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).     

Halocynthiibacter namhaensis gen. nov., sp. nov., a novel alphaproteobacterium isolated from sea squirt Halocynthia roretzi

A Gram-negative, non-motile and rod-shaped bacterial strain, designated RA2-3^T, was isolated from a sea squirt (Halocynthia roretzi) collected from the South Sea, Korea, and its taxonomic position was investigated by using a polyphasic approach. Strain RA2-3^T was observed to grow optimally at 25 °C, at pH 7.0–7.5 and in the presence of 2 % (w/v) NaCl. Strain RA2-3^T exhibited the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity values to the type strains of Litoreibacter meonggei (95.7 %), Planktotalea frisia (95.6 %), Thalassobius gelatinovorus (95.5 %) and Pelagicola litoralis (95.4 %). A neighbour-joining phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain RA2-3^T clustered with the type strains of Planktotalea frisia, Pelagicola litoralis, Pacificibacter maritimus and Roseovarius marinus. Strain RA2-3^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 detected in strain RA2-3^T were phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol, one unidentified aminolipid and one unidentified lipid. The DNA G+C content of strain RA2-3^T was 52.9 mol%. On the basis of the phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic and phenotypic properties, strain RA2-3^T is considered to represent a new genus and species within the family Rhodobacteraceae, for which the name Halocynthiibacter namhaensis gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of H. namhaensis is RA2-3^T (=KCTC 32362^T=NBRC 109999^T).     

Seohaeicola nanhaiensis sp. nov., A Moderately Halophilic Bacterium Isolated from the Benthic Sediment of South China Sea

An aerobic, Gram-staining negative, non-motile, and rod-shaped bacterial strain, SS011A0-7#2-2^T, was isolated from the sediment of South China Sea with the depth of 1,500 m. Optimum growth occurred at pH 8.0, 30 °C, and 6 % (w/v) NaCl. Strain SS011A0-7#2-2^T did not synthesize bacteriochlorophyll a or carotenoid, neither possess photosynthesis genes. Its genome DNA G+C content was 67.9 mol%. It contained Q-10 as the predominant ubiquinone and C_18:1 ω7c (52.3 %) as the major fatty acid. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, unidentified phospholipid, and unidentified aminolipid. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that it was closely related to Seohaeicola saemankumensis SD-15^T, Phaeobacter gallaeciensis BS 107^T and Roseovarius pacificus 81-2^T in Rhodobacteraceae, with the 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities being 96.5, 95.7, and 95.6 %, respectively. However, the phylogeny of the 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain SS011A0-7#2-2^T was a member of the genus Seohaeicola. Strain SS011A0-7#2-2^T was moderately halophilic which was different from Seohaeicola saemankumensis SD-15^T, and it showed the enzyme activities and carbon source spectrum significantly different from Seohaeicola saemankumensis SD-15^T. As its physiological and chemotaxinomic properties were different from those of Seohaeicola saemankumensis SD-15^T, strain SS011A0-7#2-2^T represents a novel species of the genus Seohaecola. The name Seohaeicola nanhaiensis sp. nov. is proposed, with strain SS011A0-7#2-2^T (=LMG 27733^T = CGMCC 1.12759^T) as the type strain.     

Polaribacter marinivivus sp. nov., a member of the family Flavobacteriaceae isolated from seawater

A Gram-stain negative, non-flagellated, non-gliding, aerobic and rod-shaped bacterium, designated GYSW-15^T, was isolated from a seawater of Geoje island on the South Sea, South Korea, and subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic approach. Strain GYSW-15^T was found to grow optimally at 30 °C, at pH 7.0–8.0 and in the presence of approximately 2.0 % (w/v) NaCl. Neighbour-joining phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain GYSW-15^T belongs to the genus Polaribacter, clustering coherently with the type strain of Polaribacter porphyrae showing sequence similarity value of 97.0 %. Strain GYSW-15^T exhibited 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity values of 94.3–96.4 % to the type strains of the other Polaribacter species. Strain GYSW-15^T was found to contain MK-6 as the predominant menaquinone and iso-C_15:0, iso-C_15:1 G, iso-C_16:0 3-OH and summed feature 3 (C_16:1 ω7c and/or C_16:1 ω6c) as the major fatty acids. The polar lipid profile of strain GYSW-15^T containing phosphatidylethanolamine and an unidentified lipid as major components was similar to that of the type strain of P. porphyrae. The DNA G + C content of strain GYSW-15^T was determined to be 31.2 mol% and its mean DNA–DNA relatedness with P. porphyrae LMG 26671^T was 17 %. Differential phenotypic properties, together with its phylogenetic and genetic distinctiveness, revealed that strain GYSW-15^T is separated from recognized Polaribacter species. On the basis of the data presented, strain GYSW-15^T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Polaribacter, for which the name Polaribacter marinivivus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is GYSW-15^T ( = KCTC 42156^T = CECT 8655^T)     

Sabulilitoribacter multivorans gen. nov., sp. nov., a polysaccharide-degrading bacterium of the family Flavobacteriaceae isolated from seashore sand

A Gram-negative, aerobic, non-flagellated, non-gliding and rod-shaped bacterial strain, designated M-M16^T, was isolated from seashore sand around a seaweed farm on the South Sea, South Korea, and its taxonomic position was investigated by using a polyphasic study. Strain M-M16^T grew optimally at 30 °C, at pH 7.0–8.0 and in the presence of 2 % (w/v) NaCl. Strain M-M16^T exhibited the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity values to the type strains of Gaetbulibacter lutimaris (96.5 %) and Flaviramulus basaltis (95.8 %). Neighbour-joining and maximum-parsimony phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain M-M16^T clustered with the type strains of Gaetbulibacter species and F. basaltis. Strain M-M16^T contained MK-6 as the predominant menaquinone and iso-C_15:1 G, iso-C_15:0 and iso-C_17:0 3-OH as the major fatty acids. The major polar lipids detected in strain M-M16^T were phosphatidylethanolamine and one unidentified lipid. The DNA G+C content of strain M-M16^T was 37.4 mol%. The phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic data and other phenotypic properties revealed that strain M-M16^T represents a novel genus and species within the family Flavobacteriaceae, for which the name Sabulilitoribacter multivorans gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of S. multivorans is M-M16^T (= KCTC 32326^T = CCUG 63831^T).     

Altererythrobacter oceanensis sp. nov., isolated from the Western Pacific

A Gram-stain negative, ovoid-rod shaped, strictly aerobic bacterium, strain Y2^T, was isolated from a deep-sea sediment of the Western Pacific. Phylogenetic and phenotypic properties of the organism indicated that it belongs to the genus Altererythrobacter. Strain Y2^T shares highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 96.6 % with Erythrobacter jejuensis CNU001^T, followed by the type strains of recognized members of the genus Altererythrobacter (94.8–96.5 %). Strain Y2^T forms a clade with E. jejuensis CNU001^T in the cluster of species of the genus Altererythrobacter. Growth of strain Y2^T was observed at 4–40 °C (optimum, 35–37 °C), at pH 6.0–10.0 (optimum, pH 7.0–8.0) and in the presence of 0–5 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 2–3 %). The major cellular fatty acids were found to be C_17:1 ω6c (41.5 %), summed feature 8 (C_18:1 ω7c and/or C_18:1 ω6c; 17.2 %), C_17:1 ω8c (11.0 %) and C_15:0 2OH (8.1 %). The major respiratory quinone was determine to be ubiquinone 10 (Q-10). The polar lipid analysis indicated the presence of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol, one sphingoglycolipid, three unidentified phospholipids, two unidentified glycolipids, two unidentified aminolipids and three unknown lipids. The DNA G + C content of the type strain is 60.0 mol %. On the basis of the data from the polyphasic characterization, strain Y2^T represents a novel species, for which the name Altererythrobacter oceanensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is Y2^T (=CGMCC 1.12752^T =LMG 28109^T).     

Aliiglaciecola coringensis sp. nov., isolated from a water sample collected from mangrove forest in Coringa,Andhra Pradesh,India

A Gram-negative, rod shaped, motile, aerobic bacterium, designated as strain AK49^T was isolated from a water sample from a mangrove forest in Coringa village, Andhra Pradesh, India. Strain AK49^T was observed to form yellow coloured, smooth, circular, convex colonies on marine agar, with entire margins. Cells of strain AK49^T are 0.5–1.0 µm wide and 1.5–3.5 µm long. Growth was observed at 25–37 °C (optimum 30 °C), 2–6 % NaCl (optimum 2 %) and pH 6–8 (optimum 7). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the strain AK49^T is closely related to two species recently reclassified as members of the genus Aliiglaciecola: Aliiglaciecola lipolytica JCM 15139^T (sequence similarity 95.43 %) and Aliiglaciecola litoralis JCM 15896^T (sequence similarity 96.91 %). The major cellular fatty acids of strain AK49^T were found to include C_16:0, C_18:1ω7c and summed feature 3 (C_16:1ω7c/C_15:0 iso-2-OH). The polar lipid content of cell membrane was found to include phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, an unidentified aminolipid, an unidentified lipid and an unidentified glycolipid. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain AK49^T was determined to be 41.9 mol%. Based on the taxonomic methods, including chemotaxonomic, phenotypic and phylogenetic approaches, strain AK49^T is described here as a novel species belonging to the genus Aliiglaciecola, for which the name Aliiglaciecola coringensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Aliiglaciecola coringensis sp. nov. is AK49^T (=MTCC 12003^T = JCM19197^T).     

Mariniflexile ostreae sp. nov., a member of the family Flavobacteriaceae isolated from an oyster

A Gram-negative, aerobic, non-flagellated and rod-shaped bacterial strain able to move by gliding, designated TYO-10^T, was isolated from an oyster collected at Tongyoung on the South Sea, South Korea. Strain TYO-10^T was found to grow optimally at 30 °C, at pH 7.0–8.0 and in the presence of 2.0 % (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain TYO-10^T joined the cluster comprising the type strains of Mariniflexile species. Strain TYO-10^T exhibited 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity values of 95.4–95.7 % to the type strains of Mariniflexile species and of less than 95.4 % to the type strains of other recognized species. Strain TYO-10^T was found to contain MK-6 as the predominant menaquinone and iso-C_15:0, iso-C_15:1 G, anteiso-C_15:0, iso-C_17:0 3-OH and iso-C_15:0 3-OH as the major fatty acids. The major polar lipids of strain TYO-10^T were identified as phosphatidylethanolamine and an unidentified lipid, which is similar to those of the type strains of Mariniflexile species, but different from those of other phylogenetically related species. The DNA G+C content of strain TYO-10^T was determined to be 35.9 mol%. The differential phenotypic properties, together with the phylogenetic distinctiveness, revealed that strain TYO-10^T is separated from other Mariniflexile species. On the basis of the data presented, strain TYO-10^T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Mariniflexile, for which the name Mariniflexile ostreae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is TYO-10^T (= KCTC 42113^T = CECT 8622^T).     

Simiduia aestuariiviva sp. nov., a gammaproteobacterium isolated from a tidal flat sediment

A Gram-stain negative, aerobic, motile and rod-shaped bacterial strain, designated J-MY2^T, was isolated from a tidal flat sediment of the South Sea, South Korea. Strain J-MY2^T was found to grow optimally at 30 °C, at pH 7.0–8.0 and in the presence of 2.0 % (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain J-MY2^T forms a cluster with the type strains of Simiduia species. Strain J-MY2^T exhibited 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity values of 97.62–98.77 % to the type strains of four Simiduia species and of <92.95 % sequence similarity to the type strains of the other recognized species. Strain J-MY2^T was found to contain Q-8 as the predominant ubiquinone and summed feature 3 (C_16:1 ω7c and/or C_16:1 ω6c), C_16:0, C_18:1 ω7c and C_17:1 ω8c as the major fatty acids. The major polar lipids of strain J-MY2^T were identified as phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, three unidentified glycolipids and one unidentified lipid. The DNA G+C content of strain J-MY2^T was determined to be 54.8 mol% and its mean DNA–DNA relatedness values with the type strains of the four Simiduia species were in the range 21–34 %. The differential phenotypic properties, together with the phylogenetic and genetic distinctiveness, revealed that strain J-MY2^T is separated from other Simiduia species. On the basis of the data presented, strain J-MY2^T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Simiduia, for which the name Simiduia aestuariiviva sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is J-MY2^T ( = KCTC 42073^T = CECT 8571^T).     

Albirhodobacter marinus gen. nov., sp. nov., a member of the family Rhodobacteraceae isolated from sea shore water of Visakhapatnam, India

A novel marine, Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain N9^T, was isolated from a water sample of the sea shore at Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh (India). Strain N9^T was found to be positive for oxidase and catalase activities. The fatty acids were found to be dominated by C_16:0, C_18:1 ω7c and summed in feature 3 (C_16:1 ω7c and/or C_16:1 ω6c). Strain N9^T was determined to contain Q-10 as the major respiratory quinone and phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, two aminophospholipids, two phospholipids and four unidentified lipids as polar lipids. The DNA G+C content of the strain N9^T was found to be 63 mol%. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that Rhodobacter sphaeroides, Rhodobacter johrii, Pseudorhodobacter ferrugineus, Rhodobacter azotoformans, Rhodobacter ovatus and Pseudorhodobacter aquimaris were the nearest phylogenetic neighbours, with pair-wise sequence similarities of 95.43, 95.36, 94.24, 95.31, 95.60 and 94.74 %, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis showed that strain N9^T formed a distinct branch within the family Rhodobacteraceae and clustered with the clade comprising species of the genus Pseudorhodobacter, together with species of the genera Roseicitreum, Roseinatronobacter, Roseibaca and Rhodobaca. Species of the genus Pseudorhodobacter are phylogenetically close with a 16S rRNA gene sequence dissimilarity of 5.9–7.3 % (92.7–94.1 % similarity). Based on the above-mentioned phenotypic characteristics and on phylogenetic inference, strain N9^T is proposed as a representative of a new genus and a novel species of the family Rhodobacteraceae as Albirhodobacter marinus gen. nov., sp. nov. The type strain of Albirhodobacter marinus is N9 (= MTCC 11277^T = JCM 17680^T).     

Pedobacter seoulensis sp. nov., isolated from soil of a bamboo field

A Gram-stain negative, strictly aerobic, motile by gliding, rod-shaped and yellow pigmented strain THG-G12^T was isolated from soil of a bamboo field in Seoul, Republic of Korea. Strain THG-G12^T was observed to grow well at 20–28 °C and pH 7.0–7.5 in the absence of NaCl on nutrient agar. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons, strain THG-G12^T was found to be most closely related to Pedobacter ginsengisoli Gsoil 104^T (97.5 % sequence similarity), Pedobacter steynii WB2.3-45^T (97.4 %), Pedobacter metabolipauper WB2.3-71^T (97.2 %), Pedobacter nyackensis NWG-II14^T (97.2 %), Pedobacter caeni LMG 22862^T (97.1 %) and Pedobacter duraquae WB2.1-25^T (97.0 %), but DNA relatedness between strain THG-G12^T and its phylogenetically closest neighbours was below 9.5 %. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was determined to be 39.9 mol%. The only isoprenoid quinone detected in strain THG-G12^T was menaquinone-7 (MK-7). The major component in the polyamine pattern was sym-homospermidine. The major polar lipids were found to be phosphatidylethanolamine, unidentified phosphoglycolipids, unidentified aminophosphoglycolipids, unidentified aminolipids and unidentified lipids. Strain THG-G12^T showed the presence of two ceramide phosphorylethanolamines (CerPE-2′ and CerPE-2″), dihydrosphingosines and an unidentified ceramide as the major ceramide. The major fatty acids were identified as summed feature 3 (as defined by the MIDI system; C_16:1 ω7c and/or C_16:1 ω6c) and iso-C_15:0. These data support the affiliation of strain THG-G12^T to the genus Pedobacter. The results of physiological and biochemical tests enabled strain THG-G12^T to be differentiated genotypically and phenotypically from the recognized species of the genus Pedobacter. Therefore, the novel isolate represents a novel species, for which the name Pedobacter seoulensis sp. nov. is proposed, with THG-G12^T as the type strain (=KACC 17529^T =JCM 19363^T).     

Siansivirga jejunensis sp. nov., isolated from seawater of Jeju Island in Korea and emendation of the genus Siansivirga

A Gram-stain negative, non-flagellated, non-gliding and rod-shaped bacterium, strain JHH-2^T, was isolated from seawater collected in Jeju Island, Korea. The novel isolate was found to grow at 25–30 °C, at pH 6.5–7.0 and in the presence of 1–2 % (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain JHH-2^T is closely related to Siansivirga zeaxanthinifaciens JCM 17682^T, with 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 96.6 %. The predominant respiratory quinone was identified as menaquinone-6 and the major cellular fatty acids were detected as iso-C_15:0, C_16:0 and iso-C_17:0 3-OH. Polar lipid profiling revealed the presence of phosphatidylethanolamine, an unidentified glycolipid, four unidentified aminolipids and two unidentified lipids. The DNA G+C content of the chromosomal DNA of the type strain is 35.6 mol%. On the basis of several distinct phenotypic characteristics and phylogenetic analysis, a new species of the genus Siansivirga, Siansivirga jejunensis JHH-2^T sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JHH-2^T (= KCCM 92030^T = JCM 19228^T).     

Nonlabens arenilitoris sp. nov., a member of the family Flavobacteriaceae isolated from seashore sand

A Gram-staining-negative, non-spore-forming, aerobic, non-flagellated, non-gliding and rod-shaped bacterial strain, designated M-M3^T, was isolated from marine sand on the southern coast of South Korea and subjected to a polyphasic study. Strain M-M3^T was observed to grow optimally at 25–30 °C, at pH 7.0–8.0 and in the presence of 2 % (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain M-M3^T fell within the clade comprising Nonlabens species, joining the type strain of Nonlabens ulvanivorans, with which it exhibited the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity value of 99.4 %. Sequence similarity to the type strains of the other Nonlabens species was 93.0–95.2 % and <92.2 % to those of other species used in the phylogenetic analysis. Strain M-M3^T was found to contain MK-6 as the predominant menaquinone and iso-C_15:0 and iso-C_17:0 3-OH as the major fatty acids. The major polar lipids were determined to be phosphatidylethanolamine, five unidentified lipids and one unidentified aminolipid. The DNA G+C content of strain M-M3^T was determined to be 38.2 mol% and its DNA–DNA relatedness values with N. ulvanivorans DSM 22727^T was 42 ± 6.2 %. Differential phenotypic properties, together with the phylogenetic and genetic distinctiveness, revealed that strain M-M3^T is separate from other Nonlabens species. On the basis of the data presented, strain M-M3^T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Nonlabens, for which the name Nonlabens arenilitoris sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is M-M3^T (=KCTC 32109^T = CCUG 62919^T).     

Geojedonia litorea gen. nov., sp. nov., a member of the family Flavobacteriaceae isolated from coastal seawater

A Gram-negative, non-flagellated, non-gliding and rod-shaped, coccoid or filamentous bacterial strain, designated YCS-16^T, was isolated from coastal seawater from a seaweed farm on the South Sea, South Korea, and its taxonomic position was investigated by using a polyphasic study. Strain YCS-16^T was observed to grow optimally at 30 °C, at pH 7.0–7.5 and in the presence of 2 % (w/v) NaCl. Strain YCS-16^T exhibited the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity values to the type strains of Bizionia echini (96.1 %), Formosa spongicola (95.8 %), Bizionia algoritergicola (95.5 %) and Psychroserpens mesophilus (95.4 %). Neighbour-joining and maximum-parsimony phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain YCS-16^T joined the cluster comprising the type strains of Psychroserpens species. Strain YCS-16^T was found to contain MK-6 as the predominant menaquinone and iso-C_17:0 3-OH, iso-C_15:1 G and iso-C_15:0 as the major fatty acids. The major polar lipids detected in strain YCS-16^T were phosphatidylethanolamine and one unidentified lipid. The DNA G+C content of strain YCS-16^T was determined to be 35.7 mol%. The phylogenetic analysis, chemotaxonomic data and other phenotypic properties revealed that strain YCS-16^T constitutes a new genus and species within the family Flavobacteriaceae, for which the name Geojedonia litorea gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Geojedonia litorea is YCS-16^T (=KCTC 32260^T = CCUG 63682^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).     

Thalassobius aquaeponti sp. nov., an alphaproteobacterium isolated from seawater

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, non-motile and rod-shaped or ovoid bacterial strain, GJSW-22^T, which was isolated from seawater at Geoje island in South Korea, was characterized taxonomically. Strain GJSW-22^T was observed to grow optimally at 30 °C, at pH 7.0–8.0 and in the presence of 2.0 % (w/v) NaCl. In the neighbour-joining phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, strain GJSW-22^T grouped with the type strains of Thalassobius species, forming a stable cluster with the type strain of Thalassobius aestuarii (bootstrap value of 83.2 %). Strain GJSW-22^T exhibited the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity value (98.0 %) to the type strain of T. aestuarii. It exhibited 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity values of 95.6–96.1 % to the type strains of the other Thalassobius species. Strain GJSW-22^T was found to contain Q-10 as the predominant ubiquinone and C_18:1 ω7c and 11-methyl C_18:1 ω7c as the major fatty acids. The major polar lipids of strain GJSW-22^T were identified as phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, one unidentified aminolipid and one unidentified lipid. The DNA G + C content of strain GJSW-22^T is 60.3 mol % and its mean DNA–DNA relatedness value with the type strain of T. aestuarii was 23 %. Differential phenotypic properties, together with the phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic data, confirmed that strain GJSW-22^T is distinct from other Thalassobius species. On the basis of the data presented, strain GJSW-22^T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Thalassobius, for which the name Thalassobius aquaeponti sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is GJSW-22^T (=KCTC 42115^T = NBRC 110378^T).     

Natronomonas gomsonensis sp. nov., isolated from a solar saltern

A halophilic archaeal strain, SA3^T, was isolated from sediment of a solar saltern in Gomso Bay, Republic of Korea. Cells of strain SA3^T were observed to be coccoid-shaped, to lyse in distilled water, Gram stain-negative and to form red-pigmented colonies. Strain SA3^T was found to require at least 18 % (w/v) NaCl for growth. Optimal growth was observed at 24 % (w/v) NaCl and 6 % (w/v) MgCl₂. The optimum pH and temperature for growth were determined to be pH 7.0 and 40 °C, respectively, while the strain was found to grow within pH and temperature ranges of 5.5–8.0 and 20–45 °C, respectively. The polar lipids were determined to consist of phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol phosphate methyl ester, unidentified phosphoglycolipids and unidentified phospholipids. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain SA3^T was most closely related to the members of the genus Natronomonas, Natronomonas moolapensis JCM 14361^T (95.2 %) and Natronomonas pharaonis JCM 8858^T (95.1 %). The genomic DNA G+C content (61.8 mol%) determined for strain SA3^T was slightly lower than those of N. moolapensis JCM 14361^T (63.4 mol%) and N. pharaonis JCM 8858^T (64.3 mol%). DNA–DNA hybridization values between N. moolapensis JCM 14361^T and N. pharaonis JCM 8858^T and strain SA3^T were <20 %. Based on phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic properties, we describe a new species of the genus Natronomonas, represented by strain SA3^T (=JCM 17867^T = KCTC 4088^T), for which we propose the name Natronomonas gomsonensis sp. nov.     

Nonhongiella spirulinensis gen. nov., sp. nov., a bacterium isolated from a cultivation pond of Spirulina platensis in Sanya, China

A Gram-negative, aerobic, motile rod strain, designated Ma-20^T, was isolated from a pool of marine Spirulina platensis cultivation, Sanya, China, and was subjected to a polyphasic taxonomy study. Strain Ma-20^T can grow in the presence of 0.5–11 % (w/v) NaCl, 10–43 °C and pH 6–10, and grew optimally at 30 °C, pH 7.5–9.0 in natural seawater medium. The polar lipids were composed of phosphatidylethanolamine, three unidentified phospholipids and three unidentified polar lipids. The respiratory quinone was ubiquinone 8 (Q-8) and the major fatty acids were C_18:1ω6c/C_18:1ω7c (summed feature 8, 32.84 %), C_16:1ω6c/C_16:1ω7c (summed feature 3, 30.76 %), C_16:0 (13.54 %), C_12:03-OH (4.63 %), and C_12:0 (4.09 %). The DNA G+C content of strain Ma-20^T was 58 mol %. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain Ma-20^T belonging to Gammaproteobacteria, it shared 88.46–91.55 and 89.21–91.26 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to the type strains in genus Hahella and Marinobacter, respectively. In addition to the large 16S rRNA gene sequence difference, Ma-20^T can also be distinguished from the reference type strains Hahella ganghwensis FR1050^T and Marinobacter hydrocarbonoclasticus sp. 17^T by several phenotypic characteristics and chemotaxonomic properties. On the basis of phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic properties, strain Ma-20^T is suggested to represent a novel species of a new genus in Gammaproteobacteria, for which the name Nonhongiella spirulinensis gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is Ma-20^T (=KCTC 32221^T=LMG 27470^T).     

Flavobacterium arsenitoxidans sp. nov., an arsenite-oxidizing bacterium from Thai soil

An arsenite-oxidizing bacterium, strain S2-3H^T, was isolated from arsenic-contaminated soil sample collected from Dantchaeng district, Suphanburi province, Thailand and was characterized based on polyphasic taxonomic study. The strain was observed to be a Gram-stain negative, aerobic, yellow pigmented, non-spore forming and rod-shaped bacterium. Major menaquinone was MK-6. Iso-C_15:0, iso-C_15:0 3OH, C_16:1 ω7c/C_16:1 ω6c, C_16:0, iso-C_17:0 3OH, and C_16:0 3OH were the predominant cellular fatty acids. The polar lipid profile consisted of phosphatidylethanolamine, unidentified phospholipids and unidentified aminophospholipids. The DNA G+C content was 37.0 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis using 16S rRNA sequence showed that strain S2-3H^T is affiliated to the genus Flavobacterium, and is closely related to F. defluvii KCTC 12612^T (97.0 %) and F. johnsoniae NBRC 14942^T (97.0 %). The strain S2-3H^T could be clearly distinguished from the related Flavobacterium species by its physiological and biochemical characteristics as well as its phylogenetic position and DNA–DNA relatedness. Therefore, the strain represents a novel species of the genus Flavobacterium, for which the name Flavobacterium arsenitoxidans sp. nov. (type strain S2-3H^T = KCTC 22507^T = NBRC 109607^T = PCU 331^T = TISTR 2238^T) is proposed.