- Volume 63, Issue Pt_7, 2013

A novel actinomycete, strain 44EHWT, was isolated from rhizospheric soil under an Elephant ear plant (Colocasia esculenta) in Bangkok, Thailand. Strain 44EHWT produced long branching hyphae and abundant aerial mycelia with chains of rod-shaped spores. Whole-cell hydrolysates contained galactose, glucose, arabinose, ribose, mannose and rhamnose as diagnostic sugars. meso-Diaminopimelic acid was the diamino acid and glycine, alanine and glutamic acid were present in the cell-wall peptidoglycan with the acyl type of the peptidoglycan being acetyl. Phospholipids consisted of phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylethanolamine with hydroxy fatty acids and diphosphatidylglycerol, as well as other unknown phospholipids; however, no mycolic acids were detected. The predominant menaquinone observed was MK-9(H4) and major fatty acids were iso-C16 : 0 and 2-OH iso-C16 : 0. The G+C content of genomic DNA was 74 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that this isolate was most similar to Actinokineospora enzanensis NBRC 16517T. However, DNA–DNA hybridization revealed a low relatedness between this isolate and A. enzanensis NBRC 16517T, indicating that this isolate represented a novel species in the genus Actinokineospora . On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, phenotypic characteristics and DNA–DNA hybridization data, we propose that strain 44EHWT represents a novel species in the genus Actinokineospora , Actinokineospora bangkokensis. The type strain is 44EHWT ( = BCC 53155T = NBRC 108932T).

An aerobic, asporous, flagellated, Gram-stain-positive, rod-shaped bacterium MD-T1-10-2T was isolated from the topsoil of Midui Glacier, Tibet Province, China. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis placed the strain in a clade containing Mycetocola manganoxydans CCTCC AB 209002T, Mycetocola reblochoni DSM 18580T, Mycetocola tolaasinivorans JCM 11656T, Mycetocola lacteus JCM 11654T and Mycetocola saprophilus JCM 11655T, with the sequence similarities of 99.2, 98.1, 96.7, 96.6 and 96.4 %, respectively. DNA–DNA hybridization analysis indicated that strain MD-T1-10-2T represented a new member of this genus. The optimal ranges of temperature and pH for growth were 20–25 °C and 7.0–9.0, respectively; the strain could even grow at 0 °C. The major cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C16 : 0 and anteiso-C17 : 0. The predominant menaquinones were MK-10 and MK-11. The cell wall amino acids were lysine, alanine, glycine and glutamic acids. The DNA G+C content was 65.9 mol%. Based on the genotypic and phenotypic data, strain MD-T1-10-2T for which the name Mycetocola miduiensis sp. nov. is proposed; the type strain is MD-T1-10-2T ( = CGMCC 1.11101T = NBRC 107877T).

An extremely thermophilic, xylanolytic, spore-forming and strictly anaerobic bacterium, strain DTU01T, was isolated from a continuously stirred tank reactor fed with xylose and household waste. Cells stained Gram-negative and were rod-shaped (0.5–2 µm in length). Spores were terminal with a diameter of approximately 0.5 µm. Optimal growth occurred at 70 °C and pH 7, with a maximum growth rate of 0.1 h−1. DNA G+C content was 34.2 mol%. Strain DTU01T could ferment arabinose, cellobiose, fructose, galactose, glucose, lactose, mannitol, mannose, melibiose, pectin, starch, sucrose, xylan, yeast extract and xylose, but not cellulose, Avicel, inositol, inulin, glycerol, rhamnose, acetate, lactate, ethanol, butanol or peptone. Ethanol was the major fermentation product and a maximum yield of 1.39 mol ethanol per mol xylose was achieved when sulfite was added to the cultivation medium. Thiosulfate, but not sulfate, nitrate or nitrite, could be used as electron acceptor. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, strain DTU01T was shown to be closely related to Thermoanaerobacter mathranii A3T, Thermoanaerobacter italicus Ab9T and Thermoanaerobacter thermocopriae JT3-3T, with 98–99 % similarity. Despite this, the physiological and phylogenetic differences (DNA G+C content, substrate utilization, electron acceptors, phylogenetic distance and isolation site) allow for the proposal of strain DTU01T as a representative of a novel species within the genus Thermoanaerobacter , for which the name Thermoanaerobacter pentosaceus sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain DTU01T ( = DSM 25963T = KCTC 4529T = VKM B-2752T = CECT 8142T).

One coccal strain, designated 0905C15T, was isolated from fresh cummingcordia, which is the main ingredient of pobuzihi (fermented cummingcordia), a traditional fermented food in Taiwan. 16S rRNA gene sequencing results showed that strain 0905C15T had 98.22–98.82 % sequence similarity to that of the type strains of four Lactococcus lactis subspecies ( L. lactis subsp. lactis BCRC 12312T, L. lactis subsp. cremoris BCRC 12586T, L. lactis subsp. hordniae BCRC 80474T and L. lactis subsp. tructae BCRC 80475T). Comparison of two housekeeping genes, recA and rpoB, revealed that strain 0905C15T was well separated from the reference strains of the genus Lactococcus . DNA–DNA hybridization studies indicated that strain 0905C15T had low DNA relatedness to the four Lactococcus lactis subspecies (9.7–15.24 %). The DNA G+C content of strain 0905C15T was 39.6 mol %. Based on the evidence, strain 0905C15T represents a novel species of the genus Lactococcus , for which the name Lactococcus taiwanensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 0905C15T ( = NBRC 109049T = BCRC 80460T).

A Gram-positive-staining, aerobic, non-endospore-forming bacterium, isolated from Ullal coastal sand, Mangalore, Karnataka, India, on marine agar 2216, was studied in detail for its taxonomic position. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity comparisons, strain ZMA 19T was grouped into the genus Bhargavaea with high 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities to all currently described species of the genus Bhargavaea , Bhargavaea cecembensis (99.3 %), Bhargavaea beijingensis (98.8 %) and Bhargavaea ginsengi (98.6 %). GyrB amino acid sequence-based analysis supported the phylogenetic position and also distinguished strain ZMA 19T from the three other species of the genus Bhargavaea . Amino acid sequence similarities were only 85.6 to 89.5 % between strain ZMA 19T and the type strains of members of the genus Bhargavaea , which shared higher similarities among each other (93.0 to 96.2 %). The chemotaxonomic characterization supported the allocation of the novel strain to the genus Bhargavaea . The major menaquinone was MK-8. The polar lipid profile contained predominantly diphosphatidylglycerol and moderate amounts of phosphatidylglycerol. The diagnostic peptidoglycan diamino acid was lysine and the polyamine pattern contained spermidine and spermine. The major fatty acids were iso- and anteiso-branched fatty acids. DNA–DNA hybridization with the types strains Bhargavaea cecembensis LMG 24411T, Bhargavaea beijingensis DSM 19037T and Bhargavaea ginsengi DSM 19038T resulted in values (reciprocal values in parentheses) of 26 % (29 %), 18 % (15 %) and 21 % (12 %), respectively. The results of physiological and biochemical tests allowed phenotypic differentiation of strain ZMA 19T from all other species of the genus Bhargavaea . Thus, ZMA 19T represents a novel species of this genus, for which the name Bhargavaea ullalensis sp. nov. is proposed, with ZMA 19T ( = LMG 27071T  = CCM 8429T) as the type strain.

A lactic acid bacterium, strain CCTCC M 2011381T, isolated from the brine of the traditional Chinese snack, stinky tofu, was studied to determine its taxonomic position. It was a Gram-stain-positive, non-motile, facultatively anaerobic rod-shaped bacterium that did not exhibit catalase activity. The DNA G+C content of the strain was 44.1 % and its peptidoglycan was characterized by the presence of meso-diaminopimelic acid. Levels of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity between strain CCTCC M 2011381T and the most closely related species Lactobacillus senioris JCM 17472T, Lactobacillus parafarraginis JCM 14109T and Lactobacillus diolivorans JCM 12183T were 96.5, 96.4 and 96.4 %, respectively. Combined with data from high-resolution genomic markers recA, rpoA and pheS, strain CCTCC M 2011381T was classified as representing a novel species. The strain could also be distinguished from other related species of the genus Lactobacillus by its physiological and biochemical characteristics. Based on the phylogenetic, physiological and biochemical data, it is proposed that the new isolate can be classified as representing a novel species of the genus Lactobacillus , for which the name Lactobacillus curieae sp. nov. (type strain CCTCC M 2011381T = S1L19T = JCM 18524T) is proposed.

The Anginosus group of the genus Streptococcus has been the subject of much taxonomic confusion, which has hampered the full appreciation of its clinical significance. The purpose of this study was to critically re-examine the taxonomy of the Anginosus group, with special attention to β-haemolytic, Lancefield group C strains, using multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) combined with 16S rRNA gene sequence and phenotypic analyses. Phylogenetic analysis of concatenated sequences of seven housekeeping genes previously used for examination of viridans streptococci distinguished seven distinct and coherent clusters in the Anginosus group. Analyses of 16S rRNA gene sequences and phenotypic characters supported the MLSA clustering and currently recognized taxa of the Anginosus group. Single gene analyses showed considerable allele sharing between species, thereby invalidating identification based on single-locus sequencing. Two novel clusters of β-haemolytic, Lancefield group C strains within the Streptococcus constellatus and Streptococcus anginosus species and isolated from patients with sore throat showed sufficient phylogenetic distances from other clusters to warrant status as novel subspecies. The novel cluster within S. anginosus was identified as the previously recognized DNA homology cluster, DNA group 2. The names S. anginosus subsp. whileyi subsp. nov. (type strain CCUG 39159T = DSM 25818T = SK1267T) and S. constellatus subsp. viborgensis subsp. nov. (type strain SK1359T = CCUG 62387T = DSM 25819T) are proposed.

Four strains of Gram-positive, non-spore-forming, rod-shaped, catalase-negative and non-motile lactic acid bacteria, LOOC260T, LOOC253, LOOC273 and LOOC279, were isolated from timothy grass (Phleum pratense L.) silage produced in Hokkaido, a subarctic region of Japan. These isolates grew at 4–37 °C, indicating the psychrotolerant nature of these strains. Phylogenetic analysis on the basis of 16S rRNA and pheS gene sequences, as well as biochemical and physiological characteristics, indicated that these four strains were members of the genus Lactobacillus . 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis of strain LOOC260T demonstrated that the closest neighbours were the type strains of Lactobacillus suebicus (97.7 %), Lactobacillus oligofermentans (96.7 %) and Lactobacillus vaccinostercus (96.7 %). Strain LOOC260T showed low levels of DNA–DNA association with Lactobacillus suebicus JCM 9504T (14.7±3.5 %), Lactobacillus oligofermentans JCM 16175T (15.1±4.8 %) and Lactobacillus vaccinostercus JCM 1716T (10.7±3.0 %). The cell wall contained meso-diaminopimelic acid and the major fatty acids were C18 : 1ω9c and C19 : 1 cyclo 9,10. On the basis of phenotypic, physiological and phylogenetic evidence, these isolates represent a novel species of the genus Lactobacillus , for which the name Lactobacillus hokkaidonensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is LOOC260T ( = JCM 18461T = DSM 26202T).

A bacterium, HKU30T, was isolated from the infected tissue of a patient with wound infection after puncture by a fish fin. Cells are facultative anaerobic, non-spore-forming, non-motile, Gram-positive cocci arranged in chains. Colonies were non-haemolytic. The strain was catalase, oxidase, urease and Voges–Proskauer test negative. It reacted with Lancefield’s group G antisera and was resistant to optochin. It grew on bile aesculin agar and in 5 % NaCl. It was unidentified by three commercial identification systems. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that the bacterium shared 98.2, 97.7, 97.4 and 97.1 % nucleotide identities with Streptococcus iniae , Streptococcus pseudoporcinus , Streptococcus parauberis and Streptococcus uberis , respectively. The DNA G+C content was 35.6±0.9 mol% (mean±sd). In view of the occupational exposure of the patient, an epidemiological study was performed to isolate the bacterium from marine fish. Two strains, with similar phenotypic and genotypic characteristics to those of HKU30T, were isolated from a three-lined tongue sole (Cynoglossus abbreviatus) and an olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) respectively. Phylogenetic analysis of four additional housekeeping genes, groEL, gyrB, sodA and rpoB, showed that the three isolates formed a distinct branch among known species of the genus Streptococcus , being most closely related to S. parauberis (CCUG 39954T). DNA–DNA hybridization demonstrated ≤53.8 % DNA relatedness between the three isolates and related species of the genus Streptococcus . A novel species, Streptococcus hongkongensis sp. nov., is proposed. The type strain is HKU30T ( = DSM 26014T = CECT 8154T).

A rod-shaped, non-motile, Gram-stain-positive, catalase-positive, starch-hydrolysing strain, JC16T, was isolated from a semi-arid tropical soil from India. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that strain JC16T clustered with the type species of the genus Chryseomicrobium, Chryseomicrobium imtechense MW 10T, a member of the family Planococcaceae within the phylum Firmicutes with 99.3 % sequence similarity. Major (>10 %) fatty acids of strain JC16T were iso-C15 : 0 and iso-C16 : 0. Minor (<10 and >1 %) amounts of C16 : 0, iso-C14 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C17 : 0, anteiso-C17 : 0, iso-C17 : 1ω10c and C16 : 1ω11c are present in strain JC16T. Polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phospholipids (PL2–4), aminolipids (AL1, 2) and an unknown lipid. Cell wall peptidoglycan was of the type l-Orn–d-Glu. The quinone system was composed of MK-7, MK-8 and MK-6. Genomic DNA G+C content of strain JC16T was 57.6 mol%. Distinct physiological, chemotaxonomic and genotypic differences (37 % reassociation based on DNA–DNA hybridization) from Chryseomicrobium imtechense MW 10T support the classification of strain JC16T as a representative of a novel species in the genus Chryseomicobium, for which the name Chryseomicrobium amylolyticum sp. nov. (type strain JC16T = DSM 23442T = NBRC 105215T) is proposed.

An aerobic, Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped bacterium with a single polar flagellum, designated CC-OPY-1T, was isolated from an oil-contaminated site in Taiwan. CC-OPY-1T produces siderophores, and can grow at temperatures of 25–37 °C and pH 5.0–9.0 and tolerate <5 % (w/v) NaCl. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis of CC-OPY-1T showed high pairwise sequence similarity to Pseudomonas alcaligenes BCRC 11893T (97.1 %), Pseudomonas. alcaliphila DSM 17744T (97.1 %), Pseudomonas tuomuerensis JCM 14085T (97.1 %), Pseudomonas toyotomiensis JCM 15604T (96.9 %) and lower sequence similarity to remaining species of the genus Pseudomonas . The phylogenetic trees reconstructed based on gyrB and rpoB gene sequences supported the classification of CC-OPY-1T as a novel member of the genus Pseudomonas . The predominant quinone system of strain CC-OPY-1T was ubiquinone (Q-9) and the DNA G+C content was 68.4±0.3 mol%. The major fatty acids were C12 : 0, C16 : 0, C17 : 0 cyclo and summed features 3 and 8 consisting of C16 : 1ω7c/C16 : 1ω6c and C18 : 1ω7c/C18 : 1ω6c, respectively. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylglycerol (PG), diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG), phosphatidylcholine (PC) and two unknown phospholipids (PL1–2). Due to distinct phylogenetic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic features, CC-OPY-1T is proposed to represent a novel species within the genus Pseudomonas for which the name Pseudomonas sagittaria sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CC-OPY-1T ( = BCRC 80399T = JCM 18195T).

A Gram-negative, non-motile, pale-yellow, rod-shaped bacterial strain, PL-41T, was isolated from Populus euphratica forest soil at the ancient Khiyik River valley in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China. Strain PL-41T grew optimally at 30 °C and pH 7.0–8.0. The major quinone was Q-10. The predominant cellular fatty acids of strain PL-41T were summed feature 8 (comprising C18 : 1ω7c and C18 : 1ω6c), C16 : 0 and C19 : 0 cyclo ω8c. Polar lipids of strain PL-41T include two unidentified aminophospholipids (APL1, 2), two unidentified phospholipids (PL1, 2), phosphatidylcholine and three unidentified lipids (L1–3). Strain PL-41T showed 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 97.0–97.5 % to the type strains of recognized species of the genus Rhizobium . Phylogenetic analysis of strain PL-41T based on the sequences of housekeeping genes recA and atpD confirmed (similarities are less than 90 %) its position as a distinct species of the genus Rhizobium . The DNA G+C content was 57.8 mol%. DNA–DNA relatedness between strain PL-41T and the type strains of Rhizobium huautlense S02T, Rhizobium alkalisoli CCBAU 01393T, Rhizobium vignae CCBAU 05176T and Rhizobium loessense CCBAU 7190BT were 33.4, 22.6, 25.5 and 45.1 %, respectively, indicating that strain PL-41T was distinct from them genetically. Strain PL-41T also can be differentiated from these four phylogenetically related species of the genus Rhizobium by various phenotypic properties. On the basis of phenotypic properties, phylogenetic distinctiveness and genetic data, strain PL-41T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Rhizobium , for which the name Rhizobium tarimense sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is PL-41T ( = CCTCC AB 2011011T = NRRL B-59556T).

Two novel siderophore-producing strains designated CC-CFT023T and CC-CFT034T, isolated from a rusty iron plate, are characterized in this study. Cells of both strains were catalase- and oxidase-positive. Strain CC-CFT023T showed a high pairwise 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to Aureimonas altamirensis LMG 23375T (96.0 %), whereas, strain CC-CFT034T shared a maximum similarity to Aureimonas ureilytica DSM 18598T (95.8 %). The predominant quinone system was ubiquinone (Q-10) and the DNA G+C contents of CC-CFT023T and CC-CFT034T were 69.5 mol% and 67.7 mol%, respectively. The major fatty acids of these strains were C16 : 0, C18 : 0, C19 : 0 cyclo ω8c, C18 : 1 2-OH and summed features 3 and 8, consisting of C16 : 1ω7c/C16 : 1ω6c and C18 : 1ω7c/C18 : 1ω6c, respectively. Polar lipid profiles of both of these isolates include diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG), phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylglycerol (PG) and most importantly sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerol (SQDG), which is one of the typical molecular features reported to delineate the members of the genus Aureimonas from their closest relatives, species of the genus Aurantimonas . Based on the phylogenetic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic features, strains CC-CFT023T and CC-CFT034T represent two novel species within the genus Aureimonas , for which the names Aureimonas ferruginea sp. nov. (type strain CC-CFT023T = BCRC 80439T = JCM 18444T) and Aureimonas rubiginis sp. nov. (type strain CC-CFT034T = BCRC 80440T = JCM 18445T) are proposed.

A novel Gram-negative, non-spore-forming, rod-shaped strain, H1T, was isolated from activated sludge by micromanipulation. No close relatives among cultured bacterial isolates were found; phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain H1T forms a deep single branch in the family Rhodospirillaceae . Cells of strain H1T were slightly curved to straight rods (1.2–1.4×1.5–1.7 µm) and motile by a single polar flagellum. Strain H1T was able to grow in the presence of 0–4 % NaCl and grew optimally at 37 °C and pH 6.0–7.0. Chemotaxonomic analysis revealed that strain H1T possessed Q-10 as the predominant ubiquinone and C18 : 1ω7c, C16 : 0 and C19 : 0 cyclo ω8c as the major fatty acids. The DNA G+C content of strain H1T was 65.1 mol%. Comparative analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences, and phenotypic and chemotaxonomic data, indicate that strain H1T should represent a novel genus and species of the family Rhodospirillaceae . The name Taonella mepensis gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Taonella mepensis is H1T ( = CICC 10529T  = CCTCC AB 2012861T  = KACC 16940T).

A novel aerobic, non-motile, pleomorphic, Gram-negative and nitrogen-fixing bacterial strain, designated R5-392T, was isolated from surface-sterilized root tissue of Jatropha curcas. The organism grew optimally at 30 °C in media containing 1 % (w/v) NaCl and at pH 6.0–8.0. The predominant ubiquinone was Q-10 and the major fatty acids were C18 : 1ω7c/C18 : 1ω6c, C16 : 0 and C19 : 0 cyclo ω8c. The DNA G+C content was 63.2 mol%. Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence suggested that strain R5-392T is affiliated with the order Rhizobiales within the class Alphaproteobacteria and is most closely related to Pleomorphomonas oryzae F-7T (98.8 % similarity) and Pleomorphomonas koreensis Y9T (98.3 % similarity). Analysis of partial nifH gene sequences also revealed a monophyletic lineage within the class Alphaproteobacteria , and strain R5-392T was most closely related to P. oryzae F-7T (98 %). Highest nitrogenase activity was detected in the presence of low-level organic nitrogen or in the presence of nitrogenase co-factors (Fe/Mo) in N-free media. Phenotypic and chemotaxonomic data suggest that strain R5-392T represents a novel species within the genus Pleomorphomonas , for which the name Pleomorphomonas diazotrophica sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is R5-392T ( = KACC 16233T  = DSM 25022T).

Two Gram-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped bacteria, designated strains SW104T and X07, were isolated from a seawater sample collected from the Indian Ocean. The strains grew at a temperature range of 12–50 °C (optimum, 35–37 °C), and at pH 6.0–9.0 (optimum pH 7.0–7.5). The predominant cellular fatty acids of strain SW104T were iso-C15 : 0 (41.2 %), iso-C17 : 1ω9c (15.2 %) and iso-C17 : 0 (11.1 %). The major respiratory quinone was ubiquinone 8 (Q-8). The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylglycerol. The genomic DNA G+C contents of strains SW104T and X07 were 49.8 and 49.5 mol%, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that the new isolates were related to members of the genus Idiomarina , showing the highest similarity with Idiomarina taiwanensis PIT1T and Idiomarina maritima 908087T (96.1 and 95.9 %, respectively). On the basis of phenotypic, genotypic and phylogenetic characteristics, it is proposed that strains SW104T and X07 should be described as representatives of a novel species of the genus Idiomarina , for which the name Idiomarina indica sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is SW104T ( = CGMCC 1.10824T = JCM 18138T).

Several pectolytic bacterial strains, mainly isolated from monocotyledonous plants and previously identified as Pectobacterium carotovorum , were thought to belong to a novel species after several taxonomic analyses including DNA–DNA hybridization. In 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses, these strains had a similarity of >97.9 % to the 16S rRNA gene sequence of strains representing six other pectobacterial species and subspecies. These strains, represented by strain SCRI 109T, also showed some unique chemotaxonomic features and quantitative differences in polar lipids, lipoquinones and fatty acids. A specific feature of strain SCRI 109T was the presence of DMK-8 lipoquinone, while the dominant fatty acids were the summed feature 3 (iso-C15 : 0 2-OH/C16 : 1ω7c), the unsaturated fatty acid C18 : 1ω7c and straight chain fatty acids, mainly C16 : 0. The DNA G+C content of strain SCRI 109T was 50.2 mol%. The taxonomic status of strain SCRI 109T and related strains in 16S rRNA gene sequence, chemotaxonomic, and physiological analyses was corroborated by the distinct clustering of these strains in multi-locus sequence analyses. It is proposed that these strains represent a novel species for which the name Pectobacterium aroidearum sp. nov. is proposed; the type strain is SCRI 109T ( = NCPPB 929T = LMG 2417T = ICMP 1522T).

A rod-shaped, Gram-negative, non-motile, aerobic and non-endospore forming bacterium, designated strain DD-13T, was isolated from the mangrove ecosystem of Goa, India. Strain DD-13T degraded polysaccharides such as agar, alginate, chitin, cellulose, laminarin, pectin, pullulan, starch, carrageenan, xylan and β-glucan. The optimum pH and temperature for growth was 7 and 36 °C, respectively. The strain grew optimally in the presence of 3 % NaCl (w/v). The DNA G+C content was 61.4 mol%. The predominant fatty acid of strain DD-13T was iso-C15 : 0. Ubiquinone-8 was detected as the major respiratory lipoquinone. Phylogenetic studies based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis demonstrated that strain DD-13T formed a coherent cluster with species of the genus Microbulbifer . Strain DD-13T exhibited 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity levels of 98.9–97.1 % with Microbulbifer hydrolyticus IRE-31T, Microbulbifer salipaludis JCM 11542T, Microbulbifer agarilyticus JAMB A3T, Microbulbifer celer KCTC 12973T and Microbulbifer elongatus DSM 6810T. However, the level of DNA–DNA relatedness between strain DD-13T and the five type strains of these species of the genus Microbulbifer were in the range of 26–33 %. Additionally, strain DD-13T demonstrates several phenotypic differences from these type strains of species of the genus Microbulbifer . Thus strain DD-13T represents a novel species of the genus Microbulbifer , for which the name Microbulbifer mangrovi sp. nov. is proposed with the type strain DD-13T ( = KCTC 23483T = JCM 17729T).

A cream-coloured, Gram-negative, aerobic, non-motile moderately thermophilic, rod-to-irregular-shaped bacterium, CC-GIMAT-2T, was isolated from a coastal hot spring of Green Island (Lutao), located off Taituang, Taiwan, on marine agar 2216. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis and subsequent comparisons showed that it was placed into the genus Ruegeria with 97.4 % similarity to Ruegeria lacuscaerulensis ITI-1157T, and a lower sequence similarity to all other species of the genus Ruegeria . Reconstruction of phylogenetic trees indicated that strain CC-GIMAT-2T clustered within the genus Ruegeria . Robust tree topology for the genus Ruegeria including the new strain was only obtained by including all Rhodobacteraceae type strains but not if the analysis was limited to few selected taxa. The quinone system contained exclusively ubiquinone Q-10 and the fatty acid profile consisted mainly of C18 : 1ω7c, 11-methyl C18 : 1ω7c and C12 : 0 3-OH. The predominant polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and an unidentified aminolipid. Other lipids were detected in moderate to minor amounts. The characteristic feature of the polyamine pattern was the predominant triamine spermidine. On the basis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis and of the chemotaxonomic and physiological data, strain CC-GIMAT-2T represents a novel species of the genus Ruegeria , for which the name Ruegeria intermedia sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CC-GIMAT-2T ( = CCUG 59209T = LMG 25539T = CCM 7758T).