- Volume 62, Issue Pt_3, 2012

A Gram-positive, coccoid, non-endospore-forming actinobacterium (strain CCUG 35676T) was isolated from cerebrospinal fluid from a 24-year-old woman in Gothenborg, Sweden. Based on pairwise 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity studies, strain CCUG 35676T was shown to belong to the genus Dietzia and was most closely related to the type strains of Dietzia aerolata (99.3 %), Dietzia lutea (98.8 %), Dietzia schimae (98.5 %), Dietzia maris (98.5 %), Dietzia alimentaria (98.3 %) and Dietzia cercidiphylli (98.0 %). The major menaquinone was MK-8(H2). Major polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, an unidentified aminophospholipid (APL1), an unidentified phospholipid (PL1) and unidentified glycolipids (GL1 and GL3). Numerous other lipids were also detected. The fatty acid profile, comprising C16 : 0, C17 : 0, C18 : 1ω9c and 10-methyl-C18 : 0 as major fatty acids, supported the affiliation of strain CCUG 35676T to the genus Dietzia. On the basis of the results of physiological and biochemical tests and DNA–DNA hybridizations, a clear phenotypic and genotypic differentiation of strain CCUG 35676T from the most closely related Dietzia species is possible. Strain CCUG 35676T represents a novel species, for which the name Dietzia aurantiaca sp. nov. is proposed, with CCUG 35676T ( = JCM 17645T) as the type strain.

A Gram-positive actinobacterium, strain IV-75T, was isolated by using R2A agar from the ultrapure water system of a power plant in Hungary. The strain exhibited a rod–coccus cell cycle, and was strictly aerobic, non-motile, catalase-positive and oxidase-negative. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that strain IV-75T belonged to the suborder Micrococcineae and clustered with members of the family Intrasporangiaceae. Its closest phylogenetic neighbour was Arsenicicoccus bolidensis CCUG 47306T (94.3 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity). The peptidoglycan of strain IV-75T contained meso-diaminopimelic acid and MK-10(H4) was the major menaquinone. The polar lipid pattern contained phosphatidylglycerol, two unidentified phospholipids, one glycolipid and several other lipid components. The major fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0, C18 : 1ω9c and C16 : 0. Based on the moderate levels of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to all members of the family Intrasporangiaceae and the unique combination of chemotaxonomic characteristics, strain IV-75T is considered to represent a novel species of a new genus, for which the name Aquipuribacter hungaricus gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Aquipuribacter hungaricus is IV-75T ( = DSM 21674T = NCAIM B 02333T).

A novel actinobacterial strain, designated P4-5T, was isolated from soil of a ginseng field located in Geumsan County, Republic of Korea. Cells of strain P4-5T were Gram-stain-positive, oxidase- and catalase-positive, motile, short rods and the strain produced creamy white colonies on trypticase soy agar. The isolate contained demethylmenaquinone 7 (DMK-7) as the predominant isoprenoid quinone, C18 : 1ω9c and anteiso-C15 : 0 as major fatty acids, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and several unknown lipids in the polar lipid profile, galactose, glucose, mannose, arabinose, xylose (trace) and rhamnose as cell-wall sugars, and meso-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid in the cell-wall peptidoglycan. The DNA G+C content of strain P4-5T was 74.6 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing showed that strain P4-5T was related most closely to Patulibacter minatonensis KV-614T and Patulibacter americanus CP177-2T (98.4 and 98.2 % similarity, respectively) and that it formed a separate lineage in the genus Patulibacter. Combined phenotypic and DNA–DNA hybridization data supported the conclusion that strain P4-5T represents a novel species of the genus Patulibacter, for which the name Patulibacter ginsengiterrae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is P4-5T ( = KCTC 19427T  = CECT 7603T). An emended description of the genus Patulibacter is also provided.

A Gram-reaction-positive, rod-shaped, non-motile, non-spore-forming bacterium (strain BX5-10T) was isolated from the soil of a ginseng field on Baekdu Mountain in Jilin district, China. The taxonomic position of this bacterium was determined in an investigation based on a polyphasic approach. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain BX5-10T was shown to belong to the family Nocardioidaceae and to be most closely related to Nocardioides plantarum NCIMB 12834T (96.5 % sequence similarity), Nocardioides dokdonensis KCTC 19309T (96.2 %) and Nocardioides fonticola NAA-13T (95.1 %). Strain BX5-10T was characterized chemotaxonomically as having ll-2,6-diaminopimelic acid in its cell-wall peptidoglycan, MK-8(H4) as the predominant menaquinone and C18 : 1ω9c, C16 : 0 and C17 : 1ω8c as its major fatty acids. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 70.3 mol%. The novel strain could be differentiated genotypically and phenotypically from all recognized species of the genus Nocardioides. Based on the results of the phylogenetic analyses and the genotypic and phenotypic data, a novel species, Nocardioides ginsengagri sp. nov., is proposed. The type strain is BX5-10T ( = KCTC 19467T = DSM 21362T).

A Streptomyces-like strain, 172205T, was obtained from mangrove soil collected at Qinglan Harbour, Wenchang, Hainan, China. The strain was characterized by white aerial mycelium and long spore chains. Comparison of 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the strain represents a novel member of the genus Streptomyces, exhibiting highest levels of similarity (<98.29 %) to the type strains of members of the genus Streptomyces. However, DNA–DNA relatedness and phenotypic data readily distinguished strain 172205T from phylogenetically related type strains. The predominant menaquinones were MK-9(H6) and MK-9(H8). The major fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0 (10.31 %), anteiso-C15 : 0 (35.19 %), iso-C16 : 0 (20.24 %) and anteiso-C17 : 0 (10.05 %). The diagnostic phospholipid was phosphatidylethanolamine. The cell wall contained ll-diaminopimelic acid and meso-diaminopimelic acid and whole-cell hydrolysates contained ribose, galactose and glucose. The results of DNA–DNA hybridization, physiological and biochemical tests allowed the genotypic and phenotypic differentiation of strain 172205T from phylogenetically related type strains. Therefore, strain 172205T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Streptomyces, for which the name Streptomyces qinglanensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 172205T ( = CGMCC 4.6825T  = DSM 42035T).

A Gram-stain-positive, non-spore-forming bacterium (GW5-5797T) was isolated on soil extract agar from sand collected at a depth of 5 m in the Caribbean Sea near Grenada. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis and similarity studies showed that strain GW5-5797T belongs to the genus Nocardia, and is most closely related to Nocardia speluncae N2-11T (99.2 % similarity) and Nocardia jinanensis 04-5195T (99.2 %) and more distantly related to Nocardia rhamnosiphila 202GMOT (98.6 %) and other Nocardia species. Strain GW5-5797T could be distinguished from all other recognized Nocardia species by sequence similarity values less than 98.5 %. The peptidoglycan diamino acid was meso-diaminopimelic acid. Strain GW5-5797T exhibited a quinone system with the predominant compounds MK-8(H4ω-cyclo) and MK-8(H2). The polar lipid profile of GW5-5797T consisted of the major compounds diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and an unidentified glycolipid, moderate amounts of phosphatidylinositol and a phosphatidylinositol mannoside and minor amounts of several lipids including a second phosphatidylinositol mannoside. The polyamine pattern contained the major compound spermine and moderate amounts of spermidine. The major fatty acids were C16 : 0, C18 : 1ω9c and 10-methyl C18 : 0. These chemotaxonomic traits are in excellent agreement with those of other Nocardia species. The results of DNA–DNA hybridizations and physiological and biochemical tests allowed genotypic and phenotypic differentiation of strain GW5-5797T from the most closely related species, showing 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities >98.5 %. Strain GW5-5797T therefore merits separate species status, and we propose the name Nocardia grenadensis sp. nov., with the type strain GW5-5797T ( = CCUG 60970T  = CIP 110294T).

Three Gram-stain-positive strains were isolated from fermented mustard and were rod-shaped, non-motile, asporogenous, facultatively anaerobic, homofermentative and did not exhibit catalase activity. Comparative analyses of 16S rRNA, pheS and rpoA gene sequences demonstrated that the novel strains were members of the genus Lactobacillus. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the type strains of Lactobacillus crustorum (98.7 % similarity), Lactobacillus farciminis (98.9 %) and Lactobacillus mindensis (97.9 %) were the closest neighbours. However, DNA–DNA reassociation values with these strains were less than 50 %. Phenotypic and genotypic features demonstrated that these isolates represent a novel species of the genus Lactobacillus, for which the name Lactobacillus futsaii sp. nov. is proposed; the type strain is YM 0097T ( = JCM 17355T = BCRC 80278T).

Lactobacillus kunkeei is an inhabitant of fructose-rich niches and is a potential member of the fructophilic lactic acid bacteria. In the present study, the phylogenetic and biochemical characteristics of the type strain and eight isolates of L. kunkeei, originating from wine, flowers and honey, were studied. The nine isolates, including the type strain, formed a well-defined phylogenetic subcluster based on the analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences. The subcluster was not closely related to other subclusters in the Lactobacillus phylogenetic group. Biochemically, the eight new isolates showed typical fructophilic characteristics. The eight isolates grew poorly on glucose, but grew well on fructose. Good growth on glucose was only recorded in the presence of electron acceptors. The type strain of L. kunkeei differed from the other isolates only on the basis of poor growth on fructose. Although they belong to a group of obligately heterofermentative lactic acid bacteria, all nine isolates, including the type strain, produced almost equimolar amounts of lactic acid and acetic acid and very little ethanol from glucose. Eight of the isolates can thus be regarded as typical ‘obligately’ fructophilic lactic acid bacteria. Although the type strain of L. kunkeei was phenotypically slightly different from the other isolates, it possessed several important fructophilic characteristics. On the basis of the evidence gathered in this study, the type strain of L. kunkeei is recognized as a member of the ‘obligately’ fructophilic lactic acid bacteria.

A novel Gram-stain-positive, white-pigmented, non-motile, non-sporulating, catalase- and oxidase-positive, strictly aerobic coccus, designated strain ZXM223T, was isolated from a seawater sample collected from the coast of Qingdao, PR China, during a green algal bloom. It grew at pH 6.0–10.5 and 0–25.0 % (w/v) NaCl, with optimum growth at pH 8.5 and 3.0 % (w/v) NaCl. Growth occurred at 16–42 °C (optimum at 28 °C). The major fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0 and iso-C15 : 0. Menaquinone 6 (MK-6) was the major respiratory quinone. The polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol, three unidentified phospholipids and two unknown glycolipids. The peptidoglycan type was l-Lys–Gly5–6. The genomic DNA G+C content was 43.5 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence placed strain ZXM223T within the genus Salinicoccus, with sequence similarity of 92.2–97.1 % between ZXM223T and the type strains of this genus. The closest relatives were Salinicoccus kunmingensis YIM Y15T, ‘S. salitudinis’ YIM-C678 and S. alkaliphilus T8T. The DNA–DNA relatedness between strain ZXM223T and S. kunmingensis CGMCC 1.6302T and ‘S. salitudinis’ CGMCC 1.6299 ( = YIM-C678) was 37±3 and 30±2 %, respectively. The phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic characteristics and low DNA–DNA relatedness support the proposal of a novel species of the genus Salinicoccus, Salinicoccus qingdaonensis sp. nov., with the type strain ZXM223T ( = LMG 24855T  = CGMCC 1.8895T).

A novel thermophilic, anaerobic, Gram-stain-positive, terminal-spore-forming bacterium was isolated from an upflow anaerobic filter treating abattoir wastewaters in Tunisia. This strain, designated LIND6LT2T, grew at 40–60 °C (optimum 50–55 °C) and at pH 6.0–8.5 (optimum pH 7.0–7.5). It did not require NaCl for growth, but tolerated it up to 2 %. Sulfate, thiosulfate, elemental sulfur, sulfite, nitrate and nitrite were not used as electron acceptors. Growth of LIND6LT2T was inhibited by sulfite (2 mM). Strain LIND6LT2T used cellobiose, glucose, mannose, maltose, mannitol, sucrose and xylose as electron donors. The main fermentation products from glucose metabolism were acetate, formate, butyrate and isobutyrate. The predominant cellular fatty acids were C16 : 0 (68.4 %) and C14 : 0 (8.3 %). The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 35.2 mol%. On the basis of its phylogenetic and physiological properties, a new genus and species, Defluviitalea saccharophila gen. nov., sp. nov., are proposed to accommodate strain LIND6LT2T, placed in Defluviitaleaceae fam. nov. within the phylum Firmicutes, class Clostridia, order Clostridiales. Strain LIND6LT2T ( = DSM 22681T  = JCM 16312T) is the type strain of Defluviitalea saccharophila, which itself is the type species of Defluviitalea.

Two Gram-stain-positive strains, YIT 12363T and YIT 12364T, were isolated from human faeces. They were rod-shaped, non-motile, asporogenous, facultatively anaerobic and did not exhibit catalase activity. Comparative analyses of 16S rRNA, pheS and rpoA gene sequences demonstrated that the novel strains were members of the genus Lactobacillus. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, the type strains of Lactobacillus casei (95.3 % similarity), Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei (95.6 %), Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. tolerans (95.3 %) and Lactobacillus rhamnosus (95.4 %) were the closest neighbours to strain YIT 12363T. For strain YIT 12364T, the highest similarity values were observed with the type strains of Lactobacillus diolivorans, Lactobacillus parafarraginis and Lactobacillus rapi (95.8, 96.0 and 96.0 %, respectively). Phenotypic and genotypic features demonstrated that these strains each represent a separate novel species of the genus Lactobacillus, and the names Lactobacillus saniviri sp. nov. (type strain YIT 12363T = JCM 17471T = DSM 24301T) and Lactobacillus senioris sp. nov. (type strain YIT 12364T = JCM 17472T = DSM 24302T), respectively, are proposed.

A Gram-staining-positive, motile, rod-shaped, spore-forming bacterium, designated P9T, was isolated from soil in Portugal. This organism was aerobic and catalase- and oxidase-positive. It had an optimum growth temperature of about 35 °C and an optimum growth pH of about 8.0–8.5, and grew in medium with 0–9 % (w/v) NaCl. The cell-wall peptidoglycan was of the A1α type, with l-lysine as the diagnostic diamino acid. The major respiratory quinone was menaquinone 7 (MK-7) and the major fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0 (45.4 %), iso-C15 : 0 (22.0 %) and anteiso-C17 : 0 (11.2 %). The genomic DNA G+C content was about 39.4 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain P9T was most closely related to Jeotgalibacillus campisalis DSM 18983T (96.8 %) and Jeotgalibacillus marinus DSM 1297T (96.5 %). These two recognized species formed a coherent cluster with strain P9T that was supported by a bootstrap value of 99 %. On the basis of the phylogenetic analysis and physiological and biochemical characteristics, strain P9T ( = DSM 23228T = LMG 25523T) represents a novel species of the genus Jeotgalibacillus, for which the name Jeotgalibacillus soli sp. nov. is proposed.

An anaerobic, thermophilic, spore-forming bacterium (strain 64-FGQT) was isolated from a terrestrial hydrothermal spring from the Kamchatka peninsula, Russia. This strain utilized lactate as an electron donor, insoluble poorly crystalline Fe(III) oxide incorporated into alginate beads as a potential electron acceptor and 9,10-anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonate (AQDS) as an electron-shuttling compound. Vegetative cells of strain 64-FGQT were Gram-stain-positive, peritrichously flagellated, motile, straight rods, 0.3–0.5 µm in diameter and 2.0–5.0 µm long, growing singly or forming short chains. Cells formed round refractive endospores in terminal swollen sporangia. The temperature range for growth was 46–70 °C, with an optimum at 65 °C. The pH range for growth was 5.5–8.5, with an optimum at pH 7.0. The substrates utilized by strain 64-FGQT in the presence of AQDS as an electron acceptor included lactate, malate, succinate, glycerol and yeast extract. The strain fermented galactose, fructose, maltose, sucrose, pyruvate and peptone. Strain 64-FGQT used AQDS, humic acid, thiosulfate, nitrate and perchlorate as electron acceptors for growth. Fe(III) was not directly reduced, but strain 64-FGQT was able to grow and reduce Fe(III) oxide in the presence of small amounts of AQDS or humic acid as electron-shuttling compounds. The G+C content of the DNA of strain 64-FGQT was 51 mol%. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis placed the isolate in the genus Moorella, with the type strain of Moorella glycerini as its closest relative (97.2 % similarity). Based on phylogenetic analysis and physiological characteristics, strain 64-FGQT is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Moorella, for which the name Moorella humiferrea sp. nov. is proposed; the type strain is 64-FGQT ( = DSM 23265T = VKM B-2603T).

A novel facultatively anaerobic, non-spore-forming, non-motile, catalase- and oxidase-positive, Gram-negative and rod-shaped bacterial strain, designated Y12T, was isolated from activated sludge of a wastewater bio-treatment facility. The strain was able to degrade about 90 % of added propanil (100 mg l−1) within 3 days of incubation. Growth occurred in the presence of 0–4.5 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum 0.5 %), at 10–40 °C (optimum 28 °C) and at pH 5.5–10.0 (optimum pH 7.0). Vesicular internal membrane structures and photoheterotrophic growth were not observed. The major respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-10 and the major cellular fatty acid was summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω6c and/or C18 : 1ω7c). The genomic DNA G+C content of strain Y12T was 63.7 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence comparison revealed that strain Y12T was a member of the genus Catellibacterium, as it showed highest sequence similarities to Catellibacterium caeni DCA-1T (99.1 %) and <96.0 % similarities with other species of the genus Catellibacterium. Strain Y12T showed low DNA–DNA relatedness values with C. caeni DCA-1T. Based on phenotypic, genotypic and phylogenetic properties, strain Y12T represents a novel species of the genus Catellibacterium, for which the name Catellibacterium nanjingense sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is Y12T ( = CCTCC AB 2010218T  = KCTC 23298T). An emended description of the genus Catellibacterium is also presented.

Two Gram-negative, aerobic strains, Y215T and Y226T, were isolated from sediment from Yueqing Bay, Zhejiang Province, China. The two novel strains were both positive for oxidase activity, nitrate reduction, and aesculin and casein decomposition, but negative for gelatin and tyrosine decomposition. Catalase activity, and starch and Tween 80 decomposition differed between the two strains. Cells of both novel strains were rod-shaped in young cultures and ovoid in older cultures. Optimum NaCl concentration and pH range for growth of both strains were 2.0–3.0 % (w/v) and 7.0–8.0, respectively, whereas the optimum growth temperature for strain Y215T (25–30 °C) was lower than that for strain Y226T (30–37 °C). The genomic DNA G+C contents of strains Y215T and Y226T were 54.0 and 56.7 mol%, respectively. The major fatty acids in both isolates were iso-C15 : 0 and iso-C17 : 1ω9c, which was also the case in the reference strains apart from Microbulbifer salipaludis, which possessed C18 : 1ω7c as the predominant fatty acid. The predominant isoprenoid quinone was Q-8 and the major polar lipids of both strains were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and an unknown glycolipid. Both strains had highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to members of the genus Microbulbifer. Strain Y215T was closely related to the type strains of Microbulbifer maritimus (97.6 %) and Microbulbifer donghaiensis (97.5 %), whereas strain Y226T was closely related to the type strain of M. salipaludis (97.6 %). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strains Y215T and Y226T fell into two separate clusters. The DNA–DNA relatedness values of strain Y215T with M. maritimus TF-17T and M. donghaiensis CN85T were 34.1 and 32.8 %, respectively, whereas that between strain Y226T and M. salipaludis SM-1T was 38.0 %; these values are significantly lower than the threshold value for the delineation of bacterial species. On the basis of their distinct taxonomic characteristics, the two isolates represent two novel species of the genus Microbulbifer, for which the names Microbulbifer marinus sp. nov. and Microbulbifer yueqingensis sp. nov. are proposed; the type strains are Y215T ( = CGMCC 1.10657T = JCM 17211T) and Y226T ( = CGMCC 1.10658T = JCM 17212T), respectively.

A Gram-stain-negative, non-motile, non-spore-forming bacterial strain, YCS-5T, was isolated from seawater off the southern coast of Korea. Strain YCS-5T grew optimally at 30 °C and in the presence of 2 % (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain YCS-5T fell within the clade comprising Kangiella species. Strain YCS-5T exhibited 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity values of 96.6, 95.7 and 97.9 % to the type strains of Kangiella koreensis, Kangiella aquimarina and Kangiella japonica, respectively, and less than 89.8 % to strains of other species used in the phylogenetic analysis. Strain YCS-5T contained Q-8 as the predominant ubiquinone and iso-C17 : 0, iso-C15 : 0, iso-C11 : 0 3-OH and iso-C17 : 1ω9c as the major fatty acids. The polar lipid profile of strain YCS-5T was similar to that of K. koreensis SW-125T, with phosphatidylglycerol and an unidentified aminolipid as major polar lipids. The DNA G+C content was 47 mol%. The mean DNA–DNA relatedness value between strain YCS-5T and K. japonica JCM 16211T was 12 %. Differential phenotypic properties and the phylogenetic and genetic distinctiveness of strain YCS-5T demonstrated that this strain is distinguishable from other Kangiella species. On the basis of the data presented, strain YCS-5T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Kangiella, for which the name Kangiella geojedonensis sp. nov. is proposed; the type strain is YCS-5T ( = KCTC 23420T = CCUG 60526T).

A Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain Y9T, was isolated from a soil sample collected in Ningxia Province in China and was characterized to determine its taxonomic position. Strain Y9T contained Q-8 as the predominant ubiquinone. Major fatty acid components were summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or iso-C15 : 0 2-OH) and C16 : 0. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and diphosphatidylglycerol. The G+C content of the genomic DNA of strain Y9T was 68.7 mol%. A phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the strain fell within the evolutionary radiation encompassed by the genus Massilia. Levels of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity between strain Y9T and the type strains of recognized Massilia species ranged from 95.2 to 98.2 %, the highest values being with Massilia albidiflava 45T (98.2 %) and Massilia lutea 101T (98.0 %). However, levels of DNA–DNA relatedness between strain Y9T and M. albidiflava KCTC 12343T and M. lutea KCTC 12345T were 37 and 26 %, respectively. Strain Y9T was clearly differentiated from its nearest phylogenetic relatives in the genus Massilia based on phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic properties. Therefore, strain Y9T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Massilia, for which the name Massilia flava sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is Y9T ( = CGMCC 1.10685T  = KCTC 23585T).