An intracellular membrane protein GEP1 regulates xanthurenic acid induced gametogenesis of malaria parasites.

Gametocytes differentiation to gametes (gametogenesis) within mosquitos is essential for malaria parasite transmission. Both reduction in temperature and mosquito-derived XA or elevated pH are required for triggering cGMP/PKG dependent gametogenesis. However, the parasite molecule for sensing or transducing these environmental signals to initiate gametogenesis remains unknown.

[Diversity of culturable sulfur-oxidizing bacteria in deep-sea hydrothermal vent environments of the South Atlantic].

Objective: To investigate the diversity of culturable sulfur-oxidizing bacteria in hydrothermal vent environments of the South Atlantic, and analyze their characteristics of sulfur oxidation.

Methods: We enriched and isolated sulfur-oxidizing bacteria from hydrothermal vent samples collected from the South Atlantic. The microbial diversity in enrichment cultures was analyzed using the Denatural Gradient Gel Electrophoresis method.

Mameliella atlantica sp. nov., a marine bacterium of the Roseobacter clade isolated from deep-sea sediment of the South Atlantic Ocean.

A taxonomic study was carried out on strain L6M1-5(T), which was isolated from deep-sea sediment collected from the South Atlantic Ocean. The isolate was Gram-reaction-negative, oxidase-negative and catalase-weakly positive. Growth was observed in the presence of 0.

Thioclava atlantica sp. nov., isolated from deep sea sediment of the Atlantic Ocean.

A taxonomic study was carried out on strain 13D2W-2(T), which was isolated from a sulphur-oxidizing bacterial consortium, enriched by the deep-sea sediment of the Atlantic Ocean. The isolate was observed to be Gram-negative, oxidase- and catalase-positive, short rod-shaped and motile by means of a flagellum. Growth was observed at salinities from 0.

Efficient editing of malaria parasite genome using the CRISPR/Cas9 system.

Malaria parasites are unicellular organisms residing inside the red blood cells, and current methods for editing the parasite genes have been inefficient. The CRISPR/Cas9 (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats and Cas9 endonuclease-mediated genome editing) system is a new powerful technique for genome editing and has been widely employed to study gene function in various organisms. However, whether this technique can be applied to modify the genomes of malaria parasites has not been determined.

Thioclava dalianensis sp. nov., isolated from surface seawater.

A taxonomic study was carried out on strain DLFJ1-1(T), which was isolated from an oil-degrading bacterial consortium, enriched by the surface seawater from around the Dalian Peninsula. The isolate was Gram-reaction-negative, oxidase- and catalase-positive, short-rod-shaped and non-motile. Growth was observed at salinities from 0.