- Volume 60, Issue 1, 2010

The taxonomic position of a Gram-stain-positive, aerobic strain, designated 03-9939T, isolated from a soil sample collected from Xinjiang Province, China, was established using a polyphasic approach. Whole-cell hydrolysates of strain 03-9939T contained galactose and ribose as diagnostic sugars and meso-diaminopimelic acid as the diamino acid. The predominant menaquinone was MK-9(H4). The phospholipids consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylcholine. The major fatty acids were iso-C16 : 0 (61.5 %) and iso-C16 : 1 H (11.6 %). The genomic DNA G+C content was 68.2 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain 03-9939T should be placed within the family Actinosynnemataceae, in which the strain formed a distinct lineage. Signature nucleotides in the 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that the strain contained a genus-specific diagnostic nucleotide signature pattern. The combination of phylogenetic analysis, phenotypic characteristics and chemotaxonomic data supported the conclusion that strain 03-9939T represents a novel species in a new genus of the family Actinosynnemataceae, for which the name Alloactinosynnema album gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. Strain 03-9939T (=DSM 45114T =KCTC 19294T =CCM 7461T) is the type strain of Alloactinosynnema album.

An actinomycete, strain I06-2230T, was isolated from rhizosphere soil of the plant Cephalotaxus fortunei, collected from Yunnan province, south China. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the isolate belongs to the genus Actinopolymorpha. Cells grew on agar surfaces, with no penetration even after prolonged cultivation. Aerial hyphae were absent. Cells were irregularly shaped and remained attached as chains or aggregates. Chemotaxonomic data, which showed ll-diaminopimelic acid in the cell wall, glucose as the whole-cell sugar, type PI phospholipids and MK-9(H4) as the predominant menaquinone, supported the affiliation of strain I06-2230T to the genus Actinopolymorpha. The major fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, iso-C16 : 0 and iso-C16 : 1 H. The genomic DNA G+C content was 69.3 mol%. DNA–DNA hybridization data, in combination with chemotaxonomic, physiological and biochemical data, demonstrated that strain I06-2230T should be classified as representing a novel species of the genus Actinopolymorpha. The name Actinopolymorpha cephalotaxi sp. nov. is proposed, with strain I06-2230T (=DSM 45117T=CCM 7466T=KCTC 19293T) as the type strain.

Four Gram-positive, non-motile, aerobic actinobacteria were isolated from spiders and their webs. Their genetic, phenotypic and chemical properties were studied. The 16S rRNA gene sequence data suggested that the four novel isolates belonged to the genus Friedmanniella. Two strains (FA1T and FA2T) formed a cluster together with Friedmanniella capsulata and Friedmanniella lacustris and the other two strains (FB1T and FB2T) formed a cluster together with Friedmanniella antarctica and Friedmanniella spumicola. The cell-wall peptidoglycan contained ll-A2pm and mycolic acids were absent. Isoprenoid quinones were mainly composed of MK-9(H4), MK-9(H2) and MK-9 and the predominant fatty acids were 12-methyltetradecanoic acid (ai-C15 : 0) and 13-methyltetradecanoic acid (i-C15 : 0). The major polar lipids were phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylglycerol. In addition, strain FA1T, FB1T, and FB2T contained diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylcholine. The DNA G+C contents were: 72 mol%, 73 mol%, 74 mol% and 75 mol% for strains FA1T, FA2T, FB1T, and FB2T, respectively. DNA–DNA hybridization studies demonstrated that the novel strains showed low relatedness values to F. capsulata, F. lacustris, F. antarctica and F. spumicola. These data support the proposal that strains FA1T, FA2T, FB1T and FB2T represent novel species of the genus Friedmanniella. Therefore, the names Friedmanniella luteola (type strain FA1T=DSM 21741T=NBRC 104963T), Friedmanniella lucida (type strain FA2T=DSM 21742T=NBRC 104964T), Friedmanniella okinawensis (type strain FB1T=DSM 21744T=NBRC 104966T) and Friedmanniella sagamiharensis (type strain FB2T=DSM 21743T=NBRC 104965T) are proposed for these new strains.

A Gram-positive, aerobic, non-motile and coccoid actinobacterium, designated P31T, was isolated from a traditional, fermented seafood. The strain was catalase-positive and oxidase-negative. Cells grew in the presence of 0–15.0 % (w/v) NaCl, and at pH 5–10 and 15–37 °C. Major cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C17 : 0 and iso-C16 : 0. Strain P31T contained MK-7 as the predominant menaquinone. The DNA G+C content of the genomic DNA of strain P31T was 65.2 mol%. A phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that strain P31T was most closely related to Kocuria kristinae DSM 20032T, with 96.9 % similarity, and these two strains clustered together in constructed phylogenetic trees. The DNA–DNA hybridization value between strain P31T and K. kristinae DSM 20032T was 21.1 %. On the basis of the phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic data, it is suggested that strain P31T represents a novel species of the genus Kocuria, for which the name Kocuria koreensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is P31T (=KCTC 19595T=JCM 15915T).

The taxonomic position of an actinomycete, strain IMMIB L-889T, isolated from the sputum of a 64-year-old man, was determined using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. The strain had chemical and morphological properties that were consistent with its classification in the genus Actinomadura. It formed a distinct phyletic line in the 16S rRNA gene tree of Actinomadura and was most closely related to the type strain of Actinomadura hallensis (98.4 % sequence similarity), but could be readily distinguished from the latter species using DNA–DNA relatedness and phenotypic data. The combined genotypic and phenotypic data indicate that strain IMMIB L-889T represents a novel species of the genus Actinomadura, for which the name Actinomadura sputi sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is IMMIB L-889T (=DSM 45233T=CCUG 56587T).

An aerobic, Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped bacterial isolate, strain NH36AT, was isolated from a sandy sediment sample from the South China Sea. Colonies of the isolate were dark orange on M2 agar. Optimal growth was observed at pH 7.0–8.5, 30 °C and in the presence of 0.5–4.0 % (w/v) NaCl. The major fatty acids were C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 1, iso-C15 : 0 3-OH, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH and summed feature 3 (comprising iso-C15 : 0 2-OH and/or C16 : 1 ω7c). The DNA G+C content was 38.9 mol%. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that strain NH36AT was most closely related to members of the genus Arenibacter, exhibiting 94.3–96.2 % sequence similarity to the type strains of Arenibacter species. On the basis of phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic data, this organism should be classified as a representative of a novel species in the genus Arenibacter. The name Arenibacter nanhaiticus sp. nov. is proposed and the type strain is NH36AT (=LMG 24842T=CCTCC AB 208315T=MCCC 1A04137T).

A novel strain, designated 311-10T, isolated from soil of Xinjiang, China, was characterized by using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. The isolate was Gram-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped, non-motile, oxidase-negative and catalase-positive. The predominant menaquinone of strain 311-10T was MK-7 and the genomic DNA G+C content was 47.8 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the isolate formed a cluster with the genera Pontibacter and [Effluviibacter] in the phylum ‘Bacteroidetes’, with sequence similarities of 93.9–95.6 %. Phylogenetic evidence and the results of phenotypic, genotypic and chemotaxonomic analyses support the reclassification of [Effluviibacter] roseus as Pontibacter roseus comb. nov. (type strain, SRC-1T=MTCC 7260T=DSM 17521T) and the establishment of a novel species, Pontibacter xinjiangensis sp. nov., with strain 311-10T (=CCTCC AB 207200T=NRRL B-51335T) as the type strain.

A Gram-staining-negative, rod-shaped marine bacterium, designated strain NH57NT, isolated from sandy sediment in the Mischief Reef of the South China Sea, was characterized based on its physiological and biochemical features, fatty acid profile and phylogenetic position. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed a clear affiliation with the family Flavobacteriaceae. Strain NH57NT showed the closest phylogenetic relationship with members of the genera Gaetbulibacter, Gelidibacter, Subsaxibacter, Subsaximicrobium and Yeosuana; levels of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity between strain NH57NT and the type strains of related species ranged from 94.9 to 91.2 %. Cells of strain NH57NT were motile by gliding and grew on solid media as yellow colonies at 9–37 °C, pH 6.5–8.5 and in the presence of 0.5–4.0 % NaCl. The DNA G+C content was 32.7 mol% and the predominant fatty acids were iso-C15 : 1 (22.7 % of the total), iso-C15 : 0 (20.7 %), iso-C17 : 0 3-OH (9.5 %), iso-C16 : 0 3-OH (8.3 %), C15 : 0 (7.8 %) and iso-C15 : 0 3-OH (5.8 %). Based on the physiological and phylogenetic data, and on the fatty acid composition, strain NH57NT is considered to represent a novel species of a new genus in the family Flavobacteriaceae, for which the name Meridianimaribacter flavus gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Meridianimaribacter flavus is NH57NT (=CCTCC AB 208318T=LMG 24839T=MCCC 1A03544T).

A non-motile, rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain WPCB133T, was isolated from freshwater collected from the Woopo wetland (Republic of Korea). Cells were Gram-reaction-negative, aerobic and catalase- and oxidase-positive. The major fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0 and anteiso-C15 : 0. The strain contained MK-7 as the major isoprenoid quinone. The DNA G+C content was 47 mol%. A phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain WPCB133T forms an independent lineage within the genus Mucilaginibacter. Strain WPCB133T was distantly related to Mucilaginibacter kameinonensis SCKT (94.7 % sequence similarity), Mucilaginibacter paludis TPT56T (94.5 %) and Mucilaginibacter gracilis TPT18T (94.4 %). Phenotypic characteristics distinguished strain WPCB133T from members of the genus Mucilaginibacter. On the basis of evidence presented in this study, strain WPCB133T represents a novel species of the genus Mucilaginibacter, for which the name Mucilaginibacter rigui sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is WPCB133T (=KCTC 12534T =NBRC 101115T). An emended description of the genus Mucilaginibacter is also proposed.

A Gram-negative, non-motile, non-spore-forming bacterial strain, S1-3T, was isolated from a tidal flat sediment on the west coast of Korea and its taxonomic position was investigated. Strain S1-3T grew optimally at 30 °C and in the presence of 2 % (w/v) NaCl. Strain S1-3T contained MK-7 as the predominant menaquinone and C16 : 1 ω7c and/or iso-C15 : 0 2-OH and iso-C15 : 0 as the major fatty acids. The DNA G+C content was 41.4 mol%. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain S1-3T fell within the clade comprising Algoriphagus species, clustering with Algoriphagus halophilus IMSNU 14013T, with which it exhibited 99.6 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity. The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity between strain S1-3T and the type strains of other Algoriphagus species was 94.0–97.1 %. Differential phenotypic properties and phylogenetic and genetic distinctiveness of strain S1-3T demonstrated that this strain is distinguishable from the other Algoriphagus species as well as A. halophilus. On the basis of phenotypic, chemotaxonomic, phylogenetic and genetic data, strain S1-3T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Algoriphagus, for which the name Algoriphagus lutimaris sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is S1-3T (=KCTC 22630T =CCUG 57608T).

The taxonomic status of two novel heterotrophic, Gram-negative, gliding and yellow pigmented bacterial strains was established in this study. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that the strains formed a distinct lineage within the genus Maribacter, a member of the family Flavobacteriaceae, with sequence similarities of 96.3–98.5 % to recognized species of the genus Maribacter. The maximum growth temperature of the strains was 35 °C and they required NaCl or seawater for growth. They hydrolysed aesculin and gelatin, reduced nitrates to nitrites and produced acid from carbohydrates. The DNA G+C contents of strains KMM 6025 and KMM 6046T were 36–37 mol%. On the basis of phenotypic, genotypic and phylogenetic characteristics, it is suggested that the new isolates represent a novel species of the genus Maribacter, for which the name Maribacter stanieri sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is KMM 6046T (=KCTC 22023T=LMG 22581T).

Two Gram-staining-negative, rod-shaped, non-spore-forming bacterial strains, 1-2T and 1-4 were isolated from dry riverbed soil collected from the Xietongmen area of Tibet, China. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, the novel strains were shown to belong to the genus Pedobacter, sharing <95 % sequence similarity with all recognized species of the genus Pedobacter. The major respiratory quinone was MK-7 and the predominant cellular fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH and summed feature 3 (comprising iso-C16 : 1 ω7c and/or C16 : 1 ω6c). The DNA G+C contents were 37.2–37.6 mol%. Chemotaxonomic data supported the affiliation of the two new isolates to the genus Pedobacter and the results of physiological and biochemical tests confirmed that the new strains differed significantly from the recognized species of the genus Pedobacter. Therefore, the new isolates represent a novel species within the genus Pedobacter, for which the name Pedobacter glucosidilyticus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 1-2T (=CCTCC AB 206110T=KCTC 22438T).

Bacillus mucilaginosus and Bacillus edaphicus were reclassified based on their 16S rRNA and gyrB gene sequences, DNA–DNA hybridization, fatty acid methyl esters and other taxonomic characteristics. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA and gyrB gene sequences indicated that strains of B. mucilaginosus and B. edaphicus were members of the genus Paenibacillus, with over 90.4 % and 70.3 % sequence similarity, respectively. Their DNA G+C contents were 54.5–56.8 mol%. The DNA–DNA relatedness values of B. edaphicus VKPM B-7517T with B. mucilaginosus KNP414 and B. mucilaginosus CGMCC 1.236 were 89.2 % and 88.7 %, respectively. The major isoprenoid quinone of B. mucilaginosus and B. edaphicus was MK-7 (94.1–95.7 %). 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, C16 : 1 ω11c and C16 : 0. Phenotypic features and fatty acid profiles supported the similarity of B. mucilaginosus and B. edaphicus to Paenibacillus validus CCTCC 95016T and confirmed their relationship with members of the genus Paenibacillus. Therefore, it is proposed that Bacillus mucilaginosus and Bacillus edaphicus be transferred to the genus Paenibacillus as Paenibacillus mucilaginosus comb. nov. (type strain HSCC 1605T=VKPM B-7519T=VKM B-1480DT=CIP 105815T=KCTC 3870T) and Paenibacillus edaphicus comb. nov. (type strain VKPM B-7517T=DSM 12974T=CIP 105814T), respectively.

A Gram-variable, motile and rod-shaped bacterial strain, ASL-1T, was isolated from a marine saltern located on the coast of the Yellow Sea, Korea. A neighbour-joining phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain ASL-1T clustered with Jeotgalibacillus alimentarius YKJ-13T and that this cluster joined the clade comprising the type strains of two Marinibacillus species. Strain ASL-1T exhibited 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity values of 97.3 % to J. alimentarius YKJ-13T and 96.5 % to the type strains of Marinibacillus marinus and Marinibacillus campisalis. The chemotaxonomic properties of strain ASL-1T were similar to those of one or two of the genera Jeotgalibacillus and Marinibacillus. The peptidoglycan type was A1α linked directly through l-lysine as the diamino acid. Strain ASL-1T contained MK-7 as the predominant menaquinone with the presence of a significant amount of MK-8. The predominant fatty acid was anteiso-C15 : 0. The DNA G+C content was 42.9 mol%. Differential phenotypic properties, together with the phylogenetic and genetic distinctiveness, revealed that strain ASL-1T could be differentiated from J. alimentarius and the two Marinibacillus species. On the basis of the data presented, strain ASL-1T represents a novel species within the genus Jeotgalibacillus, for which the name Jeotgalibacillus salarius sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is ASL-1T (=KCTC 13257T=CCUG 56751T). It is also proposed that Marinibacillus marinus and Marinibacillus campisalis be reclassified as Jeotgalibacillus marinus comb. nov. (type strain 581T=DSM 1297T=ATCC 29841T=CCUG 28884T=CIP 103308T=LMG 6930T) and Jeotgalibacillus campisalis comb. nov. (type strain SF-57T=KCCM 41644T=JCM 11810T), respectively.

Three xylanase-producing alkaliphilic strains, SU1T, 36AC4 and 36AC6, were isolated from the guts of larvae of the Japanese horned beetle (Trypoxylus dichotomus septentrionalis). The isolates stained Gram-positive and were aerobic, spore-forming, non-motile and rod-shaped and grew optimally at 30 °C and pH 9. They contained MK-7 as the major isoprenoid quinone and iso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C17 : 0 and iso-C17 : 0 as the major fatty acids. The DNA G+C contents of the strains were 37.4–37.7 mol%. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, these strains were shown to belong to the genus Bacillus. Although their 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to the type strains of the alkaliphilic species Bacillus pseudalcaliphilus and B. alcalophilus was 97 %, the novel isolates formed a distinct group in the phylogenetic trees and DNA–DNA relatedness values to the type strains of these species were less than 30 %. Results of physiological and biochemical tests, including salt preference, enabled these strains to be differentiated phenotypically from described Bacillus species. Therefore, strains SU1T, 36AC4 and 36AC6 represent a novel species for which the name Bacillus trypoxylicola sp. nov. is proposed; the type strain is SU1T (=NBRC 102646T =KCTC 13244T).