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Sulfurospirillum strains UCH001 and UCH003 were isolated from anaerobic cis-1,2-dichloroethene-dechlorinating microbial consortia derived from groundwater in Japan. Here, we report the complete genome sequences of strains UCH001 and UCH003., (Copyright © 2015 Miura et al.)

Dehalococcoides spp. are currently the only organisms known to completely reduce cis-1,2-dichloroethene (cis-DCE) and vinyl chloride (VC) to non-toxic ethene. However, the activation of fermenting bacteria that generate acetate, hydrogen, and CO2 is considered necessary to enhance the dechlorination activity of Dehalococcoides and enable the complete dechlorination of chloroethenes. In the present study, we stimulated chloroethene-contaminated groundwater by injecting different nutrients prepared from yeast extract or polylactate ester using a semicontinuous culture system. We then evaluated changes in the bacterial community structure and their relationship with dechlorination activity during the biostimulation. The populations of Dehalococcoides and the phyla Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Spirochaetes increased in the yeast extract-amended cultures and chloroethenes were completely dechlorinated. However, the phylum Proteobacteria was dominant in polylactate ester-amended cultures, in which almost no cis-DCE and VC were dechlorinated. These results provide fundamental information regarding possible interactions among bacterial community members involved in the dechlorination process and support the design of successful biostimulation strategies.

Acinetobacter guillouiae strain 20B can utilize dimethyl sulfide (DMS) as the sole sulfur source and degrade chloroethylenes. We report here the complete 4,648,418-bp genome sequence for this strain, which contains 4,367 predicted coding sequences (CDSs), including a well-characterized DMS degradative operon., (Copyright © 2014 Yee et al.)

Comamonas testosteroni TK102 (NBRC 109938; JCM 19603) can utilize biphenyl as a sole carbon source and degrade polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). The complete nucleotide sequence of the TK102 genome was determined. TK102 possesses several integrative and conjugative element-like regions, and one of them carries biphenyl-degradative genes., (Copyright © 2014 Fukuda et al.)

Alcanivorax sp. strain NBRC 101098 was isolated from seawater in Japan. Strain NBRC 101098 is able to degrade various types of n-alkanes. Here, we report the complete genome of strain NBRC 101098., (Copyright © 2014 Miura et al.)

Two thermophilic, strictly anaerobic, Gram-negative bacteria, designated strains AZM34c06(T) and AZM44c09(T), were isolated from terrestrial hot springs in Japan. The optimum growth conditions for strain AZM34c06(T) were 60 °C, pH 7.4 and 0% additional NaCl, and those for strain AZM44c09(T) were 70 °C, pH 7.4 and 0% additional NaCl. Complete genome sequencing was performed for both strains, revealing genome sizes of 2.19 Mbp (AZM34c06(T)) and 2.01 Mbp (AZM44c09(T)). Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences and the concatenated predicted amino acid sequences of 33 ribosomal proteins showed that both strains belonged to the genus Thermotoga. The closest relatives of strains AZM34c06(T) and AZM44c09(T) were the type strains of Thermotoga lettingae (96.0% similarity based on the 16S rRNA gene and 84.1% similarity based on ribosomal proteins) and Thermotoga hypogea (98.6 and 92.7% similarity), respectively. Using blast, the average nucleotide identity was 70.4-70.5% when comparing strain AZM34c06(T) and T. lettingae TMO(T) and 76.6% when comparing strain AZM44c09(T) and T. hypogea NBRC 106472(T). Both values are far below the 95% threshold value for species delineation. In view of these data, we propose the inclusion of the two isolates in the genus Thermotoga within two novel species, Thermotoga profunda sp. nov. (type strain AZM34c06(T) = NBRC 106115(T) = DSM 23275(T)) and Thermotoga caldifontis sp. nov. (type strain AZM44c09(T) = NBRC 106116(T) = DSM 23272(T))., (© 2014 IUMS.)

Pseudomonas putida has attracted much interest for its environmental, industrial, biotechnological, and clinical importance. Here, we report the complete genome sequence of the type strain P. putida NBRC 14164. This genome sequence will assist to further elucidate the molecular mechanisms of the characteristic traits among strains belonging to the species P. putida.

Geobacillus sp. strain JF8 (NBRC 109937) utilizes biphenyl and naphthalene as sole carbon sources and degrades polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) at 60°C. Here, we report the complete nucleotide sequence of the JF8 genome (a 3,446,630-bp chromosome and a 39,678-bp plasmid). JF8 has the smallest genome among the known PCB degraders.

The conjugative transfer ranges of three different plasmids of the incompatibility groups IncP-1 (pBP136), IncP-7 (pCAR1), and IncP-9 (NAH7) were investigated in soil bacterial communities by culture-dependent and culture-independent methods. Pseudomonas putida, a donor of each plasmid, was mated with soil bacteria, and green fluorescent protein (GFP), encoded on the plasmid, was used as a reporter protein for successful transfer. GFP-expressing transconjugants were detected and separated at the single-cell level by flow cytometry. Each cell was then analyzed by PCR and sequencing of its 16S rRNA gene following either whole-genome amplification or cultivation. A large number of bacteria within the phylum Proteobacteria was identified as transconjugants for pBP136 by both culture-dependent and culture-independent methods. Transconjugants belonging to the phyla Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Firmicutes were detected only by the culture-independent method. Members of the genus Pseudomonas (class Gammaproteobacteria) were identified as major transconjugants of pCAR1 and NAH7 by both methods, whereas Delftia species (class Betaproteobacteria) were detected only by the culture-independent method. The transconjugants represented a minority of the soil bacteria. Although pCAR1-containing Delftia strains could not be cultivated after a one-to-one filter mating assay between the donor and cultivable Delftia strains as recipients, fluorescence in situ hybridization detected pCAR1-containing Delftia cells, suggesting that Delftia was a "transient" host of pCAR1.

Pseudomonas resinovorans strain CA10 can grow on carbazole as its sole carbon and nitrogen source. Here, we report the complete nucleotide sequence of the CA10 genome (a 6,285,863-bp chromosome and a 198,965-bp plasmid). CA10 carries a larger number of genes that are potentially responsible for aromatic hydrocarbon metabolism than do other previously sequenced Pseudomonas spp.

Distal myopathy is a group of heterogeneous disorders affecting predominantly distal muscles usually appearing from young to late adulthood with very rare cardiac complications. We report a 27-year-old man characterized clinically by distal myopathy and dilated cardiomyopathy, pathologically by lipid storage, and genetically by a PNPLA2 mutation. The patient developed weakness in his lower legs and fingers at age 20 years. Physical examination at age 27 years revealed muscle weakness and atrophy predominantly in lower legs and hands, and severe dilated cardiomyopathy. The patient had a homozygous four-base duplication (c.475_478dupCTCC) in exon 4 of PNPLA2.

We discuss steroid pulse therapy and apheresis therapy indicated for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). In the basic treatment course for MS, steroid pulse therapy is a first-line treatment for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RR-MS) in the course of the exacerbation, and apheresis therapy is performed in refractory cases. Treatment strategies for chronic progressive MS are not to be established. Steroid pulse therapy has been established as a treatment for MS in the active phase through randomized controlled trials (RCT). Apheresis therapy includes plasmapheresis and cytapheresis, and plasmapheresis includes plasma exchange (PE) and immunoadsorption plasmapheresis (IAPP). PE and IAPP are performed for MS treatment. PE has been established as a useful treatment for active phase MS. The efficacy of IAPP has been frequently reported, but no reports have been based on RCT. We also summarize the indications, methods, and adverse reactions of steroid pulse therapy and apheresis therapy.

We have performed a detailed study of methanol-induced conformational transitions of horse heart apomyoglobin (apoMb) to investigate the existence of the compact and expanded denatured states. A combination of far- and near-ultraviolet circular dichroism, NMR spectroscopy, and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) was used, allowing a phase diagram to be constructed as a function of pH and the methanol concentration. The phase diagram contains four conformational states, the native (N), acid-denatured (U(A)), compact denatured (I(M)), and expanded helical denatured (H) states, and indicates that the compact denatured state (I(M)) is stable under relatively mild denaturing conditions, whereas the expanded denatured states (U(A) and H) are realized under extreme conditions of pH (strong electric repulsion) or alcohol concentration (weak hydrophobic interaction). The results of this study, together with many previous studies in the literature, indicate the general existence of the compact denatured states not only in the salt-pH plane but also in the alcohol-pH plane. Furthermore, to determine the general feature of the H conformation we used several proteins including ubiquitin, ribonuclease A, alpha-lactalbumin, beta-lactoglobulin, and Streptomyces subtilisin inhibitor (SSI) in addition to apoMb. SAXS studies of these proteins in 60% methanol showed that the H states of these all proteins have expanded and nonglobular conformations. The qualitative agreement of the experimental data with computer-simulated Kratky profiles also supports this structural feature of the H state.