- Volume 60, Issue 3, 2010

Two strains of Gram-positive cocci were isolated from viscera of common voles (Microtus arvalis Pallas) with generalized Brucella microti infection in the Czech Republic. Biochemical features and phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the strains are representatives of the genus Staphylococcus and assigned Staphylococcus muscae as the nearest relative. A detailed characterization done by ribotyping, rpoB and hsp60 gene sequencing, whole-cell protein analysis and rep-PCR using the (GTG)5 primer differentiated the two strains from all described staphylococci. DNA–DNA hybridization with the type strain of S. muscae demonstrated that the two strains should be considered as members of a novel species (26.8 % reassociation). The two analysed strains were found to be coagulase-negative, novobiocin-susceptible, oxidase-negative cultures, phenotypically close to one another, but showing differences in ribotype profiles. The major fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, iso-C17 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 0, C18 : 2 ω6,9c/anteiso-C18 : 0, C18 : 0 and C18 : 1 ω9c. MK-7 was the predominant isoprenoid quinone, with minor amounts of MK-6 and MK-8. The polar lipid profile was composed of the major lipids diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylglycerol and several unknown lipids. These results proved that the two isolates represent a novel staphylococcal species. The name proposed for this novel taxon is Staphylococcus microti sp. nov.; the type strain is 4005-LJ(m)T (=CCM 4903T =CCUG 55861T =DSM 22147T).

We isolated several strains from various clinical samples (five samples of blood, four of intra-abdominal pus and one of infected soft tissue) that were anaerobic, motile or non-motile and Gram-positive rods. Some of the strains formed spores. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that these organisms could be placed within clostridial cluster IV as defined by Collins et al. [(1994). Int J Syst Bacteriol 44, 812–826] and shared more than 99 % sequence similarity with Clostridium orbiscindens DSM 6740T and Eubacterium plautii DSM 4000T. Together, they formed a distinct cluster, with Bacteroides capillosus ATCC 29799T branching off from this line of descent with sequence similarities of 97.1–97.4 %. The next nearest neighbours of these organisms were Clostridium viride, Oscillibacter valericigenes, Papillibacter cinnamivorans and Sporobacter termitidis, with sequence similarities to the respective type strains of 93.1–93.4, 91.2–91.4, 89.8–90 and 88.7–89.3 %. On the basis of biochemical properties, phylogenetic position, DNA G+C content and DNA–DNA hybridization, it is proposed to unify Clostridium orbiscindens and Eubacterium plautii in a new genus as Flavonifractor plautii gen. nov., comb. nov., with the type strain Prévot S1T (=ATCC 29863T =VPI 0310T =DSM 4000T), and to reassign Bacteroides capillosus to Pseudoflavonifractor capillosus gen. nov., comb. nov., with the type strain CCUG 15402AT (=ATCC 29799T =VPI R2-29-1T).

A novel bacterial strain designated CJ25T was isolated from the estuarine wetland of the Han river in Korea. Identification of this strain was carried out on the basis of polyphasic taxonomy. The isolate was Gram-staining-positive, rod-shaped, non-pigmented and motile. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that the isolate was closely related to Paenibacillus chondroitinus DSM 5051T with 96.1 % similarity. The predominant fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0 (50.25 %), iso-C16 : 0 (18.54 %) and iso-C15 : 0 (10.00 %). The major isoprenoid quinone was MK-7. The G+C content of genomic DNA was 50 mol%. According to physiological data and 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the isolate was discriminated from related members of the genus Paenibacillus. Therefore, strain CJ25T represents a novel species of the genus Paenibacillus, for which the name Paenibacillus aestuarii sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CJ25T (=KACC 13125T =JCM 15521T).

A novel, moderately halophilic bacterium belonging to the genus Salinicoccus was isolated from crabs preserved in soy sauce: a traditional Korean fermented seafood. Colonies of strain CrmT were ivory and the cells were non-motile, Gram-positive cocci. The organism was non-sporulating, catalase-positive and oxidase-negative. The major fatty acids of strain CrmT were iso-C15 : 0 (22.0 %), anteiso-C15 : 0 (40.6 %) and anteiso-C17 : 0 (12.1 %). The cell wall peptidoglycan contained lysine and glycine, and the major isoprenoid quinone was MK-6. The polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol and an unidentified glycolipid. The genomic DNA G+C content was 47.8 mol%. Strain CrmT was closely related to the type strain of Salinicoccus halodurans, with which it shared 96.9 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity. The DNA–DNA hybridization value between strains CrmT and S. halodurans DSM 19336T was 7.6 %. Based on phenotypic, genetic and phylogenetic data, strain CrmT should be classified as a novel species within the genus Salinicoccus, for which the name Salinicoccus carnicancri sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CrmT (=KCTC 13301T =JCM 15796T).

Dissimilatory iron reduction plays a significant role in subsurface environments. Currently, it is assumed that members of the genus Geobacter constitute the majority of the iron-reducing micro-organisms that oxidize aromatic compounds in contaminated subsurface environments. Here, we report the isolation of two phylogenetically distinct pure cultures of iron-reducing degraders of monoaromatic hydrocarbons, strain TMJ1T, which belongs to the genus Geobacter within the Deltaproteobacteria, and strain UKTLT, belonging to the genus Desulfitobacterium within the Clostridia. Both strains utilize a wide range of substrates as carbon and energy sources, including the aromatic compounds toluene, phenol and p-cresol. Additionally, strain UKTLT utilizes o-xylene and TMJ1T utilizes m-cresol. Anaerobic degradation of toluene in both strains and o-xylene in strain UKTLT is initiated by activation with fumarate addition to the methyl group. The genomic DNA G+C contents of strains TMJ1T and UKTLT are 54.4 and 47.7 mol%, respectively. Based on a detailed physiological characterization and phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA genes of both strains, we propose the names Desulfitobacterium aromaticivorans sp. nov. (type strain UKTLT =DSM 19510T =JCM 15765T) and Geobacter toluenoxydans sp. nov. (type strain TMJ1T =DSM 19350T =JCM 15764T) to accommodate these strains. To the best of our knowledge, strain UKTLT is the first described spore-forming, iron-reducing bacterium that can degrade aromatic hydrocarbons.

Pantoea citrea, Pantoea punctata and Pantoea terrea were described for strains isolated from fruit and soil originating in Japan. These three ‘Japanese’ species have been shown to be phylogenetically distant from other species of the genus Pantoea. It has been observed previously that, using multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA), the ‘Japanese’ species consistently formed a distinct clade with an extended branch length, casting doubt on the inclusion of these species within the genus Pantoea. Furthermore, the ‘Japanese’ species are closely related to Tatumella ptyseos, strains of which originate from human clinical specimens. DNA–DNA hybridization and phenotypic tests confirmed the observed phylogenetic distance of P. citrea, P. punctata and P. terrea from the genus Pantoea and the affiliation of these species with Tatumella. In addition, strains causing pink disease of pineapple, identified previously as P. citrea, were shown to represent a separate species by using 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, and MLSA and DNA–DNA hybridization data. The name Tatumella morbirosei sp. nov. with the type strain LMG 23360T (=BD 878T=NCPPB 4036T=CMC6T) is proposed to accommodate these strains. The new combinations Tatumella citrea (Kageyama et al. 1992) comb. nov. (type strain, SHS 2003T=ATCC 31623T=BD 875T=CCUG 30156T=CIP 105599T=DSM 13699T=JCM 8882T=LMG 22049T), Tatumella punctata (Kageyama et al. 1992) comb. nov. (type strain, SHS 2006T=ATCC 31626T=BD 876T=CCUG 30159T=CIP 105598T=DSM 13700T=JCM 8885T=LMG 22050T) and Tatumella terrea (Kageyama et al. 1992) comb. nov. (type strain, SHS 2008T=ATCC 31628T=BD 877T=CCUG 30161T=CIP 105600T=DSM 13701T=JCM 8887T=LMG 22051T) are proposed for P. citrea, P. punctata and P. terrea, respectively.

A Gram-negative, rod-shaped, halotolerant bacterium, designated strain CEE_131T, which degraded high-molecular-mass polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons of four and five rings, was isolated from intertidal sediment of Corcubion Ria in Cee, A Coruña, Spain. Direct sequencing showed ambiguities and suggested heterogeneity. Cloned 16S rRNA gene sequence PCR products yielded five different sequences varying at five positions. Strain CEE_131T showed rather distant relationships to its phylogenetically closest neighbours, including the genera Rheinheimera and Serratia, exhibiting 91 % sequence similarity with Rheinheimera perlucida BA131T and Serratia proteamaculans subsp. quinovora DSM 4597T. The major fatty acids were C16 : 1 ω7c, C16 : 0 and C18 : 1 ω7c. The DNA G+C content was 41.7 mol%. On the basis of these distinct phenotypic and genotypic characteristics, strain CEE_131T is considered to represent a novel species in a new genus in the class Gammaproteobacteria, for which the name Gallaecimonas pentaromativorans gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CEE_131T (=DSM 21945T=CECT 7479T).

A slightly curved, rod-shaped marine bacterium, designated strain CL-S1T, was isolated from near Dokdo, an island in the East Sea, Korea. Cells were Gram-negative and grew well under either aerobic or microaerobic conditions. Analyses of the 16S rRNA and gyrA gene sequences of strain CL-S1T revealed an affiliation with the genus Arcobacter within the class Epsilonproteobacteria. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA and gyrA gene sequences showed that strain CL-S1T formed a robust clade with Arcobacter halophilus LA31BT, with sequence similarities of 96.1 and 88.2 %, respectively. DNA–DNA relatedness between strain CL-S1T and A. halophilus DSM 18005T was 44 %, indicating that they represent genomically distinct species. Strain CL-S1T grew optimally at 30–37 °C, at pH 7 and in the presence of 3–5 % NaCl. The dominant cellular fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0 2-OH and/or C16 : 1 ω7c (28.4 %), C16 : 0 (26.2 %) and C18 : 1 ω7c (22.3 %). The DNA G+C content of strain CL-S1T was 28 mol%. Strain CL-S1T differed phenotypically from A. halophilus LA31BT based on its ability to grow aerobically at 10 °C and inability to grow under anaerobic conditions. Based on the data presented, strain CL-S1T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Arcobacter, for which the name Arcobacter marinus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CL-S1T (=KCCM 90072T =JCM 15502T).

An Fe(III)- and uranium(VI)-reducing bacterium, designated strain FRC-32T, was isolated from a contaminated subsurface of the USA Department of Energy Oak Ridge Field Research Center (ORFRC) in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, where the sediments are exposed to mixed waste contamination of radionuclides and hydrocarbons. Analyses of both 16S rRNA gene and the Geobacteraceae-specific citrate synthase (gltA) mRNA gene sequences retrieved from ORFRC sediments indicated that this strain was abundant and active in ORFRC subsurface sediments undergoing uranium(VI) bioremediation. The organism belonged to the subsurface clade of the genus Geobacter and shared 92–98 % 16S rRNA gene and 75–81 % rpoB gene sequence similarities with other recognized species of the genus. In comparison to its closest relative, Geobacter uraniireducens Rf4T, according to 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, strain FRC-32T showed a DNA–DNA relatedness value of 21 %. Cells of strain FRC-32T were Gram-negative, non-spore-forming, curved rods, 1.0–1.5 μm long and 0.3–0.5 μm in diameter; the cells formed pink colonies in a semisolid cultivation medium, a characteristic feature of the genus Geobacter. The isolate was an obligate anaerobe, had temperature and pH optima for growth at 30 °C and pH 6.7–7.3, respectively, and could tolerate up to 0.7 % NaCl although growth was better in the absence of NaCl. Similar to other members of the Geobacter group, strain FRC-32T conserved energy for growth from the respiration of Fe(III)-oxyhydroxide coupled with the oxidation of acetate. Strain FRC-32T was metabolically versatile and, unlike its closest relative, G. uraniireducens, was capable of utilizing formate, butyrate and butanol as electron donors and soluble ferric iron (as ferric citrate) and elemental sulfur as electron acceptors. Growth on aromatic compounds including benzoate and toluene was predicted from preliminary genomic analyses and was confirmed through successive transfer with fumarate as the electron acceptor. Thus, based on genotypic, phylogenetic and phenotypic differences, strain FRC-32T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Geobacter, for which the name Geobacter daltonii sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is FRC-32T (=DSM 22248T=JCM 15807T).

A Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain YC7378T was isolated from vermicompost (VC) collected at Masan, Korea, and its taxonomic position was investigated by using a polyphasic approach. Strain YC7378T grew optimally at 30 °C and at pH 6.5–8.5. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain YC7378T belongs to the genus Sphingosinicella in the family Sphingomonadaceae. The most closely related strains are Sphingosinicella soli KSL-125T (95.7 %), Sphingosinicella xenopeptidilytica 3-2W4T (95.6 %) and Sphingosinicella microcystinivorans Y2T (95.5 %). Strain YC7378T contained ubiquinone Q-10 as the major respiratory quinone system and sym-homospermidine as the major polyamine. The major fatty acids of strain YC7378T were C18 : 1 ω7c, C16 : 1 ω7c and/or iso-C15 : 0 2-OH, C14 : 0 2-OH and C16 : 0. The major polar lipids were sphingoglycolipid, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine. The total DNA G+C content was 59.4 mol%. The phenotypic, phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic data showed that strain YC7378T represents a novel species of the genus Sphingosinicella, for which the name Sphingosinicella vermicomposti sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YC7378T (=KCTC 22446T =DSM 21593T).

Strictly anaerobic, mesophilic, sulfate-reducing bacterial strains were isolated from two anaerobic municipal sewage sludge digesters. One representative strain (BSYT) was characterized phenotypically and phylogenetically. Cells were Gram-negative, motile by means of a single polar flagellum, non-spore-forming, curved rods. Cells had desulfoviridin and cytochrome type c. Catalase and oxidase activities were not detected. The optimum NaCl concentration for growth was 0.5 % (w/v). The optimum temperature was 35 °C and the optimum pH was 7.1. Strain BSYT utilized butyrate, 2-methylbutyrate, valerate, pyruvate, lactate, ethanol, 1-propanol, butanol and H2 as electron donors for sulfate reduction. This strain grew lithoautotrophically with H2/CO2 under sulfate-reducing conditions. Most organic electron donors were incompletely oxidized to mainly acetate, whereas 2-methylbutyrate and valerate were oxidized to equivalent amounts of acetate and propionate. Strain BSYT utilized thiosulfate as an electron acceptor, and grew with pyruvate in the absence of electron acceptors. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain BSYT was 63.3 mol%. Menaquinone MK-6(H2) was the major respiratory quinone. Major cellular fatty acids were C14 : 0, C16 : 0, C16 : 1 ω7 and C18 : 1 ω7. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA and dissimilatory sulfite-reductase β-subunit gene sequences assigned strain BSYT to the genus Desulfovibrio in the family Desulfovibrionaceae within the class Deltaproteobacteria. Its closest recognized relative based on 16S rRNA gene sequences was the type strain of Desulfovibrio putealis (95.3 % similarity). On the basis of significant differences in 16S rRNA gene sequences and phenotypic characteristics, the sewage sludge strains are considered to represent a single novel species of the genus Desulfovibrio, for which the name Desulfovibrio butyratiphilus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is BSYT (=JCM 15519T=DSM 21556T).

Two bacterial strains, KMM 3891T and KMM 3892, were isolated from internal tissues of the marine mollusc Umbonium costatum collected from the Sea of Japan. The novel isolates were Gram-negative, aerobic, faint pink–reddish-pigmented, rod-shaped, non-motile, stenohaline and psychrotolerant bacteria that were unable to degrade most tested complex polysaccharides. Polar lipids consisted of phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and diphosphatidylglycerol. Fatty acid analysis revealed C17 : 1 ω6c, C17 : 0, C16 : 0 and C16 : 1 ω7c as the dominant components. The major isoprenoid quinone was Q-7. The DNA G+C content of strain KMM 3891T was 51.7 mol%. According to phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences, strains KMM 3891T and KMM 3892 were positioned within the Gammaproteobacteria as a separate branch, sharing <93 % sequence similarity to their phylogenetic relatives including Saccharophagus degradans, Microbulbifer species, Endozoicomonas elysicola, Simiduia agarivorans and Teredinibacter turnerae. Based on phenotypic characterization and phylogenetic distance, the novel marine isolates KMM 3891T and KMM 3892 represent a new genus and species, for which the name Umboniibacter marinipuniceus gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Umboniibacter marinipuniceus is KMM 3891T (=NRIC 0753T =JCM 15738T).

A Gram-stain-negative, motile, rod-shaped, cellulose-degrading bacterial strain, BIO-TAS4-2T, which belongs to the Betaproteobacteria, was isolated from forest soil from Naejang Mountain, Korea, and its taxonomic position was investigated by using a polyphasic study. Strain BIO-TAS4-2T grew optimally at pH 7.0–8.0, at 30 °C and in the presence of 0–1.0 % (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain BIO-TAS4-2T clustered with members of the genera Andreprevotia, Silvimonas and Deefgea of the family Neisseriaceae, with which it exhibited 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities of 93.5–94.2 %. Strain BIO-TAS4-2T contained Q-8 as the predominant ubiquinone and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1 ω7c and/or iso-C15 : 0 2-OH) and C16 : 0 as the major fatty acids. The DNA G+C content was 63.8 mol%. Strain BIO-TAS4-2T could be differentiated from members of phylogenetically related genera by differences in fatty acid composition, DNA G+C content and some phenotypic properties. On the basis of phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic data, strain BIO-TAS4-2T is considered to represent a novel species in a new genus, for which the name Jeongeupia naejangsanensis gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed, with BIO-TAS4-2T (=KCTC 22633T=CCUG 57610T) as the type strain.

A slightly halophilic, Gram-stain-negative, straight-rod-shaped aerobe, strain JO1T, was isolated from jeotgal, a traditional Korean fermented seafood. Cells were observed singly or in pairs and had 2–5 peritrichous flagella. Optimal growth occurred at 25 °C, in 6.5 % (w/v) salts and at pH 5.0–6.0. Strain JO1T was oxidase-negative and catalase-positive. Cells did not reduce fumarate, nitrate or nitrite on respiration. Acid was produced from several carbohydrates and the strain utilized many sugars and amino acids as carbon and nitrogen sources. The main fatty acids were C12 : 0 3-OH, C16 : 0, C17 : 0 cyclo and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1 ω7c/iso-C15 : 0 2-OH). DNA–DNA hybridization experiments with strain JO1T and Cobetia marina DSM 4741T revealed 24 % relatedness, although high 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity (98.9 %) was observed between these strains. Based on phenotypic, genotypic and phylogenetic analyses, it is proposed that the isolate from jeotgal should be classified as a representative of a novel species, Cobetia crustatorum sp. nov., with strain JO1T (=KCTC 22486T=JCM 15644T) as the type strain.

A Gram-negative, strictly aerobic bacterium, comprising non-endospore-forming motile rods (1.2–2.0 μm × 0.4–0.6 μm) with polar flagellae was isolated from root nodules of the leguminous plant Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi growing on the coast of Yakushima Island, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. The novel strain, designated Yak96BT, grew at an optimum pH of 7.0 and an optimum temperature of 28 °C. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that the new strain was closely related to Devosia neptuniae J1T and Devosia chinhatensis IPL18T, with sequence similarities of 98.1 % and 97.8 %, respectively. However, the DNA–DNA relatedness values of strain Yak96BT with D. neptuniae LMG 21357T and D. chinhatensis CCM 7426T were 53.6 % and 34 %, respectively. The DNA G+C content of strain Yak96BT was 65.3 mol%, the predominant isoprenoid quinone was Q10 (85 %) and the polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol and diphosphatidylglycerol. The major fatty acids (>5 %) were 11-methyl C18 : 1 ω7c (35.0 %), C16 : 0 (22.4 %), C18 : 1 ω7c (21.8 %), C19 : 0 cyclo ω8c (6.8 %) and C18 : 0 (5.4 %). The infection/nodulation test was negative and nifH and nodD genes were not detected. Based on its chemotaxonomic and physiological characteristics, strain Yak96BT represents a novel species of the genus Devosia, for which the name Devosia yakushimensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is Yak96BT (=KCTC 22147T=NBRC 103855T=LMG 24299T).

Nine isolates from Argyrolobium uniflorum, Lotus creticus, Medicago sativa (Tunisia) and Lotus arabicus (Senegal) were analysed by multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) of five housekeeping genes (recA, atpD, glnA, gltA and thrC), the 16S rRNA gene and the nodulation gene nodA. Analysis of the individual and concatenated gene sequences demonstrated that the nine new strains constituted three stable, well-supported (bootstrap and gene sequence similarity values) monophyletic clusters, A, B and C, all belonging to the branch of the genus Ensifer, regardless of the phylogenetic reconstruction method used (maximum likelihood, maximum-parsimony, neighbour-joining). The three groups were further characterized by API 100 auxanographic tests, host specificity and nodA gene sequence analysis. On the basis of these data, clusters A and C are suggested as representing two novel species within the genus Ensifer, for which the names Ensifer numidicus sp. nov. (type strain ORS 1407T=LMG 24690T=CIP 109850T) and Ensifer garamanticus sp. nov. (type strain ORS 1400T=LMG 24692T=CIP 109916T) are proposed. The cluster B strains were assigned to Ensifer adhaerens genomovar A.

A Gram-negative, strictly aerobic bacterium, designated CL-ES53T, was isolated from surface water of the East Sea in Korea. Cells of strain CL-ES53T were short rods and motile by means of monopolar flagella. Strain CL-ES53T grew with 4–21 % NaCl (optimum 10 %) and at 5–40 °C (optimum 25 °C) and pH 5.2–8.8 (optimum pH 6.3–7.2). The major isoprenoid quinone was Q-8. The major fatty acids were C18 : 1 ω7c (42.0 %), C18 : 1 ω9c (14.8 %) and C14 : 0 (9.4 %). The genomic DNA G+C content was 64.9 mol%. Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain CL-ES53T revealed that it was a member of the genus Salinisphaera and most closely related to Salinisphaera shabanensis E1L3A T (96.9 % sequence similarity) and Salinisphaera hydrothermalis EPR70T (93.8 %). Phylogenetic analyses based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that strain CL-ES53T formed a robust cluster with S. shabanensis E1L3A T. Although the 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity between strain CL-ES53T and S. shabanensis E1L3A T was rather high (96.9 %), DNA–DNA relatedness between these strains was 12 %, suggesting that they represent genomically distinct species. Strain CL-ES53T was differentiated from S. shabanensis E1L3A T and S. hydrothermalis EPR70T on the basis of optimum temperature for growth and certain phenotypic characteristics. The phylogenetic analysis and physiological and chemotaxonomic data show that strain CL-ES53T should be classified in the genus Salinisphaera within a novel species, for which the name Salinisphaera dokdonensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CL-ES53T (=KCCM 90064T =DSM 19549T).

Two strains of a novel yeast species were isolated from insect frass and a flower in Thailand and Brazil, respectively. The strain from Thailand was isolated from insect frass collected in Than-Tong waterfall, Nong Khai Province, whereas the strain from Brazil was recovered from a flower of Ipomoea sp. collected on the banks of the Paraguai River in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul. The sequences of the D1/D2 domains of the large subunit of the rDNA of both strains were identical. This novel species belonged to the Metschnikowia clade and was related to Metschnikowia lunata. No signs of sporulation were observed for the two strains on various culture media. The novel species, Candida golubevii sp. nov., is proposed to accommodate these isolates. The type strain is BCC 8332T (=CBS 11362T=NBRC 105679T).

Seven strains representing a novel yeast species belonging to the genus Cryptococcus were isolated from different substrates from Patagonia, Argentina, and The Netherlands. Three strains were isolated from a meltwater river draining from the Frias glacier at Mount Tronador situated in Nahuel Huapi National Park (Patagonia) and four were isolated from apple surfaces in Randwijk, The Netherlands. Analysis of the D1/D2 large-subunit rRNA gene and ITS region sequences indicated that these strains represent a single species that is distinct from other species of the Tremellales clade. The name Cryptococcus spencermartinsiae sp. nov. is proposed to accommodate these strains. The type strain is CRUB 1230T (=CBS 10760T =DBVPG 8010T).