<Emphasis Type="Italic">Paenibacillus camelliae</Emphasis> sp. nov., isolated from fermented leaves of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Camellia sinensis</Emphasis>

A novel bacterium, strain blls-2^T was isolated from Pu’er tea. The isolate was Gram-positive, endospore-forming motile rod that grew at 15∼42°C and pH 6.0∼10.2. The DNA G+C content was 48.3 mol%, the predominant isoprenoid quinone was MK-7, and the predominant cellular fatty acid was anteiso-C15:0 (54.2%) followed by C16:0 (15.5%) and iso-C16:0 (8.2%). The polar lipid pattern of blls-2^T was characterized by the presence of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, and phosphatidylglycerol. Phy-logenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that the strain was affiliated within the Paenibacillaceae. The strain was most closely related to Paenibacillus granivorans A30^T, with a similarity of 97.1%. Based on the phylogenetic and phenotypic characteristics of strain blls-2^T, the isolate is thought to represent a novel taxon in the genus Paenibacillus. The name Paenibacillus camelliae sp. nov. is proposed for the fermented tea isolate; the type strain is blls-2^T (= KCTC 13220^T= CECT 7361^T).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Zunongwangia flava</Emphasis> sp. nov., belonging to the family <Emphasis Type="Italic">Flavobacteriaceae</Emphasis>, isolated from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Salicornia europaea</Emphasis>

A yellow pigmented bacterium designated strain MBLN094^T within the family Flavobacteriaceae was isolated from a halophyte Salicornia europaea on the coast of the Yellow Sea. This strain was a Gram-stain negative, aerobic, non-spore forming, rod-shaped bacterium. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain MBLN094^T was found to be related to the genus Zunongwangia, exhibiting 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity values of 97.0, 96.8, 96.4, and 96.3% to Zunongwangia mangrovi P2E16^T, Z. profunda SM-A87^T, Z. atlantica 22II14-10F7^T, and Z. endophytica CPA58^T, respectively. Strain MBLN094^T grew at 20?37°C (optimum, 25?30°C), at pH 6.0?10.0 (optimum, 7.0?8.0), and with 0.5?15.0% (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 2.0?5.0%). Menaquinone MK-6 was the sole respiratory quinone. The polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, two unidentified aminolipids, and four unidentified lipids. Major fatty acids were iso-C_17:0 3-OH, summed feature 3 (C_16:1ω6c and/or C16:1 ω7c), and iso-C_15:0. The genomic DNA G + C content was 37.4 mol%. Based on these polyphasic taxonomic data, strain MBLN094^T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Zunongwangia, for which the name Zunongwangia flava sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is MBLN094^T (= KCTC 62279^T = JCM 32262^T).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Microbacterium rhizosphaerae</Emphasis> sp. nov., isolated from a Ginseng field,South Korea

A novel Gram-stain positive, aerobic, short rod-shaped, non-motile bacterium, designated strain CHO1^T, was isolated from rhizosphere soil from a ginseng agriculture field. Strain CHO1^T was observed to form yellow colonies on R2A agar medium. The cell wall peptidoglycan was found to contain alanine, glycine, glutamic acid, d-ornithine and serine. The cell wall sugars were identified as galactose, mannose, rhamnose and ribose. Strain CHO1^T was found to contain MK-11, MK-12, MK-13 as the predominant menaquinones and anteiso-C_15:0, iso-C_16:0, and anteiso-C_17:0 as the major fatty acids. Diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphoglycolipid, an unidentified phospholipid and three unidentified glycolipids were found to be present in strain CHO1^T. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain CHO1^T was found to be closely related to Microbacterium mangrovi DSM 28240^T (97.81 % similarity), Microbacterium immunditiarum JCM 14034^T (97.45 %), Microbacterium oryzae JCM 16837^T (97.33 %) and Microbacterium ulmi KCTC 19363^T (97.10 %) and to other species of the genus Microbacterium. The DNA G+C content of CHO1^T was determined to be 70.1 mol %. The DNA–DNA hybridization values of CHO1^T with M. mangrovi DSM 28240^T, M. immunditiarum JCM 14034^T, M. oryzae JCM 16837^T and M. ulmi KCTC 19363^T were 46.7 ± 2, 32.4 ± 2, 32.0 ± 2 and 29.2 ± 2 %, respectively. On the basis of genotypic, phenotypic and phylogenetic properties, it is concluded that strain CHO1^T represents a novel species within the genus Microbacterium, for which the name Microbacterium rhizosphaerae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of M. rhizosphaerae is CHO1^T (= KEMB 7306-513^T = JCM 31396^T).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhodopirellula rosea</Emphasis> sp. nov., a novel bacterium isolated from an ark clam <Emphasis Type="Italic">Scapharca broughtonii</Emphasis>

A novel Gram-negative, motile, and ovoid-shaped strain, LHWP3^T, which belonged to the family Planctomycetaceae in the phylum Planctomycetes, was isolated from a dead ark clam Scapharca broughtonii collected during a mass mortality event on the south coast of Korea. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the isolate was most closely related to the type strain of Rhodopirellula baltica, with a shared 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 94.8%. The isolate grew optimally at 30°C in 4–6% (w/v) NaCl, and at pH 7. The major isoprenoid quinone was menaquinone-6 (MK-6). The dominant polar lipids were phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, and unidentified polar lipids. The predominant cellular fatty acids were C_16:0, C_18:1 ω9c, and C_18:0. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain LHWP3^T was 53.0 mol%. Based on polyphasic taxonomic analyses, strain LHWP3^T should be classified as a novel species in the genus Rhodopirellula in the family Planctomycetaceae, for which the name Rhodopirellula rosea sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is LHWP3^T (=KACC 15560^T =JCM 17759^T).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Flavobacterium knui</Emphasis> sp. nov., a novel member of the family <Emphasis Type="Italic">Flavobacteriaceae</Emphasis>

A Gram-stain negative, non-motile, rod-shaped bacterial strain, designated 2-56^T, was isolated from water and characterized taxonomically using a polyphasic approach. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain 2-56^T belongs to the family Flavobacteriaceae in the phylum Bacteroidetes and is closely related to Flavobacterium paronense KNUS1^T (98.4%) and Flavobacterium collinsense 4-T-2^T (96.7%). The G?+?C content of the genomic DNA of strain 2-56^T was 33.4 mol%. The isolate contained MK-6 as the predominant respiratory quinone, and iso-C_15:1 G (15.9%), iso-C_15:0 (15.8%), iso-C_17:0 3-OH (10.7%), and iso-C_15:0 3-OH (9.6%) were the major fatty acids. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine and an unidentified lipid. The phenotypic and chemotaxonomic data support the affiliation of strain 2-56^T with the genus Flavobacterium. However, the DNA–DNA relatedness between the isolate and F. paronense and F. collinsense were 35.7 and 21.5%, respectively, clearly showing that strain 2-56^T is not related to them at the species level. Strain 2-56^T could be clearly differentiated from its close neighbours on the basis of its phenotypic, genotypic and chemotaxonomic features. Therefore, strain 2-56^T represents a novel species of the genus Flavobacterium, for which the name Flavobacterium knui sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 2-56^T (=?KCTC 62061^T?=?JCM 32247^T).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Shewanella upenei</Emphasis> sp. nov., a lipolytic bacterium isolated from bensasi goatfish <Emphasis Type="Italic">Upeneus bensasi</Emphasis>

A Gram-staining-negative, motile, non-spore-forming and rod-shaped bacterial strain, 20-23R^T, was isolated from intestine of bensasi goatfish, Upeneus bensasi, and its taxonomic position was investigated by using a polyphasic study. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain 20-23R^T belonged to the genus Shewanella. Strain 20-23R^T exhibited 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity values of 99.5, 99.2, and 97.5% to Shewanella algae ATCC 51192^T, Shewanella haliotis DW01^T, and Shewanella chilikensis JC5^T, respectively. Strain 20-23R^T exhibited 93.1–96.0% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to the other Shewanella species. It also exhibited 98.3–98.4% gyrB sequence similarity to the type strains of S. algae and S. haliotis. Strain 20-23R^T contained simultaneously both menaquinones and ubiquinones; the predominant menaquinone was MK-7 and the predominant ubiquinones were Q-8 and Q-7. The fatty acid profiles of strain 20–23R^T, S. algae KCTC 22552^T and S. haliotis KCTC 12896^T were similar; major components were iso-C_15:0, C_16:0, C_16:1 ω7c and/or iso-C_15:0 2-OH and C_17:1 ω8c. The DNA G+C content of strain 20-23R^T was 53.9 mol%. Differential phenotypic properties and genetic distinctiveness of strain 20–23R^T, together with the phylogenetic distinctiveness, revealed that this strain is distinguishable from recognized Shewanella species. On the basis of the data presented, strain 20-23R^T represents a novel species of the genus Shewanella, for which the name Shewanella upenei sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 20–23R^T (=KCTC 22806^T =CCUG 58400^T).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Paenibacillus bryophyllum</Emphasis> sp. nov., a nitrogen-fixing species isolated from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bryophyllum pinnatum</Emphasis>

A nitrogen-fixing, endospore-forming bacterium, designated strain L201^T was isolated from the leaves of Bryophyllum pinnatum growing in South China Agricultural University. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that strain L201^T is affiliated with the genus Paenibacillus, and closely related to Paenibacillus albidus Q4-3^T (97.4%), Paenibacillus odorifer DSM 15391^T (97.3%) and Paenibacillus borealis DSM 13188^T (97.2%). The main fatty acids components was anteiso-C_15:0 (48.1%). The predominant isoprenoid quinone was MK-7. The major polar lipids were found to be diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol. The G+C content of strain L201^T was 43.9%. DNA–DNA relatedness between L201^T and the reference strain was 29.8%. Biological and biochemical tests, protein patterns, genomic DNA fingerprinting and comparison of cellular fatty acids distinguished strain L201^T from the closely related Paenibacillus species. Based on these data, the novel species Paenibacillus bryophyllum sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain L201^T(=?KCTC 33951 ^T?=?GDMCC 1.1251 ^T).     

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

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

<Emphasis Type="Italic">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">Bacillus piscis</Emphasis> sp. nov., a novel bacterium isolated from the muscle of the antarctic fish <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dissostichus mawsoni</Emphasis>

In this paper, a new bacterial strain designated as 16MFT21^T is isolated from the muscle of a fish caught in the Antarctic Ocean. Strain 16MFT21^T is a Gram-staining-positive, catalase-oxidase-positive, rod-shaped facultative-aerobic bacterium. The phylogenetic analysis that is based on the 16S-rRNA gene sequence of strain 16MFT21^T revealed that it belongs to the genus Bacillus in the family Bacillaceae in the class Bacilli. The highest degrees of the sequence similarity of the strain 16MFT21^T is with Bacillus licheniformis ATCC 14580^T (96.6%) and Bacillus sonorensis NBRC 101234^T (96.6%). The isolate formed a pale-yellow pigment, and it grew in the presence of 0% to 10% (w/v) NaCl (optimum at 2% NaCl), a pH of 6.0 to 10.0 (optimum pH from 7.0 to 8.0), and from 4°C to 30°C (optimum at 30°C). The major polar lipids consist of diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG) and phosphatidylglycerol (PG). The predominant fatty acids are iso-C_15:0, anteiso-C_15:0, iso-C_17:0, and anteiso-C_17:0. The main respiratory quinone is menaquinone-7 (MK-7), and based on the use of the meso-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid, the peptidoglycan cell-wall type is A1γ. Based on the phylogenetic, phenotypic, and chemotaxonomic data, strain 16MFT21^T (=KCTC 18866^T =JCM 31664^T) for which the name Bacillus piscis sp. nov. is proposed should be classified as a new species.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pedobacter panacis</Emphasis> sp. nov., isolated from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Panax ginseng</Emphasis> soil

A novel strain, DCY108^T was isolated from soil of a Panax ginseng field, Yeoncheon province (38°04′N 126°57′E), Republic of Korea. Strain DCY108^T is Gram-negative, non-motile, non-flagellate, rod-shaped, and aerobic. The bacterium grows optimally at 25–30 °C, pH 6.5–7.0 and 1 % NaCl. Phylogenetically, strain DCY108^T is closely related to Pedobacter jejuensis JCM 18824^T, Pedobacter aquatilis JCM 13454^T, Pedobacter kyungheensis LMG 26577^T and the type strain of the genus Pedobacter heparinus DSM 2366^T. The DNA–DNA relatedness values between strain DCY108^T and its close phylogenetic neighbors were below 30.0 %. The DNA G+C content of strain DCY108^T was determined to be 45.1 mol%. The predominant quinone was menaquinone 7 (MK-7). The major polar lipids were identified as phosphatidylethanolamine and three unidentified aminolipids AL1, AL13 and AL17. Iso-C_15:00, iso-C_17:03OH and summed feature 3 (C_16:1 ω7c/C_16:1 ω6c) were identified as the major fatty acids present in strain DCY108^T. The results of physiological and biochemical tests allowed strain DCY108^T to be differentiated phenotypically from other recognized species belonging to the genus Pedobacter. Therefore, it is suggested that the newly isolated organism represents a novel species, for which the name Pedobacter panacis sp. nov is proposed with the type strain designated as DCY108^T (=CCTCCAB 2015196^T = KCTC 42748^T).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Streptomyces carminius</Emphasis> sp. nov., a novel actinomycete isolated from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sophora alopecuroides</Emphasis> in Xinjiang,China

A novel actinobacterial strain, designated TRM SA0054^T, was isolated from the roots of Sophora alopecuroides grown in Alar, Xinjiang, north-west China, and characterised by a polyphasic taxonomic approach. Phylogenetic analysis showed that strain TRM SA0054^T has 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 98.22% with Streptomyces barkulensis RC 1831^T. Whole cell hydrolysates of strain TRM SA0054^T were found to contain ll-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid and ribose, glucose and xylose as the major whole cell sugars. The major fatty acids were identified as iso-C_16:0, iso-C_16:1 G, anteiso-C_17:0, anteiso-C_15:0, C_16:0, anteiso-C_17:1 ω9c. The main menaquinones were determined to be MK-8 (H₄), MK-9 (H₆) and MK-9 (H₈). The polar lipids were identified as diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylmethylethanolamine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylinositol mannoside and an unidentified lipid. The G?+?C content of the genomic DNA was determined to be 73.04%. Strain TRM SA0054^T has a relatively low DNA–DNA relatedness value with Streptomyces barkulensis RC 1831^T as determined by calculating the average nucleotide identity value (ANI?=?84.1%). Based on the phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic data, it is concluded that strain TRM SA0054^T should be designated as a novel species of the genus Streptomyces, for which the name Streptomyces carminius sp. nov. is proposed, with type strain TRM SA0054^T (=?CCTCC AA 2016041^T?=?KCTC39903^T).     

Carotenoid Production by a Novel Isolate of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Microbacterium paraoxydans</Emphasis>

This study reports extraction and characterization of carotenoid pigments from Microbacterium paraoxydans, a non-photosynthetic bacterium, cultivated in Luria–Bertani (LB) medium. The isolate was identified to be moderately halo- and osmo-tolerant capable of withstanding high (~ 6%) salt and sugar (30% w/v sucrose, 20% w/v glucose) concentrations after a brief period of adaptation. The pigments were characterized using a combination of UV–Vis spectral analysis with the λ_max at 407, 436 and 466 nm and ESI–MS with an m/z value at 536.44. The absorption profile of the pigments and their nature was influenced by carbon, nitrogen source and presence of salt in the growth medium. Highest level of pigment (~ 16 g kg dry wt cells^?1) was produced in NH₄Cl supplemented LB medium. The pigment displayed free radical scavenging, anticancer activity, characteristic of the plant carotenoids. Based on the accumulation of pigments under different conditions, a biochemical pathway for synthesis of neurosporene was proposed.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Porifericola rhodea</Emphasis> gen. nov., sp. nov., a new member of the phylum <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacteroidetes</Emphasis> isolated by the bait-streaked agar technique

A strictly aerobic, gram-negative, non-motile, reddish-pink pigmented, rod-shaped strain designated N5EA6-3A2B^T, was isolated from an unidentified marine sponge by use of a bait-streaked agar technique. Phylogenetic analyses based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that the novel isolate represented a distinct and deep evolutionary lineage of descent in the family Flammeovirgaceae within the phylum Bacteroidetes and clustered with as yet uncultured bacteria. The most closely related established species was Roseivirga spongicola UST030701-084^T (89% sequence similarity) in the family of Flammeovirgaceae. The strain could be differentiated phenotypically and physiologically from recognized members of the family Flammeovirgaceae. The G+C content of DNA was 43 mol%, the major respiratory quinone was menaquinone 7 (MK-7) and iso-C15:0, C16:1ω5c and iso-C17:0 3-OH were the major fatty acids. From the distinct phylogenetic position and combination of genotypic and phenotypic characteristics, the name Porifericola rhodea gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Porifericola rhodea is N5EA6-3A2B^T (=MBIC08357^T = NBRC 107748^T).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Arthrobacter halodurans</Emphasis> sp. nov., a new halotolerant bacterium isolated from sea water

A novel Gram-positive, halotolerant, non-sporulating, non-motile, catalase-positive, oxidase-negative and aerobic bacterium, designated strain JSM 078085^T, was isolated from sea water collected from the South China Sea. Strain JSM 078085^T exhibited a rod-coccus growth cycle and produced a yellow pigment. The strain was able to grow in the presence of 0–12% (w/v) NaCl and at pH 6.0–9.5 and 4–35°C; optimum growth was observed at pH 7.0 and 25–30°C in the absence of NaCl. The peptidoglycan type was A4α (l-Lys–l-Ala–l-Glu). Cell-wall sugars contained galactose and glucose. Strain JSM 078085^T contained menaquinone MK-9(H₂) as the major respiratory quinone and diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylinositol as the major polar lipids. The major cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C_15:0, iso-C_15:0 and anteiso-C_17:0 and the DNA G + C content was 63.3 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons revealed that strain JSM 078085^T should be assigned to the genus Arthrobacter, being most closely related to the type strain of Arthrobacter rhombi (sequence similarity 97.1%), and the two strains formed a distinct lineage in the phylogenetic tree. The level of DNA–DNA relatedness between strain JSM 078085^T and the type strain of Arthrobacter rhombi was 10.6%. The combination of phylogenetic analysis, DNA–DNA relatedness, phenotypic characteristics and chemotaxonomic data supported the view that strain JSM 078085^T represents a novel species of the genus Arthrobacter, for which the name Arthrobacter halodurans sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JSM 078085^T (=DSM 21081^T=KCTC 19430^T). The GenBank/EMBL/DDBJ accession number for the 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain JSM 078085^T is EU583729.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Algoriella xinjiangensis</Emphasis> gen. nov., sp. nov., a new psychrotolerant bacterium of the family <Emphasis Type="Italic">Flavobacteriaceae</Emphasis>

An aerobic, Gram-stain negative, non-spore-forming and psychrotolerant bacterium, designated strain XJ109^T, was isolated from a sewage water sample collected from Xinjiang Uigur Autonomous Region, China. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that strain XJ109^T represents a novel member of the family Flavobacteriaceae. The strain showed 95.5 % similarity with the 16S rRNA gene sequence of Empedobacter brevis LMG 4011^T, 95.4 % with Chishuiella changwenlii BY4^T, 95.3 % with Empedobacter falsenii NF 993^T and 92.3 % with Weeksella virosa DSM 16922^T. Strain XJ109^T showed the common phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characteristics of the family Flavobacteriaceae, containing menaquinone-6 (MK-6) as the predominant respiratory quinone and iso-C_17:0 3OH and iso-C_15:0 as the major fatty acids. The polar lipid profile consisted of phosphatidylethanolamine, one unidentified phospholipid and two unidentified lipids. The genomic DNA G+C content was 38.0 mol%. Strain XJ109^T was positive for catalase and oxidase activities, and it was observed to grow at 4–30 °C (optimal 16–20 °C), pH 6.5–10.0 (optimal 7.0–7.5) and in media containing 0–2.0 % (w/v) NaCl (optimal 0.5 %). On the basis of the polyphasic evidence presented, strain XJ109^T is considered to represent a novel genus and species of the family Flavobacteriaceae, for which the name Algoriella xinjiangensis gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is XJ109^T (=CGMCC 1.10229^T=JCM 16590^T).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Joostella atrarenae</Emphasis> sp. nov., a novel member of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Flavobacteriaceae</Emphasis> originating from the black sea sand of Jeju Island

Strain M1-2^T was isolated from the black sand from the seashore of Jeju Island, Republic of Korea and was classified using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. Strain M1-2^T appeared as Gram-negative, motile rods that could grow in the presence of 1–10% (w/v) NaCl and at temperatures ranging from 4 to 37°C. This isolate has catalase and oxidase activity and hydrolyses aesculin, DNA and l-tyrosine. Based on phylogenetic analysis using 16S rRNA gene sequences, strain M1-2^T belongs to the genus Joostella and is clearly distinct from the other described species of this genus, Joostella marina (type strain En5^T). The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity level between M1-2^T and J. marina En5^T is 97.2%, and the DNA–DNA relatedness value between the two strains is 23.9%. Strain M1-2^T contains MK-6 as the major menaquinone and iso-C_15:0, summed feature 3 (C_16:1 ω7c and/or iso-C_15:0 2OH) and iso-C_17:0 3OH as major cellular fatty acids. The DNA G + C content is 32.3 mol%. These data suggest that strain M1-2^T should be classified as a novel species, for which the name Joostella atrarenae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain for the novel species is M1-2^T (= KCTC 23194^T = NCAIM B.002413^T).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Sphingomonas jejuensis</Emphasis> sp. nov., isolated from marine sponge <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hymeniacidon flavia</Emphasis>

A Gram-negative, non-motile, rod shaped, and orange-pigmented chemoheterotrophic bacterium, strain MS-31^T was isolated from the marine sponge Hymeniacidon flavia, collected from near Jeju Island, Korea. The Strain MS-31^T was subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic study. The phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that the novel isolate could be affiliated within the genus Sphingomonas. The strain MS-31^T showed 95.6% of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with the most closely related species Sphingomonas koreensis JSS26^T. The DNA G+C content of the strain MS-31^T was 69.4 mol%. The major isoprenoid quinone was ubiqunone 10 and predominant cellular fatty acids were summed feature 7 (comprising C_18:1 ω7c, C_18:1 Ω9t and/or C_18:1 ωl2t, 39.7%), C_16:0 (16.3%), C_14:0 2OH (15.9%) and summed feature 3 (comprising C_16:1 ω7c and/or C_15:0 iso 2OH, 11.7%). The polar lipids were sphingoglycolipid, phosphatidyletha-nolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol and unidentified glycolipid. Based on the evidence from the polyphasic taxonomic study, the strain should be classified as a new species of the genus Sphingomonas. As a result, the name Sphingomonas jejuensis sp. nov. (type strain MS-31^T =KCTC 23321^T =NBRC 107775^T) is proposed.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Flavobacterium zaozhuangense</Emphasis> sp. nov., a new member of the family <Emphasis Type="Italic">Flavobacteriaceae</Emphasis>, isolated from metolachlor-contaminated soil

Strain ZZ-8^T, a Gram-negative, aerobic, non-spore-forming, non-motile, yellow-pigmented, rod-shaped bacterium, was isolated from metolachlor-contaminated soil in China. The taxonomic position was investigated using a polyphasic approach. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain ZZ-8^T is a member of the genus Flavobacterium and shows high sequence similarity to Flavobacterium humicola UCM-46^T (97.2%) and Flavobacterium pedocola UCM-R36^T (97.1%), and lower (<?97%) sequence similarity to other known Flavobacterium species. Chemotaxonomic analysis revealed that strain ZZ-8^T possessed MK-6 as the major respiratory quinone; and iso-C_15:0 (28.5%), summed feature 9 (iso-C_17:1 w9c/C_16:0 10-methyl, 22.9%), iso-C_17:0 3-OH (17.0%), iso-C_15:0 3-OH (8.9%), iso-C_15:1 G (8.6%) and summed feature 3 (C_16:1 w7c/C_16:1 w6c, 5.7%) as the predominant fatty acids. The polar lipids of strain ZZ-8^T were determined to be lipids, a glycolipid, aminolipids and phosphatidylethanolamine. Strain ZZ-8^T showed low DNA–DNA relatedness with F. pedocola UCM-R36^T (43.23?±?4.1%) and F. humicola UCM-46^T (29.17?±?3.8%). The DNA G+C content was 43.3 mol%. Based on the phylogenetic and phenotypic characteristics, chemotaxonomic data and DNA–DNA hybridization, strain ZZ-8^T is considered a novel species of the genus Flavobacterium, for which the name Flavobacterium zaozhuangense sp. nov. (type strain ZZ-8^T?=?KCTC 62315 ^T?=?CCTCC AB 2017243^T) is proposed.