Paenibacillus taohuashanense sp. nov., a nitrogen-fixing species isolated from rhizosphere soil of the root of Caragana kansuensis Pojark

A nitrogen-fixing bacterium, designated strain gs65^T, was isolated from a rhizosphere soil sample of Caragana kansuensis Pojark. Phylogenetic analysis based on a fragment of the nifH gene and the full-length 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that strain gs65^T is a member of the genus Paenibacillus. High levels of 16S rRNA gene similarity were found between strain gs65^T and Paenibacillus borealis DSM 13188^T (97.5 %), Paenibacillus odorifer ATCC BAA-93^T (97.3 %), Paenibacillus durus DSM 1735^T (97.0 %) and Paenibacillus sophorae DSM23020^T (96.9 %). Levels of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity between strain gs65^T and the type strains of other recognized members of the genus Paenibacillus were below 97.0 %. Levels of DNA–DNA relatedness between strain gs65^T and P. borealis DSM 13188^T, P. odorifer ATCC BAA-93^T (97.3 %), P. durus DSM 1735^T and P. sophorae DSM23020^T were 35.9, 38.0, 34.2 and 35.5 % respectively. The DNA G+C content of strain gs65^T was determined to be 51.6 mol%. The major fatty acids were found to be iso-C_14:0, anteiso-C_15:0 and iso-C_16:0. On the basis of its phenotypic characteristics and levels of DNA–DNA hybridization, strain gs65^T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Paenibacillus, for which the name Paenibacillus taohuashanense sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is gs65^T (=CGMCC 1.12175^T = DSM 25809^T).     

Paenibacillus beijingensis sp. nov., a novel nitrogen-fixing species isolated from jujube garden soil

A novel Gram-positive, rod-shaped, motile, spore-forming, nitrogen-fixing bacterium, designated strain 7188^T, was isolated from jujube rhizosphere soil in Beijing, China. The strain grew at 4–40 °C and pH 6–12, with an optimum of 30 °C and pH 7.0, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that strain 7188^T is a member of the genus Paenibacillus. Levels of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities between strain 7188^T and the type strains of all recognized members of the genus Paenibacillus were below 96 %. The major cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C_15:0, anteiso-C_17:0 and C_16:0. The predominant menaquinone was MK-7. The DNA G+C content of strain 7188^T was 60.3 mol%. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and unknown aminophospholipids. The diamino acid in the cell wall peptidoglycan is meso-diaminopimelic acid. On the basis of these results, strain 7188^T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Paenibacillus, for which the name Paenibacillus beijingensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 7188^T (=ACCC 03082^T = DSM 24997^T).     

Paenibacillus thermophilus sp. nov., a novel bacterium isolated from a sediment of hot spring in Fujian province, China

A Gram-positive, thermophilic, strictly aerobic bacterium, designated WP-1^T, was isolated from a sediment sample from a hot spring in Fujian province of China and subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic study. Cells of strain WP-1^T were rods (~0.6–0.8 × 2.5–3.5 μm) and motile by means of peritrichous flagella. Endospores were ellipsoidal in terminal or subterminal positions. Strain WP-1^T grew at 37–60 °C (optimum 42–45 °C), 0–3 % NaCl (optimum 1 %, w/v) and pH 3.0–9.0 (optimum pH 6.5–7.0). The predominant menaquinone was MK-7. The major fatty acids were anteiso-C_15:0, iso-C_16:0, C_16:0 and anteiso-C_17:0. The polar lipids consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, two glycolipids, two unidentified phospholipids and two unknown polar lipids. The cell-wall peptidoglycan contained meso-diaminopimelic acid (meso-DAP). The G + C content of the genomic DNA was 52.5 %. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that strain WP-1^T is a member of the genus Paenibacillus and exhibited sequence similarity of 99.3 % to Paenibacillus macerans DSM 24^T and both strains represented a separate lineage from all other Paenibacillus species. However, the level of DNA–DNA relatedness between strain WP-1^T and P. macerans DSM 24^T was 34.0 ± 4.7 %. On the basis of phylogenetic, physiological and chemotaxonomic analysis data, strain WP-1^T is considered to represent as a novel species of the genus Paenibacillus, for which the name Paenibacillus thermophilus sp. nov., is proposed, with the type strain WP-1^T (=DSM 24746^T = JCM 17693^T = CCTCC AB 2011115^T).     

Paenibacillus beijingensis sp. nov., a nitrogen-fixing species isolated from wheat rhizosphere soil

A novel nitrogen-fixing bacterium, BJ-18^T, was isolated from wheat rhizosphere soil. Strain BJ-18^T was observed to be Gram-positive, facultatively anaerobic, motile and rod-shaped (0.4–0.9 μm × 2.0–2.9 μm). Phylogenetic analysis based on a partial nifH gene sequence and an assay for nitrogenase activity showed its nitrogen-fixing capacity. Phylogenetic analysis based on full 16S rRNA gene sequences suggested that strain BJ-18^T is a member of the genus Paenibacillus. High similarity of 16S rRNA gene sequence was found between BJ-18^T and Paenibacillus peoriae DSM 8320^T (99.05 %), Paenibacillus jamilae DSM 13815^T (98.86 %), Paenibacillus brasiliensis DSM 13188^T (98.55 %), Paenibacillus polymyxa DSM 36^T (98.74 %), Paenibacillus terrae DSM 15891^T (97.99 %) and Paenibacillus kribbensis JCM 11465^T (97.92 %), whereas the similarity was below 96.0 % between BJ-18^T and the other Paenibacillus species. DNA–DNA relatedness between strain BJ-18^T and P. peoriae DSM 8320^T, P. jamilae DSM 13815^T, P. brasiliensis DSM 13188^T, P. polymyxa DSM 36^T, P. kribbensis JCM 11465^T and P. terrae DSM 15891^T was determined to be 43.6 ± 2.7, 34.2 ± 5.3, 47.9 ± 6.6, 36.8 ± 3.5, 27.4 ± 4.3 and 23.6 ± 4.1 % respectively. The DNA G+C content of BJ-18^T was determined to be 45.8 mol %. The major fatty acid was identified as anteiso-C_15:0 (67.1 %). The polar lipids present in strain BJ-18^T were identified as diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidyl methylethanolamine, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol. The phenotypic and genotypic characteristics, and DNA–DNA relatedness data, suggest that BJ-18^T represents a novel species of the genus Paenibacillus, for which the name Paenibacillus beijingensis sp. nov. (Type strain BJ-18^T=DSM25425^T=CGMCC 1.12045^T) is proposed.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Paenibacillus oryzisoli</Emphasis> sp. nov., isolated from the rhizosphere of rice

A novel bacterium, strain 1ZS3-15^T, was isolated from rhizosphere of rice. Its taxonomic position was investigated using a polyphasic approach. The novel strain was observed to be Gram-stain positive, spore-forming, aerobic, motile and rod-shaped. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain 1ZS3-15^T was recovered within the genus Paenibacillus. It is closely related to Paenibacillus pectinilyticus KCTC 13222^T (97.9 % similarity), Paenibacillus frigoriresistens CCTCC AB 2011150^T (96.8 %), Paenibacillus alginolyticus JCM 9068^T (96.4 %) and Paenibacillus chondroitinus DSM 5051^T (95.5 %). The fatty acid profile of strain 1ZS3-15^T, which showed a predominance of anteiso-C_15:0 and iso-C_16:0, supported the allocation of the strain into the genus Paenibacillus. The predominant menaquinone was found to be MK-7. The polar lipids profile of strain 1ZS3-15^T was found to consist of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, one unidentified lipid and two unidentified aminophospholipids. The cell wall peptidoglycan contains meso-diaminopimelic acid. Based on draft genome sequences, the DNA–DNA relatedness between strain 1ZS3-15^T and the closely related species P. pectinilyticus KCTC 13222^T are 24.2 ± 1.0 %, and the Average Nucleotide Identity values between the strains are 78.9 ± 0.1 %, which demonstrated that this isolate represents a new species in the genus Paenibacillus. The DNA G+C content was determined to be 45.3 mol%, which is within the range reported for Paenibacillus species. Characterisation by genotypic, chemotaxonomic and phenotypic analysis indicated that strain 1ZS3-15^T represents a novel species of the genus Paenibacillus, for which the name Paenibacillus oryzisoli sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 1ZS3-15^T (= ACCC 19783^T = JCM 30487^T).     

Paenibacillus profundus sp. nov., a deep sediment bacterium that produces isocoumarin and peptide antibiotics

A novel bacterial strain Sl 79^T was isolated from a deep surface sediment sample obtained from the Sea of Japan and investigated by phenotypic and molecular methods. The bacterium Sl 79^T was Gram-positive, facultatively anaerobic, spore-forming, motile and able to form two different types of colonies. It contained the major menaquinone MK-7 and anteiso-C_15:0 followed by iso-C_15:0 as predominant fatty acids. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain Sl 79^T belonged to the genus Paenibacillus where it clustered to Paenibacillus apiarius NRRL NRS-1438^T with a sequence similarity of 97.7 % and sharing sequence similarities below than 96.7 % to other validly named Paenibacillus species. Strain Sl 79^T was found to possess a remarkable inhibitory activity against indicatory microorganisms. On the basis of combined spectral analyses, strain Paenibacillus sp. Sl 79^T was established to produce isocoumarin and novel peptide antibiotics. On the basis of DNA–DNA relatedness, phenotypic and phylogenetic data obtained, it was concluded that strain Sl 79^T represents a novel species, Paenibacillus profundus sp. nov. with the type strain Sl 79^T = KMM 9420^T = NRIC 0885^T.     

Isolation of Paenibacillus pinesoli sp. nov. from forest soil in Gyeonggi-Do,Korea

Using a new culture method for unculturable soil bacteria, strain NB5^T was isolated from forest soil at Kyonggi University, and characterized taxonomically on the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence as well as phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characteristics. The novel strain was a Gram- and catalase-positive, rod-shaped bacterium, which grew in the pH range 6.0–9.5 (optimum, 6.5–9.5) and at temperatures between 15°C and 45°C (optimum, 25–40°C). Growth was possible at 0–5% NaCl (optimum, 0% to 3%) in nutrient, Luria-Bertani, and trypticase soy broths (TSB), as well as R2A medium (with optimal growth in TSB). A phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that the novel strain was affiliated with the genus Paenibacillus and had 96.8% and 96.5% similarity to P. nanensis MX2-3^T and P. agaridevorans DSM 1355^T, respectively. The predominant menaquinone in NB5^T was MK-7; the major fatty acids were anteiso-C_15:0 and iso-C_16:0; and the DNA G+C content was 54.5 mol%. We propose this strain as a novel species of the genus Paenibacillus, and suggest the name Paenibacillus pinesoli sp. nov. (type strain, KACC 17472^T=KEMB 9005-025^T=JCM 19203^T).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Paenibacillus bryophyllum</Emphasis> sp. nov., a nitrogen-fixing species isolated from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bryophyllum pinnatum</Emphasis>

A nitrogen-fixing, endospore-forming bacterium, designated strain L201^T was isolated from the leaves of Bryophyllum pinnatum growing in South China Agricultural University. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that strain L201^T is affiliated with the genus Paenibacillus, and closely related to Paenibacillus albidus Q4-3^T (97.4%), Paenibacillus odorifer DSM 15391^T (97.3%) and Paenibacillus borealis DSM 13188^T (97.2%). The main fatty acids components was anteiso-C_15:0 (48.1%). The predominant isoprenoid quinone was MK-7. The major polar lipids were found to be diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol. The G+C content of strain L201^T was 43.9%. DNA–DNA relatedness between L201^T and the reference strain was 29.8%. Biological and biochemical tests, protein patterns, genomic DNA fingerprinting and comparison of cellular fatty acids distinguished strain L201^T from the closely related Paenibacillus species. Based on these data, the novel species Paenibacillus bryophyllum sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain L201^T(=?KCTC 33951 ^T?=?GDMCC 1.1251 ^T).     

Paenibacillus quercus sp. nov., isolated from rhizosphere of Quercus aliena var. acuteserrata

A Gram-positive, spore-forming, rod-shaped and motile bacterium, designated strain 1-25^T, was isolated from the rhizosphere of Quercus aliena var. acuteserrata in Taibai Mountain, Shaanxi Province, China. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain 1-25^T belongs to the genus Paenibacillus. Strain 1-25^T was found to be closely related to Paenibacillus harenae and Paenibacillus castaneae with 96.0 and 95.9 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities, respectively. The strain was observed to grow optimally at 28 °C and pH 7.5. The major isoprenoid quinone was found to be menaquinone-7. The dominant cellular fatty acids were identified as anteiso-C_15:0 and iso-C_15:0. The diagnostic diamino acid in the cell-wall peptidoglycan was found to be meso-diaminopimelic acid. The DNA G+C content was determined to be 41.6 mol%. On the basis of phenotypic characteristics and molecular properties, strain 1-25^T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Paenibacillus, for which the name Paenibacillus quercus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 1-25^T (=CCTCC AB2013265^T = KCTC 33194^T).     

Paenibacillus hordei sp. nov., isolated from naked barley in Korea

A Gram-staining positive, facultative aerobic bacterium, designated strain RH-N24^T, was isolated from naked barley in South Korea. Cells of the isolate were observed to be motile rods by means of peritrichous flagella and showed catalase-positive and oxidase-negative reactions. Growth of strain RH-N24^T was observed at 4–40 °C (optimum: 35–37 °C) and at pH 5.0–9.0 (optimum: pH 6.0–7.0). Chemotaxonomic data (major isoprenoid quinone: MK-7; DNA G + C content: 53.5 mol %; cell wall type: A1γ-meso-diaminopimelic acid; major fatty acids: anteiso-CB_15:0 and CB_16:0B) supported the affiliation of the isolate to the genus Paenibacillus. The major cellular polar lipids were identified as phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and two unidentified polar lipids. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences also supported the conclusion that strain RH-N24^T belonged to the genus Paenibacillus. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain RH-N24^T was most closely related to Paenibacillus hunanensis FeL05^T and Paenibacillus illinoisensis NRRL NRS-1356^T with similarities of 94.64 and 94.54 %, respectively. On the basis of phenotypic and molecular properties, strain RH-N24^T represents a novel species within the genus Paenibacillus for which the name Paenibacillus hordei sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is RH-N24^T (=KACC 15511^T = JCM 17570^T).     

Paenibacillus nicotianae sp. nov., isolated from a tobacco sample

A Gram-stain positive, facultative anaerobic endospore-forming bacterium, designated strain YIM h-19^T, was isolated from a tobacco sample. Cells were observed to be motile rods by means of peritrichous flagella and colonies were observed to be convex, yellow, circular and showed catalase-positive and oxidase-negative reactions. Strain YIM h-19^T was able to grow at 4–45 °C, pH 6.0–8.0 and 0–3 % NaCl (w/v). The predominant respiratory quinone was identified as MK-7. Major fatty acids were identified as anteiso-C_15:0, anteiso-C_17:0 and C_16:0. The polar lipids were found to be phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and two unidentified polar lipids. The genomic DNA G+C content was determined to be 54 mol%. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed the strain YIM h-19^T was most closely related to Paenibacillus hordei RH-N24^T and Paenibacillus hunanensis FeL05^T with similarities of 98.30 and 94.64 % respectively. However, DNA–DNA hybridization data indicated that the isolate represented a novel genomic species with the genus Paenibacillus. All data from genotypic and phenotypic analyses support the conclusion that strain YIM h-19^T represents a novel species of the genus Paenibacillus, for which the name Paenibacillus nicotianae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YIM h-19^T (=CGMCC1.12819^T = NRRL B-59112^T).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Paenibacillus albilobatus</Emphasis> sp. nov., isolated from acidic soil on Jeju Island

A rod-shaped, white color colony with lobate architectures, strain h2^T was isolated from a moderately acidic soil on Jeju Island, Republic of Korea. Comparative analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that the strain h2^T is closely related to Paenibacillus relictisesami DSM 25385^T (97.4%, 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity), Paenibacillus azoreducens KACC 11244^T (97.2%), and Paenibacillus cookii LMG 18419^T (97.0%). DNA-DNA hybridization indicated that the strain h2^T has relatively low levels of DNA-DNA relatedness with respect to P. relictisesami DSM 25385^T (10.2%) and P. azoreducens KACC 11244^T (13.7%). Additionally, the genomic DNA G + C content of h2^T is 51.5 mol%. The isolated strain grew at pH 4.0–9.0 (optimum, pH 6.0–7.0) and 0–5% (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 0%) and a temperature of 15–45°C (optimum 35°C). The quinones in the strain are MK-6 and MK-7, and the predominant fatty acid is C_15:0 anteiso (32.1%) followed by C_17:0 anteiso (26.5%), and C_16:0 iso (21.0%). Based on its phenotypic properties, genotypic distinctiveness, and chemotaxonomic features, strain h2^T is proposed as a novel species in the genus Paenibacillus, for which the name Paenibacillus albilobatus sp. nov. is proposed (= KCCM 43269^T = JCM 32395^T = LMG 30408^T). The type strain of Paenibacillus albilobatus is h2^T.     

Paenibacillus frigoriresistens sp. nov., a novel psychrotroph isolated from a peat bog in Heilongjiang, Northern China

A novel cold-resistant bacterium, designated YIM 016^T, was isolated from a peat bog sample collected from Mohe County, Heilongjiang Province, Northern China and its taxonomic position was investigated using a polyphasic approach. The strain was Gram-positive, aerobic, endospore-forming, motile and rod-shaped. Phylogenetic analyses based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence clearly revealed that strain YIM 016^T is a member of the genus Paenibacillus. The strain is closely related to Paenibacillus alginolyticus DSM 5050^T, Paenibacillus chondroitinus DSM 5051^T and Paenibacillus pocheonensis Gsoil 1138^T with similarities of 99.0 %, 97.0 % and 96.3 %, respectively. Meanwhile, the low DNA–DNA relatedness levels between strain YIM 016^T and its closely related phylogenetic neighbours demonstrated that this isolate represents a new genomic species in the genus Paenibacillus. Phenotypic and chemotaxonomic tests showed that growth of strain YIM 016^T occurred at 4–37 °C, pH 6.0–8.0 and with a NaCl tolerance up to 0.5 % (w/v). The peptidoglycan contained meso-diaminopimelic acid, alanine and glutamic acid. The whole-cell hydrolysates mainly contained glucose, galactose and ribose. The predominant menaquinone was MK-7 and the major fatty acids were anteiso-C_15:0 and iso-C_16:0. The DNA G+C content of strain YIM 016^T was 51.7 mol %. On the basis of phylogenetic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characteristics, strain YIM 016^T could be clearly distinguished from other species of the genus Paenibacillus. It is therefore concluded that strain YIM 016^T represents a novel species in the genus Paenibacillus, for which the name Paenibacillus frigoriresistens sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YIM 016^T (= CCTCC AB 2011150^T = JCM 18141^T).     

Exiguobacterium himgiriensis sp. nov. a novel member of the genus Exiguobacterium, isolated from the Indian Himalayas

The taxonomic position of an orange coloured bacterium, strain K22–26^T isolated from a soil sample was studied using a polyphasic approach. The organism had phenotypic and chemotaxonomic properties consistent with its allocation into the genus Exiguobacterium. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that strain K22–26^T belongs to the genus Exiguobacterium and was related to Exiguobacterium aurantiacum DSM 6208^T (99.0 %) Exiguobacterium mexicanum DSM 16483^T (98.6 %), Exiguobacterium aquaticum (98.6 %), Exiguobacterium aestuarii DSM 16306^T (98.1 %), Exiguobacterium profundum DSM 17289^T (98.1 %) and Exiguobacterium marinum DSM 16483^T (97.9 %), whereas sequence similarity values with respect to other Exiguobacterium species with validly published names were between 92.5–94.0 %. The major polar lipids detected were phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine. The major menaquinone was determined to be MK-7 (83 %) whereas MK-8 (11 %) and MK-6 (6 %) occur in smaller amounts. The peptidoglycan of the strain was found to contain l-lysine as the diagnostic diamino acid. The major fatty acids detected were iso C_13:0 (11.2 %), anteiso C_13:0 (15.4 %), iso C_15:0 (13.2 %) and iso C_17:0 (16.1 %). However, analysis of the DNA–DNA relatedness confirmed that strain K22–26^T belongs to a novel species. The G + C content of the strain K22–26^T was determined to be 50.1 mol %. The novel strain was distinguished from closely related type species of the genus Exiguobacterium using DNA–DNA relatedness and phenotypic data. Based on these differences, the strain K22–26^T should be classified as a novel species of the genus Exiguobacterium, for which the name Exiguobacterium himgiriensis sp. nov. strain K22–26^T (= MTCC 7628^T = JCM 14260^T) is proposed.     

Paenibacillus ihbetae sp. nov., a cold-adapted antimicrobial producing bacterium isolated from high altitude Suraj Tal Lake in the Indian trans-Himalayas

The assessment of bacterial diversity and bioprospection of the high-altitude lake Suraj Tal microorganisms for potent antimicrobial activities revealed the presence of two Gram-stain-variable, endospore-forming, rod-shaped, aerobic bacteria, namely IHBB 9852^T and IHBB 9951. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence showed the affiliation of strains IHBB 9852^T and IHBB 9951 within the genus Paenibacillus, exhibiting the highest sequence similarity to Paenibacillus lactis DSM 15596^T (97.8% and 97.7%) and less than 95.9% similarity to other species of the genus Paenibacillus. DNA-DNA relatedness among strains IHBB 9852^T and IHBB 9951 was 90.2%, and with P. lactis DSM 15596^T, was 52.7% and 52.4%, respectively. The novel strains contain anteiso-C_15:0, iso-C_15:0, C_16:0 and iso-C_16:0 as major fatty acids, and phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and diphosphatidylglycerol were predominant polar lipids. The DNA G+C content for IHBB 9852T and IHBB 9951 was 52.1 and 52.2 mol%. Based on the results of phenotypic and genomic characterisations, we concluded that strains IHBB 9852^T and IHBB 9951 belong to a novel Paenibacillus species, for which the name Paenibacillus ihbetae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is IHBB 9852^T (=MTCC 12459^T = MCC 2795^T = JCM 31131^T = KACC 19072^T; DPD TaxonNumber TA00046) and IHBB 9951 (=MTCC 12458 = MCC 2794 = JCM 31132 = KACC 19073) is a reference strain.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Paenibacillus telluris</Emphasis> sp. nov., a novel phosphate-solubilizing bacterium isolated from soil

A phosphate-solubilizing bacterial strain designated PS38^T was isolated from farm soil. The isolate was a Gram-positive, motile, endospore-forming, rod-shaped bacterium. It grew optimally at 37°C and pH 7.5. The predominant cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C_15:0, anteiso-C_17:0, and iso-C_16:0. The DNA G+C content was 49.5 mol% and the predominant menaquinone was MK-7. Phylogenese analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the strain PS38^T belonged to the genus Paenibacillus and was most closely related to Paenibacillus chibensis JCM 9905^T, P. barengoltzii SAFN-016^T, P. timonensis 2301032^T, and P. motobuensis MC10^T with 96.3%, 96.0%, 95.9%, and 95.5% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, respectively. On the basis of morphological, chemotaxonomic, physiological, and phylogenetic properties, strain PS38^T represents a novel species of the genus Paenibacillus, for which the name Paenibacillus telluris sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is PS38^T (=KCTC 13946^T =CGMCC 1.10695^T).     

Paenibacillus abyssi sp. nov., isolated from an abyssal sediment sample from the Indian Ocean

A Gram-positive, rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain SCSIO N0306^T, was isolated from an abyssal sediment sample collected from the Indian Ocean. The isolate was found to grow optimally at 0–2 % (w/v) NaCl, pH 7.0 and 30 °C. Comparative analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that the isolate SCSIO N0306^T belongs phylogenetically to the genus Paenibacillus, and to be most closely related to P. algorifonticola XJ259^T (with 95.47 % sequence similarity), sharing less than 95.0 % sequence similarity with all other taxa of this genus. Chemotaxonomic analysis revealed MK-7 as the major isoprenoid quinone, the DNA G+C content was determined to be 45.5 mol%, and anteiso-C_15:0, C_16:0, and iso-C_15:0 were identified as the major fatty acids. On the basis of this polyphasic taxonomic data, isolate SCSIO N0306^T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Paenibacillus, for which the name Paenibacillus abyssi sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is SCSIO N0306^T (= DSM 26238^T = CGMCC 1.12987^T).     

Halomonas zhaodongensis sp. nov., a slightly halophilic bacterium isolated from saline–alkaline soils in Zhaodong, China

A slightly halophilic bacterium (strain NEAU-ST10-25^T) was isolated from saline–alkaline soils in Zhaodong City, Heilongjiang Province, China. The strain is a Gram-negative, aerobic motile rod. It accumulates poly-β-hydroxyalkanoate and produces exopolysaccharide. It produces beige-yellow colonies. Growth occurs at NaCl concentrations (w/v) of 0–15 % (optimum 3 %), at temperatures of 4–60 °C (optimum 35 °C) and at pH 6–12 (optimum pH 9). Its G+C content is 53.8 mol%. Phylogenetic analyses based on the separate 16S rRNA gene and concatenation of the 16S rRNA, gyrB and rpoD genes indicate that it belongs to the genus Halomonas in the class Gammaproteobacteria. The most phylogenetically related species is Halomonas alkaliphila DSM 16354^T, with which strain NEAU-ST10-25^T showed 16S rRNA, gyrB and rpoD gene sequence similarities of 99.2, 82.3 and 88.2 %, respectively. The results of DNA–DNA hybridization assays showed 60.47 ± 0.69 % DNA relatedness between strain NEAU-ST10-25^T and H. alkaliphila DSM 16354^T, 42.43 ± 0.37 % between strain NEAU-ST10-25^T and Halomonas venusta DSM 4743^T and 30.62 ± 0.43 % between strain NEAU-ST10-25^T and Halomonas hydrothermalis DSM 15725^T. The major fatty acids are C_18:1 ω7c (62.3 %), C_16:0 (17.6 %), C_16:1 ω7c/C_16:1 ω6c (7.7 %), C_14:0 (2.9 %), C_12:0 3-OH (2.8 %), C_10:0 (2.1 %) and C_18:1 ω9c (1.6 %) and the predominant respiratory quinone is ubiquinone 9 (Q-9). The proposed name is Halomonas zhaodongensis, NEAU-ST10-25^T (=CGMCC 1.12286^T = DSM 25869^T) being the type strain.     

Paenibacillus pinihumi sp. nov., a cellulolytic bacterium isolated from the rhizosphere of Pinus densiflora

A novel cellulolytic bacterium, strain S23^T, was isolated from the rhizosphere of the pine trees in Daejeon, Republic of Korea. This isolate was Gram-positive, strictly aerobic, rod-shaped, catalase-negative, oxidase-positive, motile by means of peritrichous flagella, and tested positive for alkaline phosphatase, esterase lipase, leucine arylamidase, α-galactosidase, and β-galactosidase activities. The DNA G+C content was 49.5 mol%. The main cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C_15:0 (51.9%), iso-C_16:0 (14.7%), and iso-C_15:0 (13.2%). The major isoprenoid quinone was menaquinone 7 (MK-7). Diagnostic diamino acid in the cell-wall pepti-doglycan was meso-diaminopimelic acid. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that this strain clustered with Paenibacillus species. The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity values between S23^T and other Paenibacillus species were between 89.9% and 95.9%, and S23^T was most closely related to Paenibacillus tarimensis SA-7-6^T. On the basis of phylogenetic and phenotypic properties of strain S23^T, the isolate is considered as a novel species belonging to the genus Paenibacillus. Therefore, the name, Paenibacillus pinihumi sp. nov., is proposed for the rhizosphere isolate; the type strain is S23^T (=KCTC 13695^T =KACC 14199^T =JCM 16419^T)