- Volume 57, Issue 5, 2007

Four bacterial strains (E308T, E5549, I3077 and N30129) were isolated from the residual wash-water produced during the processing of Spanish-style green table olives. The isolates were subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic study using phenotypic, phylogenetic and genotypic methods. The bacteria were Gram-positive, spore-forming rods. Moreover, they were heterotrophs that were able to utilize cellobiose, glucose, mannose and rhamnose as carbon sources. The G+C content of their genomic DNA ranged from 30.7 to 33.4 mol%. The major cellular fatty acids found in strain E308T were iso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 and anteiso-C17 : 0. DNA–DNA hybridization shows 76.2–88.3 % relatedness among the four strains. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of isolate E308T shows that it belongs to the genus Virgibacillus, with the highest sequence similarity (99 %) to Virgibacillus marismortui 123T. However, phenotypic differences and DNA–DNA relatedness between strain E308T and V. marismortui ATCC 700626T of less than 47 % suggest the placement of these strains within a novel species of the genus Virgibacillus. The name Virgibacillus olivae sp. nov. is proposed, with strain E308T (=LMG 23503T=DSM 18098T) as the type strain.

An aerobic bacterium, designated strain E5HC-32T, was isolated from soil underlying the decaying leaf litter of a slash pine forest located in south east Queensland, Australia. The strictly aerobic, motile rod-shaped cells (0.8–1.6×2.6–4.8 μm) produced subterminal spherical spores which distended the cells. Strain E5HC-32T grew optimally in 1 % trypticase soy broth (TSB) at 30 °C (temperature range for growth, 25–40 °C) and a pH of 8.4 (pH growth range, pH 7.1–9.1). Electron microscopic examination of negatively stained cells revealed the presence of peritrichous flagella and thin sections showed the presence of a typical Gram-positive type cell-wall ultrastructure. The strain was catalase-positive and oxidase-negative and metabolized pyruvic acid methyl ester, d-galactonic acid lactone, α-ketobutyric acid, α-ketovaleric acid, l-proline, l-alanine, urocanic acid, inosine, uridine, thymidine, glycerol, α-cyclodextrin, α-d-lactose, d-psicose, d-raffinose, l-rhamnose, d-sorbitol, turanose, cis-aconitic acid, α-hydroxybutyric acid, l-alaninamide and 2-aminoethanol. The G+C content of DNA was 41±1 mol% as determined by the thermal denaturation method. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that strain E5HC-32T was placed equidistantly as a member of the class Bacilli, phylum Firmicutes, with Bacillus sphaericus DSM 28T and Bacillus odysseyi ATCC PTA-4993T (similarity of 93 %). In addition to its significant phylogenetic separation from its nearest relatives, strain E5HC-32T possessed phenotypic traits that also suggested that it represented a novel species, for which the name Bacillus decisifrondis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is E5HC-32T (=JCM 13601T=DSM 17725T).

A facultatively anaerobic, selenate- and arsenate-reducing bacterium, designated strain SF-1T, was isolated from a selenium-contaminated sediment obtained from an effluent drain of a glass-manufacturing plant in Japan. The bacterium stained Gram-positive and was a motile, spore-forming rod capable of respiring with selenate, arsenate and nitrate as terminal electron acceptors. The major cellular fatty acids of the strain were iso-C15 : 0, iso-C17 : 1 ω10c and C16 : 1 ω7c alcohol. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 42.8 mol%. Though the nearest phylogenetic neighbour was Bacillus jeotgali JCM 10885T, with a 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 99.6 %, DNA–DNA hybridization studies showed only 14 % relatedness between these strains, a level that is clearly below the value recommended to delimit different species. This, together with the phenotypic differences (utilization of electron acceptors, NaCl tolerance), suggests that strain SF-1T represents a novel species of the genus Bacillus, for which the name Bacillus selenatarsenatis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is SF-1T (=JCM 14380T=DSM 18680T).

A moderately halophilic and alkaliphilic bacterium, designated strain BH2T, was isolated from non-saline garden soil in Saitama, Japan. Cells of strain BH2T were motile, aerobic, rod-shaped and Gram-positive and contained A1γ, meso-diaminopimelic acid-type murein. Growth occurred in 5.0–25 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 10–15 %, w/v), at pH 5.5–10.0 (optimum, pH 8.5–9.0) and at 20–40 °C. The predominant isoprenoid quinone was menaquinone-7. The major cellular fatty acids were ai-C15 : 0, i-C16 : 0, ai-C17 : 0 and i-C15 : 0. The G+C content of the total DNA of strain BH2T was 35.1±0.4 mol% (±sd; n=5). The phylogenetic distance from species with validly published names was less than 94.1 %. The phylogenetic and phenotypic characteristics indicated that strain BH2T represents a novel genus and species, for which the name Halalkalibacillus halophilus gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is BH2T (=JCM 14192T=DSM 18494T).

A thermophilic, Gram-positive, endospore-forming, sulfate-reducing bacterium was isolated from a sulfidogenic fluidized-bed reactor treating acidic metal- and sulfate-containing water. The strain, designated RA50E1T, was rod-shaped and motile. The strain grew at 40–67 °C (optimum growth at 59–61 °C) and pH 6.4–7.9 (optimum growth at pH 7.0–7.3). The strain tolerated up to 1 % NaCl. Sulfate, sulfite, thiosulfate and elemental sulfur were used as electron acceptors, but not nitrate, nitrite or iron(III). Electron donors utilized were H2/CO2 (80 : 20, v/v), alcohols, various carboxylic acids and some sugars. Fermentative growth occurred on lactate and pyruvate. The cell wall contained meso-diaminopimelic acid and the major respiratory isoprenoid quinone was menaquinone MK-7. Major whole-cell fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0 and iso-C17 : 0. Strain RA50E1T was distantly related to representatives of the genera Desulfotomaculum, Pelotomaculum, Sporotomaculum and Cryptanaerobacter. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence data, the strain cannot be assigned to any known genus. Based on the phenotypic and phylogenetic features of strain RA50E1T, it is proposed that the strain represents a novel species in a new genus, for which the name Desulfurispora thermophila gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Desulfurispora thermophila is RA50E1T (=DSM 16022T=JCM 14018T).

Three strains of a spore-forming, Gram-positive, motile, rod-shaped and boron-tolerant bacterium were isolated from soil. The strains, designated 10aT, 11c and 12B, can tolerate 5 % (w/v) NaCl and up to 150 mM boron, but optimal growth was observed without addition of boron or NaCl in Luria–Bertani agar medium. The optimum temperature for growth was 37 °C (range 16–45 °C) and the optimum pH was 7.0–8.0 (range pH 5.5–9.5). A comparative analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence demonstrated that the isolated strains were closely related to Bacillus fusiformis DSM 2898T (97.2 % similarity) and Bacillus sphaericus DSM 28T (96.9 %). DNA–DNA relatedness was greater than 97 % among the isolated strains and 61.1 % with B. fusiformis DSM 2898T and 43.2 % with B. sphaericus IAM 13420T. The phylogenetic and phenotypic analyses and DNA–DNA relatedness indicated that the three strains belong to the same species, that was characterized by a DNA G+C content of 36.5–37.9 mol%, MK-7 as the predominant menaquinone system and iso-C15 : 0 (32 % of the total) as a major cellular fatty acid. In contrast to the type species of the genus Bacillus, the strains contained peptidoglycan with lysine, aspartic acid, alanine and glutamic acid. Based on the distinctive peptidoglycan composition, phylogenetic analyses and physiology, the strains are assigned to a novel species within a new genus, for which the name Lysinibacillus boronitolerans gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Lysinibacillus boronitolerans is strain 10aT (=DSM 17140T=IAM 15262T=ATCC BAA-1146T). It is also proposed that Bacillus fusiformis and Bacillus sphaericus be transferred to this genus as Lysinibacillus fusiformis comb. nov. and Lysinibacillus sphaericus comb. nov., respectively.

A moderately haloalkaliphilic, Gram-positive bacterium, designated as strain CM1T, was isolated from a crude sea-salt sample collected near Qingdao in eastern China. Strain CM1T was found to grow optimally at 37 °C and pH 9.0. It was shown to be aerobic, rod-shaped and capable of growth at salinities of 2.5–20 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 12 %). The genomic DNA G+C content was about 48 mol%. The major cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C17 : 0 and iso-C16 : 0 and the major isoprenoid quinones were MK-7(H2) and MK-6(H2). Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that CM1T is a member of the genus Bacillus and has less than 95.2 % gene sequence similarity to the most closely related strain, Bacillus salarius BH169T. Its DNA–DNA reassociation value with respect to B. salarius BH169T was 35.4 %. On the basis of phenotypic and molecular properties, strain CM1T represents a novel Bacillus species, for which the name Bacillus qingdaonensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CM1T (=CGMCC 1.6134T=JCM 14087T).

On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, it is ascertained that the type strain of Leifsonia rubra does not exist in any established culture collection or with the authors who described this species. Therefore, it cannot be included in any scientific study. It is proposed that the Judicial Commission place the name Leifsonia rubra on the list of rejected names if a suitable type strain is not found or a neotype is not proposed within two years following the publication of this Request for an Opinion.

As knowledge of Latin is no longer widespread in the community of natural scientists, the International Association for Neo-Latinist Studies (IANLS) has been contacted and asked for assistance in Latin (Neo-Latin) name formation for the formal description of newly isolated prokaryotes. Here, the names and addresses of sixteen Neo-Latin scholars and three microbiologists with knowledge of Latin and relevant experience are given, all of whom offer their help. Instructions about the procedure necessary for such consultations are included.

It is proposed that the International Committee on Systematics of Prokaryotes formally maintain a readily accessible database of validly published names and that Rule 33b of the International Code of Nomenclature of Bacteria be revised to allow a new, abbreviated, format as the sole method by which authors indicate validation of previously published names.