- Volume 66, Issue 11, 2016

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, motile, rod-shaped, yellow-pigmented bacterium, designated as DHG40T, was isolated from a soil sample collected from the forest of Dinghushan Biosphere Reserve, Guangdong Province, China. Strain DHG40T grew at pH 4.0–8.0 and 10–37 °C (optimum at pH 6.0–7.0 and 25–28 °C). NaCl inhibited growth at concentrations above 2.5 % (w/v). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that the isolate fell within the cluster of the genus Dyella . Strain DHG40T was closely related to Dyella ginsengisoli Gsoil 3046T (97.6 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity), Dyella marensis CS5-B2T (97.5 %), Dyella koreensis BB4T (97.4 %) and Dyella jejuensis JP1T (97.4 %). The DNA–DNA relatedness values between strain DHG40T and its phylogenetically closest relatives were all below 40 %. The DNA G+C content was 60.3 mol%. In addition, iso-C15 : 0, iso-C16 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 and iso-C17 : 1 ω9c were the major fatty acids (>10 %) and ubiquinone-8 was the respiratory quinone. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylmethylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, an unidentified aminolipid and an unidentified phospholipid. On the basis of phylogenetic, phenotypic, physiological and chemotaxonomic distinctiveness, strain DHG40T should be placed in the genus Dyella as a representative of a novel species, for which the name Dyella humi sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is DHG40T (=KCTC 42629T=LMG 28842T).

A Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped, strictly aerobic, motile bacterial strain, designated TP162T, was isolated from a seamount near the Yap Trench in the tropical western Pacific. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that strain TP162T was related to the genus Pseudoalteromonas and had highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities with the type strains Pseudoalteromonas shioyasakiensis SE3T (98.2 %), Pseudoalteromonas lipolytica LMEB 39T (97.7 %), P seudoalteromonas arabiensis k53T (97.4 %) and Pseudoalteromonas aliena KMM 3562T (97.2 %). The predominant cellular fatty acids were summed feature 3 (composed of iso-C1 5  : 0 2-OH and/or C1 6  : 1ω7c), C1 7  : 1ω8c and C1 6  : 0. The quinone system for strain TP162T comprised predominantly ubiquinone-8, and the polar lipid profile contained phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, one unidentified phospholipid and four unidentified lipids. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain TP162T was 46.7 mol%. Strain TP162T shared 28 % DNA–DNA relatedness with P . shioyasakiensis JCM 18891T, 21 % with P. lipolytica JCM 15903T, 35 % with P . arabiensis JCM 17292T and 18 % with P . aliena LMG 22059T. Combined data from phenotypic, chemotaxonomic, phylogenetic and DNA–DNA relatedness studies demonstrated that strain TP162T is a representative of a novel species of the genus Pseudoalteromonas , for which we propose the name Pseudoalteromonas profund i sp. nov. (type strain TP162T=KACC 18554T=CGMCC 1.15394T).

Strains LPU83T and Or191 of the genus Rhizobium were isolated from the root nodules of alfalfa, grown in acid soils from Argentina and the USA. These two strains, which shared the same plasmid pattern, lipopolysaccharide profile, insertion-sequence fingerprint, 16S rRNA gene sequence and PCR-fingerprinting pattern, were different from reference strains representing species of the genus Rhizobium with validly published names. On the basis of previously reported data and from new DNA-DNA hybridization results, phenotypic characterization and phylogenetic analyses, strains LPU83T and Or191 can be considered to be representatives of a novel species of the genus Rhizobium , for which the name Rhizobium favelukesii sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of this species is LPU83T (=CECT 9014T=LMG 29160T), for which an improved draft-genome sequence is available.

Strain Ery9T, isolated from surface seawater of the Atlantic Ocean, and strain Ery22T, isolated from deep-sea sediment of the Indian Ocean, were subjected to a taxonomic study using a polyphasic approach. Cells of the two strains were Gram-stain-negative, aerobic and rod-shaped. They produced yellow pigments and lacked bacteriochlorophyll a. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain Ery9T was closely related to Croceicoccus naphthovorans PQ-2T (with 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 97.7 %), and strain Ery22T was closely related to Croceicoccus marinus E4A9T (98.3 %). The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity between strain Ery9T and strain Ery22T was 96.6 %. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that strains Ery9T and Ery22T fell within the cluster of the genus Croceicoccus and represented two independent lineages. The average nucleotide identity (ANI) values and the genome-to-genome distances between strains Ery9T and Ery22T and the type strains of species of the genus C roceicoccus with validly published names were 73.7–78.4 % and 20.1–22.3 %, respectively. The major respiratory quinone of the two isolates was ubiquinone-10 (Q-10). The DNA G+C contents of strains Ery9T and Ery22T were 62.8 and 62.5 mol%, respectively. Differential phylogenetic distinctiveness and chemotaxonomic differences, together with phenotypic properties, revealed that strains Ery9T and Ery22T could be differentiated from their closely related species. Therefore, it is concluded that strains Ery9T and Ery22T represent two novel species of the genus Croceicoccus , for which the names Croceicoccus pelagius sp. nov. (type strain Ery9T=CGMCC 1.15358T=DSM 101479T) and Croceicoccus mobilis sp. nov. (type strain Ery22T=CGMCC 1.15360T=DSM 101481T), are proposed.

A novel rickettsial agent, ‘Candidatus Rickettsia asembonensis’ strain NMRCiiT, was isolated from cat fleas, Ctenocephalides felis, from Kenya. Genotypic characterization of the new isolate based on sequence analysis of five rickettsial genes, rrs, gltA, ompA, ompB and sca4, indicated that this isolate clustered with Rickettsia felis URRWXCal2. The degree of nucleotide similarity demonstrated that isolate NMRCiiT belongs within the genus Rickettsia and fulfils the criteria for classification as a representative of a novel species. The name Rickettsia asembonensis sp. nov. is proposed, with NMRCiiT (=DSM 100172T=CDC CRIRC RAS001T=ATCC VR-1827T) as the type strain.

Ten strains of an unknown Campylobacter species were isolated from the livers of chickens with spotty liver disease in Australia. The strains were Gram-stain-negative, microaerobic, catalase- and oxidase-positive and urease-negative. Unlike most other species of the genus Campylobacter , most of the tested strains of this novel species hydrolysed hippurate and half of them could not reduce nitrate. All strains showed resistance, or intermediate resistance, to nalidixic acid and most of them were resistant to cephalothin. Examination of negatively stained cells under transmission electron microscopy revealed that they were S-shaped, with bipolar unsheathed flagella. Phylogenetic analyses based on the 16S rRNA gene and the heat shock protein 60 (hsp60) gene sequences indicated that the strains formed a robust clade that was clearly distinct from recognized Campylobacter species. Unusually, they had a DNA G+C content of 27.9 mol%, lower than any previously described Campylobacter species, and they showed less than 84 % average nucleotide identity to the nearest sequenced species. Taken together, these data indicate that the strains belong to a novel Campylobacter species, for which the name Campylobacter hepaticus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is HV10T (=NCTC 13823T=CIP 111092T).

A Gram-stain-negative, non-motile, reniform bacterial strain, B2974T, was isolated from an ice core of the Muztagh Glacier, on the Tibetan Plateau, China. Strain B2974T grew optimally at pH 7.0–7.5 and 25–30 °C in the presence of 0–2.0 % (w/v) NaCl. 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity analysis indicated that strain B2974T was closely related to Chelatococcus asaccharovorans LMG 25503T at a level of 97.1 %. The major quinone of strain B2974T was ubiquinone Q10. The predominant fatty acids were summed feature 8 (C18 : 1 ω7c and/or C18 : 1 ω6c) and C19 : 0 cyclo ω8c. sym-Homospermidine was the major polyamine. The genomic DNA G+C content of the strain was 64 mol%. In DNA–DNA hybridization tests, strain B2974T shared 49.32 % DNA–DNA relatedness with the type strain of Chelatococcus asaccharovorans LMG 25503T. Based on the results of phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characteristics, strain B2974T was considered as a novel species of the genus Chelatococcus , for which the name Chelatococcus reniformis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is B2974T (=JCM 30308T=CGMCC 1.12919T).

A Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped, aerobic and motile bacterial strain, DHOK13T, was isolated from the forest soils of Dinghushan Biosphere Reserve, Guangdong Province, PR China (112° 31′ E, 23° 10′ N). It grew optimally at 28–33 °C and pH 7.0–7.5. The main fatty acids were C16 : 0, C17 : 0 cyclo, C19 : 0 cycloω8c, summed feature 2 (C12 : 0 aldehyde and/or unknown 10.9525) and summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c). The organism contained ubiquinone Q-8 as the predominant isoprenoid quinone. The total DNA G+C content of strain DHOK13T was 62.0 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene, as well as the sequence of the partial housekeeping genes, gyrB and recA, showed consistently that strain DHOK13T formed an independent cluster with Paraburkholderia phenazinium LMG 2247T. DNA-DNA hybridization studies showed relatively low relatedness values (39 %) of strain DHOK13T with P. phenazinium LMG 2247T. The phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic data showed that strain DHOK13T represents a novel species of the genus Paraburkholderia for which the name Paraburkholderia pallidirosea sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is DHOK13T (=KCTC 42626T=LMG 28846T).

A Gram-stain-negative, yellow-pigmented, ovoid to rod-shaped, strictly aerobic bacterial strain, designated 100921-2T, was isolated from air at the foot of Xiangshan Mountain. Phylogenetic and phenotypic analysis of the organism revealed that the isolate belongs to the genus Altererythrobacter . Strain 100921-2T showed high 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity (96.01–94.70 %) to other type strains of the genus Altererythrobacter , with the highest similarity to Altererythrobacter marensis MSW-14T. Growth of strain 100921-2T was observed at 4–50 °C (optimum, 30 °C), at pH 4.5–10.0 (optimum, pH 7.0) and at salinities of 0–10 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum 0–0.5 %). The major fatty acids were C18 : 1 ω7c (27.8 %), C17 : 1 ω6c (23.1 %), 11-methyl C18 : 1 ω7c(11.9 %), summed feature 3 (9.1 %) and C15 : 0 2-OH (7.9 %). The predominant respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-10 (Q-10). Polar lipid analysis indicated the presence of diphosphatidylglycerol, sphingoglycolipid, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, two unknown phospholipids, five unknown polar lipids and two unknown glycolipids. The DNA G+C content of the type strain was 67.5 mol%. On the basis of the data from the polyphasic characterization, strain 100921-2T represents a novel species, for which the name Altererythrobacter aerius sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 100921-2T (=CFCC 14287T=KCTC 42844T).

A novel Gram-stain-negative, non-spore-forming, non-motile, facultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped strain, designated XDB06T, was isolated from coastal sediment of Xiaoshi Island, Weihai, China. Optimal growth occurred at 37 °C, pH 7.5 and with 4.0 % (w/v) NaCl. Q-8 was the sole respiratory quinone. The major cellular fatty acids in strain XDB06T were iso-C15 : 0 and iso-C16 : 0. The polar lipids of strain XDB06T were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, two unidentified glycolipids and four unidentified phospholipids. The genomic DNA G+C content of the strain was 65.0 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain XDB06T clusters within the genus Wenzhouxiangella and is most closely related to Wenzhouxiangella . marina MCCC 1K00261T, with a 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 96.50 %. Based on data from the current polyphasic study, strain XDB06T represents a novel species of the genus Wenzhouxiangella , for which the name Wenzhouxiangella sediminis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is XDB06T (=KCTC 52041T=MCCC 1K02285T).

A Gram-negative, aerobic, non-motile bacterium, designated strain KC90BT, was isolated from the surface of a cell of the marine diatom Thalassiosira delicatula. The bacterial cells were pleomorphic and formed very small, beige colonies on marine agar. Optimal growth was obtained at 25 °C, at pH 6.5–7.5 and in the presence of 1.5–2.0 % (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic analyses based on its 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that strain KC90BT belonged to the Roseobacter clade and formed a monophyletic cluster with the sequences of Boseongicola aestuarii , Profundibacterium mesophilum , Hwanghaeicola aestuarii , Maribius pelagius and M. salinus, showing 91.4–95.7 % sequence similarities. Ubiquinone Q-10 was the predominant lipoquinone but a significant amount of ubiquinone Q-9 was also detected. The major cellular fatty acids were C18 : 1 ω7c, 11-methyl C18 : 1 ω7c and C18 : 0. Strain KC90BT also contained specific fatty acids (C17 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 0 and anteiso-C17 : 0) that were not detected in its closest described relatives. The major polar lipids of strain KC90BT comprised phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, diphosphatidylglycerol and an unidentified aminolipid. The DNA G+C content of strain KC90BT was 65.2 mol%. The phylogenetic analysis of strain KC90BT, together with the differential phenotypic and chemotaxonomic properties demonstrate that strain KC90BT is distinct from type strains of B. aestuarii , P. mesophilum , H. aestuarii , M. pelagius and M. salinus . Based on the data presented in this study, strain KC90BT represents a novel genus and species within the family Rhodobacteraceae , for which the name Silicimonas algicola gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is KC90BT (=DSM 103371T=RCC 4681T).

During the study of hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria in the oil-contaminated soil of Gunsan, North Jeolla Province, South Korea, a yellow, Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, motile, rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain DKC-5-1T, was isolated. This strain was non-sporulating, catalase-negative and oxidase-positive. It was able to grow at 10–33 °C, pH 6.0–8.5 and at an NaCl concentration of 0–1.5 % (w/v). This strain was characterized taxonomically using a polyphasic approach. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain DKC-5-1T belongs to the genus Sphingomonas and is closely related to Sphingomonas laterariae LNB2T (96.65 % sequence similarity), Sphingomonas haloaromaticamans A175T (96.63 % sequence similarity), Sphingomonas histidinilytica UM2T (96.63 % sequence similarity), and Sphingomonas wittichii RW1T (96.43 % sequence similarity). The only respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-10 and the major polyamine was homospermidine. The polar lipid profile revealed the presence of phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, sphingoglycolipid and phosphatidyldimethylethanolamine. The predominant fatty acids of strain DKC-5-1T were summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c), C16 : 0, C14 : 0 2-OH, summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c), C17 : 1ω6c and C14 : 0. The genomic DNA G+C content of this novel strain was 65.9 mol%. Morphological, physiological, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic analyses clearly distinguished this strain from its closest phylogenetic neighbours. Thus, strain DKC-5-1T represents a novel species of the genus Sphingomonas , for which the name Sphingomonas naphthae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is DKC-5-1T (=KEMB 9005-380T=KACC 18716T=JCM 31294T).

A bacterial strain named IB1.1T was isolated in a screening of hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria from oil-contaminated soils on the territory of the Turukhansk District of Krasnoyarsk Krai, East Siberia, Russia. The 16S rRNA gene sequence had 98.7 % identity with respect to the closest phylogenetic relative, Pseudomonas granadensis F-278,770T, and the next most closely related species with 98.6 % similarity was Pseudomonas punonensis , suggesting that IB1.1T should be classified within the genus Pseudomonas . The analysis of housekeeping genes rpoB, rpoD and gyrB showed similarities lower than 90 % in all cases with respect to the closest relatives, confirming its phylogenetic affiliation. The strain showed a polar flagellum. The respiratory quinone was Q9. The major fatty acids were 16 : 1ω7c/16 : 1ω6c (summed feature 3), 18 : 1ω7c and 16 : 0. The strain was oxidase- and catalase-positive, but the arginine dihydrolase system was not present. Nitrate reduction, urease and β–galactosidase production, and aesculin hydrolysis were negative. The temperature range for growth was 4–34 °C, and the strain could grow at pH 11. The DNA G+C content was 58.5 mol%. DNA–DNA hybridization results showed values of less than 30 % relatedness with respect to the type strains of the eight most closely related species. Therefore, the dataset of genotypic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic data support the classification of strain IB1.1T into a novel species of the genus Pseudomonas , for which the name Pseudomonas turukhanskensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is IB1.1T (=VKM B-2935T=CECT 9091T).

One beige-pigmented, Gram-staining-negative, rod-shaped bacterium, strain E3/2T, was isolated from a zebrafish, Daniorerio. Phylogenetic analysis based on nearly full-length 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the isolate shared 97.7 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to the species Pseudoduganella violaceinigra and between 97.4 to 97.0 % to some species of the genera Duganella and Massilia , including Duganella radicis , Duganella phyllosphaerae , Massilia dura , Massilia lutea , Duganella sacchari , Duganella zoogloeoides , Massilia albidiflava and Massilia umbonata . Sequence similarities to all other species were below 97 %. The main cellular fatty acids of the strain were summed feature 3 fatty acids (C16 : 1 ω7c/iso-C15 : 0 2-OH), C10 : 0 3-OH, C16 : 0 and C12 : 0. The polyamine pattern of strain E3/2T contained predominantly putrescine and 2-hydroxyputrescine. The major quinone was ubiquinone Q-8. Major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine. Based on phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic, genomic and phenotypic analyses we propose a novel species of the genus Pseudoduganella named Pseudoduganella danionis sp. nov., with strain E3/2T (=LMG 29678T=CCM 8698T) as the type strain.

A Gram-stain-negative, non-flagellated, aerobic and coccoid, ovoid or rod-shaped bacterium, designated YSM-17T, was isolated from tidal flat sediment collected from the South Sea, South Korea, and subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic study. The novel strain grew optimally at 30 °C, at pH 6.5–8.0 and in the presence of 2.0–3.0 % (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain YSM-17T forms a distinct evolutionary lineage independent of other taxa in the family Rhodobacteraceae . Strain YSM-17T exhibited 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity values of 96.8 and 96.6 % to the type strains of Pseudopelagicola gijangensis and Pelagicola litoralis , respectively, and of less than 96.5 % to the type strains of other recognized taxa. Strain YSM-17T contained Q-10 as the predominant ubiquinone and C18 : 1 ω7c as the major fatty acid. The major polar lipids detected in strain YSM-17T were phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and one unidentified aminolipid. The fatty acid and polar lipid profiles of strain YSM-17T were distinguished from those of the genera Pseudopelagicola and Pelagicola . The DNA G+C content of strain YSM-17T was 64.6±0.04 mol%. On the basis of the phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic and other phenotypic properties, strain YSM-17T is considered to represent a novel species of a new genus within the family Rhodobacteraceae , for which the name Litorisediminivivens gilvus gen. nov., sp. nov., is proposed. The type strain of Litorisediminivivens gilvus is YSM-17T (=KCTC 52249T=NBRC 112330T).

A novel, Gram-stain-negative, facultatively anaerobic, halophilic bacterium, designated strain Q1UT, was isolated from a sediment sample collected from Qinghai Lake, PR China. The cells of the strain were short rod-shaped (0.2–0.3×0.6–2.5 µm) and non-motile. Strain Q1UT formed yellowish colonies and grew at temperatures of 2–37 °C (optimum 30–33 °C), at pH 6.0–9.0 (optimum pH 7.0) and in the presence of 0–20 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum 7.5 %). The major cellular fatty acids were C18 : 1ω7c (58.6 %), C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c (14.8 %) and C16 : 0 (10.1 %). The polar lipids were identified as diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, unknown phospholipid and unknown lipids. The genomic DNA G+C content was 61.5 mol%, and the predominant respiratory ubiquinone Q-9. Based on phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences and concatenated 16S rRNA, gyrB and rpoD gene sequences, the isolate was found to belong to the genus Halomonas in the class Gammaproteobacteria . The most closely related species were Halomonas venusta DSM 4743T (98.3 % 16S rRNA sequence similarity), Halomonas songnenensis DSM 25870T (98.2 %) and Halomonas hydrothermalis DSM 15725T (98.2 %). DNA–DNA relatedness values between strain Q1UT and the type strains of eight other species of the genus Halomonas ranged from 21.3 % to 10.1 %. On the basis of phenotypic, phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic analyses, and DNA–DNA hybridization relatedness values, strain Q1UT is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Halomonas; the name Halomonas lutescens sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is Q1UT (=CGMCC 1.15122T=KCTC 42517T).

A Gram-staining-negative, aerobic, non-motile, rod-shaped and yellow-pigmented bacterium, designated strain THG-DN6.20T, was isolated from a lotus pond near Donghaksa temple in Daejeon, Republic of Korea. According to 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons, strain THG-DN6.20T was found to be most closely related to Novosphingobium rosa IFO 15208T (97.6 % sequence similarity), Novosphingobium sediminicola HU1-AH51T (97.5 %) and Novosphingobium barchaimii LL02T (96.9 %). The DNA–DNA relatedness between strain THG-DN6.20T and its phylogenetically closest neighbours was below 60.0 %. The respiratory quinone and polyamine detected in strain THG-DN6.20T were ubiquinone Q-10 and spermidine, respectively. The DNA G+C content was 63.1 mol%. The major polar lipids were found to be phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, sphingoglycolipid and phosphatidylcholine. The major fatty acids were identified as C16 : 0, summed feature 3 (C16 : 1 ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c), summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c) and C14 : 0 2-OH. These data supported the affiliation of strain THG-DN6.20T to the genus Novosphingobium . Strain THG-DN6.20T could be distinguished from related species of the genus Novosphingobium by physiological and biochemical characteristics. Therefore, the novel isolate represents a novel species, for which the name Novosphingobium lotistagni sp. nov. is proposed, with THG-DN6.20T as the type strain (=KACC 18541T=CCTCC AB 2015354T).

A Gram-staining-negative, aerobic, motile, rod-shaped, catalase- and oxidase-negative strain with one polar flagellum, designated THG-YS3.6T, was isolated from rhizosphere soil of a mugunghwa flower collected from Kyung Hee University, Yongin, South Korea. Growth occurred at 10–37 °C (optimum 25–30 °C), at pH 6–8 (optimum 7.0) and with 0–2.0 % NaCl (optimum 1 %). The isoprenoid quinone was ubiquinone-8 (Q–8). The major cellular fatty acids were iso-C11  : 0, iso-C11 : 0 3-OH, iso-C15 : 0, iso-C16 : 0, C16 : 1ω7c alcohol, C16 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 and summed feature 9 (iso-C17 : 1ω9c and/or C16 : 0 10-methyl). The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylmethylethanolamine, phosphatidylethanolamine, one unknown phospholipid, one unknown lipid and three unknown aminolipids. The DNA G+C content of strain THG-YS3.6T was 65.3 mol%. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the nearest phylogenetic neighbours of strain THG-YS3.6T were identified as Lysobacter yangpyeongensis KACC 11407T (98.7 %), Lysobacter oryzae KCTC 22249T (98.0 %), Lysobacter niabensis KACC 11587T (97.6 %) and Lysobacter terrae KACC 17646T (97.1 %). The DNA–DNA relatedness values between strain THG-YS3.6T and L. yangpyeongensis KACC 11407T, L. oryzae KCTC 22249T, L. niabensis KACC 11587T and L. terrae KACC 17646T were 53.8±1.0 %, 12.9±1.2 %, 10.9±0.6 % and 7.0±1.9 %, respectively. On the basis of the phylogenetic analysis, chemotaxonomic data, physiological characteristics and DNA–DNA hybridization data, strain THG-YS3.6T represents a novel species of the genus Lysobacter , for which the name Lysobacter rhizophilus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is THG-YS3.6T (=KCTC 52082T=CCTCC AB 2015358T).

A Gram-stain-negative, nutritionally fastidious bacterium (PLS229T) causing pear leaf scorch was identified in Taiwan and previously grouped into Xylella fastidiosa . Yet, significant variations between PLS229T and Xylella fastidiosa were noted. In this study, PLS229T was evaluated phenotypically and genotypically against representative strains of Xylella fastidiosa , including strains of the currently known subspecies of Xylella fastidiosa , Xylella fastidiosa subsp. multiplex and ‘ Xylella fastidiosa subsp. pauca ’. Because of the difficulty of in vitro culture characterization, emphases were made to utilize the available whole-genome sequence information. The average nucleotide identity (ANI) values, an alternative for DNA–DNA hybridization relatedness, between PLS229T and Xylella fastidiosa were 83.4–83.9 %, significantly lower than the bacterial species threshold of 95 %. In contrast, sequence similarity of 16S rRNA genes was greater than 98 %, higher than the 97 % threshold to justify if two bacterial strains belong to different species. The uniqueness of PLS229T was also evident by observing only about 87 % similarity in the sequence of the 16S-23S internal transcribed spacer (ITS) between PLS229T and strains of Xylella fastidiosa , discovering significant single nucleotide polymorphisms at 18 randomly selected housekeeping gene loci, observing a distinct fatty acid profile for PLS229T compared with Xylella fastidiosa , and PLS229T having different observable phenotypes, such as different susceptibility to antibiotics. A phylogenetic tree derived from 16S rRNA gene sequences showed a distinct PLS229T phyletic lineage positioning it between Xylella fastidiosa and members of the genus Xanthomonas . On the basis of these data, a novel species, Xylella taiwanensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is PLS229T (=BCRC 80915T=JCM 31187T).