Paenibacillus taohuashanense sp. nov., a nitrogen-fixing species isolated from rhizosphere soil of the root of Caragana kansuensis Pojark

A nitrogen-fixing bacterium, designated strain gs65^T, was isolated from a rhizosphere soil sample of Caragana kansuensis Pojark. Phylogenetic analysis based on a fragment of the nifH gene and the full-length 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that strain gs65^T is a member of the genus Paenibacillus. High levels of 16S rRNA gene similarity were found between strain gs65^T and Paenibacillus borealis DSM 13188^T (97.5 %), Paenibacillus odorifer ATCC BAA-93^T (97.3 %), Paenibacillus durus DSM 1735^T (97.0 %) and Paenibacillus sophorae DSM23020^T (96.9 %). Levels of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity between strain gs65^T and the type strains of other recognized members of the genus Paenibacillus were below 97.0 %. Levels of DNA–DNA relatedness between strain gs65^T and P. borealis DSM 13188^T, P. odorifer ATCC BAA-93^T (97.3 %), P. durus DSM 1735^T and P. sophorae DSM23020^T were 35.9, 38.0, 34.2 and 35.5 % respectively. The DNA G+C content of strain gs65^T was determined to be 51.6 mol%. The major fatty acids were found to be iso-C_14:0, anteiso-C_15:0 and iso-C_16:0. On the basis of its phenotypic characteristics and levels of DNA–DNA hybridization, strain gs65^T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Paenibacillus, for which the name Paenibacillus taohuashanense sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is gs65^T (=CGMCC 1.12175^T = DSM 25809^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).     

Paenibacillus thermophilus sp. nov., a novel bacterium isolated from a sediment of hot spring in Fujian province, China

A Gram-positive, thermophilic, strictly aerobic bacterium, designated WP-1^T, was isolated from a sediment sample from a hot spring in Fujian province of China and subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic study. Cells of strain WP-1^T were rods (~0.6–0.8 × 2.5–3.5 μm) and motile by means of peritrichous flagella. Endospores were ellipsoidal in terminal or subterminal positions. Strain WP-1^T grew at 37–60 °C (optimum 42–45 °C), 0–3 % NaCl (optimum 1 %, w/v) and pH 3.0–9.0 (optimum pH 6.5–7.0). The predominant menaquinone was MK-7. The major fatty acids were anteiso-C_15:0, iso-C_16:0, C_16:0 and anteiso-C_17:0. The polar lipids consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, two glycolipids, two unidentified phospholipids and two unknown polar lipids. The cell-wall peptidoglycan contained meso-diaminopimelic acid (meso-DAP). The G + C content of the genomic DNA was 52.5 %. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that strain WP-1^T is a member of the genus Paenibacillus and exhibited sequence similarity of 99.3 % to Paenibacillus macerans DSM 24^T and both strains represented a separate lineage from all other Paenibacillus species. However, the level of DNA–DNA relatedness between strain WP-1^T and P. macerans DSM 24^T was 34.0 ± 4.7 %. On the basis of phylogenetic, physiological and chemotaxonomic analysis data, strain WP-1^T is considered to represent as a novel species of the genus Paenibacillus, for which the name Paenibacillus thermophilus sp. nov., is proposed, with the type strain WP-1^T (=DSM 24746^T = JCM 17693^T = CCTCC AB 2011115^T).     

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).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Paenibacillus bryophyllum</Emphasis> sp. nov., a nitrogen-fixing species isolated from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bryophyllum pinnatum</Emphasis>

A nitrogen-fixing, endospore-forming bacterium, designated strain L201^T was isolated from the leaves of Bryophyllum pinnatum growing in South China Agricultural University. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that strain L201^T is affiliated with the genus Paenibacillus, and closely related to Paenibacillus albidus Q4-3^T (97.4%), Paenibacillus odorifer DSM 15391^T (97.3%) and Paenibacillus borealis DSM 13188^T (97.2%). The main fatty acids components was anteiso-C_15:0 (48.1%). The predominant isoprenoid quinone was MK-7. The major polar lipids were found to be diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol. The G+C content of strain L201^T was 43.9%. DNA–DNA relatedness between L201^T and the reference strain was 29.8%. Biological and biochemical tests, protein patterns, genomic DNA fingerprinting and comparison of cellular fatty acids distinguished strain L201^T from the closely related Paenibacillus species. Based on these data, the novel species Paenibacillus bryophyllum sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain L201^T(=?KCTC 33951 ^T?=?GDMCC 1.1251 ^T).     

Paenibacillus ihbetae sp. nov., a cold-adapted antimicrobial producing bacterium isolated from high altitude Suraj Tal Lake in the Indian trans-Himalayas

The assessment of bacterial diversity and bioprospection of the high-altitude lake Suraj Tal microorganisms for potent antimicrobial activities revealed the presence of two Gram-stain-variable, endospore-forming, rod-shaped, aerobic bacteria, namely IHBB 9852^T and IHBB 9951. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence showed the affiliation of strains IHBB 9852^T and IHBB 9951 within the genus Paenibacillus, exhibiting the highest sequence similarity to Paenibacillus lactis DSM 15596^T (97.8% and 97.7%) and less than 95.9% similarity to other species of the genus Paenibacillus. DNA-DNA relatedness among strains IHBB 9852^T and IHBB 9951 was 90.2%, and with P. lactis DSM 15596^T, was 52.7% and 52.4%, respectively. The novel strains contain anteiso-C_15:0, iso-C_15:0, C_16:0 and iso-C_16:0 as major fatty acids, and phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and diphosphatidylglycerol were predominant polar lipids. The DNA G+C content for IHBB 9852T and IHBB 9951 was 52.1 and 52.2 mol%. Based on the results of phenotypic and genomic characterisations, we concluded that strains IHBB 9852^T and IHBB 9951 belong to a novel Paenibacillus species, for which the name Paenibacillus ihbetae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is IHBB 9852^T (=MTCC 12459^T = MCC 2795^T = JCM 31131^T = KACC 19072^T; DPD TaxonNumber TA00046) and IHBB 9951 (=MTCC 12458 = MCC 2794 = JCM 31132 = KACC 19073) is a reference strain.     

Paenibacillus piscarius sp. nov., a novel nitrogen-fixing species isolated from the gut of the armored catfish Parotocinclus maculicauda

A Gram-positive, nitrogen-fixing and endospore-forming strain, designated P121^T, was isolated from the gut of the armored catfish (Parotocinclus maculicauda) and identified as a member of the genus Paenibacillus based on the sequences of the 16S rRNA encoding gene, rpoB, gyrB and nifH genes and phenotypic analyses. The most closely related species to strain P121^T were Paenibacillus rhizoplanae DSM 103993^T, Paenibacillus silagei DSM 101953^T and Paenibacillus borealis DSM 13188^T, with similarity values of 98.9, 98.3 and 97.6%, respectively, based on 16S rRNA gene sequences. Genome sequencing revealed a genome size of 7,513,698 bp, DNA G?+?C content of 53.9 mol% and the presence of the structural nitrogenase encoding genes (nifK, nifD and nifH) and of other nif genes necessary for nitrogen fixation. Digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) experiments and average nucleotide identity (ANI) analyses between strain P121^T and the type strains of the closest species demonstrated that the highest values were below the thresholds of 70% dDDH (42.3% with P. borealis) and 95% ANI (84.28% with P. silagei) for bacterial species delineation, indicating that strain P121^T represents a distinct species. Its major cellular fatty acid was anteiso-C_15:0 (42.4%), and the major isoprenoid quinone was MK-7. Based on physiological, genomic, biochemical and chemotaxonomic characteristics, we propose that strain P121^T represents a novel species for which the name Paenibacillus piscarius sp. nov. is proposed (type strain?=?DSM 25072?=?LFB-Fiocruz 1636).

     

Paenibacillus abyssi sp. nov., isolated from an abyssal sediment sample from the Indian Ocean

A Gram-positive, rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain SCSIO N0306^T, was isolated from an abyssal sediment sample collected from the Indian Ocean. The isolate was found to grow optimally at 0–2 % (w/v) NaCl, pH 7.0 and 30 °C. Comparative analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that the isolate SCSIO N0306^T belongs phylogenetically to the genus Paenibacillus, and to be most closely related to P. algorifonticola XJ259^T (with 95.47 % sequence similarity), sharing less than 95.0 % sequence similarity with all other taxa of this genus. Chemotaxonomic analysis revealed MK-7 as the major isoprenoid quinone, the DNA G+C content was determined to be 45.5 mol%, and anteiso-C_15:0, C_16:0, and iso-C_15:0 were identified as the major fatty acids. On the basis of this polyphasic taxonomic data, isolate SCSIO N0306^T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Paenibacillus, for which the name Paenibacillus abyssi sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is SCSIO N0306^T (= DSM 26238^T = CGMCC 1.12987^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).     

Paenibacillus yonginensis sp. nov., a potential plant growth promoting bacterium isolated from humus soil of Yongin forest

Strain DCY84^T, a Gram-stain positive, rod-shaped, aerobic, spore-forming bacterium, motile by means of peritrichous flagella, was isolated from humus soil from Yongin forest in Gyeonggi province, South Korea. Strain DCY84^T shared the highest sequence similarity with Paenibacillus barengoltzii KACC 15270^T (96.86 %), followed by Paenibacillus timonensis KACC 11491^T (96.49 %) and Paenibacillus phoenicis NBRC 106274^T (95.77 %). Strain DCY84^T was found to able to grow best in TSA at temperature 30 °C, at pH 8 and at 0.5 % NaCl. MK-7 menaquinone was identified as the isoprenoid quinone. The major polar lipids were identified as phosphatidylethanolamine, an unidentified aminophospholipid, two unidentified aminolipids and an unidentified polar lipid. The peptidoglycan was found to contain the amino acids meso-diaminopimelic acid, alanine and d-glutamic acid. The major fatty acids of strain DCY84^T were identified as branched chain anteiso-C_15:0, saturated C_16:0 and branched chain anteiso-C_17:0. The cell wall sugars of strain DCY84^T were found to comprise of ribose, galactose and xylose. The major polyamine was identified as spermidine. The DNA G+C content was determined to be 62.6 mol%. After 6 days of incubation, strain DCY84^T produced 52.96 ± 1.85 and 72.83 ± 2.86 µg/ml l-indole-3-acetic acid, using media without l-tryptophan and supplemented with l-tryptophan, respectively. Strain DCY84^T was also found to be able to solubilize phosphate and produce siderophores. On the basis of the phenotypic characteristics, genotypic analysis and chemotaxonomic characteristics, strain DCY84^T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Paenibacillus, for which the name Paenibacillus yonginensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is DCY84^T (=KCTC 33428^T = JCM 19885^T).     

Paenibacillus quercus sp. nov., isolated from rhizosphere of Quercus aliena var. acuteserrata

A Gram-positive, spore-forming, rod-shaped and motile bacterium, designated strain 1-25^T, was isolated from the rhizosphere of Quercus aliena var. acuteserrata in Taibai Mountain, Shaanxi Province, China. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain 1-25^T belongs to the genus Paenibacillus. Strain 1-25^T was found to be closely related to Paenibacillus harenae and Paenibacillus castaneae with 96.0 and 95.9 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities, respectively. The strain was observed to grow optimally at 28 °C and pH 7.5. The major isoprenoid quinone was found to be menaquinone-7. The dominant cellular fatty acids were identified as anteiso-C_15:0 and iso-C_15:0. The diagnostic diamino acid in the cell-wall peptidoglycan was found to be meso-diaminopimelic acid. The DNA G+C content was determined to be 41.6 mol%. On the basis of phenotypic characteristics and molecular properties, strain 1-25^T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Paenibacillus, for which the name Paenibacillus quercus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 1-25^T (=CCTCC AB2013265^T = KCTC 33194^T).     

Paenibacillus nicotianae sp. nov., isolated from a tobacco sample

A Gram-stain positive, facultative anaerobic endospore-forming bacterium, designated strain YIM h-19^T, was isolated from a tobacco sample. Cells were observed to be motile rods by means of peritrichous flagella and colonies were observed to be convex, yellow, circular and showed catalase-positive and oxidase-negative reactions. Strain YIM h-19^T was able to grow at 4–45 °C, pH 6.0–8.0 and 0–3 % NaCl (w/v). The predominant respiratory quinone was identified as MK-7. Major fatty acids were identified as anteiso-C_15:0, anteiso-C_17:0 and C_16:0. The polar lipids were found to be phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and two unidentified polar lipids. The genomic DNA G+C content was determined to be 54 mol%. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed the strain YIM h-19^T was most closely related to Paenibacillus hordei RH-N24^T and Paenibacillus hunanensis FeL05^T with similarities of 98.30 and 94.64 % respectively. However, DNA–DNA hybridization data indicated that the isolate represented a novel genomic species with the genus Paenibacillus. All data from genotypic and phenotypic analyses support the conclusion that strain YIM h-19^T represents a novel species of the genus Paenibacillus, for which the name Paenibacillus nicotianae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YIM h-19^T (=CGMCC1.12819^T = NRRL B-59112^T).     

Proteomic response of Rhizoctonia solani GD118 suppressed by Paenibacillus kribbensis PS04

Rice sheath blight, caused by Rhizoctonia solani, is considered a worldwide destructive rice disease and leads to considerable yield losses. A bio-control agent, Paenibacillus kribbensis PS04, was screened to resist against the pathogen. The inhibitory effects were investigated (>80 %) by the growth of the hyphae. Microscopic observation of the hypha structure manifested that the morphology of the pathogenic mycelium was strongly affected by P. kribbensis PS04. To explore essentially inhibitory mechanisms, proteomic approach was adopted to identify differentially expressed proteins from R. solani GD118 in response to P. kribbensis PS04 using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Protein profiling was used to identify 13 differential proteins: 10 proteins were found to be down-regulated while 3 proteins were up-regulated. These proteins were involved in material and energy metabolism, antioxidant activity, protein folding and degradation, and cytoskeleton regulation. Among them, material and energy metabolism was differentially regulated by P. kribbensis PS04. Protein expression was separately inhibited by the bio-control agent in oxidation resistance, protein folding and degradation, and cytoskeleton regulation. Proteome changes of the mycelium assist in understanding how the pathogen was directly suppressed by P. kribbensis PS04.     

Paenibacillus profundus sp. nov., a deep sediment bacterium that produces isocoumarin and peptide antibiotics

A novel bacterial strain Sl 79^T was isolated from a deep surface sediment sample obtained from the Sea of Japan and investigated by phenotypic and molecular methods. The bacterium Sl 79^T was Gram-positive, facultatively anaerobic, spore-forming, motile and able to form two different types of colonies. It contained the major menaquinone MK-7 and anteiso-C_15:0 followed by iso-C_15:0 as predominant fatty acids. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain Sl 79^T belonged to the genus Paenibacillus where it clustered to Paenibacillus apiarius NRRL NRS-1438^T with a sequence similarity of 97.7 % and sharing sequence similarities below than 96.7 % to other validly named Paenibacillus species. Strain Sl 79^T was found to possess a remarkable inhibitory activity against indicatory microorganisms. On the basis of combined spectral analyses, strain Paenibacillus sp. Sl 79^T was established to produce isocoumarin and novel peptide antibiotics. On the basis of DNA–DNA relatedness, phenotypic and phylogenetic data obtained, it was concluded that strain Sl 79^T represents a novel species, Paenibacillus profundus sp. nov. with the type strain Sl 79^T = KMM 9420^T = NRIC 0885^T.     

Streptomyces amritsarensis sp. nov., exhibiting broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity

A new actinobacterium strain, designated 2A^T, was isolated from a soil sample collected from Guru Nanak Dev University, Punjab (India) and characterized using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. It showed antimicrobial activity against various Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria including drug resistant bacteria and fungi. The strain had chemotaxononomic and morphological properties typical of the genus Streptomyces. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of the strain showed 99.9, 99.5 and 99.5 % similarity with Streptomyces flavotricini DSM 40152^T, Streptomyces toxytricini DSM 40178^T and Streptomyces globosus DSM 40815^T, respectively. This strain formed a coherent cluster with them and shared DNA–DNA homology of 37.6 ± 0.6, 34.4 ± 0.5 and 33.1 ± 0.4 % with type strains, S. flavotricini DSM 40152^T, S. globosus DSM 40815^T and S. toxytricini DSM 40178^T, respectively. Further, the strain was readily distinguished from the phylogenetic close relatives in a variety of morphological, physiological and biochemical properties. Based on the genotypic and phenotypic characteristics, it is proposed that strain 2A^T represents a novel species in the genus Streptomyces, for which the name Streptomyces amritsarensis sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain 2A^T (=MTCC 11845^T=JCM 19660^T).     

Paenibacillus hordei sp. nov., isolated from naked barley in Korea

A Gram-staining positive, facultative aerobic bacterium, designated strain RH-N24^T, was isolated from naked barley in South Korea. Cells of the isolate were observed to be motile rods by means of peritrichous flagella and showed catalase-positive and oxidase-negative reactions. Growth of strain RH-N24^T was observed at 4–40 °C (optimum: 35–37 °C) and at pH 5.0–9.0 (optimum: pH 6.0–7.0). Chemotaxonomic data (major isoprenoid quinone: MK-7; DNA G + C content: 53.5 mol %; cell wall type: A1γ-meso-diaminopimelic acid; major fatty acids: anteiso-CB_15:0 and CB_16:0B) supported the affiliation of the isolate to the genus Paenibacillus. The major cellular polar lipids were identified as phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and two unidentified polar lipids. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences also supported the conclusion that strain RH-N24^T belonged to the genus Paenibacillus. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain RH-N24^T was most closely related to Paenibacillus hunanensis FeL05^T and Paenibacillus illinoisensis NRRL NRS-1356^T with similarities of 94.64 and 94.54 %, respectively. On the basis of phenotypic and molecular properties, strain RH-N24^T represents a novel species within the genus Paenibacillus for which the name Paenibacillus hordei sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is RH-N24^T (=KACC 15511^T = JCM 17570^T).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Paenibacillus albilobatus</Emphasis> sp. nov., isolated from acidic soil on Jeju Island

A rod-shaped, white color colony with lobate architectures, strain h2^T was isolated from a moderately acidic soil on Jeju Island, Republic of Korea. Comparative analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that the strain h2^T is closely related to Paenibacillus relictisesami DSM 25385^T (97.4%, 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity), Paenibacillus azoreducens KACC 11244^T (97.2%), and Paenibacillus cookii LMG 18419^T (97.0%). DNA-DNA hybridization indicated that the strain h2^T has relatively low levels of DNA-DNA relatedness with respect to P. relictisesami DSM 25385^T (10.2%) and P. azoreducens KACC 11244^T (13.7%). Additionally, the genomic DNA G + C content of h2^T is 51.5 mol%. The isolated strain grew at pH 4.0–9.0 (optimum, pH 6.0–7.0) and 0–5% (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 0%) and a temperature of 15–45°C (optimum 35°C). The quinones in the strain are MK-6 and MK-7, and the predominant fatty acid is C_15:0 anteiso (32.1%) followed by C_17:0 anteiso (26.5%), and C_16:0 iso (21.0%). Based on its phenotypic properties, genotypic distinctiveness, and chemotaxonomic features, strain h2^T is proposed as a novel species in the genus Paenibacillus, for which the name Paenibacillus albilobatus sp. nov. is proposed (= KCCM 43269^T = JCM 32395^T = LMG 30408^T). The type strain of Paenibacillus albilobatus is h2^T.     

Paenibacillus sinensis sp. nov., a nitrogen-fixing species isolated from plant rhizospheres

Two strains HN-1^T and 39 were isolated from rhizospheres of different plants grown in different regions of PR China. The two strains exhibited high nitrogenase activities and possessed almost identical 16S rRNA gene sequences. The average nucleotide identity (ANI) and digital DNA–DNA hybridization (dDDH) values between the two strains were 99.9 and 99.8%, respectively, suggesting that they belong to one species. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that strains HN-1^T and 39 are the members of the genus Paenibacillus and both strains exhibited 99.5% similarity to Paenibacillus stellifer DSM 14472^T and the both strains represented a separate lineage from all other Paenibacillus species. However, the ANI of type strain HN-1^T with P. stellifer DSM 14472^T was 90.69, which was below the recommended threshold value (<?95–96% ANI). The dDDH showed 42.1% relatedness between strain HN-1^T and P. stellifer DSM 14472^T, which was lower than the recommended threshold value (dDDH?<?70%). The strain HN-1^T contain anteiso-C_15:0 as major fatty acids and MK-7 as predominant isoprenoid quinone. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, four aminophospholipids and an unidentified glycolipid. Unlike the most closely related P. stellifer DSM 14472^T, strain HN-1^T or 39 was positive for catalase reaction. Distinct phenotypic and genomic characterisations from previously described taxa support the classification of strains HN-1^T or 39 as representatives of a novel species of the genus Paenibacillus, for which the name Paenibacillus sinensis is proposed, with type strains HN-1^T (=CGMCC 1.18902, JCM 34,620), and reference strain 39 (=CGMCC 1.18879, JCM 34,616), respectively.

     

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.