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Many microorganisms have mechanisms that protect cells against attack from viruses. The fermentation components of Streptomyces sp. 1647 exhibit potent anti-influenza A virus (IAV) activity. This strain was isolated from soil in southern China in the 1970s, but the chemical nature of its antiviral substance(s) has remained unknown until now. We used an integrated multi-omics strategy to identify the antiviral agents from this streptomycete. The antibiotics and Secondary Metabolite Analysis Shell (antiSMASH) analysis of its genome sequence revealed 38 biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) for secondary metabolites, and the target BGCs possibly responsible for the production of antiviral components were narrowed down to three BGCs by bioactivity-guided comparative transcriptomics analysis. Through bioinformatics analysis and genetic manipulation of the regulators and a biosynthetic gene, cluster 36 was identified as the BGC responsible for the biosynthesis of the antiviral compounds. Bioactivity-based molecular networking analysis of mass spectrometric data from different recombinant strains illustrated that the antiviral compounds were a class of structural analogues. Finally, 18 pseudo-tetrapeptides with an internal ureido linkage, omicsynins A1–A6, B1–B6, and C1–C6, were identified and/or isolated from fermentation broth. Among them, 11 compounds (omicsynins A1, A2, A6, B1–B3, B5, B6, C1, C2, and C6) are new compounds. Omicsynins B1–B4 exhibited potent antiviral activity against IAV with the 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of approximately 1 µmol∙L–1 and a selectivity index (SI) ranging from 100 to 300. Omicsynins B1–B4 also showed significant antiviral activity against human coronavirus HCoV-229E. By integrating multi-omics data, we discovered a number of novel antiviral pseudo-tetrapeptides produced by Streptomyces sp. 1647, indicating that the secondary metabolites of microorganisms are a valuable source of novel antivirals.

A Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped, microcystin-degrading bacterium, designated as CPCC 100929T, was isolated from a fresh water reservoir in Sichuan Province, PR China. This isolate grew well at 4–37 °C and pH 6.0–8.0, with optimal growth at 28–32 °C and pH 7.0, respectively. The major cellular fatty acids were C18:1 ω7c/C18:1 ω6c, C16:0, C18:1 ω7c 11-methyl and C19:0 cyclo ω8c. The predominant respiratory quinone was Q-10. Diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylmethylethanolamine and phosphatidylcholine were detected in the polar lipids extraction. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain CPCC 100929T was closely related to those of members of the genus Shinella , with the highest similarity of 98.6 % to Shinella zoogloeoides DSM 287T and 97.4–98.4 % with other identified Shinella members. In the phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA gene sequences and the core-genes analysis, strain CPCC 100929T was included within the clade of the genus Shinella . The values of average nucleotide identity (81.4–86.7 %) and digital DNA–DNA hybridization (25.4–44.6 %) between strain CPCC 100929T and other Shinella species were all below the thresholds for bacterial species delineation, respectively. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain CPCC 100929T was 63.6 %. The genomic sequence analysis indicated that this species contained genes encoding peroxidase, bla carbapenemase and the key enzyme for microcystin bio degradation, as well as rich carbohydrate-active enzyme coding genes, which might endow the micro-organism with properties to adapt to diverse environments. Based on its phenotypic and genetic properties, we propose that strain CPCC 100929T (=T1A350T=KCTC 72957T) is the type strain of a novel species with the name Shinella lacus sp. nov.

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, non-motile, pink-pigmented, coccus bacterium, designated CPCC 101081T, was isolated from a gravel soil sample collected from Badain Jara desert, PR China. Growth of the isolate occurred at 10–37 °C and pH 5.0–8.0, with optimal growth at 28–32 °C and pH 7.0, respectively. The major cellular fatty acids were summed feature 8 (C18:1ω7c/C18:1ω6c), summed feature 3 (C16:1ω6c/C16:1ω7c) and C18:12-OH. Q-10 was detected as the main respiratory quinone. Diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, an unidentified phospholipid, an amino-containing lipid and an unidentified glycophospholipid were examined in the polar lipids extraction. The 16S rRNA gene sequence comparison of strain CPCC 101081Twith the available sequences in the GenBank database showed that the isolate was closely related to members of the genusRosenomonas, with the highest similarity toRoseomonas roseaDSM 14916T(97.4 %). In the phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA gene sequences and the core genomes, strain CPCC 101081Twas included within the clade of the genusRoseomonas, representing a species level, with the closest neighbor ofR. roseaDSM 14916T. The genomic DNA G+C content was 68.7 mol%. The average nucleotide identity and the digital DNA–DNA hybridization values between strain CPCC 101081Tand the related type strains of the genusRoseomonaswere all far lower than the cut-off values for definition species. On the basis of above phenotypic and genotypic characteristics, strain CPCC 101081Tis proposed to represent a novel species of the genusRoseomonaswith the nameRoseomonas harenaesp. nov. strain CPCC 101081T(=KCTC 62852T=NBRC 113512T) is the type strain of the species.

Fungi are widely distributed in all terrestrial ecosystems, and they are essential to the recycling of nutrients in all terrestrial habitats on earth. We wanted to determine the relationship between soil fungal communities and geochemical factors (geographical location and soil physicochemical properties) in three widely separated geographical regions (the Antarctic, Arctic, and Tibet Plateau). Using high-throughput Illumina amplicon sequencing, we characterized the fungal communities in 53 soil samples collected from the three regions. The fungal richness and diversity indices were not significantly different among the three regions. However, fungal community composition and many fungal taxa (Thelebolales, Verrucariales, Sordariales, Chaetothyriales, Hypocreales, Pleosporales, Capnodiales, and Dothideales) significantly differed among three regions. Furthermore, geographical location (latitude and altitude) and six soil physicochemical properties (SiO42−-Si, pH, NO3−-N, organic nitrogen, NO2−-N, and organic carbon) were significant geochemical factors those were correlated with the soil fungal community composition. These results suggest that many geochemical factors influence the distribution of the fungal species within the Antarctic, Arctic, and Tibet Plateau.

Strain CPCC 203383T, isolated from the surface-sterilized fruit of Cerasus pseudocerasus (Lindl.) G. Don, was taxonomically characterized based on a polyphasic investigation. It had the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities with Ornithinimicrobium pekingense DSM 21552 (97.2 %) and O. kibberense DSM 17687T (97.2%). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the strain formed a distinct phyletic branch within the genus Ornithinimicrobium and the whole genome sequence data analyses supported that strain CPCC 203383T was phylogenetically related to the Ornithinimicrobium species. The isolate shared a range of phenotypic patterns reported for members of the genus Ornithinimicrobium , but also had a range of cultural, physiological and biochemical characteristics that separated it from related Ornithinimicrobium species. The menaquinone was MK-8(H4). The polar lipid profile consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG), phosphatidylglycerol (PG), phosphatidylinositol (PI) and unidentified lipids (ULs). The major fatty acids (>5 %) were iso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C16:0, 9-methyl C16 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 and anteiso-C17 : 0. The cell wall peptidoglycan contains l-ornithine as diagnostic diamino acid and an interpeptide bridge consisting of L-Orn←L-Ala←Gly←D-Asp. The combined genotypic and phenotypic data indicated that the isolate represents a novel species of the genus Ornithinimicrobium, for which the name Ornithinimicrobium cerasi sp. nov. is proposed, with CPCC 203383T(=NBRC 113522T=KCTC 49200T) as the type strain. The DNA G+C composition is 72.3 mol%. The availability of new data allows for an emended description of the genus Ornithinimicrobium .

A Gram-stain-negative, non-motile, coccobacillus-shaped bacterium, designated CPCC 101021T, was isolated from a sandy soil sample collected from Badain Jaran desert, China. Its 16S rRNA gene sequence was closely related to those of members of the genus Roseomonas, showing high similarities with Roseomonas hibiscisoli THG-N2.22T (98.0 %), Roseomonas oryzae KCTC 42542T (97.9 %), Roseomonas rhizosphaerae YW11T (97.9 %) and Roseomonas suffusca S1T (97.8 %). In the phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, strain CPCC 101021T formed a distinct subclade with R. oryzae KCTC 42542T within the genus Roseomonas . Growth of the isolate occurred at 15–37 °C and pH 6.0–8.5, with optimal growth at 30 °C and pH 7.0. The major cellular fatty acids were C18 : 1ω7c, summed feature 8 (C16 : 1ω7c/C16 : 1ω6c), summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω6c/C16 : 1ω7c) and C16 : 0ω6c. Q-10 was detected as the main component in the respiratory quinone system, with Q-9 as a minor component. Diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, an unidentified phospholipid, an unidentified aminolipid and an unidentified glycolipid were found in the polar lipid profile. The genomic DNA G+C content was 68.7 mol%. The average nucleotide identity was 84.6 % when comparing the draft genome sequences of strain CPCC 101021T with R. oryzae KCTC 42542T. On the basis of genotypic, chemotaxonomic and phenotypic characteristics, strain CPCC 101021T is proposed to represent a novel species of the genus Roseomonas with the name Roseomonas vastitatis sp. nov. Strain CPCC 101021T (=J1A743T=KCTC 62043T) is the type strain of the species.

A novel actinobacterium, designated strain 16Sb5-5T, was isolated from a sand sample collected in the Taklamakan desert in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China. The strain was examined by a polyphasic approach to clarify its taxonomic position. Cells of the isolate were Gram-staining-positive, aerobic, non-motile and short-rod shaped. Strain 16Sb5-5T grew optimally at 37 °C, pH 7.0 and with 0‒2 % (w/v) NaCl. The cell-wall peptidoglycan was of the A3γ type and contained alanine, glycine, glutamic acid and ll-diaminopimelic acid (ll-DAP). Ribose, arabinose and glucose were detected in the whole-cell hydrolysates. The predominant menaquinone was MK-9(H4). The polar lipid profile consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, an unidentified phospholipid, three unidentified glycolipids and three unidentified lipids. The major whole-cell fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0 and iso-C15 : 0. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain 16Sb5-5T was closely related to Desertihabitans aurantiacus CPCC 204711T (99.8 % similarity) and formed a robust clade with D. aurantiacus in the phylogenetic trees. In silico genomic comparisons showed that strain 16Sb5-5T exhibited ANI values of 94.8–94.9 % and GGDC value of 59.5 % to D. aurantiacus CPCC 204711T. The genomic G+C content was 73.3 mol%. On the basis of phylogenetic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic analyses, strain 16Sb5-5T could be distinguishable from its closest phylogenetic relative and represents a novel species of the genus Desertihabitans , for which the name Desertihabitans brevis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 16Sb5-5T (=KCTC 49116T=CGMCC 1.16553T). The description of the genus Desertihabitans has also been emended.

A Gram-stain-positive, aerobic bacterium, designated CPCC 204705T, was isolated from a desert soil sample, collected from the Badain Jaran desert. Growth of strain CPCC 204705T was observed at pH 6.0–8.0 and 15–37 °C, with optimal growth at 28 °C and pH 7.0. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain CPCC 204705T belonged to the genus Cellulomonas , showing the highest similarity (98.54 %) of 16S rRNA gene sequence to Cellulomonas oligotrophica JCM 17534T. The peptidoglycan type was A4β, containing d-ornithine and d-glutamic acids as diagnostic amino acids. Rhamnose and galactose were detected in the whole-cell hydrolysate as diagnostic sugars. The major cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 1A, C14 : 0 and C16 : 0. The major menaquinone was MK-9 (H4) and the polar lipid system contained diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol mannoside, one unidentified lipid, one unidentified aminolipid and two unidentified aminophospholipids. The DNA–DNA hybridization value between strain CPCC 204705T and C. oligotrophica JCM 17534T was 7.1±0.4 %, and the value of average nucleotide identity between these two strains was 79.8 %. The DNA G+C content of strain CPCC 204705T was 75.4 mol%. Based on the results of physiological experiments, chemotaxonomic data, phylogenetic analysis and DNA–DNA hybridization value, strain CPCC 204705T should be classified as a novel Cellulomonas species. The name Cellulomonas telluris sp. nov. is proposed, with strain CPCC 204705T (=DSM 105430T=KCTC 39974T) as the type strain.

Three Gram-stain-positive, aerobic, motile actinobacterial strains designated as CPCC 205119T, CPCC 205215, and CPCC 205251 were isolated from different biological soil crust samples collected from Tengger Desert, China. The 16S rRNA gene sequence comparison of these three strains showed they had almost identical 16S rRNA genes, which were closely related to members of the family Geodermatophilaceae, with the highest similarities of 96.3–97.3% to the species of Modestobacter. In the phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, these isolates clustered into a subclade next to the branch containing the species of Modestobacter lapidis and Modestobacter multiseptatus, within the lineage of the genus Modestobacter. The comparative genomic characteristics (values of ANI, dDDH, AAI, and POCP) and the phenotypic properties (morphological, physiological, and chemotaxonomic characteristics) of these isolates readily supported to affiliate them to the genus Modestobacter as a single separate species. For which, we proposed that the isolates CPCC 205119T, CPCC 205215, and CPCC 205251 represent a novel species of the genus Modestobacter as Modestobacter deserti sp. nov. CPCC 205119T (=I12A-02624=NBRC 113528T=KCTC 49201T) is the type strain. The genome of strain CPCC 205119T consisted of one chromosome (4,843,235bp) containing 4,424 coding genes, 48 tRNA genes, five rRNA genes, three other ncRNA genes, and 101 pseudogenes, with G+C content of 74.7%. The whole-genome sequences analysis indicated that this species contained alkaline phosphatase genes (phoA/phoD), phosphate transport-related genes (phoU, phnC, phnD, phnE, phoB, phoH, phoP, phoR, pitH, ppk, pstA, pstB, pstC, and pstS), trehalose-phosphate synthase gene (otsA), trehalose 6-phosphate phosphatase gene (otsB) and other encoding genes for the properties that help the microorganisms to adapt to harsh environmental conditions prevalent in deserts. Strains of this species could solubilize tricalcium phosphate [Ca3(PO4)2] and phytin, assimilate pyrophosphate, thiophosphate, dithiophosphate, phosphoenol pyruvate, 2-deoxy-d-glucose-6-phosphate, and cysteamine-S-phosphate.

Three Gram-stain-positive, aerobic, motile actinobacterial strains designated as CPCC 205119T, CPCC 205215, and CPCC 205251 were isolated from different biological soil crust samples collected from Tengger Desert, China. The 16S rRNA gene sequence comparison of these three strains showed they had almost identical 16S rRNA genes, which were closely related to members of the family Geodermatophilaceae, with the highest similarities of 96.3–97.3% to the species of Modestobacter. In the phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, these isolates clustered into a subclade next to the branch containing the species of Modestobacter lapidis and Modestobacter multiseptatus, within the lineage of the genus Modestobacter. The comparative genomic characteristics (values of ANI, dDDH, AAI, and POCP) and the phenotypic properties (morphological, physiological, and chemotaxonomic characteristics) of these isolates readily supported to affiliate them to the genus Modestobacter as a single separate species. For which, we proposed that the isolates CPCC 205119T, CPCC 205215, and CPCC 205251 represent a novel species of the genus Modestobacter as Modestobacter deserti sp. nov. CPCC 205119T (=I12A-02624=NBRC 113528T=KCTC 49201T) is the type strain. The genome of strain CPCC 205119T consisted of one chromosome (4,843,235bp) containing 4,424 coding genes, 48 tRNA genes, five rRNA genes, three other ncRNA genes, and 101 pseudogenes, with G+C content of 74.7%. The whole-genome sequences analysis indicated that this species contained alkaline phosphatase genes (phoA/phoD), phosphate transport-related genes (phoU, phnC, phnD, phnE, phoB, phoH, phoP, phoR, pitH, ppk, pstA, pstB, pstC, and pstS), trehalose-phosphate synthase gene (otsA), trehalose 6-phosphate phosphatase gene (otsB) and other encoding genes for the properties that help the microorganisms to adapt to harsh environmental conditions prevalent in deserts. Strains of this species could solubilize tricalcium phosphate [Ca3(PO4)2] and phytin, assimilate pyrophosphate, thiophosphate, dithiophosphate, phosphoenol pyruvate, 2-deoxy-d-glucose-6-phosphate, and cysteamine-S-phosphate.

The taxonomic position of an actinobacterium, designated CPCC 204380T, which was isolated from a rhizosphere soil sample of the plant Calligonum mongolicum collected from Xinjiang Province, China, was established using a polyphasic approach. Vegetative hyphae developed well and globose bodies formed from aged hyphae. Spore chains that differentiated from the vegetative hyphae contained non-motile rod-shaped spores. The peptidoglycan contained meso-diaminopimelic acid and 3-hydroxydiaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic amino acids. The acyl type of the peptidoglycan was glycolyl. Glucose, mannose, ribose and xylose were detected in whole-cell hydrolysates. The predominant menaquinone was MK-10(H8), followed by MK-10(H6) and MK-10(H4). The polar lipid profile consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylinositol mannoside. The major fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, iso-C16 : 0 and C17 : 1ω9c. The genomic G+C content was 64.9 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain CPCC 204380T should be placed in the family Micromonosporaceae , in which it formed a distinct lineage next to the genera Rhizocola , Catellatospora , Catelliglobosispora , Hamadaea and Allocatelliglobosispora. It shared the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities with Rhizocola hellebori K12-0602T (96.1 %), Catellatospora chokoriensis 2-25/1T (95.9 %), Catelliglobosispora koreensis DSM 44566T (95.9 %), Hamadaea tsunoensis DSM 44101T (95.3 %) and Allocatelliglobosispora scoriae Sco-B14 T (94.2 %), and less than 94.0 % sequence similarity with other validly described species. The combination of phylogenetic analysis and phenotypic characteristics supported the proposal of strain CPCC 204380T as representing a novel species of a new genus in the family Micromonosporaceae , for which the name Allorhizocola rhizosphaerae gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. CPCC 204380T (=DSM 102292T=KCTC 39746 T) is the type strain of the type species.

Background Resistance to anti-tuberculosis (TB) drugs is a major issue in TB control, and demands the discovery of new drugs targeting the virulence factor ESX-1. Methods We first established a high-throughput screen (HTS) assay for the discovery of ESX-1 secretion inhibitors. The positive hits were then evaluated for the potency of diminishing the survival of virulent mycobacteria and reducing bacterial virulence. We further investigated the probability of inducing drug resistance and the underlying mechanism using mycobacterial protein fragment complementation. Results A robust HTS assay was developed to identify small molecules that inhibit ESX-1 secretion without impairing bacterial growth in vitro. A hit named IMB-BZ specifically inhibits the secretion of CFP-10 and reduces virulence in an ESX-1–dependent manner, therefore resulting in significant reduction in intracellular and in vivo survival of mycobacteria. Blocking the CFP-10–EccCb1 interaction directly or indirectly underlies the inhibitory effect of IMB-BZ on the secretion of CFP-10. Importantly, our finding shows that the ESX-1 inhibitors pose low risk of drug resistance development by mycobacteria in vitro as compared with traditional anti-TB drugs, and exhibit high potency against chronic mycobacterial infection. Conclusions Targeting ESX-1 may lead to the development of novel therapeutics for tuberculosis. IMB-BZ holds the potential for future development into a new anti-TB drug.

Biotransformation of the neo-clerodane diterpene, scutebarbatine F (1), by Streptomyces sp. CPCC 205437 was investigated for the first time, which led to the isolation of nine new metabolites, scutebarbatine F1–F9 (2–10). Their structures were determined by extensive high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HRESIMS) and NMR data analyses. The reactions that occurred included hydroxylation, acetylation, and deacetylation. Compounds 2–4 and 8–10 possess 18-OAc fragment, which were the first examples of 13-spiro neo-clerodanes with 18-OAc group. Compounds 7–10 were the first report of 13-spiro neo-clerodanes with 2-OH. Compounds 1–10 were biologically evaluated for the cytotoxic, antiviral, and antibacterial activities. Compounds 5, 7, and 9 exhibited cytotoxic activities against H460 cancer cell line with inhibitory ratios of 46.0, 42.2, and 51.1%, respectively, at 0.3 μM. Compound 5 displayed a significant anti-influenza A virus activity with inhibitory ratio of 54.8% at 20 μM, close to the positive control, ribavirin.

A novel dark pink pigmented bacterium, designated strain CPCC 100847T (deposited with strain code 0113-15), was isolated from the urban air of Beijing, China. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain CPCC 100847T was related to members of the genus Roseomonas and had the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to Roseomonas aestuarii JC17T (97.5 %). A low level of DNA–DNA relatedness (18.7 %) with its closest type strain R. aestuarii JC17T (KCTC 22692T) proved that strain CPCC 100847T belonged to a unique genomic species. CPCC 100847T had many common characteristics of the genus Roseomonas , but also had a range of cultural, physiological and biochemical characteristics that separated it from related Roseomonas species. Cells were Gram-negative, cocci- to oval-shaped, non-motile, non-endospore-forming and strictly aerobic. The respiratory ubiquinone was Q-10. The polar lipid profile consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, an unidentified aminolipid and an unidentified phospholipid. The major fatty acids (>5 %) were C18 : 1ω7c, anteiso-C15 : 0, C16 : 0, iso-C15 : 0 and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c). The combined genotypic and phenotypic data indicated that the isolate represents a novel species of the genus Roseomonas. The name proposed for this species is Roseomonas globiformis sp. nov., with CPCC 100847T (=KCTC 52094T) as the type strain. The DNA G+C composition is 65.2 mol%.

Three actinomycete strains originating from the surface-sterilized roots of Paris polyphylla were characterized by using a polyphasic approach. Phylogenetic analyses based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that they formed a deep, monophyletic branch in the genus Glycomyces, and were most closely related to the type strains of the species Glycomyces harbinensis and Glycomycesscopariae. Morphological and chemotaxonomic data supported the affiliation of strains CPCC 204357T, CPCC 204354 and CPCC 204355 to the genus Glycomyces. The results of physiological and biochemical tests allowed phenotypic differentiation of strains CPCC 204357T, CPCC 204354 and CPCC 204355 from their closest phylogenetic related species in the genus Glycomyces. Low levels of DNA-DNA relatedness with its closest type strains of G. harbinensis and G. scopariaeindicated that strain CPCC 204357T represent a novel species, for which the name Glycomyces paridis sp. nov. is proposed, with CPCC 204357T (=DSM 102295T=KCTC 39745T) as the type strain.

A Gram-stain-positive, non-spore-forming actinobacterial strain, designated CPCC 204077T, was isolated from the surface-sterilized root of a medicinal plant Huperzia serrata (Thunb.) collected from Sichuan Province, south-west China. The peptidoglycan type of strain CPCC 204077T was detected as A4α with an l-Lys–l-Ser–d-Asp interpeptide bridge. Galactose, glucose, rhamnose and ribose were the sugar compositions in the whole-cell hydrolysates. MK-8(H4) was the only menaquinone. The polar lipid profile consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, one unidentified phospholipid and one unidentified glycolipid. The major fatty acid was iso-C16 : 0. The genomic DNA G+C content was 71.0 mol%. The phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain CPCC 204077T stood for a distinct lineage within the family Dermacoccaceae alongside the genera Branchiibius , Demetria and Barrientosiimonas , with the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities to Branchiibius hedensis Mer 29717T (95.0 %), Calidifontibacter indicus PC IW02T (95.0 %), Barrientosiimonas humi 39T (94.9 %) and Demetria terragena HKI 0089T (94.7 %), and less than 94.7 % sequence similarities to all other species. Signature nucleotides in the 16S rRNA sequence showed that the strain contained the Dermacoccaceae family-specific 16S rRNA signature nucleotides and a genus-specific diagnostic nucleotide signature pattern. Combining the genotypic and phenotypic analyses, we propose that strain CPCC 204077T represents a novel species of a new genus in the family Dermacoccaceae with the name Allobranchiibius huperziae gen. nov., sp. nov. Strain CPCC 204077T (=NBRC 110719T=DSM 29531T) is the type strain of the type species.

The taxonomic status of a novel bacterium, designated strain CPCC 100226T, isolated from a traditional Chinese medicinal herbal plant, Eucommia ulmoides Oliver, was characterized by using a polyphasic approach. The aerobic isolate formed pale white colonies on tryptic soy agar. Cells were Gram-stain-positive, rod-shaped, motile and endospore-forming. Chemotaxonomic investigations revealed the presence of meso-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid, MK-7 as the predominant menaquinone, anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 0, iso-C16 : 0 and C16 : 0 as the major fatty acids, and the strain had a phospholipid pattern of phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and unidentified aminophospholipids. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that the isolate was closely related to Paenibacillus aestuarii DSM 23861T with 95.1 % similarity. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 47.9 mol%. On the basis of the genotypic and phenotypic data, the isolate is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Paenibacillus . The name proposed for this taxon is Paenibacillus eucommiae sp. nov. with CPCC 100226T (=DSM 26048T=KCTC 33054T) as the type strain.

The taxonomic position of an actinobacterium isolated from a desert soil sample collected from Badain Jaran Desert, designated as CPCC 204711T, was established using a polyphasic approach. Cells of the isolate were Gram-staining-positive, aerobic, non-motile cocci. Good growth was observed at 28 °C (range 20–40 °C), pH 7.0 (range pH 6.0–8.0) and 0–1 % NaCl concentration (range 0–5 %, w/v). Galactose, arabinose and ribose were detected as the sugar compositions in the whole cell hydrolysates. The peptidoglycan type was A3gamma (ll-Dpm-Gly). MK-9(H4) was detected as the predominant menaquinone, and diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, several unidentified glycolipids, and one unidentified amino-glycolipid were detected as the major polar lipids. The predominant fatty acid was anteiso-C15 : 0. The genomic DNA G+C content was 73.1 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain CPCC 204711T affiliated to the family Propionibacteriaceae , in which the strain formed a distinct phylogenetic lineage next to the genus Mariniluteicoccus , with the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 96.0 % to Mariniluteicoccus endophyticus YIM 2617T. Both phylogenetic analysis and phenotypic characteristics supported that strain CPCC 204711T represents a novel species of a new genus in the family Propionibacteriaceae , for which the name Desertihabitans aurantiacus gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed, with CPCC 204711T (=KCTC 39977T=DSM 105431T) as the type strain.

An actinobacterial strain, designated CPCC 204604T, was isolated from a water sample collected from Sancha Lake, a drinking-water reservoir in Sichuan Province, south-west China. Cells were strictly aerobic, Gram-stain-positive, non-spore-forming and non-motile. Polyphasic taxonomic analysis indicated that galactose and ribose were detected as the diagnostic sugars in the whole-cell hydrolysates, and ll-diaminopimelic acid was the diagnostic diamino acid in cell-wall peptidoglycan. MK-9(H4) was the predominant menaquinone. The phospholipids consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol and an unidentified phospholipid. The major fatty acids were C16 : 0, C16 : 0 2-OH, C18 : 1ω9c, C18 : 0 and 10-methyl C18:0. The genomic DNA G+C content was 71.2 mol%. In the phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, strain CPCC 204604T formed a distinct clade with Aeromicrobium ponti DSM 19178T within the lineage of the genus Aeromicrobium , with the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 98.3 % to its closest neighbour. On the basis of the genotypic and phenotypic data, we conclude that strain CPCC 204604T represents a novel species of the genus Aeromicrobium , for which the name Aeromicrobium lacus sp. nov. is proposed with strain CPCC 204604T (=NBRC 112936T=DSM 105424T) as the type strain.

The taxonomic position of an actinobacterium, designated CPCC 204279T, which was isolated from a rhizosphere soil sample of the herb Limonium sinense collected from Xinjiang Province, China, was established using a polyphasic approach. Whole-cell hydrolysates of strain CPCC 204279T contained galactose and arabinose as diagnostic sugars and meso-diaminopimelic acid as the diamino acid. The muramic acid residues in the peptidoglycan were N-acetylated. The predominant menaquinone was MK-9(H4). The phospholipids consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylinositol mannosides. The major fatty acids were iso-C16 : 0, iso-C16 : 0 2-OH, C16 : 1ω9c, iso-C16 : 1 and C16 : 0. The genomic DNA G+C content was 73.2 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain CPCC 204279T should be placed in the family Pseudonocardiaceae, in which the strain formed a distinct lineage next to the genus Actinophytocola. Signature nucleotides in the 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that the strain contained the Pseudonocardiaceae family-specific 16S rRNA signature nucleotides and a genus-specific diagnostic nucleotide signature pattern. The combination of phylogenetic analysis and phenotypic characteristics supported the conclusion that strain CPCC 204279T represents a novel species of a new genus in the family Pseudonocardiaceae, for which the name Herbihabitans rhizosphaerae gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. Strain CPCC 204279T (=NBRC 111774T=DSM 101727T) is the type strain of the type species.

An actinobacterium, designated strain CPCC 203993T, was isolated from a rhizosphere soil sample collected from Heilongjiang Province, northeast China, and was characterized using a polyphasic taxonomy approach. Cells of the strain were Gram-stain-positive, non-motile and non-endospore-forming cocci. The 16S rRNA gene sequence comparison of strain CPCC 203993T with members of the genus Microlunatu s yielded 93.9 % to 97.8 % similarities. In the phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, strain CPCC 203993T was affiliated to the clade of the genus Microlunatus next to Microlunatus parietis DSM 22083T, while the DNA–DNA hybridization value of 31.5 % (±1.8 %) between strain CPCC 203993T and Microlunatus. parietis DSM 22083T was far below 70 %. This result indicated that strain CPCC 203993T represented a different genomic species from M. parietis . Chemotaxonomically, the strain contained ll-2,6-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid, MK-9(H4) as the only menaquinone, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, three unidentified glycolipids and one unidentified phospholipid in the polar lipids extracts, and anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 0 and iso-C16 : 0 as the major cellular fatty acids, without mycolic acids. The genomic DNA G+C content was 64.04 mol%. The above evidence from the polyphasic study merit the recognition of strain CPCC 203993T as a representative of a novel species of the genus Microlunatus , for which Microlunatus nigridraconis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CPCC 203993T (=DSM 29529T=NBRC 110715T=KCTC 29689T).

A Gram-stain-negative, motile, rod-shaped bacterium, designated CPCC 100842T, was isolated from a freshwater reservoir in south-west China. The 16S rRNA gene sequence comparison of strain CPCC 100842T with the available sequences in the GenBank database showed that the isolate was closely related to members of the family Comamonadaceae , with the highest similarities to Simplicispira metamorpha DSM 1837T (98.05 %), Simplicispira limi KCTC 12608T (97.86 %), Simplicispira psychrophila LMG 5408T (97.04 %) and Simplicispira piscis JCM 19291T (97.0 %). In the phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, strain CPCC 100842T formed a distinct phylogenetic subclade within the genus Simplicispira . The major cellular fatty acids were as C16 : 0 and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1 ω7c/C16 : 1ω6c). Q-8 was detected as the only respiratory quinone. Phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, aminophospholipid and glycolipid were found in the polar lipid extraction. The genomic DNA G+C content was 67.4 mol%. The average nucleotide identity value was 80.4 % by comparing the draft genome sequences of strain CPCC 100842T and S. metamorpha DSM 1837T. The DNA–DNA hybridization result between strain CPCC 100842T and S. metamorpha DSM 1837T showed 37±3 % genomic relatedness. On the basis of the genotypic analysis and phenotypic characteristics, we propose that strain CPCC 100842T represents a novel species of the genus Simplicispira in the family Comamonadaceae with the name Simplicispira lacusdiani sp. nov. Strain CPCC 100842T (=KCTC 52093T=DSM 102231T) is the type strain of the species.

To assess the diversity of actinobacterial taxa in desert sands and obtain the novel microbial resources, 79 and 50 samples were collected from the Badain Jaran (BJD) and Tengger Deserts (TGD) of China, respectively. High-throughput sequencing (HTS) of environmental 16S rRNA genes within these samples was conducted on an Illumina Miseq platform, using universal bacterial primers targeting the V3–V4 hypervariable region. Based on the HTS analyses, cultivation-dependent (CULD) techniques were optimized to identify the cultivable Actinobacteria members. A total of 346,766 16S rRNA gene reads comprising 3,365 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were obtained from the BJD sands using HTS, while 170,583 reads comprising 1,250 OTUs were detected in the TGD sands. Taxonomic classification indicated that Actinobacteria was the predominant phylum, comprising 35.0 and 29.4% of the communities in BJD and TGD sands, respectively. Among the Actinobacteria, members of the Geodermatophilaceae were considerably abundant in both deserts, indicating that they represent ubiquitous populations within the deserts. At the genus level, Arthrobacter spp. and Kocuria spp. were dominant, and corresponded to 21.2 and 5.3% of the actinobacterial communities in BJD and TGD deserts, respectively. A total of 786 and 376 actinobacterial strains were isolated and identified from BJD and TGD samples, respectively. The isolates comprised 73 genera of 30 families within the phylum Actinobacteria. In addition to the Geodermatophilaceae, Streptomyces spp. were a prominent component of the isolates, comprising 25% of the isolates from BJD and 17.5% of those from TGD. Comparison of the actinobacterial community structure in other ecosystems indicated that Geodermatophilaceae was the main actinobacterial group in desert sands, which is consistent with our results. Additionally, in these desert habits, Geodermatophilaceae and some other core groups may promote or inhabit the subsequent members' occurrence or prosper to shape the bacteria community structure. However, it should be noted that a number of other low-abundance bacteria appear to be specific to desert sands, which are worth further investigation. In antimicrobial activity assays, 10.36 % of the tested isolates showed antimicrobial activities in one or more screens. Importantly, 37 of the newly isolated strains reported here represent novel taxa that could be valuable resources for further research of novel secondary metabolites and their ecological significance in deserts.

The Arctic region has been the focus of increasing attention as an ecosystem that is highly sensitive to changes associated with global warming. Although it was assumed to be vulnerable to changes in climate, a limited number of studies have been conducted on the surface sediment bacteria of Arctic fjorden. This study assessed the diversity and distribution pattern of bacterial communities in eight marine sediments along the seafloor in a high Arctic fjorden (Kongsfjorden, Svalbard). A total of 822 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were identified by Illumina MiSeq sequencing, targeting the V3–V4 hypervariable regions of the 16S rRNA gene. In these surface marine sediments, more than half of the sequences belonged to the phylum Proteobacteria, followed by Bacteroidetes, Verrucomicrobia, Actinobacteria, Chloroflexi and Lentisphaerae. The bacterial genera Marinicella, Desulfobulbus, Lutimonas, Sulfurovum and clade SEEP-SRB4 were dominant in all samples. Analysis of similarity indicated that bacterial communities were significantly different among the inner, central and outer basins (r2 = 0.5, P = 0.03

A novel aerobic actinomycete, designated strain I12A-02601T, was isolated from a desert soil crusts sample collected from the Shapotou region of Tengger Desert, north-west China. The substrate mycelia of this isolate were well-developed and branched, but not fragmented. The maturity aerial mycelia formed short chains of small, rod-shaped spores. The strain contained ll-diaminopimelic acid, dd-diaminopimelic acid, galactose, glucose, ribose and xylose in its whole-cell hydrolysates. The polar lipids consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, N-acetylglucosamine-containing phospholipids, phosphatidylinositolmannoside and glycolipids. The predominant menaquinones were MK-10(H6) and MK-10(H8). The major fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 0, C16 : 0, anteiso-C17 : 0 and iso-C16 : 0. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 72.2 mol%. The 16S rRNA gene sequences comparison showed that strain I12A-02601T was most closely related to members of the family Nocardioidaceae, such as Actinopolymorpha alba YIM 48868T (93.3 % sequence similarity), Actinopolymorpha pittospori PIP 143T (93.2 %), and Flindersiella endophytica EUM 378T (93.2 %). In the phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, strain I12A-02601T formed a clade with the members of the genera Flindersiella, Thermasporomyces, and Actinopolymorpha in the family Nocardioidaceae. Combined data from this taxonomic study using a polyphasic approach, led to the conclusion that strain I12A-02601T represents a novel species of a new genus in the family Nocardioidaceae, for which the name Tenggerimyces mesophilus gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of the type species is I12A-02601T ( = CPCC 203544T = DSM 45829T = NBRC 109454T).

A Gram-positive bacterium originating from the surface-sterilized leaf of Paris polyphylla var. yunnanensis (Franch.) was characterized by using a polyphasic approach. The isolate formed yellow, smooth, circular colonies on nutrient agar with 0.2 % starch (NSA). Cells were non-motile, non-sporulating, irregular rods or cocci. Strain CPCC 203535T had the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to the type strain of Ornithinimicrobium kibberense (96.9 %) and formed the deepest branch in the genus Ornithinimicrobium in the neighbour-joining (NJ) phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences. The major menaquinones of strain CPCC 203535T were MK-8(H4), MK-8(H2) and MK-8. The peptidoglycan contained ornithine as the diagnostic diamino acid. The polar lipid profile consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG), phosphatidylglycerol (PG), phosphatidylinositol (PI) and unknown lipid (UL). The major fatty acids iso-C14 : 0, iso-C15 : 0, iso-C16 : 0 and anteiso-C15 : 0 were consistent with the fatty acid patterns reported for members of the genus Ornithinimicrobium . The DNA G+C composition is 71.4 mol%. The results of physiological and biochemical tests allowed phenotypic differentiation of strain CPCC 203535T from its closest phylogenetic species in the genus Ornithinimicrobium . Strain CPCC 203535T represents a novel species of the genus Ornithinimicrobium , for which the name Ornithinimicrobium flavum sp. nov. is proposed, with CPCC 203535T (=NBRC 109452 T=KCTC 29164T) as the type strain.

An endophytic, short rod-shaped, non-motile and non-spore-forming actinobacterium, designated strain CPCC 204135T, was isolated from a surface-sterilized medicinal plant, Huperzia serrata (Thunb.), collected from Sichuan Province, south-west China. Strain CPCC 204135T was observed to grow at temperatures between 20 and 37 °C (optimum, 28–32 °C), at pH 6.0–9.0 (optimum, pH 7.0–8.0) and in the presence of 0–9.0 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 0–3 %). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain CPCC 204135T belonged to the genus Naumannella , showing the highest level of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with Naumannella halotolerans DSM 24323T (97.2 %), the only species of the genus Naumannella in the family Propionibacteriaceae with a validly published name. The DNA–DNA hybridization value between strain CPCC 204135T and N. halotolerans DSM 24323T was 20.1±1.8 %, which is far below the accepted 70 % threshold for species delineation. The cell-wall hydrolysates contained ll-diaminopimelic acid, alanine, glycine and glutamic acid, with the peptidoglycan type of A3γ. Diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, an unidentified phospholipid, one unidentified aminolipid, one unidentified polar lipid and several kinds of glycolipids were detected in the polar lipids profile. MK-9(H4) was identified as the predominant menaquinone. The major cellular fatty acids (>10 %) were anteiso-C15 : 0 and iso-C16 : 0. The G+C content of the genomic DNA of strain CPCC 204135T was determined to be 71.8 mol%. On the basis of phylogenetic analysis, and phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characteristics, we concluded that strain CPCC 204135T represents a novel species of the genus Naumannella , for which the name Naumannella huperziae sp. nov. is proposed, with strain CPCC 204135T (=DSM 101717T=NBRC 111773T) as the type strain.

An actinomycete strain, designated I12A-02593T, was isolated from a desert soil crust sample collected in the Shapotou region of Tengger Desert, north-west China. The isolate grew well on International Streptomyces Project (ISP) media 2, 3, 5 and 7, YS and Bennett’s agar; it produced spherical bodies and formed clumps on the aerial mycelia on ISP 5 agar plates. Chemotaxonomically, the strain contained meso-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid, arabinose and galactose as the diagnostic sugars in whole-cell hydrolysates, MK-9(H4) as the sole isoprenoid quinone, and iso-C16 : 0, iso-C16 : 0 2-OH and iso-C16 : 1 H as the major cellular fatty acids, without mycolic acids. The profile of the phospholipids mainly comprised diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and hydroxyphosphatidylethanolamine. The genomic DNA G+C content was 70.1 mol%. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain I12A-02593T exhibited 96.4–97.4 % similarities with members of the genus Actinophytocola . In the phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, the isolate formed a robust cluster with Actinophytocola oryzae NBRC 105245T, Aactinophytocola timorensis NBRC 105524T, Actinophytocola corallina NBRC 105525T, Actinophytocola burenkhanensis NBRC 105883Tand Actinophytocola xinjiangensis NBRC 106673T. DNA–DNA hybridization values between strain I12A-02593T and the five species of the genus Actinophytocola were all less than 70 %. On the basis of the polyphasic taxonomy evidence, a novel species of the genus Actinophytocola is proposed, with the name Actinophytocola gilvus sp. nov. The type strain is I12A-02593T ( = CPCC 203543T = DSM 45828T = NBRC 109453T = KCTC 29165T). An emended description of the genus Actinophytocola is also provided.

Two actinobacterial strains, CPCC 203464T and CPCC 203448, isolated from surface-sterilized stems of medicinal plants were subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic study. These two aerobic organisms formed pale yellow colonies on tryptic soy agar (TSA). Cells were Gram-stain-positive, non-acid-fast, non-motile, rod- or coccoid-like elements. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that strains CPCC 203464T and CPCC 203448 were most closely related to the type strains of the species of the genus Williamsia . Chemotaxonomic properties such as containing meso-diaminopimelic acid in the cell wall, arabinose, galactose and ribose being the whole-cell hydrolysate sugars, phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG), phosphatidylglycerol (PG) and phosphatidylinositol (PI) as the phospholipids, and C16 : 0, 10-methyl C18 : 0, C18 : 1ω9c, C16 : 1ω7c and/or iso-C15 : 0 2-OH as major fatty acids supported the affiliation of strains CPCC 203464T and CPCC 203448 to the genus Williamsia . The DNA–DNA hybridization values in combination with differentiating chemotaxonomic and physiological characteristics strongly suggested that these two isolates should be classified as representatives of a novel species of the genus Williamsia . The name Williamsia sterculiae sp. nov. is proposed, with strain CPCC 203464T ( = DSM 45741T = KCTC 29118T) as the type strain.

A Gram-stain-positive, rod-shaped actinobacterium, designated strain I10A-01402T, was isolated from surface-sterilized roots of a medicinal plant, Perilla frutescens, collected in a suburb of Beijing, China. Chemotaxonomically, the strain contained ll-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid and MK-8(H4) as the predominant menaquinone. The phospholipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylinositol. The major fatty acids were C17 : 1ω9c, C18 : 1ω9c, C17 : 0, C16 : 0 and iso-C16 : 0. The genomic DNA G+C content was 70.4 mol%. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that strain I10A-01402T belonged to the genus Nocardioides . Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the isolate formed a robust cluster with Nocardioides ginsengisegetis Gsoil 485T, N. koreensis MSL-09T and N. alkalitolerans KSL-1T. On the basis of the evidence from our polyphasic taxonomic study, a novel species, Nocardioides perillae sp. nov., is proposed. The type strain is I10A-01402T ( = CPCC 203382T = DSM 24552T = KCTC 29022T).

Endophytic fungi associated with three bryophyte species in the Fildes Region, King George Island, maritime Antarctica, that is, the liverwort Barbilophozia hatcheri, the mosses Chorisodontium aciphyllum and Sanionia uncinata, were studied by culture-dependent method. A total of 128 endophytic fungi were isolated from 1329 tissue segments of 14 samples. The colonization rate of endophytic fungi in three bryophytes species were 12.3%, 12.1%, and 8.7%, respectively. These isolates were identified to 21 taxa, with 15 Ascomycota, 5 Basidiomycota, and 1 unidentified fungus, based on morphological characteristics and sequence analyses of ITS region and D1/D2 domain. The dominant fungal endophyte was Hyaloscyphaceae sp. in B. hatcheri, Rhizoscyphus sp. in C. aciphyllum, and one unidentified fungus in S. uncinata; and their relative frequencies were 33.3%, 32.1%, and 80.0%, respectively. Furthermore, different Shannon-Weiner diversity indices (0.91-1.99) for endophytic fungi and low endophytic fungal composition similarities (0.19-0.40) were found in three bryophyte species. Growth temperature tests indicated that 21 taxa belong to psychrophiles (9), psychrotrophs (11), and mesophile (1). The results herein demonstrate that the Antarctic bryophytes are an interesting source of fungal endophytes and the endophytic fungal composition is different among the bryophyte species, and suggest that these fungal endophytes are adapted to cold stress in Antarctica.

A novel endophytic actinobacterium, designated strain CPCC 204076T, was isolated from surface-sterilized tissue of the medicinal plant Huperzia serrata (Thunb.) collected from Sichuan Province, south-west China. The taxonomic position of the isolate was investigated by a polyphasic approach. The strainwas aerobic, Gram-stain-positive, non-motile, non-spore-forming and rod-shaped. Growth was observed at 10–37 °C, at pH 5.0–10.0 and with 0–3.0 % (w/v) NaCl. The polar lipid fraction consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, a phospholipid, an aminolipid, a glycolipid, an aminophospholipid and phosphatidylinositol. The cell wall contained meso-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid and the peptidoglycan was of type A4γ. The menaquinone system consisted of MK-9(H4) and MK-8(H4). The major cellular fatty acids (>10 %) were iso-C16 : 0 and anteiso-C17 : 0. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain CPCC 204076T was found to be 71.9 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that CPCC 204076T belongs to the genus Jatrophihabitans with highest sequence similarity to Jatrophihabitans endophyticus DSM 45627T (96.5 %), Jatrophihabitans soli DSM 45908T (96.5 %) and Jatrophihabitans fulvus JCM 30448T (96.1 %), and much lower similarities (

To assess the diversity and composition of airborne fungi associated with particulate matters (PMs) in Beijing, China, a total of 81 PM samples were collected, which were derived from PM2.5, PM10 fractions, and total suspended particles during haze and non-haze days. The airborne fungal community in these samples was analyzed using the Illumina Miseq platform with fungi-specific primers targeting the internal transcribed spacer 1 region of the large subunit rRNA gene. A total of 797,040 reads belonging to 1633 operational taxonomic units were observed. Of these, 1102 belonged to Ascomycota, 502 to Basidiomycota, 24 to Zygomycota, and 5 to Chytridiomycota. The dominant orders were Pleosporales (29.39%), Capnodiales (27.96%), Eurotiales (10.64%), and Hypocreales (9.01%). The dominant genera were Cladosporium, Alternaria, Fusarium, Penicillium, Sporisorium, and Aspergilus. Analysis of similarities revealed that both particulate matter sizes (R = 0.175, p = 0.001) and air quality levels (R = 0.076, p = 0.006) significantly affected the airborne fungal community composition. The relative abundance of many fungal genera was found to significantly differ among various PM types and air quality levels. Alternaria and Epicoccum were more abundant in total suspended particles samples, Aspergillus in heavy-haze days and PM2.5 samples, and Malassezia in PM2.5 samples and heavy-haze days. Canonical correspondence analysis and permutation tests showed that temperature (p < 0.01), NO2 (p < 0.01), PM10 (p < 0.01), SO2(p < 0.01), CO (p < 0.01), and relative humidity (p < 0.05) were significant factors that determine airborne fungal community composition. The results suggest that diverse airborne fungal communities are associated with particulate matters and may provide reliable data for studying the responses of human body to the increasing level of air pollution in Beijing.

Eleven new furostanol saponins, typaspidosides B-L (1-11), one new spirostanol saponin, typaspidoside M (12), and five known spirostanol saponins, 25S-atropuroside (13), neoaspidistrin (14), (25S)-pratioside D1 (15), 25S-aspidistrin (16) and 25S-neosibiricoside (17) were isolated from the rhizomes of Aspidistra typica Baill. The structures of the new compounds were established using 1D and 2D NMR (1H-1H COSY, HMQC, HMBC and ROESY) spectroscopy, high resolution mass spectrometry, and chemical methods. The aglycones of 1-3 (unusual furostanol saponins with opened E ring type), 9 and 10 (the methoxyl substituent at C-23 position) were found, identified from natural products for the first time. Moreover, the anti-HIV activities of the isolated steroidal glycosides were assessed, and compounds 13, 14, 16 and 17 exhibited high active against HIV-1.

Endolichenic fungi within 17 lichen species in the area near Ny-Alesund (Svalbard, High Arctic) were studied by a culture-based method. The 247 fungal isolates were obtained from 2712 lichen thallus segments. The colonization rate of endolichenic fungi ranged from 1.6 to 26.5 %, respectively. These isolates were identified to 40 fungal taxa, including 35 Ascomycota (10 orders), 4 Basidiomycota (3 orders), and 1 unidentified fungus. Thelebolales was the most abundant order, while Sordariales were the most diverse order. The common fungal taxa shared by more than 3 lichen species were Thelebolus microsporus (93 isolates), Coniochaeta hoffmannii (7 isolates), Sarocladium kiliense (33 isolates), Coniochaeta sp. 1 (5 isolates), Coniochaeta sp. 4 (28 isolates), and Coniochaeta sp. 2 (5 isolates). Low Sorenson's similarity coefficients were observed among different lichen species, indicating that host-related factor may shape the endolichenic fungal communities in this region. In addition, no endolichenic fungal taxa were previously found in the Antarctica and Austrian Alps, suggesting endolichenic fungal communities in this region might be also shaped by the Arctic climate. The results demonstrate the existence of specific cultured endolichenic fungal species, which may be suitable objects for further study of their possible functional roles in the lichen thalli.

This study assessed the fungal community composition and its relationships with properties of surface soils in the Ny-Alesund Region (Svalbard, High Arctic). A total of thirteen soil samples were collected and soil fungal community was analyzed by 454 pyrosequencing with fungi-specific primers targeting the rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region. The following eight soil properties were analyzed: pH, organic carbon (C), organic nitrogen (N), ammonium nitrogen (NH4 (+)-N), silicate silicon (SiO4 (2-)-Si), nitrite nitrogen (NO2 (-)-N), phosphate phosphorus (PO4 (3-)-P), and nitrate nitrogen (NO3 (-)-N). A total of 57,952 reads belonging to 541 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were found. of these OTUs, 343 belonged to Ascomycota, 100 to Basidiomycota, 31 to Chytridiomycota, 22 to Glomeromycota, 11 to Zygomycota, 10 to Rozellomycota, whereas 24 belonged to unknown fungi. The dominant orders were Helotiales, Verrucariales, Agaricales, Lecanorales, Chaetothyriales, Lecideales, and Capnodiales. The common genera (>eight soil samples) were Tetracladium, Mortierella, Fusarium, Cortinarius, and Atla. Distance-based redundancy analysis (db-rda) and analysis of similarities (ANOSIM) revealed that soil pH (p = 0.001) was the most significant factor in determining the soil fungal community composition. Members of Verrucariales were found to predominate in soils of pH 8-9, whereas Sordariales predominated in soils of pH 7-8 and Coniochaetales predominated in soils of pH 6-7. The results suggest the presence and distribution of diverse soil fungal communities in the High Arctic, which can provide reliable data for studying the ecological responses of soil fungal communities to climate changes in the Arctic.

A Gram-positive, non-motile strain, designated CPCC 202695T, was isolated from a soil sample collected from the Qinghai–Tibet plateau, north-west China. Strain CPCC 202695T contained rhamnose, glucose and galactose in the cell wall as diagnostic sugars and 2,4-diaminobutyric acid, alanine, glutamic acid and glycine in the peptidoglycan. The polar lipids consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and two unknown glycolipids. MK-12 was the predominant menaquinone and anteiso-C15 : 0 (34.2 %), iso-C15 : 0 (19.8 %), iso-C16 : 0 (12.7 %) and anteiso-C17 : 0 (11.1 %) were the major fatty acids. 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities (94.2–97.1 %) between the isolate and the type strains of recognized species of the genus Agromyces indicated that strain CPCC 202695T was a member of the genus Agromyces. DNA–DNA relatedness clearly separated strain CPCC 202695T from its closest relatives. The phenotypic and genotypic data demonstrated that strain CPCC 202695T represents a novel species of the genus Agromyces, for which the name Agromyces flavus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CPCC 202695T ( = KCTC 19578T = CCM 7623T).

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the in vivo antibacterial efficacy of nemonoxacin, a novel C8-methoxy non-fluorinated quinolone in murine systemic and local infection models. METHODS The efficacy of nemonoxacin in systemic infections was evaluated in mouse peritonitis models using isolates of methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA, n=1), methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA, n=1), methicillin- and levofloxacin-resistant Staphylococcus capitis (levofloxacin-resistant MRSC, n=1), penicillin-intermediate Streptococcus pneumoniae (PISP, n=1), penicillin-resistant S. pneumoniae (PRSP, n=2), Enterococcus faecalis (n=2, including 1 vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus, VRE) and Escherichia coli (n=3). The local infections included mouse pulmonary infections caused by PRSP (n=1), Klebsiella pneumoniae (n=1) and mouse ascending urinary tract infection caused by E. coli (n=1). RESULTS In the mouse systemic infection model, nemonoxacin demonstrated potent activity against MSSA (ED(50) =2.08 mg/kg), MRSA (ED(50) =2.59 mg/kg), levofloxacin-resistant MRSC (ED(50) =2.52 mg/kg), PISP (ED(50) =5.47 mg/kg), PRSP (ED(50) =3.68-5.28 mg/kg) and E. coli (ED(50) =3.13-5.28 mg/kg), and moderate activity towards E. faecalis infection (ED(50) =8.48-15.16 mg/kg). The therapeutic efficacy of nemonoxacin was significantly higher (P

Vertilmicin is a novel aminoglycoside antibiotic with potent activity against gram-negative and -positive bacteria in vitro. In this study, we further evaluated the efficacy of vertilmicin in vivo in systemic and local infection animal models. We demonstrated that vertilmicin had relatively high and broad-spectrum activities against mouse systemic infections caused by Escherichia coli , Klebsiella pneumoniae , Staphylococcus aureus , and Enterococcus faecalis . The 50% effective doses of subcutaneously administered vertilmicin were 0.63 to 0.82 mg/kg, 0.18 to 0.29 mg/kg, 0.25 to 0.99 mg/kg, and 4.35 to 7.11 mg/kg against E. coli , K. pneumoniae , S. aureus , and E. faecalis infections, respectively. The therapeutic efficacy of vertilmicin was generally similar to that of netimicin, better than that of gentamicin in all the isolates tested, and better than that of verdamicin against E. coli 9612 and E. faecalis HH22 infections. The therapeutic efficacy of vertilmicin was further confirmed in local infection models of rabbit skin burn infection and mouse ascending urinary tract infection.