A novel actinomycete strain designated CN-207(T) was isolated from northern Tunisian soil. This strain exhibited potent broad spectrum antibacterial activity against clinical isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus species and several other Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Strain CN-207(T) developed greyish aerial mycelium and pale grey substrate mycelium on yeast extract/malt agar. The isolate produced branching vegetative mycelia with sporangiophores bearing sporangia developing at a late stage of growth. The sporangia contained smooth, non-motile spores. Chemotaxonomic characteristics of strain CN-207(T) were typical of the Streptomyces genus. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain CN-207(T) belonged to the genus Streptomyces, and was most closely related to Streptomyces griseoincarnatus DSM 40274(T), Streptomyces variabilis DSM 40179(T), Streptomyces labedae DSM 41446(T) and Streptomyces erythrogriseus DSM 40116(T). Low DNA-DNA relatedness values were recorded between strain CN-207(T) and its closest phylogenetic neighbours. Strain CN-207(T) was also distinguished from the nearest phylogenetic neighbours using a combination of morphological and phenotypic characteristics. On the basis of its phenotypic and molecular properties, strain CN-207(T) is considered as a novel species of the Streptomyces genus, for which the name Streptomyces tunisiensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CN-207(T) (=JCM 17589(T) = DSM 42037(T)).

The hepatotoxins, microcystins (MCs) are potent inhibitors of protein phosphatases PP1 and PP2A. These nonribosomal peptides are getting more and more attention because of their acute toxicity and potent tumor-promoting activity. These toxins are produced by freshwater cyanobacteria. Herein, we report a toxicological study conducted on aquatic animal models such as the medaka fish. To date, the detailed mechanisms underlying the toxicity of microcystins are unknown. MC-leucine-arginine (MC-LR) is the most toxic and the most commonly encountered variant of MCs in aquatic environment. It has been used for toxicological investigations on the liver of intoxicated medaka. We performed differential proteome analyses of MC-LR-treated and untreated medaka fish to investigate the mechanisms of establishment of early responses to the toxin. The identification of proteins involved in these early responses might constitute candidates of biomarkers of MC-LR exposure. Cytosolic proteins from livers of exposed or nonexposed medaka were resolved by 2D electrophoresis and detected using stains specific for phosphoproteins and for whole protein content. Overall, 15 spots were found to vary significantly on the proteomic 2D maps or on the phosphoproteomic 2D maps. Of these 15 proteins, only two could not be identified by mass spectrometry. Among the other proteins that were identified, phenylalanine hydroxylase and keratin 18 (type I) showed variations in phoshoryl content in agreement with inhibition of PP2A activity after exposure of the fish to MC-LR. The other identified proteins exhibited variations in their expression level. The identified proteins appear to be involved in cytoskeleton assembly, cell signalling, oxidative stress, and apoptosis. The functional implications of responses to MC-LR exposure of these proteins are discussed. The methodology described in this report should be widely used to a number of tissues and organisms, thus helping in the search for biomarkers of MC-LR contamination.

The fractionation of an aqueous extract of yam Dioscorea antaly from Madagascar led to the isolation of terpenoids and flavonoids. Compounds were identified on the basis of modern mass spectrometry and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (2D-NMR). Toxicological effects of the most abundant isolated compound, 8-epidiosbulbin E were studied on medaka Oryzias latipes embryo-larval development. The lethal concentration (killing 50%; LC(50) ) to embryos treated 24 h before hatching and for 3 days after hatching was estimated to be 0·56 mg ml(-1) (P< 0·05). No mortality was observed with O. latipes larvae exposed after hatching until day 4. Anatomo-pathological studies of embryos exposed to 0·56 mg ml(-1) showed development anomalies of the central nervous system, liver, muscle and intestine. The present data thus extend the model of O. latipes embryos as a useful animal model to analyse the effects of food toxins.

Interactomes of proteins under positive selection from ionizing-radiation-resistant bacteria (IRRB) might be a part of the answer to the question as to how IRRB, particularly Deinococcus radiodurans R 1 (Deira), resist ionizing radiation. Here, using the Database of Interacting Proteins (DIP) and the Protein Structural Interactome (PSI)-base server for PSI map, we have predicted novel interactions of orthologs of the 58 proteins under positive selection in Deira and other IRRB, but which are absent in IRSB. Among these, 18 domains and their interactomes have been identified in DNA checkpoint and repair; kinases pathways; energy and nucleotide metabolisms were the important biological processes that were found to be involved. This finding provides new clues to the cellular pathways that can to be important for ionizing-radiation resistance in Deira. ReviewersThis article was reviewed by Thiago Motta Venancio (nominated by S. Balaji) and Arcady Mushegian FindingsIonizing radiation-resistant bacteria (IRRB) are "nonspore forming bacteria" that can protect their cytosolic proteins from oxidation and tolerate many DNA doublestrand breaks (DSBs) after exposure to high, acute ionizing radiation (doses greater than 1 kilogray (kGy) for a 90% reduction (D10) in the number of Colony Forming Units (CFUs)); moreover, they can resist prolonged desiccation [1]. The dramatic capability to survive extreme conditions is ascribed to their outstanding efficiency in reconstructing functional genomes with high fidelity from hundreds of DSBs generated by DNA-damaging agents [2,3], even while few other organisms can tolerate DSBs [4]. More than fifty years of research has provided many advances on the proteins involved in DNA-repair machinery [5]. However, the mechanism underlying radioresistance is incredible and nevertheless mysterious, in spite of all the studies that have been conducted [4,5].Throughout the past five decades, Deinococcus radiodurans (Deira, D10 ≈ 15 kGy) has been a model for understanding many of the basic principles that govern resistance to ionizing radiation and tolerance of desiccation (for review, refer to [6]). An efficient repair of DNA-strand breaks contributes to the radioresistance of Deira, which harbours DNA-repair pathways that are nearly identical to Escherichia coli. However, the interaction among the proteins in their corresponding machineries appears to be different [7]. Moreover, macromolecular complexes and interactions are ubiquitous and are required for the temporal or spatial coordination of cellular functions in all forms of life. Proteins are composed of small units or

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