Erwinia persicinus, a new species isolated from plants

Five strains of a gram-negative, oxidase-negative, facultatively anaerobic, fermentative, motile, rod-shaped bacterium with the general characteristics of the family Enterobacteriaceae were isolated from tomatoes (three strains), a banana, and a cucumber. All of the strains produced a water-soluble pink pigment. As determined by DNA hybridization (hydroxyapatite method) these five strains were 85 to 100% related in 60 and 75 degrees C reactions, and related sequences exhibited 1% or less base sequence divergence, indicating that the organisms are members of a single species. These bacteria were most closely related to Erwinia rhapontici (68 to 72% at 60 degrees C, 42 to 44% at 75 degrees C, 10.5% divergence) and to hybridization group VIII in the Enterobacter agglomerans (Pantoea agglomerans, Erwinia herbicola) complex (64% at 60 degrees C, 32% at 75 degrees C, 14.5% divergence). Phenotypic differentiation from Erwinia rhapontici, which also produces a water-soluble pink pigment, is based on negative reactions by the new species in tests for methyl red, N-acetylglucosamine, DL-tartrate assimilation, and acid production from amygdalin, dulcitol, D-fucose, beta-gentiobiose, alpha-methyl-D-glucoside, glycerol, D-lyxose, melezitose, D-turanose, xylitol, and D-xylose and a positive reaction for acetoin (Voges-Proskauer test). On the basis of these data, the name Erwinia persicinus is proposed for the new organism. The type strain is strain HK 204 (= AJ 2716 = CDC 9108-82 = IAM 12843 = JCM 3704 = ATCC 35998).     

Culture of Entomophthora muscae in vivo and its infectivity for six species of muscoid flies

A method for the continuous culture of Entomophthora muscae (Entomophthoraceae) in adult house flies (Musca domestica) is described. Using this method we have maintained the host-pathogen system in the laboratory for more than one year. The ability of this isolate to cause fatal infections in virtually all of the house flies at risk has remained constant. The face fly (Musca autumnalis), the onion fly (Hylemya antiqua), and the seed-corn fly (H. platura) are susceptible to this isolate. The stable fly (Stomoxys calcitrans), the black blow fly (Phormia regina), and the false stable fly (Muscina stabulans) are not.     

Chlamydia buteonis,a new Chlamydia species isolated from a red-shouldered hawk

Chlamydiaceae are obligate intracellular bacterial pathogens for humans and animals. A recent study highlighted that a Chlamydiaceae intermediary between C. psittaci and C. abortus can infect hawks. Here, an isolate was obtained upon passage of cloacal and conjunctival sac material collected from a female hatch-year red-shouldered hawk (Buteo lineatus) in cultured cells. The diseased bird, one of 12 birds housed in a rehabilitation center, developed conjunctivitis and later died. Swabs from both sites tested positive for Chlamydia using the QuickVue Chlamydia test. The isolate, named RSHA, tested negative in qPCR assays specific for C. psittaci and C. abortus, respectively. Analysis of the 16S rRNA, 23S rRNA and whole genome sequences as well as MLST, ANIb and TETRA values reveal that C. psittaci and C. abortus are the closest relatives of RSHA. However, the overall results strongly suggest a phylogenetic intermediate position between these two species. Therefore, we propose the introduction of a new species designated Chlamydia buteonis with RSHA^T as the type strain.     

Mycoplasma oxoniensis, a new species isolated from Chinese hamster conjunctivas

Mycoplasmas which were distinct from Mycoplasma cricetuli were isolated from the conjunctivas of Chinese hamsters. Two clones, which were derived from a single colony and were obtained on separate occasions, were examined in detail for morphology, growth, and biochemical characteristics. These clones were indistinguishable from each other and had the following properties: guanine-plus-cytosine content of 29 mol%, requirement for sterol, facultatively anaerobic, and positive for glucose metabolism. They were serologically distinct from M. cricetuli and all 94 other previously described Mycoplasma and Acholeplasma spp. One of them, strain 128 (= NCTC 11712), is designated the type strain of a new species, Mycoplasma oxoniensis.     

Erwinia aphidicola,a new species isolated from pea aphid,Acyrthosiphon pisum

Five strains of Gram-negative, oxidase-negative, facultatively anaerobic, fermentative, motile, rod-shaped bacterium with the general characteristics of the family Enterobacteriaceae were isolated from the gut of multiple specimens of the pea aphid. All the strains caused aphid mortality when ingested by insects via a synthetic diet. The results of biochemical tests showed that these strains are most related to Erwinia herbicola and Pantoea agglomerans. According to DNA-DNA hybridization, the five strains showed more than 96% relatedness to each other, indicating that these organisms are members of a single species. These strains were most closely related to Erwinia herbicola (22% DNA relatedness). Phenotypic differentiation of these strains from Erwinia herbicola, which was also detected from aphid gut, was based on negative reactions in tests of yellow pigment production, gelatin liquefaction, acid production from inulin, starch and dulcitol, and positive acid production from melibiose, inositol, cellobiose and glycerol. On the basis of these data, the name Erwinia aphidicola is proposed for the new organism. The type strain is strain X 001 (=IAM 14479).     

Arcobacter molluscorum sp. nov., a new species isolated from shellfish

Nineteen bacteria isolates recovered from shellfish samples (mussels and oysters) showed a new and specific 16S rDNA-RFLP pattern with an Arcobacter identification method designed to recognize all species described up to 2008. These results suggested that they could belong to a new species. ERIC-PCR revealed that the 19 isolates belonged to 3 different strains. The sequence of the 16S rRNA gene of a representative strain (F98-3^T) showed 97.6% similarity with the closest species Arcobacter marinus followed by Arcobacter halophilus (95.6%) and Arcobacter mytili (94.7%). The phylogenetic analysis with the16S rRNA, rpoB, gyrB and hsp60 genes placed the shellfish strains within the same cluster as the three species mentioned (also isolated from saline habitats) but they formed an independent phylogenetic line. The DDH results between strain F98-3^T and A. marinus (54.8% ± 1.05), confirmed that it represents a new species. Several biochemical tests differentiated the shellfish isolates from all other Arcobacter species. Although the new species was different from A. mytili, they shared not only the same habitat (mussels) but also the characteristic of being so far the only Arcobacter species that are simultaneously negative for urea and indoxyl acetate hydrolysis. All results supported the classification of the shellfish strains as a new species, for which the name Arcobacter molluscorum sp. nov. with the type strain F98-3^T is proposed (=CECT 7696^T = LMG 25693^T).     

Debaryomyces cantarellii nova species,a new yeast isolated from a Finnish soil

Summary A new species of Debaryomyces is described. It was isolated from Finish soil. This species is named Debaryomyces cantarellii in honor of Prof. Corrado Cantarelli of Agricultural University of Perugia-Italy.     

Mycoplasma spermatophilum, a new species isolated from human spermatozoa and cervix

A mycoplasma isolated from human spermatozoa and a human cervix was shown to be serologically distinct from 98 previously recognized Mycoplasma and Acholeplasma spp. Six mycoplasma colonies were cloned and examined in detail for morphology, growth, and biochemical characteristics; five of these were from sperm samples and one was from a cervix. These strains were closely related and had the following properties: guanine-plus-cytosine content of 32 mol%, requirement for sterol, and anaerobic growth. Glucose was not metabolized, and arginine and urea were not hydrolyzed. Strain AH159 (= NCTC 11720) is the type strain of a new species, Mycoplasma spermatophilum.     

Botrytis caroliniana, a new species isolated from blackberry in South Carolina

Blackberry fruits symptomatic for gray mold were collected from three commercial blackberry fields in northwestern South Carolina. Single-spore isolates were generated and two distinct phenotypes were discovered in each location; one sporulated on PDA and one did not. One isolate of each phenotype and location (six isolates total) were selected for in depth molecular and morphological characterization. Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (G3PDH), heat-shock protein 60 (HSP60) and DNA-dependent RNA polymerase subunit II (RPB2) coding sequence alignment revealed Botrytis cinerea as the sporulating phenotype and a new yet undescribed species as the non-sporulating phenotype. The new Botrytis sp., described herein as Botrytis caroliniana, was most closely related genetically to B. fabiopsis and B. galanthina, the causal agents of gray mold disease of broad bean and snowdrop, respectively. It produces smaller conidia than either B. fabiopsis or B. galanthina, and sequence analysis of genes encoding necrosis and ethylene-inducing proteins (NEPs) also indicated that the Botrytis isolates represent a separate and distinct species. The new species is pathogenic on blackberry fruits and broad bean leaves, which distinguishes it further from B. galanthina. The new species formed white to pale gray colonies with short, tufted aerial mycelium and produced black sclerotia on PDA at 20 C. To our knowledge this is only the third Botrytis species discovered to cause disease on blackberry in the United States.     

Fonsecaea multimorphosa sp. nov, a new species of Chaetothyriales isolated from a feline cerebral abscess

A novel fungal species is described originating from the left occipital lobe of the cerebrum of an 18-month-old spayed female cat in Australia. Neurological disorder of the animal became apparent by circling movements and uncoordinated behaviour. Sequencing of the SSU rRNA gene reveals this strain as belonging to the genus Fonsecaea in Chaetothyriales. This order includes many black yeasts and relatives known as etiologic agents of disease in humans and animals, including several neurotropic species. Novelty of the species was corroborated by morphology and by multilocus sequencing of the ribosomal internal transcribed spacers (ITS) and partial sequences of the β-tubulin (BT2) and translation elongation factor (TEF1) genes. The strain is very similar to several strains recovered by a selective isolation technique from the natural environment in Brazil.     

Comparative zone electrophoresis of esterases of Staphylococcus species isolated from mammalian skin.

The electrophoretic mobilities of non-specific esterases in vertical polyacrylamide slab gels were determined for 184 strains of staphylococci, representing a total of 18 proposed species and subspecies. Markedly uniform esterase patterns were seen within species demonstrating a high degree of human host specificity, while those species demonstrating a wide host range were polytypic and often showed considerable polymorphism. The unique banding patterns found in several species indicate that this technique may serve as a valuable aid to existing taxonomic schemes. Starch gel electrophoresis of representative strains usually produced sharper esterase bands than were found with polyacrylamide electrophoresis. However, the additional molecular-sieving effect produced by the polyacrylamide gels differentiated esterases to a greater extent.     

Comparative zone electrophoresis of catalase of Staphylococcus species isolated from mammalian skin.

Vertical polyacrylamide slab gel electrophoresis was conducted for the catalase enzymes of representative strains of 18 proposed species and subspecies of the genus Staphylococcus. The catalase bands which resulted were predominantly monomorphic within each of the species and differences in catalase mobilities were observed between many of the species. The electrophoretic mobilities of the catalases were supportive to the scheme of classification used. Many strains of certain species demonstrated multiple catalase bands which are suggestive of multimolecular forms of the enzyme. Horizontal starch gel electrophoresis of representative strains of S. capitis produced catalase bands with relative mobilities that were different from those obtained with polyacrylamide electrophoresis, presumably due to a difference in molecular sieving between the gels.     

Rasamsonia composticola, a new thermophilic species isolated from compost in Yunnan, China

Rasamsonia composticola sp. nov. is described, illustrated, and compared with similar taxa. This species produces globose to ellipsoid ascomata, spherical asci borne in short chains and globose, 1-celled ascospores, typical of Rasamsonia. Anamorph on CYA, MEA, and PDA produces verrucose, rough-walled conidiophores, and hyaline and cylindrical conidia. This novel species is thermophilic with optimal growth temperature of 45–50 °C, and minimum growth temperature of 30 °C. Phylogenetic analyses based on combined ITS rDNA, partial calmodulin, and β-tubulin sequences, and combined partial RPB2, Tsr1, and Cct8 gene sequences were conducted. Both confirmed the generic placement in Rasamsonia and showed its close phylogenetic relationships to several species in the genus, such as R. emersonii and R. byssochlamydoides.     

Mycoplasma felifaucium, a new species isolated from the respiratory tract of pumas

Mycoplasmas isolated from the throats of three pumas (Felis concolor) were each cloned and examined in detail. All three were serologically and biologically indistinguishable from each other, and were serologically distinct from 83 recognized Mycoplasma and Acholeplasma species. They were designated as a new species, Mycoplasma felifaucium, with strain PU (NCTC 11703) as the type strain.     

Myxotrichum albicans,a new slowly-growing species isolated from forest litters in China

Myxotrichum albicans sp. nov. is a slowly-growing fungal species that was isolated from forest litters in northeast of China. The new species is morphologically characterized by its white colonies on CMA, PCA, PDA, and YMA, thallic conidiogenous cells, simple, catenate and hyaline conidia. Phylogenetic analysis based on internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and large subunit (LSU) rDNA sequences also supported the placement of M. albicans as a new species in the genus Myxotrichum. To compare with related species, the optimal pH and temperature for growth were investigated. The differences among Myxotrichum (Oidiodendron) species producing hyaline conidia were discussed.     

Three new species ofPenicillium isolated from soil

Three new species ofPenicillium Linkex Gray nom. cons. prop. are described and illustrated. These species have been recovered from samples of sandy soil under pine trees. They differ from all species of theGenus described so far and are, therefore, considered and proposed as new taxa:Penicillium rubefaciens sp. nov.,Penicillium vaccaeorum sp. nov. andPenicillium michaelis sp. nov.