- Volume 64, Issue Pt_5, 2014

Two novel bacterial strains, GH2-4T and GH2-5, were isolated from mangrove soil near the seashore of Weno island in Chuuk state, Micronesia, and were characterized by a polyphasic approach. The two strains were strictly aerobic, Gram-staining-positive, motile, endospore-forming rods that were catalase- and oxidase-positive. Colonies were circular, convex, stringy and transparent yellowish (GH2-4T) or opaque whitish (GH2-5). The 16S rRNA gene sequences of the two isolates were identical. The most closely related strains in terms of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity were Bacillus kochii WCC 4582T, B. horneckiae DSM 23495T, B. azotoformans LMG 9581T, B. cohnii DSM 6307T and B. halmapalus DSM 8723T (95.6, 95.4, 95.4, 95.2 and 95.2 % similarity, respectively). The partial groEL sequence of strain GH2-4T was identical to that of strain GH2-5 and showed <85 % similarity to those of the most closely related strains. The isolates grew at pH 5–12 (optimal growth at pH 9), at 10–40 °C (optimum 30–35 °C) and at 0–9 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum 1–3 % NaCl). The cell-wall peptidoglycan of strains GH2-4T and GH2-5 contained meso-diaminopimelic acid and cell-wall hydrolysates contained ribose as a major sugar. The DNA G+C content was 36 mol%, and DNA–DNA relatedness between the isolates and five related reference strains was 20–24 %. Strain GH2-4T exhibited 81 % DNA–DNA relatedness with strain GH2-5. The major cellular fatty acids of both strains were iso-C15 : 0, iso-C16 : 0, iso-C14 : 0 and anteiso-C15 : 0 and the predominant menaquinone was MK-7. On the basis of the evidence from this polyphasic study, strains GH2-4T and GH2-5 ( = KCTC 33143 = JCM 18995 = DSM 27084) represent a novel species of the genus Bacillus , for which the name Bacillus solimangrovi sp. nov. is proposed; the type strain is GH2-4T ( = KCTC 33142T = JCM 18994T = DSM 27083T).

Two Gram-staining-positive, rod-shaped and endospore-forming bacteria that represent a single species, designated strains GD05T and GD051, were isolated from a tropical forest soil and a hot spring sediment, respectively. Cells of both strains were facultatively anaerobic, catalase- and oxidase-positive, and could grow optimally at 50 °C, pH 8.0 and with 1 % (w/v) NaCl. Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that these two isolates belonged to the family Bacillaceae , but did not show sequence similarities of more than 95 % to members of other related genera. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 43.7–44.1 mol%. The major cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 0, iso-C16 : 0 and anteiso-C17 : 0. The main polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylglycerol, and the major menaquinone was MK-7. The peptidoglycan type was A1γ (meso-diaminopimelic acid direct). On the basis of this polyphasic taxonomic analysis, the novel strains represent a novel species of a new genus in the family Bacillaceae , order Bacillales , for which the name Sinibacillus soli gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is GD05T ( = CCTCC AB 2013105T = KCTC 33117T).

A Gram-staining-positive, aerobic, motile, endospore-forming, rod-shaped bacterium, designated GD04T, was isolated from a saline soil sample taken in southern China and was characterized by means of a polyphasic approach. Growth occurred with 0.5–12 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum 1–2 %) and at pH 7.0–9.5 (optimum pH 8.0) and 10–45 °C (optimum 30 °C). According to the results of a phylogenetic analysis, strain GD04T belonged to the genus Ornithinibacillus , and was related most closely to type strains of the species Ornithinibacillus bavariensis and Ornithinibacillus contaminans (96.5 and 96.5 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities, respectively). The peptidoglycan amino acid type was A4β, containing l-ornithine and d-aspartic acid. The major respiratory quinone was menaquinone-7 (MK-7). The polar lipid profile of strain GD04T contained predominantly diphosphatidylglycerol with moderate amounts of phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, an unknown phospholipid and an unknown lipid, and a minor amount of another unknown lipid. The G+C content of genomic DNA was 39.3 mol%. The dominant cellular fatty acids were iso-C16 : 0, iso-C15 : 0 and anteiso-C15 : 0. The phenotypic, chemotaxonomic, phylogenetic and genotypic data indicated that strain GD04T represents a novel species of the genus Ornithinibacillus , for which the name Ornithinibacillus halotolerans sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is GD04T ( = KCTC 33116T = CGMCC 1.12408T).

An alkaliphilic and halotolerant Gram-stain-positive bacterium, which was isolated from sediment samples from the South China Sea, was subjected to a taxonomic study. The isolate, strain L1T, grew well at a wide range of temperatures and pH values, 10.0–45.0 °C and pH 6–11, with optima at 30 °C and pH 9.0, respectively. The growth of strain L1T occurred at total salt concentrations of 0–10 % (w/v) with an optimum at 2 % (w/v). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA sequence comparison indicated that the isolate represented a member of the genus Bacillus . The strains most closely related to strain L1T were Bacillus nanhaiisediminis JCM 16507T, Bacillus halodurans DSM 497T and Bacillus pseudofirmus DSM 8715T, with 16S rRNA similarities of 96.5 %, 95.9 % and 95.7 %, respectively. DNA–DNA hybridization of strain L1T with the type strains of the most closely related species, B. nanhaiisediminis JCM 16507T, B. halodurans DSM 497T and B. pseudofirmus DSM 8715T, showed reassociation values of about 21.7 %, 14.3 % and 13.9 %, respectively. The DNA G+C content of strain L1 T was 40.76 mol%. The predominant isoprenoid quinone was menaquinone 7 (MK-7). The cell-wall peptidoglycan contained meso-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid. The predominant cellular fatty acids of strain L1T were iso-C14 : 0 and anteiso-C15 : 0. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol. Based on the phenotypic and phylogenetic characteristics, it is proposed that strain L1T ( = JCM 18543T = DSM 26145T) should be classified as the type strain of Bacillus ligniniphilus sp. nov.

A novel, Gram-stain-positive bacterium, designated strain EX-07T, was isolated from seujeot (Korean traditional food). The strain was aerobic, halotolerant and non-motile; it formed cocci that grouped into tetrads and sarcinae or formed irregular conglomerates. Growth occurred at pH 7–9, at 10–37 °C and with up to 9 % NaCl. Isolate EX-07T was catalase- and oxidase-negative and used sugars and organic acids as carbon sources. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of the novel strain showed 94.2–94.5 % similarity with the type strains of Trichococcus pasteurii , Trichococcus patagoniensis , Trichococcus collinsii , Trichococcus flocculiformis and Trichococcus palustris and only 92.2 % with representatives of the genera Bavariicoccus , Carnobacterium and Granulicatella . Sequence similarities based on the groEL gene ranged from 81.3 to 82.8 % between the novel isolate and the type strains of all species of the genus Trichococcus , and only 74.2 and 75.3 % with type strains of members of the genera Bavariicoccus and Granulicatella , respectively. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 39.6 mol%. The predominant fatty acids were C16 : 1ω9c, C18 : 1ω9c, C16 : 0 and C14 : 0. The polar lipid profile was very complex and included phosphatidylethanolamine and several unidentified aminolipids, glycolipids and phospholipids. Based on the genotypic and phenotypic results obtained in this study, it is proposed that isolate EX-07T represents a novel species of a new genus in the family Carnobacteriaceae for which the name Jeotgalibaca dankookensis gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Jeotgalibaca dankookensis is EX-07T ( = KCCM 90229T = JCM 19215T).

An anaerobic, spore-forming, ethanol-hydrogen-coproducing bacterium, designated LX-BT, was isolated from an anaerobic sludge treating herbicide wastewater. Cells of strain LX-BT were non-motile rods (0.3–0.5×3.0–18.0 µm). Spores were terminal with a bulged sporangium. Growth occurred at 20–50 °C (optimum 37–45 °C), pH 5.0–8.0 (optimum pH 6.0–7.7) and 0–2.5 % (w/v) NaCl. The strain could grow fermentatively on glucose, maltose, arabinose, fructose, xylose, ribose, galactose, mannose, raffinose, sucrose, pectin, starch, glycerol, fumarate, tryptone and yeast extract. The major end-products of glucose fermentation were acetate, ethanol and hydrogen. Yeast extract was not required but stimulated growth. Nitrate, sulfate, thiosulfate, elemental sulfur, sulfite, anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonate, fumarate and Fe (III) nitrilotriacetate were not used as terminal electron acceptors. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 56.1 mol%. The major cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C14 : 0 and C16 : 0. The most abundant polar lipids of strain LX-BT were diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylglycerol. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that it belongs to an as-yet-unidentified taxon at the order- or class-level (OPB54) within the phylum Firmicutes , showing 86.5 % sequence similarity to previously described species of the Desulfotomaculum cluster. The name Hydrogenispora ethanolica gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed to accommodate strain LX-BT ( = DSM 25471T = JCM 18117T = CGMCC 1.5175T) as the type strain.

A novel bacterial strain designated P-1T was isolated from the trunk surface of a Japanese oak (Quercus crispula) growing in the Shirakami Mountains in Japan. Cells of strain P-1T were Gram-stain-negative, ellipsoidal endospore-forming, aerobic, slightly acidophilic rods, 0.8×2–5 µm, and motile by means of peritrichous flagella. Various carbohydrates could be used as growth substrates, but none of the organic acids tested were used. The major cellular fatty acid was anteiso-C15 : 0, which accounted for 64.2 % of the total fatty acids. The major respiratory quinone was menaquinone 7 (MK-7). Strain P-1T contained phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine, four unidentified aminolipids, an unidentified phospholipid and two unidentified polar lipids. Strain P-1T shared the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with Paenibacillus pini S22T (96.6 %), followed by Paenibacillus chibensis JCM 9905T (96.1 %) and Paenibacillus anaericanus MH21T (95.9 %). The DNA G+C content was 43.9 mol%. These data indicate that strain P-1T represents a novel species within the genus Paenibacillus , for which we propose the name Paenibacillus shirakamiensis sp. nov. The type strain is P-1T (NBRC 109471T = DSM 26806T = KCTC 33126T = CIP 110571T).

A polyphasic study was undertaken to clarify the taxonomic position of Streptococcus phocae strains isolated from Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) cage-farmed in Chile. Four salmon and three seal isolates showed minor differences in the SDS-PAGE protein analysis. Thus, a major protein band present in the salmon isolates, of approximately 22.4 kDa, was absent in the pinniped strains, regardless of the growth media employed. In addition, the pinniped strains showed protein bands with molecular masses of 71.5 and 14.2 kDa, when grown on trypticase soy agar supplemented with 1 % NaCl, or 25.6 kDa, when grown on Columbia blood agar, not present in the Atlantic salmon strains. A high similarity in the matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) MS spectra of the strains was observed, although some minor peaks were absent in the fish isolates. Fatty acid methyl esters from isolates with different host origin significantly (P<0.05) differed in the content of C16 : 0, C17 : 0, C18 : 1ω9c, C20 : 4ω6,9,12,15c and summed features 3, 5 and 8. The salmon isolates formed a separate cluster in the phylogenetic analysis of housekeeping genes, separately or as concatenated sequences. Sequence divergences among salmon and seal strains were in the range of inter-subspecies differentiation for groEL (2.5 %), gyrB (1.8 %), recN (2.1 %), rpoB (1.7 %) and sodA (2.0 %) genes. DNA–DNA hybridization results confirmed those of sequencing, showing reassociation values between seal and salmon strains close to the borderline of species definition. Differences in growth at low temperatures and in the haemolytic capacities were also observed between both groups of isolates. On the basis of all these results, the salmon isolates represent a novel subspecies of S. phocae , for which the name Streptococcus phocae subsp. salmonis subsp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is C-4T ( = CECT 7921T = DSM 24768T). The subspecies Streptococcus phocae subsp. phocae subsp. nov. is automatically created. An emended description of S. phocae is also provided.

A Gram-staining-positive, aerobic, non-endospore forming organism, isolated as a seed endophyte (colonizing the internal healthy tissue of plant seed) of sweet corn (Zea mays), strain CSE-5610T, was studied for its taxonomic allocation. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons, strain CSE-5610T was grouped into the genus Cohnella , most closely related to Cohnella ginsengisoli GR21-5T (98.1 %) and ‘Cohnella plantaginis’ YN-83 (97.5 %). The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to other members of the genus Cohnella was <96.6 %. DNA–DNA hybridization of strain CSE-5610T with C. ginsengisoli DSM 18997T and ‘C. plantaginis’ DSM 25424 was 58 % (reciprocal 24 %) and 30 % (reciprocal 27 %), respectively. The fatty acid profile from whole cell hydrolysates supported the allocation of the strain to the genus Cohnella ; iso- and anteiso-branched fatty acids were found as major compounds. meso-Diaminopimelic acid was identified as the cell-wall diamino acid. The quinone system consisted predominantly of menaquinone MK-7. The polar lipid profile was composed of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, two aminophospholipids, a phospholipid and minor amounts of two polar lipids. In the polyamine pattern, spermidine was the major polyamine. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 60 mol%. In addition, the results of physiological and biochemical tests also allowed phenotypic differentiation of strain CSE-5610T from the two closely related strains. Hence, CSE-5610T represents a novel species of the genus Cohnella , for which we propose the name Cohnella rhizosphaerae sp. nov., with CSE-5610T ( = LMG 28080T = CIP 110695T) as the type strain.

A Gram-stain-negative, non-spore-forming, motile, strictly aerobic bacterial strain, designated CAU 1294T, was isolated from a sand sample and its taxonomic position was investigated using a polyphasic approach. The strain grew optimally at pH 6.5 and 30 °C and in the presence of 2 % (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain CAU 1294T formed a lineage with member of the genus Sneathiella and exhibited similarity to Sneathiella glossodoripedis MKT133T (96.3 % similarity) and Sneathiella chinensis LMG 23452T (95.1 % similarity). Strain CAU 1294T contained Q-10 as the predominant respiratory quinone. C18 : 1ω7c, C16 : 0 and cyclo-C19 : 0ω8c were the major cellular fatty acids. The polar lipids were composed of phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylmethylethanolamine and two unidentified phospholipids. The DNA G+C content was 56.6 mol%. On the basis of these results, strain CAU 1294T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Sneathiella , for which the name Sneathiella chungangensis is proposed. The type strain is CAU 1294T ( = KCTC 32476T = CECT 8513T). An emended description of the genus Sneathiella is also proposed.

Three microbial strains isolated from common beans, 23C2T (Tunisia), Gr42 (Spain) and IE4868 (Mexico), which have been identified previously as representing a genomic group closely related to Rhizobium gallicum , are further studied here. Their 16S rRNA genes showed 98.5–99 % similarity with Rhizobium loessense CCBAU 7190BT, R. gallicum R602spT, Rhizobium mongolense USDA 1844T and Rhizobium yanglingense CCBAU 71623T. Phylogenetic analysis based on recA, atpD, dnaK and thrC sequences showed that the novel strains were closely related and could be distinguished from the four type strains of the closely related species. Strains 23C2T, Gr42 and IE4868 could be also differentiated from their closest phylogenetic neighbours by their phenotypic and physiological properties and their fatty acid contents. All three strains harboured symbiotic genes specific to biovar gallicum. Levels of DNA–DNA relatedness between strain 23C2T and the type strains of R. loessense , R. mongolense , R. gallicum and R. yanglingense ranged from 58.1 to 61.5 %. The DNA G+C content of the genomic DNA of strain 23C2T was 59.52 %. On the basis of these data, strains 23C2T, Gr42 and IE4868 were considered to represent a novel species of the genus Rhizobium for which the name Rhizobium azibense is proposed. Strain 23C2T ( = CCBAU 101087T = HAMBI3541T) was designated as the type strain.

A bacterial strain, HITLi 7T, with nitrifying ability was isolated from the surface water of the Songhua River in China. Cells were Gram-stain-negative, strictly aerobic, oxidase-negative, non-motile coccobacilli, capable of growth in mineral media with acetate as the sole carbon source and ammonia as the sole source of nitrogen. The cells did not grow at 37 °C, but did grow at 2 °C. The DNA G+C content was 45.5 mol%. Results of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated a close relationship between this isolate and Acinetobacter lwoffii (98.4 % similarity for strain DSM 2403T). rpoB and gyrB gene sequences did not show significant similarity with those from other species of the genus Acinetobacter . Predominant cellular fatty acids were 9-octadecenoic acid (C18 : 1ω9c) and summed feature 4 (iso-C15 : 0 2-OH and/or C16 : 1ω7c). Acid was not produced from d-glucose, and gelatin was not hydrolysed by the isolate. Genotypic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic data from this study indicate that the isolate should be classified as a representative of a novel species of the genus Acinetobacter . The name Acinetobacter harbinensis sp. nov. is proposed for the novel species, with HITLi 7T ( = CGMCC 1.12528T = KCTC 32411T) as the type strain.

The bacterial symbionts SF41T and SF783 were isolated from populations of the insect pathogenic nematode Heterorhabditis zealandica collected in South Africa. Both strains were closely related to strain Q614 isolated from a population of Heterorhabditis sp. collected from soil in Australia in the 1980s. Sequence analysis based on a multigene approach, DNA–DNA hybridization data and phenotypic traits showed that strains SF41T, SF783 and Q614 belong to the same species of the genus Photorhabdus with Photorhabdus temperata subsp. cinerea as the most closely related taxon (DNA–DNA hybridization value of 68 %). Moreover, the phylogenetic position of Photorhabdus temperata subsp. cinerea DSM 19724T initially determined using the gyrB sequences, was reconsidered in the light of the data obtained by our multigene approach and DNA–DNA hybridization experiments. Strains SF41T, SF783 and Q614 represent a novel species of the genus Photorhabdus , for which the name Photorhabdus heterorhabditis sp. nov. is proposed (type strain SF41T = ATCC BAA-2479T = DSM 25263T).

A Gram-stain-negative bacterium, strain 5410S-62T, was isolated from an air sample collected in Suwon, Republic of Korea. It was aerobic, motile, mesophilic and formed rod-shaped cells. Colonies on R2A agar were convex, circular and pale orange with entire margins. Growth occurred at pH 5–9 (optimally at pH 7) and at 10–40 °C (optimally at 28 °C). It did not grow in the presence of 1 % NaCl. Comparative analyses of 16S rRNA gene sequences demonstrated that the novel strain was closely related to members of the genus Noviherbaspirillum . Strain 5410S-62T showed the highest sequence similarity (98.2 %) to Glaciimonas singularis A2-57T. It also showed high 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity (98.1–95.6 %) to members of the genus Noviherbaspirillum (98.1 % to Noviherbaspirillum aurantiacum SUEMI08T, 97.8 % to Noviherbaspirillum soli SUEMI10T and Noviherbaspirillum canariense SUEMI03T, 97.6 % to Noviherbaspirillum psychrotolerans PB1T and 95.6 % to Noviherbaspirillum malthae CC-AFH3T). The strain contained summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω6c and/or C16 : 1ω7c), C16 : 0 and summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω6c and/or C18 : 1ω7c) as major fatty acids, Q-8 as the only ubiquinone and large amounts of phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylglycerol. Strain 5410S-62T revealed less than 70 % DNA–DNA relatedness with the type strains of closely related species of the genera Noviherbaspirillum and Herbaspirillum and Glaciimonas singularis . Based on the physiological, biochemical and chemotaxonomic data obtained in this study, it is proposed that strain 5410S-62T represents a novel species, Noviherbaspirillum suwonense sp. nov., with 5410S-62T ( = KACC 16657T =  NBRC 108944T) as the type strain.

A Gram-reaction-negative, aerobic, non-flagellated, rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain SM1211T, was isolated from Antarctic seawater. The isolate grew at 4–35 °C and with 0–10 % (w/v) NaCl. It could produce bacteriochlorophyll a, but did not reduce nitrate to nitrite or hydrolyse DNA. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain SM1211T constituted a distinct phylogenetic line within the family Rhodobacteraceae and was closely related to species in the genera Litorimicrobium , Leisingera , Seohaeicola and Phaeobacter with 95.1–96.0 % similarities. The predominant cellular fatty acid was C18 : 1ω7c. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, an unidentified aminolipid and two unidentified phospholipids. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain SM1211T was 60.7 mol%. Based on the phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic and phenotypic data obtained in this study, strain SM1211T is considered to represent a novel species in a new genus within the family Rhodobacteraceae , for which the name Puniceibacterium antarcticum gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Puniceibacterium antarcticum is SM1211T ( = CCTCC AB 2013147T = KACC 16875T).

A novel facultatively autotrophic bacterium, strain BSN1T was isolated from sediment of a freshwater lake in Japan. The cells were rod-shaped, motile and Gram-stain-negative. As sole energy sources for autotrophic growth, the strain oxidized thiosulfate, elemental sulfur and hydrogen. Strain BSN1T was a facultative anaerobe utilizing nitrate as an electron acceptor. Growth was observed at temperatures lower than 34 °C, and the optimum growth was observed at 30–32 °C. The range of pH for growth was pH 6.8–8.8, and the optimum pH was pH 7.8–8.1. The optimum growth of the isolate occurred at concentrations of NaCl less than 50 mM. The G+C content of genomic DNA was 67 mol%. The major component in the fatty acid profile of strain BSN1T grown on fumarate was summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or iso-C15 : 0 2-OH). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the strain was a member of the class Betaproteobacteria , and it showed the highest sequence similarity with Georgfuchsia toluolica G5G6T (96.2 %). Phylogenetic analyses were also performed on genes involved in sulfur oxidation. On the basis of its phylogenetic and phenotypic properties, strain BSN1T ( = DSM 26916T = NBRC 109412T) is proposed as the type strain of a novel species of a novel genus, Sulfurisoma sediminicola gen. nov., sp. nov.

The taxonomic position of the bivalve pathogen PP-203T was studied together with those of two similar isolates (PP-200 and PP-204). The bacterial strains were isolated from samples of young oyster spat in a bivalve hatchery in Galicia (NW Spain), which was continually affected by outbreaks of disease and severe mortalities. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequencing, the three strains formed a cluster within the genus Vibrio and were most closely related to Vibrio pectenicida DSM 19585T (97.9 % similarity). Additional multilocus sequence analysis, including sequences of the housekeeping genes rpoA, recA, pyrH, gyrB and ftsZ, and DNA–DNA hybridization experiments indicated that the strains were distinct from currently known species of the genus Vibrio and confirmed the clustering of the three isolates. Several phenotypic features, such as growth in TCBS medium and nitrate reduction, proved useful for distinguishing the proposed novel species from its closest relatives. The findings support the description of a novel species to include the three isolates, for which the name Vibrio ostreicida sp. nov. (type strain PP-203T = CECT 7398T = DSM 21433T) is proposed.

A moderately halophilic bacterium (strain NEAU-ST10-39T) was isolated from saline and alkaline soils in the oilfield of Daqing City, Heilongjiang Province, China. The strain was strictly aerobic, Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped and motile by peritrichous flagella. Its colonies were yellow. It grew at NaCl concentrations of 0.2–15 % (w/v) (optimum 4 %, w/v), at temperatures of 4–40 °C (optimum 35 °C) and at pH 5–10 (optimum pH 7). It did not produce acids from sugars or alcohols. Its DNA G+C content was 57.4 mol%. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences and concatenated 16S rRNA, gyrB and rpoD gene sequences indicated that it belonged to the genus Halomonas in the class Gammaproteobacteria . The most phylogenetically related species were Halomonas axialensis , Halomonas meridiana and Halomonas aquamarina , whose types shared 98.3 % (16S rRNA), 82.7 % (gyrB) and 83.9–84.5 % (rpoD) sequence similarity with strain NEAU-ST10-39T. The results of DNA–DNA hybridization assays showed 20±2 %–50±1 % relatedness between strain NEAU-ST10-39T and the most closely related species including Halomonas axialensis DSM 15723T, Halomonas meridiana DSM 5425T, Halomonas aquamarina DSM 30161T, Halomonas johnsoniae DSM 21197T, Halomonas stevensii DSM 21198T, Halomonas nanhaiensis CCTCC AB 2012911T, Halomonas hamiltonii DSM 21196T and Halomonas arcis CGMCC 1.6494T. The major fatty acids were C18 : 1ω7c (47.2 %), C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c (18.9 %) and C16 : 0 (16.3 %), the only respiratory quinone detected was ubiquinone 9 and polar lipids consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, two unknown phospholipids and three unknown lipids. The new isolate is proposed to represent a novel species with the name Halomonas songnenensis sp. nov., NEAU-ST10-39T ( = CGMCC 1.12152T = DSM 25870T) being the type strain.

Gluconacetobacter kakiaceti , Gluconacetobacter medellinensis and Gluconacetobacter maltaceti are transferred to the genus Komagataeibacter as Komagataeibacter kakiaceti comb. nov. (type strain, G5-1T = JCM 25156T = NRIC 0798T = LMG 26206T), Komagataeibacter medellinensis comb. nov. (type strain, LMG 1693T = NBRC 3288T = Kondo 51T) and Komagataeibacter maltaceti comb. nov. (type strain, LMG 1529T = NBRC 14815T = NCIMB 8752T).