<Emphasis Type="Italic">Thalassorhabdus aurantiaca</Emphasis> gen. nov., sp. nov., a new member of the family <Emphasis Type="Italic">Flavobacteriaceae</Emphasis> isolated from seawater in South Korea

A novel Gram-negative, orange pigmented, strictly aerobic bacterium, designated strain IP9^T, was isolated from seawater at the sea shore of Incheon Eulwang-ri beach, South Korea. Cells of strain IP9^T were observed to be straight or slightly curved rods and colonies to be round and convex. Strain IP9^T was found to be catalase and oxidase positive, and non-motile. Growth was observed in the temperature range of 10–37 °C (optimum at 30 °C), pH range of 6–10 (optimum at pH 7–8) and salt concentration range of 0–7% (w/v) NaCl (optimum at 0–1%). On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity and phylogenetic analysis, strain IP9^T was found to be related to the members of the family Flavobacteriaceae, being closely related to Hwangdonia seohaensis KCTC 32177^T (95.3% sequence similarity). The DNA G?+?C content of the novel strain was determined to be 39.1 mol%. The major polar lipids were found to be phosphatidylethanolamine, three unidentified aminoglycolipids and two unidentified glycolipids. The major fatty acids (>?10%) were identified as iso-C_15:0 and iso-C_17:0 3-OH. The predominant quinone was found to be menaquinone 6 (MK-6). Based on the biochemical, phylogenetic and physiological data, we conclude that strain IP9^T (=?KCTC 52523^T?=?JCM 31732^T) represents the type species of a novel genus of the family Flavobacteriaceae for which the name Thalassorhabdus aurantiaca gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Aestuariibaculum marinum</Emphasis> sp. nov., a marine bacterium isolated from seawater in South Korea

A Gram-negative, non-motile, aerobic bacterium, designated strain IP7^T, was isolated from seawater at the shore of the Incheon Eulwang-ri beach, South Korea. Cells of strain IP7^T are straight or slightly rod-shaped and colonies are round, convex and orange-yellow. Strain IP7^T is flexirubin-negative, mild halophile, catalase-and oxidase-positive, and produces a yellow-orange carotenoid pigment. Growth is optimal at 30°C, pH 7–9, and 2.0–4.0% NaCl (w/v). On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, strain IP7^T is affiliated with genus Aestuariibaculum in the family Flavobacteriaceae, the closest relative being Aestuariibaculum suncheonense SC17^T (98.3% sequence similarity). The DNA G + C content of the novel strain is 37.4 mol%. The only quinone is MK-6 menaquinone. Iso-branched C_15:0, iso-branched C_15:1 G, and iso-branched C_17:0 3-OH are major fatty acids. The major polar lipids are phosphatidylethanolamine, an unidentified aminoglycolipid and two unidentified glycolipids. The DNA-DNA hybridization value of strain IP7^T with Aestuariibaculum suncheonense SC17^T is 28.87%. Based on the collective DNA-DNA hybridization, biochemical, phylogenetic and physiological data, we report a novel species of the genus Aestuariibaculum for which the name Aestuariibaculum marinum sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is IP7^T (= KCTC 52521^T = JCM 31725^T).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Gaetbulibacter jejuensis</Emphasis> sp. nov., isolated from seawater

A novel marine bacterium, designated strain CNURIC014^T was isolated from coastal seawater of Jeju Island in Korea. Strain CNURIC014^T formed yellow colonies on marine agar 2216 and the cells were Gram-negative, non-motile, strictly aerobic, rod-shaped. The temperature, pH and NaCl ranges for growth were 15–37°C, pH 6.0–9.0 and 1.0–7.0% NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain CNURIC014^T was most closely related to Gaetbulibacter marinus and Gaetbulibacter saemankumensis, with a sequence similarity of 95.1% and 94.6%, respectively. The DNA G+C content of the strain was 33.1 mol% and the major respiratory quinone was menaquinone-6. The major cellular fatty acids were iso-C_15:1 (22.8%), iso-C_15:0 (18.8%), summed feature 3 (iso-C_15:0 2-OH/C_16:1 ω7c, 12.9%) and iso-C_17:0 3-OH (11.5%). On the basis of phenotypic, phylogenetic, and genotypic data, strain CNURIC014^T represents a novel species within the genus Geatbulibacter, for which the name Gaetbulibacter jejuensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CNURIC014^T(=KCTC 22615^T =JCM 15976^T).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Lutibacter oceani</Emphasis> sp. nov., isolated from marine sediment in South Korea

A novel Gram-negative, non-motile, non-spore forming, facultatively anaerobic and short-rod shaped bacterial strain, designated as 325-5^T, was isolated from marine sediment obtained from a coastal region in South Korea. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain 325-5^T showed close similarity to Lutibacter crassostreae (97.8 %). The novel isolate was found to grow optimally at 25 °C and pH 7.0. The major fatty acids identified in the strain were iso C_15:0 and iso C_15:0 3OH, which supports the affiliation of strain 325-5^T to the genus Lutibacter. Menaquinone (MK-6) was identified as the respiratory quinone component. The polar lipid profile was found to contain phosphatidylethanolamine and two unidentified lipids. The G+C molar content of strain 325-5^T was determined to be 33.1 mol%. DNA–DNA hybridization of strain 325-5^T exhibited less than 40 % relatedness to L. crassostreae KCTC 42461^T. Pigment analysis showed the presence of carotenoid pigments. Based on this polyphasic analysis, we propose that strain 325-5^T represents a novel species of the genus Lutibacter, for which the name Lutibacter oceani sp. nov. (type strain 325-5^T = JCM 30924^T = KEMB 7306-529^T) is proposed.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Edaphorhabdus rosea</Emphasis> gen. nov., sp. nov., a new member of the family <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cytophagaceae</Emphasis> isolated from soil in South Korea

A Gram-stain negative, aerobic, oxidase and catalase positive, non-flagellated, pink coloured bacterium with gliding motility, designated as strain UDD1^T was isolated from soil. The bacterium lacked flexirubin-type pigments. Phylogenetic analysis based on its 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that strain UDD1^T formed a lineage within the family Cytophagaceae of the phylum Bacteroidetes, and forms a distinct clade with type strains of the closely related genus Pontibacter with similarities of 91.36–93.62%. Strain UDD1^T contained MK-7 as the predominant menaquinone and summed feature 4 (iso-C_17:1 I and/or anteiso-C_17:1 B) and iso-C_15:0 as the major fatty acids. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine and an unidentified glycolipid. The DNA G+C content of strain UDD1^T was 49 mol%. On the basis of phenotypic, genotypic and phylogenetic analyses, the strain UDD1^T represents a novel species of a new genus in the family Cytophagaceae, for which the name Edaphorhabdus rosea gen. nov., sp. nov., is proposed. The type strain of Edaphorhabdus rosea is UDD1^T (=?KCTC 62117^T =?JCM 32366^T). The Digital Protologue Database Taxon number for strain UDD1^T is GA00058.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Aquimarina litoralis</Emphasis> sp. nov., isolated from a coastal seawater

A strictly aerobic, red-pigmented, non-motile, catalase- and oxidase-positive, Gram-staining-negative bacterium, designated strain CNURIC011^T, was isolated from seawater off the coast of Jeju Island in Korea. A phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain CNURIC011^T belongs to the genus Aquimarina in the family Flavobacteriaceae. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that the close relatives of the novel strain are Aquimarina latercula ATCC 23177^T, Aquimarina marcrocephali JAMB N27^T, Aquimarina intermedia KMM 6258^T, Aquimarina muelleri KMM 6020^T, and Aquimarina brevivitae SMK-19^T, with sequence similarities of 97.6, 96.6, 96.0, 95.6, and 94.2%, respectively. DNA-DNA hybridization revealed that the level of relatedness between strain CNURIC011^T and Aquimarina latercula ATCC 23177^T (=KCTC 2912^T) was 4.9%. The DNA G+C content was 35.8 mol% and the major respiratory quinone was MK-6. The major fatty acids were iso-C_15:0 (14.9%), C_15:0 (13.9%), iso-C_17:0 3-OH (12.6%), iso-C_15:1 G (7.3%), and iso-C_17:1 ω9c (7.2%). On the basis of phenotypic, phylogenetic, and genotypic data, strain CNURIC011^T represents a novel species within the genus Aquimarina, for which the name Aquimarina litoralis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CNURIC011^T (=KCTC 22614^T =JCM 15974^T).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Antarcticimonas flava</Emphasis> gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from Antarctic coastal seawater

A marine bacterium, designated IMCC3175^T, was isolated from a seawater sample collected off the Antarctic coast. The strain was Gram-negative, obligately aerobic, carotenoid pigment-containing, and rod-shaped bacterium that divided by binary fission. As determined by 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons, the most closely related genera were Formosa (92.9∼93.3%), Bizionia (91.6∼93.2%), Gaetbulibacter (91.5∼92.8%), Sediminibacter (92.7%), Yeosuana (92.6%), Subsaximicrobium (92.1∼92.2%), and Gillisia (89.5∼92.2%). Phylogenese analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the strain formed a monophyletic clade together with the genera Sediminibacter and Subsaximicrobium but represented an independent phyletic line in this clade of the family Flavobacteriaceae. The DNA G+C content of the strain was 37.3 mol%. The major respiratory quinone was MK-6 and the predominant cellular fatty acids were C_16:1 ω7c and/or iso-C_15:0 2-OH (12.8%), anteiso-C_15:0 (9.4%), and iso-C_16:1 (9.4%). Low 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, formation of a distinct phylogenetic branch, and several phenotypic characteristics, including a narrow range of temperature and salinity for growth, differentiated strain IMCC3175^T from other related genera in the family Flavobacteriaceae. Therefore the name Antarcticimonas flava gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed, with strain IMCC3175^T (=KCCM 42713^T =NBRC 103398^T) as the type strain.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Flavobacterium koreense</Emphasis> sp. nov., <Emphasis Type="Italic">Flavobacterium chungnamense</Emphasis> sp. nov., and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Flavobacterium cheonanense</Emphasis> sp. nov., isolated from a freshwater reservoir

Taxonomic studies were performed on three strains isolated from Cheonho reservoir in Cheonan, Korea. The isolates were Gram-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped, non-motile, catalase-positive, and oxidase-positive. Colonies on solid media were cream-yellow, smooth, shiny, and circular. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that these strains belong to the genus Flavobacterium. The strains shared 98.6–99.4% sequence similarity with each other and showed less than 97% similarity with members of the genus Flavobacterium with validly published names. The DNA-DNA hybridization results confirmed the separate genomic status of strains ARSA-42^T, ARSA-103^T, and ARSA-108^T. The isolates contained menaqui-none-6 as the predominant menaquinone and iso-C_15:0, iso-C_15:0 3-OH, iso-Ci_15:1 G, and iso-C_16:0 3-OH as the major fatty acids. The genomic DNA G+C content of the isolates were 31.4–33.2 mol%. According to the phenotypic and genotypic data, these organisms are classified as representative of three novel species in the genus Flavobacterium, and the name Flavobacterium koreense sp. nov. (strain ARSA-42^T =KCTC 23182^T =JCM 17066^T =KACC 14969^T), Flavobacterium chungnamense sp. nov. (strain ARSA-103^T =KCTC 23183^T =JCM 17068^T =KACC 14971^T), and Flavobacterium cheonanense sp. nov. (strain ARSA-108^T =KCTC 23184^T =JCM 17069^T =KACC 14972) are proposed.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Henriciella marina</Emphasis> gen. nov., sp. nov., a novel member of the family <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hyphomonadaceae</Emphasis> isolated from the East Sea

A bacterial strain, designated Iso4^T, was isolated from the East Sea of Korea and was subjected to a poly-phasic taxonomy study including phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characteristics as well as 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. Cells of the strain were Gram-negative, motile, non-budding, non-stalked, and strictly aerobic. Strain Iso4^T grew optimally at 20°C in the presence of 1∼2% (w/v) NaCl and at pH 6.9∼7.6. The major respiratory quinone was Q-10 and the major cellular fatty acids were C_18:1 ω7c (53.5%), C_17:1 ω5c (11.7%), C_17:1 ω6c (8.1%), C_16:0 (7.8%), C_17:0 (4.8%), C_15:0 (2.9%), and C_16:1 ω5c (2.2%). The DNA G+C content of strain Iso4^T was 56.2 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain Iso4^T formed a monophyletic clade in the family Hyphomonadaceae, supported by high bootstrap value and was most closely related to the genus Hyphomonas (92∼94%), a member of marine bacteria in the family. The phenotypic, genotypic, and chemotaxonomic evidences also suggest strain Iso4^T represents a novel genus and species in the family Hyphomonadaceae, for which the name Henriciella gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is Iso4^T (=KCTC 12513^T =DSM 19595^T =JCM 15116^T).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ensifer collicola</Emphasis> sp. nov., a bacterium isolated from soil in South Korea

Strain Mol12^T, which presented in the form of Gram-negative, motile, non-spore forming rod-shaped, was isolated from soil in South Korea and characterized to determine its taxonomic position. The strain grew at 20–30°C (optimum 30°C) and pH 7.0–10.0 (optimum pH 8.0) with 1% (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the strain Mol12^T was most closely related to Ensifer terangae LMG 7834^T (96.78%), Rhizobium daejeonense KCTC 12121^T (96.43%), Ensifer adhaerens Casida A^T (96.28%). Chemotaxonomic data showed that the predominant fatty acids were Summed Feature 8 (C_18:1 ω7c and/or C_18:1 ω6c; 53.02%) and C_18:1 ω7c 11-methyl (24.01%). Its complex polar lipid contained major amounts of diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and Q-10 as the predominant ubiquinone. The DNA G+C content of strain Mol12^T was determined to be 60.9 mol%. Based on the phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic, and phenotypic data, strain Mol12^T (=KCTC 42816^T =JCM 31049^T) ought to be classified as a type strain of a novel species, for which the name Ensifer collicola sp. nov. is proposed.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Azohydromonas riparia</Emphasis> sp. nov. and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Azohydromonas ureilytica</Emphasis> sp. nov. isolated from a riverside soil in South Korea

White and pale yellow coloured bacteria were isolated from the riverside soil, Daejeon, South Korea, and were designated UCM-11^T, UCM-F25, and UCM-80^T. We found that all strains were able to reduce nitrate, and the cells were aerobic and motile. The DNA G+C contents of UCM-11^T, UCM-F25, and UCM-80^T were between 68.9 to 71.2 mol% and the main ubiquinone was observed as Q-8. Based on16S rRNA gene sequences, strains UCM-11^T and UCM-F25 were found to closely match with Azohydromonas australica IAM 12664^T (98.48–98.55%), and the strain UCM-80^T was the closest match with Azohydromonas lata IAM 12599^T (98.34%). The presence of summed feature 3 (C_16:1 ω7c and/or C_16:1 ω6c), C_16:0, summed feature 8 (C_18:1 ω7c and/or C_18:1 ω6c) as well as twokinds of hydroxyfatty acids consisting of C_10:0 3-OH and C_12:0 2-OH, and branched fatty acids containing C_16:0 iso and C_17:0 cyclo were detected in all the strains. Phosphatidylethanolamine was a major polar lipid. DNA–DNA relatedness confirmed UCM-11^T, UCM-F25 and UCM-80^T as novel members of the genus Azohydromonas. Based on the morphological, physiological, biochemical and genotypic characteristics, we suggest that strains UCM-11^T, UCM-F25, and UCM-80^T represent novel species within the genus Azohydromonas. The names Azohydromonas riparia sp. nov., and Azohydromonas ureilytica sp. nov. are proposed for the type strains UCM-11^T (=KACC 18570^T =NBRC 111646^T) and UCM-80^T (=KACC 18576^T =NBRC 111658^T), respectively.     

<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">Acinetobacter brisouii</Emphasis> sp. nov., isolated from a wetland in Korea

A bacterial strain 5YN5-8^T was isolated from peat layer on Yongneup in Korea. Cells of strain 5YN5-8^T were strictly aerobic, Gram-negative, coccobacilli, non-spore forming, and non-motile. The isolate exhibited optimal growth at 28°C, pH 7.0, and 0–1% NaCl. Results of 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses indicated a close relationship of this isolate to Acinetobacter calcoaceticus (97.8% similarity for strain DSM 30006^T). It also exhibited 94.4–97.8% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities to the validly published Acinetobacter species. The value for DNA-DNA hybridization between strain 5YN5-8^T and other members of the genus Acinetobacter ranged from 16 to 28%. Predominant cellular fatty acids were C_18:1 ω9c, summed feature 4 containing C_15:0 iso 2-OH and/or C_16:1 ω7c, and C_16:0. The DNA G+C content was 43.9 mol%. Phylogenetic, phenotypic, and chemotaxonomic data accumulated in this study revealed that the isolate could be classified in a novel species of the genus Acinetobacter. The name Acinetobacter brisouii sp. nov. is proposed for the novel species, with 5YN5-8^T (=KACC 11602^T = DSM 18516^T) as the type strain.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Larkinella terrae</Emphasis> sp. nov., isolated from soil on Jeju Island,South Korea

A Gram-stain negative, non-motile, rod-shaped, aerobic bacterium, designated 15J8-8^T, was isolated from a soil sample collected on Jeju Island, South Korea, and characterized taxonomically using a polyphasic approach. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain 15J8-8^T belongs to the family Cytophagaceae and is related to Larkinella bovis M2TB15^T (95.0%), ‘Larkinella harenae’ 15J9-9 (94.5%), Larkinella arboricola Z0532^T (93.2%), and Larkinella insperata LMG 22510^T (93.0%). The DNA G+C content of strain 15J8-8^T was 50.5 mol%. The detection of phosphatidylethanolamine and two unidentified polar lipids as major polar lipids; menaquinone-7 as the predominant quinone; and C_16:1 ω5c, C_16:0 N alcohol, and iso-C_15:0 as the major fatty acids also supported the affiliation of the isolate to the genus Larkinella. Based on its phenotypic properties and phylogenetic distinctiveness, strain 15J8-8^T should be classified in the genus Larkinella as representative of a novel species, for which the name Larkinella terrae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 15J8-8^T (= KCTC 52001^T = JCM 31990^T).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Kretzschmaria varians</Emphasis> sp. nov., <Emphasis Type="Italic">Xylaria coremiifera</Emphasis> sp. nov. and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Xylaria umbonata</Emphasis> sp. nov. from Costa Rica

Kretzschmaria varians, a species apparently related to K. micropus, is described as new. It is distinguished primarily by having asci with 2 to 8 ascospores with inconstant germination slit length and remains of synnemata on stromata and surrounding substrate. Xylaria coremiifera, described here as new, bears small fragile coremia on pulvinate stromata and the surrounding substrate. Asci often have fewer than 8 ascospores, most frequently 4. Xylaria umbonata, described here as new, produces perithecia around a central umbo that appears to be the remains of a synnema. Ascospores have long spiralling germination slits.     

<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">Ogataea phyllophila</Emphasis> sp. nov., <Emphasis Type="Italic">Candida chumphonensis</Emphasis> sp. nov. and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Candida mattranensis</Emphasis> sp. nov., three methylotrophic yeast species from phylloplane in Thailand

Five strains (LN12, LN14^T, LN15^T, LN16 and LN17^T) representing three novel methylotrophic yeast species were isolated from the external surface of plant leaves by three-consecutive enrichments. On the basis of morphological, biochemical, physiological and chemotaxonomic characteristics, the sequence analysis of the D1/D2 domain of the large subunit (LSU) rRNA gene and the phylogenetic analysis, the five strains were assigned to be one novel Ogataea species and two novel Candida species. Three strains (LN12, LN14^T and LN16) represent a single novel species of the genus Ogataea, for which the name Ogataea phyllophila sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is LN14^T (= BCC 42666^T = NBRC 107780^T = CBS 12095^T). Strain LN15^T was assigned to be Candida chumphonensis sp. nov. (type strain LN15^T = BCC 42667^T = NBRC 107781^T = CBS 12096^T). Strain LN17^T represented another novel species of Candida that was named Candida mattranensis sp. nov. (type strain LN17^T = BCC 42668^T = NBRC 107782^T = CBS 12097^T).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Lysobacter spongiae</Emphasis> sp. nov., isolated from spongin

A Gram-negative, motile, aerobic and rod-shaped bacterial strain designated 119BY6-57^T was isolated from spongin. The taxonomic position of the novel isolate was confirmed using the polyphasic approach. Strain 119BY6-57^T grew well at 25–30°C on marine agar. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, strain 119BY6-57^T belongs to the family Xanthomonadaceae and is related to Lysobacter aestuarii S2-C^T (99.8% sequence similarity), L. maris KMU-14^T (97.5%), and L. daejeonensis GH1-9^T (97.3%). Lower sequence similarities (97.0%) were found with all of the other recognized members of the genus Lysobacter. The G + C content of the genomic DNA was 69.9 mol%. The major respiratory quinone was Q-8 and the major fatty acids were C_16:0 iso, C_15:0 iso, summed feature 9 (comprising C_17:1 iso ω9c and/or C_16:0 10-methyl), summed feature 3 (comprising C_16:1ω7c and/or C_16:1ω6c), and C_11:0 iso 3-OH. The polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, three unidentified phospholipids, and an unidentified polar lipid. DNADNA relatedness values between strain 119BY6-57^T and its closest phylogenetically neighbors were below 48.0 ± 2.1%. Based on genotypic and phenotypic characteristics, it is concluded that strain 119BY6-57^T is a new member within the genus Lysobacter, for which the name Lysobacter spongiae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 119BY6-57^T (= KACC 19276^T = LMG 30077^T).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pedobacter aquicola</Emphasis> sp. nov., isolated from freshwater

A non-motile, pink-pigmented bacterial strain designated IMCC25679^T, was isolated from freshwater Lake Chungju of Korea. Phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the strain IMCC25679^T formed a lineage within the genus Pedobacter. The strain IMCC25679^T was closely related to Pedobacter daechungensis Dae 13^T (96.4% sequence similarity), Pedobacter rivuli HME8457^T (95.3%) and Pedobacter lentus DS-40^T (94.3%). The major fatty acids of IMCC- 25679^T were iso-C_15:0, iso-C_16:0 and summed feature 3 (comprising C_16:1ω6c and/or C_16:1ω7c). The major respiratory quinone was MK-7. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), an unidentified sphingolipid (SL), an unidentified aminolipid (AL) and three unidentified polar lipids (PL). The DNA G + C content of IMCC25679^T was 32.2 mol%. Based on the evidence presented in this study, the strain IMCC25679^T represents a novel species within the genus Pedobacter, with the proposed name Pedobacter aquicola, sp. nov. The type strain is IMCC25679^T (= KACC 19486^T = NBRC113131^T).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Hymenobacter jeollabukensis</Emphasis> sp. nov., isolated from soil

A Gram-stain-negative, non-motile, rod-shaped, aerobic bacterial strain, designated 1-3-3-8^T, was isolated from soil and characterized taxonomically using a polyphasic approach. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain 1-3-3-8^T belongs to the family Cytophagaceae of phylum Bacteroidetes and is most closely related to Hymenobacter paludis KBP-30^T (96.8% similarity), Hymenobacter ocellatus Myx2105^T (96.8%), Hymenobacter coalescens WW84^T (95.6%), and Hymenobacter deserti ZLB-3^T (95.4%). The G + C content of the genomic DNA of strain 1-3-3-8^T was 63.6 mol%. The isolate contained C_15:0 iso (28.4%), summed feature 4 (C_17:1 anteiso B/C_17:1 iso I; 18.9%), and C_15:0 anteiso (17.6%) as major fatty acids, MK-7 as the predominant respiratory quinone, and sym-homospermidine as the predominant polyamine. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine and an unidentified lipid. The phenotypic and chemotaxonomic data supported the affiliation of strain 1-3-3-8^T with the genus Hymenobacter. The DNA-DNA relatedness between strain 1-3-3-8^T and H. paludis KCTC 32237^T and H. ocellatus DSM 11117^T were 24.5 and 27.4% respectively, clearly showing that the isolate is not related to them at the species level. Overall, the novel strain could be differentiated from its phylogenetic neighbors on the basis of several phenotypic, genotypic, and chemotaxonomic features. Therefore, strain 1-3-3-8^T represents a novel species of the genus Hymenobacter, for which the name Hymenobacter jeollabukensis sp. nov. has been proposed. The type strain is 1-3-3-8^T (= KCTC 52741^T = JCM 32192^T).