- Volume 61, Issue 7, 2011

A strictly aerobic, Gram-stain-negative, yellow-pigmented, non-spore-forming, motile (by gliding), rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain 15F3T, was isolated from leaf-and-branch compost. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain 15F3T was most closely related to Flavobacterium reichenbachii WB 3.2-61T and formed a distinct phyletic lineage within the genus Flavobacterium, the type genus of the family Flavobacteriaceae. Growth was observed at 10–34 °C (optimum, 30 °C) and pH 6.0–8.0 (optimum, pH 7.0). No growth occurred in the presence of ≥2 % (w/v) NaCl. Strain 15F3T reduced nitrate to nitrogen and showed catalase activity but no oxidase activity. The predominant cellular fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0 and summed feature 3 (comprising C16 : 1ω7c and/or iso-C15 : 0 2-OH). The major isoprenoid quinone was menaquinone-6. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 31.1 mol%. On the basis of data from this polyphasic study, strain 15F3T may be classified as a representative of a novel species within the genus Flavobacterium, for which the name Flavobacterium banpakuense sp. nov. is proposed; the type strain is 15F3T ( = KACC 14225T  = JCM 16466T).

A Gram-stain-positive endophytic bacterium, designated strain YC6957T, was isolated from surface-sterilized roots of a halophyte (Elymus mollis Trin.) inhabiting coastal tidal flats of Namhae Island, located on the southern coast of Korea, and was subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic study. Cells were facultatively anaerobic, endospore-forming rods to coccoid rods, motile by a single flagellum. Strain YC6957T was catalase-positive, oxidase-negative and able to grow in the presence of 0–8 % (w/v) NaCl, with optimum growth at 4–5 % (w/v) NaCl. Growth occurred at 15–45 °C (optimal growth at 30–35 °C) and pH 6.0–8.5 (optimal growth at pH 7.0–8.0). The predominant isoprenoid quinone was menaquinone 7 (MK-7). The major cellular fatty acids were C16 : 0 (11.3 %), iso-C15 : 0 (19.2 %) and anteiso-C15 : 0 (36.4 %). The cell-wall peptidoglycan contained meso-diaminopimelic acid. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine. The DNA G+C content was 41.6 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that the isolate belonged to the genus Bacillus. Strain YC6957T exhibited high 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to its closest neighbours, Bacillus ruris LMG 22866T (96.14 %), Bacillus lentus NCIMB 8773T (95.97 %) and Bacillus galactosidilyticus LMG 17892T (95.91 %), and less than 95.84 % similarity to all other type strains in the genus Bacillus. On the basis of the phylogenetic, physiological and biochemical data, it is suggested that strain YC6957T represents a novel species of the genus Bacillus, for which the name Bacillus graminis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YC6957T ( = KACC 13779T  = DSM 22162T).

Seven isolates of an unidentified Gram-stain-positive, catalase-negative, coccus-shaped organism isolated from domestic and wild pigs were characterized by phenotypic and molecular-genetic methods. Based on cellular morphology and biochemical criteria, the isolates were tentatively assigned to the genus Streptococcus, although the organisms did not appear to correspond to any recognized species. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequencing showed that the unknown bacterium was phylogenetically closely related to, but distinct from, Streptococcus suis (97.5 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to the type strain). rpoB and sodA sequence analysis showed minimum interspecies divergence from phylogenetically close 16S rRNA gene sequence-based relatives of 13.8 and 18.6 %, respectively. DNA–DNA hybridization of a strain of the unidentified organism demonstrated 8–18 % reassociation with S. suis NCTC 10234T. The novel bacterium could be distinguished from S. suis and other Streptococcus species using biochemical tests. On the basis of phenotypic and phylogenetic evidence, it is proposed that the unknown isolates from domestic and wild animals be assigned to a novel species of the genus Streptococcus, Streptococcus porcorum sp. nov. The type strain is 682-03T ( = CCUG 58479T  = CECT 7593T).

Two strains of Gram-stain-positive, catalase-negative, tetrad-forming cocci, C01T and C02, were isolated in Thailand from fish sauce. They were facultatively anaerobic, non-motile and non-spore-forming bacteria. These strains produced l-lactic acid from glucose. They grew at pH 5.0–9.0, at 15–40 °C and in the presence of 10 % (w/v) NaCl. The dominant fatty acid was C18 : 1ω9c. The DNA G+C contents of strains C01T and C02 were 38.6 and 38.7 mol%, respectively. Strain C01T was related most closely to Desemzia incerta DSM 20581T, with a 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 96.9 %. The strains could be distinguished clearly from D. incerta DSM 20581T based on cell morphology, physiological and biochemical characteristics and low levels of DNA–DNA relatedness. On the basis of the data presented, strains C01T and C02 are considered to represent a novel species of a new genus in the Bacillus–Lactobacillus cluster, for which the name Pisciglobus halotolerans gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Pisciglobus halotolerans is C01T ( = KCTC 13150T  = TISTR 1958T  = PCU 316T).

A Gram-reaction-positive, rod-shaped, spore-forming bacterium, designated Gsoil 1105T, was isolated from soil of a ginseng field in Pocheon Province in South Korea and characterized in order to determine its taxonomic position. Comparative analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that the isolate belongs to the order Bacillales, showing the highest level of sequence similarity with respect to Tumebacillus permanentifrigoris Eur1 9.5T (94.6 %). The phylogenetic distances from other described species with validly published names within the order Bacillales were greater than 9.0 %. Strain Gsoil 1105T had a genomic DNA G+C content of 55.6 mol% and menaquinone 7 (MK-7) as the major respiratory quinone. The major fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0 and anteiso-C15 : 0. On the basis of its phenotypic properties and phylogenetic distinctiveness, strain Gsoil 1105T represents a novel species of the genus Tumebacillus, for which the name Tumebacillus ginsengisoli sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is Gsoil 1105T ( = KCTC 13942T  = DSM 18389T).

Two slightly halophilic bacterial strains, C1-52T and YD-9, were isolated from Daban and Aiding salt lakes in Xinjiang, China, respectively. The isolates were Gram-positive, non-endospore-forming, non-motile, facultatively anaerobic cocci. Colonies were pale yellow, and a light pink, diffusible pigment was produced after a few additional days of incubation. The isolates grew optimally with 2–3 % (w/v) NaCl, at pH 7.5 and at 30–35 °C. The peptidoglycan type was l-Lys–Gly3–4–l-Ala(Gly). The menaquinones were MK-7 (83.2 %) and MK-6 (16.8 %). The major fatty acids (>10 %) were anteiso-C15 : 0 and iso-C15 : 0. The DNA G+C content of strains C1-52T and YD-9 was 41.2 and 41.0 mol%, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strains C1-52T and YD-9 were closely related to Jeotgalicoccus psychrophilus YKJ-115T (98.0 and 97.1 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, respectively), followed by Jeotgalicoccus halotolerans YKJ-101T (97.1 and 96.8 %). Strains C1-52T and YD-9 shared, respectively, 20 and 11 % DNA–DNA relatedness with J. halotolerans JCM 11198T and 8 and 13 % with J. psychrophilus JCM 11199T. DNA–DNA relatedness between the isolates was 91 %. On the basis of phenotypic and phylogenetic distinctiveness, strains C1-52T and YD-9 belonged to the same species, which should be placed in the genus Jeotgalicoccus as a novel species. The name Jeotgalicoccus halophilus sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain C1-52T ( = CGMCC 1.8911T  = NBRC 105788T).

A Gram-negative-staining, obligately aerobic, non-motile, rod-shaped and chemoheterotrophic bacterium, designated strain MN1-1006T, was isolated from an ascidian (sea squirt) sample, and was studied using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the new isolate shared approximately 93–99% sequence similarity with recognized species of the genus Rubritalea within the phylum ‘Verrucomicrobia’. DNA–DNA hybridization values between strain MN1-1006T and Rubritalea squalenifaciens HOact23T and Rubritalea sabuli YM29-052T were 57% and 14.5%, respectively. Strain MN1-1006T produced carotenoid compounds that rendered the cell biomass a reddish pink colour. The strain also contained squalene. The cell-wall peptidoglycan of the novel strain contained muramic acid and meso-diaminopimelic acid. The DNA G+C content of strain MN1-1006T was 51.4 mol%. The major cellular fatty acids were iso-C14:0, iso-C16:0 and anteiso-C15:0. The major isoprenoid quinone was MK-9. On the basis of these data, it was concluded that strain MN1-1006T represents a novel species of the genus Rubritalea, for which the name Rubritalea halochordaticola sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is MN1-1006T ( = KCTC 23186T = NBRC 107102T).

Three strains of lactic acid bacteria, designated NJ 317T, NJ 414 and NJ 415, were isolated from the outer leaves of Chinese cabbages (Brassica rapa L. var. glabra Regel) and characterized taxonomically. The strains were Gram-reaction-positive, catalase-negative, facultatively anaerobic cocci that did not produce gas from glucose and formed l-lactic acid. The major fatty acids were C18 : 1ω9c, C16 : 0, C14 : 0 and summed feature 10. Morphological, physiological and phylogenetic data indicated that the strains belonged to the genus Lactococcus. These strains shared similar phenotypic characteristics and exhibited DNA relatedness values >96.6 % to each other, indicating that they represent a single species. The DNA G+C contents of the three strains were 42.1–42.5 mol%. 16S rRNA gene sequences of the novel strains were determined and aligned with those of other species of the genus Lactococcus. On the basis of phylogenetic analysis the three strains grouped with other members of the genus Lactococcus. Lactococcus lactis and Lactococcus garvieae were the most closely related species, sharing a sequence similarity value of 94.4 % with the three strains. Ribotyping patterns, however, revealed that these strains were well-separated from reference strains of species of the genus Lactococcus and DNA–DNA hybridization studies indicated that the novel strains had low levels (<20.2 %) of DNA relatedness with reference strains of L. lactis, L. garvieae and other type strains of previously described species, showing that they represent a different species. Based on this evidence, strains NJ 317T, NJ 414 and NJ 415 represent a novel species of the genus Lactococcus, for which the name Lactococcus fujiensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is NJ 317T ( = JCM16395T  = CGMCC 1.10453T).

An anaerobic rod-shaped thermophile was isolated from a hydrothermal vent at Suiyo Seamount, Izu-Bonin Arc, western Pacific Ocean, and was named strain MN14T. The rods were Gram-negative-staining, non-motile without flagella, 2–4 µm long and 0.5 µm wide, and divided by binary fission in the mid-exponential phase. The cells were surrounded by a sheath-like structure (toga) and occurred singly or in chains. Spheroids containing multiple cells were observed not only in the stationary phase, as previously observed for species of the order Thermotogales, but also from the early exponential phase. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the peptidoglycan in rods partly disintegrated in the early growth phases and that the outer membrane of the spheroids was not completely lined with peptidoglycan. These findings suggested that the spheroids were formed from rods by the disintegration of peptidoglycan and subsequent inflation of the outer membrane. The spheroids eventually generated tiny cells in the periplasmic space, indicating a viviparous mode of proliferation in addition to binary fission. Strain MN14T grew at 40–75 °C, pH 5.0–8.2 and with 0.25–5.20 % (w/v) NaCl, with optimal growth occurring at 68 °C, pH 6.8 and with 2.5 % NaCl. The shortest doubling time was 24 min, assuming that the strain propagated only by binary fission. Elemental sulfur enhanced growth, but was not essential. Thiosulfate was not an electron acceptor for growth. The strain was a chemo-organotroph that grew on yeast extract as the sole growth substrate. Tryptone and starch supported its growth in the presence of yeast extract. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 31.7 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that this strain belonged to the genus Thermosipho. No significant DNA–DNA hybridization was observed between the genomic DNA of strain MN14T and phylogenetically related species of the genus Thermosipho. Based on this evidence, strain MN14T is proposed to represent a novel species, named Thermosipho globiformans sp. nov. The species epithet globiformans reflects the formation of multicellular and reproductive spheroids by the novel strain. The type strain of this species is MN14T ( = JCM 15059T = DSM 19918T).

A Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped, non-spore-forming bacterium originating from a human clinical specimen was studied for its taxonomic position. 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity studies clearly allocated this strain (CCUG 58010T) to the class Betaproteobacteria, closely related to members of the genera Massilia and Naxibacter. Naxibacter varians was shown to be the most closely related species on the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity (97.5 %), followed by Massilia niastensis (96.8 %) and Massilia aerilata (96.4 %). Similarities to all other species of the genera Naxibacter and Massilia were in the range 93.9–96.2 %. Chemotaxonomic data (major ubiquinone: Q-8; major polar lipids: phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and diphosphatidylglycerol; and major fatty acids: summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or iso-C15 : 0 2-OH), C16 : 0, C18 : 1ω7c and C12 : 0, with C10 : 0 3-OH as hydroxylated fatty acid) supported the affiliation of the isolate to these genera, which share these chemotaxonomic traits. DNA–DNA hybridization of strain CCUG 58010T with the type strain of N. varians CCUG 35299T resulted in a relatedness value of 39.2 % (reciprocal, 50 %) and physiological and biochemical tests also allowed phenotypic differentiation of the isolate from the most closely related species. There is currently no justification for a division of the genera Massilia and Naxibacter and for this reason a proposal is made to transfer all species of the genus Naxibacter to the genus Massilia, as Massilia alkalitolerans comb. nov., Massilia varians comb. nov., Massilia haematophila comb. nov. and Massilia suwonensis comb. nov. Strain CCUG 58010T represents a novel species, for which the name Massilia consociata sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain CCUG 58010T ( = CCM 7792T).

A heterotrophic, Gram-negative, prosthecate bacterium, designated strain G5T, was isolated from a sandy beach of Taean in South Korea. Cells of strain G5T were aerobic, catalase- and oxidase-positive, straight to slightly curved motile rods with a single flagellum and formed yellow–orange colonies on agar. Growth occurred at 15–40 °C (optimum 25–30 °C) and pH 6–9 (optimum pH 7–8). The major cellular fatty acids were C18 : 1ω7c, C17 : 0, C16 : 0, 11-methyl C18 : 1ω7c, C17 : 1ω8c and C17 : 1ω6c. The polar lipid pattern indicated the presence of phosphatidylglycerol, monoglycosyldiglyceride, glucuronopyranosyldiglyceride and two unidentified glycolipids. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 63.6 mol% and the major quinone was Q-10. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain G5T belonged to the branch containing the genera Hellea, Robiginitomaculum and Hypomonas within the family Hyphomonadaceae. Within this group, strain G5T was most closely related to Hellea balneolensis 26III/A02/215T with 95.8 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity. Based on its phylogenetic position and its phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and molecular properties, strain G5T represents a novel species of a novel genus of the family Hyphomonadaceae, for which the name Litorimonas taeanensis gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is G5T ( = KACC 13701T  = DSM 22008T).

A beige-coloured, Gram-staining negative, aerobic, non-motile, moderately thermophilic, rod-shaped bacterium, CC-MHSW-1T, was isolated on Marine Agar 2216 from a water sample from a coastal hot spring on Green Island (Lutao), located off Taituang, Taiwan. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis demonstrated that the novel strain shared <94 % sequence similarity with members of the genera Lutimaribacter, Maritimibacter and Oceanicola. Ubiquinone (Q-10) was the major respiratory quinone and C18 : 1ω7c was the predominant fatty acid. The predominant polar lipids were phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol and unidentified phospholipids and aminolipids. The DNA G+C content of strain CC-MHSW-1T was 64.7 mol%. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis and the chemotaxonomic and physiological data, strain CC-MHSW-1T represents a new genus and species in the family Rhodobacteraceae for which the name Jhaorihella thermophila gen. nov., sp. nov., is proposed. The type strain of the type species is CC-MHSW-1T ( = JCM 15068T = CCM 7767T).

The taxonomic status was determined of an aerobic, facultatively methylotrophic strain, JZL-4T, isolated from activated sludge. The cells were Gram-negative, asporogenous, colourless, motile, short rods. The strain utilized methanol, methylamine, formate and a variety of polycarbon compounds, but not methane, dichloromethane or CO2/H2, as carbon and energy sources. C1 compounds were assimilated via the isocitrate lyase-negative serine pathway. Optimal growth occurred at 30 °C, pH 6.5–7.5 and 0.5 % (w/v) NaCl. The major cellular fatty acids were C18 : 1ω7c and C18 : 0. The major phospholipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine (PME); PME, the main phospholipid of strain JZL-4T, was absent or present in only minor amounts in Methylopila capsulata IM1T, Methylopila helvetica DM9T and Albibacter methylovorans DM10T. The major ubiquinone was Q-10. The DNA G+C content of strain JZL-4T was 70.4 mol% (T m). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that the strain showed high sequence similarities to M. capsulata IM1T (97.2 %), A. methylovorans DM10T (94.9 %) and M. helvetica DM9T (94.1 %), and showed less than 94 % similarity to strains of other species with validly published names. Strain JZL-4T had a low level of DNA–DNA relatedness (34 %) with M. capsulata IM1T. On the basis of phenotypic, genetic and phylogenetic data, strain JZL-4T is proposed to represent a novel species of the genus Methylopila, with the name Methylopila jiangsuensis sp. nov. The type strain is strain JZL-4T ( = ACCC 05406T  = DSM 22718T  = VKM B-2555T).

Two Gram-negative, aerobic, non-pigmented, non-motile, rod-shaped bacteria, strains KMM 9015 and KMM 9018T, were isolated from a sample of shallow sediment collected from the Sea of Japan. An analysis of the nearly complete 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the isolates were very close to each other phylogenetically (99.9 % sequence similarity) and their close relatives were Marinovum algicola FF3T (95.8 and 95.9 %, respectively) and members of the genera Leisingera (95.7–95.1 and 95.8–95.2 %), Phaeobacter (95.0–94.2 and 95.1–94.2 %) and Thalassobius (96.3–94.8 and 96.2–94.7 %) of the class Alphaproteobacteria. In phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, strains KMM 9015 and KMM 9018T were positioned as a distinct phylogenetic line adjacent to Marinovum algicola. The major isoprenoid quinone was Q-10, the polar lipids consisted of phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol and an unknown lipid and the major fatty acid was C18 : 1ω7c, followed by 11-methyl C18 : 1ω7c, in both strains. The DNA G+C contents of strains KMM 9015 and KMM 9018T were 60.2 and 61.9 mol%, respectively. Based on distinctive phenotypic characteristics and phylogenetic analysis, strains KMM 9015 and KMM 9018T represent a novel species in a novel genus, for which the name Primorskyibacter sedentarius gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Primorskyibacter sedentarius is strain KMM 9018T ( = NRIC 0784T  = JCM 16874T).

A facultatively anaerobic marine gammaproteobacterium, designated strain M46T, was isolated from Mediterranean seawater at Malvarrosa beach, Valencia, Spain. The strain was characterized by using a polyphasic approach and was found to be situated within the genus Photobacterium in the family Vibrionaceae. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain M46T was closely related to P. rosenbergii CECT 7644T, P. halotolerans CECT 5860T and P. ganghwense CECT 7641T, showing sequence similarities of 96.8, 96.4 and 96.2 %, respectively. According to the results of phylogenetic analyses based on recA and gyrB gene sequences, the most closely related taxon was P. ganghwense CECT 7641T with 87.4 and 85.0 % sequence similarity, respectively. Regardless of the gene used in phylogenetic analysis, strain M46T always formed a separate and stable clade containing these three species of the genus Photobacterium. Strain M46T was not luminescent and produced a diffusible brown pigment. It required NaCl to grow, reduced nitrate to nitrite and oxidized a small number of substrates in Biolog GN plates. Strain M46T was positive for arginine dihydrolase (ADH), β-galactosidase, aesculin hydrolysis and DNase activity. In API ZYM tests, the novel strain was positive for alkaline phosphatase, leucine arylamidase and acidic phosphatase activities. The major cellular fatty acids were unsaturated C18 and C16, as in other members of the genus Photobacterium, but their relative amounts and the presence or absence of other fatty acids differentiated strain M46T from its closest relatives. Based on the results of this polyphasic taxonomic study, strain M46T represents a novel species of the genus Photobacterium, for which the name Photobacterium aphoticum is proposed. The type strain is M46T ( = CECT 7614T  = KCTC 23057T).

Two novel Gram-negative, oxidase- and catalase-positive, rod-shaped bacterial strains, designated YCSA28T and YCSA39, were isolated from sediment of Daqiao saltern, Jimo, Qingdao, on the east coast of China. The two strains grew optimally at 28–30 °C, at pH 7.5 and in the presence of 7–8 % (w/v) NaCl. They were assigned to the genus Halomonas, class Gammaproteobacteria, based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. The major cellular fatty acids of the two strains were C18 : 1ω7c (42.9 %), C16 : 0 (23.1 %) and C16 : 1ω7c/ω6c (18.0 %), and Q-9 was the major ubiquinone. The G+C content of the DNA of strains YCSA28T and YCSA39 was 63.7 and 63.9 mol%, respectively. The predominant respiratory lipoquinone, cellular fatty acid profiles and DNA G+C content of strains YCSA28T and YCSA39 were consistent with those of recognized species of the genus Halomonas. Levels of DNA–DNA relatedness between strains YCSA28T and YCSA39, between YCSA28T and Halomonas ventosae Al12T, and between YCSA39 and H. ventosae Al12T were 95, 45 and 50 %, respectively. Together, these data indicated that strains YCSA28T and YCSA39 represent a single novel species of the genus Halomonas, for which the name Halomonas daqiaonensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YCSA28T ( = CGMCC 1.9150T  = NCCB 100305T  = MCCC 1B00920T).

Two strains of acid-neutralizing bacteria, E25T and E21, were isolated from torpedo grass (Panicum repens) growing in highly acidic swamps (pH 2–4) in actual acid sulfate soil areas of Thailand. Cells of the strains were Gram-negative, aerobic, non-spore-forming rods, 0.6–0.8 µm wide and 1.6–2.1 µm long. The strains showed good growth at pH 4.0–8.0 and 17–37 °C. The organisms contained ubiquinone Q-8 as the predominant isoprenoid quinone and C16 : 0, C17 : 0 cyclo and C18 : 1ω7c as the major fatty acids. Their fatty acid profiles were similar to those reported for other Burkholderia species. The DNA G+C content of the strains was 65 mol%. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, the strains were shown to belong to the genus Burkholderia. Although the calculated 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of E25T to strain E21 and the type strains of Burkholderia unamae, B. tropica, B. sacchari, B. nodosa and B. mimosarum was 100, 98.7, 98.6, 97.6, 97.4 and 97.3 %, respectively, strains E25T and E21 formed a group that was distinct in the phylogenetic tree; the DNA–DNA relatedness of E25T to E21 and B. unamae CIP 107921T, B. tropica LMG 22274T, B. sacchari LMG 19450T, B. nodosa LMG 23741T and B. mimosarum LMG 23256T was 90, 42, 42, 42, 45 and 35 %, respectively. The results of physiological and biochemical tests including whole-cell protein pattern analysis allowed phenotypic differentiation of these strains from previously described Burkholderia species. Therefore, strains E25T and E21 represent a novel species, for which the name Burkholderia bannensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is E25T ( = NBRC 103871T  = BCC 36998T).

A novel facultatively autotrophic bacterium, designated strain sk43HT, was isolated from water of a freshwater lake in Japan. Cells of the isolate were curved rods, motile and Gram-reaction-negative. Strain sk43HT was facultatively anaerobic and autotrophic growth was observed only under anaerobic conditions. The isolate oxidized thiosulfate, elemental sulfur and hydrogen as sole energy sources for autotrophic growth and could utilize nitrate as an electron acceptor. Growth was observed at 8–32 °C (optimum 25 °C) and 6.4–7.6 (optimum pH 6.7–6.9). Optimum growth of the isolate occurred at NaCl concentrations of less than 50 mM. The G+C content of genomic DNA was around 67 mol%. The fatty acid profile of strain sk43HT when grown on acetate under aerobic conditions was characterized by the presence of C16 : 0 and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or iso-C15 : 0 2-OH) as the major components. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the strain was a member of the class Betaproteobacteria showing highest sequence similarity with Georgfuchsia toluolica G5G6T (94.7 %) and Denitratisoma oestradiolicum AcBE2-1T (94.3 %). Phylogenetic analyses were also performed using genes involved in sulfur oxidation. On the basis of its phylogenetic and phenotypic properties, strain sk43HT ( = DSM 22779T  = NBRC 105852T) represents a novel species of a new genus, for which the name Sulfuritalea hydrogenivorans gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed.

Two strains (JA317T and JA559) of spiral shaped, spheroplast-forming, anaerobic, Gram-negative, motile purple non-sulfur bacteria were isolated from rhizosphere soils of paddy and were characterized by a polyphasic taxonomic approach. Bacteriochlorophyll a and carotenoids, rhodopin, lycopene and rhodopin glucoside, were present as photosynthetic pigments. Intracellular photosynthetic membranes were of stacked type. The major fatty acids were C18 : 1ω7c, C16 : 0 and C16 : 1ω6c/C16 : 1ω7c in both strains. The genomic DNA G+C content was 63.3±0.8 mol%. The two strains were closely related (mean DNA–DNA hybridization >85 %). Phylogenetic analysis showed that the strains clustered with the species of the genus Phaeospirillum, which belongs to the family Rhodospirillaceae within the class Alphaproteobacteria. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strains JA317T and JA559 showed highest sequence similarity with the type strains of Phaeospirillum chandramohanii (98.2 %), Phaeospirillum molischianum (97.4 %) and Phaeospirillum fulvum (97.1 %) of the family Rhodospirillaceae. Strain JA317T can be clearly distinguished from P. chandramohanii with respect to spheroplast formation and several other morphological and physiological properties. DNA–DNA relatedness of strain JA317T with its closest relatives of the genus Phaeospirillum was less than 55 %. It is evident from the phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and molecular genetic evidence that strain JA317T represents a novel species of the genus Phaeospirillum, for which the name Phaeospirillum oryzae sp. nov., is proposed. The type strain of the species is JA317T ( = NBRC 104938T  = KCTC 5704T).