- Volume 63, Issue Pt_9, 2013

A rod-shaped, endospore-forming, Gram-reaction-positive bacterium, designated strain TC22-2bT, was isolated from compost in Tochigi, Japan. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the strain belonged to a cluster comprising species of the genus Paenibacillus and was most closely related to the type strain of Paenibacillus elgii (93.4 % similarity). The major cellular fatty acids were C16:0 (25.5 %), iso-C16:0 (23.6 %) and anteiso-C15:0 (21.5 %). The predominant menaquinone was MK-7. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine. The diamino acid found in the cell wall peptidoglycan was meso-diaminopimelic acid, and the DNA G+C content was 59.1 mol%. The results of physiological and biochemical tests enabled the phenotypic differentiation of strain TC22-2bT from the most closely related species with validly published names. Phylogenetic and phenotypic evidence reveals that strain TC22-2bT represents a novel species of the genus Paenibacillus , for which the name Paenibacillus thermoaerophilus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of the novel species is TC22-2bT ( = DSM 26310T  = JCM 18657T).

A novel Gram-positive, rod-shaped, spore-forming bacterium, designated 13CCT was isolated from soil of the former lake Texcoco. The strain was aerobic, catalase-positive and oxidase-negative. It grew at salinities of 0–26 % (w/v) NaCl with an optimum at 9–16 % (w/v) NaCl. The cells contain peptidoglycan type A1γ, A1γ′ with glycine instead of l-alanine and three variations of peptidoglycan type A4γ. The only quinone detected was MK-7. The major fatty acid was anteiso-C15 : 0. The polar lipids fraction consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and three different phospholipids. The DNA G+C content was 37.5 mol%. Maximum-likelihood phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain 13CCT was closely related to members of the genus Bacillus and shared 92.35 % similarity with Bacillus agaradhaerens , 92.28 % with Bacillus neizhouensis and 92.21 % with Bacillus locisalis . It is proposed based on the phenotypic, genotypic and phylogenetic analyses that the novel isolate should be classified as a representative of a new genus and novel species, for which the name Texcoconibacillus texcoconensis gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Texcoconibacillus texcoconensis is 13CCT ( = JCM 17654T = DSM 24696T).

A Gram-stain-positive, strictly aerobic, rod-shaped and weakly motile bacterium, designated WS 4627T, was isolated from a dairy product sample collected in southern Germany. Spherical to slightly ellipsoidal endospores were formed centrally or subterminally in sometimes slightly swollen sporangia. The isolate was able to grow at 8–35 °C, at pH 6.5–8.5 and with 0.5–16.5 % (w/v) NaCl. The diamino acid of the cell wall was meso-diaminopimelic acid (peptidoglycan type A1γ) and the genomic DNA G+C content was 39.1 mol%. The major menaquinone was MK-7, the cellular fatty acid profile contained major amounts of anteiso-C15 : 0 and anteiso-C17 : 0 and the major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylglycerol. Strain WS 4627T was most closely related to ‘ Virgibacillus natachei’ FarD (96.5 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity) and ‘ Virgibacillus zhanjiangensis’ JSM 079157 (96.0 %). Based on the data presented, strain WS 4627T represents a novel species of the genus Virgibacillus , for which the name Virgibacillus halotolerans sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is WS 4627T ( = DSM 25060T = LMG 26644T).

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, motile with one polar flagellum γ-proteobacterium, designated strain SBZ3-12T, was isolated from surfaces of weathered potassic trachyte. Phylogenetic analysis of this strain based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that it was most closely related to Dyella japonica XD53T (97.9 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity), Dyella terrae JS14-6T (97.7 %), Dyella soli JS12-10T (97.5 %) and Dyella koreensis BB4T (97.0 %). The DNA G+C content of strain SBZ3-12T was 64.0 mol%. In addition, iso-C17 : 1ω9c, iso-C15 : 0 and iso-C16 : 0 were the major cellular fatty acids and ubiquinone Q-8 was the predominant respiratory quinone. The low DNA–DNA relatedness values between strain SBZ3-12T and recognized species of the genus Dyella and the many phenotypic properties supported the classification of strain SBZ3-12T as a representative of a novel species of the genus Dyella , for which the name Dyella jiangningensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is SBZ3-12T ( = CCTCC AB 2012160T = KACC 16539T = DSM 26119T).

A Gram-stain-negative, non-motile, rod-shaped bacterial strain, designated KIS14-15T, was isolated from forest soil of Baengnyeong Island in the Yellow Sea in Korea and its taxonomic position was investigated by using a polyphasic study. Strain KIS14-15T grew optimally at 30 °C, at pH 6.0–7.0 and without NaCl. In the neighbour-joining phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, strain KIS14-15T formed a cluster with the strains of Reyranella massiliensis with a bootstrap resampling value of 100 %. Strain KIS14-15T exhibited 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity values of 98.0 % to R. massiliensis 521T and of less than 89 % to the type strains of other taxa. The mean level of DNA–DNA relatedness between strain KIS14-15T and R. massiliensis KACC 16548T was 21 % (reciprocal, 24 %). The predominant ubiquinone found in strain KIS14-15T and R. massiliensis KACC 16548T was ubiquinone-10 (Q-10). The predominant fatty acids of strain KIS14-15T and R. massiliensis KACC 16548T were C18 : 1ω7c, C18 : 1 2-OH and 11-methyl C18 : 1ω7c. Total polar lipids of strain KIS14-15T were phosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, one unknown aminolipid and one unknown lipid. Differential phenotypic properties, together with phylogenetic and genetic distinctiveness, demonstrated that strain KIS14-15T is distinguishable from R. massiliensis . On the basis of the data presented, strain KIS14-15T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Reyranella , for which the name Reyranella soli sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is KIS14-15T ( = KACC 13034T = NBRC 108950T).

A taxonomic study was carried out on a novel aerobic bacterial strain, designated CC-CY503T, isolated from food-waste compost in Taiwan. Cells were Gram-stain-negative short rods, motile by means of a monopolar flagellum. Strain CC-CY503T was able to grow at 20–50 °C and pH 6.0–10.0 and to tolerate <6 % NaCl (w/v). Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that this bacterium belonged to the genus Pseudomonas , with Pseudomonas pertucinogena ATCC 190T as the closest neighbour, sharing a sequence similarity of 97.9 %. The DNA–DNA relatedness value of strain CC-CY503T with P. pertucinogena ATCC 190T was 37.8±2.3 %. The phylogenetic trees reconstructed based on gyrB and rpoB gene sequences supported the classification of strain CC-CY503T as a novel member of the genus Pseudomonas . The predominant quinone system was ubiquinone (Q-9) and the DNA G+C content was 63.1±0.4 mol%. The major fatty acids were C12 : 0, C16 : 0, C17 : 0 cyclo, C19 : 0 cyclo ω8c and summed features 3 and 8 consisting of C16 : 1ω7c/C16 : 1ω6c and C18 : 1ω7c/C18 : 1ω6c, respectively. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylcholine. On the basis of its distinct phylogenetic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic features, strain CC-CY503T ( = BCRC 80437T = JCM 18415T) is proposed to represent a novel species within the genus Pseudomonas , for which the name Pseudomonas formosensis sp. nov. is proposed.

A Gram-stain-negative bacterium, designated strain CBA4601T, was isolated from a seawater sample obtained off the coast of Jeju Island, Korea. The organism grew in the presence of 0–4 % (w/v) NaCl and at 20–35 °C and pH 7.0–9.0, with optimal growth in 2 % NaCl, and at 25 °C and pH 8.0. Phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain CBA4601T was related to the genus Ferrimonas within the class Gammaproteobacteria . 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity between strain CBA4601T and Ferrimonas marina A4D-4T, the most closely related species, was 96.9 %. The G+C content of the genomic DNA from strain CBA4601T was 54.2 mol%, and the isoprenoid quinones menaquinone 7 (MK-7), ubiquinone 7 (Q-7) and ubiquinone 8 (Q-8) were detected. The major fatty acids were C17 : 1ω8c, C18 : 1ω9c and C16 : 0, and the major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and an unidentified ninhydrin-positive phospholipid. On the basis of this taxonomic study using a polyphasic approach, strain CBA4601T represents a novel species of the genus Ferrimonas , for which the name Ferrimonas pelagia sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CBA4601T ( = KACC 16695T = KCTC 32029T = JCM 18401T).

An aerobic, Gram-stain-negative, short rod-shaped, non-motile and non-sporulating bacterium, designed strain 8-1bT, was isolated from seaweed collected from the intertidal zone of Zhoushan sea area, East China Sea. Strain 8-1bT grew at 4–39 °C (optimum, 28–32 °C) and at pH 6.0–9.5 (optimum, 7.0–8.5), and with 0.5–8 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 1–3 %) and 0.5–10 % (w/v) sea salts (optimum, 2–3 %). Analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain 8-1bT was related closely to Aequorivita capsosiphonis JCM 15070T (96.7 % similarity). The DNA G+C content of strain 8-1bT was 36.6 mol%. Compared with reference strains, cells of strain 8-1bT showed positive activities for H2S production and utilization of d-mannose, dl-lactic acid, l-asparagine and glycyl l-aspartic acid. The major fatty acids of strain 8-1bT were iso-C15 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH, iso-C15 : 1 G and iso-C17 : 1ω9c. The main respiratory quinone was menaquinone 6. The polar lipids of strain 8-1bT consisted of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), three uncharacterized aminolipids (AL1–3), four uncharacterized glycolipids (GL1–4) and five uncharacterized lipids (L1–5). Based on the phenotypic and genotypic characterization, strain 8-1bT represents a novel species of the genus Aequorivita , for which the name Aequorivita viscosa sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is strain 8-1bT ( = CGMCC 1.11023T = JCM 18497T). Emended descriptions of Aequorivita antarctica and Aequorivita capsosiphonis are also presented.

A novel psychrotolerant, Gram-negative, shiny white, curved-rod-shaped, facultatively anaerobic bacterium PB1T was isolated from a soil sample collected from a glacier forefield of the Larsemann Hills, East Antarctica. Isolate PB1T has catalase and low urease activity and hydrolyses gelatin and starch. Strain PB1T is able to grow between −5 °C and 30 °C with optimum growth at 14–20 °C. Glycerol, dl-arabinose, d-xylose, d-galactose, d-fructose, d-lyxose, d-fucose and potassium gluconate are used as sole carbon sources. The major quinone is ubiquinone Q-8. The major fatty acids (>10 %) for PB1T are C16 : 0 (19.1 %), C16 : 1ω7cis (44.6 %) and C18 : 1ω7cis (16.2 %). The major polyamines are putrescine [54.9 µmol (g dry weight)−1] and 2-hydroxy putrescine [18.5 µmol (g dry weight)−1]. DNA G+C content is 62.5 mol%. Strain PB1T is phylogenetically related to species of the genus Herbaspirillum , with highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities to Herbaspirillum canariense (97.3 %), Herbaspirillum aurantiacum (97.2 %), Herbaspirillum soli (97.2 %) and Herbaspirillum frisingense (97.0 %). The DNA–DNA relatedness values were below 30 % between PB1T and the type strains of Herbaspirillum canariense , Herbaspirillum aurantiacum and Herbaspirillum soli . The different geographical origin of strain PB1T from its closest phylogenetic relatives resulted in different phenotypic and genotypic specifications, whereby strain PBT represents a novel species of the genus Herbaspirillum , for which the name Herbaspirillum psychrotolerans is proposed. The type strain is PB1T (DSM 26001T = LMG 27282T).

A Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium was isolated from the skin of the medical leech Hirudo verbana and studied for its taxonomic allocation. 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities to other strains showed that the strain was closely related to species of the genus Kaistia . Kaistia geumhonensis was shown to be the most closely related species (96.8 %), followed by Kaistia soli (96.6 %) and Kaistia dalseonensis (96.2 %). All other species of the genus Kaistia showed 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities <96 %. Chemotaxonomic data for strain E94T (major ubiquinone: Q-10; major polar lipids: diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, hydroxyphosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine, unknown phospholipids, aminolipids and aminophospholipids; and major fatty acids: C18 : 1ω7c, C19 : 0ω8c cylco, C16 : 0 and C18 : 0) supported the affiliation of the isolate to the genus Kaistia . Phenotypic differentiation of strain E94T from all species of the genus Kaistia was possible using different physiological characters. Strain E94T represents a novel species of the genus Kaistia , for which the name Kaistia hirudinis sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain E94T ( = LMG 26925T = CIP 110381T = CCM 8401T).

Two stalked, aerobic, catalase- and oxidase-positive rod-shaped isolates, VKM B-1508 ( = CB 258) and FWC47T, were analysed using a polyphasic approach. While the morphology and the 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain VKM B-1508 were 100 % identical to the ones of Sphingomonas leidyi DSM 4733T, the morphology of FWC47T was different, and the closest recognized species were Sphingomonas oligophenolica S213T ( = DSM 17107T) and Sphingomonas leidyi DSM 4733T with 97.2 % and 97.0 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, respectively. DNA–DNA hybridization studies supported the differentiation of strain FWC47T from S. oligophenolica and S. leidyi . Strain FWC47T grew optimally at 28–30 °C, and pH 6.0–8.0. The major respiratory quinone was Q10 and the major polyamine was sym-homospermidine. The major fatty acids were C17 : 1ω6c and C18 :  1ω7c and C15 : 0 2-OH was the major 2-hydroxy fatty acid. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidyldimethylethylamine and unidentified sphingoglycolipids. The G+C content of the genomic DNA of strain FWC47T was 67.1 mol%. Strain FWC47T differed from S. leidyi by its ability to assimilate l-alanine, maltose and sucrose, by the presence of β-galactosidase and α-chymotrypsin, and the lack of valine arylamidase and β-glucosidase activities. Contrary to S. leidyi , FWC47T did not reduce nitrate and could not use fructose, acetate and N-acetyl-glusosamine. In the genus Sphingomonas , the dimorphic life cycle involving a prosthecate sessile and a flagellated swarmer cell was hitherto only known from Sphingomonas leidyi . Therefore, strain FWC47T represents an additional distinct prosthecate species in this genus for which the name Sphingomonas canadensis is proposed. The type strain is FWC47T ( = LMG 27141T = CCUG 62982T).

Bacterial strain SF87T, and additional strains SF80, SF362 and 106-C, isolated from the nematode Steinernema khoisanae, are non-bioluminescent Gram-reaction-negative bacteria that share many of the carbohydrate fermentation reactions recorded for the type strains of recognized Xenorhabdus species. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence data, strain SF87T is shown to be closely related (98 % similarity) to Xenorhabdus hominickii DSM 17903T. Nucleotide sequences of strain SF87 obtained from the recA, dnaN, gltX, gyrB and infB genes showed 96–97 % similarity with Xenorhabdus miraniensis DSM 17902T . However, strain SF87 shares only 52.7 % DNA–DNA relatedness with the type strain of X. miraniensis , confirming that it belongs to a different species. Strains SF87T, SF80, SF362 and 106-C are phenotypically similar to X. miraniensis and X. beddingii , except that they do not produce acid from aesculin. These strains are thus considered to represent a novel species of the genus Xenorhabdus , for which the name Xenorhabdus khoisanae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is SF87T ( = DSM 25463T = ATCC BAA-2406T).

Pink-pigmented, facultatively methylotrophic bacteria, strains 87eT and 99bT, were isolated from the bryophytes Haplocladium microphyllum and Brachythecium plumosum, respectively. The cells of both strains were Gram-reaction-negative, motile, non-spore-forming rods. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, strains 87eT and 99bT were found to be related to Methylobacterium organophilum ATCC 27886T (97.1 % and 97.7 %, respectively). Strains 87eT and 99bT showed highest 16S rRNA gene similarity to Methylobacterium gnaphalii 23eT (98.3 and 99.0 %, respectively). The phylogenetic similarities to all other species of the genus Methylobacterium with validly published names were less than 97 %. Major cellular fatty acids of both strains were C18 : 1ω7c and C18 : 0. The results of DNA–DNA hybridization, phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA and cpn60 gene sequences, fatty acid profiles, whole-cell matrix-assisted, laser-desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/MS) analysis, and physiological and biochemical tests allowed genotypic and phenotypic differentiation of strains 87eT and 99bT from their phylogenetically closest relatives. We propose that strains 87eT and 99bT represent novel species within the genus Methylobacterium , for which the names Methylobacterium haplocladii sp. nov. (type strain 87eT = DSM 24195T = NBRC 107714T) and Methylobacterium brachythecii sp. nov. (type strain 99bT = DSM 24105T = NBRC 107710T) are proposed.

A novel Gram-reaction-negative, yellow-pigmented, aerobic, non-motile and rod-shaped bacterium designated strain CC-YHH031T was isolated from an agricultural soil collected at Chiayi County, Taiwan. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain CC-YHH031T formed a discrete monophyletic lineage in the family Xanthomonadaceae , sharing high pairwise sequence similarity of 93.5–95.2 and 94.8 % with species of the genus Dokdonella (94.9 % similarity to the type strain of the type species) and Aquimonas voraii GPTSA 20T, respectively. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain CC-YHH031T was 68.6±0.7 mol% and the predominant respiratory quinone was ubiquinone Q-8. Spermidine was the principal polyamine, with minor amounts of putrescine. Major fatty acids (>5 % of total fatty acids) were iso-C16 : 0, iso-C15 : 0, C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c (summed feature 3), iso-C17 : 1ω9c, iso-C14 : 0, iso-C11 : 0 and iso-C11 : 0 3-OH. The polar lipid profile of strain CC-YHH031T included phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, two unidentified aminophospholipids (APL1–2) and four unidentified phospholipids (PL1–4). Strain CC-YHH031T was distinguished particularly from the type species of the genus Dokdonella ( Dokdonella koreensis ) by the presence of major amounts of iso-C14 : 0 and summed feature 3 and minor amounts of iso-C17 : 0 and by the complete absence of anteiso-C17 : 0, the presence of PL1–3 and APL1–2, the absence of APL3 and the presence of putrescine in the former. On the basis of distinguishing genotypic and phenotypic evidence, strain CC-YHH031T is proposed to represent a novel genus and species within the family Xanthomonadaceae , for which the name Chiayiivirga flava gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Chiayiivirga flava is CC-YHH031T ( = BCRC 80273T = DSM 24163T).

A novel Gram-stain-negative, strictly aerobic, heterotrophic bacterium, designated 306T, was isolated from near-surface (109 cm below the sea floor) sediments of the Gulf of Lions, in the Mediterranean Sea. Strain 306T grew at temperatures between 4 and 32 °C (optimum 17–22 °C), from pH 6.5 to 9.0 (optimum 8.0–9.0) and between 0.5 and 6.0 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum 2.0 %). Its DNA G+C content was 58.8 mol%. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, the novel isolate belongs to the class Alphaproteobacteria and is related to the genus Phaeobacter . It shares 98.7 % 16S rRNA sequence identity with Phaeobacter arcticus , its closest phylogenetic relative. It contained Q-10 as the only respiratory quinone, C18 : 1ω7c and C16 : 0 as major fatty acids (>5 %) and phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, diphosphatidylglycerol, two unidentified lipids and an aminolipid as polar lipids. The chemotaxonomic data are consistent with the affiliation of strain 306T to the genus Phaeobacter . Results of physiological experiments, biochemical tests and DNA–DNA hybridizations (with P. arcticus ) indicate that strain 306T is genetically and phenotypically distinct from the five species of the genus Phaeobacter with validly published names. Strain 306T therefore represents a novel species, for which the name Phaeobacter leonis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 306T ( = DSM 25627T = CIP 110369T = UBOCC 3187T).

A Gram-stain-negative, non-spore-forming, rod-shaped, aerobic bacterium (strain 107-E2T) was isolated from freshwater samples containing microbial mats collected at a lake in Skarvsnes, Antarctica (temporary lake name, Lake Tanago Ike). Strain 107-E2T grew between 5 and 25 °C, with an optimum of 23 °C. Moreover, colony formation was observed on agar media even at −5 °C. The pH range for growth was between 6.0 and 9.0, with an optimum of pH 7.0–8.0. The range of NaCl concentration for growth was between 0.0 and 0.5 % (w/v), with an optimum of 0.0 %. No growth was observed in media containing organic compounds at high concentrations, which indicated that strain 107-E2T was an oligotroph. In the late stationary phase, strain 107-E2T produced a dark brown water-soluble pigment. Esterase, amylase and protease production was observed. Antimicrobial-lytic activities for Gram-negative bacteria and yeast were observed. Ubiquinone-8 was the major respiratory quinone. The major fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, iso-C17 : 1ω9c and iso-C15 : 1 at 5. The G+C content of genomic DNA was 66.1 mol%. Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain 107-E2T belonged to the genus Lysobacter , and low DNA–DNA relatedness values with closely related species distinguished strain 107-E2T from recognized species of the genus Lysobacter . The phylogenetic situation and physiological characteristics indicated that strain 107-E2T should be classified as a representative of a novel species of the genus Lysobacter , for which the name Lysobacter oligotrophicus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 107-E2T ( = JCM 18257T = ATCC BAA-2438T).

Bradyrhizobium japonicum was described from soybean root-nodule bacterial isolates. Since its description, several studies have revealed heterogeneities among rhizobia assigned to this species. Strains assigned to B. japonicum group Ia have been isolated in several countries, and many of them are outstanding soybean symbionts used in inoculants worldwide, but they have also been isolated from other legume hosts. Here, we summarize published studies that indicate that group Ia strains are different from the B. japonicum type strain USDA 6T and closely related strains, and present new morphophysiological, genotypic and genomic evidence to support their reclassification into a novel species, for which the name Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of the novel species is the well-studied strain USDA 110T ( = IAM 13628T  = CCRC 13528T  = NRRL B-4361T  = NRRL B-4450T  = TAL 102T  = BCRC 13528T  = JCM 10833T  = TISTR 339T  = SEMIA 5032T  = 3I1B110T  = ACCC 15034T  = CCT 4249T  = NBRC 14792T  = R-12974T  = CNPSo 46T).

A yellow-coloured bacterial strain, designated HB2T, isolated from stratum water was investigated using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. Cells were Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, non-spore-forming, non-flagellated and rod-shaped. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the strain was a member of the genus Luteimonas , its three closest neighbours being Luteimonas aquatica BCRC 17731T (97.5 % similarity), Luteimonas marina JCM 12488T (97.3 %) and Luteimonas aestuarii DSM 19680T (96.9 %). Strain HB2T could clearly be distinguished from these type strains based on phylogenetic analysis, DNA–DNA hybridization, fatty acid composition and a range of physiological and biochemical characteristics. It is evident from the genotypic and phenotypic data that strain HB2T represents a novel species of the genus Luteimonas , for which the name Luteimonas huabeiensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is HB2T ( = DSM 26429T = CICC 11005sT).

A Gram-stain-negative, non-motile and coccoid, ovoid or rod-shaped bacterial strain, designated P-MA1-7T, was isolated from a sea squirt (Halocynthia roretzi) collected from the South Sea, Korea. Strain P-MA1-7T grew optimally at 25 °C, at pH 7.0–8.0 and in the presence of 2–3 % (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain P-MA1-7T fell within the cluster comprising the type strains of four species of the genus Litoreibacter , exhibiting 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity values of 97.0–98.5 % to these four type strains and less than 95.9 % sequence similarity to the strains of the other species examined. Strain P-MA1-7T contained Q-10 as the predominant ubiquinone and C18 : 1ω7c as the predominant fatty acid. The major polar lipids of strain P-MA1-7T were phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, one unidentified aminolipid and one unidentified lipid. The DNA G+C content of strain P-MA1-7T was 58.3 mol% and DNA–DNA relatedness values of strain P-MA1-7T with the type strains of the four species of the genus Litoreibacter were in the range of 8–21 %. The differential phenotypic properties, together with the phylogenetic and genetic distinctiveness, revealed that strain P-MA1-7T was separate from other species of the genus Litoreibacter . On the basis of these data, strain P-MA1-7T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Litoreibacter , for which the name Litoreibacter halocynthiae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is P-MA1-7T ( = KCTC 32213T = CCUG 63416T).