Metarhizium brachyspermum sp. nov. (Clavicipitaceae), a new species parasitic on Elateridae from Japan

Ascomata of a Metarhizium species were collected from Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. The ascomata were similar to M. kalasinense in its host preference for elaterids, olive-green clavate stromata, and obliquely immersed perithecia, but the asci and ascospores were significantly shorter in length than those of the latter species. Furthermore, phylogenetic analyses based on the internal transcribed spacer region of nuclear ribosomal DNA and the elongation factor 1-alpha gene showed that the Japanese species was phylogenetically distinctive in the M. anisopliae lineage, including M. kalasinense. Accordingly, we describe a new species, M. brachyspermum. Isolates of this species produced olive-green conidial masses on the surface of the colony. Also, hyphal anastomoses between two metulae were often observed on conidiophores.     

Corynebacterium uberis sp. nov. frequently isolated from bovine mastitis

Several strains belonging to the genus Corynebacterium, but not to any described species of the genus were isolated from bovine mastitic milk samples over the past five years in the diagnostic unit of the University of Bern. Six of these strains (18M0132^T, 17M2518, 18M0913, 19M0083, 20M1046 and 20M1090) that were phenotypically similar were further characterized genotypically. Gram-positive coryneform rods were catalase positive, facultative anaerobe and CAMP-test negative. Whole genome sequencing and subsequent phylogenetic analysis revealed their genome size to be 2.53 Mb and their G + C content to be between 65.4 and 65.5 mol%. Digital DNA-DNA hybridisation (dDDH) showed the highest similarity of only less than 20% with Corynebacterium mastitidis and Corynebacterium frankenforstense, which indicated that the isolates belong to an undescribed Corynebacterium species. This was confirmed by studying the average nucleotide identity (ANI) where the accepted species boundary is around 95% and which ranged between 70.3% and 74.9% with the most closely related species C. mastitidis. We established MALDI-TOF fingerprints of the species, which allows a clear separation from related species and can be used by other laboratories for diagnostic purposes.Based on our analyses we conclude that the selected strains belong to a previously undescribed species and propose the name Corynebacterium uberis sp. nov. The proposed type strain is 18M0132^T (=DSM 111922^T, = CCOS 1972^T).     

Molecular data and phylogenetic analysis of Myxobolus pseudonobilis n. sp. infecting the gill filaments of silver carp,Hypophthalmichthys molitrix Valenciennes, 1844

In the present study, we combined morphological and phylogenetic methods to characterize Myxobolus pseudonobilis n. sp. infecting Hypophthalmichthys molitrix Valenciennes, 1844 from Chongqing, China. The morphology and molecular characteristics of M. pseudonobilis n. sp. were distinct from those of other previously described Myxobolus species. Mature myxospores were ovoid in frontal view with spore dimensions of 10.0 ± 0.4 (9.3–10.9) μm in length and 8.5 ± 0.2 (7.9–9.0) μm in width. Two polar capsules occupying approximately half of the myxospore length were unequal in size. The larger polar capsule containing 6 to 7 filament coils measured 5.2 ± 0.3 (4.5–5.8) μm in length and 3.6 ± 0.2 (3.2–3.9) μm in width, while the smaller capsule with 4 to 5 filament coils measured 3.9 ± 0.3 (3.0–4.4) μm in length and 2.5 ± 0.3 (2.1–3.6) μm in width. The comparison of molecular characteristics demonstrated similarities and genetic distances of 18S rDNA sequences of 95.19% - 98.20% and 1.82% - 5.46%, respectively, between M. pseudonobilis n. sp. and its morphologically similar species, and secondary structures were also distinctly different. Moreover, phylogenetic analysis showed that M. pseudonobilis n. sp. was clustered with other myxobolids possessing spores with a blunt anterior end and branched independently. In addition, the morphology of myxosporeans as an important indicator was discussed.     

Leptographium wushanense sp. nov., associated with Tomicus armandii on Pinus armandii in Southwestern China

Leptographium wushanense sp. nov., which is associated with Tomicus armandii, is described based on molecular sequence data and morphological characters. The phylogenetic analyses based on ITS2-partial LSU rDNA region, β-tubulin and elongation factor 1-α genes showed that L. wushanense formed a well-supported clade and was closely related to L. conjunctum and L. yunnanense, and then nested within L. lundbergii complex. The species is characterized that its conidiophores were longer than those of L. yunnanense and shorter than those of L. conjunctum, while its conidia were larger than those of L. conjunctum and smaller than those of L. yunnanense. Furthermore, the colonial growth of L. wushanense is faster than those of L. conjunctum and L. yunnanense at 25 °C on 2% MEA. Both molecular data and morphological comparison confirmed the placement of the new species in genus of Leptographium.     

Epitypification and molecular confirmation of Erysiphe cucurbitacearum as a synonym of Golovinomyces tabaci

Recently published phylogenetic analyses of the Golovinomyces orontii complex revealed that three different species of the genus Golovinomyces may occur on cucurbitaceous hosts, viz., G. bolayi, G. orontii s. str., and G. tabaci. Owing to its morphological characteristics, Erysiphe cucurbitacearum (≡ G. cucurbitacearum) was tentatively reduced to synonym with G. tabaci. However, final conclusions on the identity and status of E. cucurbitacearum, described from China on Cucumis sativus, as putative synonym of G. tabaci required a phylogenetic confirmation and epitypification with ex-epitype sequences. Therefore, a sample of G. cucurbitacearum collected on C. sativus in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China, in 2014 (HMJAU-PM91862) has been sequenced and is designated as epitype of the latter species, since its holotype material (HMAS 40016, collected in 1954) turned out to be too old for molecular examinations. As a result of morphological examinations and phylogenetic analyses based on ex-epitype ITS and 28S rDNA sequences, the recently assumed synonymy of G. cucurbitacearum, found on C. sativus in China, with G. tabaci could be confirmed. In addition, two new host species of G. tabaci, viz., Trigonotis peduncularis (Boraginaceae) and Rubia cordifolia (Rubiaceae), were concurrently identified. Trigonotis peduncularis is the first verified boraginaceous host for G. tabaci.     

Pelovirga terrestris gen. nov., sp. nov., anaerobic,alkaliphilic, fumarate-, arsenate-, Fe(III)- and sulfur-reducing bacterium isolated from a terrestrial mud volcano

A novel anaerobic, mesophilic, alkaliphilic, chemoorganotrophic bacterium (strain M08fum^T) was isolated from a salsa lake of a terrestrial mud volcano (Taman Peninsula, Russia). Cell of strain M08fum^T were Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped, non-spore forming motile rods. The temperature range for growth was 10–45 °C (optimum at 30 °C). The pH range for growth was 7.0–11.0, with an optimum at pH 8.5–9.0. The isolate was capable of organic acids fermentation and anaerobic respiration with elemental sulfur, Fe(III) and arsenate. The end products of fumarate fermentation were succinate, acetate and CO₂. The closest phylogenetic relatives of strain M08fum^T were members of the family Geopsychrobacteraceae, class Desulfuromonadia. The genome of strain M08fum^T had a size of 3.10 Mb with a DNA G + C content of 53.1% (WGS). Genome analysis revealed the presence of genes involved in fumarate fermentation, arsenate reduction and resistance, sulfur respiration and Fe (III) reduction. Based on the phenotypic, genotypic and phylogenetic characteristics we propose to assign strain M08fum^T to a new species of a novel genus Pelovirga terrestris gen. nov., sp. nov. within the family Geopsychrobacteraceae. The type strain of Pelovirga terrestris is M08fum^T (=KCTC 15919^T = VKM B-3407^T). This is the first representative of the class Desulfuromonadia, isolated in pure culture from a mud volcano and the first alkaliphile in the family Geopsychrobacteraceae.     

Vibrio aestivus sp. nov. and Vibrio quintilis sp. nov., related to Marisflavi and Gazogenes clades,respectively

Two new Vibrio species, Vibrio aestivus and Vibrio quintilis, are described after a polyphasic characterization of strains M22^T, M61 and M62^T, isolated from seawater collected off a beach on the East coast of Spain (Valencia). All three strains are Gram negative, mesophilic, slightly halophilic, fermentative rods. V. aestivus (M22^T = CECT 7558^T = CAIM 1861^T = KCTC 23860^T and M61 = CECT 7559 = CAIM 1862 = KCTC 23861) is oxidase positive, reduces nitrates to nitrites, is negative for Voges Proskauer, arginine dihydrolase and indole and non hydrolytic on most substrates tested. The 16S rRNA gene sequences of M22^T and M61 are most similar to Vibrio marisflavi (97.1–97.2%) but phylogenetic analysis using NJ, MP and ML methods display Vibrio stylophorae (96.2% similarity) as sibling species. The three species form a deep clade in the genus Vibrio. Average Nucleotide Identity (ANI) values, determined as a measure of overall genomic resemblance, confirmed that strains M22^T and M61 are members of the same species, different to V. marisflavi CECT 7928^T.V. quintilis (M62^T = CECT 7734^T = CAIM 1863^T = KCTC 23833^T) is aerogenic, arginine dihydrolase and Voges Proskauer positive, oxidase negative and unable to reduce nitrate, traits shared by most species in the Gazogenes clade. It is unpigmented and does not grow on TCBS Agar. 16S rRNA gene similarities to its nearest species, Vibrio aerogenes and Vibrio mangrovi, are 97.6% and 96.0% respectively. Strain M62^T and V. aerogenes CECT 7868^T display ANI values well below the 95% boundary for genomic species.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Mesotoga prima</Emphasis> gen. nov., sp. nov., the first described mesophilic species of the Thermotogales

A novel mesophilic member of the Thermotogales, strain MesG1.Ag.4.2, was isolated from sediments from Baltimore Harbor, MD, USA. The strain grew optimally at 37 °C with a doubling time of 16.5 h on xylose. Carbohydrates and proteinaceous compounds supported growth and pentoses were preferred over hexoses. The strain was strictly anaerobic and growth was slightly stimulated by thiosulfate, sulfite, and elemental sulfur. The G + C content of its genomic DNA was 45.3 mol%. Strain MesG1.Ag.4.2 and Kosmotoga olearia lipids were analyzed. Strain MesG1.Ag.4.2 contained no long-chain dicarboxylic acids and its major phospholipid was lyso-phosphatidylserine. Long-chain dicarboxylic acids were found in K. olearia and its major phospholipid was cardiolipin, a lipid not yet reported in Thermotogales species. Phylogenetic analyses of its two 16S rRNA genes placed strain MesG1.Ag.4.2 within the bacterial order Thermotogales. Based on the phylogenetic analyses and its low optimal growth temperature, it is proposed that the strain represents a novel species of a new genus within the family Thermotogaceae, order Thermotogales. The name Mesotoga prima gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of M. prima is MesG1.Ag.4.2 (= DSM 24739 = ATCC BAA-2239).     

Systematical position and paleoecology of the endemic deer Megaceroides algericus Lydekker, 1890 (Cervidae,Mammalia) from the late Pleistocene-early Holocene of North Africa

The unusual cranial morphology of the endemic extinct African deer Megaceroides algericus (Lydekker, 1890) is described. Some details of cranial and dental morphology suggest that M. algericus is closely related to the Eurasian giant deer Megaloceros giganteus (Blumenbach, 1799). The paper presents also a discussion on paleoecology and functional morphology of M. algericus, as well as its origin, phylogenetic and taxonomic position. Megaloceros mugarensis (Di Stefano, 1996) from the middle Pleistocene of Levant is regarded as a probable forerunner of M. algericus.     

Morphological and molecular identification of two new species of Tubulicrinis (Hymenochaetaceae,Hymenochaetales) from southern China

Two new wood-inhabiting fungal species, Tubulicrinis xantha and T. yunnanensis spp. nov., are described based on morphological and molecular characters. Tubulicrinis xantha is characterized by resupinate, furfuraceous basidiomata with buff to yellowish hymenial surface, amyloid lyocystidia and cylindrical to allantoid, hyaline, thin-walled, smooth basidiospores (5.3–6.3 × 1.2–1.6 μm). Tubulicrinis yunnanensis is characterized by pruinose basidiomata with primrose to olivaceous hymenial surface and encrusted lyocystidia and cylindrical, hyaline, thin-walled, smooth basidiospores (4.2–6.2 × 1.2–2 μm). Sequences of ITS and LSU nrRNA gene regions of the studied samples were generated, and phylogenetic analyses were performed with maximum likelihood, maximum parsimony and bayesian inference methods. The phylogenetic analyses based on molecular data of ITS and ITS + nLSU sequences showed that T. xantha grouped with T. martinicensis, and T. yunnanensis grouped with T. glebulosus.     

Crystallicutis gen. nov. (Irpicaceae,Basidiomycota), including C. damiettensis sp. nov., found on Phoenix dactylifera (date palm) trunks in the Nile Delta of Egypt

The taxonomy of Polyporales is complicated by the variability in key morphological characters across families and genera, now being gradually resolved through molecular phylogenetic analyses. Here a new resupinate species, Crystallicutis damiettensis sp. nov. found on the decayed trunks of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) trees in the fruit orchards of the Nile Delta region of Egypt is reported. Multigene phylogenetic analyses based on ITS, LSU, EF1α, RPB1 and RPB2 loci place this species in Irpicaceae, and forming a distinct clade with Ceraceomyces serpens and several other hitherto unnamed taxa, which we also incorporate into a new genus Crystallicutis. We name two of these species, Crystallicutis huangshanensis sp. nov. and Crystallicutis rajchenbergii sp. nov. The distinctive feature of Crystallicutis gen. nov. is the presence of crystal-encrusted hyphae in the hymenium and subiculum. Basidiomes are usually honey-yellow with white margins but there is variability in the presence of clamp connections and cystidia, as noted for other genera within Irpicacae. C. damiettensis is hitherto consistently associated with date palms killed by the red palm weevil Rhynchophorus ferrugineus, a highly damaging and invasive pest, recently spread to the Mediterranean region. C. damiettensis causes rapid wood decay by a potentially unusual white-rot mechanism and may play a role in the damage caused by R. ferrugineus.     

Fontivita pretiosa gen. nov., sp. nov., a thermophilic planctomycete of the order Tepidisphaerales from a hot spring of Baikal lake region

A novel facultatively anaerobic moderately thermophilic bacterium, strain B-254^T, was isolated from a terrestrial hot spring near the town of Goryachinsk in the Baikal lake region (Russian Federation). Motile spherical cells of the strain were present as single cocci, in pairs, or aggregates. The cells had a Gram negative cell wall and reproduced by binary fission. The isolate grew at 30–57 °C (opt. 50–54 °C) and at pH 5.1–8.4 (opt. 6.6–7.1). Strain B-254^T was a chemoorganoheterotroph, growing on mono-, di- and polysaccharides (xylan, starch, galactan, galactomannan, xyloglucan, arabinan, curdlan, beta-glucan, locust bean gum, xanthan gum). Sodium chloride or yeast extract were not required for growth. Major cellular fatty acids were iso-C_16:0, anteiso-C_17:0, and C_20:0; major polar lipid was phosphatidylethanolamine. The complete genome of strain B-254^T was 5.54 Mb; its GC content was 64 %. According to the results of 16S rRNA gene sequence-based phylogenetic analysis and the conserved proteins sequences-based phylogenomic analysis strain B-254^T was on a separate lineage within the order Tepidisphaerales (Phycisphaerae, Planctomycetes). Based on phylogenetic and phylogenomic analyses of Phycisphaerae, whole genome comparisons of Tepidisphaerales as well as distinctive phenotypic features of the strain, it was assigned to a novel genus and species for which the name Fontivita pretiosa gen. nov. sp. nov. is proposed. Strain B-254^T = KCTC 82380^T = VKM B-3507^T.     

Hirticrusta gen. nov. segregated from Neofomitella in Polyporaceae (Polyporales)

Taxonomic studies including morphological observations and phylogenetic analyses were conducted on Japanese “uragin-take”, an unidentified species from Amazonia, Brazil and their allies. Phylogenetic analyses using ITS, nrLSU and RPB2 regions revealed that “uragin-take”, Neofomitella polyzonata and the unidentified species formed a monophyletic clade separate from the clade including the other four Neofomitella spp. and that “uragin-take” is conspecific with N. polyzonata. Morphological investigations on authentic specimens revealed that Polyporus subradiatus is a prior name for N. polyzonata. We propose Hirticrusta gen. nov. typified by H. subradiata segregated from Neofomitella, and we erected H. amazonica sp. nov. for the unidentified species. Hirticrusta is characterized by annual to biennial and sessile basidiocarps, semicircular to dimidiate pileus, velutinous to tomentose hairs on pileus surface, buff to brown context with a crustose layer indicated by a dark brown line forming a longitudinal section below the superficial hairs, a trimitic hyphal system, crustose layer composed of parallel and densely arranged brown hyphae and cylindrical basidiospores. The new species, H. amazonica is distinguishable from other polypores by downy and long tomentum on the pileus surface (up to 20 mm thick), brown context with a dark brown layer below the tomentum and round pores (5–7/mm).     

Population genetic structure in the endemic cyprinid fish Microphysogobio alticorpus in Taiwan: Evidence for a new phylogeographical area

The Formosa Bank is a significant zoogeographical barrier for the freshwater fish in Southern Taiwan. Here, we present population genetic structure analyses on Microphysogobio alticorpus populations in Taiwan, and biogeographic pattern to infer the relationship between historic dispersal geological dynamics. A total of 24 haplotypes were genotyped for mitochondrial CR + cyt b region in 134 specimens collected from 9 populations. Relatively high levels of haplotype diversity (h = 0.896) and low levels of nucleotide diversity (π = 0.005) were detected in M. alticorpus. Two major phylogenetic haplotype groups, Clade N1+N2 and S, were revealed and estimated to diverge about 0.121 myr (million years) ago. Haplotype network and population genetic analyses indicated significant genetic structure (F_ST = 0.876), largely concordant with the geographical location of the populations. According to SAMOVA analysis, M. alticorpus populations were divided into five units that can be explained by episodes of dispersal and population expansion followed by population fragmentation and restricted gene flow. The results of the topological pattern and network suggested that the Kaoping River was the first habitat colonized by the ancestor of M. alticorpus, before the northward dispersal.     

Xylodon kunmingensis sp. nov. (Hymenochaetales,Basidiomycota) from southern China

A new wood-inhabiting fungal species, Xylodon kunmingensis, is proposed based on morphological and molecular evidences. The species is characterized by an annual growth habit, resupinate basidiocarps with cream to buff hymenial, odontioid surface, a monomitic hyphal system with generative hyphae bearing clamp connections and oblong-ellipsoid, hyaline, thin-walled, smooth, inamyloid and indextrinoid, acyanophilous basidiospores, 5–5.8 × 2.8–3.5 μm. The phylogenetic analyses based on molecular data of ITS sequences showed that X. kunmingensis belongs to the genus Xylodon and formed a single group with a high support (100% BS, 100% BP, 1.00 BPP) and grouped with the related species X. astrocystidiatus, X. crystalliger and X. paradoxus. Both morphological and molecular evidences confirmed the placement of the new species in Xylodon.     

Description of a new species of Moniliformis (Acanthocephala: Moniliformidae) from Peromyscus hylocetes (Rodentia: Cricetidae) in Mexico

Moniliformis ibunami n. sp., is described from the intestine of the transvolcanic deermouse Peromyscus hylocetes Merriam 1898 (Cricetidae) from Parque Nacional Nevado de Colima “El Floripondio”, Jalisco, Mexico. The new species can be distinguished morphologically from the other 18 congeneric species of Moniliformis by a combination of morphological and molecular characters including the number of hooks on the proboscis (12 longitudinal rows, each one with six to eight transversally arranged unrooted hooks), the proboscis length (230–270 μm), the female trunk length (159–186 mm) and egg size (40–70 × 20–40). For molecular distinction, nearly complete sequences of the small subunit (SSU) and large subunit (LSU) of the nuclear ribosomal DNA and cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (cox 1) of the mitochondrial DNA of the new species were obtained and compared with available sequences downloaded from GenBank. Phylogenetic analyses inferred with the three molecular markers consistently showed that Moniliformis ibunami n. sp. is sister to other congeneric species of Moniliformis. The genetic distance with cox 1 gene among Moniliformis ibunami n. sp., M. saudi, M. cryptosaudi, M. kalahariensis, M. necromysi and M. moniliformis ranged from 20 to 27%. Morphological evidence and high genetic distance, plus the phylogenetic analyses, indicate that acanthocephalans collected from the intestines of transvolcanic deer mice represent a new species which constitutes the seventh species of the genus Moniliformis in the Americas.     

Mesorhizobium ventifaucium sp. nov. and Mesorhizobium escarrei sp. nov., two novel root-nodulating species isolated from Anthyllis vulneraria

Ten mesorhizobial strains isolated from root-nodules of Anthyllis vulneraria by trapping using soils from southern France were studied to resolve their taxonomy. Their 16S rDNA sequences were identical and indicated that they are affiliated to the genus Mesorhizobium within the group M. prunaredense/M. delmotii/M. temperatum/M. mediterraneum/M. wenxiniae and M. robiniae as the closest defined species. Their evolutionary relationships with validated species were further characterized by multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) using 4 protein-coding housekeeping genes (recA, atpD, glnII and dnaK), that divides the strains in two groups, and suggest that they belong to two distinct species. These results were well-supported by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry analyses, wet-lab DNA-DNA hybridization (≤58%), and genome-based species delineation methods (ANI < 96%, in silico DDH < 70%), confirming their affiliation to two novel species. Based on these differences, Mesorhizobium ventifaucium (STM4922^T = LMG 29643^T = CFBP 8438^T) and Mesorhizobium escarrei (type strain STM5069^T = LMG 29642^T = CFBP 8439^T) are proposed as names for these two novel species. The phylogeny of nodulation genes nodC and nodA allocated the type strains into symbiovar anthyllidis as well as those of M. metallidurans STM2683^T, M. delmotii STM4623^T and M. prunaredense STM4891^T, all recovered from the same legume species.