- Volume 65, Issue Pt_11, 2015

An extremely halophilic archaeon, strain S2FP14T, was isolated from a brine sample from the inland hypersaline lake Fuente de Piedra, a saline-wetland wildfowl reserve located in the province of Málaga in southern Spain. Colonies were red-pigmented and the cells were Gram-staining-negative, motile and pleomorphic. S2FP14T was able to grow in media containing 12.5–30 % (w/v) total salts (optimum 20 %) at pH 7–8.5 (optimum 7.5) and at 25–50 °C (optimum 37 °C). The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that this strain represented a member of the genus Halobellus. S2FP14T showed a similarity of 99.5 % to Halobellus inordinatus YC20T, 96.1 % to Halobellus litoreus GX31T, 95.9 % to Halobellus limi TBN53T, 95.5 % to Halobellus rarus YC21T, 95.2 % to Halobellus rufus CBA1103T, 94.6 % to Halobellus salinus CSW2.24.4T and 94.6 % to Halobellus clavatus TNN18T. The rpoB′ gene sequence similarity of strain S2FP14T was 97.4 % to 87.6 % with members of genus Halobellus. The major phospholipids of strain S2FP14T were phosphatidylglycerol phosphate methyl ester and phosphatidylglycerosulfate, plus a very small amount of phosphatidylglycerol and an archaeal analogue of bisphosphatidylglycerol. With regard to glycolipid composition, the most abundant glycolipids were the sulfated diglycosyl diphytanilglyceroldiether and a glycosyl-cardiolipin. The G+C content of strain S2FP14T genomic DNA was 61.4 mol%. The DNA–DNA hybridization between strain S2FP14T and Halobellus inordinatus JCM 18361T was 51 %. Based on the phylogenetic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic features, a novel species, Halobellus ramosii sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is S2FP14T ( = CECT 8167T = DSM 26177T).

Micrococcus lactis and Zhihengliuella aestuarii were described independently in 2011. Their type strains showed high levels of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity (99.3 %). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that M. lactis MCC 2278T and Z. aestuarii JCM 16166T formed a monophyletic group and showed distant relationships to other members of closely related genera such as Micrococcus, Zhihengliuella, Arthrobacter and Citricoccus. The presence of large proportions of iso-C14 : 0 and iso-C16 : 0 with small amounts of iso-C15 : 0 distinguished M. lactis MCC 2278T and Z. aestuarii JCM 16166T from other members of the genera Micrococcus and Zhihengliuella. Unlike other members of the genera Zhihengliuella and Micrococcus, M. lactis MCC 2278T and Z. aestuarii JCM 16166T showed growth at low concentrations of NaCl. Thus, based on distinctive phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic and physiological features of these two organisms in comparison with other members of the genera Micrococcus and Zhihengliuella, it is clear that they do not fit within the existing classification and deserve separate status. DNA–DNA hybridization between the two type strains was 63 %, indicating that they represent separate species. In this study, we propose the creation of a novel genus, Neomicrococcus gen. nov., to accommodate the two species with Neomicrococcus aestuarii gen. nov., comb. nov. (type strain JCM 16166T = KCTC 19557T) as the type species. Neomicrococcus lactis comb. nov. (type strain MCC 2278T = DSM 23694T) is also proposed.

An actinomycete strain, designated CP2R9-1T, was isolated from root internal tissues of upland rice (Oryza sativa). Based on a polyphasic approach, strain CP2R9-1T was characterized as a member of the genus Micromonospora. meso-Diaminopimelic acid and 3-OH-diaminopimelic acid were present in the cell-wall peptidoglycan. The polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylinositol mannosides, two unidentified phospholipids and four unidentified polar lipids. Predominant menaquinones were MK-9(H4), MK-9(H6) and MK-10(H4). Whole-cell sugars consisted of ribose, xylose, arabinose and glucose. Phylogenetic analysis of the nearly complete 16S rRNA gene sequence suggested that strain CP2R9-1T was closely related to Micromonospora haikouensis 232617T (99.32 % similarity), Micromonospora carbonacea DSM 43168T (99.18 %) and Micromonospora krabiensis MA-2T (99.16 %). Strain CP2R9-1T was distinct from its closest relatives based on low levels of DNA–DNA relatedness (21.3 ± 0.1–41.7 ± 0.7 %) and phenotypic differences. The results presented in this study showed that strain CP2R9-1T represents a novel species of the genus Micromonospora, for which the name Micromonospora oryzae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CP2R9-1T ( = BCC 67266T = NBRC 110007T).

Two actinomycete strains, designated LIPI11-2-Ac034T and LIPI11-2-Ac042T, were isolated from leaf litter collected from Cibodas Botanical Garden, West Java, Indonesia. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences suggested that both isolates belong to the genus Actinoplanes. These isolates were closely related to Actinoplanes ferrugineus and Actinoplanes durhamensis with similarity values of 98.2 % and 97.7 % respectively, for strain LIPI11-2-Ac034T, and 99.0 % and 97.4–97.7 % respectively for strain LIPI11-2-Ac042T. Both isolates grew well on ISP 7 medium with brown soluble pigment production. Spores were motile and sporangia were irregular. The isolates contained meso-diaminopimelic acid in cell-wall hydrolysates, and mannose, glucose and galactose in whole-cell hydrolysates. The predominant menaquinone of strain LIPI11-2-Ac034T was MK-9(H4) while that of strain LIPI11-2-Ac042T was MK-9(H6). The major cellular fatty acids were iso-C16 : 0, iso-C15 : 0 and anteiso-C15 : 0 for strain LIPI11-2-Ac034T, and iso-C16 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 0 and anteiso-C17 : 0 for strain LIPI11-2-Ac042T. Phosphatidylethanolamine was detected as the diagnostic polar lipid. The DNA G+C contents of strains LIPI11-2-Ac034T and LIPI11-2-Ac042T were 71.5 and 70.7 mol%, respectively. Based on the differential phenotypic characteristics and the results of DNA–DNA hybridization and phylogenetic analysis, it is proposed that strains LIPI11-2-Ac034T and LIPI11-2-Ac042T represent two novel species of the genus Actinoplanes, for which the names Actinoplanes tropicalis sp. nov. (type strain LIPI11-2-Ac034T = InaCC A459T = NBRC 110973T) and Actinoplanes cibodasensis sp. nov. (type strain LIPI11-2-Ac042T = InaCC A458T = NBRC 110974T) are proposed.

Two Gram-stain-positive bacterial isolates, strain 2385/12T and strain 2673/12T were isolated from a tapir and a dog's nose, respectively. The two strains were rod to coccoid-shaped, catalase-positive and oxidase-negative. The highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity identified Corynebacterium singulare CCUG 37330T (96.3 % similarity) as the nearest relative of strain 2385/12T and suggested the isolate represented a novel species. Corynebacterium humireducens DSM 45392T (98.7 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity) was identified as the nearest relative of strain 2673/12T. Results from DNA–DNA hybridization with the type strain of C. humireducens demonstrated that strain 2673/12T also represented a novel species. Strain 2385/12T showed a quinone system consisting predominantly of menaquinones MK-8(H2) and MK-9(H2) whereas strain 2673/12T contained only MK-8(H2) as predominant quinone. The polar lipid profiles of the two strains showed the major compounds phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol and an unidentified glycolipid. Phosphatidylinositol was identified as another major lipid in 2673/12T whereas it was only found in moderate amounts in strain 2385/12T. Furthermore, moderate to minor amounts of phosphatidylinositol-mannoside, β-gentiobiosyl diacylglycerol and variable counts of several unidentified lipids were detected in the two strains. Both strains contained corynemycolic acids. The polyamine patterns were characterized by the major compound putrescine in strain 2385/12T and spermidine in strain 2673/12T. In the fatty acid profiles, predominantly C18 : 1ω9c and C16 : 0 were detected. The two strains are distinguishable from each other and the nearest related established species of the genus Corynebacterium phylogenetically and phenotypically. In conclusion, two novel species of the genus Corynebacterium are proposed, namely Corynebacterium tapiri sp. nov. (type strain, 2385/12T = CCUG 65456T = LMG 28165T) and Corynebacterium nasicanis sp. nov. (type strain, 2673/12T = CCUG 65455T = LMG 28166T).

A novel actinomycete, strain ST1-08T, was isolated from the stem of Stemona sp. in Thailand. The taxonomic position of this isolate was determined by using a polyphasic approach. Strain ST1-08T contained meso-diaminopimelic acid in the cell-wall peptidoglycan, and arabinose and galactose as diagnostic sugars of the whole-cell hydrolysate, which are typical properties of members of the genus Amycolatopsis. Strain ST1-08T grew at 15–40 °C, pH 6–9 and on 5 % (w/v) NaCl. Gelatin liquefaction, starch hydrolysis and skimmed milk peptonization were positive. The strain utilized l-arabinose, d-glucose, glycerol, myo-inositol, d-mannitol and l-rhamnose. The predominant menaquinone was MK-9(H4) and the major cellular fatty acids were iso-C16 : 0 and iso-C15 : 0.The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, hydroxyl-phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylglycerol. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that the strain was closely related to Amycolatopsis pretoriensis JCM 12673T (98.99 %) and Amycolatopsis lexingtonensis JCM 12672T (98.87 %). The DNA G+C content of strain ST1-08T was 71.2 mol%. The DNA–DNA relatedness values among strain ST1-08T, A. pretoriensis JCM 12673T and A. lexingtonensis JCM 12672T were lower than 70 %, the cut-off level for assigning strains to the same species. On the basis of phenotypic and genotypic characteristics, strain ST1-08T represents a novel species of the genus Amycolatopsis, for which the name Amycolatopsis stemonae is proposed. The type strain is ST1-08T( = JCM 30050T = PCU 339T = TISTR 2278T).

Three Gram-stain-positive, irregular-rod-shaped, non-motile, non-spore-forming bacteria were isolated from nematodes collected from Santa Antao, Cabo Verde (CBX151T, CBX152T) and Kakegawa, Japan (CBX130T). Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, strains CBX130T, CBX151T and CBX152T were shown to belong to the genus Leucobacter. This affiliation was supported by chemotaxonomic data (2,4-diaminobutyric acid in the cell wall; major respiratory quinones MK-10 and MK-11; major polar lipids phosphatidylglycerol and diphosphatidylglycerol; major fatty acids anteiso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C17 : 0 and iso-C16 : 0). Strains CBX130T and CBX152T were found to share salient characteristics. Based on morphological, physiological, chemotaxonomic and biochemical analysis, strain CBX152T represents a novel species of the genus Leucobacter, for which the name Leucobacter musarum sp. nov. (type strain CBX152T = DSM 27160T = CIP 110721T) is proposed. Two subspecies of Leucobacter musarum sp. nov. are proposed: Leucobacter musarum sp. nov. subsp. musarum subsp. nov. (type strain CBX152T = DSM 27160T = CIP 110721T) and Leucobacter musarum sp. nov. subsp. japonicus subsp. nov. (type strain CBX130T = DSM 27158T = CIP 110719T). The third novel strain, CBX151T, showed genetic similarities with Leucobacter celer NAL101T indicating that these strains belong to the same species. Based on morphological, physiological, chemotaxonomic and biochemical differences it is proposed to split the species Leucobacter celer into two novel subspecies, Leucobacter celer subsp. celer subsp. nov. (type strain NAL101T = KACC 14220T = JCM 16465T) and Leucobacter celer subsp. astrifaciens subsp. nov. (type strain CBX151T = DSM 27159T = CIP 110720T), and to emend the description of Leucobacter celer Shin et al. 2011 .

A Gram-reaction-positive, high DNA G+C content, non-motile actinobacterium, strain D7-21T, was isolated from dried bat dung inside a natural cave and its taxonomic status was examined by using a polyphasic approach. The 16S rRNA gene sequence study showed that the isolate belonged to the genus Rhodococcus and formed a cluster with Rhodococcus defluvii (98.98 % gene similarity), Rhodococcus equi (98.62 %) and Rhodococcus kunmingensis (97.66 %). Whole-cell hydrolysates contained meso-diaminopimelic acid, arabinose and galactose as the diagnostic diamino acid and sugars. MK-8(H2) was the predominant menaquinone. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylinositol mannoside, an unknown phosphoglycolipid and an unknown glycolipid. Mycolic acids were present. The major fatty acids were C16 : 0, C18 : 1ω9c and 10-methyl C18 : 0. The DNA G+C content was 70.1 mol%. A battery of phenotypic features and DNA–DNA relatedness data support that strain D7-21T ( = KCTC 29469T = DSM 46727T) represents a novel species of the genus Rhodococcus, for which Rhodococcus antrifimi sp. nov. is proposed.

A novel actinomycete strain, YN-5-1T, isolated from the rhizosphere soil of a medicinal plant, Aconitum napellus, was characterized by a polyphasic approach to determine its taxonomic position. The strain showed highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities of 97.3, 97.2 and 97.1 % to Nonomuraea turkmeniaca DSM 43926T, Nonomuraea ferruginea DSM 43553T and Nonomuraea candida DSM 45086T, respectively. A wide range of genotypic and phenotypic characteristics, as well as levels of DNA–DNA relatedness between strain YN-5-1T and N. turkmeniaca DSM 43926T (57.46 %), N. ferruginea DSM 43553T (53.50 %) and N. candida DSM 45086T (48.80 %), distinguished the novel isolate from its closest phylogenetic neighbours. The morphological characteristics of strain YN-5-1T were typical of the genus Nonomuraea. Chemotaxonomic characteristics, such as diagnostic diamino acid of the peptidoglycan, whole-cell sugars, phospholipid type, major menaquinone and major fatty acids, further supported the assignment of strain YN-5-1T to the genus Nonomuraea. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 72.1 mol%. Based on the above data, strain YN-5-1T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Nonomuraea, for which the name Nonomuraea flavida sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YN-5-1T ( = CCTCC AB 2012909T = KCTC 29143T).

A Gram-stain-positive, aerobic, non-motile, curved (selenoid), rod-shaped actinobacterium, designated KNCT, was isolated from the 0.2 μm-filtrate of river water in western Japan. Cells of strain KNCT were ultramicrosized (0.04–0.05 μm3). The strain grew at 15–37 °C, with no observable growth at 10 °C or 40 °C. The pH range for growth was 7–9, with weaker growth at pH 10. Growth was impeded by the presence of NaCl at concentrations greater than 1 %. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain KNCT showed relatively high sequence similarity (97.2 %) to Alpinimonas psychrophila Cr8-25T in the family Microbacteriaceae. However, strain KNCT formed an independent cluster with cultured, but as-yet-unidentified, species and environmental clones on the phylogenetic tree. The major cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0 (41.0 %), iso-C16 : 0 (21.8 %), C16 : 0 (18.0 %) and anteiso-C17 : 0 (12.9 %), and the major menaquinones were MK-11 (71.3 %) and MK-12 (13.6 %). The major polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol and two unknown glycolipids. The cell-wall muramic acid acyl type was acetyl. The peptidoglycan was B-type, and contained 3-hydroxyglutamic acid, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, glycine, alanine and lysine, with the latter being the diagnostic diamino acid. The G+C content of the genome was unusually low for actinobacteria (52.1 mol%), compared with other genera in the family Microbacteriaceae. Based on the phenotypic characteristics and phylogenetic evidence, strain KNCT represents a novel species of a new genus within the family Microbacteriaceae, for which the name Aurantimicrobium minutum gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of the type species is KNCT ( = NBRC 105389T = NCIMB 14875T).

The taxonomic position of an actinobacterium strain, C296001T, isolated from a soil sample collected in Sarawak, Malaysia, was established using a polyphasic approach. Phylogenetically, strain C296001T was closely associated with the genus Luteipulveratus and formed a distinct monophyletic clade with the only described species, Luteipulveratus mongoliensis NBRC 105296T. The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity between strain C296001T and L. mongoliensis was 98.7 %. DNA–DNA hybridization results showed that the relatedness of strain C296001T to L. mongoliensis was only 21.5 %. The DNA G+C content of strain C296001T was 71.7 mol%. Using a PacBio RS II system, whole genome sequences for strains C296001T and NBRC 105296T were obtained. The genome sizes of 4.5 Mbp and 5.4 Mbp determined were similar to those of other members of the family Dermacoccaceae. The cell-wall peptidoglycan contained lysine, alanine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid and serine, representing the peptidoglycan type A4α l-Lys-l-Ser-d-Asp. The major menaquinones were MK-8(H4), MK-8 and MK-8(H2). Phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphoglycolipid were the polar lipids, while the whole-cell sugars were glucose, fucose and lesser amounts of ribose and galactose. The major fatty acids were iso-C16 : 0, anteiso-C17 : 0, iso-C16 : 1 H, anteiso-C17 : 1ω9c, iso-C18 : 0 and 10-methyl C17 : 0. Chemotaxonomic analyses showed that C296001T had typical characteristics of members of the genus Luteipulveratus, with the main differences occurring in phenotypic characteristics. On the basis of the phenotypic and chemotaxonomic evidence, it is proposed that strain C296001T be classified as a representative of a novel species in the genus Luteipulveratus, for which the name Luteipulveratus halotolerans sp. nov. is recommended. The type strain is C296001T ( = ATCC TSD-4T = JCM 30660T).

A Gram-stain-positive, aerobic, motile and non-spore-forming actinobacterium, strain Y32T, was isolated from a deep-sea sediment of the western Pacific Ocean. Phylogenetic and phenotypic properties of the organism supported that it belonged to the genus Georgenia. Strain Y32T shared highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 97.8 % with Georgenia muralis 1A-CT, followed by Georgenia thermotolerans TT02-04T (97.4 %), Georgenia daeguensis 2C6-43T (97.2 %), Oceanitalea nanhaiensis JLT1488T (97.2 %), Georgenia ruanii YIM 004T (97.0 %) and Georgenia soli CC-NMPT-T3T (97.0 %). The organism grew in the presence of 0–10 % (w/v) NaCl, at 4–40 °C and at pH 6–11, with optimal growth occurring at 30–35 °C, at pH 7 and in the presence of 3.5 % (w/v) NaCl. The polar lipid profile of strain Y32T consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol and two phosphatidylinositol mannosides. Strain Y32T contained MK-8(H4) and MK-7(H4) as the major components of the menaquinone system, and anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 0 and iso-C14 : 0 as the predominant fatty acids. Galactose was detected as the cell-wall sugar. The G+C content of the DNA was 71.2 mol%. Based on the results of phenotypic, genotypic and phylogenetic analyses, it is considered that strain Y32T represents a novel species of the genus Georgenia, for which the name Georgenia subflava sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is Y32T ( = LMG 28101T = CGMCC 1.12782T = JCM 19765T = MCCC 1A09955T).

An actinomycete, designated strain T66T and isolated from soybean rhizosphere soil at Gyeonggi Siheung Sorae in the Republic of Korea, has antibiotic activity against a broad range of microbial pathogens. The strain was determined to be closely related to several known species in the genus Streptomyces on the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence data (97.73–98.07 % similarity). The strain exhibited cell-wall chemotype I and phospholipid type II. The menaquinones present were MK-9 (H6), MK-9 (H8) and MK-10 (H2). Major fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C16 : 0, iso-C15 : 0, and anteiso-C17 : 0. The level of DNA–DNA relatedness between strain T66T and closely related type strains was determined to be below 40 %. Strain T66T had spiral spore chains and a rugose spore surface that is different from its closest relatives. Comparison of the genotypic and phenotypic features confirmed that strain T66T ( = KEMB 9005-219T = KACC 18226T = NBRC 110902T) should be considered as the type strain of a novel species in the genus Streptomyces, for which the name Streptomyces fabae sp. nov. is proposed.

A novel actinomycete, designated strain NEAU-GQTH1-3T, was isolated from muddy soil collected from a stream in Qitaihe, Heilongjiang Province, north-east China and characterized using a polyphasic approach. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that the organism should be assigned to the genus Sphaerisporangium and forms a stable clade with its closest relative Sphaerisporangium rubeum JCM 13067T (98.2 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity). Moreover, morphological and chemotaxonomic properties of strain NEAU-GQTH1-3T also confirmed the affiliation of the isolate to the genus Sphaerisporangium. The cell wall contained meso-diaminopimelic acid and the whole-cell sugars were glucose, galactose, madurose, mannose and ribose. The polar lipid profile consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylmethylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol, two phosphatidylinositol mannosides, phosphoglycolipid, an unidentified phospholipid and an unidentified glycolipid. The major menaquinones were MK-9(H4), MK-9(H6) and MK-9(H2). The predominant cellular fatty acids were iso-C16 : 0 and 10-methyl C17 : 0. Mycolic acids were absent. The DNA G+C content was 70.4 mol%. However, the low level of DNA–DNA relatedness and some phenotypic characteristics allowed the isolate to be differentiated from its closest relative. Therefore, it is concluded that strain NEAU-GQTH1-3T represents a novel species of the genus Sphaerisporangium, for which the name Sphaerisporangium aureirubrum sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is NEAU-GQTH1-3T ( = CGMCC 4.7199T = JCM 30346T).

A novel actinomycete strain, SMC 256T, which developed small, globose sporangia at the ends of long sporangiophores on aerial mycelium, was isolated from soil collected in a mountain forest of Thailand. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain SMC 256T belonged to the genus Kutzneria, and the closest phylogenetically related species were Kutzneria buriramensis BCC 29373T (98.9 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity), Kutzneria kofuensis ATCC 27102T (98.2 %), Kutzneria albida ATCC 25243T (97.9 %) and Kutzneria viridogrisea ATCC 25242T (97.4 %). The DNA–DNA relatedness values that distinguished strain SMC 256T from previously described members of the genus Kutzneria were significantly below 70 %. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 71.8 mol%. The cell-wall peptidoglycan contained meso-diaminopimelic acid. The whole-cell sugars consisted of rhamnose, ribose, mannose, glucose and galactose. The predominant menaquinone was MK-9(H4). Mycolic acids were not detected. The diagnostic phospholipids were hydroxyphosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylmethylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylinositol mannosides, unidentified phosphoglycolipids, unidentified phospholipids and an unidentified lipid. The predominant cellular fatty acids were iso-C16 : 0, C17 : 1 and C17 : 0 10-methyl. Following the evidence of phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genotypic studies, it is proposed that strain SMC 256T represents a novel species in the genus Kutzneria, namely Kutzneria chonburiensis sp. nov. The type strain is SMC 256T ( = BCC 72675T = NBRC 110610T).

A Gram-stain-positive bacterial strain, designated as NR2T, isolated from noni (Morinda citrifolia L.) branch was investigated using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. The cells were small coccoid to ovoid, non-spore-forming and motile. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the strain was a representative of a member of the genus Brachybacterium, to which the most closely related neighbours were Brachybacterium squillarum M-6-3T (97.90 % similarity), Brachybacterium faecium DSM 4810T (97.50 %), Brachybacterium sacelli LMG 20345T (97.41 %), Brachybacterium phenoliresistens phenol-AT (97.36 %), Brachybacterium nesterenkovii DSM 9573T (97.36 %) and Brachybacterium rhamnosum LMG 19848T (97.32 %). The polar lipid profile of strain NR2T consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, unknown phospholipids and unknown glycolipids. The predominant respiratory quinone was MK-8, with MK-9 and MK-7 as minor components. The major fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0 and iso-C15 : 0. Strain NR2T was clearly distinguishable from the type strains of related species on the basis of phylogenetic analysis, DNA–DNA hybridization, fatty acid composition data analysis and a range of physiological and comparison of biochemical characteristics. It is evident from the genotypic and phenotypic data that strain NR2T represents a novel species of the genus Brachybacterium, for which the name Brachybacterium hainanense sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is NR2T ( = DSM 29535T = CICC 10874T).