A halotolerant Actinobacteria strain HR-4 was isolated from a salt lake soil sample in Algerian Sahara. Analysis of 16S rDNA gene sequence showed that strain HR-4 belonged to the genus Nocardiopsis. The similarity level ranges between 97.45 and 99.20% with Nocardiopsis species and Nocardiopsis rosea being the most closely related one. Morphological, physiological and phylogenetic characteristics comparisons showed significant differences with the nearest species. These data strongly suggest that strain HR-4 represents novel species. The antimicrobial activity of strain HR-4 showed an antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria as well as an antifungal one. Two major natural products including a new one were isolated from the culture broth using various separation and purification procedures. The chemical structure established on the basis of spectroscopic studies NMR and by comparing with spectroscopic data from the literature of the two compounds affirm that they are classified in the group of Angucyclinones. This is the first report of a production of this type of molecules by the genus Nocardiopsis. The new natural compound was established as (-)-7-deoxy-8-O-methyltetrangomycin with a new configuration.

A novel, Gram-positive, moderately halophilic bacterium, oxidase- and catalase-positive designated FarD(T) was isolated from sediments of a saline lake located in Taghit, 93 km from Bechar, southwest of Algeria. Cells were rod-shaped, endospore forming, and motile. Growth occurred at 15-40 °C (optimum, 35 °C), pH 6.0-12.0 (optimum, 7.0) and in the presence of 1-20 % NaCl (optimum, 10 %). Strain FarD(T) used glucose, mannitol, melibiose, D-mannose, and 5 ketogluconate. The polar lipids comprised diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, and three phospholipids; MK-7 is the predominant menaquinone. The predominant cellular fatty acids were anteiso C15:0, anteiso C17:0, C20:0, and anteiso C19:0. The DNA G+C content was 42.1 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis of the small-subunit ribosomal RNA gene sequence indicated that strain FarD(T) had as its closest relative Virgibacillus salinus (similarity of 96.3 %). Based on phenotypic, phylogenetic, and taxonomic characteristics, strain FarD(T) is proposed as a novel species of the genus Virgibacillus within the order Clostridiales, for which the name V. natechei is proposed. The type strain is FarD(T) (=DSM 25609(T) = CCUG 62224(T)).

Databases are an essential tool and resource within the field of bioinformatics. The primary aim of this study was to generate an overview of global bacterial biodiversity and biogeography using available data from the two largest public online databases, NCBI Nucleotide and GBIF. The secondary aim was to highlight the contribution each geographic area has to each database. The basis for data analysis of this study was the metadata provided by both databases, mainly, the taxonomy and the geographical area origin of isolation of the microorganism (record). These were directly obtained from GBIF through the online interface, while E-utilities and Python were used in combination with a programmatic web service access to obtain data from the NCBI Nucleotide Database. Results indicate that the American continent, and more specifically the USA, is the top contributor, while Africa and Antarctica are less well represented. This highlights the imbalance of exploration within these areas rather than any reduction in biodiversity. This study describes a novel approach to generating global scale patterns of bacterial biodiversity and biogeography and indicates that the Proteobacteria are the most abundant and widely distributed phylum within both databases.

OBJECTIVES:The roots of Carthamus caeruleus have been used by the population of Northern Algeria to treat several pathological conditions, including wound healing and hair growth. The present study was conducted to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity, wound-healing potential, and hair growth-promoting activity attributed to C. caeruleus root.MATERIALS AND METHODS:In this study, we have investigated the anti-inflammatory effect using carrageenan-induced paw edema test, evaluated the wound-healing potential by linear incision wound model, and evaluated hair growth activity using in vivo hair growth-promoting test attributed to C. caeruleus root. Preliminary phytochemical screening and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC/MS) characterization were also performed.RESULTS:It was found that the methanolic extract of C. caeruleus was characterized by the presence of tannins, flavonoids, anthocyanins, leucoanthocyanins, sennosides, free quinones, saponins, glycosides, mucilage, and coumarins. The GC/MS analysis could identify 22 compounds and showed that the major chemical constituents were palmitic acid (12.88%), mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (12.75%), and 5-(hydroxymethyl)-2-furancarboxaldehyde, (9.19%). The phytoextract strongly inhibited (P < 0.001) paw edema formation in mice. The roots of C. caeruleus also showed a significant (P < 0.05) wound-healing and hair growth-promoting effects.CONCLUSION:The results indicate the richness of the roots of the Algerian C. caeruleus in biomolecules. These molecules exhibit an excellent reducing inflammation activity, a wound-healing property, and an interesting hair-promoting growth activity. All in all, the findings promote the usage of the Algerian C. caeruleus as an effective and a safe potential skincare alternative remedy.