- Volume 63, Issue Pt_9, 2013

Calliandra grandiflora has been used as a medicinal plant for thousands of years in Mexico. Rhizobial strains were obtained from root nodules of C. grandiflora collected from different geographical regions in Chiapas and characterized by BOX-PCR, amplified rDNA restriction analysis (ARDRA) and 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. Most isolates corresponded to members of the genus Rhizobium and those not related to species with validly published names were further characterized by recA, atpD, rpoB and nifH gene phylogenies, phenotypic and DNA–DNA hybridization analyses. Three novel related species of the genus Rhizobium within the ‘ Rhizobium tropici group’ share the same symbiovar that may be named sv. calliandrae. The names proposed for the three novel species are Rhizobium calliandrae sp. nov. (type strain, CCGE524T = ATCC BAA-2435T = CIP 110456T = LBP2-1T), Rhizobium mayense sp. nov. (type strain, CCGE526T = ATCC BAA-2446T = CIP 110454T = NSJP1-1T) and Rhizobium jaguaris sp. nov. (type strain, CCGE525T = ATCC BAA-2445T = CIP 110453T = SJP1-2T).

A Gram-stain negative, rod-shaped, non-motile, non-spore-forming and aerobic bacterial strain, designated HL-25T, was isolated and characterized in a taxonomic study using a polyphasic approach. Comparative analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the isolate constituted a distinct branch within the genus Sphingobium , showing the highest level of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to Sphingobium vulgare HU1-GD12T (96.6 %). The major fatty acids (>10 %) of strain HL-25T were C18 : 1ω7c, C16 : 0, summed feature 3 (comprising C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c) and C18 : 0. The major cellular hydroxy fatty acid was C14 : 0 2-OH. The major isoprenoid quinone was Q-10 and the DNA G+C content was 63.8 mol%. The polar lipid profile consisted of a mixture of sphingoglycolipid, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidyldimethylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, an uncharacterized glycolipid, an uncharacterized aminophospholipid and four uncharacterized phospholipids. The polyamine pattern of strain HL-25T contained spermidine and putrescine. On the basis of these genotypic, chemotaxonomic and phenotypic data, strain HL-25T represents a novel species in the genus Sphingobium , for which the name Sphingobium sufflavum sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is HL-25T ( = BCRC 80413T = KCTC 23953T).

A Gram-staining-negative, aerobic, non-flagellated, non-gliding and ring-like or horseshoe-shaped bacterial strain, designated HD-17T, was isolated from a tidal flat sediment in the Korean peninsula. Strain HD-17T grew optimally at pH 7.0–8.0, at 25 °C and in the presence of 2.0 % (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain HD-17T fell within the clade comprising species of the genus Cyclobacterium . Strain HD-17T exhibited 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity values of 93.8–98.8 % to the type strains of species of the genus Cyclobacterium . Strain HD-17T contained MK-7 as the predominant menaquinone and iso-C15 : 0, summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω6c and/or C16 : 1ω7c), anteiso-C15 : 0 and iso-C15 : 1 G as the major fatty acids. The major polar lipids of strain HD-17T were phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine and two unidentified lipids. The DNA G+C content of strain HD-17T was 43.8 mol% and its DNA–DNA relatedness values with Cyclobacterium amurskyense KCTC 12363T, Cyclobacterium qasimii KCTC 23011T and Cyclobacterium marinum KCTC 2917T were 10.4, 7.6 and 5.3 %, respectively. The phylogenetic and genetic distinctiveness and several differentiating phenotypic properties revealed that strain HD-17T was separate from other species of the genus Cyclobacterium . On the basis of the data presented, strain HD-17T represents a novel species of the genus Cyclobacterium , for which the name Cyclobacterium caenipelagi sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is HD-17T ( = KCTC 32178T = CCUG 63247T). An emended description of the genus Cyclobacterium is also provided.

A novel bacterial strain, designated LCJ02T, was isolated on R2A agar from donkey (Equus asinus) milk powder and subjected to a taxonomic study using a polyphasic approach. Strain LCJ02T showed a Gram-negative reaction, was non-motile, non-spore-forming and possessed rod-shaped cells and yellow-pigmented colonies. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the novel isolate formed a cluster with several uncultured bacterial clones and with cultured members of the genera Hydrotalea , Sediminibacterium and Lacibacter (family Chitinophagaceae , phylum Bacteroidetes ). The gene sequence similarities with respect to the type strains of recognized species from the above genera and other phylogenetic neighbours ranged from 89.3 to 92.9 %. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 49.2 mol%, the only isoprenoid quinone was MK-7 and the major fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH, iso-C15 : 1 G and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or iso-C15 : 0 2-OH). The major polar lipids of strain LCJ02T were phosphatidylethanolamine, two unidentified aminophospholipids, one unidentified aminolipid and five unidentified lipids. The results of physiological and biochemical tests allowed phenotypic differentiation of strain LCJ02T from its closest phylogenetic neighbours. On the basis of the evidence of this polyphasic study, isolate LCJ02T represents a novel genus and species in the family Chitinophagaceae for which the name Asinibacterium lactis gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is LCJ02T ( = KCCM 90108T = JCM 18484T).

A Gram-staining-negative, aerobic, non-flagellated, non-gliding and rod-shaped bacterial strain, HD-3T, was isolated from a tidal flat sediment of Hwangdo in the Yellow Sea, South Korea. Strain HD-3T grew optimally at pH 7.0–8.0, at 30 °C and in the presence of 2–3 % (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain HD-3T joined the cluster comprising the type strains of Jejuia pallidilutea and Hyunsoonleella jejuensis . Strain HD-3T exhibited 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity values of 93.8 % to each of the type strains of J. pallidilutea and Hyunsoonleella jejuensis . Strain HD-3T contained MK-6 as the only menaquinone and iso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 1 G, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH and iso-C15 : 0 3-OH as the major fatty acids. The polar lipid profile of strain HD-3T, which contained phosphatidylethanolamine and one unidentified lipid as major components and one unidentified phospholipid as a significant component, differed slightly from those of the type strains of J. pallidilutea and Hyunsoonleella jejuensis . The DNA G+C content of strain HD-3T was 42.3 mol%. Differential phenotypic and chemotaxonomic properties and phylogenetic data of strain HD-3T demonstrated that this strain is distinguishable from J. pallidilutea and Hyunsoonleella jejuensis . On the basis of the data presented, strain HD-3T is considered to represent a novel genus and species, for which the name Hwangdonia seohaensis gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is HD-3T ( = KCTC 32177T = CCUG 63246T).

A Gram-staining-negative, rod-shaped, aerobic bacterial strain designated YC7003T, was isolated from a piece of rotten wood collected at Jinju, Korea. The taxonomic position of the strain was investigated using a polyphasic approach. The strain was catalase- and oxidase-positive, grew at 4–35 °C (optimum, 30 °C) and at pH 5.0–10.0 (optimum, pH 6.5–7.0). The major cellular fatty acids were C16 : 1ω7c and/or iso-C15 : 0 2-OH (summed feature 3), iso-C15 : 0 and C16 : 1ω5c and the major respiratory quinone was MK-7. The total genomic DNA G+C content was 49.0 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain YC7003T belonged to the genus Mucilaginibacter in the family Sphingobacteriaceae with 94.4–97.2 % sequence similarities with type strains of species of the genus Mucilaginibacter . The most closely related species was Mucilaginibacter mallensis MP1X4T (97.2 %). The DNA–DNA relatedness value between strain YC7003T and M. mallensis MP1X4T was 21.7±3.3 %. Based on these data, strain YC7003T represents a novel species of the genus Mucilaginibacter , for which the name Mucilaginibacter gynuensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YC7003T ( = KACC 15532T = JCM 17705T).

A strictly aerobic, Gram-staining-negative, rod-shaped, non-motile, yellow-pigmented bacterial strain, designated BX12T, was isolated from soil collected from the peak area of Wudang Mountain in the city of Shiyan, Hubei province, China. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain BX12T was most closely related to Flavobacterium subsaxonicum WB 4.1-42T (95.9 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity), followed by Flavobacterium beibuense F44-8T (95.6 %) and Flavobacterium rivuli WB 3.3-2T (94.1 %). The major fatty acids (≥5 %) of strain BX12T were summed feature 3 (comprising C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c), iso-C15 : 0, C16 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH, and C16 : 0 3-OH. The major polar lipid was phosphatidylethanolamine, and the major respiratory quinone was menaquinone-6. The genomic DNA G+C content was 43.9 mol%. On the basis of a high number of phenotypic differentiating properties and phylogenetic uniqueness, strain BX12T represents a novel species of the genus Flavobacterium for which the name Flavobacterium hauense sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is BX12T ( = CCTCC AB 2012197T = KCTC 32147T). Emended descriptions of Flavobacterium subsaxonicum , Flavobacterium beibuense and Flavobacterium rivuli are also proposed.

Three Gram-staining-negative, rod-shaped, non-spore-forming, non-motile, oxidase-positive, yellow pigmented and aerobic bacterial isolates designated 8_R23573, 9_R23581T and 10_R23577 were isolated from raw chicken at a broiler processing plant in Bloemfontein, South Africa. A polyphasic taxonomic approach was used to determine their exact taxonomic identities. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the three strains belonged to the genus Chryseobacterium , exhibiting the highest similarities to Chryseobacterium shigense DSM 17126T (98.6–99.2 %) and Chryseobacterium luteum DSM 18605T (98.3–98.7 %). The most abundant quinone was menaquinone MK-6 and the predominant cellular fatty acids were iso-15 : 0, iso-17 : 1ω9c, iso-17 : 0 3-OH and summed feature 3 (iso-16 : 1ω7c and/or iso-15 : 0 2-OH), which supported the affiliation of the strains to the genus Chryseobacterium . The DNA G+C contents of the strains were 36.9, 36.7 and 36.6 mol% respectively. The DNA–DNA hybridization results gave relatedness values ranging from 78.8 to 87.2 % among the three strains and 23.4 to 56.1 % to the two nearest phylogenetic neighbours C. shigense DSM 17126T and C. luteum LMG 23785T. On the basis of the data from this polyphasic study, the three strains are concluded to represent a novel species of the genus Chryseobacterium for which the name Chryseobacterium carnipullorum sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 9_R23581T ( = LMG 26732T = DSM 25581T).

Strain IK-1T was isolated from decaying tissues of the shrub Wikstroemia oahuensis collected on O‘ahu, Hawai‘i. Cells were rods that stained Gram-negative. Gliding motility was not observed. The strain was oxidase-negative and catalase-positive. Zeaxanthin was the major carotenoid. Flexirubin-type pigments were not detected. The most abundant fatty acids in whole cells of IK-1T grown on R2A were iso-C15 : 0 and one or both of C16 : 1ω7c and C16 : 1ω6c. Based on comparisons of the nucleotide sequence of the 16S rRNA gene, the closest neighbouring type strains were Flavobacterium rivuli WB 3.3-2T and Flavobacterium subsaxonicum WB 4.1-42T, with which IK-1T shares 93.84 and 93.67 % identity, respectively. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 44.2 mol%. On the basis of distance from its nearest phylogenetic neighbours and phenotypic differences, the species Flavobacterium akiainvivens sp. nov. is proposed to accommodate strain IK-1T ( = ATCC BAA-2412T = CIP 110358T) as the type strain. The description of the genus Flavobacterium is emended to reflect the DNA G+C contents of Flavobacterium akiainvivens IK-1T and other species of the genus Flavobacterium described since the original description of the genus.

A Gram-staining-negative, strictly aerobic bacterial strain, motile by gliding, designated GY20T, was isolated from a tidal flat at Gwangyang Bay, South Korea. Cells were moderately halophilic, catalase- and oxidase-positive rods. Growth of strain GY20T was observed at 10–30 °C (optimum, 25 °C), at pH 6.5–11.0 (optimum, pH 7.0–8.0) and in the presence of 1–5 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 2–3 %). MK-6 was detected as the sole isoprenoid quinone, and iso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 1 G, summed feature 3 (comprising C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c), summed feature 9 (iso-C17 : 1ω9c and/or 10-methyl C16 : 0), iso-C17 : 0 3-OH and iso-C15 : 0 3-OH as major fatty acids. Strain GY20T contained phosphatidylethanolamine, one unidentified glycolipid and one unidentified lipid as major polar lipids. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 39.8 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain GY20T formed a tight phyletic lineage with members of the genus Maribacter . Strain GY20T was most closely related to Maribacter dokdonensis DSW-8T, with sequence similarity of 96.2 %. On the basis of phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and molecular properties, strain GY20T was shown to represent a novel species within the genus Maribacter , for which the name Maribacter aestuarii sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is GY20T ( = KACC 16440T = JCM 18631T). An emended description of the genus Maribacter is also proposed.

A Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped bacterium with appendages, designated Ar-22T, was isolated from a seawater sample collected from the western part of Prydz Bay, near Cape Darnley, Antarctica. Strain Ar-22T grew optimally at 35 °C, at pH 7.5 and in the presence of 1–3 % (w/v) NaCl. The isolate was positive for casein, gelatin and Tween 20 decomposition and negative for H2S production and indole formation. Chemotaxonomic analysis showed that MK-6 was the major isoprenoid quinone and phosphatidylethanolamine was the major polar lipid. The major fatty acids were iso-C17 : 0 3-OH, iso-C15 : 1 G, iso-C15 : 0 and C16 : 1ω7c/iso-C15 : 0 2OH. The genomic DNA G+C content was 44.8 mol%. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that strain Ar-22T is closely related to members of the genus Muricauda , sharing 94.2–97.3 % sequence similarity with the type strains of species of the genus Muricauda and being most closely related to the Muricauda aquimarina . Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence comparison confirmed that strain Ar-22T formed a deep lineage with Muricauda flavescens . Sequence similarity between strain Ar-22T and Muricauda ruestringensis DSM 13258T, the type species of the genus Muricauda , was 96.9 %. Strain Ar-22T exhibited mean DNA–DNA relatedness values of 40.1 %, 49.4 % and 25.7 % to M. aquimarina JCM 11811T, M. flavescens JCM 11812T and Muricauda lutimaris KCTC 22173T, respectively. On the basis of phenotypic and genotypic data, strain Ar-22T represents a novel species of the genus Muricauda , for which the name Muricauda antarctica sp. nov. (type strain Ar-22T = CGMCC 1.12174T = JCM 18450T) is proposed.

Four bacterial strains (JC165T, JC166T, JC169 and JC170) were isolated from salt pan soils from a coastal region of Tamilnadu, India. They were obligately aerobic, pink- to red-pigmented, mesophilic, haloalkaliphiles having chemoorganoheterotrophic growth on various carbon sources and were catalase- and oxidase-positive. Phototrophic growth and bacteriochlorophyll a were absent in all four strains. Major carotenoids present were β-carotene and rhodoxanthin. The main fatty acid in all strains was iso-C15 : 0. The main polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and phosphatidylcholine (PC) as well as a few unidentified lipids. Bacterial hopane derivatives and diplopterol (DPL) were detected in all four strains. Based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences, all four strains belong to the family Cyclobacteriaceae in the phylum Bacteroidetes . Strains JC165T and JC169 had a sequence similarity of 97.2 % with Mongoliicoccus roseus MIM28T, while strains JC166T and JC170 had a sequence similarity of 99.5 % with Litoribacter ruber YIM CH208T. Strains JC165T/JC169 and JC166T/JC170 had genomic DNA reassociation values (based on DNA–DNA hybridization) of 21±2 % and 23±1 % with M. roseus KCTC 19808T ( = MIM28T) and L. ruber KCTC 22899T ( = YIM CH208T), respectively, suggesting that they represented novel species. The reassociation values of >85 % between strains JC165T and JC169, and JC166T and JC170 suggested they were strains of the same species. The genomic information was supported by phenotypic observations leading to the proposal of two novel species, Mongoliicoccus alkaliphilus sp. nov. (type strain, JC165T = KCTC 32210T = LMG 27255T) and Litoribacter alkaliphilus sp. nov. (type strain, JC166T = KCTC 32217T = LMG 27256T).

Strain JC164T was isolated from a water sample from a rice field at Jamdih, Mau, Uttar Pradesh, India. Colonies of strain JC164T were brown–yellow and cells were Gram-stain-negative. Catalase, oxidase and amylase were present. iso-C15 : 0, iso-C16 : 0, iso-C15 : 1 G, iso-C15 : 0 3-OH and iso-C14 : 0 were the predominant fatty acids with minor amounts of iso-C16 : 0 3-OH, anteiso-C15 : 0, C16 : 0, iso-C16 : 1 H, iso-C14 : 0 3-OH and iso-C13 : 0. Strain JC164T contained phosphatidylethanolamine and a few unidentified lipids (L1, L3 and L6) as major polar lipids. Bacteriohopane derivative 1 (BHD1) and diplopterol (DPL) were the major hopanoids. β-Carotene was one among the several spirilloxanthin series carotenoids present in strain JC164T. Genomic DNA G+C content was 39.6 mol%. 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons indicated that strain JC164T represents a member of the genus Flavobacterium (family Flavobacteriaceae , class Flavobacteriia ). The most closely related taxa to strain JC164T were Flavobacterium sasangense YC6274T (98.5 %), Flavobacterium cucumis R2A45-3T (98.1 %), Flavobacterium cheniae NJ-26T (97.2 %) and the novel strain possessed <95.1 % sequence similarity with other members of the genus Flavobacterium . However, strain JC164T showed 12.5±2, 13.6±1 and 17.4±2 % genomic DNA association (based on DNA–DNA hybridization) with Flavobacterium sasangense KCTC 22246T, Flavobacterium cucumis DSM 18830T and Flavobacterium cheniae CGMCC 1.6844T, respectively. The distinct genomic difference and morphological, physiological and chemotaxonomic differences from the previously described taxa support the classification of strain JC164T as a representative of a novel species of the genus Flavobacterium , for which the name Flavobacterium aquaticum sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JC164T ( = KCTC 32196T = CGMCC 1.12398 = LMG 27251T).

Strains of Gram-stain-negative, anaerobic, rod-shaped bacteria were isolated from chinchilla (Chinchilla lanigera) faeces, and strain ST166T was investigated taxonomically. Phylogenetic analyses of 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain ST166T belonged to the genus Parabacteroides . Strain ST166T formed a distinct line of descent, and the highest sequence similarity to ST166T was found with Parabacteroides merdae JCM 9497T (95.6 %) and Parabacteroides johnsonii JCM 13406T (95.0 %). Analysis of hsp60 gene sequences also supported these relationships. Based on the phenotypic and phylogenetic characteristics, the novel species Parabacteroides chinchillae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of P. chinchillae sp. nov. is ST166T ( = JCM 17104T = CCUG 62154T).

A novel strain, designated SJP7T, was isolated from sediment of the Tofua Arc of the Tonga Trench. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of the isolate showed the highest similarity to that of Marinoscillum pacificum KCCM 42325T (95.9 %). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the isolate formed a distinct phyletic line with Marinoscillum pacificum KCCM 42325T and Marinoscillum furvescens LMG 13023T within the family Cytophagaceae . Cells of strain SJP7T were Gram-stain-negative and appeared as long rods that were motile by gliding. Growth was observed at 15–40 °C (optimum, 30 °C), at pH 5.5–9.0 (optimum, pH 7.5–8.0) and in the presence of 0.5–7.0 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 2.5–3 %). The major respiratory quinone was MK-7. The dominant fatty acids were summed feature 3 (comprising C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c), iso-C15 : 0 and C16 : 1ω5c. The DNA G+C content was 43.5 mol%. These properties support the affiliation of strain SJP7T with the genus Marinoscillum . Further phenotypic differentiation of strain SJP7T from other species of the genus Marinoscillum was indicated by the results of physiological and biochemical tests. On the basis of evidence from our polyphasic taxonomic study, strain SJP7T represents a novel species of the genus Marinoscillum , for which the name Marinoscillum luteum sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Marinoscillum luteum is SJP7T ( = KCTC 23939T = NCAIM B02491T).

A Gram-stain-negative, elongated rod-shaped, yellow-pigmented, aerobic bacterial strain, designated WJ-1T, was isolated from coastal seawater in Xiamen, Fujian province, China. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain WJ-1T fell within the genus Tenacibaculum and was most closely associated with Tenacibaculum aestuarii SMK-4T (96.7 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity); lower similarities were shown to other members of the genus Tenacibaculum (<96.2 %). The strain formed a distinct lineage with Tenacibaculum litopenaei B-IT (96.0 %), Tenacibaculum geojense YCS-6T (94.5 %) and Tenacibaculum jejuense CNURIC 013T (95.4 %). Growth was observed at temperatures from 16 to 38 °C, at salinities from 2 to 4 % and at pH 6–9. The major fatty acids were summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω6c and/or C16 : 1ω7c), iso-C17 : 0 3-OH, iso-C15 : 0 and iso-C15 : 0 3-OH. The DNA G+C content of strain WJ-1T was 33.2 mol% and the major respiratory quinone was menaquinone-6 (MK-6). Differential phenotypic properties and phylogenetic distinctiveness in this study distinguished strain WJ-1T from all other members of the genus Tenacibaculum . According to the morphology, physiology, fatty acid composition and 16S rRNA gene sequence data, strain WJ-1T represents a novel species of the genus Tenacibaculum , for which the name Tenacibaculum xiamenense sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is WJ-1T ( = CGMCC 1.12378T = LMG 27422T).

Two Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacteria, strains E96T and E90T, were isolated from medicinal leeches (Hirudo verbana) and characterized by a polyphasic taxonomic approach. Phylogenetic analysis based on the nearly full-length 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that the two strains shared 98.1 % sequence similarity and were affiliated with the genus Niabella within the phylum Bacteroidetes , with 94.4–97.6 % sequence similarity to type strains of species of the genus Niabella and highest sequence similarity to the type strain of Niabella aurantiaca (97.3 and 97.6 %, respectively). Niabella -related 16S rRNA gene sequences were recently detected in the bladders of Hirudo verbana; however, no cultured representatives were so far available. Genomic fingerprint analysis using repetitive element primed (rep)- and randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD)-PCRs and DNA–DNA hybridization experiments clearly showed that the strains were different from each other (DNA–DNA relatedness values of 39.1 %, reciprocal 28.0 %) and from the type strains of N. aurantiaca (<19.7 %) and Niabella tibetensis (<41.1 %). Chemotaxonomic analyses confirmed the affiliation to the genus Niabella . Both strains contained MK-7 as the predominant menaquinone. The major fatty acids of both strains were iso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 1 G, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or iso-C15 : 0 2-OH), which is characteristic for the genus Niabella . Based on genotypic, chemotaxonomic and physiological characterization, we propose two novel species of the genus Niabella , Niabella hirudinis sp. nov., with strain E96T ( = DSM 25812T = CCM 8411T = LMG 26956T) as the type strain, and Niabella drilacis sp. nov., with strain E90T ( = DSM 25811T = CCM 8410T = LMG 26954T) as the type strain.

Two yellow-pigmented, rod-shaped, non-motile, Gram-reaction-negative and aerobic bacterial strains, designated KYW560T and KYW563T, were isolated from seawater collected from Gwangyang Bay, Republic of Korea. The isolates required sea salts for growth. Flexirubin-type pigments were absent. The common major cellular fatty acids (>5 % of total) of the two strains were C16 : 0, C18 : 0, iso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 1 G, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω6c and/or C16 : 1ω7c). Strain KYW560T also contained iso-C15 : 0 3-OH and C20 : 1ω9c as major fatty acids. The main polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, an unidentified aminolipid and two unidentified lipids. The predominant isoprenoid quinone was MK-6. The DNA G+C contents of strains KYW560T and KYW563T were 41.0±0.7 and 38.3±0.4 mol% (mean±sd of three determinations), respectively. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the isolates belonged to the family Flavobacteriaceae , and were related to the genus Algibacter . Based on data from this taxonomic study using a polyphasic approach, it is proposed that the isolates represent novel species of the genus Algibacter , for which the names Algibacter agarivorans sp. nov. (type strain, KYW560T = KCTC 23855T = JCM 18285T) and Algibacter agarilyticus sp. nov. (type strain, KYW563T = KCTC 23857T = JCM 18275T) are proposed. Reclassification of Marinivirga aestuarii as Algibacter aestuarii comb. nov. and emended description of the genus Algibacter are also proposed.

Two strains (NYNU 121010T and NYNU 121032) of a novel basidiomycetous yeast species belonging to the genus Sympodiomycopsis were isolated from insect frass collected from trunks of a pagoda tree (Sophora japonica L.) in Yantai, Shandong province, east China. The sequence analyses of the D1/D2 domain of the large subunit (LSU) rRNA gene and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region indicated that the closest relatives were Sympodiomycopsis kandeliae FIRDI 007T, Sympodiomycopsis paphiopedili CBS 7429T and Sympodiomycopsis sp. S6A. The D1/D2 sequences of the novel strains differed by 12 nt substitutions (2 %) from the type strain of S. kandeliae, and by 13 nt substitutions (2.2 %) from the type strain of S. paphiopedili and from Sympodiomycopsis sp. S6A. The novel strains differed from closely related species by more than 4.6 % substitutions in the ITS region. The novel strains can also be distinguished from S. kandeliae and S. paphiopedili on the basis of a number of morphological and physiological characteristics and represent a novel species in the genus Sympodiomycopsis, for which the name Sympodiomycopsis yantaiensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is NYNU 121010T ( = CICC 32998T = CBS 12813T). The Mycobank deposit number is MB 804119.