- Volume 65, Issue Pt_11, 2015

A Gram-stain-positive, non-motile and aerobic bacterium, designated strain DW151BT, was isolated from a sludge sample of a dairy industry effluent treatment plant. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis of strain DW151BT placed it within the genus Rhodococcus. It displayed significant similarity with recognized species of the genus: Rhodococcus pyridinivorans PDB9T (98.8 %), Rhodococcus gordoniae W 4937T (98.6 %), Rhodococcus rhodochrous DSM 43241T (98.5 %) and Rhodococcus artemisiae YIM 65754T (97.5 %). However, strain DW151BT differed from phylogenetically closely related species in various phenotypic properties. The cellular polar lipid profile consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and phosphatidylinositol (PI) as major lipids, MK-8(H2) was the major menaquinone and meso-diaminopimelic acid was the cell-wall peptidoglycan. The fatty acid profile consisted of C16 : 0, C18 : 1 cis9 and C16 : 1 cis9 as main components. The presence of C16 : 0 and diphosphatidylglycerol as major fatty acid and polar lipid, respectively, was in accordance with chemotaxonomic markers of the genus Rhodococcus. The DNA G+C content of strain DW151BT was 69.9 mol%, a value within the limits reported for the members of this genus. Furthermore, strain DW151BT showed low similarity at the whole genome level in DNA–DNA hybridization experiments with phylogenetically closely related strains. Considering the low similarity at the genome level and differences in phenotypic properties, strain DW151BT is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Rhodococcus, for which the name Rhodococcus lactis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is DW151BT ( = MTCC 12279T = DSM 45625T).

A novel filamentous bacterial strain, A-T 5190T, which developed irregular sporangia at the end of sporangiophores on substrate mycelia, was isolated from dry evergreen forest soil collected in Thailand. The 16S rRNA gene sequence and phylogenetic analysis indicated that strain A-T 5190T belonged to the genus Actinoplanes and was related most closely to Actinoplanes palleronii NBRC 14916T (98.88 % similarity) and Actinoplanes rectilineatus NBRC 13941T (98.54 %). DNA–DNA relatedness values between strain A-T 5190T and its closest relatives were below 70 %. The cell-wall peptidoglycan contained meso-diaminopimelic acid. The whole-cell sugars contained rhamnose, ribose, galactose and xylose. The predominant menaquinone was MK-9(H4). The diagnostic phospholipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylinositol. The predominant cellular fatty acids were unsaturated fatty acid C17 : 1 and branched fatty acids iso-C16 : 0, iso-C15 : 0 and anteiso-C17 : 0. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 71.9 mol%. Evidence from phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genotypic studies indicate that strain A-T 5190T represents a novel species of the genus Actinoplanes, for which the name Actinoplanes luteus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is A-T 5190T ( = BCC 41582T = NBRC 109644T).

A novel halophilic actinobacterium, designated strain TRM 49201T, was isolated from a hypersaline soil in Xinjiang Province, north-west China. The strain was aerobic, Gram-stain-positive and halophilic. The aerial mycelium was chaotic with irregular branches, and spherical sporangia containing several spherical spores developed at mycelial aggregations. The strain had an optimum NaCl concentration for growth of 8–13 % (w/v). The whole-cell sugar pattern of strain TRM 49201T consisted of xylose and ribose. The predominant menaquinones were MK-9(H4), MK-9(H6) and MK-10(H2). The polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol mannoside, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine and four unknown phospholipids. The major fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C16 : 0 and anteiso-C17 : 0. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 70 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis showed that strain TRM 49201T can be distinguished from representatives of Glycomyces, Stackebrandtia and Haloglycomyces, the three existing genera in the family Glycomycetaceae, based on low 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities ( < 94.42 %). Strain TRM 49201T is thus considered to represent a novel species of a new genus in the family Glycomycetaceae, for which the name Paraglycomyces xinjiangensis gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Paraglycomyces xinjiangensis is TRM 49201T ( = NRRL B-24926T = CCTCC AA 2013002T = KACC 17683T).

Four novel bacterial strains belonging to the genus Kurthia were isolated from the surface of a weevil of the family Curculionidae (strain 10y-14T), and from bark samples of hybrid poplar, Populus × euramericana (strains 6-3, 2-5 and 06C10-3-14), in Puyang, Henan Province, China. Phylogenetic analyses of the 16S rRNA gene and multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) data showed that the four strains form a distinct cluster in the genus Kurthia, indicating that they all belong to a single taxon within the genus. DNA–DNA hybridization levels between strain 10y-4T and Kurthia huakuii LAM0618T and Kurthia massiliensis DSM 24639T were 58.31 and 53.92 %, respectively. This indicates that the four novel strains represent a species distinct from these two closely related species. The DNA G+C content of the novel strains was 42.1–42.6 %. The major fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0 and anteiso-C15 : 0.The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, an unknown phospholipid and unidentified aminophospholipids. The predominant menaquinones were MK-7 (90 %) and MK-6 (10 %). The major cell-wall amino acids were lysine, alanine, glutamic acid and glycine. On the basis of the MLSA and 16S rRNA gene sequence phylogenetic analyses, DNA–DNA reassociation values, DNA base composition, and biochemical and phenotypic characteristics, the four strains are considered to represent a novel species within the genus Kurthia, for which the name Kurthia populi sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 10y-14T ( = CFCC 11600T = KCTC 33522T).

A Gram-staining-positive, coccoid, halotolerant bacterial strain, designated SV-16T, was isolated from marine sediment and subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic study. The strain exhibited phenotypic properties that included chemotaxonomic characteristics consistent with its classification in the genus Salinicoccus. Growth occurred at temperatures in the range 25–37 °C (optimum 30 °C), at pH 7.0–11.0 (optimum pH 8.0) and at NaCl concentrations of up to 25.0 % (optimum 15.0 %). The highest level of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity was with Salinicoccus carnicancri CrmT (98.6 %) followed by Salinicoccus halodurans W24T (96.6 %). The predominant polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylglycerol. The major cellular fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 and anteiso-C17 : 0. The draft genome of strain SV-16T consisted of 2 591 284 bp with a DNA G+C content of 48.7 mol%. On the basis of the phenotypic characteristics and genotypic distinctiveness of strain SV-16T, it should be classified within a novel species of the genus Salinicoccus, for which the name Salinicoccus sediminis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is SV-16T ( = MTCC 11832T = DSM 28797T).

A Gram-stain-positive, endospore-forming rod (designated strain CC-LY275T) was isolated from a pesticide wastewater sample. The isolate grew at a temperature 20–45 °C, at pH 7.0–8.0 and tolerated NaCl 6 % (w/v). The most closely related strains in terms of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity were Bacillus horneckiae (97.1 %) and Bacillus oceanisediminis (96.8 %), respectively. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 37.9 mol%. Strain CC-LY275T was determined to possess iso-C14 : 0, iso-C15 : 0 and anteiso-C15 : 0 as predominant fatty acids. The major polar lipid profile consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol. Cell-wall peptidoglycan contained meso-diaminopimelic acid; menaquinone (MK-7) was the predominant respiratory quinone. According to the distinct phylogenetic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic properties, the name Bacillus formosensis sp. nov. (type strain CC-LY275T = BCRC 80443T = JCM 18448T) is proposed.

A novel Gram-staining-positive, aerobic, endospore-forming, rod-shaped bacterial strain, YN2T, was isolated from ripened Pu'er tea. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the strain represented a novel species of the genus Paenibacillus. The strains most closely related to strain YN2T were Paenibacillus vulneris JCM 18268T and Paenibacillus rigui JCM 16352T, with 16S rRNA similarities of 98.6 and 95.5 %, respectively. Chemotaxonomic data supported the affiliation of the new isolate to the genus Paenibacillus, including MK-7 as the major menaquinone, DNA G+C content of 51 mol%, cell-wall type A1γ (meso-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid) and anteiso-C15 : 0 and iso-C16 : 0 as the major fatty acids. Major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine and phospholipid. Strain YN2T could be differentiated from recognized species of the genus Paenibacillus based on phenotypic characteristics, chemotaxonomic differences, phylogenetic analysis and DNA–DNA hybridization data. On the basis of evidence from this polyphasic study, Paenibacillus yunnanensis sp. nov., is proposed, with strain YN2T ( = CGMCC 1.12968T = JCM 30953T) as the type strain.

A Gram-stain-variable, short-rod-shaped, endospore-forming, strictly aerobic, non-motile, chitinolytic and endophytic bacterium, designated strain CC-Alfalfa-19T, exhibiting unusual bipolar appendages was isolated from a root nodule of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) in Taiwan and subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic study. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain CC-Alfalfa-19T was found to be most closely related to Paenibacillus puldeungensis CAU 9324T (95.2 %), whereas other species of the genus Paenibacillus shared ≤ 95.0 % sequence similarity. The phylogenetic analysis revealed a distinct phyletic lineage established by strain CC-Alfalfa-19T with respect to other species of the genus Paenibacillus. Fatty acids comprised predominantly anteiso-C15 : 0, C16 : 0, anteiso-C17 : 0 and iso-C16 : 0. Menaquinone 7 (MK-7) was identified as the sole respiratory quinone and the genomic DNA G+C content was 42.7 mol%. Polar lipids included diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine, phosphatidylethanolamine, an unidentified glycolipid and an unidentified lipid. The diagnostic diamino acid found in the cell-wall peptidoglycan was meso-diaminopimelic acid. Based on the polyphasic taxonomic evidence that was in line with the genus Paenibacillus and additional distinguishing characteristics, strain CC-Alfalfa-19T is considered to represent a novel species, for which the name Paenibacillus medicaginis sp. nov. (type strain CC-Alfalfa-19T = BCRC 80441T = JCM 18446T) is proposed.

A taxonomic study was performed on 15 bacterial isolates from the caeca of gnotobiotic mice that had been fed with thermophile-fermented compost. The 15 isolates were thermophilic, Gram-stain-positive, facultatively anaerobic, endospore-forming bacteria, and were most closely related to Bacillus thermoamylovorans CNCM I-1378T. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain N-11T, selected as representative of this new group, showed a similarity of 99.4 % with Bacillus thermoamylovorans CNCM I-1378T, 94.7 % with Bacillus thermolactis R-6488T, and 94.4 % with Bacillus kokeshiiformis MO-04T. The isolates were then classified into two distinct groups based on a (GTG)5-fingerprint analysis. Two isolates, N-11T and N-21, were the representatives of these two groups, respectively.` The N-11T and N-21 isolates showed 66–71 % DNA–DNA relatedness with one other, but had less than 37 % DNA–DNA relatedness with B. thermoamylovorans LMG 18084T. The other 13 isolates showed DNA–DNA relatedness values above 74 % with the N-11T isolate. All 15 isolates grew at 25–60 °C (optimum 50 °C), pH 6–8 (optimum pH 7) and were capable of growing on a medium containing 6 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum 0.5 %). The 15 isolates could be distinguished from B. thermoamylovorans LMG 18084T because they showed Tween 80 hydrolysis activity and did not produce acid from melibiose. The major fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0, C16 : 0, iso-C15 : 0, iso-C14 : 0 and iso-C16 : 0. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and several unidentified phospholipids. The diagnostic diamino acid in the cell-wall peptidoglycan was meso-diaminopimelic acid. The menaquinone was MK-7. The DNA G+C content was 37.9 mol%. Based on the phenotypic properties, the 15 strains represent a novel species of the genus Bacillus, for which the name Bacillus hisashii sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is N-11T ( = NRBC 110226T = LMG 28201T).

A Gram-staining-positive, strictly aerobic, spore-forming and rod-shaped motile bacterium with peritrichous flagellae, designated strain S1203T, was isolated from the sediment of the northern Okinawa Trough. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain S1203T formed a lineage within the family Bacillaceae that was distinct from the most closely related genera Bacillus, Bhargavaea, Planomicrobium and Virgibacillus with gene sequence similarities ranging from 86.2 to 93.76 %. Optimal growth occurred in the presence of 4–8 % (w/v) NaCl, at pH 7.0–8.0 and 25–32 °C. The cell-wall peptidoglycan was based on meso-diaminopimelic acid and unsaturated menaquinone with seven isoprene units (MK-7) as the predominant respiratory quinone. The major fatty acids (>10 % of total fatty acids) were anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 0 and C16 : 0.The major polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, an unidentified glycolipid and an unidentified phospholipid. The DNA G+C content of strain S1203T was 47.7 mol%. On the basis of polyphasic analysis, strainS1203T was considered to represent a novel species in a new genus of the family Bacillaceae, for which the name Aureibacillus halotolerans gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed; the type strain of Aureibacillus halotolerans is S1203T ( = DSM 28697T = JCM 30067T = MCCC 1K00259T).

A Gram-staining-positive, catalase-positive, oxidase-negative, facultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped bacterium designated strain DCY88T, was isolated from flowers of magnolia. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence comparison revealed that the strain formed a distinct lineage within the genus Paenibacillus that was closely related to Paenibacillus hordei RH-N24T (97.8 %). The other most closely related species were Paenibacillus illinoisensis NRRL NRS-1356T (94.3 %), Paenibacillus hunanensis DSM 22170T (94.2 %), Paenibacillus peoriae DSM 8320T (93.9 %), Paenibacillus kribbensis Am49T (93.8 %) and the type species of the genus, Paenibacillus polymyxa ATCC 842T (93.3 %). Cells of the strain were endospore-forming and motile by peritrichous flagella. Strain DCY88T formed pink-pigmented colonies on trypticase soy agar and R2A agar medium. Growth of strain DCY88T occurs at temperatures 5–37 °C, at pH 4–9 and 0.5–5.5 % NaCl (w/v). The menaquinone was MK-7.The cell wall peptidoglycan of strain DCY88T contained meso-diaminopimelic acid. The major fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0 (61.0 %) and C16 : 0 (11.0 %). The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and an unidentified polar lipid. The strain DCY88T contained spermidine as the major polyamine. The DNA G+C content was 51.6 mol%. The DNA–DNA hybridization relatedness between strain DCY88T and P. hordei RH-N24T was 48 ± 2 %. The phenotypic, phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic results indicate that the strain DCY88T represents a novel species of the genus Paenibacillus, for which the name Paenibacillus kyungheensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is DCY88T ( = JCM 19886T = KCTC 33429T).

A mesophilic, aerobic, Gram-stain-positive, filamentous bacterial strain, designated ZYf1a3T, was isolated from rice paddy soil in Japan. This strain grew on a solid medium with formation of substrate mycelium; endospores were produced singly along the mycelium. Formation of aerial mycelium was not observed on any of the media tested. This strain produced a characteristic saffron yellow soluble pigment. Cloned 16S rRNA gene sequences of strain ZYf1a3T yielded three different copies (similarity between the three sequences: 99.8–99.9 %). One of these sequences had one base deletion. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain ZYf1a3T belongs to an independent phylogenetic lineage of the family Thermoactinomycetaceae. The cell wall of strain ZYf1a3T contained meso-diaminopimelic acid, alanine and glutamic acid, but no characteristic sugars. It contained menaquinone 7 as the sole menaquinone. The major cellular fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0 and anteiso-C15 : 0.The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidyl-N-methylethanolamine and unidentified aminophospholipids. The DNA G+C content was 42.5 mol%. From phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences and phenotypic characteristics, this strain is considered to represent a novel species in a new genus, for which the name Croceifilum oryzae gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Croceifilum oryzae is ZYf1a3T ( = JCM 30426T = CCUG 66446T = DSM 46876T).

A novel Gram-stain-positive, endospore-forming bacterium, designated strain FJAT-18043T, was isolated from a soil sample of a potato field in Xinjiang Autonomous Region, China. Cells were rods that were catalase-positive and motile by peritrichous flagella. The strain grew at 20–45 °C (optimum 35 °C), at pH 6.0–10.0 (optimum pH 9) and with 0–10 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum 0 %). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain FJAT-18043T belonged to the genus Bacillus and exhibited similarities of 97.7, 97.6, 97.2 and 97.2 % with Bacillus eiseniae A1-2T, Bacillus horneckiae DSM 23495T, Bacillus gottheilii WCC 4585T and Bacillus purgationiresistens DS22T, respectively. DNA–DNA relatedness between strain FJAT-18043T and B. eiseniae A1-2 T was lower than 70 % (36.1 %). The menaquinone was identified as MK-7 and the major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine. The major fatty acids detected were anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 0, iso-C16 : 0, anteiso-C17 : 0, C16 : 0 and iso-C14 : 0. The DNA G+C content was 48.8 mol%. Phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genotypic properties clearly indicated that isolate FJAT-18043T represents a novel species within the genus Bacillus, for which the name Bacillus solani sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is FJAT-18043T ( = DSM 29501T = CCTCC AB 2014277T).

A novel bacterium, designated DCY95T, was isolated from ginseng-cultivated soil in Quang Nam province, Vietnam. On the basis of 16S rRNA and gyrB gene sequence analysis, this isolate was assigned to the genus Paenibacillus and found to be closely related to Paenibacillus sacheonensis SY01T (97.1 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity) and Paenibacillus taihuensis THMBG22T (96.4 %). The partial gyrB gene of DCY95T possessed 69.6–83.9 % sequence identity to those of other members of the genus Paenibacillus. Strain DCY95T was Gram-reaction-negative, catalase-negative, oxidase-positive, strictly aerobic, rod-shaped and motile by means of peritrichous flagella. Ellipsoidal free spores or subterminal endospores were produced in sporangia. MK-7 was the diagnostic menaquinone. The cell-wall peptidoglycan contained meso-diamonopimelic acid as the diamino acid. Whole-cell sugars comprised ribose, mannose and glucose. The major cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C16 : 0 and C16 : 0. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, three unidentified aminophospholipids, and two unidentified phospholipids. The genomic DNA G+C content was 60.7 ± 0.9 mol%. Phenotypic and chemotaxonomic results placed strain DCY95T within the genus Paenibacillus. However, DNA–DNA relatedness values between strain DCY95T and P. sacheonensis KACC 14895T or P. taihuensis NBRC 108766T were lower than 36 %. The low DNA relatedness data in combination with phylogenetic and (GTG)5-PCR analyses, as well as biochemical tests, indicated that strain DCY95T could not be assigned to any recognized species. In conclusion, the results in this study support the classification of strain DCY95T as a representative of a novel species within the genus Paenibacillus, for which the name Paenibacillus panaciterrae is proposed. The type strain is DCY95T ( = KCTC 33581T = DSM 29477T).

Two strains of Gram-stain-positive, aerobic, spore-forming and rod-shaped bacteria, designated U13T and U14, were isolated from soil of the Ukraine. Comparative analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that these strains belong to the genus Tumebacillus, with the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with Tumebacillus ginsengisoli Gsoil 1105T (95.48 % and 95.49 %, respectively). Strains U13T and U14 had iso-C15 : 0 and summed features 1 and 4 as the main fatty acids, and were able to grow at pH ranging from pH 5.0 to 9.0 (optimum pH 6.0–7.0), temperatures ranging from 25 to 42 °C (optimum 28–37 °C) and with 0–1 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum 0 %, w/v) on R2A agar medium. Chemotaxonomic data revealed that the cell-wall peptidoglycan type of the two strains was type A1γ (meso-diaminopimelic acid). On the basis of the evidence from this study, strains U13T and U14 represent a novel species of the genus Tumebacillus, for which the name Tumebacillus luteolus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is U13T ( = KEMB 7305-100T = JCM 19866T) and a second strain is U14 ( = KEMB 7305-101 = JCM 19867).

A Gram-stain-positive, facultatively anaerobic, endospore-forming organism, isolated from the stem of Gossypium hirsutum, was studied to determine its taxonomic position. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity comparisons, strain JM-267T was grouped in the genus Bacillus, related most closely to the type strains of Bacillus simplex and Bacillus huizhouensis (both 97.8 %), Bacillus muralis (97.7 %), Bacillus butanolivorans and Bacillus psychrosaccharolyticus (both 97.3 %). 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to the sequences of the type strains of other Bacillus species was < 97.0 %. The fatty acid profile supported the grouping of the strain to the genus Bacillus. As major fatty acids, anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 0, iso-C14 : 0 and iso-C16 : 0 were detected. The polar lipid profile contained the major components diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine. The major quinone was menaquinone 7 (MK-7). DNA–DNA hybridizations with B. simplex DSM 1321T, B. huizhouensis GSS03T, B. muralis LMG 20238T, B. butanolivorans LMG 23974T and B. psychrosaccharolyticus DSM 6T resulted in values clearly below 70 %. In addition, physiological and biochemical test results allowed the clear phenotypic differentiation of strain JM-267T from the most closely related species. Hence, strain JM-267T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Bacillus, for which the name Bacillus gossypii sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JM-267T ( = DSM 100034T = LMG 28742T).

A Gram-stain-positive, rod-shaped, facultatively anaerobic, endospore-forming bacterium (designated strain SC03T) was isolated from the aerobic treatment sludge of a coking plant (Shaoguan City, China). The optimal pH and temperature for growth were pH 7.0 and 35 °C. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain SC03T was related to the genus Lysinibacillus and the similarity between strain SC03T and the most closely related type strain, Lysinibacillus macroides LMG 18474T, was 94.4 %. The genomic G+C content of the DNA of strain SC03T was 41.2 mol%. Chemotaxonomic data supported the affiliation of strain SC03T to the genus Lysinibacillus. These properties include MK-7 as the predominant menaquinone; iso-C15 : 0 and iso-C16 : 0 as major fatty acids; A4α (l-Lys–d-Asp) as the cell-wall peptidoglycan type; and diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine plus three unknown phospholipids as polar lipids. The phenotypic, phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic characters enable the differentiation of strain SC03T from recognized Lysinibacillus species. Thus, strain SC03T represents a novel species of the genus Lysinibacillus, for which the name Lysinibacillus cresolivorans sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is SC03T ( = NRRL B-59352T = CCTCC M 208210T).

Investigation of the microbial diversity of Ntoba Mbodi, an African food made from the alkaline fermentation of cassava leaves, revealed the presence of a Gram-positive, catalase-positive, aerobic, motile and rod-shaped endospore-forming bacterium (NM73) with unusual phenotypic and genotypic characteristics. The analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that the isolate was most closely related to Lysinibacillus meyeri WS 4626T (98.93 %), Lysinibacillus xylanilyticus XDB9T (96.95 %) and Lysinibacillus odysseyi 34hs-1T (96.94 %). The DNA–DNA relatedness of the isolate with L. meyeri LMG 26643T, L. xylanilyticus DSM 23493T and L. odysseyi DSM 18869T was 41 %, 16 % and 15 %, respectively. The internal transcribed spacer-PCR profile of the isolate was different from those of closely related bacteria. The cell-wall peptidoglycan type was A4α, l-Lys-d-Asp and the major fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C17 : 0 and iso-C17 : 0 and iso-C17 : 1ω10c. The polar lipids included phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphoaminolipid, aminolipid, two phospholipids and two unknown lipids. The predominant menaquinones were MK-7 and MK-6. Ribose was the only whole-cell sugar detected. The DNA G+C content was 38 mol%. Based on the results of the phenotypic and genotypic characterization, it was concluded that the isolate represents a novel species of the genus Lysinibacillus, for which the name of Lysinibacillus louembei sp. nov. is proposed. NM73T ( = DSM 25583T = LMG 26837T) represents the type strain.

Two novel Gram-stain-positive, rod-shaped, non-motile, non-endospore-forming bacterial strains, S7T and IB5, were isolated from Khavda, India. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis they were identified as belonging to the class Bacilli, order Bacillales, family Bacillaceae, and were most closely related to Bacillus qingdaonensis CGMCC 1.6134T (97.3 %, sequence similarity), Bacillus halochares LMG 24571T (96.9 %), Bacillus salarius KCTC 3912T (95.6 %) and Bacillus aidingensis DSM 18341T (95.3 %). However, these strains shared only 88.2 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with Bacillus subtilis subsp. subtilis DSM 10T, indicating that strains S7T and IB5 might not be members of the genus Bacillus. The DNA–DNA relatedness of these strains with B. qingdaonensis CGMCC 1.6134T was 42.9 ± 0.8. The cell-wall peptidoglycan of strains S7T and IB5 contained meso-diaminopimelic acid, while the polar lipids included diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, a phospholipid and three unknown lipids. The predominant isoprenoid quinone was MK-7. anteiso-C15 : 0 was the predominant fatty acid. The results of the phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic and biochemical tests allowed a clear differentiation of strains S7T and IB5, suggesting that they represent a novel member of the family Bacillaceae, for which the name Salibacterium halotolerans gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Salibacterium halotolerans is S7T ( = KCTC 33658T = CGMCC 1.15324T). Based on the results of the present study, it is also suggested that B. qingdaonensis and B. halochares should be transferred to this novel genus, as Salibacterium qingdaonense comb. nov. and Salibacterium halochares comb. nov., respectively.