- Volume 65, Issue Pt_1, 2015

A strictly anaerobic, mesophilic, sulfate-reducing bacterium, strain KoBa311T, isolated from the wastewater treatment plant at Konstanz, Germany, was characterized phenotypically and phylogenetically. Cells were Gram-stain-negative, non-motile, oval to short rods, 3–5 µm long and 0.8–1.0 µm wide with rounded ends, dividing by binary fission and occurring singly or in pairs. The strain grew optimally in freshwater medium and the optimum temperature was 30 °C. Strain KoBa311T showed optimum growth at pH 7.3−7.6. Organic electron donors were oxidized completely to carbon dioxide concomitant with sulfate reduction to sulfide. At excess substrate supply, substrates were oxidized incompletely and acetate (mainly) and/or propionate accumulated. The strain utilized short-chain fatty acids, alcohols (except methanol) and benzoate. Sulfate and DMSO were used as terminal electron acceptors for growth. The genomic DNA G+C content was 52.3 mol% and the respiratory quinone was menaquinone MK-5 (V-H2). The major fatty acids were C16 : 0, C16 : 1ω7c/ω6c and C18 : 1ω7c. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences placed strain KoBa311T within the family Desulfobulbaceae in the class Deltaproteobacteria . Its closest related bacterial species on the basis of the distance matrix were Desulfobacterium catecholicum DSM 3882T (93.0 % similarity), Desulfocapsa thiozymogenes (93.1 %), Desulforhopalus singaporensis (92.9 %), Desulfopila aestuarii (92.4 %), Desulfopila inferna JS_SRB250LacT (92.3 %) and Desulfofustis glycolicus (92.3 %). On the basis of phylogenetic, physiological and chemotaxonomic characteristics, strain KoBa311T was distinct from any related type species. Therefore, strain KoBa311T is considered to represent a novel species of a new genus, for which the name Desulfoprunum benzoelyticum gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Desulfoprunum benzoelyticum is KoBa311T ( = DSM 28570T = KCTC 15441T).

A taxonomic study was carried out on bacterial strain H3T, which was isolated from the toxic marine diatom Pseudo-nitzschia multiseries. Cells of strain H3T were Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped, non-motile and capable of reducing nitrate to nitrite, but not denitrification. Growth was observed at NaCl concentrations of 1–9 %, pH 6–12 and 10–37 °C. It was unable to degrade aesculin or gelatin. The dominant fatty acids (>10 %) were C18 : 1ω7c/ω6c (summed feature 8) and C16 : 0. The respiratory ubiquinone was Q10. The major lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, an aminolipid and one unknown lipid, and the minor lipids were two phospholipids and three unknown lipids. The G+C content of the chromosomal DNA was 61.7 mol%. 16S rRNA gene sequence comparison showed that strain H3T was related most closely to Sulfitobacter donghicola DSW-25T (97.3 % similarity) and levels of similarity with other species of the genus Sulfitobacter were 95.1–96.9 %. The mean (±sd) DNA–DNA hybridization value between strain H3T and Sulfitobacter donghicola DSW-25T was 18.0±2.25 %. The average nucleotide identity between strain H3T and Sulfitobacter donghicola DSW-25T was 70.45 %. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain H3T formed a separate clade close to the genus Sulfitobacter and was distinguishable from phylogenetically related species by differences in several phenotypic properties. On the basis of the phenotypic and phylogenetic data, strain H3T represents a novel species of the genus Sulfitobacter , for which the name Sulfitobacter pseudonitzschiae is proposed (type strain H3T = DSM 26824T = MCCC 1A00686T).

Strain RK1T, a Gram-stain-negative, non-spore-forming, rod-shaped, non-motile bacterium was isolated from a hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) dumpsite, Lucknow, India. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that strain RK1T belongs to the family Sphingobacteriaceae and showed highest sequence similarity to Parapedobacter koreensis Jip14T (95.63 %). The major cellular fatty acids of strain RK1T were iso-C15 : 0, summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c), iso-C17 : 0 3-OH, summed feature 9 (10-methyl C16 : 0 and/or iso-C17 : 1ω9c), iso-C15 : 0 3-OH and C16 : 0. The major respiratory pigment and polyamine of RK1T were menaquinone (MK-7) and homospermidine, respectively. The main polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine and sphingolipid. The G+C content of the DNA was 44.5 mol%. The results of physiological and biochemical tests and 16S rRNA sequence analysis clearly demonstrated that strain RK1T represents a novel species of the genus Parapedobacter , for which the name Parapedobacter indicus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is RK1T ( = DSM 28470T = MCC 2546T).

A Gram-stain-negative, flagellated, aerobic and rod-shaped or ovoid bacterial strain, designated HJTF-7T, was isolated from a tidal flat on the South Sea of South Korea, and its taxonomic position was investigated using a polyphasic approach. Strain HJTF-7T grew optimally at 25 °C, at pH 7.0–8.0 and in the presence of 2.0 % (w/v) NaCl. Neighbour-joining, maximum-likelihood and maximum-parsimony phylogenetic trees, based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, showed that strain HJTF-7T joined the cluster comprising the type strains of species of the genera Spongiibacter and Zhongshania . Strain HJTF-7T exhibited 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities of 90.4–92.5 % to the type strains of species of the genera Spongiibacter and Zhongshania and of less than 91.5 % to the type strains of other recognized species. Strain HJTF-7T contained Q-8 as the predominant ubiquinone. The major fatty acids were iso-C17 : 1ω9c, iso-C15 : 0, iso-C17 : 0, iso-C11 : 0 3-OH and C17 : 1ω8c and the major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol. The fatty acid and polar lipid profiles of strain HJTF-7T were distinct from those of members of the genera Spongiibacter and Zhongshania . The DNA G+C content of strain HJTF-7T was 55.9 mol%. The phylogenetic data and differential chemotaxonomic and other phenotypic properties revealed that strain HJTF-7T represents a novel genus and species within the class Gammaproteobacteria , for which the name Litorivivens lipolytica gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Litorivivens lipolytica is HJTF-7T ( = KCTC 42157T = CECT 8654T).

Two Gram-negative, rod-shaped, non-spore-forming bacteria, isolated from metal working fluids were investigated to determine their taxonomic positions. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence phylogeny, both strains (MPA 1113T and MPA 1105T) formed a distinct cluster with 97.7 % sequence similarity between them, which was in the vicinity of members of the genera Methylobacterium , Camelimonas , Chelatococcus , Bosea , Salinarimonas and Microvirga to which they showed low sequence similarities (below 94 %). The predominant compounds in the polyamine pattern and in the quinone system of the two strains were spermidine and ubiquinone Q-10, respectively. The polar lipid profiles were composed of the major compounds: phosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, major or moderate amounts of diphosphatidylglycerol, two unidentified glycolipids and three unidentified aminolipids. Several minor lipids were also detected. The major fatty acids were either C19 : 0 cyclo ω8c or C18 : 1ω7c. The results of fatty acid analysis and physiological and biochemical tests allowed both, the genotypic and phenotypic differentiation of the isolates from each other, while the chemotaxonomic traits allowed them to be differentiated from the most closely related genera. In summary, low 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities and marked differences in polar lipid profiles, as well as in polyamine patterns, is suggestive of a novel genus for which the name Pseudochelatococcus gen. nov. is proposed. MPA 1113T ( = CCM 8528T = LMG 28286T = CIP 110802T) and MPA 1105T ( = CCM 8527T = LMG 28285T) are proposed to be the type strains representing two novel species within the novel genus, Pseudochelatococcus gen. nov., for which the names Pseudochelatococcus lubricantis sp. nov. and Pseudochelatococcus contaminans sp. nov. are suggested, respectively.

Enrichment cultures inoculated with hydrothermally influenced nearshore sediment from Papua New Guinea led to the isolation of an arsenic-tolerant, acidophilic, facultatively aerobic bacterial strain designated PNG-AprilT. Cells of this strain were Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped, motile and did not form spores. Strain PNG-AprilT grew at temperatures between 4 °C and 40 °C (optimum 30–37 °C), at pH 3.5 to 8.3 (optimum pH 5–6) and in the presence of up to 2.7 % NaCl (optimum 0–1.0 %). Both arsenate and arsenite were tolerated up to concentrations of at least 0.5 mM. Metabolism in strain PNG-AprilT was strictly respiratory. Heterotrophic growth occurred with O2 or nitrate as electron acceptors, and aerobic lithoautotrophic growth was observed with thiosulfate or nitrite as electron donors. The novel isolate was capable of N2-fixation. The respiratory quinones were Q-8 and Q-7. Phylogenetically, strain PNG-AprilT belongs to the genus Burkholderia and shares the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with the type strains of Burkholderia fungorum (99.8 %), Burkholderia phytofirmans (98.8 %), Burkholderia caledonica (98.4 %) and Burkholderia sediminicola (98.4 %). Differences from these related species in several physiological characteristics (lipid composition, carbohydrate utilization, enzyme profiles) and DNA–DNA hybridization suggested the isolate represents a novel species of the genus Burkholderia , for which we propose the name Burkholderia insulsa sp. nov. The type strain is PNG-AprilT ( = DSM 28142T = LMG 28183T).

A yellow, Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped, non-spore-forming bacterium (strain JM-1T) was isolated from the rhizosphere of a field-grown Zea mays plant in Auburn, AL, USA. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis of strain JM-1T showed high sequence similarity to the type strains of Novosphingobium capsulatum (98.9 %), Novosphingobium aromaticivorans (97.4 %), Novosphingobium subterraneum (97.3 %) and Novosphingobium taihuense (97.1 %); sequence similarities to all other type strains of species of the genus Novosphingobium were below 97.0 %. DNA–DNA hybridizations of strain JM-1T and N. capsulatum DSM 30196T, N. aromaticivorans SMCC F199T and N. subterraneum SMCC B0478T showed low similarity values of 33 % (reciprocal: 21 %), 14 % (reciprocal 16 %) and 36 % (reciprocal 38 %), respectively. Ubiquinone Q-10 was detected as the major respiratory quinone. The predominant fatty acid was C18 : 1ω7c (71.0 %) and the typical 2-hydroxy fatty acid C14 : 0 2-OH (11.7 %) was detected. The polar lipid profile contained the diagnostic lipids diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, sphingoglycolipid and phosphatidylcholine. Characterization by 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, physiological parameters, pigment analysis, and ubiquinone, polar lipid and fatty acid composition revealed that strain JM-1T represents a novel species of the genus Novosphingobium . For this species we propose the name Novosphingobium rhizosphaerae sp. nov. with the type strain JM-1T ( = LMG 28479T = CCM 8547T).

A slightly thermophilic, Gram-staining-negative and strictly aerobic bacteria, designated strain YIM 78141T, was isolated from a sediment sample collected at Hehua hot spring, Tengchong, Yunnan province, south-west China. Cells of the strain were short-rod-shaped and colonies were yellowish and circular. The strain grew at pH 6.0–10.0 (optimum, pH 8.0–9.0) and 10–55 °C (optimum, 40–50 °C). Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequence comparison demonstrated that strain YIM 78141T belongs to the family Neisseriaceae , and strain YIM 78141T also showed low levels of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity (below 93.4 %) with all other genera in this family. The only quinone was ubiquinone 8 and the genomic DNA G+C content was 67.3 mol%. Major fatty acids (>5 %) were C12 : 0, C16 : 0, C18 : 1ω7c and summed feature 3. The polar lipids consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylmethylethanolamine, phospholipids of unknown structure containing aminoglycophospholipid and three unidentified polar lipids. On the basis of the morphological, physiological and biochemical characteristics as well as genotypic data, this strain should be classified as a representative of a novel genus and species of the family Neisseriaceae , for which the name Crenobacter luteus gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YIM 78141T ( = BCRC 80650T = KCTC 32558T = DSM 27258T).

A Gram-staining-negative, rod-shaped, motile and facultatively anaerobic bacterial strain, designated X2T, was isolated from the sludge of an anaerobic, denitrifying, sulfide-removal bioreactor, and found to oxidize sulfide anaerobically with nitrate as electron acceptor. The strain grew at salinities of 0–3 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 0–1 %). Growth occurred at pH 6.0–10.0 (optimum, pH 8.0) and 10–37 °C (optimum, 30 °C). The genomic DNA G+C content was 59 mol%. Q-8 and Q-9 were detected as the respiratory quinones. The major fatty acids (>10 %) were C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c, C18 : 1ω7c and C16 : 0. The polar lipids consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol and one unidentified phospholipid. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain X2T formed a novel clade within the family Pseudomonadaceae , with the highest sequence similarity to Pseudomonas caeni KCTC 22292T (93.5 %). On the basis of phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic characteristics, it is proposed that this strain represents novel genus and species within the family Pseudomonadaceae , for which the name Thiopseudomonas denitrificans gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is X2T ( = CCTCC M 2013362T = DSM 28679T = KCTC 42076T).

A Gram-reaction-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped and non-motile marine bacterium, designated MEBiC09566T was isolated from a sponge collected at Uljin County in the coastal area of the East Sea (36° 55′ N, 129° 25′ E), Korea. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that strain MEBiC09566T showed the highest similarity with the Kiloniella laminariae LD81T (96.7 %). Growth was observed at 11–31 °C (optimum 25 °C), at pH 6.0–8.5 (optimum pH 7.0) and with 0–6 % (optimum 2.5 %) NaCl. The predominant cellular fatty acids were summed feature 8 (comprised of C18 : 1ω7c/C18 : 1ω6c) and summed feature 3 (comprised of C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c). The DNA G+C content is 44.6 mol%. The major respiratory quinone is Q-9. Phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, an unidentified lipid, two unidentified aminophospholipids and one unidentified aminolipid were detected as major polar lipids. On the basis of this polyphasic taxonomic data, it is concluded that strain MEBiC09566T should be classified as representing a novel species in the genus Kiloniella and the name proposed is Kiloniella spongiae sp. nov. The type strain is MEBiC09566T ( = KCCM 43040T = JCM 19930T). Emended descriptions of the genus Kiloniella Wiese et al. 2009 and Kiloniella laminariae are also given.

A novel, obligately chemolithoautotrophic, sulfur-oxidizing bacterial strain, designated strain gps52T, was isolated from a rock sample collected near the hydrothermal vents of the Suiyo Seamount in the Pacific Ocean. The cells possessed a Gram-stain-negative-type cell wall and contained menaquinone-8(H4) and menaquinone-9(H4) as respiratory quinones, and C16 : 1ω7c, C16 : 0 and C18 : 1ω7c as major cellular fatty acids. Neither storage compounds nor extensive internal membranes were observed in the cells. Strain gps52T grew using carbon dioxide fixation and oxidation of inorganic sulfur compounds with oxygen as electron acceptor. Optimal growth was observed at 32 °C, pH 6.5 and with 3 % (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain gps52T belongs to the family Ectothiorhodospiraceae and is different from any other known bacteria, with sequence similarities of less than 93 %. Based on phenotypic and phylogenetic findings, the isolate is considered to represent a novel genus and species in the family Ectothiorhodospiraceae , and the name Thiogranum longum gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is gps52T ( = NBRC 101260T = DSM 19610T). An emended description of the genus Thiohalomonas is also proposed.

A Gram-negative, spiral-shaped, chemolithotrophic, ammonia-oxidizing bacterium, designated APG3T, was isolated into pure culture from sandy lake sediment collected from Green Lake, Seattle, WA, USA. Phylogenetic analyses based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that strain APG3T belongs to cluster 0 of the genus Nitrosospira , which is presently not represented by described species, with Nitrosospira multiformis (cluster 3) as the closest species with a validly published name (identity of 98.6 % to the type strain). Strain APG3T grew at 4 °C but could not grow at 35 °C, indicating that this bacterium is psychrotolerant. Remarkably, the strain was able to grow over a wide range of pH (pH 5–9), which was greater than the pH range of any studied ammonia-oxidizing bacteria in pure culture. The DNA G+C content of the APG3T genome is 53.5 %, which is similar to that of Nitrosospira multiformis ATCC 25196T (53.9 %) but higher than that of Nitrosomonas europaea ATCC 19718 (50.7 %) and Nitrosomonas eutropha C71 (48.5 %). The average nucleotide identity (ANI) calculated for the genomes of strain APG3T and Nitrosospira multiformis ATCC 25196T was 75.45 %, significantly lower than the value of 95 % ANI that corresponds to the 70 % species-level cut-off based on DNA–DNA hybridization. Overall polyphasic taxonomy study indicated that strain APG3T represents a novel species in the genus Nitrosospira , for which the name Nitrosospira lacus sp. nov. is proposed (type strain APG3T = NCIMB 14869T = LMG 27536T = ATCC BAA-2542T).

We report the isolation and growth characteristics of a gammaproteobacterial methane-oxidizing bacterium (Methylococcaceae strain WF1T, ‘whale fall 1’) that shares 98 % 16S rRNA gene sequence identity with uncultivated free-living methanotrophs and the methanotrophic endosymbionts of deep-sea mussels, ≤94.6 % 16S rRNA gene sequence identity with species of the genus Methylobacter and ≤93.6 % 16S rRNA gene sequence identity with species of the genera Methylomonas and Methylosarcina . Strain WF1T represents the first cultivar from the ‘deep sea-1’ clade of marine methanotrophs, which includes members that participate in methane oxidation in sediments and the water column in addition to mussel endosymbionts. Cells of strain WF1T were elongated cocci, approximately 1.5 µm in diameter, and occurred singly, in pairs and in clumps. The cell wall was Gram-negative, and stacked intracytoplasmic membranes and storage granules were evident. The genomic DNA G+C content of WF1T was 40.5 mol%, significantly lower than that of currently described cultivars, and the major fatty acids were 16 : 0, 16 : 1ω9c, 16 : 1ω9t, 16 : 1ω8c and 16 : 2ω9,14. Growth occurred in liquid media at an optimal temperature of 23 °C, and was dependent on the presence of methane or methanol. Atmospheric nitrogen could serve as the sole nitrogen source for WF1T, a capacity that had not been functionally demonstrated previously in members of Methylobacter . On the basis of its unique morphological, physiological and phylogenetic properties, this strain represents the type species within a new genus, and we propose the name Methyloprofundus sedimenti gen. nov., sp. nov. The type strain of Methyloprofundus sedimenti is WF1T ( = LMG 28393T = ATCC BAA-2619T).

A pale yellow, aerobic bacterium, strain M0-2T, was isolated from a till sample. Its taxonomic position was investigated by using a polyphasic approach. Cells were Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped and motile. Cells reproduced by budding or asymmetrical cell division. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain M0-2T belonged to the family Sphingomonadaceae and was closely related to species of the genera Novosphingobium (96.4–92.0 %) and Blastomonas (94.6 %), Sphingopyxis witflariensis W-50T (94.0 %), Sphingosinicella soli KSL-125T (93.6 %) and Sphingomonas astaxanthinifaciens TDMA-17T (93.5 %). Ubiquinone-10 (Q-10) was the predominant respiratory quinone. The major fatty acids were summed feature 8 (comprising C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c, 31.9 %), summed feature 3 (comprising C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c, 19.8 %) and C14 : 0 2-OH (8.9 %). Sphingoglycolipid, phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylcholine were the major polar lipids. Spermidine was the major polyamine observed in the cell. The genomic DNA G+C content was 47.5 mol%. On the basis of phylogenetic relationships and the low DNA G+C content compared with most other genera of the family Sphingomonadaceae , combined with phenotypic and chemotaxonomic data, strain M0-2T is considered to represent a novel species in a new genus in the family Sphingomonadaceae for which the name Parablastomonas arctica gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Parablastomonas arctica gen. nov., sp. nov. is M0-2T ( = CCTCC AB 2012968T = NRRL B-59110T).

In the frame of a bumble bee gut microbiota study, acetic acid bacteria (AAB) were isolated using a combination of direct isolation methods and enrichment procedures. MALDI-TOF MS profiling of the isolates and a comparison of these profiles with profiles of established AAB species identified most isolates as Asaia astilbis or as ‘Commensalibacter intestini’, except for two isolates (R-52486 and LMG 28161T) that showed an identical profile. A nearly complete 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain LMG 28161T was determined and showed the highest pairwise similarity to Saccharibacter floricola S-877T (96.5 %), which corresponded with genus level divergence in the family Acetobacteraceae . Isolate LMG 28161T was subjected to whole-genome shotgun sequencing; a 16S–23S rRNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence as well as partial sequences of the housekeeping genes dnaK, groEL and rpoB were extracted for phylogenetic analyses. The obtained data confirmed that this isolate is best classified into a new genus in the family Acetobacteraceae . The DNA G+C content of strain LMG 28161T was 54.9 mol%. The fatty acid compositions of isolates R-52486 and LMG 28161T were similar to those of established AAB species [with C18 : 1ω7c (43.1 %) as the major component], but the amounts of fatty acids such as C19 : 0 cyclo ω8c, C14 : 0 and C14 : 0 2-OH enabled to differentiate them. The major ubiquinone was Q-10. Both isolates could also be differentiated from the known genera of AAB by means of biochemical characteristics, such as their inability to oxidize ethanol to acetic acid, negligible acid production from melibiose, and notable acid production from d-fructose, sucrose and d-mannitol. In addition, they produced 2-keto-d-gluconate, but not 5-keto-d-gluconate from d-glucose. Therefore, the name Bombella intestini gen nov., sp. nov. is proposed for this new taxon, with LMG 28161T ( = DSM 28636T = R-52487T) as the type strain of the type species.

A floc-forming, Gram-stain-negative, petroleum hydrocarbon-degrading bacterial strain, designated BucT, was isolated from a petroleum hydrocarbon-contaminated site in Hungary. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain BucT formed a distinct phyletic lineage within the genus Zoogloea . Its closest relative was found to be Zoogloea caeni EMB43T (97.2 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity) followed by Zoogloea oryzae A-7T (95.9 %), Zoogloea ramigera ATCC 19544T (95.5 %) and Zoogloea resiniphila DhA-35T (95.4 %). The level of DNA–DNA relatedness between strain BucT and Z. caeni EMB43T was 31.6 %. Cells of strain BucT are facultatively aerobic, rod-shaped, and motile by means of a polar flagellum. The strain grew at temperatures of 5–35 °C (optimum 25–28 °C), and at pH 6.0–9.0 (optimum 6.5–7.5). The predominant fatty acids were C16 : 0, C10 : 0 3-OH, C12 : 0 and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or iso-C15 : 0 2-OH). The major respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-8 (Q-8) and the predominant polar lipid was phosphatidylethanolamine. The genomic DNA G+C content was 63.2 mol%. On the basis of the chemotaxonomic, molecular and phenotypic data, isolate BucT is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Zoogloea , for which the name Zoogloea oleivorans sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is BucT ( = DSM 28387T = NCAIM B 02570T).

A novel facultatively anaerobic, Gram-stain-negative bacterium, designated strain HT7-2T, was isolated from Ulva prolifera collected from the intertidal zone of Qingdao sea area, China, during its bloom. Cells were rod-shaped (1.9–3.5×0.4–0.6 µm), non-sporulating and motile by gliding. Strain HT7-2T was able to grow at 4–50 °C (optimum 40–42 °C), pH 5.5–8.5 (optimum pH 7.0), 0–8 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum 2–3 %) and 0.5–10 % (w/v) sea salts (optimum 2.5 %). The genomic DNA G+C content was 38.8 mol%. The phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain HT7-2T belonged to the genus Maribacter with sequence similarity values of 94.5–96.6 %, and was most closely related to Maribacter aestuarii GY20T (96.6 %). Chemotaxonomic analysis showed that the main isoprenoid quinone was MK-6 and the major fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0 and unknown equivalent chain-length 13.565. The polar lipids of strain HT7-2T consisted of one phosphatidylethanolamine, four unidentified lipids and one unidentified aminolipid. On the basis of the phenotypic, phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic characteristics, strain HT7-2T ( = CGMCC 1.12207T = JCM 18466T) is concluded to represent a novel species of the genus Maribacter , for which the name Maribacter thermophilus sp. nov. is proposed. An emended description of the genus Maribacter is also proposed.

A novel strain, designated strain W113T, was isolated from the gut of an abalone, Haliotis discus hannai, which was collected from the northern coast of Jeju in Korea. The isolate was a Gram-staining-negative, facultatively anaerobic, non-motile, rod-shaped bacterium producing yellow-to-orange carotenoid-type pigments. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that the isolate belonged to the genus Actibacter in the family Flavobacteriaceae and it shared the highest sequence similarity with the type strain of Actibacter sediminis (98.8 % similarity). Optimal growth occurred at 25 °C, at pH 7 and with 2 % (w/v) NaCl. The major cellular fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 0 and iso-C15 : 1 G. Menaquinone-6 was the main respiratory quinone. The polar lipids of the isolate were phosphatidylethanolamine, three unidentified amino lipids, and three unidentified lipids. The genomic DNA G+C content was 42.6 mol% and DNA–DNA hybridization values indicated that the strain shared <18 % genomic relatedness with the most closely related species. The results of the phylogenetic, phenotypic and genotypic analyses indicated that strain W113T represents a novel species in the genus Actibacter , for which the name Actibacter haliotis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is W113T ( = KACC 17209T = JCM 18868T).

A Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped and non-endospore-forming bacterium, designated strain AG1-2T, was isolated from Takakia lepidozioides collected from the Gawalong glacier in Tibet, China and characterized using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. The predominant fatty acids of strain AG1-2T were iso-C15 : 0 (36.0 %), iso-C17 : 0 3-OH (20.2 %), summed feature 9 (iso-C17 : 1ω9c and/or C16 : 0 10-methyl, 16.4 %) and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c, 11.1 %). The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, three unidentified aminolipids and two unidentified lipids. Strain AG1-2T contained MK-6 as the dominant menaquinone, and the genomic DNA G+C content was 37.3 mol%. The phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain AG1-2T was affiliated to species of the genus Chryseobacterium , and its closest related species were Chryseobacterium taiwanense Soil-3-27T, Chryseobacterium hispalense AG13T, Chryseobacterium camelliae THG C4-1T and Chryseobacterium taeanense PHA3-4T with a sequence similarity of 98.0, 97.8, 97.3 and 97.1 %, respectively. However, the DNA–DNA relatedness values between these strains and strain AG1-2T were 29, 21, 21 and 45 %, respectively. Based on phylogenetic inference and phenotypic data, strain AG1-2T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Chryseobacterium , for which the name Chryseobacterium takakiae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is AG1-2T ( = CGMCC 1.12488T = DSM 26898T).