- Volume 65, Issue Pt_9, 2015

A novel thermophilic actinomycete, designated strain CD-1T, was isolated from mushroom compost in Nanning, Guangxi province, China. The strain grew at 37–55 °C (optimum 45–50 °C), pH 6.0–11.0 (optimum pH 7.0–9.0) and with 0–2.0  % NaCl (optimum 0–1.0  %), formed well-developed white aerial mycelium and pale-yellow vegetative mycelium, and single endospores (0.8–1.0 μm diameter) were borne on long sporophores (2–3 μm length). The endospores were spherical-polyhedron in shape with smooth surface. Based on its phenotypic and phylogenetic characteristics, strain CD-1T is affiliated to the genus Thermoactinomyces. It contained meso-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid; the whole-cell sugars were ribose and glucose. Major fatty acids were iso-C15  :  0, C16  :  0, anteiso-C15  :  0 and iso-C17  :  0. MK-7 was the predominant menaquinone. The polar phospholipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylethanolamine containing hydroxylated fatty acids, ninhydrin-positive glycophospholipid, an unknown phospholipid and glycolipids. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 48.8  %. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that the organism was closely related to Lihuaxuella thermophila YIM 77831T (95.69  % sequence similarity), Thermoactinomyces daqus H-18T (95.49  %), Laceyella putida KCTC 3666T (95.05  %), Thermoactinomyces vulgaris KCTC 9076T (95.01  %) and Thermoactinomyces intermedius JCM 3312T (94.55  %). Levels of DNA–DNA relatedness between strain CD-1T and Lihuaxuella thermophila JCM 18059T, Thermoactinomyces daqus DSM 45914T, Laceyella putida JCM 8091T, Thermoactinomyces vulgaris JCM 3162T and Thermoactinomyces intermedius JCM 3312T were low (22.8, 33.3, 24.7, 29.4 and 30.0  %, respectively). A battery of phenotypic, genotypic and DNA–DNA relatedness data indicated that strain CD-1T represented a novel species of the genus Thermoactinomyces, for which the name Thermoactinomyces guangxiensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CD-1T ( = ATCC BAA-2630T = CGMCC 4.7156T).

A Gram-stain positive, strictly aerobic, non-motile and coccus-shaped actinobacterium, designated strain NEAU-ST5-33T, was isolated from saline and alkaline soils in Dechang Township, Zhaodong City, PR China. It formed beige-yellow colonies and grew at NaCl concentrations of 0–5 % (w/v) (optimum 0 %), at pH 6.0–9.0 (optimum pH 7.0) and over a temperature range of 4–50 °C (optimum 35 °C). Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain NEAU-ST5-33T was phylogenetically closely related to the type strains of species of the genus Kocuria, Kocuria polaris CMS 76orT, Kocuria rosea DSM 20447T, Kocuria turfanensis HO-9042T, Kocuria aegyptia YIM 70003T, Kocuria himachalensis K07-05T and Kocuria flava HO-9041T, with respective sequence similarities of 98.8 %, 98.8 %, 98.3 %, 98.1 %, 98.1 % and 97.9 %. DNA–DNA hybridization relatedness values of strain NEAU-ST5-33T with type strains of the closely related species ranged from 54 ± 1 % to 34 ± 1 %. The DNA G+C content was 61.2 mol%. The major fatty acids (>5 %) were C15 : 0 anteiso, C15 : 0 iso and C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c. The major menaquinone detected was MK-8 (H2), and the polar lipids consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, one unknown aminolipid and one unknown lipid. On the basis of the genotypic, chemotaxonomic and phenotypic data, we propose that strain NEAU-ST5-33T represents a novel species of the genus Kocuria, with the name Kocuria dechangensis sp. nov. The type strain is NEAU-ST5-33T ( = CGMCC 1.12187T = DSM 25872T).

Strain JC268T was isolated from pebbles collected from a dam located in Lalitpur, Uttar Pradesh, India. Cells of strain JC268T were coccoid, appeared in pairs/triads/tetrads or short chains and were Gram-stain-positive, non-spore-forming, non-motile and obligately aerobic. Strain JC268T was catalase- and oxidase-positive and utilized citrate for growth. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain JC268T was 65.3 mol%. The cell-wall peptidoglycan contained l-lysine–l-serine–d-aspartic acid as interpeptide bridge with the type A4α. The major menaquinone was MK-8(H4). Major (>10 %) fatty acids were iso-C16 : 0, iso-C16 : 1H and anteiso-C17 : 1ω9c. Diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphoglycolipid, phosphatidylinositol, glycolipid, four unidentified lipids, an amino lipid and phospholipid were the polar lipids of strain JC268T. EzTaxon-e blast search of 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain JC268T has highest similarity to Barrientosiimonas humi 39T (98.65 %) and Tamlicoccus marinus MSW-24T (97.8 %) of the family Dermacoccaceae. Genome reassociation (based on DNA–DNA hybridization) of strain JC268T with Barrientosiimonas humi CGMCC 4.6864T ( = 39T) and T. marinus KCTC 19485T ( = MSW-24T) yielded values of 32.5 ± 2 % and 27.3 ± 2 %, respectively. Based on the data from phylogenetic and polyphasic taxonomic analyses, strain JC268T represents a novel species of the genus Barrientosiimonas for which the name Barrientosiimonas endolithica sp. nov., is proposed. The type strain of Barrientosiimonas endolithica is JC268T ( = KCTC 29672T = NBRC 110608T). Our data suggest that T. marinus should be reclassified within the genus Barrientosiimonas. Thus, a reclassification is proposed for T. marinus, the type and only species of the genus Tamlicoccus, as Barrientosiimonas marina comb. nov., which implies the emendation of the description of the genus Barrientosiimonas.

A novel actinomycete strain, designated 12-833T, was isolated from a crude oil-contaminated site north of Kuwait. The isolated strain showed the ability to degrade crude oil and various hydrocarbons. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain 12-833T belonged to the genus Prauserella and was closely related to Prauserella muralis 05-Be-005T (98.3 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity), Prauserella marina MS498T (96.9 %) and Prauserella rugosa DSM 43194T (96.7 %). The DNA G+C content of strain 12-833T was 71.1 mol%. Phenotypic, physiological, biochemical and chemotaxonomic characteristics and phylogenetic analysis indicated that strain 12-833T represents a novel species of the genus Prauserella, for which the name Prauserella soli sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 12-833T ( = DSM 45819T = LMG 28346T).

A novel aerobic actinomycete, designated HA11110T, was isolated from a mangrove soil sample collected in Haikou, China. It formed white aerial mycelium and pale yellow substrate mycelium on Gause's synthetic agar no. 1. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that cells of HA11110T produced straight to spiral spore chains with spiny spores. Chemotaxonomic tests showed that the cell wall contained ll-diaminopimelic acid and the major fatty acids were iso-C16 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 0 and iso-C14 : 0.16S rRNA gene sequence similarity showed that strain HA11110T belonged to the genus Streptomyces, most closely related to Streptomyces fenghuangensis GIMN4.003T (99.1 %), Streptomyces nanhaiensis SCSIO 01248T (98.8 %) and Streptomyces radiopugnans R97T (98.8 %). However, DNA–DNA hybridization studies of strain HA11110T with these three closest relatives showed relatedness values of 58.4, 49.7 and 47.2 %, respectively. On the basis of phenotypic and genotypic data, strain HA11110T represents a novel species of the genus Streptomyces, for which the name Streptomyces mangrovi sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is HA11110T ( = CGMCC 4.7117T = DSM 42113T).

A novel actinomycete, designated strain NEAU-Jh3-20T, was isolated from river sediment collected from South river in Jilin Province, north China and characterized using a polyphasic approach. Phylogenetic analysis, based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, indicated that strain NEAU-Jh3-20T should be assigned to the genus Streptomyces and forms a distinct branch with its closest neighbour Streptomyces vitaminophilus DSM 41686T(97.09 %). Moreover, key morphological and chemotaxonomic properties also confirmed the affiliation of strain NEAU-Jh3-20T to the genus Streptomyces. The cell wall contained ll-diaminopimelic acid and the whole-cell hydrolysates were glucose and ribose. The phospholipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylinositol mannosides and an unidentified phospholipid. The predominant menaquinones were MK-9(H8) and MK-9(H6). The major fatty acids were C16 : 0, C18 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 0 and anteiso-C17 : 0. The DNA G+C content was 72.2 mol%. A combination of DNA–DNA hybridization results and some phenotypic characteristics demonstrated that strain NEAU-Jh3-20T could be distinguished from its closest phylogenetic relative. Therefore, it is proposed that strain NEAU-Jh3-20T represents a novel species of the genus Streptomyces, for which the name Streptomyces tyrosinilyticus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is NEAU-Jh3-20T ( = CGMCC 4.7201T = DSM 42170T).

Three neutrotolerant, acidophilic actinomycete strains, designated FXJ1.526, FXJ1.725T and FXJ1.726, were isolated from red soil collected from Liujiazhan, Jiangxi Province, China. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the three strains clustered together and their closest relative was Streptomyces ferralitis CGMCC 4.1985T (98.9–99.0 % similarity). Multilocus sequence analysis confirmed their relationship to S. ferralitis and separated these strains as representing a novel species. Mean DNA–DNA hybridization values among strains FXJ1.526, FXJ1.725T and FXJ1.726 were 81.6 ± 3.5–87.2 ± 3.8 %, and the values between the three strains and S. ferralitis CGMCC 4.1985T were well below 70 %. The three strains also shared several phenotypic characteristics that were distinct from the closely related species. They grew at 21–50 °C, at pH 4.0–9.0 (with an optimal pH of 5.0) and with 0–3 % (w/v) NaCl, and the major cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 0 and iso-C16 : 0. On the basis of data from this polyphasic taxonomic study, it is proposed that strains FXJ1.526, FXJ1.725T and FXJ1.726 be classified as representatives of a novel species of the genus Streptomyces, with the name Streptomyces rubrisoli sp. nov. The type strain is FXJ1.725T ( = CGMCC 4.7025T = DSM 42083T).

Two novel, Gram-stain-positive, rod-shaped, halotolerent bacteria, strains JG 03T and JG 05 were isolated from the rhizosphere of Salicornia brachiata, an extreme halophyte. Comparative analyses of 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that they were closely related to members of the genus Zhihengliuella, with sequence similarities of 96.9–99.1 %. The sequence similarity of strains JG 03T and JG 05 with each other was 99.4 %. DNA–DNA hybridization of JG 03T and JG 05 with other species of the genus Zhihengliuella with validly published names showed reassociation values of 19.8 %–53.4 % and a value of 91.4 % between each other. The peptidoglycan type of both strains was A4α and MK-9 and MK-10 were the predominant menaquinones. The predominant fatty acid in JG 03T was anteiso-C15 : 0 and anteiso-C17 : 0. However, iso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 0 and anteiso-C17 : 0 were the major fatty acids in strain JG 05. The DNA G+C content of strains JG 03T and JG 05 was 70.0 and 70.1 mol%, respectively. In nutrient broth medium both strains grew at NaCl concentrations of up to 15 % (w/v). On the basis of chemotaxonomic characteristics and phylogenetic analyses, strains JG 03T and JG 05 should be affiliated to the genus Zhihengliuella. Strains JG 03T and JG 05 represent a novel species of the genus Zhihengliuella for which the name Zhihengliuella somnathii sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JG 03T ( = DSM 23187T = IMCC 253T).

Strain XMU 706T, isolated from the rhizosphere soil of a herbaceous plant, Mirabilis jalapa L., collected from Xiamen City, China, was characterized using a polyphasic approach to clarify its taxonomic position. Strain XMU 706T shared the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with Kribbella antibiotica YIM 31530T (97.2 %), and formed a distinct branch in the subclade of the genus Kribbella in the 16S rRNA gene phylogenetic tree. The genetic distances of gyrase subunit B gene (gyrB) sequence between strain XMU 706T and other species of the genus Kribbella ranged from 0.045 to 0.116, greater than the threshold value of 0.014 for species delineation of this genus. DNA–DNA hybridization experiments gave a DNA–DNA relatedness value of 34.82 ± 6.31 % between strain XMU 706T and K. antibiotica YIM 31530T. The chemotaxonomic properties further supported the assignment of strain XMU 706T to the genus Kribbella. ll-Diaminopimelic acid was the diagnostic amino acid in the cell-wall peptidoglycan and cell hydrolysates contained ribose and glucose. The major menaquinone was MK-9(H4). The polar lipids comprised diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine and other unidentified phospholipids and lipids. The major fatty acids of the strain were anteiso-C15 : 0 and iso-C15 : 0, and the G+C content of the genomic DNA was 67.3 mol%. Based on the results of phylogenetic analysis, phenotypic and genotypic characterization, strain XMU 706T represents a novel species of the genus Kribbella, for which the name Kribbella mirabilis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is XMU 706T ( = KCTC 29676T = MCCC 1K00429T).

A novel halotolerant actinomycete, strain Chem15T, was isolated from soil around Inche-Broun hypersaline wetland; its taxonomic position was determined based on a polyphasic approach. Strain Chem15T was strictly aerobic and tolerated NaCl up to 12.5 %. The optimum temperature and pH for growth were 28–30 °C and pH 7.0–7.5, respectively. The cell wall of strain Chem15T contained meso-diaminopimelic acid as diamino acid and galactose, arabinose and ribose as whole-cell sugars. The major phospholipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylinositol mannosides. The cellular fatty acids profile consisted of C16 : 0, iso-C18 : 0, C18 : 0 10-methyl and C18 : 1ω9c, and the major respiratory quinone was MK-8(H4cycl). The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 68.0 mol%. The novel strain constituted a distinct phyletic line within the genus Nocardia, based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, and was closely associated with Nocardia sungurluensis DSM 45714T and Nocardia alba DSM 44684T (98.2 and 98.1 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, respectively). However DNA–DNA relatedness and phenotypic data demonstrated that strain Chem15T was clearly different from closely related species of the genus Nocardia. It is concluded that the organism should be classified as a representative of a novel species of the genus Nocardia, for which the name Nocardia halotolerans sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is Chem15T ( = IBRC-M 10490T = LMG 28544T).

A novel actinomycete, designated strain NEAU-Jh2-17T, was isolated from muddy soil collected from a riverbank in Jilin Province, northern China, and characterized using a polyphasic approach. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain NEAU-Jh2-17T showed highest similarity to those of Streptomonospora nanhaiensis 12A09T (99.26 %), Nocardiopsis rosea YIM 90094T (97.31 %), Streptomonospora halophila YIM 91355T (97.24 %) and Streptomonospora arabica S186T (97.02 %). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences demonstrated that strain NEAU-Jh2-17T fell within a cluster consisting of the type strains of species of the genus Streptomonospora and formed a stable clade with S. nanhaiensis 12A09T in trees generated with two algorithms. Key morphological and chemotaxonomic properties also confirmed the affiliation of strain NEAU-Jh2-17T to the genus Streptomonospora. The cell wall contained meso-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid and whole-cell hydrolysates contained glucose, ribose and galactose. The polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylglycerol (PG), phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylinositol (PI), phosphatidylinositol mannoside (PIM), two unknown phospholipids (PLs) and two unknown glycolipids (GLs). The predominant menaquinones were MK-10(H2), MK-10(H8), MK-10(H6) and MK-10(H4). Major fatty acids were C18 : 0 10-methyl, anteiso-C17 : 0, C16 : 0 10-methyl, iso-C15 : 0, C17 : 0 10-methyl and C18 : 0. The DNA G+C content was 71.82 mol%. However, a combination of DNA–DNA hybridization results and some phenotypic characteristics demonstrated that strain NEAU-Jh2-17T could be distinguished from its closely related relatives. Therefore, strain NEAU-Jh2-17T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Streptomonospora, for which the name Streptomonospora halotolerans sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is NEAU-Jh2-17T ( = CGMCC 4.7218T = JCM 30347T).

A bacterial strain, PSGM2-16T, was isolated from a pot of paddy soil grown with rice in Suwon region, Republic of Korea, and was characterized as having aerobic, Gram-stain-positive, short-rod-shaped cells with one polar flagellum. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain PSGM2-16T revealed the highest sequence similarities with Knoellia locipacati DMZ1T (97.4 %), Fodinibacter luteus YIM C003T (97.2 %) and Lapillicoccus jejuensis R-Ac013T (97.0 %), and the phylogenetic tree showed that strain PSGM2-16T formed a subgroup with Ornithinibacter aureus HB09001T and F. luteus YIM C003T within the family Intrasporangiaceae. The major fatty acids (>10 % of the total fatty acids) of strain PSGM2-16T were iso-C16 : 0, C17 : 1ω8c and iso-C14 : 0. The predominant menaquinone was MK-8(H4). The polar lipids present were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol, three aminophospholipids and two phospholipids. The peptidoglycan was type A4γ with meso-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid. DNA–DNA hybridization values between strain PSGM2-16T and closely related taxa were much less than 70 %. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain PSGM2-16T was 70.0 mol%. On the basis of the evidence presented, it is concluded that strain PSGM2-16T represents a novel species of a new genus in the family Intrasporangiaceae, for which the name Oryzobacter terrae gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of the type species is PSGM2-16T ( = KACC 17299T = DSM 27137T = NBRC 109598T).

A novel Gram-staining-positive, rod-shaped bacterium, designated DCY100T, was isolated from rhizome of mountain ginseng root in Hwacheon mountain, Gangwon province, Republic of Korea. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain DCY100T belonged to the genus Microbacterium and was most closely related to Microbacterium ginsengisoli KCTC 19189T (97.9 %), Microbacterium lacus JCM 15575T (97.2 %) and Microbacterium invictum DSM 19600T (97.1 %). The major menaquinones were MK-11 and MK-12. The major polar lipids were found to be diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and one unidentified glycolipid. The major fatty acids (>10.0 %) were anteiso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C17 : 0 and iso-C16 : 0. The cell-wall peptidoglycan contained the amino acids ornithine, alanine, glutamic acid and glycine; whole-cell sugars consisted of glucose, galactose, rhamnose and ribose. The DNA G+C content was 63.6 ± 0.7 mol%. The DNA–DNA hybridization relatedness values between strain DCY100T and Microbacterium ginsengisoli KCTC 19189T, Microbacterium lacus JCM 15575T and Microbacterium invictum DSM 19600T were 36.2 ± 0.4, 22.0 ± 3.0 and 15.3 ± 1.8 %, respectively. On the basis of phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genotypic analyses, the isolate is classified as a representative of a novel species in the genus Microbacterium, for which the name Microbacterium rhizomatis DCY100T is proposed. The type strain is DCY100T ( = KCTC 39529T = JCM 30598T).

A novel aerobic, Gram-staining-negative bacterium, designated strain LAM-WHM-ZCT, was isolated from coastal sediment samples from the Bohai Sea, near Yantai, China. Cells of LAM-WHM-ZCT were non-motile, short-rod- or coccoid-shaped. The temperature and pH ranges for growth were 4–40  °C (optimum: 20–33  °C) and pH 5–9 (optimum: pH 7.5). The strain did not require NaCl for growth but tolerated up to 10 % NaCl (w/v). The major fatty acids of strain LAM-WHM-ZCT were summed feature 3, C12 : 0, C16 : 0, summed feature 2 and summed feature 8. The predominant respiratory quinone was ubiquinone Q-8. The main polar lipids were diphosphatidyglycerol, phosphatigylethanolamine, phosphatidyglycerol, one phospholipid and four unidentified glycolipids. The DNA G+C content was 59.3 mol% as determined by the melting temperature (T m) method. Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that the isolate represented a member of the genus Oceanisphaera and was closely related to Oceanisphaera arctica KCTC 23013T, Oceanisphaera litoralis DSM 15406T, Oceanisphaera sediminis KACC 15117T and Oceanisphaera donghaensis KCTC 12522T with 97.7 %, 97.1 %, 96.6 % and 96.6 % sequence similarity, respectively. The DNA–DNA hybridization values between strain LAM-WHM-ZCT and the four reference strains were 47.4 ± 2.8 %, 33.5 ± 2.2 %, 28.4 ± 1.8 % and 13.7 ± 0.8 %, respectively. Based on its phenotypic and genotypic properties, strain LAM-WHM-ZCT is suggested to represent a novel species of the genus Oceanisphaera, for which the name Oceanisphaera psychrotolerans sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is LAM-WHM-ZCT ( = ACCC 06516T = JCM 30466T).

A novel thermophilic, obligately anaerobic bacterium, strain Cel2fT, was isolated from a cellulolytic community enriched from coastal marine sediment. Cells were Gram-stain-negative, non-motile, non-spore-forming and rod-shaped. Optimal growth temperature and pH of strain Cel2fT were 55 °C and pH 7.0, respectively. NaCl was essential for the growth of strain Cel2fT and the strain showed enhanced growth in the presence of sea salt; the optimum sea salt concentration for growth was 7 % (w/v). Thiosulfate, sulfate and sulfite were potential electron acceptors. The major fatty acids of strain Cel2fT were iso-C15 : 0, C16 : 0, and C18 : 0. Polar lipid analysis indicated the presence of phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol. Strain Cel2fT contained menaquinone MK-7 as the isoprenoid quinone, and the DNA G+C content was 31.3 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the nearest relative of strain Cel2fT was Brassicibacter mesophilus BMT with 93.8 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity. Based on phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic characteristics, strain Cel2fT represents a novel species of genus Brassicibacter, for which the name Brassicibacter thermophilus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is Cel2fT ( = JCM 30480T = CGMCC 1.5200T).

Four isolates of an unknown Gram-stain-positive, catalase-negative coccus-shaped organism, isolated from the pharynx of four wild rabbits, were characterized by phenotypic and molecular genetic methods. The micro-organisms were tentatively assigned to the genus Streptococcus based on cellular morphological and biochemical criteria, although the organisms did not appear to correspond to any species with a validly published name. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequencing confirmed their identification as members of the genus Streptococcus, being most closely related phylogenetically to Streptococcus porcorum 682-03T (96.9  % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity). Analysis of rpoB and sodA gene sequences showed divergence values between the novel species and S. porcorum 682-03T (the closest phylogenetic relative determined from 16S rRNA gene sequences) of 18.1 and 23.9  %, respectively. The novel bacterial isolate could be distinguished from the type strain of S. porcorum by several biochemical characteristics, such as the production of glycyl-tryptophan arylamidase and α-chymotrypsin, and the non-acidification of different sugars. Based on both phenotypic and phylogenetic findings, it is proposed that the unknown bacterium be assigned to a novel species of the genus Streptococcus, and named Streptococcus pharyngis sp. nov. The type strain is DICM10-00796BT ( = CECT 8754T = CCUG 66496T).

A bacterial strain designated 11N27T was isolated from an agricultural soil sample. Cells of this strain were Gram-reaction-variable, facultatively anaerobic, endospore-forming, white-pigmented, peritrichously flagellated and hydrolysed xanthine. The major fatty acids of strain 11N27T were anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C16 : 0 and C16 : 0. The polar lipid profile contained phosphatidylethanolamine, two unknown phospholipids, two unknown aminolipids, one unknown aminophospholipid and two unknown polar lipids. The G+C content of the genomic DNA of strain 11N27T was 50.3 mol%. MK-7 was the predominant respiratory quinone. meso-Diaminopimelic acid was the diagnostic diamino acid in the peptidoglycan. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain 11N27T was phylogenetically related to Paenibacillus mendelii C/2T (96.2  % sequence similarity) and Paenibacillus sepulcri CMM 7311T (96.0  %). The genotypic and phenotypic data showed that strain 11N27T could be distinguished from phylogenetically related species and that this strain represents a novel species of the genus Paenibacillus. The name Paenibacillus xanthinilyticus sp. nov. is proposed with the type strain 11N27T( = KACC 17935T = NBRC 109108T).