- Volume 62, Issue Pt_5, 2012

Two strains of dissimilatory iron-reducing bacteria, which could couple lactate oxidation to iron reduction for energy conservation, were isolated from Arctic marine sediment. The strains, IR12T and IR26, were both Gram-staining-negative, catalase- and oxidase-positive and facultative anaerobes. Their cells were rod-shaped and motile by means of a polar flagellum. Both strains grew in the presence of 0.5–3.5 % (w/v) NaCl, with an absolute requirement for Na+. Both were psychrotolerant since they could grow at 4-28 °C but had an optimum growth temperature of 20 °C. Both grew at pH 4.5–9.0 (optimum, pH 7.5). The major fatty acids of strains IR12T and IR26 were summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω6c and/or C16 : 1ω7c) and C16 : 0. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strains IR12T and IR26 belonged to the class Gammaproteobacteria and were most closely related to Shewanella vesiculosa M7T, Shewanella livingstonensis NF22T and Shewanella frigidimarina ACAM 591T (with 98.5 and 98.8 %, 98.5 and 98.8 %, and 98.5 and 98.8 % sequence similarities, respectively). The genomic DNA G+C contents of strains IR12T and IR26 were 40.0 and 40.3 mol%, respectively. DNA–DNA relatedness data indicated that the two novel strains represented a single species that was distinct from S. vesiculosa M7T, S. livingstonensis NF22T and S. frigidimarina ACAM 591T. Based on the phylogenetic, phenotypic and DNA–DNA relatedness data, the two new strains represent a single novel species of the genus Shewanella , for which the name Shewanella arctica sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is IR12T ( = KCTC 23109T = JCM 16723T).

Rhizobium tropici is a well-studied legume symbiont characterized by high genetic stability of the symbiotic plasmid and tolerance to tropical environmental stresses such as high temperature and low soil pH. However, high phenetic and genetic variabilities among R. tropici strains have been largely reported, with two subgroups, designated type A and B, already defined within the species. A polyphasic study comprising multilocus sequence analysis, phenotypic and genotypic characterizations, including DNA–DNA hybridization, strongly supported the reclassification of R. tropici type A strains as a novel species. Type A strains formed a well-differentiated clade that grouped with R. tropici , Rhizobium multihospitium , Rhizobium miluonense , Rhizobium lusitanum and Rhizobium rhizogenes in the phylogenies of the 16S rRNA, recA, gltA, rpoA, glnII and rpoB genes. Several phenotypic traits differentiated type A strains from all related taxa. The novel species, for which the name Rhizobium leucaenae sp. nov. is proposed, is a broad host range rhizobium being able to establish effective root-nodule symbioses with Leucaena leucocephala, Leucaena esculenta, common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) and Gliricidia sepium. Strain CFN 299T ( = USDA 9039T = LMG 9517T = CECT 4844T = JCM 21088T = IAM 14230T = SEMIA 4083T = CENA 183T = UMR1026T = CNPSo 141T) is designated the type strain of Rhizobium leucaenae sp. nov.

A Gram-negative, spiral or rod-shaped, non-spore-forming diazotrophic bacterium, designated CC-Nfb-7T, was isolated from agricultural soil in Yunlin County, Taiwan. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain CC-Nfb-7T was most closely related to Azospirillum brasilense DSM 1690T (97.4 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity), Azospirillum rugosum IMMIB AFH-6T (96.8 %) and Azospirillum oryzae JCM 21588T (96.6 %); <96.5 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity was found with all other members of the genus Azospirillum . DNA–DNA relatedness between strain CC-Nfb-7T and A. brasilense DSM 1690T, A. rugosum DSM 19657T and A. oryzae JCM 21588T was 38.9, 30.1 and 31.8 %, respectively. The respiratory quinone was ubiquinone Q-10. The major fatty acids were summed feature 8 (consisting of C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c), summed feature 3 (consisting of C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c), summed feature 2 (consisting of C14 : 0 3-OH and/or iso-C16 : 1 I), C16 : 0, C18 : 0 2-OH and C16 : 0 3-OH. The polar lipids consisted mainly of phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine and one unidentified phospholipid. Furthermore, moderate amounts of phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidyldimethylethanolamine and one unidentified aminophospholipid were also detected. Strain CC-Nfb-7T could be distinguished from members of phylogenetically related species by differences in phenotypic properties. On the basis of morphological, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic data, strain CC-Nfb-7T represents a novel species within the genus Azospirillum , for which we propose the name Azospirillum formosense sp. nov. The type strain is CC-Nfb-7T ( = BCRC 80273T = JCM 17639T = DSM 24137T).

A novel starch-degrading myxobacterium designated NOSO-4T (new organism of the Sorangiineae strain 4) was isolated in 1995 from a soil sample containing plant residues, collected in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. The novel bacterium shows typical myxobacterial characteristics such as Gram-negative, rod-shaped vegetative cells, swarming colonies, fruiting body-like aggregates and bacteriolytic activity. The strain is mesophilic, strictly aerobic and chemoheterotrophic. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, NOSO-4T shows highest similarity (96.2 %) with the unidentified bacterial strain O29 (accession no. FN554397), isolated from leek (Allium porrum) rhizosphere, and to the myxobacteria Jahnella thaxteri (88.9 %) and Chondromyces pediculatus (88.5 %). Major fatty acids are C17 : 1 2-OH, C20 : 4ω6 (arachidonic acid), and the straight-chain fatty acids C17 : 0, C15 : 0 and C16 : 0. The genomic DNA G+C content of the novel isolate is 66.8 mol%. It is proposed that strain NOSO-4T represents a novel species in a new genus, i.e. Sandaracinus amylolyticus gen. nov., sp. nov., but also belongs to a new family, Sandaracinaceae fam. nov. The type strain of the type species, S. amylolyticus sp. nov., is NOSO-4T ( = DSM 53668T = NCCB 100362T).

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, non-flagellated, non-gliding and short rod- or rod-shaped bacterial strain, designated BB-My20T, was isolated from tidal flat sediment taken from the southern coast of Korea. Strain BB-My20T grew optimally at 37 °C, at pH 7.0–7.5 and in the presence of 2 % (w/v) NaCl. A phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain BB-My20T fell within the clade comprising Salinimicrobium species, joining Salinimicrobium catena HY1T, with which it had a 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity value of 97.4 %. It exhibited 95.4–96.9 % sequence similarity to the type strains of other members of the genus Salinimicrobium . Strain BB-My20T contained MK-6 as the predominant menaquinone and iso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 0 and iso-C17 : 0 3-OH as the major fatty acids. The major polar lipids detected in strain BB-My20T and S. catena JCM 14015T were phosphatidylethanolamine and one unidentified lipid. The DNA G+C content of strain BB-My20T was 45.1 mol% and its mean DNA–DNA relatedness value with S. catena JCM 14015T was 4.5 %. Differential phenotypic properties, together with its phylogenetic and genetic distinctiveness, revealed that strain BB-My20T can be distinguished from the four recognized species of the genus Salinimicrobium . On the basis of the data presented, strain BB-My20T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Salinimicrobium , for which the name Salinimicrobium gaetbulicola sp. nov. is proposed; the type strain is BB-My20T ( = KCTC 23579T = CCUG 60898T).

Two yellow, rod-shaped, Gram-reaction-negative, strictly aerobic bacterial strains, designated JC2682T and JC2681T, were isolated from a seawater sample of Jeju Island, Korea. The isolates required sea salts for growth and showed gliding motility. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strains JC2682T and JC2681T shared 96.9 % similarity and formed a robust monophyletic group within the radiation encompassing the family Flavobacteriaceae . This distinct clade, which had varying branch positions depending on the tree-making algorithm used, represents a new genus within the family Flavobacteriaceae . The predominant isoprenoid quinone (menaquinone 6, MK-6) and DNA G+C content (27–33 mol%) were consistent with its assignment to the family Flavobacteriaceae , but the polar lipid profile, fatty acid composition and overall phenotypic traits demonstrated that the test strains were not closely affiliated to any recognized genera. Based on data from the present polyphasic taxonomic study, strains JC2682T and JC2681T are considered to represent two novel species of a new genus in the family Flavobacteriaceae , for which the names Flavivirga jejuensis gen. nov., sp. nov. and Flavivirga amylovorans sp. nov. are proposed, respectively. The type strain of Flavivirga jejuensis is JC2682T ( = KACC 14158T  = JCM 17113T). The type strain of Flavivirga amylovorans is JC2681T ( = KACC 14157T  = JCM 17112T). Amended descriptions of the genera Psychroserpens and Lacinutrix are provided.

A novel, facultatively anaerobic bacterium (strain JAM-BA0501T) was isolated from a deep subseafloor sediment sample at a depth of 247 m below seafloor off the Shimokita Peninsula of Japan in the north-western Pacific Ocean (Site C9001, 1180 m water depth). Cells of strain JAM-BA0501T were Gram-negative, filamentous, non-spore-forming and motile on solid medium by gliding. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain JAM-BA0501T indicated a distant relationship to strains representing genera within the order Bacteroidales , such as Alkaliflexus imshenetskii Z-7010T (91.1 % similarity), Marinilabilia salmonicolor ATCC 19041T (86.2 %) and Anaerophaga thermohalophila Fru22T (89.3 %). The new isolate produced isoprenoid quinones with menaquinone MK-7 as the major component, and the predominant fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0 and anteiso-C15 : 0. The DNA G+C content of the isolate was 42.9 mol%. Based on its taxonomic distinctiveness, strain JAM-BA0501T is considered to represent a novel species of a new genus within the family Marinilabiliaceae , for which the name Geofilum rubicundum gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Geofilum rubicundum is JAM-BA0501T ( = JCM 15548T  = NCIMB 14482T).

The taxonomic position of a Gram-staining-negative, non-motile, rod-shaped bacterium, strain BB-My12T, which was isolated from a sediment sample collected from a tidal flat in Korea, was investigated by using a polyphasic approach. Strain BB-My12T grew optimally at 37 °C, at pH 7.0–7.5 and in the presence of 2–3 % (w/v) NaCl. In phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, strain BB-My12T fell within the cluster comprising species of the genus Muricauda and appeared most similar to the type strains of Muricauda aquimarina , Muricauda lutimaris and Muricauda ruestringensis (97.5–97.6 % sequence similarity). The DNA G+C content was 45.0 mol%. Strain BB-My12T contained MK-6 as the predominant menaquinone and iso-C15 : 1, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH and iso-C15 : 0 as the major cellular fatty acids. The polar lipids of strain BB-My12T were phosphatidylethanolamine and four unidentified lipids. The DNA–DNA relatedness values between strain BB-My12T and the type strains of the three species of the genus Muricauda that appeared most closely related were in the range 5–7 %. The genetic distinctiveness and some phenotypic properties indicated that strain BB-My12T did not belong to any established species of the genus Muricauda . Strain BB-My12T is therefore considered to represent a novel species of the genus Muricauda , for which the name Muricauda beolgyonensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is BB-My12T ( = KCTC 23501T  = CCUG 60800T).

Strains of Gram-negative anaerobic rods were isolated from chinchilla (Chinchilla lanigera) faeces, and three strains, ST161T, ST33 and ST37T, were investigated taxonomically. Based on phylogenetic analyses and specific phenotypic characteristics, the three strains were allocated to the genus Bacteroides . Phylogenetic analyses of their 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain ST161T formed a distinct line of descent, with highest sequence similarity to strain ST33 (98.7 %) and Bacteroides oleiciplenus JCM 16102T (97.7 %). High levels of DNA–DNA relatedness (79–89 %) were found between strains ST161T and ST33, but low levels were found between strain ST161T and B. oleiciplenus JCM 16102T (33–37 %) and between strain ST33 and B. oleiciplenus JCM 16102T (33–37 %). These data clearly indicated that strains ST161T and ST33 represent a single novel species. 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses showed that strain ST37T also formed a distinct line of descent, with highest sequence similarity to Bacteroides acidifaciens JCM 10556T (96.5 %) and Bacteroides caccae JCM 9498T (95.6 %). Analysis of hsp60 gene sequences also supported these relationships. Based on phenotypic and phylogenetic characteristics, two novel species, Bacteroides stercorirosoris sp. nov. and Bacteroides faecichinchillae sp. nov., are thus proposed. The type strains of B. stercorirosoris and B. faecichinchillae are ST161T ( = JCM 17103T = CCUG 60872T) and ST37T ( = JCM 17102T = CCUG 60873T), respectively. The DNA G+C contents of strains ST161T and ST37T were 45.7 and 41.0 mol%, respectively.

Two Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped bacteria, designated strains Sr22T and Sr25T, were isolated from water of melted ice from the China No.1 glacier, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China. Cells formed yellow, circular, convex colonies. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that strains Sr22T and Sr25T belong to the genus Flavobacterium , sharing ≤99.1  and ≤99.6 % similarity, respectively, with the type strains of recognized species of the genus. Strain Sr22T shared highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with Flavobacterium tiangeerense CGMCC 1.6847T (98.6 %), Flavobacterium fryxellicola LMG 22022T (98.1 %) and Flavobacterium omnivorum CGMCC 1.2747T (99.1 %). Strain Sr25T shared highest similarity with Flavobacterium sinopsychrotolerans CGMCC 1.8704T (98.5 %), Flavobacterium degerlachei NBRC 102677T (98.4 %) and Flavobacterium xinjiangense CGMCC 1.2749T (99.5 %). The predominant fatty acids of strain Sr22T were iso-C15 : 1 G (6.01 %), iso-C15 : 0 (8.93 %), iso-C16 : 1 H (12.68 %), iso-C16 : 0 (10.4 %), C15 : 1ω6c (8.97 %), C17 : 1ω6c (5.96 %), iso-C16 : 0 3-OH (11.14 %) and summed feature 3 (comprising C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c, 12.33 %). The major fatty acids of strain Sr25T were iso-C15 : 0 (10.8 %), anteiso-C15 : 0 (5.23 %), C15 : 1ω6c (11.79 %), C17 : 1ω6c (5.43 %), iso-C16 : 0 3-OH (7.04 %) and summed feature 3 (20.42 %). The genomic DNA G+C contents of strains Sr22T and Sr25T were 37.2 and 35.1 mol%. On the basis of differential phenotypic and phylogenetic characteristics, these strains are considered to represent two novel species of the genus Flavobacterium , for which the names Flavobacterium xueshanense sp. nov. (type strain Sr22T  = CGMCC 1.9227T  = NBRC 106479T) and Flavobacterium urumqiense sp. nov. (type strain Sr25T  = CGMCC 1.9230T  = NBRC 106480T) are proposed.

A Gram-negative, strictly aerobic, non-flagellated, non-gliding, oxidase- and catalase-positive, yellow-pigmented rod, designated A11T, was isolated from a marine sponge, Halichondria oshoro, collected on the coastline of Jeju Island, Republic of Korea. Phylogenetic analysis based on nearly complete 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain A11T was a member of the family Flavobacteriaceae . Its closest relatives were members of the genera Muricauda , Flagellimonas and Croceitalea (94.4–94.8 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity). The only polar lipid detected in strain A11T was phosphatidylethanolamine. The dominant fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0 (30.4 %), iso-C15 : 1 G (26.7 %), iso-C17 : 0 3-OH (12.4 %) and iso-C15 : 0 3-OH (7.3 %). The DNA G+C content of strain A11T was 41.7 mol% and its major respiratory quinone was MK-6. On the basis of combined data from phenotypic and phylogenetic analyses, strain A11T represents a novel genus and species within the family Flavobacteriaceae , for which the name Spongiibacterium flavum gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of the type species is A11T ( = KCTC 22665T = DSM 22638T). Emended descriptions of the genera Croceitalea and Flagellimonas are also given.

The filamentous cyanobacterial genus Moorea gen. nov., described here under the provisions of the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature, is a cosmopolitan pan-tropical group abundant in the marine benthos. Members of the genus Moorea are photosynthetic (containing phycocyanin, phycoerythrin, allophycocyanin and chlorophyll a), but non-diazotrophic (lack heterocysts and nitrogenase reductase genes). The cells (discoid and 25–80 µm wide) are arranged in long filaments (<10 cm in length) and often form extensive mats or blooms in shallow water. The cells are surrounded by thick polysaccharide sheaths covered by a rich diversity of heterotrophic micro-organisms. A distinctive character of this genus is its extraordinarily rich production of bioactive secondary metabolites. This is matched by genomes rich in polyketide synthase and non-ribosomal peptide synthetase biosynthetic genes which are dedicated to secondary metabolism. The encoded natural products are sometimes responsible for harmful algae blooms and, due to morphological resemblance to the genus Lyngbya , this group has often been incorrectly cited in the literature. We here describe two species of the genus Moorea: Moorea producens sp. nov. (type species of the genus) with 3LT as the nomenclature type, and Moorea bouillonii comb. nov. with PNG5-198R as the nomenclature type.

Eighteen yeast strains were isolated and identified from cyanide-contaminated soil in South Africa. According to sequence-based analyses using the D1/D2 region of the large ribosomal subunit and ITS region, three of these strains were found to be identical and represent a novel species. Phylogenetic analysis based on the combined dataset of the D1/D2 and ITS regions revealed a grouping with Cryptococcus curvatus, representing a defined clade (Curvatus) in the order Trichosporonales. The three strains were demarcated from Cryptococcus curvatus by standard physiological tests such as assimilation of lactose, xylitol, 5-keto-d-gluconate, succinate and citrate as well as growth on media containing 10 % (w/v) NaCl and 5 % (w/v) glucose. In addition, it was established that these strains could utilize up to 10 mM NaCN as sole carbon source on solid media and as sole nitrogen source in liquid media. On the basis of these findings, it is suggested that the three strains represent a novel species for which the name Cryptococcus cyanovorans sp. nov. is given (type strain CBS 11948T = NRRL Y-48730T).

Citeromyces hawaiiensis sp. nov. (NRRL Y-11581T  = CBS 12303T, type strain) is described from 12 strains isolated from flux of the sandalwood (Myoporum sandwicense) and adjacent soil in Hawaii, USA. Analyses of gene sequences from the D1/D2 domains of nuclear large subunit rRNA, internal transcribed spacer (ITS), mitochondrial small-subunit rRNA and translation elongation factor-1α each separated the proposed novel species from Citeromyces matritensis and Citeromyces siamensis, the other known species of the genus Citeromyces. The three species are morphologically similar but they can be separated by growth reactions in standard assimilation tests. An additional strain of Citeromyces siamensis (NRRL Y-11788), a species previously known only from Thailand, was obtained from spoiled condensed milk in Ohio, USA.