- Volume 61, Issue 3, 2011

A novel, moderately thermophilic, chemo-organotrophic bacterium was isolated from formation fluid samples from an offshore oil-production well head at Bombay High (Western India). Cells were rod-shaped with a sheath-like outer structure (‘toga’); the cells appeared singly, in pairs or in short chains. Cells grew at 25–70 °C (optimum 55–58 °C), pH 5.5–9.0 (optimum pH 7.3–7.8) and 0–12 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum 4.0–4.5 %). The isolate was able to grow on various carbohydrates or complex proteinaceous substances. The isolate reduced thiosulfate and elemental sulfur. The major end products of glucose fermentation were acetate, H2 and CO2. The DNA G+C content of the genomic DNA was 26.8 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene placed the strain within the order Thermotogales in the bacterial domain. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons and in combination with morphological and physiological characteristics, the isolate represents a novel species of new genus, for which the name Oceanotoga teriensis gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of the type species is OCT74T (=JCM 15580T=LMG 24865T).

A Gram-reaction-negative, chemoheterotrophic, non-motile, facultatively anaerobic, curved rod-shaped bacterial strain, IMCC4453T, was isolated from tidal flat sediment and subjected to a taxonomic study using a polyphasic approach. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain IMCC4453T belonged to the genus Saccharospirillum, forming a robust clade with members of the genus, and was most closely related to the type strains of Saccharospirillum salsuginis (97.6 % similarity) and Saccharospirillum impatiens (95.9 %). The DNA–DNA relatedness value between strain IMCC4453T and S. salsuginis YIM-Y25T was 23–30 %. Differences in several physiological and biochemical characteristics between strain IMCC4453T and the two recognized species of the genus Saccharospirillum, together with phylogenetic and genomic distinctiveness, differentiated the novel strain from members of the genus Saccharospirillum. On the basis of the data from the present study, it is concluded that strain IMCC4453T represents a novel species of the genus Saccharospirillum, for which the name Saccharospirillum aestuarii sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is IMCC4453T (=KCTC 22684T=KCCM 42930T=NBRC 105825T). An emended description of the genus Saccharospirillum is provided.

A novel agarase-producing, non-endospore-forming marine bacterium, WH0801T, was isolated from a fresh seaweed sample collected from the coast of Weihai, China. Preliminary characterization based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that WH0801T shared 96.1 % similarity with Agarivorans albus MKT 106T, the type species of the genus Agarivorans. A polyphasic taxonomic study was conducted and confirmed the phylogenetic affiliation of strain WH0801T to the genus Agarivorans. Isolate WH0801T produces light-yellow-pigmented colonies; cells are Gram-stain-negative, straight or curved rods, which are motile with a single polar flagellum. Strain WH0801T grew in 0.5–5 % NaCl, with optimum growth at 3 % NaCl, and its optimal pH and cultivation temperature were 8.4–8.6 and 28–32 °C, respectively. Data from biochemical tests, whole-cell fatty acid profiling, 16S rRNA gene sequence studies and DNA–DNA hybridization clearly indicated that isolate WH0801T represented a novel species within the genus Agarivorans, for which the name Agarivorans gilvus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Agarivorans gilvus sp. nov. is WH0801T (=NRRL B-59247T =CGMCC 1.10131T).

Four rhizobial strains, designated CCBAU 85046T, CCBAU 85051, CCBAU 85048 and CCBAU 85049, isolated from root nodules of Oxytropis glabra grown in Tibet, China, were previously defined, using amplified 16S rRNA gene restriction analysis, as a novel group within the genus Rhizobium. To clarify their taxonomic position, these strains were further analysed and compared with reference strains of related bacteria using a polyphasic approach. The 16S rRNA gene analysis showed that the four isolates formed a distinct phylogenetic lineage in the genus Rhizobium. The isolates showed highest sequence similarity (97.8 %) to Rhizobium indigoferae CCBAU 71042T. Phenotypic and physiological tests, DNA–DNA hybridization, phylogenetic analyses of housekeeping genes recA, atpD and glnII and fatty acid profiles also indicated that these four strains constitute a novel group distinct from recognized species of the genus Rhizobium. Based on this evidence, strains CCBAU 85046T, CCBAU 85051, CCBAU 85048 and CCBAU 85049 represent a novel species in the genus Rhizobium, for which the name Rhizobium tubonense sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CCBAU 85046T (=LMG 25225T =HAMBI 3066T) and its DNA G+C content is 59.52 mol% (T m). Strain CCBAU 85046T could form effective nodules on plant species Vigna unguiculata and Medicago sativa but not on its host of origin Oxytropis glabra.

Eight Erwinia strains, isolated from necrotic pear blossoms in València, Spain, were compared with reference strains of Erwinia amylovora and Erwinia pyrifoliae, both of which are pathogenic to species of pear tree, and to other species of the family Enterobacteriaceae using a polyphasic approach. Phenotypic analyses clustered the novel isolates into one phenon, distinct from other species of the genus Erwinia, showing that the novel isolates constituted a homogeneous phenotypic group. Rep-PCR profiles, PCR products obtained with different pairs of primers and plasmid contents determined by restriction analysis showed differences between the novel strains and reference strains of E. amylovora and E. pyrifoliae. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA, gpd and recA gene sequences showed that the eight novel strains could not be assigned to any recognized species. On the basis of DNA–DNA hybridization studies, the novel isolates constituted a single group with relatedness values of 87–100 % to the designated type strain of the group, CFBP 5888T. Depending on the method used, strain CFBP 5888T showed DNA–DNA relatedness values of between 22.7 and 50 % to strains of the closely related species E. amylovora and E. tasmaniensis. The DNA G+C contents of two of the novel strains, CFBP 5888T and CFBP 5883, were 51.1 and 50.5 mol%, respectively. On the basis of these and previous results, the novel isolates represent a novel species of the genus Erwinia, for which the name Erwinia piriflorinigrans sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CFBP 5888T (=CECT 7348T).

A Gram-reaction-negative, facultatively anaerobic bacterial strain, designated WH134T, was isolated from a seawater sample collected at a depth of 10 m near the Yellow Sea Cold Water Mass (YSCWM), 3 ° 59.970′ N 12 ° 0.157′ E, PR China. Cells of strain WH134T were slightly curved rods, motile by means of a polar flagellum and positive for poly-β-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) accumulation. The strain was able to grow in 1–6 % (w/v) NaCl, at pH 5–10 and 16–37 °C but not at 4 or 40 °C. The major cellular fatty acids were summed feature 3 C16  : 1 ω7c and/or iso-C15 : 0 2-OH, C16 : 0, C18 : 1 ω7c, C18 : 0 and C14 : 0. The DNA G+C content was 42.5 mol%. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA, gyrB, topA, recA, ftsZ, mreB, gapA and rpoA gene sequences revealed that strain WH134T belongs to the genus Vibrio and showed gene sequence similarities of 96.6, 75.7, 74.6, 83.6, 78.9, 82.9, 86.0 and 89.4 % , respectively, to Vibrio rumoiensis S-1T. The possession of a flagellum, activity of arginine dihydrolase and lysine decarboxylase and inability to utilize citrate, however, differentiated strain WH134T from V. rumoiensis DSM 19141T. On the basis of the phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic evidence, strain WH134T represents a novel species of the genus Vibrio, for which the name Vibrio marisflavi sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is WH134T (=CGMCC 1.8994T =LMG 25284T =DSM 23086T).

Nine strains isolated from symbiotic root nodules on Alhagi sparsifolia were previously designated as representing genospecies I. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that genospecies I was related closely to Mesorhizobium alhagi (genospecies II), and clearly formed a new lineage within the genus Mesorhizobium. In this study, we differentiated genospecies I from recognized species of the genus Mesorhizobium based on phylogenetic analyses of additional core genes (recA, glnA), levels of DNA–DNA relatedness (<43.3 %), fatty acid profile (58 % C18 : 1 ω7c, 19 % 11-methyl C18 : 1 ω7c), and biochemical and physiological characteristics. The nine strains are therefore considered to represent a novel species of the genus Mesorhizobium, for which the name Mesorhizobium camelthorni sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CCNWXJ 40-4T (=HAMBI 3020T =ACCC 14549T).

A group of rhizobial strains isolated from nodules of multiple legume species grown in different geographical regions of China had identical 16S rRNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the novel strains formed a subclade in the genus Rhizobium together with Rhizobium galegae, Rhizobium huautlense and Rhizobium alkalisoli, with 99.8 % gene sequence similarity between the strains. The DNA–DNA relatedness values between the representative strain CCBAU 05176T and R. galegae ATCC 43677T, R. huautlense S02T and R. alkalisoli CCBAU 01393T were 22.6 %, 8.9 % and 15.9 %, respectively. The novel strains were distinguished from recognized species of the genus Rhizobium by using a polyphasic approach, including PCR-based restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis (RFLP) of the 16S–23S intergenic spacer (IGS), phenotypic and physiological tests, sequence comparisons of housekeeping genes and cellular fatty acid profiles. Therefore, it is suggested that this group of strains represents a novel species for which the name Rhizobium vignae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CCBAU 05176T (=HAMBI 3039T=LMG 25447T).

A non-motile, rod-shaped, yellow bacterium, designated C16yT, was isolated from alpine glacier cryoconite. Cells behaved Gram-positively, were aerobic and psychrophilic (good growth at 1–25 °C). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain C16yT was related to the genus Sphingomonas and had highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with Sphingomonas oligophenolica JCM 12082T (97.6 %) and Sphingomonas echinoides DSM 1805T (97.2 %). DNA–DNA hybridization demonstrated that strain C16yT could not be considered as a member of either Sphingomonas oligophenolica or Sphingomonas echinoides. Strain C16yT contained Q-10 as the predominant ubiquinone and C18 : 1 and C16 : 0 were the dominant fatty acids. The polar lipid profile contained phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, sphingoglycolipid, five unidentified glycolipids, two unidentified aminophospholipids and two unidentified lipids. The major polyamines were the triamines sym-homospermidine and spermidine. The G+C content was 67.9 mol%. Combined data from phenotypic, phylogenetic and DNA–DNA relatedness studies demonstrated that strain C16yT is a representative of a novel species of the genus Sphingomonas, for which we propose the name Sphingomonas glacialis sp. nov. The type strain is C16yT (=DSM 22294T =CGMCC 1.8957T =CIP 110131T).

A Gram-stain-negative, motile, aerobic bacterial strain, designated MJ03T, was isolated from sewage and was characterized taxonomically by using a polyphasic approach. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain MJ03T belongs to the family Xanthomonadaceae, class Gammaproteobacteria, and was related most closely to Stenotrophomonas acidaminiphila AMX 19T (97.9 % sequence similarity), Stenotrophomonas humi R-32729T (97.1 %), Stenotrophomonas nitritireducens L2T (96.9 %), Stenotrophomonas maltophila ATCC 13637T (96.8 %) and Stenotrophomonas terrae R-32768T (96.7 %). The G+C content of the genomic DNA of strain MJ03T was 64.7 mol%. The detection of a quinone system with ubiquinone Q-8 as the predominant component and a fatty acid profile with iso-C15 : 0, iso-C11 : 0, iso-C14 : 0, iso-C17 : 1 ω9c, iso-C11 : 0 3-OH and iso-C13 : 0 3-OH as major components supported the affiliation of strain MJ03T to the genus Stenotrophomonas. However, levels of DNA–DNA relatedness between strain MJ03T and the type strains of five closely related species of the genus Stenotrophomonas ranged from 11 to 34 %, showing clearly that the isolate represents a novel genospecies. Strain MJ03T could be differentiated clearly from its phylogenetic neighbours on the basis of several phenotypic, genotypic and chemotaxonomic features. Therefore, strain MJ03T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Stenotrophomonas, for which the name Stenotrophomonas daejeonensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is MJ03T (=KCTC 22451T =JCM 16244T).

Strain N75T was isolated from the surface of a copper-alloy 50 Euro cent coin collected from general circulation. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that strain N75T formed a distinct branch within the genus Roseomonas and placed it in the Alphaproteobacteria. Strain N75T showed 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities of 92.4–97.1 % to type strains of species of the genus Roseomonas. Strain N75T was a Gram-negative, non-spore-forming, non-motile coccoid, with an optimum growth temperature of about 30 °C; the strain did not grow at 5 or 37 °C. Strain N75T did not grow in medium containing NaCl. The major respiratory quinone was ubiquinone 10 (Q-10). The major fatty acids were unsaturated C16 : 1 ω7c/C16 : 1 ω6c and C18 : 1 ω7c (around 70 % of the total fatty acids); the third most abundant fatty acid was the hydroxylated C18 : 1 2-OH. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine and an unknown aminolipid. The DNA G+C content was 72.8 mol%. On the basis of the phylogenetic analysis and physiological and biochemical characteristics, we conclude that strain N75T represents a novel species of the genus Roseomonas, for which we propose the name Roseomonas pecuniae sp. nov. (type strain N75T =LMG 25481T =CIP 110074T).

A novel, strictly anaerobic, non-spore-forming, Gram-reaction-negative coccobacillus bacterium, designated strain YIT 12071T, was isolated from human faeces. Biochemically, this strain was largely unreactive and asaccharolytic. Growth of this strain in peptone-yeast-extract broth was weak, producing no visible turbidity, and no short-chain fatty acids were detected as an end product of metabolism. Following 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain YIT 12071T was found to be most closely related to Parasutterella excrementihominis (90 % sequence similarity) and phylogenetically distinct from other known genera belonging to the order Burkholderiales. Biochemical data supported the affiliation of this strain with the genus Parasutterella. Strain YIT 12071T, therefore, represents a novel species of the genus Parasutterella, for which the name Parasutterella secunda sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YIT 12071T (=DSM 22575T =JCM 16078T). On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, species of the genera Sutterella and Parasutterella form a distinct and deep evolutionary lineage of descent in the order Burkholderiales. This lineage could not be associated with any of the four known families of the order Burkholderiales. The distinct phylogenetic position and the unusual combination of chemotaxonomic characteristics shared by these genera, such as the predominant quinones and cellular fatty acid compositions, suggest that they constitute a novel family in the order Burkholderiales, for which the name Sutterellaceae fam. nov. is proposed to accommodate the genera Sutterella and Parasutterella.

An aerobic, brown-pigmented, non-spore-forming, endophytic bacterium, designated strain Zy-3T, was isolated from root nodules of Sphaerophysa salsula, a native leguminous herb belonging to the family Leguminosae growing in north-western China. Cells of strain Zy-3T were non-motile, Gram-negative rods. Strain Zy-3T produced siderophores and showed antifungal activity. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that the closest relative of this organism was Paracoccus halophilus HN-182T (96.6 % sequence similarity). On the basis of genotype, fatty acid patterns and physiological characteristics, a novel species Paracoccus sphaerophysae sp. nov. is proposed, with Zy-3T (=ACCC 05413T =HAMBI 3106T) as the type strain.

An aerobic, Gram-negative bacterial strain, designated CTN-1T, capable of degrading chlorothalonil was isolated from a long-term chlorothalonil-contaminated soil in China, and was subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic investigation. Strain CTN-1T grew at 15–37 °C (optimum 28–30 °C) and at pH 6.0–9.0 (optimum pH 7.0–7.5). The G+C content of the total DNA was 67.1 mol%. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain CTN-1T was related most closely to Lysobacter daejeonensis DSM 17634T (97.1 % similarity), L. soli DCY21T (95.7 %), L. concretionis Ko07T (95.5 %), L. gummosus LMG 8763T (95.3 %) and L. niastensis DSM 18481T (95.2 %). The novel strain showed less than 95.0 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to the type strains of other Lysobacter species. The major cellular fatty acids of strain CNT-1T were iso-C16 : 0 (23.0 %), iso-C15 : 0 (21.4 %) and iso-C17 : 1 ω9c (15.3 %). The major isoprenoid quinone was Q-8 (99 %), and the major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol. These chemotaxonomic data supported the affiliation of strain CTN-1T to the genus Lysobacter. Levels of DNA–DNA relatedness between strain CTN-1T and L. daejeonensis DSM 17634T were 34.6–36.1 %. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, DNA–DNA hybridization data and biochemical and physiological characteristics strongly supported the genotypic and phenotypic differentiation of strain CTN-1T from recognized species of the genus Lysobacter. Strain CTN-1T is therefore considered to represent a novel species of the genus Lysobacter, for which the name Lysobacter ruishenii sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CTN-1T (=DSM 22393T =CGMCC 1.10136T).

The novel genus Holtermanniella is proposed here to accommodate four Cryptococcus species closely related to Holtermannia corniformis that are included in the Holtermannia clade (Basidiomycota, Agaricomycotina). Thus, four novel combinations are proposed: Holtermanniella nyarrowii comb. nov., Holtermanniella festucosa comb. nov., Holtermanniella mycelialis comb. nov. and Holtermanniella wattica comb. nov. In addition, a novel anamorphic yeast species was studied with 15 isolates obtained from different habitats around the world. Analysis of the sequences of the D1/D2 region of their large subunit rDNA showed that the novel species is placed phylogenetically within the Holtermannia clade of the Tremellomycetes (Agaricomycotina, Basidiomycota). PCR fingerprinting and sequencing of ITS1–5.8S–ITS2 showed genetic intraspecific variability among the strains: three groups were formed, which did not correlate with geographical origin or substrate. This novel species, designated the type species of Holtermanniella gen. nov., is described as Holtermanniella takashimae sp. nov.; the type strain is CBS 11174T (=HB 982T =DBVPG 8012T). The order Holtermanniales ord. nov. is proposed here to include Holtermannia (the type genus) and Holtermanniella.

During surveys on yeast diversity in forest soils from Taiwan and Thailand, ten yeast strains isolated from different samples were found to have similar molecular and physiological characteristics. Sequence analysis of small subunit (SSU) rDNA, the D1/D2 domain of large subunit (LSU) rDNA and internal transcribed spacer (ITS)-5.8S rDNA demonstrated that these strains were closely related to Scheffersomyces spartinae. The novel strains could be differentiated from S. spartinae by a 0.9 % sequence divergence (5 substitutions, 0 gaps) in the D1/D2 domain of LSU rDNA, a 1.5 % divergence (8 substitutions, 0 gaps) in the ITS-5.8S rDNA and a 0.7 % divergence (12 substitutions, 2 gaps) in the SSU rDNA. The novel strains also showed specific patterns of electrophoretic karyotypes that differed from that of S. spartinae. Therefore, a novel yeast species, Candida gosingica sp. nov., is proposed to accommodate these strains. The type strain SJ7S11T (=BCRC 23194T=CBS 11433T) was assigned and deposited in the Bioresource Collection and Research Center (BCRC), Food Industry Development and Research Institute, Hsinchu, Taiwan, and Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures (CBS), Utrecht, The Netherlands.