- Volume 65, Issue Pt_3, 2015

Five beige bacterial strains (176/10T, 178/10, 182/10, 185/7 and 193/8) were isolated from white storks in Poland and found to share identical 16S rRNA gene sequences; they were also investigated in a polyphasic taxonomic study. The cells of all isolates were rod-shaped and Gram-stain-negative. A comparison of the 16S rRNA gene sequences of these organisms with the sequences of the type strains of the most closely related species of the genus Psychrobacter showed highest sequence similarities to the type strains of Psychrobacter pulmonis and Psychrobacter faecalis (both 97.1 %). The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities to all other species of the genus Psychrobacter were below 96.3 %. All five isolates showed an identical profile of physiological reactions and almost identical fatty acid profiles consisting of mainly C18 : 1ω9c, but also C12 : 0 3-OH as a characteristic hydroxylated fatty acid. A quinone system with mainly ubiquinone Q-8 was detected and the polar lipid profile of the type strain, 176/10T, was mainly composed of phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylserine and diphosphatidylglycerol, plus some hitherto uncharacterized phospholipids and one aminolipid. The major polyamines were spermidine and putrescine. DNA–DNA hybridizations between 176/10T and the type strains of P. pulmonis and P. faecialis resulted in relatedness values below 70 %. These results indicate that the strains represent a novel species, for which the name Psychrobacter ciconiae sp. nov. (type strain 176/10T = CIP 110777T = LMG 28175T = CCM 8519T) is proposed.

A cream-coloured, Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, non-motile, rod- to irregular shaped bacterium, strain 119/4T, was isolated from a choana swab of a white stork nestling on sheep blood agar. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis and subsequent comparisons showed that it was a member of the family Rhodobacteraceae, showing 94.9 % similarity to the type strain of Gemmobacter tilapiae and 94.6 % similarity to that of Gemmobacter nectariphilus , but also similarly low sequence similarity to the type strains of Rhodobacter viridis (94.8 %), Rhodobacter veldkampii (94.6 %) and Paenirhodobacter enshiensis (94.6 %). Reconstruction of phylogenetic trees showed that strain 119/4T clustered close to species of the genus Gemmobacter . The quinone system contained high amounts of ubiquinone Q-10 with traces of Q-8, Q-9 and Q-11, and the fatty acid profile consisted mainly of C18 : 1ω7c, C16 : 1ω7c/iso-C15 : 0 2-OH and C10 : 0 3-OH. The predominant polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phoshatidylglycerol and phosphatidylcholine. Major polyamines were putrescine and spermidine. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis and chemotaxonomic and physiological data, strain 119/4T represents a novel species of the genus Gemmobacter , for which the name Gemmobacter intermedius sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 119/4T ( = CIP 110795T = LMG 28215T = CCM 8510T).

We propose a new genus to accommodate the phototrophic bacterium Gemmobacter changlensis [Chen W. M., Cho, N. T., Huang, W. C., Young, C. C. & Sheu, S. Y. (2013) Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 63, 470–478] based on multiple strain analysis. Differences in the major diagnostic properties such as ability to grow phototrophically, the presence of internal photosynthetic membranes, the light harvesting complexes, fatty acids, carotenoids, bacterial chlorophylls, polar lipid composition and some other phenotypic properties warrant the creation of a new genus, designated Cereibacter gen. nov., to accommodate the phototrophic members of the genus Gemmobacter , as represented by the type species Cereibacter changlensis comb. nov.

An aerobic and Gram-stain-negative bacterial strain, designated 9NM-14T, was isolated from abandoned lead-zinc ore from Meizhou, Guangdong Province, south China. Strain 9NM-14T was motile by means of a single polar flagellum. Phylogenetic analysis, based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, showed that strain 9NM-14T was affiliated with the genus Lysobacter and was most closely related to Lysobacter xinjiangensis RCML-52T and Lysobacter bugurensis ZLD-29T (97.4 % and 96.3 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, respectively). The DNA–DNA relatedness value between strain 9NM-14T and L. xinjiangensis RCML-52T was 30.1±7.6 %. The major respiratory quinone was unbiquinone 8 (Q-8) and the major cellular fatty acids consisted of iso-C17 : 1ω9c (29.1 %), iso-C15 : 0 (28.9 %), iso-C17 : 0 (9.4 %), iso-C16 : 0 (8.6 %), iso-C11 : 0 3-OH (6.9 %) and iso-C11 : 0 (5.8 %). The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, an unidentified aminolipid and five unidentified phospholipids. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain 9NM-14T was 70.7±0.1 mol%. On the basis of the data from this polyphasic taxonomic study, strain 9NM-14T should be assigned to a novel species of the genus Lysobacter , for which the name Lysobacter mobilis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 9NM-14T ( = GIMCC 1.659T = CCTCC AB 2014273T = DSM 27574T).

A bacterial strain designated 6B-8T was isolated from crude oil from Daqing oilfield, China. Cells of strain 6B-8T were Gram-negative, aerobic, dimorphic and reproduced by means of binary fission. Strain 6B-8T could grow at 20–37 °C, pH 8–10 and 1–5 % (w/v) NaCl. Its genomic DNA G+C content was 62.0 mol%. The predominant cellular fatty acids were C18 : 1ω7c, C17 : 0, C18 : 0 and 11-methyl C18 : 1ω7c and the main hydroxy fatty acids were C12 : 0 3-OH and C12 : 1 3-OH when grown on marine agar 2216. The major quinone was Q-10 and the major polar lipids were three unidentified glycolipids. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that strain 6B-8T was a member of the family Hyphomonadaceae , sharing 99.6 and 99.4 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with Glycocaulis abyssi LMG 27140T and Glycocaulis albus SLG210-30A1T, respectively, and less than 94.4 % similarity with the type strains of other members of the family Hyphomonadaceae . However, the DNA–DNA relatedness between strain 6B-8T and related strains G. abyssi LMG 27140T and G. albus SLG210-30A1T was 36±5 and 42±5 %, respectively. In addition, several phenotypic and genotypic features allowed differentiation of strain 6B-8T from G. abyssi LMG 27140T and G. albus SLG210-30A1T. Therefore, strain 6B-8T represents a novel species of genus Glycocaulis , for which the name Glycocaulis alkaliphilus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 6B-8T ( = CGMCC 1.12428T = LMG 27410T).

Strain BUT-8T, a Gram-stain-negative, non-motile and rod-shaped aerobic bacterium, was isolated from the activated sludge of a herbicide-manufacturing wastewater treatment facility. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that strain BUT-8T clustered with species of the genus Lysobacter and was closely related to Lysobacter ruishenii DSM 22393T (98.3 %) and Lysobacter daejeonensis KACC 11406T (98.7 %). The DNA G+C content of the genomic DNA was 70.6 mol%. The major respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-8, and the major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and an aminolipid. The major cellular fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, iso-C16 : 0, iso-C17 : 0, iso-C11 : 0, iso-C11 : 0 3OH and summed feature 9 (comprising iso-C17 : 1ω9c and/or C16 : 010-methyl). The DNA–DNA relatedness between strain BUT-8T and its closest phylogenetic neighbours was below 70 %. Phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic and phenotypic results clearly demonstrated that strain BUT-8T belongs to the genus Lysobacter and represents a novel species for which the name Lysobacter caeni sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is BUT-8T ( = CCTCC AB 2013087T = KACC 17141T).

We aimed to define the taxonomic status of 16 strains which were phenetically congruent with Acinetobacter DNA group 15 described by Tjernberg & Ursing in 1989. The strains were isolated from a variety of human and animal specimens in geographically distant places over the last three decades. Taxonomic analysis was based on an Acinetobacter -targeted, genus-wide approach that included the comparative sequence analysis of housekeeping, protein-coding genes, whole-cell profiling based on matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), an array of in-house physiological and metabolic tests, and whole-genome comparative analysis. Based on analyses of the rpoB and gyrB genes, the 16 strains formed respective, strongly supported clusters clearly separated from the other species of the genus Acinetobacter . The distinctness of the group at the species level was indicated by average nucleotide identity values of ≤82 % between the whole genome sequences of two of the 16 strains (NIPH 2171T and NIPH 899) and those of the known species. In addition, the coherence of the group was also supported by MALDI-TOF MS. All 16 strains were non-haemolytic and non-gelatinase-producing, grown at 41 °C and utilized a rather limited number of carbon sources. Virtually every strain displayed a unique combination of metabolic and physiological features. We conclude that the 16 strains represent a distinct species of the genus Acinetobacter , for which the name Acinetobacter variabilis sp. nov. is proposed to reflect its marked phenotypic heterogeneity. The type strain is NIPH 2171T ( = CIP 110486T = CCUG 26390T = CCM 8555T).

A polyphasic taxonomic study was carried out on strain EBR-4-1T, which was isolated from a biofilm reactor in the Republic of Korea. The cells of the strain were Gram-stain-negative, non-spore-forming, motile and rod-shaped. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence studies showed a clear affiliation of this strain to the Alphaproteobacteria , and it was most closely related to Chelatococcus daeguensis CCUG 54519T, Chelatococcus sambhunathii HT4T, and Chelatococcus asaccharovorans DSM 6462T with 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities to the type strains of these species of 98.8 %, 98.7 %, and 96.3 %, respectively. The G+C content of the genomic DNA of strain EBR-4-1T was 68.7 mol%. Phenotypic and chemotaxonomic data [Q-10 as the major ubiquinone; C19 : 0cycloω8c, C18 : 1 2-OH, and summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c) as the major fatty acids] supported the affiliation of strain EBR-4-1T to the genus Chelatococcus . On the basis of the polyphasic evidence, it is proposed that strain EBR-4-1T should be assigned to a new species, Chelatococcus caeni sp. nov. The type strain is EBR-4-1T ( = KCTC 32487T = JCM 30181T).

An aerobic, Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped and polar-flagellated bacterium, designated strain CC-MHH0089T, was isolated from a soil sample taken on Matsu Island (Taiwan). Strain CC-MHH0089T grew at 15–30 °C and pH 5.0–10.0 and tolerated ≤8 % (w/v) NaCl. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed high pairwise sequence similarity to Pseudomonas azotifigens 6H33bT (97.3 %) and Pseudomonas balearica SP1402T (96.7 %) and lower sequence similarity to other strains (<96.0 %). In DNA–DNA reassociation experiments, the relatedness of strain CC-MHH0089T to P. azotifigens JCM 12708T was 38.3 % (reciprocal value 19.5 %). Evolutionary trees reconstructed on the basis of 16S rRNA, gyrB and rpoB gene sequences revealed a varying phylogenetic neighbourhood of strain CC-MHH0089T with regard to the most closely related type strains. The predominant quinone system was ubiquinone 9 (Q-9) and the DNA G+C content was 63.6 mol%. The major fatty acids were C12 : 0, C16 : 0, C17 : 0, C19 : 0 cyclo ω8c and summed features 2 (C14 : 0 3-OH/iso-C16 : 1 I), 3 (C16 : 1ω7c/C16 : 1ω6c) and 8 (C18 : 1ω7c/C18 : 1ω6c). The major polar lipids were phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and diphosphatidylglycerol. According to its distinct phylogenetic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic features, strain CC-MHH0089T is proposed to represent a novel species within the genus Pseudomonas , for which the name Pseudomonas matsuisoli sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CC-MHH0089T ( = BCRC 80771T = JCM 30078T).

A Gram-stain-negative, facultatively anaerobic, oxidase- and catalase-positive, rod-shaped bacterium, strain SYM1T, was isolated from a culture of Symbiodinium sp., an algal symbiont of the sea anemone Aiptasia tagetes collected in Puerto Rico. Growth was observed at 4–40 °C (optimum 30 °C), at pH 5.0–11.0 (optimum pH 8.0) and with 0.5–8 % (optimum 2 %) (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic analyses of 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain SYM1T was a member of the genus Neptunomonas with the type strain of Neptunomonas naphthovorans as the closest phylogenetic relative with a pairwise sequence similarity of 98.15 %. However, DNA–DNA relatedness between strain SYM1T and N. naphthovorans CIP 106451T was 24 %. Moreover, strain SYM1T could be distinguished from its closest relative by several phenotypic characteristics such as NaCl, pH and temperature tolerance, nitrate reduction and utilization of carbon substrates. The major cellular fatty acids were C16 : 0, C18 : 1ω7c and summed feature 3 (comprising C16 : 1ω7c and/or iso-C15 : 0 2-OH). The genomic DNA G+C content of strain SYM1T was 45 mol%. Ubiquinone-8 (Q-8) was the only respiratory quinone detected. Based on a polyphasic taxonomic characterization, strain SYM1T represents a novel species of the genus Neptunomonas , for which the name Neptunomonas phycophila sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is SYM1T ( = LMG 28329T = CECT 8716T).

This study aimed to define the taxonomic status of a phenetically distinct group of 16 strains that corresponds to Acinetobacter genomic species ‘close to 13TU’, a provisional genomic species of the Acinetobacter calcoaceticus–Acinetobacter baumannii (ACB) complex recognized by Gerner-Smidt and Tjernberg in 1993. These strains have been isolated in different countries since the early 1990s and were mostly recovered from human clinical specimens. They were compared with 45 reference strains representing the known taxa of the ACB complex using taxonomic methods relevant to the genus Acinetobacter . Based on sequence analysis of the concatenated partial sequences (2976 bp) of seven housekeeping genes, the 16 strains formed a tight and well-supported cluster (intracluster sequence identity of ≥98.4 %) that was clearly separated from the other members of the ACB complex (≤94.7 %). The species status of the group was supported by average nucleotide identity values of ≤91.7 % between the whole genome sequence of representative strain NIPH 973T (NCBI accession no. APOO00000000) and those of the other species. In addition, whole-cell matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) MS analyses indicated the distinctness of the group at the protein level. Metabolic and physiological tests revealed several typical features of the group, although they did not allow its reliable differentiation from the other members of the ACB complex. We conclude that the 16 strains represent a distinct novel species, for which we propose the name Acinetobacter seifertii sp. nov. The type strain is NIPH 973T ( = CIP 110471T = CCUG 34785T = CCM 8535T).

A Gram-stain negative, rod-shaped, non-spore-forming, obligate aerobic bacterial strain, JC2949T, was isolated from grassland soil in Gwanak Mountain, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Phylogenetic analysis, based on 16S rRNA sequences, indicated that strain JC2949T belongs to the genus Burkholderia , showing highest sequence similarities with Burkholderia grimmiae R27T (98.8 %), Burkholderia cordobensis LMG 27620T (98.6 %), Burkholderia jiangsuensis MP-1TT (98.6 %), Burkholderia zhejiangensis OP-1T (98.5 %), Burkholderia humi LMG 22934T (97.5 %), Burkholderia terrestris LMG 22937T (97.3 %), Burkholderia telluris LMG 22936T (97.2 %) and Burkholderia glathei ATCC 29195T (97.0 %). The major fatty acids of strain JC2949T were C18 : 1ω7c, summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c) and C16 : 0. Its predominant polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and an unknown amino phospholipid. The dominant isoprenoid quinone was ubiquinone Q-8. The pairwise average nucleotide identity values between strain JC2949T and the genomes of 30 other species of the genus Burkholderia ranged from 73.4–90.4 %, indicating that the isolate is a novel genomic species within this genus. Based on phenotypic and chemotaxonomic comparisons, it is clear that strain JC2949T represents a novel species of the genus Burkholderia . We propose the name for this novel species to be Burkholderia megalochromosomata sp. nov. The type strain is JC2949T ( = KACC 17925T = JCM 19905T).

We obtained a rickettsial isolate from the ovaries of the blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis. The isolate (ISO7T) was grown in the Ixodes ricinus embryonic cell line IRE11. We characterized the isolate by transmission electron microscopy and gene sequencing. Phylogenetic analysis of 11 housekeeping genes demonstrated that the isolate fulfils the criteria to be classified as a representative of a novel rickettsial species closely related to ‘Rickettsia monacensis’. These rickettsiae form a clade separate from other species of rickettsiae. Gene sequences indicated that several genes important in rickettsial motility, invasiveness and temperature adaptation were mutated (e.g. sca2, rickA, hsp22, pldA and htrA). We propose the name Rickettsia buchneri sp. nov. for this bacterium that infects the ovaries of the tick I. scapularis to acknowledge the pioneering contributions of Professor Paul Buchner (1886–1978) to research on bacterial symbionts. The type strain of R. buchneri sp. nov. is strain ISO-7T ( = DSM 29016T = ATCC VR-1814T).

A psychrotolerant, Gram-stain-negative, motile, aerobic, peritrichous bacterium, strain DJC1-1T, was isolated from Lake Dajiaco, Tibetan Plateau, China. The strain was negative for citrate utilization, lipase activity and α-glucosidase, but positive for the Voges–Proskauer reaction and N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that Hafnia paralvei ATCC 29927T, Hafnia alvei ATCC 13337T, Serratia grimesii DSM 30063T and Serratia plymuthica DSM 4540T were the closest relatives of strain DJC1-1T, with similarities of 97.76, 96.80, 97.71 and 97.58 %, respectively. The DNA G+C content of strain DJC1-1T was 53.9 mol%. The predominant fatty acids were C16 : 0 and C17 : 0 cyclo. Based on these characteristics, strain DJC1-1T can be assigned to the genus Hafnia . In DNA–DNA hybridization tests, strain DJC1-1T shared 50.6, 35.1, 36.5 and 18.1 % DNA–DNA relatedness with the type strains of H. paralvei , H. alvei , S. grimesii and S. plymuthica , respectively. The growth temperature ranged from 0 to 40 °C, with optimum growth at 15 °C. Physiological and biochemical tests differentiated strain DJC1-1T from the type strains of recognized species of the genus Hafnia . Therefore, strain DJC1-1T is identified as representing a novel species of the genus Hafnia, for which the name Hafnia psychrotolerans sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is DJC1-1T ( = JCM 30077T = CGMCC1.12806T).

During sampling of reptiles for members of the class Epsilonproteobacteria , strains representing a member of the genus Campylobacter not belonging to any of the established taxa were isolated from lizards and chelonians. Initial amplified fragment length polymorphism, PCR and 16S rRNA sequence analysis showed that these strains were most closely related to Campylobacter fetus and Campylobacter hyointestinalis . A polyphasic study was undertaken to determine the taxonomic position of five strains. The strains were characterized by 16S rRNA and atpA sequence analysis, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry and conventional phenotypic testing. Whole-genome sequences were determined for strains 1485ET and 2463D, and the average nucleotide and amino acid identities were determined for these strains. The strains formed a robust phylogenetic clade, divergent from all other species of the genus Campylobacter . In contrast to most currently known members of the genus Campylobacter , the strains showed growth at ambient temperatures, which might be an adaptation to their reptilian hosts. The results of this study clearly show that these strains isolated from reptiles represent a novel species within the genus Campylobacter , for which the name Campylobacter iguaniorum sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 1485ET ( = LMG 28143T = CCUG 66346T).

Strain NEAU-ST5-21T was isolated from saline and alkaline soils in Zhaodong City, Heilongjiang Province, China. It was aerobic, Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped and motile with a polar flagellum. It produced yellow–orange colonies with a smooth surface, and grew in the presence of 0–5 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum 0 %, w/v), at temperatures of 20–40 °C (optimum 28 °C) and at pH 7–11 (optimum pH 7). Phylogenetic analyses based on the separate 16S rRNA gene sequences and concatenated 16S rRNA, gyrB and rpoD gene sequences indicated that strain NEAU-ST5-21T belongs to the genus Pseudomonas in the class Gammaproteobacteria . The most closely related species is Pseudomonas xanthomarina , whose type strain (KMM 1447T) showed gene sequence similarities of 99.0 % for 16S rRNA, 81.8 % for gyrB and 85.0 % for rpoD with strain NEAU-ST5-21T. DNA–DNA hybridization values between strain NEAU-ST5-21T and P. xanthomarina DSM 18231T, Pseudomonas kunmingensis CGMCC 1.12273T, Pseudomonas stutzeri DSM 5190T, Pseudomonas oleovorans subsp. lubricantis DSM 21016T, Pseudomomas chengduensis CGMCC 2318T, Pseudomonas alcaliphila DSM 17744T and Pseudomonas toyotomiensis DSM 26169T were 52±0 % to 25±2 %. The DNA G+C content of strain NEAU-ST5-21T was 65 mol%. The major fatty acids (>10 %) were C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c, C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c and C16 : 0, the predominant respiratory quinone was ubiquinone 9, and polar lipids consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, one unknown phospholipid, phosphatidylglycerol, one unknown aminolipid, one unknown lipid and a glycolipid. The proposed name is Pseudomonas zhaodongensis sp. nov., NEAU-ST5-21T ( = ACCC 06362T = DSM 27559T) being the type strain.

A novel type of mineral-weathering bacterium was isolated from the weathered surface of rock (mica schist) collected from Susong (Anhui, China). Cells of strain L226T were Gram-stain-negative. The strain grew optimally at 30 °C, with 1 % (w/v) NaCl and at pH 7.0 in trypticase soy broth. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene phylogeny, strain L226T was shown to belong to the genus Burkholderia and the closest phylogenetic relatives were Burkholderia sprentiae WSM5005T (98.3 %), Burkholderia acidipaludis NBRC 101816T (98.2 %), Burkholderia tuberum STM678T (97.2 %) and Burkholderia diazotrophica JPY461T (97.1 %). The DNA G+C content was 63.5 mol% and the respiratory quinone was Q-8. The major fatty acids were C16 : 0, C17 : 0 cyclo and C19 : 0 cyclo ω8c. The polar lipid profile of strain L226T consisted of a mixture of phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, unknown lipids and unidentified aminophospholipids. Based on the low level of DNA–DNA relatedness (ranging from 25.8 % to 34.4 %) to the tested type strains of species of the genus Burkholderia and unique phenotypic characteristics, it is suggested that strain L226T represents a novel species of the genus Burkholderia , for which the name Burkholderia susongensis sp. nov., is proposed. The type strain is L226T ( = CCTCC AB2014142T = JCM 30231T).

An antifungal bacterial strain, designated YC6258T, was isolated from the rhizosphere of a halophyte (Carex scabrifolia Steud.) growing in a tidal flat area of Namhae Island, Korea. Cells of the strain were Gram-stain-negative, facultatively anaerobic, moderately halophilic, rod-shaped and motile by a single polar flagellum. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain YC6258T formed a phyletic lineage distinct from members of the most closely related genera, Saccharospirillum and Reinekea, with less than 91.2 % sequence similarities. The major cellular fatty acids were C18 : 1ω7c, C16 : 0 and Summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c/ C16 : 1ω6c). The quinone system of strain YC6258T consisted mainly of ubiquinone Q-8. The polar lipid profile exhibited phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol and unknown lipids. The DNA G+C content was 48.9 mol%. Based on the phylogenetic and phenotypic characteristics, strain YC6258T should be classified as a representative of a novel species in a novel genus for which the name Gynuella sunshinyii gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YC6258T (KCCM 43015T = NBRC 109345T).

A Gram-stain-negative, non-motile, mesophilic, aerobic, rod-shaped or spherical bacterium, strain 2A-7T, was isolated from surface seawater at Muroto city, Kochi prefecture, Japan. The strain produced a pigment(s), the absorption spectrum of which closely resembled that of β-carotene. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the strain fell within the family Flavobacteriaceae and clustered distantly with the type strains of species of the genus Lutibacter (up to 93.9 % similarity). The DNA G+C content was 34.1 mol%. The major fatty acids were summed feature 3 (iso-C15 : 0 2-OH and/or C16 : 1ω7c), iso-C17 : 0 3-OH and iso-C15 : 0 3-OH. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine and three unidentified lipids. Menaquinone 6 was detected as the sole isoprenoid quinone. On the basis of phenotypic, genotypic and chemotaxonomic data, strain 2A-7T represents a novel genus and species, for which the name Flavicella marina gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Flavicella marina is 2A-7T ( = NBRC 110145T = KCTC 42197T).