<Emphasis Type="Italic">Streptomyces tunisialbus</Emphasis> sp. nov., a novel <Emphasis Type="Italic">Streptomyces</Emphasis> species with antimicrobial activity

A novel actinomycete strain designated S2^T was isolated from Tunisian rhizosphere soil of Lavandula officinalis. This isolate exhibited broad spectrum antibacterial activity against several Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and also antifungal activity against yeast and filamentous fungi. The isolate S2^T presents morphological and chemotaxonomic characteristics typical of the members of the genus Streptomyces. Whole cell hydrolysates of S2^T were found to contain LL-diaminopimelic acid. The major fatty acids were identified as C16:0, anteiso-C15:0 and iso-C16:0 whereas the predominant menaquinones were found to be MK-9(H6) and MK-9(H8). The polar lipids were identified as diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylinositol mannoside and three unidentified compounds. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was determined to be 71.8 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain S2^T belongs to the genus Streptomyces and is closely related to Streptomyces netropsis DSM 40259^T with 99.86% sequence similarity. Multi-locus sequence analysis (MLSA) based on four house-keeping gene alleles (gyrB, recA, trpB, rpoB) showed that isolate S2^T is closely related to S. netropsis, with an MLSA distance greater than 0.007. The DNA–DNA relatedness between strain S2^T and its near phylogenetic neighbour was 63.6 ± 2.3%, which is lower than the 70% threshold value for delineation of genomic prokaryotic species. This isolate was also distinguished from the type strain S. netropsis DSM 40259^T, using a combination of morphological and physiological features. Based on its phenotypic and molecular properties, strain S2^T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Streptomyces, for which the name Streptomyces tunisialbus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is S2^T (= JCM 32165^T = DSM 105760^T).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Frankia inefficax</Emphasis> sp. nov., an actinobacterial endophyte inducing ineffective,non nitrogen-fixing,root nodules on its actinorhizal host plants

Strain EuI1c^T is the first actinobacterial endophyte isolated from Elaeagnus umbellata that was shown to be infective on members of Elaeagnaceae and Morella but lacking the ability to form effective root nodules on its hosts. The strain can be easily distinguished from strains of other Frankia species based on its inability to produce vesicles, the specialized thick-walled structures where nitrogen fixation occurs. Chemotaxonomically, strain EuI1c^T contains phosphatidylinositol, diphosphatidylglycerol, two glycophospholipids and phosphatidylglycerol as phospholipids. The whole cell sugars were composed of glucose, galactose, mannose, ribose, rhamnose and fucose as diagnostic sugars of the species. Major fatty acids were iso-C_16:0, C_17:1 ω8c and C_15:0 and C_17:0 and the predominant menaquinones were MK-9(H₆), MK-9(H₈) and MK-9(H₄). Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain EuI1c^T showed 97, 97.4 and 97.9% identity with Frankia elaeagni DSM 46783^T, Frankia casuarinae DSM 45818^T and Frankia alni DSM 45986^T, respectively. Digital DNA:DNA hybridizations with type strains of the three Frankia species with validly/effectively published names are significantly below 70%. These results warrant distinction of EuI1c^T (= DSM 45817^T = CECT 9037^T) as the type strain of a novel species designated Frankia inefficax sp. nov.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Streptomyces luozhongensis</Emphasis> sp. nov., a novel actinomycete with antifungal activity and antibacterial activity

A novel actinomycete strain, designated TRM 49605^T, was isolated from a desert soil sample from Lop Nur, Xinjiang, north-west China, and characterised using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. The strain exhibited antifungal activity against the following strains: Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Curvularia lunata, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Fusarium oxysporum, Penicillium citrinum, Candida albicans and Candida tropicalis; Antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Micrococcus luteus; and no antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences affiliated strain TRM 49605^T to the genus Streptomyces. Strain TRM 49605^T shows high sequence similarities to Streptomyces roseolilacinus NBRC 12815^T (98.62 %), Streptomyces flavovariabilis NRRL B-16367^T (98.45 %) and Streptomyces variegatus NRRL B-16380^T (98.45 %). Whole cell hydrolysates of strain TRM 49605^T were found to contain ll-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid and galactose, glucose, xylose and mannose as the major whole cell sugars. The major fatty acids in strain TRM 49605^T were identified as iso C_16:0, anteiso C_15:0, C_16:0 and Summed Feature 5 as defined by MIDI. The main menaquinones were identified as MK-9(H₄), MK-9(H₆), MK-9(H₈) and MK-10(H₆). The polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylinositol mannoside. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was determined to be 71.2 %. The DNA–DNA relatedness between strain TRM 49605^T and the phylogenetically related strain S. roseolilacinus NBRC 12815^T was 60.12 ± 0.06 %, which is lower than the 70 % threshold value for delineation of genomic prokaryotic species. Based on the phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic data, strain TRM 49605^T (=CCTCC AA2015026^T = KCTC 39666^T) should be designated as the type strain of a novel species of the genus Streptomyces, for which the name Streptomyces luozhongensis sp. nov. is proposed.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Halomonas heilongjiangensis</Emphasis> sp. nov., a novel moderately halophilic bacterium isolated from saline and alkaline soil

A moderately halophilic bacterium, designated strain 9-2^T, was isolated from saline and alkaline soil collected in Lindian county, Heilongjiang province, China. The strain was observed to be strictly aerobic, Gram-negative, rod-shaped, oxidase-positive, catalase-positive and motile. It was found to require NaCl for growth and to grow at NaCl concentrations of 0.5–14 % (w/v) (optimum, 7–10 %, w/v), at temperatures of 10–45 °C (optimum 25–30 °C) and at pH 5.0–10.0 (optimum pH 8.0). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain 9-2^T is a member of the genus Halomonas and is closely related to Halomonas desiderata DSM 9502^T (96.68 %), Halomonas campaniensis DSM 1293^T (96.46 %), Halomonas ventosae DSM 15911^T (96.27 %) and Halomonas kenyensis DSM 17331^T (96.27 %). The DNA–DNA hybridization value was 38.9 ± 0.66 % between the novel isolate 9-2^T and H. desiderata DSM 9502^T. The predominant ubiquinones were identified as Q9 (75.1 %) and Q8 (24.9 %). The major fatty acids were identified as C_16:0 (22.0 %), Summed feature 8 (C_18:1 ω6c/C_18:1 ω7c, 19.6 %), Summed feature 3 (C_16:1 ω6c/C_16:1 ω7c, 12.6 %), C_12:0 3-OH (12.0 %) and C_10:0 (11.7 %). The DNA G+C content was determined to be 69.7 mol%. On the basis of the evidence presented in this study, strain 9-2^T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Halomonas, for which the name Halomonas heilongjiangensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 9-2^T (=DSM 26881^T = CGMCC 1.12467^T).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Deinococcus petrolearius</Emphasis> sp. nov. isolated from crude oil recovery water in China

A Gram-stain positive, non-motile, spherical, red-pigmented and facultatively anaerobic bacterium, designated strain 6.1^T, was isolated from a crude oil recovery water sample from the Huabei oil field in China. The novel strain exhibited tolerance of UV irradiation (> 1000 J m^?2). Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons, strain 6.1^T shows high similarity to Deinococcus citri DSM 24791^T (98.1%) and Deinococcus gobiensis I-0^T (97.8%), with less than 93.5% similarity to other closely related taxa. The major cellular fatty acids were identified as summed feature 3 (C_16:1 ω7c and/or iso-C_15:0 2-OH), followed by iso-C_17:1 ω9c and C_16:0. The polar lipid profile was found to contain phospholipids, glycolipids, phosphoglycolipids and aminophospholipids. The predominant respiratory quinone was identified as MK-8. The DNA G + C content was determined to be 68.3 mol %. DNA–DNA hybridization between strain 6.1^T and D. citri DSM 24791^T was 45.6 ± 7.1% and with D. gobiensis I-O^T was 36.6 ± 4.7%. On the basis of phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic and phenotypic data, we conclude strain 6.1^T represents a novel species of the genus Deinococcus, for which we propose the name Deinococcus petrolearius sp. nov. The type strain is 6.1^T (= CGMCC 1.15053^T = KCTC 33744^T).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Streptomyces ginkgonis</Emphasis> sp. nov., an endophyte from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ginkgo biloba</Emphasis>

A novel endophytic actinomycete strain, designated KM-1-2^T, was isolated from seeds of Ginkgo biloba at Yangling, China. A polyphasic approach was used to study the taxonomy of strain KM-1-2^T and it was found to show a range of phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic properties consistent with those of members of the genus Streptomyces. The diamino acid of the cell wall peptidoglycan was identified as LL-diaminopimelic acid. No diagnostic sugars were detected in whole cell hydrolysates. The predominant menaquinones were identified as MK-9(H₆) and MK-9(H₈). The diagnostic phospholipids were found to be phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylcholine. The DNA G + C content of the novel strain was determined to be 72.9 mol%. The predominant cellular fatty acids (> 10.0?%) were identified as iso-C_14?:?0, iso-C_16?:?0, C_16?:?0 and C_17?:?0 cyclo. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that the strain is closely related to Streptomyces carpaticus JCM 6915^T (99.3%), Streptomyces harbinensis DSM 42076^T (98.9%) and Streptomyces cheonanensis JCM 14549^T (98.5%). DNA-DNA hybridizations with these three close relatives gave similarity values of 39.1 ± 1.9, 35.8 ± 2.3, and 47.4 ± 2.7%, respectively, which indicated that strain KM-1-2^T represents a novel species of the genus Streptomyces. This is consistent with the morphological, physiological and chemotaxonomic data. Cumulatively, these data suggest that strain KM-1-2^T represents a novel Streptomyces species, for which the name Streptomyces ginkgonis sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain KM-1-2^T (= CCTCC AA2016004^T = KCTC 39801^T).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Scopulibacillus cellulosilyticus</Emphasis> sp. nov., a cellulose-degrading bacterium isolated from tea

A Gram-stain positive, aerobic, non-motile, endospore-forming and rod-shaped strain (THG-NT9^T) was isolated from a green tea sample. Growth occurred at 20–45 °C (optimum 28–35 °C), at pH 6.0–8.0 (optimum 7.0) and at 0–2.0% NaCl (optimum 0%). Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the near phylogenetic neighbours of strain THG-NT9^T were identified as Scopulibacillus daqui DSM 28236^T (98.6%), Scopulibacillus darangshiensis DSM 19377^T (97.4%), Pullulanibacillus pueri CGMCC 1.12777^T (96.7%) and Pullulanibacillus camelliae CGMCC 1.15371^T (96.3%). The DNA G?+?C content of strain THG-NT9^T was determined to be 47.5 mol %. DNA–DNA hybridization values between strain THG-NT9^T and S. daqui DSM 28236^T, S. darangshiensis DSM 19377^T, P. pueri CGMCC 1.12777^T, P. camelliae CGMCC 1.15371^T and Pullulanibacillus naganoensis DSM 10191^T were 41.3?±?0.1 (39.4?±?0.4% reciprocal analysis), 39.1?±?0.1 (37.3?±?0.1%), 21.4?±?0.7 (20.1?±?0.3%), 20.7?±?0.1 (20.1?±?0.4%) and 12.1?±?0.2% (8.3?±?0.2%). The polar lipids were identified as diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and three unidentified lipids. The quinone was identified as MK-7. The major fatty acids were C_18:3 ω7c, iso-C_15:0, iso-C_16:0, iso-C_17:0 and anteiso-C_17:0. The cell wall type was determined to be A1γ peptidoglycan with meso-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid plus alanine and glutamic acid and glucose as the cell wall sugar. On the basis of the phylogenetic analysis, chemotaxonomic data, physiological characteristics, and DNA–DNA hybridization data, strain THG-NT9^T represents a novel species of the genus Scopulibacillus, for which the name Scopulibacillus cellulosilyticus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is THG-NT9^T (=?KCTC 33918^T?=?CGMCC 1.16305^T).     

<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).     

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

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

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Nonomuraea insulae</Emphasis> sp. nov., isolated from forest soil

Strain H2R21^T, a novel actinobacterium, isolated from a forest soil sample collected from Heybeliada, Istanbul, Turkey, and a polyphasic approach was used for characterisation of the strain. Chemotaxonomic and morphological characterisation of strain H2R21^T indicated that it belongs to the genus Nonomuraea. 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity showed that the strain is closely related to Nonomuraea purpurea 1SM4-01^T (99.1%) and Nonomuraea solani CGMCC 4.7037^T (98.4%). DNA–DNA relatedness values were found to be lower than 70% between the isolate and its phylogenetic neighbours N. purpurea 1SM4-01^T, N. solani CGMCC 4.7037^T and Nonomuraea rhizophila YIM 67092^T. The whole cell hydrolysates of strain H2R21^T were found to contain meso-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid and glucose, madurose, mannose and ribose as the cell sugars. The polar lipids were identified as phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylmethylethanolamine, phosphatidylethanolamine, hydroxy-phosphatidylethanolamine, dihydroxy-phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol, glycophosphatidylinositol, two glycophospholipids and two unidentified lipids. The predominant menaquinones were identified as MK-9(H₄) and MK-9(H₆). The major fatty acids were found to be iso-C_16:0, iso-C_16:0 2OH and C_17:0 10-methyl. On the basis of DNA–DNA relatedness data and some phenotypic characteristics, it is evident that strain H2R21^T can be distinguished from the closely related species in the genus Nonomuraea. Thus, it is concluded that strain H2R21^T represents a novel species of the genus Nonomuraea, for which the name Nonomuraea insulae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is H2R21^T (= DSM 102915^T = CGMCC 4.7338^T = KCTC 39769^T).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Saccharothrix ghardaiensis</Emphasis> sp. nov., an actinobacterium isolated from Saharan soil

The taxonomic position of a new Saccharothrix strain, designated MB46^T, isolated from a Saharan soil sample collected in Mzab region (Ghardaïa province, South Algeria) was established following a polyphasic approach. The novel microorganism has morphological and chemical characteristics typical of the members of the genus Saccharothrix and formed a phyletic line at the periphery of the Saccharothrix espanaensis subcluster in the 16S rRNA gene dendrograms. Results of the 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons revealed that strain MB46^T shares high degrees of similarity with S. espanaensis DSM 44229^T (99.2%), Saccharothrix variisporea DSM 43911^T (98.7%) and Saccharothrix texasensis NRRL B-16134^T (98.6%). However, the new strain exhibited only 12.5–17.5% DNA relatedness to the neighbouring Saccharothrix spp. On the basis of phenotypic characteristics, 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons and DNA-DNA hybridizations, strain MB46^T is concluded to represent a novel species of the genus Saccharothrix, for which the name Saccharothrix ghardaiensis sp. nov. (type strain MB46^T = DSM 46886^T = CECT 9046^T) is proposed.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Corynebacterium defluvii</Emphasis> sp. nov., isolated from Sewage

A Gram-positive, aerobic, non-motile, rod-shapeds, catalase-positive, and oxidase-negative strain, designated Y49^T, was isolated from sewage collected from Jilin Agricultural University, China. It grew at 20–40°C (optimum at 30°C), at pH 6.0–8.0 (optimum at 7.0) and at 0–1.0% sodium chloride (optimum at 0%). The major isoprenoid quinone was menaquinone-8 (MK-8) and the polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylmethylethanolamine, four unidentified lipids, and two unidentified aminolipids. The peptidoglycan was meso-diaminopimelic acid. The cell-wall sugars were galactose, arabinose, and glucose. The fatty acids were C_9:0, C_16:0, C_16:1 ω9c, C_17:1 ω9c, C_18:3 ω6c (6,9,12), C_18:1 ω9c, and C_18:0. The DNA G+C content was 51.4 mol%. Based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the nearest phylogenetic neighbors of strain Y49^T were Corynebacterium efficiens DSM 44549^T (97.5%), Corynebacterium callunae DSM 20147^T (97.2%), Corynebacterium deserti GIMN 1.010^T (96.8%), Corynebacterium glutamicum ATCC 13032^T (96.4%), and other species belonging to this genus (92.3–95.4%). The DNA-DNA relatedness value between strain Y49^T and C. efficiens DSM 44549^T, C. callunae DSM 20147^T, C. deserti GIMN1.010^T, and C. glutamicum ATCC 13032^T was 25.5±2.0%, 21.1±1.0%, 16.5±0.5%, and 13.5±0.9%, respectively. Based on the phylogenetic analysis, chemotaxonomic data, physiological characteristics and DNA-DNA hybridization data, strain Y49^T represents a novel species of the genus Corynebacterium, for which the name Corynebacterium defluvii sp nov. is proposed. The type strain is Y49^T (= KCTC 39731^T =CGMCC 1.15506^T).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Microbacterium rhizosphaerae</Emphasis> sp. nov., isolated from a Ginseng field,South Korea

A novel Gram-stain positive, aerobic, short rod-shaped, non-motile bacterium, designated strain CHO1^T, was isolated from rhizosphere soil from a ginseng agriculture field. Strain CHO1^T was observed to form yellow colonies on R2A agar medium. The cell wall peptidoglycan was found to contain alanine, glycine, glutamic acid, d-ornithine and serine. The cell wall sugars were identified as galactose, mannose, rhamnose and ribose. Strain CHO1^T was found to contain MK-11, MK-12, MK-13 as the predominant menaquinones and anteiso-C_15:0, iso-C_16:0, and anteiso-C_17:0 as the major fatty acids. Diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphoglycolipid, an unidentified phospholipid and three unidentified glycolipids were found to be present in strain CHO1^T. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain CHO1^T was found to be closely related to Microbacterium mangrovi DSM 28240^T (97.81 % similarity), Microbacterium immunditiarum JCM 14034^T (97.45 %), Microbacterium oryzae JCM 16837^T (97.33 %) and Microbacterium ulmi KCTC 19363^T (97.10 %) and to other species of the genus Microbacterium. The DNA G+C content of CHO1^T was determined to be 70.1 mol %. The DNA–DNA hybridization values of CHO1^T with M. mangrovi DSM 28240^T, M. immunditiarum JCM 14034^T, M. oryzae JCM 16837^T and M. ulmi KCTC 19363^T were 46.7 ± 2, 32.4 ± 2, 32.0 ± 2 and 29.2 ± 2 %, respectively. On the basis of genotypic, phenotypic and phylogenetic properties, it is concluded that strain CHO1^T represents a novel species within the genus Microbacterium, for which the name Microbacterium rhizosphaerae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of M. rhizosphaerae is CHO1^T (= KEMB 7306-513^T = JCM 31396^T).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Myceligenerans salitolerans</Emphasis> sp. nov., a halotolerant actinomycete isolated from a salt lake in Xinjiang,China

A halotolerant actinomycete strain, designated XHU 5031^T, was isolated from a salt lake in Xinjiang Province, northwest China. Its taxonomic status was determined using a polyphasic approach. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that the organism was most closely related to Myceligenerans xiligouense DSM 15700^T (98.4 %), Myceligenerans halotolerans XJEEM 11063^T (98.0 %) and Myceligenerans crystallogenes DSM 17134^T (97.5 %). However, it had relatively low values for DNA–DNA relatedness with the above strains (46.2, 39.4 and 36.5 %, respectively). The peptidoglycan type was A4α. This organism contained glucose, mannose and galactose as the major whole cell sugars. The predominant menaquinone was MK-9(H₄). The major fatty acids were iso-C_15:0, anteiso-C_15:0 and iso-C_16:0. The polar lipids detected were diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG), phosphatidylglycerol (PG), phosphatidylinositol (PI), one unknown phospholipid (PL) and two unknown glycolipids (GL). The G+C content of genomic DNA was 71.2 mol %. Phenotypic data clearly distinguished the isolate from its closest relatives. The combined genotypic and phenotypic data indicated that the isolate XHU 5031^T represented a novel species of the genus Myceligenerans. The proposed name for this organism is Myceligenerans salitolerans sp. nov., with type strain XHU 5031^T (=KCTC 29128^T = CCTCC AB 2012908^T).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Actinokineospora</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">mzabensis</Emphasis> sp. nov., a novel actinomycete isolated from Saharan soil

A novel actinomycete strain, designated PAL84, was isolated from a Saharan soil sample collected from Béni-Isguen, Ghardaïa (South of Algeria). This strain was studied for its taxonomic position using a polyphasic approach and was identified as a member of the genus Actinokineospora. Phylogenetic analysis showed that strain PAL84 had 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities with members of the genus Actinokineospora ranging from 96.2 % (Actinokineospora inagensis DSM 44258^T) to 97.8 % (Actinokineospora baliensis NBRC 104211^T). The strain was observed to produce pinkish-purple aerial mycelium and purplish red substrate mycelium, which fragmented readily into chains of non-motile elements. The optimum growth temperature and pH were found to be 25–30 °C and 5.0–7.0, respectively. The cell-wall hydrolysate of strain PAL84 was found to contain meso-diaminopimelic acid and the diagnostic whole-cell sugars were identified as arabinose and galactose. The predominant menaquinone was identified as MK-9 (H₄). The major fatty acids were found to be iso-C_16:0, iso-C_15:0, iso-C_16:1 H and iso-C_16:0 2OH. The diagnostic phospholipid detected was phosphatidylethanolamine. The genotypic and phenotypic data show that the strain represents a novel species of the genus Actinokineospora, for which the name Actinokineospora mzabensis sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain PAL84^T (=DSM 45961^T = CECT 8578^T).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Algoriella xinjiangensis</Emphasis> gen. nov., sp. nov., a new psychrotolerant bacterium of the family <Emphasis Type="Italic">Flavobacteriaceae</Emphasis>

An aerobic, Gram-stain negative, non-spore-forming and psychrotolerant bacterium, designated strain XJ109^T, was isolated from a sewage water sample collected from Xinjiang Uigur Autonomous Region, China. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that strain XJ109^T represents a novel member of the family Flavobacteriaceae. The strain showed 95.5 % similarity with the 16S rRNA gene sequence of Empedobacter brevis LMG 4011^T, 95.4 % with Chishuiella changwenlii BY4^T, 95.3 % with Empedobacter falsenii NF 993^T and 92.3 % with Weeksella virosa DSM 16922^T. Strain XJ109^T showed the common phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characteristics of the family Flavobacteriaceae, containing menaquinone-6 (MK-6) as the predominant respiratory quinone and iso-C_17:0 3OH and iso-C_15:0 as the major fatty acids. The polar lipid profile consisted of phosphatidylethanolamine, one unidentified phospholipid and two unidentified lipids. The genomic DNA G+C content was 38.0 mol%. Strain XJ109^T was positive for catalase and oxidase activities, and it was observed to grow at 4–30 °C (optimal 16–20 °C), pH 6.5–10.0 (optimal 7.0–7.5) and in media containing 0–2.0 % (w/v) NaCl (optimal 0.5 %). On the basis of the polyphasic evidence presented, strain XJ109^T is considered to represent a novel genus and species of the family Flavobacteriaceae, for which the name Algoriella xinjiangensis gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is XJ109^T (=CGMCC 1.10229^T=JCM 16590^T).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pedobacter panacis</Emphasis> sp. nov., isolated from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Panax ginseng</Emphasis> soil

A novel strain, DCY108^T was isolated from soil of a Panax ginseng field, Yeoncheon province (38°04′N 126°57′E), Republic of Korea. Strain DCY108^T is Gram-negative, non-motile, non-flagellate, rod-shaped, and aerobic. The bacterium grows optimally at 25–30 °C, pH 6.5–7.0 and 1 % NaCl. Phylogenetically, strain DCY108^T is closely related to Pedobacter jejuensis JCM 18824^T, Pedobacter aquatilis JCM 13454^T, Pedobacter kyungheensis LMG 26577^T and the type strain of the genus Pedobacter heparinus DSM 2366^T. The DNA–DNA relatedness values between strain DCY108^T and its close phylogenetic neighbors were below 30.0 %. The DNA G+C content of strain DCY108^T was determined to be 45.1 mol%. The predominant quinone was menaquinone 7 (MK-7). The major polar lipids were identified as phosphatidylethanolamine and three unidentified aminolipids AL1, AL13 and AL17. Iso-C_15:00, iso-C_17:03OH and summed feature 3 (C_16:1 ω7c/C_16:1 ω6c) were identified as the major fatty acids present in strain DCY108^T. The results of physiological and biochemical tests allowed strain DCY108^T to be differentiated phenotypically from other recognized species belonging to the genus Pedobacter. Therefore, it is suggested that the newly isolated organism represents a novel species, for which the name Pedobacter panacis sp. nov is proposed with the type strain designated as DCY108^T (=CCTCCAB 2015196^T = KCTC 42748^T).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cellulomonas macrotermitis</Emphasis> sp. nov., a chitinolytic and cellulolytic bacterium isolated from the hindgut of a fungus-growing termite

To investigate the symbiotic roles of the gut microbiota in the fungus-growing termite Macrotermes barneyi, a novel strain with chitinolytic and cellulolytic activity, designated strain an-chi-1^T, was isolated from the hindgut of M. barneyi. Strain an-chi-1^T grows optimally at 28–30 °C, pH 8.0 in PYG medium. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, this isolate belongs to the genus Cellulomonas with high sequence similarity to Cellulomonas iranensis (99.4%), followed by Cellulomonas flavigena (98.4%), Cellulomonas phragmiteti (97.4%), Cellulomonas oligotrophica (97.2%) and Cellulomonas terrae (97.0%). The DNA–DNA relatedness between an-chi-1^T and the type strains of C. iranensis and C. flavigena DSM20109^T are 35.4% and 23.7%, respectively. The major cellular fatty acids are anteiso-C_15:0 and C_14:0. The polar lipid profile consists of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol mannosides, phosphatidylinositol dimannosides and one unidentified phospholipid. The cell-wall sugar is ribose. The peptidoglycan contains glutamic acid, aspartic acid and alanine. The DNA G+C content is 67.3 mol%. Based on its distinctive phenotypic, phylogenetic, and chemotaxonomic characteristics, an-chi-1^T represents a novel species of the genus Cellulomonas, for which the name Cellulomonas macrotermitis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is an-chi-1^T (= JCM 31923^T = CICC 24195^T).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Paracoccus pueri</Emphasis> sp. nov., isolated from Pu’er tea

A Gram-stain negative, aerobic, short rod-shaped, motile by flagella bacterial strain (THG-N2.35^T), was isolated from Pu’er tea. Growth occurred at 10–40 °C (optimum 28 °C), at pH 4–7 (optimum 7) and at 0–5% NaCl (optimum 1%). Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the near phylogenetic neighbours of strain THG-N2.35^T were identified as Paracoccus hibisci KACC 18632^T (99.0%), Paracoccus tibetensis CGMCC 1.8925^T (98.7%), Paracoccus beibuensis CGMCC 1.7295^T (98.2%), Paracoccus aestuarii KCTC 22049^T (98.2%), Paracoccus rhizosphaerae LMG 26205^T (98.1%), Paracoccus zeaxanthinifaciens ATCC 21588^T (97.1%), Paracoccus marcusii DSM 11574^T (97.0%). Levels of similarity between strain THG-N2.35^T and other Paracoccus species were lower than 97.0%. DNA-DNA hybridization values between strain THG-N2.35^T and P. hibisci KACC 18632^T, P. tibetensis CGMCC 1.8925^T, P. beibuensis CGMCC 1.7295^T, P. aestuarii KCTC 22049^T, P. rhizosphaerae LMG 26205^T, P. zeaxanthinifaciens ATCC 21588^T, P.marcusii DSM 11574^T were 47.5% (42.3%, reciprocal analysis), 36.1% (32.3%), 24.7% (22.1%), 19.2% (16.3%), 11.3% (8.8%), 11.1% (10.8%), 6.1% (5.8%), respectively. The DNA G+C content of strain THG-N2.35^T was 62.3 mol%. The polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidyl-N-methylethanolamine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylcholine. The quinone was ubiquinone-10 (Q-10). The major fatty acids were C_10:0 3OH, C_16:0, C_18:0 and C_18:1 ω7?. On the basis of the phylogenetic analysis, chemotaxonomic data, physiological characteristics and DNA-DNA hybridization data, strain THG-N2.35^T represent a novel species of the genus Paracoccus, for which the name Paracoccus pueri sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is THG-N2.35^T (= KACC 18934^T = CCTCC AB 2016177^T).