Pseudomonas sivasensis sp. nov. isolated from farm fisheries in Turkey

A study of 91 isolates from fish farms in Turkey showed that isolates P7^T, P11, P24b, P29, P72, P73 and P158 belonged to the genus Pseudomonas according to 16S rRNA nucleotide sequence analysis. The analysis of the sequences of the RNA polymerase sigma factor gene (rpoD) located these strains in the Pseudomonas fluorescens lineage of species within the P. fluorescens subgroup, close to the cluster composed of the species Pseudomonas grimontii, Pseudomonas marginalis and Pseudomonas panacis. Based on similarities in the 16S rRNA and rpoD gene sequences of three previously isolated strains from other origins (CCUG 57209, CCUG 62357 and W5.2-93) linked them to the same cluster. A polyphasic taxonomic approach including phenotypic characterization, fatty acid composition, and multilocus sequence analysis, together with whole-cell MALDI-TOF data, corroborated this assumption. The genome G+C mol% contents were 59.48 and 59.71, respectively. The average nucleotide indices based on BLAST analysis and the genome-to-genome distance calculation for the P7^T and CCUG 57209 strains with their closest relative, P. grimontii, were 88.16–88.29% and 38.10–38.20%, respectively. These data confirm that isolates P7^T, P11, P24b, P29, P72, P73, P158, CCUG 57209, CCUG 62357 and W5.2-93 represent a new species for which the name Pseudomonas sivasensis is proposed, with P7^T as a type strain (=CCUG 74260^T= and CECT30107^T).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Spirosoma pomorum</Emphasis> sp. nov., isolated from apple orchard soil

A Gram-negative, motile, rod-shaped, aerobic bacterial strain, designated S7-2-11^T, was isolated from apple orchard soil from Gyeongsangnam-do Province, Republic of Korea, and was characterized taxonomically using a polyphasic approach. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that strain S7-2-11^T belongs to the family Cytophagaceae in phylum Bacteroidetes, and is closely related to Spirosoma luteolum 16F6E^T (94.2% identity), Spirosoma knui 15J8-12^T (92.7%), and Spirosoma linguale DSM 74^T (91.0%). The G + C content of the genomic DNA of strain S7-2-11^T was 49.8 mol%. Strain S7-2-11^T contained summed feature 3 (C_16:1 ω7c/C_16:1 ω6c; 35.1%), C_16:1 ω5c (22.4%), C_15:0 iso (13.9%), and C_17:0 iso 3-OH (10.6%) as major cellular fatty acids, and MK-7 as the predominant respiratory quinone. The main polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, an unidentified aminophospholipid, and two unidentified polar lipids. Phenotypic and chemotaxonomic data supported the affiliation of strain S7-2-11^T with the genus Spirosoma. The results of physiological and biochemical tests showed the genotypic and phenotypic differentiation of the isolate from recognized Spirosoma species. On the basis of its phenotypic properties, genotypic distinctiveness, and chemotaxonomic features, strain S7-2-11^T represents a novel species of the genus Spirosoma, for which the name Spirosoma pomorum sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is S7-2-11^T (= KCTC 52726^T = JCM 32130^T).     

Photobacterium piscicola sp. nov., isolated from marine fish and spoiled packed cod

Five isolates from marine fish (W3^T, WM, W1S, S2 and S3) and three isolates misclassified as Photobacterium phosphoreum, originating from spoiled modified atmosphere packed stored cod (NCIMB 13482 and NCIMB 13483) and the intestine of skate (NCIMB 192), were subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic study. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the isolates were members of the genus Photobacterium. Sequence analysis using the gapA, gyrB, pyrH, recA and rpoA loci showed that these isolates formed a distinct branch in the genus Photobacterium, and were most closely related to Photobacterium aquimaris, Photobacterium kishitanii, Photobacterium phosphoreum and Photobacterium iliopiscarium. The luxA gene was present in isolates W3^T, WM, W1S, S2 and S3 but not in NCIMB 13482, NCIMB 13483 and NCIMB 192. AFLP and (GTG)₅-PCR fingerprinting indicated that the eight isolates represented at least five distinct genotypes. DNA–DNA hybridizations revealed 89% relatedness between isolate W3^T and NCIMB 192, and values below 70% with the type strains of the phylogenetically closest species, P. iliopiscarium LMG 19543^T, P. kishitanii LMG 23890^T, P. aquimaris LMG 26951^T and P. phosphoreum LMG4233^T. The strains of this new taxon could also be distinguished from the latter species by phenotypic characteristics. Therefore, we propose to classify this new taxon as Photobacterium piscicola sp. nov., with W3^T (=NCCB 100098^T = LMG 27681^T) as the type strain.     

Genome Sequence of the Alkane-Degrading Bacterium Alcanivorax hongdengensis Type Strain A-11-3

Alcanivorax hongdengensis A-11-3^T was isolated from an oil-enriched consortium enriched from the surface seawater of Hong-Deng dock in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore. Strain A-11-3^T can degrade n-alkane and produce a lipopeptide biosurfactant. Here we report the genome of A-11-3^T and the genes associated with alkane degradation.     

Rhizobium cremeum sp. nov., isolated from sewage and capable of acquisition of heavy metal and aromatic compounds resistance genes

Two strains of Rhizobia isolated from sewage collected from the Chinese Baijiu distillery were characterized using a polyphasic approach. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strains W15^T and W16 were grouped as a separate clade closely related to Rhizobium daejeonense L61^T (98.6%). Multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) with three housekeeping genes (recA, glnII and rpoA) also showed that strains W15^T and W16 belonged to the genus Rhizobium. Average nucleotide identity and digital DNA–DNA hybridization values between genome sequences of strain W15^T and the closely related species ranged from 77.0% to 87.8% and from 23.9% to 30.9%. The DNA G + C content of strain W15^T was 61.6 mol%. Strain W15^T contained Q-10 as the major ubiquinone and the dominant fatty acids were summed feature 8 (C _18:1ω7c and/or C _18:1ω6c; 73.1%) and C_18:0 (7.6%). The main polar lipids are phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylmethylethanolamine, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol. On the basis of the evidences presented in this study, strains W15^T and W16 represents a novel species of the genus Rhizobium, for which the name Rhizobium cremeum sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is W15^T (= CGMCC 1.18731^T = KACC 22344^T).     

Isolation and Characterization of a Marine Cyclohexylacetate-Degrading Bacterium Lutimaribacter litoralis sp. nov., and Reclassification of Oceanicola pacificus as Lutimaribacter pacificus comb. nov.

A novel aerobic, Gram-negative, non-motile, pleomorphic, and rod-shaped bacterium designated KU5D5^T was isolated from seawater that was obtained from the coastal region of the Goto Islands, Japan, on the basis of its ability to utilize cyclohexylacetate as the sole source of carbon and energy. Strain KU5D5^T grew at pH 6.0–8.0 and 10–35 °C in the presence of 1.0–5.0 % (w/v) NaCl. Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that this strain was affiliated to the family Rhodobacteraceae in the class Alphaproteobacteria and was related most closely to Lutimaribacter saemankumensis (96.6 % similarity) and Oceanicola pacificus (96.6 %). The predominant respiratory lipoquinone was ubiquinone-10 and the major cellular fatty acids were C_18:1 ω7c (66.7 %), C_16:0 (7.7 %), C_12:1 3-OH (6.1 %), and C_17:0 (6.1 %). The DNA G+C content was 58.9 mol %. On the basis of physiological, chemotaxonomic, and phylogenetic data, strain KU5D5^T is suggested to represent a novel species of the genus Lutimaribacter, for which the name Lutimaribacter litoralis sp. nov. is proposed. It is also proposed that O. pacificus should be transferred to the genus Lutimaribacter as Lutimaribacter pacificus comb. nov. The type strain of L. litoralis is KU5D5^T (=JCM 17792^T = KCTC 23660^T) and the type strain of L. pacificus is W11-2B^T (=CCTCC AB 208224^T = LMG 24619^T = MCCC 1A01034^T).     

Ferruginibacter profundus sp. nov., a novel member of the family Chitinophagaceae,isolated from freshwater sediment of a reservoir

A Gram-negative, aerobic, non-motile, and rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain DS48-5-3^T, was isolated from a 48 m sediment sample taken from Daechung Reservoir, Republic of Korea. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence studies showed a clear affiliation of this strain to the Bacteroidetes, notably most closely related to Ferruginibacter alkalilentus HU1-GD23^T, Ferruginibacter lapsinanis HU1-HG42^T and Ferruginibacter yonginensis HME8442^T, showing 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities to the type strains of these species of 95.2–96.4 % similarity. The predominant ubiquinone was identified as MK-7. The major fatty acids were identified as iso-C_15:0, iso-C_17:0 3-OH, and iso-C_15:1 G. The G+C content of the genomic DNA of strain DS48-5-3^T was determined to be 37.2 %. On the basis of polyphasic evidence, it is proposed that strain DS48-5-3^T should belong to a novel species, for which the name Ferruginibacter profundus sp. nov. (type strain DS48-5-3^T = KCTC 32478^T = JCM 19431^T), is proposed.     

A unique disulfide bridge of the thermophilic xylanase syxyn11 plays a key role in its thermostability

Based on the hyperthermostable family 11 xylanase (EvXyn11^TS) gene sequence (EU591743), the gene Syxyn11 encoding a thermophilic xylanase SyXyn11 was synthesized with synonymous codons biasing towards Pichia pastoris. The homology alignment of primary structures among family 11 xylanases revealed that, at their N-termini, only SyXyn11 contains a disulfide bridge (Cys5–Cys32). This to some extent implied the significance of the disulfide bridge of SyXyn11 to its thermostability. To confirm the correlation between the N-terminal disulfide bridge and thermostability, a SyXyn11^C5T-encoding gene, Syxyn11 ^C5T, was constructed by mutating the Cys5 codon of Syxyn11 to Thr5. Then, the genes for the recombinant xylanases, reSyXyn11 and reSyXyn11^C5T, were expressed in P. pastoris GS115, yielding xylanase activity of about 35 U per ml cell culture. Both xylanases were purified to homogeneity with specific activities of 363 and 344 U/mg, respectively. The temperature optimum and stability of reSyXyn11^C5T decreased to 70 and 50°C from 85 and 80°C of reSyXyn11, respectively. There was no obvious change in pH characteristics.     

Micromonospora jinlongensis sp. nov., isolated from muddy soil in China and emended description of the genus Micromonospora

A novel actinomycete, designated strain NEAU-GRX11^T, was isolated from muddy soil collected from a stream of Jinlong Mountain in Harbin, north China. The organism was found to have morphological and chemotaxonomic characteristics typical of the genus Micromonospora. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain NEAU-GRX11^T showed highest similarity to Micromonospora zamorensis CR38^T (99.2 %), Micromonospora saelicesensis Lupac 09^T (99.0 %), Micromonospora chokoriensis 2-19/6^T (98.7 %), Micromonospora coxensis 2-30-b/28^T (98.5 %), Micromonospora aurantiaca ATCC 27029^T (98.4 %) and Micromonospora lupini lupac 14N^T (98.3 %). Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene and gyrB gene demonstrated that strain NEAU-GRX11^T was a member of the genus Micromonospora and supported the closest phylogenetic relationship to M. zamorensis CR38^T, M. saelicesensis Lupac 09^T, M. chokoriensis 2-19/6^T and M. lupini lupac 14N^T. A combination of DNA–DNA hybridization and some phenotypic characteristics indicated that the novel strain could be readily distinguished from these closest phylogenetic relatives. Therefore, it is proposed that NEAU-GRX11^T represents a novel species of the genus Micromonospora, for which the name Micromonospora jinlongensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is NEAU-GRX11^T (=CGMCC 4.7103^T=DSM 45876^T).     

Description of Aestuariivivens marinum sp. nov., Aestuariivivens sediminis sp. nov. and Aestuariivivens sediminicola sp. nov., three new species isolated from the upper layer of tidal flat sediment

Nine bacterial strains designated MT3-5-12^T, MT3-5-27, MTV1-9, S-DT1-15^T, S-DT1-34, MTV5-3^T, MTV4-17, MTV5-12 and MTV5-13 were isolated from the upper layer (1–5 cm in depth) of tidal flat sediment in Quanzhou Bay, China. The 16S rRNA gene of these strains shared maximum sequence similarities with Aestuariivivens insulae KCTC 42350^T of 94.9–97.1%. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences and 120 conserved concatenated proteins placed these strains in three novel phylogenetic clades affiliated to the genus Aestuariivivens of the family Flavobacteriaceae. Strains MT3-5-12^T, MT3-5-27 and MTV1-9 were phylogenetically close to A. insulae KCTC 42350^T. The average nucleotide identity (ANI) and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) values between strains MT3-5-12^Tand MTV1-9 and A. insulae KCTC 42350^T were estimated to be 78.5-78.7% and 22.5%, respectively. Strains S-DT1-15^T and S-DT1-34 formed a distinctly separated clade from A. insulae KCTC 42350^T. The ANI and dDDH values between strains S-DT1-15^T and S-DT1-34 and A. insulae KCTC 42350^T were 76.3–76.4% and 20.4–20.5%, respectively. The other four strains MTV5-3^T, MTV4-17, MTV5-12 and MTV5-13, formed a third novel clade, distinctly separated from A. insulae KCTC 42350^T. The ANI and dDDH values between strains MTV5-3^T and MTV4-17 and A. insulae KCTC 42350^T were 74.7% and 19.1–19.2%, respectively. The phylogenetic analyses and whole genomic comparisons, combined with phenotypic and chemotaxonomic features, strongly supported the nine strains could be classified as three novel species within the genus Aestuariivivens, for which the names Aestuariivivens marinum sp. nov. MT3-5-12^T, Aestuariivivens sediminis sp. nov. S-DT1-15^T, and Aestuariivivens sediminicola sp. nov. MTV5-3^T are proposed.     

Characterization of Bifidobacterium apousia sp. nov., Bifidobacterium choladohabitans sp. nov., and Bifidobacterium polysaccharolyticum sp. nov., three novel species of the genus Bifidobacterium from honey bee gut

Bifidobacterium is one of the dominating bacterial genera in the honey bee gut, and they are the key degrader of diet polysaccharides for the host. Previous genomic analysis shows that they belong to separate phylogenetic clusters and exhibited different functional potentials in hemicellulose digestion. Here, three novel strains from the genus Bifidobacterium were isolated from the guts of the honey bee (Apis mellifera). Phylogenomic analysis showed that the isolates could be grouped into four phylogenetic clusters. The average nucleotide identity values between strains from different clusters are <95%, while strains in Cluster IV belong to the characterized species Bifidobacterium asteroides. Carbohydrate-active enzyme annotation confirmed that the metabolic capacity for carbohydrates varied between clusters of strains. Cells are Gram-positive rods; they grew both anaerobically and in a CO₂-enriched atmosphere. All strains grew at a temperature range of 20–42 °C, with optimum growth at 35 °C. The pH range for growth was 5–9. Strains from different phylogenetic clusters varied in multiple phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characterizations. Thus, we propose three novel species Bifidobacterium apousia sp. nov. whose type strain is W8102^T (=CGMCC 1.18893 ^T = JCM 34587 ^T), Bifidobacterium choladohabitans sp. nov., whose type strain is B14384H11^T (=CGMCC 1.18892 ^T = JCM 34586 ^T), and Bifidobacterium polysaccharolyticum sp. nov. whose type strain is W8117^T (=CGMCC 1.18894 ^T = JCM 34588 ^T).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Spirosoma flavus</Emphasis> sp. nov., a novel bacterium from soil of Jeju Island

A novel, Gram-staining negative, yellow pigmented bacterial strain, designated 15J11-2^T, was isolated from soil sample on Jeju Island, Republic of Korea. The strain was subjected to a taxonomic study using a polyphasic approach. The strain was able to grow at temperature range from 10°C to 30°C, pH 7–8, and in presence of 0–1% (w/v) NaCl. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain 15J11-2^T belongs to the genus Spirosoma and levels of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity ranged from 91.5% to 89.8%. The genomic DNA G + C content of strain 15J11-2^T was 46.0 mol%. The isolate contained phosphatidylethanolamine and an unidentified aminophospholipid as the main polar lipids, menaquinone MK-7 as the predominant respiratory quinone, and summed feature 3 (C_16:1ω6c/C_16:1ω7c; 39.4%), C_16:1ω5c (27.1%), and C_16:0 (13.0%) as the major fatty acids, which supported the affiliation of strain 15J11-2^T to the genus Spirosoma. The results of physiological and biochemical tests allowed genotypic and phenotypic differentiation of strain 15J11-2^T from recognized Spirosoma species. On the basis of its phenotypic properties, genotypic distinctiveness, chemotaxonomic features, strain 15J11-2^T represents a novel species of the genus Spirosoma, for which the name Spirosoma flavus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 15J11-2^T (= KCTC 52026^T = JCM 31998^T).     

Weizmannia acidilactici sp. nov., a lactic acid producing bacterium isolated from soils

The strains designed PP-18^T, JC-4 and JC-7 isolated from soils, were Gram-stain-positive rods, facultative anaerobe, endospore-forming bacteria. The strains produced l-lactic acid from glucose. They showed positive for catalase but negative for oxidase, nitrate reduction and arginine hydrolysis. Strains P-18^T, JC-4 and JC-7 were closely related to Weizmannia coagulans LMG 6326^T (97.27–97.64%) and W. acidiproducens KCTC 13078^T (96.46–96.74%) based on 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, respectively. They contained meso-diaminopimelic acid in cell wall peptidoglycan and had seven isoprene units (MK-7) as the predominant menaquinone. The major cellular fatty acids of strain PP-18^T were iso-C_15:0, anteiso-C_17:0, iso-C_16:0 and anteiso-C_15:0. The ANIb and ANIm values among the genomes of strains PP-18^T, JC-4 and JC-7 are above 99.4% while their ANIb and ANIm values among them and W. coagulans LMG 6326^T and W. acidiproducens KCTC 13078^T were ranged from 76.61 to 79.59%. These 3 strains showed the digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) values of 20.7–23.6% when compared with W. coagulans LMG 6326^T and W. acidiproducens DSM 23148^T. The DNA G + C contents of strains PP-18^T, JC-4 and JC-7 were 45.82%, 45.86% and 45.86%, respectively. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphoglycolipids. The results of phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characteristics and whole-genome analysis indicated that the strains PP-18^T, JC-4 and JC-7 should be represented as a novel species within the genus Weizmannia for which the name Weizmannia acidilactici sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is PP-18^T (=KCTC 33974^T = NBRC 113028^T = TISTR 2515^T).     

Klebsiella michiganensis sp. nov., A New Bacterium Isolated from a Tooth Brush Holder

Isolate W14^T recovered from a household tooth brush holder was found to be gram-negative, a facultative anaerobic, non-motile, capsulated, and a non-endospore-forming straight rod. Based on phylogenetic analysis with 16S rRNA gene sequence, isolate W14^T was affiliated to the genus Klebsiella. The closest phylogenetic relative was K. oxytoca with 99 % similarity in the 16S rRNA gene sequence. The major whole-cell fatty acids were C_16:0 (31.23 %), C_18:1ω6c/C_18:1ω7c (21.10 %), and C_16:1ω7c/C_16:1ω6c (19.05 %). The sequence similarities of isolate W14^T based on rpoB, gyrA, and gyrB were 97, 98, and 98 % with K. oxytoca, and 97, 93, and 90 % with K. mobilis (=Enterobacter aerogenes), respectively. The ribotyping pattern showed a 0.46 similarity with K. oxytoca ATCC 13182^T and 0.24 with K. mobilis ATCC 13048^T. The DNA G+C content of isolate W14^T was 54.6 mol%. The DNA–DNA relatedness was 55.7 % with K. oxytoca ATCC 13182^T. Using the identification technology of MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, the top matches for this isolate were K. oxytoca ATCC 13182^T (Match Factor Score 1.998) and K. mobilis (Score 1.797). On the basis of phenotypic, biochemical, chemotaxonomic, and molecular studies, isolate W14^T could be differentiated from other members of the genus Klebsiella including K. mobilis. Therefore, it is proposed that isolate W14^T (=ATCC BAA-2403^T=DSM 25444^T) should be classified as the type strain of a novel species of the genus Klebsiella, K. michiganensis sp. nov.     

Nocardia vulneris sp. nov., isolated from wounds of human patients in North America

Nocardia species are ubiquitous in the environment with an increasing number of species isolated from clinical sources. From 2005 to 2009, eight isolates (W9042, W9247, W9290, W9319, W9846, W9851^T, W9865, and W9908) were obtained from eight patients from three states in the United States and Canada; all were from males ranging in age from 47 to 81 years old; and all were obtained from finger (n = 5) or leg (n = 3) wounds. Isolates were characterized by polyphasic analysis using molecular, phenotypic, morphologic and chemotaxonomic methods. Sequence analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences showed the eight isolates are 100 % identical to each other and belong in the genus Nocardia. The nearest phylogenetically related neighbours were found to be the type strains for Nocardia altamirensis (99.33 % sequence similarity), Nocardia brasiliensis (99.37 %), Nocardia iowensis (98.95 %) and Nocardia tenerifensis (98.44 %). The G+C content of isolate W9851^T was determined to be 68.4 mol %. The DNA–DNA relatedness between strain W9851^T and the N. brasiliensis type strain was 72.8 % and 65.8 % when measured in the laboratory and in silico from genome sequences, respectively, and 95.6 % ANI. Whole-cell peptidoglycan was found to contain meso-diaminopimelic acid; MK-8-(H₄)_ω-cyc was identified as the major menaquinone; the major fatty acids were identified as C_16:0, 10 Me C_18:0, and C_{18:1 w9c}, the predominant phospholipids were found to include diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylinositol mannosides; whole-cell sugars detected were arabinose and galactose; and mycolic acids ranging from 38 to 60 carbon atoms were found to be present. These chemotaxonomic analyses are consistent with assignment of the isolates to the genus Nocardia. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectra of the clinical isolates showed genus and species level profiles that were different from other Nocardia species. All isolates were resistant to ciprofloxacin, clarithromycin and imipenem but were susceptible to amikacin, amoxicillin/clavulanate, linezolid and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. The results of our polyphasic analysis suggest the new isolates obtained from wound infections represent a novel species within the genus Nocardia, for which the name Nocardia vulneris sp. nov. is proposed, with strain W9851^T (= DSM 45737^T = CCUG 62683^T = NBRC 108936^T) as the type strain.     

Loktanella soesokkakensis sp. nov., isolated from the junction between the North Pacific Ocean and a freshwater spring

A Gram-negative, aerobic, non-flagellated and rod-shaped or ovoid bacterial strain, designated DSSK1-5^T, was isolated from the junction between the North Pacific Ocean and a freshwater spring at Jeju island, South Korea. Strain DSSK1-5^T was found to grow optimally at 30 °C, at pH 7.0–8.0 and in the presence of 2.0–3.0 % (w/v) NaCl. A neighbour-joining phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain DSSK1-5^T fell within the clade comprising Loktanella species, clustering consistently with the type strains of Loktanella hongkongensis and Loktanella cinnabarina, with which it exhibited 98.9 and 98.4 % sequence similarity values, respectively. Sequence similarities to the type strains of the other recognized Loktanella species were 94.0–96.2 %. Strain DSSK1-5^T was found to contain Q-10 as the predominant ubiquinone and C_18:1 ω7c as the major fatty acid. The major polar lipids of strain DSSK1-5^T were identified as phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, one unidentified glycolipid and one unidentified aminolipid. The DNA G+C content of strain DSSK1-5^T was determined to be 67.6 mol% and its mean DNA–DNA relatedness values with L. hongkongensis JCM 12479^T and L. cinnabarina JCM 18161^T were 19 and 23 %, respectively. The differential phenotypic properties, together with the phylogenetic and genetic distinctiveness, revealed that strain DSSK1-5^T is separated from other Loktanella species. On the basis of the data presented, strain DSSK1-5^T is proposed to represent a novel species of the genus Loktanella, for which the name Loktanella soesokkakensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is DSSK1-5^T (= KCTC 32425^T = CECT 8367^T).     

Paraherbaspirillum soli gen. nov., sp. nov. isolated from soil

A bacterial strain, designated JS5-2^T, was isolated from soil collected from Jeju Island, Republic of Korea. The cells of the strain were Gram-negative, nonspore forming, catalase- and oxidase-positive, aerobic, nonmotile and rod-shaped. Strain JS5-2^T exhibited 96.2–97.2, 95.1–96.3, and 95.4–95.8% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities to the genera Herbaspirillum, Oxalicibacterium, and Herminiimonas, respectively. The highest sequence similarities were with Herbaspirillum autotrophicum IAM 14942^T (97.2%) and Herbaspirillum frisingense GSF30^T (97.1%). The major fatty acids of strain JS5-2^T were C_16:0 (35.0%), C_17:0 cyclo (19.9%), C_18:1 ω7c (11.4%), and summed feature 3 (C_16:1 ω7c/C_15:0 iso 2-OH) (15.2%), and the major polar lipids of strain JS5-2^T were diphosphatidylglycerol and an unknown aminophospholipid. The strain contained Q-8 as the predominant ubiquinone. DNA-DNA relatedness values between strain JS5-2^T and H. autotrophicum IAM 14942^T, and H. frisingense GSF30^T were 32 and 35%, respectively. The DNA G+C content of strain JS5-2^T was 59.0 mol%. On the basis of phenotypic, genotypic, and physiological evidence, strain JS5-2^T represents a novel species of a new genus, for which the name Paraherbaspirillum soli gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain JS5-2^T (=KACC 12633^T =NBRC 106496^T) is proposed.     

Prototheca tumulicola sp. nov., a novel achlorophyllous,yeast-like microalga isolated from the stone chamber interior of the Takamatsuzuka Tumulus

Two achlorophyllous microalgal strains were isolated from the soil and white moldy colony collected inside the stone chamber of the Takamatsuzuka Tumulus in Japan. Phylogenetic analyses of the small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) and Dl/D2 large subunit ribosomal RNA (LSU rRNA) gene sequences, and concatenated gene sequences of the SSU and D1/D2 LSU rRNA genes indicated that our two isolates were the members of the non-photosynthetic, yeast-like microalgal Chlorellaceous genus Prototheca (Chlorellales, Trebouxiophyceae, Chlorophyta) but well distinguished from known species. Based on phenotypic and genotypic characteristics, isolates T6713-13-10^T and T61213-7-11 are proposed to represent a novel species in Prototheca, P. tumulicola, with the type strain JCM 31123^T (isolate T6713-13-10^T).