Bacillus abyssalis sp. nov., isolated from a sediment of the South China Sea

A Gram-positive bacterium, designated SCSIO 15042^T, was isolated from a sediment of the South China Sea and was subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic study. The isolate grew at 20–60 °C, pH 6.0–10.0 and it could grow with up to 10 % (w/v) NaCl. The cell-wall diamino acid was found to be meso-diaminopimelic acid. Polar lipids were found to be diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine and an unknown polar lipid. The only menaquinone was determined to be MK-7. The major fatty acids were identified as C_16:1 ω7c/C_16:1 ω6c, C_16:0, iso-C_15:0, anteiso-C_15:0, and iso-C_16:0. The DNA G+C content of strain SCSIO 15042^T was determined to be 43.1 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences affiliated strain SCSIO 15042^T to the genus Bacillus. Levels of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities between strain SCSIO 15042^T and Bacillus herbersteinensis D-1-5a^T, Bacillus infantis SMC 4352-1^T, Bacillus novalis LMG 21837^T and Bacillus drentensis LMG 21831^T were 96.2, 96.2, 96.1 and 96.1 %, respectively. Based on the evidence of the present polyphasic study, strain SCSIO 15042^T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Bacillus, for which the name Bacillus abyssalis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is SCSIO 15042^T (=DSM 25875^T = CCTCC AB 2012074^T = NBRC 109102^T).     

Wangella harbinensis gen. nov., sp. nov., a new member of the family Micromonosporaceae

A novel endophytic actinomycete, designated strain NEAU-J3^T, was isolated from soybean root (Glycine max (L.) Merr) and characterized using a polyphasic approach. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences suggested that strain NEAU-J3^T fell within the family Micromonosporaceae. The strain was observed to form an extensively branched substrate mycelium, which carried non-motile oval spores with a smooth surface. The cell walls of strain NEAU-J3^T were determined to contain meso-diaminopimelic acid and galactose, ribose and glucose were detected as whole-cell sugars. The major menaquinones were determined to be MK-9(H₄) and MK-9(H₆). The phospholipids detected were phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine. The major cellular fatty acids were determined to be C_16:0, C_18:1 ω9c, C_18:0, C_17:0, C_17:1 ω7c, anteiso-C_17:0, C_16:1 ω7c and C_15:0. The DNA G + C content was 62.5 mol%. On the basis of the morphological and chemotaxonomic characteristics, phylogenetic analysis and characteristic patterns of 16S rRNA gene signature nucleotides, strain NEAU-J3^T is considered to represent a novel species of a new genus within the family Micromonosporaceae, for which the name Wangella harbinensis gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Wangella harbinensis is strain NEAU-J3^T (=CGMCC 4.7039^T = DSM 45747^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.     

Shewanella litorisediminis sp. nov., a gammaproteobacterium isolated from a tidal flat sediment

A Gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic, non-motile and rod-shaped bacterial strain, designated SMK1-12^T, was isolated from a tidal flat sediment on the western coast of Korea. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA and gyrB gene sequences showed that strain SMK1-12^T belonged to the genus Shewanella, clustering with the type strain of Shewanella amazonensis. Strain SMK1-12^T exhibited the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity value (97.0 %) and the highest gyrB sequence similarity value (87.8 %) to S. amazonensis SB2B^T, respectively. Strain SMK1-12^T contained simultaneously both menaquinones and ubiquinones; the predominant menaquinone was MK-7 and the predominant ubiquinones were Q-7 and Q-8. The major fatty acids (>10 % of the total fatty acids) detected in strain SMK1-12^T were the MIDI system summed feature 3 (iso-C_15:0 2-OH and/or C_16:1 ω7c), iso-C_15:0, C_17:1 ω8c and C_16:0. The DNA G+C content of strain SMK1-12^T was 58.0 mol% and its mean DNA–DNA relatedness value with S. amazonensis ATCC 700329^T was 15 ± 4.6 %. Differential phenotypic properties, together with the phylogenetic and genetic distinctiveness, revealed that strain SMK1-12^T is distinguishable from recognized Shewanella species. On the basis of the data presented, strain SMK1-12^T is considered to represent a novel Shewanella species, for which the name Shewanella litorisediminis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is SMK1-12^T (=KCTC 23961^T = CCUG 62411^T).     

Nonhongiella spirulinensis gen. nov., sp. nov., a bacterium isolated from a cultivation pond of Spirulina platensis in Sanya, China

A Gram-negative, aerobic, motile rod strain, designated Ma-20^T, was isolated from a pool of marine Spirulina platensis cultivation, Sanya, China, and was subjected to a polyphasic taxonomy study. Strain Ma-20^T can grow in the presence of 0.5–11 % (w/v) NaCl, 10–43 °C and pH 6–10, and grew optimally at 30 °C, pH 7.5–9.0 in natural seawater medium. The polar lipids were composed of phosphatidylethanolamine, three unidentified phospholipids and three unidentified polar lipids. The respiratory quinone was ubiquinone 8 (Q-8) and the major fatty acids were C_18:1ω6c/C_18:1ω7c (summed feature 8, 32.84 %), C_16:1ω6c/C_16:1ω7c (summed feature 3, 30.76 %), C_16:0 (13.54 %), C_12:03-OH (4.63 %), and C_12:0 (4.09 %). The DNA G+C content of strain Ma-20^T was 58 mol %. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain Ma-20^T belonging to Gammaproteobacteria, it shared 88.46–91.55 and 89.21–91.26 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to the type strains in genus Hahella and Marinobacter, respectively. In addition to the large 16S rRNA gene sequence difference, Ma-20^T can also be distinguished from the reference type strains Hahella ganghwensis FR1050^T and Marinobacter hydrocarbonoclasticus sp. 17^T by several phenotypic characteristics and chemotaxonomic properties. On the basis of phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic properties, strain Ma-20^T is suggested to represent a novel species of a new genus in Gammaproteobacteria, for which the name Nonhongiella spirulinensis gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is Ma-20^T (=KCTC 32221^T=LMG 27470^T).     

Halomonas cibimaris sp. nov., isolated from jeotgal, a traditional Korean fermented seafood

Two moderately halophilic, facultatively aerobic, motile bacteria with flagella, designated strains 10-C-3^T and 30-C-3, were isolated from jeotgal, a traditional Korean fermented seafood. Cells of the strains were observed to be ovoid-rods showing catalase- and oxidase-positive reactions and production of creamy-pink pigments. Growth of strain 10-C-3^T was observed at 15–35 °C (optimum, 25–30 °C), at pH 5.5–9.0 (optimum, pH 7.0–7.5), and in the presence of 3–15 % (w/v) salts (optimum: 5–10 %). The two strains were found to contain C_18:1 ω7c, C_16:0, summed feature 3 (as defined by the MIDI system, comprising C_16:1 ω7c and/or C_16:1 ω6c), and C_12:0 3-OH as the major cellular fatty acids. The G+C contents of the genomic DNA of strains 10-C-3^T and 30-C-3 were determined to be 63.2 and 63.1 mol%, respectively and the respiratory quinone detected was ubiquinone 9 (Q-9) only. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strains 10-C-3^Tand 30-C-3 formed a distinct phyletic lineage within the genus Halomonas and are most closely related to Halomonas fontilapidosi 5CR^T with 95.2 % of 16S rRNA sequence similarity. Strains 10-C-3^Tand 30-C-3 shared 99.2 % of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity and their DNA–DNA relatedness value was 96.6 ± 0.9 %. On the basis of phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and molecular features, strains 10-C-3^Tand 30-C-3 represent a novel species of the genus Halomonas, for which the name Halomonas cibimaris sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 10-C-3^T (= KACC 14932^T = JCM 16914^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).     

Oceanobacillus halophilum sp. nov. Isolated from a Mangrove Forest Soil

A halophilic, aerobic bacterium, designated GD01^T, was isolated from a mangrove forest soil near the South China Sea. Cells of strain GD01^T were Gram staining positive, oxidase positive, and catalase positive. The strain was rod shaped and motile by means of peritrichous flagella and produced ellipsoidal endospores. The strain was able to grow with NaCl at concentrations of 0.5–12 % (optimum 3–5 %, w/v), at temperatures of 20–50 °C (optimum 30 °C), and at pH 6.0–8.5 (optimum pH 7.0). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain GD01^T formed a cluster with O. profundus DSM 18246^T (96.4 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity), O. caeni KCTC 13061^T (95.4 %), and O. oncorhynchi JCM 12661^T (94.5 %). The G+C content of strain GD01^T was 38.7 mol%. The major respiratory quinone was MK-7. The major cellular fatty acids (>5 %) were anteiso-C_15:0, iso-C_16:0 (13.7 %), anteiso-C_17:0 (12.6 %), iso-C_15:0 (9.9 %), iso-C_14:0 (9.5 %), and C_16:0 (5.0 %). The polar lipids consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, glycolipid, four unknown lipids, and four unknown phospholipids. Based on phenotypic characteristics, chemotaxonomic features, and phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, the strain was identified to represent a distinct novel species in the genus Oceanobacillus, and the name proposed is Oceanobacillus halophilum sp. nov. with type train GD01^T (=CCTCC AB 2012863^T = KCTC 33101^T).     

Isolation and Characterization of Marine Nonylphenol-Degrading Bacteria and Description of Pseudomaricurvus alkylphenolicus gen. nov., sp. nov.

Two novel aerobic p-n-nonylphenol-degrading bacterial strains were isolated from seawater obtained from the coastal region of Ogasawara Islands, Japan. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that the strains are affiliated with the order Alteromonadales within the class Gammaproteobacteria. One isolate, strain KU41G2, is most closely related to Maricurvus nonylphenolicus (99.2 % similarity), and is tentatively identified as M. nonylphenolicus. The other isolate, strain KU41G^T, is also most closely related to M. nonylphenolicus; however, the 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity was only 94.7 %. Cells of strain KU41G^T are Gram-negative rods with a single polar flagellum. The predominant respiratory lipoquinone was ubiquinone-8, and the major cellular fatty acids were C_17:1 ω8c (24.2 %); C_15:0 iso 2-OH; and/or C_16:1 ω7c (16.3 %), C_15:0 (10.3 %), C_11:0 3-OH (9.5 %), C_9:0 3-OH (6.7 %), C_10:0 3-OH (6.4 %), and C_18:1 ω7c (5.5 %). The DNA G+C content was 53.3 mol%. On the basis of physiological, chemotaxonomic, and phylogenetic data, strain KU41G^T is suggested to represent a novel species of a new genus, for which we propose the name Pseudomaricurvus alkylphenolicus gen. nov., sp. nov. The type strain of P. alkylphenolicus is KU41G^T (=JCM 19135^T = KCTC 32386^T).     

Sphingobacterium pakistanensis sp. nov., a novel plant growth promoting rhizobacteria isolated from rhizosphere of Vigna mungo

The taxonomic status of a bacterium, strain NCCP-246^T, isolated from rhizosphere of Vigna mungo, was determined using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. The strain NCCP-246^T can grow at 16–37 °C (optimum 32 °C), at pH ranges of 6–8 (optimum growth occurs at pH 7) and in 0–4 % (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis based upon on 16S rRNA gene sequence comparison revealed that strain NCCP-246^T belonged to genus Sphingobacterium. Strain NCCP-246^T showed highest similarity to the type strain of Sphingobacterium canadense CR11^T (97.67 %) and less than 97 % with other species of the genus. The DNA–DNA relatedness value of strain NCCP-246^T with S. canadense CR11^T and Sphingobacterium thalpophilum JCM 21153^T was 55 and 44.4 %, respectively. The chemotaxonomic data revealed the major menaquinone as MK-7 and dominant cellular fatty acids were summed feature 3 [C_16:1 ω7c/C_16:1 ω6c] (37.07 %), iso-C_15:0 (28.03 %), C_16:0 (11.85 %), C_17:0 cyclo (8.84 %) and C_14:0 (2.42 %). The G+C content of the strain was 39.2 mol%. On the basis of DNA–DNA hybridization, phylogenetic analyses, physiological and, biochemical data, strain NCCP-246^T can be differentiated from the validly named members of genus Sphingobacterium and thus represents as a new species, for which the name, Sphingobacterium pakistanensis sp. nov. is proposed with the type strain NCCP-246^T (= JCM18974 ^T = KCTC 23914^T).     

Chryseobacterium yeoncheonense sp. nov., with ginsenoside converting activity isolated from soil of a ginseng field

A Gram-staining negative, aerobic, non-motile, non-flagellate, yellow-pigmented, rod-shaped bacterial strain, designated strain DCY67^T, was isolated from ginseng field in Republic of Korea. Strain DCY67^T contained β-glucosidase activity which converts ginsenoside Rb1 to compound K. Optimum growth of DCY67^T occurred at 30 °C and pH 6.0–6.5. Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain DCY67^T belonged to the family Flavobacteriaceae and was most closely related to Chryseobacterium ginsenosidimutans THG 15^T (97.5 %). The genomic DNA G+C content was 36.1 mol%. The predominant quinones were MK-6 (90.9 %) and MK-7 (9.15 %). The major fatty acids were iso-C_15:0, summed feature 3 (containing C_16:1 ω7c and/or C_16:1 ω6c) and iso-C_17:0 3-OH. On the basis of these phenotypic, genotypic and chemotaxonomic studies, strain DCY67^T represents a novel species of the genus Chryseobacterium, for which, name Chryseobacterium yeoncheonense sp. nov. proposed the type strain is DCY67^T (=KCTC 32090^T = JCM 18516^T).     

Sphingomonas gimensis sp. nov., a novel Gram-negative bacterium isolated from abandoned lead–zinc ore mine

A novel bacterial strain designated 9PNM-6^T was isolated from an abandoned lead–zinc ore mine site in Meizhou, Guangdong Province, China. The isolate was found to be Gram-negative, rod-shaped, orange-pigmented, strictly aerobic, oxidase- and catalase-positive. Growth occurred at 0–4 % NaCl (w/v, optimum, 0 %), at pH 6.0–8.0 (optimum, pH 7.0) and at 15–32 °C (optimum, 28–30 °C). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities showed that strain 9PNM-6^T belongs to the genus Sphingomonas, with the highest sequence similarities with Sphingomonas jejuensis NBRC 107775^T (99.7 %), Sphingomonas koreensis KCTC 2882^T (95.1 %) and Sphingomonas dokdonesis KCTC 12541^T (95.1 %). The chemotaxonomic characteristics of strain 9PNM-6^T were consistent with those of the genus Sphingomonas. The predominant respiratory quinone was identified as ubiquinone Q-10, the major polyamine as sym-homospermidine, and the major cellular fatty acids as C_18:1 ω7c, C_16:0, C_16:1 ω7c and/or C_16:1 ω6c and C_14:0 2-OH. The major polar lipids are sphingoglycolipid, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatideylcholine, an unidentified phospholipid and four unidentified aminolipids. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain 9PNM-6^T was determined to be 69.2 ± 0.6 mol%. Based on comparative analyses of morphological, physiological and chemotaxonomic data, and levels of DNA–DNA relatedness values, strain 9PNM-6^T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Sphingomonas, for which the name Sphingomonas gimensis sp. nov. (Type strain 9PNM-6^T = GIMCC 1.655^T = CGMCC 1.12671^T = DSM 27569^T) is proposed.     

Paenibacillus brassicae sp. nov., isolated from cabbage rhizosphere in Beijing, China

A novel Gram-positive, rod-shaped, motile, spore-forming, nitrogen-fixing bacterium, designated strain 112^T, was isolated from cabbage rhizosphere in Beijing, China. The strain was found to grow at 10–40 °C and pH 4–11, with an optimum of 30 °C and pH 7.0, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis based on a fragment of the full-length 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that strain 112^T is a member of the genus Paenibacillus. High levels of 16S rRNA gene similarities were found between strain 112^T, Paenibacillus sabinae DSM 17841^T (97.82 %) and Paenibacillus forsythiae DSM 17842^T (97.22 %). However, the DNA–DNA hybridization values between strain 112^T and the type strains of these two species were 10.36 and 6.28 %, respectively. The predominant menaquinone was found to be menaquinone 7 (MK-7). The major fatty acids were determined to be anteiso-C_15:0 and C_16:0. The major polar lipids were found to be diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and unknown aminophospholipids. The cell wall peptidoglycan was found to contain meso-diaminopimelic acid. The DNA G+C content was determined to be 55.4 mol%. On the basis of its phenotypic characteristics, 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis and the value of DNA–DNA hybridization, strain 112^T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Paenibacillus, for which the name Paenibacillus brassicae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 112^T (= ACCC 01125^T = DSM 24983^T).     

Mucilaginibacter calamicampi sp. nov., a member of the family Sphingobacteriaceae isolated from soil at a field of reeds

A Gram-negative, aerobic, non-flagellated, non-gliding, rod-shaped bacterial strain, designated WR-R1Y^T, was isolated from soil at a field of reeds in South Korea. Strain WR-R1Y^T grew optimally at 30 °C, at pH 7.0–7.5 and in the absence of NaCl. Neighbour-joining phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain WR-R1Y^T fell within the clade comprising Mucilaginibacter species, coherently clustering with the type strain of Mucilaginibacter composti, with which it exhibited the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity value of 97.6 %. Sequence similarities to the type strains of the other Mucilaginibacter species and the other species used in the phylogenetic analysis were 93.1–96.9 % and <91.1 %, respectively. Strain WR-R1Y^T contained MK-7 as the predominant menaquinone and iso-C_15:0, summed feature 3 (C_16:1 ω6c and/or C_16:1 ω7c), C_16:0 and iso-C_17:0 3-OH as the major fatty acids. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine and one unidentified aminophospholipid. The DNA G+C content of strain WR-R1Y^T was 43.1 mol% and its mean DNA–DNA relatedness value with M. composti KACC 14956^T was 17 %. The differential phenotypic properties, together with the phylogenetic and genetic distinctiveness, revealed that strain WR-R1Y^T is separate from other Mucilaginibacter species. On the basis of the data presented, strain WR-R1Y^T represents a novel species of the genus Mucilaginibacter, for which the name Mucilaginibacter calamicampi sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is WR-R1Y^T (= KCTC 32214^T = CCUG 63418^T).     

Pacificamonas flava gen. nov., sp. nov., a Novel Member of the Family Sphingomonadaceae Isolated from the Southeastern Pacific

Strain JLT2015^T was isolated from surface seawater of the Southeastern Pacific. The strain was Gram-negative, aerobic, motile by gliding, and rod shaped. The dominant fatty acids were C_18:1ω7c, C_16:0, and C_16:1ω7c. The major respiratory ubiquinone was Q-10, and the predominant polyamine pattern was spermidine. The components of the polar lipid profile were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, and sphingoglycolipid. The DNA G+C content was 64.2 %. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed strain JLT2015^T belonged to belong to the family Sphingomonadaceae, exhibiting 94.7 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with Novosphingobium pentaromativorans. On the basis of the taxonomic data presented, together with phylogenetic and genetic characteristics, strain JLT2015^T is considered to represent a novel genus, for which the name Pacificamonas flava gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Pacificamonas flava is JLT2015^T (=LMG27364^T = CGMCC1.12401^T).     

Erythrobacter westpacificensis sp. nov., a Marine Bacterium Isolated From the Western Pacific

A novel Gram-negative, orange-pigmented bacterial strain JLT2008^T was isolated from the surface seawater of the Western Pacific and subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic study. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain JLT2008^T belonged to the genus Erythrobacter, sharing the highest similarity (96.6 %) with Erythrobacter gangjinensis K7-2^T and the lowest similarity (94.9 %) with Erythrobacter litoralis DSM 8509^T. Strain JLT2008^T did not contain bacteriochlorophyll a, and the predominant respiratory lipoquinone was ubiquinone-10. The major fatty acids were C_18:1 ω7c, C_16:0, C_16:1 ω7c/C_16:1 ω6c. The prominent polar lipids were sphingoglycolipid, phosphatidylethanolamine, and phosphatidylglycerol. The genomic G + C content was 60.1 mol %. Based on the polyphasic taxonomic data, a novel species within the genus Erythrobacter, and with the name Erythrobacter westpacificensis sp. nov., is proposed. The type strain is JLT2008^T (=CGMCC 1.10993^T = JCM 18014^T).     

Alishewanella solinquinati sp. nov., Isolated from Soil Contaminated with Textile Dyes

A novel Gram-negative, motile, rod-shaped, facultative anaerobic bacterial strain, KMK6^T, was isolated from soil contaminated with textile dyes from an industrial estate located at Ichalkaranji, Maharashtra, India, and its taxonomical position was established by using a polyphasic approach. The major cellular fatty acids included C_17:1ω8c, summed feature 3 (C_16:1ω7c and/or iso-C_15:0 2-OH), C_17:0, C_16:0, and C_18:1ω7c. The DNA G+C content of strain KMK6^T was 48.8 mol %. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis confirmed its placement in the genus Alishewanella, and exhibited sequence similarity levels of below 97 % to the type strains of validly published Alishewanella species. On the basis of genotypic and phenotypic evidence, strains KMK6^T is considered to be a novel species of the genus Alishewanella, for which we propose that strain KMK6^T (=NCIM 5295^T =BCRC 17848^T) is assigned to a novel species, Alishewanella solinquinati sp. nov.     

Echinimonas agarilytica gen. nov., sp. nov., a new gammaproteobacterium isolated from the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus intermedius

A novel Gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic and motile bacterial strain, designated KMM 6351^T, was isolated from the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus intermedius and examined using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. A phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that the strain formed a distinct phyletic line in the class Gammaproteobacteria and was most closely related to the genera Aliivibrio, Photobacterium and Vibrio. Strain KMM 6351^T grows at 4–40 °C and with 0.5–12 % NaCl and decomposes aesculin, agar, gelatin, starch, chitin and DNA. The DNA G+C content of the strain was determined to be 46.1 mol%. The prevalent fatty acids were found to be C_16:0, C_18:1 ω7c, C_12:0 3-OH and summed feature 3 (comprising C_16:1 ω7c and/or iso-C_15:0 2-OH fatty acids). The major polar lipids were determined to be diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and an unidentified aminolipid. The predominant ubiquinone was found to be Q-8. The results of the phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genotypic analyses clearly indicated that the novel strain should be assigned to a new genus and species within the class γ-Proteobacteria for which the name Echinimonas agarilytica gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is KMM 6351^T (=KCTC 22996^T = LMG 25420^T).     

Flavobacterium arsenitoxidans sp. nov., an arsenite-oxidizing bacterium from Thai soil

An arsenite-oxidizing bacterium, strain S2-3H^T, was isolated from arsenic-contaminated soil sample collected from Dantchaeng district, Suphanburi province, Thailand and was characterized based on polyphasic taxonomic study. The strain was observed to be a Gram-stain negative, aerobic, yellow pigmented, non-spore forming and rod-shaped bacterium. Major menaquinone was MK-6. Iso-C_15:0, iso-C_15:0 3OH, C_16:1 ω7c/C_16:1 ω6c, C_16:0, iso-C_17:0 3OH, and C_16:0 3OH were the predominant cellular fatty acids. The polar lipid profile consisted of phosphatidylethanolamine, unidentified phospholipids and unidentified aminophospholipids. The DNA G+C content was 37.0 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis using 16S rRNA sequence showed that strain S2-3H^T is affiliated to the genus Flavobacterium, and is closely related to F. defluvii KCTC 12612^T (97.0 %) and F. johnsoniae NBRC 14942^T (97.0 %). The strain S2-3H^T could be clearly distinguished from the related Flavobacterium species by its physiological and biochemical characteristics as well as its phylogenetic position and DNA–DNA relatedness. Therefore, the strain represents a novel species of the genus Flavobacterium, for which the name Flavobacterium arsenitoxidans sp. nov. (type strain S2-3H^T = KCTC 22507^T = NBRC 109607^T = PCU 331^T = TISTR 2238^T) is proposed.     

Salegentibacter echinorum sp. nov., isolated from the sea urchin Hemicentrotus pulcherrimus

A novel Gram-negative, strictly aerobic, heterotrophic, non-motile and yellow-pigmented bacterial strain, designated HD4^T, was isolated from the sea urchin Hemicentrotus pulcherrimus collected from the Yellow Sea in China. Optimal growth of the strain was observed at 28–30 °C, pH 6.8–7.3, and in the presence of 3–5 % (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that strain HD4^T exhibited high similarity with the members of Salegentibacter (92.3–95.4 %). The DNA G+C content was 37.0 mol%, MK-6 was the main respiratory quinone and summed feature 3 (comprising iso-C_15:0 2-OH/C_16:1ω7c), iso-C_15:0, iso-C_17:0 3-OH and anteiso-C_15:0 were the major cellular fatty acids. The predominant polar lipids in strain HD4^T were phosphatidylethanolamine and two unknown lipids (L2, L4). Based on the phylogenetic, physiological and biochemical characteristics, strain HD4^T should be classified as a novel species within the genus Salegentibacter, for which the name Salegentibacter echinorum sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is HD4^T (=CICC 10466^T = NRRL B-59666^T).