<Emphasis Type="Italic">Myroides injenensis</Emphasis> sp. nov., a new member isolated from human urine

A Gram-negative, yellow-pigmented, rod-shaped bacteria, designated M09-0166^Tand M09-1053 were isolated from human urine samples. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that the isolates belong to the Myroides cluster and were closely related to Myroides phaeus DSM 23313^T (96.3 %), Myroides odoratimimus KCTC 23053^T (96.1 %), Myroides profundi KCTC 23066^T (96.0 %), Myroides odoratus KCTC 23054^T (95.4 %) and Myroides pelagicus KCTC 12661^T (95.2 %). The major mena quinone was identified as MK-6. The major polar lipids were identified as phosphatidylethanolamine, amino lipids, and several unknown lipids, and the major fatty acids as iso-C_15:0 and iso-C_17:0 3-OH. Phenotypic and chemotaxonomic data supported the affiliation of the isolates with the genus Myroides and clearly indicated that two isolates represent novel species, for which the name Myroides injenensis sp. nov. (type strain, M09-0166^T = KCTC 23367^T = JCM 17451^T) is proposed.     

Tilletiopsis derxii, Tilletiopsis oryzicola and Tilletiopsis penniseti, three new species of the ustilagionomycetous anamorphic genus Tilletiopsis isolated from leaves in Thailand

Four strains of ballistoconidium-forming yeast-like fungi (K-95, K-125, K-132 and K139), isolated from plants collected in Bangkok, Thailand, were assigned to the genus Tilletiopsis based on morphological and chemotaxonomical characteristics. On the basis of sequence data of 18S rDNA and the D1/D2 region of 26S rDNA, strains K-95, K-125 and K-132 were close to T. flava and T. fulvescens, and strain K-139 each formed related to T. minor. DNA-DNA reassociation experiments with related species revealed that strains K-125, K-132 and K-139 each formed a new and distinct species whereas strain K-95 was identified as T. flava. Tilletiopsis derxii Takashima et Nakase sp. nov. (JCM 10217^T; K-125), Tilletiopsis oryzicola Takashima et Nakase sp. nov. (JCM 10218^T; K-132), and Tilletiopsis penniseti Takashima et Nakase sp. nov. (JCM 10216^T; K-139) are the names proposed for the new taxa.     

A novel crude oil emulsifier excreted in the culture supernatant of a marine bacterium, Myroides sp. strain SM1

A marine bacterium, Myroides sp. SM1, can grow on weathered crude oil and show emulsification of it. The biosurfactant able to emulsify crude oil was excreted in culture supernatant of Myroides sp. SM1 grown on marine broth, which was extracted with chloroform/methanol (1:1) at pH 7 and purified by normal and reverse phase silica gel column chromatographies. The compound was ninhydrin-positive, and the chemical structure was elucidated by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), infrared spectroscopy (IR), fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry, and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to be a mixture of l-ornithine lipids, which were composed of l-ornithine and a different couple of iso-3-hydroxyfatty acid (C₁₅–C₁₇) and iso-fatty acid (C₁₅ or C₁₆) in a ratio of 1:1:1. The critical micelle concentration for a mixture of ornithine lipids was measured to be approximately 40 mg/l. A mixture of ornithine lipids exhibited emulsifying activity for crude oil in a broad range of pH, temperature, and salinity and showed higher surface activity for oil displacement test than other several artificial surfactants and a biosurfactant, surfactin.     

Leucobacter denitrificans sp. nov., isolated from cow dung

The bacterial strain M1T8B10^T was isolated from cow dung in Suwon, Republic of Korea. The strain was a Gram stain-positive rod, nonmotile, and non-spore-forming. According to 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the strain fell within the clade of the genus Leucobacter, showing the highest sequence similarities with Leucobacter aridicollis L-9^T (98.7%), Leucobacter iarius 40^T (98.4%), and Leucobacter komagatae JCM 9414^T (98.2%). Cell-wall peptidoglycan contained the diagnostic diamino acid 2,4-diaminobutyric acid of the genus Leucobacter, showing B-type cross-linked peptidoglycans. The major fatty acids were anteiso-C_15:0, iso-C_16:0, and anteiso-C_17:0. The quinone system consisted of the menaquinones MK-11 (78%) and MK-10 (22%). The polar lipid profiles contained diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, and an unidentified glycolipid. Differences in several physiological features including nitrate reduction enabled the isolate to be differentiated from all recognized Leucobacter species. Based on these phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic, and phenotypic results, the isolate represents a novel species, for which the name Leucobacter denitrificans sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is M1T8B10^T (=KACC 14055^T =NBRC 106309^T).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Flavobacterium koreense</Emphasis> sp. nov., <Emphasis Type="Italic">Flavobacterium chungnamense</Emphasis> sp. nov., and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Flavobacterium cheonanense</Emphasis> sp. nov., isolated from a freshwater reservoir

Taxonomic studies were performed on three strains isolated from Cheonho reservoir in Cheonan, Korea. The isolates were Gram-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped, non-motile, catalase-positive, and oxidase-positive. Colonies on solid media were cream-yellow, smooth, shiny, and circular. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that these strains belong to the genus Flavobacterium. The strains shared 98.6–99.4% sequence similarity with each other and showed less than 97% similarity with members of the genus Flavobacterium with validly published names. The DNA-DNA hybridization results confirmed the separate genomic status of strains ARSA-42^T, ARSA-103^T, and ARSA-108^T. The isolates contained menaqui-none-6 as the predominant menaquinone and iso-C_15:0, iso-C_15:0 3-OH, iso-Ci_15:1 G, and iso-C_16:0 3-OH as the major fatty acids. The genomic DNA G+C content of the isolates were 31.4–33.2 mol%. According to the phenotypic and genotypic data, these organisms are classified as representative of three novel species in the genus Flavobacterium, and the name Flavobacterium koreense sp. nov. (strain ARSA-42^T =KCTC 23182^T =JCM 17066^T =KACC 14969^T), Flavobacterium chungnamense sp. nov. (strain ARSA-103^T =KCTC 23183^T =JCM 17068^T =KACC 14971^T), and Flavobacterium cheonanense sp. nov. (strain ARSA-108^T =KCTC 23184^T =JCM 17069^T =KACC 14972) are proposed.     

Molecular and phenotypic characterization of Leptospira johnsonii sp. nov., Leptospira ellinghausenii sp. nov. and Leptospira ryugenii sp. nov. isolated from soil and water in Japan

In a previous study, 50 of 132 soil samples collected throughout Japan were found to be Leptospira‐positive. In the present study, three strains identified in the collected specimens, three, E8, E18 and YH101, were found to be divergent from previously described Leptospira species according to 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequence analysis. These three strains have a helical shape similar to that of typical Leptospira and were not re‐isolated from experimental mice inoculated with the cultured strains. Upon 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequence analysis, E8 was found to belong to the intermediate Leptospira species clade and E18 and YH101 to belong to the saprophytic Leptospira species clade. Based on analyses of genome‐to‐genome distances and average nucleotide identity in silico using whole genome sequences and DNA–DNA hybridization in vitro, these isolates were found to be distinct from previously described Leptospira species. Therefore, these three isolates represent novel species of the genus Leptospira for which the names Leptospira johnsonii sp. nov., (type strain E8 ^T, = JCM 32515 ^T = CIP111620 ^T), Leptospira ellinghausenii sp. nov., (type strain E18 ^T, = JCM 32516 ^T = CIP111618 ^T) and Leptospira ryugenii sp. nov., (type strain YH101 ^T, = JCM 32518 ^T = CIP111617 ^T) are proposed.     

<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).     

Nocardioides lacusdianchii sp. nov., an attached bacterium of Microcystis aeruginosa

Attached bacteria of Microcystis play important roles in the occurence, outbreak and decline of Microcystis water blooms. In this study, a novel actinobacterium, designated strain JXJ CY 38 ^T, was isolated from the culture mass of Microcystis aeruginosa FACHB-905 (MAF), collected from Lake Dianchi, south-west, China. The strain was found to be a Gram-stain positive, short rod, catalase positive and oxidase negative. The isolate was found to be able to grow at 5.0–38.0 °C (optimum, 28.0 °C), pH 4.0–11.0 (optimum, 7.0–8.0) and 0–3.0% (w/v, optimum, 0%) NaCl. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, strain JXJ CY 38 ^T shows high similarities to Nocardioides furvisabuli JCM 13813 ^T (99.0%) and Nocardioides alpinus JCM 18960 ^T (98.7%), and less than 98.2% similarities to other members of the genus. The major cellular fatty acids (>?10.0%) were identified as iso-C_16:0 (23.6%), C_18:1ω9c (18.2%) and C_17:1ω8c (16.4%), while the predominant menaquinone was found to be MK-8 (H₄). The diagnostic diamino acids in the cell wall peptidoglycan were identified as aspartic acid, glutamic acid, glycine and alanine, with mannose, ribose and arabinose as whole cell sugars. The polar lipids were found to be diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, a phospholipid, phosphatidylcholine and an unidentified lipid. The DNA G?+?C content was determined to be 71.3%. The digital DNA-DNA hybridization and average nucleotide identity values between strain JXJ CY 38 ^T and the type strains N. furvisabuli JCM 13813 ^T and N. alpinus JCM 18960 ^T were 49.4% and 37.7%, and 92.0% and 83.4%, respectively. On the basis of the above taxonomic data and differences in physiological characteristics from the closely related type strains, strain JXJ CY 38 ^T was determined to represent a novel species of genus Nocardioides, for which the name Nocardioides lacusdianchii sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JXJ CY 38 ^T (=?KCTC 49381 ^T?=?CGMCC 4.7665 ^T). Strain JXJ CY 38 ^T apparently exhibits complex effects on the interactions between MAF and other attached bacteria, including the promotion or inhibition of the growth of MAF and bacteria, and the synthesis and release of microcystins by MAF.

     

Herbidospora solisilvae sp. nov., a novel cellulose-degrading actinobacterium isolated from forest soil

An aerobic, non-motile, Gram-stain positive, cellulose-degrading actinobacterium, designated strain NEAU-GS84^T, was isolated from a forest soil sample collected from Linchun Ridge Forest Park in Sanya, Hainan Province, China, and characterized using a polyphasic approach. Morphological and chemotaxonomic characteristics indicated that strain NEAU-GS84^T could belong to the genus Herbidospora. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indeed confirmed that strain NEAU-GS84^T belonged to the genus Herbidospora and was most closely related to Herbidospora yilanensis JCM 18062^T (99.2% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity) and Herbidospora galbida NEAU-GS14^T (99.0%). The cell wall of strain NEAU-GS84^T contained meso-diaminopimelic acid as the major diamino acid and the whole-cell hydrolysates mainly contained glucose, madurose and ribose. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylmethylethanolamine, phosphatidylethanolamine, hydroxyphosphatidylethanolamin, phosphoglycolipids, two phosphatidylinositol mannosides and one unidentified phospholipid. The predominant menaquinone was MK-10(H₄). Major fatty acids were 10-methly C_17:0, C_17:0 and iso-C_16:0. These chemotaxonomic data substantiated the affiliation of strain NEAU-GS84^T to the genus Herbidospora. The DNA G+C content was 70.7 mol%. The genome size of strain NEAU-GS84^T is about 8.37 Mb and contained 41 cellulose-binding domain synthesis genes, 13 β-glucosidase synthesis genes, 6 endoglucanase synthesis genes and 9 xylanase synthesis genes. Based on digital DNA–DNA hybridization and average nucleotide identity values, the new strain NEAU-GS84^T could be differentiated from its closest relatives. Therefore, the strain represents a novel species of the genus Herbidospora, for which the name Herbidospora solisilvae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is NEAU-GS84^T (=?CCTCC AA 2018041^T?=?JCM 33460^T).

     

Roseomonas alkaliterrae sp. nov., isolated from an alkali geothermal soil sample in Tengchong,Yunnan, south-west China

An alkalitolerant, thermotolerant and Gram-stain negative bacterium, designated strain YIM 78007^T, was isolated from an alkaline geothermal soil sample from Hehua hot spring, Tengchong, Yunnan province, south-west China. Cells of strain YIM 78007^T were observed to be aerobic and short rod-shaped. The colonies were observed to be orange-red, convex and circular. 16S rRNA gene sequence-based phylogenetic analysis showed that strain YIM 78007^T clustered with members of the genus Roseomonas (with similarities from 97.2 to 92.2 %). Optimal growth of strain YIM 78007 occurs at 40–50 °C and pH 8.0–10.0. The predominant ubiquinone was identified as Q-10 and the major fatty acids were identified as C_18:1 ω7c and C_16:0. The polar lipids were identified as diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, two unidentified aminolipids and one unknown phospholipid. The G + C content of the genomic DNA was determined to be 63 mol %. The levels of DNA–DNA hybridization relatedness between strain YIM 78007^T and its closet neighbours (Roseomonas lacus JCM 13283^T and Roseomonas terrae JCM 14592^T) were well below the threshold required for the proposal of a novel species. The results of physiological and biochemical characteristics, the phylogenetic analysis, as well as low DNA–DNA hybridization values, allowed the phenotypic and genotypic differentiation of strain YIM 78007^T from its closest phylogenetic neighbours. Therefore, strain YIM 78007^T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Roseomonas, for which the name Roseomonas alkaliterrae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YIM 78007^T (=BCRC 80644^T = JCM 19656^T).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Poseidonocella pacifica</Emphasis> gen. nov., sp. nov. and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Poseidonocella sedimentorum</Emphasis> sp. nov., novel alphaproteobacteria from the shallow sandy sediments of the Sea of Japan

The taxonomic study of two Gram-negative, aerobic, non-pigmented bacteria KMM 9010^T and KMM 9023^T isolated from a sandy sediment sample collected from the Sea of Japan seashore was performed. On the basis of the nearly complete 16S rRNA gene sequences, strains KMM 9010^T and KMM 9023^T clustered with the Roseobacter lineage (class Alphaproteobacteria) forming a distinct phylogenetic line adjacent to the genus Donghicola. Novel strains shared the highest sequence similarity of 96.4% to each other and lower than 96.1% similarities to other validly named genera of the class Alphaproteobacteria. In both strains, ubiquinone Q-10 was found to be the major respiratory quinone; phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidic acid, and an unknown aminolipid were the major polar lipids and C_18:1ω7c and 11-methyl C_18:1ω7c were predominant fatty acids. The DNA G+C content was 60.5 mol% (KMM 9010^T) and 65.4 mol% (KMM 9023^T). Based on phenotypic properties and phylogenetic evidence, strains KMM 9010^T and KMM 9023^T should be classified as two novel species in a new genus, Poseidonocella gen. nov., with Poseidonocella pacifica sp. nov., the type species with the type strain KMM 9010^T (= NRIC 0794^T = JCM 17310^T), and Poseidonocella sedimentorum sp. nov. as the second species with the type strain KMM 9023^T (= NRIC 0796^T = JCM 17311^T).     

Pelotomaculum terephthalicum sp. nov. and Pelotomaculum isophthalicum sp. nov.: two anaerobic bacteria that degrade phthalate isomers in syntrophic association with hydrogenotrophic methanogens

An anaerobic phthalate isomer-degrading strain (JT^T) that we previously isolated was characterized. In addition, a strictly anaerobic, mesophilic, syntrophic phthalate isomer-degrading bacterium, designated strain JI^T, was isolated and characterized in this study. Both were non-motile rods that formed spores. In both strains, the optimal growth was observed at temperatures around 37°C and neutral pH. In syntrophic co-culture with the hydrogenotrophic methanogen Methanospirillum hungatei, both strains could utilize two or three phthalate isomers for growth, and produce acetate and methane as end products. Strain JT^T was able to grow on isophthalate, terephthalate, and a number of low-molecular weight aromatic compounds, such as benzoate, hydroquinone, 2-hydroxybenzoate, 3-hydroxybenzoate, 2,5-dihydroxybenzoate, 3-phenylpropionate in co-culture with M. hungatei. It could also grow on crotonate, hydroquinone and 2,5-dihydroxybenzoate in pure culture. Strain JI^T utilized all of the three phthalate isomers as well as benzoate and 3-hydroxybenzoate for growth in co-culture with M. hungatei. No substrates were, however, found to support the axenic growth of strain JI^T. Neither strain JT^T nor strain JI^T could utilize sulfate, sulfite, thiosulfate, nitrate, fumarate, Fe (III) or 4-hydroxybenzoate as electron acceptor. Phylogenetically, strains JT^T and JI^T were relatively close to the members of the genera Pelotomaculum and Cryptanaerobacter in ‘Desulfotomaculum lineage I’. Physiological and chemotaxonomic characteristics indicated that the two isolates should be classified into the genus Pelotomaculum, creating two novel species for them. Here, we propose Pelotomaculum terephthalicum sp. nov. and Pelotomaculum isophthalicum sp. nov. for strain JT^T and strain JI^T, respectively. The type strains are strains JT^T (= DSM 16121^T = JCM 11824^T = NBRC 100523^T) and JI^T (= JCM 12282^T = BAA-1053^T) for P. terephthalicum and P. isophthalicum, respectively.Nucleotide sequence accession number: The GenBank/EMBL/DDBJ accession numbers of the 16S rRNA gene sequences of strains JT^T and JI^T are AB091323 and AB232785, respectively     

Streptomyces phytohabitans sp. nov., a novel endophytic actinomycete isolated from medicinal plant Curcuma phaeocaulis

A novel actinomycete, designated strain KLBMP 4601^T, was isolated from the root of the medicinal plant Curcuma phaeocaulis collected from Sichuan Province, south-west China. The strain produced extensively branched substrate and aerial hyphae that carried straight to flexuous spore chains. Chemotaxonomic properties of this strain were consistent with those of members of the genus Streptomyces. The cell wall of strain KLBMP 4601^T contained ll-diaminopimelic acid as the characteristic diamino acid. The major menaquinone was MK-9(H₄), with minor amounts of MK-9(H₆), MK-9(H₈) and MK-10(H₂). The major fatty acids were C_16:0, iso-C_16:0, C_18:1ω9c and C_16:1, iso G. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain KLBMP 4601^T belongs to the genus Streptomyces and is most closely related to Streptomyces armeniacus JCM 3070^T (97.9 %), Streptomyces pharmamarensis PM267^T (97.6 %) and Streptomyces artemisiae YIM 63135^T (97.5 %). The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity between strain KLBMP 4601^T and other members of this genus were lower than 97.5 %. DNA–DNA hybridization studies of strain KLBMP 4601^T with the three closest species showed relatedness values of 36.3 ± 4.2 %, 27.3 ± 0.6 %, and 30.9 ± 2.5 %, respectively. On the basis of chemotaxonomic, phenotypic and genotypic characteristics, it is evident that strain KLBMP 4601^T represents a novel species of the genus Streptomyces, for which the name Streptomyces phytohabitans sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is KLBMP 4601^T (=KCTC 19892^T = NBRC 108772^T).     

Microcella flavibacter sp. nov., isolated from marine sediment,and reclassification of Chryseoglobus frigidaquae,Chryseoglobus indicus,and Yonghaparkia alkaliphila as Microcella frigidaquae comb. nov., Microcella indica nom. nov., and Microcella alkalica nom. nov.

A novel Gram-staining positive, aerobic, rod-shaped, non-motile and yellow-pigmented actinobacterium, designated strain WY83^T, was isolated from a marine sediment of Indian Ocean. Strain WY83^T grew optimally at 30–35 °C, pH 7–8 and with 0–3% (w/v) NaCl. The predominant menaquinones were MK-10, MK-11 and MK-12, and the major fatty acids were C_19:1 ω9c/C19:1 ω11c, anteiso-C_15:0, C_17:0 3OH, and iso-C_16:0. The polar lipids consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and one unidentified glycolipid. The cell-wall peptidoglycan contained lysine as a diamino acid. The DNA G?+?C content was 72.3 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences and ninety-two bacterial core genes indicated that strain WY83^T formed an evolutionary lineage with Chryseoglobus frigidaquae JCM 14730^T, Chryseoglobus indicus CTD02-10-2^T, Yonghaparkia alkaliphila JCM 15138^T, Microcella alkaliphila DSM 18851^T and Microcella putealis DSM 19627^T within the radiation enclosing members of the family Microbacteriaceae. All pairwise percentage of conserved proteins between strain WY83^T and the closely related phylogenetic neighbors were greater than 65%. The average nucleotide identity and in silico DNA–DNA hybridization values were both below the thresholds used for the delineation of a new species. On the basis of the evidence presented, strains WY83^T, Y. alkaliphila JCM 15138^T, C. frigidaquae JCM 14730^T, M. alkaliphila DSM 18851^T and M. putealis DSM 19627^T should belong to different species of the same genus. Strain WY83^T represents a novel species of the genus Microcella, for which the name Microcella flavibacter sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is WY83^T (=?KCTC 39637^T?=?MCCC 1A07099^T). Furthermore, Chryseoglobus frigidaquae, Chryseoglobus indicus, and Yonghaparkia alkaliphila were reclassified as Microcella frigidaquae comb. nov., Microcella indica nom. nov., and Microcella alkalica nom. nov., respectively.

     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Methylobacterium dankookense</Emphasis> sp. nov., isolated from drinking water

A pink-pigmented bacterium, designated SW08-7^T was isolated from the drinking water of a water purifier. Cells were Gram-negative, rod-shaped, strictly aerobic, and non-spore-forming. It grew optimally at 25°C, pH 6∼7. Phylogenese analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that strain SW08-7^T belongs to the genus Methylobacterium. The highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities were found to Methylobacterium mesophilicum JCM 2829^T (96.9%), Methylobacterium brachiatum B0021^T (96.9%), Methylobacterium phyllosphaerae CBMB27^T (96.6%), Methylobacterium radiotolerans JCM 2831^T (96.6%), and Methylobacterium hispanicum GP34^T (96.5%). DNA-DNA hybridization experiment revealed low-level (28.5%) of DNA-DNA relatedness between strain SW08-7^T and Methylobacterium hispanicum. The genomic DNA G+C content was 68.9 mol% and the major isoprenoid quinone was Q-10. The major cellular fatty acid of strain SW08-7^T was C_18:1 ω7c (79.8±2.1%). Results of phylogenetic, phenotypic, and biochemical analyses revealed that strain SW08-7^T could be classified as representing a novel species of genus Methylobacterium, for which the name Methylobacterium dankookense sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is SW08-7^T (=KCTC 22512^T =DSM 22415¹).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Streptomyces serianimatus</Emphasis> sp. nov., isolated from a rhizophere soil

A novel actinomycete strain, designated YIM 45720^T, was isolated from a Cephalotaxus fortunei rhizophere soil sample collected from Yunnan Province, southwest China. The strain formed well-differentiated aerial and substrate mycelia. Chemotaxonomically, it contained LL-diaminopimelic acid in the cell wall. The cell-wall sugars contained ribose, mannose, and galactose with traces of glucose and xylose. Phospholipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylinositol. MK-9 (H₈) was the predominant menaquinone. The major fatty acids (>10%) were iso-C_16:0, iso-C_15:1 and anteiso-C_15:0. The G + C content of the DNA was 70 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis data based on 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that strain YIM 45720^T formed a distinct branch with the type strain of Streptomyces scabrisporus JCM 11712^T within the genus Streptomyces. On the basis of the phenotypic and genotypic characteristics, strain YIM 45720^T (=DSM 41883^T = CCTCC AA 206006^T) is proposed as the type strain of a novel species, Streptomyces serianimatus sp. nov.     

Enzyme Immobilization on Ion Exchangers by Forming an Enzyme Coating with Transglutaminase as a Crosslinker

Southern hybridization analysis using the genes encoding the α- and β-subunits of nitrile hydratase (NHase) from Rhodococcus sp. N-774 as probe suggested that two R. erythropolis strains, JCM6823 and JCM2892, among 31 strains mainly from Japan Culture of Microorganisms (JCM) have NHase genes. Restriction analysis of DNA fragments showing positive hybridization showed that each fragment carried a nucleotide sequence very similar to that of the NHase genes from Rhodococcus sp. N-774. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the DNA fragment cloned from R. erythropolis JCM6823 showed the presence of the genes encoding the α- and β-subunits of NHase, which show 94.7% and 96.2% identity in amino acid sequence to those of Rhodococcus sp. N-774, respectively, as well as a C-terminal portion of the amidase gene upstream from these genes. Despite the extremely high amino acid sequence similarity in both NHases and amidases from R. erythropolis JCM6823 and Rhodococcus sp. N-774, the NHases and amidases from R. erythropolis strains showed broader substrate specificity when compared to those from Rhodococcus sp. N-774. This suggests that a very limited number of amino acid residues are responsible for the difference in substrate specificity. Although the NHase of Rhodococcus sp. N-774 are constitutively produced, the NHases of both R. erythropolis strains were inducibly produced by addition of ε-caprolactam as an inducer.     

Biosynthesis of bile acids in a variety of marine bacterial taxa

Several marine bacterial strains, which were isolated from seawater off the island Dokdo, Korea, were screened to find new bioactive compounds such as antibiotics. Among them, Donghaeana dokdonensis strain DSW-6 was found to produce antibacterial agents, and the agents were then purified and analyzed by LC-MS/MS and 1D- and 2D-NMR spectrometries. The bioactive compounds were successfully identified as cholic acid and glycine-conjugated glycocholic acid, the 7alpha-dehydroxylated derivatives (deoxycholic acid and glycodeoxycholic acid) of which were also detected in relatively small amounts. Other masine isolates, taxonomically different from DSW-6, were also able to produce the compounds in a quite different production ratio from DSW-6. As far as we are aware of, these bile acids are produced by specific members of the genus Streptomyces and Myroides, and thought to be general secondary metabolites produced by a variety of bacterial taxa that are widely distributed in the sea.     

Geodermatophilus nigrescens sp. nov., isolated from a dry-hot valley

A novel actinomycete, designated as strain YIM 75980^T, was isolated from a soil sample collected from a dry-hot river valley in Dongchuan county, Yunnan province, south-west China and was subjected to polyphasic taxonomic characterization. The organism produced circular, smooth, red to black coloured colonies comprising coccoid-shaped cells. Colonies on agar medium lacked mycelia and cells adhered to the agar. Strain YIM 75980^T contained meso-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid in the cell-wall peptidoglycan and contained galactose, arabinose and glucosamine as the main sugars in the whole-cell hydrolysates. The predominant menaquinone was MK-9 (H₄) and the major fatty acids were iso-C_15:0, iso-C_16:0 and C_16:0. The DNA G + C content of strain YIM 75980^T was 73.1 mol%. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences clearly showed that strain YIM 75980^T formed a distinct clade within the genus Geodermatophilus and was closely related to Geodermatophilus obscurus DSM 43160^T (level of similarity, 97.9%). Furthermore, the result of DNA–DNA hybridization between strain YIM 75980^T and G. obscurus 43160^T demonstrated that this isolate represented a different genomic species in the genus Geodermatophilus. Moreover, the physiological and biochemical data showed the differentiation of strain YIM 75980^T from its closest phylogenetic neighbour. Therefore, it is proposed that strain YIM 75980^T represents a novel species of the genus Geodermatophilus, for which the name Geodermatophilus nigrescens sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YIM 75980^T (=CCTCC AA 2011015^T =JCM 18056^T).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Leucobacter margaritiformis</Emphasis> sp. nov., Isolated from Bamboo Extract

A Gram-positive aerobic rod-shaped non-motile bacterium designated A23^T was isolated from bamboo extract that had been used to remove odor and was characterized to determine its taxonomic position. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that strain A23^T belongs to the phylum Actinobacteria. The highest degree of sequence similarities was determined to be with Leucobacter salsicius M1-8^T (96.7%), Leucobacter exalbidus K-540B^T (96.4%), Leucobacter chromiireducens subsp. chromiireducens L-1^T (96.4%), Leucobacter komagatae IFO 15245^T (96.4%) and Leucobacter aerolatus Sj10^T (96.4%). Chemotaxonomic data revealed that strain A23^T possesses menaquinone MK11, and its cell wall peptidoglycan contained 2,4-diaminobutyric acid, alanine, glycine, glutamic acid and γ-aminobutyric acid. The polar lipid profile of strain A23^T contained diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and an unknown glycolipid. The predominant fatty acids were iso-C_16:0 (31.5%), anteiso-C_15:0 (43.2%) and anteiso-C_17:0 (13.9%), all of which corroborated the assignment of the strain to the genus Leucobacter. Based on these data, A23^T (=KEMC 551-022^T = JCM 17538^T) should be classified as the type strain for a novel Leucobacter species, for which the name Leucobacter margaritiformis sp. nov. is proposed.