- Volume 66, Issue 2, 2016

An aerobic, Gram-stain-negative, non-motile, rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain CC-VAM-7T, was isolated from a marine sediment sample collected at Kending, Taiwan. The isolate grew optimally at pH 7.0 and 30 °C and in the presence of 4 % (w/v) NaCl. The most closely related strains in terms of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity were the type strains of Luteimonas huabeiensis (95.2 %) and Lysobacter defluvii (95.0 %). Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain CC-VAM-7T clustered with members of the genus Luteimonas. Strain CC-VAM-7T possessed C15 : 1ω5c, C16 : 1ω5c, iso-C11 : 0, iso-C15 : 0, iso-C16 : 0, iso-C17 : 0, iso-C11 : 0 3-OH and summed feature 9 (10-methyl C16 : 0 and/or iso-C17 : 1ω9c) as predominant fatty acids. The polar lipid profile contained major amounts of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine and moderate amounts of an unidentified phospholipid. The genomic DNA G+C content was 73.4 mol%. Ubiquinone 8 (Q-8) was the predominant respiratory quinone. According to its distinct phylogenetic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic features, which were in line with those of other members of the genus Luteimonas, strain CC-VAM-7T is proposed to represent a novel species within the genus Luteimonas, for which the name Luteimonas pelagia sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CC-VAM-7T ( = BCRC 80558T = JCM 18792T). In addition, we propose emended descriptions of Luteimonas aquatica Chou et al. 2008 , Luteimonas composti Young et al. 2007 , Luteimonas mephitis Finkmann et al. 2000 , Lysobacter enzymogenes Christensen and Cook 1978 and Lysobacter panaciterrae Ten et al. 2009 .

A Gram-stain-negative, non-flagellated, aerobic and coccoid, ovoid or rod-shaped bacterium, designated AM-4T, was isolated from seawater collected from the East Sea, South Korea and subjected to a taxonomic study using a polyphasic approach. The novel strain grew optimally at 30–35 °C, at pH 7.0–8.0 and in the presence of 1.0–3.0 % (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain AM-4T forms a distinct evolutionary lineage independent of other taxa of the family Rhodobacteraceae. Strain AM-4T exhibited 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities of 95.1–95.5 % to the type strains of Aestuariihabitans beolgyonensis, Donghicola eburneus and Pseudooctadecabacter jejudonensis, and of less than 94.9 % to the type strains of other taxa. Strain AM-4T contained Q-10 as the predominant ubiquinone and C18 : 1ω7c and C16 : 0 as the major fatty acids. The major polar lipids detected in strain AM-4T were phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, one unidentified lipid, one unidentified aminolipid and one unidentified glycolipid. The fatty acid and polar lipid profiles of strain AM-4T were distinguished from those of the phylogenetically related taxa. The DNA G+C content of strain AM-4T was 57.2 mol%. On the basis of the phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic and other phenotypic properties, strain AM-4T represents a novel species of a new genus in the family Rhodobacteraceae, for which the name Marivivens donghaensis gen. nov., sp. nov., is proposed. The type strain of the type species is AM-4T ( = KCTC 42776T = CECT 8947T).

A novel bacterial strain, designated Teta-03T, was isolated from a taro field in Taiwan and characterized using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. Cells of strain Teta-03T were aerobic, Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped and non-motile and formed bright yellow colonies. Growth occurred at 10–37 °C (optimum, 20 °C), with 0–1.0 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 0 %) and at pH 3.0–9.0 (optimum, pH 7.0–8.0). The major fatty acids (>10 %) of strain Teta-03T were C18 : 1ω7c, summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c) and C16 : 0. The polar lipid profile consisted of phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine, phosphatidyldimethylethanolamine, sphingoglycolipid, phosphatidylcholine, an uncharacterized glycolipid and an uncharacterized aminolipid. The major polyamine was spermidine. The major isoprenoid quinone was Q-10. The DNA G+C content was 65.0 mol%. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain Teta-03T was shown to belong to the genus Novosphingobium and showed highest similarity to Novosphingobium barchaimii LL02T (96.8 %). Phenotypic characteristics of the novel strain also differed from those of the closest related species of the genus Novosphingobium. On the basis of the genotypic, chemotaxonomic and phenotypic data, strain Teta-03T represents a novel species of the genus Novosphingobium, for which the name Novosphingobium colocasiae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is Teta-03T ( = LMG 27385T = KCTC 32255T).

A novel thermophilic, facultatively autotrophic bacterium, strain S2479T, was isolated from a thermal spring located in a tidal zone of a geothermally heated beach (Kuril Islands, Russia). Cells of strain S2479T were rod-shaped and motile with a Gram-negative cell-wall type. The temperature range for growth was 35–68 °C (optimum 65 °C), and the pH range for growth was pH 5.5–8.8 (optimum pH 6.5). Growth of strain S2479T was observed in the presence of NaCl concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 3.5 % (w/v) (optimum 1.5–2.0 %). The strain oxidized sulfur and thiosulfate as sole energy sources for autotrophic growth under anaerobic conditions with nitrate as electron acceptor. Strain S2479T was also capable of heterotrophic growth by reduction of nitrate with oxidation of low-chain fatty acids and a limited number of other carboxylic acids or with complex proteinaceous compounds. Nitrate was reduced to N2. Sulfur compounds were oxidized to sulfate. Strain S2479T did not grow aerobically during incubation at atmospheric concentration of oxygen but was able to grow microaerobically (1 % of oxygen in gas phase). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the strain was a member of the family Ectothiorhodospiraceae, order Chromatiales, class Gammaproteobacteria. On the basis of phylogenetic and phenotypic properties, strain S2479T represents a novel species of a new genus, for which the name Inmirania thermothiophila gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of the type species is S2479T ( = DSM 100275T = VKM B-2962T).

A bacterial strain designated CAVIOT was isolated during the course of a study of culturable bacteria in a riverbank soil sample from Tlaxcala, Mexico. The strain was subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic characterization. Strain CAVIOT was aerobic, Gram-stain-negative, non-spore-forming and rod-shaped. Colonies grown on R2A agar at 28 °C were pale violet, mucoid, rounded, smooth and glossy. The strain was motile and catalase- and oxidase-positive, and maximum growth temperature was 35 °C. Strain CAVIOT was classified within the genus Massilia as its 16S rRNA gene sequence was closely related to those of Massilia umbonata LP01T (97.5 % similarity), Massilia dura 16T (97.2 %) and Massilia plicata 76T (97.1 %). The predominant respiratory quinone was Q8. The major fatty acids were summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c/C16 : 1ω6c), C16 : 0 and summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7c/C18 : 1ω6c). The predominant polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol and an unknown phospholipid. The DNA G+C content was 65.0 mol% (Tm). DNA–DNA hybridization results showed values below 25 % with respect to the type strains of the closest related species. Therefore, strain CAVIOT can be differentiated from previously described species of the genus Massilia and represents a novel species, for which the name Massilia violacea sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CAVIOT ( = CECT 8897T = LMG 28941T).

A bacterial strain, designated Z8T, was isolated from the terrestrial sediment of the Mohe Basin in north-east China. Phylogenetic analyses of 16S rRNA genes showed that this strain belonged to the family Phyllobacteriaceae, and was most closely related to Phyllobacterium bourgognense, with a sequence similarity of 96.9 %. The major cellular fatty acids were summed feature 4 (iso-C17 : 1 I and/or anteiso-C17 : 1 B) and summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c). The major respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-10. The three major polar lipids of strain Z8T consisted of glycolipids, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylmethylethanolamine. The DNA G+C content was 59.6 mol%. The chemotaxonomic characteristics of strain Z8T differed in some respects from those of members of the family Phyllobacteriaceae. Based on phylogenetic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic data, strain Z8T is considered to represent a novel species of a novel genus within the family Phyllobacteriaceae, for which the name Tianweitania sediminis gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is Z8T ( = CGMCC 1.12944T = JCM 30358T).

A Gram-stain-negative, moderately halophilic and facultatively aerobic bacterium capable of respiration with nitrate, designated strain JJ-M1T, was isolated from saeu-jeot, a traditional Korean fermented shrimp sauce. Cells of the strain were non-motile short rods showing oxidase-negative and catalase-positive reactions and the production of pale-yellow pigments. Growth of strain JJ-M1T was observed at 20–37 °C (optimum, 30 °C), pH 5.5–9.5 (optimum, pH 7.0) and in the presence of 3–22.5 % (w/v) sea salts (optimum, 10 %). Strain JJ-M1T contained ubiquinone 9 (Q-9) as the predominant isoprenoid quinone and summed feature 8 (comprising C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c), C16 : 0, summed feature 3 (comprising C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c) and C12 : 0 3-OH as the major cellular fatty acids. The polar lipids consisted of phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphoglycolipid, diphosphatidylglycerol and four unidentified phospholipids. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain JJ-M1T was 62.4 mol%. Phylogenetic and comparative analyses, based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, indicated that strain JJ-M1T formed a tight phyletic lineage with Halomonas jeotgali HwaT within the genus Halomonas and was most closely related to Halomonas jeotgali HwaT with 96.2 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity. Based on phylogenetic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic features, strain JJ-M1T represents a novel species of the genus Halomonas, for which the name Halomonas garicola sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JJ-M1T ( = KACC 18117T = JCM 30151T).

The bacterial strain N1-38T was isolated from ancient Siberian permafrost sediment. The strain was Gram-reaction-negative, motile by gliding, rod-shaped and psychrophilic, and showed good growth over a temperature range of − 5 to 25 °C. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain N1-38T was most closely related to members of the genus Glaciimonas and shared the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities with the type strains of Glaciimonas alpina (99.3 %), Glaciimonas immobilis (98.9 %) and Glaciimonas singularis (96.5 %). The predominant cellular fatty acids of strain N1-38T were summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or iso-C15 : 0 2-OH), C16 : 0 and C18 : 1ω7c. The major respiratory quinone was ubiquinone 8 and the major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine and diphosphatidylglycerol. The genomic DNA G+C content was 53.0 mol%. Combined data of phenotypic, phylogenetic and DNA–DNA relatedness studies demonstrated that strain N1-38T represents a novel species of the genus Glaciimonas, for which the name Glaciimonas frigoris sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is N1-38T ( = LMG 28868T = CCOS 838T). An emended description of the genus Glaciimonas is also provided.

A novel Gram-stain-negative, obligately aerobic, non-motile and coccus-shaped bacterium, designated strain CN1T, was isolated from the intestine of a Korean rockfish, Sebastes schlegelii. The optimum growth condition for strain CN1T was 25 °C, pH 7 and 0–1 % (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain CN1T was in the genus Comamonas and that the nearest type strain was Comamonas koreensis YH12T with 98.65 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity. The primary cellular fatty acids of strain CN1T were summed feature 3 (comprised of C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c), C16 : 0 and summed feature 8 (comprised of C18 : 1ω6c and/or C18 : 1ω7c). The predominant isoprenoid quinone was ubiquinone Q-8. The polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, an unidentified lipid, an unidentified phospholipid and two aminophospholipids. The DNA G+C content was 65.5 mol%. The phenotypic, phylogenetic and genotypic analyses indicated that strain CN1T represents a novel species of the genus Comamonas, for which the name Comamonas piscis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CN1T ( = KACC 18403T = JCM 30718T).

In total, 31 strains of Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped bacteria were isolated from Sophora root nodules and authenticated as rhizobia on this host. Based on 16S rRNA gene phylogeny, they were shown to belong to the genus Mesorhizobium, with the representative strains ICMP 19560T, ICMP 19523T, ICMP 19535T, ICMP 19545T and ICMP 19512T being related most closely to Mesorhizobium sangaii SCAU7T (99.9–99.6 % similarity), Mesorhizobium cantuariense ICMP 19515T (99.7–99.6 %) and Mesorhizobium ciceri UMP-CA7T (99.7–99.5 %). Additionally, the novel strains formed distinct groups based on housekeeping gene sequence analysis and were closely related to Mesorhizobium waimense ICMP 19557T (93.5–94.9, 92.5–95.6 and 94.2–96.0 %), M. cantuariense ICMP 19515T (93.1–97.7, 93.5–95.4 and 94.8–96.8 %) and M. ciceri UMP-CA7T (93.2–97.2, 94.6–96.8 and 95.5–97.3 %) for glnII, recA and rpoB, respectively. Chemotaxonomic data supported the assignment of the strains to the genus Mesorhizobium, and DNA–DNA hybridizations, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight MS analysis, enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus PCR, physiological and biochemical tests allowed the genotypic and phenotypic differentiation from their nearest neighbouring species. Therefore, these strains represent five novel species for which the names Mesorhizobium calcicola sp. nov. (type strain ICMP 19560T = LMG 28224T = HAMBI 3609T), Mesorhizobium waitakense sp. nov. (type strain ICMP 19523T = LMG 28227T = HAMBI 3605T), Mesorhizobium sophorae sp. nov. (type strain ICMP 19535T = LMG 28223T = HAMBI 3606T), Mesorhizobium newzealandense sp. nov. (type strain ICMP 19545T = LMG 28226T = HAMBI 3607T) and Mesorhizobium kowhaii sp. nov. (type strain ICMP 19512T = LMG 28222T = HAMBI 3603T) are proposed.

A Gram-stain-positive, spore-forming, motile, strictly aerobic, rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain L5T, was isolated from soil of Tenglong cave, China. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain L5T was related most closely to Bacillus asahii MA001T (96.5 %) (the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity), Bacillus kribbensis BT080T (96.4 %) and Bacillus deserti ZLD-8T (96.2 %). The DNA G+C content of strain L5T was 45.6 mol%. The major menaquinone was MK-7. The major fatty acids were iso-C14 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 0 and iso-C16 : 0, and the major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine. The diagnostic diamino acid in the cell-wall peptidoglycan was meso-diaminopimelic acid. In addition, strain L5T had different characteristics compared with the other Bacillus strains such as pink colony colour, low growth temperature and low nutrient requirement. The results indicate that strain L5T represents a novel species of the genus Bacillus, for which the name Bacillus cavernae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is L5T ( = KCTC 33637T = CCTCC AB 2015055T).

A bacterial strain, designated TTM-24T, was isolated from a freshwater river in Taiwan and characterized using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. Cells of strain TTM-24T were Gram-stain-negative, facultatively anaerobic, poly-β-hydroxybutyrate-accumulating, motile by a single polar flagellum, rod-shaped, with rods surrounded by a thick capsule and forming white-coloured colonies. Growth occurred at 15–37 °C (optimum, 25 °C), at pH 6.0–8.0 (optimum, pH 7.0) and with 0–1 % NaCl (optimum, 0.5 %). Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain TTM-24T belonged to the genus Vogesella and was most closely related to ‘Vogesella amnigena’ Npb-02 with sequence similarity of 97.1 %. Strain TTM-24T contained summed feature 3 (comprising C16 : 1 ω7c and/or C16 : 1 ω6c) and C16 : 0 as the major fatty acids. The major respiratory quinone was Q-8. The polar lipid profile consisted of phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, an uncharacterized aminophospholipid and two uncharacterized phospholipids. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain TTM-24T was 67.4 mol%. The DNA–DNA hybridization value for strain TTM-24T with ‘V. amnigena’ Npb-02 was less than 45 %. On the basis of the phylogenetic inference and phenotypic data, strain TTM-24T should be classified as a novel species, for which the name Vogesella facilis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is TTM-24T ( = BCRC 80912T = KCTC 42742T = LMG 29003T).

A novel thermophilic, anaerobic, mixotrophic bacterium, designated strain MAG-PB1T, was isolated from a shallow-water hydrothermal vent system in Palaeochori Bay off the coast of the island of Milos, Greece. The cells were Gram-negative, rugose, short rods, approximately 1.0 μm long and 0.5 μm wide. Strain MAG-PB1T grew at 30–70 °C (optimum 60 °C), 0–50 g NaCl l− 1 (optimum 15–20 g l− 1) and pH 5.5–8.0 (optimum pH 6.0). Generation time under optimal conditions was 2.5 h. Optimal growth occurred under chemolithoautotrophic conditions with H2 as the energy source and CO2 as the carbon source. Fe(III), Mn(IV), arsenate and selenate were used as electron acceptors. Peptone, tryptone, Casamino acids, sucrose, yeast extract, d-fructose, α-d-glucose and ( − )-d-arabinose also served as electron donors. No growth occurred in the presence of lactate or formate. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 66.7 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that this organism is closely related to Deferrisoma camini, the first species of a recently described genus in the Deltaproteobacteria. Based on the 16S rRNA gene phylogenetic analysis and on physiological, biochemical and structural characteristics, the strain was found to represent a novel species, for which the name Deferrisoma palaeochoriense sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is MAG-PB1T ( = JCM 30394T = DSM 29363T).

A Gram-stain-negative, non-pigmented, non-spore-forming, non-motile, strictly aerobic bacterial strain, designated CAU 1038T, was isolated from a sea sand sample in Modo, Republic of Korea, and its taxonomic position was examined using a polyphasic approach. Cells of strain CAU 1038T grew optimally at 30 °C, pH 7.5 in 2 % (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain CAU 1038T formed a distinct lineage within the class Gammaproteobacteria as a separate deep branch, with 95.2 % or lower sequence similarity to representatives of the genera Haliea, Halioglobus and Chromatocurvus, and 92.3 % or lower with Luminiphilus, Pseudohaliea and Congregibacter. The major cellular fatty acids of strain CAU 1038T were C16 : 0, C16 : 1ω7c and C18 : 1ω7c. The polar lipid pattern of the isolate consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, an unidentified aminolipid and two unidentified lipids. The strain contained lipoquinone (Q-8) as the sole respiratory quinone. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 65 mol%. On the basis of phenotypic and chemotaxonomic data, and phylogenetic inference, strain CAU 1038T represents a novel species of a new genus in the family Halieaceae, for which the name Marimicrobium arenosum gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of the type species is CAU 1038T ( = KCTC 42300T = NBRC 110727T).

A Gram-stain-negative, strictly aerobic, light-beige, rod-shaped, motile bacterium with peritrichous flagella that cleaves dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP), designated strain LZD062T, was isolated from bottom seawater of the East China Sea. The isolate required sea salts for growth and grew optimally at pH 8.0 and 28 °C and in the presence of 2 % (w/v) NaCl. The major fatty acid (>10 %) was summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c) and the major polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine, one unidentified aminolipid and one unidentified glycolipid. Ubiquinone Q-10 was the only quinone detected. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA and atpD gene sequences placed LZD062T within the genus Ahrensia of the family Phyllobacteriaceae in the class Alphaproteobacteria. The most closely related type strain was, in both cases, Ahrensia kielensis JCM 20689T ( = IAM 12618T = DSM 5890T), which gave sequence similarities of 97.7 % in the 16S rRNA gene and 90.4 % in the atpD gene. Genome relatedness between strain LZD062T and A. kielensis JCM 20689T was computed using both genome-to-genome distance analysis and average nucleotide identity, giving values of 22.10 ± 2.35 and 79.55 %, respectively. The genomic DNA G+C content calculated from the genome sequence was 50.1 mol%. On the basis of our polyphasic analyses, strain LZD062T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Ahrensia, for which the name Ahrensia marina sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is LZD062T ( = MCCC 1K00254T = JCM 30117T = DSM 28886T). Emended descriptions of the genus Ahrensia and Ahrensia kielensis are also proposed.

The taxonomic position of five strains isolated from horse faeces, and which shared identical 16S rRNA gene sequences, were studied. Cells of all isolates are Gram-stain-negative, obligately aerobic and have a rod-shaped appearance. The strains show highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities to Acinetobacter lwoffii (98.3 %), Acinetobacter haemolyticus (98.0 %), Acienetobacter johnsonii (97.9 %) and Acinetobacter brisouii (97.9 %). Whole-genome sequencing of strain 114T and phylogeny reconstruction based on a core set of 1061 Acinetobacter genes indicated that A. bouvetii CIP 107468T was the closest relative among species of the genus Acinetobacter for which whole genome sequences are available. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain 114T is 34.9 mol%, which is lower than any other value reported for the genus Acinetobacter. The predominant polyamine is 1,3-diaminopropane, which is typical for the genus Acinetobacter. The most abundant fatty acids are C16 : 1ω7c and/or iso-C15 : 0 2-OH (36 %) and C16 : 0 (28 %). The proportion of C18 : 1ω9c (7 %) is distinctively low compared to most species of the genus. The major ubiquinone of strain 114T is Q-9. Microscopic studies revealed the presence of pili and the absence of flagella. The capability of all five strains to utilize l-arabinose and gentisate as well as their lack of growth at temperatures of 41 °C and above provide sufficient criteria to distinguish the isolates from all species of the genus Acinetobacter with validly published names. Based on these combined data, the five isolates represent a novel species of the genus Acinetobacter, for which the name Acinetobacter equi sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 114T ( = DSM 27228T = CCUG 65204T).

Bacterial strains SBSr002T and SBSr003T were isolated in 2007 from dried soil samples containing decaying plant material. The organisms were recognized as myxobacteria by growth-stage characteristics, forming swarming colonies and fruiting bodies on agar and on filter paper. These strains were unusual for their ring-like or halo colony appearance in an agar. Both isolates were characterized as bacteriolytic, non-cellulolytic, mesophilic, aerobic and chemoheterotrophic and showed resistance to various antibiotics. GC-MS analysis of their cellular fatty acids revealed rather large quantities of docosahexaenoic acid, and they also both contained eicosapentaenoic acid, arachidonic acid and docosapentaenoic acid. Strain SBSr003T was previously identified as the producer organism of a novel class of potent antiviral metabolites that were called aetheramides. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 68.0–68.9 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that both strains belong within the family Polyangiaceae, suborder Sorangiineae, order Myxococcales. Their 16S rRNA gene sequences showed the highest similarity (97–99 %) to sequences derived from clones of uncultured bacteria, 95–96 % similarity to Byssovorax cruenta and Sorangium cellulosum and 94 % similarity to Chondromyces apiculatus. The results of a polyphasic taxonomic characterization suggested that strains SBSr002T and SBSr003T represent two distinct species of a novel genus, Aetherobacter gen. nov., for which the names Aetherobacter fasciculatus sp. nov. (type strain SBSr002T = DSM 24601T = NCCB 100377T) and Aetherobacter rufus sp. nov. (type strain SBSr003T = DSM 24628T = NCCB 100378T) are proposed. The type species of Aetherobacter is Aetherobacter fasciculatus.

A Gram-staining-negative, yellow-pigmented strain, designated SYP-B804T, was isolated from the rhizosphere of Panax notoginseng. The strain was rod-shaped with a single polar flagellum. The optimum temperature and pH required for growth of the strain were 28–32 °C and pH 7–8, respectively. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that strain SYP-B804T showed highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with Luteimonas mephitis DSM 12574T (98.0 %). However, the DNA–DNA relatedness value between them (38.1 ± 0.6 %) was less than the threshold value for the delineation of genomic species. Ubiquinone-8 (Q-8) was the predominant quinone. The major fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0 and iso-C17 : 1ω9c. The major polar lipids of the strain were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 71 %. On the basis of phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and molecular characteristics, strain SYP-B804T merits recognition as a representative of a novel species of the genus Luteimonas, for which the name Luteimonas notoginsengisoli sp. nov. is proposed, with SYP-B804T ( = KCTC 42211T = JCM 30329T) as the type strain.

An acetic acid bacterium (strain Bo7T), obtained during a study of the microbial diversity of spontaneous fermentations of Bobal grape must, was subjected to a taxonomic study using a polyphasic approach. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences allocated strain Bo7T to the genus Acetobacter, and revealed Acetobacter aceti and Acetobacter oeni to be nearest neighbours (99.57 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity between strain Bo7T and A. oeni CECT 5830T, and 98.76 % between strain Bo7T and A. aceti CECT 298T). Cells of strain Bo7T are Gram-negative, motile rods, catalase-positive and oxidase-negative. The DNA G+C content of strain Bo7T was 58.0 mol%. DNA–DNA hybridizations demonstrated that strain Bo7T belongs to a single novel genospecies that can be differentiated from its nearest phylogenetic neighbours by the following phenotypic characteristics: no production of 5-keto-d-gluconic acid from d-glucose, growth with glycerol but not with methanol or maltose as sole carbon sources, and growth on yeast extract with 30 % d-glucose. The major fatty acid was C18 : 1ω7c/C18 : 1ω6c (summed feature 8; approx. 56 %); other fatty acids in significant amounts (>5 %) were C16 : 0 2-OH (11 %), C16 : 0 (7 %), C14 : 0 2-OH (7 %) and C14 : 0 3-OH/iso-C16 : 1 I (summed feature 2; 6 %). The results obtained indicate that strain Bo7T represents a novel species of the genus Acetobacter, for which the name Acetobacter musti sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is Bo7T ( = DSM 23824T = CECT 7722T).