- Volume 66, Issue 1, 2016

A novel endophytic bacterium, strain ZYY112T, isolated from rice roots, was characterized by a polyphasic approach. In phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, ZYY112T showed highest sequence similarity to Novosphingobium sediminicola HU1-AH51T (97.2 %) and less than 97 % similarity with respect to other Novosphingobium species with validly published names. The DNA G+C content of strain ZYY112T was 60.8 mol%. The level of DNA–DNA relatedness between strain ZYY112T and N. sediminicola DSM 27057T was 33.7 % (reciprocal 5.2 %), which supported the suggestion that ZYY112T represented a novel species of the genus Novosphingobium. Ubiquinone Q-10 was the unique respiratory quinone (100 %). The polar lipid profile contained diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, sphingoglycolipid, an unknown aminolipid and an unknown phospholipid. The major fatty acids of strain ZYY112T were summed feature 8 (consisting of C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c), summed feature 3 (consisting of C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c), C14 : 0 2-OH and C16 : 0. The major polyamine of ZYY112T was spermidine, which is a characteristic trait of the genus Novosphingobium. Characterization by genotypic, chemotaxonomic and phenotypic analysis indicated that strain ZYY112T represents a novel species of the genus Novosphingobium, for which the name Novosphingobium oryzae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is ZYY112T ( = ACCC 06131T = JCM 30537T).

A Gram-stain-negative, elliptical and facultatively anaerobic strain, designated SW014T, motile by means of a single polar flagellum and positive for poly-β-hydroxybutyrate accumulation, was isolated from surface seawater of the South Pacific Gyre, during the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program Expedition 329. The strain was able to grow at 10–37 °C (optimum 28 °C). Growth was observed at NaCl concentrations (w/v) of 1–7 % (optimum 3–4 %). The pH range for growth was 7.0–9.0 (optimum pH 8.0). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences and multilocus sequence analysis indicated that strain SW014T belongs to the genus Enterovibrio within the family Vibrionaceae and is related most closely to Enterovibrio coralii LMG 22228T with 96.3, 83.7, 95.0, 77.1, 84.1 and 85.8 % sequence similarity based on 16S rRNA, recA, rpoA, rpoD, pyrH and ftsZ genes, respectively. The predominant cellular fatty acids were C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c, C16 : 0, and C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c. The respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-8 (Q-8). The polar lipids of strain SW014T comprised phosphatidylethanolamine, glycolipid, two unidentified aminolipids, two unidentified phospholipids and two unidentified polar lipids. The DNA G+C content was 44.8 mol%. Combining phylogenetic analysis, phenotypic characteristics and chemotaxonomic studies, strain SW014T represents a novel species of the genus Enterovibrio, for which the name Enterovibrio pacificus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is SW014T ( = KCTC 42425T = MCCC 1K00500T). Emended descriptions of Enterovibrio coralii and of the genus Enterovibrio are also provided.

A bacterial isolate, designated strain THG-MM1T, was isolated from soil in Yongin region, Republic of Korea. Strain THG-MM1T was Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, non-motile and rod-shaped. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons, strain THG-MM1T was most closely related to Devosia insulae DS-56T (96.5 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity), followed by Devosia yakushimensis Yak96BT (95.7 %) and Devosia albogilva IPL15T (95.2 %). The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 63.7 mol%. The major cellular fatty acids were C16 : 0, summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c) and C18 : 0. The predominant isoprenoid quinone was ubiquinone-10 (Q-10). The major polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol and an unidentified lipid. The combined phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic data showed that strain THG-MM1T represents a novel species of the genus Devosia, for which the name Devosia humi sp. nov. is proposed, with strain THG-MM1T ( = KACC 18281T = CCTCC AB 2015121T) as the type strain.

Based on genetic, chemotaxonomic and phenotypic characteristics, a novel species belonging to the genus Vibrio is described. The facultatively anaerobic strain S2757T was isolated from a mussel collected in the Solomon Sea (Solomon Islands). Phylogenetic analyses based on sequences of 16S rRNA and fur genes indicated affiliation of the strain to a novel species. This observation was supported by a multilocus sequence analysis including sequences of the housekeeping genes 16S rRNA, gyrB, pyrH, recA and topA. In silico DNA–DNA hybridization and average nucleotide identity values comparing the genomic sequence of strain S2757T with those of closely related type strains were lower than 23 and 82 %, respectively. The DNA G+C content of the strain was 45.3 mol%. Phenotypic and chemotaxonomic analyses clearly differentiated the strain from other Vibrio species. Hence, strain S2757T should be considered to represent a novel species of the genus Vibrio, for which the name Vibrio galatheae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is S2757T ( = DSM 100497T = LMG 28895T).

A rod-shaped, Gram-stain-negative, slightly halotolerant bacterium, designated strain D15-8PT, was isolated from a sediment sample from the South China Sea. The strain could grow in NaCl concentrations ranging from 0.5 % to 10 % (w/v) (optimum 0.5–1.5 %), and could be cultivated at 10–40 °C (optimum 25 °C) and pH 5.5–9.5 (optimum pH 7.0–8.0). The strain was positive for catalase, oxidase, and hydrolysis of Tween 80, but negative for hydrolysis of DNA and gelatin, nitrite reduction, indole production, Voges–Proskauer reaction, and methyl red test. Strain D15-8PT could biodegrade naphthalene, phenanthrene, and anthracene. The major respiratory quinone was Q-9. The main cellular fatty acids were C12 : 0 (11.5 %), C14 : 0 3-methyl (22.0 %), C16 : 0 (19.2 %), C16 : 1ω9c (22.9 %), and C18 : 1ω9c (6.7 %). The polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, an unidentified aminophospholipid and an unidentified phospholipid. The DNA G+C content was 56.8 mol%. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA genes showed that strain D15-8PT was most closely related to Marinobacter maritimus JCM 12521T (98.5 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity), Marinobacter antarcticus CGMCC 1.10835T (98.1 %), Marinobacter lipolyticus DSM 15157T (97.1 %), and Marinobacter guineae CECT 7243T (97.0 %). Results of the gyrB gene analysis and DNA–DNA hybridization were both less than the cut-off values (90 % for gyrB gene sequence similarity and 70 % for DNA–DNA hybridization). On the basis of this taxonomic study using a polyphasic approach, strain D15-8PT represents a novel species of the genus Marinobacter, for which the name Marinobacter aromaticivorans sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is D15-8PT ( = CGMCC 1.11015T = KCTC 23781T).

A Gram-stain-negative, curved rod-shaped and non-pigmented strain, HME8277T, was isolated from surface seawater of the Yellow Sea in the Republic of Korea. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the novel strain was related most closely to Reinekea blandensis MED297T (96.4 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity), Reinekea aestuarii IMCC4489T (96.3 %) and Reinekea marinisedimentorum KMM 3655T (95.8 %). The major fatty acids were summed feature 3 (comprising C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c; 43.0 %), C16 : 0 (19.0 %) and summed feature 8 (comprising C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c; 15.0 %). The DNA G+C content was 46.1 mol%. The predominant respiratory quinone was Q-8. The major polar lipids of strain HME8277T comprised diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, four unidentified phospholipids and four unidentified lipids. On the basis of polyphasic analyses, strain HME8277T represents a novel species of the genus Reinekea, for which the name Reinekea marina sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain HME8277T ( = KACC 17315T = CECT 8288T). An emended description of the genus Reinekea is also provided.

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, short rod-shaped, non-endospore-forming, ivory-pigmented and non-motile bacterium, designated strain BUT-5T, was isolated from activated sludge of an herbicides-manufacturing wastewater treatment facility in Jiangsu Province, China. The major fatty acids (>5 % of total fatty acids) were C16 : 0, C18 : 1 2-OH and summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c). The predominant respiratory quinone was ubiquinone Q-10. The polar lipids profile of strain BUT-5T included diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine and two unknown aminolipids. The DNA G+C content was 67.6 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain BUT-5T showed the highest sequence similarities to Roseomonas soli 5N26T (97.5 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity), followed by Roseomonas lacus TH-G33T (97.3 %) and Roseomonas terrae DS-48T (97.1 %). Strain BUT-5T showed low DNA–DNA relatedness with Roseomonas soli KACC 16376T (41 %), Roseomonas lacus KACC 11678T (46 %) and Roseomonas terrae KACC 12677T (42 %), respectively. On the basis of phenotypic and genotypic properties, as well as chemotaxonomic data, strain BUT-5T represents a novel species of the genus Roseomonas, for which the name Roseomonas eburnea sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is BUT-5T ( = CCTCC AB2013276T = KACC 17166T).

Two Gram-negative, aerobic, non-motile, rod-shaped bacterial strains, FH13T and FH23, representing a novel group of Rhizobium isolated from root nodules of Phaseolus vulgaris in Mexico, were studied by a polyphasic analysis. Phylogeny of 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed them to be members of the genus Rhizobium related most closely to ‘Rhizobium anhuiense’ CCBAU 23252 (99.7 % similarity), Rhizobium leguminosarum USDA 2370T (98.6 %), and Rhizobium sophorae CCBAU 03386T and others ( ≤ 98.3 %). In sequence analyses of the housekeeping genes recA, glnII and atpD, both strains formed a subclade distinct from all defined species of the genus Rhizobium at sequence similarities of 82.3–94.0 %, demonstrating that they represented a novel genomic species in the genus Rhizobium. Mean levels of DNA–DNA relatedness between the reference strain FH13T and the type strains of related species varied between 13.0 ± 2.0 and 52.1 ± 1.2 %. The DNA G+C content of strain FH13T was 63.5 mol% (T m). The major cellular fatty acids were 16 : 0, 17 : 0 anteiso, 18 : 0, summed feature 2 (12 : 0 aldehyde/unknown 10.928) and summed feature 8 (18 : 1ω7c). The fatty acid 17 : 1ω5c was unique for this strain. Some phenotypic features, such as failure to utilize adonitol, l-arabinose, d-fructose and d-fucose, and ability to utilize d-galacturonic acid and itaconic acid as carbon source, could also be used to distinguish strain FH13T from the type strains of related species. Based upon these results, a novel species, Rhizobium acidisoli sp. nov., is proposed, with FH13T ( = CCBAU 101094T = HAMBI 3626T = LMG 28672T) as the type strain.

A cream–white-pigmented, oxidase-negative bacterium (strain 2015-2462-01T), isolated from a drinking water system, was investigated in detail to determine its taxonomic position. Cells of the isolate were rod-shaped and stained Gram-negative. A comparison of the 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain 2015-2462-01T with sequences of the type strains of closely related species of the genus Serratia revealed highest similarity to Serratia fonticola (98.4 %), Serratia proteamaculans (97.8 %), Serratia liquefaciens and Serratia grimesii (both 97.7 %). 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities to all other Serratia species were below 97.4 %. Multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) on the basis of concatenated partial gyrB, rpoB, infB and atpD gene sequences showed a clear distinction of strain 2015-2462-01T from the type strains of the closest related Serratia species. The fatty acid profile of the strain consisted of C16 : 1 ω7c, C16 : 0; C14 : 0 and C14 : 0 3-OH/iso-C16 : 1 I as major components. DNA–DNA hybridizations between 2015-2462-01T and S. fonticola ATCC 29844T resulted in a relatedness value of 27 % (reciprocal 20 %). This DNA–DNA hybridization result in combination with the MLSA results and the differential biochemical properties indicated that strain 2015-2462-01T represents a novel species of the genus Serratia, for which the name Serratia aquatilis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 2015-2462-01T ( = LMG 29119T = CCM 8626T).

Here, we report the culture and characterization of an alphaproteobacterium of the order Rhizobiales, isolated from the gut of the honey bee Apis mellifera. Strain PEB0122T shares >95 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with species of the genus Bartonella, a group of mammalian pathogens transmitted by bloodsucking arthropods. Phylogenetic analyses showed that PEB0122T and related strains from the honey bee gut form a sister clade of the genus Bartonella. Optimal growth of strain PEB0122T was obtained on solid media supplemented with defibrinated sheep blood under microaerophilic conditions at 35–37 °C, which is consistent with the cultural characteristics of other species of the genus Bartonella. Reduced growth of strain PEB0122T also occurred under aerobic conditions. The rod-shaped cells of strain PEB0122T had a mean length of 1.2–1.8 μm and revealed hairy surface structures. Strain PEB0122T was positive for catalase, cytochrome c oxidase, urease and nitrate reductase. The fatty acid composition was comparable to those of other species of the genus Bartonella, with palmitic acid (C16 : 0) and isomers of 18- and 19-carbon chains being the most abundant. The genomic DNA G+C content of PEB0122T was determined to be about 45.5 mol%. The high 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with species of Bartonella and its close phylogenetic position suggest that strain PEB0122T represents a novel species within the genus Bartonella, for which we propose the name Bartonella apis sp. nov. The type strain is PEB0122T ( = NCIMB 14961T = DSM 29779T).

A Gram-stain-negative, facultatively aerobic bacterium, strain X13M-12T, was isolated from a salt lake (Lake Xiaochaidan) in the Qaidam basin, Qinghai Province, PR China. Cells of strain X13M-12T were slightly curved, rod-shaped, 0.5–0.8 μm wide and 1.2–2.3 μm long, and motile by means of a polar flagellum. Strain X13M-12T was catalase- and oxidase-positive. Growth was observed in the presence of 0–15.0 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum 3.0–5.0 %), and at 4–40 °C (optimum 25–30 °C) and pH 6.0–11.0 (optimum pH 8.5). Strain X13M-12T contained Q-8 as the sole respiratory quinone, and phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine as the major polar lipids. The major cellular fatty acids (>10 % of totals) were C16 : 0, C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c, and C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c. Phylogenetic analysis, based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, showed that strain X13M-12T belonged to the family Alteromonadaceae and formed a distinct lineage, showing low gene sequence similarities to closely related genera: Bowmanella, Aestuariibacter and Salinimonas (16S rRNA gene sequence similarities, 93.0–93.1 %, 92.3–93.1 % and 92.6–92.7 %, respectively). In addition, strain X13M-12T showed < 92.7 % gene sequence similarities to other species of the family Alteromonadaceae. The DNA G+C content of strain X13M-12T was 49 mol% (Tm). Based on the data presented above, strain X13M-12T is considered to represent a novel genus and species of the family Alteromonadaceae, for which the name Lacimicrobium alkaliphilum gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is X13M-12T ( = CGMCC 1.12923T = KCTC 42674T).

A Gram-stain-negative, facultatively anaerobic, non-pigmented, non-sporulating, rod-shaped bacterial strain (WYH 22-41T) was isolated from a phosphate mine in Yunnan Province, China. The cells were motile with a single polar flagellum. The 16S rRNA gene of strain WYH 22-41T was phylogenetically related to the corresponding gene of Comamonas terrae DSM 27221T (98.4 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity), Comamonas odontotermitis LMG 23579T (97.6 %) and Comamonas aquatica LMG 2370T (97.4 %). DNA–DNA hybridizations of strain WYH 22-41T with these three strains showed relatedness values of 33.2 %, 20.5 % and 27.7 %, respectively. The DNA G+C content of strain WYH 22-41T was 62.4 mol%. The predominant respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-8. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol. The major fatty acids of strain WYH 22-41T were C16 : 0, C17 : 0 cyclo, summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω6c and/or C16 : 1ω7c) and summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω6c and/or C18 : 1ω7c). On the basis of phenotypic properties, phylogenetic characteristics, DNA–DNA hybridization, as well as whole-cell fatty acid composition, strain WYH 22-41T represents a novel species of the genus Comamonas, for which the name Comamonas phosphati sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is WYH 22-41T ( = CGMCC 1.12294T = DSM 26017T).

An aerobic, Gram-stain-negative, coccobacillus-shaped, non-endospore-forming, pink-pigmented bacterium, designated PN2T, was isolated from an olive leaf. The strain grew at 15–35 °C with an optimum temperature for growth at 30 °C, and at pH 5.0–7.5 with an optimum pH for growth at 6.0. Growth was observed in the presence of up to 1.02 % (w/v) NaCl. The major fatty acids were C19 : 0 cyclo ω8c, C16 : 0 and C18 : 1ω7c. The polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol, unknown aminolipids, an unknown phospholipid and an unknown lipid. The respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-10. The DNA G+C content of strain PN2T was 70.4 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain PN2T was closely related to members of the genus Roseomonas and shared highest similarity with Roseomonas mucosa ATCC BAA-692T (96.5 %), Roseomonas gilardii subsp. gilardii ATCC 49956T (96.2 %) and Roseomonas gilardii subsp. rosea ATCC BAA-691T (96.2 %). Furthermore, the DNA–DNA relatedness value between strain PN2T and the closest related species R. mucosa ATCC BAA-692T was 27 %. These data allowed the phenotypic and genotypic differentiation of strain PN2T from its closest phylogenetic neighbour (R. mucosa ATCC BAA-692T). Based on phenotypic and genotypic characteristics, strain PN2T is classified as representing a novel species of the genus Roseomonas for which the name Roseomonas elaeocarpi sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is PN2T ( = BCC 44864T = NBRC 107871T).

One novel Gram-stain-negative, long rod-shaped, non-spore-forming, non-motile, non-flagellated and strictly aerobic strain, designated M124T, was isolated from diseased Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei larvae. Growth occurred at 16–37 °C (optimum 28 °C), in the presence of 2–5 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum 3 %) and at pH 7–8 (optimum pH 7). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain M124T belonged to the genus Aquimarina and showed highest sequence similarity to Aquimarina penaei P3-1T (96.4 %). The dominant fatty acids of the isolate were iso-C15 : 0 and iso-C17 : 0 3-OH. The major polar lipids comprised phosphatidylethanolamine, one unknown aminolipid, three unknown phospholipids, two unknown glycolipids and one unknown polar lipid. The major respiratory quinone was menaquinone 6 (MK-6). The DNA G+C content of strain M124T was 33.7 mol%. Based on the polyphasic analyses in this study, strain M124T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Aquimarina, for which the name Aquimarina hainanensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is M124T ( = KCTC 42423T = MCCC 1K00498T).

A Gram-stain-negative, non-flagellated, non-gliding, aerobic and rod-shaped bacterium, designated HJM-2T, was isolated from the place where the ocean and a freshwater lake meet at Hwajinpo, South Korea, and subjected to a taxonomic study using a polyphasic approach. Strain HJM-2T grew optimally at 30 °C, at pH 7.0–8.0 and in the presence of 1.0–2.0 % (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain HJM-2T belonged to the genus Algoriphagus, clustering coherently with the type strain of A. taiwanensis. Strain HJM-2T exhibited 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities of 98.6 and 97.2 % to A. taiwanensis CC-RR-82T and A. boseongensis BS-R1T, respectively, and 92.7–96.7 % to the type strains of the other species of the genus Algoriphagus. Strain HJM-2T contained MK-7 as the predominant menaquinone and iso-C15 : 0, summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c) and iso-C17 : 0 3-OH as the major fatty acids. The major polar lipids detected in strain HJM-2T were phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine and one unidentified lipid. The DNA G+C content of strain HJM-2T was 45 mol% and mean DNA–DNA relatedness values with the type strains of A. taiwanensis and A. boseongensis were 10–19 %. Differential phenotypic properties, together with its phylogenetic and genetic distinctiveness, revealed that strain HJM-2T is separated from recognized species of the genus Algoriphagus. On the basis of the data presented, strain HJM-2T represents a novel species of the genus Algoriphagus, for which the name Algoriphagus confluentis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is HJM-2T ( = KCTC 42704T = NBRC 111222T).

Two Gram-stain-negative, catalase- and oxidase-positive, strictly aerobic, non-motile, moderately halophilic bacteria (strains X15M-6T and X15M-8T) were isolated from Lake Xiaochaidan, a salt lake in Qaidam basin, Qinghai Province, China. Cells of X15M-6T were rod-like or coccoid, 0.5–0.9 μm wide and 0.9–1.5 μm long; cells of X15M-8T were rods, 0.3–0.6 μm wide and 1.2–2.2 μm long. Growth was observed in the presence of 0.5–14.0 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 3.0 %) and at pH 6.5–10.0 (optimum, pH 7.0–7.5) for both. X15M-6T and X15M-8T grew at 10–35 °C (optimum, 20–25 °C) and 4–35 °C (optimum, 25 °C), respectively. Both contained iso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 0 and iso-C17 : 0 3-OH as the major fatty acids, phosphatidylethanolamine and an unknown lipid as the major polar lipids, and menaquinone MK-6 as the major respiratory quinone. The DNA G+C contents were 32.8 and 35.0 mol% for X15M-6T and X15M-8T, respectively. Phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that both strains belonged to the genus Psychroflexus and formed a separate lineage. In addition, strains X15M-6T and X15M-8T shared 96.8 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity and showed highest similarities to members of the genus Psychroflexus (92.7–93.5 and 91.8–93.1 %, respectively). Based on the above data, it is concluded that strains X15M-6T and X15M-8T represent two novel species of the genus Psychroflexus, for which the names Psychroflexus salis sp. nov. (type strain X15M-6T = CGMCC 1.12925T = JCM 30615T) and Psychroflexus planctonicus sp. nov. (type strain X15M-8T = CGMCC 1.12931T = JCM 30616T) are proposed.

A Gram-negative, orange-pigmented, aerobic, non-flagellated, rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain SM1214T, was isolated from Arctic intertidal sand collected from Kongsfjorden, Svalbard. The strain grew at 10–30 °C and with 0.5–5 % (w/v) NaCl. It hydrolysed casein and aesculin but did not reduce nitrate to nitrite. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain SM1214T was affiliated with the genus Subsaxibacter in the family Flavobacteriaceae, exhibiting 96.7 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to the type strain of Subsaxibacter broadyi, the only recognized species of the genus. The major cellular fatty acids of strain SM1214T were iso-C15 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH, iso-C15 : 1 G, C15 : 0, summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or iso-C15 : 0 2-OH), anteiso-C15 : 0 and C17 : 0 2-OH. The genomic DNA G+C content of the strain was 35.4 mol%. On the basis of the polyphasic analysis performed in this study, strain SM1214T represents a novel species of the genus Subsaxibacter, for which the name Subsaxibacter arcticus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is SM1214T ( = JCM 30334T = CCTCC AB 2014245T).

Two bacterial isolates from water of the alkaline brackish Lake Solenoe (Buryatia, Russia), 2C and 5CT, were characterized by using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. The strains were small, non-motile, Gram-stain-negative rods that formed small orange–red colonies on the surface of marine agar. Studies based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the strains were related closely to Belliella pelovolcani CC-SAL-25T (98.7 % sequence similarity). The G+C content of the DNA was 38–40 mol%. DNA–DNA hybridization values between strains 2C and 5CT and B. pelovolcani CC-SAL-25T were 56–58 mol%. A menaquinone with seven isoprene units (MK-7) was the major respiratory quinone. The fatty acid profiles were slightly different from that of B. pelovolcani CC-SAL-25T. The novel strains could be distinguished from the phylogenetically closest species B. pelovolcani CC-SAL-25T based on matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectra of whole cells and a range of physiological and biochemical characteristics. The data obtained suggest that strains 2C and 5CT represent a novel species of the genus Belliella, for which the name Belliella buryatensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 5CT ( = VKM B-2724T = KCTC 32194T).

A yellow-pigmented, rod-shaped, non-flagellated, aerobic and Gram-reaction-negative bacterium, designated strain SM1212T, was isolated from intertidal sand of Kongsfjorden, Svalbard. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain SM1212T constituted a distinct lineage within the family Flavobacteriaceae. It shared highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities with the type strains of Bizionia echini (96.0 %), Lacinutrix jangbogonensis (95.8 %) and Psychroserpens damuponensis (95.7 %) and < 95.6 % sequence similarity with other recognized species in the family Flavobacteriaceae. The strain grew at 4–35 °C and with 0–6.0 % (w/v) NaCl. It hydrolysed gelatin, DNA, starch and Tween 80 but did not reduce nitrate to nitrite. The major cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 1 G, anteiso-C15 : 1 A, iso-C15 : 0 3-OH, C17 : 0 2-OH and iso-C17 : 0 3-OH and the major respiratory quinone was menaquinone MK-6. Polar lipids included phosphatidylethanolamine, one unidentified phospholipid, one unidentified aminophospholipid, three unidentified aminolipids and nine unidentified lipids. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain SM1212T was 36.6 mol%. On the basis of data from this polyphasic study, strain SM1212T represents a novel species in a new genus in the family Flavobacteriaceae, for which the name Arcticiflavibacter luteus gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Arcticiflavibacter luteus is SM1212T ( = MCCC 1K00234T = KCTC 32514T).