Ruegeria meonggei sp. nov., an alphaproteobacterium isolated from ascidian Halocynthia roretzi

A Gram-negative, strictly aerobic, non-flagellated and rod-shaped bacterial strain, designated MA-E2-3^T, was isolated from an ascidian (Halocynthia roretzi) collected from the South Sea, South Korea. Strain MA-E2-3^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 MA-E2-3^T fell within the clade comprising Ruegeria species, clustering consistently with the type strain of Ruegeria halocynthiae, with which it exhibited 98.2 % sequence similarity. Sequence similarities to the type strains of the other recognized Ruegeria species were 94.7–97.7 %. Strain MA-E2-3^T was found to contain Q-10 as the predominant ubiquinone and C_18:1 ω7c as the predominant fatty acid. The major polar lipids of strain MA-E2-3^T were identified as phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, one unidentified aminolipid and one unidentified lipid. The DNA G+C content of strain MA-E2-3^T was determined to be 58.0 mol%. Mean DNA–DNA relatedness values between strain MA-E2-3^T and the type strains of four phylogenetically closely related Ruegeria species were in the range of 13–23 %. The differential phenotypic properties, together with the phylogenetic and genetic distinctiveness, revealed that strain MA-E2-3^T is separated from other Ruegeria species. On the basis of the data presented, strain MA-E2-3^T (=KCTC 32450^T = CECT 8411^T) represents a novel species of the genus Ruegeria, for which the name Ruegeria meonggei sp. nov. is proposed.     

Solirubrobacter taibaiensis sp. nov., isolated from a stem of Phytolacca acinosa Roxb.

A white-coloured bacterium, designated strain GTJR-20^T, was isolated from a stem of Phytolacca acinosa Roxb. collected from Taibai Mountain in Shaanxi Province, north-west China, and was subjected to a taxonomic study by using a polyphasic approach. The novel isolate was found to grow optimally at 28–30 °C, at pH 7.5–8.0 and in the absence of NaCl. Cells were observed to be Gram-stain positive, strictly aerobic, rod-shaped and non-motile. The predominant respiratory quinone was identified as MK-7(H₄) and the major cellular fatty acids were identified as iso-C_16:0 (35.8 %), C_18:1 ω9c (17.7 %), C_17:1 ω6c (11.0 %), C_17:1 ω8c (7.8 %) and C_18:3 ω6c (6, 9, 12) (7.2 %). The DNA G+C content was determined to be 71.6 mol %. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain GTJR-20^T is a member of the genus Solirubrobacter and is closely related to Solirubrobacter phytolaccae GTGR-8^T (16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, 98.4 %), Solirubrobacter soli KCTC 12628^T (97.8 %), Solirubrobacter pauli KCTC 9974^T (97.7 %) and Solirubrobacter ginsenosidimutans KCTC 19420^T (97.6 %). No other recognized bacterial species showed more than 94.6 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to the novel isolate. DNA–DNA relatedness values for strain GTJR-20^T with respect to its closely related neighbours S. phytolaccae GTGR-8^T, S. soli KCTC 12628^T, S. pauli KCTC 9974^T and S. ginsenosidimutans KCTC 19420^T were 48.3 ± 8.6, 21.3 ± 5.2, 36.8 ± 6.2 and 36.0 ± 5.5 %, respectively. Based on the phenotypic, phylogenetic and genotypic data, strain GTJR-20^T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Solirubrobacter, for which the name Solirubrobacter taibaiensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is GTJR-20^T (=CCTCC AB 2013308^T = KCTC 29222^T).     

Maribacter caenipelagi sp. nov., a member of the Flavobacteriaceae isolated from a tidal flat sediment of the Yellow Sea in Korea

A Gram-strain negative, rod-shaped and gliding bacterial strain, designated HD-44^T, was isolated from a tidal flat sediment in the Korean peninsula. Strain HD-44^T was found to grow optimally at pH 7.0–8.0, at 25° C and in the presence of 2–3 % (w/v) NaCl. A neighbour-joining phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain HD-44^T falls within the clade comprising the Maribacter species, clustering with the type strains of Maribacter aquivivus, Maribacter ulvicola, Maribacter stanieri, Maribacter dokdonensis, Maribacter orientalis, Maribacter forsetii, Maribacter arcticus and Maribacter sedimenticola, with which it exhibits 97.1–98.3 % sequence similarity values. Sequence similarities to the type strains of the other recognized Maribacter species are 95.6–96.8 %. Strain HD-44^T was found to contain MK-6 as the predominant menaquinone and iso-C_17:0 3-OH, iso-C_15:1 G, iso-C_15:0 and summed feature 3 (C_16:1 ω6c and/or C_16:1 ω7c) as the major fatty acids. The major polar lipids were identified as phosphatidylethanolamine and two unidentified lipids. The DNA G+C content of strain HD-44^T was determined to be 37.6 mol% and its mean DNA–DNA relatedness values with M. aquivivus KCTC 12968^T, M. ulvicola KCTC 12969^T, M. stanieri KCTC 22023^T, M. dokdonensis DSW-8^T, M. orientalis KCTC 12967^T, M. forsetii KT02ds18-6^T, M. arcticus KCTC 22053^T and M. sedimenticola KCTC 12966^T were 27.7–8.0 %. Differential phenotypic properties, together with the phylogenetic and genetic distinctiveness, revealed that strain HD-44^T is distinguishable from recognized Maribacter species. On the basis of the data presented, strain HD-44^T is proposed to represent a novel species of the genus Maribacter, for which the name Maribacter caenipelagi sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is HD-44^T (= KCTC 32549^T = CECT 8455^T).     

Pelagicola litorisediminis sp. nov., a novel alphaproteobacterium isolated from tidal flat sediment

A Gram-negative, aerobic, non-motile and rod-shaped or ovoid bacterial strain, designated D1-W8^T, was isolated from a tidal flat on the South Sea in South Korea. Strain D1-W8^T was found to grow optimally at 25 °C, at pH 7.0–8.0 and in the presence of 2.0–3.0 % (w/v) NaCl. Neighbour-joining, maximum-likelihood and maximum-parsimony phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain D1-W8^T clustered with the type strain of Pelagicola litoralis showing 97.1 % sequence identity. 16S rRNA gene sequences of the type strains of other species exhibited lower similarity values. Strain D1-W8^T was determined to contain Q-10 as the predominant ubiquinone and C_18:1 ω7c as the predominant fatty acid. The major polar lipids of strain D1-W8^T were identified as phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, one unidentified aminolipid and one unidentified lipid. The DNA G+C content of strain D1-W8^T was determined to be 57.9 mol% and its DNA–DNA relatedness value with the type strain of P. litoralis was 17 %. The differential phenotypic properties, together with the phylogenetic and genetic distinctiveness, revealed that strain D1-W8^T is separate from P. litoralis. On the basis of the data presented, strain D1-W8^T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Pelagicola, for which the name Pelagicola litorisediminis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is D1-W8^T (= KCTC 32327^T = CECT 8287^T).     

Roseivivax jejudonensis sp. nov., isolated from the junction between the ocean and a freshwater spring at Jeju island,South Korea

A Gram-stain negative, coccoid- or oval-shaped and non-gliding bacterial strain, designated CDM-17^T, was isolated from the zone where the ocean and a freshwater spring meet at Jeju island, South Korea, and subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic study. Strain CDM-17^T was observed to form smooth, circular, glistening, slightly convex, light yellowish pink colonies on marine agar, and was found to grow optimally at pH 7.0–8.0, at 30 °C and in the presence of 2–3 % (w/v) NaCl. A neighbour-joining phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain CDM-17^T fell within the clade comprising the Roseivivax species, clustering with the type strain of Roseivivax sediminis with which it exhibited 98.3 % sequence similarity value. Sequence similarities to the type strains of the other recognized Roseivivax species were 94.7–96.8 %. Strain CDM-17^T was found to contain Q-10 as the predominant ubiquinone and summed feature 8 (C_18:1 ω6c and/or C_18:1 ω7c) as the major fatty acid. The major polar lipids were identified as phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol, an unidentified aminolipid, an unidentified glycolipid and an unidentified lipid. The DNA G+C content of strain CDM-17^T was determined to be 66.2 mol% and its mean DNA–DNA relatedness value with Rsv. sediminis KCTC 23444^T was 17.5 ± 2.7 %. Differential phenotypic properties, together with the phylogenetic and genetic distinctiveness, revealed that strain CDM-17^T is distinguishable from recognized Roseivivax species. On the basis of the data presented, strain CDM-17^T is proposed to represent a novel species of the genus Roseivivax, for which the name Roseivivax jejudonensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CDM-17^T (=KCTC 42110^T = CECT 8625^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).     

<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">Sphingomonas aeria</Emphasis> sp. nov. from indoor air of a pharmaceutical environment

A proteobacterial strain designated R1-3^T was isolated from indoor air of a pharmaceutical environment. Cells were Gram-stain-negative, oxidase- and catalase-positive, aerobic, motile and rod-shaped. Strain R1-3^T grew optimally at pH 7, 30 °C and in 0–2 % NaCl on R2A agar. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that strain R1-3^T belongs to the genus Sphingomonas, and is closely related to Sphingomonas paucimobilis ATCC 29837^T (98.4 % sequence similarity). However, the DNA–DNA relatedness between the two strains was 43 ± 5 % (reciprocal = 37 ± 3 %), which was well below the suggested level for species distinction. Sphingomonas yabuuchiae GTC868^T (97.7 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity) and Sphingomonas pseudosanguinis G1-2^T (97.6 %) were also found as distantly related taxa. Strain R1-3^T was sensitive to most of the tested antibiotics except for erythromycin and streptomycin. The major fatty acid was a summed feature consisting of C_18:1 ω7c and/or C_18:1 ω6c, and minor proportions of C_14:0 2-OH, C_16:0 and a summed feature consisting of C_16:1 ω7c and/or C_16:1 ω6c were also present. The DNA G + C content was 67.2 ± 1.0 mol%. The major polyamines were sym-homospermidine and spermidine. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, and minor amounts of a sphingoglycolipid, a phospholipid, an aminoglycolipid and an unidentified lipid were also present. The phenotypic, phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic data not only supported the affiliation of strain R1-3^T to the genus Sphingomonas, but also distinguished R1-3^T from related species. On the basis of physiological, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic evidences, strain R1-3^T clearly merits recognition as a novel species of Sphingomonas, for which the name Sphingomonas aeria sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is R1-3^T (= KCTC 42061^T = JCM 19859^T).     

Shewanella litorisediminis sp. nov., a gammaproteobacterium isolated from a tidal flat sediment

A Gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic, non-motile and rod-shaped bacterial strain, designated SMK1-12^T, was isolated from a tidal flat sediment on the western coast of Korea. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA and gyrB gene sequences showed that strain SMK1-12^T belonged to the genus Shewanella, clustering with the type strain of Shewanella amazonensis. Strain SMK1-12^T exhibited the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity value (97.0 %) and the highest gyrB sequence similarity value (87.8 %) to S. amazonensis SB2B^T, respectively. Strain SMK1-12^T contained simultaneously both menaquinones and ubiquinones; the predominant menaquinone was MK-7 and the predominant ubiquinones were Q-7 and Q-8. The major fatty acids (>10 % of the total fatty acids) detected in strain SMK1-12^T were the MIDI system summed feature 3 (iso-C_15:0 2-OH and/or C_16:1 ω7c), iso-C_15:0, C_17:1 ω8c and C_16:0. The DNA G+C content of strain SMK1-12^T was 58.0 mol% and its mean DNA–DNA relatedness value with S. amazonensis ATCC 700329^T was 15 ± 4.6 %. Differential phenotypic properties, together with the phylogenetic and genetic distinctiveness, revealed that strain SMK1-12^T is distinguishable from recognized Shewanella species. On the basis of the data presented, strain SMK1-12^T is considered to represent a novel Shewanella species, for which the name Shewanella litorisediminis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is SMK1-12^T (=KCTC 23961^T = CCUG 62411^T).     

Virgibacillus albus sp. nov., a novel moderately halophilic bacterium isolated from Lop Nur salt lake in Xinjiang province, China

A Gram-positive, moderately halophilic, strictly aerobic bacterium, designated YIM 93624^T, was isolated from a salt lake in Xinjiang province of China and subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic study. Strain YIM 93624^T grew at 15–45 °C (optimum 25–30 °C), 1–17% (w/v) NaCl (optimum 5–10 %, w/v) and pH 4.0–9.0 (optimum pH 7.0). The predominant menaquinone was found to be MK-7. The major fatty acids were anteiso-C_15:0 and C_16:0. The polar lipids consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, a glycolipid and two unidentified phospholipids. The cell-wall peptidoglycan contained meso-diaminopimelic acid. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 37.9 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain YIM 93624^T was a member of the genus Virgibacillus and exhibited the highest similarity of 97.0 % to Virgibacillus koreensis KCTC 3823^T. However, the level of DNA–DNA relatedness between strain YIM 93624^T and V. koreensis KCTC 3823^T was 32.5 %. On the basis of phylogenetic, physiological and chemotaxonomic analysis data, the isolate is concluded to represent a novel species of the genus Virgibacillus, for which the name Virgibacillus albus sp. nov., is proposed, with type strain of YIM 93624^T (=DSM 23711^T = JCM 17364^T).     

Pseudoxanthomonas gei sp. nov., a novel endophytic bacterium isolated from the stem of Geum aleppicum

A Gram stain-negative, strictly aerobic, rod-shaped, non-motile and deep-yellow-coloured bacterial strain, designated ZFJR-3^T, was isolated from the stem of Geum aleppicum Jacq. collected from Taibai Mountain in Shaanxi Province, north-west China, and characterized by using a polyphasic approach. The novel isolate grew optimally at 25–28 °C and in the absence of NaCl. Flexirubin-type pigments were produced. The predominant respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-8 (Q-8) and the major cellular fatty acids were iso-C_15:0 (29.2 %), iso-C_16:0 (18.5 %), summed feature 9 (comprising iso-C_17:1 ω9c and/or C_16:0 10-methyl; 8.8 %), C_16:1 ω7c alcohol (8.8 %), iso-C_11:0 3-OH (6.9 %) and iso-C_11:0 (6.8 %). The DNA G+C content was 66.1 mol %. The only polyamine was spermidine and the major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain ZFJR-3^T belongs to the genus Pseudoxanthomonas and was most closely related to Pseudoxanthomonas yeongjuensis KCTC 22757^T (16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, 99.0 %) and Pseudoxanthomonas sacheonensis KCTC 22080^T (98.0 %). The levels of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with respect to other Pseudoxanthomonas species with validly published names were less than 96.5 %. DNA–DNA relatedness values for strain ZFJR-3^T with respect to its closely related neighbours P. yeongjuensis KCTC 22757^T and P. sacheonensis KCTC 22080^T were 48.7 and 36.3 %, respectively. Based on the phenotypic, phylogenetic and genotypic data, strain ZFJR-3^T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Pseudoxanthomonas, for which the name Pseudoxanthomonas gei sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is ZFJR-3^T (=CCTCC AB 2013020^T =KCTC 32298^T).     

Nocardioides panaciterrulae sp. nov., isolated from soil of a ginseng field, with ginsenoside converting activity

A Gram-positive, coccoid to rod-shaped, non-spore-forming bacterium, designated Gsoil 958^T, was isolated from soil of a ginseng field located in Pocheon province in South Korea. This bacterium was characterized in order to determine its taxonomic position by using a polyphasic approach. Strain Gsoil 958^T was observed to grow well at 25–30 °C and at pH 7.0 on R2A and nutrient agar without NaCl supplementation. Strain Gsoil 958^T was determined to have β-glucosidase activity and the ability to transform ginsenoside Rb₁ (one of the dominant active components of ginseng) to F₂ via gypenoside XVII and Rd. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, strain Gsoil 958^T was shown to belong to the family Nocardioidaceae and related most closely to Nocardioides koreensis MSL-09^T (97.6 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity), Nocardioides aquiterrae GW-9^T (97.0 %), and Nocardioides sediminis MSL-01^T (97.0 %). The sequence similarities with other validly named species within the genus Nocardioides were less than 96.8 %. Strain Gsoil 958^T was characterized chemotaxonomically as having LL-2,6-diaminopimelic acid in the cell-wall peptidoglycan, MK-8(H₄) as the predominant menaquinone, and iso-C_16:0, iso-C_16:1 H, iso-C_14:0, iso-C_15:0 were identified as the major fatty acids. The G + C content of genomic DNA was determined to be 70.8 mol %. The chemotaxonomic properties and phenotypic characteristics supported the affiliation of strain Gsoil 958^T to the genus Nocardioides. The results of both physiological and biochemical tests allowed for differentiation of strain Gsoil 958^T from the recognized Nocardioides species. Therefore, strain Gsoil 958^T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Nocardioides, for which the name Nocardioides panaciterrulae sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain Gsoil 958^T (KACC 14271^T = KCTC 19471^T = DSM 21350^T).     

Aestuariihabitans beolgyonensis gen. nov., sp. nov., a novel alphaproteobacterium isolated from tidal flat sediment

A Gram-negative, non-motile and rod-shaped bacterial strain, designated BB-MW15^T, was isolated from a tidal flat of the southern coast of the Korean peninsula, and its taxonomic position was investigated by using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. Strain BB-MW15^T grew optimally at 30 °C, at pH 7.0–8.0 and in the presence of 2–3 % (w/v) NaCl. Strain BB-MW15^T exhibited the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity values to the type strains of Marivita byunsanensis (96.8 %), Thalassobius maritimus (96.6 %), Sulfitobacter marinus (96.4 %) and Marinovum algicola (96.3 %). Neighbour-joining, maximum-likelihood and maximum-parsimony phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain BB-MW15^T forms an independent lineage within the evolutionary radiation encompassed by the Roseobacter clade of the class Alphaproteobacteria. Strain BB-MW15^T contained Q-10 as the predominant ubiquinone and C_18:1 ω7c as the predominant fatty acid. The major polar lipids detected in strain BB-MW15^T were phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol, one unidentified aminolipid and one unidentified lipid. The DNA G+C content of strain BB-MW15^T is 62.7 mol%. Based on phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic and other phenotypic characteristics, strain BB-MW15^T represents a new genus and a new species within Alphaproteobacteria, for which the name Aestuariihabitans beolgyonensis gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of A. beolgyonensis is BB-MW15^T (= KCTC 32324^T = CCUG 63829^T).     

Pseudoruegeria limi sp. nov. isolated from mud flats in the Yellow Sea in Korea

A Gram-negative, aerobic, non-motile and rod-shaped bacterial strain, D-17^T, was isolated from mud flats in the Yellow Sea in Korea. Phylogenetic trees based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that strain D-17^T belongs to the genus Pseudoruegeria and it shared 97.5 % similarity with the type strain of Pseudoruegeria haliotis WM67^T. The sequence similarities with Pseudoruegeria litimaris HD-43^T and Pseudoruegeria aquimaris SW-255^T were 96.9 and 96.1 %, respectively. Strain D-17^T was found to grow with 0.5–6 % (w/v) NaCl, at 20–30 °C, and at pH 6.5–8.0. Strain D-17^T was determined to contain Q-10 as the predominant ubiquinone and summed feature 8 (C_18:1 ω7c and/or C_18:1 ω6c, as defined by the MIDI system) as the major fatty acids. The major polar lipids were identified as phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, an unidentified aminolipid, an unidentified glycolipid, an unidentified lipid and four unidentified phospholipids. The DNA G+C content was determined to be 63.6 mol%. The DNA–DNA relatedness with P. haliotis WM67^T was 32.5 %. The differential phenotypic properties revealed that strain D-17^T can be separated from other Pseudoruegeria species. Based on the data presented in this study, strain D-17^T represents a novel species, for which the name Pseudoruegeria limi sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is D-17^T (=KCTC 32460^T =JCM 19487^T).     

Colwellia meonggei sp. nov., a novel gammaproteobacterium isolated from sea squirt Halocynthia roretzi

A Gram-negative, non-spore-forming, aerobic, motile and rod-shaped or ovoid bacterial strain, designated MA1-3^T, was isolated from a sea squirt (Halocynthia roretzi) collected from the South sea in South Korea. Strain MA1-3^T was found to grow optimally at 25 °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 MA1-3^T fell within the clade comprising Colwellia species, clustering coherently with the type strains of Colwellia aestuarii, Colwellia polaris and Colwellia chukchiensis, showing sequence similarity values of 97.2, 96.4 and 95.6 %, respectively. It exhibited 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity values of 93.9–96.1 % to the type strains of the other Colwellia species. Strain MA1-3^T was found to contain Q-8 as the predominant ubiquinone and C_16:1 ω7c and/or C_16:1 ω6c, C_16:0 and C_16:1 ω9c as the major fatty acids. The DNA G+C content of strain MA1-3^T was determined to be 39.1 mol% and its mean DNA–DNA relatedness value with the type strain of C. aestuarii was 13 ± 5.4 %. The differential phenotypic properties, together with the phylogenetic and genetic distinctiveness, revealed that the novel strain is separated from other Colwellia species. On the basis of the data presented, strain MA1-3^T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Colwellia, for which the name Colwellia meonggei sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is MA1-3^T (=KCTC 32380^T = CECT 8302^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).     

Oceanicola litoreus sp. nov., an alphaproteobacterium isolated from the seashore sediment

A Gram-negative, non-motile, facultatively aerobic and rod-shaped bacterial strain, designated M-M22^T, was isolated from seashore sediment on the southern coast in Korea, and its taxonomic position was investigated by using a polyphasic approach. Strain M-M22^T was observed to grow optimally at pH 7.0–7.5, at 30 °C and in the presence of 2 % (w/v) NaCl. Neighbour-joining phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain M-M22^T fell within the clade comprising the type strains of Oceanicola species, except Oceanicola granulosus. Strain M-M22^T exhibited the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity values (each 95.4 %) to the type strains of Oceanicola batsensis and Oceanicola nitratireducens and 93.9–94.8 % sequence similarity to the type strains of the other Oceanicola species Strain M-M22^T was found to contain Q-10 as the predominant ubiquinone and C_18:1 ω7c as the predominant fatty acid. Major polar lipids were determined to be phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, one unidentified aminolipid and one unidentified lipid. The DNA G+C content was determined to be 67.6 mol%. Differential phenotypic properties, together with the phylogenetic distinctiveness, demonstrated that strain M-M22^T is distinguished from other Oceanicola species. On the basis of the data presented, strain M-M22^T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Oceanicola, for which the name Oceanicola litoreus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is M-M22^T (= KCTC 32083^T = CCUG 62794^T).     

Pedobacter hainanensis sp. nov., Isolated from Seaside Soil

A Gram-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped, motile, non-spore-forming bacterial strain, designated 13-Q^T, was isolated from seaside soil under the stacks of the red algae in Hainan province in China. Identification was carried out on the basis of polyphasic taxonomy. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain 13-Q^T belonged to the genus Pedobacter, and the highest similarity was 94.4 % with Pedobacter terricola KCTC 12876^T. Strain 13-Q^T was able to grow at 10–40 °C, in pH 5.0–10.0, in the presence of 0–2.0 % NaCl. The major fatty acids were iso-C_15:0 (40.4 %), summed feature 3 (comprising iso-C_15:0 2-OH and/or C_16:1 ω7c) (18.9 %) and iso-C_17:0 3-OH (18.4 %). The predominant menaquinone was MK-7. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 42.7 mol%. Strain 13-Q^T could be distinguished from the nearest phylogenetic neighbors by various chemotaxonomic and phenotypic properties. The results of the polyphasic analyses suggested that strain 13-Q^T should be considered to represent a novel species of the genus Pedobacter, for which the name Pedobacter hainanensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 13-Q^T (=CCTCC AB 2012076^T = NRRL B-59850^T).