Chromohalobacter japonicus sp. nov., a moderately halophilic bacterium isolated from a Japanese salty food.

A Gram-negative, non-spore-forming, rod-shaped, motile bacterium, designated strain 43(T), was isolated from a Japanese salty food and then subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic study. Strain 43(T) is moderately halophilic, growing at NaCl concentrations in the range 5-25 % (w/v), with optimum growth between 7.5 and 12.

Bacillus chagannorensis sp. nov., a moderate halophile from a soda lake in Inner Mongolia, China.

A Gram-positive, moderately halophilic, spore-forming bacterium, designated strain CG-15(T), was isolated from a soda lake, Lake Chagannor, in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China. The cells were found to be motile short rods with ellipsoidal, terminal and deforming endospores. Strain CG-15(T), a facultatively anaerobic bacterium, grew at pH 5.

Obesity does not influence the correlation between exercise capacity and serum NT-proBNP levels in chronic heart failure.

Recent studies have shown that obesity is an independent predictor of lower N-terminal pro-BNP (NT-proBNP) levels and raised concerns about the validity of this biomarker in obese subjects. We evaluated the influence of obesity (body mass index>or=30 kg/m(2)) on the correlation between exercise capacity and serum NT-proBNP levels in 100 chronic heart failure (CHF) patients referred for cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Circulating NT-proBNP levels correlated well with lean body mass-adjusted peak oxygen consumption (VO(2)) in the entire cohort (R=-0.

Halopiger xanaduensis gen. nov., sp. nov., an extremely halophilic archaeon isolated from saline Lake Shangmatala in Inner Mongolia, China.

Strain SH-6(T) was isolated from the sediment of Lake Shangmatala, a saline lake in Inner Mongolia (China). Cells were pleomorphic. The organism was neutrophilic and required at least 2.

Aerococcus suis sp. nov., isolated from clinical specimens from swine.

Biochemical and molecular genetic studies were performed for five isolates of unknown Gram-positive, catalase-negative, cocci-shaped micro-organisms obtained from clinical samples from pigs. The micro-organisms were tentatively identified as Aerococcus species on the basis of the results from cellular morphological and biochemical tests. 16S rRNA gene sequencing studies confirmed the provisional identification of the isolates as members of the genus Aerococcus, but the micro-organism did not correspond to any recognized species of this genus.

Aquisalimonas asiatica gen. nov., sp. nov., a moderately halophilic bacterium isolated from an alkaline, saline lake in Inner Mongolia, China.

Two novel moderately halophilic, Gram-negative rods (strains CG12(T) and CG13) were isolated from Lake Chagannor in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China. They were strictly aerobic and motile. They grew at pH 6.

Halovivax ruber sp. nov., an extremely halophilic archaeon isolated from Lake Xilinhot, Inner Mongolia, China.

A Gram-negative, pleomorphic, extremely halophilic archaeon, designated strain XH-70(T), was isolated from the saline Lake Xilinhot, in Inner Mongolia, China. It formed small (0.9-1.

Halomonas avicenniae sp. nov., isolated from the salty leaves of the black mangrove Avicennia germinans in Puerto Rico.

A Gram-negative, short rod to oval-shaped bacterium (strain MW2a(T)) was isolated from the surface of leaves of the black mangrove Avicennia germinans and subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic study. Strain MW2a(T) was moderately halophilic, growing at NaCl concentrations in the range 0-25 % (w/v) with optimum growth at 5 % (w/v) NaCl. Growth occurred at 12-40 degrees C (optimum, 30-35 degrees C) and at pH 5.

Natrinema ejinorense sp. nov., isolated from a saline lake in Inner Mongolia, China.

A Gram-negative, non-motile, neutrophilic, pleomorphic and extremely halophilic archaeon, strain EJ-57T, was isolated from saline Lake Ejinor in Inner Mongolia, China. Strain EJ-57T was able to grow at 25-50 degrees C, required at least 1.8 M NaCl for growth (optimum at 3.

Pseudomonas simiae sp. nov., isolated from clinical specimens from monkeys (Callithrix geoffroyi).

An unusual Gram-negative, catalase- and oxidase-positive, rod-shaped bacterium isolated from different clinical samples from two monkeys (Callithrix geoffroyi) was characterized by phenotypic and molecular genetic methods. The micro-organism was tentatively identified as a Pseudomonas species on the basis of the results of cellular morphological and biochemical tests. Fatty acid studies confirmed this generic placement and comparative 16S rRNA gene sequencing studies demonstrated that the unknown isolates were phylogenetically closely related to each other (100% sequence similarity) and were part of the 'Pseudomonas fluorescens intrageneric cluster'.

Halorubrum orientale sp. nov., a halophilic archaeon isolated from Lake Ejinor, Inner Mongolia, China.

A motile, pleomorphic, red-pigmented archaeon, strain EJ-52T, was isolated from water from Lake Ejinor, a saline lake in Inner Mongolia, China. Analysis of the almost-complete 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that the isolate was phylogenetically related to species of the genus Halorubrum, being most closely related to Halorubrum saccharovorum ATCC 29252T (96.1% sequence similarity), Halorubrum lacusprofundi JCM 8891T (95.

Bactericidal activity of copper and niobium-alloyed austenitic stainless steel.

Biofouling and microbiologically influenced corrosion are processes of material deterioration that originate from the attachment of microorganisms as quickly as the material is immersed in a nonsterile environment. Stainless steels, despite their wide use in different industries and as appliances and implant materials, do not possess inherent antimicrobial properties. Changes in hygiene legislation and increased public awareness of product quality makes it necessary to devise control methods that inhibit biofilm formation or to act at an early stage of the biofouling process and provide the release of antimicrobial compounds on a sustainable basis and at effective level.

Massilia aurea sp. nov., isolated from drinking water.

A Gram-negative, motile, rod-shaped organism, strain AP13(T), able to produce yellow-pigmented colonies, was isolated from the drinking water distribution system of Seville (Spain) and was characterized by using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. In 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons, strain AP13(T) exhibited 96.9-95.

Roseomonas aquatica sp. nov., isolated from drinking water.

Strain TR53(T), a Gram-negative, non-motile, non-spore-forming and strictly aerobic coccobacillus, isolated from the drinking water distribution system of Seville, Spain, was subjected to polyphasic taxonomic analysis using a combination of phenotypic, genotypic and phylogenetic features. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain TR53(T) had highest similarity to members of the genus Roseomonas, with sequence similarity values between 95.7 % (to Roseomonas genomospecies 5 strain ATCC 49960) and 94.

Reclassification of Pseudomonas beijerinckii Hof 1935 as Chromohalobacter beijerinckii comb. nov., and emended description of the species.

Pseudomonas beijerinckii (type strain DSM 7218(T)=ATCC 19372(T)=NCIMB 9041(T)) was isolated from salted beans and was first described by Hof in 1935. 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons demonstrated its close relatedness (>97-99 %) to species of the genus Chromohalobacter. A recent isolate from salted herrings originating from the Baltic Sea, strain 3b, also clustered phylogenetically within this genus.

Pedobacter aquatilis sp. nov., isolated from drinking water, and emended description of the genus Pedobacter.

A Gram-negative, rod-shaped, non-spore-forming bacterium (strain AR107(T)) was isolated from the drinking water distribution system of Seville (Spain). A polyphasic taxonomic study of the isolate resulted in its identification as a member of the genus Pedobacter. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons, strain AR107(T) was shown to belong to the phylum Bacteroidetes, being related to members of the genus Pedobacter.

Chryseobacterium hispanicum sp. nov., isolated from the drinking water distribution system of Sevilla, Spain.

Strain VP48(T) was isolated from drinking water during a screening programme to monitor the bacterial population present in the water distribution system of Sevilla (Spain). A polyphasic taxonomic study of the isolate resulted in its identification as a member of the genus Chryseobacterium, members of which are widely distributed in soil, water and clinical sources. However, the 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity values of strain VP48(T) to the type strains of Chryseobacterium species were 96 % or lower.

Halostagnicola larsenii gen. nov., sp. nov., an extremely halophilic archaeon from a saline lake in Inner Mongolia, China.

Strain XH-48(T) was isolated from the sediment of Lake Xilinhot, a saline lake in Inner Mongolia (China). The organism is pleomorphic, neutrophilic and requires at least 2.5 M (15 %) NaCl, but not MgCl(2), for growth; it exhibits optimal growth at 3.

Caldalkalibacillus thermarum gen. nov., sp. nov., a novel alkalithermophilic bacterium from a hot spring in China.

A thermophilic, alkaliphilic and catalase-positive bacterium, designated strain HA6(T), was isolated from a hot spring in China. The strain was aerobic and chemo-organotrophic and grew optimally at 60 degrees C, pH 8.5 and 1.

Halovivax asiaticus gen. nov., sp. nov., a novel extremely halophilic archaeon isolated from Inner Mongolia, China.

Strain EJ-46T, a novel pleomorphic, aerobic, extremely halophilic member of the Archaea was isolated from sediment of the saline Lake Ejinor, in Inner Mongolia, China. This organism was neutrophilic and required at least 15 % (2.5 M) NaCl for growth.

Gracilibacillus orientalis sp. nov., a novel moderately halophilic bacterium isolated from a salt lake in Inner Mongolia, China.

Three Gram-positive, moderately halophilic, spore-forming rods, designated XH-63T, XH-62 and EJ-15, were isolated from two salt lakes located near Xilin Hot and Ejinor, in Inner Mongolia, China. The strains were strictly aerobic and motile, with spherical, terminal and deforming endospores. They grew at pH 5.

Osmoprotection of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium by Ngamma-acetyldiaminobutyrate, the precursor of the compatible solute ectoine.

N(gamma)-acetyl-2,4-diaminobutyrate (NADA), the precursor of the compatible solute ectoine, was shown to function as an osmoprotectant for the non-halophilic bacterium Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium. The addition of NADA-containing extracts of an ectoine synthase mutant of the broad salt-growing halophile Chromohalobacter salexigens DSM 3043(T) could alleviate the inhibitory effects of high salinity in S. enterica, which lacks the ectoine biosynthetic pathway.

Methylobacterium adhaesivum sp. nov., a methylotrophic bacterium isolated from drinking water.

A pink-pigmented, facultatively methylotrophic strain, AR27T, isolated from the drinking water distribution system of Seville, Spain, was characterized taxonomically. Cells were Gram-negative rods, motile, non-spore-forming and strictly aerobic. Growth in liquid media was flocculant whereas on solid media growth produced colonies that usually adhered to the agar surface.

Identification of eukaryotic open reading frames in metagenomic cDNA libraries made from environmental samples.

Here we describe the application of metagenomic technologies to construct cDNA libraries from RNA isolated from environmental samples. RNAlater (Ambion) was shown to stabilize RNA in environmental samples for periods of at least 3 months at -20 degrees C. Protocols for library construction were established on total RNA extracted from Acanthamoeba polyphaga trophozoites.

Catabolic versatility of aromatic compound-degrading halophilic bacteria.

There is growing interest in the development and optimization of bioremediation processes to deal with environments with high salinity that are contaminated with aromatic compounds. To estimate the diversity of moderately halophilic bacteria that could be used in such processes, enrichments were performed based on growth with a variety of aromatic compounds including phenol as a model pollutant. A group of bacteria that were able to grow over a wide range of salt concentrations were isolated, with the majority of these assigned to the genus Halomonas using phenotypic features and 16S rRNA sequences comparison.