Selenium-oxidizing Agrobacterium sp. T3F4 steadily colonizes in soil promoting selenium uptake by pak choi (Brassica campestris).

Selenium (Se) deficiency in soil is linked to its low content in edible crops, resulting in adverse impacts on the health of 15% of the global population. The crop mainly absorbs oxidized selenate and selenite from soil, then converts them into organic Se. However, the role of Se-oxidizing bacteria in soil Se oxidation, Se bioavailability and Se absorption into plants remains unclear.

sp. nov., isolated from mountain soil.

A Gram-stain-negative, strictly aerobic, motile, yellow, rod-shaped bacterium, designated ZDH117, was isolated from soilsampled atthe Danxialandformin Guangdong Province, PR China. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain ZDH117 had highest similarityvalues to DSM 7418 (97.5 %), CP1D (97.

sp. nov., isolated from rhizospheric soil of plants.

A Gram-stain-negative, single polar flagellum bacterium, WZY27, was isolated from rhizospheric soil of plants. The results of phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that this strain is closely related to DSM 7418 (97.2 % similarity), KCTC 2883 (97.

[Advance in studies on pharmacological effect of salidroside on nervous system diseases].

Salidroside is an extract from Rhodiola crenulata as well as one of major active constituents. In studies of recent years, salidroside showed multiple effects in protecting nerves, scavenging free radicals, regulating central nervous system neurotransmitter, increasing the ability to promote nerve repair and modulating of apoptosis-related gene expression. Hence, it is expected to be applied in treating degenerative nerve diseases and brain ischemic diseases.