Journal of Microbiology

Journal Articles

Expression and purification of intracrine human FGF 11 and study of its FGFR-dependent biological activity: Kyeong Won Lee , Young Jun An , Janet Lee , Ye-Eun Jung , In Young Ko , Jonghwa Jin , Ji Hoon Park , Won Kyu Lee , Kiweon Cha , Sun-Shin Cha , Jung-Hyun Lee , Hyung-Soon Yim; J. Microbiol. 2022;60(11):1086-1094. Published online November 1, 2022; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-022-2406-3

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Abstract: Fibroblast growth factor 11 (FGF11) is one of intracrine FGFs (iFGFs), which function within cells. Unlike canonical FGFs, FGF11 remains intracellularly and plays biological roles in FGF receptor (FGFR)-independent manner. Here, we established an expression system of recombinant FGF11 proteins in E. coli and investigated whether the extracellular administration of FGF11 can activate cellular signaling. Human FGF11 has two isoforms, FGF11a and FGF11b, depending on the presence of nuclear localization sequences (NLSs) in the N-terminus. Because these two isoforms are unstable, we prepared an FGF11a-Mut by substituting three cysteine residues in the NLS with serine and FGF11b-ΔC with C-terminal truncation. The introduction of mutation in the NLS improved the solubility of FGF11 prepared from E. coli. Exogenous addition of FGF11b and FGF11b-ΔC to BALB3T3 increased cell proliferation, while FGF11a-Mut exerted no effect. FGF11b-ΔC showed higher cell proliferation activity and FGFR signaling than FGF11b. The cell-proliferating activities of FGF11b and FGF11b-ΔC were blocked by an FGFR1 inhibitor or a recombinant FGFR1, confirming the FGFR1- dependent extracellular activity of FGF11b. The analysis of circular dichroism suggested that the C-terminus of FGF11 has an α-helical structure, which may affect its interaction with FGFR1. These results suggest that the N-and C-terminus of recombinant FGF11 are involved in the activation of FGFR1. The above results provide novel insights into the function and mechanism of FGF11 that may aid the development of useful ligands for FGFR regulation.

Genomic and physiological analysis of C50 carotenoid-producing novel Halorubrum ruber sp. nov.: Chi Young Hwang , Eui-Sang Cho , Won Jong Rhee , Eunjung Kim , Myung-Ji Seo; J. Microbiol. 2022;60(10):1007-1020. Published online August 26, 2022; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-022-2173-1

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Abstract: A novel haloarchaeal species designated as MBLA0099T was isolated from seawater near Yeongheung Island. Cells were Gram-negative, non-motile, red-pigmented, and rod-shaped. They grew at 10–45°C, within pH 5.5–9.0, and between 7.5% and 30% NaCl concentrations. Cells were able to grow without Mg2+ and were lysed in distilled water. The size of the whole-genome and G + C content of DNA was 3.02 Mb and 68.9 mol%, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis shows that the strain MBLA0099T belongs to the genus Halorubrum. The average nucleotide and amino acid identity, and in silico DNA-DNA hybridization values were below the species delineation threshold. Pan-genomic analysis revealed that 3.2% of all genes present in strain MBLA0099T were unique to the strain. The red carotenoid produced by strain MBLA0099T was subjected to spectrometric and chromatographic analyses and confirmed to be bacterioruberin as C50 carotenoid. Mevalonic acid, terpenoid backbone, and carotenoid biosynthesis pathway were annotated for strain MBLA0099T. The C50 carotenoid production by strain MBLA0099T was also enhanced under various stress conditions including relatively netural pH, high oxidative and salinity conditions. Additionally, the strain MBLA0099T-derived bacterioruberin showed the antioxidant activity with EC50 value of 12.29 μg/ml, based on the evaluation of DPPH free radical scavenging activity. The present study would be the first report on the identification of C50 carotenoid from the strain MBLA0099T representing a novel species of the genus Halorubrum, for which the name Halorubrum ruber sp. nov. is proposed. The typestrain used was MBLA0099T (= KCTC 4296T = JCM 34701T).

Description of Corynebacterium poyangense sp. nov., isolated from the feces of the greater white-fronted geese (Anser albifrons): Qian Liu , Guoying Fan , Kui Wu , Xiangning Bai , Xi Yang , Wentao Song , Shengen Chen , Yanwen Xiong , Haiying Chen; J. Microbiol. 2022;60(7):668-677. Published online May 25, 2022; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-022-2089-9

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Abstract: Two novel Gram-positive, non-spore-forming, facultatively anaerobic, non-motile, and short rods to coccoid strains were isolated from the feces of the greater white-fronted geese (Anser albifrons) at Poyang Lake. The 16S rRNA gene sequences of strains 4H37-19T and 3HC-13 shared highest identity to that of Corynebacterium uropygiale Iso10T (97.8%). Phylogenetic and phylogenomic analyses indicated that strains 4H37-19T and 3HC-13 formed an independent clade within genus Corynebacterium and clustered with Corynebacterium uropygiale Iso10T. The average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization value between strains 4H37-19T and 3HC-13 and members within genus Corynebacterium were all below 95% and 70%, respectively. The genomic G + C content of strains 4H37-19T and 3HC-13 was 52.5%. Diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG), phosphatidylglycerol (PG), phosphatidylinositol (PI), phosphatidylcholine, and phosphatidyl inositol mannosides (PIM) were the major polar lipids, with C18:1ω9c, C16:0, and C18:0 as the major fatty acids, and MK-8 (H4), MK-8(H2), and MK-9(H2) as the predominant respiratory quinones. The major whole cell sugar was arabinose, and the cell wall included mycolic acids. The cell wall peptidoglycan contained meso-diaminopimelic acid (meso-DAP). The polyphasic taxonomic data shows that these two strains represent a novel species of the genus Corynebacterium, for which the name Corynebacterium poyangense sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Corynebacterium poyangense is 4H37-19T (=GDMCC 1.1738T = KACC 21671T).

The periplasmic chaperone protein Psg_2795 contributes to the virulence of Pseudomonas savastanoi pv. glycinea: the causal agent of bacterial blight of soybean: Xiuhua Wang , Xiaoyan Zhang , Bao-Hui Lu , Jie Gao; J. Microbiol. 2022;60(5):478-487. Published online March 4, 2022; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-022-1469-5

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Abstract: Pseudomonas savastanoi pv. glycinea (Psg, also named P. syringae pv. glycinea and P. amygdali pv. glycinea) is the causative agent of bacterial blight in soybean. The identification of virulence factors is essential for understanding the pathogenesis of Psg. In this study, a mini-Tn5 transposon mutant library of Psg strain PsgNC12 was screened on soybean, and one low-virulent mini-Tn5 mutant, designated as 4573, was identified. Sequence analysis of the 4573-mutant revealed that the mini-Tn5 transposon was inserted in the Psg_2795 gene. Psg_2795 encodes a FimC-domain protein that is highly conserved in Pseudomonas. Further analysis revealed that the mutation and knockout of Psg_2795 results in a reduced virulence phenotype on soybean, decreased motility, weakened bacterial attachment to a glass surface and delayed the population growth within soybean leaves. The phenotype of the 4573-mutant could be complemented nearly to wild-type levels using an intact Psg_2795 gene. Collectively, our results demonstrate that Psg_2795 plays an important role in the virulence, motility, attachment and the population growth of PsgNC12 in soybean. This finding provides a new insight into the function of periplasmic chaperone proteins in a type I pilus and provides reference information for identifying Psg_2795 homologues in P. savastanoi and other bacteria.

Constantimarinum furrinae gen. nov., sp. nov., a marine bacterium isolated from saline volcanic rock aquifer (lava seawater) at Jeju Island, Republic of Korea: Sung-Hyun Yang , Hyun-Myung Oh , Mi-Jeong Park , Dongil Jang , Kae Kyoung Kwon; J. Microbiol. 2022;60(1):11-17. Published online December 29, 2021; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-022-1468-6

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Abstract: A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped (0.3–0.5 × 1.0– 1.9 μm), non-motile marine bacterium designated as ALE3EIT was isolated from a saline volcanic rock aquifer (lava seawater) on Jeju Island, Republic of Korea. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that strain ALE3EIT showed high similarity to ‘Altibacter lentus’ JLT2010T (97.2%), followed by Marixanthomonas ophiurae KMM 3046T (94.5%). Growth was observed at 10–41°C (optimum, 30°C), at pH 6.0–8.5 (optimum, pH 7.5) and at 0.5–8% (optimum, 4.0%) NaCl. The predominant cellular fatty acids were iso-C15:0 (23.5%), iso-C16:0 (10.2%), iso-C16:0 3OH (10.5%), and iso-C17:0 3OH (16.8%). The DNA G + C contents was 40.4 mol%. The major respiratory quinone was MK-6. The major polar lipids were determined to be phosphatidylethanolamine, two unidentified glycolipids, and two unidentified aminolipids. Several phenotypic characteristics such as production of acetoin, activities of arginine dihydrolase and acid phosphatase, and utilization pattern of carbon sources differentiate strain ALE3EIT from ‘A. lentus’ JLT2010T. Activities of the lipase, trypsin, α- chymotrypsin and gelatinase and utilization pattern of carbon sources differentiate strain ALE3EIT from M. ophiurae KMM 3046T. The genome of strain ALE3EIT is 3.0 Mbp long and its ANI and AAI values against ‘A. lentus’ JLT2010T were 76.58 and 72.76, respectively, however, AAI values against members in other genera were lower than 72%. The phylogenomic tree inferred by PhyloPhlAn clearly differentiated the strain ALE3EIT together with strain JLT2010T from other genera in the Falvobacteriaceae. This polyphasic taxonomic data indicates that strain ALE3EIT should be identified as a novel species in the genus ‘Altibacter’, however, the name has not been validated. Therefore, the strain is classified as a novel genus and is proposed as Constantimarinum furrinae gen. nov., sp. nov. The type strain is ALE3EIT (= KCCM 43303T = JCM 33022T).

Retraction of Publication

Retraction Note to: Cryptic prophages in a blaNDM‑1‑bearing plasmid increase bacterial survival against high NaCl concentration, high and low temperatures, and oxidative and immunological stressors: So Yeon Kim , Kwan Soo Ko; J. Microbiol. 2023;61(4):481-481.; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-023-00049-1

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Abstract: Retraction Note to: Journal of Microbiology (2020) Vol. 58, No. 6, pp. 483–488 https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-020-9605-6 The Editor-in-Chief has retracted this article at the request of the authors. After publication concerns were raised that prophage sequences do not exist in the genome of the plasmid pNDM-A1 used in this study. The authors have not been able to confirm the existence of prophage sequences in the plasmid. As a result, the Editor-in-Chief no longer has confidence in the results and conclusions presented in this article. Kwan Soo Ko agrees with this retraction. So Yeon Kim has not responded to correspondence from the Editor-in-Chief about this retraction.

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