The following sequencing primers were applied: forward 27f descri

The following sequencing primers were applied: forward 27f described previously and reverse (685r3) 5′-TCTRCGCATTYCACCGCTAC-3′ (Lane, 1991; obtained from MWG Biotech, Cork, Ireland). The obtained PCR products were sequenced using DYEnamic ET Dye Terminator Cycle Sequencing Kit (GE Healthcare), according to the manufacturer’s instructions as follows: 25 cycles at 95 °C for 30 s, 54 °C for CP-868596 purchase 30 s and 72 °C for 1 min. Each product was sequenced four times – two times with each of the primers (forward and reverse) given previously. Sequence determination was performed in a MegaBACE 1000 automatic sequencer (GE

Healthcare). The rRNA gene sequence (664 bp) of the bacterial species obtained in this study was aligned with those of other bacterial species available from GenBank database. Sequences were analysed for close homology using the Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (blast) tool available at the National Center for Biotechnology Information

(NCBI; Bethesda, MD) (http//:www.nbi.nlm.nih.gov/BLAST). ClustalW (Thompson et al., 1994) by mega4 software (Tamura et al., 2007) was used for multiple alignments of nucleotide and amino acid sequences. JModelTest 0.1.1 (Posada, 2008) was used to find the best model for construction of phylogenetic trees based on nucleotide acid. PhyML 3.0 (Guindon & Gascuel, 2003) by Phylemon 2 (Sanchez et al., 2011) and 1000 bootstrap replications were used to build a phylogenetic Ribonucleotide reductase tree. Isolates from boa heart (OSB1-11), anaconda heart (OSA1-11) selleck screening library and corn snake heart (OSG1-11) were grown in 45 mL of TSB for 24 h at 28 °C and shaking (140 r.p.m.) in an incubator (Kuhner, Basel, Switzerland). Then, the cultures were centrifuged at 10 000 g for 15 min at 4 °C and the pellet resuspended in 0.85% (w/v) sterile (121 °C 5 min−1) saline. The optical density (OD600 nm) was measured to give a value of 1, which gave ~1 × 109 colony forming units (CFU) mL−1. Tenfold serial dilutions were prepared in saline and the colony counts performed using Miles &

Misra’s method (Miles et al., 1938). Groups of 10 apparently healthy rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) of 12 g average weight were used for a dose dependent experimental challenge following Koch’s postulates where low to high bacterial concentrations were administered to the animals. Thus, each fish was injected intraperitoneally with 0.1 mL amounts containing 4 × 105 or 4 × 106 CFU per fish. The fish were maintained in aerated free-flowing freshwater at 18 ± 2 °C and they were lightly fed with a commercial diet throughout the 7-day period after challenge. The fish were monitored for any signs of disease, and any moribund or dead animals were removed from and examined microbiologically as before. At the end of the experiment, all survivors were sacrificed with an overdose of anaesthetic (Benzocaine; Sigma-Aldrich, Basingstoke, UK) and examined microbiologically, as before.

, 2007a) Candida parapsilosis is the second most common yeast is

, 2007a). Candida parapsilosis is the second most common yeast isolated

from bloodstream infections around the world. Molecule studies have provided evidence of three distinct species within the C. parapsilosis complex, namely C. parapsilosis, Candida orthopsilosis and Candida metapsilosis (Orsi et al., 2010). Little is known about its pathogenesis, virulence factors and ability to survive in diverse hostile environments. Consequently, it is extremely important to understand the means that enable this opportunistic pathogen to survive (Haynes, 2001). Extracellular nucleotides have been recognized for over a decade as some of the most ubiquitous intercellular AZD9291 signaling mechanisms (Robson et al., 2006). Moreover, these molecules have been shown to be related to the development of several pathologies, including disorders of the immune system (Haskó & Cronstein, 2004; Schetinger et al., 2007; Bhardwaj & Skelly, 2009). High extracellular concentrations of ATP may occur in response to tissue or cell damage (Bours et al., 2006; Idzko et al., 2007). Numerous works explain that the high ATP concentration is due to a proinflammatory response, which involves activation and transmigration of monocytes and leukocytes to inflamed sites (Bours et al., 2006; Di Virgilio, selleck inhibitor 2007; Schetinger et al., 2007). The signaling

mechanism generated by ATP can be reverted through the action of a set of enzymes, known Sitaxentan as ectoenzymes, which are involved in the control of extracellular nucleotide and nucleoside levels. Because the active sites of ectoenzymes face the external medium rather than the cytoplasm, the activities of these enzymes can be measured using living cells (Zimmermann, 1996; Meyer-Fernandes, 2002; Sissons et al., 2004; Bours et al., 2006; Matin & Khan, 2008; Amazonas et al., 2009;

Cosentino-Gomes et al., 2009; Fonseca-de-Souza et al., 2009). The extracellular hydrolysis of ATP can be initiated by NTPDases (ectonucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolases) and terminated by ecto-5′-nucleotidases (CD73; E.C. 3.1.3.5), resulting in its respective nucleoside adenosine (Zimmermann, 1996, 2000; Meyer-Fernandes, 2002; Robson et al., 2006). Ecto-5′-nucleotidase is the major enzyme responsible for the formation of extracellular adenosine from released adenine nucleotides (Zimmermann, 2000). Adenosine, in contrast to ATP, is described as a chemotactic inhibitor of macrophage response and monocyte response, suppressing proinflammatory cytokines by activating P1 receptors in the host cells, thus interfering with the establishment of an immune response. (Haskó & Cronstein, 2004; Bours et al., 2006; de Almeida Marques-da-Silva et al., 2008; Kumar & Sharma, 2009).

, 2006, 2008) and were therefore unlikely to produce recovery We

, 2006, 2008) and were therefore unlikely to produce recovery. We followed three animals with sham stimulation to control for this possibility. While it is possible that with more animals we might have seen some events of a delayed natural recovery, the weight of the above mentioned evidence makes this possibility unlikely. After the rTMS regime was concluded, animals were overdosed with sodium pentobarbital (120 mg/kg, i.v.) and their vascular system perfused with a flushing solution (15% sucrose in 0.1 m phosphate

buffer, pH 7.4) for 1 min followed by a fixative solution (15% sucrose with 2% paraformaldehyde in flushing solution, pH 7.4) for 5 min. Brains were quickly removed, immersed in albumin and frozen at −30°C in 2-methylbutane for 30 min and then kept frozen at −80°C. Both hemispheres were sectioned into 23 μm-thick slices C59 wnt cell line yielding ~200 serial sections per animal with collected sections spaced ~100 μm

apart. Sections were then digitized and uploaded using imaging software (MCID, Imaging Research, Ste. Catherines, p38 MAPK signaling Ontario, Canada). Every fifth section was reacted for Nissl substance and used to verify the lesion borders by marking signs of gliosis and neuron loss. Areas of damage were assessed with a series of Nissl stained slides for each animal. The pMS area was traced from stereotaxic coordinates P2 to A8 and the aMS cortex was traced from coordinates A9 to A14 according to previous reports (Palmer et al., 1978). Lesioned cortex was characterized as a focal disruption of the cortical lamination characterized http://www.selleck.co.jp/products/Pomalidomide(CC-4047).html by a loss of large neuronal elements and a high density of small cell bodies consistent with gliosis (see Supporting Information Fig. S3). The lesion was quantified by outlining any intact cortical tissue within the established boundaries, and expressed at each stereotaxic location as a percentage of total spared cortex [100 × area of ipsilesional bank/sum area of contralesional

bank]. These data were compared across groups using a repeated-measures anova with stereotaxic (A-P position) coordinate as the independent variable. Behavioral data are presented in the text and figures as the group averages and SEM for correct (%) performance levels. Visual hemifield and eccentricity specific individual and group values at major follow-up time phases (pre-lesion, post-lesion, spontaneous recovery phase, rTMS recovery phase and post-rTMS recovery) were calculated as the mean of three blocks of data for each of the three tasks tested. Summary data corresponding to the end of each specific follow-up phase were calculated by averaging the last three blocks of data in each task (Valero-Cabré et al., 2005, 2006).

02) Crockett et al[27] reported that only two of seven (29%) re

02). Crockett et al.[27] reported that only two of seven (29%) referred participants took up referral among participants who were screened for osteoporosis with questionnaire only, and three

out of 22 (14%) referred participants took up referral among those screened with both questionnaires and BMD measurements. Overall, five of the eight studies that reported referral uptake, reported rates of less than 50%. Thirteen studies (26%) reported findings about the effect of screening on the participants’ awareness of the target diseases. Where reported, screening seemed to improve participants’ awareness of diseases and many participants reported changes in lifestyle or behaviour. For example, Law and Small molecule library cell line Shapiro[61] found that there was a 26% increase in participants’ osteoporosis awareness after the screening and awareness programme. Also, Giles et al.[71] found that the intervention provided by pharmacists (based on American Cancer Society (ACS) guidelines) increased women’s adherence to ACS guidelines for monthly

breast self-examination from 31% to 56%. By contrast, in another osteoporosis screening intervention, Yuksel et al.[45] reported that the intervention group (tailored osteoporosis education, and quantitative heel ultrasound (QUS) measurements) did not score significantly higher than the control group (printed information on osteoporosis only) in an osteoporosis-related buy Sirolimus knowledge test (intervention group scored 57% compared to 54% in control group). However, more people in the intervention group reported an osteoporosis-specific appointment with their primary care doctor. One study[68] compared the cost-effectiveness of two pharmacy-based screening interventions for diabetes (the TTO and SS methods)

in Australia. The total cost of pharmacy screening using TTO was lower than the SS method (AUD 7.76 versus AUD11.83). However, when the cost of subsequent screening and diagnostic tests performed by the general practitioner (GP) were included, the average cost per diabetes case detected was much higher in the TTO group (AUD 6241 versus AUD 788). A Thai study[47] compared the cost of diabetes and hypertension screening Doxacurium chloride provided in community pharmacies (n = 2 pharmacies) to screening provided on footpaths and streets in seven different communities under the supervision of a primary care unit. The unit cost for community pharmacy screening was higher (US$9.80) than ‘community-based’ screening (US$3.80). Eight other studies[46, 50, 55, 59, 62, 64-66] reported other economic information including: costs associated with providing screening; willingness to pay for screening; and fees charged for screening. Eighteen of the included studies (36%) reported outcomes on participant satisfaction and/or perceptions of the screening interventions provided by pharmacists.

1b While only a single AipA homolog was found in each of the exa

1b. While only a single AipA homolog was found in each of the examined Aspergillus species, two AipA homologs were present in each yeast species, with the exception of Candida

albicans. These homologs were thought to correspond to S. cerevisiae Sap1p and Yta6p. AipA showed 34% and 33% amino-acid sequence identity to Sap1p and Yta6p, respectively (Supporting Information, Fig. S1). Although both Sap1p and Yta6p are putative AAA ATPases (Fig. 1a), their functions have not been elucidated in detail. To confirm the interaction between AipA and AoAbp1, we performed a more detailed YTH analysis. First, it was demonstrated that these full-length proteins interact with each other (Fig. 2a). Next, to identify the interacting regions of AipA and AoAbp1, we performed further YTH analyses using truncated AipA and

AoAbp1 sequences. Because the construct containing two SH3 domains of AoAbp1 activated YTH reporters alone (data selleck products not Pifithrin-�� purchase shown), it was not used in the YTH analysis. As a result of the comprehensive fragment analysis, it was revealed that amino-acid residues 346-370 of AipA interact with the two SH3 domains of AoAbp1 (Fig. 2a). Within this 25 amino-acid sequence of AipA, a total of eight proline residues were observed (Fig. 2b). Although this 25 amino-acid sequence with eight proline residues was not found by the motif analysis, this YTH result was considered reasonable as SH3 domains typically interact with proline-rich regions. Moreover, to test the interaction between AipA and AoAbp1 in vitro, we conducted a GST pull-down assay using the two SH3 domains of AoAbp1 fused with GST (GST-AoAbp1 SH3s) and lysate prepared from an A. oryzae strain expressing 6×Myc-AipA as bait and prey, respectively (Fig. 2c, d). This analysis indicated that AipA interacted with the two SH3 domains of AoAbp1 in vitro. AAA ATPases characteristically oligomerize into hexamers (White & Lauring, 2007). Thus, to analyze whether AipA exhibited self-interaction, we performed YTH analysis using AipA as

both bait and prey (Fig. S2a). The analysis demonstrated PIK-5 that full-length AipA was capable of self-interaction. Moreover, the self-interaction of full-length AipA was confirmed by a GST pull-down assay using GST-AipA as bait and 6×Myc-AipA as prey (Fig. S2b). These results suggest that AipA functions with a feature of AAA ATPase. To analyze the localization of AipA in vivo, we generated a strain that express egfp-aipA under control of the native promoter in the ΔaipA (see the section below) background. Approximately 1000 bp upstream region of aipA was utilized as the native promoter. However, no enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) fluorescence was observed in the strain likely because of the low amount of aipA expression (data not shown). Thus, we generated a strain that ectopically expresses egfp-aipA under control of the pgkA promoter in the WT background.

For a cultivable organism, the highly diversified 5S rRNA genes c

For a cultivable organism, the highly diversified 5S rRNA genes can be correctively traced to a single species when pure culture is available for verification. However, cultivation-independent techniques CHIR-99021 datasheet have become a standard in studies of complex microbiomes that contain mixed species, such as the Human Microbiome Project. In this type of study, highly diversified 5S rRNA genes from the same genome would be misinterpreted as being from different species, leading to over-estimation of species richness. This research was supported by grants

from the National Cancer Institute, the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (UH3CA140233,

R01AI063477, R01CA159036, R03CA159414, and U19DE018385). A.V.A. was supported in part by grant 1UL1RR029893 from the National Center for Research Resources, National Institutes of Health. None of authors have a conflict of interest to declare. “
“The word ‘metagenomic’ is one of the most used words in environmental microbiology especially in recent years, yet sometimes it is a little overused. Can studies targeting a single gene be considered ‘metagenomic’? It is more controversial than once thought, maybe a possible solution may come from an etymological analysis of the word. “
“Morganella morganii has been identified as a causative agent of opportunistic infections and histamine poisoning. Bacteriophage is a virus RG7422 clinical trial clonidine and has recently been considered an alternative agent to antibiotics for the control of bacteria that have developed antibiotic resistance. In this study, a novel M. morganii bacteriophage isolated from river water was characterized. The isolated phage, termed FSP1, was purified by polyethylene glycol

precipitation followed by cesium chloride density-gradient centrifugation. FSP1 has infectivity against only M. morganii and was identified as a Myoviridae bacteriophage through morphological analysis with transmission electron microscopy. According to the one-step growth curve, the FSP1 latent period, eclipse period, and burst size were 30, 20 min, and 42 PFU infected cell−1, respectively. The genome size of FSP1 was estimated to be c. 45.6–49.4 kb by restriction endonuclease analyses. Moreover, challenge testing against M. morganii in vitro revealed that FSP1 had high lytic activity and that the viable cell count of M. morganii was reduced by 6.12 log CFU mL−1 after inoculation with FSP1 at a multiplicity of infection (MOI) = 10. These results suggested that FSP1 could be used as a biocontrol agent against M. morganii for treatment of infectious disease treatment or food decontamination. “
“Salmonella is a facultative intracellular bacterium found within a variety of phagocytic and nonphagocytic cells in vitro and in vivo.

(ii) The MptS protein is produced during the late stages of growt

(ii) The MptS protein is produced during the late stages of growth, (iii) accumulates within spores, (iv) functions as an active enzyme that releases inorganic phosphate from an artificial model substrate, (v) is required for spore dormancy and (vi) MptS supports the interaction amongst Streptomyces lividans spores with conidia of the fungus Aspergillus

proliferans. We discuss the possible role(s) of MptS-dependent enzymatic activity and the implications for spore biology. “
“Molecular Selleckchem Seliciclib chaperones are defined as proteins that assist the noncovalent assembly of other protein-containing structures in vivo, but which are not components of these structures when they are carrying out their normal biological functions. There are numerous families of protein ABT-199 mw that fit this definition of molecular chaperones, the most ubiquitous of which are the chaperonins and the Hsp70 families, both of which are required for the correct folding of nascent polypeptide chains and thus essential genes for cell viability. The groE genes of Escherichia coli were the first chaperonin genes to be discovered, within an operon comprising two genes, groEL and groES, that function

together in the correct folding of nascent polypeptide chains. The identification of multiple groEL genes in mycobacteria, only one of which is operon-encoded with a groES gene, has led to debate about the functions of their encoded proteins, especially as the essential copies are surprisingly often not the operon-encoded genes. Comparisons Thymidine kinase of these protein sequences reveals a consistent functional homology and identifies an actinomycete-specific chaperonin family, which may chaperone the folding of enzymes involved in mycolic acid synthesis and thus provide a unique target

for the development of a new class of broad-spectrum antimycobacterial drugs. Mycobacteria are aerobic acid-fast bacteria, ubiquitous in the environment, which belong to the phylum Actinobacteria. More than 125 mycobacterial species have now been identified, about a third of which are potentially pathogenic to humans. These include pathogens of global importance such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium leprae, as well as a diverse group of nontuberculous mycobacteria (Wilson, 2008). The global burden of TB was estimated by the WHO in 2011 as 8.7 million new cases and an annual mortality of 1.4 million deaths, a third of which are in HIV-positive individuals where the emergence of multidrug-resistant strains is of particular concern (WHO, 2012).

Mice were kept at 21 ± 2 °C under a reversed 12 : 12-h light/dark

Mice were kept at 21 ± 2 °C under a reversed 12 : 12-h light/dark cycle (lights off at 08:30 h, < 0.5 lux; lights on at 20 : 30 h; 170 lux at the bottom of the cage, unless otherwise stated). Standard food pellets (Scanbur, Sollentuna, Sweden) and water were available ad libitum. All experiments were performed according to the Finnish Act on the Use of Animals for Experimental Purposes, and were approved by the Animal Experiment Committee of the State Provincial Office of Southern Finland. All

experiments were carried out in accordance with GSK-3 signaling pathway the European Communities Council Directive of 24 November 1986 (86/609/EEC), and with the Guidelines laid down by the NIH in the USA regarding the care and use of animals for experimental procedures. The total number of animals used in this study was 116. For the enzyme activity studies, histamine and 1-methylhistamine assays, and the in situ

hybridization assay, the mice were housed in groups of three, which may have potentially confounded the results. Although this issue has not been addressed specifically, we interpreted the data of Mistlberger & Skene (2004) and Paul & Schwartz (2007) to mean that, in the presence of light the effect of social cues should be small or absent. Importantly, the housing conditions were identical for all mice in the analysis. The chemical reagents used were as follows: Ketalar, Domitor, and Antisedane (Pfizer Animal Health, New York, USA); dental cement (Candulor, Wangen, Germany); buprenorphine (Temgesic; Reckitt Benckiser, Slough, UK); deoxyadenosine 5′-triphosphate, [α-33P] Pexidartinib supplier (NEG312H; NEN Research Products, PerkinElmer, Waltham, MS, USA); 3-methylhistamine, CaCl2, NaCl, KCl, KH2PO4, and methanol (Merck, Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA); 1-methylhistamine, aminoguanidine hydrochloride, citric acid, Denhardt’s solution, dithiothreitol, Cyclin-dependent kinase 3 histamine dihydrochloride,

H3PO4, l-histidine, NaH2PO4, NaN3, NaOH, N-lauroylsarcosine, o-phthalaldehyde, polyethylene glycol 300, pyridoxal phosphate, pargyline hydrochloride, HClO4, β-mercaptoethanol, phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride, S-adenosyl-methionine, and sodium salt of octanesulphonic acid (Sigma, St Louis, MO, USA); MgCl2 and H3BO3 (Riedel-deHaёn, Seelze, Germany); formamide (Amresco, Solon, OH, USA); RNA (Roche, Basel, Switzerland); and dextran sulphate (Amersham, Amersham, UK). Thirty male 8–9-week-old C57BL/6J mice were kept in groups of three under a 12 : 12-h light/dark cycle. Mice were killed by decapitation at zeitgeber time (ZT) 4, 8, 12 (lights on), 16, 20 and 24 (lights off). The brains were removed, and rapidly frozen at −80 °C. Coronal 20-μm sections were cut with a Leica CM3050S cryostat (Leica, Wetzlar, Germany), and mounted onto SuperFrost slides (ThermoScientific, Portsmouth, USA). The section levels corresponding to the TMN region (−2.2 mm to −2.8 mm relative to bregma) were determined according to the mouse brain stereotaxic atlas (Paxinos & Franklin, 2004). The sections were stored at −20 °C until analysis.

Because of continuing uncertainties, several key messages for cli

Because of continuing uncertainties, several key messages for clinicians are provided. “
“Gout affecting the axial joints is uncommon; however, its involvement may be complicated by neurological symptoms associated with spinal compression at the affected level. Specific

involvement of the odontoid process is even rarer. We report the first case of gout involving the odontoid process with resultant glossopharyngeal (CN IX), vagus (CN X) and hypoglossal (CN XII) nerve palsies. “
“We aimed to determine the prevalence and characteristics of adverse drug events (ADE) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and (osteoarthritis) OA patients. Selleck Obeticholic Acid A cross-sectional study at rheumatology clinics, was performed by random selection of RA and OA out-patients by a research

pharmacist. All suspected ADEs occurring during the last hospital visit and the subjects were identified by retrospective chart review and direct patient interview. ADE characteristics, including causative drug groups, affected organ severity and patient outcomes, were recorded. One hundred and forty-three patients consisting of 129 RA and 14 OA were recruited. The patients’ mean ages were 54.3 ± 14.3 years LY2109761 in vivo and 121 (84.6%) patients were female. A total of 68 ADEs were detected in 51 patients. The prevalence and rate of ADE were 35.7% and 47.6 events per 100 patients, respectively. Thirty out of 68 ADEs (44.1%) were preventable. Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs resulted in ADEs by 41 (59.4%) and 10 (14.5%) events, respectively. Common affected organs were skin, gastrointestinal tract and eyes which accounted for 20 (29.4%), 18 (26.5%) and eight events (11.6%), respectively. Continuation of the suspected drug was noted in 42 ADEs (61.8%), classified as

severity level 1 and 2a-b, and 43 ADEs (63.2%) were completely or partially resolved during the study period. ADEs are common in RA and OA patients with prevalence oxyclozanide of 35.7%. High exposure to potentially harmful drugs might explain the higher rate of ADE in these patients. “
“To determine clinical features of different histopathological presentations in patients with lupus nephritis (LN). Clinical and pathological features of 71 biopsy-proven LN patients were analyzed in a cross-sectional study during 2005–2011. Sixty-five women (91.5%) and six men (8.5%) were studied. The mean Activity Index (AI) and Chronicity Index (CI) were 6.2 ± 3.1 and 1.7 ± 1.5, respectively. The most common histopathologic presentation of kidneys was class IV (52.1%). Patients with more advanced International Society of Nephrology and the Renal Pathology Society (ISN/RPS) classes, had longer disease duration (P = 0.007), higher levels of blood urea nitrogen (P = 0.004) and serum creatinine (P = 0.035). The most frequent active lesion seen in renal biopsies was endocapillary hypercellularity (83.1%) while glomerular sclerosis was the most common chronic lesion (52.1%).

, 1993) Furthermore, sometimes, B fungorum isolates can be misi

, 1993). Furthermore, sometimes, B. fungorum isolates can be misidentified as Bcc organisms (Coenye et al., 2001, 2002). Strains DBT1, LMG 16225T and LMG 1222T were capable of utilizing d-glucose, l-arabinose, d-mannose, d-mannitol, N-acetylglucosamine, gluconate, malate, citrate and phenylacetate. None of the strains considered was positive for indole production,

arginine dihydrolase, glucose acidification, urease activity or maltose assimilation. In fact, strain DBT1 showed almost the same biochemical traits as both B. fungorum and B. cepacia type strains (Table 1). Nevertheless, the findings on LMG 1222T were consistent with previous studies (Fain & Haddock, GSK2126458 chemical structure 2001). On the other hand, LMG 16625T is listed as positive for the assimilation of caprate and adipate in Coenye et al. (2001). A 1493-bp fragment of DBT1 16S rRNA gene was sequenced and nucleotide blast (NCBI) analysis was performed. Thereafter, multiple alignment and evolutionary distances were calculated with 16S rRNA genes of related and nonrelated Enzalutamide manufacturer taxa in order to construct a phylogenetic tree based on the neighbour-joining algorithm (Fig. 3). The 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain DBT1 was closely related (99.7–100% similarity) to those of different strains of B. fungorum. Burkholderia fungorum strains LMG 16225T and LMG 16307 were isolated from the white-rot fungus Phanerochaete

chrysosporium and cerebrospinal fluid, respectively (Coenye et al., 2001). Strain N2P5 was isolated from a PAH-contaminated soil (Mueller et al., 1997; Coenye et al., 2001) and might have useful degradative properties similar to DBT1. Burkholderia phytofirmans LMG 22487T was ranked as the second most closely related bacterial species to DBT1,

with a 98.9% similarity. Good similarities of 16S rRNA gene sequences were also found between DBT1 and B. caledonica LMG 19076T (98.5%), Burkholderia megapolitana LMG 23650T (98.4%) PFKL and Burkholderia phenazinium LMG 2247T (98.4%). Still significant similarities to DBT1 were shown by Burkholderia phenoliruptrix LMG 21445T, Burkholderia xenovorans LMG 21463T, Burkholderia terricola LMG 20594T, B. graminis LMG 18924T and Burkholderia caryophylli LMG 2155T in the range 97.9–97.3%. Finally, the similarities between DBT1 and the other Burkholderia sp. considered in this study were <97.0%. In particular, 16S rRNA gene phylogeny shows that DBT1 and B. cepacia (94.9% similarity) are not related species. Although the analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence represents a basic step in the taxonomic characterization of bacterial genera (Vandamme et al., 1996), often, it is not adequate to solve uncertainties in comparisons of closely related species (Ash et al., 1991; Fox et al., 1992). In the present study, an 869-bp portion of the recA gene sequence from Burkholderia sp. DBT1 was amplified by PCR and sequenced. Related recA sequences were aligned and a phylogenetic tree was constructed (Fig. 4).