Description of Prasinibacter corallicola gen. nov., sp. nov., a zeaxanthin-producing bacterium isolated from stony coral Porites lutea

Thermal stress is considered one of the main causes of mass scleractinian coral degradation; however, it is still unknown how corals can adapt to future global warming. In this study, 11 strains of coral-associated Flavobacteria were shown to produce zeaxanthin, a carotenoid antioxidant, which may help coral holobionts to alleviate thermal stress. In addition, a novel zeaxanthin-producing Flavobacterium, designated R38^T, was identified using polyphasic taxonomy. Although strain R38^T shared a maximum 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 93% with Mesoflavibacter aestuarii KYW614^T, phylogenetic analyses based on whole genome and 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain R38^T forms a distinct branch in a robust cluster composed of strain R38^T and Leptobacterium flavescens KCTC 22160^T under the family Flavobacteriaceae. Strain R38^T exhibited average nucleotide identities of 70.2% and 72.5% for M. aestuarii KYW614^T and L. flavescens KCTC 22160^T, respectively. The only detected respiratory quinone was menaquinone 6 (MK-6). The genomic DNA G?+?C content was 33.2 mol%. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylmethylethanolamine, phosphatidylethanolamine, one unidentified ninhydrin phospholipid, three unidentified ninhydrin-positive lipids, and three unidentified lipids. The major cellular fatty acids were iso???C_15:?0, iso???C_15:?0 ω6c, C_16:2 DMA, and C_13:1 ω3c. The distinct biochemical, chemotaxonomic, phylogenetic, and phylogenomic differences from validly published taxa suggest that strain R38^T represents a new species of a new genus, for which Prasinibacter corallicola gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain R38^T (=?MCCC 1K03889^T?=?KCTC 72444^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.

     

Roseovarius litoreus sp. nov., isolated from seawater of southern coast of Korean peninsula

A gram-negative, non-flagellated and ovoid- to rod-shaped bacterial strain, designated GSW-M15^T, was isolated from seawater on the southern coast of South Korea. Strain GSW-M15^T grew optimally at 30 °C, at pH 7.0–7.5 and in the presence of 2 % (w/v) NaCl. The phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain GSW-M15^T belonged to the genus Roseovarius. Strain GSW-M15^T exhibited highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity values (98.3 and 97.5 %) to Roseovarius halotolerans HJ50^T and Roseovarius pacificus 81-2^T and 92.8-96.2 % sequence similarity values to the type strains of the other Roseovarius species. Strain GSW-M15^T contained Q-10 as the predominant ubiquinone and C_18:1 ω7c and 11-methyl-C_18:1 ω7c as the major fatty acids. The major polar lipids detected in strain GSW-M15^T were phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, one unidentified aminolipid and two unidentified lipids. The DNA G+C content of strain GSW-M15^T was 62.9 mol% and its mean DNA–DNA relatedness values with R. halotolerans KCTC 22224^T and R. pacificus LMG 24575^T were 33 and 18 %, respectively. Differential phenotypic properties of strain GSW-M15^T, together with the phylogenetic and genetic distinctiveness, demonstrated that this strain is distinguishable from other Roseovarius species. On the basis of the data presented here, strain GSW-M15^T (=KCTC 23897^T = CCUG 62218^T) represents a novel species of the genus Roseovarius, for which the name Roseovarius litoreus sp. nov. is proposed.     

Neiella holothuriorum sp. nov., isolated from the gut of a sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus

A Gram-stain negative, aerobic, rod-shaped bacterium, designated 126^T, was isolated from the intestinal content of a sea cucumber, Apostichopus japonicus, in China. Strain 126^T was found to grow optimally at 25–28 °C and pH 7.5–8.0 in marine 2216 E medium, with tolerance of 1–7% (w/v) NaCl. Strain 126^T is motile by means of one to several polar flagella. The dominant fatty acids of strain 126^T were identified as C_16:1 ω7c/C_16:1 ω6c (29.5%), C_18:1 ω7c/C_18:1 ω6c (19.8%) and C_16:0 (16.7%). The respiratory quinone was found to be Q-8. The polar lipid profile was found to be mainly composed of phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine. The total length of the draft genome is approximately 4.2?×?10⁶ bp, encoding 3655 genes and 3576 coding sequences. The G?+?C content of the genomic DNA is 48.0%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain 126^T belongs to the genus Neiella and is closely related to Neiella marina J221^T (96.5%). Genomic comparisons of 126^T to N. marina J221^T revealed that they had similar genome size, G?+?C content and complement of clusters of orthologous groups. However, average nucleotide identity and digital DNA–DNA hybridization values between strains126^T and N. marina J221^T was 75.5% and 19.7%, which could distinguish the strains. On the basis of these phenotypic and genotypic data, strain 126^T is concluded to represent a novel species, for which the name Neiella holothuriorum sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 126^T (=?GDMCC 1.2530^T?=?KCTC 82829^T).

     

Spongiimonas flava gen. nov., sp. nov., a new member of the family Flavobacteriaceae isolated from an unidentified marine sponge

A Gram-negative, strictly aerobic, golden-yellow pigmented, non-motile, rod-shaped strain designated J36A-7^T was isolated from an unidentified yellow-green coloured marine sponge. Phylogenetic analyses based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that the novel isolate was affiliated with the family Flavobacteriaceae of the phylum Bacteroidetes and that it showed highest sequence similarity (85.6 %) to Nonlabens dokdonensis DSW-6^T. The strain could be differentiated phenotypically from recognized members of the family Flavobacteriaceae. The major fatty acids of strain J36A-7^T were identified as iso-C16:0, iso-C17:0 3-OH and summed feature three as defined by the MIDI system (C16:1 ω7c and/or iso-C15:0 2-OH). The DNA G+C content was determined to be 31.2 mol%, the major respiratory quinone was identified as menaquinone 6 (MK-6) and a complex polar lipid profile was present consisting of phosphatidylethanolamine, two unidentified glycolipids, one unidentified aminolipid and one unidentified lipid. From the distinct phylogenetic position and combination of genotypic and phenotypic characteristics, the strain is considered to represent a novel genus for which the name Spongiimonas flava gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of S. flava is J36A-7^T (=KCTC 32176^T = NBRC 109319^T).     

Erythrobacter westpacificensis sp. nov., a Marine Bacterium Isolated From the Western Pacific

A novel Gram-negative, orange-pigmented bacterial strain JLT2008^T was isolated from the surface seawater of the Western Pacific and subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic study. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain JLT2008^T belonged to the genus Erythrobacter, sharing the highest similarity (96.6 %) with Erythrobacter gangjinensis K7-2^T and the lowest similarity (94.9 %) with Erythrobacter litoralis DSM 8509^T. Strain JLT2008^T did not contain bacteriochlorophyll a, and the predominant respiratory lipoquinone was ubiquinone-10. The major fatty acids were C_18:1 ω7c, C_16:0, C_16:1 ω7c/C_16:1 ω6c. The prominent polar lipids were sphingoglycolipid, phosphatidylethanolamine, and phosphatidylglycerol. The genomic G + C content was 60.1 mol %. Based on the polyphasic taxonomic data, a novel species within the genus Erythrobacter, and with the name Erythrobacter westpacificensis sp. nov., is proposed. The type strain is JLT2008^T (=CGMCC 1.10993^T = JCM 18014^T).     

Cohnella boryungensis sp. nov., isolated from soil

A Gram-staining positive, endospore-forming, motile and rod-shaped bacterial strain, BR-29^T, was isolated from soil from west coast of the Korean peninsula, and its taxonomic position was investigated by a polyphasic study. Strain BR-29^T grew optimally at around pH 7.5, at 30°C and in the presence of 0.5% (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain BR-29^T fell into a clade comprising the type strains of Cohnella species, with which it exhibited 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity values of 92.8–96.4%. Strain BR-29^T contained a cell wall peptidoglycan based on meso-diaminopimelic acid and MK-7 as the predominant menaquinone. The major fatty acids were anteiso-C_15:0, C_16:0 and iso-C_16:0. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, lysylphosphatidylglycerol and two unidentified phospholipids; a minor amount of phosphatidylglycerol was present. The DNA G+C content was 54.9 mol%. Strain BR-29^T could be differentiated from phylogenetically related Cohnella species by differences in phenotypic characteristics. On the basis of phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic data, strain BR-29^T represents a novel species of the genus Cohnella, for which the name Cohnella boryungensis sp. nov., is proposed. The type strain is BR-29^T (= KCTC 13735^T = CCUG 59598^T).     

Fuscibacter oryzae gen. nov., sp. nov., a phosphate-solubilizing bacterium isolated from the rhizosphere of rice plant

An ovoid to rod shaped, white to brown pigmented, facultative anaerobic, mesophilic, non-phototrophic, Gram-staining-negative, non-motile, multiply by binary fission designated strain KVB23^T, which was isolated from root of rice plant, near Ilsan, South Korea, was investigated for its taxonomic position by polyphasic approach. Optimal growth was found to occur at 30?C, at pH 6.5 and in the absence of NaCl on R2A. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain KVB23^T revealed that it formed a distinct lineage, as a separate deep branch within the family Rhodobacteriaceae, with?<?96.5% sequence similarity to representatives of the genera Rhodobacter, Xinfangfangia, Tabrizicola, Falsirhodobacter, Haematobacter, Paenirhodobacter, Pseudorhodobacter and Pararhodobacter. Based in 16S rRNA sequences strain KVB23^T was most closely related to Tabrizicola fusiformis KCTC 62105 ^T (96.5%) and Rhodobacter thermarum KCTC 52712 ^T (96.2%). The draft genome of strain KVB23^T was 3.80 bp long with a DNA G?+?C content of 63.1%. Genome of strain KVB23^T harboured gene clusters for tryptophan and cobalamin biosynthesis. The strain contained Q-10 as the sole respiratory quinone. The predominant fatty acids were found to consist of C_16:0, C_18:0 and summed feature 8 (comprising C_18:1 ω7c and / or C_18:1 ω6). The polar lipids were identified as diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, seven unidentified phosphoglycolipids, two unidentified aminophosphoglycolipid, one unidentified glycolipid and four unidentified lipids. Phosphate-solubilizing bacteria have the ability to dissolve insoluble phosphates and enhance the soil fertility. Strain KVB23^T can solubilize calcium phosphate tribasic. Phosphate solubilizing and tryptophan biosynthesis property of strain KVB23^T could be a possible factor for the increase in growth of rice plant. Differential phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genotypic properties, together with the phylogenetic distinctiveness, demonstrated that strain KVB23^T was found to represent a novel genus in the Rhodobacteriaceae family, for which the name Fuscibacter oryzae gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain KVB23^T(=?KACC 21711 ^T?=?NBRC 114716 ^T).

     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Aquimarina salinaria</Emphasis> sp. nov., a novel algicidal bacterium isolated from a saltpan

A bacterial strain designated antisso-27^T, previously isolated from saltpan in Taiwan while screening for bacteria for algicidal activity, was characterized using the polyphasic taxonomic approach. Strain antisso-27^T was Gram-negative, aerobic, brownish yellow colored, rod-shaped, non-flagellated and non-gliding. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain antisso-27^T belonged to the genus Aquimarina within the family Flavobacteriaceae with relatively low sequence similarities of 94.0–96.6% to other valid Aquimarina spp. It contained iso-C_17:0 3-OH, iso-C_15:0, iso-C_16:0, iso-C_15:1 and iso-C_15:0 3-OH as the main fatty acids and contained a menaquinone with six isoprene units (MK-6) as the major isoprenoid quinone. Major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, an uncharacterized aminolipid and five uncharacterized phospholipids. Strain antisso-27^T employed direct mode of algicidal lysis to Chlorella vulgaris strain 211-31; nevertheless, it released an algicidal substance against M. aeruginosa strain MTY01. This is the first study that the Aquimarina species possesses both direct and indirect algicidal activities. On the basis of the phylogenetic and phenotypic data, strain antisso-27^T should be classified as representing a novel species, for which the name A. salinaria sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is A. salinaria antisso-27^T (= BCRC 80080^T = LMG 25375^T).     

Ornithinibacillus scapharcae sp. nov., isolated from a dead ark clam

A novel Gram-positive, aerobic, motile, hemolytic, endospore-forming and rod-shaped bacterium TW25^T was isolated from a dead ark clam during a mass mortality event on the South coast of Korea. The strain grew optimally at 30°C, at pH 8–9, and with 1% (w/v) NaCl. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that strain TW25^T was associated with the genus Ornithinibacillus and that it was most closely related to the type strain of Ornithinibacillus californiensis (98.5% similarity). The dominant cellular fatty acids were iso-C15:0, anteiso-C15:0 and C16:0. The peptidoglycan amino acid type was A4β, containing l-ornithine and d-aspartic acid. The polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, four unidentified phospholipids, two unidentified aminolipids and two unidentified lipids. The major respiratory quinone was menaquinone-7 (MK-7). The G + C content of genomic DNA was 36.7 mol%. DNA–DNA hybridization experiments with related strains revealed lower than 11 ± 3% relatedness. Based on this polyphasic taxonomic study, strain TW25^T represents a novel species in the genus Ornithinibacillus, for which the name Ornithinibacillus scapharcae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is TW25^T (=KACC 15116^T = JCM 17314^T).     

Oryzicola mucosus gen. nov., sp. nov., a novel slime producing bacterium belonging to the family Phyllobacteriaceae isolated from the rhizosphere of rice plants

A novel Gram-stain negative, asporogenous, slimy, rod-shaped, non-motile bacterium ROOL2^T was isolated from the root samples collected from a rice field located in Ilsan, South Korea. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA sequence showed 96.5% similarity to Tianweitania sediminis Z8^T followed by species of genera Mesorhizobium (96.4–95.6%), Aquabacterium (95.9–95.7%), Rhizobium (95.8%) and Ochrobactrum (95.6%). Strain ROOL2^T grew optimally at 30 °C in the presence of 1–6% (w/v) NaCl and at pH 7.5. The major respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-10 and the major cellular fatty acids were C_18:1ω7c, summed feature 4 (comprising iso-C_17:1 I and/or anteiso-C_17:1 B) and summed feature 8 (comprising C_18:1ω6c and/or C_18:1ω7c). The polar lipid profile consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylmethylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, one unidentified aminolipid and two unidentified lipids. The assembled draft genome of strain ROOL2^T had 28 contigs with N50 value of 656,326 nt, total length of 4,894,583 bp and a DNA G?+?C content of 61.5%. The average amino acid identity (AAI) values of strain ROOL2^T against the genomes of related members belonging to the same family were below 68% and the ANI and dDDH values between the strain ROOL2^T and the type strains of phylogenetically related species were 61.8–76.3% and 19.4–21.1%, respectively. Strain ROOL2^T only produces carotenoid-type pigment when grown on LB agar and slime on R2A agar. In the presence of tryptophan, strain ROOL2^T produced indole acetic acid (IAA), a phytohormone in plant growth and development. Gene clusters for indole-3-glycerol phosphatase and tryptophan synthase were found in the genome of strain ROOL2^T. The genotypic and phenotypic characteristics indicated that strain ROOL2^T represents a novel genus belonging the family Phyllobacteriaceae, for which the name Oryzicola mucosus gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is ROOL2^T (KCTC 82711 ^T?=?NBRC 114717 ^T).

     

Aestuariihabitans beolgyonensis gen. nov., sp. nov., a novel alphaproteobacterium isolated from tidal flat sediment

A Gram-negative, non-motile and rod-shaped bacterial strain, designated BB-MW15^T, was isolated from a tidal flat of the southern coast of the Korean peninsula, and its taxonomic position was investigated by using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. Strain BB-MW15^T grew optimally at 30 °C, at pH 7.0–8.0 and in the presence of 2–3 % (w/v) NaCl. Strain BB-MW15^T exhibited the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity values to the type strains of Marivita byunsanensis (96.8 %), Thalassobius maritimus (96.6 %), Sulfitobacter marinus (96.4 %) and Marinovum algicola (96.3 %). Neighbour-joining, maximum-likelihood and maximum-parsimony phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain BB-MW15^T forms an independent lineage within the evolutionary radiation encompassed by the Roseobacter clade of the class Alphaproteobacteria. Strain BB-MW15^T contained Q-10 as the predominant ubiquinone and C_18:1 ω7c as the predominant fatty acid. The major polar lipids detected in strain BB-MW15^T were phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol, one unidentified aminolipid and one unidentified lipid. The DNA G+C content of strain BB-MW15^T is 62.7 mol%. Based on phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic and other phenotypic characteristics, strain BB-MW15^T represents a new genus and a new species within Alphaproteobacteria, for which the name Aestuariihabitans beolgyonensis gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of A. beolgyonensis is BB-MW15^T (= KCTC 32324^T = CCUG 63829^T).     

Dyella jejuensis sp. nov., isolated from soil of Hallasan Mountain in Jeju Island

A novel bacterium, designated JP1^T, was isolated from soil of Hallasan Mountain in Jeju Island. The isolate was a Gramnegative, aerobic, motile and rod-shaped (0.2–0.4 × 1.2–2.0 μm) bacterium. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that strain JP1^T was closely related to Dyella koreensis with 97.6% similarity. Growth of strain JP1^T occurred at 10–37°C, pH 5–7 and 0–1% (w/v) NaCl. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain JP1^T was 62.1 mol%. The major fatty acids were iso-C_16:0, iso-C_17:1 ω9c, and iso-C_15:0. The predominant quinone was ubiquinone-8. The major polar lipids of strain JP1^T were phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, unidentified aminolipids and unidentified aminophospholipids. The DNA-DNA relatedness values between strain JP1^T and previously reported Dyella species were <10%. Based on phenotypic, genotypic, and phylogenetic distinctness, strain JP1^T represents a novel species in the genus Dyella, for which the name Dyella jejuensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JP1^T (=KACC 17701^T =JCM 19615^T).     

Roseovarius azorensis sp. nov., isolated from seawater at Espalamaca,Azores

A Gram-negative, motile, non-spore forming, rod shaped aerobic bacterium, designated strain SSW084^T, was isolated from a surface seawater sample collected at Espalamaca (38°33′N; 28°39′W), Azores. Growth was found to occur from 15 to 40 °C (optimum 30 °C), at pH 7.0–9.0 (optimum pH 7.0) and with 25–100 % seawater or 0.5–7.0 % NaCl in the presence of Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺; no growth was found with NaCl alone. Colonies on seawater nutrient agar were observed to be punctiform, white, convex, circular, smooth, and translucent. Strain SSW084^T did not grow on Zobell marine agar and tryptic soy agar even when seawater supplemented. The major respiratory quinone was found to be Q-10 and the G + C content was determined to be 61.9 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that strain SSW084^T belongs to the genus Roseovarius and that its closest neighbours are Roseovarius tolerans EL-172^T, Roseovarius mucosus DFL-24^T and Roseovarius lutimaris 112^T with 95.7, 95.4 and 95.3 % sequence similarity respectively. The remaining species of Roseovarius showed <95 % similarity. The polar lipids of strain SSW084^T were determined to be phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, an unidentified lipid and one unidentified aminolipid. The major fatty acids identified were identified as C_18:1 ω7c (52.5 %) and C_16:0 (13.8 %). On the basis of phenotypic, molecular and chemotaxonomic characteristics, strain SSW084^T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Roseovarius, for which Roseovarius azorensis sp. nov is proposed. The type strain is SSW084^T (=KCTC 32421^T = MTCC 11812^T).     

Description of Niveispirillum fermenti gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from a fermentor in Taiwan,transfer of Azospirillum irakense (1989) as Niveispirillum irakense comb. nov., and reclassification of Azospirillum amazonense (1983) as Nitrospirillum amazonense gen. nov

A taxonomic study was carried out on a novel aerobic bacterial strain (designated CC-LY736^T) isolated from a fermentor in Taiwan. Cells of strain CC-LY736^T were Gram-stain negative, spiral-shaped and motile by means of a monopolar flagellum. Strain CC-LY736^T shared the greatest degree of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to Azospirillum irakense DSM 11586^T (97.2 %), Rhodocista centenaria JCM 21060^T (96.3 %) and Rhodocista pekingensis JCM 11669^T (96.1 %). The major fatty acids were C_16:0, C_16:1 ω5c, C_19:0 cyclo ω8c, C_18:1 ω7c/C_18:1 ω6c, C_16:0 3-OH and C_18:1 2-OH. The predominant polar lipids included phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylmethylethanolamine, phosphatidyldimethylethanolamine and two unidentified glycolipids. The common major respiratory quinone was ubiquinone Q-10 and predominant polyamines were sym-homospermidine and putrescine. The DNA G+C content of strain CC-LY736^T was 67.6 ± 0.1 mol %. During phylogenetic analysis, strain CC-LY736^T formed a unique phyletic lineage associated with Rhodocista species. However, the combination of genetic, chemotaxonomic and physiological data clearly indicated that strain CC-LY736^T was a novel representative of the family Rhodospirillaceae. Based on the polyphasic comparison, the name Niveispirillum fermenti gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed; the type strain of the type species is CC-LY736^T (= BCRC 80504^T = LMG 27263^T). In addition, the reclassifications of Azospirillum irakense as Niveispirillum irakense comb. nov. (type strain KBC1^T = ATCC 51182^T = BCRC 15764^T = CIP 103311^T), and Azospirillum amazonense as Nitrospirillum amazonense gen. nov., sp. nov. (type strain Am14^T = ATCC 35119^T = BCRC 14279^T = DSM 3787^T) are proposed based on the polyphasic taxonomic data obtained in this study.     

Halocynthiibacter namhaensis gen. nov., sp. nov., a novel alphaproteobacterium isolated from sea squirt Halocynthia roretzi

A Gram-negative, non-motile and rod-shaped bacterial strain, designated RA2-3^T, was isolated from a sea squirt (Halocynthia roretzi) collected from the South Sea, Korea, and its taxonomic position was investigated by using a polyphasic approach. Strain RA2-3^T was observed to grow optimally at 25 °C, at pH 7.0–7.5 and in the presence of 2 % (w/v) NaCl. Strain RA2-3^T exhibited the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity values to the type strains of Litoreibacter meonggei (95.7 %), Planktotalea frisia (95.6 %), Thalassobius gelatinovorus (95.5 %) and Pelagicola litoralis (95.4 %). A neighbour-joining phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain RA2-3^T clustered with the type strains of Planktotalea frisia, Pelagicola litoralis, Pacificibacter maritimus and Roseovarius marinus. Strain RA2-3^T was found to contain Q-10 as the predominant ubiquinone and C_18:1 ω7c as the major fatty acid. The major polar lipids detected in strain RA2-3^T were phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol, one unidentified aminolipid and one unidentified lipid. The DNA G+C content of strain RA2-3^T was 52.9 mol%. On the basis of the phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic and phenotypic properties, strain RA2-3^T is considered to represent a new genus and species within the family Rhodobacteraceae, for which the name Halocynthiibacter namhaensis gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of H. namhaensis is RA2-3^T (=KCTC 32362^T=NBRC 109999^T).     

Salinimonas lutimaris sp. nov., a polysaccharide-degrading bacterium isolated from a tidal flat

A Gram-negative, non-motile, non-endospore-forming bacterial strain, designated DPSR-4^T, was isolated from a tidal flat sediment on the southern coast of Korea. Strain DPSR-4^T grew optimally at 25–30°C, at pH 7.0–7.5 and in the presence of 2% (w/v) NaCl. A Neighbour-Joining phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain DPSR-4^T clustered with Salinimonas chungwhensis BH030046^T by a high bootstrap resampling value of 99.7%. Strain DPSR-4^T exhibited 96.2% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to that of S. chungwhensis BH030046^T and 93.7–96.6% sequence similarity to the sequences of type strains of Alteromonas species. Strain DPSR-4^T contained Q-8 as the predominant ubiquinone and iso-C_15:0 2-OH and/or C_16:1 ω7c, C_16:0 and C_18:1 ω7c as the major fatty acids. The major polar lipids detected in strain DPSR-4^T and S. chungwhensis KCTC 12239^T were phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and an unidentified phospholipid. The DNA G+C content was 53.4 mol%. Differential phenotypic properties and phylogenetic distinctiveness of strain DPSR-4^T demonstrated that this strain is distinguishable from the sole recognized species of the genus Salinimonas, S. chungwhensis. On the basis of phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic data, strain DPSR-4^T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Salinimonas, for which the name Salinimonas lutimaris sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is DPSR-4^T (KCTC 23464^T, CCUG 60743^T).     

Winogradskyella multivorans sp. nov., a polysaccharide-degrading bacterium isolated from seawater of an oyster farm

A novel bacterial strain, designated T-Y1^T, capable of degrading a variety of polysaccharides was isolated from seawater of an oyster farm in the South Sea, Korea. It was found to be aerobic, Gram-negative, non-flagellated, non-gliding and rod-shaped. Strain T-Y1^T grew optimally at 25 °C, at pH 7.0–7.5 and in the presence of 2 % (w/v) NaCl. A neighbour-joining phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain T-Y1^T belonged to the genus Winogradskyella. Strain T-Y1^T exhibited 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity values of 95.0–96.8 % to the type strains of recognized Winogradskyella species and less than 94.5 % to other validly named species. The chemotaxonomic data concurred with the phylogenetic inference. Strain T-Y1^T contained MK-6 as the predominant menaquinone and anteiso-C_15:0, iso-C_15:0, iso-C_15:1 G and iso-C_16:0 3-OH as the major fatty acids. The major polar lipids of strain T-Y1^T were phosphatidylethanolamine and two unidentified lipids. The DNA G+C content was 36.2 mol%. Differential phenotypic properties, together with its phylogenetic distinctiveness, enabled strain T-Y1^T to be differentiated from the recognized Winogradskyella species. On the basis of the data presented here, strain T-Y1^T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Winogradskyella, for which the name Winogradskyella multivorans sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is T-Y1^T (=KCTC 23891^T = CCUG 62216^T).     

Sinanaerobacter chloroacetimidivorans gen. nov., sp. nov., an obligate anaerobic bacterium isolated from anaerobic sludge

An obligate anaerobic bacterial strain (BAD-6^T) capable of degrading acetochlor and butachlor was isolated from an anaerobic acetochlor-degrading reactor. Cells were Gram-stain positive, straight to gently curved rods with flagella. The major fermentation products in peptone-yeast broth were acetate and butyrate. The optimum temperature and pH for growth was 30 °C and 7.2–7.5, respectively. The major cellular fatty acids (>?10%) were C_14:0 FAME, C_16:0 FAME and cyc-9,10-C_19:0 DMA. Genome sequencing revealed a genome size of 4.80 Mb, a G?+?C content of 43.6 mol% and 4741 protein-coding genes. The most closely related described species on the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequences was Anaerovorax odorimutans NorPut^T in the order Clostridiales of the class Clostridia with sequence similarity of 94.9%. The nucleotide identity (ANI) value and digital DNA–DNA hybridization (dDDH) between the genomes of strain BAD-6^T and Ana. odorimutans NorPut^T were 70.9% and 15.9%, respectively. Based on the distinct differences in phylogenetic and phenotypic characteristics between strain BAD-6^T and related species, Sinanaerobacter chloroacetimidivorans gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed to accommodate the strain. Strain BAD-6^T is the type strain (=?CCTCC AB 2021092^T?=?KCTC 25290^T).

     

Variibacter gotjawalensis gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from soil of a lava forest

A novel bacterial strain designated GJW-30^T was isolated from soil of the lava forest, Gotjawal, located in Aewol, Jeju, Korea. Strain GJW-30^T was found to be strictly aerobic, Gram-negative and to form pleomorphic, non-motile rods and white colonies on R2A agar. The major fatty acids were identified as C_18:1ω7c, C_16:0 and C_17:0, the predominant isoprenoid quinone as Q-10, the polar lipids as diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, an unidentified aminolipid and an unidentified lipid. The cell-wall sugar pattern of strain GJW-30^T was found to be composed of glucose, ribose and rhamnose and meso-DAP as the diagnostic diamino acid in the cell-wall peptidoglycan. The DNA G+C content of strain GJW-30^T is 62.2 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis, based on 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities, showed that strain GJW-30^T forms a deep branch within the order Rhizobiales, sharing the highest level of sequence homology with Bradyrhizobium oligotrophicum LMG 10732^T (93.6 %). On the basis of the phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic characteristics, strain GJW-30^T is considered to represent a novel genus and species, for which the name Variibacter gotjawalensis gen. nov., sp. nov. (the type strain is GJW-30^T = KCTC 32391^T = CECT 8514^T = LMG 28093^T) is proposed.