Endozoicomonas elysicola gen. nov., sp. nov., a gamma-proteobacterium isolated from the sea slug Elysia ornata

A Gram-negative, strictly aerobic, rod-formed bacterium, strain MKT110(T), was isolated from a mollusk, the sea slug Elysia ornata collected in seawater off the coast of Izu-Miyake Island, Japan at a depth of 15m. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequences analysis indicated that the isolate MKT110(T) constituted a novel lineage in gamma-proteobacteria related to the genera Zooshikella, Oceanospirillum, Microbulbifer, Marinobacter, Saccharospirillum and Pseudomonas. The strain MKT110(T) was closely related to the clones from marine sponge Halichondria okadai (AB054136, AB054161) and the coral Pocillopora damicornis (AY700600, AY700601). The phylogenetic tree based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that MKT110(T) and four clones formed a sub-lineage related to the genus Zooshikella, with a bootstrap value of 100%. MKT110(T) required salt for its growth and was mesophilic. The bacterium contained 16:1omega7c, 16:0 and 14:0 as major cellular fatty acids, and 3-OH 14:0, 3-OH 10:0 and 3-OH 12:0 as major hydroxy fatty acids. The DNA base composition of the isolate was 50.4 mol% G+C. The major quinone was Q-9. The bacterium is distinguished from currently recognized bacterial genera based on phylogenetic and phenotypic features and should be classified in a novel genus for which the name Endozoicomonas elysicola gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. (type strain MKT110(T)=IAM 15107(T)=KCTC 12372(T); GenBank accession no. AB196667).     

Clostridium tunisiense sp. nov., a new proteolytic, sulfur-reducing bacterium isolated from an olive mill wastewater contaminated by phosphogypse

A new sporulated fermentative bacterium designated strain E1(T) (T=type strain), was isolated from an anaerobic mud of an olive mill wastewater basin contaminated by phosphogypse produced by a Tunisian factory. Strain E1(T) was a motile Gram-positive slightly curved rod with spherical terminal spore swelling the cell. It grew between 18 degrees C and 43 degrees C with an optimum at 37 degrees C and pH 7.8 (range 5.5-8.7), without NaCl (range 0-3%). Strain E1(T) was a chemoorganotrophic anaerobic bacterium fermenting only proteins and amino acids. Yeast extract was required for growth. Elemental sulfur was used as terminal electron acceptor. The G+C content of the DNA was 32.6 mol%. The closest phylogenetical relatives of strain E1(T) were Clostridium thiosulfatireducens and C. subterminale (97.3% similarity for partial rRNA gene sequences). DNA-DNA hybridization values between strain E1(T) and both species were 17% and 20.8%, respectively. On the basis of differences in genotypic and phenotypic characteristics, strain E1(T) (DSM 15206(T), CIP 107666(T)) is proposed as the type strain of a new species, C. tunisiense sp. nov. GenBank accession number for the 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain E1(T) is AY187622.     

Rhodanobacter fulvus sp. nov., a beta-galactosidase-producing gammaproteobacterium

A taxonomic study was carried out on a bacterial strain designated as Jip2T isolated from a soil sample mixed with rotten rice straw. It was a Gram-negative, aerobic, motile, and rod-shaped bacterium. It grew well on nutrient agar medium and utilized a fairly narrow spectrum of carbon source. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 65.3 mol%. The major ubiquinone was Q-8. The major fatty acids were branched fatty acids, especially large amounts of iso C15:0 and iso C17:1 w9c were detected in the cells grown on TSA agar for 24 h. Comparative 16S rDNA study showed a clear affiliation of this bacterium to the genus Rhodanobacter. The 16S rDNA sequence of strain Jip2T showed 96.4% sequence similarity to that of Rhodanobacter lindaniclasticus RP5575T. On the basis of phenotypic characteristics and 16S rDNA sequence analysis, strain Jip2T is clearly distinct from Rhodanobacter lindaniclasticus. We propose the name Rhodanobacter fulvus sp. nov. for strain Jip2T (=IAM 15025T=KCTC 12098T).     

Tateyamaria omphalii gen. nov., sp. nov., an alpha-Proteobacterium isolated from a top shell Omphalius pfeifferi pfeifferi

A Gram-negative, strictly aerobic, coccoid to short rod-shaped marine bacterium strain MKT107(T) was isolated from the molluscan top shell Omphalius pfeifferi pfeifferi collected on the coast of Japan. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that strain MKT107(T) constitutes a new lineage in alpha-Proteobacteria related to the genera Nereida, Roseobacter, Staleya, Oceanibulbus and Sulfitobacter. Strain MKT107(T) was found to require salt for its growth and to be mesophilic. It contained 18:1omega7c and 16:0 as major cellular fatty acids and 3-OH 10:0 and 3-OH 12:0 as hydroxy fatty acids. The DNA base composition of the isolate was 61.6 mol% G+C. The major quinone was Q-10. Sufficient differences existed to distinguish this strain from currently recognized bacterial genera. Therefore, the isolate is classified as representing a new genus and species, Tateyamaria omphalii gen. nov., sp. nov. (type strain MKT107(T) =IAM 15108(T) =KCTC 12333(T); GenBank accession no. AB193438).     

Corynebacterium aquatimens sp. nov., a lipophilic Corynebacterium isolated from blood cultures of a patient with bacteremia

An unknown lipophilic coryneform bacterium isolated from the blood cultures of a patient with bacteremia was characterized by phenotypic and molecular genetic methods. Chemical analysis revealed the presence of short chain mycolic acids consistent with the genus Corynebacterium. The DNA G+C content was 60.8mol%. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis demonstrated that the isolate represents a new subline within the genus Corynebacterium. The closely phylogenetic relative of the unknown bacterium was found to be C. tuscaniense (97.8% sequence similarity). Partial rpoB gene sequence revealed that strain IMMIB L-2475(T) exhibited 13.5% sequence divergence with C. tuscaniense. The unknown bacterium was distinguished from C. tuscaniense by, DNA-DNA hybridization, cellular fatty acid profiles, MALDI-TOF analyses of cell extracts and biochemical tests. Based on the phylogenetic and phenotypic criteria, it is proposed that this bacterium be classified as new species, Corynebacterium aquatimens sp. nov., and is represented by strain IMMIB L-2475(T) (=DSM 45632(T)=CCUG 61574(T)).     

Croceibacter atlanticus gen. nov., sp. nov., a novel marine bacterium in the family Flavobacteriaceae

A bright, saffron-colored marine bacterium HTCC2559T was isolated from the Bermuda Atlantic Time Series station in the western Sargasso Sea, Atlantic Ocean by high throughput culturing methods and characterized by polyphasic approaches. Phenotypic data and phylogenetic analyses showed that the strain is a member of the family Flavobacteriaceae. The strain was gram-negative, non-motile, chemoheterotrophic, strictly aerobic, NaCl-requiring, rod-shaped cells that contain carotenoid pigments but not flexirubin. Several kinds of macromolecules (gelatin, DNA, starch, casein, and elastin) were degraded and carbohydrates, sugar alcohols, organic acids, and amino acids were utilized as sole carbon sources. The dominant fatty acids were branched or hydroxy acids, and 3-OH i17:0, i15:0, i15:1, and i17:1 omega9c were abundant. The DNA G+C content of the strain is 34.8 mol%. Phylogenetic analyses using three treeing algorithms based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that the strain formed a very distinct lineage that is allied closely with several seawater environmental clones in the family Flavobacteriaceae. Therefore, it is proposed from the polyphasic studies that strain HTCC2559T (=ATCC BAA-628T = KCTC 12090T) belongs to a new genus and species named Croceibacter atlanticus gen. nov., sp. nov.     

Deinococcus mumbaiensis sp. nov., a radiation-resistant pleomorphic bacterium isolated from Mumbai, India

A radiation-resistant, Gram-negative and pleomorphic bacterium (CON-1) was isolated from a contaminated tryptone glucose yeast extract agar plate in the laboratory. It was red pigmented, nonmotile, nonsporulating, and aerobic, and contained MK-8 as respiratory quinone. The cell wall of this bacterium contained ornithine. The major fatty acids were C16:0, C16:1, C17:0, C18:1 and iso C18:0. The DNA of CON-1 had a G+C content of 70 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that CON-1 exhibited a maximum similarity (94.72%) with Deinococcus grandis. Based on the genotypic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characteristics, the bacterium CON-1 was identified as a new species of the genus Deinococcus, for which the name Deinococcus mumbaiensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of D. mumbaiensis is CON-1 (MTCC 7297(T)=DSM 17424(T)).     

Anoxybacillus mongoliensis sp. nov., a novel thermophilic proteinase producing bacterium isolated from alkaline hot spring, central Mongolia

A Gram reaction positive, spore-forming, facultative anaerobic bacterium belonging to the Phylum Firmicutes, was isolated from alkaline hot (80 degrees C, pH 9.8 spring Tsenher, central Mongolia. The cells were rod shaped, feebly motile, peritrichously flagellated. Strain T4 was moderately thermophilic with optimum growth at 60 degrees C. Maximum temperature for growth was between 70 and 75 degrees C; minimum temperature for growth was between 35 and 30 degrees C. Alkalitolerant, optimum pH for growth was 8.0; minimum pH for growth was between 5.0 and 5.5 and maximum was between 10.5 and 10.8. The growth was observed at NaCl concentrations of 0-5% (w/v) with the optimum at 0.2-0.5%. No growth was observed at 6% NaCl (w/v). Aerobically, the strain utilized proteinaceous substrates, organic acids and a range of carbohydrates including glucose, ribose, sucrose and xylose as well. Anaerobically, only glucose and sucrose were utilized. Strain T4T produced thermostable alkaline subtilisin-like serine proteinase. The G + C content was 44.2 mol. % (td). On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity strain T4(T) was shown to be closely related to the members of the genus Anoxybacillus (family Bacillaceae, class "Bacilli"). DNA-DNA hybridization data revealed that strain T4T had only 38% relatedness to A. flavithermus and 28% relatedness to A. pushchinoensis. Based on its morphology, physiology, phylogenetic relationship and its low DNA-DNA relatedness values with validly published species of Anoxybacillus, it is proposed that strain T4T represents a novel species Anoxybacillus mongoliensis sp. nov., with the type strain T4(T) (=DSM 19169 = VKM 2407).     

Characterization of Halanaerocella petrolearia gen. nov., sp. nov., a new anaerobic moderately halophilic fermentative bacterium isolated from a deep subsurface hypersaline oil reservoir

An anaerobic, halophilic, and fermentative bacterium, strain S200(T), was isolated from a core sample of a deep hypersaline oil reservoir. Cells were rod-shaped, non-motile, and stained Gram-positive. It grew at NaCl concentrations ranging from 6 to 26% (w/v), with optimal growth at 15% (w/v) NaCl, and at temperatures between 25 and 47°C with an optimum at 40-45°C. The optimum pH was 7.3 (range 6.2-8.8; no growth at pH 5.8 and pH 9). The doubling time in optimized growth conditions was 3.5 h. Strain S200(T) used exclusively carbohydrates as carbon and energy sources. The end products of glucose degradation were lactate, formate, ethanol, acetate, H(2), and CO(2). The predominant cellular fatty acids were non-branched fatty acids C(16:1), C(16:0), and C(14:0). The G + C mole% of the DNA was 32.7%. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that strain S200(T) formed a distinct lineage within the family Halobacteroidaceae, order Halanaerobiales, and was most closely related to Halanaerobaculum tunisiense DSM 19997(T) and Halobacteroides halobius DSM 5150(T), with sequence similarity of 92.3 and 91.9%, respectively. On the basis of its physiological and genotypic properties, strain S200(T) is proposed to be assigned to a novel species of a novel genus, for which the name Halanaerocella petrolearia is proposed. The type strain of Halanaerocella petrolearia is strain S200(T) (=DSM 22693(T) = JCM 16358(T)).     

Methylovorus mays--novel species of aerobic, obligatory methylotrophic bacteria associated with plants

A bacterial strain utilizing methanol as the sole source of carbon and energy was isolated from the maize phyllosphere. Cells are nonpigmented gram-negative motile rods that do not form spores or prosthecae and reproduce by binary fission. The strain does not require vitamins or supplementary growth factors. It is obligately aerobic and urease-, oxidase-, and catalase-positive. The optimum growth temperature is 35-40 degrees C; the optimum pH is 7.0-7.5. The doubling time is 2 h. The bacterium implements the ribulose monophosphate pathway and possesses NAD(+)-dependent 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase and enzymes of the glutamate cycle. alpha-Ketoglutarate dehydrogenase and enzymes of the glyoxylate cycle (isocitrate lyase and malate synthase) are absent. Fatty acids are dominated by palmitic (C16:0) and palmitoleic (C16:1) acids. The major phospholipids are phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, and phosphatidylcholine. Cardiolipin is present in minor amounts. The dominant ubiquinone is Q8. The bacterial genome contains genes controlling the synthesis and secretion of cytokinins. The G + C content of DNA is 57.2 mol %, as determined from the DNA thermal denaturation temperature (Tm). The bacterium shows low DNA homology (< 10%) with restricted facultative methylotrophic bacteria of the genus Methylophilus (M. methylotrophus NCIMB 10515T and M. leisingerii VKM B-2013T) and with the obligate methylotrophic bacterium (Methylobacillus glycogenes ATCC 29475T). DNA homology with the type representative of the genus Methylovorus, M. glucosetrophus VKM B-1745T, is high (58%). The new isolate was classified as a new species, Methylovorus mays sp. now.     

Zymobacter palmae gen. nov., sp. nov., a new ethanol-fermenting peritrichous bacterium isolated from palm sap

Zymobacter palmae gen. nov., sp. nov. was proposed for a new ethanol-fermenting bacterium that was isolated from palm sap in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. The bacterium is gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic, catalase-positive, oxidase-negative, nonspore-forming and peritrichously flagellated. It requires nicotinic acid for growth. It ferments hexoses, -linked di- and tri-saccarides, and sugar alcohols (fructose, galactose, glucose, mannose, maltose, melibiose, saccharose, raffinose, mannitol and sorbitol). Fifteen percent of maltose in broth medium is effectively fermented, whereas glucose with a concentration higher than 10% delayed growth initiation and decreased growth rates. Maltose is fermented to produce ethanol and CO₂ with a trace amount of acids. Approximately 2 mol of ethanol are produced from 1 mol moiety of hexose of maltose. The organism possesses ubiquinone-9. The G+C content of the DNA is 55.8+-0.4 mol%. Major cellular fatty acids were palmitic and oleic acids and cyclopropanic acid of C_19:0. Characteristic hydroxylated acid was 3-hydroxy dodecanoic acid. The bacterium is distinct from other ethanol-fermenting bacteria belonging to the genera Zymomonas Kluyver and van Niel 1936 and Saccharobacter Yaping et al. 1990 with respect to chemotaxonomic and other phenotypic characters to warrant to compose a new genus and a new species. The type strain is strain T109 (= IAM 14233).Abbreviation IAM IAM Culture Collection, Institute of Applied Microbiology. The University of Tokyo     

一株新的耐辐射菌Deinococcus guangxiensis sp.nov.的分离鉴定及耐辐射特性分析

摘要：【目的】从广西大学辐射中心辐射源附近被常年辐射的水样中分离并鉴定出新的耐辐射菌株,并对其耐辐射特性进行研究。【方法】通过GBM培养基分离培养得到一株新的耐辐射菌株,命名为WGR700T。应用生理生化试验,脂肪酸含量,(G+C) mol％含量测定以及16S rRNA序列同源性分析等方法对菌株进行鉴定,同时对WGR700T的耐辐射特性进行分析。【结果】菌株WGR700T为革兰氏阴性,杆状,没有鞭毛,不能运动,厌氧并能产生红色素。最佳生长温度和PH分别为37℃和pH7.0,主要的呼吸醌是MK-8,细胞壁内还有鸟氨酸,主要脂肪酸为16:1ω7c, 16:0, 15:1ω6c, iso-15:0和 iso-17:0。G+C含量为64.7mol%。菌株WGR700T具有很强的UV(>728 J/m2)和电离辐射抗性(D10 = 9.8 kGy)。菌株WGR700T和奇异球菌属（Deinococcus）内其它菌种16S rRNA有很高的相似性（87.1-95.6%）。【结论】根据16S rRNA及生理生化特征区别,菌株WGR700T应是奇异球菌属的一个新种,命名为Deinococcus guangxiensis sp. nov. 模式菌株为WGR700T(= CGMCC1.7045T =CICC 10360T = JCM 15082T)。     

Isolation and some properties of a mesophilic and mixotrophic iron-oxidizing bacterium, OKM-9

An iron-oxidizing bacterium strain, OKM-9, isolated from mud obtained from the bottom of a pond, Minamikata Ohike, in Okayama prefecture, Japan, grew well in an FeSO4 x 7H2O (3%)-medium (pH 2.5) with 0.03% yeast extract. However, the strain could not grow either in an FeSO4 x 7H2O (3%)-medium without yeast extract or in a yeast extract (0.03%)-medium (pH 2.5) without Fe2+. The strain did not use elemental sulfur as an energy source and did not have the activity to fix carbon dioxide. Strain OKM-9 could grow in an FeSO4 x 7H2O (3%)-medium with twenty different L-amino acids instead of yeast extract. Incorporation of [U-14C] glutamic acid into the cells was dependent on the energy produced by the oxidation of Fe2+. Strain OKM-9 did not grow heterotrophically using amino acids and hexoses as a sole energy and carbon source. The results that strain OKM-9 absolutely required ferrous iron (Fe2+) as a sole energy source and yeast extract or L-amino acids as a carbon source for growth strongly suggest that the strain is a mixotrophic iron-oxidizing bacterium. Strain OKM-9 was a gram-negative and rod-shaped bacterium (0.4-0.6 x 1.6-2.2 microm) and the mean G + C content of the DNA of the bacterium was 59.6 mol%. The optimum temperature and pH for growth were 30 degrees C and 2.1, respectively. However, the strain could not grow at temperatures above 45 degrees C. Iron-oxidizing activities of strain OKM-9 measured with intact cells and the plasma membrane were 14.3 and 5.7 microl O2 uptake/mg protein/min, respectively. The pyridine ferrohemochromes prepared from the plasma membrane of this strain showed absorption peaks characteristic of alpha-bands of heme a and b, but not heme c, at 587 and 557 nm, respectively. The results suggest that the cytochromes composing an iron-oxidation system of strain OKM-9 are different from those of the well-known mesophilic iron-oxidizing bacteria Thiobacillus ferrooxidans and Leptospirillum ferrooxidans.     

Novel psychrophilic anaerobic spore-forming bacterium from the overcooled water brine in permafrost: description Clostridium algoriphilum sp. nov.

A gram-positive, motile, strict anaerobic spore-forming bacterium was isolated from the over-cooled brine in the permafrost. The optimal temperature for isolate growth was 5-6 degrees C at pH 6.8-7.2. The bacterium was growing on the medium rich in saccharides and disaccharides. Out of polysaccharides tested, only xylan sustained the growth. Fermentation of the hexoses led to the formation of acetate, butyrate, lactate, H2,CO2 and some formate and ethanol. Cell wall peptidoglycan contained meso-diaminopimelic acid. The major fatty acids of the cell wall were C(14:0) and C(16:1c9). The content of G-C pairs in DNA was 31.4 mol%. As phylogenetic analysis has shown, it is closely linked to the members of cluster 1 of Clostridium. It differs from the other species of the genus by the substrates necessary for the growth, products forming as a result of the fermentation and content of the fatty acids in the cell wall. Thus, it was suggested to describe this strain as a new species named Clostridium algoriphilum. Type strain 14D1 was deposited into the Russian Collection of the Microorganisms VKM B-2271T and German Collection of the Microorganisms DSM 16153T .     

Arsukibacterium ikkense gen. nov., sp. nov, a novel alkaliphilic, enzyme-producing gamma-Proteobacterium isolated from a cold and alkaline environment in Greenland

A novel aerobic, Gram-negative, non-pigmented bacterium, GCM72(T), was isolated from the alkaline, low-saline ikaite columns in the Ikka Fjord, SW Greenland. Strain GCM72(T) is a motile, non-pigmented, amylase- and protease-producing, oxidase-positive, and catalase-negative bacterium, showing optimal growth at pH 9.2-10.0, at 15 degrees C, and at 3% (w/v) NaCl. Major fatty acids were C(12:0) 3-OH (12.2+/-0.1%), C(16:00) (18.0+/-0.1%), C(18:1)omega7c (10.7+/-0.5%), and summed feature 3 comprising C(16:1)omega7c and/or iso-C(15:0) 2-OH (36.3+/-0.7%). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that isolate GCM72(T) was most closely related to Rheinheimera baltica and Alishewanella fetalis of the gamma-Proteobacteria with a 93% sequence similarity to both. The G+C content of DNA isolated from GCM72(T) was 49.9mol% and DNA-DNA hybridization between GCM72T and R. baltica was 9.5%. Fatty acid analysis and G+C content supports a relationship primarily to R. baltica, but several different features, such as a negative catalase-response and optimal growth at low temperature and high pH, together with the large phylogenetic distance and low DNA similarity to its closest relatives, lead us to propose a new genus, Arsukibacterium, gen. nov., with the new species Arsukibacterium ikkense sp. nov. (type strain is GCM72(T)).     

Aminobacterium colombiensegen. nov. sp. nov., an amino acid-degrading anaerobe isolated from anaerobic sludge

A new gram-negative, non-sporulating, mesophilic, amino acid fermenting bacterium, designated strain ALA-1(T) (T = type strain), was isolated from an anaerobic lagoon of a dairy wastewater treatment plant. The strain is curved (3-4 microm x 0.2-0.3 microm) and occurs singly or in pairs. Optimum growth occurs at 37 degrees C and pH 7.3. The G+C content of the DNA is 46 mol %. The strain requires yeast extract for growth, grows poorly on casamino acids, peptones, cysteine, and alpha-ketoglutarate, but readily grows on serine, threonine, glycine and pyruvate. When cocultured with the hydrogenotrophic methanogen Methanobacterium formicicum, strain ALA-1(T) oxidized alanine, glutamate, leucine, isoleucine, valine, aspartate, and methionine. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that it forms a distinct and independent line of descent in the vicinity of Dethiosulfovibrio peptidovorans, Dictyoglomus thermophilum, and Anaerobaculum thermoterrenum which are members of the low G+C containing gram-positive bacteria. The phylogenetic results concur with the phenotypic and genomic data which reveal that it is a novel strain. Based on these findings, we designate strain ALA-1(T) as Aminobacterium colombiense (DSM 12261) gen. nov., sp. nov.     

Chimaereicella alkaliphila gen. nov., sp. nov., a Gram-negative alkaliphilic bacterium isolated from a nonsaline alkaline groundwater

A Gram-negative bacterium designated AC-74(T) was isolated from a highly alkaline groundwater environment (pH 11.4). This organism formed rod-shaped cells, is strictly aerobic, catalase and oxidase positive, tolerates up to 3.0% NaCl, has an optimum growth temperature of 30 degrees C, but no growth occurs at 10 or 40 degrees C, and an optimum pH value of 8.0, but no growth occurs at pH 7.0 or 11.3. The predominant fatty acids are iso-15:0, iso-17:1 omega9c and 16:1 omega7c and or iso-15:2OH. The G+C content of DNA was 43.5mol%. The phylogenetic analyses of the sequences of the 16s RNA genes indicated that strain AC-74(T) belongs to the family "Flexibacteriaceae" and is phylogenetically equidistant ( approximately 94.5%) from the majority of the species of the genus Algoriphagus and from the genus Hongiella. Based on the phylogenetic analyses and distinct phenotypic characteristics, we are of the opinion that strain AC-74(T), represents a new species of the novel genus for which we propose the name Chimaereicella alkaliphila gen. nov., sp. nov.     

Phenylobacterium falsum sp. nov., an Alphaproteobacterium isolated from a nonsaline alkaline groundwater, and emended description of the genus Phenylobacterium

A Gram-negative bacterium designated AC-49T was isolated from an alkaline groundwater with a pH 11.4. This organism formed rod-shaped cells, was strictly aerobic, catalase and oxidase positive, with an optimum growth temperature of 35 degrees C and an optimum pH value of 8.0. Strain AC-49T assimilated primarily amino acids and some Krebs cycle metabolites, did not use sugars for growth. The organism did not grow on L-phenylalanine or antipyrin. The G+ C content of DNA was 66.9 mol%. The phylogenetic analyses based on the 16S rRNA sequencing showed that the closest relatives of strain AC-49T were Phenylobacterium lituiforme and Phenylobacterium immobile, indicating that the organism is a member of the order Caulobacterales of the Alphaproteobacteria. Based on the phylogenetic analyses and distinct phenotypic characteristics, we are of the opinion that strain AC-49T, represents a novel species of the genus Phenylobacterium for which we propose the name Phenylobacterium falsum sp. nov.     

Comamonas badia sp. nov., a floc-forming bacterium isolated from activated sludge

Strain IAM 14839, isolated from activated sludge in Japan, forms a visible floc and grows in the flocculated state. This bacterium is Gram-negative, rod-shaped, strictly aerobic and highly motile with a single polar flagellum. Both oxidase and catalase activities are positive. No growth was observed on sugars. The strain can grow at 20 degrees C, but does not grow at 37 degrees C. The G+C content of DNA is 66.3 mol% and Q-8 is the major quinone. The major cellular fatty acids are 16:1omega7c, 16:0, 18:1omega7c, 2OH 16:0, 3OH 10:0. The 16S rDNA sequence analysis indicated that the bacterium clustered within the genus Comamonas. On the basis of the phylogenetic analysis and phenotypic properties, it is proposed that the strain IAM 14839T be classified in a novel species of the genus Comamonas, Comamonas badia sp. nov. The type strain is IAM 14839T (=KCTC 12244T ).     

Methylophaga natronica sp. nov., a new alkaliphilic and moderately halophilic, restricted-facultatively methylotrophic bacterium from soda lake of the Southern Transbaikal region

A new, moderately haloalkaliphilic and restricted-facultatively methylotrophic bacterium (strain Bur2T) with the ribulose monophosphate pathway of carbon assimilation is described. The isolate, which utilizes methanol, methylamine and fructose, is an aerobic, Gram-negative, asporogenous, motile short rod multiplying by binary fission. It is auxotrophic for vitamin B12, and requires NaHCO3 or NaCl for growth in alkaline medium. Cellular fatty acids profile consists primarily of straight-chain saturated C16:0, unsaturated C16:1 and C18:1 acids. The major ubiquinone is Q-8. The dominant phospholipids are phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol. Diphosphatidylglycerol is also present. Optimal growth conditions are 25-29 degrees C, pH 8.5-9.0 and 2-3% (w/v) NaCl. Cells accumulate ectoine and glutamate as the main osmoprotectants. The G + C content of the DNA is 45.0 mol%. Based on 16S rDNA sequence analysis and DNA-DNA relatedness (25-35%) with type strains of marine and soda lake methylobacteria belonging to the genus Methylophaga, the novel isolate was classified as a new species of this genus and named Methylophaga natronica (VKM B-2288T).