- Volume 66, Issue 11, 2016

Five strains of a Gram-stain-positive, catalase-negative, α-haemolytic, coccus-shaped chain-forming organism were isolated separately from the lower respiratory tracts of five animals of Marmota himalayana in the endemic area of plague, the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China. Based on their morphological characteristics, biochemical features and molecular phylogenetic studies, the strains were placed as representing a new member of the genus Streptococcus . Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence studies indicated that strain HTS5T shared 96.5, 96.2 and 96.0 % similarity with Streptococcus gallinaceus CCUG 42692T, Streptococcus parasanguinis ATCC 15912T and Streptococcus suis ATCC 43765T, respectively. Sequence analysis of its rpoB and sodA genes showed that strain HTS5T was most closely related to Streptococcus cuniculi CCUG 65085T with 9.2 and 10.9 % interspecies divergence, respectively. The whole genome phylogenetic tree based on 339 core genes of 65 Streptococcus genomes confirmed that HTS5T belongs to a distinct lineage that is well separated from recognized species of the genus Streptococcus . In silico DNA–DNA hybridization using 65 available genomes from GenBank showed that HTS5T displayed less than 70 % DNA–DNA relatedness with the other 65 species of the genus Streptococcus deposited in the GenBank database. The genome of strain HTS5T (2 322 791 bp) contained 2377 genes and had a G+C content of 41.6 mol%. Therefore, the five strains are considered to represent a novel species of the genus Streptococcus for which the name Streptococcus marmotae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is HTS5T (=DSM 101995T=CGMCC 1.15534T).

A Gram-positive-staining, endospore-forming, facultatively anaerobic, lactic-acid-producing bacterium, strain GD201205T, was isolated from spoiled jelly in China. Strain GD201205T fermented glucose, fructose, mannose, sucrose, raffinose and turanose, but negative for nitrate reduction, catalase and oxidase. The predominant fatty acids of the strain were anteiso-C17 : 0 and anteiso-C15 : 0. Whole-cell hydrolysates contained glycine and alanine with meso-iaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, glycolipid 1 and glycolipid 2. The DNA G+C content of strain GD201205T was 48.7 mol%. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that the strain belonged to the genus Sporolactobacillus and was most closely related to Sporolactobacillus vineae KCTC 5376T and Sporolactobacillus putidus JCM 15325T with 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities of 97.5 and 96.9 %, respectively. Levels of DNA–DNA relatedness between strain GD201205T and Sporolactobacillus vineae KCTC 5376Tand Sporolactobacillus putidus JCM 15325T were 29.2 and 47.6 %, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene and gyrB gene revealed that strain GD201205T was clearly distinct from all related species of the genus Sporolactobacillus . On the basis of the phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic and phenotypic evidence given in this study, strain GD201205T should be classified as a representative of a novel species of the genus Sporolactobacillus for which the name Sporolactobacillus pectinivorans is proposed. The type strain is GD201205T (=CICC 23867T=KCTC 15488T).

Two novel strictly anaerobic bacteria, strains Bs105T and Bs107T, were isolated from a deep aquifer-derived hydrocarbonoclastic community. The cells were rod-shaped, not motile and had terminal spores. Phylogenetic affiliation and physiological properties revealed that these isolates belong to two novel species of the genus Desulfotomaculum . Optimal growth temperatures for strains Bs105T and Bs107T were 42 and 45 °C, respectively. The estimated G+C content of the genomic DNA was 42.9 and 48.7 mol%. For both strains, the major cellular fatty acid was palmitate (C16 : 0). Specific carbon fatty acid signatures of Gram-positive bacteria (iso-C17 : 0) and sulfate-reducing bacteria (C17 : 0 cyc) were also detected. An insertion was revealed in one of the two 16S rRNA gene copies harboured by strain Bs107T. Similar insertions have previously been highlighted among moderately thermophilic species of the genus Desulfotomaculum . Both strains shared the ability to oxidize aromatic acids (Bs105T: hydroquinone, acetophenone, para-toluic acid, 2-phenylethanol, trans-cinnamic acid, 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde, benzyl alcohol, benzoic acid 4-hydroxybutyl ester; Bs107T: ortho-toluic acid, benzoic acid 4-hydroxybutyl ester). The names Desulfotomaculum aquiferis sp. nov. and Desulfotomaculum profundi sp. nov. are proposed for the type strains Bs105T (=DSM 24088T=JCM 31386T) and Bs107T (=DSM 24093T=JCM 31387T).

An anaerobic, Gram-stain-positive, spore-forming bacterium, designated DY30321T, was isolated from a sample of mixed hydrothermal sulfides collected during cruise DY30 of R/V Da Yang Yi Hao. Cells of strain DY30321T were rod-shaped with rounded ends, and were not motile. Strain DY30321T grew optimally at pH 8.0, at 30 °C and at a salinity (sea salts) of 30–40 g l−1. The principal fatty acids of strain DY30321T were C14 : 0 and summed feature 1 (comprising iso H-C15 : 1/C13 : 0 3-OH). The predominant polar lipids of strain DY30321T were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine. No respiratory quinone was detected. The G+C content of the genomic DNA of strain DY30321T was 33.4 mol%. Phylogenetically, strain DY30321T branched within the family Peptostreptococcaceae , with (misclassified) Clostridium halophilum M1T being its closest phylogenetic relative (94.6 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity), followed by (misclassified) Clostridium caminithermale DVird3T (92.1 %). These strains showed very low 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity (<84 %) to Clostrdium butyricum ATCC 19398T, the type species of the genus Clostridium sensu stricto. On the basis of its phenotypic, phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic characteristics, strain DY30321T (=KCTC 15549T=MCCC 1A01532T) is considered as the type strain of a novel species of a new genus in the family Peptostreptococcaceae , for which the name Wukongibacterbaidiensis gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. Maledivibacter gen. nov. is proposed to accommodate Clostridium halophilum as Maledivibacter halophilus comb. nov. (type species of the genus), and Paramaledivibacter gen. nov. to accommodate Clostridium caminithermale as Paramaledivibacter caminithermalis comb. nov. (type species of the genus).

Strain BL24T, isolated from bamboo phyllosphere collected in Coimbatore, India, was studied for taxonomic classification. Cells of the strain were aerobic, Gram-stain-positive, motile, catalase- and oxidase-positive rods and grew on media containing methanol. In 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain BL24Tshowed the highest sequence similarities with Paenibacillus phyllosphaeraeKACC 11473T (97.8 %) and Paenibacillus sacheonensisSY01 (95.1 %). DNA–DNA hybridization with P. phyllosphaerae KACC 11473T, phylogenetically the most closely related species, was 21.6 %; this value showed that strain BL24Tbelonged to a different species. The cell-wall peptidoglycan was found to possess meso-diaminopimelic acid and the G+C content of genomic DNA was 52.1 mol %. It contained menaquinone (MK)-7 as the predominant respiratory quinone and the major cellular fatty acids are C16 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C16 : 0, and anteiso-C17 : 0. Based on the molecular and chemotaxonomic markers and physiological properties, strain BL24T (=NRRL B-51698T=CCM 7577T) is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Paenibacillus , for which the name Paenibacillus methanolicusis proposed.

A novel Gram-stain-positive, rod-shaped, anaerobic, thermophilic bacterium, strain GGR1T, was isolated from a thermophilic lab-scale biogas fermenter. The novel organism was effectively degrading crystalline cellulose. It seems to play a role in remineralization of plant biomass by hydrolysing its polysaccharides. 16S rRNA gene comparative sequence analysis demonstrated that the isolate formed a hitherto unknown subline within the family Ruminococcaceae . The closest phylogenetic relative of GGR1T among the taxa with validly published names was Clostridiumthermocellum , sharing 94.3 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity. Strain GGR1T was catalase-negative, indole-negative and produced acetate and ethanol as major end-products during fermentative cellulose utilization. The major cellular fatty acids (>1 %) were 16 : 0 iso fatty acid and 16 : 0 fatty acid. Cells were rod shaped and grew optimally at 60 °C and pH 7.0. The DNA G+C content was 34.9 mol%. A novel genus and species, Herbivoraxsaccincola gen. nov., sp. nov., is proposed on the basis of phylogenetic analysis and physiological properties of the novel isolate. Strain GGR1T (=DSM 101079T=CECT 9155T) represents the type strain for the novel genus and novel species Herbivoraxsaccincola gen. nov., sp. nov.

A novel anaerobic, alkaliphilic, Gram-stain-positive, spore-forming bacterium was isolated from a carbonaceous hydrothermal chimney in Prony Bay, New Caledonia. This bacterium, designated strain 3bT, grew at temperatures from 30 to 43 °C (optimum 37 °C) and at pH between 7.8 and 10.1 (optimum 9.5). Added NaCl was not required for growth (optimum 0–0.2 %, w/v), but was tolerated at up to 4 %. Yeast extract was required for growth. Strain 3bT utilized crotonate, lactate and pyruvate, but not sugars. Crotonate was dismutated to acetate and butyrate. Lactate was disproportionated to acetate and propionate. Pyruvate was degraded to acetate plus trace amounts of hydrogen. Growth on lactate was improved by the addition of fumarate, which was used as an electron acceptor and converted to succinate. Sulfate, thiosulfate, elemental sulfur, sulfite, nitrate, nitrite, FeCl3, Fe(III)-citrate, Fe(III)-EDTA, chromate, arsenate, selenate and DMSO were not used as terminal electron acceptors. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 33.2 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that the isolate is a member of the family Clostridiaceae , order Clostridiales within the phylum Firmicutes . Strain 3bT was most closely related to ‘ Alkaliphilus hydrothermalis ' FatMR1T (92.2 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity), and was positioned approximately equidistantly between the genera Alkaliphilus , Anaerovirgula and Natronincola . On the basis of phylogenetic, genetic, chemotaxonomic and physiological properties, strain 3bT is proposed to represent a novel species of a new genus, for which the name Serpentinicella alkaliphila gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Serpentinicella alkaliphila is 3bT (=DSM 100013T=JCM 30645T).

A novel Gram-stain-positive, endospore-forming bacterium, designated FJAT-22460T, was isolated from a soil sample of a potato field in Xinjiang Autonomous Region, China. Cells were rods that were catalase-positive and motile by peritrichous flagella. The strain was found to grow at temperatures ranging from 10 to 40 °C (optimum 30 °C) and at pH 5.0–12.0 (optimum pH 7) with 0–5 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum 0 % NaCl). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain FJAT-22460T belonged to the genus Paenibacillus and exhibited 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities of 97.3, 97.2, 97.2 and 97.0 % with Paenibacillus glucanolyticus DSM 5162T, Paenibacillus lautus DSM 3035T, Paenibacillus lactis MB 1871T and Paenibacillus chibensis JCM 9905T, respectively. DNA–DNA relatedness of strain FJAT-22460T with Paenibacillus glucanolyticus DSM 5162T and Paenibacillus lautus DSM 3035T was 62.6 % and 33.3 %, respectively, lower than the 70 % accepted for species delineation. The menaquinone was identified as MK-7. The major fatty acids detected were anteiso-C15 : 0 (51.4 %), iso-C15 : 0 (5.3 %), C16 : 0 (12.1 %), iso-C16 : 0 (10.7 %) and anteiso-C17 : 0 (6.9 %). The DNA G+C content was determined to be 50.9 mol%. Phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genotypic properties clearly indicated that isolate FJAT-22460T represents a novel species within the genus Paenibacillus , for which the name Paenibacillus solani sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is FJAT-22460T (=DSM 100999T=CCTCC AB 2015207T).

A bacterial strain designated AMTAE16T was isolated from a root of wheat in Spain. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences placed the isolate in the genus Paenibacillus with its closest relative being Paenibacillus daejeonensis AP-20T with 99.0 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity. DNA–DNA hybridization studies showed a mean of 30 % DNADNA relatedness between strain AMTAE16T and the type strain of P. daejeonensis . The isolate was a Gram-stainvariable, motile and sporulating rod. Catalase and oxidase activities were positive. Gelatin and starch were hydrolysed but not casein. Growth was supported by many carbohydrates and organic acids as carbon source. MK-7 was the only menaquinone detected and anteiso-C15 : 0, C16 : 0 and iso-C16 : 0 were the major fatty acids. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, two unidentified aminophospholipids, four unidentified phospholipids and two unidentified lipids. meso-Diaminopimelic acid was detected in the peptidoglycan. The DNA G+C content was 55.4 mol%. Phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic and phenotypic analyses showed that strain AMTAE16T represents a novel species of the genus Paenibacillus , for which the name Paenibacillus hispanicus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is AMTAE16T(=LMG 29501T=CECT 9124T).

A strictly anaerobic bacterial strain (WN011T) was isolated from a methanogenic reactor treating waste from cattle farms. Cells of the strain were Gram-stain-negative curved rods with a polar flagellum. Spores were not produced. The optimum temperature for growth was 35–37 °C and the optimum pH was 6.7. The strain did not utilize carbohydrates as growth substrates. The strain grew in PY medium and produced acetate, butyrate, isovalerate and H2 as well as propionate and isobutyrate as minor products. Amino acids (l-isoleucine, l-leucine, l-lysine, l-serine, l-threonine and l-valine) added to PY medium enhanced growth of the strain and increased the amounts of fermentation products. Oxidase, catalase and nitrate-reducing activities were negative. Hydrogen sulfide was produced. The genomic DNA G+C content was 38.8 mol%. Compounds related to iso-C15 : 0 (fatty acid, dimethylacetal and aldehyde) were detected as predominant components by the cellular fatty acids analysis. The diagnostic diamino acid of the cell-wall peptidoglycan was meso-diaminopimelic acid. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequences, three clones from wastewater were very closely related to strain WN011T (up to 99.9 % sequence similarity). The most closely related described species were those in cluster XIVa of the class Clostridia such as Ruminococcus gauvreauii (93.8 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity), Clostridium fimetarium (93.5 %) and Clostridium bolteae (93.5 %). Based on the distinct differences in phylogenetic and phenotypic characteristics of strain WN011T from those of related species, it is concluded that strain WN011T represents a novel species of a new genus in the family Lachnospiraceae, for which the name Falcatimonas natans gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of the type species is WN011T (=JCM 16476T=DSM 22923T).

A Gram-stain-positive, strictly aerobic strain, H6T, was isolated from a soil sample of lead-cadmium tailing in Qixia district, Nanjing (China). Cells of the strain are rod-shaped and colonies on LB agar are red. Strain H6T has subpolar and polar flagella and the optimal condition for growth is 30 °C, with 1 % (w/v) NaCl and at pH 7.0. Based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences, phylogenetic analysis showed that strain H6T was closely related to the genus Saccharibacillus , and the closest relatives were Saccharibacillus deserti WLJ055T (99.0 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity), Saccharibacillus kuerlensis HR1T (97.0 %) and Saccharibacillus sacchari GR21T (96.4 %). The DNA–DNA relatedness value between strain H6T and S. deserti WLJ055T was 55.0 %. The major polar lipids of strain H6T were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphoglycolipid and three unknown glycolipids. The DNA G+C content was 58.4 mol% and MK-7 was the major isoprenoid quinone. The major fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0 and C16 : 0. meso-Diaminopimelic acid was detected in the peptidoglycan. Based on the phylogenetic, biochemical and chemotaxonomic data, strain H6T represents a novel species of the genus Saccharibacillus , for which the name Saccharibacillus qingshengii sp. nov., is proposed. The type strain is H6T (=CCTCC AB 2016001T=JCM 31172T).

Obligately alkaliphilic and halophilic strains, designated In2-9T and D2-7, were isolated from a fermented Polygonum indigo (Polygonum tinctorium Lour.) liquor sample obtained from a craft centre in Date City, Hokkaido, Japan. The 16S rRNA gene sequence phylogeny suggested that strain In2-9T is a member of the genus Bacillus with the closest relatives being the alkaliphilic species of the genus Bacillus , Bacillus hemicellulosilyticusJCM 9152T (96.4 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity) and Bacillus alcalophilus DSM 485T (96.5 %). Cells of the isolate stained Gram-positive and were facultatively anaerobic straight rods that were motile by peritrichous flagella. Strain In2-9T grew between 13 and 45 °C with optimum growth at approximately 35–37 °C. The isolates grew in the pH range of 8–12 with optimum growth at pH 10. The isoprenoid quinone detected was menaquinone-6 (MK-6) and the DNA G+C content was 39.4 mol%. The whole-cell fatty acid profile mainly (>10 %) consisted of iso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 0 and C16 : 0. Spore shape and location and chemotaxonomic characteristics revealed that the isolates were distinctly different from phylogenetic neighbouring alkaliphilic species of the genus Bacillus . On the basis of phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characteristics and phylogenetic data, the isolates represent a novel species of a new genus, for which the name Polygonibacillus indicireducens gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of the type species is In2-9T (=JCM 30831T=NCIMB 14982T), and strain D2-7 is an additional strain of the species.

A Gram-stain-positive, facultatively anaerobic, thermophilic bacterium, designated ZQ18-1T, was isolated from a high temperature daqu sample collected from the sesame-flavour liquor-making process. Oval endospores were formed at the centre of cells with swollen sporangia. The isolate was able to grow at temperatures of 20–60 °C (optimum growth at 50 °C), at pH 4–9 (optimum growth at pH 8) and in the presence of 0–10 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum growth with 2 % NaCl). Glucose and galactose were major cell-wall sugars, and meso-diaminopimelic acid was the diagnostic amino acid. The major polar lipids consisted of phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol and three glycolipids. The major cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C17 : 0 and iso-C16 : 0, and the predominant menaquinone was MK-7. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain ZQ18-1T was most closely related to Scopulibacillus darangshiensis DLS-06T, Pullulanibacillus pueri YN3T, Tuberibacillus calidus 607T, Pullulanibacillus naganoensis ATCC 53909T, Pullulanibacillus uraniitolerans UG-2T, Sporolactobacillus terrae DSM 11697T and Sporolactobacillus inulinus NRIC 1133T. Strain ZQ18-1T showed low DNA–DNA relatedness (40.7, 23.1, 46.5, 27.2, 45.6, 33.7 and 55.1 %) with the strains mentioned above. Based on morphological characteristics, chemotaxonomic characteristics, DNA–DNA hybridization data and physiological properties, strain ZQ18-1T represents a novel species of the genus Scopulibacillus , for which the name Scopulibacillus daqui sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is Scopulibacillus daqui ZQ18-1T (=DSM 28236T=CICC 10824T). An emended description of the genus Scopulibacillus is provided.

A facultatively anaerobic, spore-forming Bacillus strain, FSL W8-0169T, collected from raw milk stored in a silo at a dairy powder processing plant in the north-eastern USA was initially identified as a Bacillus cereus group species based on a partial sequence of the rpoB gene and 16S rRNA gene sequence. Analysis of core genome single nucleotide polymorphisms clustered this strain separately from known B. cereus group species. Pairwise average nucleotide identity blast values obtained for FSL W8-0169T compared to the type strains of existing B. cereus group species were <95 % and predicted DNA–DNA hybridization values were <70 %, suggesting that this strain represents a novel B. cereus group species. We characterized 10 additional strains with the same or closely related rpoB allelic type, by whole genome sequencing and phenotypic analyses. Phenotypic characterization identified a higher content of iso-C16 : 0 fatty acid and the combined inability to ferment sucrose or to hydrolyse arginine as the key characteristics differentiating FSL W8-0169T from other B. cereus group species. FSL W8-0169T is psychrotolerant, produces haemolysin BL and non-haemolytic enterotoxin, and is cytotoxic in a HeLa cell model. The name Bacillus wiedmannii sp. nov. is proposed for the novel species represented by the type strain FSL W8-0169T (=DSM 102050T=LMG 29269T).

A novel Gram-stain-positive, strictly aerobic, endospore-forming, rod-shaped bacterial strain 7578-24T was isolated from ripened Pu’er tea. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain 7578-24T clustered with species of the genus Pullulanibacillus in the family Sporolactobacillaceae with 97.8–95.2 % sequence similarities, and was most closely related to Pullulanibacillus pueri YN3T with 97.8 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity. The DNA–DNA relatedness value between strain 7578-24T and P. pueri YN3T was 35 %. Strain 7578-24T had a cell-wall type A1γ peptidoglycan with meso-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid. The major menaquinone was menaquinone 7 (MK-7). C18 : 1 ω7c (45.4 %), anteiso-C17 : 0 (30.6 %) and anteiso-C15 : 0 (10.1 %) were the predominant fatty acids, and diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, five unknown phospholipids and one unknown aminolipid were the major polar lipids. The DNA G+C content of strain 7578-24T was 45.2 mol%. Strain 7578-24T could be differentiated from other related species of the genus Pullulanibacillus based on phenotypic characteristics, chemotaxonomic differences, phylogenetic analysis and DNA–DNA hybridization data. On the basis of polyphasic evidence from this study, a novel species of the genus Pullulanibacillus named Pullulanibacillus camelliae sp. nov. is proposed, with strain 7578-24T (=CGMCC 1.15371T=JCM 31236T) as the type strain.

A novel Gram-stain-positive, aerobic, endospore-forming, non-motile, rod-shaped bacterium (strain JC229T) was isolated from a water sample collected from waterlogged alkaline soil. Strain JC229T was oxidase- and catalase-positive. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain JC229T was identified as belonging to the genus Alteribacillus of the phylum Firmicutes and was found to be most closely related to Alteribacillus bidgolensis P4BT (97.9 % similarity), Bacillus iranensis X5BT (97.2 %) and Alteribacillus persepolensis HS136T (96.6 %), and more distantly related to other members of the genus Bacillus (<95.2 %). Strain JC229T was further identified to be distinctly related to the type strains of A. bidgolensis and B. iranensis (<26 % based on DNA–DNA hybridization and ΔT m of >5 °C). Strain JC229T grew optimally at pH 8 (range 5–11), at 35–40 °C (range 20–50 °C) and at a salinity of 3–5 % (range 0.5–24 %). The DNA G+C content was 40.2 mol%. Major cellular fatty acids of strain JC229T were anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C17 : 0 and iso-C16 : 0. The peptidoglycan contained meso-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid. The predominant quinone system was menaquinone 7. Polar lipids of strain JC229T included diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and two unidentified lipids. On the basis of morphological, physiological, genetic, phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic analyses, strain JC229T should be assigned to a novel species of the genus Alteribacillus , for which the name Alteribacillus alkaliphilus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JC229T (=LMG 28999T=KCTC 33726T). It is also suggested to transfer B. iranensis to the genus Alteribacillus as Alteribacillus iranensis comb. nov.

Phytoplasmas (species of the genus ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma ’) are insect-vectored phytopathogenic bacteria associated with economically and ecologically important crop diseases. Strawberry production represents an important part of agricultural activity in Mexico and elsewhere, and infection of plants with phytoplasma renders the fruit inedible by altering plant development, resulting in virescence and phyllody. In this study we examined samples taken from four strawberry plants showing symptoms associated with strawberry green petal disease and from two periwinkle plants showing virescence, sampled in different areas of Mexico. Analysis of the 16S rRNA-encoding sequences showed that the plants were infected with a phytoplasma previously identified as Mexican periwinkle virescence (MPV; 16SrXIII). Examination of bacterial sequences from these samples revealed that two distinct 16S rRNA gene sequences were present in each sample along with a single chaperonin-60 (cpn60) sequence and a single rpoB sequence, suggesting that this strain displays 16S rRNA gene sequence heterogeneity. Two distinct rrn operons, identified with subgroup 16SrXIII-A and the newly described subgroup 16SrXIII-I, were identified from the six samples analyzed, delineating the novel subgroup 16SrXIII-(A/I)I, following the nomenclature proposed for heterogeneous subgroups.

A Gram-stain-negative, non-motile, strictly anaerobic, oval-shaped, non-spore-forming bacterium (strain PytT) was isolated from reticulated python faeces. Strain PytT was capable of using mucin as sole carbon, energy and nitrogen source. Cells could grow singly, in pairs, and were also found to aggregate. Scanning electron microscopy revealed the presence of filamentous structures connecting individual bacterial cells. Strain PytT could grow on a limited number of single sugars, including N-acetylglucosamine, N-acetylgalactosamine, glucose, lactose and galactose, but only when a plentiful protein source was provided. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing showed strain PytT to belong to the Verrucomicrobiae class I, family Akkermansiaceae , genus Akkermansia , with Akkermansia muciniphila MucT as the closest relative (94.4 % sequence similarity). DNA–DNA hybridization revealed low relatedness of 28.3 % with A. muciniphila MucT. The G+C content of DNA from strain PytT was 58.2 mol%. The average nucleotide identity (ANI) of the genome of strain PytT compared to the genome of strain MucT was 79.7 %. Chemotaxonomic data supported the affiliation of strain PytT to the genus Akkermansia . Based on phenotypic, phylogenetic and genetic characteristics, strain PytT represents a novel species of the genus Akkermansia , for which the name Akkermansia glycaniphila sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is PytT (=DSM 100705T=CIP 110913T).

Lyme borreliosis (LB) is a multisystem disease caused by spirochetes in the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (Bbsl) genospecies complex. We previously described a novel Bbsl genospecies (type strain MN14-1420T) that causes LB among patients with exposures to ticks in the upper midwestern USA. Patients infected with the novel Bbsl genospecies demonstrated higher levels of spirochetemia and somewhat differing clinical symptoms as compared with those infected with other Bbsl genospecies. The organism was detected from human specimens using PCR, microscopy, serology and culture. The taxonomic status was determined using an eight-housekeeping-gene (uvrA, rplB, recG, pyrG, pepX, clpX, clpA and nifS) multi-locus sequence analysis (MLSA) and comparison of 16S rRNA gene, flaB, rrf–rrl, ospC and oppA2 nucleotide sequences. Using a system threshold of 98.3 % similarity for delineation of Bbsl genospecies by MLSA, we demonstrated that the novel species is a member of the Bbsl genospecies complex, most closely related to B. burgdorferi sensu stricto (94.7–94.9 % similarity). This same species was identified in Ixodes scapularis ticks collected in Minnesota and Wisconsin. This novel species, Borrelia mayonii sp. nov, is formally described here. The type strain, MN14-1420, is available through the Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zelkulturen GmbH (DSM 102811) and the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC BAA-2743).