- Volume 66, Issue 11, 2016

A mesophilic, hydrogenotrophic methanogen, designated strain MobHT, was isolated from sediments derived from deep sedimentary, natural-gas-bearing aquifers in Japan. Strain MobHT utilized H2/CO2 or formate, but not ethanol, 1-propanol, 2-propanol, 2-butanol or cyclopentanol, for growth and methane production. In addition, acetate and tungsten were required for growth. Yeast extract stimulated the growth, but was not required. The cells were weakly motile with multiple flagella, presented as a curved-rod-shaped (0.8×2.0 µm) and occurred singly or in pairs. Strain MobHT grew at 15–40 °C (optimum 35 °C) and at pH 5.9–7.9 (optimum pH 7.0–7.5). The sodium chloride range for growth was 0–5.8 % (optimum 2 %). The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 37.6 mol%. In the phylogenetic tree based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences, strain MobHT clustered together with Methanomicrobium mobile (95.4 % in sequence similarity), and formed a distinct clade from Methanolacinia petrolearia SEBR 4847T (95.6 %) and Methanolacinia paynteri G-2000T (95.4 %). The two species of the genus Methanolacinia utilized 2-propanol, whereas strain MobHT and Methanomicrobium mobile , the sole species of the genus Methanomicrobium , do not. Based on phenotypic and phylogenetic features, we propose a novel species for the isolate with the name, Methanomicrobium antiquum sp. nov. The type strain is MobHT (=DSM 21220T=NBRC 104160T).

A yellow, Gram-staining-positive, aerobic, rod-shaped and non-motile bacterial strain, designated CJ663T, was isolated from the tidal flat sediment in Ganghwa-do, South Korea. Strain CJ663T grew optimally on R2A at 30 °C and pH 7.0 and did not require NaCl for growth. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity showed that strain CJ663T belonged to the genus Flavihumibacter within the family Chitinophagaceae and was most closely related to Flavihumibacter cheonanensis KACC 17467T (98.3 % similarity), followed by Flavihumibacter solisilvae KACC 17917T (97.4 %). DNA–DNA relatedness levels of strain CJ663T were 42.9 % to F. cheonanensis KACC 17467T and 48.6 % to F. solisilvae KACC 17917T. The major isoprenoid quinone was menaquinone 7 (MK-7). The predominant polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, aminophospholipid and two unidentified lipids. The major cellular fatty acids of strain CJ663T were iso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 0 and iso-C17 : 0 3-OH. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 47.7 mol%. On the basis of data from this polyphasic taxonomic study, strain CJ663T represents a novel species in the genus Flavihumibacter , for which name Flavihumibacter sediminis sp. nov. is proposed; the type strain is CJ663T (=KACC 18874T=JCM 31431T).

A strictly aerobic, Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped, motile by gliding and yellow-pigmented bacterium, designated strain 7Alg 4T, was isolated from the green alga Cladophora stimpsonii. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that the novel strain was affiliated to the family Flavobacteriaceae of the phylum Bacteroidetes , and was most closely related to the recognized species of the genera Lacinutrix and Flavirhabdus , with 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities of 95.1–98.1 and 97.0 %, respectively. Strain 7Alg 4T grew in the presence of 1–5 % NaCl and at 4–32 °C, and hydrolysed aesculin, gelatin, starch and Tween 80. The prevalent fatty acids were iso-C15 : 1 G, iso-C15 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH, iso-C15 : 0 3-OH and C15 : 0. The polar lipid profile was characterized by the presence of phosphatidylethanolamine, three unidentified aminolipids and four unidentified lipids. The major respiratory quinone was MK-6. The DNA G+C content was 31.9 mol%. On the basis of the differences in 16S rRNA gene sequences, chemotaxonomic and phenotypic characteristics, it is suggested that strain 7Alg 4T represents a novel species of the genus Lacinutrix , for which the name Lacinutrix cladophorae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 7Alg 4T (=KCTC 23036T=KMM 6381T). Reclassification of Flavirhabdus iliipiscaria as Lacinutrix iliipiscaria comb. nov. and an emend of the genus Lacinutrix are also proposed.

During a study of the bacterial community in forest soil of Kyonggi University, Suwon, South Korea, a glistening yellow-pigmented, Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, motile and rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain C-1-16T, was isolated. This strain was non-sporulating, catalase-negative and oxidase-positive. It was able to grow at 20–42 °C, at pH 6.0–9.0 and with 0–0.5 % (w/v) NaCl. This strain was taxonomically characterized by a polyphasic approach. Based on the results of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain C-1-16T formed a lineage within the family Chitinophagaceae of the phylum Bacteroidetes and closely related to the genera Filimonas (93.53 % sequence similarity), Sediminibacterium (92.52–90.75 %), Lacibacter (91.99–91.19 %) and Parasegetibacter (91.88–91.78 %). Flexirubin-type pigment was present for strain C-1-16T. The only respiratory quinone was menaquinone-7 (MK-7) and the major polar lipid was phosphatidylethanolamine. The predominant fatty acids of strain C-1-16T were iso-C15 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH, iso-C15 : 1 G, summed feature 3 (C16 : 1 ω6c and/or C16 : 1 ω7c) and C16 : 0. The genomic DNA G+C content of this novel strain was 45.5 mol%. On the basis of phenotypic, genotypic and phylogenetic analysis, strain C-1-16T represents a novel species of a new genus in the family Chitinophagaceae , for which the name Arvibacter flaviflagrans gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Arvibacter flaviflagrans is C-1-16T (=KEMB 900-374T=KACC 18717T=JCM 31293T).

A motile and rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain KYW1030T, was isolated from seawater collected from the Gwangyang bay (Republic of Korea). Cells were Gram-reaction-negative, aerobic, catalase-positive and oxidase-negative. The major fatty acids were summed feature 4 (iso-C17 : 1 I and/or anteiso-C17 : 1 B), iso-C15 : 0 and iso-C17 : 0 3-OH. The strain contained MK-7 as the major isoprenoid quinone, phosphatidylethanolamine and diphosphatidylglycerol as the major polar lipids and sym-homospermidine as the major polyamine. The DNA G+C content was 46 mol%. A phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain KYW1030T forms an evolutionary lineage within the radiation enclosing the members of the genus Pontibacter , with Pontibacter akesuensis AKS 1T (97.9 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity) as its nearest neighbour. A number of phenotypic characteristics distinguished strain KYW1030T from the related members of the genus Pontibacter . On the basis of the evidence presented in this study, a novel species, Pontibacter rugosus sp. nov., is proposed for strain KYW1030T (=KACC 18739T=JCM 31319T).

A Gram-staining-negative, red-pigmented, motile, rod-shaped bacterial strain, designated as W14T, was isolated from a hexachlorocyclohexane-contaminated dumpsite located in the northern part of India at Ummari Village, Lucknow. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that the strain belongs to the genus Pontibacter with highest sequence similarity to Pontibacter lucknowensis DM9T (98.1 %). The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity between strain W14T and members of other species of the genus Pontibacter ranged from 98.1 to 94.2 %. The DNA–DNA relatedness between strain W14T and P. lucknowensis DM9T was 33.7 % and with other closely related strains was found to be less than 20 %, confirming it to represent a novel species. The DNA G+C content of strain W14T was 51.3 mol%. Strain W14T was oxidase- and catalase-positive. The predominant cellular fatty acids were summed feature 4 (C17 : 1 iso I/anteiso B and C17 : 1 anteiso B/iso I), iso-C15 : 0 and iso-C17 : 0 3-OH. The polar lipid profile of strain W14T consisted of phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, aminolipid and glycolipid. On the basis of the results obtained from DNA–DNA hybridization, biochemical and physiological tests in this study, strain W14T represents a novel species of the genus Pontibacter , for which the name Pontibacter virosus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is W14T (=MCC 2932T=DSM 100231T=KCTC 42941T).

A red-pigmented, Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped, aerobic bacterium, designated strain CCM 8646T, was isolated from stone fragments in James Ross Island, Antarctica. Strain CCM 8646T was able to grow from 10 to 40 °C, in the presence of up to 1 % (w/v) NaCl and at pH 7.0–11.0. Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence placed strain CCM 8646T in the genus Rufibacter with the closest relative being Rufibacter roseus H359T (97.07 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity). The digital DNA–DNA hybridization values between strain CCM 8646T and R. roseus H359T were low (21.30±2.34 %). The major quinone was menaquinone MK-7. The polar lipids comprised phosphatidylethanolamine, an unknown aminoglycolipid and six unknown polar lipids. The G+C content of strain CCM 8646T was 51.54 mol%. On the basis of phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genotyping results, strain CCM 8646T is considered to represent a novel species within the genus Rufibacter , for which the name Rufibacter ruber sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CCM 8646T (=LMG 29438T).

A Gram-stain-negative, strictly aerobic, non-motile, light yellow, short-rod bacterium (designated GJ30-7T) isolated from compost, was characterized using a polyphasic approach, in order to clarify its taxonomic position. Strain GJ30-7T was observed to grow optimally at 30 °C and at pH 7.0 on R2A agar medium. Strain Gsoil GJ30-7T possessed β-glucosidase activity, which was responsible for its ability to transform ginsenosides Rb1 and Rc (the two main active components of ginseng) to ginsenoside F2. Phylogenetic analysis, based on 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities, indicated that GJ30-7T belongs to the genus Sphingobacterium of the family Sphingobacteriaceae and was most closely related to Sphingobacterium yanglingense JCM 30166T (92.6 %), Sphingobacterium psychroaquaticum KACC 18188T (92.6 %), and Sphingobacterium thermophilum KCTC 23708T (92.0 %). The DNA G+C content was 43 mol% and MK-7 was the major isoprenoid quinone. The main polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, one unidentified phospolipid and one unknown polar lipid. In contrast to standard and reference strains, unidentified sphingolipid was also present. The predominant fatty acids of strain GJ30-7T were iso-C15 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH, C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c (summed feature 3) and iso-C17 : 1ω9c and/or C16 : 0 10-methyl (summed feature 9), supporting the affiliation of strain GJ30-7T to the genus Sphingobacterium . However, strain GJ30-7T could be distinguished genotypically and phenotypically from species of the genus Sphingobacterium with validly published names. The novel isolate therefore represents a novel species, for which the name Sphingobacterium jejuense sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain GJ30-7T (=KACC 18625T=JCM 30948T).

A novel bacterial strain, designated AA5T, was isolated from sediment in a fishbowl. Cells were Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped and strictly aerobic, showing gliding motility. Strain AA5T was able to grow at 15–37 °C, at pH 5.0–8.0 and in the absence of NaCl. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that strain AA5T was most closely related to species in the genus Sediminibacterium , showing highest similarity to the type strain of S.ediminibacterium goheungense (96.6 %). Concordantly, a phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain AA5T belongs to the genus Sediminibacterium . The DNA G+C content was 44.7 mol%. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, four unidentified aminolipids, two unknown aminophospholipids and four unidentified polar lipids. The only respiratory quinone of strain AA5T was menaquinone 7 (MK-7) and the major fatty acids (>5 % of the total) were iso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 1 G, iso-C16 : 0 3-OH, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH and iso-C15 : 0 3-OH. Based on data from this polyphasic study, strain AA5T represents a novel species, for which the name Sediminibacterium aquarii sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is AA5T (=KACC 18509T=JCM 31013T).

A non-motile, rod-shaped and pale-pink bacterium, designated strain WS71T, was isolated from freshwater collected from the Woopo Wetland (Republic of Korea). Cells were Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, catalase-positive and oxidase-negative. The major fatty acids were summed feature 3 (comprising C16 : 1ω6c and/or C16 : 1ω7c), iso-C17 : 0 3-OH, C16 : 0 and iso-C15 : 0. The strain contained menaquinone 7 (MK-7) and the DNA G+C content was 39.4±0.4 mol%. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine and an unknown aminophospholipid. A phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that WS71T forms an evolutionary lineage within the radiation enclosing the members of genus Mucilaginibacterwith Mucilaginibacter. soyangensis HME6664T as its nearest neighbor (98.3 % sequence similarity). DNA–DNA relatedness between WS71T and M. soyangensis HME6664T was 61.3±1.0 %. A number of phenotypic characteristics distinguished WS71T from the other members of the genus Mucilaginibacter . On the basis of the evidence presented in this study, WS71T represents a novel species, for which the name Mucilaginibacter puniceus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is WS71T (=KCTC 32270T=JCM 19495T).

The taxonomic status of all species of the genus Elizabethkingia was re-evaluated by comparative genomics based on whole-genome sequencing. From these results it is clear that Elizabethkingia endophytica is a later subjective synonym of Elizabethkingia anophelis . In addition, genome-based analysis revealed the misidentification of isolates previously identified by traditional approaches and indicates the presence of two more species. We propose a more rapid identification scheme on the basis of an in silico PCR assay derived from comparative genomics of whole-genome sequences (WGS) from 29 well-curated strains.

A Gram-stain-negative, non-motile, light-pink-pigmented, aerobic, rod-shaped bacterium, designated V5RDT, was isolated from soil of Damxung county in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Strain V5RDT grew luxuriously at 10 °C, at pH 9.0 and in the presence of 1 % NaCl (w/v). Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences placed strain V5RDT in the genus Pedobacter and found that it was most closely related to Pedobacter alluvionis DSM 19624T (97.3 %), Pedobacter ginsenosidimutans JCM 16721T (96.84 %), Pedobacter agri DSM 19486T (96.28 %), Pedobacter roseus JCM 13399T (96.22 %), Pedobacter sandarakinus KCTC 12559T (95.92 %) and Pedobacter borealis DSM 19626T (95.85 %). The G+C content of the genomic DNA of the type strain V5RDT was 37.40 mol%. DNA–DNA relatedness for the type strain V5RDT with respect to its closest phylogenetic relative, P . alluvionis DSM 19624T, was 62.5±1.7 %. The polar lipid profile of the strain consisted of phosphatidylethanolamine, one unidentified aminolipid, one unidentified glycolipid and two unidentified polar lipids. Menaquinone MK-7 was the predominant respiratory quinone, and summed feature 3 (comprising C16 : 1 ω7c and/or C16 : 1 ω6c), iso-C15 : 0 and iso-C17 : 0 3-OH were the major fatty acids. With respect to phenotypic characteristics, biochemical properties and phylogenetic inference, strain V5RDT represents a novel species of the genus Pedobacter , for which the name Pedobacter psychrotolerans sp. nov is proposed. The type strain is V5RDT (=CGMCC 1.15644T=DSM 103236T).

A bacterial strain, designated TTM-2T, was isolated from a water sample taken from the Caohu River in Taiwan and characterized using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. Cells of strain TTM-2T were Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, poly-β-hydroxybutyrate-accumulating, non-motile, rod-shaped and covered by large capsules; they formed light pink colonies. Growth occurred at 15–37 °C (optimum, 30 °C), at pH 4–8 (optimum, pH 6) and with 0–1 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 0.5 %, w/v). Phylogenetic analyses, based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, showed that strain TTM-2T belonged to the genus Mucilaginibacter . The sequence similarities between the 16S rRNA genes of strain TTM-2T and the type strains of other species of the genus Mucilaginibacter ranged from 93.6 to 97.4 %. The closest relatives of strain TTM-2T were Mucilaginibacter soli R9-65T (97.4 %) and Mucilaginibacte defluvii A5T (97.1 %). The predominant fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0 (36.9 %) and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c; 33.7 %). The polar lipid profile consisted of phosphatidylethanolamine and several uncharacterized aminophospholipids and phospholipids. The major isoprenoid quinone was MK-7. The DNA G+C content of the genomic DNA was 46.6 mol%. The DNA-DNA relatedness of strain TTM-2T with respect to species of the genus Mucilaginibacterwith validly published names was less than 70 %. On the basis of the phylogenetic inference and phenotypic data, strain TTM-2T should be classified as a novel species, for which the name Mucilaginibacter fluminis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is TTM-2T (=BCRC 80785T=LMG 28455T=KCTC 42274T).

A novel Gram-stain-negative, facultatively anaerobic, filamentous, and yellowish-white-pigmented marine bacterium, designated strain FB208T, was isolated from marine sediment obtained off the coastal area of Weihai, China. Cells of strain FB208T were filamentous during exponential growth, fragmented to rods in the stationary growth phase and became spherical in aged cultures. It grew optimally at 33 °C, at pH 7.0–7.5 and in the presence of 2.0–3.0 % (w/v) NaCl. Based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence, strain FB208T was found to be closely related to Marinifilum flexuosum DSM 21950T (96.9 % similarity) and Marinifilum fragile JCM 15579T (96.4 %), with less than 90.0 % sequence similarity to other genera of the class Bacteroidia . Phylogenetic analysis, also based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, placed strain FB208T in the genus Marinifilum , family Marinifilaceae . The predominant isoprenoid quinone of strain FB208T was identified as menaquinone MK-7. The main cellular fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH and iso-C17 : 1 ω9c, and the major polar lipids were an unidentified lipid and aminophospholipid. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 43.8 mol%. Based on these phylogenetic and phenotypic data, strain FB208T represents a novel species of the genus Marinifilum , for which the name Marinifilum albidiflavum sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is FB208T (=KCTC 42591T=MCCC 1H00113T).

A novel Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped, non-spore-forming, non-flagellated, strictly aerobic strain, designated RZW3-2T, was isolated from seawater from near the Yellow Sea coast of PR China (35.475° N 119.613° E). The organism grew optimally between 24 and 28 °C, at pH 6.0–7.0 and in the presence of 2–3 % (w/v) NaCl. The strain requires seawater or artificial seawater for growth and NaCl alone does not support growth. RZW3-2T contained iso-C15 : 0, C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c and anteiso-C15 : 0 as the dominant fatty acids. The respiratory quinone detected in RZW3-2T was menaquinone 6 (MK6). The polar lipids of RZW3-2T comprised phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), four unidentified phospholipids (PL), two unidentified aminolipids (AL) and one unknown lipid (L). The DNA G+C content of RZW3-2T was 30.5 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the novel strain was related most closely to Polaribacter reichenbachii KCTC 23969T, Polaribacter dokdonensis KCTC 12392T and Polaribacter irgensii CIP 106478T with 98.0, 97.8 and 97.0 % sequence similarities, respectively. The DNA–DNA hybridization values between RZW3-2T and its closest phylogenetic relatives, P. reichenbachii KCTC 23969T and P. dokdonensis KCTC 12392T, were 52.0±0.6 % and 49.8±1.21 % respectively. On the basis of polyphasic analyses, RZW3-2T represents a novel species of the genus Polaribacter , for which the name Polaribacter marinaquae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is RZW3-2T (=JCM 30825T=KCTC 42664T=MCCC 1K00696T).

A Gram-stain-positive, strictly aerobic, non-motile and rod-shaped bacterial strain, designated YS-17T, was isolated from soil in the Lengshuijiang antimony mine, Hunan Province, China. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis clustered it with Flavihumibacter strains, and strain YS-17T was most closely related to Flavihumibacter cheonanensis WS16T (97.2 % similarity), Flavihumibacter petaseus T41T (96.6 %) and Flavihumibacter solisilvae 3-3T (96.5 %). The level of DNA–DNA relatedness between strain YS-17T and F. cheonanensis JCM 19322T was 35.5±0.1 % (n=2). The major respiratory quinone of strain YS-17T was menaquinone-7 and the major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, two unidentified lipids, two unidentified amino lipids and phospholipid. The major fatty acids (≥5 %) were iso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 1 G, unknown ECL 13.565, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH, C15 : 0, C16 : 1 ω5c and anteiso-C15 : 0. The DNA G+C content was 47.8 mol%. Compared with other Flavihumibacter strains, strain YS-17T showed major biophysical and biochemical differences, with the ability to hydrolyse gelatin and to assimilate salicin and l-proline. The results demonstrated that strain YS-17T belongs to the genus Flavihumibacter and represents a novel species, for which the name Flavihumibacter stibioxidans sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YS-17T (=CCTCC AB 2016053T=KCTC 52205T).

A novel Gram-stain-negative, non-spore-forming and short rod-shaped bacterium, strain LIP-5T, isolated from an activated sludge in a pesticide factory in Xinyi, China, was investigated for its taxonomic position by a polyphasic approach. Cell growth occurred at 16–42 °C (optimum, 30 °C), in the presence of 0–3.0 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, without NaCl) and at pH 6.0–9.0 (optimum, pH 7.0). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons showed that the isolate was a member of the family Chitinophagaceae , with the closest relatives being Arachidicoccus rhizosphaerae Vu-144T (93.5 % similarity), followed by Heliimonas saccharivorans L2-4T (90.5 %) and Chitinophaga ginsengisoli Gsoil 052T (89.6 %). Menaquinone 7 (MK-7) was the predominant respiratory ubiquinone and phosphatidylethanolamine and unidentified lipids were the major polar lipids. The major cellular fatty acids of strain LIP-5T were anteiso-C15 : 0 and iso-C15 : 0, and there were also moderate amounts of iso-C17 : 0 3-OH and C17 : 0 2-OH. The DNA G+C content was 42.3 mol%. On the basis of phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic data, strain LIP-5T was classified as representing a novel species of a new genus, for which the name Haoranjiania flava gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Haoranjiania flava is LIP-5T (=CCTCC AB 2015365T=KCTC 42956T).

A mesophilic anaerobic bacterium, designated KHALHBd91T was isolated from the moderately hot spring of Hammam Biadha, Tunisia. The strain was Gram-staining-negative, non-sporulating, non-motile and rod-shaped, appearing singly (0.5–2.0×0.5–1 µm). It grew anaerobically at temperatures between 20 and 50 °C (optimum 37 °C) and at pH values between 5.5 and 7.8 (optimum 7.0). It required NaCl for growth, with growth observed at up 8.5 % and an optimum at 2.5 %. KHALHBd91T used glucose, galactose, maltose, pyruvate, lactate, fumarate and yeast extract as electron donors. The end-products from glucose fermentation were acetate, propionate, succinate and CO2. Nitrate, nitrite, thiosulfate, elemental sulfur, sulfate and sulfite were not used as terminal electron acceptors. The predominant cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0 and iso-C15 : 0. The respiratory quinone was MK-6. The main polar lipids consisted of lipids, phospholipids, glycolipids, aminolipids, phosphoaminoglycolipids and phosphatidylethanolamine. The DNA G+C content was 35.0 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis of the small-subunit ribosomal 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that KHALHBd91T had Marinifilum fragile and Marinifilum flexuosum (phylum Bacteroidetes , class Bacteroidia , order Bacteroidales ) as its closest relatives (similarity of 86.7 and 87.8 % respectively). The phylogenetic and physiological data fro the present study strongly indicate that the isolate represents a novel genus and species of a novel family, Balneicella halophila gen. nov., sp. nov., in the family Balneicellaceaefam. nov. The type strain is KHALHBd91T (=DSM28579T=JCM19909T).

A novel aerobic bacterial strain, P3T, was isolated from a red snow obtained from Antarctica. Cells of strain P3T were rod-shaped, non-motile, catalase-negative, oxidase-positive and Gram-stain-negative. Growth was observed at temperatures ranging from 0 to 25 °C, with optimum growth at 15 °C. The pH range for growth was pH 5.3–7.8. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 55.0 mol%. The major components in the fatty acid profile were iso-C15 : 0, summed feature 4 (iso-C17 : 1 I and/or anteiso-C17 : 1 B), anteiso-C15 : 0 and summed feature 3 (iso-C16 : 1ω7c and/or iso-C16 : 1ω6c). The predominant isoprenoid quinone was MK-7. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that the novel isolate was a member of the genus Hymenobacter , and the strain showed highest sequence similarity (94 %) with H.ymenpbacter glaciei VUG-A130T, Hymenobacter . soli PB17T and Hymenobacter . antarcticus VUG-A42aaT. On the basis of phylogenetic and phenotypic properties strain P3T represents a novel species of the genus Hymenobacter (for which the name Hymenobacter nivis sp. nov. is proposed. The types strain is P3T (=DSM 101755T=NBRC 111535T).