Peptostreptococcus barnesae sp. nov., a Gram-positive,anaerobic, obligately purine utilizing coccus from chicken feces

Anaerobic, Gram-positive cocci were obtained from chicken feces by direct isolation, which grew on the purines uric acid, xanthine, 6,8-dihydroxypurine, guanine, and hypoxanthine. Adenine and glycine were fermented, but not as readily. Acetate, formate, ammonia, and CO₂ were products. The isolated strains were nutritionally non-fastidious, however, they required selenite, molybdate, and tungstate as micronutrients. The cells were spherical and 0.5–0.9 m in diameter. The addition of bile salts enhanced the growth rate in most cases. The organisms proved to be quite resistant to lysis. The guanosine-plus-cytosine (G+C) content of their deoxyribonucleic acid was 33.6 to 34.8 mol%. The peptidoglycan was of the same structure (Gly-Lys-d-Asp) as reported for the anaerobic cocci of Hare group IX. However, the latter strains could only utilize glycine, not purines. Therefore, it is proposed to form a new species, Peptostreptococcus barnesae sp. nov.This paper is dedicated to Prof. Dr. Norbert Pfennig on the occasion of his 60th birthday     

Eubacterium acidaminophilum sp. nov., a versatile amino acid-degrading anaerobe producing or utilizing H2 or formate

An obligately anaerobic, rod-shaped bacterium was isolated on alanine in co-culture with H₂-scavenging Desulfovibrio and obtained in pure culture with glycine as sole fermentation substrate. The isolated strain, al-2, was motile by a polar to subpolar flagellum and stained Gram-positive. The guanine plus cytosine content of the DNA was 44.0 mol%. Strain al-2 grew in defined, reduced glycine media supplemented with biotin. The pure culture fermented 4 mol glycine to 3 mol acetate, 4 mol ammonia and 2 mol CO₂. Under optimum conditions (34°C, pH 7.3), the doubling time on glycine was 60 min and the molar growth yield 7.6 g cell dry mass. Serine was fermented to acetate, ethanol, CO₂, H₂ and ammonia. In addition, betaine, sarcosine or creatine served as substrates for growth and acetate production if H₂, formate or e.g. valine were added as H-donors. In pure culture on alanine under N₂, strain al-2 grew very poorly and produced H₂ up to a partial pressure of 3.6 kPa (0.035 atm). Desulfovibrio species, Methanospirillum hungatei and Acetobacterium woodii served as H₂-scavengers that allowed good syntrophic growth on alanine. The co-cultures also grew on aspartate, leucine, valine or malate. Alanine and aspartate were stoichiometrically degraded to acetate and ammonia, whereas the reducing equivalents were recovered as H₂S, CH₄ or newly synthetized acetate, respectively. Growth of strain al-2 in co-culture with the hydrogenase-negative, formate-utilizing Desulfovibrio baarsii indicated that a syntrophy was also possible by interspecies formate transfer. Growth on glycine, or on betaine, sarcosine or creatine (plus H-donors) depended strictly on the addition of selenite (0.1 M); selenite was not required for fermentation of serine, or for degradation of alanine, aspartate or valine by the co-cultures. Cell-free extracts of glycine-grown cells contained active glycine reductase, glycine decarboxylase and reversible methyl viologen-dependent formate dehydrogenase in addition to the other enzymes necessary for an oxidation to CO₂. In all reactions NADP was the preferred H-carrier. Both formate and glycine could be synthesized from bicarbonate. Serine-grown cells did not contain serine hydroxymethyl transferase but serine dehydratase and other enzymes commonly involved in pyruvate metabolism to acetate, CO₂ and H₂. The enzymes involved in glycine metabolism were repressed during growth on serine. By its morphology and physiology, strain al-2 did not resemble described amino acid-degrading species. Therefore, the new isolate is proposed as type strain of a new species, Eubacterium acidaminophilum.     

Clostridium neopropionicum sp. nov., a strict anaerobic bacterium fermenting ethanol to propionate through acrylate pathway

Strain X4 was isolated several years ago from an anaerobic mesophilic plant treating vegetable cannery waste waters. It was the first example of propionic fermentation from ethanol. Morphologic and physiologic characterizations of the strain are presented here. This strain is described as type strain of a new species, Clostridium neopropionicum sp. nov. Whole cells of strain X4 ferment [1-¹³C]ethanol and CO₂ to [2-¹³C]propionate, [1-¹³C]acetate and [2-¹³C]propanol, suggesting the absence of a randomizing pathway during the propionate formation. Enzymes involved in this fermentation were assayed in cell-free extracts of cells grown with ethanol as sole substrate. Alcohol dehydrogenase, aldehyde dehydrogenase, phosphate acetyl transferase, acetate kinase, pyruvate synthase, lactate dehydrogenases, and the enzymes of the acrylate pathway were detected at activities sufficient to be involved in ethanol fermentation. The same pathway may be used for the degradation of lactate or acrylate to acetate.     

Ilyobacter delafieldii sp. nov., a metabolically restricted anaerobic bacterium fermenting PHB

Enrichments from an estuarine sediment with crotonate as substrate resulted in the isolation of a motile, gram-negative, obligately anaerobic rod with pointed ends, designated strain 10cr1. The organism was asporogenous, did not reduce sulfur, sulfate, thiosulfate, nitrate, oxygen or fumarate, and had a mol %G+C ratio of 29. Strain 10cr1 was able to ferment crotonate, 3-hydroxybutyrate, lactate, pyruvate, and poly--hydroxybutyric acid (PHB). Acetate, propionate, butyrate, CO₂ and H₂ were the fermentation products. When grown on PHB there was accumulation of 3-hydroxybutyrate once growth had ceased, indicating degradation of PHB to the monomer. The 3-hydroxybutyrate formed during growth of the culture was fermented to acetate, butyrate and H₂. Experimental evidence suggested the production of an extracellular PHB depolymerase. The cells were not attached to the PHB granules. This is the first isolation of an anaerobic bacterium capable of degrading exogenous PHB. This strain is described as a new species, Ilyobacter delafieldii sp. nov., and strain 10cr1 (=DSM 5704) is designated as the type (and at present, only) strain.Abbreviations G+C guanine plus cytosine - OD optical density - PHB poly--hydroxybutyric acid - specific growth rate - HPLC high-performance liquid chromatography - YE yeast extract     

Desulfomonile tiedjei gen. nov. and sp. nov., a novel anaerobic,dehalogenating, sulfate-reducing bacterium

An anaerobic, dehalogenating, sulfate-reducing bacterium, strain DCB-1, is described and nutritionally characterized. The bacterium is a Gram-negative, nonmotile, non-sporeforming large rod with an unusual morphological feature which resembles a collar. The microorganism reductively dehalogenates meta substituted halobenzoates and also reduces sulfate, sulfite and thiosulfate as electron acceptors. The bacterium requires nicotinamide, 1,4-naphthoquinone and thiamine for optimal growth in a defined medium. The microorganism can grow autotrophically on H₂:CO₂ with sulfate or thiosulfate as terminal electron acceptors. It can also grow heterotrophically with pyruvate, several methoxybenzoates, formate plus sulfate or benzoate plus sulfate. It ferments pyruvate to acetate and lactate in the absence of other electron acceptors. The bacterium is inhibited by MoO _inf4 ^sup2- or SeO _inf4 ^sup2- as well as tetracycline, chloramphenicol, kanamycin or streptomycin. Cytochrome c₃ and desulfoviridin have been purified from cells grown in defined medium. 16S rRNA sequence analysis indicates the organism is a new genus of sulfate-reducing bacteria in the delta subdivision of the class Proteobacteria. We propose that the strain be named Desulfomonile tiedjei.Non-standard abbreviations PIPES piperazine-N,N-bis[2-ethanesulfonic acid] - MES 2-[N-morpholino]ethanesulfonic acid - TES N-tris[hydroxymethyl]methyl-2-aminoethanesulfonic acid - HQNO 2-N-heptyl-4-hydroxy-quinoline-N-oxide - CCCP carbonyl-cyanide-m-chlorophenylhydrazine - CM carboxymethyl     

Cytophaga xylanolytica sp. nov., a xylan-degrading,anaerobic gliding bacterium

Gliding bacteria attached in masses to, and dominated the fermentation of, xylan powder in methanogenic and sulfidogenic enrichments from various freshwater sediments. Isolates of such bacteria were all gram-negative, slender rods (0.4×4-24 m) that formed no endospores, microcysts or fruiting bodies. Representative strain XM3 was a mesophilic, aeroduric anaerobe that grew by fermentation of mono-, di-, and poly-saccharides (but not cellulose) in a mineral medium containing up to 3% NaCl. However, CO₂/HCO _inf3 ^sup- was required in media for consistent initiation of growth. Fermentation products included acetate, propionate, succinate, CO₂, and H₂. Xylan-grown cells had xylanase and various glycosidase activities that were mainly or almost entirely cell-associated, respectively. Strain XM3 was weakly catalase positive, but oxidase negative; it possessed sulphonolipids and carotenoid, but not flexirubin, pigments; and its total cellular fatty acids were dominated by C_15:0 anteiso (75%), n (13%) and iso (2%) isomers. Strain XM3 had 45.5 mol% G+C in its DNA, and partial sequencing of its 16S rRNA placed XM3 within the Bacteroides-Flavobacterium phylogenetic group. Similar strains were isolated from marine sediments. Strain XM3 is herewith proposed as the type strain of the new species, Cytophaga xylanolytica. Results, which are discussed in terms of our current concept of the genus Cytophaga, suggest that the importance of C. xylanolytica in anaerobic biopolymer decomposition has not been fully appreciated.Dedicated to Professor Norbert Pfennig, in whose laboratory this project was initiated and who recently retired after more than four decades of contributions to microbiology     

Isolation and characterization of Dehalospirillum multivorans gen. nov., sp. nov., a tetrachloroethene-utilizing,strictly anaerobic bacterium

A strictly anaerobic bacterium dechlorinating tetrachloroethene (perchloroethylene, PCE) via trichloroethene (TCE) to cis-1,2-dichloroethene (DCE) was isolated from activated sludge with pyruvate plus PCE as energy substrates. The organism, called Dehalospirillum multivorans, is a gram-negative spirillum that does not form spores. The G+C content of the DNA was 41.5 mol%. According to 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, D. multivorans represents a new genus and a new species belonging to the epsilon subdivision of Proteobacteria. Quinones, cytochromes b and c, and corrinoids were extracted from the cells. D. multivorans grew in defined medium with PCE and H₂ as sole energy sources and acetate as carbon source; the growth yield under these conditions was 1.4g of cell protein per mol chloride released. Alternatively to PCE, fumarate and nitrate could serve as electron acceptors; sulfate could not replace fumarate, nitrate, or PCE in this respect. In addition to H₂, the organism utilized a variety of electron donors for dechlorination (pyruvate, lactate, ethanol, formate, glycerol). Upon growth on pyruvate plus PCE, the main fermentation products formed were acetatc, lactate, DCE, and H₂. At optimal pH (7.3–7.6) and temperature (30°C), and in the presence of pyruvate (20mM) and PCE (160M), a dechlorination rate of about 50 nmol min^-1 (mg cell protein)^-1 and a doubling time of about 2.5h were obtained with growing cultures. The ability to reduce PCE to DCE appears to be constitutive under the experimental conditions applied since cultures growing in the absence of PCE for several generations immediately started dechlorination when transferred to a medium containing PCE. The organism may be useful for bioremediation of environments polluted with tetrachloroethene.Abbreviations PCE Perchloroethylene, tetrachloroethene - TCE Trichloroethene - DCE cis-1,2-Dichloroethene - CHC Chlorinated hydrocarbon     

Thermoleophilum album gen. nov. and sp. nov., a bacterium obligate for thermophily and n-alkane substrates

Several bacterial strains that are obligate for both thermophily and hydrocarbon utilization have been isolated from a number of thermal and non-thermal environments. Mud and water samples obtained from geographic sites across the United States were subjected to enrichment procedures at 60° C with n-heptadecane as sole growth substrate. Organisms forming very small white colonies on agar surfaces were often evident on primary enrichment. These bacteria were Gram negative, aerobic, small, and rodshaped. They lacked pigmentation, motility, and the ability to form endospores. Growth occurred in the temperature range from 45° C to 70° C with the optimum around 60° C and at a pH near neutrality. Only n-alkanes from 13 to 20 carbons in length were utilized by these organisms as growth substrate. The mol% guanine plus cytosine values for these strains were between 68 and 70%. The physiological and morphological characteristics of these organisms are distinctly different from any previously described thermophilic microbes. It is proposed that they be placed in a new genus, Thermoleophilum gen. nov. with the type species being Thermoleophilum album gen. nov., sp. nov. The type strain in ATCC 35263.Paper number 8953 of the Journal Series of the North Carolina Agricultural Research Service Raleigh, NC 27695, USA     

Thermosediminibacter oceani gen. nov., sp. nov. and Thermosediminibacter litoriperuensis sp. nov., new anaerobic thermophilic bacteria isolated from Peru Margin

A new group of anaerobic thermophilic bacteria was isolated from enrichment cultures obtained from deep sea sediments of Peru Margin collected during Leg 201 of the Ocean Drilling Program. A total of ten isolates were obtained from cores of 1–2 m below seafloor (mbsf) incubated at 60°C: three isolates came from the sediment 426 m below sea level with a surface temperature of 9°C (Site 1227), one from 252 m below sea level with a temperature of 12°C (Site 1228), and six isolates under sulfate-reducing condition from the lower slope of the Peru Trench (Site 1230). Strain JW/IW-1228P from the Site 1228 and strain JW/YJL-1230-7/2 from the Site 1230 were chosen as representatives of the two identified clades. Based on the 16S rDNA sequence analysis, these isolates represent a novel group with Thermovenabulum and Caldanaerobacter as their closest relatives. The temperature range for growth was 52–76°C with an optimum at around 68°C for JW/IW-1228P and 43–76°C with an optimum at around 64°C for JW/YJL-1230-7/2. The pH^25C range for growth was from 6.3 to 9.3 with an optimum at 7.5 for JW/IW-1228P and from 5 to 9.5 with an optimum at 7.9–8.4 for JW/YJL-1230-7/2. The salinity range for growth was from 0% to 6% (w/v) for JW/IW-1228P and from 0% to 4.5% (w/v) for JW/YJL-1230-7/2. The G+C content of the DNA was 50 mol% for both JW/IW-1228P and JW/YJL-1230-7/2. DNA–DNA hybridization yielded 52% similarity between the two strains. According to 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the isolates are located within the family, Thermoanaerobacteriaceae. Based on their morphological and physiological properties and phylogenetic analysis, it is proposed that strain JW/IW-1228P^T is placed into a novel taxa, Thermosediminibacter oceani, gen. nov., sp. nov. (DSM 16646^T=ATCC BAA-1034^T), and JW/YJL-1230-7/2^T into Thermosediminibacter litoriperuensis sp. nov. (DSM 16647^T =ATCC BAA-1035^T).An erratum to this article can be found at     

Natronobacillus azotifigens gen. nov., sp. nov., an anaerobic diazotrophic haloalkaliphile from soda-rich habitats

Gram-positive bacteria capable of nitrogen fixation were obtained in microoxic enrichments from soda soils in south-western Siberia, north-eastern Mongolia, and the Lybian desert (Egypt). The same organisms were obtained in anoxic enrichments with glucose from soda lake sediments in the Kulunda Steppe (Altai, Russia) using nitrogen-free alkaline medium of pH 10. The isolates were represented by thin motile rods forming terminal round endospores. They are strictly fermentative saccharolytic anaerobes but tolerate high oxygen concentrations, probably due to a high catalase activity. All of the strains are obligately alkaliphilic and highly salt-tolerant natronophiles (chloride-independent sodaphiles). Growth was possible within a pH range from 7.5 to 10.6, with an optimum at 9.5–10, and within a salt range from 0.2 to 4 M Na⁺, with an optimum at 0.5–1.5 M for the different strains. The nitrogenase activity in the whole cells also had an alkaline pH optimum but was much more sensitive to high salt concentrations compared to the growing cells. The isolates formed a compact genetic group with a high level of DNA similarity. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S-rRNA gene sequences placed the isolates into Bacillus rRNA group 1 as a separate lineage with Amphibacillus tropicus as the nearest relative. In all isolates the key functional nitrogenase gene nifH was detected. A new genus and species, Natronobacillus azotifigens gen. nov., sp. nov., is proposed to accommodate the novel diazotrophic haloalkaliphiles. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. The GenBank accession numbers for the 16S rRNA gene of the novel strains are EU143681-EU143690 and EU850814-EU850816; for the nifH gene the accession numbers are EU542601, EU563380-EU563386 and EU850817-EU850819.     

Candida alocasiicola sp. nov., Candida hainanensis sp. nov., Candida heveicola sp. nov. and Candida musiphila sp. nov., novel anamorphic, ascomycetous yeast species isolated from plants

In a taxonomic study on the ascomycetous yeasts isolated from plant materials collected in tropical forests in Yunnan and Hainan Provinces, southern China, four strains isolated from tree sap (YJ2E(T)) and flowers (YF9E(T), YWZH3C(T) and YYF2A(T)) were revealed to represent four undescribed yeast species. Molecular phylogenetic analysis based on the large subunit (26S) rRNA gene D1/D2 domain sequences showed that strain YJ2E(T) was located in a clade together with Candida haemulonii and C. pseudohaemulonii. Strain YF9E(T) was most closely related to C. azyma and strain YWZH3C(T) to C. sorbophila and C. spandovensis. Strain YYF2A(T) was clustered in a clade containing small-spored Metschnikowia species and related anamorphic Candida species. The new strains differed from their closely related described species by more than 10% mismatches in the D1/D2 domain. No sexual states were observed for the four strains on various sporulation media. The new species are therefore assigned to the genus Candida and described as Candida alocasiicola sp. nov. (type strain, YF9E(T) = AS 2.3484(T) = CBS 10702(T)), Candida hainanensis sp. nov. (type strain, YYF2A(T) = AS 2.3478(T) = CBS 10696(T)), Candida heveicola sp. nov. (type strain, YJ2E(T) = AS 2.3483(T) = CBS 10701(T)) and Candida musiphila sp. nov. (type strain, YWZH3C(T) = AS 2.3479(T) = CBS 10697(T)).     

Degradation of hydroxyhydroquinone by the strictly anaerobic fermenting bacterium Pelobacter massiliensis sp. nov.

A new rod-shaped, gram-negative, non-sporeforming, strictly anaerobic bacterium (strain HHQ7) was enriched and isolated from marine mud samples with hydroxyhydroquinone (1,2,4-trihydroxybenzene) as sole substrate. Strain HHQ7 fermented hydroxyhydroquinone, pyrogallol (1,2,3-trihydroxybenzene), phloroglucinol (1,3,5-trihydroxybenzene) and gallic acid (3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoate) to 3 mol acetate (plus 1 mol CO₂ in the case of gallic acid) per mol of substrate. Resorcinol accumulated intermediately during growth on hydroxy-hydroquinone. No other aliphatic or aromatic substrates were utilized. Sulfate, sulfite, sulfur, nitrate, and fumarate were not reduced with hydroxyhydroquinone as electron donor. The strain grew in sulfide-reduced mineral medium supplemented with 7 vitamins. The DNA base ratio was 59% G+C. Strain HHQ7 is classified as a new species of the genus Pelobacter, P. massiliensis. Experiments with dense cell suspensions of hydroxyhydroquinone-and pyrogallol-grown cells showed different kinetics of hydroxyhydroquinone and pyrogallol degradation, as well as different patterns of resorcinol accumulation, indicating that these substrates are metabolized by different transhydroxylation reactions.     

New anamorphic yeast species: Candida infanticola sp. nov., Candida polysorbophila sp. nov., Candida transvaalensis sp. nov. and Trigonopsis californica sp. nov

Three new species of Candida and a new species of Trigonopsis are described based on their recognition from phylogenetic analysis of gene sequences from large subunit ribosomal RNA, ITS1/ITS2 rRNA, mitochondrial small subunit rRNA and cytochrome oxidase II. Candida infanticola sp. nov. (type strain NRRL Y-17858, CBS 7922) was isolated from the ear of an infant in Germany and is closely related to Candida sorbophila. Candida polysorbophila sp. nov. (type strain NRRL Y-27161, CBS 7317) is a member of the Zygoascus clade and was isolated in South Africa as a contaminant from an emulsion of white oil and polysorbate. Candida transvaalensis sp. nov. (type strain NRRL Y-27140, CBS 6663) was obtained from forest litter, the Transvaal, South Africa, and forms an isolated clade with Candida santjacobensis. Trigonopsis californica sp. nov. (type strain NRRL Y-27307, CBS 10351) represents a contaminant from wine in California, and forms a well-supported clade with Trigonopsis cantarellii, Trigonopsis variabilis and Trigonopsis vinaria.     

Heliothrix oregonensis,gen. nov., sp. nov., a phototrophic filamentous gliding bacterium containing bacteriochlorophyll a

An unusual filamentous, gliding bacterium was found in a few hot springs in Oregon where it formed a nearly unispecific top layer of microbial mats. It contained a bacteriochlorophyll a-like pigment and an abundance of carotenoids. There were no chlorosomes or additional chlorophylls. The organism was aerotolerant and appeared to be photoheterotrophic. It was successfully co-cultured with an aerobic chemoheterotroph in a medium containing glucose and casamino acids. Although it has many characteristics in common with the genus Chloroflexus, the lack of chlorosomes and bacteriochlorophyll c and the aerobic nature of this organism indicate that it should be placed in a new genus. This conclusion is supported by 5S rRNA nucleotide sequence data.     

Four novel yeasts from decaying organic matter: Blastobotrys robertii sp. nov., Candida cretensis sp. nov., Candida scorzettiae sp. nov. and Candida vadensis sp. nov

Four novel yeast species are described, two from decaying mushrooms, viz. Candida cretensis and Candida vadensis, and two from rotten wood, viz. Blastobotrys robertii and Candida scorzettiae. Accession numbers for the CBS and ARS Culture Collections, and GenBank accession numbers for the D1/D2 domains of the large subunit of ribosomal DNA are: B. robertii CBS 10106^T, NRRL Y-27775, DQ839395; C. cretensis CBS 9453^T, NRRL Y-27777, AY4998861 and DQ839393; C. scorzettiae CBS 10107^T, NRRL Y-27665, DQ839394; C. vadensis CBS 9454^T, NRRL Y-27778, AY498863 and DQ839396. The GenBank accession number for the ITS region of C. cretensis is AY498862 and that for C. vadensis is AY498864. C. cretensis was the only species of the four that displayed fermentative activity. All four type strains grew on n-hexadecane. C. scorzettiae is the only one of the new species that assimilates some phenolic compounds, viz. 3-hydroxy derivatives of benzoic, phenylacetic and cinnamic acids, but not the corresponding 4-hydroxy acids. This is indicative of an operative gentisate pathway.     

Holophaga foetida gen. nov., sp. nov., a new,homoacetogenic bacterium degrading methoxylated aromatic compounds

A polyphasic approach was used in which genotypic and phenotypic properties of a gram-negative, obligately anaerobic, rod-shaped bacterium isolated from a black anoxic freshwater mud sample were determined. Based on these results, the name Holophaga foetida gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. This microorganism produced dimethylsulfide and methanethiol during growth on trimethoxybenzoate or syringate. The only other compounds utilized were pyruvate and trihydroxybenzenes such as gallate, phloroglucinol, or pyrogallol. The aromatic compounds were degraded to acetate. Although comparison of the signature nucleotide pattern of the five established subclasses of Proteobacteria with the 16S rDNA sequence of Holophaga foetida revealed a relationship to members of the -subclass, the phylogenetic position within the radiation of this class is so deep and dependent upon the number and selection of reference sequences that its affiliation to the Proteobacteria must be considered tentative. The type strain is H. foetida strain TMBS4 (DSM 6591).F. Bak died on 27 December 1992. A very promising and productive career thus ended much too early     

Defluviimonas denitrificans gen. nov., sp. nov., and Pararhodobacter aggregans gen. nov., sp. nov., non-phototrophic Rhodobacteraceae from the biofilter of a marine aquaculture

Three Gram-negative bacterial strains were isolated from the biofilter of a recirculating marine aquaculture. They were non-pigmented rods, mesophiles, moderately halophilic, and showed chemo-organoheterotrophic growth on various sugars, fatty acids, and amino acids, with oxygen as electron acceptor; strains D9-3^T and D11-58 were in addition able to denitrify. Phototrophic or fermentative growth could not be demonstrated. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences placed D9-3^T and D11-58, and D1-19^T on two distinct branches within the alpha-3 proteobacterial Rhodobacteraceae, affiliated with, but clearly separate from, the genera Rhodobacter, Rhodovulum, and Rhodobaca. Based on morphological, physiological, and 16S rRNA-based phylogenetic characteristics, the isolated strains are proposed as new species of two novel genera, Defluviimonas denitrificans gen. nov., sp. nov. (type strain D9-3^T = DSM 18921^T = ATCC BAA-1447^T; additional strain D11-58 = DSM19039 = ATCC BAA-1448) and Pararhodobacter aggregans gen. nov., sp. nov (type strain D1-19^T = DSM 18938^T = ATCC BAA-1446^T).     

Natronolimnobius baerhuensis gen. nov., sp. nov. and Natronolimnobius innermongolicus sp. nov., novel haloalkaliphilic archaea isolated from soda lakes in Inner Mongolia, China

Three novel isolates of haloalkaliphilic archaea, strains IHC-005^T, IHC-010, and N-1311^T, from soda lakes in Inner Mongolia, China, were characterized to elucidate their taxonomic positions. The three strains were aerobic, Gram-negative chemoorganotrophs growing optimally at 37–45°C, pH 9.0–9.5, and 15–20% NaCl. Cells of strains IHC-005^T/IHC-010 were motile rods, while those of strain N-1311^T were non-motile pleomorphic flats or cocci. The three strains contained diphytanyl and phytanyl-sesterterpanyl diether derivatives of phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylglycerophosphate methyl ester. No glycolipids were detected. On phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences, they formed an independent cluster in the Natro group of the family Halobacteriaceae. Comparison of their morphological, physiological, and biochemical properties, DNA G+C content and 16S rRNA gene sequences, and DNA-DNA hybridization study support the view that strains IHC-005^T/IHC-010 and strain N-1311^T represent separate species. Therefore, we propose Natronolimnobius baerhuensis gen. nov., sp. nov. for strains IHC-005^T (=CGMCC 1.3597^T =JCM 12253^T)/IHC-010 (=CGMCC 1.3598=JCM 12254) and Natronolimnobius innermongolicus sp. nov. for N-1311^T (=CGMCC 1.2124^T =JCM 12255^T).     

Ciborinia gentianae sp. nov., the causal organism of sclerotial flower blight of cut-flower gentians

A new Ciborinia causing sclerotial flower blight of cut-flower gentians (Gentiana triflora var. japonica and interspecific hybrids between related species or varieties) is described as Ciborinia gentianae on the morphological basis of sclerotia and apothecia. The characteristics of Ciborinia gentianae are (1) an abundant production of spermodochia in the hollow cavity of host stems; (2) flat and thin sclerotia produced beneath the epidermis and the inclusion of host vascular remnants within their medulla; (3) globose cells composed of ectal excipulum of apothecia; (4) elongated cells with a slight apical swelling in ectal excipulum at the apothecial margin; and (5) tetra nucleate ascospores. Asci and ascospores mounted in Melzer's reagent measured 156–208 × 8–12 μm and 11.8–15 × 5.5–7.1 μm, respectively.