- Volume 58, Issue 7, 2008

A novel bacterium, MTT-39T, was isolated from a sample of marine sediment collected at Tottori on the coast of the Sea of Japan. Cells were Gram-negative, rod-shaped and non-motile. The bacterium formed yellowish brown colonies on marine agar 2216. Although the 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain MTT-39T classified this strain as a member of the family Flavobacteriaceae, the maximum sequence similarity obtained was only 91.5 % (with Kordia algicida OT-1T). In the maximum-likelihood tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, the novel bacterium clustered with the type strains of Kordia algicida, Lutibacter litoralis, Tenacibaculum maritimum and Polaribacter filamentus. The novel strain exhibited the following characteristics: the predominant fatty acids in cells grown on artificial seawater-based tryptic soya agar were iso-C15 : 1, iso-C15 : 0 and iso-C15 : 0 3-OH, the major respiratory quinone was MK-6 and the DNA G+C content was 35 mol%. On the basis of its distinct phenotypic traits and the phylogenetic distance between this marine isolate and other recognized taxa, strain MTT-39T represents a novel genus and species of the family Flavobacteriaceae, for which the name Fulvibacter tottoriensis gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of the type species is MTT-39T (=NBRC 102624T=KCTC 22214T=CGMCC 1.7058T).

Leptothrix cholodnii is a sheathed bacterium often found in metal-rich and oligotrophic aquatic environments. A bacterial strain that is able to degrade the NaOH-treated sheath of L. cholodnii was isolated. The isolate was a Gram-negative, aerobic and prosthecate bacterium. The optimum growth temperature and pH were 30 °C and pH 7.0, respectively. The DNA G+C content was 62.9 mol%. The major respiratory quinone was MK-6. A phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene indicated that the isolate is a member of the genus Prosthecobacter. The nearest relative was the type strain of Prosthecobacter vanneervenii, with a similarity of 97.1 %. However, the isolate does not possess the bacterial tubulin genes, btubA and btubB, unique to known species of the genus Prosthecobacter. It is proposed that the isolate represents a novel species, Prosthecobacter fluviatilis sp. nov. The type strain is HAQ-1T (=JCM 14805T =KACC 12649T =KCTC 22182T).

A moderately thermophilic, nitrate-reducing bacterium, strain Yu37-1T, was isolated from hot spring water from Yumata, Nagano, Japan. Cells of strain Yu37-1T were strictly anaerobic, Gram-negative, non-sporulating, motile by means of a single polar flagellum, vibrio-shaped and 1.4–2.0 μm long. The temperature and pH for optimum growth were 55 °C and pH 7.0–7.5, respectively. Strain Yu37-1T grew best in basal medium without the addition of NaCl. Acetate, pyruvate, lactate, fumarate, succinate, malate, yeast extract, peptone and Casamino acids were utilized as electron donors, with nitrate as the only electron acceptor. Ammonium was the end product from nitrate. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 35.1 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene revealed that strain Yu37-1T could be accommodated in the family Deferribacteraceae and that its closest neighbours were members of the five genera of the family Deferribacteraceae, namely Deferribacter, Denitrovibrio, Flexistipes, Geovibrio and Mucispirillum, with similarities of only 83.2–86.2 %. The growth temperature and salinity range for growth of strain Yu37-1T differed from those of the phylogenetically related organisms. On the basis of phenotypic features and phylogenetic position, a novel genus and species are proposed, Calditerrivibrio nitroreducens gen. nov., sp. nov. Strain Yu37-1T (=NBRC 101217T =DSM 19672T) is the type strain of Calditerrivibrio nitroreducens.

A bacterial strain, 5YN9-8T, was isolated from a peat layer in Yongneup, Republic of Korea. It was strictly aerobic, Gram-negative, non-motile, short rod- or coccus-shaped and produced ivory-pigmented colonies. Results of 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses indicated a close relationship between this isolate and Kaistia granuli Ko04T (97.2 % similarity) and Kaistia adipata Chj404T (96.2 % similarity), members of the order Rhizobiales within the Alphaproteobacteria. Predominant cellular fatty acids of strain 5YN9-8T were C18 : 1 ω7c, C18 : 0, C19 : 0 ω8c cyclo and C16 : 0. The DNA G+C content was 67.0 mol%. Phylogenetic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic data accumulated in this study revealed that the isolate represents a novel species of the genus Kaistia, for which the name Kaistia soli sp. nov. is proposed; strain 5YN9-8T (=KACC 12605T =DSM 19436T) is the type strain.

A Gram-negative, rod-shaped, non-motile bacterial strain, designated JS12-13T, was isolated from soil from Halla Mountain on Jeju Island, Korea. Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain JS12-13T revealed that it was a member of the genus Polaromonas, sharing 96.9–98.4 % sequence similarity with type strains of the genus Polaromonas and being most closely related to Polaromonas aquatica CIP 108776T. The major fatty acids of strain JS12-13T were summed feature 3 (C16 : 1 ω7c and/or iso-C15 : 0 2-OH; 38.3 %), C16 : 0 (28.4 %), C17 : 0 cyclo (15.9 %) and C18 : 1 ω7c (9.1 %). The major quinone found was ubiquinone-8. The G+C content of the genomic DNA of strain JS12-13T was 63.7 mol%. On the basis of phenotypic and genotypic characteristics, strain JS12-13T represents a novel species of the genus Polaromonas, for which the name Polaromonas jejuensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JS12-13T (=KACC 12508T =DSM 19351T).

A Gram-type negative or variable, aerobic, rod-shaped, nitrogen-fixing bacterium, designated strain CC4T, was isolated on nutrient agar from a soil sample collected at a regional agricultural research field station located in Kaohsiung County, Taiwan. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis demonstrated that this isolate is unique, showing <92.5 % similarity with respect to species of the genera Xanthobacter (maximum of 92.2 % similarity), Prosthecomicrobium (92.0 %), Devosia (91.9 %), Kaistia (91.9 %) and Methylocystis (91.9 %). The organism utilized acetic acid, formic acid, β-hydroxybutyric acid, dl-lactic acid, succinic acid, bromosuccinic acid, l-alaninamide, l-alanine, l-alanyl glycine, l-glutamic acid and l-proline as substrates, but not methanol or methylamine. Chemotaxonomic data revealed that strain CC4T contains ubiquinone Q-10 as the major respiratory quinone. The characteristic diamino acid of the peptidoglycan was meso-diaminopimelic acid. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine, phosphatidyldimethylethanolamine, an unknown lipid and an unknown aminolipid. The fatty acid profile differed from those of members of the genera Xanthobacter, Prosthecomicrobium, Devosia and Kaistia. The predominant fatty acids were C18 : 1 ω7c, C19 : 0 cyclo and C16 : 0. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis in combination with chemotaxonomic and physiological data, strain CC4T represents a novel genus and species, for which we propose the name Pseudoxanthobacter soli gen. nov., sp. nov. The type strain of Pseudoxanthobacter soli is CC4T (=DSM 19599T =CIP 109513T).

The taxonomic position of five recA gene clusters of Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc) isolates was determined using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. The levels of 16S rRNA and recA gene sequence similarity, multilocus sequence typing (MLST) data and the intermediate DNA–DNA binding values demonstrated that these five clusters represented five novel species within the Bcc. Biochemical identification of these species is difficult, as is the case for most Bcc species. However, identification of these novel species can be accomplished through recA gene sequence analysis, MLST and BOX-PCR profiling and by recA RFLP analysis. For diagnostic laboratories, recA gene sequence analysis offers the best combination of accuracy and simplicity. Based on these results, we propose five novel Bcc species, Burkholderia latens sp. nov. (type strain FIRENZE 3T =LMG 24064T =CCUG 54555T), Burkholderia diffusa sp. nov. (type strain AU1075T =LMG 24065T =CCUG 54558T), Burkholderia arboris sp. nov. (type strain ES0263AT =LMG 24066T =CCUG 54561T), Burkholderia seminalis sp. nov. (type strain AU0475T =LMG 24067T =CCUG 54564T) and Burkholderia metallica sp. nov. (type strain AU0553T =LMG 24068T =CCUG 54567T). In the present study, we also demonstrate that Burkholderia ubonensis should be considered a member of the Bcc.

A Gram-negative, rod-shaped, strictly aerobic micro-organism, designated strain CL-GR60T, was isolated from coastal seawater from the East Sea, Korea. A 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed a clear affiliation with the family Hyphomicrobiaceae. Phylogenetic analyses showed that strain CL-GR60T formed a robust cluster with the species of the genus Devosia at sequence similarity levels of 91.1–93.1 %; no other species in the family Hyphomicrobiaceae shared more than 90 % sequence similarity with strain CL-GR60T. The strain grew optimally in the presence of 3–4 % sea salts at 30–35 °C and pH 7. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, two unidentified glycolipids, an unidentified phospholipid and an unidentified lipid. The strain contained C18 : 1 ω7c (54.7 %), 11-methyl C18 : 1 ω7c (19.3 %), C18 : 0 (14.4 %) as the predominant fatty acids. Ubiquinone-10 was the major quinone. The DNA G+C content was 62.9 mol%. On the basis of physiological data, fatty acid composition and results of phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence, strain CL-GR60T represents a novel genus and species within the family Hyphomicrobiaceae, for which the name Cucumibacter marinus gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Cucumibacter marinus is CL-GR60T (=KCCM 90027T =DSM 18995T).

A thermophilic, strictly anaerobic, sulfur-reducing epsilonproteobacterium (strain AmHT) isolated from deep-sea hydrothermal vents is described. Cells were motile, Gram-negative rods. Growth was observed at 30–55 °C, pH 6.0–9.0 and 2–5 % (w/v) NaCl. Chemolithoautotrophic growth occurred with molecular hydrogen or formate as the electron donor and elemental sulfur as the electron acceptor, producing hydrogen sulfide. Heterotrophic and mixotrophic growth occurred with formate as a source of carbon. The dominant phospholipid fatty acids were C18 : 1 ω7c (73.26 % of the total), C16 : 1 ω7c (12.70 %) and C16 : 0 (12.27 %). The genomic DNA G+C content was 33.5 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences placed strain AmHT within the family Nautiliaceae of the Epsilonproteobacteria. DNA–DNA hybridization experiments between strain AmHT and Nautilia lithotrophica DSM 13520T revealed a level of relatedness of 34.6 % between the two strains. Based on physiological and phylogenetic characteristics, strain AmHT is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Nautilia, for which the name Nautilia profundicola sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is AmHT (=ATCC BAA-1463T =DSM 18972T).

Two facultatively anaerobic, nitrogen-fixing bacteria (strains MSSRF30T and MSSRF31) were isolated from a mangrove-associated wild rice (Porteresia coarctata Tateoka). These strains were determined to be nitrogen-fixers using the acetylene reduction assay and by PCR detection of a nifH gene amplicon. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the novel strains were most closely related to Vibrio fluvialis LMG 7894T (96.8 % gene sequence similarity), Vibrio furnissii LMG 7910T (96.8 % sequence similarity) and Vibrio tubiashii CIP 102760T (96.7 % sequence similarity). Further multilocus sequence analysis using recA, pyrH, rpoA and nifH genes also showed low levels of sequence similarities (83–93 %) with all species of the genus Vibrio with validly published names. A multigene phylogenetic tree using concatenated sequences of the four genes (16S rRNA, rpoA, recA and pyrH) showed that strains MSSRF30T and MSSRF31 occupied a distinct phylogenetic position, forming a long branching that was not clustered with any other recognized Vibrio species. The fatty acid profile also suggested that the novel strains belonged to the genus Vibrio. The results of physiological and biochemical tests, genomic fingerprinting and DNA–DNA hybridization analyses clearly differentiated both novel strains from their closest phylogenetic neighbours, Vibrio cholerae IID6019, Vibrio mimicus LMG 7896T, V. fluvialis LMG 7894T and V. furnissii LMG 7910T. Several phenotypic traits enabled the differentiation of strain MSSRF30T from other species of the genus Vibrio. The DNA G+C content of strain MSSRF30T was 44.4±3.1 mol%. Based on genotypic, phenotypic, chemotaxonomic, phylogenetic and DNA–DNA hybridization analyses, the name Vibrio porteresiae sp. nov. (type strain MSSRF30T=LMG 24061T=DSM 19223T) is proposed for this novel taxon.

Nine bacterial strains were studied by means of rep-PCR, 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, DNA–DNA hybridization and physiological characterization. Typing analysis by means of rep-PCR showed that all nine strains were highly homogeneous, with similarities above 94 %. The strains were isolated from the same geographical area (Mazatlán, Sinaloa state, Mexico) and the same type of host (cultured rose snapper, Lutjanus guttatus), although from different individuals and organs. Comparison of the almost-complete 16S rRNA gene sequences of five strains showed that they belonged to the genus Vibrio and are closely related to the type strains of Vibrio brasiliensis and Vibrio hepatarius, with similarity values ranging from 97.9 to 98.1 % and from 97.4 to 97.8 %, respectively. The DNA–DNA hybridization value of strain CAIM 797T with the type strain of V. brasiliensis (CAIM 495T) was 47.5 %, with a reciprocal value of 44.7 %. The main phenotypic features of the strains were in agreement with the phylogenetic and genomic data. The results presented here support the description of a novel species, for which the name Vibrio sinaloensis sp. nov. is proposed, with strain CAIM 797T (=CECT 7298T) as the type strain.

We describe the characterization of a novel Rickettsia species cultivated from Dermacentor ticks collected in Russia and France, for which we propose the name Rickettsia raoultii sp. nov. Using multigene sequencing, we demonstrated that five rickettsial isolates from Dermacentor silvarum, Dermacentor reticulatus, Dermacentor marginatus and Dermacentor nuttalli ticks were classified within this novel spotted fever rickettsia species. This rickettsia also exhibited a serotype distinct from previously described Rickettsia species. The type strain of Rickettsia raoultii sp. nov. is strain KhabarovskT (=CSUR R3T =ATCC VR-1596T).

Six Gram-negative, rod-shaped, non-spore-forming bacteria isolated from clinical specimens and water samples were investigated for their taxonomic allocation. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities, these strains (CCUG 35299T, CCUG 24677A, CCUG 48018, CCUG 49054, CCUG 48700A and CCUG 38318T) were shown to belong to the Betaproteobacteria, closely related to Naxibacter alkalitolerans (97.9–98.8 % sequence similarity to the type strain). Chemotaxonomic data (major ubiquinone Q-8; major polyamines hydroxyputrescine and putrescine; major polar lipids phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and diphosphatidylglycerol; major fatty acids C16 : 1 ω7c and C16 : 0, with 3-OH C10 : 0 and 2-OH C12 : 0 as hydroxylated fatty acids) supported the affiliation of the isolates to the genus Naxibacter. The results of DNA–DNA hybridization and physiological and biochemical tests allowed both genotypic and phenotypic differentiation of the isolates from the described Naxibacter species. Isolates CCUG 35299T, CCUG 24677A, CCUG 48018, CCUG 49054 and CCUG 48700A were closely related on the basis of DNA–DNA reassociation experiments and therefore represent a single novel species, for which the name Naxibacter varians sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain CCUG 35299T (=CCM 7478T). Strain CCUG 38318T represents a second novel Naxibacter species, for which we propose the name Naxibacter haematophilus sp. nov. (type strain CCUG 38318T =CCM 7480T).

A previously unknown ecotype of obligately chemolithoautotrophic, sulfur-oxidizing bacteria was discovered in sediments of various inland hypersaline lakes and a solar saltern. The salt requirements for these bacteria were similar to those of haloarchaea, representing the first example of extreme halophiles occurring among the chemolithoautotrophs. They were enriched and isolated at 4 M NaCl under aerobic conditions with thiosulfate or tetrathionate as the electron donor or under micro-oxic conditions with sulfide. In total, 20 strains were obtained from hypersaline inland lakes in central Asia, central Russia and Crimea and a sea saltern of the Adriatic Sea. The isolates were thin, motile spirilla, some of which possessed a yellow, membrane-bound pigment. They were obligately aerobic, chemolithoautotrophic, sulfur-oxidizing bacteria that used thiosulfate, sulfide, sulfur and tetrathionate as electron donors. The characteristic feature of the group was the production of large amounts of tetrathionate as an intermediate during the oxidation of thiosulfate to sulfate. All but one of the strains grew within the pH range 6.5–8.2 (optimally at pH 7.3–7.8) and at NaCl concentrations from 2.0 to 5 M (optimally at 3.0 M). A single strain, designated ALgr 6spT, obtained (by enrichment) from the hypersaline alkaline lakes of the Wadi Natrun valley, was found to be moderately halophilic and facultatively alkaliphilic (capable of growth at pH 10). The predominant cellular fatty acids were quite unusual, with 10-methyl C16 : 0 and C16 : 0 predominating. Cells grown at 4 M NaCl accumulated extremely high concentrations of glycine betaine as a compatible solute. The 20 neutrophilic isolates contained three genospecies (on the basis of DNA–DNA relatedness data) but could not be discriminated phenotypically. On the basis of the phenotypic and genotypic analyses, the isolates constitute a novel genus and species, for which the name Thiohalospira halophila gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Thiohalospira halophila is HL 3T (=DSM 15071T=UNIQEM U219T). The haloalkaliphilic strain ALgr 6spT represents a second species of the new genus, for which the name Thiohalospira alkaliphila sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Thiohalospira alkaliphila is ALgr 6spT (=DSM 17116T=UNIQEM U372T).

Thirty-one rhizobial strains isolated from nodules of legumes native of Xinjiang, China, were characterized. These strains were classified as belonging to the genus Rhizobium based on amplified 16S rDNA restriction analysis (ARDRA). The strains were distinguished from recognized Rhizobium species using analysis of 16S–23S rDNA intergenic spacers (IGS-RFLP), SDS-PAGE analysis of whole proteins and BOX-PCR; the test strains always formed a distinct cluster with patterns that were quite different from those of the reference rhizobial strains used. According to the phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene, the test strains belonged to the genus Rhizobium, with Rhizobium tropici, Rhizobium rhizogenes and Rhizobium lusitanum as the closest related species, with 99.6, 99.2 and 99.4 % sequence similarities, respectively, between the type strains of the three Rhizobium species and strain CCBAU 83401T. Phylogenetic analyses of the representative strains using IGS and atpD, recA and glnII genes all confirmed the phylogenetic arrangements obtained using the 16S rRNA gene. The DNA–DNA relatedness values between strain CCBAU 83401T and strains CCBAU 83364, CCBAU 83345 and CCBAU 83523 ranged from 80.8 to 100 %, showing that they belong to the same species. The DNA–DNA relatedness between strain CCBAU 83401T and R. tropici IIB CIAT 899T, R. tropici IIA CFN 299, R. rhizogenes LMG 150T and R. lusitanum P1-7T were 26.9, 27.7, 38.2 and 22.6 %, respectively, clearly indicating that strain CCBAU 83401T represents a novel species. Phenotypic characterization of four representative strains, CCBAU 83401T, CCBAU 83364, CCBAU 83345 and CCBAU 83523, showed several distinctive features that differentiated them from closely related species. The 31 strains had identical nodD and nifH genes, which were very similar to those of the bean-nodulating R. lusitanum, Devosia neptuniae and R. tropici IIB. Based upon these results, the strains from this study are considered to represent a novel species, for which the name Rhizobium multihospitium sp. nov. is proposed. The DNA G+C content ranged from 65.3 to 66.0 mol% (T m). The type strain is CCBAU 83401T (=LMG 23946T=HAMBI 2975T), which nodulates Robinia pseudoacacia, but not Leucaena leucocephala, Phaseolus vulgaris, Pisum sativum or Medicago sativa.

Four novel species of psychrotrophic bacteria were isolated from sediment adjacent to sperm whale carcasses off Kagoshima, Japan, at a depth of 228–250 m. Cells of the five isolated strains, JAMM 0394T, JAMM 0404T, JAMM 0415T, JAMM 0700 and JAMM 0738T, were Gram-negative, rod-shaped, non-sporulating and motile by means of a single polar flagellum. The novel strains were able to produce isoprenoid quinone Q-8 as the major component. The predominant fatty acids were C16 : 0 and C16 : 1. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the novel strains represent a separate lineage within the genus Psychromonas. The G+C contents of the novel strains were 38.8–42.8 mol%. DNA–DNA hybridization values between these strains and reference strains of the genus Psychromonas were significantly lower than that generally accepted as the threshold for the phylogenetic definition of species. The names Psychromonas japonica sp. nov. (type strain JAMM 0394T=JCM 14783T=ATCC BAA-1525T), Psychromonas aquimarina sp. nov. (type strain JAMM 0404T=JCM 14784T=ATCC BAA-1526T), Psychromonas macrocephali sp. nov. (two strains, type strain JAMM 0415T=JCM 14785T=ATCC BAA-1527T) and Psychromonas ossibalaenae sp. nov. (type strain JAMM 0738T=JCM 14786T=ATCC BAA-1528T) are proposed.

A novel psychrotolerant, Gram-negative, motile bacterium, designated strain 328T, was isolated from sea-ice samples collected off the Canadian Basin of the Arctic Ocean (7 ° 23′ 14″ N 14 ° 06′ 55″ W). Strain 328T was able to grow at 0–37 °C, with optimum growth at 25–27 °C. It possessed phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol as major phospholipids and C10 : 0 3-OH (31.78 %), C18 : 1 ω7c (27.50 %) and iso-C15 : 0 2-OH and/or C16 : 1 ω7c (19.22 %) as predominant cellular fatty acids. The DNA G+C content of strain 328T was 45.2 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain 328T was a member of the genus Marinomonas (92.7–96.0 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity). On the basis of phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic distinctiveness, strain 328T was considered to represent a novel species of the genus Marinomonas. The name Marinomonas arctica sp. nov. is proposed, with strain 328T (=CGMCC 1.6498T=JCM 14976T) as the type strain.

During investigations into the diversity of anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria in marine habitats, an ovoid to rod-shaped purple non-sulfur bacterium, designated strain JA276T, was isolated from enrichments under photoheterotrophic conditions from a marine sediment sampled from the seashore of Cochin, India. Strain JA276T is a Gram-negative, motile, chain-forming bacterium that shows optimum growth under photoheterotrophic conditions and is also able to grow chemoorganotrophically. Thiamine is required as a growth factor. Strain JA276T contains vesicular intracytoplasmic membranes, bacteriochlorophyll a and the carotenoids spheroidene and spheroidenone. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain JA276T belongs to the genus Rhodobacter and is closely related to the type strain of Rhodobacter capsulatus (96.2 % sequence similarity). On the basis of the results of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis and morphological and physiological data, strain JA276T is significantly different from other species of the genus Rhodobacter and represents a novel species of the genus, for which the name Rhodobacter maris sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JA276T (=JCM 14794T =ATCC BAA-1549T =CCUG 55129T).

A yellowish brown bacterium was isolated from photoheterotrophic enrichment cultures obtained from a mud sample collected from a mangrove forest located in Khola, India. Enrichment and isolation in medium containing 2 % NaCl (w/v) yielded strain JA297T, cells of which were ovoid and motile. Cells of strain JA297T contained vesicular internal membranes and bacteriochlorophyll a and carotenoids of the spheroidene series. Strain JA297T grew optimally at 30 °C and at pH 6.0–7.0. Photo-organoheterotrophy was the preferred mode of growth. Strain JA297T was also able to grow photolithoautotrophically and chemo-organotrophically but not by chemolithoautotrophy or by fermentation. Strain JA297T was able to utilize sulfide, sulfite, sulfate, thiosulfate, thioglycolate and cysteine as sulfur sources. Biotin, niacin and thiamine were required as growth factors. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain JA297T was shown to belong to the class Alphaproteobacteria and was closely related to the type strains of Rhodovulum marinum (96.72 % similarity), Rhodovulum visakhapatnamense (96.42 %) and Rhodovulum sulfidophilum (96.32 %). The DNA G+C composition was 63 mol%. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis and morphological and physiological characteristics, strain JA297T could be distinguished from all recognized species of the genus Rhodovulum. This strain is therefore suggested to represent a novel species of the genus Rhodovulum, for which the name Rhodovulum kholense sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JA297T (=ATCC BAA-1544T=JCM 14888T=CCUG 55397T).

Two novel species of Aspergillus section Nigri from Thai coffee beans are described as Aspergillus aculeatinus sp. nov. and Aspergillus sclerotiicarbonarius sp. nov. Their taxonomic status was determined using a polyphasic taxonomic approach with phenotypic (morphology and extrolite profiles) and molecular (β-tubulin, internal transcribed spacer and calmodulin gene sequences) characteristics. A. aculeatinus sp. nov. is a uniseriate species with a similar morphology to Aspergillus aculeatus and Aspergillus japonicus, but producing smaller conidia (2–5 μm). A. aculeatinus sp. nov. produced neoxaline, secalonic acid D and F, and aculeacins. A. sclerotiicarbonarius sp. nov. is a biseriate species similar to Aspergillus carbonarius and Aspergillus ibericus, but produces abundant sclerotia and some unique indol-alkaloids. The type strain of Aspergillus sclerotiicarbonarius sp. nov. is CBS 121057T (=IBT 28362T) and the type strain of Aspergillus aculeatinus sp. nov. is CBS 121060T (=IBT 29077T).