A synopsis of the genus Arthothelium (Arthoniales) in Tasmania

The genus Arthothelium A. Massal. in Tasmania comprises ten species. Five of these are described as new: A. bacidinum Kantvilas, a saxicolous, littoral species with subglobose apothecia, non-macrocephalic ascospores, 25−40 × 11−19 μm, and containing the pigment Endoaurantiacum-gold which yields a K+ red reaction; A. insolitum Kantvilas, lichenicolous in rainforest and characterized by subglobose apothecia, very large, non-macrocephalic ascospores, 50−80 × 22−40 μm, and containing the pigment Interveniens-brown which reacts K+ olive green; A. macounioides Kantvilas, corticolous in wet forest and characterized by sessile, convex apothecia, macrocephalic ascospores, 29−42 × 11−18 μm, and containing the pigment Endoaurantiacum-gold; A. magenteum Kantvilas, a common wet forest epiphyte with applanate apothecia, non-macrocephalic ascospores, 25−55 × 11−22 μm, and containing a unique maroon-red, K+ pink pigment; and A. subtectum Kantvilas, a saxicolous species with convex apothecia, macrocephalic ascospores, 22−36 × 9−14 μm, and containing Endoaurantiacum-gold. The New Zealand species A. endoaurantiacum Makhija & Patw. and A. suffusum (C. Knight) Müll. Arg., and the Australian A. velatium Müll. Arg. are recorded for Tasmania for the first time. The names A. obtusulum (Nyl.) Müll. Arg., A. pellucidum (C. Knight) Müll. Arg. and A. polycarpum Müll. Arg. are considered synonyms of the widespread A. ampliatum (C. Knight & Mitten) Müll. Arg. Arthothelium ferax Müll. Arg. is a synonym of A. interveniens (Nyl.) Zahlbr. and A. subspectabile Vĕzda & Kantvilas is a synonym of A. suffusum. The sole record of A. macrothecum (Fée) A. Massal. from Tasmania is found to be based on a misidentification. A key to the species is provided. The importance of apothecial pigments, apothecial morphology and ascospore septation is discussed, and three pigments are characterized by their appearance in water and other standard media.

Pedobacter endophyticus sp. nov., an endophytic bacterium isolated from Carex pumila

An aerobic, Gram-stain-negative, weak-motile, short-rod-shaped bacterial strain, designated JBR3-12T, was isolated from halophyte Carex pumila plants, and its taxonomic position was investigated by using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. The strain produced a pink pigment on tryptic soy agar and grew optimally at 25 °C, pH 8 and in the presence of 3 % (w/v) NaCl. Results of phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain JBR3-12T formed a lineage within the genus Pedobacter and was most closely related to Pedobacter sandarakinus DS-27T (98.0 %) and Pedobacter agri PB92T (97.6 %). The DNA G+C content of the genome was 41.3 mol%; the whole genome length was 5 426 070 bp. The major fatty acids of JBR3-12T were iso-C15 : 0, summed feature 3 (comprising C16 : 1 ω6c and/or C16 : 1 ω7c) and iso-C17 : 0 3-OH. The predominant polar lipid was phosphatidylethanolamine. The predominant quinone was menaquinone-7. Based on its phenotypic, phylogenetic and genotypic features, strain JBR3-12T is proposed to represent a novel species of the genus Pedobacter , for which the name is Pedobacter endophyticus sp. nov. The type strain is JBR3-12T (=KCTC 82363T=NBRC 114901T).

Substitution of Synthetic Dye with Secang Wood Solution in Ku’uTraditional Cakes

Ku’u cake is a traditional food made from glutinous rice flour filled with green beans, has a chewy texture and has a pink pigment. The Ku cake is shaped like a turtle shell. The research objectives were to determine the addition of secang wood solution that can be used as a natural dye, to determine the anthocyanin levels, antioxidant activity, and to determine the level of acceptance of the panelists from traditional ku dumplings with natural dye of secang wood. The design in this study used a completely randomized design (CRD) with 4 treatments (P0: synthetic dye (control), P1: 2% secang wood synthetic dye, P2: 4% secang wood synthetic dye and P3: secang wood synthetic dye 6%) . The results showed the effect of making the cake using synthetic dyes with secang wood solution had a significant effect on anthocyanin levels, antioxidant levels and color levels. The values of anthocyanin levels at P0, P1, P2, and P3 were: 2.51, 3.27, 3.79 and 4.45, the antioxidant levels were (P0: 2.15 P1: 3,38 P2: 4,27 and P3: 6,49) and the color content, P0: 30,54 P1: 43,98 P2: 33,06 and P3: 32,43. For organoleptic test results on color, taste, aroma and texture, the recommended treatment is P1.

Analysis of Color and Hardness of a Medical Silicone with Extrinsic Pigmentation after Accelerated Aging

Objective The aim of this study is to evaluate the color alteration and shore A hardness of a medical silicone with extrinsic pigmentation, before and after accelerated aging. Materials and Methods Twenty samples (Silastic Q7–4735) were made with an intrinsic pigmentation. This intrinsic pigmentation was composed of a pink pigment (H-109-P, Factor II) and an opacifier (ZnO). All samples had standardized dimensions (45-mm diameter and 2-mm thickness). Half of the 20 samples manufactured subsequently received an extrinsic pigment (Tan FE–215, Factor II). Therefore, two groups were created (n = 10): Group 1, group with intrinsic pigmentation and without extrinsic pigmentation (control) and Group 2, group with intrinsic and extrinsic pigmentation. Samples were submitted to color and Shore A hardness tests, before and after 1,008 hours of aging. Statistical Analysis Color alteration data were submitted to Student’s t-test (α = 0.05). Shore A hardness data were submitted to two-way analysis of variance and Tukey test (α = 0.05). Results The incorporation of the extrinsic pigment on the silicone did not affect its color (ΔE) when the two groups were compared (p = 0.232). Regarding the hardness test, the interaction between group and period did not interfere with the hardness results(p=0.599). However, the period factor showed that there was a reduction in the hardness of the silicone after aging (p < 0.05). Conclusion In this study, all the hardness and color results of the silicone used were clinically acceptable, regardless of the presence of extrinsic pigmentation.

Coproporphyrin III Produced by the Bacterium Glutamicibacter arilaitensis Binds Zinc and Is Upregulated by Fungi in Cheese Rinds

ABSTRACT Microbial communities of fermented food microbiomes typically exhibit predictable patterns of microbial succession. However, the biochemical mechanisms that control the diversity and dynamics of these communities are not well described. Interactions between bacteria and fungi may be one mechanism controlling the development of cheese rind microbiomes. This study characterizes a specific bacterium-fungus interaction previously discovered on cheese rinds between the bacterium Glutamicibacter arilaitensis (formerly Arthrobacter arilaitensis) and fungi of the genus Penicillium and identifies the specialized metabolites produced during cocultures. G. arilaitensis was previously shown to produce an unknown pink pigment in response to the presence of Penicillium. Using a combination of mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq), we determined that this pigment production is associated with production of coproporphyrin III. The discovery that coproporphyrin III preferentially bound zinc over other trace metals found in cheese curds highlights the value of using analytical chemistry to confirm identity of predicted chemical species. IMPORTANCE Bacterium-fungus interactions play key roles in the assembly of cheese rind microbial communities, but the molecular mechanisms underlying these interactions are poorly characterized. Moreover, millions of people around the world enjoy eating cheeses and cheese rinds, but our understanding of the diversity of microbial metabolites ingested during cheese consumption is limited. The discovery of zinc coproporphyrin III as the cause of pink pigment production by Glutamicibacter arilaitensis suggests that secretion of this molecule is important for microbial acquisition of trace metals.

Description of a Naphthoquinonic Crystal Produced by the Fungus Scytalidium cuboideum

Intarsia was an art form popular between the 15th–18th centuries that used wood pigmented by spalting fungi to create detailed landscapes, portraits, and other imagery. These fungi are still used today in art but are also finding relevance in material science as elements of solar cells, textile dyes, and paint colorants. Here we show that the spalting fungus Scytalidium cuboideum (Sacc. and Ellis) Sigler and Kang produces a red/pink pigment that forms two distinct colors of crystals (red and orange)—a very rare occurrence. In addition, a second structure of the crystal is proved through nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). This is only the second instance of a stable, naphthoquinone crystal produced by a fungus. Its discovery is particularly valuable for solar cell development, as crystalline materials have a higher electrical conductivity. Other fungi in this order have shown strong potential as thin films for solar cells.

Effect of medium and light quality on pink pigment production of cyanobacteria Oscillatoria sp. BTCC/A0004

Cyanobacteria are well known as promising source of valuable chemicals for human usage. Especially, cyanobacteria in tropical area are very wide in diversity and they are potent producers of unique metabolites which exhibit interesting bioactivities. Oscillatoria sp. BTCC/A0004 produce pink pigments extracellularly (OsPP). The effects of various environmental factors on the production of cyanobacteria metabolites were well documented. In this research, the effect of medium and light quality on cell growth and OsPP production were investigated. In case, three different culture media, named No 18, C, and modified C media, in which nutrient compositions are different, and light quality (white, blue, green, pink) were tested. The highest cell growth and OsPP production were obtained in modified C medium. The nitrogen concentration in modified C medium is higher (5 g/L) than in No 18 medium (1.5 g/L) or C medium (1 g/L). In addition, cell growth and OsPP production were significantly stimulated by pink light radiation.

Characterization of prodiginine compounds produced by a Vibrio species isolated from salt flat sediment along the Florida Gulf Coast

Prodiginines are secondary metabolites produced by several known species of bacteria. These metabolites are known for their bright pigmentation and their potential medicinal uses. Biosynthesis of prodiginine compounds, including the well-studied prodigiosin, has been well characterized in Serratia marcescens and other bacterial species, including several marine bacteria. In an effort to isolate and identify natural products from marine organisms, an environmental sample was taken from a salt flat along the Florida Gulf Coast and cultured for bacterial growth. A bacterial species that produces a vibrant pink pigment was isolated and identified as a member of the Vibrio genus and was named MI-2. Whole genome sequencing identified a 13-gene operon with homology to the S. marcescens prodigiosin biosynthetic operon. The pigment produced by MI-2 was hypothesized to be composed of prodigiosin or related prodiginine compounds and was purified by flash column chromatography and identified by mass spectrometry.