- Volume 64, Issue Pt_7, 2014

Biochemical and molecular genetic studies were performed on four unknown Gram-stain-positive, catalase-negative, coccus-shaped organisms isolated from tonsils (n = 3) and nasal samples (n = 1) of four wild rabbits. The micro-organism was identified as a streptococcal species based on its cellular morphological and biochemical tests. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequencing confirmed its identification as a member of the genus Streptococcus , but the organism did not correspond to any recognized species of this genus. The closest phylogenetic relative of the unknown cocci from wild rabbits was Streptococcus acidominimus NCIMB 702025T (97.9 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity). rpoB and sodA sequence analysis of the novel isolate showed interspecies divergence of 16.2 % and 20.3 %, respectively, from the type strain of its closest 16S rRNA gene phylogenetic relative, S. acidominimus . The novel bacterial isolate could be distinguished from the type strain of S. acidominimus by several biochemical characteristics, such as the production of esterase C4, acid phosphatase and naphthol-AS-BI-phosphohydrolase and acidification of different sugars. Based on both phenotypic and phylogenetic findings, it is proposed that the unknown bacterium be classified as a novel species of the genus Streptococcus , Streptococcus cuniculi sp. nov. The type strain is NED12-00049-6BT ( = CECT 8498T = CCUG 65085T).

A novel bacterial strain, designated CJ29T, was isolated from ginseng soil of Anseong in South Korea. Cells of strain CJ29T were Gram-stain-negative, facultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped and non-motile. Strain CJ29T grew optimally at 28–30 °C and pH 7.0. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain CJ29T was shown to belong to the genus Lysobacter within the class Gammaproteobacteria and was related most closely to Lysobacter soli DCY21T (98.5 % similarity) and Lysobacter niastensis GH41-7T (98.2 %). DNA–DNA relatedness between strain CJ29T and its closest relatives was below 55.6 %. The predominant cellular fatty acids of strain CJ29T were iso-C15 : 0, iso-C16 : 0 and iso-C17 : 1ω9c. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol. The major isoprenoid quinone was ubiquinone 8 (Q-8). The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 65.6 mol%. Phenotypic, genotypic and phylogenetic characteristics strongly supported the differentiation of strain CJ29T from related species of the genus Lysobacter . On the basis of data from this polyphasic taxonomic study, strain CJ29T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Lysobacter , for which the name Lysobacter panacisoli sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CJ29T ( = KACC 17502T = JCM 19212T).

A Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped, phototrophic bacterium, strain JA793T, was isolated from rhizosphere soil of paddy. The strain was capable of growing phototrophically and chemotrophically. Bacteriochlorophyll-a and carotenoids of the spirilloxanthin series were present as photosynthetic pigments. The major fatty acid of strain JA793T was C18 : 1ω7c/C18 : 1ω6c (>65.7 %), with minor amounts of C16 : 0, C16 : 1ω7c/C16 : 1ω6c, C20 : 2ω6,9c, C16 : 0 3-OH, C14 : 0 and C18 : 0 also present. Ubiquinone-10 and rhodoquinone-10 were present as primary quinones. Phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylcholine were the major polar lipids, while minor amounts of amino lipids and unidentified lipids were also present. The G+C content of genomic DNA of strain JA793T was 68.7 mol%. 16S rRNA gene-based EzTaxon-e blast search analysis of strain JA793T indicated highest sequence similarity with members of the genus Rhodoplanes in the family Hyphomicrobiaceae of the class Alphaproteobacteria . Strain JA793T had high sequence similarity with Rhodoplanes elegans AS130T (98.6 %), Rhodoplanes roseus 941T (98 %), Rhodoplanes pokkaliisoli JA415T (97.5 %) and Rhodoplanes piscinae JA266T (97.3 %) and other members of the genus Rhodoplanes (<97 %). However, strain JA266T was related by <59 % (based on DNA–DNA hybridization) to Rhodoplanes elegans DSM 11907T ( = AS130T), Rhodoplanes roseus DSM 5909T ( = 941T), Rhodoplanes pokkaliisoli JA415T and Rhodoplanes piscinae JA266T. The genomic information was well supported by phenotypic and chemotaxonomic data to classify strain JA793T as a representative of a novel species in the genus Rhodoplanes , for which the name Rhodoplanes oryzae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JA793T ( = NBRC 109406T = KCTC 15260T).

A Gram-negative, moderately halophilic, strictly aerobic strain, designated YIM 95345T, was isolated from a soil sample of a hypersaline mine in Yunnan province, PR China, and subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic study. Strain YIM 95345T grew at 15–45 °C (optimum 30–35 °C), 3.0–23.0 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum 10.0–11.0 %, w/v) and pH 6.0–9.0 (optimum pH 7.0–8.0). Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that the organism belongs to the genus Aquisalimonas and exhibited sequence similarity of 96.6 % to the sole type strain Aquisalimonas asiatica CG12T. The predominant isoprenoid quinone was Q-8 and the major fatty acids were C16 : 0, C19 : 0 cyclo ω8c and C18 : 1ω7c. The polar lipids consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, three aminolipids and three unidentified phospholipids. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 59.4 mol%. Based on the results of our comparative phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic and physiological analyses, the new isolate is assigned to a novel species of the genus Aquisalimonas , for which the name Aquisalimonas halophila sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain YIM 95345T ( = DSM 25902T = CCTCC AB 2012043T).

Strain JC216T was isolated from a contaminated Petri dish. Colonies were of pale yellow colour and cells were Gram-stain-negative, oxidase-positive and catalase-positive. Chitin, starch and gelatin were not hydrolysed. Strain JC216T contained C18 : 1ω7c/C18 : 1ω6c, C16 : 1ω7c/C16 : 1ω6c, C14 : 0 2-OH and C16 : 0 as the major (≥8 %) fatty acids with minor amounts of C12 : 0, C15 : 0 2-OH, C16 : 0 2-OH, C16  : 1 2-OH, C17 : 1ω6c, C17 : 1ω8c and C17 : 1ω9c. Diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine and sphingoglycolipid were the major polar lipids. Minor amounts of unidentified amino lipids and unidentified lipids were also detected. The major hopanoids identified were bacterial hopane derivatives and diplopterol. Minor amounts of diploptene and an unidentified hopanoid were also present. Spermidine was the major polyamine with minor amounts of sym-homospermidine and putrescine. N-Acetylglucosamine and fructose were identified as major cell-wall sugars along with minor amounts of mannose and galactose. The genomic DNA G+C content was 55 mol%. Comparisons of the16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that strain JC216T represents a member of the genus Sphingopyxis in the family Sphingomonadaceae within the class Alphaproteobacteria . Strain JC216T had a sequence similarity of 97.28 % with Sphingopyxis wooponensis 03SU3-PT and <96.71 % with other members of the family Sphingomonadaceae . Furthermore, strain JC216T had 33±1 % relatedness (based on DNA–DNA hybridization) with S. wooponensis KCTC 23340T ( = 03SU3-PT). Distinct morphological, physiological and genotypic differences from the previously described taxa support the classification of strain JC216T as a representative of a novel species in the genus Sphingopyxis , for which the name Sphingopyxis contaminans sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JC216T ( = KCTC 32445T = LMG 27671T).

A Gram-stain-negative, facultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped, motile bacterium with a subpolar or lateral flagellum, designated strain XH089T, was isolated from deep-sea sediment sample collected from the South Pacific Gyre (41°51′ S 153°06′ W) during the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) Expedition 329. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain XH089T belonged to the genus Achromobacter and showed the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities with Achromobacter ruhlandii ATCC 15749T (96.95 %), Achromobacter denitrificans DSM 30026T (96.70 %) and Achromobacter marplatensis B2T (96.66 %). The DNA G+C content of strain XH089T was 66.5 mol%. The major fatty acids were C16 : 0 and C17 : 0 cyclo. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, three unknown phospholipids and four unknown polar lipids. On the basis of data from the polyphasic analysis, strain XH089T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Achromobacter , for which the name Achromobacter sediminum sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is XH089T ( = DSM 27279T = JCM 19223T).

Pectinolytic Gram-negative bacteria were isolated from different waterways in the UK and Finland. Three strains (174/2T, 181/2 and Dw054) had the same 16S rRNA gene sequences which shared 99 % sequence similarity to species of the genus Dickeya , and a phylogeny of related genera confirmed attribution to this genus. Fatty acid profile analysis of all three strains found a high proportion of C16 : 1ω7c/C16 : 1ω7c and C16 : 0 fatty acids, and library profile searches found closest matches to Dickeya chrysanthemi . Production of a concatenated phylogeny using six loci, recA, gapA, atpD, gyrB, infB and rpoB, provided a high-resolution phylogeny which placed strains 174/2T and 181/2 as a distinct clade, separated from the other species of the genus Dickeya by a relatively long branch-length. DNA–DNA hybridization analysis with a limited number of reference species also supported the distinctiveness of strains 174/2T and 181/2 within the genus Dickeya . All three strains could be phenotypically distinguished from other species of the genus by fermentation of melibiose and raffinose but not d-arabinose or mannitol. The name Dickeya aquatica sp. nov. is proposed for the new taxon; the type strain is 174/2T ( = NCPPB 4580T = LMG 27354T).

A novel bacterium, designated strain WP70T, was isolated from the gut of a comb pen shell (Atrina pectinata) collected from the southern sea of Yeosu in Korea. The isolate was Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, non-motile and rod-shaped. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain WP70T belonged to the genus Endozoicomonas . The highest level of sequence similarity (98.4 %) was shared with Endozoicomonas elysicola MKT110T. Optimal growth occurred in 2 % (w/v) NaCl at 30 °C and at pH 7. The major cellular fatty acids were summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c), summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c) and C16 : 0. The main respiratory quinone was Q-9. The polar lipids comprised phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, three unidentified phospholipids, an unidentified aminolipid, an unidentified aminophospholipid and an unidentified lipid. The genomic DNA G+C content was 50.5 mol% and DNA–DNA hybridization values indicated <11 % genomic relatedness to the closest species. Physiological, biochemical, chemotaxonomic and genotypic analyses indicated that strain WP70T represents a novel species of the genus Endozoicomonas , for which the name Endozoicomonas atrinae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is WP70T ( = KACC 17474T = JCM 19190T).

A yellow-pigmented, Gram-stain-negative, strictly aerobic, rod-shaped, round-ended bacterium, designated strain 18-11HKT, was isolated from a phosphate mine situated in the suburb of Kunming in Yunnan province in south-western China. The taxonomic status of this strain was evaluated by using a polyphasic approach. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, strain 18-11HKT was shown to belong to the genus Novosphingobium , showing the highest levels of sequence similarity with respect to ‘Novosphingobium ginsenosidimutans’ FW-6 (97.2 %), Novosphingobium subterraneum DSM 12447T (96.7 %), Novosphingobium aromaticivorans DSM 12444T (96.7 %) and Novosphingobium tardaugens DSM 16702T (96.3 %). Strain 18-11HKT had a genomic DNA G+C content of 65.3 mol% and Q-10 as the predominant respiratory quinone. DNA–DNA hybridizations of strain 18-11HKT with N. subterraneum DSM 12447T, N. aromaticivorans DSM 12444T and N. tardaugens DSM 16702T showed low relatedness values of 29.6, 33.5 and 32.3 %, respectively. The predominant fatty acids of strain 18-11HKT were summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c), summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c) and C16 : 0, and the major 2-hydroxy fatty acid was C14 : 0 2-OH. The polar lipid profile revealed the presence of sphingoglycolipid, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine and some unidentified lipids. On the basis of its phenotypic properties and phylogenetic distinctiveness, strain 18-11HKT represents a novel species of the genus Novosphingobium , for which the name Novosphingobium kunmingense sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 18-11HKT ( = CGMCC 1.12274T = DSM 25975T).

Two Gram-staining-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped, non-spore-forming bacterial strains that are motile by a monopolar flagellum, designated CC-AMH-11T and CC-AMHZ-5, were isolated from droppings of a seashore bird off the coast of Hualien, Taiwan. The strains showed 99.7 % mutual pairwise 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, while exhibiting <96.2 % sequence similarity to strains of other species of the genus Pseudomonas (95.7–95.9 % similarity with type species, Pseudomonas aeruginosa LMG 1242T), and formed a distinct co-phyletic lineage in the phylogenetic trees. The common major fatty acids (>5 % of the total) were C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c (summed feature 8), C16 : 1ω6c and/or C16 : 1ω7c (summed feature 3), C16 : 0 and C12 : 0. Phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylserine, an unidentified lipid and an unidentified phospholipid were detected as common polar lipids. The DNA G+C contents of strains CC-AMH-11T and CC-AMHZ-5 were 61.1 and 61.6 mol%, respectively. The common major respiratory quinone was ubiquinone 9 (Q-9), and the predominant polyamine was putrescine. The DNA–DNA hybridization obtained between the two strains was 79.0 % (reciprocal value 89.4 % using CC-AMHZ-5 DNA as the probe). The very high 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity and DNA–DNA relatedness and the poorly distinguishable phenotypic features witnessed between CC-AMH-11T and CC-AMHZ-5 suggested unambiguously that they are two distinct strains of a single genomic species. However, the strains also showed several genotypic and phenotypic characteristics that distinguished them from other closely related species of Pseudomonas . Thus, the strains are proposed to represent a novel species of Pseudomonas , for which the name Pseudomonas hussainii sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CC-AMH-11T ( = JCM 19513T = BCRC 80696T); a second strain of the same species is CC-AMHZ-5 ( = JCM 19512 = BCRC 80697). In addition, emended descriptions of the species Pseudomonas pohangensis , Pseudomonas benzenivorans and Pseudomonas segetis are also proposed.

A bacterial strain, OHA11T, was isolated during the course of a study of phosphate-solubilizing bacteria occurring in a forest soil from Salamanca, Spain. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain OHA11T shared 99.1 % similarity with respect to Pseudomonas baetica a390T, and 98.9 % similarity with the type strains of Pseudomonas jessenii , Pseudomonas moorei , Pseudomonas umsongensis , Pseudomonas mohnii and Pseudomonas koreensis . The analysis of housekeeping genes rpoB, rpoD and gyrB confirmed its phylogenetic affiliation to the genus Pseudomonas and showed similarities lower than 95 % in almost all cases with respect to the above species. Cells possessed two polar flagella. The respiratory quinone was Q9. The major fatty acids were C16 : 0, C18 : 1ω7c and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c/iso-C15 : 0 2-OH). The strain was oxidase-, catalase- and urease-positive, positive for arginine dihydrolase but negative for nitrate reduction, β-galactosidase production and aesculin hydrolysis. It was able to grow at 31 °C and at pH 11. The DNA G+C content was 58.1 mol%. DNA–DNA hybridization results showed values lower than 49 % relatedness with respect to the type strains of the seven closest related species. Therefore, the combined genotypic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic data support the classification of strain OHA11T to a novel species of the genus Pseudomonas , for which the name Pseudomonas helmanticensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is OHA11T ( = LMG 28168T = CECT 8548T).

Root nodule bacteria were trapped within cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) in soils with different cultivation histories collected from the Amazonian rainforest in northern Brazil. Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences of six strains (BR 3351T, BR 3307, BR 3310, BR 3315, BR 3323 BR and BR 3361) isolated from cowpea nodules showed that they formed a distinct group within the genus Bradyrhizobium , which was separate from previously identified type strains. Phylogenetic analyses of three housekeeping genes (glnII, recA and rpoB) revealed that Bradyrhizobium huanghuaihaiense CCBAU 23303T was the most closely related type strain (96 % sequence similarity or lower). Chemotaxonomic data, including fatty acid profiles (predominant fatty acids being C16 : 0 and summed feature 8), the slow growth rate and carbon compound utilization patterns supported the assignment of the strains to the genus Bradyrhizobium . The results of DNA–DNA hybridizations, antibiotic resistance and physiological tests differentiated these novel strains from the most closely related species of the genus Bradyrhizobium with validly published names. Symbiosis-related genes for nodulation (nodC) and nitrogen fixation (nifH) grouped the novel strains of the genus Bradyrhizobium together with Bradyrhizobium iriomotense strain EK05T, with 94 % and 96 % sequence similarity, respectively. Based on these data, these six strains represent a novel species for which the name Brabyrhizobium manausense sp. nov. (BR 3351T = HAMBI 3596T), is proposed.

An aerobic, Gram-stain-negative, non-motile bacterium, KMM 9530T, was isolated from a sediment sample collected from the Sea of Japan seashore. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis positioned novel strain KMM 9530T in the genus Loktanella as a separate line adjacent to Loktanella sediminilitoris KCTC 32383T, Loktanella tamlensis JCM 14020T and Loktanella maricola JCM 14564T with 98.5–98.2 % sequence similarity. Strain KMM 9530T was characterized by its weak hydrolytic capacity and inability to assimilate most organic substrates. The major isoprenoid quinone was Q-10, polar lipids consisted of phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, an unknown phospholipid, an unknown aminolipid and unknown lipids, and the major fatty acid was C18 : 1ω7c. On the basis of phylogenetic analysis, DNA–DNA hybridization and phenotypic characterization, it can be concluded that the novel strain KMM 9530T represents a novel species in the genus Loktanella , for which the name Loktanella maritima sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of the species is KMM 9530T ( = NRIC 0919T = JCM 19807T).

Two strains of Gram-negative, methylotrophic bacteria, isolated because of their abilities to promote plant growth, were subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic study. The isolates were strictly aerobic, motile, pink-pigmented, facultatively methylotrophic, non-spore-forming rods. The chemotaxonomic characteristics of the isolates included the presence of C18 : 1ω7c as the major cellular fatty acid. The DNA G+C contents of strains BL36T and BL47T were 69.4 and 69.8 mol%, respectively. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis of strains BL36T and BL47T placed them under the genus Methylobacterium, with the pairwise sequence similarity between them and the type strains of closely related species ranging from 97.2 to 99.0 %. On the basis of their phenotypic and phylogenetic distinctiveness and the results of DNA–DNA hybridization analysis, the isolates represent two novel species within the genus Methylobacterium , for which the names Methylobacterium pseudosasicola sp. nov. (type strain BL36T = NBRC 105203T = ICMP 17621T) and Methylobacterium phyllostachyos sp. nov. (type strain BL47T = NBRC 105206T = ICMP 17619T) are proposed.

Five acetic acid bacteria isolates, awK9_3, awK9_4 ( = LMG 27543), awK9_5 ( = LMG 28092), awK9_6 and awK9_9, obtained during a study of micro-organisms present in traditionally produced kefir, were grouped on the basis of their MALDI-TOF MS profile with LMG 1530 and LMG 1531T, two strains currently classified as members of the genus Acetobacter . Phylogenetic analysis based on nearly complete 16S rRNA gene sequences as well as on concatenated partial sequences of the housekeeping genes dnaK, groEL and rpoB indicated that these isolates were representatives of a single novel species together with LMG 1530 and LMG 1531T in the genus Acetobacter , with Acetobacter aceti , Acetobacter nitrogenifigens , Acetobacter oeni and Acetobacter estunensis as nearest phylogenetic neighbours. Pairwise similarity of 16S rRNA gene sequences between LMG 1531T and the type strains of the above-mentioned species were 99.7 %, 99.1 %, 98.4 % and 98.2 %, respectively. DNA–DNA hybridizations confirmed that status, while amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) data indicated that LMG 1531T, LMG 1530, LMG 27543 and LMG 28092 represent at least two different strains of the novel species. The major fatty acid of LMG 1531T and LMG 27543 was C18 : 1ω7c. The major ubiquinone present was Q-9 and the DNA G+C contents of LMG 1531T and LMG 27543 were 58.3 and 56.7 mol%, respectively. The strains were able to grow on d-fructose and d-sorbitol as a single carbon source. They were also able to grow on yeast extract with 30 % d-glucose and on standard medium with pH 3.6 or containing 1 % NaCl. They had a weak ability to produce acid from d-arabinose. These features enabled their differentiation from their nearest phylogenetic neighbours. The name Acetobacter sicerae sp. nov. is proposed with LMG 1531T ( = NCIMB 8941T) as the type strain.

A Gram-stain-negative, motile, mesophilic, aerobic, rod-shaped bacterium, strain 8-8T, was isolated from surface seawater at Muroto, Kochi, Japan. The strain exhibited agar-degrading activity. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the strain fell within the family Alteromonadaceae and clustered distantly with members of the genus Glaciecola (≤94.0 % similarity). The DNA G+C content was 41.8 mol%. The major fatty acids were C16 : 1ω7c and/or iso-C15 : 0 2-OH, C16 : 0 and C18 : 1ω7c and the major hydroxy fatty acid was C12 : 0 3-OH. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and an unidentified polar lipid; lysophosphatidylethanolamine and unidentified polar lipids were found as minor components. The major quinone was Q-8. On the basis of phenotypic, genotypic and chemotaxonomic data, strain 8-8T represents a novel species of a new genus, for which the name Agaribacter marinus gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Agaribacter marinus is 8-8T ( = NBRC 110023T = LMG 28167T).

Five bacterial strains isolated from bats of the family Vespertilionidae were characterized by phenotypic tests and multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) using the 16S rRNA gene and four housekeeping genes (rpoA, rpoB, infB, recN). Phylogenetic analyses of individual and combined datasets indicated that the five strains represent a monophyletic cluster within the family Pasteurellaceae . Comparison of 16S rRNA gene sequences demonstrated a high degree of similarity (98.3–99.9 %) among the group of bat-derived strains, while searches in nucleotide databases indicated less than 96 % sequence similarity to known members of the Pasteurellaceae . The housekeeping genes rpoA, rpoB, infB and recN provided higher resolution compared with the 16S rRNA gene and subdivided the group according to the bat species from which the strains were isolated. Three strains derived from noctule bats shared 98.6–100 % sequence similarity in all four genes investigated, whereas, based on rpoB, infB and recN gene sequences, 91.8–96 % similarity was observed with and between the remaining two strains isolated from a serotine bat and a pipistrelle bat, respectively. Genome relatedness as deduced from recN gene sequences correlated well with the results of MLSA and indicated that the five strains represent a new genus. Based on these results, it is proposed to classify the five strains derived from bats within Vespertiliibacter pulmonis gen. nov., sp. nov. (the type species), Vespertiliibacter genomospecies 1 and Vespertiliibacter genomospecies 2. The genus can be distinguished phenotypically from recognized genera of the Pasteurellaceae by at least three characteristics. All strains are nutritionally fastidious and require a chemically defined supplement with NAD for growth. The DNA G+C content of strain E127/08T is 38.2 mol%. The type strain of Vespertiliibacter pulmonis gen. nov., sp. nov. is E127/08T ( = CCUG 64585T = DSM 27238T). The reference strains of Vespertiliibacter genomospecies 1 and 2 are E145/08 and E157/08, respectively.

Bacterial strain L6-16T was isolated from Lemna aequinoctialis. Cells were Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped and motile with monopolar flagella. The phylogenetic analysis of its nearly complete 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that strain L6-16T was a member of the genus Rhizobium . Its closest relative was Rhizobium tarimense PL-41T with a 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity value of 98.3 %. Sequence similarity analysis of the housekeeping recA and atpD genes showed low levels of sequence similarity (<93.9 %) between strain L6-16T and other species of the genus Rhizobium . Strain L6-16T was able to grow between pH 5 and 11 (optimum 7.0) and at temperatures ranging from 20 to 41 °C (optimum 30 °C). It tolerated NaCl up to 1 % (w/v) (optimum 0.5 %). C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c (summed feature 8; 79.5 %) were found as predominant cellular fatty acids. The DNA G+C content of strain L6-16T was 58.1 mol% (T m). Based on low levels of DNA–DNA relatedness, strain L6-16T was distinct from members of phylogenetically related species including R. tarimense PL-41T (38.3±0.8 %), Rhizobium rosettiformans W3T (6.9±0.4 %) and Rhizobium pseudoryzae J3-A127T (12.3±0.6 %). Strain L6-16T was unable to nodulate the roots of Phaseolus vulgaris, and nodC and nifH genes were not detected. The results obtained from phylogenetic analyses, phenotypic characterization and DNA–DNA hybridization indicated that strain L6-16T represents a novel species of the genus Rhizobium , for which the name Rhizobium lemnae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is L6-16T ( = NBRC 109339T = BCC 55143T).

The Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped bacterial isolate BT-1T is the closest relative to the genus ‘Candidatus Liberibacter ’ cultured to date. BT-1T was recovered from the phloem sap of a defoliating mountain papaya in Puerto Rico. The BT-1T 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that strain BT-1T is most closely related to members of the genus ‘Ca. Liberibacter ’ sharing 94.7 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with ‘Ca. Liberibacter americanus ’ and ‘Ca. Liberibacter asiaticus ’. Additionally, average nucleotide identity, 16S rRNA gene sequences and conserved protein sequences supported inclusion of the previously described species of the genus ‘Ca. Liberibacter ’ in a genus with BT-1T. The prominent fatty acids of isolate BT-1T were C18 : 1ω7c (77.2 %), C16 : 0 OH (4.8 %), C18 : 0 (4.4 %) and C16 : 0 (3.5 %). Both physiological and genomic characteristics support the creation of the genus Liberibacter , as well as the novel species Liberibacter crescens gen. nov., sp. nov. with type strain BT-1T ( = ATCC BAA-2481T = DSM 26877T).