- Volume 62, Issue Pt_4, 2012

A Gram-positive, spore-forming, aerobic actinomycete, strain Gsoil 519T, was isolated from soil of a ginseng field of Pocheon province in South Korea. The closest phylogenetic relatives were Streptomyces marinus Sp080513GE-26T (97.94 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity), Streptomyces albiaxialis NRRL B-24327T (97.84 %), Streptomyces albus subsp. albus DSM 40313T (97.84 %), Streptomyces almquistii NBRC 13015T (97.81 %), Streptomyces gibsonii NBRC 15415T (97.81 %), Streptomyces rangoonensis NBRC 13078T (97.81 %), Streptomyces sodiiphilus YIM 80305T (97.77 %) and Streptomyces flocculus NBRC 13041T (97.67 %). The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 71.8 mol%. The chemotaxonomic data [MK-9(H6) and MK-9(H8) as the major menaquinones; ll-diaminopimelic acid as a component of the cell-wall peptidoglycan; ribose, xylose, mannose and glucose as the major cell-wall sugars; and anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 0, iso-C17 : 0, anteiso-C17 : 0 and C16 : 0 as the major fatty acids] supported the affiliation of strain Gsoil 519T to the genus Streptomyces . The physiological and biochemical characteristics and the low level of DNA–DNA relatedness differentiated the isolate genotypically and phenotypically from recognized members of the genus Streptomyces . The isolate, therefore, represents a novel species, for which the name Streptomyces panacagri sp. nov. is proposed, with Gsoil 519T ( = KCTC 19139T = DSM 41871T) as the type strain.

A Gram-positive, strictly aerobic, rod-shaped, non-motile bacterial strain, designated MJ28T, was isolated from a sludge sample from the Daejeon sewage disposal plant in South Korea. A polyphasic approach was applied to study the taxonomic position of strain MJ28T. Strain MJ28T showed highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to Pseudoclavibacter soli KP02T (95.2 %). Levels of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to the type strains of other Pseudoclavibacter species were less than 94.0 %. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain MJ28T belonged to the clade formed by members of the genus Pseudoclavibacter in the family Microbacteriaceae. The G+C content of the genomic DNA of strain MJ28T was 65.8 mol%. The chemotaxonomic characteristics of strain MJ28T showed features typical of the genus Pseudoclavibacter, with MK-9 as the predominant respiratory quinone, 2,4-diaminobutryic acid as the diamino acid in the peptidoglycan, and anteiso-C17 : 0 (44.6 %), anteiso-C15 : 0 (35.7 %) and C16 : 0 (9.5 %) as the major fatty acids. On the basis of phylogenetic inference, fatty acid profile and other phenotypic properties, strain MJ28T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Pseudoclavibacter, for which the name Pseudoclavibacter caeni sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is MJ28T ( = KCTC 19773T = JCM 16921T).

A novel coryneform bacterium, designated strain GIMN1.010T, was isolated from a sand sample collected in the desert in the west of China. Cells were Gram-stain-positive, non-spore-forming, catalase-positive, irregular rods. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis demonstrated that strain GIMN1.010T belonged to the genus Corynebacterium and was related closely to Corynebacterium glutamicum ATCC 13032T (98.4 % similarity). However, the level of DNA–DNA relatedness between strain GIMN1.010T and C. glutamicum ATCC 13032T was only 22.4±1.72 %, showing that strain GIMN1.010T represented a genomic species distinct from C. glutamicum. On the basis of phenotypic and phylogenetic data, strain GIMN1.010T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Corynebacterium, for which the name Corynebacterium deserti sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is GIMN1.010T ( = CCTCC AB 2010341T  = NRRL B-59552).

A non-motile and non-endospore-forming rod, strain NBRC 16403T, was isolated from the phyllosphere of a sedge (Carex sp.). 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that strain NBRC 16403T was closely related to Herbiconiux solani DSM 19813T (98.6 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity), Herbiconiux ginsengi wged11T (97.8 %) and Herbiconiux moechotypicola RB-62T (97.8 %). The peptidoglycan (B2γ type) contained d- and l-2,4-diaminobutyric acids, d-alanine, glycine and threo-3-hydroxyglutamic acid, which replaced glutamic acid almost completely. The predominant menaquinones were MK-10 and MK-11. The polar lipid pattern comprised diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, three glycolipids and minor amounts of other polar lipids. The major fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C16 : 0 and anteiso-C17 : 0; no cyclohexyl-C17 : 0 was detected. The DNA G+C content was 71.0 mol%. The results of phylogenetic and DNA–DNA relatedness studies, along with phenotypic differences between strain NBRC 16403T and recognized members of the genus Herbiconiux, indicated that the isolate should be assigned to a novel species of the genus Herbiconiux, for which the name Herbiconiux flava sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is NBRC 16403T ( = VKM Ac-2058T).

Bacterial strain G72T was isolated from surface-sterilized roots of Arabidopsis thaliana growing in its natural habitat. This Gram-positive, rod-shaped, non-motile, microaerophilic and aerobically growing isolate was characterized by using a polyphasic approach. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, strain G72T belongs to the genus Microbacterium . However, reassociation values in a DNA–DNA hybridization analysis with closely related strains were between 45.1  and 15.9 %. The DNA G+C content was 70.1 mol%. Strain G72T possessed a peptidoglycan type based on B2β with partial substitution of glutamic acid by 3-hydroxy glutamic acid (Glu/Hyg–Gly–d-Orn). The isolate contained MK-13, MK-12 and MK-11 as major respiratory quinones and anteiso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C17 : 0 and iso-C16 : 0 as predominant fatty acids. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and three unidentified glycolipids. Based on its physiological and biochemical traits, as well as genotypic results, strain G72T is considered to represent a novel species, for which the name Microbacterium yannicii sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is G72T ( = DSM 23203T  = LMG 25521T).

Two actinobacterial strains, JR-43T and JR-4, were isolated from bamboo (Sasa borealis) rhizosphere soil. The isolates produced grey aerial mycelium and a yellow soluble pigment on ISP 4. Microscopic observation revealed that strains JR-43T and JR-4 produced rectiflexibiles spore chains with spiny surfaces. Both isolates had antibacterial activity against plant-pathogenic bacteria, such as Xanthomonas campestris LMG 568T and Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. vesicatoria LMG 905. The isolates contained iso-C14 : 0, iso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 0 and iso-C16 : 0 as the major fatty acids and MK-9(H6) and MK-9(H8) as the major isoprenoid quinones. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences of strains JR-43T and JR-4 showed that they grouped within Streptomyces cluster II and had highest sequence similarity to Streptomyces seoulensis NBRC 16668T and Streptomyces recifensis NBRC 12813T (both 98.2 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity). DNA–DNA relatedness between strain JR-43T and S. seoulensis NBRC 16668T and S. recifensis NBRC 12813T ranged from 31.42 to 42.92 %. Based on DNA–DNA relatedness and morphological and phenotypic data, strains JR-43T and JR-4 could be distinguished from the type strains of phylogenetically related species. They are therefore considered to represent a novel species of the genus Streptomyces , for which the name Streptomyces gramineus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JR-43T ( = KACC 15079T  = NBRC 107863T). Strain JR-43 ( = KACC 15078  = NBRC 107864) is a reference strain.

A novel aerobic streptomycete, strain SCSIO 01248T, was isolated from a sample of deep-sea sediment collected from the northern South China Sea, at a depth of 1632 m. This isolate formed yellow–white substrate mycelium and grey–white aerial hyphae. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain SCSIO 01248T was most closely related to Streptomyces radiopugnans R97T (98.8 % sequence similarity), S. macrosporus NBRC 14748T (97.5 %) and S. megasporus NBRC 14749T (97.3 %). The novel strain could, however, be readily differentiated from S. radiopugnans DSM 41901T on the basis of some physiological and cellular chemical characteristics; the level of DNA–DNA relatedness between these two strains was only 40 %. Based on phylogenetic and phenotypic evidence, strain SCSIO 01248T represents a novel species, for which the name Streptomyces nanhaiensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is SCSIO 01248T ( = DSM 41926T  = KCTC 19401T  = CCTCC AA 208007T).

A Gram-positive, non-motile actinobacterium, designated YIM 65754T, was isolated from the stem of Artemisia annua L., collected from Yunnan province, south-west China. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain YIM 65754T comprised an evolutionary lineage within the genus Rhodococcus . The isolate clustered with Rhodococcus pyridinivorans PDB9T, Rhodococcus gordoniae W 4937T and Rhodococcus rhodochrous DSM 43241T, with which it shared 98.4, 97.9 and 97.8 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities, respectively. However, DNA–DNA relatedness demonstrated that strain YIM 65754T was distinct from its closest phylogenetic neighbours. The cell-wall peptidoglycan contained meso-diaminopimelic acid, arabinose, galactose, mannose and glucose (cell-wall chemotype IV). The major menaquinone was MK-8(H2) and the predominant fatty acids were C16 : 0 (27.83 %), iso-C15 : 0 2-OH and/or C16 : 1ω7c (20.21 %) and 10-methyl C18 : 0 (17.50 %). The DNA G+C content was 66.2 mol%. On the basis of phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic evidence, the isolate represents a novel species of the genus Rhodococcus , for which the name Rhodococcus artemisiae sp. nov. is proposed; the type strain is YIM 65754T ( = CCTCC AA 209042T = DSM 45380T).

A novel halophilic, filamentous, actinomycete strain, designated CXB832T, was isolated from a salt pond in Qingdao, China. Optimal growth occurred at 37 °C, pH 7.0–8.0 and 9–12 % (w/v) NaCl. Strain CXB832T formed pale yellow to deep yellow branched substrate mycelium without fragmentation. Abundant white aerial mycelium differentiated into long chains of spores and the spores were rod-shaped with smooth surfaces. Strain CXB832T contained meso-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid of the cell-wall peptidoglycan, and glucose and xylose as the major whole-cell sugars. The phospholipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phospholipids, glycolipid and unidentified lipids. MK-10(H8), MK-9(H8), MK-10(H2) and MK-10(H6) were the predominant menaquinones. The major fatty acids were i-C16 : 0 (30.71 %), ai-C17 : 0 (13.31 %) and C16 : 0 (11.28 %). The G+C content of the DNA was 60.1 mol%. Comparative analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the novel strain was most closely related to genera within the family Nocardiopsaceae , but formed a separate lineage. The highest sequence similarities were to Nocardiopsis arabia DSM 45083T (95.4 %) and Haloactinospora alba DSM 45015T (94.9 %). On the basis of phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic distinctiveness, strain CXB832T represents a new genus and novel species in the family Nocardiopsaceae , for which the name Salinactinospora qingdaonensis gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of the type species is CXB832T ( = DSM 45442T = LMG 25567T).

A novel actinobacterial strain, A4029T, isolated from arid soil of Abuja, Nigeria, and provisionally assigned to the genus Actinoplanes , was subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic study. 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity studies showed that strain A4029T belonged to the genus Actinoplanes , being most closely related to Actinoplanes brasiliensis DSM 43805T (98.9 %) and Actinoplanes deccanensis DSM 43806T (98.0 %); similarity to other type strains of the genus Actinoplanes ranged from 96.2 to 97.9 %. Chemotaxonomic data [major menaquinone MK-9(H4); major polar lipids phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylinositol; characteristic sugars arabinose and xylose; major fatty acids iso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C16 : 0, C17 : 1ω9c and iso-C14 : 0] confirmed the affiliation of strain A4029T to the genus Actinoplanes . The results of DNA–DNA hybridizations and phylogenetic analysis, together with phenotypic and biochemical test data, allowed strain A4029T to be differentiated from strains of other Actinoplanes species. Therefore, strain A4029T represents a novel species, for which the name Actinoplanes abujensis sp. nov. is proposed, with A4029T ( = DSM 45518T = NRRL B-24835T = KCTC 19984T) as the type strain.

The taxonomic position of a staurosporine-producing actinomycete isolated from a hay meadow soil was determined using a polyphasic approach. The organism had chemical and morphological characteristics consistent with its classification in the genus Streptomyces and formed a distinct branch between the Streptomyces lydicus and Streptomyces noursei clades in the 16S rRNA Streptomyces gene tree. DNA–DNA relatedness values between the isolate and its nearest phylogenetic neighbours, namely Streptomyces lydicus NBRC 13058T and Streptomyces chattanoogensis NBRC 12754T, were 53 % and 40 %, respectively. The isolate was also readily distinguished from the type strains of these species using a combination of morphological and other phenotypic properties. On the basis of these results, it is proposed that isolate BK179T ( = KACC 20912T  = NRRL B-24850T) be classified as the type strain of Streptomyces staurosporininus sp. nov.

A Gram-positive-staining, non-motile, rod- or coccoid-shaped actinobacterium, designated strain H17T, was isolated from a soil sample from Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, PR China. The organism grew optimally at 30 °C, pH 7.0 and with 3 % NaCl (w/v). Strain H17T contained l-Lys–d-Asp as the cell-wall peptidoglycan type and galactose, xylose and mannose as the whole-cell sugars. The major fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0 and iso-C15 : 0. The total polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phospholipids, phosphatidylinositol, phosphoglycolipid, one unidentified glycolipid and one unidentified lipid. The menaquinone was MK9(H4). Mycolic acids were not detected. The DNA G+C content was 72.4 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis of this strain based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed 97.8–99.6 % similarity to recognized species of the genus Isoptericola . The low level of DNA–DNA relatedness to other species of the genus Isoptericola and the many phenotypic properties that distinguished strain H17T from recognized species of this genus demonstrated that isolate H17T should be classified as representing a novel species of the genus Isoptericola . The name Isoptericola nanjingensis sp. nov. is proposed for this novel species. The type strain is H17T ( = DSM 24300T = CCTCC AB 2011005T).

A novel actinomycete strain, designated CS5-AC15T, was isolated from a soil sample collected from a cliff on Mara Island, Jeju, Republic of Korea, and subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic analysis. The isolate produced well-developed, yellow substrate mycelium and white aerial mycelium that differentiated into straight or flexuous chains of smooth-surfaced spores. 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses showed that the organism belonged to the family Thermomonosporaceae and formed a tight cluster with the type strain of Actinomadura oligospora (97.4 % sequence similarity). Chemotaxonomic characteristics were consistent with its assignment to the genus Actinomadura in that the isolate had meso-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid in the cell wall, madurose as the characteristic sugar, N-acetyl type of murein in the peptidoglycan, MK-9(H6) and MK-9(H8) as major menaquinones and a polar lipid profile containing diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol and unknown phospholipids. Mycolic acids were not detected. The predominant fatty acids were C16 : 0, C18 : 1ω9c and iso-C16 : 0. The DNA G+C content was 70.9 mol%. DNA relatedness of strain CS5-AC15T and A. oligospora JCM 10648T was 37.9±0.7 %. On the basis of the phenotypic, phylogenetic and DNA–DNA hybridization data, strain CS5-AC15T is assigned to a novel species of the genus Actinomadura, for which the name Actinomadura rupiterrae sp. nov. is proposed (type strain CS5-AC15T  = KCTC 19559T  = DSM 45251T).

A novel anaerobic, thermophilic, syntrophic, fatty-acid-oxidizing bacterium, strain L-60T, was isolated from a Chinese hot spring. Cells of the strain were non-motile, non-spore-forming, slightly curved rods. Growth occurred between 55 and 70 °C (optimum about 60 °C) and at pH 7.0–9.3 (optimum about pH 8.2). Crotonate was the only tested carbon source that supported the growth of the strain in pure culture. In co-culture with the thermophilic, hydrogenotrophic Methanothermobacter thermautotrophicus DSM 1053T, the isolate could oxidize saturated straight-chain fatty acids with 4–18 carbon atoms, and also unsaturated fatty acids such as oleate, syntrophically. The strain was unable to utilize sulfate, sulfite, thiosulfate, nitrate, fumarate or Fe(III) as electron acceptors. The major cellular fatty acids were C14 : 0 (35.0 %), C16 : 0 (20.3 %) and iso-C17 : 1 I/anteiso-C17 : 1 B (30.9 %). The genomic DNA G+C content was 40.3 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the strain was affiliated to the family Syntrophomonadaceae and was most closely related to Thermosyntropha lipolytica DSM 11003T (96.7 % similarity). On the basis of phylogenetic and phenotypic evidence, it is proposed that strain L-60T represents a novel species, for which the name Thermosyntropha tengcongensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is L-60T ( = CGMCC 1.5161T  = JCM 17260T).

Strain GAM6-1T is a novel, strictly anaerobic, non-spore-forming, Gram-stain-positive bacterium that was isolated from the faeces of a healthy individual. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain GAM6-1T was most closely related to Blautia producta ATCC 27340T (95.7 % sequence similarity), in the family Lachnospiraceae. Strain GAM6-1T did not exhibit catalase or oxidase activity. The strain’s cellular fatty acids were of the straight-chain saturated and mono-unsaturated types, with C14 : 0 (24.10 %), C16 : 0 (19.09 %) and C16 : 0 dimethylacetal (14.35 %) predominant. Strain GAM6-1T was able to produce acid from various carbohydrates. Glucose fermentation produced acetic acid as the major short-chain fatty acid. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain GAM6-1T was 35.6 mol%. Based on phenotypic, genotypic and phylogenetic evidence, strain GAM6-1T ( = KCTC 5981T  = JCM 17204T) is considered to represent a novel species, for which the name Blautia stercoris sp. nov. is proposed.

A Gram-positive, moderately halophilic rod, designated X5BT, was isolated from saline mud of the hypersaline lake Aran-Bidgol in Iran. Strain X5BT was a strictly aerobic, motile bacterium that produced ellipsoidal endospores at a central-subterminal position in non-swollen sporangia. The isolate grew at pH 7.0–10.0 (optimum pH 7.5), at 25–45 °C (optimum 35 °C) and with 2.5–15 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum 5–7.5 %). On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequences, strain X5BT belonged to the genus Bacillus and showed highest similarity with Bacillus persepolensis HS136T (95.6 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity) and Bacillus salarius BH169T (95.5 %). The DNA G+C content was 42.4 mol%. The major cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0 and iso-C15 : 0 and the polar lipid profile consisted of phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, three phospholipids and two glycolipids. The diamino acid found in the cell-wall peptidoglycan was meso-diaminopimelic acid and the isoprenoid quinones were MK-7 (92 %), MK-6 (6 %) and MK-5 (2 %). On the basis of phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic and phenotypic data, a novel species of the genus Bacillus is proposed, with the name Bacillus iranensis sp. nov. The type strain is X5BT ( = IBRC 10446T  = DSM 23995T).

A psychrotolerant Gram-reaction-negative, rod-shaped and orange-pigmented bacterium, designated strain M9-62T, which was motile by means of peritrichous flagella, was isolated from tundra soil sampled near Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard Islands, Norway (78° N). Growth occurred at 4–30 °C (optimum, 25 °C) and pH 5.0–8.0 (optimum, pH 6.0–7.0). Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain M9-62T placed it in the genus Cohnella ; sequence similarities of the isolate with type strains of members of related genera ranged from 92.0 to 96.3 %. Strain M9-62T contained anteiso-C15 : 0 (51.1 %), iso-C16 : 0 (7.5 %) and C16 : 0 (6.1 %) as the major cellular fatty acids and diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and lysyl-phosphatidylglycerol as the main polar lipids. The major respiratory quinone was MK-7 and the DNA G+C content was 50.3 mol%. On the basis of phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic data, strain M9-62T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Cohnella , for which the name Cohnella arctica sp. nov. is proposed; the type strain is M9-62T ( = CCTCC AB 2010228T = NRRL B-59459T).

A novel anaerobic, moderately thermophilic, NaCl-requiring fermentative bacterium, strain OS1T, was isolated from oil production water collected from Alaska, USA. Cells were Gram-negative, non-motile, non-spore-forming rods (1.7–2.7 × 0.4–0.5 µm). The G+C content of the genomic DNA of strain OS1T was 46.6 mol%. The optimum temperature, pH and NaCl concentration for growth of strain OS1T were 55 °C, pH 7 and 10 g l−1, respectively. The bacterium fermented d-fructose, d-glucose, maltose, d-mannose, α-ketoglutarate, l-glutamate, malonate, pyruvate, l-tartrate, l-asparagine, Casamino acids, l-cysteine, l-histidine, l-leucine, l-phenylalanine, l-serine, l-threonine, l-valine, inositol, inulin, tryptone and yeast extract. When grown on d-glucose, 3.86 mol hydrogen and 1.4 mol acetate were produced per mol substrate. Thiosulfate, sulfur and l-cystine were reduced to sulfide, and crotonate was reduced to butyrate with glucose as the electron donor. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that strain OS1T was related to Anaerobaculum thermoterrenum (99.7 % similarity to the type strain), a member of the phylum Synergistetes . DNA–DNA hybridization between strain OS1T and A. thermoterrenum DSM 13490T yielded 68 % relatedness. Unlike A. thermoterrenum , strain OS1T fermented malonate, maltose, tryptone, l-leucine and l-phenylalanine, but not citrate, fumarate, lactate, l-malate, glycerol, pectin or starch. The major cellular fatty acid of strain OS1T was iso-C15 : 0 (91 % of the total). Strain OS1T also contained iso-C13 : 0 3-OH (3 %), which was absent from A. thermoterrenum , and iso-C13 : 0 (2 %), which was absent from Anaerobaculum mobile . On the basis of these results, strain OS1T represents a novel species of the genus Anaerobaculum , for which the name Anaerobaculum hydrogeniformans sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is OS1T ( = DSM 22491T  = ATCC BAA-1850T). An emended description of the genus Anaerobaculum is also given.