Four New Members of The Family Cytophagaceae: Cryseosolum Histidinii gen. nov., sp. nov., Cryseosolum Indiensis gen. nov., sp. nov., Reichenbachia Cretensis, gen. nov., sp. nov., and Reichenbachia Soli, gen. nov., sp. nov. Isolated From Diverse Habitat

Four strains isolated, PWU4T, PWU20T, PWU5T and PWU37T were from both of soil in Germany, India and a faces sheep collected in Crete Island, respectively. Cells were Gram-negative, strictly aerobic, rod shaped, grew optimally between 28oC and 34oC, pH between 7.0 and 8.0 without the addition of NaCl. Catalase and oxidase-negative and grew on most mono- and disaccharides, a few polysaccharides and organic acid. The predominant menaquinone was MK-7. Major fatty acid was c16:1 ω7c (PWU4T and PWU20T) and c16:1 ω5c (PWU5T and PWU37T). The DNA G+C content of them were 50.2 mol %; 51.6 mol %; 39.8 mol % and 53.8 mol %, respectively. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that the closest relatives of them are less than 93.8% compared to Ohtaekwangia koreensis 3B-2T and Ohtaekwangia kribbensis 10AOT. It classified in two groups, where PWU4T, PWU20T shared 93.0% and PWU5T, PWU37T shared 97.5% sequence similarity. However, in both groups represent different species on the low average nucleotide identity (ANI) of their genomes, 69.7% and 83.8%, respectively. We proposed that the four strains represent four novel species of two new genera in the family Cytophagaceae. The type species of the novel genus Cryseosolum are Cryseosolum histdinii gen. nov., sp. nov. strain PWU4T (=DSM 111594T=NCCB 100798T), Cryseosolum indiensis sp. nov. strain PWU20T (=DSM 111597T=NCCB 100800T). The type species of the novel genus Reichenbachia are Reichenbachia cretensis gen. nov., sp. nov. strain PWU5T (=DSM 111596T=NCCB 100799T), Reichenbachia soli sp. nov. strain PWU37T (=DSM 111595T=NCCB 100801T).

Paenibacillus tianjinensis sp. nov., isolated from corridor air

A Gram-stain-positive, facultatively anaerobic, non-motile, endospore-forming and rod-shaped bacterium, occurring singly or in pairs, designated TB2019T, was isolated from environmental monitoring samples of corridor air collected at the Tianjin Institute for Drug Control, Tianjin Province (PR China). The isolate was able to grow at 15–40 °C (optimum growth at 37 °C), pH 6.0–8.0 (pH 7.0) and in the presence of 0–2% (w/v) NaCl (0% NaCl). Comparison of 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that TB2019T was most closely related to Paenibacillus typhae CGMCC 1.11012T (98.63%), Paenibacillus albidus Q4-3T (98.19%), Paenibacillus borealis DSM 13188T (97.55%), Paenibacillus helianthi P26ET (97.33%) and Paenibacillus odorifer DSM 15391T (97.19%). The digital DNA–DNA hybridization and the average nucleotide identity values between TB2019T and the five type strains mentioned above ranged from 20.7 to 25.0% and 75.2 to 81.3%, respectively, and the genomic DNA G+C content was 49.52 mol%. The diagnostic cell-wall sugar was ribose, and the diagnostic amino acid was meso-diaminopimelic acid. The polar lipids of TB2019T included diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, three unidentified aminophospholipids and one unidentified phospholipid. MK-7 was the predominant menaquinone, and anteiso-C15:0 (30.6%) was the major fatty acid. Based on the polyphasic taxonomic data, strain TB2019T represents a novel species of the genus Paenibacillus , for which the name Paenibacillus tianjinensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is TB2019T (=CICC 25065T=JCM 34610T).

Royal Jelly Protects against Epidermal Stress through Upregulation of the NQO1 Expression

Royal jelly (RJ) is secreted by honeybees and has been used as an apitherapy to obtain healthy skin since ancient times. However, the mechanism of the protective effects of RJ against skin aging and skin diseases caused by skin stress and its components have not been clarified. In this study, we attempted to understand the effect of RJ on epidermal function and observed that NAD(P)H quinone dehydrogenase 1 (NQO1) is significantly induced by RJ in keratinocytes. The expression of NQO1 was also increased in the 3D epidermal skin model. NQO1 is involved in antioxidation and detoxification metabolism, and we found that RJ protects against the epidermal stress caused by UVB and menadione through the upregulation of NQO1. We identified 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10H2DA), a major fatty acid in RJ, as an active compound in this reaction as it induced the expression of NQO1 and protected the skin against oxidative stress. We demonstrated that the protective effect of RJ against epidermal stress is mediated through the upregulation of NQO1 by 10H2DA.

A Selected Population Study Reveals the Biochemical Mechanism of Intramuscular Fat Deposition in Chicken Meat

Background Increasing intramuscular fat (IMF) is an important strategy to improve meat quality, but the regulation mechanism of IMF deposition needs to be systematically clarified. Results A total of 520 chickens from a selected line with improved IMF content and a control line were used to investigate the biochemical mechanism of IMF deposition in chickens. The results showed that the increased IMF would improve the flavor and tenderness quality of chicken meat. IMF content was mainly determined both by measuring triglyceride (TG) and phospholipid (PLIP) in muscle tissue, but only TG content was found to be decisive for IMF deposition. Furthermore, the increase in major fatty acid (FA) components in IMF is mainly derived from TGs (including C16:0, C16:1, C18:1n9c, and C18:2n6c, etc.), and the inhibition of certain very-long-chain FAs would help to IMF/TG deposition. Conclusions Our study elucidated the underlying biochemical mechanism of IMF deposition in chicken: Prevalent accumulation of long-chain FAs and inhibitions of medium-chain FAs and very long chain-FA would synergistically result in the increase of TGs with the FA biosynthesis and cellular uptake ways. Our findings will guide the production of high-quality chicken meat.

Characterization of Variovorax Strain C6d Isolated from the Algae-bacteria Consortia

The rhizosphere microorganisms can form beneficial, pathogenic, or neutral relationships. These relationships can promote plant growth and productivity. Among them, a number of Variovorax isolates from the rhizosphere were isolated. Bacteria Variovorax strain C6d (AB552893) was isolated from the non axenic culture of Chlorella spp., C6. The cell was Gram-negative, motile, non-spore-forming, short and rod-shaped (0.5-1.0x1.5-2.0µm). Colonies were in white colour after 7 days on 10-fold diluted Nutrient Broth. The strain was able to tolerate NaCL to 1.0% but not to 4.0% of NaCl. It grew quite well at temperatures ranging from 10°C to 37°C, yet did not show any growth at 4°C and 42°C. The dominant isoprenoid quinone was ubiquinone 8 (Q8). The major fatty acid composition of this strain was summed feature 3, 16:0 and 18:1:w7. The DNA G+C content of strain C6d was 70.4 mol%.

Co-Processed Olive Oils with Thymus mastichina L.—New Product Optimization

Olive co-processing consists of the addition of ingredients either in the mill or in the malaxator. This technique allows selecting the type of olives, the ingredients with the greatest flavoring and bioactive potential, and the technological extraction conditions. A new product—a gourmet flavored oil—was developed by co-processing olives with Thymus mastichina L. The trials were performed using overripe fruits with low aroma potential (cv. ‘Galega Vulgar’; ripening index 6.4). Experimental conditions were dictated by a central composite rotatable design (CCRD) as a function of thyme (0.4−4.6%, w/w) and water (8.3−19.7%, w/w) contents used in malaxation. A flavored oil was also obtained by adding 2.5% thyme during milling, followed by 14% water addition in the malaxator (central point conditions of CCRD). The chemical characterization of the raw materials, as well as the analysis of the flavored and unflavored oils, were performed (chemical quality criteria, sensory analysis, major fatty acid composition, and phenolic compounds). Considering chemical quality criteria, the flavored oils have the characteristics of “Virgin Olive Oil” (VOO), but they cannot have this classification due to legislation issues. Flavored oils obtained under optimized co-processing conditions (thyme concentrations > 3.5−4.0% and water contents varying from 14 to 18%) presented higher phenolic contents and biologic value than the non-flavored VOO. In flavored oils, thyme flavor was detected with high intensity, while the defect of “wet wood”, perceived in VOO, was not detected. The flavored oil, obtained by T. mastichina addition in the mill, showed higher oxidative stability (19.03 h) than the VOO and the co-processed oil with thyme addition in the malaxator (14.07 h), even after six-month storage in the dark (16.6 vs. 10.3 h).

Aquabacterium soli sp. nov., a novel bacterium isolated from soil under the long-term application of bifenthrin

Strain SJQ9T, an aerobic bacterium isolated from a soil sample collected in Shanghai, PR China, was characterized using a polyphasic approach. It grew optimally at pH 7.0, 30–35 °C and in the presence of 1 % (w/v) NaCl. A comparative analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain SJQ9T fell within the genus Aquabacterium . The closest phylogenetic relatives of strain SJQ9T were Aquabacterium citratiphilum DSM 11900T (98.6 % sequence similarity) and Aquabacterium commune DSM 11901T (96.4 %). Cells of the strain were Gram-stain-negative, motile, non-spore-forming, rod-shaped and positive for oxidase activity and negative for catalase. The chemotaxonomic properties of strain SJQ9T were consistent with those of the genus Aquabacterium : the major fatty acid was summed feature 3 (C16 : 1 ω6c and/or C16 : 1 ω7c). The isoprenoid quinone was Q-8. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol and diphosphatidylglycerol. The DNA G+C content was 65.7 mol%. Strain SH9T exhibited a DNA–DNA relatedness level of 34±2 % with A. citratiphilum DSM 11900T and 28±3 % with A. commune DSM 11901T. Based on the obtained data, strain SJQ9T represents a novel species of the genus Aquabacterium , for which the name Aquabacterium soli sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is SJQ9T (=JCM 33106T=CCTCC AB 2018284T).

Ruania rhizosphaerae sp. nov., a novel actinobacterium isolated from rhizosphere of Suaeda aralocaspica

A Gram-stain-positive, non-motile and short rod-shaped actinobacterium, designated strain LNNU 22110T, was isolated from the rhizosphere soil of the halophyte Suaeda aralocaspica (Bunge) Freitag and Schütze, which collected in Xinjiang, north-west China. Growth occurred at 10–45 °C, pH 6.0–10.0 and in the presence of 0–11 % NaCl (w/v). Based on the results of 16S rRNA gene sequence phylogenetic analyses, strain LNNU 22110T belonged to the genus Ruania and had 97.5 and 95.5 % sequence similarity to Ruania alba KCTC 19413T and Ruania albidiflava CGMCC 4.3142T, respectively. The digital DNA–DNA hybridization relatedness values between strain LNNU 22110T and R. alba KCTC 19413T and R. albidiflava CGMCC 4.3142T were 23.2 and 19.9 %, respectively. The highest average nucleotide identity value between strain LNNU 22110T and its closest related strain ( R. alba KCTC 19413T) was 80.2 %, much lower than the species delineation threshold of 95–96 %. The genome of strain LNNU 22110T was 4.4 Mb, with a genomic DNA G+C content of 68.4 mol%. The diagnostic diamino acids in the peptidoglycan layer of strain LNNU 22110T were lysine, alanine, glycine, glutamic acid and aspartic acid. The predominant menaquinone was MK-8(H4). The major fatty acid (>10 %) was anteiso-C15 : 0. The polar lipid profile of strain LNNU 22110T included diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, diacylated phosphatidyl dimannoside, one unidentified glycolipid and two unidentified phospholipids. According to the phenotypic, phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic results, strain LNNU 22110T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Ruania , for which the name Ruania rhizosphaerae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is LNNU 22110T (=KCTC 39807T=CGMCC 1.17105T).

Neuroprotective properties of queen bee acid by autophagy induction

Autophagy is a conserved intracellular catabolic pathway that removes cytoplasmic components to contribute to neuronal homeostasis. Accumulating evidence has increasingly shown that the induction of autophagy improves neuronal health and extends longevity in several animal models. Therefore, there is a great interest in the identification of effective autophagy enhancers with potential nutraceutical or pharmaceutical properties to ameliorate age-related diseases, such as neurodegenerative disorders, and/or promote longevity. Queen bee acid (QBA, 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid) is the major fatty acid component of, and is found exclusively in, royal jelly, which has beneficial properties for human health. It is reported that QBA has antitumor, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial activities and promotes neurogenesis and neuronal health; however, the mechanism by which QBA exerts these effects has not been fully elucidated. The present study investigated the role of the autophagic process in the protective effect of QBA. We found that QBA is a novel autophagy inducer that triggers autophagy in various neuronal cell lines and mouse and fly models. The beclin-1 (BECN1) and mTOR pathways participate in the regulation of QBA-induced autophagy. Moreover, our results showed that QBA stimulates sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), which promotes autophagy by the deacetylation of critical ATG proteins. Finally, QBA-mediated autophagy promotes neuroprotection in Parkinson’s disease in vitro and in a mouse model and extends the lifespan of Drosophila melanogaster. This study provides detailed evidences showing that autophagy induction plays a critical role in the beneficial health effects of QBA.

Physical and Chemical Properties of oils of three varieties seeds of passion fruit: Passiflora alata Curtis, Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa and Passiflora quadrangularis

This paper reports the physicochemical characteristics of the seed oils from different varieties of passion fruit (Passiflora alata Curtis, Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa and Passiflora quadrangularis) cultivated in Brazil, Roraima. The oil from passion fruit, within the range of 19.29±0.02; 21.34±0.22 e 14.24±0.16%, respectively. The physicohemical characteristics of the extracted oils were: free fatty acid contents (0.84±0.01 - 2.73±0.05 % mg KOH g-1 as oleic acid), iodine value (101.63±0.18 - 125.96±0.13 g of I2 100 g-1 of oil), and saponification index (90.56±0.32 - 179.06±0.19 mg KOH g-1 of oil). The oils revealed a reasonable oxidative parameter range as depicted by the determinations of index peroxide value (1.92±0.09 – 3.05±0.03 meqO2 kg-1 of oil). Linoleic acid was the major fatty acid found in all the seed oils with contributions of 55.75-63.42% of the total fatty acids (FA). Other fatty acids detected were known to be oleic acid (19.3-20.1%), palmitic acid (10.8-12.8%) and stearic acid (3.25-4.25%). Through the DPPH test we observed the presence of antioxidants in the three oil samples. The results of the present study indicate that the seeds of the tested passion fruit varieties from Roraima are a potential source of high-linoleic oil and thus can be explored for commercial use and value addition.