- Volume 66, Issue 2, 2016

A total of 17 Enterobacter-like isolates were obtained from blood during a septicaemia outbreak in a neonatal unit, Tanzania, that could not be assigned based on phenotypic test to any existing Enterobacter species. Eight representative outbreak isolates were investigated in detail. Fermentation characteristics, biochemical assays and fatty acid profiles for taxonomic analysis were determined and supplemented with information derived from whole genome sequences. Phenotypic and morphological tests revealed that these isolates were Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped, highly motile and facultatively anaerobic. The fatty acid profile was similar to those of the type strains for all recognized Enterobacter species, with quantitative differences in C17 : 0, C18 : 1ω7c and C17 : 0 cyclo fatty acids. Whole genome sequencing was used to identify taxonomically relevant characteristics, i.e. for 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, multi-locus sequence analysis (MLSA), in silico DNA–DNA hybridization (isDDH) and average nucleotide identity (ANI). Draft genomes were approximately 4.9 Mb in size with a G+C content of 56.0 mol%. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of these eight isolates showed >97 % similarity to all Enterobacter species, while MLSA clustered them closely with the type strains of Enterobacter xiangfangensis and Enterobacter hormaechei. These eight strains showed less than 70 % isDDH identity with the type strains of Enterobacter species. In addition, less than 95 % ANI to the type strains of Enterobacter species was observed. From these results, it is concluded that these isolates possess sufficient characteristics to differentiate them from all recognized Enterobacter species, and should therefore be considered as representing a novel species. The name Enterobacter bugandensis sp. nov. is proposed with EB-247T ( = DSM 29888T = NCCB 100573T) as the type strain.

We analysed, using a polyphasic taxonomic approach, two bacterial strains coded BSTT30T and BSTT40, isolated in the course of a study of endophytic bacteria occurring in the stems and roots of potatoes growing in soil from Salamanca, Spain. The 16S rRNA gene sequence was identical in both strains and had 98.4 % identity with respect to the closest relatives Erwinia tasmaniensis Et1/99T and Erwinia rhapontici ATCC29283T. Erwinia billingiae E63T and Erwinia toletana A37T were also closely related with 98.2 % sequence similarities, so the novel strains were classified within the genus Erwinia. The analysis of the housekeeping genes gpd, gyrB and rpoD confirmed the phylogenetic affiliation of strains BSTT30T and BSTT40 with similarities of lower than 90 % in all cases with respect to the closest relatives mentioned above. The respiratory quinone of strain BSTT30T was Q8. The major fatty acids were C16 : 0, C16 : 1ω7c/16 : 1ω6c in summed feature 3 and C18 : 1ω7c/18 : 2ω6,9c in summed feature 8. The novel strains were oxidase-negative and catalase-positive. Glucose was fermented without gas production. They were negative for arginine dihydrolase, urease and indole production. The strains could grow at 35 °C and at pH 10. DNA G+C content was 50.1 mol%. DNA–DNA hybridization results showed values of lower than 29 % relatedness with respect to the type strains of the four most closely related species. Therefore, the combined genotypic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic data support the classification of strains BSTT30T and BSTT40 into a novel species of the genus Erwinia, for which the name Erwinia endophytica sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is BSTT30T ( = LMG 28457T, CECT 8692T).

A taxonomic study was carried out on a novel bacterial strain, designated MIC2059T, which was isolated from Ungok Wetland of Gochang in Korea. Cells of the isolate were found to be Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped and motile. Comparison of the 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the isolate belonged to the family Rhodocyclaceae, with Uliginosibacterium gangwonense as its closest relative, with a similarity of 94.8 %. It contained summed feature 3 (comprising C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c), C16 : 0, summed feature 8 (comprising C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c) and C12 : 0 3-OH as the major fatty acids and Q8 as the respiratory ubiquinone. The polar lipid profile of strain MIC2059T revealed the presence of phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and diphosphatidylglycerol as major polar lipids. In addition, phosphatidylserine, an unidentified aminophospholipid and unidentified lipids were present in small amounts. The DNA G+C content of the strain was 65.1 mol%. On the basis of the evidence presented, it is concluded that strain MIC2059T represents a novel species of a novel genus within the family Rhodocyclaceae, for which the name Niveibacterium umoris gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is MIC2059T ( = KACC 17062T = JCM 18716T).

A thermophilic, anaerobic, chemolithoautotrophic bacterium (strain Sh68T) was isolated from a hydrothermal pond at Uzon Caldera, Kamchatka, Russia, using anoxic medium with elemental sulfur as the only energy source. Cells of strain Sh68T were Gram-stain-negative rods, 0.5–0.8 μm in diameter and 1.2–2.0 μm in length, motile by means of flagella. The temperature range for growth was 30–65 °C, with an optimum at 50–52 °C. The pH range for growth was 5.2–7.5, with optimum growth at pH 6.0–6.2. Growth of strain Sh68T was observed at NaCl concentrations ranging from 0 to 2.3 % (w/v). Strain Sh68T grew anaerobically with elemental sulfur as an energy source and bicarbonate/CO2 as a carbon source. Elemental sulfur was disproportionated to sulfide and sulfate. Growth was enhanced in the presence of poorly crystalline Fe(III) oxide (ferrihydrite) as a sulfide-scavenging agent. Strain Sh68T was also able to grow by disproportionation of thiosulfate and sulfite. Sulfate was not used as an electron acceptor either with H2 or with organic electron donors. Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that the isolate belongs to the class Deltaproteobacteria and is related most closely to Dissulfuribacter thermophilus S69T (90.0 % similarity). On the basis of its physiological properties and results of phylogenetic analyses, strain Sh68T is considered to represent a novel species of a new genus, for which the name Dissulfurimicrobium hydrothermale gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Dissulfurimicrobium hydrothermale is Sh68T ( = JCM 19990T = VKM B-2854T). This is the first description of a sulfur-disproportionating thermophile from a terrestrial ecosystem.

A bacterial strain, designated KBP-31T, was isolated from a water sample taken from the Banping Lake Wetland Park in Taiwan and characterized using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. Cells of strain KBP-31T were Gram-stain-negative, strictly aerobic, motile, light-yellow rods. Growth occurred at 10–37 °C (optimum 25 °C), at pH 6–8 (optimum pH 6) and with 0–1 % NaCl (w/v, optimum 0 %). Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain KBP-31T belonged to the genus Ideonella and was most closely related to Ideonella dechloratans ATCC 51718T with a sequence similarity of 98.2 %. Strain KBP-31T contained summed feature 3 (comprising C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c) and C16 : 0 as the predominant fatty acids. The major hydroxyl fatty acid was C10 : 0 3-OH. The polar lipid profile consisted of phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, an uncharacterized aminophospholipid and two uncharacterized phospholipids. The DNA G+C content of the genomic DNA was 67.9 mol%. The DNA–DNA relatedness of strain KBP-31T with respect to recognized species of the genus Ideonella was less than 70 %. On the basis of the phylogenetic inference and phenotypic data, strain KBP-31T should be classified as a novel species, for which the name Ideonella paludis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is KBP-31T ( = BCRC 80524T = KCTC 32238T).

A Gram-stain-negative, facultatively aerobic, cream-coloured, ovoid-shaped, non-motile and psychrotolerant bacterial strain, PAMC 27389T, was isolated from terrestrial soil collected on King George Island, Antarctica. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that strain PAMC 27389T belongs to the genus Pseudorhodobacter, sharing highest similarities with the type strains of Pseudorhodobacter wandonensis (96.9 %), Pseudorhodobacter antarcticus (96.8 %), Pseudorhodobacter ferrugineus (96.5 %) and Pseudorhodobacter aquimaris (95.4 %). Average nucleotide identity values between strain PAMC 27389T and the type strains of P. wandonensis, P. antarcticus, P. ferrugineus and P. aquimaris were 70.8, 70.9, 71.0 and 70.5 %, respectively and the genome-to-genome distances were 18.4–19.1 %, indicating PAMC 27389T is clearly distinguished from the most closely related Pseudorhodobacter species. The genomic DNA G+C content was 60.1 mol%. Strain PAMC 27389T grew at 0–37 °C (optimally at 15–20 °C), at pH 5.5–9.0 (optimally at pH 6.5–7.0) and in the presence of 0.5–3.0 % (w/v) sea salt (optimally with 0.5 %). It lacked bacteriochlorophyll a. The major fatty acids (>5 %) were summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c) and C18 : 1ω7c 11-methyl. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol, an unidentified phospholipid, an unidentified aminolipid, an unidentified lipid and three unidentified aminophospholipids. The major respiratory quinone was Q-10. Based on the phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genomic data presented, we propose the name Pseudorhodobacter psychrotolerans sp. nov. with the type strain PAMC 27389T ( = KCTC 42640T = JCM 30764T).

A Gram-stain-negative, pinkish-red, rod-shaped bacterium designated strain NKM1T was isolated from soil samples contaminated with hexachlorocyclohexane isomers, collected from Ummari village, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. The strain was characterized by a polyphasic taxonomic approach. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain NKM1T clustered exclusively with members of the genus Pontibacter of the family Cytophagaceae, phylum Bacteroidetes. The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to type strains of the genus Pontibacter ranged from 96.7 to 93.8 %, with the highest sequence similarity found with Pontibacter odishensis JC130T (96.7 %). Cells of strain NKM1T were aerobic, non-flagellated and non-motile. Strain NKM1T was catalase- and oxidase-positive but negative for nitrate reduction and hydrolysis of gelatin. The major fatty acids in strain NKM1T were anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 0, C16 : 0, C18 : 1ω9c and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c). The polar lipid profile of strain NKM1T showed the presence of phosphatidylethanolamine and unknown glycolipids as well as aminolipids. sym-Homospermidine was found to be the major polyamine and menaquinone 7 (MK-7) was the major respiratory quinone. The DNA G+C content of strain NKM1T was determined to be 58.6 mol%. Based on phenotypic, chemotaxonomic, physiological and biochemical evidence, it is proposed that isolate NKM1T represents a novel species that belongs to the genus Pontibacter, for which the name Pontibacter ummariensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is NKM1T ( = DSM 100161T = KCTC 42944T = MCC 2777T).

A Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped, non-flagellated, mesophilic, yellow-pigmented, aerobic bacterium, designated strain KIS20-3T, was isolated from a soil sample of Baengnyeong Island in Onjin county, Republic of Korea. According to 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the isolate showed highest similarities with Flavitalea populi HY-50RT (94.5 %), Niastella populi THYL-44T (94.2 %) and Flavitalea gansuensis JCN-23T (93.7 %). The neighbour-joining tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain KIS20-3T formed a subcluster with members of the genus Flavitalea, and this subcluster was closely related to members of the genera Niastella, Segetibacter and Parasegetibacter within the family Chitinophagaceae. The major fatty acids of strain KIS20-3T were iso-C15 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH and iso-C15 : 1 G, and the predominant isoprenoid quinone was menaquinone 7. The polar lipid profile comprised large amounts of phosphatidylethanolamine and one unknown polar lipid, and moderate or small amounts of four unknown aminophospholipids, two unknown aminolipids, three unknown lipids and one unknown phospholipid. The G+C content of the DNA of strain KIS20-3T was 55.7 mol%. On the basis of the results of the polyphasic characterization presented in this study, it is concluded that strain KIS20-3T represents a novel species of the genus Flavitalea, for which the name Flavitalea soli sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is KIS20-3T ( = KACC 17319T = JCM 19937T).

A novel Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped (0.3 × 4–6 μm), non-flagellated, aerobic strain with gliding motility, designated JBKA-6T, was isolated in 1991 from a yellowtail fish, Seriola quinqueradiata, showing symptoms of bacterial haemolytic jaundice. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain JBKA-6T was related most closely to members of the family Flavobacteriaceae in the phylum ‘Bacteroidetes’. Furthermore, based on gyrB gene sequence analysis, JBKA-6T was classified into a single clade within the order Flavobacteriales, which was distinct from the known clades of the families Flavobacteriaceae, Blattabacteriaceae and Cryomorphaceae. The predominant isoprenoid quinone was identified as MK-6 (97.9 %), and the major cellular fatty acids (>10 %) were C14 : 0 and iso-C15 : 0. The main polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, three unidentified phospholipids, two unidentified aminophospholipids and two unidentified polar lipids. The DNA G+C content of JBKA-6T, as derived from its whole genome, was 33.4 mol%. The distinct phylogenetic position and phenotypic traits of strain JBKA-6T distinguish it from all other described species of the phylum ‘Bacteroidetes’, and therefore it was concluded that strain JBKA-6T represents a new member of the phylum ‘Bacteroidetes’, and the name Ichthyobacterium seriolicida gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Ichthyobacterium seriolicida is JBKA-6T ( = ATCC BAA-2465T = JCM 18228T). We also propose that Icthyobacterium gen. nov. is the type genus of a novel family, Ichthyobacteriaceae fam. nov.

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, non-flagellated, rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain Lxc1T, was isolated from the surface of a marine red alga, Gracilaria sp., which was collected from the coastal regions in Jinjiang, Fujian Province, China. Colonies of the strain were orange–yellow, circular and smooth. The 16S rRNA gene of strain Lxc1T had maximum sequence similarity with Lacinutrix himadriensis E4-9aT (97.1 %), followed by Lacinutrix jangbogonensis PAMC 27137T, Lacinutrix copepodicola DJ3T, Lacinutrix algicola AKS293T and Lacinutrix mariniflava AKS 432T (similarities < 96.4 %). Phylogenetic analysis showed strain Lxc1T formed a tight cluster with L. himadriensis E4-9aT and L. copepodicola DJ3T, but represented a novel lineage belonging to the genus Lacinutrix. The predominant fatty acids were iso-C15 : 1 G (18.3 %), iso-C15 : 0 (16.7 %), iso-C17 : 0 3-OH (10.6 %) and iso-C15 : 0 3-OH (8.6 %). Menaquinone-6 (MK-6) was the only respiratory quinone present. The DNA G+C content of strain Lxc1T was 31.7 mol%. Combining the results above, it was ascertained that strain Lxc1T represented a novel species of the genus Lacinutrix, for which the name Lacinutrix gracilariae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is Lxc1T ( = MCCC 1A01567T = KCTC 42808T).

A yellow, Gram-reaction-negative, non-motile, aerobic bacterium, designated D07T, was isolated from a tundra soil near Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard archipelago, Norway (78° N). Growth occurred at 4–37 °C (optimum 28–30 °C) and at pH 6.0–9.0 (optimum pH 7.0–8.0). The strain produced flexirubin-type pigments. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain D07T belonged to the genus Chryseobacterium in the family Flavobacteriaceae. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of this strain showed 93.83 and 93.31 % sequence similarity, respectively, to those of Chryseobacterium contaminans C26T and Chryseobacterium taklimakanense X-65T. Strain D07T contained anteiso-C15 : 0 (25.91 %), iso-C15 : 0 (16.05 %), iso-C16 : 0 3-OH (9.64 %), iso-C16 : 0 (9.42 %) and iso-C14 : 0 (7.36 %) as the predominant cellular fatty acids, MK-6 as the major respiratory quinone and phosphatidylethanolamine, five unknown aminolipids and three unknown lipids as the main polar lipids. The DNA G+C content was 49.3 mol%. On the basis of phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic data, strain D07T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Chryseobacterium, for which the name Chryseobacterium frigidum sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is D07T ( = CCTCC AB 2011160T = KCTC 42897T). Emended descriptions of Chryseobacterium bernardetii and Chryseobacterium taklimakanense are also provided.

A novel Gram-stain-positive, aerobic, endospore-forming, and rod-shaped strain designated 694T was isolated from surface-sterilized root tissue of a maize planted in the Fangshan District of Beijing, People's Republic of China. A polyphasic taxonomic study was performed on the new isolate. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity studies, this isolate belongs to the genus Paenibacillus. High levels of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity were found between strain 694T and Paenibacillus xinjiangensis DSM 30034T (98.5 %) and Paenibacillus glycanilyticus (98.1 %), respectively. However, the DNA–DNA hybridization values between strain 694T and its close relatives P. xinjiangensis 16970T and Paenibacillus algorifonticola CGMCC 1.10223T were 30.0 % and 36.7 % respectively. The DNA G+C content of strain 694T was determined to be 46.9 mol%. The predominant respiratory quinone was identified as menaquinone-7 and the polar lipid profile was found to be composed of the major lipids diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine. The major fatty acids were found to be anteiso-C15 : 0 (42.1 %), iso-C15 : 0 (18.4 %), iso-C16 : 0 (11.2 %) and C16 : 0 (12.1 %). The results of physiological and biochemical tests and minor differences in the fatty acid profiles allowed a clear phenotypic differentiation of strain 694T from the closely related species in the genus Paenibacillus. Strain 694T is concluded to represent a novel species within the genus Paenibacillus, for which the name Paenibacillus radicis sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain 694T ( = CGMCC 1.15286T = DSM 100762T).

A Gram-reaction-negative, aerobic, non-motile, red-pigmented and rod-shaped bacterium, designated XF-6RT, was isolated from mountain soil in the Sichuan province of China. Phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that XF-6RT belonged to the genus Hymenobacter. The greatest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities of strain XF-6RT were with Hymenobacter soli PB17T (96.4 %) and Hymenobacter saemangeumensis GSR0100T (95.8 %). Summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c), iso-C15 : 0, C16 : 1ω5c and anteiso-C15 : 0 were the major fatty acids (>10 %). The only menaquinone was menaquinone-7. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, four aminolipids, four phosphoaminolipids and three lipids. The DNA G+C content was 62 mol%. On the basis of the polyphasic taxonomic analysis, strain XF-6RT is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Hymenobacter, for which the name Hymenobacter monticola sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is XF-6RT ( = KCTC 42733T = CCTCC AB 2015206T).

A Gram-stain-negative, non-flagellated, non-gliding, aerobic and rod-shaped bacterium, designated HJM-3T, was isolated from the place where the ocean and a freshwater lake meet at Hwajinpo on the East Sea, South Korea, and subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic study. The novel strain grew optimally at 30–35 °C, at pH 7.0–7.5 and in the presence of 1.0–2.0 % (w/v) NaCl. A neighbour-joining phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain HJM-3T clustered with the type strain of Yeosuana aromativorans and the proposed type strain of Mariniflexile ostreae. Strain HJM-3T exhibited the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity values (each 95.1 %) to these representative strains of Y. aromativorans and M. ostreae, and sequence similarities of less than 94.9 % to the type strains of other recognized species. Strain HJM-3T contained menaquinone-6 as the predominant isoprenoid quinone, and iso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 1 G and iso-C17 : 0 3-OH as the major fatty acids. The major polar lipids detected in strain HJM-3T were phosphatidylethanolamine and one unidentified lipid. The DNA G+C content of strain HJM-3T was 34.7 mol%. The fatty acid and polar lipid profiles and DNA G+C content of strain HJM-3T could be distinguished from those of the phylogenetically related taxa. On the basis of the phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic and other phenotypic properties, strain HJM-3T is considered to represent a novel genus and species within the family Flavobacteriaceae, for which the name Confluentibacter lentus gen. nov., sp. nov., is proposed. The type strain is HJM-3T ( = KCTC 42777T = NBRC 111588T).

A Gram-stain-negative, motile, rod-shaped bacterium, designated MSSRFH1T, was isolated from the rhizosphere of the mangrove, Avicennia marina, in Pichavaram, Tamil Nadu, India. Phylogenetic analysis, based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence of MSSRFH1T, indicated that it clustered in the genus Salinicola and was most closely related to Salinicola peritrichatus JCM18795T (96.7 % similarity). The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity was < 96.5 % with other strains of species of the genus Salinicola. The distinctiveness of strain MSSRFH1T was also shown by low similarities of its rpoD ( < 87 % similarity) and gyrB ( < 85 %) gene sequences with those of other members of the genus Salinicola. Strain MSSRFH1T could tolerate NaCl concentrations of up to 30 % (w/v). The main fatty acids of MSSRFH1T included C18 : 1ω7c, C16 : 0 and C19 : 0ω8c. The polar lipids present included diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, an unidentified amino lipid and unidentified phospholipids. Comparison of BOX-PCR fingerprints indicated that MSSRFH1T showed a unique DNA profile and its genomic G+C content was 64 mol%. On the basis of the data presented, strain MSSRFH1T represents a novel species of the genus Salinicola, for which the name Salinicola rhizosphaerae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is MSSRFH1T ( = KCTC 32998T = NBRC 110222T).

A novel haloalkalitolerant, rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain YIM 4-4T, was isolated from the surface water of the Dugerno lake, a haloalkaline lake in Inner Mongolia. The taxonomy of strain YIM 4-4T was investigated by a polyphasic approach. Strain YIM 4-4T was Gram-stain-negative, strictly aerobic, non-motile and formed red colonies. Optimal growth conditions were 28 °C, pH 8.0–11.0 and 0.5–2 % NaCl. The major respiratory quinone was menaquinone-7 (MK-7). The polar lipid profile was composed predominantly of phosphatidylethanolamine, six unidentified polar lipids, one phospholipid and one aminolipid. The predominant cellular fatty acids (>5 %) were iso-C15 : 0, iso-C17 : 1I/anteiso-C17 : 1B, iso-C16 : 1G, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH, C16 : 1ω7c/C16 : 1ω6c and iso-C16 : 1. The genomic DNA G+C content was 43.0 mol%. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that the members of the genera Cecembia, Fontibacter, Aquiflexum and Indibacter of the family Cyclobacteriaceae (phylum Bacteroidetes) were the most closely related, with 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities ranging from 93.6 to 94.2 %. Other members of the family Cyclobacteriaceae showed sequence similarities < 93.0 %. On the basis of phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic properties, strain YIM 4-4T represents a novel species of a new genus, for which the name Mongoliibacter ruber gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YIM 4-4T ( = CCTCC AB 2012966T = DSM 27929T).

A Gram-stain-negative, red, non-spore-forming, strictly aerobic bacterium, designated strain A4T, was isolated from culture broth of a marine cyanobacterium. Cells were flexible rods with gliding motility. Phylogenetic analysis, based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, revealed that strain A4T formed a coherent cluster with members of the genera Roseivirga and Fabibacter, and represents a distinct lineage in the family Flammeovirgaceae. Thermotolerance and a distinctive cellular fatty acid profile could readily distinguish this isolate from any bacteria of the genera Roseivirga and Fabibacter with a validly published name. On the basis of the phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic characteristics, strain A4T is suggested to represent a novel species in a novel genus, for which the name Fabivirga thermotolerans gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is A4T ( = KCTC 42507T = CGMCC 1.15111T).

A novel thermophilic planctomycete (strain SVX8T) was isolated from a shallow submarine hydrothermal vent, Vulcano Island, Italy. The temperature range for growth was 30–68 °C, with an optimum at 55 °C. The pH range for growth was 5.0–9.0, with an optimum at pH 7.0–8.0. Growth was observed at NaCl concentrations ranging from 0.8 to 4.5 % (w/v) with an optimum at 2.5–3.5 % (w/v). The isolate grew anaerobically using a number of mono-, di- and polysaccharides as electron donors and nitrate or elemental sulfur as electron acceptors or by fermentation. Nitrate was reduced to nitrite; sulfur was reduced to sulfide. Strain SVX8T did not grow at atmospheric concentration of oxygen but grew microaerobically (up to 2 % oxygen in the gas phase). The G+C content of the DNA of strain SVX8T was 58.5 mol%. Based on phylogenetic position and phenotypic features, the new isolate is considered to represent a novel species belonging to a new genus in the order Planctomycetales, for which the name Thermostilla marina gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Thermostilla marina is SVX8T ( = JCM 19992T = VKM B-2881T). Strain SVX8T is the first thermophilic planctomycete isolated from a marine environment.

Cyanobacteria dwelling on the salt-excreting leaves of the mangrove tree Avicennia schaueriana were isolated and characterized by ecological, morphological and genetic approaches. Leaves were collected in a mangrove with a history of oil contamination on the coastline of São Paulo state, Brazil, and isolation was achieved by smearing leaves on the surface of solid media or by submerging leaves in liquid media. Twenty-nine isolated strains were shown to belong to five cyanobacterial orders (thirteen to Synechococcales, seven to Nostocales, seven to Pleurocapsales, one to Chroococcales, and one to Oscillatoriales) according to morphological and 16S rRNA gene sequence evaluations. More detailed investigations pointed six Rivulariacean and four Xenococcacean strains as novel taxa. These strains were classified as Phyllonema gen. nov. (type species Phyllonema aviceniicola sp. nov. with type strain CENA341T) and Foliisarcina gen. nov. (type species Foliisarcina bertiogensis sp. nov. with type strain CENA333T), according to the International Code of Nomenclature for Algae, Fungi, and Plants. This investigation shows some of the unique cyanobacteria inhabiting the phyllosphere of Avicennia schaueriana can be retrieved by culturing techniques, improving current taxonomy and providing new insights into the evolution, ecology, and biogeography of this phylum.