<Emphasis Type="Italic">Natronincola ferrireducens</Emphasis> sp. nov., and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Natronincola peptidovorans</Emphasis> sp. nov., new anaerobic alkaliphilic peptolytic iron-reducing bacteria isolated from soda lakes

Two novel strains of obligately alkaliphilic (pH 7.5–10.2, optimum pH 8.4–8.8) anaerobic spore-forming rod-shaped bacteria, Z-0511 and Z-7031, were isolated from enrichment cultures obtained from the iron-reducing (Lake Khadyn, Tyva) and cellulolytic (Lake Verkhnee Beloe, Buryatia) bacterial communities, respectively. The organisms ferment peptides and do not ferment proteins and amino acids, with the exception of histidine and glutamate utilized by strain Z-0511. The major fermentation products were acetate and propionate for strain Z-0511 and formate and acetate for strain Z-7031, respectively. Carbohydrates and fermentable organic acids could not serve as substrates, except for pyruvate in the case of strain Z-7031. Nitrogen and sulfur compounds were not utilized as electron acceptors by the strains grown on medium with yeast extract. Strain Z-0511 utilized fumarate, crotonate, and EDTA-Fe(III) as electron acceptors. Anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonate (quinone) and Mn(IV) were utilized by both strains, as well as amorphous ferric hydroxide (AFH), which was reduced to iron sesquioxides and magnetite. The presence of AFH stimulated growth; it enhanced the yield of the fermentation products and changed the quantitative ratios of these products. According to a phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences and the phenotypic characteristics of the new strains, they were classified as new species of the genus Natronincola, Natronincola ferrireducens sp. nov. Z-0511^T (= VKM B-2402, = DSM 18346) and Natronincola peptidovorans sp. nov. Z-7031^T (= VKM B-2503, = DSM 18979).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Scopulibacillus darangshiensis</Emphasis> gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from rock

A novel, Gram-positive bacterium, designated DLS-06^T, was isolated from scoria (volcanic ash) under rock on the peak of small mountain (300 m above the sea level; known as Darangshi Oreum) in Jeju, Republic of Korea. The cells of the isolate were aerobic, oxidase-negative, catalase-positive, endospore-forming, non-motile rods. The organism grew at 25∼30°C and initial pH 6.1∼9.1. A neighbour-joining tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the organism was related to members of the family “Sporolactobacillaceae” and related taxa. The phylogenetic neighbours were Pullulanibacillus naganoensis (95.2% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity), Tuberibacillus calidus (95.0%) and Sporolactobacillus (91.8∼94.2%). Levels of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of the isolate to representatives of other genera were in the range of 87.2∼93.7%. The organism contained meso-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid in the cell-wall peptidoglycan. The predominant menaquinone was MK-7. The polar lipid profile contained diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, an unknown ninhydrin-positive phospholipid, three unknown phospholipids and an unknown lipid. The major fatty acids were anteiso-C_15:0 and anteiso-C_17:0. The G+C content of the DNA was 50.8 mol%. On the basis of the phenotypic and phylogenetic data presented in this study, this organism represents a novel genus and species in the order Bacillales, for which the name Scopulibacillus darangshiensis gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is DLS-06^T (=DSM 19377^T =KCTC 13161^T).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Viridibacterium curvum</Emphasis> gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from freshwater

A Gram stain-negative, yellowish green-pigmented, facultatively anaerobic, motile, curved rod-shaped bacterium designated as strain JJ016^T was isolated from an artificial lake in South Korea, and characterized using a polyphasic approach. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain JJ016^T indicated that the isolate belonged to the family Rhodocyclaceae and exhibited 95.0% identity to Uliginosibacterium gangwonense 5YN10-9^T. The major cellular fatty acids of the novel strain were summed feature 3 (C_16:1 ω6c and/or C_16:1 ω7c), C_16:0, C_14:0, and summed feature 8 (C_18:1 ω7c and/or C_18:1 ω6c). The DNA G+C content of strain JJ016^T was 61.9 mol%. The major respiratory quinone and major polar lipid of strain JJ016^T were ubiquinone-8 and phosphatidylethanolamine, respectively. Based on the morphological and physiological properties and the biochemical evidence presented, we concluded that strain JJ016^T represents a novel species of a new genus in the family Rhodocyclaceae, for which the name Viridibacterium curvum gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JJ016^T (=KACC 16899^T =JCM 18715^T).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Oceaniovalibus guishaninsula</Emphasis> gen. nov., sp. nov., A Marine Bacterium of the Family <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhodobacteraceae</Emphasis>

The alphaproteobacterial strain JLT2003^T was isolated from surface seawater off the coast of Guishan island, Taiwan. The strain was Gram negative, ovoid or coccoid, non-motile and formed pink colonies on marine agar 2216 (MA; DIFCO) medium. The dominant fatty acids were C_18:1ω7c, cyclo C_19:0ω8c, and C_16:0. The polar lipid profile consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylglycerol. The major respiratory ubiquinone was Q-10. The DNA G+C content was 62.3 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the strain was most closely related to Pontibaca methylaminivorans GRP21^T with 94.8% similarity. The isolate was distinguishable from members of the family Rhodobacteraceae based on phenotypic and biochemical characteristics. On the basis of the taxonomic data presented, strain JLT2003^T is considered to represent a novel species of a new genus, for which the name Oceaniovalibus guishaninsula gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Oceaniovalibus guishaninsula is JLT2003^T (=JCM 17765^T = CGMCC 1.10827^T).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Kretzschmaria varians</Emphasis> sp. nov., <Emphasis Type="Italic">Xylaria coremiifera</Emphasis> sp. nov. and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Xylaria umbonata</Emphasis> sp. nov. from Costa Rica

Kretzschmaria varians, a species apparently related to K. micropus, is described as new. It is distinguished primarily by having asci with 2 to 8 ascospores with inconstant germination slit length and remains of synnemata on stromata and surrounding substrate. Xylaria coremiifera, described here as new, bears small fragile coremia on pulvinate stromata and the surrounding substrate. Asci often have fewer than 8 ascospores, most frequently 4. Xylaria umbonata, described here as new, produces perithecia around a central umbo that appears to be the remains of a synnema. Ascospores have long spiralling germination slits.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ascidiaceibacter salegens</Emphasis> gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from an ascidian

An aerobic, Gram-stain negative, rod-shaped, non-motile bacterium, designated as strain HQA918^T, was isolated from an ascidian, Botryllus schlosseri, which was collected from the coast of Weihai in the north of the Yellow Sea, in China. The strain grew optimally at 28–30 °C, at pH values 7.0–8.0, and in the presence of 1.0–3.0% (w/v) sodium chloride (NaCl). A phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain HQA918^T can be affiliated with the family Flavobacteriaceae in the phylum Bacteroidetes, with 92.7% similarity to its close relatives. The major fatty acids identified were iso-C_15:0, iso-C_15:0 3-OH, and summed feature 3 (iso-C_15:0 2-OH and/or C_16:1ω7c). The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, one unidentified aminolipid, and five unidentified polar lipids. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 44.1 mol%. On the basis of the phylogenetic, genotypic, phenotypic, and chemotaxonomic data, this organism should be classified as a representative of a novel genus, for which the name Ascidiaceibacter gen. nov. is proposed. The type species is Ascidiaceibacter salegens sp. nov. (type strain HQA918^T?=?KCTC 52719^T?=?MCCC 1K03259^T).     

<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">Actimicrobium antarcticum</Emphasis> gen. nov., sp. nov., of the Family <Emphasis Type="Italic">Oxalobacteraceae</Emphasis>, Isolated from Antarctic Coastal Seawater

A Gram-negative, non-motile, catalase- and oxidase- positive, strictly aerobic, and short rod-shaped bacterium that was designated strain KOPRI 25157^T was isolated from coastal seawater sample in Antarctica. The temperature and pH ranges for growth on R2A agar were 10–20°C, and 5.0–10.0, respectively. Phylogenetic analyses of the 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain KOPRI 25157^T showed it to belong to the family Oxalobacteraceae of the class Betaproteobacteria, and it formed a distinct clade from other recognized members of the family. DNA G + C content was 65.9 mol%. Major ubiquinone was Q-8. Predominant cellular fatty acids were C_16:1 ω7c/15 iso 2OH (56.4%) and C_16:1 (30.5%). Major polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, and unknown lipid. On the basis of these data, it is proposed that strain KOPRI 25157^T is the representative of a novel genus, for which the name Actimicrobium gen. nov. is proposed in the family Oxalobacteraceae. The type strain for Actimicrobium antarcticum sp. nov. is KOPRI 25157^T (=JCM 16673^T=KCTC 23040^T).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Alkalimonas amylolytica</Emphasis> gen. nov., sp. nov., and<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Alkalimonas delamerensis</Emphasis> gen. nov., sp. nov., novel alkaliphilic bacteria from soda lakes in China and East Africa

Two related novel alkaliphilic and slightly halophilic bacteria are described. They are strain N10 from Lake Chahannor in China and strain 1E1 from Lake Elmenteita in East Africa. Both strains are strictly aerobic, heterotrophic, alkaliphilic, mesophilic, and require NaCl for growth. The optimal conditions for growth were at pH 10–10.5 and 2–3% (w/v) NaCl. Cells of both strains were Gram-negative, rod-shaped, non-spore-forming, and motile with a single polar flagellum. Cellular fatty acids in both strains were predominantly saturated and mono-unsaturated straight-chain fatty acids (16:0, 16:17c and 18:17c). The major isoprenoid quinone of both strains was Q8. The major polar lipids are phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol phosphate and phosphatidylethanolamine. The guanine plus cytosine (G+C) content of the DNA was 52.5 mol% and 55.4 mol%, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the two strains formed a distinct lineage within the gamma-3 subclass of the Proteobacteria. The strains shared a 16S rDNA sequence similarity of 96.1% and showed less than 93.7% of sequence similarity to any other known species. Based on polyphasic data, the two strains were differentiated from currently recognized genera and represent a new genus, Alkalimonas gen. nov., with two species, Alkalimonas amylolytica sp. nov. (type strain is N10^T = AS 1.3430) and Alkalimonas delamerensis sp. nov. ( type strain is 1E1^{P, T} = CBS 391.94). The GenBank accession numbers for the 16S rRNA gene sequence of strains N10 and 1E1 are AF250323 and X92130, respectively.Communicated by K. Horikoshi     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ogataea phyllophila</Emphasis> sp. nov., <Emphasis Type="Italic">Candida chumphonensis</Emphasis> sp. nov. and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Candida mattranensis</Emphasis> sp. nov., three methylotrophic yeast species from phylloplane in Thailand

Five strains (LN12, LN14^T, LN15^T, LN16 and LN17^T) representing three novel methylotrophic yeast species were isolated from the external surface of plant leaves by three-consecutive enrichments. On the basis of morphological, biochemical, physiological and chemotaxonomic characteristics, the sequence analysis of the D1/D2 domain of the large subunit (LSU) rRNA gene and the phylogenetic analysis, the five strains were assigned to be one novel Ogataea species and two novel Candida species. Three strains (LN12, LN14^T and LN16) represent a single novel species of the genus Ogataea, for which the name Ogataea phyllophila sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is LN14^T (= BCC 42666^T = NBRC 107780^T = CBS 12095^T). Strain LN15^T was assigned to be Candida chumphonensis sp. nov. (type strain LN15^T = BCC 42667^T = NBRC 107781^T = CBS 12096^T). Strain LN17^T represented another novel species of Candida that was named Candida mattranensis sp. nov. (type strain LN17^T = BCC 42668^T = NBRC 107782^T = CBS 12097^T).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Antarcticimonas flava</Emphasis> gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from Antarctic coastal seawater

A marine bacterium, designated IMCC3175^T, was isolated from a seawater sample collected off the Antarctic coast. The strain was Gram-negative, obligately aerobic, carotenoid pigment-containing, and rod-shaped bacterium that divided by binary fission. As determined by 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons, the most closely related genera were Formosa (92.9∼93.3%), Bizionia (91.6∼93.2%), Gaetbulibacter (91.5∼92.8%), Sediminibacter (92.7%), Yeosuana (92.6%), Subsaximicrobium (92.1∼92.2%), and Gillisia (89.5∼92.2%). Phylogenese analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the strain formed a monophyletic clade together with the genera Sediminibacter and Subsaximicrobium but represented an independent phyletic line in this clade of the family Flavobacteriaceae. The DNA G+C content of the strain was 37.3 mol%. The major respiratory quinone was MK-6 and the predominant cellular fatty acids were C_16:1 ω7c and/or iso-C_15:0 2-OH (12.8%), anteiso-C_15:0 (9.4%), and iso-C_16:1 (9.4%). Low 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, formation of a distinct phylogenetic branch, and several phenotypic characteristics, including a narrow range of temperature and salinity for growth, differentiated strain IMCC3175^T from other related genera in the family Flavobacteriaceae. Therefore the name Antarcticimonas flava gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed, with strain IMCC3175^T (=KCCM 42713^T =NBRC 103398^T) as the type strain.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Panacagrimonas perspica</Emphasis> gen. nov., sp. nov., a novel member of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gammaproteobacteria</Emphasis> isolated from soil of a ginseng field

A taxonomic study was carried out on Gsoil 142^T, a bacterial strain isolated from the soil collected in a ginseng field in Pocheon province, South Korea. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence studies showed a clear affiliation of this bacterium to the Gammaproteobacteria, and it was most closely related to Hydrocarboniphaga effusa ATCC BAA 332^T (94.4%, 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity), Nevskia ramosa DSM 11499^T (94.1%) and Alkanibacter difficilis MN154.3^T (92.0%). Strain Gsoil 142^T was a Gram-negative, strictly aerobic, motile, and rod-shaped bacterium. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 69.9% and predominant ubiquinone was Q-8. Major fatty acids were summed feature 8 (C_18:1 ω7c and/or ω6c, 36.3%), summed feature 3 (iso-C_15:0 2-OH and/or C_16:1 ω7c, 20.6%) and C_16:0 (17.4%). The major polar lipids detected in strain Gsoil 142^T were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, and an unknown glycolipid. On the basis of polyphasic evidence, it is proposed that strain Gsoil 142^T should be placed in a novel genus and species, for which the name Panacagrimonas perspica gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is Gsoil 142^T (= KCTC 12982^T = LMG 23239^T).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Edaphorhabdus rosea</Emphasis> gen. nov., sp. nov., a new member of the family <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cytophagaceae</Emphasis> isolated from soil in South Korea

A Gram-stain negative, aerobic, oxidase and catalase positive, non-flagellated, pink coloured bacterium with gliding motility, designated as strain UDD1^T was isolated from soil. The bacterium lacked flexirubin-type pigments. Phylogenetic analysis based on its 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that strain UDD1^T formed a lineage within the family Cytophagaceae of the phylum Bacteroidetes, and forms a distinct clade with type strains of the closely related genus Pontibacter with similarities of 91.36–93.62%. Strain UDD1^T contained MK-7 as the predominant menaquinone and summed feature 4 (iso-C_17:1 I and/or anteiso-C_17:1 B) and iso-C_15:0 as the major fatty acids. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine and an unidentified glycolipid. The DNA G+C content of strain UDD1^T was 49 mol%. On the basis of phenotypic, genotypic and phylogenetic analyses, the strain UDD1^T represents a novel species of a new genus in the family Cytophagaceae, for which the name Edaphorhabdus rosea gen. nov., sp. nov., is proposed. The type strain of Edaphorhabdus rosea is UDD1^T (=?KCTC 62117^T =?JCM 32366^T). The Digital Protologue Database Taxon number for strain UDD1^T is GA00058.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Henriciella marina</Emphasis> gen. nov., sp. nov., a novel member of the family <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hyphomonadaceae</Emphasis> isolated from the East Sea

A bacterial strain, designated Iso4^T, was isolated from the East Sea of Korea and was subjected to a poly-phasic taxonomy study including phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characteristics as well as 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. Cells of the strain were Gram-negative, motile, non-budding, non-stalked, and strictly aerobic. Strain Iso4^T grew optimally at 20°C in the presence of 1∼2% (w/v) NaCl and at pH 6.9∼7.6. The major respiratory quinone was Q-10 and the major cellular fatty acids were C_18:1 ω7c (53.5%), C_17:1 ω5c (11.7%), C_17:1 ω6c (8.1%), C_16:0 (7.8%), C_17:0 (4.8%), C_15:0 (2.9%), and C_16:1 ω5c (2.2%). The DNA G+C content of strain Iso4^T was 56.2 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain Iso4^T formed a monophyletic clade in the family Hyphomonadaceae, supported by high bootstrap value and was most closely related to the genus Hyphomonas (92∼94%), a member of marine bacteria in the family. The phenotypic, genotypic, and chemotaxonomic evidences also suggest strain Iso4^T represents a novel genus and species in the family Hyphomonadaceae, for which the name Henriciella gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is Iso4^T (=KCTC 12513^T =DSM 19595^T =JCM 15116^T).     

Two new lineages of aquatic ascomycetes: <Emphasis Type="Italic">Atractospora</Emphasis> gen. nov. and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rubellisphaeria</Emphasis> gen. et sp. nov., and a sexual morph of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Myrmecridium montsegurinum</Emphasis> sp. nov.

Two new genera, Atractospora and Rubellisphaeria, are described for perithecial ascomycetes occurring on decaying wood submerged in freshwater habitats. Their relationships with other morphologically similar fungi were investigated utilising four nuclear ribosomal and protein-coding loci. They are nested together with members of five orders and families and numerous genera incertae sedis in the Sordariomycetidae in a clade supported by Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian inference methods. Their closest relative is Lentomitella. Atractospora includes species characterised by dark, immersed to semi-immersed beaked ascomata lying horizontally to the host, stipitate asci with a pronounced non-amyloid apical annulus and hyaline, fusiform, septate, thick-walled ascospores with smooth or ornamented wall. Three novel species are introduced (A. decumbens, A. reticulata and A. verruculosa). A new combination for Aquaticola ellipsoidea is proposed in Atractospora based on molecular data and morphological characters. Rubellisphaeria, with a new species R. abscondita, is distinct by subhyaline to reddish brown, immersed ascomata with a lateral neck, short-stipitate asci and ellipsoidal smooth ascospores with a delayed formation of a middle septum. The sexual morph of the dematiaceous hyphomycete genus Myrmecridium was encountered for the first time on decaying wood submerged in a stream. It is nested in a strongly supported monophyletic clade of the Myrmecridiales. The novel species M. montsegurinum is described; it possesses papillate ascomata immersed beneath a clypeus with subhyaline to weakly pigmented ascomatal wall, long-stipitate asci with a non-amyloid apical annulus and three-septate, hyaline, ellipsoidal, delicately verruculose ascospores. A morphology-based key is provided to facilitate identification of species of Atractospora.     

New hyphomycetes from Restionaceae in fynbos: <Emphasis Type="Italic">Parasarcopodium ceratocaryi</Emphasis> gen. et sp. nov., and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhexodenticula elegiae</Emphasis> sp. nov.

Two new hyphomycetous anamorphs were isolated from plant hosts of the Restionaceae in the fynbos of the Cape Floral Kingdom of South Africa. Parasarcopodium ceratocaryi gen. et sp. nov. on Ceratocaryum decipiens produces aseptate, cylindrical conidia with amorphous mucoid appendages at both ends in rows or whorls of phialides on verruculose, mononematous conidiophores. Rhexodenticula elegiae sp. nov. on Elegia capensis produces pale brown, fusiform or broadly fusiform, 3-septate conidia on denticles located in the upper part of smooth, geniculate conidiophores. The morphological characteristics of both taxa are described, illustrated, and contrasted to other morphologically similar fungi. To elucidate the phylogenetic relationships of Parasarcopodium, partial large subunit rRNA (28S) gene sequence was generated from the ex-type strain, which revealed it to be a member of the Bionectriaceae (Hypocreales).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Dethiobacter alkaliphilus </Emphasis> gen. nov. sp. nov., and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Desulfurivibrio alkaliphilus</Emphasis> gen. nov. sp. nov.: two novel representatives of reductive sulfur cycle from soda lakes

Anaerobic enrichments with H₂ as electron donor and thiosulfate/polysulfide as electron acceptor at pH 10 and 0.6 M total Na⁺ yielded two non sulfate-reducing representatives of reductive sulfur cycle from soda lake sediments. Strain AHT 1 was isolated with thiosulfate as the electron acceptor from north–eastern Mongolian soda lakes and strain AHT 2—with polysulfide as the electron acceptor from Wadi al Natrun lakes in Egypt. Both isolates represented new phylogenetic lineages: AHT 1—within Clostridiales and AHT 2—within the Deltaproteobacteria. Both bacteria are obligate anaerobes with respiratory metabolism. Both grew chemolithoautotrophically with H₂ as the electron donor and can use thiosulfate, elemental sulfur and polysulfide as the electron acceptors. AHT 2 also used nitrate as acceptor, reducing it to ammonia. During thiosulfate reduction, AHT 1 excreted sulfite. dsrAB gene was not found in either strain. Both strains were moderate salt-tolerant (grow up to 2 M total Na⁺) true alkaliphiles (grow between pH 8.5 and 10.3). On the basis of the phenotypic and phylogenetic data, strains AHT 1 and AHT 2 are proposed as new genera and species Dethiobacter alkaliphilus and Desulfurivibrio alkaliphilus, respectively. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. Nucleotide sequence accession number: The GenBank/EMBL accession number of the 16S rRNA gene sequence of strains AHT 1T and AHT 2T are EF422412 and EF422413.     

<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">Candida kashinagacola</Emphasis> sp. nov., <Emphasis Type="Italic">C. pseudovanderkliftii</Emphasis> sp. nov. and <Emphasis Type="Italic">C. vanderkliftii</Emphasis> sp. nov., three new yeasts from ambrosia beetle-associated sources

Three new yeast species, Candida kashinagacola (JCM 15019(T) = CBS 10903(T)), C. pseudovanderkliftii (JCM 15025(T) = CBS 10904(T)), and C. vanderkliftii (JCM 15029(T) = CBS 10905(T)) are described on the basis of comparison of nucleotide sequences of large subunit ribosomal DNA D1/D2 region (LSU rDNA D1/D2). The nearest assigned species of the three new species was Candida llanquihuensis. Candida kashinagacola and C. pseudovanderkliftii differed from C. llanquihuensis by 3.8% nucleotide substitution of the region, while C. vanderkliftii did by 4.4%. Three new species differed in a number of physiological and growth characteristics from any previously assigned species and from one another. A phylogenetic tree based on the sequences of LSU rDNA D1/D2 showed that these new species together with Candida sp. ST-246, Candida sp. JW01-7-11-1-4-y2, Candida sp. BG02-7-20-001A-2-1 and C. llanquihuensis form a clade near Ambrosiozyma species. The new species did not assimilate methanol as a sole source of carbon, which supported the monophyly of these non methanol-assimilating species which are closely related to the methylotrophic yeasts. Candida kashinagacola was frequently isolated from the beetle galleries of Platypus quercivorus in three different host trees (Quercus serrata, Q. laurifolia and Castanopsis cuspidata) located in the sourthern part of Kyoto, Japan, thus indicating that this species may be a primary ambrosia fungus of P. quercivorus. On the other hand, C. pseudovanderkliftii and C. vanderkliftii were isolated only from beetle galleries in Q. laurifolia. Candida vanderkliftii was isolated from beetle gallery of Platypus lewisi as well as those of P. quercivorus. Candida pseudovanderkliftii and C. vanderkliftii are assumed to be auxiliary ambrosia fungi of P. quercivorus.