Colwellia meonggei sp. nov., a novel gammaproteobacterium isolated from sea squirt Halocynthia roretzi

A Gram-negative, non-spore-forming, aerobic, motile and rod-shaped or ovoid bacterial strain, designated MA1-3^T, was isolated from a sea squirt (Halocynthia roretzi) collected from the South sea in South Korea. Strain MA1-3^T was found to grow optimally at 25 °C, at pH 7.0–8.0 and in the presence of 2.0 % (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain MA1-3^T fell within the clade comprising Colwellia species, clustering coherently with the type strains of Colwellia aestuarii, Colwellia polaris and Colwellia chukchiensis, showing sequence similarity values of 97.2, 96.4 and 95.6 %, respectively. It exhibited 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity values of 93.9–96.1 % to the type strains of the other Colwellia species. Strain MA1-3^T was found to contain Q-8 as the predominant ubiquinone and C_16:1 ω7c and/or C_16:1 ω6c, C_16:0 and C_16:1 ω9c as the major fatty acids. The DNA G+C content of strain MA1-3^T was determined to be 39.1 mol% and its mean DNA–DNA relatedness value with the type strain of C. aestuarii was 13 ± 5.4 %. The differential phenotypic properties, together with the phylogenetic and genetic distinctiveness, revealed that the novel strain is separated from other Colwellia species. On the basis of the data presented, strain MA1-3^T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Colwellia, for which the name Colwellia meonggei sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is MA1-3^T (=KCTC 32380^T = CECT 8302^T).     

Tenacibaculum caenipelagi sp. nov., a member of the family Flavobacteriaceae isolated from tidal flat sediment

A Gram-stain-negative, non-spore-forming, aerobic, non-flagellated, gliding and rod-shaped bacterial strain, designated HJ-26M^T, was isolated from a tidal flat sediment in the Korean peninsula. It grew optimally at 25–30 °C, at pH 7.0–8.0 and in the presence of 2 % (w/v) NaCl. A neighbour-joining phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that the strain fell within the clade comprising Tenacibaculum species, clustering coherently with the type strains of Tenacibaculum lutimaris and Tenacibaculum aestuarii. Strain HJ-26M^T exhibited the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity values of 98.4 and 98.2 % to T. lutimaris TF-26^T and T. aestuarii SMK-4^T, respectively, and of 94.9–97.4 % to the type strains of the other Tenacibaculum species. Strain HJ-26M^T contained MK-6 as the predominant menaquinone and iso-C_15:0 and iso-C_17:0 3-OH as the major fatty acids. The DNA G+C content of strain HJ-26M^T was 34.5 mol% and its mean DNA–DNA relatedness values with the type strains of T. lutimaris and T. aestuarii were 19 and 23 %, respectively. Differential phenotypic properties, together with the phylogenetic and genetic distinctiveness, revealed that strain HJ-26M^T is separate from other Tenacibaculum species. On the basis of the data presented, strain HJ-26M^T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Tenacibaculum, for which the name Tenacibaculum caenipelagi sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is HJ-26M^T (= KCTC 32323^T = CECT 8283^T).     

Tenacibaculum halocynthiae sp. nov., a member of the family Flavobacteriaceae isolated from sea squirt Halocynthia roretzi

A Gram-negative, non-spore-forming, aerobic, non-flagellated, non-gliding and rod-shaped bacterial strain, designated P-R2A1-2^T, was isolated from sea squirt (Halocynthia roretzi) collected from the South Sea, Korea. It grew optimally at 25–28 °C, at pH 7.0–8.0 and in the presence of 2 % (w/v) NaCl. Neighbour-joining phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that the strain fell within the clade comprising Tenacibaculum species. Strain P-R2A1-2^T exhibited the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity values of 97.6, 97.2 and 97.0 % to Tenacibaculum aestuarii SMK-4^T, T. lutimaris TF-26^T and T. aiptasiae a4^T, respectively, and of 94.5–96.8 % to the type strains of the other Tenacibaculum species. Strain P-R2A1-2^T contained MK-6 as the predominant menaquinone and C_16:1 ω7c and/or iso-C_15:0 2-OH, iso-C_15:0 3-OH and iso-C_15:0 as the major fatty acids. The DNA G + C content of strain P-R2A1-2^T was 30.7 mol % and its DNA–DNA relatedness values with the type strains of T. aestuarii, T. lutimaris and T. aiptasiae were 17 ± 4.2, 21 ± 6.1 and 16 ± 5.2 %, respectively. Differential phenotypic properties, together with the phylogenetic and genetic distinctiveness, revealed that the novel strain is separate from other Tenacibaculum species. On the basis of the data presented, strain P-R2A1-2^T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Tenacibaculum, for which the name Tenacibaculum halocynthiae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is P-R2A1-2^T (=KCTC 32262^T = CCUG 63681^T).     

Roseovarius gaetbuli sp. nov., a novel alphaproteobacterium isolated from a tidal flat sediment

A Gram-negative, aerobic, non-motile and ovoid or rod-shaped bacterial strain, designated YM-20^T, was isolated from a tidal flat of the Yellow Sea in South Korea. Strain YM-20^T was found to grow optimally at 30 °C, at pH 7.0–8.0 and in the presence of 2.0–3.0 % (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain YM-20^T clustered consistently with the type strains of ‘Roseovarius marisflavi’ and Roseovarius lutimaris, with which it exhibited 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities of 99.86 and 98.71 %, respectively. Strain YM-20^T was found to contain Q-10 as the predominant ubiquinone and C_18:1 ω7c as the predominant fatty acid. The major polar lipids of strain YM-20^T were identified as phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, one unidentified aminolipid and one unidentified lipid. The DNA G+C content of strain YM-20^T was determined to be 60.9 mol% and its DNA–DNA relatedness values with the type strains of ‘R. marisflavi’, R. lutimaris and Pelagicola litorisediminis were 53 ± 7.1, 22 ± 5.5 and 13 ± 4.7  %, respectively. The differential phenotypic properties, together with the phylogenetic and genetic distinctiveness, revealed that strain YM-20^T is separated from ‘R. marisflavi’, R. lutimaris, the other Roseovarius species and P. litorisediminis. On the basis of the data presented, strain YM-20^T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Roseovarius, for which the name Roseovarius gaetbuli sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YM-20^T (= KCTC 32428^T = CECT 8370^T).     

Thalassobius aquaeponti sp. nov., an alphaproteobacterium isolated from seawater

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, non-motile and rod-shaped or ovoid bacterial strain, GJSW-22^T, which was isolated from seawater at Geoje island in South Korea, was characterized taxonomically. Strain GJSW-22^T was observed to grow optimally at 30 °C, at pH 7.0–8.0 and in the presence of 2.0 % (w/v) NaCl. In the neighbour-joining phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, strain GJSW-22^T grouped with the type strains of Thalassobius species, forming a stable cluster with the type strain of Thalassobius aestuarii (bootstrap value of 83.2 %). Strain GJSW-22^T exhibited the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity value (98.0 %) to the type strain of T. aestuarii. It exhibited 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity values of 95.6–96.1 % to the type strains of the other Thalassobius species. Strain GJSW-22^T was found to contain Q-10 as the predominant ubiquinone and C_18:1 ω7c and 11-methyl C_18:1 ω7c as the major fatty acids. The major polar lipids of strain GJSW-22^T were identified as phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, one unidentified aminolipid and one unidentified lipid. The DNA G + C content of strain GJSW-22^T is 60.3 mol % and its mean DNA–DNA relatedness value with the type strain of T. aestuarii was 23 %. Differential phenotypic properties, together with the phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic data, confirmed that strain GJSW-22^T is distinct from other Thalassobius species. On the basis of the data presented, strain GJSW-22^T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Thalassobius, for which the name Thalassobius aquaeponti sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is GJSW-22^T (=KCTC 42115^T = NBRC 110378^T).     

Roseovarius marisflavi sp. nov., isolated from an amphioxus breeding zone in the coastal region of the Yellow Sea, China

A novel Gram stain-negative, catalase- and oxidase-positive, strictly aerobic bacterium, designated strain H50^T, was isolated from an amphioxus breeding zone in the coastal region of the Yellow Sea, China. Cells were observed to be ovoid or short rods, lacked flagella and were found to contain bacteriochlorophyll a. Poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate was found to be accumulated. The temperature range for growth was determined to be 0–37 °C (optimum 28–37 °C). The halotolerance range for growth is 1–15 % NaCl (optimum 2–7 %). The pH range for growth is 6.0–8.0 (optimum 7.0). The major fatty acids were identified as C_18:1ω7c and C_16:0. The following polar lipids were found to be present: diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and a lipid. The predominant respiratory quinone was determined to be Q-10. DNA G+C content was determined to be 57.7 mol%. Strain H50^T exhibited the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to Pelagicola litoralis DSM 18290^T (96.1 %), Roseovarius mucosus DSM 17069^T (95.8 %) and Roseovarius tolerans DSM 11457^T (95.7 %). In the phylogenetic trees, strain H50^T was clustered with the genus Roseovarius but not Pelagicola. On the basis of phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genotypic data, strain H50^T is considered to represent a novel species in the genus Roseovarius, for which the name Roseovarius marisflavi sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is H50^T (=CGMCC 1.10799^T=JCM 17553^T).     

Roseivivax jejudonensis sp. nov., isolated from the junction between the ocean and a freshwater spring at Jeju island,South Korea

A Gram-stain negative, coccoid- or oval-shaped and non-gliding bacterial strain, designated CDM-17^T, was isolated from the zone where the ocean and a freshwater spring meet at Jeju island, South Korea, and subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic study. Strain CDM-17^T was observed to form smooth, circular, glistening, slightly convex, light yellowish pink colonies on marine agar, and was found to grow optimally at pH 7.0–8.0, at 30 °C and in the presence of 2–3 % (w/v) NaCl. A neighbour-joining phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain CDM-17^T fell within the clade comprising the Roseivivax species, clustering with the type strain of Roseivivax sediminis with which it exhibited 98.3 % sequence similarity value. Sequence similarities to the type strains of the other recognized Roseivivax species were 94.7–96.8 %. Strain CDM-17^T was found to contain Q-10 as the predominant ubiquinone and summed feature 8 (C_18:1 ω6c and/or C_18:1 ω7c) as the major fatty acid. The major polar lipids were identified as phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol, an unidentified aminolipid, an unidentified glycolipid and an unidentified lipid. The DNA G+C content of strain CDM-17^T was determined to be 66.2 mol% and its mean DNA–DNA relatedness value with Rsv. sediminis KCTC 23444^T was 17.5 ± 2.7 %. Differential phenotypic properties, together with the phylogenetic and genetic distinctiveness, revealed that strain CDM-17^T is distinguishable from recognized Roseivivax species. On the basis of the data presented, strain CDM-17^T is proposed to represent a novel species of the genus Roseivivax, for which the name Roseivivax jejudonensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CDM-17^T (=KCTC 42110^T = CECT 8625^T).     

Actibacterium atlanticum sp. nov., isolated from surface seawater of the Atlantic Ocean

A taxonomic study was carried out on strain 22II-S11-z10^T, which was isolated from the surface seawater of the Atlantic Ocean. The bacterium was found to be Gram-stain negative, oxidase and catalase positive, oval- to rod-shaped and non-motile. Growth was observed at salinities of 0.5–9 % and at temperatures of 10–41 °C. The isolate can reduce nitrate to nitrite, degrade gelatin and aesculin, but can not degrade Tween 80. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain 22II-S11-z10^T belongs to the genus Actibacterium, with the highest sequence similarity to the type strain Actibacterium mucosum CECT 7668^T (97.3 %). The DNA–DNA hybridization estimate value between strain 22II-S11-z10^T and A. mucosum CECT 7668^T was 19.30 ± 2.29 %. The principal fatty acids were identified as Summed Feature 8 (C_18:1 ω7c/ω6c as defined by the MIDI system, 75.2 %) and Summed Feature 3 (C_16:1 ω7c/ω6c, 6.9 %). The G+C content of the chromosomal DNA was determined to be 59.0 mol%. The respiratory quinone was determined to be Q-10 (100 %). Phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, two phospholipids, two aminolipids and two lipids were identified in the polar lipids. The combined genotypic and phenotypic data show that strain 22II-S11-z10^T represents a novel species within the genus Actibacterium, for which the name Actibacterium atlanticum sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain 22II-S11-z10^T (=MCCC 1A09298^T = LMG 27158^T).     

Altererythrobacter oceanensis sp. nov., isolated from the Western Pacific

A Gram-stain negative, ovoid-rod shaped, strictly aerobic bacterium, strain Y2^T, was isolated from a deep-sea sediment of the Western Pacific. Phylogenetic and phenotypic properties of the organism indicated that it belongs to the genus Altererythrobacter. Strain Y2^T shares highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 96.6 % with Erythrobacter jejuensis CNU001^T, followed by the type strains of recognized members of the genus Altererythrobacter (94.8–96.5 %). Strain Y2^T forms a clade with E. jejuensis CNU001^T in the cluster of species of the genus Altererythrobacter. Growth of strain Y2^T was observed at 4–40 °C (optimum, 35–37 °C), at pH 6.0–10.0 (optimum, pH 7.0–8.0) and in the presence of 0–5 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 2–3 %). The major cellular fatty acids were found to be C_17:1 ω6c (41.5 %), summed feature 8 (C_18:1 ω7c and/or C_18:1 ω6c; 17.2 %), C_17:1 ω8c (11.0 %) and C_15:0 2OH (8.1 %). The major respiratory quinone was determine to be ubiquinone 10 (Q-10). The polar lipid analysis indicated the presence of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol, one sphingoglycolipid, three unidentified phospholipids, two unidentified glycolipids, two unidentified aminolipids and three unknown lipids. The DNA G + C content of the type strain is 60.0 mol %. On the basis of the data from the polyphasic characterization, strain Y2^T represents a novel species, for which the name Altererythrobacter oceanensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is Y2^T (=CGMCC 1.12752^T =LMG 28109^T).     

Roseovarius azorensis sp. nov., isolated from seawater at Espalamaca,Azores

A Gram-negative, motile, non-spore forming, rod shaped aerobic bacterium, designated strain SSW084^T, was isolated from a surface seawater sample collected at Espalamaca (38°33′N; 28°39′W), Azores. Growth was found to occur from 15 to 40 °C (optimum 30 °C), at pH 7.0–9.0 (optimum pH 7.0) and with 25–100 % seawater or 0.5–7.0 % NaCl in the presence of Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺; no growth was found with NaCl alone. Colonies on seawater nutrient agar were observed to be punctiform, white, convex, circular, smooth, and translucent. Strain SSW084^T did not grow on Zobell marine agar and tryptic soy agar even when seawater supplemented. The major respiratory quinone was found to be Q-10 and the G + C content was determined to be 61.9 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that strain SSW084^T belongs to the genus Roseovarius and that its closest neighbours are Roseovarius tolerans EL-172^T, Roseovarius mucosus DFL-24^T and Roseovarius lutimaris 112^T with 95.7, 95.4 and 95.3 % sequence similarity respectively. The remaining species of Roseovarius showed <95 % similarity. The polar lipids of strain SSW084^T were determined to be phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, an unidentified lipid and one unidentified aminolipid. The major fatty acids identified were identified as C_18:1 ω7c (52.5 %) and C_16:0 (13.8 %). On the basis of phenotypic, molecular and chemotaxonomic characteristics, strain SSW084^T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Roseovarius, for which Roseovarius azorensis sp. nov is proposed. The type strain is SSW084^T (=KCTC 32421^T = MTCC 11812^T).     

Algoriphagus boseongensis sp. nov., a member of the family Cyclobacteriaceae isolated from a tidal flat

A Gram-stain negative, aerobic, non-motile, non-spore-forming and rod-shaped bacterial strain, BS-R1^T, was isolated from a tidal flat at Boseong, South Korea. Strain BS-R1^T was found to grow optimally at 30 °C, at pH 7.0–8.0 and in the presence of 2.0 % (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain BS-R1^T belongs to the genus Algoriphagus, clustering consistently with the type strain of Algoriphagus mannitolivorans, with which it exhibited 98.4 % sequence similarity. Sequence similarities between strain BS-R1^T and the type strains of the other Algoriphagus species were between 92.7 and 97.0 %. Strain BS-R1^T was found to contain MK-7 as the predominant menaquinone and iso-C_15:0, iso-C_17:0 3-OH and summed feature 3 (C_16:1 ω7c and/or C_16:1 ω6c) as the major fatty acids. The major polar lipids of strain BS-R1^T were identified as phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine and one unidentified lipid. The DNA G+C content was determined to be 42.3 mol% and its mean DNA–DNA relatedness values with A. mannitolivorans KACC 11349^T was 17 ± 5 %. The phylogenetic and genetic distinctiveness and differential phenotypic properties demonstrated that strain BS-R1^T is distinguishable from the other Algoriphagus species as well as A. mannitolivorans. On the basis of the data presented, strain BS-R1^T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Algoriphagus, for which the name Algoriphagus boseongensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is BS-R1^T (=KCTC 32580^T = CECT 8446^T).     

Simiduia aestuariiviva sp. nov., a gammaproteobacterium isolated from a tidal flat sediment

A Gram-stain negative, aerobic, motile and rod-shaped bacterial strain, designated J-MY2^T, was isolated from a tidal flat sediment of the South Sea, South Korea. Strain J-MY2^T was found to grow optimally at 30 °C, at pH 7.0–8.0 and in the presence of 2.0 % (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain J-MY2^T forms a cluster with the type strains of Simiduia species. Strain J-MY2^T exhibited 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity values of 97.62–98.77 % to the type strains of four Simiduia species and of <92.95 % sequence similarity to the type strains of the other recognized species. Strain J-MY2^T was found to contain Q-8 as the predominant ubiquinone and summed feature 3 (C_16:1 ω7c and/or C_16:1 ω6c), C_16:0, C_18:1 ω7c and C_17:1 ω8c as the major fatty acids. The major polar lipids of strain J-MY2^T were identified as phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, three unidentified glycolipids and one unidentified lipid. The DNA G+C content of strain J-MY2^T was determined to be 54.8 mol% and its mean DNA–DNA relatedness values with the type strains of the four Simiduia species were in the range 21–34 %. The differential phenotypic properties, together with the phylogenetic and genetic distinctiveness, revealed that strain J-MY2^T is separated from other Simiduia species. On the basis of the data presented, strain J-MY2^T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Simiduia, for which the name Simiduia aestuariiviva sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is J-MY2^T ( = KCTC 42073^T = CECT 8571^T).     

Ruegeria meonggei sp. nov., an alphaproteobacterium isolated from ascidian Halocynthia roretzi

A Gram-negative, strictly aerobic, non-flagellated and rod-shaped bacterial strain, designated MA-E2-3^T, was isolated from an ascidian (Halocynthia roretzi) collected from the South Sea, South Korea. Strain MA-E2-3^T was found to grow optimally at 30 °C, at pH 7.0–8.0 and in the presence of 2.0–3.0 % (w/v) NaCl. A neighbour-joining phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain MA-E2-3^T fell within the clade comprising Ruegeria species, clustering consistently with the type strain of Ruegeria halocynthiae, with which it exhibited 98.2 % sequence similarity. Sequence similarities to the type strains of the other recognized Ruegeria species were 94.7–97.7 %. Strain MA-E2-3^T was found to contain Q-10 as the predominant ubiquinone and C_18:1 ω7c as the predominant fatty acid. The major polar lipids of strain MA-E2-3^T were identified as phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, one unidentified aminolipid and one unidentified lipid. The DNA G+C content of strain MA-E2-3^T was determined to be 58.0 mol%. Mean DNA–DNA relatedness values between strain MA-E2-3^T and the type strains of four phylogenetically closely related Ruegeria species were in the range of 13–23 %. The differential phenotypic properties, together with the phylogenetic and genetic distinctiveness, revealed that strain MA-E2-3^T is separated from other Ruegeria species. On the basis of the data presented, strain MA-E2-3^T (=KCTC 32450^T = CECT 8411^T) represents a novel species of the genus Ruegeria, for which the name Ruegeria meonggei sp. nov. is proposed.     

Caulobacter zeae sp. nov. and Caulobacter radicis sp. nov., novel endophytic bacteria isolated from maize root (Zea mays L.)

Four bacterial strains designated 410^T, 441, 695^T and 736 were isolated from maize root in Beijing, P. R. China. Based on 16S rRNA gene phylogeny, the four strains formed two clusters in the genus Caulobacter. Since strain 441 was a clonal variety of strain 410^T, only three strains were selected for further taxonomic studies. The whole genome average nucleotide identity (ANI) value between strains 410^T and 695^T was 94.65%, and both strains shared less than 92.10% ANI values with their close phylogenetic neighbors Caulobacter vibrioides DSM 9893^T, Caulobacter segnis ATCC 21756^T and Caulobacter flavus CGMCC 1.15093^T. Strains 410^T and 695^T contained Q-10 as the sole ubiquinone and their major fatty acids were C_{16:0, 11-methyl C18:1ω 0}, 11-methyl C_{18: 1}ω7c, summed feature 3 (C_{16:1ω7c and/or C16:1ω 1}ω7c and/or C_{16: 1}ω6c) and summed feature 8 (C_{18:1ω7c and/or C18:1ω 1}ω7c and/or C_{18: 1}ω6c). Their major polar lipids consisted of glycolipids and phosphatidylglycerol, and phenotypic tests differentiated them from their closest phylogenetic neighbors. Based on the results obtained, it is proposed that the three strains represent two novel species, for which the names Caulobacter zeae sp. nov. (type strain 410^T = CGMCC 1.15991 = DSM 104304) and Caulobacter radicis sp. nov. (type strain 695^T = CGMCC 1.16556 = DSM 106792) are proposed.     

Variibacter gotjawalensis gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from soil of a lava forest

A novel bacterial strain designated GJW-30^T was isolated from soil of the lava forest, Gotjawal, located in Aewol, Jeju, Korea. Strain GJW-30^T was found to be strictly aerobic, Gram-negative and to form pleomorphic, non-motile rods and white colonies on R2A agar. The major fatty acids were identified as C_18:1ω7c, C_16:0 and C_17:0, the predominant isoprenoid quinone as Q-10, the polar lipids as diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, an unidentified aminolipid and an unidentified lipid. The cell-wall sugar pattern of strain GJW-30^T was found to be composed of glucose, ribose and rhamnose and meso-DAP as the diagnostic diamino acid in the cell-wall peptidoglycan. The DNA G+C content of strain GJW-30^T is 62.2 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis, based on 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities, showed that strain GJW-30^T forms a deep branch within the order Rhizobiales, sharing the highest level of sequence homology with Bradyrhizobium oligotrophicum LMG 10732^T (93.6 %). On the basis of the phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic characteristics, strain GJW-30^T is considered to represent a novel genus and species, for which the name Variibacter gotjawalensis gen. nov., sp. nov. (the type strain is GJW-30^T = KCTC 32391^T = CECT 8514^T = LMG 28093^T) is proposed.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Novosphingobium profundi</Emphasis> sp. nov. isolated from a deep-sea seamount

A marine bacterial strain, F72^T, was isolated from a solitary scleractinian coral, collected in Yap seamounts in the Pacific Ocean. Strain F72^T is a Gram-negative, light-yellow-pigmented, motile, rod-shaped bacterium. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain F72^T is related to the genus Novosphingobium and has high 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities with the type strains of Novosphingobium pentaromativorans US6-1^T (97.7 %), Novosphingobium panipatense SM16^T (97.6 %), Novosphingobium mathurense SM117^T (97.2 %) and Novosphingobium barchaimii LL02^T (97.1 %). Ubiquinone Q-10 was detected as the dominant quinone. The predominant cellular fatty acids were C_18:1ω7c and C_17:1ω6c. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain F72^T was 63.4 mol %. The polar lipids profile contained phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylmethylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, sphingoglycolipid and one uncharacterized lipid. Strain F72^T shared DNA relatedness of 25 % with N. pentaromativorans JCM 12182^T, 31 % with N. panipatense DSM 22890^T, 21 % with N. mathurense DSM 23374^T and 26 % with N. barchaimii DSM 25411^T. Combined data from phenotypic, phylogenetic and DNA–DNA relatedness studies demonstrated that the strain F72^T is a representative of a novel species of the genus Novosphingobium, for which we propose the name Novosphingobium profundi sp. nov. (type strain F72^T = KACC 18566^T = CGMCC 1.15390^T).