PURPOSE:: To develop a prototype device for sutureless and repeated ocular surface treatments with overlay amniotic membranes and to describe the main results of various prototype modifications. METHODS:: In this experimental, descriptive study, various modifications of a ring-like device were designed and manufactured. The different variants were tested for comfort, local stability, and corneal contact. The final prototype was photographed during different ocular deviations and investigated at a slit lamp for the fit of the device within the fornices and the integrity of the membrane on the ocular surface. Ultrasound was performed with the final prototype to document the distance between the corneal surface and the amniotic membrane that was sutured to the device. The main outcome measures were feasibility of the device setting into the regular fornices, corneal contact of the device during different ocular deviations, comfort, and local stability during 7 days of continuous wearing. RESULTS:: One prototype with five modifications was manufactured and tested. An amniotic membrane patch was sutured onto the final prototype and laid into the fornices of a human eyeball during 7 days of continuous wearing. On slit-lamp examination, the amniotic membrane always appeared attached to the complete human cornea and limbal region without macroscopically visible wrinkling. No side effects were observed. CONCLUSION:: The final ellipsoid device enables sutureless and repeated treatment with amniotic membrane overlays and was comfortable in one patient during 7 days of continuous wearing. Limitations of the device such as in cicatriceal foreshortening and possible therapeutic effects need to be determined in future studies.

Three Gram-negative, rod-shaped, non-spore-forming bacteria, isolated from milk of camels of a camel milk production farm in the United Arab Emirates, were investigated for their taxonomic allocation. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities, all of these strains (M 2040T, M 1973, and M 1878-SK2) were shown to belong to the alphaproteobacteria closely related to Chelatococcus asaccharovorans and Chelatococcus daeguenesis (95.1 % to 95.2 % sequence similarities). Meso-Diaminopimelic acid was detected as the characteristic peptidoglycan diamino acid. Predominant compound in the polyamine pattern was spermidine and sym-homospermidine was not detectable. The quinone system was ubiquinone Q-10. The polar lipid profile was composed of the major compounds phosphatidylcholine, diphosphatidylglycerol, moderate amounts of phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, an unidentified glycolipid and two unidentified aminolipids. Minor lipids were detectable as well.The Major fatty acids profiles consisting of : C19:0 cyclo omega8c and C18:1omega7c with 3-OH C18:0 as hydroxylated fatty acids) were similar to that of the genus Chelatococcus . The results of DNA-DNA hybridization and physiological and biochemical tests allowed both genotypic and phenotypic differentiation of the isolates from the described Chelatococcus species. Isolates M 2040T, M 1973, and M 1878-SK2 were closely related on the basis of DNA-DNA reassociation experiments and therefore represent a single novel species. In summary, low 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities of 95 % with C. asaccharovorans and markedly differences in the polar lipid profiles as well as in the polymine patterns suggests a novel genus for which the name Camelimonas lactis gen.nov., sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain M 2040T (= CCUG 58638T = CCM 7696T).

A bright orange-pigmented bacterial strain, designated CC-GZM-130T, isolated from a water sample of the Guan-zing-ling hot spring, Southern Taiwan, was studied for its taxonomic allocation. The strain was able to grow on nutrient agar at 25 degrees C - 40 degrees C and in the presence of 1 to 3% NaCl. Comparative analyses of the 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that the isolate was grouped in the vicinity of the genus Aquiflexum with the highest sequence similarity of 92.1% to the type strain of Aquiflexum balticum, followed by 92.0% sequence similarity to that of Algoriphagus ornithinivorans, 91.6% to that of Algoriphagus hitonicola and 91.5% sequence similarity to that of Belliella baltica. The polyamine pattern showed the major compound sym-homospermidine. The quinone system is menaquinone MK-7. The polar lipid profile was composed predominantly of phosphatidylethanolamine, three polar lipids and one aminolipid. Minor amounts of other lipids were detectable as well. The fatty acid profile shared major characteristic with those of B. baltica and A. balticum with iso-C15:0, iso-C17:1omega9c and iso-C17:0 3OH as the major fatty acids, but some qualitative and quantitative differences were evidenced. The DNA G+C content was 53.2 mol%. The strain is genotypically and phenotypically clearly different from representatives of the most closely related genera. On the basis of these differences we propose a novel genus with one novel species with the name Fontibacter flavus gen. nov., sp. nov. The type strain is CC-GZM-130T (CCUG 57694T = CCM 7650T).

A yellow pigmented, Gram-reaction-negative bacterium isolated from a human clinical source was investigated in a polyphasic approach in order to clarify its taxonomic status. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that the isolate constituted a distinct phyletic line within the genus Chryseobacterium, displaying >2.8 % sequence divergence with recognized Chryseobacterium species. The generic assignment was confirmed by chemotaxonomic data which revealed the presence of fatty acids profile consisting of straight-chain saturated, monounsaturated and branched-chain fatty acids of the iso-/anteiso-types as well as 3-hydroxylated fatty acids; menaquinone with six isoprene units (MK-6) as the predominant respiratory quinone; in the polyamine pattern sym-homospermidine was the predominant compound. The novel isolate was distinguished from other members of the genus Chryseobacterium by using a set of biochemical properties. On the basis of phenotypic and phylogenetic evidence, it is proposed that the isolate be classified as a novel species of the genus Chryseobacterium. The name proposed for the novel species is Chryseobacterium treverense sp. nov., with the type strain IMMIB L-1519T (=DSM 22251T=CCUG 57657T).

Francisella sp. FhSp1T (= FnSp1T = FSC454T = F62T), isolated from human blood in Spain (2003), was studied for its taxonomic allocation. By 16S rRNA and recA gene sequencing, this strain was shown to belong to the genus Francisella. In the 16S rRNA gene sequence, Francisella sp. FhSp1T shared similarity values higher than 99 % with Francisella tularensis subspecies and Francisella novicida U112T, 98 % with Francisella piscicida GM2212T and 98.4 % with Francisella philomiragia ATCC 25015T. In the recA gene sequence, Francisella sp. FhSp1T exhibited 91.6-91.7 % similarity to F. tularensis subspecies, 91.2 % to F. novicida U112T and 84 % to F. philomiragia ATCC 25017. The genus affiliation was supported by a quinone system typical of Francisella (Q-8 as the major component), a complex polar lipid profile similar to F. tularensis with the major components phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylcholine (PC) and an unknown aminophospholipid (APL4) and a fatty acid profile consisting mainly of C10:0 (19.1 %), C14:0 (12.4 %), C16:0 (14.6 %), C18:0 3-OH (15.8 %) and C18:1 omega9c (7.9 %). DNA-DNA hybridization, which unambiguously showed that FhSp1T represents a novel species, and the results of the biochemical tests allowed genotypic and phenotypic differentiation of the isolate from all hitherto described Francisella species. A multiplex-PCR developed in the course of this study discriminated FhSp1T from representatives of all other Francisella species and subspecies, clades A.I and A.II of F. tularensis subsp. tularensis and F. tularensis subsp. holarctica biovar japonica and between these representatives as well. Therefore we propose Francisella hispaniensis sp. nov. with the type strain FhSp1T (= DSM 22475T = CCUG 58020T = FnSp1T = FSC454T = F62T). Furthermore, we formally propose to transfer the species F. novicida to the species F. tularensis as F. tularensis subsp. novicida ATCC 15482T = CCUG 33449T = CIP 56.12T.

ABSTRACT: INTRODUCTION: The current debate about the side effects of induction agents, e.g. possible adrenal suppression through etomidate, emphasizes the relevance of choosing the correct induction agent in septic patients. However, cardiovascular depression is still the most prominent adverse effect of these agents, and might be especially hazardous in septic patients presenting with a biventricular cardiac dysfunction - or so-called septic cardiomyopathy. Therefore, we tested the dose-response direct cardiac effects of clinically available induction agents in an isolated septic rat heart model. METHODS: A polymicrobial sepsis was induced via cecal ligation and single puncture. Hearts (n=50) were isolated and randomly assigned to five groups, each receiving etomidate, s(+)-ketamine, midazolam, propofol, or methohexitone at concentrations of 1.10;-8 to 1.10;-4 M. Left ventricular pressure, contractility and lusitropy, and coronary flow were measured. Cardiac work, myocardial oxygen delivery, oxygen consumption, and percentage of oxygen extraction were calculated. RESULTS: All of the induction agents tested showed a dose-dependent depression of cardiac work. Maximal cardiac work dysfunction occurred in the rank order of s(+)-ketamine (-6%)<etomidate (-17%)<methohexitone (-31%)<midazolam (-38%)<propofol (-50%). In addition, propofol showed a maximum decrease in contractility of -38%, a reduction in lusitropy of -44%, and a direct vasodilator effect by increasing coronary flow by +29%. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, this study demonstrates that these tested drugs indeed have differential direct cardiac effects in the isolated septic heart. Propofol showed the most pronounced adverse direct cardiac effects. In contrast, S(+)ketamine showed cardiovascular stability over a wide range of concentrations, and might therefore be a beneficial alternative to etomidate.

Taxonomy relies on three key elements; characterisation, classification and nomenclature. All three elements are dynamic fields, but each step depends on the one which proceeds it. Thus, the nomenclature of a group of organisms depends on the way they are classified, and the classification (among other elements) depends on the information gathered as a result of characterisation. While nomenclature is governed by the Bacteriological Code, the classification and characterisation of prokaryotes is an area which is not formally regulated and where numerous changes have taken place in the last 50 years. The purpose of the present article is to outline the key elements in the way prokaryotes are characterised, with a view to providing an overview of some of the pitfalls commonly encountered in taxonomic papers.

Two facultatively anaerobic, budding bacteria designated W1215-PCA4T and SRNK-1 were isolated from Lake Michigan water. The two strains showed identical ERIC-PCR generated genomic fingerprints and shared 99.9 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity. Highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of strain W1215-PCA4T was to Labrys monachus VKM-B1479T (95.8%), Labrys methylaminiphilus DSM16812T (95.1%), Labrys okinawensis MAFF 210191T (96.0%), Labrys miyagiensis G24103T (95.4%), Labrys neptuniae BCRC 17578T (95.7%) and Labrys portucalensis DSM 17916T (95.8%). These data suggest that the two strains are members of a single novel Labrys species. The major cellular fatty acids were C18:1 omega7c, C19:0 cyclo omega8c and C16:0. The polar lipid profiles were highly similar to that of Labrys monachus DSM 5896T. The primary quinone was ubiquinone Q-10 with minor amounts of Q-9 and Q-11. sym-Homospermidine was the predominating polyamine with putrescine present in moderate amounts. The two strains were identical in biochemical and physiological traits but distinguishable from other Labrys species. Hence the description of a novel Labrys species appears to be justified for which we propose the name Labrys wisconsinensis. The type strain is W1215-PCA4T (DSM 19619T = NRRL B51088T).

A gram-negative, rod-shaped, oxidase positive, non-spore-forming, non motile bacterium (Sa25T) was isolated from the air of a duck barn. 16S rRNA gene and recA sequence analyses clearly allocated the isolate in the vicinity of the Brucella-Ochrobactrum-Pseudochrobactrum group with the next relative Pseudochrobactrum glaciei KMM 3858T. This allocation was confirmed by the quinone system (ubiquinone Q-10), fatty acid data (major fatty acids: C18:1omega7c and C19:0 cycloomega8c) and polar lipid profile (major components: diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine and unknown aminolipid AL1; moderate amounts: three unknown polar lipds L1, L2, L3, unknown aminolipid and an unknown aminophospholipid APL2). The polyamine pattern of Sa25T exhibited the major compound putrescine and moderate amounts of spermidine and a most similar polyamine pattern with the major compound putrescine was detected in Pseudochrobactrum glaciei KMM 3858T as well.DNA-DNA pairing of strain Sa25T with Pseudochrobacterum glaciei KMM 3858T and the type strains of the other Pseudochrobactrum species showed values ranging from 50.3% to 24.8%, and physiological and biochemical data clearly differentiated this isolate from the described Pseudochrobactrum species. Since Sa25T and Pseudochrobactrum glaciei KMM 3858T are forming a distinct lineage in the 16S rRNA based phylogenetic tree, and this separate position is supported by unique characteristics in the polyamine pattern and polar lipid profiles, we propose the novel genus Paenochrobactrum gen. nov. with the type species Paenochrobactrum gallinarii Sa25T (= CCUG 57736T = CCM 7656T) and reclassification of Pseudochrobactrum glaciei as Paenochrobactrum glaciei comb. nov.