Microbiology of the stalactites from Grotta dei Cervi, Porto Badisco, Italy

The active stalactites from Grotta dei Cervi, Porto Badisco, southeastern Italy, were sampled to investigate the microbial communities present in these speleothems. Sampling was carried out in a transect about 150 m long in the central gallery, where numerous Gram-positive bacteria were isolated. Actinomycetes of the genus Streptomyces were the most abundant, followed by members of the genus Bacillus. Further isolates were assigned to the genera Amycolatopsis, Arthrobacter, Agromyces, Micrococcus, Nocardiopsis and Rhodococcus of the order Actinomycetales. The ability of actinomycetes to colonize subterranean environments is discussed

Agromyces italicus sp. nov., Agromyces humatus sp. nov. and Agromyces lapidis sp. nov., isolated from Roman catacombs

A polyphasic study was carried out to clarify the taxonomic positions of three Gram-positive isolates from the Catacombs of Domitilla, Rome (Italy). 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons placed these strains within the genus Agromyces. The morphological and chemotaxonomic characteristics of these isolates were consistent wiih the description of the genus Agromyces. The three isolates could be readily distinguished from one another and from representatives of all Agromyces species with validly published names by a broad range of phenotypic characteristics and DNA-DNA relatedness studies. Therefore, these isolates are proposed to represent three novel species of the genus Agromyces, Agromyces italicus sp. nov. (type strain CD1T=HKI 0325T=DSM 16388T=NCIMB 14011T), Agromyces humatus sp. nov. (type strain CD5T=HKI 0327T=DSM 16389T=NCIMB 14012T) and Agromyces lapidis sp. nov. (type strain CD55T =HKI 0324T=DSM 16390T=NCIMB 14013T). © 2005 IUMS.V. J. and L. L. are grateful to fellowships from the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science (MEC) I3P programme and J. M. G. to an MEC contract from the ‘Ramo´n y Cajal’ programme. This study was supported by project CATS (EVK4-CT2000-00028) and MEC project BTE2002-04492-C02-01.Peer Reviewe

Human Mas-related G protein-coupled receptors-X1 induce chemokine receptor 2 expression in rat dorsal root ganglia neurons and release of chemokine ligand 2 from the human LAD-2 mast cell line

Primate-specific Mas-related G protein-coupled receptors-X1 (MRGPR-X1) are highly enriched in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons and induce acute pain. Herein, we analyzed effects of MRGPR-X1 on serum response factors (SRF) or nuclear factors of activated T cells (NFAT), which control expression of various markers of chronic pain. Using HEK293, DRG neuron-derived F11 cells and cultured rat DRG neurons recombinantly expressing human MRGPR-X1, we found activation of a SRF reporter gene construct and induction of the early growth response protein-1 via extracellular signal-regulated kinases-1/2 known to play a significant role in the development of inflammatory pain. Furthermore, we observed MRGPR-X1-induced up-regulation of the chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2) via NFAT, which is considered as a key event in the onset of neuropathic pain and, so far, has not yet been described for any endogenous neuropeptide. Up-regulation of CCR2 is often associated with increased release of its endogenous agonist chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2). We also found MRGPR-X1-promoted release of CCL2 in a human connective tissue mast cell line endogenously expressing MRGPR-X1. Thus, we provide first evidence to suggest that MRGPR-X1 induce expression of chronic pain markers in DRG neurons and propose a so far unidentified signaling circuit that enhances chemokine signaling by acting on two distinct yet functionally co-operating cell types. Given the important role of chemokine signaling in pain chronification, we propose that interruption of this signaling circuit might be a promising new strategy to alleviate chemokine-promoted pain

The FAIR Guiding Principles for scientific data management and stewardship

There is an urgent need to improve the infrastructure supporting the reuse of scholarly data. A diverse set of stakeholders—representing academia, industry, funding agencies, and scholarly publishers—have come together to design and jointly endorse a concise and measureable set of principles that we refer to as the FAIR Data Principles. The intent is that these may act as a guideline for those wishing to enhance the reusability of their data holdings. Distinct from peer initiatives that focus on the human scholar, the FAIR Principles put specific emphasis on enhancing the ability of machines to automatically find and use the data, in addition to supporting its reuse by individuals. This Comment is the first formal publication of the FAIR Principles, and includes the rationale behind them, and some exemplar implementations in the community

Actinomycetes in caves

Trabajo publicado en la revista digital editada por el IRNASE. CSIC Thematic Network on Cultural Heritage. Electronic Newsletter - CSIC - Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia.Parietal paintings are valuable works of art giving evidence of prehistoric life. In many cases these paintings were detected by chance after thousands of years as it happened upon the Altamira Cave in Spain and the Grotta dei Cervi in Italy.Peer reviewe

Actinomycetes in hypogean environments

Most hypogean environments, particularly caves, are characterized by a stable temperature, usually in the range of 10-15°C, and high relative humidity. These ecosystems, when an allochthonous input of organic matter is present, seem to favor the growth of heterotrophic bacteria, from which actinomycetes predominate. Streptomyces species are particularly abundant and, in some cases, can be found as monospecific colonies. The mechanisms involved in colonization and growth are unknown, but microclimate and carbon sources can play an important role.Peer Reviewe

Pseudokineococcus lusitanus gen. nov., sp. nov., and reclassification of kineococcus marinus lee 2006 as pseudokineococcus marinus comb. nov

A Gram-reaction-positive, motile, coccus-shaped actinobacterium, designated strain T2A-S27T, was isolated from a roof tile in Oporto (Portugal) and studied using a polyphasic approach. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of the novel isolate showed high similarity to that of Kineococcus marinus KST3-3T (97.8% sequence similarity). Strain T2A-S27T showed lower 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities with other members of the genus Kineococcus and members of the family Kineosporiaceae (<94%). A phylogenetic tree, based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, showed that strain T2A-S27T formed a coherent clade with the type strain of K. marinus and Quadrisphaera granulorum. The isolate was characterized by the presence of meso-diaminopimelic acid in the cell-wall peptidoglycan, MK-9(H2) as the predominant menaquinone and a polar lipid profile consisting of diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylglycerol. The fatty acid profile was dominated by anteiso-C15: 0. The DNA G+C content was 76.9 mol%. The low level of DNA-DNA relatedness to K. marinus (46-47%) and the results of the chemotaxonomic and physiological studies clearly distinguished strain T2A-S27T from recognized species of the genus Kineococcus. On the basis of its phylogenetic position and phenotypic traits, strain T2A-S27T (=LMG 24148T =CECT 7306T =DSM 23768T) represents a novel species of a new genus in the family Kineosporiaceae, for which the name Pseudokineococcus lusitanus gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The misclassified species K. marinus is transferred to the new genus as Pseudokineococcus marinus comb. nov. The type strain of Pseudokineococcus marinus is KST3-3T (=KCCM 42250T =NRRL B-24439T).Peer Reviewe

Agromyces salentinus sp. nov. and Agromyces neolithicus sp. nov

A polyphasic study was carried out to clarify the taxonomic position of two Gram-positive bacteria isolated from soil samples of the Grotta dei Cervi (Italy), a relatively unexplored hypogean environment. The strains, 20-5T and 23-23T, showed phenotypic and phylogenetic characteristics that were consistent with their classification in the genus Agromyces. 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons revealed that the two strains formed distinct phyletic lines within the genus Agromyces. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, chemotaxonomic data and the results of DNA-DNA relatedness studies, it is proposed that the two isolates represent two novel species of the genus Agromyces. Pronounced differences in a broad range of phenotypic characteristics and DNA G+C content distinguished the two strains from each other and from previously described species of the genus Agromyces. Two novel species are proposed: Agromyces salentinus sp. nov. (type strain, 20-5T=HKI 0320T=DSM 16198T=NCIMB 13990T) and Agromyces neolithicus sp. nov. (type strain, 23-23T=HKI 0321T=DSM 16197T =NCIMB 13989T). © 2005 IUMS.V. J. and L. L. are grateful for fellowships from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Technology (I3P programme) and J. M. G. is grateful for a contract from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Technology, ‘Ramo´n y Cajal’ programme. This study was supported by project BTE2002-04492-C02-01.Peer Reviewe

Agromyces subbeticus sp. nov., isolated from a cave in southern Spain

An actinomycete, strain Z33T, was isolated from a cyanobacterial biofilm in the Cave of Bats, near Zuheros (Cordoba, southern Spain). 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain Z33T formed a distinct phyletic line within the genus Agromyces. This isolate could be readily distinguished from representatives of all recognized Agromyces species on the basis of a broad range of phenotypic characteristics and DNA-DNA relatedness data. Genotypic and phenotypic properties indicate that strain Z33T represents a novel species, for which the name Agromyces subbeticus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is Z33T (=HKI 0340T =DSM 16689T =NCIMB 14025T).V. J. and L. L. are grateful to fellowships from the Council for Scientific Research (CSIC) through the European Social Funds, I3P programme and J. M. G. to a ‘Ramo´n y Cajal’ programme contract from the Ministry of Education and Science (MEC). This study was supported by project CATS (EVK4-CT2000-00028) and MEC project BTE2002- 04492-C02-01.Peer Reviewe