established. The cytotoxicity of macrophages decreased by hIL-10 from transgenic cells. Furthermore, there is a decreased production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-23, and increased anti-inflammatory cytokines like IL-10, but not transforming growth factor beta, in the presence of hIL-10. Also, macrophage polarization toward M2-like phenotype were induced by hIL-10 from transgenic PK(15) cells. Finally, we suggest that the cytotoxicity of human macrophages was reduced by hIL-10 from transgenic cells, inducing M2-like macrophage polarization. Therefore, these results show that hIL-10 transgenic pig can be used as a model to overcome acute immune rejection in pig-to-human xenotransplantation.     

Evolution of ecospace occupancy by Mesozoic marine tetrapods

Ecology and morphology are different, and yet in comparative studies of fossil vertebrates the two are often conflated. The macroevolution of Mesozoic marine tetrapods has been explored in terms of morphological disparity, but less commonly using ecological‐functional categories. Here we use ecospace modelling to quantify ecological disparity across all Mesozoic marine tetrapods. We document the explosive radiation of marine tetrapod groups in the Triassic and their rapid attainment of high ecological disparity. Late Triassic extinctions led to a marked decline in ecological disparity, and the recovery of ecospace and ecological disparity was sluggish in the Early Jurassic. High levels of ecological disparity were again achieved by the Late Jurassic and maintained during the Cretaceous, when the ecospace became saturated by the Late Cretaceous. Sauropterygians, turtles and ichthyosauromorphs were the largest contributors to ecological disparity. Throughout the Mesozoic, we find that established groups remained ecologically conservative and did not explore occupied or vacant niches. Several parts of the ecospace remained vacant for long spans of time. Newly evolved, radiating taxa almost exclusively explored unoccupied ecospace, suggesting that abiotic releases are needed to empty niches and initiate diversification. In the balance of evolutionary drivers in Mesozoic marine tetrapods, abiotic factors were key to initiating diversification events, but biotic factors dominated the subsequent generation of ecological diversity.     

Faecalicatena faecalis sp. nov., a moderately alkaliphilic bacterial strain isolated from swine faeces

An obligately anaerobic, Gram-stain-positive, non-motile, non-spore-forming and rod-shaped strain AGMB00832^T was isolated from swine faeces. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene, together with the housekeeping genes, gyrB and rpoD, revealed that strain AGMB00832^T belonged to the genus Faecalicatena and was most closely related to Faecalicatena orotica KCTC 15331^T. In biochemical analysis, strain AGMB00832^T was shown to be negative for catalase, oxidase and urease. Furthermore, the isolate was positive for β-glucosidase, β-glucuronidase, glutamic acid decarboxylase, proline arylamidase, acid phosphatase and naphthol-AS-BI-phosphohydrolase. The major cellular fatty acids (>?10%) of the isolate were C_14:0, C_16:0 and C_18:1ω11t DMA. Based on the whole genome sequence analysis, the DNA G?+?C content of strain AGMB00832^T was 44.2 mol%, and the genome size and numbers of rRNA and tRNA genes were 5,175,159 bp, 11 and 53, respectively. The average nucleotide identity and digital DNA–DNA hybridization values between strain AGMB00832^T and related strains were ≤?77.4 and 22.5%, respectively. Furthermore, the genome analysis revealed the presence of genes for alkaline shock protein 23 and cation/proton antiporters, which may facilitate growth of strain AGMB00832^T in alkaline culture condition. On the basis of polyphasic taxonomic approach, strain AGMB00832^T represents a novel species within the genus Faecalicatena, for which the name Faecalicatena faecalis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is AGMB00832^T (=?KCTC 15946^T?=?NBRC 114613^T).

     

A novel role of Hippo-Yap/TAZ signaling pathway in lymphatic vascular development

The lymphatic vasculature plays important role in regulating fluid homeostasis, intestinal lipid absorption, and immune surveillance in humans. Malfunction of lymphatic vasculature leads to several human diseases. Understanding the fundamental mechanism in lymphatic vascular development not only expand our knowledge, but also provide a new therapeutic insight. Recently, Hippo-YAP/TAZ signaling pathway, a key mechanism of organ size and tissue homeostasis, has emerged as a critical player that regulate lymphatic specification, sprouting, and maturation. In this review, we discuss the mechanistic regulation and pathophysiological significant of Hippo pathway in lymphatic vascular development.