- Volume 65, Issue Pt_8, 2015

An extremely halophilic archaeon, strain DA50T, was isolated from a brine sample of Urmia lake, a hypersaline environment in north-west Iran. Strain DA50T was orange-pigmented, motile, pleomorphic and required at least 2.5 M NaCl but not MgCl2 for growth. Optimal growth was achieved at 4.0 M NaCl and 0.3 M MgCl2. The optimum pH and temperature for growth were pH 7.0 and 45 °C, while it was able to grow over a pH range of 6.5–8.0 and a temperature range of 25–50 °C. Analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain DA50T is a member of the family Halobacteriaceae, showing a low level of similarity with other members of this family. Highest similarities, 94.4, 94.0 and 93.9 %, were obtained with the 16S rRNA gene sequences of the type strains of Natrialba aegyptia, Halobiforma lacisalsi and Halovivax asiaticus, respectively. Polar lipid analyses revealed that strain DA50T contains phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylglycerol phosphate methyl ester. Four unidentified glycolipids and two minor phospholipids were also observed. The only quinone present was MK-8(II-H2). The G+C content of its DNA was 62.3 mol%. On the basis of the data obtained, the new isolate could not be classified in any recognized genus. Strain DA50T is thus considered to represent a novel species of a new genus within the family Halobacteriaceae, order Halobacteriales, for which the name Halovarius luteus gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Halovarius luteus is DA50T ( = IBRC-M 10912T = CECT 8510T).

An extremely halophilic archaeal strain, halo-7T, was isolated from brine sediment of the Gomso solar saltern, Republic of Korea. Cells of strain halo-7T were pleomorphic, stained Gram-negative, lysed in distilled water and formed red-pigmented colonies. Strain halo-7T grew in the range of 25–45 °C (optimum 37–40 °C), pH 6.5–9.5 (optimum pH 7.0–8.0), 15–30 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 20–25 %), and 0.05–0.5 M MgCl2 (optimum 0.1–0.3 M). The minimal NaCl concentration to prevent cell lysis of strain halo-7T was 10 % (w/v). The major polar lipids of the isolate were phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerolphosphate methyl ester, an unidentified phospholipid, an unidentified lipid, and two unidentified glycolipids. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain halo-7T is closely related to the members of the genus Halolamina, Halolamina salina WSY15-H3T (98.7 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity), Halolamina pelagica TBN21T (98.2 %) and Halolamina rubra CBA1107T (97.4 %). The genomic DNA G+C content determined for strain halo-7T (68.0 mol%) was slightly higher than those of H. salina JCM 18549T and H. rubra CBA1107T. DNA–DNA hybridization values between strain halo-7T and reference strains were < 25 %. Based on phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic properties, we describe a novel species of the genus Halolamina, represented by strain halo-7T, for which we propose the name Halolamina sediminis sp. nov. The type strain is halo-7T ( = JCM 30187T = CECT 8739T).

A hyperthermophilic crenarchaeon, designated strain CBA1502T, was isolated from volcanic soil in the Mayon volcano in the Philippines. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain CBA1502T was most closely related to that of Thermoproteus uzoniensis DSM 5263T (99.2 % similarity) and Thermoproteus tenax Kra 1T (99.0 %). The organism grew at 75–90 °C and pH 4.0–6.0 and in the presence of 0–0.5 % (w/v) NaCl, with optimal growth at 85 °C and pH 5.0. Strain CBA1502T utilized d-arabinose, beef extract, Casamino acids, formate, fumarate, peptone, pyruvate, trimethylamine and yeast extract as energy substrates, and d-arabinose, formate, pyruvate and yeast extract as carbon sources. Fumarate, sulfate, sulfur and thiosulfate functioned as electron acceptors, but not ferric chloride, nitrate, malate or oxidized glutathione. DNA–DNA hybridization studies showed that there was less than 46.1 % relatedness between strain CBA1502T and other members of the genus Thermoproteus. The DNA G+C content of strain CBA1502T was 62.0 mol%. We conclude that, according to its phylogenetic, phenotypic and genotypic characteristics, strain CBA1502T represents a novel species of the genus Thermoproteus, and propose the name Thermoproteus thermophilus sp. nov., with the type strain CBA1502T ( = ATCC BAA-2416T = JCM 17229T).

A Gram-stain-positive, non-motile, coccus-shaped bacterium, strain THG-a14T, was isolated from soil of Gyeyang mountain in Incheon, Republic of Korea. The isolate grew optimally at 28 °C, at pH 6.5–7.5 and with 0–3 % (w/v) NaCl. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons, strain THG-a14T was closely related to Phycicoccus aerophilus 5516T-20T (97.7 %), P. ginsenosidimutans BXN5-13T (97.6 %), ‘P. ochangensis’ L1b-b9 (97.4 %) and P. bigeumensis MSL-03 (97.2 %). The DNA G+C content of strain THG-a14T was 71.6 mol%. In DNA–DNA hybridization, the DNA–DNA relatedness between strain THG-a14T and its closest phylogenetically neighbours was below 50.0 %. Strain THG-a14T was characterized chemotaxonomically as having meso-diaminopimelic acid in the cell-wall peptidoglycan. Strain THG-a14T contained glucose and ribose as whole-cell-wall sugars and menaquinone MK-8(H4) as the major isoprenoid quinone. Polar lipids in strain THG-a14T consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, phosphoaminoglycolipids, unidentified phospholipids and unidentified lipids. The major fatty acids were iso-C16: 0, iso-C15: 0 and C17: 1ω8c. On the basis of our polyphasic taxonomy study, strain THG-a14T represents a novel species within the genus Phycicoccus, for which the name Phycicoccus soli sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is THG-a14T ( = KACC 17892T = JCM 19837T).

Strain T258T was isolated from forest soil at Bongnae Falls, South Korea. The strain exhibited antimicrobial and antifungal activity against the following strains: Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Paenibacillus larvae, Escherichia coli, Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger. Growth occurred on all ISP media tested (2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7), Czapek–Dox agar, potato dextrose agar, trypticase soy agar, Bennett's modified agar and nutrient agar at 28 °C. Aerial spores were produced solely on ISP Medium 4; the colour of the aerial mycelium was white and the substrate mycelium was ivory. Melanin production was negative on peptone–yeast extract iron agar (ISP Medium 6). The cell-wall peptidoglycan contained ll-diaminopimelic acid, glutamic acid, alanine and glycine. Whole-cell hydrolysates contained glucose, ribose and galactose. The predominant menaquinones were MK-9(H6) and MK-9(H8) while the minor menaquinone was MK-10(H2). The polar lipids included diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylinositol. The major fatty acids (>10 %) were C16 : 0 (29.8 %), summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c) (15.1 %), anteiso-C15 : 0 (13.5 %) and iso-C15 : 0 (10.3 %). DNA–DNA similarity with other strains ranged between 37.84 ± 1.15 % and 50.25 ± 1.91 %. On the basis of these data, we suggest that strain T258T represents a novel species that belong to the genus Streptomyces, for which we propose a name Streptomyces polymachus sp. nov. The type strain is T258T ( = KACC 18247T = KEMB 9005-212T = NBRC 110905T).

A novel Gram-stain-positive, coccoid, non-motile bacterium, designated strain AMV4T, was isolated from a soil sample collected from a mud volcano located in the Andaman Islands, India. The colony was pale orange. Strain AMV4T was positive for oxidase, aesculinase, lysine decarboxylase and ornithine decarboxylase activities and negative for amylase, catalase, cellulase, protease, urease and lipase activities. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that strain AMV4T was a member of the order Actinomycetales and was closely related to Aquipuribacter hungaricus with a sequence similarity of 97.13 % (pairwise alignment). Phylogenetic analyses showed that strain AMV4T clustered with Aquipuribacter hungaricus and was distantly related to the other genera of the family Intrasporangiaceae. DNA–DNA hybridization between strains AMV4T and Aquipuribacter hungaricus IV-75T showed a relatedness of 28 %. The predominant cellular fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0 (6.9 %), anteiso-C15 : 0 (25.3 %), C16 : 0 (12.9 %), anteiso-C16 : 0 (5.6 %), C18 : 1ω9c (19.8 %) and C18 : 3ω6,9,12c (9.1 %). The diagnostic diamino acid in the cell-wall peptidoglycan of strain AMV4T was meso-diaminopimelic acid. Strain AMV4T contained MK-10(H4) as the predominant respiratory quinone. The polar lipids consisted of phosphatidylglycerol, one unidentified glycolipid, two unidentified phospholipids and five unidentified lipids. The DNA G+C content of strain AMV4T was 74.3 mol%. Based on data from this taxonomic study using a polyphasic approach, it is proposed that strain AMV4T represents a novel species of the genus Aquipuribacter, with the suggested name Aquipuribacter nitratireducens sp. nov. The type strain is AMV4T ( = CCUG 58430T = DSM 22863T = NBRC 107137T).

An actinomycete strain, designated YIM 690008T, was isolated from Daucus carota collected from South Korea and its taxonomic position was investigated by using a polyphasic approach. The strain grew well on most media tested and no diffusible pigment was produced. The aerial mycelium formed wrinkled single spores and short spore chains, some of which were branched. The whole-cell hydrolysates contained meso-diaminopimelic acid, glucose, mannose, ribose, galactose and rhamnose. The predominant menaquinones were MK-10(H4), MK-10(H6), MK-10(H8) and MK-10(H2). The polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylinositol mannosides, some unknown phospholipids, glycolipids and polar lipids. The major fatty acids were i-C16 : 0, ai-C17 : 0 and C18 : 1ω9c. The DNA G+C content of the genomic DNA was 63.1 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the isolate belongs to the family Nocardiopsaceae. However, based on phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genotypic data, it was concluded that strain YIM 690008T represents a novel genus and novel species of the family Nocardiopsaceae, for which the name Actinorugispora endophytica gen. nov., sp. nov. (type strain YIM 690008T = DSM 46770T = JCM 30099T = KCTC 29480T) is proposed.

An aerobic, Gram-stain-positive actinomycete, designated strain 3SM4-07T, was characterized using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. The strain produced branching mycelium which fragmented into short or elongated rods. The whole-cell hydrolysates contained ll-2,6-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid, with glucose and ribose as the main sugars. The predominant cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C15  :  0, iso-C15  :  0 and iso-C16  :  0.The predominant menaquinone was MK-9(H4). Phospholipids consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylinositol mannoside. Mycolic acids were absent. The DNA G+C content was 72.3 mol%. Strain 3SM4-07T formed a phylogenetic line within the genus Jiangella and its 16S rRNA gene sequence was related most closely to Jiangella alkaliphila D8-87T (99.0 % similarity), Jiangella muralis 15-Je-017T (98.8 %), Jiangella alba YIM 61503T (98.6 %) and Jiangella gansuensis YIM 002T (98.6 %). However, mean DNA–DNA hybridization values revealed that strain 3SM4-07T differed from the closest species previously described in this genus. Data from phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and molecular analyses between strain 3SM4-07T and recognized species of the genus Jiangella indicate that strain 3SM4-07T is a representative of a novel species of the genus Jiangella, for which the name Jiangella mangrovi sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 3SM4-07T ( = BCC 60398T = NBRC 109648T).

Strain XMU 506T, isolated from the rhizosphere soil of an ornamental plant, Lantana camara L., collected from Xiamen City, China, was identified using a polyphasic approach to clarify its taxonomic position. The aerial mycelium of this organism formed long straight or curved chains of spores and sporangium-like structures. The optimum growth occurred at 28–30 °C, pH 7.0 with 0–1 % NaCl. Strain XMU 506T showed the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity (96.5  %) to Kibdelosporangium philippinense DSM 44226T, and formed a monophyletic clade in the 16S rRNA gene phylogenetic tree together with the type strains of the genus Kibdelosporangium. The chemotaxonomic properties further supported the assignment of strain XMU 506T to the genus Kibdelosporangium: meso-diaminopimelic acid was the diagnostic amino acid in the cell wall peptidoglycan; mycolic acids were not present in the cell wall; the whole-cell hydrolysates contained arabinose, galactose, glucose and ribose. The major menaquinone was MK-9(H4); the phospholipids of the isolate comprised phosphatidylethanolamine, OH-phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol and unidentified amino-, glyco- and phospholipids; the major fatty acids of the strain were iso-C16 : 0, C17 : 1 ω6c and iso-C16 : 1 H. The G+C content of genomic DNA was 67.3 mol%. Based on the results of phylogenetic analysis, phenotypic and genotypic characterization, strain XMU 506T represents a novel species in the genus Kibdelosporangium, for which the name Kibdelosporangium lantanae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is XMU 506T ( = KCTC 29675T = MCCC 1K00430T).

Strain M-SA3-94T, an aerobic, Gram-stain-positive, ovoid- to rod-shaped, non-motile bacterium, was isolated from the marine sediment of Ardley cove, King George Island, Antarctica. Strain M-SA3-94T grew optimally at pH 5.0–6.0, 20 °C and in the presence of 1.0 % (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis, based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, indicated that strain M-SA3-94T belonged to the genus Nocardioides in the family Nocardioidaceae, clustering with Nocardioides plantarum NCIMB 12834T, Nocardioides ginsengagri BX5-10T, Nocardioides marinquilinus CL-GY44T and Nocardioides lianchengensis D94-1T (with 96.1 %, 95.9 %, 94.5 % and 94.7 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, respectively). The chemotaxonomic properties of strain M-SA3-94T were similar to those of members of the genus Nocardioides with validly published names. The major fatty acid was iso-C16 : 0. The polar lipid pattern contained diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and three unknown phospholipids. The diagnostic diamino acid in the cell-wall peptidoglycan was ll-2, 6-diaminopimelic acid. MK-8(H4) was the predominant menaquinone and the DNA G+C content of this strain was 66.7 mol%. On the basis of these phenotypic, phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic data, strain M-SA3-94T represents a novel species of the genus Nocardioides, for which the name Nocardioides antarcticus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is M-SA3-94T ( = CCTCC AB2014053T = LMG 28254T).

A novel endophytic actinomycete, designated strain EGI 60009T, was isolated from the roots of Glycyrrhiza uralensis F. collected from Xinjiang Province, north-west China. The isolate was able to grow in the presence of 0–9 % (w/v) NaCl. Strain EGI 60009T had particular morphological properties: the substrate mycelia fragmented into rod-like elements and aerial mycelia differentiated into short spore chains. ll-2, 6-Diaminopimelic acid was the cell-wall diamino acid and rhamnose, galactose and glucose were the cell-wall sugars. MK-9(H4) was the predominant menaquinone. The major fatty acids of strain EGI 60009T were iso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C17 : 0, iso-C17 : 0, iso-C17 : 1 and I/anteiso-C17 : 0 B. Mycolic acids were absent. The DNA G+C content of strain EGI 60009T was 70.4 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that strain EGI 60009T belongs to the family Jiangellaceae and formed a distinct clade in the phylogenetic tree. 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities between strain EGI 60009T and other members of the genera Jiangella and Haloactinopolyspora were 96.1–96.4 and 95.7–96.0 %, respectively. Based on these results and supported by morphological, physiological and chemotaxonomic data and numerous phenotypic differences, a novel species of a new genus, Phytoactinopolyspora endophytica gen. nov., sp. nov., is proposed. The type strain of Phytoactinopolyspora endophytica is EGI 60009T ( = KCTC 29657T = CPCC204078T).

Phenotypic and phylogenetic studies were performed on new isolates of a novel Gram-stain-positive, anaerobic, non-sporulating, rod-shaped bacterium isolated from a thermophilic biogas plant. The novel organisms were able to degrade crystalline cellulose. 16S rRNA gene comparative sequence analysis demonstrated that the isolates formed a hitherto unknown subline within the family Lachnospiraceae. As a representative of the whole group of isolates, strain T3/55T was further characterized. The closest relative of T3/55T among the taxa with validly published names is Mobilitalea sibirica, sharing 93.9 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity. Strain T3/55T was catalase-negative, indole-negative, and produced acetate, ethanol and propionic acid as major end products from cellulose metabolism. The major cellular fatty acids (>1 %) were 16 : 0 dimethyl acetal, 16 : 0 fatty acid methyl ester and 16 : 0 aldehyde. The DNA G+C content was 36.6 mol%. A novel genus and species, Herbinix hemicellulosilytica gen. nov., sp. nov., is proposed based on phylogenetic analysis and physiological properties of the novel isolate. Strain T3/55T ( = DSM 29228T = CECT 8801T), represents the type strain of Herbinix hemicellulosilytica gen. nov., sp. nov.

A novel facultatively anaerobic bacterium, strain HC45T, was isolated from sediment of a brackish meromictic lake in Japan, Lake Harutori. Cells were pleomorphic, and filamentous bodies were 5–100 μm in length. For growth, the optimum pH was 7.0 and the optimum temperature was 45–50 °C. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 71 mol%. iso-C15 : 0 and anteiso-C15 : 0 were the major components in the cellular fatty acid profile. The predominant respiratory quinone was MK-7. Strain HC45T shared very low 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with cultivated strains ( ≤ 85 %). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that the isolate was distantly related to members of the family Symbiobacteriaceae and family XVII Incertae Sedis in the class Clostridia, and they formed a cluster separate from canonical species of the phylum Firmicutes. These results indicated that strain HC45T should not be placed in any existing class of the phylum Firmicutes. On the basis of phylogenetic and phenotypic characterization, Limnochorda pilosa gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed with HC45T ( = NBRC 110152T = DSM 28787T) as the type strain, as the first representative of novel taxa, Limnochordales ord. nov., Limnochordaceae fam. nov. in Limnochordia classis. nov.

A novel aerobic, alkaliphilic, Gram-staining-positive, endospore-forming bacterium, strain OMN17T, was isolated from a typical sandy loam soil under long-term OMN fertilization (half organic manure N plus half mineral N fertilizer) in northern China and was subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic study. The best growth was achieved at 30 °C and pH 8–10 in medium containing 0.5 % (w/v) NaCl. The cell-wall peptidoglycan of strain OMN17T was type A4α; (l -Lys–Gly-d -Asp) and the cell-wall sugars were ribose, traces of galactose and arabinose. The only respiratory quinone found in strain OMN17T was menaquinone 7 (MK-7). The major cellular fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0 and anteiso-C15 : 0. The major polar lipids were found to be phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and diphosphatidylglycerol. Phylogenetic analysis of strain OMN17T based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that the strain was most closely related to Lysinibacillus halotolerans (97.8 %), Lysinibacillus sinduriensis (97.5 %), Lysinibacillus chungkukjangi (97.4 %) and Lysinibacillus xylanilyticus (97.0 %). The DNA–DNA hybridization results indicated that this strain was distinct from other species of the genus Lysinibacillus, the degree of relatedness being 21.8 ± 0.2 % with L. halotolerans, 45.6 ± 1.8 % with L. sinduriensis, 33.7 ± 1.2 % with L. chungkukjangi and 23.7 ± 0.7 % with L. xylanilyticus. The DNA G+C content of strain OMN17T was 38.1 mol%. The phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genetic analyses identified strain OMN17T as a novel species of the genus Lysinibacillus, for which the name Lysinibacillus alkaliphilus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is OMN17T ( = DSM 28019T = CCTCC AB 2014073T). An emended description of the genus Lysinibacillus is also provided.

Two strains of haloalkaliphilic homoacetogenic bacteria capable of iron reduction, Z-7101T and Z-7102, were isolated from soda lake Tanatar III (Altai, Russia). Cells of both strains were flexible, motile, Gram-negative, spore-forming rods. The strains were mesophilic and obligately alkaliphilic: the pH range for growth was 8.5–10.2 (pHopt 9.8). Growth depended on carbonate and chloride ions. The strains were able to grow chemolithoautotrophically on H2+CO2, producing acetate as the only metabolic product. In medium with carbonates as the only potential electron acceptor, the following substrates were utilized for chemo-organotrophic growth: pyruvate, lactate, ethanol, 1-propanol, ethylene glycol and 1-butanol. Strain Z-7101T was able to reduce nitrate, selenate, thiosulfate and anthraquinone 2,6-disulfonate with ethanol as an electron donor. It was also able to reduce synthesized ferrihydrite to siderite with molecular hydrogen or organic compounds, including acetate and formate, as electron donors. It was able to reduce S0 with acetate or formate as electron donors. The DNA G+C content of strain Z-7101T was 34.6 mol%. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strains Z-7101T and Z-7102 were members of the order Halanaerobiales and family Halobacteroidaceae, clustering with Fuchsiella alkaliacetigena Z-7100T (98.9–98.4 % similarity). DNA–DNA hybridization was 63.0 % between strain Z-7101T and F. alkaliacetigena Z-7100T. Based on morphological and physiological differences from F. alkaliacetigena Z-7100T and the results of phylogenetic analysis and DNA–DNA hybridization, it is proposed to assign strains Z-7101T and Z-7102 ( = DSM 26052 = VKM B-2790) to the novel species Fuchsiella ferrireducens sp. nov. The type strain is strain Z-7101T ( = DSM 26031T = VKM B-2766T).

A novel Gram-stain-positive, rod-shaped, motile, endospore-forming and proteolytic bacterial strain, SPT, was isolated from Lonar soda lake, in India. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis it was identified as belonging to the class Firmibacteria and was most closely related to Bacillus cellulosilyticus DSM 2522T (96.7  %) and other members of the genus Bacillus ( < 95.9  %). Strain SPT was catalase- and oxidase-positive. The cell-wall peptidoglycan of strain SPT contained meso-diaminopimelic acid. Polar lipids included diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, three phospholipids, two aminolipids and two unknown lipids. The predominant isoprenoid quinone was MK-7. Anteiso-C15 : 0 (26.8  %) was the predominant fatty acid and significant proportions (>5  %) of iso-C15 : 0 (20.9  %), C16 : 1ω7c alcohol (6.3  %), iso-C16 : 0 (6.3  %) and anteiso-C17 : 0 (5.3  %) were also detected in strain SPT. The DNA G+C content of strain SPT was 38.9 mol%. The results of phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic and biochemical tests allowed a clear differentiation of strain SPT from all other members of the genus Bacillus. Strain SPT represents a novel member of the genus Bacillus, for which the name Bacillus caseinilyticus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is SPT ( = MCC 2612T = JCM 30246T).

Three Lactobacillus-like strains, NB53T, NB446T and NB702, were isolated from traditional fermented food in Thailand. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that these strains belong to the Lactobacillus plantarum group. Phylogenetic analysis based on the dnaK, rpoA, pheS and recA gene sequences indicated that these three strains were distantly related to known species present in the L. plantarum group. DNA–DNA hybridization with closely related strains demonstrated that these strains represented two novel species; the novel strains could be differentiated based on chemotaxonomic and phenotypic characteristics. Therefore, two novel species of the genus Lactobacillus, Lactobacillus plajomi sp. nov. (NB53T) and Lactobacillus modestisalitolerans sp. nov. (NB446T and NB702), are proposed with the type strains NB53T ( = NBRC 107333T = BCC 38054T) and NB446T ( = NBRC 107235T = BCC 38191T), respectively.

Two bacterial strains (JC247T and JC248) were isolated from soil samples collected from Rann of Kutch, Gujarat, India. Colonies of both strains were creamy white. Cells were Gram-stain-positive, rods-to-curved rods (crescent-shaped), and produced centrally located oval-shaped endospores. Major (>5 %) fatty acids of both strains were iso-C16  :  0, iso-C14  :  0, iso-C15  :  0, C16  :  1ω11c and C16  :  0, with minor ( < 5 but >1 %) amounts of anteiso-C15  :  0, anteiso-C17  :  0, iso-C16  :  1 H, iso-C17  :  0, iso-C18  :  0, C14  :  0, C17  :  0, C18  :  0, C18  :  1ω9c, iso-C17  :  1ω10c and anteiso-C17  :  0B/isoI. Diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol were the major polar lipids of both strains. Cell-wall amino acids were l-alanine, d-alanine, d-glutamic acid and meso-diaminopimelic acid. The genomic DNA G+C content of strains JC247T and JC248 was 48.2 and 48.1 mol%, respectively. Both strains were closely related with mean DNA–DNA hybridization >90 %. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis of both strains indicated that they are members of the genus Bacillus within the family Bacillaceae of the phylum Firmicutes. Both strains had a 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 96.93 % with Bacillus firmus NCIMB 9366T and < 96.92 % with other members of the genus Bacillus. Sequence similarity between strain JC247T and JC248 was 100 %. Distinct morphological, physiological and genotypic differences from previously described taxa support the classification of strains JC247T and JC248 as representatives of a novel species of the genus Bacillus, for which the name Bacillus crescens sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JC247T ( = KCTC 33627T = LMG 28608T).