New antimalarial iromycin analogs produced by Streptomyces sp. RBL-0292.

Two new antimalarial compounds, named prenylpyridones A (1) and B (2), were discovered from the actinomycete cultured material of Streptomyces sp. RBL-0292 isolated from the soil on Hamahiga Island in Okinawa prefecture. The structures of 1 and 2 were elucidated as new iromycin analogs having α-pyridone ring by MS and NMR analyses.

Precezomycin, a novel antibiotic biosynthetic precursor of cezomycin, from actinomycete Kitasatospora putterlickiae 10-13.

A novel antibiotic biosynthetic precursor of cezomycin, named precezomycin (1), was isolated from culture broth of actinomycete Kitasatospora putterlickiae 10-13. The planar structure was determined by 1D/2D NMR and HR(ESI)MS data analyses, and the absolute configurations were established by TDDFT calculation of ECD spectra. Precezomycin (1) exhibited moderate antibacterial activity against gram-positive bacteria including Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis.

Amoxetamide A, a new anoikis inducer, produced by combined-culture of Amycolatopsis sp. and Tsukamurella pulmonis.

Cancer cells including colorectal cancer cells are resistant to anoikis, an anchorage-independent programmed death, which enables metastasis and subsequent survival in a new tumor microenvironment. In this study, we identified a new anoikis inducer, amoxetamide A (1) with a β-lactone moiety, that was produced by combined-culture of Amycolatopsis sp. 26-4 and mycolic acid-containing bacteria (MACB) Tsukamurella pulmonis TP-B0596.

Complete Genome Sequence of " Hydrogeosomobacter endosymbioticus," an Intracellular Bacterial Symbiont of the Anaerobic Ciliate Scuticociliate GW7.

The bacterium " Hydrogenosomobacter endosymbioticus" is an intracellular symbiont of anaerobic scuticociliate GW7, which is associated with hydrogenosome together with methanogenic archaea. Here, we report a complete genome sequence of the symbiont consisting of 827 kbp. Knowing this sequence would contribute to the understanding of the metabolic interactions and evolution of the tripartite symbiosis.

Amycolapeptins A and B, Cyclic Nonadepsipeptides Produced by Combined-culture of sp. and .

Two nonapeptide natural products, amycolapeptins A () and B () with a 22-membered cyclic depsipeptide skeleton, β-hydroxytyrosine, and a highly modified side chain, which were not produced in a monoculture of the rare actinomycete sp. 26-4, were discovered in broth of its combined-culture with TP-B0596. The planar structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analyses (extensive 2D-NMR and MALDI-TOF MS/MS).

Pseudoalteropeptide A, a novel lipopeptide from the marine bacterium Pseudoalteromonas piscicida SWA4_PA4 isolated from marine seaweed.

A new lipopeptide, pseudoalteropeptide A (1) was isolated from the marine bacterium Pseudoalteromonas piscicida SWA4_PA4. The structure was elucidated by spectroscopic analyses including NMR and MSMS spectra. It showed moderate iron chelating activity as well as cytotoxic activity against Jurkat human T lymphocyte cells.

Thioamycolamides A-E, Sulfur-Containing Cycliclipopeptides Produced by the Rare Actinomycete sp.

A series of novel sulfur-containing cycliclipopeptides named thioamycolamides A-E, with thiazoline, thioether rings, and fatty acid moieties, were identified from the culture broth of the rare actinomycete sp. 26-4. The planar structural elucidation was accomplished by HRMS and 1D/2D NMR spectroscopic data analyses.

Tripartite Symbiosis of an Anaerobic Scuticociliate with Two Hydrogenosome-Associated Endosymbionts, a -Related Alphaproteobacterium and a Methanogenic Archaeon.

A number of anaerobic ciliates, unicellular eukaryotes, intracellularly possess methanogenic archaea and bacteria as symbiotic partners. Although this tripartite relationship is of interest in terms of the fact that each participant is from a different domain, the difficulty in culture and maintenance of those host species with symbiotic partners has disturbed both ecological and functional studies so far. In this study, we obtained a stable culture of a small anaerobic scuticociliate, strain GW7.

[Occupational health physicians' interventions based on the decision-making process for corporate health policies and company-employee needs: An exploratory study].

Objective: The topic of occupational health physicians' specific interventions for deciding on corporate health measures has not been researched. Such interventions are necessary in corporate decision-making and for considering the needs of the company and its employees. We examined the aspects and methods of occupational health services that facilitate corporate decision-making regarding health measures.

Factors of occurrence and improvement methods of presenteeism attributed to diabetes: A systematic review.

Objective: A systematic review was performed to study factors of occurrence and improvement methods of presenteeism attributed to diabetes.

Methods: We set 2 clinical questions; (a) how comorbidities and complications of diabetes induce presenteeism and (b) what interventions or conditions effectively improve presenteeism. Then, we conducted a comprehensive search with MEDLINE/PubMed and Scopus databases and extracted those that met the clinical questions.

Population Connectivity in the Common Reef Zoantharian Zoanthus sansibaricus (Anthozoa: Hexacorallia) in Southern Japan.

Tropical and subtropical shallow benthic marine communities are highly diverse and balanced systems that constitute an important natural resource. Knowledge of the genetic diversity, connectivity and reproduction mode of each population is critical to understanding the fate of whole assemblages in times of disturbances. Importantly, the capability of populations to adapt to environmental challenges will be crucial to determining their survival.

Geochemical and Microbiological Evidence for Microbial Methane Production in Deep Aquifers of the Cretaceous Accretionary Prism.

Accretionary prisms are thick layers of sedimentary material piled up at convergent plate boundaries. Large amounts of anaerobic groundwater and methane (CH) are contained in the deep aquifers associated with accretionary prisms. In order to identify microbial activity and CH production processes in the deep aquifers associated with the Cretaceous accretionary prism in Okinawa Island, Japan, we performed geochemical and microbiological studies using anaerobic groundwater and natural gas (mainly CH) samples collected through four deep wells.

Genome Sequence of Lactobacillus paracasei Strain LC-Ikematsu, Isolated from a Pineapple in Okinawa, Japan.

The draft genome sequence of Lactobacillus paracasei strain LC-Ikematsu, isolated from a pineapple in Okinawa, was determined. The total length of the 87 contigs was 3.08 Mb with a G+C content of 46.

Complete Genome Sequence of the Intracellular Bacterial Symbiont TC1 in the Anaerobic Ciliate Trimyema compressum.

A free-living ciliate, Trimyema compressum, found in anoxic freshwater environments harbors methanogenic archaea and a bacterial symbiont named TC1 in its cytoplasm. Here, we report the complete genome sequence of the TC1 symbiont, consisting of a 1.59-Mb chromosome and a 35.

Complete mitochondrial genome of (Dictyoceratida: Demospongiae): the first report for the sponge family Thorectidae.

We sequenced a complete mitochondrial genome of the marine sponge, , which is the first report for the family Thorectidae in the class Demospongiae. The mitogenome was obtained from a assembly of shotgun genome sequencing using Illumina Miseq technology, which reconstructed a circular genome with 97 × of sequence coverage. The assembled mitochondrial genome consisting of 16,227 bp includes 14 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNAs and 2 tRNAs.

Predominant expression and activity of vacuolar H(+)-ATPases in the mixed segment of the wood-feeding termite Nasutitermes takasagoensis.

The mixed segment is a unique part of the gut present only in the most apical lineage of termites and consists of a complex of overlapping mesenteric and proctodeal epithelia. In spite of its unique structure, the physiological functions of the mixed segment have been poorly studied. We performed transcriptome analysis to identify functional enzymes acting in the mixed segment of the wood-feeding higher termite Nasutitermes takasagoensis.

Neuronal major histocompatibility complex class I molecules are implicated in the generation of asymmetries in hippocampal circuitry.

Left-right asymmetry is a fundamental feature of higher-order brain function; however, the molecular basis of brain asymmetry has remained unclear. We have recently demonstrated asymmetries in hippocampal circuitry resulting from the asymmetrical allocation of NMDA receptor (NMDAR) subunit GluR2 (NR2B) in pyramidal cell synapses. This asymmetrical allocation of 2 subunits affects the properties of NMDARs and generates two populations of synapses, '2-dominant' and '2-non-dominant' synapses, according to the hemispheric origin of presynaptic inputs and cell polarity of the postsynaptic neurone.

Genomic sequencing-based detection of large deletions in Rhodococcus rhodochrous strain B-276.

Bacteria of the genus Rhodococcus (Actinomycetes) have the ability to catabolize various organic compounds and are therefore considered potential genetic resources for applications such as bioremediation. We investigated a next-generation sequencing-based procedure to rapidly identify candidate functional gene(s) from rhodococci on the basis of their frequent genome recombination. The Rhodococcus rhodochrous strain B-276 and its alkene monooxygenase (AMO) gene cluster were the focus of our investigation.

Suppression of conditioned odor approach by feeding is independent of taste and nutritional value in Drosophila.

Motivation controls behavior [1]. A variety of food-related behaviors undergo motivational modulation by hunger, satiety, and other states [2-4]. Here we searched for critical satiation factors modulating approach to an odor associated with sugar reward in Drosophila melanogaster.

Antibiotics production by an actinomycete isolated from the termite gut.

As well as the search for new antibiotics, a new resource or strains for the known antibiotics is also important. Microbial symbionts in the gut of termites could be regarded as one of the feasible resource for such purpose. In this study, antibiotic-producing actinomycetes were screened from symbionts of the termite gut.

Comparative proteomic analysis of Methanothermobacter themautotrophicus ΔH in pure culture and in co-culture with a butyrate-oxidizing bacterium.

To understand the physiological basis of methanogenic archaea living on interspecies H(2) transfer, the protein expression of a hydrogenotrophic methanogen, Methanothermobacter thermautotrophicus strain ΔH, was investigated in both pure culture and syntrophic coculture with an anaerobic butyrate oxidizer Syntrophothermus lipocalidus strain TGB-C1 as an H(2) supplier. Comparative proteomic analysis showed that global protein expression of methanogen cells in the model coculture was substantially different from that of pure cultured cells. In brief, in syntrophic coculture, although methanogenesis-driven energy generation appeared to be maintained by shifting the pathway to the alternative methyl coenzyme M reductase isozyme I and cofactor F(420)-dependent process, the machinery proteins involved in carbon fixation, amino acid synthesis, and RNA/DNA metabolisms tended to be down-regulated, indicating restrained cell growth rather than vigorous proliferation.

Biotransformation of benzothiazole derivatives by the Pseudomonas putida strain HKT554.

We examined the biotransformation of benzothiazole derivatives (BTHs) by an axenic microbial culture. A Gram-negative bacterium, tentatively named as strain HKT554 and identified as Pseudomonas putida, was able to transform not only benzothiazole and 2-mercaptobenzothiazole but also 2-methylthiobenzothiazole, which was previously reported as the dead-end product of wastewater treatment. GC/MS analysis of the solid-phase extract of the culture broth showed the formation of 2-(3H)-benzothiazolone/2-hydroxybenzothiazole from benzothiazole.

Optimized culture conditions for the efficient production of porcine adenylate kinase in recombinant Escherichia coli.

Temperature shift cultivations with amino acid supplementation were optimized to produce porcine adenylate kinase (ADK) in recombinant Escherichia coli harboring a pUC-based recombinant plasmid under the control of the trp promoter. With regard to temperature control, the culture condition was initially maintained at 35 degrees C for cellular growth, but ADK expression was suppressed until the late logarithmic growth phase; subsequently, a temperature shift was applied (from 35 degrees C to 42 degrees C), which resulted in maximal ADK production. In addition, supplementation of amino acids, especially valine and leucine, during the temperature shift stimulated ADK expression from 3.

Influence of nitrogen fertilization on tropical-grass silage assessed by ensiling process monitoring using chemical and microbial community analyses.

Aims: Utilization of silage in livestock farming is expected to increase in developing countries in the tropical and subtropical parts of the world. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of nitrogen fertilization on the chemical composition of herbage, ensiling process and silage quality, and to contribute to the improvement of tropical-grass silage preparation.

Methods And Results: Guinea grass grown under two different nitrogen-fertilizer application conditions [1.