- Volume 58, Issue 8, 2008

A novel psychrotolerant, Gram-negative, aerobic bacterium, designated strain 537T, was isolated from sea-ice samples from the Arctic. Strain 537T was able to grow at 4–26 °C, with optimum growth occurring at 20–21 °C. Strain 537T had Q-8 as the major respiratory quinone and contained iso-C15 : 0 2-OH and/or C16 : 1 ω7c (22.95 %), C15 : 1 (17.64 %) and C17 : 1 ω8c (13.74 %) as the predominant cellular fatty acids. The genomic DNA G+C content was 38.9 mol%. A phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain 537T formed a coherent cluster within the genus Colwellia. The highest level of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity (97.5 %) exhibited by strain 537T was obtained with respect to the type strain of Colwellia aestuarii. On the basis of phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic properties and DNA–DNA relatedness data, strain 537T represents a novel species of the genus Colwellia, for which the name Colwellia polaris sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 537T (=CGMCC 1.6132T =JCM 13952T).

Three strains of Gram-negative, rod-shaped, non-spore-forming bacteria were isolated from fresh water and human blood. As determined by analyses of 16S rRNA gene sequences, the prosthecate strain FWC 38T was affiliated to the alphaproteobacterial genus Caulobacter, with Caulobacter henricii (96.8 %) and Caulobacter fusiformis (96.8 %) as its closest relatives. The non-prosthecate strain LMG 11050T and the prosthecate strain FWC 21T both belonged to the genus Phenylobacterium with Phenylobacterium koreense (96.9 %) and Phenylobacterium immobile (96.3 %) as the closest relatives. This affiliation was supported by chemotaxonomic data (polar lipids and cellular fatty acids). Physiological and biochemical tests allowed genotypic and phenotypic differentiation of the novel strains from all hitherto recognized species of the genera Caulobacter and Phenylobacterium. The strains therefore represent novel species, for which the names Caulobacter mirabilis sp. nov. (type strain FWC 38T=LMG 24261T=CCUG 55073T), Phenylobacterium conjunctum (type strain FWC 21T=LMG 24262T=CCUG 55074T), the first described prosthecate Phenylobacterium species, and Phenylobacterium haematophilum sp. nov. (type strain LMG 11050T=CCUG 26751T) are proposed. Marker nucleotides within the 16S rRNA genes were determined for the genera Asticcacaulis, Brevundimonas, Caulobacter and Phenylobacterium and the description of the genus Phenylobacterium is emended.

A novel species of the genus Cryptococcus, isolated from dead needles of Pinus sylvestris, was identified using mycocinotyping and rDNA sequence data. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the novel species was located in the Kwoniella clade of the Tremellales and was closely related to Cryptococcus dejecticola. The type strain of the novel species, Cryptococcus pinus sp. nov., is VKM Y-2958T (=CBS 10737T).

A Gram-positive, moderately halophilic bacterium, designated strain BH113T, was isolated from a salt lake located in Xinjiang Province, China. Cells of the strain were aerobic, spore-forming, motile rods with flagella. The organism grew optimally at 37 °C and pH 8.0 in the presence of 10 % (w/v) NaCl. A phylogenetic analysis based on comparisons of 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the isolate formed a clade with the type strains of the genus Lentibacillus. The levels of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity between strain BH113T and Lentibacillus lacisalsi KCTC 3915T, Lentibacillus juripiscarius JCM 12147T and Lentibacillus kapialis JCM 12580T were 96.7, 96.3 and 96.1 %, respectively. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 46.2 mol% and the major isoprenoid quinone was MK-7. The peptidoglycan type was A1γ (meso-diaminopimelic acid) and the major polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol and diphosphatidylglycerol. The major fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C16 : 0 and anteiso-C17 : 0. Therefore, on the basis of physiological, chemotaxonomic and molecular properties, strain BH113T represents a novel species within the genus Lentibacillus, for which the name Lentibacillus salis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is BH113T (=KCTC 3936T =DSM 16817T).

The taxonomic position of a Gram-positive coccus, designated strain CAU 28T, isolated from activated sludge foam was determined by using a polyphasic approach. Based on its cellular morphology and the results of biochemical tests, strain CAU 28T was identified tentatively as a member of the genus Lactococcus. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that levels of similarity between strain CAU 28T and the type strains of recognized Lactococcus species ranged from 90.4 to 97.2 %. DNA–DNA hybridization studies showed that strain CAU 28T displayed less than 26.1 % relatedness to the type strains of recognized Lactococcus species. The rep-PCR fingerprints revealed that strain CAU 28T was well separated from reference Lactococcus species. The combined genotypic and phenotypic data indicate that strain CAU 28T represents a novel species of the genus Lactococcus, for which the name Lactococcus chungangensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CAU 28T (=KCTC 13185T =CCUG 55099T).

A bacterial strain designated GR21T was isolated from apoplastic fluid of Saccharum officinarum (sugar cane). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the isolate forms a separate branch within the family ‘Paenibacillaceae’, with Paenibacillus as the closest related genus. Within this genus, the closest related species is Paenibacillus xylanilyticus, with 93.4 % similarity to the sequence of the type strain. The isolate has Gram-variable, facultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped cells, motile by polar and subpolar flagella. Round, non-ornamented, central or subterminal spores are formed in unswollen sporangia. The strain is catalase-positive and oxidase-negative on nutrient agar medium. Cellulose and aesculin were hydrolysed, whereas xylan, starch and gelatin were not. Growth was supported by many carbohydrates as carbon sources. Strain GR21T displayed a lipid profile consisting of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, an unknown aminophospholipid, two unknown glycolipids and an unknown phosphoglycolipid. MK-7 was the predominant menaquinone and anteiso-C15 : 0 was the major fatty acid. The DNA G+C content was 57.8 mol%. Phylogenetic and phenotypic analyses, including assimilation of carbon sources and exoenzyme production commonly used for classification within the family ‘Paenibacillaceae’, showed that strain GR21T belongs to a new genus within this family, for which the name Saccharibacillus sacchari gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Saccharibacillus sacchari is GR21T (=LMG 24085T =DSM 19268T).

A bacterial strain designated GSPC1T was isolated from root nodules of Phaseolus coccineus in Segovia (Spain). The 16S rRNA gene sequence of this strain showed 95.9 and 94.7 % sequence similarity, respectively, with those of the type strains of Cohnella hongkongensis and Cohnella thermotolerans. Strain GSPC1T presented phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and molecular differences with respect to Cohnella species which indicated that it belonged to a different species. The isolate was a Gram-positive, aerobic, sporulated rod, motile by means of peritrichous flagella. The strain was catalase-positive and showed weak oxidase activity. It grew in the presence of 2 % NaCl. MK-7 was the predominant menaquinone. anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 0, iso-C16 : 0 and C16 : 0 were the major fatty acids. Major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine. The G+C content was 60.3 mol%. The results of this study suggest that isolate GSPC1T should be classified within a novel Cohnella species, for which the name Cohnella phaseoli sp. nov. is proposed, with strain GSPC1T (=LMG 24086T =DSM 19269T) as the type strain.

Phenotypic and phylogenetic studies were performed on 15 isolates of an unidentified Gram-positive, anaerobic, non-sporulating coccobacillus-shaped bacterium isolated from human faeces. The novel organisms were catalase-negative, indole-negative and produced acetate and succinate as end products of metabolism. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequencing demonstrated that the 15 isolates were highly related to each other and formed a hitherto unknown subline within the clostridial rRNA cluster XIVa. The novel isolates formed a robust phylogenetic group with a number of organisms which included Clostridium coccoides, Ruminococcus luti, Ruminococcus obeum and a number of other misclassified ruminococci. On the basis of these studies, a novel genus, Blautia gen. nov., is proposed. It is suggested that Clostridium coccoides, Ruminococcus hansenii, Ruminococcus hydrogenotrophicus, Ruminococcus luti, Ruminococcus productus, and Ruminococcus schinkii are transferred to this genus as Blautia coccoides gen. nov., comb. nov., Blautia hansenii comb. nov., Blautia hydrogenotrophica comb. nov., Blautia luti comb. nov., Blautia producta comb. nov. and Blautia schinkii comb. nov. One of the new isolates, the hitherto unknown coccus-shaped bacterial strain WAL 14507T (=ATCC BAA-1564T=DSM 19850T) is proposed as representing the type strain of a novel species, Blautia wexlerae sp. nov.

A novel moderately halophilic, non-motile, rod-shaped bacterium was isolated from a saline lake, Lake Shangmatala, in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China. This bacterium, designated SH4sT, was strictly aerobic, catalase-positive and oxidase-negative. It grew at salinities of 3–20 % (w/v) NaCl, with an optimum at 10 % (w/v) NaCl. The cell-wall peptidoglycan was of the A4β type, based on l-Orn–d-Asp, and the major quinone was a menaquinone with seven isoprene units (MK-7). The major fatty acids were iso-C16 : 0 and iso-C15 : 0. The polar lipids consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, a glycolipid and four different unidentified phospholipids. The DNA G+C content was 45.9 mol%. In a maximum-parsimony phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, strain SH4sT was found to belong to the family Bacillaceae and to be most closely related to members of the genera Filobacillus (95.9 % sequence similarity), Piscibacillus (95.7 %) and Tenuibacillus (95.4 %). DNA–DNA hybridization experiments revealed 10 % relatedness (12 %, reciprocally) between strain SH4sT and Filobacillus milosensis DSM 13259T, the sole species of the genus. All of these data show that strain SH4sT represents a novel genus and species in the family Bacillaceae, for which the name Aquisalibacillus elongatus gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Aquisalibacillus elongatus is SH4sT (=CCM 7366T =CECT 7149T =DSM 18090T).

A Gram-positive, moderately halophilic bacterium, designated strain EN8dT, was isolated from sediment from Lake Erliannor in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China. Cells were facultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped and motile and did not display endospore formation. Isolate EN8dT grew in a complex medium supplemented with 0–20 % (w/v) marine salts (optimally at 5–7.5 %, w/v). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons showed that strain EN8dT was a member of the family Bacillaceae, belonging to a cluster with Thalassobacillus (96.3 % gene sequence similarity) and Halobacillus (95.0–96.0 %), albeit emerging as an independent lineage from members of these two genera. Strain EN8dT contained cell-wall peptidoglycan based on meso-diaminopimelic acid and possessed MK-7 as the major respiratory isoprenoid quinone. The major fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0 and anteiso-C17 : 0. The polar lipid pattern consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and an unidentified glycolipid. The DNA G+C content was 47.5 mol%. Strain EN8dT could be clearly differentiated from its phylogenetic neighbours on the basis of several phenotypic, genotypic and chemotaxonomic features. Therefore strain EN8dT is considered to represent a novel genus and species, for which the name Sediminibacillus halophilus gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Sediminibacillus halophilus is EN8dT (=CCM 7364T =CECT 7148T =CGMCC 1.6199T =DSM 18088T).

The Judicial Commission affirms that the genus name Sinorhizobium Chen et al. 1988 is a later synonym of Ensifer Casida 1982, and that the former genus name is not conserved over the latter genus name. The species name ‘Sinorhizobium adhaerens’ is not validly published.

The Judicial Commission rules that the adjectival form is to be conserved in the specific epithet forsythia in Tannerella forsythia.

The Judicial Commission affirms that, according to Rule 40d, formerly Rule 46, of the Bacteriological Code, the authorship of a number of subspecies names included on the Approved Lists of Bacterial Names must be corrected. These names are Acetobacter aceti subsp. aceti, Acetobacter pasteurianus subsp. pasteurianus, Bacteroides melaninogenicus subsp. melaninogenicus, Campylobacter fetus subsp. fetus, Mycobacterium chelonae subsp. chelonae, Propionibacterium freudenreichii subsp. freudenreichii, Selenomonas ruminantium subsp. ruminantium, Streptoverticillium fervens subsp. fervens, Veillonella parvula subsp. parvula and Zymomonas mobilis subsp. mobilis.

The Judicial Commission rules that the name Corynebacterium ilicis Mandel et al. 1961 is represented by the type strain ICMP 2608 =ICPB CI144 and is reported to be a plant-pathogenic species. Arthrobacter ilicis is represented by the type strain DSM 20138 =ATCC 14264 =NCPPB 1228 and is not a homotypic synonym of Corynebacterium ilicis Mandel et al. 1961, and is reported not to be a plant pathogen. The authorship is to be cited as Arthrobacter ilicis Collins et al. 1982 and typification and the description of this species are to be found in Collins et al. (1981) [ Collins, M. D., Jones, D. & Kroppenstedt, R. M. (1981). Zentralbl Bakteriol Parasitenkd Infektionskr Hyg Abt I Orig C2, 318–323 ].

The International Code of Nomenclature of Bacteria (the Code) has retained the concept of legitimate and illegitimate names, despite the fact that the principle underlying valid publication of a name could easily dispense with this concept. Furthermore, changes in wording to the Code are proposed that would help to clarify the issue of names that contravene the Code.