Efficient selective breeding of live oil-rich Euglena gracilis with fluorescence-activated cell sorting.

Euglena gracilis, a microalgal species of unicellular flagellate protists, has attracted much attention in both the industrial and academic sectors due to recent advances in the mass cultivation of E. gracilis that have enabled the cost-effective production of nutritional food and cosmetic commodities. In addition, it is known to produce paramylon (β-1,3-glucan in a crystalline form) as reserve polysaccharide and convert it to wax ester in hypoxic and anaerobic conditions-a promising feedstock for biodiesel and aviation biofuel.

Production of a thermal stress resistant mutant Euglena gracilis strain using Fe-ion beam irradiation.

Euglena gracilis is a common phytoplankton species, which also has motile flagellate characteristics. Recent research and development has enabled the industrial use of E. gracilis and selective breeding of this species is expected to further expand its application.

Selection and characterization of Euglena anabaena var. minor as a new candidate Euglena species for industrial application.

Euglena gracilis is a microalgae used as a model organism. Recently, mass cultivation of this species has been achieved for industrial applications. The genus Euglena includes more than 200 species that share common useful features, but the potential industrial applications of other Euglena species have not been evaluated.

Spongitalea numazuensis gen. nov., sp. nov., a new marine bacterium of the family Flavobacteriaceae isolated from an unidentified marine sponge.

Polyphasic taxonomic investigation was conducted on a strictly aerobic, Gram-negative, non-motile, pale-yellow-pigmented, rod-shaped strain designated HJ24(T) which was isolated from an unidentified orange-colored marine sponge. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that the novel isolate could be affiliated with the family Flavobacteriaceae of the phylum Bacteroidetes and that it showed highest sequence similarity (88.6%) with Pseudozobellia thermophila KMM 3531(T).

Oral administration of paramylon, a beta-1,3-D-glucan isolated from Euglena gracilis Z inhibits development of atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions in NC/Nga mice.

Paramylon is a beta-1,3-D-glucan isolated from Euglena gracilis Z. This study was designed to evaluate the suppressive effects of the oral administration of paramylon on the development of atopic dermatitis (AD)-like skin lesions induced by repeated application of 2,4,6-trinitrochlorobenzene (TNCB) in sensitized NC/Nga mice. The effects of paramylon were assessed by measuring macroscopical and histopathological findings of skin, ear swelling, serum levels of total IgE, interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and IL-18 and IL-12 contents in the skin lesions.

Hepatoprotective effects of paramylon, a beta-1, 3-D-glucan isolated from Euglena gracilis Z, on acute liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride in rats.

Paramylon is a beta-(1-3)-D-glucan isolated from Euglena gracilis Z. This study was designed to evaluate the protective effects of paramylon on liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)) in rats. Wistar stain male rats were orally administered paramylon (500, 1,000 and 2,000 mg/kg body weight) before treatment with a single intraperitoneal dose of 50% CCl(4) (2 ml/kg body weight).

Leptobacterium flavescens gen. nov., sp. nov., a marine member of the family Flavobacteriaceae, isolated from marine sponge and seawater.

Six obligately aerobic, Gram-negative, non-motile, pale-yellow-pigmented, rod-shaped bacterial strains, designated YM3-301(T), HG868, 04PA2 Co4-8B, 04PA2 Co4-99A, 04PA2 018SW-3 and 04PA2 018SW-18, were isolated from a marine sponge and seawater and were subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic investigation. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that the novel isolates were affiliated with the family Flavobacteriaceae (phylum Bacteroidetes) and that they showed the highest sequence similarity (90.3-90.