Sphingomonas lacusdianchii sp. nov., an attached bacterium inhibited by metabolites from its symbiotic cyanobacterium

An alpha-proteobacterial strain JXJ CY 53 T was isolated from the cyanosphere of Microcystis sp. FACHB-905 (MF-905) collected from Lake Dianchi, China. JXJ CY 53 T was observed to be an aerobic, Gram-stain-negative, oval shaped, and mucus-secreting bacterium. It had C18:1ω7c and C16:0 as the major cellular fatty acids, Q-10 as the predominant ubiquinone, and sphingoglycolipid, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, and phosphatidylmethylethanolamine as the polar lipids. The G + C content of DNA was 65.85%. The bacterium had 16S rRNA gene sequence identities of 98.9% and 98.7% with Sphingomonas panni DSM 15761 T and Sphingomonas hankookensis KCTC 22579 T, respectively, while less than 97.4% identities with other members of the genus. Further taxonomic analysis indicated that JXJ CY 53 T represented a new member of Sphingomonas, and the species epithet was proposed as Sphingomonas lacusdianchii sp. nov. (type strain JXJ CY 53 T = KCTC 72813 T = CGMCC 1.17657 T). JXJ CY 53 T promoted the growth of MF-905 by providing bio-available phosphorus and nitrogen, plant hormones, vitamins, and carotenoids. It could modulate the relative abundances of nonculturable bacteria associated with MF-905 and influence the interactions of MF-905 and other bacteria isolated from the cyanobacterium, in addition to microcystin production characteristics. Meanwhile, MF-905 could provide JXJ CY 53 T dissolved organic carbon for growth, and control the growth of JXJ CY 53 T by secreting specific chemicals other than microcystins. Overall, these results suggest that the interactions between Microcystis and its attached bacteria are complex and dynamic, and may influence the growth characteristics of the cyanobacterium. This study provided new ideas to understand the interactions between Microcystis and its attached bacteria. KEY POINTS: • A novel bacterium (JXJCY 53 T) was isolated from the cyanosphere of Microcystis sp. FACHB-905 (MF-905) • JXJCY 53 T modulated the growth and microcystin production of MF-905 • MF-905 could control the attached bacteria by specific chemicals other than microcystins (MCs).

Devosia lacusdianchii sp. nov., an attached bacterium inhibited by metabolites from its symbiotic Microcystis

A novel alphaproteobacterial strain JXJ CY 41T was isolated from a culture mass of Microcystis, collected from Lake Dianchi, south-west, China. Strain JXJ CY 41T was gram-strain-negative, aerobic, motile, with rod-shaped cells (0.4-1.0 × 1.7-3.5 μm). It was positive for catalase and starch hydrolysis, negative for oxidase and hydrolysis of Tweens (20, 40, and 80). Growth occurred at 10-44 °C, pH 5.0-10.0, and 0-5.0% (w/v) NaCl. Major fatty acids included C16:0 (28.1%), 11-methyl C18:1 ω7c (36.7%) and C18:1 ω7c (20.8%). Q10 was the sole ubiquinone. The polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, glycolipid, and an unidentified lipid. The DNA G + C content was 63.1%. Its 16S rRNA gene sequence showed high similarities with Devosia oryziradicis G19T (99.5%; not validly published), D. yakushimensis Yak96BT (98.3%) and D. ginsengisoli Gsoil 520T (98.1%), and less than 98.1% similarities with other members of the genus Devosia. The digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) and average nucleotide identity (ANI) values between strain JXJ CY 41T and its 5 closest similar strains were 19.9-24.1% and 75.7-80.5%, respectively. Based on the data above, strain JXJ CY 41T was identified as a novel species of the genus Devosia, for which the epithet Devosia lacusdianchii sp. nov. was proposed. The type strain is JXJ CY 41T (= KCTC 72812T = CGMCC 1.17502T). Strain JXJ CY 41T exhibited different interactions with Microcystis aeruginosa FACHB-905 (Maf) under different conditions, and Maf could control the bacterial cellular density by secreting unknown specific chemical compounds according to its nutritional requirements.

[The coping styles and its relationship with quality of life among 1 968 female breast cancer patients in Shanghai in 2014]

Objective: To study the coping styles and its relationship with quality of life among part of the female breast cancer patients in Shanghai in 2014. Methods: In August of 2014, 1-3 block groups affiliated to Shanghai Cancer Rehabilitation Club were selected from each of the 17 districts of Shanghai by convenient sampling method. Respondents were recruited from these block groups via putting up posters in the community or top three hospitals nearby. The inclusion criteria were as follows: female, aged from 18 to 80 years old; the initial diagnosis or primary tumor was breast cancer, and active treatments including surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy were finished; capable of basic reading and comprehension, and there was no communication disorder; daily activities were not limited, and with no mental disorder or dysgnosia. Totally 2 205 respondents were included. Questionnaire survey was conducted to collect the information of demographic characteristics, disease characteristics, result of European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30), and result of the Ways of Coping Inventory-Cancer Version (WOC-CA). 1 968 valid questionnaires were withdrawn. The results of respondent characteristics and WOC-CA were under descriptive analysis, and the differences of coping styles among groups of different demographic characteristics were compared using t test. In addition, we analyzed the correlation between respondents' coping styles and quality of life using partial correlation analysis. Results: The average age of the 1 968 respondents was (58.7±7.4) years old, and BMI was (24.4±5.4) kg/m(2). The score of positive coping styles was 2.04±0.41, and the score of negative coping styles was 1.79±0.33. The scores of Physical Functioning (PF), Role Functioning (RF), Cognitive Functioning (CF), Emotional Functioning (EF), Social Functioning (SF), and Global Health (GH) were 83.40±12.18, 90.80±15.92, 80.72±16.29, 84.67±15.19, 80.99±20.91, 65.27±21.21, respectively. Positive coping styles correlated with PF, EF, and GH positively, and the correlation coefficients were separately 0.581 (P=0.046), 0.593 (P=0.045), 0.770 (P<0.001). Negative coping styles correlated with RF, CF, EF, and SF negatively, and the correlation coefficients were separately-0.672 (P=0.021),-0.815 (P=0.005),-0.121 (P<0.001),-0.123 (P<0.001). Conclusion: Part of the female breast cancer patients in Shanghai in 2014 mainly adopted positive coping styles, and in general the positive coping styles correlated with quality of life positively and negative coping styles correlated with quality of life negatively.

Usefulness of diffusion/perfusion-weighted MRI in patients with non-enhancing supratentorial brain gliomas: a valuable tool to predict tumour grading?

22 patients with non-enhancing supratentorial gliomas on contrast-enhanced MRI underwent both diffusion- and perfusion-weighted MRI (DWI/PWI) before surgical resection. 14 low-grade gliomas (WHO Grade I and II) and 8 anaplastic gliomas were verified histologically. Both apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values and relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV) ratios were calculated on the solid portion of the tumour, on peritumoural area, as well as on the contralateral normal white matter, respectively. The results showed that lower ADC values were present in the solid portions of anaplastic gliomas, but not in low grade (p < 0.01). All ADC values in peritumoural regions of tumours were decreased compared with the contralateral normal white matter. However, there was no significant difference between anaplastic gliomas and low-grade gliomas. Meanwhile, higher rCBV ratios were present in both solid portions and peritumoural regions of anaplastic gliomas, but not in low grade gliomas (p < 0.01). In conclusion, non-enhancing brain gliomas with lower ADC values in the solid portions and higher rCBV ratios in both solid portions and peritumoural regions of tumours are significantly correlated with anaplasia. Therefore, DWI and PWI should be integrated in the diagnostic work-up of non-enhancing gliomas in order to predict grading.

[The development of SPA bone densitometry for heel bone]

The design principles of a bone densitometer for heel bone based on SPA are introduced here, which include the principles of mechanical system and control system. The main technical index and advantages of the device have also been discussed in the paper.

[Preparation, characterization and evaluation of cellulose tris (3,5-dimethylphencarbamate) chiral stationary phase]

With the deposition of cellulose tris(3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate) (CDMPC) on aminopropylated silica gel (mean particle size, 5 microns; pore size, 13 nm; surface area, 110 m2/g) by using two different methods (evaporation and precipitation), two chiral stationary phases (CSP1 and CSP2) characterized by elemental analysis and scanning electron micrography were obtained. They were also evaluated by using seven racemic compounds with n-hexane/ethanol(95/5, V/V) and n-hexane/2-propanol (90/10, V/V) as mobile phases. The results showed that the chiral stationary phase CSP1 obtained by the evaporation method had better efficiency and chiral resolution ability than CSP2 by the precipitation method.

Binding site analysis of c-Myb: screening of potential binding sites by using the mutation matrix derived from systematic binding affinity measurements

The c-Myb oncoprotein is known to bind to multiple sites in the promoters of target genes. We have developed a protocol to screen the binding site of c-Myb by using the systematic binding data derived form measurements of binding affinity for oligonucleotide containing a known Myb-binding site and its complete single mutants. We first applied the method to predict the binding affinity for the known binding sites and compared with available experimental data. The predicated binding sites agree with many putative binding sites of known target promoters. However, there are some binding sites not predicated by the analysis. These sequences deviate from the consensus sequence derived from the binding analyses. In the light of the structure of Myb-DNA complex, these results indicate that different DNA-binding modes may be used by c-Myb to recognize different classes of binding sites. We also screened the sequence database for potential Myb-binding sites, and found sequences of several promoters that have not been identified experimentally but could be the target for c-Myb.