- Volume 57, Issue 7, 2007

A bacterial strain, DC-186T, isolated from home-made compost, was characterized for its phenotypic and phylogenetic properties. The isolate was a Gram-negative rod that was able to grow at 15–36 °C and pH 5.5–8.0. Strain DC-186T was positive in tests for catalase, oxidase and β-galactosidase activities and aesculin hydrolysis. The predominant fatty acids were the summed feature C16 : 1/iso-C15 : 0 2-OH (42 %) and iso-C15 : 0 (26 %), the major respiratory quinone was menaquinone-7 and the genomic DNA G+C content was 42 mol%. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis and phenetic characterization indicated that this organism belongs to the phylum Bacteroidetes and revealed its affiliation to the family Sphingobacteriaceae. Of recognized taxa, strain DC-186T was most closely related to Sphingobacterium daejeonense (90 % sequence similarity) based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. The low 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with other recognized taxa and the identification of distinctive phenetic features for this isolate support the definition of a new genus within the family Sphingobacteriaceae. The name Pseudosphingobacterium domesticum gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed, with strain DC-186T (=CCUG 54353T=LMG 23837T) as the type strain.

A Gram-negative, strictly aerobic, short rod-shaped, non-motile bacterial strain designated 4M24T was isolated from cotton-waste compost. Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain 4M24T revealed that it is a member of the genus Sphingobacterium, sharing 88.5–94.5 % sequence similarity with type strains of the genus Sphingobacterium and being most closely related to Sphingobacterium daejeonense TR6-04T (94.5 % sequence similarity) and Sphingobacterium mizutaii ATCC 33299T (92.2 % similarity). The major fatty acids of strain 4M24T grown on trypticase soy agar medium were summed feature 3 (iso-C15 : 0 2-OH and/or C16 : 1 ω7c; 37.5 %), iso-C15 : 0 (29.5 %) and iso-C17 : 0 3-OH (19.7 %). The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 42.3 mol%. On the basis of phenotypic and genotypic characteristics, strain 4M24T represents a novel species of the genus Sphingobacterium, for which the name Sphingobacterium composti sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 4M24T (=KACC 11313T=DSM 18850T).

Two bacterial strains, R2A1-13T and R2A45-3T, were isolated from greenhouse soils in Korea. The cells of both strains were Gram-negative, aerobic and rod-shaped. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis placed the isolates in the genus Flavobacterium within the family Flavobacteriaceae. Strain R2A1-13T was found to be related to Flavobacterium columnare IAM 14301T, Flavobacterium saliperosum CGMCC1.3801T and Flavobacterium croceum EMB47T, with sequence similarities of 96.8, 95.0 and 94.6 %, respectively. Strain R2A45-3T was found to be related to F. croceum EMB47T and Flavobacterium aquatile ATCC 11947T, with sequence similarities of 94.7 and 94.6 %, respectively. Both strains contained iso-C15 : 0 and iso-C16 : 0 as the main fatty acids and contained a menaquinone with six isoprene units (MK-6) as the major isoprenoid quinone. The G+C contents of the DNA from strains R2A1-13T and R2A45-3T were 34 and 38 mol%, respectively. A polyphasic taxonomic study revealed that these strains belong to two novel species within the genus Flavobacterium, for which the names Flavobacterium terrae sp. nov. and Flavobacterium cucumis sp. nov. are proposed. The type strains of F. terrae sp. nov. and F. cucumis sp. nov. are R2A1-13T (=KACC 11731T=DSM 18829T) and R2A45-3T (=KACC 11732T=DSM 18830T), respectively.

Five Gram-negative, white-pigmented, spherical, chemoheterotrophic bacteria were isolated from seawater from Japan and the Republic of Palau by use of an in situ cultivation technique. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the five novel isolates, 02PA-Ca-133T, YM14-201T, H-MN57T, H-MN48 and MN1-156, were closely affiliated to members of subdivision 4 within the phylum ‘Verrucomicrobia’. The novel isolates shared 96–100 % sequence similarity with each other and showed less than 90 % similarity with the cultivated strains of subdivision 4. DNA–DNA relatedness values between strains 02PA-Ca-133T, YM14-201T and H-MN57T were less than 70 %; the value commonly accepted as the threshold for the phylogenetic definition of a species. Antibiotic susceptibility tests and amino acid analysis of cell-wall hydrolysates indicated that the novel isolates did not contain muramic acid or diaminopimelic acid in their cell walls, suggesting that these strains lack peptidoglycan. The DNA G+C contents of the five strains were 51–57 mol%. The major menaquinone was MK-7 and C16 : 0, C16 : 1 ω7c and anteiso-C15 : 0 were the major fatty acids. On the basis of polyphasic taxonomic evidence, it is concluded that these strains should be classified as representing a new genus and three novel species in subdivision 4 of the phylum ‘Verrucomicrobia’, for which the names Pelagicoccus mobilis gen. nov., sp. nov. [type strain 02PA-Ca-133T (=MBIC08004T=IAM 15422T=KCTC 13126T)], Pelagicoccus albus sp. nov. [type strain YM14-201T (=MBIC08272T=IAM 15421T=KCTC 13124T)] and Pelagicoccus litoralis sp. nov. [type strain H-MN57T (=MBIC08273T=IAM 15423T=KCTC 13125T)] are proposed.

Three ionizing-radiation-resistant bacterial strains (designated KR-196, KR-198 and KR-200T) were isolated from a sample of arid soil collected from a coastal desert in Chile. The soil sample was irradiated before serial dilution plating was performed using one-tenth-strength plate count agar. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences showed these organisms to represent a novel species of the genus Deinococcus, having sequence similarities of 87.3–90.8 % with respect to recognized Deinococcus species. Strains KR-196, KR-198 and KR-200T were aerobic and showed optimum growth at 30 °C and pH 6.5–8.0. The major respiratory menaquinone was MK-8. The predominant fatty acids in these strains were 16 : 1ω7c, 16 : 0, 15 : 1ω6c, 17 : 0 and 18 : 0. The DNA G+C content of strain KR-200T was 63.9 mol%. Strains KR-196, KR-198 and KR-200T were found to be resistant to >10 kGy gamma radiation. On the basis of the phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic and phenotypic data, strain KR-200T represents a novel species of the genus Deinococcus, for which the name Deinococcus peraridilitoris sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is KR-200T (=LMG 22246T=CIP 109416T).

A taxonomic study was carried out to clarify the status of a Gram-negative, heterotrophic mesophile that was isolated from the marine sponge Halichondria okadai. The strain, designated HOact23T, was a non-motile, rod-shaped (0.44–0.53×0.65–0.79 μm) bacterium. The strain produced squalene and a red–pink carotenoid pigment. The cell-wall peptidoglycan contained meso-diaminopimelic acid, glutamic acid and alanine. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 52.4 mol%. The major fatty acids were iso-C14 : 0 (43.1 %), iso-C16 : 0 (20.6 %) and anteiso-C15 : 0 (18.1 %), and the major isoprenoid quinone was MK-9 (90.8 %). Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence data, the strain formed a distinct group within subdivision 1 in the phylum ‘Verrucomicrobia’. It showed a range of phenotypic properties that distinguished it from its closest relative, Rubritalea marina Pol012T (94.3 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity). On the basis of polyphasic taxonomic evidence, it was concluded that strain HOact23T should be classified within a novel species in the genus Rubritalea. The name proposed for the taxon is Rubritalea squalenifaciens sp. nov., with the type strain HOact23T (=MBIC08254T=DSM 18772T).

Two Gram-negative, motile, non-spore-forming bacterial strains, SW-353T and SW-369, were isolated from seawater from the East Sea, Korea, and their taxonomic positions were investigated by means of a polyphasic study. Strains SW-353T and SW-369 grew optimally at 30–37 °C and pH 7.0–8.0. Strains SW-353T and SW-369 contained Q-8 as the predominant ubiquinone and contained C16 : 0, C18 : 1 ω7c and C16 : 1 ω7c and/or iso-C15 : 0 2-OH as the major fatty acids. The DNA G+C contents were 50.1 and 50.5 mol%. Strains SW-353T and SW-369 exhibited no differences in their 16S rRNA gene sequences and showed a mean DNA–DNA relatedness level of 91 %. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strains SW-353T and SW-369 belong to the genus Rheinheimera. Similarity values between the 16S rRNA gene sequences of the two isolates and the type strains of the recognized Rheinheimera species were in the range 96.6–97.9 %. DNA–DNA relatedness data and differential phenotypic properties, together with the phylogenetic distinctiveness, demonstrated that strains SW-353T and SW-369 differ from the recognized Rheinheimera species. On the basis of phenotypic, phylogenetic and genetic data, therefore, strains SW-353T and SW-369 represent a novel species of the genus Rheinheimera, for which the name Rheinheimera aquimaris sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is SW-353T (=KCTC 12840T=JCM 14331T).

A yellow-pigmented, Gram-negative, motile, strictly aerobic, pleomorphic bacterium (strain TDMA-16T) was isolated from a freshwater sample collected at Misasa (Tottori, Japan). Strain TDMA-16T was slightly tolerant to gamma-ray irradiation and produced carotenoids, including zeaxanthin, nostoxanthin and an unknown carotenoid, effectively [1.7 mg (g dry cells)−1]. The DNA G+C content of strain TDMA-16T was 63.3 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences placed strain TDMA-16T in a distinct lineage in the family Sphingomonadaceae; sequence data showed that strain TDMA-16T was most closely related to Sphingomonas mali IFO 15500T (95.1 %), Sphingomonas aquatilis JSS7T (95.0 %), Sphingomonas pruni IFO 15498T (94.9 %), Sphingomonas melonis DSM 14444T (94.9 %) and Sphingomonas asaccharolytica IFO 15499T (94.5 %). The major fatty acids of strain TDMA-16T were C17 : 1 ω6c (34.5 %) and C18 : 1 ω7c (29.3 %). The presence of Q-10 as the main ubiquinone, the Sphingomonadaceae-specific sphingoglycolipid in the polar lipid profile and 2-hydroxy fatty acids, plus the absence of 3-hydroxy fatty acids, supported identification of this strain as a member of the genus Sphingomonas sensu stricto. Phylogenetic distinctiveness and unique phenotypic characteristics differentiated strain TDMA-16T from closely related Sphingomonas species. The results of polyphasic taxonomic analyses suggest that strain TDMA-16T represents a novel Sphingomonas species, for which the name Sphingomonas jaspsi sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is strain TDMA-16T (=NBRC 102120T=DSM 18422T=CCUG 53607T).

Three strains (Mok-106T, Mok-142 and Mok-143) were isolated from marine sediment samples collected from the coast of Okinawa Island, Japan. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons, the isolates were affiliated with the family Ferrimonadaceae; Shewanella denitrificans and Ferrimonas balearica were the closest relatives, having sequence similarities of 93.7 and 93.0 %, respectively. The novel isolates shared high levels of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with each other (98.7–99.3 %) and the results of DNA–DNA hybridization indicated that the three strains belong to the same species. The cells were rod-shaped, motile by means of single polar flagellum and formed colonies that produced a rose-coloured pigment within 6 days incubation at 25 °C. The isolates grew in the presence of 0.5–4.0 % (w/v) NaCl and at 15–40 °C. The major fatty acids were iso-13 : 0, iso-15 : 0, 16 : 0, 18 : 1ω7c and summed feature 3 (16 : 1ω7c and/or iso-15 : 0 2-OH). Menaquinone-6, menaquinone-7 and ubiquinone-8 were the major quinones and the major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol. The DNA G+C content was 50–51 mol%. Phylogenetic and phenotypic analyses of these isolates suggested that they belong to a novel genus and species of the family Ferrimonadaceae, for which the name Paraferrimonas sedimenticola gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is Mok-106T (=NBRC 101628T=CIP 109284T).

Two Gram-negative, rod-shaped, oxidase-positive, non-spore-forming, non-motile bacteria (strains CCUG 49009T and CCUG 49012), both isolated from drinking water, were characterized. On the basis of chemotaxonomic data [major ubiquinone, Q-8; predominant polyamines, putrescine and 2-hydroxyputrescine; major polar lipids, phosphatidylethanolamine, moderate amounts of diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylglycerol and minor amounts of three aminolipids and phosphatidylserine; major fatty acids, C16 : 0 and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1 ω7c/C15 : 0 iso 2-OH)] and 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities, both strains clearly belong to the family Oxalobacteraceae of the Betaproteobacteria. 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities with members of the most closely related genera of this group (Herminiimonas, Massilia, Duganella, Telluria, Herbaspirillum, Janthinobacterium, Naxibacter and Paucimonas) were less than 96.5 % for both strains. The two strains also shared a relatively low 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity (96.8 %). Although phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities clearly showed that the two organisms formed a separate branch, their phenotypes (including chemotaxonomic features) were hardly distinguishable and showed high similarities to those reported for the most closely related genera. On the basis of DNA–DNA hybridization results, the two strains were shown to represent separate species (sharing only 20 % DNA–DNA relatedness), but they could not be clearly differentiated phenotypically from each other. It is evident that these organisms represent a new genus, Undibacterium gen. nov., with one species, Undibacterium pigrum sp. nov. The type strain of Undibacterium pigrum is strain CCUG 49009T (=CIP 109318T). Strain CCUG 49012 (=CIP 108976) probably represents a second species of this genus, but is described here as a second genomovar of this species because of the lack of differentiating characters.

A novel, Gram-negative bacterial strain, SUA2T, isolated from groundwater, was characterized using a polyphasic approach. Cells are Gram-negative, non-spore-forming, straight to curved rods with a single polar flagellum. Strain SUA2T is oxidase- and catalase-positive and is able to fix nitrogen. Poly-β-hydroxybutyrate storage granules are produced. Dominant fatty acids when grown in R2A and VM ethanol media for 72 h at 37 °C are C16 : 0, C16 : 1 ω7c, C17 : 0 cyclo, C10 : 0 3-OH, C18 : 1 ω7c, C12 : 0 and C15 : 0. DNA G+C content is 67.9 mol%. Phenotypic and phylogenetic data indicate that strain SUA2T is related to, but clearly differentiated from Azospira oryzae. Strain SUA2T is thus proposed as a novel species of the genus Azospira with the name Azospira restricta sp. nov. The description of the genus Azospira is emended to include the characteristics of this novel species. The type strain of Azospira restricta is SUA2T (=NRRL B-41660T=DSM 18626T=LMG 23819T).

Three Gram-negative, non-motile, non-spore-forming short rods (strains PB56T, PB180, PB229) were isolated from soil in South Korea. Cells were orange–red in colour. Strains PB180 and PB229 contained small amounts of bacteriochlorophyll a, which was not detected in strain PB56T. However, all three isolates contained the genes for the photosynthetic type II reaction centre, pufLM. They contained Q-10 as the dominant quinone and C18 : 1 as the dominant fatty acid. The highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities were found to Sphingomonas oligophenolica JCM 12082T (95.8 %), Sphingomonas koreensis KCTC 2882T (95.1 %), Sphingomonas mali IFO 15500T (95.1 %), Sphingomonas faeni DSM 14747T (94.8 %), Sphingomonas pruni IFO 15498T (94.7 %) and Sphingomonas aquatilis KCTC 2881T (94.6 %), as well as to Sphingosinicella microcystinivorans Y2T and Sphingosinicella xenopeptidilytica 3-2W4T (95.0–95.2 %). Phylogenetic analyses supported the assignment of strains PB56T, PB180, PB229 to the genus Sphingomonas. The novel isolates differ from all established species of the genus Sphingomonas by their higher G+C content and the absence of straight-chain 2-hydroxy fatty acids. Based on the phylogenetic distances from species with validly published names and their phenotypic properties, the strains constitute a separate species, for which the name Sphingomonas kaistensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is PB56T (=KCTC 12334T=DSM 16846T).

A light-pink-coloured bacterium, designated strain 5416T-32T, was isolated from an air sample in Korea. Cells of the strain were strictly aerobic, Gram-negative, motile (single polar or subpolar flagellum) and rod-shaped. Optimal growth occurred at 25–30 °C and at pH 6.0–7.0. The major quinones were Q-10 and Q-8. The major fatty acids were C18 : 1 ω7c (53.8 %) and C16 : 0 (15.9 %). The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 65.0 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain 5416T-32T was most closely related to Skermanella parooensis, with a similarity of 96.2 %, but relatively low sequence similarities (<92 %) were found with respect to other species with validly published names held in GenBank. Phenotypic and genotypic analyses indicated that strain 5416T-32T could not be assigned to any recognized species. Therefore strain 5416T-32T represents a novel species of the genus Skermanella, for which the name Skermanella aerolata sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 5416T-32T (=KACC 11604T=DSM 18479T).

A psychrotolerant, obligately alkaliphilic, collagenolytic enzyme-producing bacterium, strain AC40T, was isolated from a deep-sea sediment off Torishima Island, Japan, at a depth of 4026 m. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that this bacterium was closely related to members of the genus Alkalimonas, with highest sequence similarity (97.9 %) to Alkalimonas delamerensis 1E1T. DNA–DNA hybridization experiments of strain AC40T with A. delamerensis 1E1T revealed a level of relatedness of less than 30 %. Cells of strain AC40T were strictly aerobic, rod-shaped, Gram-negative and motile by means of a single polar flagellum. The organism grew over a range of temperatures from 5 to 37 °C and at initial pH values between 7.0 and 10.5. Optimal growth was observed at 33 °C and at pH 8.5–10.0. Cellular fatty acids of strain AC40T were predominantly saturated and mono-unsaturated straight-chain components (C16 : 0 and C18 : 1). The major isoprenoid quinone was Q-8. The G+C content of the DNA was 49.3 mol%. Phylogenetic characteristics, physiological properties and DNA–DNA hybridization data indicate that strain AC40T represents a novel species of the genus Alkalimonas, for which the name Alkalimonas collagenimarina sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is AC40T (=JCM 14267T=NCIMB 14266T).

A Gram-negative, rod-like, stalk-producing bacterium, designated strain EMB102T, was isolated from activated sludge that performed enhanced biological phosphorus removal in a sequencing batch reactor. Cells without stalks were motile with single polar flagella, but cells that did produce stalks were non-motile and lacked polar flagella. Growth of strain EMB102T was observed at temperatures between 15 and 35 °C (optimum, 30 °C) and between pH 6.0 and 9.0 (optimum, pH 7.5–8.5). The predominant fatty acids of strain EMB102T were C18 : 1 ω7c, C16 : 0 and C15 : 0. The predominant polar lipid was phosphatidylglycerol. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 64.1 mol% and the major quinone was Q-10. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses showed that strain EMB102T formed a distinct phyletic lineage within the genus Brevundimonas. The levels of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity between the type strains of Brevundimonas species ranged from 95.8 to 97.5 %. DNA–DNA relatedness levels between the EMB102T and closely related Brevundimonas species were below 15.0 %. On the basis of chemotaxonomic data and molecular properties, strain EMB102T represents a novel species within the genus Brevundimonas, for which the name Brevundimonas aveniformis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is EMB102T (=KCTC 12609T=DSM 17977T).

A motile, Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain JS11-7T, was isolated from forest soil from Halla Mountain, Jeju Island, Korea. It grew optimally at 28 °C, pH 6–7 and in the presence of 0–2 % (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain JS11-7T belongs to the family Neisseriaceae, with Silvimonas terrae as its closest relative (95.0 % similarity). It contained Q-8 as the predominant quinone and summed feature 3 (comprising iso-C15 : 0 2-OH and/or C16 : 1 ω6c), C16 : 0 and C18 : 1 ω7c as the major fatty acids. The DNA G+C content was 62 mol%. On the basis of phenotypic and genotypic characteristics and the results of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain JS11-7T represents a novel genus and species, for which the name Andreprevotia chitinilytica gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type species is Andreprevotia chitinilytica and the type strain is JS11-7T (=KACC 11608T=DSM 18519T).

A thermotolerant acetic acid bacterium, designated strain CWBI-B418T, isolated in Senegal from mango fruit (Mangifera indica), was characterized in detail by means of genotypic and phenotypic methods. The novel strain was strictly aerobic and exhibited optimal growth on YGM medium at 35 °C. Cells were Gram-negative, motile and coccoid. The strain was assigned to the genus Acetobacter on the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. DNA–DNA hybridization experiments with its phylogenetically closest relatives showed that strain CWBI-B418T represented a novel Acetobacter genospecies. The DNA G+C content of strain CWBI-B418T was 56.0 mol%. Phenotypic characteristics enabling the differentiation of strain CWBI-B418T from phylogenetically related Acetobacter species were: production of 2-keto-d-gluconic acid from d-glucose, but not 5-keto-d-gluconic acid, production of catalase but not oxidase, growth on yeast extract with 30 % d-glucose, growth with ammonium as sole nitrogen source with ethanol as carbon source, utilization of glycerol and ethanol but not maltose or methanol as carbon sources, and growth in the presence of 10 % ethanol. Based on the genotypic and phenotypic data presented, strain CWBI-B418T clearly represents a novel Acetobacter species, for which the name Acetobacter senegalensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CWBI-B418T (=LMG 23690T=DSM 18889T).

A novel group of moderately halophilic, obligately chemolithoautotrophic, sulfur-oxidizing Gammaproteobacteria was found in sediments of various inland hypersaline lakes and a solar saltern. These bacteria were enriched and isolated with thiosulfate as electron donor and nitrate as electron acceptor at 2 M NaCl. Ten isolates (HLD strains) were long non-motile rods. They grew anaerobically as complete denitrifiers, and aerobically under micro-oxic conditions. Sulfate was the final product of thiosulfate and sulfide oxidation, and nitrite and N2O were intermediates of nitrate reduction to N2. The HLD strains grew optimally at pH 7.3–7.8, and at NaCl concentrations of 1.5–2.0 M. On the basis of phenotypic and genetic analysis, the moderately halophilic, thiodenitrifying isolates are proposed to be assigned to a new genus and species, Thiohalomonas denitrificans gen. nov., sp. nov. The type strain is HLD 2T (=DSM 15841T=UNIQEM U222T ). A single strain, HRhD 3spT, with vibrio-shaped cells, was obtained from a co-culture capable of complete denitrification of nitrate in the presence of either thiocyanate or thiosulfate as electron donor. It grew anaerobically with thiosulfate, reducing nitrate to nitrite, or under micro-oxic conditions at 1.0–2.5 M NaCl with an optimum at 1.0 M. Strain HRhD 3spT was genetically related to the HLD strains at the level of a separate species and is described as Thiohalomonas nitratireducens sp. nov. The type strain is HRhD 3spT (=DSM 16925T=UNIQEM U248T).

Three strains of Gram-negative, aerobic, neutrophilic and halophilic bacteria were isolated from samples of a salt lake on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau and a subterranean saline well in the Si-Chuan Basin of China. These isolates, designated AJ275T, AJ282T and ZG16T, were investigated using a polyphasic approach. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the isolates could be affiliated to the genus Halomonas. Genomic DNA G+C contents were 65.9 mol% for AJ275T, 56.7 mol% for AJ282T and 57.6 mol% for ZG16T. The results of DNA–DNA hybridizations, fatty acid analysis and physiological and biochemical tests allowed the isolates to be differentiated genotypically and phenotypically from closely related species. It is proposed that strains AJ275T (=CGMCC 1.6493T=JCM 14606T=LMG 23976T), AJ282T (=CGMCC 1.6494T=JCM 14607T=LMG 23978T) and ZG16T (=CGMCC 1.6495T=JCM 14608T=LMG 23977T) represent the type strains of three novel species in the genus Halomonas: Halomonas saccharevitans sp. nov., Halomonas arcis sp. nov. and Halomonas subterranea sp. nov., respectively.