- Volume 63, Issue Pt_2, 2013

Two non-motile, rod-shaped gammaproteobacteria were isolated from marine sponges collected from the coast of Japan at Numazu. The isolates were oxidase- and catalase-positive facultative anaerobes that fermented carbohydrates. They required sodium ions for growth and were slightly halophilic, growing in the presence of 1.0–5.0 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum of 2.0 % NaCl). Under aerobic conditions, the major isoprenoid quinones were ubiquinone-9 and menaquinone-9 and the minor quinones were ubiquinone-8 and menaquinone-8. The major cellular fatty acids were C18 : 1ω7c, C16 : 1ω7c and C16 : 0 and the hydroxy acids were C10 : 0 3-OH and C12 : 0 3-OH. The DNA G+C content was 48.3–48.7 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences placed the isolates within the radiation of the genus Endozoicomonas in a broad clade of uncultured clones recovered from various marine invertebrates. The isolates exhibited 96.5–96.9 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with Endozoicomonas elysicola MKT110T and Endozoicomonas montiporae CL-33T, with which the isolates formed a monophyletic cluster with 100 % bootstrap support. The phenotypic features (carbohydrate fermentation, quinone system and some major cellular fatty acids) differed from those of members of the genus Endozoicomonas , which are aerobic, produce little or no menaquinone under aerobic conditions and possess different amounts of C14 : 0 and C18 : 1ω7c. Although some phenotypic differences were identified, the isolates should be assigned to the genus Endozoicomonas on the basis of congruity of phylogeny and should be classified as representatives of a novel species, for which the name Endozoicomonas numazuensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is HC50T ( = NBRC 108893T  = DSM 25634T). An emended description of the genus Endozoicomonas is presented.

A yellow-pigmented bacterial strain, designated LL01T, was isolated from hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH)-contaminated soil at Spolana Neratovice, a former Czech producer of lindane. A neighbour-joining tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain LL01T occupied a distinct phylogenetic position in the Sphingobium cluster, showing highest similarity to Sphingobium rhizovicinum CC-FH12-1T (98.5 %). The DNA G+C content of strain LL01T was 66.1 mol%. The predominant respiratory pigment was ubiquinone Q-10. The polar lipid profile of strain LL01T also corresponded to those reported for other Sphingobium species (phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine, phosphatidyldimethylethanolamine, sphingoglycolipids), supporting its identification as a member of the genus Sphingobium . Spermidine was the major polyamine observed. The results obtained from DNA–DNA hybridization and biochemical and physiological tests clearly distinguished strain LL01T from closely related species of the genus Sphingobium . Therefore, strain LL01T represents a novel species of the genus Sphingobium , for which the name Sphingobium czechense sp. nov. is proposed (type strain LL01T = CCM 7979T = DSM 25410T).

Two novel chemo-organoheterotrophic members of the Sphingomonadaceae were isolated from alpine and pre-alpine lakes. Cells stained Gram-negative, were motile and rod-shaped, and formed yellow, circular, convex colonies on different agar media. Strains 301T and 469T were strictly aerobic, catalase- and oxidase-positive, and grew at temperatures between 10 and 40 °C (optimum, 28 °C), and at pH values between 5 and 10 (optimum, pH 7). Both strains contained Q-10 as the dominant quinone, sphingoglycolipids and 2-hydroxymyristic acid, whereas 3-hydroxy fatty acids were absent. Major fatty acids of strain 301T were C18 : 1ω7c (53.3 %) and C16 : 1ω7c (22.9 %), with C14 : 0 2-OH (10.8 %) as the major 2-hydroxy fatty acid. Fatty acids of strain 469T were dominated by C18 : 1ω7c (34.4 %), C16 : 1ω7c (32.0 %) and C14 : 0 2-OH (15.2 %) as the major 2-hydroxy fatty acid. The genomic DNA G+C contents of strains 301T and 469T were 63.4 and 64.6 mol%, respectively. 16S rRNA gene sequence comparison indicated that both strains belonged to the genus Sphingobium . This classification was supported by the presence of spermidine as the major polyamine. The phylogenetically closest relatives of strain 301T were Sphingobium amiense DSM 16289T, Sphingobium vermicomposti DSM 21299T, Sphingobium yanoikuyae DSM 7462T and Sphingobium scionense DSM 19371T (98.8, 98.0, 97.9 and 97.4 % sequence similarity, respectively). DNA–DNA hybridization of genomic DNA yielded similarities in the range 43.2–12.1 % between strain 301T and the type strains of these four Sphingobium species. Closest relatives of strain 469T were Sphingomonas suberifaciens DSM 7465T and Sphingobium scionense DSM 19371T (97.1 and 96.5 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, respectively). The degree of DNA–DNA hybridization between strain 469T and Sphingomonas suberifaciens DSM 7465T was 17.9 %. Based on the results of the molecular analyses and their phenotypic characteristics, strains 301T and 469T represent two novel species of the genus Sphingobium . The name Sphingobium limneticum sp. nov. is proposed for strain 301T( = DSM25076T = LMG 26659T). The name Sphingobium boeckii sp. nov. is proposed for strain 469T ( = DSM 25079T = LMG 26901T). The polyphasic analysis also suggests that Sphingomonas suberifaciens should be reclassified as Sphingobium suberifaciens comb. nov. with Ca1T ( = EY 2404T = ATCC 49355T = CIP 105429T = DSM 7465T = ICMP 12535T = NBRC 15211T = JCM 8521T = LMG 17323T = NCPPB 3629T) as the type strain.

A novel sulfate-reducing bacterium, strain S28bFT, was isolated from tidal flat sediment from Tokyo Bay, Japan. Cells of strain S28bFT were rod-shaped (0.5–0.6×1.7–3.8 µm), motile and Gram-stain-negative. For growth, the optimum pH was pH 6.8–7.3 and the optimum temperature was 34–42 °C. Strain S28bFT used sulfate and thiosulfate as electron acceptors, but not nitrate. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 56.6 mol%. The fatty acid profile of strain S28bFT was characterized by the presence of anteiso-C15 : 0 and C16 : 0 as the major components. Phylogenetic analyses based on genes for 16S rRNA, the alpha subunit of dissimilatory sulfite reductase (dsrA) and adenosine-5′-phosphosulfate reductase (aprA) revealed that the isolated strain belonged to the class Deltaproteobacteria . Its closest relative was Desulfosarcina cetonica DSM 7267T with a 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 93.3 %. Two other strains, S28OL1 and S28OL2 were also isolated from the same sediment. These strains were closely related to S28bFT with 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities of 99 %, and the same physiological characteristics were shared with strain S28bFT. On the basis of phylogenetic and phenotypic characterization, a novel species in a new genus, Desulfatitalea tepidiphila gen. nov., sp. nov., is proposed to accommodate the strains obtained in this study. The type strain is S28bFT ( = NBRC 107166T = DSM 23472T).

A DNA–DNA hybridization experiment was carried out to clarify the relationship between Porphyromonas crevioricanis and Porphyromonas cansulci . The taxonomic standing of these two species was unclear so far because of the high 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity value (99.9 %). The DNA–DNA relatedness values between P. crevioricanis JCM 15906T and P. cansulci JCM 13913T were above 91 % (91–99 %). In addition, P. crevioricanis JCM 15906T exhibited high hsp60 gene sequence similarity with P. cansulci JCM 13913T (100 %). The hsp60 gene sequence analysis and the DNA–DNA relatedness values demonstrated that P. crevioricanis JCM 15906T and P. cansulci JCM 13913T are a single species. Based on these data, we propose Porphyromonas cansulci as a later heterotypic synonym of Porphyromonas crevioricanis .

A Gram-reaction-negative, rod-shaped, gliding and bright-yellow-pigmented bacterial strain, designated JCN-23T, was isolated from a soil sample collected from an arid area in Gansu Province in north-west China, and characterized by using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. This isolate grew optimally at 30 °C and in the absence of NaCl. The only respiratory quinone was menaquinone-7 and the major cellular fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH, summed feature 9 (iso-C17 : 1ω9c and/or C16 : 0 10-methyl) and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c). The only polyamine was homospermidine and the major polar lipid was phosphatidylethanolamine. The DNA G+C content was 47.1 mol%. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain JCN-23T was a member of the phylum Bacteroidetes , exhibiting the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to Flavitalea populi CCTCC AB 208255T (97.6 %). No other recognized bacterial species showed more than 93.4 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to the novel isolate. DNA–DNA hybridization experiments showed a low level (26 %) of DNA–DNA relatedness between strain JCN-23T and F. populi CCTCC AB 208255T. On the basis of the phenotypic and genotypic data and phylogenetic inference, strain JCN-23T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Flavitalea , for which the name Flavitalea gansuensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JCN-23T ( = ACCC 05418T = KCTC 23071T). Emended descriptions of the genus Flavitalea and Flavitalea populi are also proposed.

A Gram-negative, rod-shaped, non-motile and pink bacterial strain, designated strain GCM0142T, was isolated from the confined seawater in the Saemangeum Tide Embankment of South Korea, and characterized using a polyphasic approach. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis of strain GCM0142T indicated that the isolate belonged to the phylum Bacteroidetes and exhibited similarity levels of 94.0–96.4 % to the type strains of recognized Pontibacter species. Strain GCM0142T was oxidase- and catalase-positive. The major cellular fatty acids of the novel strain were summed feature 4 (comprising iso-C17 : 1I and/or anteiso-C17 : 1B, 36.8 %), iso-C15 : 0 (22.3 %) and summed feature 3 (comprising C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c, 6.2 %). The DNA G+C content of strain GCM0142T was 48.9 mol% and the major quinone was MK-7. The polar lipid profile consisted of phosphatidylethanolamine, two unknown aminolipids (AL1–2), an unknown aminophospholipid, five unknown lipids (L1–5) and an unknown glycolipid. On the basis of the evidence presented, strain GCM0142T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Pontibacter , for which the name Pontibacter saemangeumensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is GCM0142T ( = KACC 16448T = JCM 17926T).

A Gram-stain-negative, non-spore-forming, non-motile, strictly aerobic, rod-shaped bacterial strain, designated CAU 1002T, was isolated from a tidal flat sediment and its taxonomic position was investigated using a polyphasic approach. Strain CAU 1002T grew optimally at 30 °C and pH 7.5. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain CAU 1002T formed a distinct lineage within the genus Algoriphagus and was most closely related to Algoriphagus lutimaris KCTC 22630T and Algoriphagus halophilus KCTC 12051T (97.75 and 97.74 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, respectively). The strain contained MK-7 as the major isoprenoid quinone and iso-C15 : 0 and C16 : 1ω7c and/or iso-C15 : 0 2-OH (summed feature 3) as the major fatty acids. The cell-wall peptidoglycan of strain CAU 1002T contained meso-diaminopimelic acids. The major whole-cell sugars were glucose, arabinose, sucrose, and ribose. The polar lipid profile was composed of phosphatidylethanolamine, five unidentified aminolipids, one unidentified aminophospholipid, one unidentified phospholipid, one unidentified aminoglycolipid, one unidentified glycolipid and twelve unidentified lipids. The DNA G+C content of strain CAU 1002T was 38.0 mol%. On the basis of phylogenetic inference, phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genotypic data, strain CAU 1002T should be classified into the genus Algoriphagus as a member of a novel species, for which the name Algoriphagus chungangensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CAU 1002T ( = KCTC 23759T = CCUG 61890T). The description of the genus Algoriphagus is emended.

An aerobic chemoheterotrophic gliding bacterium, designated RYGT, was isolated from a soil in Germany. Cells were Gram-stain-negative, thin rods (0.4–0.6 µm in width and 2.0–5.5 µm in length). Cells multiplied by normal cell division and no resting stages were observed. Colonies were yellow and displayed swarming edges. Gliding motility was observed in wet mounts. Strain RYGT grew at pH 5.6–7.7 (optimum pH 6.6–7.0), at 13–37 °C (optimum 25–30 °C) and with 0–1.0 % NaCl (optimum 0–0.1 %). The isolate was incapable of atmospheric nitrogen fixation and grew on most mono- and disaccharides as well as a few polysaccharides and organic acids. The predominant menaquinone was MK-7, the major cellular fatty acids were C16 : 1ω5c and iso-C15 : 0 and the major intact polar lipids were composed of phosphatidylethanolamine derivatives and two unknown series. The DNA G+C content was 49.9 mol%. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the isolate belonged to the phylum Bacteroidetes , class Cytophagia , order Cytophagales , but was only distantly related to any cultured bacteria. The closest relatives were Ohtaekwangia koreensis 3B-2T and Ohtaekwangia kribbensis 10AOT (both 93 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity). We propose a novel genus and species, Chryseolinea serpens gen. nov., sp. nov.. Strain RYGT ( = DSM 24574T = ATCC BAA-2075T) is the type strain.

A Gram-stain-negative, non-motile, red bacterium, designated DCY57T, was isolated from soil of a ginseng field in a mountainous region of Chungnam province in South Korea. Strain DCY57T grew with 0–1 % (w/v) NaCl and the optimum temperature for growth was 30 °C. Strain DCY57T contained MK-7 as the predominant menaquinone. The polyamine was sym-homospermidine. The major fatty acids were C16:1ω5c, iso-C15:0, anteiso-C15:0 and summed feature 3 (containing C16:1ω7c and/or C16:1ω6c). The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, unknown aminophospholipids, unknown aminolipids and unknown lipids. The DNA G+C content was 58.9 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain DCY57T was most closely related to members of the genus Hymenobacter . The isolate exhibited 91.7 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with H. soli PB17T, 94.5 % with H. flocculans A2-50AT and 95.8 % with H. metalli A2-91T. On the basis of the evidence presented in this study, strain DCY57T represents a novel species within the genus Hymenobacter , for which the name Hymenobacter ginsengisoli sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is DCY57T ( = KCTC 23674T = JCM 17841T).

A Gram-staining-negative, dark orange, strictly aerobic bacterium, designated strain HP12T, was isolated from a tidal flat at Hampyeong in South Korea. Cells were moderately halotolerant, catalase- and oxidase-positive, non-motile rods. Growth was observed at 5–35 °C (optimum, 25 °C), at pH 6.0–8.5 (optimum, pH 7.0–7.5), and in the presence of 1–6 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 1–2 %). The major cellular fatty acids were summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or iso-C15 : 0 2-OH), iso-C17 : 0 3-OH, C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 1 G and iso-C15 : 0. The polar lipid pattern indicated the presence of phosphatidylethanolamine and two unidentified lipids. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 37.1 mol% and the predominant respiratory quinone was menaquinone-6. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the novel strain formed a tight phyletic lineage with members of the genus Arenibacter and was most closely related to Arenibacter palladensis KMM 3961T, Arenibacter troitsensis KMM 3674T and Arenibacter echinorum KMM 6032T, with 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities of 98.1 %, 98.0 % and 97.8 %, respectively. However, the DNA–DNA relatedness values between strain HP12T and A. palladensis JCM 13509T, A. troitsensis KCTC 12362T and A. echinorum KCTC 22013T were only 20.2±0.3 %, 22.6±0.6 % and 9.1±2.6 %, respectively. On the basis of phenotypic and molecular features, strain HP12T represents a novel species of the genus Arenibacter , for which the name Arenibacter hampyeongensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is HP12T ( = KACC 16193T = JCM 17788T).

A Gram-staining-negative, non-spore-forming, aerobic, non-flagellated, non-gliding, rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain T-y7T, was isolated from seawater collected in an oyster farm in the South Sea, South Korea, and subjected to a polyphasic study. Strain T-y7T grew optimally at 25 °C, at pH 7.0–8.0 and in the presence of 2 % (w/v) NaCl. In phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, strain T-y7T fell within a clade comprising Bizionia species. It formed a coherent cluster with the type strains of Bizionia algoritergicola , B. argentinensis , B. echini and B. myxarmorum , with which it exhibited 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities of 97.4–98.9 % and mean DNA–DNA relatedness values of 11–27 %. Strain T-y7T had MK-6 as its predominant menaquinone and iso-C15 : 1 G, summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or iso-C15 : 0 2-OH), iso-C15 : 0 and iso-C17 : 0 3-OH as its major fatty acids. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, one unidentified aminolipid and one unidentified lipid. The genomic DNA G+C content was 37.1 mol%. Its phylogenetic and genetic distinctiveness and differential phenotypic properties revealed that strain T-y7T does not belong to any established Bizionia species. On the basis of the data presented, strain T-y7T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Bizionia , for which the name Bizionia hallyeonensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is T-y7T ( = KCTC 23881T  = CCUG 62110T).

An obligately anaerobic, non-pigmented, non-spore-forming, Gram-staining-negative, rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain Rs-03T, was isolated from the gut of the subterranean termite Reticulitermes speratus. The taxonomic position of the novel strain was determined by following a polyphasic approach. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain Rs-03T was a member of the genus Bacteroides and was most closely related to Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron JCM 5827T (95.0 % sequence similarity), Bacteroides faecis JCM 16478T (94.8 %) and Bacteroides xylanisolvens JCM 15633T (94.3 %). The results of hsp60 gene sequence analysis indicated that the novel strain was different from established members of the genus Bacteroides . Strain Rs-03T was saccharolytic and produced succinic and acetic acids, with small amounts of propionic acid, as metabolic end products. The major cellular fatty acids of strain Rs-03T were anteiso-C15 : 0, C18 : 1ω9c and iso-C17 : 0 3-OH. The major menaquinones were MK-10 and MK-9 and the genomic DNA G+C content was 44.9 mol%. Based on these data, strain Rs-03T represents a novel species in the genus Bacteroides , for which the name Bacteroides reticulotermitis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is Rs-03T ( = JCM 10512T = CCUG 62153T).

A novel, strictly aerobic, red-pigmented, Gram-reaction-negative bacterium, designated strain R9-9T, was isolated from tundra soil collected near Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard Archipelago, Norway (78° N). The novel strain was subjected to a taxonomic study using a polyphasic approach. It grew optimally at 20–22 °C and at pH 7.0. Flexirubin-type pigments were absent. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain R9-9T represents a distinct phyletic line that reflects a novel generic status within the family Cytophagaceae . The novel strain showed relatively low 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities (<88.0 %) to members of established genera. Strain R9-9T contained summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c), iso-C17 : 0 3-OH, iso-C15 : 0 and C16 : 1ω5c as its major cellular fatty acids, phosphatidylethanolamine as its main polar lipid, and MK-7 as its major respiratory quinone. The genomic DNA G+C content was 56.1 mol%. On the basis of phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic data, strain R9-9T is considered to represent a novel species in a new genus in the family Cytophagaceae , for which the name Huanghella arctica gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is R9-9T ( = CCTCC AB 2010418T = NRRL B-59750T).

A novel bacterium, designated strain F051-1T, isolated from a seawater sample collected from the coast at Damupo beach in Pohang, Korea, was investigated in a polyphasic taxonomic study. Cells were yellow-pigmented, strictly aerobic, Gram-staining-negative and rod-shaped. The temperature, pH and NaCl ranges for growth were 4–30 °C, pH 6.0–9.0 and 1.0–6.0 % (w/v), respectively. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain F051-1T belongs to the genus Psychroserpens in the family Flavobacteriaceae . Its closest relatives were Psychroserpens burtonensis ACAM 188T (96.8 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity) and Psychroserpens mesophilus KOPRI 13649T (95.7 %). The major cellular fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 1 G and anteiso-C15 : 0. The polar lipid profile consisted of a mixture of phosphatidylethanolamine, two unidentified aminolipids, one unidentified phospholipid and eight unidentified lipids. The major respiratory quinone was menaquinone-6 and the genomic DNA G+C content of the strain was 33.5 mol%. On the basis of phenotypic, phylogenetic and genotypic data, strain F051-1T represents a novel species within the genus Psychroserpens , for which the name Psychroserpens damuponensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is F051-1T ( = KCTC 23539T  = JCM 17632T).

A novel Gram-negative, rod-shaped, non-motile, psychrophilic bacterium, designated strain E4-9aT, was isolated from a marine sediment sample collected at a depth of 276 m from Kongsfjorden, Svalbard, in the Arctic Ocean. The colony colour was golden yellow. Strain E4-9aT was positive for amylase activity at 5 °C. The predominant fatty acids were iso-C15 : 1 G (21.8 %), anteiso-C15 : 0 (19.1 %), anteiso-C15 : 1 A (18.6 %), iso-C15 : 0 (13.8 %) and iso-C16 : 1 H (6.4 %). Strain E4-9aT contained MK-6 as the major respiratory quinone. The polar lipids consisted of phosphatidylethanolamine, three unidentified aminolipids (AL1, AL4 and AL5), an unidentified phospholipid and four unidentified lipids (L1, L4 to L6). Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, it was ascertained that the closest related species to E4-9aT were Lacinutrix copepodicola , L. algicola and L. mariniflava , with sequence similarity to the respective type strains of 98.5, 96.5 and 95.8 %. Phylogenetic analysis showed that strain E4-9aT clustered with the type strain of L. copepodicola and with those of L. algicola and L. mariniflava at distances of 1.5 and 4.8 % (98.5 and 95.2 % similarity), respectively. However, DNA–DNA hybridization with L. copepodicola DJ3T showed 59 % relatedness with respect to strain E4-9aT. The DNA G+C content of strain E4-9aT was 29 mol%. Based on the results of DNA–DNA hybridization and phenotypic data, it appears that strain E4-9aT represents a novel species of the genus Lacinutrix , for which the name Lacinutrix himadriensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is E4-9aT ( = CIP 110310T  = KCTC 23612T).

A strictly aerobic, Gram-stain-negative bacterium, designated strain No.6T, was isolated from a lichen (Cladonia sp.) collected in Geogeum Island, Korea, and its taxonomic status was established by a polyphasic study. Cells of strain No.6T were non-motile, catalase- and oxidase-positive, non-spore-forming rods. Growth was observed at 15–35 °C (optimum, 25–30 °C), at pH 5.0–10.0 (optimum, pH 6.0–8.0) and with 0–3 % NaCl (optimum, 0–2 %). The predominant cellular fatty acids were summed feature 3 (comprising iso-C15 : 0 2-OH and/or C16 : 1ω7c, 41.5 %), iso-C15 : 0 (26.7 %) and C16 : 0 (9.6 %), and menaquinone MK-7 was the only respiratory quinone. The G+C content of the genomic DNA of strain No.6T was 36.8 mol%. A phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain No.6T fell within the evolutionary group encompassed by the genus Sphingobacterium . Levels of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity between the novel strain and the type strains of recognized Sphingobacterium species ranged from 92.1 to 99.1 %, the highest values being with Sphingobacterium siyangense SY1T (99.1 %) and Sphingobacterium multivorum IAM 14316T (98.5 %). DNA–DNA relatedness between strain No.6T and these two type strains were 32.0 and 5.7 %, respectively. The polar lipids found in strain No.6T were phosphatidylethanolamine, two unidentified phospholipids, three unidentified aminophospholipids, one glycolipid and four unidentified lipids. One unidentified sphingolipid was also found. On the basis of phenotypic and genotypic data, strain No.6T represents a novel species of the genus Sphingobacterium , for which the name Sphingobacterium cladoniae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is No.6T ( = KCTC 22613T = JCM 16113T). An emended description of Sphingobacterium siyangense is also proposed.

SGP1T, a strain belonging to a lineage of the phylum Synergistetes with no previously cultivated representatives was subjected to a comprehensive range of phenotypic and genotypic tests. For good growth the strain was dependent on co-culture with, or extracts from, selected other oral bacteria. Cells of strain SGP1T were asaccharolytic and major amounts of acetic acid and moderate amounts of propionic acid were produced as end products of metabolism in peptone-yeast extract-glucose broth supplemented with a filtered cell sonicate of Fusobacterium nucleatum subsp. nucleatum ATCC 25586T (25 %, v/v). Hydrogen sulphide was produced and gelatin was weakly hydrolysed. The major cellular fatty acids were C14 : 0, C18 : 0 and C16 : 0. The DNA G+C content of strain SGP1T was 63 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis of the full-length 16S rRNA gene showed that strain SGP1T represented a novel group within the phylum Synergistetes . A novel species in a new genus, Fretibacterium fastidiosum gen. nov., sp. nov., is proposed. The type strain of Fretibacterium fastidiosum is SGP1T ( = DSM 25557T = JCM 16858T).

A mesophilic, obligately anaerobic, carbohydrate-fermenting bacterium, designated 8KG-4T, was isolated from an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor treating high-strength organic wastewater from salted vegetable production processes. Cells of strain 8KG-4T were non-motile, spherical and 0.7–1.5 µm in diameter (mean, 1.0 µm). Spore formation was not observed under any culture conditions tested. The strain grew optimally at 37 °C (range for growth 25–40 °C) and pH 7.0 (range, pH 6.5–7.5), and could grow fermentatively on glucose, ribose, xylose, galactose and sucrose. The main end products of glucose fermentation were acetate, ethanol and hydrogen. Organic acids, alcohols and amino acids were not utilized for growth. Yeast extract was not required for growth. Nitrate, sulfate, thiosulfate, elemental sulfur, sulfite and Fe(III) nitrilotriacetate were not used as terminal electron acceptors. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 61.1 mol%. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that the isolate represented a previously uncultured lineage at the subphylum level within the phylum Lentisphaerae known as ‘WWE2 subgroup I’. The major cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C16 : 0, C16 : 0 and anteiso-C17 : 0. Respiratory quinones were not detected. The most abundant polar lipid of strain 8KG-4T was phosphatidylethanolamine. A novel genus and species, Oligosphaera ethanolica gen. nov., sp. nov., is proposed to accommodate strain 8KG-4T ( = JCM 17152T = DSM 24202T  = CGMCC 1.5160T). In addition, we formally propose Oligosphaeria classis nov. and the subordinate taxa Oligosphaerales order nov. and Oligosphaeraceae fam. nov.