- Volume 59, Issue 11, 2009

A novel acidophilic, cell-wall-less archaeon, strain VT, was isolated from a hydrothermal pool on Vulcano Island, Italy. The morphology of cells was observed to vary from pleomorphic to coccoid. The temperature range for growth of strain VT was 15–65 °C with an optimum at 45 °C. The pH for growth ranged from pH 0 to 4 with an optimal at pH 1.4–1.6. Strain VT was able to grow aerobically and anaerobically, oxidizing ferrous iron and reducing ferric iron, respectively. The isolate grew chemo-organotrophically with yeast extract and yeast extract with glucose as the sources of energy and carbon. The molar G+C content in the DNA was 36 mol%. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis demonstrated that strain VT was a member of the family Ferroplasmaceae, order Thermoplasmatales, phylum Euryarchaeota, showing sequence identities of 100 % with Ferroplasma cupricumulans BH2T, 95.4 % with Ferroplasma acidiphilum YT, 94 % with Picrophilus torridus DSM 9790T and 92 % with Picrophilus oshimae DSM 9789T. 16S rRNA gene sequence-based phylogenetic analysis showed that strain VT formed a monophyletic cluster together with F. cupricumulans BH2T and all other thermophilic isolates with available 16S rRNA gene sequences, whereas F. acidiphilum YT formed another cluster with mesophilic isolates within the family Ferroplasmaceae. DNA–DNA hybridization values between strain VT and F. cupricumulans BH2T were well below 70 %, indicating that the two strains belong to separate species. Principal membrane lipids of strain VT were dibiphytanyl-based tetraether lipids containing pentacyclic rings. The polar lipids were dominated by a single phosphoglycolipid derivative based on a galactosyl dibiphytanyl phosphoglycerol tetraether, together with smaller amounts of monoglycosyl and diglycosyl dibiphytanyl ether lipids and the corresponding phosphoglycerol derivatives. The major respiratory quinones present were naphthoquinone derivatives. Given the notable physiological and chemical differences as well as the distinct phylogenetic placement of the new isolate relative to the type species of the genus Ferroplasma, we propose strain VT as a member of a new genus and species, Acidiplasma aeolicum gen. nov.,

sp. nov. The type strain of Acidiplasma aeolicum is strain VT (=DSM 18409T =JCM 14615T). In addition, we propose to transfer Ferroplasma cupricumulans Hawkes et al. 2008 to the genus Acidiplasma as Acidiplasma cupricumulans comb. nov. (type strain BH2T =DSM 16551T =JCM 13668T).

A hyperthermophilic, anaerobic, dissimilatory Fe(III)-reducing, facultatively chemolithoautotrophic archaeon (strain SBH6T) was isolated from a hydrothermal sample collected from the deepest of the known World Ocean hydrothermal fields, Ashadze field (1 ° 58′ 21″ N 4 ° 51′ 47″ W) on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, at a depth of 4100 m. The strain was enriched using acetate as the electron donor and Fe(III) oxide as the electron acceptor. Cells of strain SBH6T were irregular cocci, 0.3–0.5 μm in diameter. The temperature range for growth was 50–85 °C, with an optimum at 81 °C. The pH range for growth was 5.0–7.5, with an optimum at pH 6.8. Growth of SBH6T was observed at NaCl concentrations ranging from 1 to 6  % (w/v) with an optimum at 2.5 % (w/v). The isolate utilized acetate, formate, pyruvate, fumarate, malate, propionate, butyrate, succinate, glycerol, stearate, palmitate, peptone and yeast extract as electron donors for Fe(III) reduction. It was also capable of growth with H2 as the sole electron donor, CO2 as a carbon source and Fe(III) as an electron acceptor without the need for organic substances. Fe(III) [in the form of poorly crystalline Fe(III) oxide or Fe(III) citrate] was the only electron acceptor that supported growth. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that the closest relative of the isolated organism was Geoglobus ahangari 234T (97.0 %). On the basis of its physiological properties and phylogenetic analyses, the isolate is considered to represent a novel species, for which the name Geoglobus acetivorans sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is SBH6T (=DSM 21716T =VKM B-2522T).

A Gram-negative, rod-shaped, yellow-pigmented bacterium, designated strain R2A-7T, was isolated from sediment of the eutrophic Taihu Lake in Jiangsu Province, China. The isolate was subjected to a taxonomic study using a polyphasic approach. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences placed strain R2A-7T within the genus Flavobacterium in the family Flavobacteriaceae. The highest sequence similarity was found with Flavobacterium saliperosum (98.3 %), followed by other Flavobacterium species with similarities <96.0 %. The major fatty acids (>5 %) were 15 : 0 iso, 17 : 1 iso ω9c, 17 : 0 iso 3-OH, 15 : 1 iso G and 15 : 0 iso 3-OH. The G+C content of the genomic DNA of strain R2A-7T was 37.7 mol%. The DNA–DNA relatedness value with F. saliperosum CGMCC 1.3801T was 40.6 %. Molecular and phenotypic data suggest that strain R2A-7T represents a novel species within the genus Flavobacterium, for which the name Flavobacterium cauense is proposed. The type strain is R2A-7T (=CGMCC 1.7270T=NBRC 104929T).

A yellow-pigmented, Gram-staining-negative, aerobic, non-motile, moderately thermophilic, rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain CC-HSB-11T, was isolated from a coastal hot spring of Green Island (Lutao), located off Taituang, Taiwan. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis demonstrated that it shared <94.4 % sequence similarity with Muricauda species. Menaquinone with six isoprene units (MK-6) was the major respiratory quinone and iso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 1 G, iso-C15 : 0 3-OH, iso-C16 : 0 3-OH, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH and summed feature 3 (comprising iso-C15 : 0 2-OH and/or C16 : 1 ω7c/t) were the predominant fatty acids. The predominant polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine. Six unidentified phospholipids and glycolipids also occurred as minor components. The DNA G+C content of strain CC-HSB-11T was 46.4±1 mol%. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities with other Muricauda species and differentiating fatty acid compositions and other phenotypic data, strain CC-HSB-11T represents a novel species in the genus Muricauda, for which the name Muricauda lutaonensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CC-HSB-11T (=BCRC 17850T =KCTC 22339T).

A novel cold-living, Gram-stain-negative, yellow-pigmented and obligately aerobic bacterium designated strain 0563T was isolated from the China No. 1 glacier. Phylogenetic analysis showed that strain 0563T was a member of the genus Flavobacterium, sharing the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities with Flavobacterium limicola JCM 11473T (98.5 %) and Flavobacterium psychrolimnae NBRC 102679T (98.2 %). The genomic DNA G+C content was 34.8 mol%. Strain 0563T displayed the common phenotypic and chemotaxonomic features of the genus Flavobacterium, containing menaquinone-6 (MK-6) as the major quinone and iso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 0 3-OH, summed feature 3 (comprising C16 : 1 ω7c and/or C16 : 1 ω6c), C15 : 1 ω6c, iso-C15 : 1 G and iso-C16 : 0 3-OH as the major fatty acids. On the basis of phenotypic characteristics, phylogenetic analysis and DNA–DNA relatedness data, the novel species Flavobacterium tiangeerense sp. nov. is proposed; the type strain is 0563T (=CGMCC 1.6847T =JCM 15087T).

A yellow-pigmented, Gram-negative, aerobic bacterial strain comprising rod-shaped cells devoid of flagellar and gliding motility, designated strain A31T, was isolated from a veined rapa whelk (Rapana venosa) collected from the South Sea, Republic of Korea. Results from 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that the isolate belonged to the family Flavobacteriaceae; the highest level of nucleotide sequence similarity (92.6 %) was observed with Tenacibaculum aestuarii KCTC 12569T. The predominant cellular fatty acids were iso-C15 : 1 G (24.2 %), iso-C15 : 0 (20.1 %) and iso-C17 : 0 3-OH (11.2 %). Flexirubin-type pigments were absent. The major isoprenoid quinone was MK-6. The DNA G+C content was 31.7 mol%. Data from a polyphasic taxonomic study suggested that the isolate represents a novel species in a new genus of the family Flavobacteriaceae, for which the name Maritimimonas rapanae gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Maritimimonas rapanae is A31T (=KCTC 22186T =JCM 15075T).

A Gram-negative, rod-shaped, deep yellow-pigmented bacterium, designated strain CS5-B1T, was isolated from a soil sample collected from a cliff on Mara Island, south-west of Jeju, Republic of Korea. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain CS5-B1T fell within the radiation of the genus Chitinophaga with the closest relative being Chitinophaga japonensis IFO 16041T (97.2 % sequence similarity). Levels of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity between strain CS5-B1T and other species of the genus Chitinophaga were 92.9–95.8 %. The dominant menaquinone was MK-7. The polar lipids contained phosphatidylethanolamine, a ninhydrin-positive lipid and an unknown lipid. The major fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, C16 : 1 ω5c, C16 : 0 and C18 : 0, with iso-C15 : 0 3-OH and iso-C17 : 0 3-OH as the dominant hydroxy fatty acids. The G+C content of the DNA was 48.7 mol%. DNA-DNA relatedness between strain CS5-B1T and C. japonensis DSM 13484T was 5.8–7.9 %. On the basis of the phenotypic and DNA–DNA hybridization data, this bacterium represents a novel species of the genus Chitinophaga, for which the name Chitinophaga rupis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CS5-B1T (=KCTC 22170T=DSM 21039T).

Three bacterial strains that had been isolated from human blood cultures, MS-1T, MS-2 and MS-3, were characterized for their phenotypic and biochemical features, cellular fatty acid profiles, menaquinone profiles and phylogenetic positions based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that the isolates were members of the genus Parabacteroides. These isolates were most closely related to Parabacteroides goldsteinii JCM 13446T, with 95.9 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity. The levels of sequence similarity among the three strains were 99.7–100 %. The isolates were obligately anaerobic, non-pigmented, non-spore-forming, non-motile, Gram-negative and rod-shaped. The strains grew on media containing 20 % bile. These strains could be differentiated from P. goldsteinii by their ability to ferment l-arabinose and inabilities to ferment cellobiose, l-rhamnose and trehalose or to hydrolyse aesculin. The major menaquinone of the isolates was MK-10. Based on these data, we propose a novel Parabacteroides species, Parabacteroides gordonii sp. nov. The type strain is MS-1T (=JCM 15724T =CCUG 57478T).

An orange-coloured bacterium, CCBAU 05354T, was isolated from the soybean rhizosphere following growth on NA medium. The sample was taken from a field in Hebei province, People's Republic of China. The cells were aerobic, Gram-stain-negative, short rods (0.4–0.6×0.7–1.7 μm) and non-motile. Growth occurred at 28 °C (not at 10 or 37 °C), pH 6.0–10.0, and in the presence of 0–1 % NaCl (w/v). Flexirubin pigment was produced and the cells were resistant to some antibiotics. A phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain CCBAU 05354T was closely related to Niabella soli KACC 12604T (95.1 % sequence similarity). The predominant cellular fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 1 G, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH and summed feature 3 (comprising C16 : 1 ω7c and/or C16 : 1 ω6c). The DNA G+C content was 42 mol%. On the basis of the phylogenetic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic data, strain CCBAU 05354T represents a novel species of the genus Niabella, for which the name Niabella yanshanensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CCBAU 05354T (=LMG 24661T =HAMBI 3031T).

A motile, Gram-negative, pinkish red-pigmented bacterium (strain CC-Hsuan-617T) was isolated from an oil-contaminated soil near an oil refinery located in Kaohsiung County, Taiwan. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain CC-Hsuan-617T clustered with Algoriphagus mannitolivorans (97.5 % sequence similarity), Algoriphagus aquatilis (98.0 %) and Algoriphagus boritolerans (97.5 %), followed by Algoriphagus ornithinivorans (97.1 %) and Algoriphagus alkaliphilus (97.1 %). The fatty acid profile of the novel strain was slightly different from those reported for recognized Algoriphagus species. The quinone system contained menaquinone MK-7 as the predominant component. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, an unknown polar lipid, an unknown phospholipid and an unknown aminophospholipid. The main cell polyamine was sym-homospermidine; lesser amounts of spermine and spermidine were also found. The results of DNA–DNA hybridization, and physiological and biochemical tests allowed the genotypic and phenotypic differentiation of strain CC-Hsuan-617T from recognized Algoriphagus species. Strain CC-Hsuan-617T is thus considered to represent a novel species of the genus Algoriphagus, for which the name Algoriphagus olei sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CC-Hsuan-617T (=BCRC 17886T=CCUG 57471T).

A nitrogen-fixing bacterium, designated strain X19-5T, was isolated from rhizosphere soil of Sonchus oleraceus. Phylogenetic analysis based on a fragment of the nifH gene and the full-length 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that strain X19-5T was a member of the genus Paenibacillus. Strain X19-5T showed the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity (98.8 %) with Paenibacillus graminis RSA19T and below 97 % similarity with other recognized members of the genus. The level of DNA–DNA relatedness between strain X19-5T and P. graminis RSA19T was 45.7 %. The DNA G+C content of strain X19-5T was 46.8 mol%. The major fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0, C16 : 0 and iso-C16 : 0. On the basis of its phenotypic characteristics and the level of DNA–DNA hybridization, strain X19-5T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Paenibacillus, for which the name Paenibacillus sonchi sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is X19-5T (=CCBAU 83901T=LMG 24727T).

Three strains of rod-shaped and motile lactic acid bacteria, NRIC 0736T, NRIC 0735 and NRIC 0737 were isolated from sap obtained from two different oak trees (Quercus sp.) on Awashima Island, Kagawa Prefecture, Japan. The three strains showed nearly identical 16S rRNA gene sequences (>99.7 % sequence similarity). The novel strains showed low 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities to recognized species of lactic acid bacteria. High gene sequence similarities were found between strain NRIC 0736T and Lactobacillus satsumensis NRIC 0604T (96.3 %), Lactobacillus mali DSM 20444T (95.3 %) and Lactobacillus vini DSM 20605T (95.3 %). DNA–DNA relatedness values revealed the genotypic separation of the three novel isolates from these recognized species. It is concluded that the three new isolates represent a novel species, for which the name Lactobacillus sucicola sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is NRIC 0736T (=JCM 15457T=DSM 21376T).

A cellulolytic bacterium, strain P2-1T, isolated from soil in Thailand, was characterized using a taxonomic approach based on phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characteristics and the 16S rRNA gene sequence. The novel strain was Gram-positive, facultatively anaerobic, spore-forming and rod-shaped. It contained meso-diaminopimelic as the diagnostic diamino acid in the cell-wall peptidoglycan. The DNA G+C content was 52.7 mol%. The major isoprenoid quinone was MK-7. Anteiso-C15 : 0 and iso-C16 : 0 were the dominant cellular fatty acids. Phylogenetic analyses using the 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that the novel strain was affiliated to the genus Paenibacillus. Strain P2-1T was closely related to Paenibacillus cineris KCTC 3998T, P. favisporus KCTC 3910T and P. rhizosphaerae KCTC 13015T with 96.3–96.5 % gene sequence similarity. DNA–DNA relatedness, physiological characteristics and some biochemical characteristics clearly distinguished strain P2-1T from related species of the genus Paenibacillus. Therefore, strain P2-1T represents a novel species of the genus Paenibacillus, for which the name Paenibacillus cellulositrophicus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is P2-1T (=KCTC 13135T=PCU 305T=TISTR 1888T).

An anaerobic thermophilic bacterium, designated strain JW/SA-NV4T, was isolated from a xylan-supplemented enrichment culture from Trego hot spring located within the Black Rock Desert (NV, USA). Cells were generally straight or slightly bent rod-shaped, 0.4–0.8 μm in width and 3–6 μm in length during exponential growth. Cells from stationary phase were variable in size and shape, showing curved or bent morphology. Motility was not seen and flagella were not observed in electron micrographs. Sporulation was not observed. Strain JW/SA-NV4T stained Gram-negative but is phylogenetically Gram-type positive. Growth occurred at pH25 °C 6.8–8.8, with optimum growth at pH 8.4; no growth occurred at pH 9.0 or above or at 6.5 or below. With glucose or xylose as the carbon source, strain JW/SA-NV4T grew at 44–74 °C; no growth occurred at 76 °C or above or at 42 °C or below. However, the optimum temperature was 62 and 66 °C when grown on glucose and xylose, respectively. The shortest doubling time observed with glucose was approximately 4 h, and with xylose approximately 3.4 h. Strain JW/SA-NV4T tolerated an atmosphere containing up to 0.1 % O2; no growth occurred at a gas atmosphere of 0.2 % O2. Chemo-organotrophic growth occurred with xylose, glucose, mannose, xylan, pyruvate, fructose, ribose, Casamino acids, mannitol, tryptone, peptone, cellobiose and yeast extract. When grown in mineral media containing 1 g yeast extract l−1 as an electron donor, thiosulfate and sulfur were reduced to sulfide. The G+C content of the DNA was 38.6 mol% (HPLC). 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis placed strain JW/SA-NV4T within the order Thermoanaerobacterales and within the Thermoanaerobacterales Incertae Sedis Family III, specifically between taxa classified within the genera Thermosediminibacter and Thermovenabulum. The closest phylogenetic neighbours were Thermosediminibacter oceani JW/IW-1228PT (94.2 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity) and Thermosediminibacter litoriperuensis JW/YJL-1230-7/2T (94.0 %) [Lee, Y.-J., Wagner, I. D., Brice, M. E., Kevbrin, V. V., Mills, G. L., Romanek, C. S. & Wiegel, J. (2005). Extremophiles 9, 375–383]. Based on physiological and genotypic characteristics, strain JW/SA-NV4T (=DSM 18802T=ATCC BAA-1454T) is proposed to represent the type strain of a novel species in a novel genus, Caldanaerovirga acetigignens gen. nov., sp. nov.

A novel, xylanolytic, anaerobic, moderately thermophilic bacterium, strain PML14T, was isolated from the sludge of a thermophilic anaerobic digester treating municipal solid waste and sewage in Beijing, China. The strain was a Gram-positive, spore-forming and motile rod. Growth of the novel strain was observed at 25–67 °C (optimum 60 °C) and pH 5.8–9.3 (optimum pH 8.5). Strain PML14T grew on a number of carbohydrates, including xylan, xylose, glucose and cellobiose, and a variety of proteinaceous compounds, including peptone, tryptone, Casamino acids, yeast extract, beef extract, casein hydrolysate, l-cysteine, l-serine, l-lysine, l-glycine, l-threonine, l-methionine and pyruvate. The fermentation products from glucose included acetate, ethanol, butyrate, hydrogen and carbon dioxide. Propionate was produced from xylan in addition to other compounds. Fe(III), 9,10-anthraquinone 2,6-disulfonate and thiosulfate were reduced with peptone as the electron donor. NH3 was produced. Indole was not produced. Gelatin was not hydrolysed. The DNA G+C content of strain PML14T was 36.2±0.8 mol% (T m). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain PML14T was related to the members of cluster XII of the clostridia, most closely to Tepidimicrobium ferriphilum SB91T with 93.8 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity. On the basis of polyphasic evidence from this study, it is suggested that strain PML14T (=CGMCC 1.5080T=JCM 15035T) represents a novel species of the genus Tepidimicrobium, for which the name Tepidimicrobium xylanilyticum sp. nov., is proposed. An emended description of the genus Tepidimicrobium is also provided.

Strain JW/YJL-B18T, a spore-forming, sulfate-reducing bacterium, was isolated from constructed wetland sediment. Cells were curved rods, 0.7–1.2 μm in diameter and 3–7 μm long. Despite being phylogenetically a member of the Gram-type-positive phylum Firmicutes, cells stained Gram-negative at all growth phases. Strain JW/YJL-B18T grew at 8–39 °C, with an optimum at 32–35 °C and no growth at 4 °C or below or at 42 °C or above. The pH25 °C range for growth was 5.7–8.2, with an optimum at pH25 °C 7.0–7.3, and no growth was detected at or below pH 5.2 or at or above pH 8.4. The salinity range for growth was 0–3 % (NaCl/KCl 9 : 1). Strain JW/YJL-B18T utilized as carbon and energy sources beef extract, yeast extract, formate, succinate, lactate, pyruvate, ethanol and toluene. Fumarate, sulfate, sulfite and thiosulfate were reduced in the presence of lactate. Arsenate (V) was not used as an electron acceptor. Strain JW/YJL-B18T showed no indication of growth under autotrophic conditions. The predominant cellular fatty acids were C16 : 1 and C16 : 0. The genomic DNA G+C content was 36.6 mol% (HPLC). 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that strain JW/YJL-B18T fell into the genus Desulfosporosinus, with Desulfosporosinus auripigmenti OREX-4T as its closest neighbour with a validly published name (97.9 % similarity). Based on molecular genetic evidence and physiological and biochemical characters including differences in the DNA G+C content, we propose to place strain JW/YJL-B18T (=DSM 17734T =ATCC BAA-1261T) as the type strain of a novel species, Desulfosporosinus youngiae sp. nov.

A Gram-variable-staining, motile and coccoid-, ovoid- or rod-shaped bacterium, strain ISL-25T, was isolated from a marine solar saltern of the Yellow Sea, Korea, and its taxonomic position was investigated by means of a polyphasic study. Strain ISL-25T grew optimally at pH 7.0–8.0 and 30–37 °C. Strain ISL-25T contained meso-diaminopimelic acid as the cell-wall peptidoglycan, MK-7 as the predominant menaquinone and anteiso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C17 : 0 and iso-C16 : 0 as the major fatty acids. The DNA G+C content was 49.3 mol%. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain ISL-25T belongs to the genus Salimicrobium. The similarity values between the 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain ISL-25T and those of the type strains of the three currently recognized Salimicrobium species were 97.6–98.3 %. Mean DNA–DNA relatedness values between strain ISL-25T and the type strains of the genus Salimicrobium were 9–15 %. Differential phenotypic properties of strain ISL-25T, together with the phylogenetic and genetic distinctiveness, revealed that this strain could be differentiated from other Salimicrobium species. Therefore, strain ISL-25T represents a novel species within the genus Salimicrobium, for which the name Salimicrobium flavidum sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is ISL-25T (=KCTC 13260T=CCUG 56755T).

A strictly anaerobic, sluggishly motile, spore-forming, thermophilic bacterium, designated strain AeGT, was isolated from microbial mats colonizing a runoff channel formed by free-flowing thermal waters of a bore well (New Lorne Bore; registered number 17263) in the Great Artesian Basin, Australia. Cells of strain AeGT were curved rods (2.0–10.0×0.8–1.0 μm) and stained Gram-negative. The strain grew optimally in tryptone-yeast extract-citrate medium at 55 °C (range for growth between 45 and 60 °C) and pH 7.0 (range for growth between pH 6.5 and 8.0). Citrate and malate, but no other organic acids, carbohydrates or amino acids could be used in the presence of up to 0.1 % yeast extract. Although yeast extract and/or tryptone were required for growth on citrate, they did not support growth as sole carbon sources. Strain AeGT reduced thiosulfate and sulfite in the presence of 0.2 % yeast extract, but not Fe(III), Mn(IV), sulfate, elemental sulfur, nitrate or nitrite. Growth was inhibited by chloramphenicol, streptomycin, tetracycline, penicillin and ampicillin and in the presence of NaCl concentrations >1 %. The DNA G+C content was 55.4±1.0 mol% as determined by the thermal denaturation method. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that strain AeGT was a member of the family Veillonellaceae, class ‘Clostridia’, phylum ‘Firmicutes’ and was most closely related to members of the genus Propionispora (mean 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity value to type strains was 90.8 %). Based on these results, strain AeGT is considered to represent a novel species in a new genus, for which the name Sporolituus thermophilus gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of the type species is AeGT (=JCM 15556T=KCTC 5668T).

A Gram-positive, aerobic, motile, coccoid, orange-pigmented bacterium, designated strain YIM 91094T, was isolated from a salt lake sample collected from Barkol Lake in Xinjiang Province, north-west China. The strain was able to grow at pH 6.0–8.0 (optimal growth at pH 7.0), at 10–37 °C (optimal growth at 28 °C) and in the presence of 0–25 % (w/v) NaCl [optimal growth in the presence of 10–15 % (w/v) NaCl]. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain YIM 91094T was affiliated with the genus Marinococcus and exhibited levels of sequence similarity of 99.2 % to Marinococcus halotolerans YIM 70157T and 99.7 % to Marinococcus halophilus DSM 20408T. However, it showed moderately low levels of DNA–DNA relatedness with the above type strains (56.0 and 57.5 %, respectively). The peptidoglycan type of strain YIM 91094T was A1γ, with meso-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid. MK-7 was the predominant menaquinone and anteiso-C15 : 0 (49.9 % of the total) and anteiso-C17 : 0 (29.6 %) were the major cellular fatty acids. The DNA G+C content was 48.7 mol%. Strain YIM 91094T possessed chemotaxonomic markers that were consistent with its classification in the genus Marinococcus. On the basis of the data presented, strain YIM 91094T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Marinococcus, for which the name Marinococcus luteus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YIM 91094T (=KCTC 13214T=CCTCC AA 208014T). An emended description of the genus Marinococcus is provided.