Formononetin improves the inflammatory response and bone destruction in knee joint lesions by regulating the NF-kB and MAPK signaling pathways.

Formononetin (FMN) is a phytoestrogen that belongs to the isoflavone family. It has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, as well as, many other biological activities. Existing evidence has aroused interest in its ability to protect against osteoarthritis (OA) and promote bone remodeling.

The group III two-component histidine kinase AlHK1 is involved in fungicides resistance, osmosensitivity, spore production and impacts negatively pathogenicity in Alternaria longipes.

Members of group III histidine kinases from different filamentous fungi were previously shown to mediate osmoregulation and resistance to dicarboximide, phenylpyrrole and, aromatic hydrocarbon fungicides. In this study, we report the disruption of the gene encoding group III histidine kinase, AlHK1, in the economically important plant pathogen Alternaria longipes. The AlHK1 gene disruption had pleiotropic effects on this fungus.

Isolation of talathermophilins from the thermophilic fungus Talaromyces thermophilus YM3-4.

Six indole alkaloids with various levels of prenylation were isolated from the thermophilic fungus Talaromyces thermophilus strain YM3-4. Their structures were identified by NMR and MS spectroscopic analyses. Compounds 1 and 2 are new analogues of the key versatile precursor notoamide E.

Isolation of putative biosynthetic intermediates of prenylated indole alkaloids from a thermophilic fungus Talaromyces thermophilus.

The putative key biosynthetic intermediates of prenylated indole alkaloids have long been proposed but never isolated. Two such alkaloids, named talathermophilins A and B (1 and 2), were isolated from a thermophilic fungus Talaromyces thermophilus strain YM1-3 and were identified by NMR and MS spectroscopic analyses. The ratio of 1 and 2 in the culture broths was unexpectedly rather constant (about 2:3), which even remained unchanged despite the addition of exogenous 1 or 2, suggesting that talathermophilins might be of special function for the extremophilic fungus.

Diversity of thermophilic fungi in Tengchong Rehai National Park revealed by ITS nucleotide sequence analyses.

The geothermal sites near neutral and alkalescent thermal springs in Tengchong Rehai National Park were examined through cultivation-dependent approach to determine the diversity of thermophilic fungi in these environments. Here, we collected soils samples in this area, plated on agar media conducive for fungal growth, obtained pure cultures, and then employed the method of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequencing combined with morphological analysis for identification of thermophilic fungi to the species level. In total, 102 strains were isolated and identified as Rhizomucor miehei, Chaetomium sp.

Anoxybacillus tengchongensis sp. nov. and Anoxybacillus eryuanensis sp. nov., facultatively anaerobic, alkalitolerant bacteria from hot springs.

Two novel thermophilic, spore-forming bacterial strains, T-11(T) and E-112(T), were isolated from hot springs in Tengchong and Eryuan counties of Yunnan province in south-west China. The strains were Gram-stain-positive rods, occurring singly or in chains. Growth of strain T-11(T) was observed between 30 and 75 °C (optimum 50 °C) and at pH 7-11 (optimum pH 8.