Evidence of purifying selection and co-evolution at the fold-back arm of the novel precursor microRNA159 gene in Phalaenopsis Species (Orchidaceae).

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, endogenously transcribed, non-protein-coding RNAs that play important roles in regulation of gene expression in animals and plants. Here, selective constraints on the novel precursor microRNA159 (pre-miR159) gene were investigated in 42 Phalaenopsis species (Orchidaceae).

Methods/results: A novel precursor microRNA159 gene was isolated from 42 Phalaenopsis species using a new microRNA-PCR (miR-PCR) approach.

Anti-viral effect of a compound isolated from Liriope platyphylla against hepatitis B virus in vitro.

The compound LPRP-Et-97543 was isolated from Liriope platyphylla roots and was observed to have potential anti-viral effects in HepG2.2.15 cells against hepatitis B virus (HBV).

Antioxidant activity in extracts of 27 indigenous Taiwanese vegetables.

The objectives of this study were to identify the antioxidants and antioxidant axtivity in 27 of Taiwan's indigenous vegetables. Lycium chinense (Lc), Lactuca indica (Li), and Perilla ocymoides (Po) contained abundant quercetin (Que), while Artemisia lactiflora (Al) and Gynura bicolor (Gb) were rich in morin and kaempferol, respectively. Additionally, Nymphoides cristata (Nc) and Sechium edule (Se)-yellow had significantly higher levels of myricetin (Myr) than other tested samples.

Anti-Inflammatory Effects and Mechanisms of Fatsia polycarpa Hayata and Its Constituents.

Fatsia polycarpa, a plant endemic to Taiwan, is an herbal medicine known for treating several inflammation-related diseases, but its biological function needs scientific support. Thus, the anti-inflammatory effects and mechanisms of the methanolic crude extract (MCE) of F. polycarpa and its feature constituents, that is, brassicasterol (a phytosterol), triterpenoids 3 α -hydroxyolean-11,13(18)-dien-28-oic acid (HODA), 3 α -hydroxyolean-11-en-28,13 β -olide (HOEO), fatsicarpain D, and fatsicarpain F, were investigated.

Synthesis and antiviral effects of isosteviol-derived analogues against the hepatitis B virus.

Among several isosteviol-derived analogues, NC-8 (ent-16-oxobeyeran-19-N-methylureido) showed inhibitory potency against the hepatitis B virus (HBV) in HepG2 2.2.15 cells.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Squalidus argentatus (Cypriniformes, Cyprinidae).

In the present study, the complete mitogenome sequence of the Cyprinid fish Squalidus argentatus (Cypriniformes, Cyprinidae) was determined. The mitogenome, consisting of 16,609 base pairs (bp), was characterized by the typical vertebrate mitochondrial gene arrangement, including 13 protein-coding, 22 transfer RNAs, 2 ribosomal RNAs genes and a noncoding control region. Control region (CR), of 931 bp in length, was located between tRNA(Pro) and tRNA(Phe).

The impact of microbial biotransformation of catechin in enhancing the allelopathic effects of Rhododendron formosanum.

Rhododendron formosanum is distributed widely in the central mountains in Taiwan and the major allelopathic compound in the leaves has been identified as (-)-catechin, which is also a major allelochemical of an invasive spotted knapweed in North America. Soil microorganisms play key roles in ecosystems and influence various important processes, including allelopathy. However, no microorganism has been identified as an allelochemical mediator.

The role of pentacyclic triterpenoids in the allelopathic effects of Alstonia scholaris.

Alstonia scholaris is a tropical evergreen tree native to South and Southeast Asia. Alstonia forests frequently lack understory species. However, potential mechanisms-particularly the allelochemicals involved-remain unclear.

Inhibitive effects of mulberry leaf-related extracts on cell adhesion and inflammatory response in human aortic endothelial cells.

Effects of mulberry leaf-related extracts (MLREs) on hydrogen peroxide-induced DNA damage in human lymphocytes and on inflammatory signaling pathways in human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs) were studied. The tested MLREs were rich in flavonols, especially bombyx faces tea (BT) in quercetin and kaempferol. Polyphenols, flavonoids, and anthocyanidin also abounded in BT.

Antiviral activity of chemical compound isolated from Artemisia morrisonensis against hepatitis B virus in vitro.

The compound p-hydroxyacetophenone (PHAP) isolated from Artemisia morrisonensis was found to have potential anti-HBV effects in HepG2 2.2.15 cells.

Introgression between cultivars and wild populations of Momordica charantia L. (Cucurbitaceae) in Taiwan.

The landrace strains of Momordica charantia are widely cultivated vegetables throughout the tropics and subtropics, but not in Taiwan, a continental island in Southeast Asia, until a few hundred years ago. In contrast, the related wild populations with smaller fruit sizes are native to Taiwan. Because of the introduction of cultivars for agricultural purposes, these two accessions currently exhibit a sympatric or parapatric distribution in Taiwan.

Corallomonas stylophorae gen. nov., sp. nov., a halophilic bacterium isolated from the reef-building coral Stylophora pistillata.

A heterotrophic marine bacterium, designated strain KTSW-6(T), was isolated from the reef-building coral Stylophora pistillata in Kenting, Taiwan. Cells of strain KTSW-6(T) were Gram-stain-negative, facultatively anaerobic, halophilic, non-motile rods surrounded by a thick glycocalyx-like coat and forming creamy white colonies. Growth occurred at 15-37 °C (optimum, 25-30 °C), at pH 7.

Hypoglycemic constituents of Gynura divaricata subsp. formosana.

Gynura divaricata Kitam. subsp. formosana is a folk medicine used as a hypoglycemic agent for diabetes patients in Taiwan.

Antihepatitis B virus constituents of Solanum erianthum.

Eleven compounds were isolated from the methanolic extract of the leaves of Solanum erianthum D. Don, including five alpha-linolenic acid analogs, alpha-linolenic acid (1), 13S-hydroxy-9(Z),11(E)-octadecadienoic acid (2), 9S-hydroxy-10(E),12(Z), 15(Z)-octadectrienoic acid (3), 9(Z),11(E)-octadecadienoic acid (4), and octadecanoic acid (5); two benzofuran-type lactones, loliolide (6) and dihydroactinidiolide (7); two steroidal alkaloids, solasonine (8) and solamargine (9); a flavonol glycoside, camelliaside C (10); and a flavone, 5-methoxy-(3,4"-dihydro-3",4"-diacetoxy)-2",2'-dimethylpyrano-(7,8:5",6")-flavone (11). Among these isolated compounds, 9 showed the most potent activity against HBsAg, with an IC50 of 1.

Development of phylogenetic markers from single-copy nuclear genes for multi locus, species level analyses in the mint family (Lamiaceae).

The use of single copy nuclear markers is of increasing importance in plant phylogenetics. The generally higher level of variability compared to chloroplast DNA and the ability to use incongruence in a multilocus analysis to determine reticulation patterns makes these kinds of sequence based markers especially useful for species level investigations. However, the prevalence of gene duplication that results from the high frequency of polyploidization events during the evolution of higher plants can impede marker development especially for groups lacking model organisms.

Oceanicaulis stylophorae sp. nov., isolated from the reef-building coral Stylophora pistillata.

A bacterial strain designated GISW-4(T) was isolated from the reef-building coral Stylophora pistillata, collected from seawater off the coast of southern Taiwan, and was characterized in this taxonomic study using a polyphasic approach. Strain GISW-4(T) was Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, beige, rod-shaped, and dimorphic, either non-motile with stalks (or prosthecae), or non-stalked and motile by means of a single polar flagellum. 16S rRNA gene sequence studies showed that the novel strain clustered with Oceanicaulis alexandrii C116-18(T) (98.

Idiomarina aquimaris sp. nov., isolated from the reef-building coral Isopora palifera.

A bacterial strain designated SW15(T) was isolated from a sample of the reef-building coral Isopora palifera, collected in southern Taiwan. The novel strain was characterized using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. Cells of strain SW15(T) were Gram-negative, aerobic, light yellow, rod-shaped and motile by means of a single polar flagellum.

Oleanane-type triterpenoids from the leaves and twigs of Fatsia polycarpa.

Seven new oleanane-type triterpenoids (1-7), named fatsicarpains A-G, and the known compounds 3α-hydroxyolean-11,13(18)-dien-28-oic acid (8) and 3α-hydroxyolean-11-en-28,13β-olide (9) were isolated from the leaves and twigs of Fatsia polycarpa on the basis of bioassay-guided fractionation. The structures of compounds 1-7 were elucidated through spectroscopic analyses and single-crystal X-ray crystallography of 1, 8, and 9. Cytotoxicity against HepG2 2.

Roseivivax isoporae sp. nov., isolated from a reef-building coral, and emended description of the genus Roseivivax.

A bacterial strain, isolated from a sample of reef-building coral (Isopora palifera) collected off the coast of southern Taiwan, was characterized using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. The strain, designated sw-2(T), was Gram-staining-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped and motile, with subpolar flagella, and formed greyish pink colonies. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain sw-2(T) was most closely related to Roseivivax halodurans Och 239(T) (97.

Vibrio stylophorae sp. nov., isolated from the reef-building coral Stylophora pistillata.

A bacterial strain designated KTW-12(T) was isolated from a reef-building coral in Kenting, Taiwan, and was characterized using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. Strain KTW-12(T) was Gram-negative, semi-transparent, slightly curved rod-shaped, and non-motile. Growth occurred at 15-35 °C (optimum, 30 °C), at pH 6.

Paracoccus stylophorae sp. nov., isolated from the reef-building coral Stylophora pistillata.

A bacterial strain, designated KTW-16(T), was isolated from the reef-building coral Stylophora pistillata, collected from southern Taiwan. Strain KTW-16(T) was a Gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic, pale-yellow, non-motile short rod. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain KTW-16(T) belonged to the genus Paracoccus in the Alphaproteobacteria and exhibited 93.

Pseudoteredinibacter isoporae gen. nov., sp. nov., a marine bacterium isolated from the reef-building coral Isopora palifera.

A Gram-negative, heterotrophic, marine bacterium, designated strain SW-11(T), was isolated from the reef-building coral Isopora palifera in Kenting, Taiwan. Cells were rods and were motile by a single polar flagellum. The strain grew at 10-45 °C (optimum, 30-35 °C), at pH 7.

Paracoccus isoporae sp. nov., isolated from the reef-building coral Isopora palifera.

A bacterial strain, designated SW-3(T), was isolated from the reef-building coral Isopora palifera, from Southern Taiwan, and was characterized by using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. Cells of strain SW-3(T) were Gram-reaction-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped and motile by means of monopolar flagella and formed cream-white colonies. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain SW-3(T) belonged to the genus Paracoccus and its most closely related neighbours were P.