- Volume 65, Issue Pt_9, 2015

An aerobic, Gram-stain-negative, non-flagellated, long rod or rod-shaped bacterial strain, 5GH22-11T, was isolated from a soil sample of a greenhouse in Gongju, Republic of Korea. According to 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain 5GH22-11T showed the highest sequence similarities with Niastella populi THYL-44T (97.1 %), Niastella koreensis GR20-10T (95.7 %) and Niastella yeongjuensis GR20-13T (95.6 %), and < 93 % sequence similarity with all other species with validly published names. The phylogenetic tree also showed strain 5GH22-11T formed a compact cluster with members of the genus Niastella. DNA–DNA hybridization revealed strain 5GH22-11T is a novel species, showing far less than 70 % DNA–DNA relatedness with Niastella populi THYL-44T. Strain 5GH22-11T contained iso-C15 : 0 (34.3 %), iso-C17 : 0 3-OH (24.8 %) and iso-C15 : 1 G (18.2 %) as the major fatty acids; phosphatidylethanolamine, six unknown aminolipids, two unknown lipids and one unknown phospholipid as the polar lipids; and MK-7 as the predominant isoprenoid quinone. The DNA G+C content was 41.4 mol%. Based on these phylogenetic, physiological and chemotaxonomic data, it was demonstrated that strain 5GH22-11T represents a novel species of the genus Niastella, for which the name Niastella gongjuensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 5GH22-11T ( = KACC 17399T = JCM 19941T).

For more than a decade, the taxonomy of the Phormidiaceae has been problematic, since morphologically similar organisms represent phylogenetically distinct entities. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses, the polyphyletic genus Phormidium and other gas-vacuolated oscillatorioids appear scattered throughout the cyanobacterial tree of life. Recently, several studies have focused on understanding the oscillatorioid taxa at the generic level. At the specific level, few studies have characterized cyanobacterial strains using combined datasets (morphology, ultrastructure and molecular multilocus analyses). Using a multifaceted approach, we propose a new, well-defined genus, Cephalothrix gen. nov., by analysing seven filamentous strains that are morphologically ‘intermediate’ between gas-vacuolated taxa and Phormidium. Furthermore, we characterize two novel species: Cephalothrix komarekiana sp. nov. (strains CCIBt 3277, CCIBt 3279, CCIBt 3523, CCALA 155, SAG 75.79 and UTEX 1580) and Cephalothrix lacustris sp. nov. (strain CCIBt 3261). The generic name and specific epithets are proposed under the provisions of the International Code of Nomenclature for Algae, Fungi, and Plants.

Two bacterial strains, designated MA1002T and MA1003T, were isolated from the air-conditioning system of a car. Cells of both strains were Gram-reaction-positive, non-motile, non-spore-forming coccoids, catalase- and oxidase-positive and UV-radiation resistant. The major fatty acids of strain MA1002T were iso-C17 : 0 and iso-C15 : 0 and those of strain MA1003T were iso-C16 : 0 and iso-C16 : 1 H. The polar lipid profile of MA1002T contained phosphatidylethanolamine, two unidentified phosphoglycolipids, an unidentified phospholipid, an unidentified aminophospholipid, an unidentified aminolipid and an unidentified lipid. MA1003T had three unidentified phosphoglycolipids, six unidentified phospholipids, two unidentified glycolipids and two unidentified polar lipids as the polar lipids. The G+C contents of the genomic DNA of MA1002T and MA1003T were 70.5 and 76.0 mol%, respectively. MK-8 was the predominant respiratory quinone for both strains. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain MA1002T was phylogenetically related to Deinococcus apachensis DSM 19763T, D. geothermalis DSM 11300T, D. aerius TR0125T and D. aetherius ST0316T (92.9, 92.6, 92.0 and 91.9 % sequence similarity, respectively), and MA1003T showed the highest sequence similarity to Deinococcus hopiensis KR-140T (92.9 %) and D. xinjiangensis X-82T (91.4 %). The results of genotypic and phenotypic characterizations showed that both strains could be distinguished from phylogenetically related species, and that the strains represented novel species within the genus Deinococcus, for which we propose the names Deinococcus metallilatus sp. nov. (type strain MA1002T = KACC 17964T = NBRC 110141T) and Deinococcus carri sp. nov. (type strain is MA1003T = KACC 17965T = NBRC 110142T).

Seven yeast strains were isolated from the gut of insect larvae and decayed wood, which were collected from three localities near Nanyang, Henan Province, China. These strains were identified as two novel species through comparison of sequences in the D1/D2 domains of the large subunit (LSU) rRNA gene and other taxonomic characteristics. Pichia dushanensis sp. nov. was closely related to species in the Pichia clade and produced one to four spheroid ascospores in a deliquescent ascus. The D1/D2 sequence of P. dushanensis sp. nov. differed from its closest relative, Issatchenkia (Pichia) sp. NRRL Y-12824, by 3.6  % sequence divergence (16 substitutions and 4 gaps). The species also differed from its four closest known species, Candida rugopelliculosa, Pichia occidentalis, Pichia exigua and Candida phayaonensis, by 4.1–4.4  % sequence divergence (22–24 substitutions and 0–2 gaps) in the D1/D2 sequences. Hyphopichia paragotoi sp. nov. belonged to the Hyphopichia clade, and its nearest phylogenetic neighbours were Candida gotoi, Candida pseudorhagii, Candida rhagii and Hyphopichia heimii with 3.2–4.2  % sequence divergence (16–21substitutions and 1 gap) in the D1/D2 sequences. In comparison with previously established species, H. paragotoi sp. nov. formed one hat-shaped ascospore in a persistent ascus. The type strain of P. dushanensis sp. nov. is NYNU 14658T ( = CICC 33049T = CBS 13912T), and the type strain of H. paragotoi sp. nov. is NYNU 14666T ( = CICC 33048T = CBS 13913T).

Independent surveys of yeasts associated with lignocellulosic-related materials led to the discovery of a novel yeast species belonging to the Cyberlindnera clade (Saccharomycotina, Ascomycota). Analysis of the sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and the D1/D2 domains of the large subunit rRNA gene showed that this species is related to C. japonica, C. maesa and C. easanensis. Six isolates were obtained from different sources, including rotting wood, tree bark and sugar cane filter cake in Brazil, frass from white oak in the USA and decayed leaf in Taiwan. A novel species is suggested to accommodate these isolates, for which the name C. xylosilytica sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of C. xylosilytica sp. nov. is NRRL YB-2097T ( = CBS 13984T = UFMG-CM-Y347T) and the allotype is UFMG-CM-Y409 ( = CBS 14083). The novel species is heterothallic and complementary mating types are represented by the type and allotype strains. The MycoBank number is MB 811428.

The class Negativicutes is currently divided into one order and two families on the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence phylogenies. We report here comprehensive comparative genomic analyses of the sequenced members of the class Negativicutes to demarcate its different evolutionary groups in molecular terms, independently of phylogenetic trees. Our comparative genomic analyses have identified 14 conserved signature indels (CSIs) and 48 conserved signature proteins (CSPs) that either are specific for the entire class or differentiate four main groups within the class. Two CSIs and nine CSPs are shared uniquely by all or most members of the class Negativicutes, distinguishing this class from all other sequenced members of the phylum Firmicutes. Four other CSIs and six CSPs were specific characteristics of the family Acidaminococcaceae, two CSIs and four CSPs were uniquely present in the family Veillonellaceae, six CSIs and eight CSPs were found only in Selenomonas and related genera, and 17 CSPs were identified uniquely in Sporomusa and related genera. Four additional CSPs support a pairing of the groups containing the genera Selenomonas and Sporomusa. We also report detailed phylogenetic analyses for the Negativicutes based on core protein sequences and 16S rRNA gene sequences, which strongly support the four main groups identified by CSIs and by CSPs. Based on the results from different lines of investigation, we propose a division of the class Negativicutes into an emended order Selenomonadales containing the new families Selenomonadaceae fam. nov. and Sporomusaceae fam. nov. and two new orders, Acidaminococcales ord. nov. and Veillonellales ord. nov., respectively containing the families Acidaminococcaceae and Veillonellaceae.

The oxytrichid species Pleurotricha curdsi ( Shi et al., 2002 ) Gupta et al., 2003 , isolated from a tributary of the Yangtze River in the Mudong district of Chongqing, southern China, was reinvestigated with emphasis on its morphology, morphogenesis and small-subunit (SSU) rDNA-based phylogeny. Compared with three previously described populations, the Mudong population of P. curdsi is characterized by its large body size, 170–295 × 65–110 μm in vivo, and by having a variable number of right marginal rows, either two or three. Likewise, the number of right marginal rows anlagen (RMA) is also variable, i.e. usually two, but sometimes several small extra anlagen that give rise to the formation of the third row, are present to the left of the RMAs. We posit that the Mudong population is an intermediate form between the three previously described populations. Phylogenetic analyses based on the SSU rDNA sequence data show that all populations of P. curdsi cluster with the type species of the genus, Pleurotricha lanceolata, in a clade nested within the Oxytrichidae.