- Volume 64, Issue Pt_4, 2014

A Gram-stain-negative, non-spore-forming, rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain 1GBT, was isolated from anodic biofilms of a glucose-fed microbial fuel cell. Strain 1GBT was facultatively anaerobic and chemo-organotrophic, having both a respiratory and a fermentative type of metabolism, and utilized a wide variety of sugars as carbon and energy sources. Cells grown aerobically contained Q-8 as the major quinone, but excreted Q-9 and a small amount of Q-10 when cultured with an electrode serving as the sole electron acceptor. The G+C content of the genomic DNA of 1GBT was 54.5 mol%. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) analysis showed that strain 1GBT represented a distinct lineage within the genus Raoultella (98.5–99.4 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity and 94.0–96.5 % sequence similarity based on the three concatenated housekeeping genes gyrA, rpoB and parC. Strain 1GBT exhibited DNA–DNA hybridization relatedness of 7–43 % with type strains of all established species of the genus Raoultella . On the basis of these phenotypic, phylogenetic and genotypic data, the name Raoultella electrica sp. nov. is proposed for strain 1GBT. The type strain is 1GBT ( = NBRC 109676T = KCTC 32430T).

A Gram-stain-negative, motile, non-spore-forming, coccoid bacterium was isolated from a stool sample of a healthy human subject and formed cream colour colonies on tryptic soy agar. Almost full-length (1500 bp) small subunit rRNA (16S rRNA) gene sequences were generated and a similarity search was conducted by blast. The results of the similarity search indicated that the bacterium belongs to the class Betaproteobacteria , family Alcaligenaceae . It showed maximum sequence similarity (96.5 %) with Pelistega europaea CCUG 39967T followed by Advenella mimigardefordensis DSM 17166T (96.1 %) and Taylorella asinigenitalis LMG 19572T (95.3 %). The DNA G+C content of strain HM-7T was 42 mol%. Strain HM-7T contained C14 : 0, C16 : 0, C16 : 0 3-OH and C18 : 0 as the dominant fatty acids. Morphological, physiological and biochemical data also indicated that strain HM-7T represents a member of the genus Pelistega , but at the same time distinguished it from Pelistega europaea CCUG 39967T, the only species of the genus with a validly published name. Based on polyphasic characterization we conclude that the bacterium represents a novel species of the genus Pelistega and propose the name Pelistega indica sp. nov., with strain HM-7T ( = MCC 2185T = DSM 27484T) as the type strain of the species.

Strain CH15-11T, isolated from a sediment sample taken from Daechung Reservoir, South Korea, during the late-blooming period of cyanobacteria, was found to be a Gram-stain-negative, non-motile, non-spore-forming, rod-shaped and aerobic bacterium. Strain CH15-11T grew optimally at pH 7 and 28–30 °C. According to a phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, strain CH15-11T belonged to the genus Sphingomonas and clustered with Sphingomonas sediminicola Dae 20T, with which it shared the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity (97.6 %). Chemotaxonomic analysis showed that strain CH15-11T had characteristics typical of members of the genus Sphingomonas , such as the presence of sphingoglycolipid, ubiquinone Q-10 and sym-homospermidine. Plus, strain CH15-11T included summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c) and C16 : 0 as the major fatty acids. The genomic DNA G+C content was 65.6 mol%. Sequence data showed that strain CH15-11T was most closely related to Sphingomonas sediminicola Dae 20T (97.6 %), Sphingomonas ginsengisoli Gsoil 634T (97.2 %) and Sphingomonas jaspi TDMA-16T (97.0 %). However, the DNA–DNA relatedness values between strain CH15-11T and the most closely related type strains were within a range of 35–59 %. Thus, based on the phylogenetic, phenotypic and genetic data, strain CH15-11T was classified as a member of the genus Sphingomonas as a representative of a novel species, for which the name Sphingomonas daechungensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CH15-11T ( = KCTC 23718T = JCM 17887T).

Bacterial strain A37T2T was isolated from the endophytic microbial community of a Pinus pinaster tree trunk and characterized. Strain A37T2T was Gram-stain-negative, formed rod-shaped cells, and grew optimally at 26–30 °C and at pH 5.5–7.5. The G+C content of the DNA was 46.6 mol%. The major respiratory quinone was menaquinone 7 (MK-7) and the major fatty acids were C16 : 1ω5c and iso-C15 : 0, representing 61.7 % of the total fatty acids. The polar lipids consisted of phosphatidylethanolamine, four unidentified aminophospholipids, one unidentified phospholipid, two unidentified aminolipids and three unidentified lipids. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain A37T2T belonged to the family Chitinophagaceae , forming a distinct branch with Chitinophaga niabensis JS13-10T within the genus Chitinophaga . Strain A37T2T shared between 92.7 and 95.1 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with the type strains of species of the genus Chitinophaga . The phylogenetic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic data presented indicate that strain A37T2T represents a novel species of the genus Chitinophaga , for which the name Chitinophaga costaii sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is A37T2T ( = CIP 110584T = LMG 27458T). An emended description of Chitinophaga niabensis JS13-10T is also proposed.

A strictly aerobic, thermophilic, moderately acidophilic, non-spore-forming bacterium, strain P373T, was isolated from geothermally heated soil at Waikite, New Zealand. Cells were filamentous rods, 0.2–0.4 µm in diameter and grew in chains up to 80 µm in length. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, strain P373T was shown to belong to the family Chitinophagaceae (class Sphingobacteriia ) of the phylum Bacteroidetes , with the most closely related cultivated strain, Chitinophaga pinensis UQM 2034T, having 87.6 % sequence similarity. Cells stained Gram-negative, and were catalase- and oxidase-positive. The major fatty acids were i-15 : 0 (10.8 %), i-17 : 0 (24.5 %) and i-17 : 0 3-OH (35.2 %). Primary lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, two unidentified aminolipids and three other unidentified polar lipids. The presence of sulfonolipids (N-acyl-capnines) was observed in the total lipid extract by mass spectrometry. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 47.3 mol% and the primary respiratory quinone was MK-7. Strain P373T grew at 35–63 °C with an optimum temperature of 60 °C, and at pH 5.5–8.7 with an optimum growth pH of 7.3–7.4. NaCl tolerance was up to 5 % (w/v) with an optimum of 0.1–0.25 % (w/v). Cell colonies were non-translucent and pigmented vivid yellow–orange. Cells displayed an oxidative chemoheterotrophic metabolism. The distinct phylogenetic position and the phenotypic characteristics separate strain P373T from all other members of the phylum Bacteroidetes and indicate that it represents a novel species in a new genus, for which the name Thermoflavifilum aggregans gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of the type species is P373T ( = ICMP 20041T = DSM 27268T).

A non-motile, pale yellow, colony-forming strain, designated HME6839T, was isolated from the wetland of Jeju Island, Republic of Korea. The major fatty acids of strain HME6839T were summed feature 3 (comprising C16 : 1ω6c and/or C16 : 1ω7c), iso-C15 : 0 and C16 : 1ω5c. The DNA G+C content was 41.2 mol%. A phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain HME6839T formed a lineage within the genus Mucilaginibacter . Strain HME6857T was closely related to Mucilaginibacter dorajii (96.7 %), Mucilaginibacter polysacchareus (96.5 %) and Mucilaginibacter lappiensis (96.3 %). On the basis of the chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic results presented in this study, strain HME6839T represents a novel species of the genus Mucilaginibacter , for which the name Mucilaginibacter flavus sp. nov., is proposed. The type strain is HME6839T ( = KCTC 23441T = CECT 7857T).

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped, non-motile, non-spore-forming bacterial strain, designated J22T, was isolated from fresh pasta filled with pork (tortellini) that had been stored at 6 °C. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain J22T falls within the radiation of species of the genus Pedobacter . On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities, the closest species phylogenetically are Pedobacter panaciterrae LMG 23400T (98.7 %), Pedobacter africanus DSM 12126T (98.5 %) and Pedobacter heparinus DSM 2366T (98.3 %). The only isoprenoid quinone of strain J22T was menaquinone 7 (MK-7). The major fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0 (34.8 %), C16 : 1 cis9 (24.9 %), C16 : 0 (7.3 %), C14 : 0 (4.8 %) and iso-C17 : 0 3-OH (4.4 %). These chemotaxonomic characteristics supported the assignment of the isolate to the genus Pedobacter . DNA–DNA hybridization experiments showed that the DNA–DNA relatedness between strain J22T and its closest phylogenetic neighbour, Pedobacter panaciterrae LMG 23400T, was less than 36 %. This indicated that the isolate was distinct from this species. Biochemical tests allowed strain J22T to be phenotypically differentiated from closely related species of the genus Pedobacter . As a consequence, strain J22T should be classified as a representative of a novel species of the genus Pedobacter for which the name Pedobacter nutrimenti sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is J22T ( = DSM 27372T = CCUG 64422T).

A novel bacterial strain designated HME7863T was isolated from a freshwater reservoir in Goheung, Republic of Korea. Cells of strain HME7863T were Gram-staining-negative, strictly aerobic, orange-pigmented, rod-shaped and motile by gliding. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that strain HME7863T formed a lineage within the genus Sediminibacterium . Strain HME7863T was closely related to Sediminibacterium ginsengisoli DCY13T (96.9 % sequence similarity) and Sediminibacterium salmoneum NJ-44T (96.4 %). The major cellular fatty acids were iso-C15 : 1 G, iso-C15 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH and iso-C16 : 0 3-OH. Polar lipid analysis revealed the presence of phosphatidylethanolamine, five unidentified aminolipids, two unidentified aminophospholipids, one unidentified phospholipid and two unidentified polar lipids. The only respiratory quinone was MK-7. The DNA G+C content was 40.5 mol%. On the basis of the evidence presented in this study, strain HME7863T represents a novel species of the genus Sediminibacterium , for which the name Sediminibacterium goheungense sp. nov., is proposed. The type strain is HME7863T ( = KCTC 23945T = CECT 8100T).

Two facultatively anaerobic mesophilic bacteria, strains MEBiC 07026T and MEBiC 08903T, were isolated from two different tidal flat sediments and both strains showed approximately 92.2 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with [Cytophaga] fermentans DSM 9555T. 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity between the two new isolates was 97.5 % but levels of DNA–DNA relatedness between the two were 31.3–31.8 %. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the two isolates and [Cytophaga] fermentans DSM 9555T were affiliated with the family Marinilabiliaceae in the class Bacteroidia . The dominant fatty acids of strains MEBiC 07026T, MEBiC 08903T and [Cytophaga] fermentans DSM 9555T were branched-type or hydroxylated C15 : 0, but [Cytophaga] fermentans DSM 9555T contained a higher proportion of anteiso-branched fatty acids. The two new isolates contained a markedly higher proportion of monounsaturated fatty acids than other members of the family Marinilabiliaceae . The major respiratory quinone of the strains was MK-7. Strains MEBiC07026T and MEBiC08903T utilized a wide range of carboxylic acids whereas [Cytophaga] fermentans DSM 9555T utilized carbohydrates rather than carboxylic acids. The DNA G+C content of the novel strains was about 44 mol% but that of [Cytophaga] fermentans DSM 9555T revealed from the genome sequence was 37.6 mol%. Based on evidence from this polyphasic taxonomic study, a novel genus, Carboxylicivirga gen. nov., is proposed in the family Marinilabiliaceae with two novel species, Carboxylicivirga mesophila sp. nov. with type strain MEBiC 07026T ( = KCCM 42978T = JCM 18290T) and Carboxylicivirga taeanensis sp. nov. with type strain MEBiC 08903T ( = KCCM 43024T = JCM 19490T). Additionally, [Cytophaga] fermentans DSM 9555T ( = ATCC 19072T) is reclassified as Saccharicrinis fermentans gen. nov., comb. nov.

A thermophilic aerobic bacterium designated strain STH-1-Y1T was isolated from sulfur-turf in a Japanese hot spring (Okuhodaka hot spring, Gifu Pref.). Colonies of strain STH-1-Y1T were yellow and low convex morphology with a slightly irregular fringe. Cells were slender long rods, 0.4–0.6 µm wide and 1.2–3.0 µm long. The isolate was an obligate aerophilic organism, and could not grow by fermentation or nitrate respiration. The isolate had a thermophilic trait, and could grow at 35–60 °C and pH 5.5–7.5; maximum growth occurred at 55 °C and pH 7.0 with a doubling time of 1.9 h. The Biolog and API tests suggested that strain STH-1-Y1T was able to use various sugars such as glucose, lactose, mannose, maltose, trehalose, cellobiose and sucrose, but could not use sugar alcohols other than glycerol, i.e. adonitol, arabitol, erythritol, inositol, mannitol, sorbitol and xylitol. Lactate and glutamate could be used, but other fatty acids, i.e. acetate, citrate, propionate and succinate could not. Gelatin, casein, starch and glycogen were hydrolysed, but neither chitin nor agar was degraded. Cells lacked flexirubin and showed oxidase and catalase activities. The major respiratory quinone was menaquinone-7 (MK-7), and major cellular fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH, iso-C17 : 0 and anteiso-C15 : 0. No unsaturated fatty acids were detected. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain STH-1-Y1T was closely related to the family Chitinophagaceae within the phylum Bacteroidetes . However, the isolate was evenly distant from all members in this family with sequence similarities of 87–89 %. These significantly low sequence similarities strongly suggested that strain STH-1-Y1T represents a novel species in a new genus of the family Chitinophagaceae within the phylum Bacteroidetes . Based on phenotypic and phylogenetic characteristics, the name Crenotalea thermophila gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of the type species is STH-1-Y1T ( = JCM 11541T = DSM 14807T).

A Gram-staining-negative, rod-shaped, non-spore-forming bacterium, designated strain RG4-7T, was isolated from the moss Polytrichastrum formosum collected from Gawalong glacier in Tibet, China, and characterized by using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. The predominant fatty acids of strain RG4-7T were summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c), iso-C15 : 0 and iso-C17 : 0 3-OH. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, one unidentified aminophospholipid, one unidentified phospholipid, two unidentified aminolipids and one unidentified lipid. Strain RG4-7T contained MK-7 as the dominant menaquinone and the G+C content of its genomic DNA was 39.1 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain RG4-7T was affiliated to species of the genus Mucilaginibacter , and its closest relative was Mucilaginibacter jinjuensis YC7004T (97.0 % sequence similarity). However, the DNA–DNA relatedness between this strain and strain RG4-7T was only 49.1±3.7 %. Based on phylogenetic inference and phenotypic data, strain RG4-7T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Mucilaginibacter , for which the name Mucilaginibacter polytrichastri sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is RG4-7T ( = CGMCC 1.12493T = DSM 26907T). An emended description of the genus Mucilaginibacter is also proposed.

Two yellow-pigmented bacterial strains (100T and C26T), showing 98.4 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to each other and isolated from a chicken in Germany and as a contaminant from an agar plate of a rhizosphere sample in Alabama, were studied by using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. Cells of both isolates were rod-shaped and stained Gram-negative. A comparison of the 16S rRNA gene sequences of the two organisms with the sequences of the type strains of the most closely related species of the genus Chryseobacterium showed the highest sequence similarities of strains 100T and C26T to the type strains of Chryseobacterium joostei (respectively 97.5 and 98.2 %), C. viscerum (96.6, 97.8 %), C. gleum (97.1, 97.7 %), C. arthrosphaerae (97.3%, 97.7 %), C. indologenes (97.2, 97.7 %), C. tructae (96.6, 97.6 %), C. jejuense (97.0, 97.6 %) and C. oncorhynchi (96.3, 97.5 %); 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities to members of all other species of the genus Chryseobacterium were below 97.5 %. The fatty acid profiles of both strains consisted of the major fatty acids iso-C15 : 0, summed feature 3 (iso-C15 : 0 2-OH and/or C16 : 1ω7c), iso-C17 : 1ω9c and iso-C17 : 0 3-OH, but also showed slight differences (absence or presence of C16 : 0 3-OH and iso-C15 : 1 F). DNA–DNA hybridizations between the two strains and between the novel strains and the type strains of C. joostei , C. indologenes , C. jejuense , C. tructae and C. viscerum resulted in relatedness values clearly below 70 %. These DNA–DNA hybridization results and the differentiating biochemical and chemotaxonomic properties showed that both strains 100T and C26T represent novel species, for which the names Chryseobacterium gallinarum sp. nov. (type strain 100T = LMG 27808T = CCM 8493T) and Chryseobacterium contaminans sp. nov. (type strain C26T = LMG 27810T = CCM 8492T) are proposed.

A thermophilic, aerobic, Gram-stain-positive bacterium (strain PM5T), which formed mycelia of irregularly branched filaments and produced multiple exospores per cell, was isolated from a geothermally heated biofilm. Strain PM5T grew at 40–65 °C and pH 4.1–8.0, with optimal growth at 55 °C and pH 6.0. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain PM5T belonged to the class Ktedonobacteria , and was related most closely to Thermogemmatispora onikobensis ONI-1T (97.7 % similarity) and Thermogemmatispora foliorum ONI-5T (96.1 %). Morphological features and fatty acid profiles (major fatty acids: iso-C17 : 0, iso-C19 : 0 and 12,17-dimethyl C18 : 0) supported the affiliation of strain PM5T to the genus Thermogemmatispora . Strain PM5T oxidized carbon monoxide [CO; 10±1 nmol h−1 (mg protein)−1], but did not grow with CO as a sole carbon and energy source. Results from analyses of related strains indicated that the capacity for CO uptake occurred commonly among the members of the class Ktedonobacteria ; 13 of 14 strains tested consumed CO or harboured coxL genes that potentially enabled CO oxidation. The results of DNA–DNA hybridization and physiological and biochemical tests allowed the genotypic and phenotypic differentiation of strain PM5T from the two recognized species of the genus Thermogemmatispora . Strain PM5T differed from Thermogemmatispora onikobensis ONI-1T in its production of orange pigment, lower temperature optimum, hydrolysis of casein and starch, inability to grow with mannitol, xylose or rhamnose as sole carbon sources, and utilization of organic acids and amino acids. Strain PM5T is therefore considered to represent a novel species, for which the name Thermogemmatispora carboxidivorans sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is PM5T ( = DSM 45816T = ATCC BAA-2534T).

A novel yeast species was recovered from the fungus garden of the leaf-cutting ant Acromyrmex balzani (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). The growth of the novel yeast species is limited by its ability to metabolize only a few carbon and nitrogenous compounds. A remarkable characteristic of this strain is the vigorous growth in 1 % acetic acid. Sequence analysis of the D1/D2 domains of the LSU rRNA gene showed that the novel species belongs to the Starmerella clade and is phenotypically and genetically divergent from currently recognized species in this clade. Described here as Starmerella aceti f.a., sp. nov., it differs by 37 nucleotide substitutions in the D1/D2 region from Starmerella jinningensis CBS 11864T, the most closely related species. The type strain of Starmerella aceti sp. nov. is TO 125T ( = CBMAI 1594T = CBS 13086T).

According to the current versions of Rule 10a and Rule 12c of the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes, names of a genus or subgenus and specific epithets may be taken from any source and may even be composed in an arbitrary manner. Based on these rules, names may be composed of any word or any combination of elements derived from any language with a Latin ending. We propose modifying these rules by adding the text, currently part of Recommendation 6, according to which words from languages other than Latin or Greek should be avoided as long as equivalents exist in Latin or Greek or can be constructed by combining word elements from these two languages. We also propose modification of Rule 6 by adopting some of the current paragraphs of Recommendation 6 to become part of the Rule.